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LIBRARY 


OF  THE 


MASSACHUSETTS 

AGRICULTURAL 

COLLEGE 

No._.4_2.5:d.___DATEj.2.-ia.bJ5: 
SOURCE, _A-lujoQ.n.i ^^Lij-xd^. 

XHAP^ 


C  p.  ■  ,. 

ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Frontispiece Portrait  of  Dr.  W.  D.  Brinckle 

A. 

A  Propagating  House -. 198,  199,  200 

All-Summer  Apple 309 

B.. 
Begonia  Maculata 370 

C. 

Construction  of  a  Propagating  House 87 

Construction  of  Greenhouses.. 41 

Cyclamen  Atkinsii 282 

D. 

Drag  Hoe 112 

Drying  Flowers  in  their  Natural  Colors 51 

Double  Pansy - 347 

E. 

En  Fusseau  Training ...343 

Economical  Heating , 187,  188 

F. 
Fuchsia,  Lord  of  the  Manor 80 

I. 
Insects 18 

L. 

Laying  down  Raspberry  Canes 273 

P. 

Plan  for  a  Rose  Bed , „ 175 

"   of  a  FIower-Garden 240,  303 

Portable  Greenhouses 316 

Plan  of  a  Propagating  House _ 74 

Pyrethrum  Mons.  Barral , 151 

B. 

Rogers'  No.  19  Grape 277 

"      4      " 345 

S. 
Shutters  to  Forcing  Pits,  Nos.  1  and  2 :- , 102 

1?. 
Training   Plum  Trees.....  ..„ 219 

V. 

View  of  the  Sanitary  Fair  Buildings 212 

"         "        Horticultural   Department 213 

w. 

Warming  Water  for  Use  in  Plant  Houses 174 

Wide  Grape  Houses  without  Inside  Posts 71 

Whittlesey's  Locomotive  Seat , .203 


-^^^^K^^ 


THOMAS     MSEHAlSr,    Editor. 
W.  G.  P.  BRII>rCKIiOE,  Publisher. 


Ifinh  Per  3aniierg» 


PL0WEI2-GAKDEW    AND    PLEASUHS- 

CHOUND. 

Any  alterations  or  improvements  that  may  be 
contemplated  at  the  return  of  spring,  should  now 
be  well  weighed  before  the  busy  season  commences. 

The  importance  of  having  all  things  well  studied 
in  advance,  and  of  getting  every  thing  ready  to 
hand,  that  no  time  may  be  lost  when  the  time 
comes  to  act,  need  scarcely  be  urged. 

Flowers  for  bedding  should  be  pretty  much  de- 
cided on  now,  as  to  what  are  to  be  principally  plan- 
ted, and  how  arranged,  as  the  plants  can,  in  many 
eases,  be  propagated  through  the  winter.  It  is 
found  here  that  stove  plants,  on  the  average,  make 
better  bedding  plants  than  the  green-house  plants 
u.sually  employed  in  England.  Some  Begonias, 
parviflora,  for  instance,  do  well,  Browallia  elata 
makes  a  good  blue  ;  Oxalis  floribunda,  pink  ;  Ruel- 
lia  formosa,  scarlet ;  Zauchneria  Californica  is  har- 
dy, but  makes  an  admirable  scarlet  bedder,  as  also 
does  Delphinium  formosum,  blue  ;  Tritoma  uvaria, 
Canna  Warcewiczii,  and  Phygelius  capensis,  are 
admirable  border  plants,  but  do  no  not  commence 
to  blonni  till  August.  IMany  of  the  stove  climbers 
make  beautiful  climbing  vines  in  the  open  border. 
Physianthus  albens,  Stephanotus  floribundas,  Man- 
devillea  suaveolens,  Manettia  glabra,  and  Passiflora 
coerulea,  all  grow  well  and  flower  freely  in  the  fall. 

Hyacinths,  or  other  hardy  bulbous  roots  that  may 
not  have  yet  been  planted,  may  still  be  put  in  where 
the  ground  continues  open.  The  beds  of  all  such 
bulbs  should  be  slightly  protected  with  manure  or 


litter,  and  be  carefully  watched  for  mice  and  ver- 
min, which  are  likely  to  avail  themselves  of  the 
shelter  and  feed  on  the  roots. 

Lawns  that  are  impoverished  by  several  season.^' 
mowings,  will  be  improved  by  a  good  fop-dressing. 
This  may  be  applied  any  time  after  the  leaves  are 
gathered  up,  and  before  the  snow  fldls.  Soot,  wood- 
a.shes,  guano,  or  any  prepared  manure,  is  best  for 
this  purpose.  Barnyard  manure  is  objectionable  as 
generally  containing  many  seeds  of  weeds. 

Evergreens  set  out  last  fall  in  windy  or  expo.sed 
situations,  will  be  benefited  by  a  shelter  of  cedar 
branches,  corn-stalks,  or  mats,  set  again.st  them.— 
Wh.ether  hardy  or  tender,  all  will  be  benefited 
thereby. 


FRUIT  GARDEN. 

At  this  season  of  the  year  very  little  will  be  re- 
quired to  be  done  in  the  fruit  garden.  If  the  weath- 
er be  open  and  mild,  pruning  may  be  advanced  if 
necessary.  As  a  rule,  far  too  much  pruning  is  given 
to  fruit  frees.  When  neglected,  so  that  the  branches 
grow  very  thick  together,  some  thinning  must  be 
done,  or  in  the  struggle  to  get  the  foliage  to  the 
light,  all  will  spoil  one  another ;  but  if  very  mod- 
erate attention  has  been  given  to  summer  pruning, 
in  taking  out  strong  shoots  as  they  grow  where  they 
are  not  wanted,  very  little  will  be  left  to  do  now. 
Still  suiumer  pruning  is  not  often  done  well,  and 
most  fruit  trees  will  require  some  thinning. 
^  When  ground  is  trenched,  it  should  be  left  du- 
ring the  winter  in  high  ridges,  so  that  the  frost  can 
operate  on  it,  and  in  the  spring  it  will  be  found 
very  light,  mellow,  and  well  pulverized.  If  your 
ground  is  stiff  azid  clayey,  it  can  now  be  improved 
by  spreading  sand  or  coal-ashes  on  it,  and  digging 
it  in.  Manure  can  now  also  be  hauled  out  and  left 
in  heaps,  ready  for  spreading  when  spring  opens. 
And  every  opportunity  which  open  weather  offers 
should  be  improved  by  getting  ground  dug. 


^^^^^ 


HOT  AND  GREENHOUSE. 

Temperature  at  this  season  about  55°  or  G5°  for 
the  Hothouse.  It  is  better,  however,  not  to  keep 
so  high  a  temperature  than  to  have  to  give  much 
side  air  to  either  this  or  the  Greenhouse.  What 
benefit  is  gained  by  such  free  admission  of  air,  is 
more  than  lost  by  the  sudden  escape  of  so  large  a 
quantity  of  moist  air,  as  that  course  of  practice  en- 
tails. Confined  air  in  glass  houses  is  full  of  mois- 
ture, and  few  persons  have  any  idea  how  very  dif- 
ferent it  is  in  this  respect  after  a  sudden  draught 
of  side  air  has  been  admitted  through.  These  sud- 
den changes  from  moist  to  dry  in  the  condition  of 
the  atmosphere  of  plant  houses,  is  one  of  the  chief 
causes  of  mildew  and  many  other  plant  diseases. 
Every  one  has  noticed  how  well  plants  often  seem 
to  thrive  in  the  green  slimy  pots  in  the  houses  of 
some  slovenly  or  short-funded  nurseryman,  and  go 
away  mostly  with  the  conviction  that  plants  do  best 
in  dirty  pots.  But  it  is  the  moist  atmosphere — 
regularly  and  unchangeably  moist — which  favors 
the  slime,  that  the  plants  desire,  and  all  this  may 
be  obtained  without  a  total  neglect  of  cleanliness. 
Top  air  may  be  freely  given  in  the  Hothouse  with 
great  benefit,  as  the  plants  are  now  beginning  to 
grow  vigorously,  and  flower  freely. 

In  the  greenhouse,  air  may  be  given  in  fine  weath- 
er ;  but  if  the  temperature  is  not  allowed  to  go 
much  above  45°,  much  will  not  be  requuired.    The 
stereotyped  advice  to  give  air  freely  on  all  occasions 
when  not  actually  freezing,  is  about  on  a  par  with 
the  absurd  practice  that  lays  the  foundation  of  con- 
sumption in  a  child,  by  turning  it  out  almost  naked 
in  frosty  weather  to  render  it  hardy.     Many  strike 
their  Fuchsias  now,  from  which  they  desire  to  make 
very  fine  specimen  plants.    All  kinds  of  plants  that 
are  required  for  spring  or  summer  blooming,  should 
be  propagated  whenever  the  time  permits.     All 
growing  plants,  as  Calceolarias,  Cinerarias,  Chinese 
Primrose,  Geraniums,  and  so  on,  should  be  potted 
as  often  as  the  pots  become  filled  with  roots.  Plants 
which  have  a  growing  season,  and  one  of  rest,  as 
Rhododendrons,  Azaleas,   Camellias,   &c.,    shovild 
be  potted  if  they  require  it,  just  before  they  com- 
mence to  grow,  which  is  usually  about  the  end  of 
this  month.     In  potting,  a  well-drained  pot  is  of 
great  importance.     The  pots  should  be  near  one- 
fourth  filled  with  old  potsherds,  broken  small,  and 
moss  placed  over  to  keep  out  the  soil. 


should  be  sprinkled  or  syringed  with  water  as  often 
as  practicable,  and  the  leaves  washed  as  often  as 
any  insects  or  dust  appear  on  them.  In  warm 
rooms,  they  should  be  kept  in  the  coolest  parts,  and 
as  near  the  light  as  possible.  For  hanging  plants 
there  is  now  an  increasing  taste,  as  they  aiford  so 
much  scope  for  arranging  the  forma,  and  for  beau- 
tifying the  windows.  Linaria  Cymbalaria  or  'the 
Kenilworth  Ivy,  Variegated  Spider-wort  ( Trades- 
cantia  variegata)^  Money-wort  [Lysimachia  num- 
mnlaria),  the  Creeping  Saxifrage  (Saxifraga  snr- 
mentosa),  and  Common  Ivy,  are  among  the  most 
useful  of  commoner  things.  For  those  who  are 
successful  with  choicer  things,  there  is  nothing 
prettier  than  the  New  Holland  Kenneydia  Mar- 
ryattoe,  red ;  or  K.  monopylla,  blue. 


WINDOW    GARDENING. 

The  dry  air  of  sitting-rooms  is  the  great  obstacle 
to  the  perfection  of  window  plants.     The  plants 


VEGETABLE   GARDEN. 

Cabbages  and  lettuces  in  frames  for  protection 
through  the  winter,  should  have  all  the  air  possi- 
ble whenever  the  thermometer  is  above  the  freezing 
point ;  when  it  is  below,  they  need  not  be  uncov- 
ered. They  require  no  light  when  there  is  not 
heat  enough  to  make  them  grow.  Examine  for 
mice  occasionally.  If  noticed,  soak  peas  in  water 
till  they  swell,  then  roll  in  arsenic,  and  bury  in  the 
soil.  They  prefer  these  to  lettuce  when  so  prepared. 
The  preparing  of  manure  ready  for  spring  opera- 
tions, at  every  favorable  opportunity,  should  not  be 
forgotten.  Next  to  draining  and  subsoiling,  noth- 
ing is  of  more  importance  than  this. 

Much  has  been  said  of  guano,  phosphates,  &c. — 
all  very  well  in  certain  cases — but  nothing  is  so 
well  adapted  to  the  permanent  improvement  of  soil 
as  manure  composed  in  the  main  of  decomposing 
vegetable  matter.  It  is  always  light  and  porous, 
thereby  allowing  air  to  circulate  freely  through  the 
soij  ;  it  absorbs  moisture,  which  in  dry  weather  is 
given  off  to  the  drier  soil  slowly,  to  the  advantage 
of  the  plants  near  by ;  and,  what  is  not  a  small 
point  in  its  favor,  it  aids  in  giving  a  dark  black 
color  to  the  soil,  which  renders  it  so  much  warmer 
in  early  spring ;  and,  by  so  much,  better  adapted 
to  the  early  raising  of  vegetables.  It  is  also  a  good 
rule  to  have  the  manure  well  decomposed  before 
using  it.  There  are  a  few  things  which  do  not  ob- 
ject to  fresh  manure,  and  a  still  fewer  number  that 
might,  perhaps,  prefer  it;  but  the  major  part  do 
best  in  thoroughly  fermented  material.  Leaves, 
litter,  and  refuse  vegetable  matter  of  all  kinds, 
should  be  got  together  at  every  flivorable  opportu- 
nity, and  well  mixed  in  with  manure. 


Bsr 


NUnSERY. 

Those  who  have  commenced  to  heat,  will  be  busy 
propagating  Grapes  by  eyes,  and  Rhododendrons, 
Camellias  and  other  plants,  by  grafting,  about  the 
end  of  the  month.  The  great  secret  of  propagating 
grapes  from  eyes  successfully,  is  not  to  keep  them 
too  warm  at  first  after  being  cut  ready  for  propaga- 
ting ;  indeed,  if  the  eyes  are  cut  ready,  and  put  in 
a  heap  or  in  a  pot  afterwards,  and  set  for  a  week 
under  the  damp  stage  of  a  cool  greenhouse,  before 
being  put  in  the  propagating-boxes,  all  the  better. 
The  harder  the  kind  is  to  root  from  eyes,  the  lon- 
fier  it  should  be  kept  out  of  the  soil, — say  two  weeks 
for  a  "  hard  case."  The  most  intractable  yield 
under  this  treatment,  and  their  eyes  root  readily. 
It  is  a  good  plan  to  keep  all  cuttings  rather  cool  for 
some  days  after  potting,  increasing  the  heat  with 
the  length  of  time  they  may  have  been  in.  Atmos- 
pheric humidity  is  very  important  for  all  kinds  of 
cuttings,  provided  there  is  heat  with  it.  If  the  air 
is  so  dry  that  cuttings  have  to  be  repeatedly  watered 
to  keep  them  from  wilting,  they  will  soon  rot.  In 
the  open  air,  where  there  is  little  snow,  and  the 
winds  cold  and  severe,  any  fall- planted  stock  or 
stuif  laid  in,  should  have  a  litter  placed  over  them. 
Where  a  supply  of  roots  can  be  secured,  apples  may 
be  root-grafted,  as  well  as  glycines,  maples,  roses, 
and  many  kinds  of  scarce  plants  which  it  is  desira- 
ble to  increase  rapidly.  In  root-grafting  it  is  best 
to  use  some  composition  to  exclude  damp,  though 
many  do  not  employ  it.  Cuttings  of  most  kinds  of 
ornamental  shrubs  may  be  made  in  the  winter,  and 
buried  in  the  soil  out  of  doors,  ready  to  be  set  out 
when  the  spring  weather  arrives. 


i 


FORCING. 

Peaches,  Nectarines  and  Apricots,  started  in  a 
low  temperature  last  month,  will  now  be  swelling 
their  buds,  and  should  be  kept  well  syringed,  and 
the  temperature  slightly  increased  as  the  leaves 
unfold. 

Grapes,  started  as  directed  last  month,  for  the 
earliest  crop,  will  now  be  starting  into  leaf,  when 
the  temperature  may  be  raised  to  60''  or  65°.  Those 
trained  permanently  to  rafters  will  require  a  slight- 
ly different  mode  of  treatment  from  those  raised  in 
pots.  In  pot-vines  the  object  is  to  get  all  the  fruit 
possible  from  the  vine  ;  on  the  permanent  vines 
we  have  also  to  look  to  the  preparing  of  the  plant 
for  the  next  year's  crop.  A  vine  that  has  been 
properly  managed,  should  have  the  bearing  shoots 
at  the  bottom  of  the  cane  produce  nearly  as  fine 
bunches  as  those  at  the  top.     If  the  vine  pushes 


strongly  at  the  top  and  weakly  below,  very  little 
top-growth  should  be  allowed,  and  as  much  as  pos- 
sible below, — the  more  leaves  and  shoots  allowed 
at  the  lower  parts  of  a  cane,  the  stronger  it  will 
eventually  become.  Every  care  should  be  taken  to 
preserve  the  health  of  the  leaves, — on  that  much 
of  success  depends.  The  syringe  should  be  often 
used ;  it  discourages  insects,  and  promotes  cleanli- 
ness ;  and  care  should  be  had  that  no  gas  escapes 
from  the  flues.  Red  spider  is  likely  to  prove  a  for- 
midable enemy,  and  should  be  well  watched.  Thrip 
does  not  often  prove  troublesome  in  early  houses, 
but  when  it  does,  is  easily  destroyed  by  three  suc- 
cessive light  doses  of  tobacco-smoke.  As  the  grapes 
show  flower,  they  may  be  stopped  two  or  three 
buds  above  the  bunch.  Those  on  the  rafters  may 
be  thinned  according  to  the  strength  of  the  vine. 
Too  great  a  crop  often  injures  the  prospects  of  the 
next  season.  In  pot  vines  every  bunch  may  be  left 
on  that  the  plant  is  capable  of  bringing  to  perfec- 
tion, as  the  future  injury  of  the  vine  is  of  no  great 
consequence.  As  pot  vines  grow,  they  should  be 
treated  liberally  to  manure  water.  Well-decayed 
cow-dung,  steeped  in  rain-water,  makes  the  best 
liquid  for  the  grape  vine.  It  is  not  customary  to  let 
any  shoots  grow  from  pot-vines,  but  those  bearing 
fruit, — the  whole  energy  of  the  plant  is  driven  into 
the  fruit,  though,  as  before  observed,  every  care 
should  be  taken  to  preserve  the  main  leaves.  The 
leaves  from  the  laterals  are  of  very  little  value. 

Strawberries  started  early,  ought  now  to  be  in 
flower,  and  when  they  are  this  much  forward,  an- 
other set  may  be  introduced  to  succeed  them  as 
they  ripen.  They  must  be  kept  close  to  the  glass, 
and  get  plenty  of  manure-water.  They  are  very 
easy  to  force,  the  attacks  of  the  red  spider  being 
the  chief  obstacle.  Frequent  syringing  with  sul- 
phur-water is  the  best  remedy.  Beans  may  be 
forced  in  the  same  house  with  the  Strawberries, 
and  require  about  the  same  treatment,  having  onl}'^ 
the  hottest  part  of  the  house  to  themselves. 

Where  Lettuce  is  grown  with  a  slight  heat,  care 
must  be  taken  to  give  it  plenty  of  light,  or  it  will 
"draw,"  as  gardeners  term  it,  and  be  nearly  worth- 
less. The  rule  with  all  forced  things  is,  that  the 
warmer  they  are  kept,  the  more  light  they  should 
receive.  Radishes,  as  well  as  Lettuce  and  Cauli- 
flower, must  not  have  a  higher  temperature  than 
52°  at  this  season, — too  much  heat  makes  them  run 
to  seed  in  these  dark  days. 

Cucumbers,  where  they  are  required  early  may 
be  started  at  the  end  of  the  month  ; — they  do  best 
in  a  dung-frame.  The  temperature  must  be  kept 
above  60°  for  them  to  do  well.     The  best  soil  for 


>^^ 


— T 


^■^ 


:^i^: 


ih4  (Sankniir's  cPontMg. 


I? 


Cucumbers  is  a  well-clecayed  turfy  loam,  mixed 
with  about  a  third  of  decayed  wood  from  the  bot- 
tom of  an  old  wood-pile.  In  a  very  cold  climates  it 
is  very  hard  to  maintain  a  proper  heat  with  the 
common  dung-pit  without  much  labor,  and  perhaps 
hardly  worth  the  trouble  so  early.  They  can  be 
raised,  though  not  quite  so  well,  in  the  early  grape 
or  other  fruit  houses. 


eiHHiiiHirelieiis* 


ROOM    PLANTS. 

BY    "  ENTHUSIAST, "  ADRIAN,    MICH. 

Would  you  not  like  to  see  it  ?  An  inside  bay 
window  filled  with  pets.  Every  one  who  has  tried 
keeping  house  plants  knows  that  it  sends  a  dozen 
well  grown  graces  in  the  heart  to  grow  a  dozen  de- 
cent looking  plants.  There  is  industry,  to  keep  off 
aphis  and  spiders  and  coccus,  and  all  their  cousins. 
Your  patience,  to  pick  away  the  constantly  mutila- 
ted or  dried  leaves,  and  clean  up  the  dirt; — then, 
regularity  and  punctuality,  to  be  sure  watering  is 
not  once  neglected.  And,  after  all,  a  dusty,  un- 
healthy troublesome  lot  of  pets  that  you  are  half 
ashamed  of.  Stove  heat  is  too  drying, — and  the 
dust  from  a  broom  is  strangulation  for  all  but  the 
coarsest  flowers. 

Now,  how  are  we  avoid  these  difficulties?  Build 
a  bay  window  to  project  into  your  room.  It  will 
exclude  dust,  will  furnish  a  moist  atmosphere,  keep 
the  dirt  and  drainage  off  the  carpet ;  save  much 
time  in  moving  pots ;  enable  j'ou  to  bloom  even 
Camellias ;  give  you  handsome,  fresh  looking  fo- 
liage ;  a  good  atmosphere  for  starting  cuttings ; 
preserve  an  even  temperature,  etc.,  etc.,  ad  infini- 
tum.    Try  it,  and  verify  it. 

Shall  I  describe  you  mine?  My  window  faces 
south,  and  is  over  7  feet  high  by  about  3  feet  wide. 
Fitting  to  the  casing  of  this  one  side,  but  on  the 
other  reaching  on  a  foot  to  the  corner  of  the  room, 
is  my  frame.  It  projects  into  the  room  two  feet, 
and  is  five  feet  wide,  and  as  high  as  the  casing.  In 
front  is  a  double  glass  door  of  six  panes  16  by  24. 

On  the  side  that  does  not  fit  to  the  wall  is  anoth- 
er sash,  the  same  in  size  as  each  of  the  doors,  i.  e., 
of  three  lights  16  by  24.  This  is  a  fixture  without 
hinges  ;  though  it  would  be  as  well  to  have  it  serve 
for  a  door  on  occasion.  The  whole  reaches  down 
to  the  base  of  the  window  and  the  standards  down 
to  the  floor.  Inside,  the  bottom  is  lined  with  zinc 
turned  up  slightly  all  around,  to  retain  any  extra 
moisture.     It  also  fits  into  the  window,  and  turns 


up  slightly  before  sash  to  assist  in  excluding  cold 
air.  On  the  sides  are  shelves,  beginning  far  enough 
up  to  allow  well  grown  plants  to  cover  the  whole 
base  without  their  tops  touching  the  shelves.  Some 
of  these  shelves  are  of  corresponding  heights,  on 
opposite  sides,  to  allow  of  cross  shelves  reaching 
in  front  of  the  window  and  resting  their  ends  on 
them.  Hooks  are  fastened  above,  on  which  I  sus- 
pend hanging  baskets.  Each  shelf  has  a  very  shal 
low  zinc  pan,  in  which  is  first  spread  the  Sedum, 
or  moss  commonly  used  for  edging.  The  bottom 
is  also  spread  with  moss,  and  that  intermingled 
with  slips  of  Tradescantia  zebrina.  The  window 
must  be  tight,  and  the  jointing  of  the  two  sash 
corked  ;  and  then,  if  you  desire,  a  shelf  fitted  on  to 
hold  Verbenas,  or  plants  that  need  the  coolest  and 
sunniest  spots. 

Now  for  the  plants.  Camellias  are  now  coming 
into  bloom.  Plants  that  were  fast  throwing  their 
buds  stopped  at  once  on  being  placed  in  this  win- 
dow. By  the  way,  amateurs  do  not  generally  un- 
derstand the  necessity  of  giving  Camellias  a  con- 
stant supply  of  water :  saucers  always  full,  especially 
at  this  time  of  the  year, — also  full  s^ui.  Pelargo- 
niums in  fine  growth.  Azaleas  hurrying  on  to  bloom. 
Wallflowers,  Abutilons,  Fuchsias,  Salvias,  luxuri- 
ant. Stocks  superb.  Heliotropes  of  course  laugh, 
and  smell  smilingly.  Pansies  in  fine  order.  Bulbs 
rooted  in  the  dark,  here  bloom  richl}'.  Mignonette, 
Schizanthus,  Verbenas,  Petunias,  etc.,  could  hardly 
do  better. 

The  arrangement  also  affords  an  easy  opportunity 
for  treating  the  aphis  to  a  pipe  of  peace, — pax  vo- 
biscH  1)1, —now  and  then.  When  smoking,  however, 
remove  Heliotropes,  Cineraries  andAchimines,  with 
some  others. 

The  arrangement  of  such  a  window  must  also  be 
attended  to.  For  instance,  set  next  the  light  on 
one  shelf  Pansies,  of  which  two  or  three  plants  are 
all  that  can  be  accommodated,  as  they  need  watch- 
ing and  turning.  On  another,  in  nice  range  for  the 
eye,  Camellias  and  such  plants  as  are  coming  into 
fine  bloom.  Close  to  the  light,  and  in  the  coolest 
part.  Verbenas  and  Petunias.  On  another  Stocks 
and  Calceolarias,  etc.  Farther  back,  in  the  partial 
shade,  set  Fuchsias,  Salvias,  and  plants  out  of 
bloom.     On  side  shelves  according  to  taste. 

Such  is  my  Greenhouse.  An  Aquarium  of  Gold- 
fish rejoicing  in  its  partial  shade  and  its  cool  temper- 
ature. A  lamp  burning  in  it  the  coldest  nights  sets 
frost  at  defiance. 

Now  would  you  not  like  to  see  it  ? 

Of  course  you  glass  palace  men,  who  cover  acres 
with  hot-houses,  and  raise  Victoria  regias  are  not 


^^! 


Sfltij  ^urtlcntr's  Jttoiifhig. 


interested  ;  but  perhaps  some  one  of  only  moderate 
means,  who  loves  flowers  as  mementoes  of  God, 
may  take  a  hint  and  receive  joy. 

In  addition,  I  might  describe  my  Wardian  case, 
5  feet  by  3  feet  8  inches,  and  about  seven  feet  high. 
The  glass  30  inches  by  32.  Each  end  pane  on  hin- 
ges. This  is  filled  with  Begonias,  Caladiums,  Dif- 
fenbachia,  Calathea,  Ficus  lastica,  Maranta,  Coleus 
Verschaffeltii,  Mimulus,  baskets  of  Lycopodiums, 
Tradescantia  and  Achimines;  Ivy  and  Cissus  running 
luxuriantly  up  the  angles ;  Poiusettia,  Passion- 
flowers, &c. 

The  cost  of  the  window  about  !^15  ;  of  the  War- 
dian $40. 

■ **m** 

THE    PREMIUM    DELAWARE    VINE. 
BY  J.    S.    L.,    HADDONFIELD,    N.  J. 

The  superior  Delaware  grapes,  shown  at  the  late 
exhibition  of  the  Pennsylvania  Horticultural  Socie- 
ty's display,  in  September  last,  elicited  many  en- 
quiries respecting  the  vines  which  produced  them. 

I  have  seen  no  notice  of  them,  nor  of  the  vine, 
and  the  following  is  at  your  service,  and  may  grat- 
ify some  interested. 

The  vine  is  now  four  years  old,  and  stands  in  the 
garden  of  J.  L.  Rowand,  Haddonfield,  N.  J.  At 
the  surface  of  the  soil  it  measures  six  inches  in  cir- 
cumference, but  contracts  to  three  and  a  half  inches 
a  little  higher.  It  has  two  arms  of  six  feet  in  length, 
each  of  which  gives  rise  to  three  vertical  branches, 
which  made  during  the  past  season,  a  growth  of 
18  to  20  feet  of  wood,  some  of  it  more  than  half  an 
inch  in  diameter.  It  thus  covers  a  trellis  twelve 
feet  long  by  sixteen  feet  high,  overtopping  it  by 
many  feet  of  depending  shoots.  Numerous  oblique 
shoots  from  the  main  stem  have  made  the  same 
surpassing  growth,  and  altogether  it  has  produced 
the  past  season  upwards  of  200  feet  of  new  wood. 
The  vine  one  year  old  was  planted  in  1860, — grew 
that  year  but  six  inches  and  was  killed  to  the 
ground.  The  next  year  it  grew  sixteen  feet.  Last 
year  it  produced  a  few  bunches,  and  during  the  past 
season  fifty  to  sixty  bunches,  which  were  not  thin- 
ned out. 

The  soil  of  the  garden  is  however  a  strong  loam. 
No  extra  care  has  been  taken  with  this  vine.  Its 
exposure  is  toward  the  North-east,  upon  a  barn ; 
and  probably  its  proximity  to  such  a  structure  will 
explain  the  fact  that  it  made  a  growth  so  excel- 
lent, and  that  its  fruit  was  of  a  quality  so  superior. 
The  Delaware  must  receive  high  manuring.  Many 
of  the  bunches  from  this  vine  were  from  5  to  6  in- 
ches in  length,  honest  measurement,  and  one  at 
least  weighed  about  seven  ounces. 


A  very  experienced  vine-grower  pronounced  the 
vine  unsurpassed ;  and  the  award  made  for  the 
fruit  attest  the  high  opinion  of  the  Fruit  Commit- 
tee of  the  Pennsylvania  Horticultural  Society. 

The  success  attending  the  growth  of  the  above 
vine  should  encourage  those  who  find  the  Delaware 
of  slow  growth  in  its  infancy,  and  remind  them  that 
patience  and  due  attention  to  its  wants  will  not  be 
unrewarded. 


COLD    GRAPERIES. 

BY   B.    G.    DAVII),    SAEGERSTOWN,  CRA^VFORD   CO., 
PENNSYLVANIA. 

In  the  October  number  of  your  journal  I  notice 
an  inquiry  from  one  of  your  correspondents  relative 
to  the  culture  of  foreign  grapes  in  cold  houses.  As 
I  feel  deeply  interested  in  this  subject,  I  feel  im- 
pelled to  write  j'ou  some  of  my  experience,  which, 
if  you  think  it  will  be  of  any  benefit  to  your  readers, 
is  at  your  service. 

For  several  years,  prior  to  the  j'car  1858,  I  had 
been  trying  to  raise  grapes  in  a  small  way,  in  the 
open  air.  I  had  the  Catawba,  Isabella,  Clinton, 
and  a  few  others,  which  I  took  care  of  as  well  as  ] 
knew  how.  These  vines  grew  finely,  blossomed 
freely ;  but  untimely  frosts,  cold  rains  and  chilling 
winds,  always  destroyed  the  fruit.  I  met  only  with 
disappointment,  and  never  grew  a  bunch  of  grapes 
that  were  fit  to  eat.  I  had  about  come  to  the  con- 
clusion that  grapes  could  not  be  grown  in  this 
country,  when,  by  chance,  I  came  in  possession  of 
a  short  treatise  on  grape  culture,  with  a  drawing 
of  a  cheap  cold  grapery.  Previous  to  this  time,  I 
had  read  no  work  on  horticulture, — did  not  know 
that  there  was  a  work  extant  which  treated  of  grape 
culture, — never  saw  a  grape-house,  and  did  not 
know  there  was  one  in  existence.  This  little  treatise 
was,  therefore,  a  new  revelation  to  me,  and  I  at 
once  set  about  building  a  grapery. 

I  purchased  some  old  sash,  belonging  to  a  neigh- 
bor, which  had  once  been  used  to  cover  a  small 
greenhouse.  These  I  repaired, — got  other  sash 
made,  and  built  me  a  lean-to  house  40  feet  in  length 
and  about  12  feet  in  width.  It  is  9  feet  high  in  the 
back,  and  22  in  the  front.  The  sills  are  laid  upon 
stones  placed  from  6  to  8  feet  apart.  The  frame 
work  is  of  the  cheapest  description.  The  back  is 
boarded  up  with  rough  boards,  placed  upright,  and 
the  joints  battened.  The  rafters  are  2  feet  6  inches 
apart, — the  sash  are  in  two  pieces,  the  upper  ones 
lapping  over  the  lower  ones,  and  so  constructed  that 
they  can  be  slid  down  for  ventilation. 

The  whole  structure,  exclusive  of  my  own  labor, 
did  not  Cost  over  $50.     Of  course  it  is  rough  ;  but 


it  is  pretty  substantial,  and  a  coat  of  white-wash 
makes  it  look  quite  respectable.  (It  will  cost  a 
good  deal  more  to  build  such  a  house  now,  as  mate- 
rials are  dearer. 

The  soil  on  which  my  house  is  built  is  a  rich 
gravelly  loam,  with  a  gravel  subsoil.  My  border 
was  trenched  to  the  depth  of  about  2  feet,  and  en- 
riched with  some  bones,  lime,  rubbish  and  stable 
manure.  I  planted  24  vines  :  12  on  the  front  and 
]2  on  the  back.  Of  varieties,  I  planted  8  Black 
Hamburg,  3  Wilmot's  Black  Hamburg,  2  White 
Frontignnn,  2  Golden  Chasselas,  1  Boyal  Musca- 
dine, 1  Grizly  Frontignan,  2  White  Cluster,  1  Zin- 
findal,  2  White  Sweetwater,  1  White  Nice,  and  1 
Muscat  of  Alexandria.  Some  of  the  vines  I  ob- 
tained of  0.  T.  Hobbs,  of  Randolph  Nurseries,  in 
this  county,  and  some  of  Ellwanger  &  Barry  of 
Rochester,  N.  Y.  Some  of  them  were  yearlings 
grown  from  single  eyes,  and  some  were  old(!r,  and 
grown  from  cuttings,  I  planted  them  in  April  and 
May,  1858.  They  all  grew  finely,  and  I  could  dis- 
cover little  difference  in  the  growth  of  those  that 
were  the  oldest  from  the  yearlings.  Some  of  them 
reached  the  top  of  the  house  the  first  season.  In 
the  meantime,  I  purchased  Allen's  work  on  the 
Grape,  and  followed  his  directions.  In  November 
I  cut  my  vines  back  two  or  three  buds,  and  covered 
them  with  straw.  The  next  season  they  all  grew 
amazingly,  and  some  of  them  bore  small  clusters 
of  grapes,  which  ripened  well.  I  then  had  my  first 
taste  of  a  foreign  grape.  I  was  delighted, — I  had 
never  tasted  any  thing  so  good  before. 

I  cut  my  vines  back  again,  according  to  direc- 
tions, washed  them  with  soap  and  sulphur,  and 
again  covered  them  up  for  winter.  The  third  year 
C1860),  I  was  rewarded  with  a  fine  crop  of  grapes. 
Nine  varieties  ripened  their  fruit, — and  such  beau- 
tiful clusters.  Some  clusters  of  the  Ilamburgs 
weighed  two  pounds  ;  and,  at  last,  I  had  plenty  of 
grapes  that  were  fit  to  eat,  that  were  not  hard  to 
take. 

I  must  mention  that  a  hail  storm  in  August  broke 
many  lights  of  glass,  which  cost  some  $10  for  re- 
pairs, but  did  not  injure  my  vines. 

In  1861  my  vines  did  not  bear  well.  I  think  I 
permitted  too  much  fruit  to  ripen  the  first  year  of 
bearing.  But  last  year,  (1862),  I  had  a  splendid 
crop,  exceeding  all  my  expectations.  I  had  over 
200  pounds  of  well  ripened  luscious  grapes.  I  had 
clusters  of  Wilmot's  Hamburg  which  weighed  2| 
pounds.  This  year  my  vines  are  healthy  and  vig- 
orous, but  did  not  fruit  as  heavy  as  last  j'ear, — 
about  half  as  many  as  last  year.  But  they  are  good 
and  well  ripened,  and  I  am  satisfied.     Since  my 


vines  commenced  bearing  I  have  sold  enough 
grapes  to  pay  for  my  grapery,  besides  many  given 
away,  and  using  all  we  wanted  in  my  family,  and 
they  have  not  received  more  care  or  attention  than 
is  usually  bestowed  upon  a  coop  of  chickens. 

Perhaps  it  is  unnecessary  for  me  to  say  any 
thing  as  to  varieties.  I  will  say,  however,'that  I 
find  the  Hamburgs  by  far  the  most  productive, 
and  they  are  sw-eet  and  wholesome  ;  and  if  I  were 
planting  for  profit  alone,  I  think  I  would  plant  no 
others.  There  are  other  varieties  which  are  more 
delicious,  and  amongst  these  I  like  the  White 
Frontignan  the  best. 

And  now  permit  me  to  say,  that  if  every  person 
liked  good  grapes  as  well  as  I  do,  (and  I  find  few 
persons  who  make  sour  faces  when  they  taste  mine), 
and  knew  how  easily  and  cheaply  they  can  be  raised, 
that  in  a  short  time  there  would  be  one-thousand 
grape-houses  in  the  country  lor  every  one  there  is 
now. 


CONSTRUCTION    OP  A  PROPAGATING 
HOUSE. 

BY   PETER   HENDERSON,    JERSEY   CITY,    N.  J. 

There  is  scarcely  a  week  passes  but  I  am  written 
to  by  some  of  my  distant  customers,  making  enqui- 
ries about  the  construction  of  Propagating  Pits,  or 
Greenhouses.  I  have  thus  far  endeavored  to  reply 
to  such  individually,  but  find  I  rarely  have  time  to 
do  so  in  a  proper  manner ;  but  as  every  body  roads 
the  Jloiithljj,  with  your  consent,  I  will  avail  myself 
of  its  pages  to  give  a  general  reply  to  all. 

Requiring  to  remove  my  Greenhouses  from  their 
present  location,  I  have  been  experimenting  for  the 
past  two  years  so  as  to  get  at  the  best  system  for 
permanent  construction  of  a  Propagating  House, 
and  for  Plant  Houses  for  commercial  purposes  ;  and 
the  result  of  our  experiments  lead  us  thus  far  to 
believe  the  best  style  of  a  Propagating  house  to  be 
what  is  endeavored  to  be  represented  in  the  accom- 
panying sketch  : 

It  will  be  understood  from  plan,  that  the  tanks 
A  A  are  each  an  undivided  "flow,"  the  4-inch 
pipes,  6^  C  being  the  "return,"  pipes  for  both. 
The  dotted  lines  D  being  a  light  board  partition, 
dividing  the  house.  The  advantages  of  a  house  so 
constructed  are,  that  during  the  early  fall  or  late 
spiing  months,  the  North-west  side  is  best  fitted 
for  Propagating,  while  in  the  dark  winter  months 
the  South-east  side  may  be  used  to  advantage. 
Later  in  Spring,  while  no  longer  in  use  as  a  cutting 
bench,  this  side,  with  its  "bottom  heat,"  will  be 
of  great  use  for  forwarding  newly  potted  off  cuttings, 


^^^ 


fl" 


Kh^  ©adcwr's  .ptonlljljr. 


n 


"mw — "I^iV^t 


ilje  §:mk\m'B  ^m%. 


preparatory  to  being  removed  to  other  houses  or 
frames.  All  that  is  necessary  when  the  heat  is  re- 
quired to  be  shut  off  from  other  divisions  of  the 
house,  is  merely  to  insert  a  plug  in  the  pipe  con- 
necting with  the  tank  in  the  division  not  wanted. 

The  use  of  the  return  pipe  is  necessary  to  keep 
down  steam  in  the  house,  which  otherwi,se  would 
be  troublesome  for  some  sorts  of  cuttings,  otherwise 
tanks  might  be  used  solely  without  pipes. 

The  walls  of  the  house  may  be  formed  of  stone, 
brick  or  wood,  as  convenient,  of  about  3  feet  in 
height,  as  shown  in  end  section. 

The  tanks  we  use  are  formed  of  tongued  and 
grooved  pine  boards,  well  fitted  in  white  lead,  and 
thoroughly  painted,  so  as  to  cover  up  all  chance 
of  leakage, — they  are  3  inches  deep,  the  top  cov- 
ered with  rough  boards,  (though  slate  or  light  flag- 
ging would  be  better),  on  which  is  laid  two  or  three 
inches  of  sand,  to  receive  cuttings. 

The  end  section  shows  the  angle  used,  formed  by 
6  feet  sashes.  No  cap  is  used  over  the  ridge,  the 
sashes  rest  on  a  strip  nailed  to  the  ridge  peice, 
which,  well  fitted,  keep  out  cold  and  wet  sufficient- 
ly, doing  away  with  the  necessity  of  the  cap. 

This,  with  us,  is  a  new  feature,  and  of  great  im- 
portance, as  it  enables  us  to  give  air  by  simply 
raising  the  sash  at  the  top,  which  is  done  by  a  small 
iron  bar,  of  from  8  to  10  inches  long,  with  a  few 
holes  in  it,  so  as  to  gradate  the  admission  of  air. 

The  cost  of  fully  completing  such  a  house,  boiler, 
tanks,  &c. ,  included,  is  in  this  district,  about  $5  per 
running  foot,  when  the  length  is  about  100  feet; 
in  shorter  houses  the  cost  would  be  a  little  more. 

In  my  next  I  will  describe  our  manner  of  con- 
structing Plant  Houses. 


DIVESTING   FRUIT    CF    THEIR    PULP. 

BY   SWIFT,    BRAND YWINE. 

In  the  third  volume  of  the  Moiithhj  there  is  an 
article  on  "  Skeletonizing"  the  leaves  of  plants, 
etc.,  which  does  not  give  the  process  for  divesting 
fruit  of  their  pulp.  The  following,  copied  from 
CassdVs  Popular  Educator^  for  1852,  may  be  of 
interest  to  your  readers  : 

"Take,  for  example,  a  fine  large  pear,  which  is 
not  tough,  but  soft ;  let  it  be  neatly  pared,  without 
squeezing  it,  and  without  injuring  either  the  crown 
or  the  stalk  ;  put  it  in  a  pot  of  rain  water,  cover  it, 
set  over  the  fire,  and  boil  it  gently  till  it  is  perfectly 
soft.  Then  take  it  out,  lay  it  on  a  dish  filled  with 
cold  water,  and  holding  it  with  one  hand  by  the 
stalk,  rub  off  as  much  pulp  as  you  cnn  with  the 
finger  and  thumb,  beginning  at  the  stalk,  and  rub- 


bing regularly  towards  the  crown.  The  fibres  are 
most  tender  towards  the  extremities,  and  therefore 
require  greater  care.  Any  pulp  now  sticking  to 
the  core  may  be  removed  with  the  point  of  the 
penknife.  In  order  to  see  how  the  operation  ad- 
vances, tha  water  should  frequently  be  thrown 
ftway,  that  clear  water  may  be  substituted.  AVhen 
the  pulp  is  removed,  the  remainder  should  be 
placed  in  spirits  of  wine.  The  fibres  that  will  thus 
be  presented  to  the  eye  exhibit  a  very  remarkable 
and  beautiful  structure.  The  same  process  may  be 
pursued  with  the  bark  of  trees,  with  a  similarly  in- 
teresting result." 


COMPARATIVE  MERITS  OP  NEW  GRAPES. 

BY  A   SUBBSCRIBER,  LYNN. 

We  have  been  considerably  interested  in  the  dis- 
cussions on  new  hardy  grapes  in  your  valuable  jour- 
nal, and  having  derived  much  information  from  its 
perusal,  thought  a  few  facts  and  our  own  experi- 
ence in  this  matter  might  be  of  some  interest  to 
those  about  commencing  to  plant,  but  not  knowing 
exactly  what  varieties  to  select  among  the  numer- 
ous kinds  recommended. 

Endeavoring  to  have  all  the  best  kinds  for  open 
air  culture,  of  value,  we  concluded  that  the  only 
way  to  get  the  information  wanted,  and  to  find  out 
the  comparative  value  of  new  kinds,  was  to  exam- 
ine them  growing  together  in  same  gardens,  under 
equal  advantages  of  soil,  culture  and  position,  and 
not  choose  our  sorts  by  specimens  exhibited  at  Hor- 
ticultural Societies,  where  varieties  in  competition 
are  grown  under  widely  different  circumstances,  so 
that  their  relative  merits  cannot  be  judged  correct- 
ly ;  for  instance,  there  were  kinds  exhibited  at  the 
Massachusett's  Horticultural  exhibition  the  past 
fall,  that  the  common  observer,  not  knowing  where 
they  were  raised,  would  suppose  to  be  earlier  and 
better  than  other  sorts  on  exhibition,  which  were 
greatly  their  superiors  every  way  when  grown  side 
by  side  in  the  same  garden. 

Taking  all  this  into  consideration,  and  wanting 
to  get  at  the  truth  in  the  matter,  we  concluded  to 
examine  for  ourselves  in  two  or  three  of  the  gardens 
about  Salem,  which  were  noted  for  growing  many 
varieties  of  out-door  grapes.  The  first  one  we  vis- 
ited was  that  of  Mr.  Wm.  H.  Plarrington,  an  ama- 
teur whose  experience  and  sound  judgment  in  these 
matters  was  second  to  no  one  in  this  vicinity  ;  here 
we  found  the  owner  at  home,  who  seemed  pleased 
to  show  us  everything  that  he  thought  would  help 
us  in  our  examination  :  he  first  pointed  out  to  us  a 
fine  vine  of  the  Hartford,  loaded  with   beautiful 


V^J 


clusters  of  fruit,  and  at  that  time  about  ripe  ;  this 
he  considered  of  some  value  for  its  earliness,  but 
not  so  good  a  quality  as  some  others  which  he  was 
soon  to  show  us,  and  it  had  the  fault  of  dropping 
its  fruit  after  being  picked  and  moved  about,  but, 
in  his  opinion,  would  be  more  valuable  for  market 
than  the  Concord,  to  which  he  now  directed  our 
attention  ;  this  was  just  beginning  to  turn,  and  not 
so  far  advanced  by  two  or  three  weeks,  and  two- 
thirds  of  them  were  affected  by  rot.  Directly  back 
of  this  was  a  vine  which  the  the  Concord  shaded 
somewhat,  bearing  an  enormous  crop  of  fruit,  nearly 
twice  the  size  of  Concord,  both  in  bunch  and  berry, 
and  already  far  advanced  tn  ripeness,  and  in  fact 
more  eatable  than  Hartford,  at  this  time  such  a 
sight  for  an  out-door  grape,  I  had  never  before  seen, 
as  it  had  two  and  three  clusters  to  each  shoot,  many 
of  them  weighing  a  pound,  and  some  Ir  pounds 
each  ;  the  vine  appeared  very  vigorous,  making 
monstrous  shoots,  and  fully  equalling  both  in  size 
of  wood  and  fruit  the  best  hot-house  productions. 
We  were  surprised,  and  inquired  the  name  of  this 
variety,  and  were  told  that  it  was  the  Rogers'  Hy- 
brid No.  15.  The  engraving  in  your  last  did  not 
do  it  justice,  and,  we  were  informed,  was  taken 
from  a  specimen  grown  on  a  vine  the  first  year  of 
bearing,  we  certainly  saw  one  hundred  bunches  on 
this  vine  larger,  and  some,  which  you  would  find  it 
difficult  to  get  on  a  page  of  your  journal.  Mr. 
Harrington  told  us  that  he  considorec  this  by  f;ir 
the  best  out-door  grape  in  his  collection,  and  he 
had  tried  everything  that  come  out.  This  vine  was 
planted  out  when  a  few  inches  high,  four  years  ago 
last  spring,  and  now  covers  a  space  75  x  10  feet, 
and  had  borne  this  season  between  eight  and  nine 
hundred  bunches,  that  have  fully  ripened  long  be- 
fore fiost.  Mr.  Harrington  remarked  :  "he  would 
rather  have  this  grape  for  his  own  use  than  the  best 
Hamburg  ;  and  intelligent  gardeners  who  have  had 
the  care  of  vineries,  both  in  this  country  and  Eu- 
rope, have  said  the  same,"  and  1  must  confess  that 
I  was  very  much  of  their  opinion,  although  it  was 
a  good  deal  to  acknowledge.  The  next  grape  we 
came  to  on  the  same  trellis  was  the  Creveling, 
which  has  since  been  taken  up  to  make  room  for 
the  No.  15.  Creveling,  here  in  equally  favorable 
place  was  not  quite  so  far  advanced  as  the  No.  15, 
and  the  foliage  was  much  injured  by  mildew,  while 
the  15  just  passed  was  perfectly  fresh  and  bright ; 
the  fruit  of  Creveling  which  we  tried  sometime  af- 
terward, was  found  to  be  sweet  and  tender,  but 
lacking  in  flavor,  and  in  no  way  comparable  to  15, 
and  many  other  Nos.  of  the  Rogers'  grapes,  al- 
though an  acquisition  in   earliness,  over   Concord 


and  Isabella,  for  our  climate,  and  a  good   sweet, 
tender,  grape  for  a  sheltered  garden. 

The  next  in  order  was  No.  3.  This  was  about 
the  earliest  of  any  grape  here,  ripening  quite  as 
soon  as  Hartford,  and  a  much  better  fruit,  and  the 
berries  not  dropping  when  ripe,  and  very  tender, 
juicy  and  high  flavored.  Then  conies  No.  4,  a  no- 
ble looking  fruit,  fully  equal  in  size  and  appearance 
to  the  best  Hamburgs  under  glass,  this  is  destined 
to  be  one  of  the  best  market  grapes  in  the  coun- 
try, being  as  early,  and  turning  here  a  little  before 
Creveling,  and  a  week  or  two  sooner  than  Concord, 
and  very  productive.  Then  comes  No.  1,  a  little 
later  but  a  splendid  looking,  light  colored,  large 
oval  grape,  very  tender,  thin  skinned,  with  a  pecu- 
liar, pleasant  flavor ;  this  has  been  pronounced  in 
Pennsylvania  one  of  the  best  hardy  grapes  there, 
although  not  quite  so  early  here  as  15  and  others, 
3^et  it  is  earlier  than  Isabella. 

There  are  numerous  other  Nos.  which  we  saw 
growing  here,  equal  to  most  of  these,  but  which  it 
would  take  too  much  of  your  space  to  now  describe, 
and  will  only  mention  a  few  more  kinds  and  their 
comparative  merits,  which  we  saw  growing  in  the 
garden  of  j\Jr.  Rogers,  on  whom  we  called  a  short 
time  after.  Here  we  found  a  place  not  so  well 
adapted  for  growing  grapes,  in  consequence  of  its 
being  an  old  garden,  and  crowded  with  trees  ;  kmt 
still  we  could  get  at  the  object  of  our  visit,  which 
was  to  compare  the  kinds  under  same  circumstances 
and  advantages ;  again  we  found  that  those  kinds 
which  were  best  at  Mr.  Harrington's  were  the  same 
here.  No.  3  was  the  earliest  grape ;  No.  39,  a 
black  grape,  next,  then  15,  19,  4,  33,  43,  and  Del- 
aware ;  after  these  came  Creveling,  which  here  was 
not  so  good,  and  had  the  same  fault  of  losing  its 
foliage  by  mildew,  and  the  same  want  of  flavor,  and 
sprightliness  in  fruit,  although  Mr.  Rogers  told 
us  that  a  friend  of  his,  in  the  southern  part  of  Sa- 
lem, who  had  this  grape  of  him,  in  a  more  f;ivora- 
ble  place,  had  ripened  it  two  or  three  weeks  in 
advance  of  Mr.  H. 's  and  his  own,  which  were  put 
on  exhibition  at  Boston,  and  there  reported  on  as 
being  very  early.  Here,  in  two  gardens,  grown 
side  by  side,  it  is  not  so  early  as  some  of  Ptogers' 
grapes,  and  much  inferior  in  flavor;  the  same  is 
the  case  with  Allen's,  which  was  later  than  Creve- 
ling, as  raised  here,  although  it  was  growing  on  a 
grape  border  in  the  most  favorable  place  in  this 
garden,  but  the  fruit  was  flavorless,  like  Chassclas 
grown  in  the  open  air,  and  later  than  3,  4,  15, 
Creveling,  Delaware  and  many  others  growing  near, 
although  it  might  be  grown  in  somefiivorable  place 
in  the  open  air,  where  Chasselas  would  mature,  to 


"■«5U 


TW 


'•^ 


%lt  ^arkncr's  S^^J^l'jIS* 


be  as  good  as  we  have  sometimes  tasted  it  grown 
under  glass  ;  this  sort  was  also  reported  on  as  being 
very  early  at  Boston. 

The  result  of  our  visit,  and  the  examination  of 
varieties  growing  under  equal  advantages,  we 
should  not  hesitate  from  what  we  saw  to  choose  for 
own  use  and  cultivation  here :  first,  far  above  all 
others,  Rogers  No.  15,  then  3,  4,  19,  and  for  curi- 
osity and  a  nice  little  early  grape,  the  Delaware, 
although  this  too  is  tender  in  foliage,  and  we  think 
it  would  be  ten  years  at  least  in  producing  the 
weight  of  fruit  we  saw  on  No.  15  at  Salem  ;  then 
Hartford,  as  a  very  early  sort,  and  for  market  the 
Creveling,  and  for  variety,  if  we  had  a  warm  nook 
or  corner  where  we  thought  Sweetwati3r  would 
ripen, — Allen's  White. 


THE    CALABRIAN    HAISIN    GRAPE. 

BY    "  FOX   MEADOW." 

The  Frontispiece  in  the  December  number  of 
the  Montldy  proves  for  a  certainty  what  a  good  ar- 
tist can  do,  for  any  person  who  has  ever  seen  the 
natural  fruit  will  recognize  it  in  a  moment. 

We  recognize  it  as  the  old  Flame-colored 
Tokay,  almost  as  diflPerent  from  the  "  Calabrian 
Raisin,"  as  a  Hamburg  is  from  a  Muscat.  If  Dr. 
G.  •?.  Norris  bought  the  variety  for  Calabrian 
Raisin,  it  is  a  mistake,  and  you  have  been  to  the 
great  expense  of  beautifully  lithographing  the  old 
Reine  de  Nice, — Qitcen  of  Nice, — Flame-colored 
Tokay, — Lomhardy  of  some  parts  of  England, 
and  the  "Wantage,"  so  called,  in  Berkshire,  where 
it  is  grown  extensively. 

I  think  that  if  we  were  to  hunt  the  world  over 
for  varieties  of  grapes,  we  could  not  find  one  that 
could  possibly  be  confounded  with  or  mistaken  for 
this  "  Flame-colored  Tokay,"  for  there  is  no  other 
grape,  that  I  am  aware  of,  whose  ouUine  of  berry 
is  any  thing  like  it.  The  berries  of  the  Calabrian 
Raisin  are  round,  jmi'e  white  and  transparent,  so 
much  so,  that  the  seeds  can  he  counted  in  the  fruit. 
The  flesh  is  sweet,  firm  and  agreeable.  The  leaves 
slightly  lobed,  smooth  on  both  sides,  and  the  ribs 
shine.  This  Reine  de  Nice,  or  which  of  the  above 
names  we  may  think  proper  to  call  it,  is  a  stronger 
grower  than  the  "  Calabrian  Raisin,"  and  will  pro- 
duce fruit  three  times  it  weight,  but  inferior  in 
quality  to  the  grape  you  intended  to  illustrate. 

Some  of  these  late  grapes  im])rove  in  flavor  by 
hanging  long  Cu'onths)  on  the  vine.  The  Barha- 
rossa,  may  be  taken  as  an  illustration,  for  it  loses 
its  Cto  me)  peculiar  sickly  flavor,  and,  with  time, 
becomes  nearly  as  good  as  a  good  Ilanthurg.  With 


this  "Flame-colored  Tokay,"  I  fancy  the  flesh  ot 
the  fruit  gets  tougher,  and  nothing  added  to  its 
^/«Vc?  quality  flavor.  The  "  Calabrian  Raisin  "  we 
may  put  down  as  second  quality,  beautiful  to  look 
at,  and  loses  nothing  of  what  excellence  it  may  be 
considered  to  possess,  by  hanging  on  the  vine. 

We  are  sorry  to  have  to  call  your  attention  to 
this  mistake,  but  we  know  full  weU  that  you  are 
iust  as  anxious  that  fruit  should  receive  its  proper 
nomenclature,  as  we  are.  To  Dr.  Norris  we  would 
say,  "cheer  up,"  and  graft  the  "true  one"  on  its 
audacious  representative. 

[We  are  very  much  obliged  to  "F.  M."  for  his 
objection,  which  we  are  inclined  to  think  well 
founded.  We  have  not  had  the  opportunity  of 
seeing  "Flame-colored  Tokay"  for  many  years, 
but  our  recollection  is  that  the  berries  are  barely 
oval,  and  entirely  without  that  peculiar  contraction 
towards  the  apex,  so  well  marked  by  our  artist. 

Still,  by  reference  to  an  English  description,  it  is 
evident  "  F.  M.'s"  description  of  Calabrian  Raisin 
is  correct.  Our  recollection  of  Flame-colored  Tokay 
is  that  it  has  very  deeply  lobed  leaves,  and  is  read- 
ily distinguished  by  that  character. — Ed.] 


PENNSYLVANIA    HCRTICDLTUEAL 
SOCIETY. 

DISCUSSIONAL   MEETING,  NOVEMBER   3,    1863. 

The  President  in  the  chair. 

Mr.  Thomas  Meehan  presented  the  following 
Essay  on 

ORNAMENTAL   PLANTING   OF    TREES 
AND  SHRUBS. 

This  is  a  subject  on  which  an  extensive  treatise 
might  be  written  without  exhausting  it ;  and  it  is 
one  also  on  which  a  considerable  dlff'erence  of  opin- 
ion will  exist,  as  what  is  called  taste  has  so  much 
to  do  with  tlie  question,  and  we  all  know  how  vari- 
able tastes  are.  It  must  not,  however,  be  supposed 
that  taste  is  altogether  a  creature  of  education. 
Correct  taste  is  founded  on  principle.  Without  a 
reason  can  be  given  for  what  we  do,  it  is  merely 
caprice.  Some  persons,  it  is  true,  seem  to  possess 
good  taste  as  if  by  instinct.  But  this  is  rather  from 
education  ;  or  habit,  which  is  but  the  sum  total  of 
education.  Though  the  beautiful  handiwork  of 
such  persons  seems  to  spring  from  mere  whims  for 
which  they  can  give  no  reason  ;  yet  one  accustomed 
to  analyse  works  of  art,  in  order  to  discover  their 
scientific  principles,  will  trace  it  all  to  true  natural 
laws  of  beauty,  which  can  be  made  evident  to  all. 

I  take  for  my  leading  principle  in  ornamental 
planting,  that  Utility  should  be  at  the  bottom  of  it 


:=^^ 


all.  Ornament  should  invariably  be  an  adjunct  to 
something  useful.  Our  clothing  is  something  ne- 
cessary to  keep  us  warm.  That  want  supplied,  we 
study  to  make  it  as  ornamental  as  possible.  A 
bunch  of  flowers  carried  on  a  ladies  head  because 
flowers  are  pretty,  would  be  ridiculous  ;  but  as  an 
ornament  to  a  bonnet,  which  is  supposed  at  least 
to  be  something  useful,  they  are  in  proper  place, 
and  always  please.  Even  a  nose-gay,  which  seems 
to  have  no  useful  purpose  connected  with  it  when 
simply  carried  in  the  hand,  had  its  first  origin  in 
the  desire  to  have  something  sweet  to  smell  at — 
and  though  flowers  are  often  bunched  together 
that  have  no  fragrance  whatever,  that  is  rather  a 
perversion  of  their  real  object ;  for  who  would  carry 
around  artificial  flowers  in  their  hand,  no  matter  if 
they  were  so  perfect  in  imitation  as  to  deceive  every 
one  who  gazed  on  them,  merely  because  they  were 
pretty,  but  without  any  ostensible  use  that  could  be 
made  of  them  in  that  way?  I  am  particular  to 
dwell  on  this  point,  because  it  seems  to  be  very  fre- 
quently lost  sight  of  by  persons  of  reputed  taste. 
Even  Downing,  our  great  master  of  the  art  of 
Landscape  Gardening,  does  not  seem  aware  of  this 
principle  of  utility  underlaying  all,  nor  indeed  do 
we  now  remember  any  author  who  does  more  than 
refer  to  it  in  an  incidental  way.  Downing  indeed 
seems  to  regard  true  taste  in  planting,  as  merely  a 
"  copying  of  nature  ;"  and  the  best  advice  he  can 
give  to  a  learner,  who  has  had  no  experience  in  or- 
namental planting,  is  to  throw  a  lot  of  stones 
around  the  spot  proposed  to  be  planted — a  handful 
altogether — scattering  them  everywhere  around — 
and  where  each  stone  fills,  there  stick  in  the  tree. 
This  may  be  nature's  way  of  doing  things  ;  but  it  is 
barbarous  uncivilized  nature.  When  the  acorn 
falls  as  it  may,  or  the  seed  is  scattered  by  the  wind, 
nature  is  so  bent  on  the  preservation  of  the  species, 
that  she  loses  all  thought  of  beauty.  She  is  then 
in  her  most  wayward  mood,  and  in  the  worst  possi- 
ble state  to  make  a  model  for  us  to  copy  after. 

I  would  rather  tell  the  beginner  to  ask  himself 
why  he  plants  ?  what  object  he  has  ?  what  he  de- 
signs to  accomplish  on  the  place  he  proposes  to 
plant?  It  may  be  a  very  hot  place  in  summer — 
either  about  the  house,  or  along  the  walks  or  drives 
leading  to  or  around  it.  For  the  purpose  of  shade, 
quick  growing  trees,  and  trees  with  spreading  heads 
must  be  selected.  Then  we  proceed  to  make  this 
useful  idea  bring  forth  as  much  beauty  as  possible; 
and,  still  keeping  in  view  spreading  and  rapid 
growing  trees,  select  them  of  beautiful  forms, 
handsome  flowers,  striking  foliage ;  or  perhaps 
some  point  is  particularly  cold  in  winter — here  we 


vmj 


will  want  to  thickly  belt  with  evergreens,  and, 
enough  of  the  useful  being  conceded,  proceed  to 
carry  it  out  with  as  much  beauty  and  grace  as  pos- 
sible. 

But  besides  shade  and  shelter,  there  is  another 
want  of  the  mind,  which  planting  can  well  minister 
unto.  A  man's  desire  to  own  land,  is  usually 
limited  only  by  his  means  of  aquiring  it,  or  of  keep- 
ing in  good  order  what  he  can  possess.  Conse- 
quently all  wish  their  places  to  look  larger  than 
what  they  really  are.  Judicious  planting  will  pro- 
duce astonishing  results  in  this  line.  The  bounda- 
ries are  first  planted  as  thickly  as  possible — fast 
growing  deciduous  trees  behind ;  a  belting  of 
Evergreens  in  front,  and  again  before  all,  masses  of 
dense  shrubs  or  thick  set  low  growing  trees.  As 
there  can  then  be  no  line  fence  seen,  the  planting 
may  be  the  boundary  of  a  wood  of  boundless  extent 
belonging  to  the  proprietor  for  all  the  spectator  can 
know.  The  idea  can  be  made  still  more  effective 
by  varying  the  outline  somewhat — bringing  it  for- 
ward in  some  places  and  allowing  it  to  recede  in 
others ;  always  bearing  in  mind  that  while  an  ob- 
ject in  the  advance  does  not  appear  any  nearer  to 
us  than  it  really  is,  one  receding  especially  when  on 
a  slight  descent — seems  farther  ofi"  than  it  is  in  fact. 
Another  way  to  heighten  apparent  size  of  ground, 
is  to  plant  masses  in  front,  but  disconnected  from, 
the  trees  composing  the  boundary  lines-  The  lines 
of  green  lawn  wind  around  the  masses  of  foliage, 
and  ultimately  lose  themselves  within  it ;  no  one 
guessing,  in  a  well  planted  place — where.  If  there 
be  room  enough  to  have  several  lines  of  masses  of 
foliage  in  advance  of  each  other,  the  effect  in  giving 
an  appearance  of  immense  extent  to  a  place  can  be 
made  complete,  a  place  of  say  five  acres,  in  the 
hands  of  one  who  understands  the  business  may  be 
made  to  appear  of  ten,  or  even  twenty  acres  at 
will. 

Then  comes  in  ornament  and  beauty.  Having 
arranged  in  your  mind,  where  your  groups  of  trees 
are  to  be,  and  why  they  are  to  be,  select  such  trees 
as  will  not  only  enable  you  to  accomplish  the  object, 
but  will  also  produce  the  most  lovely  and  charming 
effects  in  the  accomplishment.  A  knowledge  of  the 
peculiar  character  of  trees  individually  is  esential 
to  the  best  results.  If,  for  instance,  we  p-ut  a 
single  tree  that  keeps  its  leaves  green  on  late,  in  a 
group  with  many  other  trees  that  fade  away  in  the 
fall,  early  and  of  brilliant  color ;  the  idea  suggested 
is  not  a  pleasing  one.  It  seems  as  if  it  had  been 
forgotten.  Something  seems  the  matter,  and  the 
circumstance  seems  rather  an  odd  than  an  interest- 
ing one. 


s 

^ 


Real  evergreens  do  not  strike  us  so  disagreeablj' — 
we  know  they  are  evergreens,  and  they  seem  to  add 
a  warm  and  strong  expression  to  the  scenery  that 
always  pleases  us. 

When  studying  the  purely  ornamental  points  of 
trees,  there  are  many  subjects  for  consideration. 
Some  come  out  early  into  leaf,  or  retain  their 
leaves  late  in  fall.  Others  have  beautiful  colored 
young  growths  when  first  pushing — others  have 
their  most  brilliant  hues  when  fading  away  in  the 
fall.  Again  as  to  form,  some  have  slender,  graceful 
twiggy  growths,  like  the  Larch  or  the  Beech, 
others  are  vigorous  and  stout  like  many  Oaks  and 
Ashes.  Then  there  are  round-headed  trees,  spread- 
ing and  diffuse  trees,  weeping  trees,  erect  trees, 
and  trees  with  diff"erent  colored  wood.  Indeed 
there  is  no  end  of  material  for  skillful  combinations; 
for  if  24  letters  in  our  alphabet  can  give  thirty- 
thousand  words ;  what  a  capacious  language  does 
not  nature  afford  us  in  the  hundreds  of  different 
trees  and  shrubs,  that  form  the  alphabet  of  natural 
arborescent  beauty ! 

Very  little  has  been  written  .in  respect  to  the 
practical  combination  of  trees  and  shrubs,  so  as  to 
get  from  certain  groups  high  artistic  effects ;  and 
I  !^hould  be  pleased  to  hear  from  any  of  my  fellow 
members  present  accounts  of  groups  that  may  have 
struck  them  as  particularly  beautiful.  In  the  early 
spring  for  instance,  I  have  noticed  the  Red  bud,  or 
Judas  tree  ;  the  Halesia,  or  Silver  bell;  and  groups 
of  Forsythia  around  the  two;  be  a  very  pretty  com- 
bination. Again  the  Pyrus  japonica,  Forsythia, 
or  Spiroea  prunifolia,  planted  in  circles  around  a 
dwarf  growing  evergreen — a  Holly  for  instance,  is 
one  of  the  most  lovely  things  imaginable.  The 
Spiroea  is  first  planted  around  the  Holly,  around  that 
the  Forsythia,  and  finishing  off  the  whole,  a  circle 
of  the  Scarlet  Pyrus  japonica.  I  have  noticed  an 
edging  or  border  of  Deutzia  gracilis  along  a  clump 
of  ^Mahonia,  to  add  exceedingly  to  the  already  great 
beauty  of  this  plant  when  in  blossom — but  I  have 
already  occupied  too  much  of  your  time,  and  can 
do  no  more  than  suggest  the  subject  for  your  dis- 
cussion. 

Before,  however,  I  conclude,  I  would  refer  to  the 
ornamental  planting  of  small  places.  The  same 
laws  of  utility  or  necessity  exist  here  as  in  large 
places,  to  shade,  to  screen — to  add  to  apparent  ex- 
tent— many  of  them  indeed  to  a  greater  extent 
than  in  larger  places;  and  yet  it  is  a  very  common 
thing  to  hear  people  say  it  is  a  ridiculous  to  apply 
the  same  rules  to  the  planting  of  a  small  place, 
that  you  would  in  the  arrangement  of  a  larger  one. 
I  would  grant  that  it  is  more  difficult  to  apply  these 


rules.  The  many  failures  we  see,  arise  from  the 
difficulty.  Yet  the  difficulty  seems  greater  than  it 
is.  It  is  not  that  rules  should  be  different,  but 
that  we  should  apply  different  materials  with  the 
varying  circumstances.  On  a  large  place  we  use 
large  trees,—  the  Tulip-tree,  Beech  or  Chestnut. 
On  a  small  place  Magnolias,  Hornbeams  and 
Chinquapins  have  to  be  employed  to  get  the  same 
results  in  a  small  place.  Yet  it  is  an  almost  uni- 
versal thing  to  find  Tulip-trees,  Maples,  Lindens 
and  others  occupying,  when  but  10  or  15  years  old, 
scores  of  feet  of  space,  planted  thickly  on  a  hun- 
dred feet  lot.  I  have  two  places  now  before  my 
mind's  ej'e — each  one  planted  about  10  years  ago — 
one  was  set  out  with  beautiful  trees — the  other  had 
clumps,  masses  and  borders  of  shrubs  planted  with 
the  trees.  In  the  latter  case  the  trees  were  grad- 
ually thinned  as  the  shrubbery  grew  larger,  till  now 
the  place  seems  double  the  size  it  really  is,  and  is 
the  admiration  of  all  who  behold  it.  The  other, 
looked  very  pretty  when  it  was  planted  ;  the  trees 
were  straight  as  could  be  selected  ;  the  heads  were 
as  full  as  could  be  desired,  and  the  arrangement 
all  that  could  be  done  with  them  ;  now  they  have 
large  thick  trunks ;  the  stout  heads  have  smoth- 
ered out  the  lower  branches,  and  nothing  but  the 
bare  trunks  are  visible.  Neither  Shrubbery  nor 
grass  will  grow  under  them — and  the  only  objects 
of  beauty  to  be  seen  on  the  place,  under  these 
scaffold  looking  objects,  are  a  rather  pretty  house, 
and  the  pretty  female  members  of  the  family,  who 
can  be  seen  anywhere  about  the  place,  at  any  time, 
by  any  rude  gazer  who  may  chance  to  be  passing 
by. 

There  is  nothing  like  small  trees  and  small  shrubs 
for  ornamenting  small  places,  unless  it  be  orna- 
mental hedges,  and  it  is  surprising  how  little  this 
idea  is  employed  to  make  small  places  seem  larger. 
By  uj-ing  them  to  divide  lots,  gardening  of  very 
distinct  characters  can  be  carried  out  on  several 
parts  of  the  ground,  and  by  thus  having  much 
contrast  of  character  on  one  place,  and  so  much 
more  than  is  usual,  the  idea  of  immense  extent  is 
readily  obtained. 

To  sum  up  my  views  of  Ornamental  Planting, 
they  are  briefly  these  : 

Utility  is  the  foundation  of  beauty  ;  and  no  at- 
tempts at  ornamental  planting  will  be  successful, 
that  do  not  have  useful  ideas  for  their  starting  point. 

The  useful  idea  being  fully  conceded,   planting 
to  be  the  most  highly  ornamental,  will  depend  in 
general  on  its  harmony  with  that  idea,  and  on  ? 
skillful   combination  of  the  various   elements   of 
beauty  in  trees,  with  one  another. 


^^ 


i^ 


As  the  same  laws  of  necessity  must  exist  in  small 
places  as  in  large  ones,  the  same  rules  of  landscape 
gardening  will  apply,  the  only  difference  being  to 
adapt  smaller  materials  to  the  lessened  size  of  the 
grounds. 

Mr.  Walter  Elder  also  presented  an  essay  on  the 
same  subject. 

Mr.  Meehan,  in  reply  to  a  question,  stated  that 
he  had  never  seen  a  place  planted  exclusively  with 
one  kind  of  tree.  There  would  be  too  much  same- 
ness.    Would  prefer  a  variety. 

Mr.  Satterthwait — Opinions  differ  as  to  planting 
different  kinds  together.  Many  mix  the  various 
evergreens,  as  border  to  a  carriage  drive. 

Mr.  Meehan — Much  depends  on  the  style  of 
drives.  We  should  seek  variety  without  strong 
contrast.  For  instance,  the  Austrian  Pine  does  not 
match  well  with  many  other  evergreens.  The  Nor- 
way is  one  of  these.  The  White  and  Austrian  Pines 
harmonize  well  in  shape,  and  afford  a  pleasing  con- 
trast in  color. 

The  President — It  was  the  old  fashioned  practice 
about  Philadelphia  to  plant  country  places  with  one 
kind  of  trees,  as  the  White  Pine  for  instance.  De- 
ciduous trees  look  well  along  an  avenue,  but  it  is 
difficult  to  obtain  an  uniform  growth. 

Mr.  Satterthwait — Sees  no  objection  to  alterna- 
ting Norway  Firs  and  Austrian  Pines  along  a  wind- 
ing roadway.  Would  mingle  the  Austrian,  Scotch 
and  White  Pines,  and  the  Firs  generally. 

Mr.  Meehan — As  a  rule  there  must  be  a  certain 
degree  ef  harmony,  even  in  contrasts  ;  they  should 
not  be  too  violent.  The  Austrian  and  Norway  are 
entirely  different  :  one  round-headed,  the  other 
conical ;  one  has  small  leaves  the  other  large  ;  one 
with  stiff  branches,  the  other  of  a  graceful,  sweep- 
ing habit. 

Mr.  Harrison — Trees  should  never  be  planted  so 
near  a  house  as  to  allow  the  drip  of  its  branches  to 
fall  upon  it,  or  even  to  shade  it  much.  Shade 
should  be  obtained  by  means  of  porches  and  veran- 
dahs. Close  proximity  of  trees  insures  a  damp  un- 
healthy atmosphere.  The  grove  or  thicket  should 
be  at  a  little  distance  from  the  dwelling,  to  be  re- 
sorted to  in  pleasant  weather,  for  its  cooling  shade. 

Mr.  Satterthwait — The  sunny  side  of  the  house 
should  always  have  some  shade  from  trees, — not 
too  many,  as  in  a  wood,  for  it  breeds  mosquitoes. 
Large  trees  serve  an  excellent  purpose  as  lightning 
conductors,  at  50  feet  or  so  from  the  house. 

jNIr.  Hayes — Would  Mr.  Jleehan  prepare  the 
ground  for  planting  ornamental  trees  as  thoroughly 
as  for  fruit  trees  ? 


Mr.  Meehan — Yes ;  more  so  in  some  cases.  We 
want  to  secure  I'apid  growth. 

The  President  Cwho  has  an  Austrian  Pine  of  sin- 
gular beauty  on  his  lawn)  planted  in  an  old  vegeta- 
ble garden,  and  every  tree  and  shrub  makes  excel- 
lent growth. 

Mr.  Meehan — Many  of  the  conifers,  if  grown  too 
fast,  get  thin  and  unsightly.  On  the  other  hand, 
if  the  soil  is  poor,  enrich  it ;  dig  deep  around  tlie 
trees  at  the  ends  of  the  roots,  or  top-dress. 

Mr.  Satterthwait — The  White  Pine  will  grow  in 
soils  where  there  is  apparently  no  vegetable  matter 
present.     It  is  the  only  tree  I  know  of  that  will. 

The  President — A  pretty  effect  can  be  produced 
by  massing  some  of  the  new  and  rare  varieties  of 
evergreens  in  pots.  Being  of  late  introduction  and 
comparatively  small  size,  they  are  readily  grouped 
on  the  lawn  in  the  pots,  and  covered  with  sod,  pre- 
senting the  appearance  of  growing  where  they 
stand.  In  the  fall  the  sod  is  removed  and  the  plants 
are  taken  into  winter  quarters. 

]\Ir.  Meehan — The  overgrowth  of  evergreens,  in 
too  rich  a  soil,  may  be  checked  by  pinching  in  the 
young  shoots  before  they  have  made  more  than 
one  quarter  their  full  growth.  They  send  out  new 
buds  at  once,  and  grow  thick  and  bushy.  The 
White  Pine,  thus  treated,  forms  new  buds  along 
the  whole  length  of  each  branch. 

Mr.  Harrison — There  is  danger  of  over-pinching. 
Unless  done  with  skill  and  discretion,  the  trees  are 
prone  to  grow  too  much  to  top,  which  then  over- 
hangs the  base,  and  the  conical  character  is  lost. 
Bushiness  to  is  attained,  in  the  Norway  for  exam- 
ple, at  the  expense  of  the  natural  pendulous  grace- 
ful sweep  of  the  branches.  Trees  often  root-pruned 
and  removed  with  a  ball  of  earth,  often  take  this 
character,  looking  like  well  shorn  box. 

Mr.  Satterthwait — There  is  no  difficulty  in  prun- 
ing evergreens.  Has  cut  off  the  tops  of  Balm  of 
Gilead  20  feet  high  ;  the  lower  branches  thicken 
up  and  the  trees  promise  well.  Still  there  is  that 
trouble  of  the  overhanging  top  growth.  The  Balm 
has  been  much  decried  of  late.  When  well  treated 
it  is  a  beautiful  and  valuable  varietj^  They  are 
generally  poor,  because  taken  out  of  the  woods  and 
unskillfully  treated  in  the  nursery. 

Mr.  Meehan — In  deep  alluvial  soils  and  well 
sheltered,  the  Balm  of  Gilead  will  do  as  well  and 
last  as  long  as  the  Norway  Fir.  It  is  always  green 
and  does  not  cliange  its  color  like  many  others. 

The  President — The  Silver  Fir,  is  preferable  to 
the  Balm,  handsome  and  a  better  grower. 

Mr.  Satterthwait — If  evergreens  are  so  treated 
as  to  thicken  well  at  the  base  when  quite  young, 


they  will  do  well  afterwards.  They  are  much  in- 
jured by  the  North-west  winds,  except  the  Austrian 
and  Scotch  Pines,  which  do  not  suffer  from 
them. 

The  President— How  can  a  clump,  which  has 
grown  up  thick  and  bushy,  be  made  available. 

Mr.  Meehan— No  use  can  be  made  of  it  except 
for  its  outline,  or  to  form  a  secluded  seat  or  arbor. 
The  best  new  hardy  arbor  vitas  is  the  Thujiopsis 
borealis. 

The  Lombardy  Poplar  was  spoken  of  disparaging- 
ly, by  some  members  on  account  of  its  bare  ragged 
appearance  when  old  ;  and  approvingly  by  others, 
as  contrasting  well  with  round-headed  trees  and 
clumps,  and  as  being  in  good  keeping  with  flat- 
roofed  houses,  like  the  Italian  villas. 

The  President— The  area  of  a  small  country  place 
may  be  apparently  enlarged  by  judicious  planting, 
co.icealing  the  boundaries,  winding  walks,  clumps, 
and  the  like. 

Mr.  Harrison — Planting  large  trees  for  immedi- 
ate effect  generally  results  unsatisfiictorily.  Some 
ambitious  attempts  of  this  kind  in  the  New  York 
Central  Park  have  proved  entire  failures.  It  is 
better  to  give  thorough  preparation  to  the  soil  and 
plant  young  trees. 

Mr.  Meehan — To  attain  this  end,  would  plant 
both  old  and  young  trees.  When  the  younger  trees 
had  attained  sufficient  size  the  older  ones,  having 
served  the  purpose  of  immediate  effect  and  shade, 
can  be  removed. 

The  Silver  Poplar,  though  very  beautiful  in  foli- 
age, is  objectionable  from  its  propensity  to  throw 
up  young  suckers,  and  disfigure  the  lawn.  It  an- 
swers well  along  a  paved  street. 

Mr.  Satterthwait — What  we  need  is  rapidly  grow- 
ing trees.  The  moving  of  large  deciduous  trees  is  a 
great  folly,  and  should  never  be  done.  Evergreens, 
Norways  in  particular,  can  be  easily  and  safely 
moved,  10  feet  high. 

Mr.  Meehan— The  Holly  can  be  transplanted 
well  in  August,  if  cut  in  severely,  and  the  leaves  all 
removed.    In  spring  or  late  autumn  they  often  fail. 

Mr.  Hayes — Transplanted  a  number  of  Hollies, 
in  the  spring  of  1840,  from  Delaware  to  one  of  the 
public  squares  in  Philadelphia  ;  they  all  failed,  al- 
though moved  with  great  care  and  well  treated. 
Has  made  several  other  trials,  but  could  never  suc- 
ceed with  them.  The  Tulip  Poplar,  Mr.  Saunders 
says,  should  be  cut  back  to  a  bare  stump,  when 
transplanted. 

jVIr.  IMeehan — Large  trees,  no  matter  how  large, 
if  growing  thriftily  at  the  time  of  transijlanting,  and 
skillfully  moved,  will  thrive. 


Mr.  Satterthwait — Tulip  Poplars,  if  taken  when 
small,  and  moved  once  or  twice  in  the  nursery,  say 
every  two  years,  get  fibrous-rooted,  and  are  then 
easily  transplanted  and  flourish  afterwards.  Is  there 
any  advantage  in  shortening  in  evergreens  is  trans- 
planting? 

Mr.  Meehan — Yes,  with  all  kinds.  You  check 
evaporation  by  cutting  off  the  branches ;  this  is 
more  the  case  with  evergreens  than  deciduous  trees. 
I  make  a  practice  of  cutting  back  all  evergreens  in 
transplanting,  when  there  is  risL 


ON    THE    PRESERVATION    OF    FOOD. 

BY   PROF.    J.    B.    BOOTH, 

Read  before  Pennsylvania  Hort.  Society,  Sept.  1st. 

Holding  the  appointment  of  Professor  of  Horti- 
cultural Chemistry  to  the  Horticultural  Society,  I 
maybe  permitted  here  to  state  publicly  an  opinion, 
which  I  have  often  privately  stated  to  members  of 
the  Society,  that  while  some  chemists  ore  disposed 
to  overrate  the  value  of  Chemistry,  as  applied  to 
Horticulture,  many  practical  men  underrate  it. 
That  Chemistry  has,  as  yet,  barely  effected  an  en- 
trance upon  the  subject  of  the  growth  of  plants; 
that  discoveries  so  far  are  as  applicable  to  Agricul- 
ture as  to  Horticulture ;  that  the  line  of  observa- 
tion and  experiment  has  chiefly  been  in  the 
direction  of  manures  ;  and  that  the  Chemist,  with- 
out excess  of  sanguine  expectations,  can  forsee  that 
Chemistry  will  eventually  play  an  important  part 
in  cultivating  the  products  of  the  soil. 

Since  Horticulture  deals  almost  exclusively  in 
organic  life,  the  present  youthful  condition  of  or- 
ganic chemistry  allows  a  very  limited  application  of 
chemical  science  to  the  art  of  modifying  the  pro- 
ductions of  plant-life,  by  garden-culture.  All  admit 
that  the  soil  performs  important  functions  in  the 
growth  of  plants,  and  yet  I  entertain  a  very  meagre 
opinion  on  the  present  practical  value  of  the  an- 
alysis of  soils.  Notwithstanding  the  large  amount 
of  time  and  ability  devoted  by  Chemists  and  Agri- 
culturists to  the  subject  of  manures,  our  progress 
in  this  path  has  been  slow,  although  somethmg 
positive  has  been  gained.  The  art  of  modifying 
the  growth  of  plants,  so  as  to  obtain  this  or  that 
vegetable  principle,  contained  in  the  leaf,  root, 
stem  or  fruit,  in  greater  quantity  and  of  better 
quality,  is  an  art,  as  yet  in  embryo.  On  whatever 
side  of  Horticulture  I  look,  I  perceive  a  vast  void 
in  the  applications  of  Chemistry,  which  only  time, 
patience,  diligence  and  well  directed  experiment, 
can  fill  up  in  the  future.  Nevertheless  we  should 
all  try  to  add  our  grain  to  the  heap  of  human  know!- 


edge,  by  thoughtful  experiment  and  reflective  ob- 
servation, even  as  our  present  stage  of  civilization 
is  due  to  the  labors  of  those  who  have  gone  be- 
fore us. 

To  show  that  Chemistry  is  not  so  far  in  the  rear  as 
some  persons  assume,  I  may  mention  a  few  points, 
in  which  it  has  obtained,  by  artificial  means,  the 
productions  of  the  vegetable  kingdom.  A  portion 
of  the  oil  of  Winter-green,  { Gaultheria  proatmbfns) 
has  been  made  in  Paris,  France,  from  Willow-bark, 
and  one  of  the  products  arising  from  distilling  wood, 
but  the  plant  still  beats  the  Chemist  in  economy. 
Oxalic  acid,  once  obtained  exclusively  from  plants, 
is  now  wholly  made  artificially  from  molasses,  &c. 
Essential  oil  of  mustard  has  been  made  artificially. 
One  Chemist  changed  oil  of  turpentine  into  the 
agreeable  oil  of  lemons,  while  it  has  been  the 
practice  of  unscrupulous  persons  to  adulterate  oil 
of  lemo«s  with  that  of  turpentine,  unwittingly 
practicing  on  one  homoepathic  principle  of  like  to 
It'ke,  while  they  conveniently  overlooked  the  other 
principle  of  putting  in  an  infinitesimal  dose  of  tur- 
pentine by  way  of  improving  the  oil  of  lemons. 
Bituminous  coal  offers  in  its  products  of  distillation 
a  fair  field  for  the  chemist  to  strive  with  the 
modern  vegetable  kingdom  in  its  useful  products. 
Chemists  have  made  alcohol  from  coal-gas,  and  the 
fire  used  to  make  the  gas,  has  transferred  its  prop- 
erties to  what  by  some  is  termed.  liquid  firc^ 
although  others  regard  its  use  as  producing  illumi- 
nation. 

The  beautiful  dyes  recently  made  from  coal ;  and 
peculiar  composition  and  properties,  most  clearly 
indicate  to  the  chemist,  that  at  no  distant  day,  In- 
digo-blue will  issued  from  the  laboratory,  quite  as 
perfect  as  from  the  Indigofera.  Further,  we  need 
not  feel  anxiety  at  the  reckless  waste  of  the 
Chinchona  forests  in  South  America,  for  there  is 
the  strongest  reason  for  asserting,  that  quinine  will 
be  supplied  to  the  Medical  Profession  by  the  man- 
ufacturing chemist.  Time  would  fliil  me  to  enu- 
merate what  have  been,  and  what  will  certainly  be, 
the  useful  results  of  modern  organic  chemistry. 
We  may  however  infer  from  what  has  been  said, 
that  since  we  know  how  to  produce  organic  prin- 
ciples by  art,  the  same  ability  devoted  to  horticul- 
ture, would  result  in  making  plants  produce  them 
in  greater  quantity  and  perfection.  In  a  few  in- 
stances where  it  has  been  tried,  success  has  crowned 
the  undertaking. 

In  the  limited  field  of  Horticultural  Chemistry, 
I  have  selected  as  a  subject  of  remark,  the  Preser- 
of  Food,  on  which  chemistry  is  beginning  to  throw 
some  light,  and  although  the  illumination  is  feeble, 


it  is  better  than  wholly  groping  in  the  dark. 

I  propose  to  consider  the  modes  by  which  the 
products  of  organic  life,  destined  for  food,  may  be 
preserved  unaltered,  or  nearly  so,  for  a  lengthened 
period  of  time.  Life  contains  within  itself  the 
germs  of  decay,  and  the  moment  life  ceases,  pure 
chemical  action  exerts  its  power  uncontrolled,  until 
the  complex  combinations  of  organized  structure 
are  resolved  into  the  simplest  chemical  compounds 
or  elements.  Since  this  action  is  only  exerted  on 
particles  of  matter  in  a  condition  of  motion,  the 
liquid  state  is  the  most  favorable,  and  hence  the 
juices  of  plants  offer  a  medium  for  the  exercise  of 
decomposing  chemical  action.  By  removing  the 
water,  the  tendency  to  decomposition  is  diminished 
or  destroyed,  and  therefore  desiccation  is  one  of  the 
methods  adopted  for  preserving  the  products  of 
horticulture. 

Again,  decomposition  is  observed  to  take  place 
by  an  internal  change  in  organized  matter,  by  fer- 
mentation, putrefaction,  mould,  &c.,  this  change 
would  seem  to  be  produced,  or  at  least  connuenced, 
by  the  agency  of  the  air.  If  we  can,  more  or  less, 
perfectly  exclude  the  air  from  organic  matter,  un- 
der circumstances  to  be  pointed  out,  decomposition 
may  be  prevented  or  postponed,  in  spite  of  moisture 
present,  and  thus  food  may  be  preserved  for  a  con- 
siderable period  of  time. 

The  two  modes  then  we  propose  to  consider,  are 
first,  by  the  exclusion  of  moisture,  and  second, 
when  moisture  is  present. 

1.  Preservation  by  drying.  Although  this  meth- 
od has  been  known  and  used  from  the  earliest 
times  in  a  few  limited  cases,  dried  herbs,  dried 
fruit,  &c.,  yet  it  has  only  recently  received  an  im- 
petus that  reduces  the  process  to  an  extended 
manufacturing  operation.  By  this  method  not 
only  the  less  decomposable  products  of  the  vege- 
table kingdom,  roots,  &c.  may  be  preserved  longer 
than  usual,  but  even  animal  products,  ever  sensa- 
tive  to  chemical  agency,  to  putrefaction,  may  be 
kept  in  dry  condition,  ready  at  any  mom.ent  to  be 
resolved  into  their  soft  juicy  state,  almost  as  per- 
fect as  in  their  usual  fresh  condition.  To  give  a 
more  detailed  view  of  the  process,  I  submit  here- 
with the  patent  of  "  Masson,  "  as  contained 
among  English  Reports  of  Patents,  for  12th  of 
November,  1850.  The  main  operations  in  the 
process  are,  first,  evaporating  off  water  by  artificial 
heat,  and  then,  in  the  case  of  bulky  vegetable 
matter,  compressing  it  into  a  small  bulk  by  a  pow- 
erful press,  the  screw,  the  hydraulic  press  or  other 
means.  The  advantages  of  the  process  are  first 
removing  water,  as  one  great  medium  of  chemica^' 


-^D — - 


ihi;  hardener's  ^lontlilg. 


W 


action,  and  second,  compressing  into  so  compact  a 
mass,  that  the  air,  the  initiator  of  chemical  changes, 
can  only  affect  the  surface  of  a  mass  of  organic 
matter. 

When  we  consider  the  weeks  and  months  spent 
on  the  ocean,  away  from  the  productions  of  civili- 
ized  life,  and  out  of  the  reach  of  the  daily  products 
of  the  soil— or  if  we  follow  the  foot-sore  caravan, 
travelling  over  the  interior  waste  and  wilderness  of 
Asia,  Africa  and  America,  where  fresh  food  can  be 
obtained  only  in  small  amount  and  at  rare  intervals — 
or  if  we  consider  the  distance  of  the  vast  and  pro- 
ductive interior  of  our  own  land  from  the  seaboard, 
and  the  cost  of  transporting  to  the  latter  the  bulky 
products  of  the  soil,  with  their  large  proportion  of 
water— we  can  directly  infer  the  value  of  preserv- 
ing food  by  the  method  of  desiccation  and  com- 
pression. 

The  Crimean  War  gave  an  opportunity  of 
executing  this  process  on  a  manufacturing  scale, 
where  dried  food  was  used  for  the  first  time,  as  a 
reliable  article  of  diet  for  the  soldier  by  the  Rus- 
sians and  Allies,  in  1865.  Col.  Delafield's  Report 
on  the  art  of  the  war  in  Europe  (1854-5-OJ)  spe- 
cifies some  details,  which  we  copy.  The  French 
army  was  supplied  with  7,894,920  lbs,  a. dp.  exclu- 
sive of  hospital  supplies,  and  the  proportions  were 
dried  vegetables,  424,600 — compressed  vegetables, 
prepared  by  Chollet,  8520,180— conserve  of  beef, 
6,718,140  lbs.  Total,  3,947  net  tons.)  Of  the 
conserve  of  beef,  888,800  lbs.,  were  in  powder  or 
finely  ground  gelatine.  At  Chollet' s  the  vegeta- 
bles were  cut  into  thin  slices,  dried  by  heat  and 
compressed.  To  show  the  degree  of  dryness  at- 
tained, a  single  ration  of  dried  potatoes  weighed 
about  I2OZ.  a.d.p.,  including  cases— one  ration  of 
mixed  spring  vegetables,  ^oz. — one  ration  of  Ju- 
lienne soup,  about  loz.  and  less.  Forty-thousand 
rations  of  these  vegetables,  examined  by  Col.  Del- 
afield,  occupied  a  cubic  metre,  or  about  35j  cubic 
feet,  and  weighed  4,000  lbs.  (2  net  tons)  including 
the  packing  cases.  The  prices  at  which  the  rations 
can  be  furnished  are  sufficient  to  prove  the  value 
of  the  process : 

(ThepriefS  are  derived  from  pnhli.slud 
Prices  Current) 


Tnroips.  Parsnips,  Spinach,  Celery, 

Onions,  etc.  (average) 
Caulifl.)Wer,  Peas,  Beivns,  Artichoke,  etc. 
Piitatoes  and  mixed  vegetables, 
•lulienne,  for  soup, 


PRICE   PER  RATION. 

Best  quality   Ordinary. 


r>l^to8  cts. 

1>|  tolf'-^" 

5  cts. 


23,^  to  .3  cts 

1»4  to  1% 
2l<i  to  4  cts 


Thus,  a  good  moderate  dinner  of  two  courses, 
soup  and  vegetables,  may  be  had  for  4  cents,  and 
a  sumptuous  entertainment  for  10  @  13  cents. 
Perhaps  the  Gardeners  in  our  Society  may  not  like 


the  low  ]irices  I  state  fi>r  their  ciivefully  tended 
productions,  and  so  may  condemn  the  whole  pro- 
cess of  desiccation  and  compression  ;  nevertheless 
I  am  bound  state  facts.  I  will  pacify  them,  how- 
ever, by  reminding  them  that  the  raising  of  vege- 
tables for  immediate  use,  will  not  be  affected  by 
the  process,  which  has  reference  to  a  sort  of  manu- 
facture of  vegetable,  not  raising  them  by  a  Careful 
education. 

2.  The  second  method  I  proposed  to  consider,  is 
to  preserve  food  with  its  moisture,  i.  e.  while  in  a 
condition  favorable  to  decomposition.     Numberiess 
experiments  show  that  the  air  is  the  chief  cause 
of  decomposition,  and  the  several  varieties  of  de- 
composition are  known  as  fermentation,  putrefac- 
tion and  mould.     We  are  at  present  disposed  to  re- 
gard all  these  as  modifications  of  the  same  kind  of 
action,  and  hence  some  chemists  term  them  all  fer- 
mentation, which  they  choose  as  the  type  of  the 
others.     A  microscopic  examination  of  mould  con- 
firms the  conclusion  of  the  naked  eye,  that  mould 
is  a  plant,  of  a  fungus  character.  The  like  observa- 
tion is  made  by  a  minute  study  of  the  vinous  fer- 
mentation.    Mother  of  vinegar  is  a  mouldy  plant, 
proved  to  grow  at  the  expense  of  foreign  matter  in 
the  vinegar,  and  to  destroy  the  acetic  acid,  event- 
ually leaving  pure  water.     Putrefaction  would  ap- 
pear to  be  more  complex  in  its  character,  accom- 
panied, and   caused  by  the  growth  of  genera  of 
infusory  animals.     The  scientific  examination  of 
many  of  the  infusories  has  developed  the  singular 
fact  or  conclusion,  that  they  approach  the  lowest 
forms  of  plant  life  so  closely,  as  rot  to  be  readily 
distinguished  from  them.     In  fact,  eminent  obser- 
vers have  classed  them  in  plants,  and  others  as  an- 
imals, but  the  prevailing  view  at  present  is  that 
they  are*  the  lowest  forms  of  animal  life.    May  I  be 
allowed  to  make  an  imaginative  comparison,  and 
show  the  reflection  of  one  part  of  nature  by  anoth- 
er? Then  I  would  compare  the  cycle  of  life  in  plant 
and  animal,  jointly  considered,  to  the   circulation 
of  the  blood.  The  arterial  blood  is  animal,  consum- 
ing the  carbon,  etc.,  of  food,  and   thus  receiving 
activity   through    chemical   energy,   it   is   forcibly 
transmitted   to  the  remotest  parts  of  the  system, 
terminating  its  course  in  minute  tubes,  which  again 
open  and  expand   into  veins.      It  there  becomes 
plant  life,  to  be  again  changed  at  its  source  into 
arterial  blood.     In  all  nature  the  termination  of 
animal  life  is  the  source  of  plant  vitaUty  ;  and,  to 
complete  the  cycle,  animals  derive  their  first  nour- 
ishment from  plants.     So  also  in  putrefaction  :  a 
low  grade  of  animals  is  accompanied  or  followed  by 
a  low  grade  of  plants,  which  in  their  turn  originate 


a  higher  order,  to  serve  as  food  for  higher  animals. 
Low  forms  of  life  are  either  the  origin  or  con- 
comitant of  all  kinds  of  fermentation.  That  air  is 
necessary  to  start  fermentation  is  universally  ad- 
mitted, and  the  older  theory  of  its  action,  was  that 
the  oxygen  ot  the  air  by  producing  the  ordinary 
chemical  change  of  oxidation,  induced  a  further  in- 
ternal change  in  the  fermentable  substance,  which 
then  continued  its  operation  independent  of  the 
further  aid  of  oxygen.  I  think  that  the  experi- 
ments of  Schwann,  in  1837,  overturned  this  theory. 
He  exposed  freshly  boiled  meat-extract  and  fer- 
mentable liquid  to  the  action  of  air,  which  had 
ben  previously  ignited,  and  neither  putrefaction 
nor  fermentation  ensued.  Since  the  oxj'gen  of 
the  air  was  not  affected  by  the  ignition,  and  only 
organic  matter  destroyed.  Schwann  inferred  that 
oxygen  was  not  the  cause,  or  at  least,  not  the  sole 
cause  of  fermentation,  but  that  it  was  due  to  or- 
ganic matter  floating  in  the  air;  in  fact  to  the 
spores  of  mould-plants  and  infusories.  The  sub- 
ject of  fermentation  and  the  like,  have  since  been 
more  minutely  investigated  bj'  Schroder,  Pasteur 
and  others,  and  especially  by  Pasteur,  whose  con- 
clusions confirm  the  experiments  of  Schwann,  and 
extend  our  knowledge  still  further.  Schroder  and 
YonDusch  boiled  meat-extract,  milk,  fermentable 
liquid,  &c.  in  glass  flask,  and  inserted  a  plug  pre- 
viously heated  loose  cotton  in  the  throat,  so  that 
the  air  entering,  as  the  flask  cooled,  was  filtered 
through  he  cotton.  Their  conclusions  from  nu- 
merous experiments,  are,  that  nearly  all  organic 
bodies,  such  as  blood,  fibrin,  albumen,  casein, 
curd,  milk-sugar,  starch- sugar,  cane-sugar,  starch- 
clyster,  urine.  &c. ,  when  heated  to  boiling  in  a 
flask,  and  then  stopped  by  a  loose  cotton  plug,  may 
keep  for  months  and  years  unaltered,  althouj^h  the 
air,  filtered  through  cotton,  has  free  access ;  that 
meat-extract,  milk  and  yolk  of  egg,  do  sometimes 
keep,  but  do  not  keep  in  a  majority  of  cases  ;  that 
even  in  the  last  named  substances,  mould  is  never 
formed ;  and  that  the  fermentation  which  does  take 
place  in  meat-extract,  under  a  cotton  filter,  is  diff- 
erent from  putrefaction  in  open  air.  They  observed 
that  the  brown  liquid  from  meat  putrefied  in  the 
open  air  abounded  in  the  infusories  Fibrio  lineola, 
and  Monas  termo,  while  that,  putrefied  in  air  filtered 
through  cotton,  contained  no  Fibrio  lineola  and 
IMonas  termo  could  not  be  detected  in  it  with  cer- 
tainty. 

We  have  been  favored  with  the  conclusions  of 
Pasteur,  from  recent  experiments,  only  within  the 
last  few  months,  but  they  are  only  conclusions 
without  the  details  of  experiment.     Nevertheless, 


we  may  safely  accept  the  assertion  of  such  an  in- 
vestigator, as  truth.  He  says  "that  putrefaction  is 
determined  by  the  infusory  genus  Vibro— that  one 
class  cannot  exist  without  oxygen  ( Bacteria j — and 
the  other  without  oxygen  (Vibrios.)  In  some 
cases,  when  the  former  (Bacteria)  causes  a  pellicle 
to  form  on  the  surface  of  the  liquid,  and  so  prevents 
the  absorption  of  oxygen  by  the  interior,  then  two 
processes  are  progressing  simultaneously  :  in  the  in- 
terior, vibrios  tran>form  nitrogenous  matter  into 
more  simple,  but  still  complex  bodies,  while  on  the 
exterior,  Bacterias  burn  up  the  matter,  producing 
the  simplest  compounds,  water,  carbonic  acid  and 
ammonia. 

In  putting  up  fruit  and  vegetables  in  what  is 
termed  "in  the  fre.sh  way"  i.  e.  by  boiling  and 
sealing  while  hot,  I  have  observed  that  when  mould 
is  formed  on  the  surface  in  the  usual  glass  jars,  it 
is  not  easy  to  make  the  substance  (fruit,  &c. ) 
undergo  subsequently  the  alcoholic  fermentation, 
even  if  air  be  admitted,  and  I  inferred  that  the 
coating  of  mould  acted  as  a  filter. 

I  endeavored  to  put  up  Okra  in  the  fresh  way, 
but  found  the  utmost  difhculty  in  preventing  its 
undergoing  a  kind  of  fermentation,  a  mouldy  kind 
predominating.  In  some  cases  the  cemented  cork 
was  simply  pushed  off,  and  the  mass  remained 
quiet,  although  exposed  to  the  air.  I  allowed 
several  of  these  bottles  to  remain  uncovered  in  a 
cellar  from  August  until  January,  and  found  that 
after  removing  the  top  laj'er  of  mould,  the  residue 
of  the  Okra  was  as  fresh  in  taste  and  odor  as  when 
put  up  in  August.  This  confirmed  my  conclusion, 
that  the  mould  on  the  surface  acted  as  a  filter,  and 
so  prevented  the  spores  of  other  plants  or  animals 
from  penetrating  the  interior. 

From  the  facts  presented  above,  we  may  draw 
some  practical  conclusions  on  the  processes  of  put- 
ting up  fruits,  vegetables,  &c.  in  the  fresh  way. 
Since  decomposition  results  from  the  microscopic 
life,  by  the  destruction  of  the  spores  and  germs  of 
such  life,  and  their  further  exclusion  from  vegetable 
substances,  decomposition  may  be  prevented.  This 
is  usually  effected  in  two  ways,  either  by  heating 
the  substance  in  a  large  vessel,  boiling  or  nearly  so, 
and  then  transferring  it  while  hot  to  glass  or  stone- 
ware jars  or  tin  cases,  which  are  immediately 
sealed — or  by  putting  the  substance,  with  suflacient 
liquid,  water  or  syrup,  directly  into  the  jars,  closing 
them  air-tight,  as  it  is  termed,  and  then  heating 
the  jars  and  contents  in  a  water  bath.  Either  of 
these  may  be  successful,  but  the  latter  is  most  cer- 
tainly so,  because  after  destroying  organic  life,  there 
is  no  opportunity  of  the  re-entrance  of  fresh  spores, 


"^<««L> 


18 


S^e  §im\tmx'%  (Ptontljlj. 


except  through  minute  cracks  where  the  covers  are 
not  put  on  absolutely  air-tight,  and  these  cracks 
are  generally  so  fine  that  the  entering  air  would  be 
filtered,  and  the  spores  left  on  the  outside.  As  a 
domestic  process,  the  former  is  more  convenient 
and  rapid,  and  may  be  equally  successful  by  guard- 
ing one  or  two  points  :— The  substanse  to  be  pre- 
served should  be  heated  to  about  the  boiling  point, 
and  the  transferring  ladle,  the  bottles  and  other 
covers  should  all  be  scalded  immediately  before 
using  them,  the  jars  being  filled  with  scalding 
water,  and  remaining  filled  until  wanted,  and  the 
covers  likewise  kept  in  water  until  used.  With 
these  precautions  of  destroying  organic  life  in  the 
substance,  jars  and  utensils  employed,  and  imme- 
diately clo.sing  the  jars,  this  process  is  as  efi'ectual 
as  the  former. 

I  may  here  mention  that  I  long  ago  found  that 
very  few  jars  under  whatever  patent,  are  absolutely 
air-tight,  although  they  may  appear  so  at  first ; 
and  even  in  the  care  of  soldering  tin,  altliough  the 
vessels  may  be  made  absolutely  air-tight,  yet 
there  is  no  certainty  that  a  small  portion  of  air 
containing  a  living  spore,  may  not  remain  in  the 
case,  unless  it  has  been  thoroughly  boiled,  or  that 
it  may  not  enter  during  soldering,  unless  an  abun- 
dant jet  of  scalding  steam  is  ensuing  at  the  moment 
of  soldering.  From  the  facts  I  have  presented  in 
the  experiments  of  Schwann,  Schroder  and  Pas- 
teur, it  is  evident  that,  for  substances  that  are  not 
very  sensitive  to  decomposition,  such  as  fruits  and 
most  vegetables,  a  perfect  exclusion  of  air  is  not 
absolutely  necessary  to  their  preservation.  I  once 
tried  the  experiment  of  using  thick  molasses,  as  a 
substance  not  liable  to  decomposition  itself,  and  as 
an  effectual  excluder  of  air.  Some  sound  peaches 
uncooked  put  up  into  molassess  in  September  and 
and  taken  out  in  January,  had  precisely  the  taste 
of  fresh  peaches.  They  were  shriveled  by  the  loss 
of  water  through  the  remnant  of  the  stem,  while 
the  molasses  became  thinner  from  the  water  of  the 
peach. 

The  facts  I  have  presented  and  the  accompany- 
ing remarks,  are  offered  to  the  society  with  the 
view  of  inducing  experiment  by  our  members,  as 
the  best  means  of  advancing  our  knowledge  in  the 

art  of  preserving  food. 

«••♦♦ ■ 

INSECTS. 

BY  J.    STAUFFER,   LANCASTER,   PA. 

Having  had  a  certain  Larva  sent  me  from 
Chester  Valley,  also  from  J.  C.  Baldwin,  of  Down- 
ingtown,  and  others  found  in  this  city  by  Hon. 
Judge  Hays,  and  several  other  citizens  ;  to  whom 


this  rather  peculiar  and  somewhat  dangerous  cat- 
terpiilar  is  new,  I  concluded  to  furnish  you  with 
a  description  of  it  for  publication. 


r^y.  2a ^  Female   f.  ( male  /  w  Anlcmce 
3.  3  + 


1  Larva  of  Empretia  sfiimtlea.  2  The  female  moth  or  imago. 
3  A  singular  caterpillar,  found  at  the  base  of  an  Oak-tree,  Septem- 
ber 1,  lSfl6.  3*  Shows  the  underside,  with  a  ventral  flesh-colored 
lateral,  elevated  margin,  over  ^vhich  and  beneath  the  robo-like 
hairy  back  ;  there  is  a  series  of  wart-like  protuberances,  beset  witli 
minute  bristles;  the  scolloped  flaps  appear,  at  first  sight,  like  an 
extraneous  fur  covering,  of  a  minute  animal  laid  over  it,  but  is 
actually  a  part  of  the  larva.  4  Is  very  similar  in  character,  but 
differing  in  structure.  6  Is  the  cocoon,  into  which  fig.  4  passed, 
but  perished  for  me,  before  its  final  development.  I  seriously 
fiuestion  whether  3  and  4  has  ever  been  described  ;.  they  however 
belong  to  tlie  same  natural  group  as  fig.  1. 

My*first  acquaintance  with  the  larva,  dates  back 
to  185.5,  when  engaged  in  the  drug  business,  a 
neighbor  lady,  being  in  her  garden  among  Indian 
corn,  got  one  on  her  neck  and  shoulder,  which 
caused  a  high  degree  of  inflammation  ;  which  the 
application  of  a  solution  of  acetate  of  lead,  subdued 
in  several  applications,  and  by  removing  a  few  of 
the  spiculae  lodged  in  the  skin.  Mr.  Baldwin,  in 
his  letter  to  me,  says,  "  the  fine  bristles  coming  in 
contact  with  the  hand,  produced  quite  a  severe 
pain,  and  inflammation  immediately  follows  to  a 
considerable  distance  up  the  arm — and  adds,  "they 
appear  to  possess  a  power  to  communicate  some- 
thing very  deleterious,  even  worse  so  than  the  wasp, 
hornet,  etc."  1  find,  on  close  inspection  under  a 
powerful  microscope,  that  the  bristles  are  minutely 
barbed  in  a  somewhat  spiral  manner,  and  the  outer 
sharply  pointed  end,  articulated  to  the  shaft. 


®|^  @arkntr*s  SToirfljIj. 


19 


Since,  however,  Dr.  B.  Clemens,  of  Easton,  Pa., 
lias  given  a  very  accurate  de^^cription  of  the  hirva 
and  its  moth,  in  the  i^roceedings  of  the  Academy 
of  Natural  Sciences,  of  Philadelphia,  in  vol.  xii. 
page  158-59.  I  may  as  well  copy  his  own  words, 
in  parts,  with  a  note  of  my  own. 

lie  names  it  Empretia  stimulca.  Bodj'  and  fore- 
wings  uniform  dark  ferruginous,  with  two  small 
sub-apicul  white  spots,  and  in  the  two  more  near 
the  base  of  the  wing,  beneath  the  median  nervure. 

Hind  wings  pale  reddish  brown.  Antennae  of 
males,  basal  half  pectinated.  Female  simple. 
Larva — body  semicylindrical,  truncated  obliquely 
before  and  behind,  with  a  pair  of  anterior,  long, 
fleshy,  subvascular  slenderly  spiral  horns,  a  pair 
smaller  beneath  them,  above  the  head  ;  a  posterior 
similar  pair,  and  a  small  oval  pair,  beneath  them. 

The  fuperventral  papulos  are  rather  large  and 
densely  spined.  After  the  last  moulting  the  longer 
horns  become  moderate  in  length." 

"The  portion  of  the  body  between  the  anterior 
and  posterior  horn  is  a  fine  bright  green  color,  bor- 
dered anteriorly  and  superventrally  by  white,  with 
a  central,  dorsal,  oval  reddish  brown  patch,  bor- 
dered with  white,  which  color  is  again  edged  by  a 
black  line.  The  horns,  papula;  and  anterior  por- 
tion of  the  body  are  reddish  brown,  with  a  small 
j'ellow  spot  between  the  anterior  horns,  while  the 
posterior  pair  are  placed  in  a  yellow  'patcli.'^ 

I  would  state,  that  all  the  specimens  I  have  ex- 
amined (which  were  from  various  localities,  during 
a  term  of  eight  years,)  show  the  yellow  spot  both 
between  the  posterior  and  anterior  horns,  and  the 
posterior  horns  are  not  placed  in  the  yellow  patch 
on  each  side,  but  directly  above  them  on  a  reddish 
brown  base. 

Dr.  Clemens,  also  states,  that  *'  the  spi\ies  with 
which  the  horns  are  supplied,  produce  an  exceeding 
painful  sensation  when  they  come  in  contact  with 
the  back  of  the  hand,  or  any  portion  of  the  body 
where  the  skin  is  thin."  Found  on  a  great  variety 
of  plants,  fruit  trees,  the  rose,  Indian  corn,  (Zea 
hays^  and  a  number  of  other  plants,"  among 
which  you  may  include  the  grape  vine,  on  my 
authority. 

He  makes  no  mention  of  the  minute  pectoral  legs 
of  the  larva,  and  their  want  of  proper  pro-legs, 
being  supplied  merely  by  a  few  protuberances, 
having  a  soft  pliable  membrane,  supposed  to  be 
covered  with  a  kind  of  glutinous  matter,  by  means 
of  which  it  rather  slides  than  creeps  over  the 
surface  of  a  body.  They  easly  climb  up  the  per- 
pendicular sides  of  polished  glass,  in  a  vial,  and 
adhere  at  rest  in  that  position. 


They  belong  to  the  family  Zjniacoc/es  of  Duncan, 
the  Slug  Catterpillar  or  Fam.  ConchilspodidcC  of 
other  authors. 

By  their  abundance  this  year,  they  may  prove  to 
become  a  pest  to  fruit  culturists,  having  never 
known  them  to  be  so  widely  extended  as  at  this 
season,  heretofore  they  were  but  few  and  far  be- 
tween, rather  a  curiosity,  than  a  source  of  annoy- 
ance ;  and  I  deem  it  proper  that  the  insect  should 
be  known,  as  few  have  access  to  the  publications  of 
the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences,  etc. 

I  have  several  other  larvae,  figured  in  my  collec- 
tion, belonging  to  this  family — which  I  have  never 
yet  seen  described,  and  have  failed  to  rear  the 
perfect  moth  from  them,  thus  far. 


ROGERS'    NO.    15    GRAPE. 

NOTE   FROM   MESSRS.  M.  P.  WILDER   &   BAKER, 
DORCHESTER,    MASS. 

I'ermit  us  to  correct  a  mistake,  occurring  in  the 
November  number  of  the  Gardener  s  Montlihj^  in 
which  it  is  mentioned,  that  the  plate  of  Roger's 
Hybrid,  No.  15,  which  is  there  figured,  was  taken 
from  a  bunch  fruited  in  the  nursery  of  Messrs. 
Lindley  &  Hinks. 

If  we  do  not  mistake,  it  is  a  copy  of  a  plate  of 
our  own,  which  we  had  executed  at  considerable 
expense,  in  1861,  from  a  bunch  fruited  in  the 
garden  of  Mr.  Wm.  H.  Harrington,  of  Salem, 
Mass.,  who  has  the  remarkable  vine  of  that  num- 
ber, which  has  this  year  exhibited  such  wonderful 
bearing  qualities,  and  that  combined  with  great 
vigor.  We  send  you  a  copy  of  our  grape  circular, 
and  think  you  will  find  the  two  to  be  identical. 

We  doubt  very  much  whether  JMessrs.  Lindley 
&  Hinks  have  ever  fruited  this  number  of  the 
Roger's  Hybrid. 

[It  is  but  justice  to  Lindley  &  Hinks  to  say,  that 
they  did  not  tell  us  they  grew  the  bunch  from 
which  the  cut  was  made.  We  were  under  the  im- 
pression that  they  had  fruited  it,  and  asked  them 
to  furnish  us  a  copy,  and  it  was  our  own  inference, 
that  it  was  from  a  fruit  grown  by  them. — Ed.  J 


^^ii=: 


20 


SClt^  @aniati!r's  3llanth% 


C|e  §Mk\uxs  Pontl^lg. 


PHILADELPHIA,  JANUARY,  1864. 


|33=-  All  Cominuuicatious  for  tlie  Editor  should  be,  itddve.sM'd, 
"Thomas  MEEnAN.Germantown, Philadelphia," and  Business  Let. 
ters  directed  to  "W.  G.  P.  Brinckloe,  Box         Philadelphia." 


For  Terms  of  Subscription  see  second  page  cover. 

For  Terms  of  Advertising  see  page  33. 

Volumes  1,  2,  3,  4  and  5,  furnished  for  $1  50  each. 


AMERICAN    RASPBERRIES, 

We  entertain  no  foolish  prejudices  against  foreign 
varieties  of  fruits.  It  is  a  dangerous  doctrine 
which  teaches  that  fruits  raised  in  a  locality  must 
be  better  than  others  introduced  into  it.  It  is  not 
true  of  either  fruits  or  plants.  American  History 
contradicts  it. 

It  is  our  misfortune  to  have  few  original  ob- 
servers. Hence,  most  of  our  theories  are  derived 
from  foreign  sources.  The  men  who  founded  the 
London  Horticultural  Society,  posessed  rare  char- 
acters. No  body  of  Horticulturists  ever  comprised 
such  choice  treasures  of  intelligent  and  energetic 
men,  as  that.  The  very  errors  of  these  men  have  be- 
come laws,  too  sacred  almost  to  question. 

The  wearing  out  of  varieties,  acclimatization,  and 
this  one  of  peculiar  adaptation  to  native  locality, 
originated  particularly  with  them.  Their  opin- 
ions on  these  questions  are  quoted  to  this  day,  and 
by  Americans,  as  authorities  from  whose  dicta 
there  is  no  appeal.  Yet  American  experience 
throws  strong  doubts  on  theories  founded  exclu- 
sively on  European  observation. 

Few  doctrines  are  believed  more  firmly  there 
than  that  everything  does  best  in  the  locality  where 
nature  placed  it.  Possibly  there  may  be  a  differ- 
ence between  nature  and  ourselves  as  to  what  we 
shall  consider  "  doing  best." 

We  want,  perhaps,  rich  luxuriant  growth,  as  our 
idea  of  superiority;  while  nature  persists  in  con.^id- 
ering  it  best  for  her  purpose,  to  have  lean,  thin, 
wiry  foliage.  Give  us  our  idea  of  what  is  best ; 
and  we  will  undertake  to  beat  nature  any  day. 
She  may  declare  her  austere  crabs  and  puckery 
pears  models  of  health,  and  images  for  our  imita- 
tion ;  but  we  would  rather  have  a  luscious,  rich 
and  juicy  fruit  with  a  risk  of  disease,  than  nature's 
own  choicest  productions  as  she  gives  them  to  us. 
Taken  even  its  broadest  sense,  things  do  not  always 
do  better  where  nature  places  them.  Amongst 
grasses,  for  instance,  the  fiat  stalked  meadow  grass 


[Boa  compressa)  is  usually  found  on  walls  or  poor 
dry  soils.  It  seldom  grows  there  more  than  six 
inches  high  ;  but  remove  it  to  a  richer  place,  and 
mark  how  vast  the  improvement !  See  again  how 
vastly  some  grasses  are  impiovcd  by  removal  to 
another  climate.  No  grass  that  we  have  ever  tried, 
yields  hay  with  a  due  regard  to  quality  and  quantity, 
like  the  Timothy  grass,  {Phlcum  pratensc,)  yet  in 
its  native  British  soil,  it  is  entirely  worthless  for 
this  purpose.  Nothing  is  there  found  equal  to  the 
Rye  grass,  (Lolium  italicmn)  a  grass  as  foreign  to 
that  country  as  Timothy  is  to  us.  Almost  all  the 
weeds,  to,  that  seem  to  thrive  most  luxuriously  in 
our  soils  are  foreigners,  and  the  majority  of  thera 
do  far  better  than  in  their  own  native  soils.  The 
Celandine,  does  not  grow  to  near  the  size  in  its 
native  chalky  British  hills,  it  does  around  old 
American  homesteads;  and  the  Plantain,  (Plantago 
major,)  which  follows  the  emigrant  from  his  own 
country  to  this  with  such  close  pertinacity,  as  to 
get  from  our  Indians  the  name  of  "white  man's 
foot-prints,"  more  nearly  resembles  dock  leaves,  for 
size,  in  some  localities  than  the  original  plant  of 
Europe. 

We  rather  think  nature  likes  change.  Two- 
thirds  of  our  commonest  weeds  are  from  other 
lands.  They  have  rooted  out  the  aborigines,  as 
closely  as  man  has  his  own  species.  And  it  has 
ever  been  the  lesson  of  history,  that  any  race  of 
men,  animals  or  plants,  that  once  gets  a  foot-hold 
on  a  soil  not  its  own,  roots  out  its  original  possessor 
as  surely  as  the  Norway  rat  abounds  here  to  the  de- 
triment of  its  American  predecessors. 

In  fruits  it  is  also  true.  We  have  allowed  our 
theories  respecting  foreign  fruits  to  so  influence  us, 
that  few  of  them  have  had  a  fair  chance.  It  is 
only  quite  recently,  against  j'ears  of  opposition,  that 
Foreign  Strawberries  have  bc^n  proved  the  equals 
of  Americans.  Triomphe  de  Gand  now  holds  a 
high  place ;  and  even  our  Boston  friends,  with  all 
their  strong  prejudice  for  Hovey's  Seedling,  think 
there  may  be  some  good  in  La  Constante  for  all. 

So  in  Apples.  As  we  write,  the  report  comes  to 
us,  that  the  Ilihston  Pippin — England's  most  fa- 
vored kind — which  has  universally  been  thought 
worthless  here — has  proved  to  be  one  of  the  very 
best,  perhaps  the  best  variety  for  Illinois  ;  and  if  a 
fair  trial  be  given  it,  no  doubt  it  will  get  a  good 
character  elsewhere.  It  is  a  singular  commentary 
on  this  prejudice  against  foreign  apples,  that  the 
only  one  that  seems  to  do  universally  well  should  be 
a  foreigner — the  Bed  Astrachan. 

Our  best  Pear,  the  Bartlett,  is  also  a  foreigner ; 
and  we  may  say  that  in  the  country  where  Pears 


'(§> 


(■^1 


--rTy-^* 


CIj^  dDarbnicr's  Slcntljlj. 


21 


are  most  famous,  the  Pear  is  a  foreigner,  for  there 
is  no  doubt  that,  although  wild  enough  in  France, 
the  Pear  originally  came  from  Asia. 

All  we  desire  is  to  warn  our  readers  against 
deducing  general  rules  from  special  facts ;  and 
thus  fall  into  the  errors  of  our  European  prede- 
cessors ;  for  in  some  instances,  native  varieties  do 
evidently  better  than  introductions.  Nothing  but 
almost  total  failure  has  attended  the  cultivation  of 
foreign  grapes  in  the  open  air  with  us.  Even  in 
localities  where  they  are  said  to  do  well,  they  do 
worse  now  than  years  ago.  About  York  for  in- 
stance, in  this  State,  where  we  have  had  some  few 
successful  instances,  and  very  successful  ones  they 
were,  pointed  out  to  us  last  year  ;  they  are  not  as 
common  as  they  were  years  ago.  Previous  to  1830 
there  were  over  thirty  vineyards  mostly  of  foreign 
grapes,  in  existence  within  twenty  miles  of  that 
borough  ;  and  with  the  most  encouraging  reports 
given  of  their  successful  operations ;  but  notwith- 
standing the  remarkable  growth  of  York  in  wealth, 
population  and  intelligent  progress ;  we  doubt  if 
there  is  a  single  vineyard  of  foreign  grapes — of  age 
and  extent  enough  to  warrant  much  being  said  of 
it,  at  present  in  existance  there.  The  rule  may  be 
considered  a  fair  one,  that  grapes  of  foreign  origin 
and  race,  will  not  do  in  American  soil  and  climate. 

We  have  taken  a  long  text  for  a  short  sermon — 
American  Raspberries. 

The  foreign  race  will  die  down  ;  will  mildew  ; 
will  give  us  in  many  ways  "pecks  of  trouble." 
American  varieties  are  susceptible  of  improvement, 
are  hardy  and  vigorous,  bear  like  poverty,  and  why 
not  show  them  a  chance? 

We  have  a  fair  start  in  the  Purple  Cane.  Even 
as  it  is,  an  Albany  Seedling  Strawberry  man  would 
not  want  a  much  better  one ;  and  to  a  Delaware 
Grape  man  there  would  be  some  little  encourage- 
ment in  there  being  something  of  a  mystery  about 
its  origin.  Like  that  unfortunate  foot  ball,  it 
might  get  kicked  acro.ss  the  channel  and  back  again, 
to  the  astonishment  of  the  "  marines,"  and  a  first- 
class  sensation  be  got  up  on  the  strength  of  it ;  so 
that  though  we  might  be  sometimes  disgu.sted  with 
the  raspings  of  Ilasp"ology,"  as  we  are  at  times 
with  Grapes  and  Grape"ology,"  American  Rasp- 
berries like  American  Grapes  would  come  out  vastly 
improved  in  the  end,  and  much  good  ensue. 

Last  year  when  the  Philadelphia  Piasperry  was 
sent  to  us  for  examination,  we  mentally  exclaimed, 
"as  large  as  Fastolf,  and  very  much  like  it."  But 
we  were  told,  when  suggesting  that  something 
better  than  what  existed  was  the  desideratum,  "  it 
is  quite  hardy,"  and  again  we  thought,  "so  are  all 


seedlings  more  or  less."  We  were  not  told  that  it 
was  of  the  race  of  Purple  canes,  as  we  have  since 
heard  it  is.  The  canes  certainly  look  like  it,  and 
our  remembrance  of  the  fruit  adds  to  the  evidence. 
We  cannot  say  of  our  own  knowledge  that  it  is 
until  we  see  it  again  in  growth  ;  but  should  it 
prove  so,  we  look  on  its  introduction,  like  the  Bland 
amongst  grapes,  as  marking  a  new  era  in  the 
history  of  Raspberry  culture. 


ABIES    niEXZZESZI. 

During  the  past  years,  great  numbers  of  new  ev- 
ergreens have  been  received  from  Japan  and  the 
Pacific  coast, — and  nearly  all  of  great  beauty.  But 
most  of  them  have  some  objections  made  against 
them.  Some  are  too  coarse,  or  grow  to  slow,  or 
are  too  dwarf;  or,  if  none  of  these,  perhaps  not  hardy 
enough  to  go  through  very  severe  winters  without 
suffering  somewhat. 

Notwithstanding  the  millions  of  dollars  spent  on 
experiments  with  rare  evergreens,  we  have  still  to 
depend  on  the  Balm  and  Silver  Firs,  Austrian  and 
Scotch  Pines,  and  the  Norway  and  Hemlock  Spru- 
ces, as  our  main  trees  for  lawn  evergreens. 

But  there  is  one  plant  that  really  deserves  more 
attention :  and  that  is  the  Californian  White 
Spruce — Abies  Menziesii. 

It  has  the  great  merit  of  being  very  distinct  from 
any  thing  we  have  in  cultivation  ;  and  by  its  pecu- 
liar beuuty  attracts  the  attention  of  the  dullest  ob- 
server. The  under  surface  of  the  leaves  are  of  a  deep 
silvery  white,  and  the  upper  surface  pale  green. 
The  main  branches  have  a  rigid  upright  growth, 
while  the  smaller  branchlets  depend  somewhat.  To 
the  observer,  therefore,  some  of  the  leaves  appear 
green  and  others  silvery,  giving  on  the  whole  a  va- 
riegated appearance,  far  more  natural  than  the  best 
of  the  really  variegated  evergreens  presents.  The 
wood  is  of  a  deep  chestnut  brown,  and  adds  to  the 
picturesque  appearance. 

But  to  all  this  beauty  is  added  a  vigor  of  growth, 
and  a  perfect  hardiness  that  make  it  a  tree  of  the 
most  desirable  character.  We  saw  a  tree  recently 
planted  six  years  ago,  then  3  feet  high,  that  is  now 
15,  and  with  a  perfectly  .straight  leader,  and  as  fine 
a  conical  form  as  could  be  desired.  This  was 
growing  on  a  low  piece  of  ground,  very  wet  in 
winter,  but  with  a  sandy  sub-soil.  We  saw  a  very 
fine  .specimen  on  the  grounds  of  David  Landreth, 
Esq.,  near  Bristol,  in  much  drier  ground  than  the 
one  above  referred  to,  and  have  no  doubt  it  is  a 
tree  that  will  adapt  itself  to  any  soil ;  but  we  should 
be  glad  to  hear  from  any  of  our  friends  that  have 


had  experience  with  it  in  other  parts  of  the  country. 
Perhaps  Mr.  Sargent  could  tell  us  of  its  character 
on  the  Hudson  ;   or  Mr.  Ilunnewell,  at  Boston. 

There  is  no  reason  why  it  should  not  become 
common,  and  comparatively  cheap  ;  for  although 
it  is  expensive  to  get  the  seed  from  its  native 
country ;  it  is  one  of  the  easiest  of  the  pine  tribe  to 
raise  from  cuttings ;  and  besides  has  the  merit  of 
making  good  leaders  from  the  plants  so  raised; 
which  most  of  the  firs  do  with  difficulty. 

Though  called  in  many  catalogues  California 
White  Spruce  it  is  quite  a  northern  plant.  Its 
limit  south  we  believe  to  be  in.the  northern  part 
of  the  state,  while  it  extends  a  long  way  higher  up 
along  the  coast.  Douglass  first  found  it  at  the 
north  of  the  Columbia  River,  and  we  received  seed 
last  year  from  Dr.  Parry,  collected  by  him  in  his 
trip  to  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

It  has  been  in  England  about  thirty  years,  and 
as  there  are  many  fine  plants  in  the  United  States, 
it  is  singular  that  its  merit  as  a  popular  evergreen 
has  been  so  long  overlooked.  We  should  be  glad 
to  know  who  has  the  finest  one.  If  IMr.  Landreth 
would  furnish  uswilh  the  measurement  of  his,  we 
should  be  very  much  obliged. 


HISTORY    or    THE    TUBEROSE. 

We  promised  to  give  some  additional  particulars 
from  a  memoir  by  Salisbury,  in  the  London  Hor- 
ticultural Society's  transactions. 

The  first  account  Salisbury  could  find  of  the 
Tuberose,  was  in  L'Ecluses's  History  of  Plants, 
where  it  appears  that  lie  received  a  root  on  the  1st 
of  December,  l.'>94,  from  Barnard  Paludanus,  a 
Physician  at  Rome,  to  whom  it  was  sent  by  Simon 
de  Tovar,  as  stated  in  our  notice,  who  resided  at 
Seville ;  and  there  seems  to  be  no  doubt,  that  it 
was  not  known  much  before  thio  time  in  Europe, 
as  Salisbury  remarks. 

The  most  interesting  part  of  the  memoir  relates 
to  its  native  country. 

He  quotes  Linnreus  as  saying,  it  was  brought 
from  the  East  Indies ;  Kamel,  that  it  was  brought 
to  the  Island  of  Luzonie  by  the  Spanards,  from 
Mexico ;  Parkinson,  who  makes  two  species,  one 
tall  and  the  other  dwarf,  that  "  they  both  grow 
naturally  in  the  West  Indies,  from  whence  they 
were  first  brought  to  Spain;"  Redoute,  that  it 
was  brought  from  Persia ;  The  authors  of  Flora 
Peruvianiia,  that  it  is  cultivated  in  gardens  in 
America ;  and  Hernandez,  that  it  grows  in  the 
cool  and  temperate  I'egions  in  the  older  parts  of  the 
new  world.    Salisbury  himself  inclines  to  the  latter 


as  being  the  only  one  whose  opinions  seems  to  re- 
sult from  personal  observation ;  but  as  Dr.  Gray 
remarks,  in  our  last  number,  a  species  has  since 
been  discovered  in  Brazil,  and  another  in  Mexico, 
and  may  not  Hernandez  have  had  reference  to  the 
latter ;  especially  as  no  subsequent  author  seems 
to  have  confirmed  his  observations? 

It  is  a  very  remarkable  fact,  that  authors  so 
nearly  contemporary,  should  disagree  as  to  its 
origin  so  widely.  From  what  we  know  of  the  time 
it  takes  to  improve  plants  by  cultivation  ;  and  of 
the  Tuberose,  that  with  all  its  long  cultivation,  it 
seems  so  little  inclined  to  vary  ;  it  is  remarkable 
that  the  improved  form  should  have  been  posessed 
at  one  by  Simon  de  Tovar,  if  we  adopt  Link's  idea 
that  P.  gracilis  is  probably  the  parent  of  the 
cultivated  tuberose. 

In  tracing  the  history  of  plants,  the  names  often 
afford  a  clue  when  all  others  are  lost.  This  was 
what  we  hoped  to  gain  by  questioning  the  dervia- 
tion  of  "  Polianthes. "  Salisbury  says,  the  tube- 
rose "is  distinguished  in  the  East  Indies,  by  the 
poetical  title  of  Sandal  Malam^  or  Intriguer  of  the 
N^ight ;"  and  a  friend  suggests  that  it  usually 
takes  some  time  for  a  plant  to  travel  from  Europe 
to  the  East  Indies,  and  still  more  time  to  get  so 
abundant  as  to  be  well  known  by  a  common  name  ; 
but  as  the  authority  quoted  for  this  name,  as  then 
existing  in  the  East  Indies,  wrote  in  1720,  or 
nearly  one  hundred  and  thirty  years  after  the 
earliest  date  given  for  its  European  introduction, 
there  was  time  for  its  name  and  abundance  ;  the 
name,  no  doubt,  originated  from  its  well  known 
character  of  emitting  a  much  stronger  perfume 
towards  evening,  than  at  any  other  period  of  the 

It  was  certainly  in  the  East  Indies  before  1652,  as 
plants  were  growing  in  France  at  that  date,  brought 
from  the  East  Indies  by  Father  Minuti.  Probably 
it  was  taken  to  the  East  Indies  by  the  Dutch,  who 
Rumphius  positively  says,  carried  it  to  Amboina 
from  Batavia  in  1674. 

As  our  original  article  was  intended  to  be  sug- 
gestive, and  to  excite  enquiry  on  an  evidently 
obscure,  but  interesting  subject ;  it  was  written 
without  any  reference  to  authorities,  other  than 
what  occurred  to  us  when  we  wrote.  We  are 
pleased  that  it  has  resulted  in  bringing  before  our 
readers  all  that  is  known  of  the  tuberose  ;  which, 
though  still  undecisive  as  to  its  native  country  and 
origin  in  its  present  form,  yet  brings  the  former 
nearer  to  the  American  continent  than  we  were 
willing  to  admit  when  we  first  wrote. 
1      McDonald,  in  his  his  history,  speaks  of  a  varie- 


-T<e 


%\i[  §m\mtu  ^mMi 


^ tu 


23 


Jl3~Communications  for  this  department  must  reach  the  Editor 
on  or  before  the  10th  of  the  month. 

JCJ"!!'^  Editor  cannot  answer  letters  for  this  department  pri- 
Tately. 

Growth  of  Rogers'  Hybrid  Grapes.— We 
received  from  Lindlcy  &  Ilinks,  Bridgeport,  Conn., 
specimens  of  Rogers'  No.  15  and  19,  to  show  the 
vigorous  character  of  these  varieties — a  Delaware 
of  the  same  age  being  sent  for  comparison. 

The  vines  were  started  from  single  eyes,  on  the 
8th  of  February,  planted  out  of  doors  in  June,  and 
layered  in  August. 

The  Delaware  is  as  good  as  we  usually  see  them 
the  first  year— as  stout  as  strong  straws.  •  The 
Hybrids  are  as  strong  as  Concord  layers  usually  are, 
two  feet  long,  and  average  girth  1 1  inches. 

From  reports  reaching  us  from  all  quarters,  the 
"Rogers'  Hybrids"  are  the  rising  stars  in  the 
grape  firmament. 


Seedless  Grape— J!  M  F.,  Dallas  City,  1U.~ 
Can  you  inform  me  where  the  Seedless  Grape  can 
be  obtained? 

[Have  any  of  our  Grape-growers  this  variety  in 
their  collections?] 


Richland  Plt.m  and  Grape  Vine  Insects.— 
I  wish  to  get  some  information  concerning  the 
Richland  Plum.  Is  it  less  troubled  by  the  cur- 
culio  than  the  Lombard  or  the  old  German  Prune 
are?  and  does  it  usually  produce  a  fair  crop  where 
there  is  no  particular  attention  paid  to  destroy  the 
curculio?  Is  it  like  the  Damson,  a  good  variety  for 
making. preserves?  [}) 

Last  spring  I  purchased  two  Creveling  Grape 
Vines,  from  a  New  York  Nursery,  and  when 
planting  them,  I  noticed  that  there  were  many 
little  bunches  or  knots  upon  the  roots,  unlike  any- 
thing which  I  had  seen  before.  Examining  them 
a  few  days  since,  I  again  found  them  upon  the 
young  roots.  I  enclose  a  sample  of  them  in  a  peice 
of  tinfoil,  and  wish  to  ask  what  they  are  ?  whether 
they  are  caused  by  some  injurious  insect,  or  some- 
thing else.     Can  j^ou  give  a  remedy  for  them?" (2) 

(IJ)  The  Richland  Plum  is  attacked  by  curculio, 
but  does  not  rot  in  consequence,  as  easily  as  some 
others.  Probably  all  hard  flesh  plums  are  safer  in 
this  respect. 

{'!)  The  knots  are  often  seen  on  the  grape  vine 
roots.  Theoretically  they  should  be  injurious;  but 
we  have  never  detected  any  serious  injury  in  fact. 


Horticultural  Books. — J.  F.^  Edwardsvdlc, 
Indiana. 

1st.  Please  inform  me  as  a  subscriber,  what  is 
the  best  treatise  on  the  propagation  and  culture  of 
flowers  ? 

2d.  The  best  book  treating  on  the  care  and  man- 
agement of  ornamental  trees,  from  the  propagation, 
ect.  ? 

3d.  What  is  perhaps  the  most  worthy  book  on 
the  propagation  and  culture  of  hardy  grapes  in  the 
open  air? 

4th.  Is  there  any  work  extant,  treating  in 
detail  on  the  management  of  tree.s,  plants,  etc.  in 
the  nursery?  P.  Barry  treats  of  it  in  his  fruit 
garden,  but  very  hurriedly. 

[1st.  Breck's  Book  of  Flowers;  or,  Buist's 
Flower  Garden  Directory,  would  probably  suit 
you. 

2d.  Meehan's  Ornamental  Trees,  is  the  only 
American  work  on  the  subject. 

3d.  Phinn's  Open  Air  Grape  Culture,  embraces 
the  experiencd  of  most  grape  gi'owers,  up  to  the 
present  time. 

4.  Barry's  Fruit  Garden,  is  the  best  of  the  class. 


Names  of  Plants. — A  Subscriber,  Cuyahoga 
Falls,  Ills. 

Your  plant  is  probably  Ca?at?<M?n  csadentum. 

C.  edulum  we  take  to  be  but  a  variety  of  C.  es- 
culentum. 

Cyanophyllum,  belongs  to  the  order  melasto- 
macce.  

Hot  Water  Pipes. — J.  3fcM.,   Chicago,  Ills. 

Will  the  Editor  please  to  let  me  know  through 
the  Monthly,  to  what  height  I  should  fill  the  water 
in  the  pipe,  in  the  Grapery,  before  I  start  the  fire. 

[The  pipes  and  boiler  may  be  quite  full.  There 
will  be  room  in  the  supply  tank  or  air-pipe  for  ex- 
pansion. ]  

Evergreens  in  Pots  or  Tubs. — Many  Sub- 
scribers.— We  will  reply  to  your  inquiries  in  an 
early  number.  

Rojlan  Apples. — Twenty-two  varieties  were 
known  to  the  ancient  Romans. 


Native  Place  of  tab  Dahlia. —  Hernandez, 
in  his  History  of  Mexico,  says,  it  grows  in  the 
mountains  of  Quanhuahuac,  and  is  called  Acocolti 
by  the  Mexicans.  Cavanilles  flowered  it  first,  in 
his  garden  at  Madrid,  in  ,1790. 


r^i 


0\ 


2i 


ih^  §Mtm'%  IflontMg. 


The  Illustrated  Annual  Register  op  Rural 
Affairs  for  1864.  Luther  Tucker  &  Son, 
Albany,  New  York. 

The  Rural  Annual  and  Horttcultual  Direc- 
tory, for  1864.  Jos.  Harris,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 
These  little  serials,  embracing  the  characters  of 
an  almanack,  a  practical  guide  in  daily  pursuits,  as 
■well  as  in  some  degree  a  record  of  annual  improve- 
ment in  rural  affairs,  have  become  almost  necessities 
to  the  practical  man,  even  the  most  experienced 
finding  it  useful  to  have  what  they  well  know  .kept 
forward  fir  their  daily  remembrance  ;  and  to  the 
novice  they  are  far  better  than  the  elaborate  trea- 
tises of  exhaustive  writers. 

The  contents  of  each  are  so  varied  that  all  who 
can  afford  it  should  get  them  both. 


Report  of  the  Commissioner  of  Agricul- 
ture—National Experimental  Garden. 

We  have  so  often  expressed  our  want  of  confi 
dence  in  any  thing  in  a  horticultural  way,  worthy 
of  our  national  character,  emanating  from  govern- 
ment control,  that  we  need  not  here  repeat  our 
views.  Yet,  perhaps,  it  is  the  wisest  principle, 
that  if  we  cannot  have  what  we  deserve,  we  should 
at  any  rate  get  what  we  can  ;  and  in  this  spirit  we 
have  urged  our  readers  to  do  all  in  their  power  to 
give  the  efforts  of  the  present  Commissioner,  and 
his  able  assistants  all  the  aid  possible  in  their  al- 
most sisyphian  efforts  to  make  their  department 
useful.  No  men  could  probably  have  done  more 
than  they  have.  The  following  extract  from  the 
last  report,  will  interest  our  readers : 

"While  the  introduction  and  propagation  of  new 
and  valuable  plants  will  always  command  a  large 
fihare  of  attention  as  one  of  the  principal  objects  of 
the  garden,  still  it  is  believed  that  investigations 
having  in  view  a  more  thorough  knowledge  of  the 
diseases  of  plants,  especially  with  reference  to 
those  of  our  more  valuable  and  generally  cultivated 
fruits,  should  receive  more  attention  than  formerly. 
Acting  upon  this  belief,  and  being  convinced  of  the 
im.mense  importance  of  the  grape  crop  as  a  fruit 
for  general  consumption,  and  more  particularly  in 
view  of  the  extraordinary  increasing  interest  now 
developing  in  regard  to  the  production  of  native 
vines,  an  extensive  correspondence  has  been  opened 
with  vineyardists  in  all  parts  of  the  country  for  the 
purpose  of  comparing  the  result  of  experience  and 
observation  in  regard  to  the  influences  of  soil  and 


climate,  as  also  the  effects  of  varied  treatment  and 
the  estimation  of  varieties.  Much  valuable  infor- 
mation has  thus  been  contributed,  embracing  a  col- 
lection of  facts,  without  which  it  would  be  impos- 
sible to  reach  intelligent  conclusions. 

"  It  has  been  considered  advisable,  as  one  of  the 
best  modes  of  extending  interest  in  pomological  and 
horticultural  pursuits,  to  establish  examples' in  or- 
der to  exhibit  practically  the  results  of  varied  modes 
of  treatment  and  applications  of  systems.  This 
feature  is  being  extended,  and  is  found  to  be  of 
peculiar  and  special  interest  to  visitors ;  and  its  re- 
sults have  already  been  repeatedly  acknowledged 
by  those  most  capable  of  appreciating  such  efforts. 

The  limited  facilities  of  the  present  garden  greatly 
retard  the  full  developement  of  this  object.  It  is 
highly  necessary  to  establish  specimen  orchards  of 
the  best  fruits,  in  order  to  illustrate  the  best  modes 
of  culture,  and  arrive  at  a  correct  knowledge  of  the 
nomenclature  of  varieties  of  fruits.  This  want  is 
now  severely  felt,  and  its  fulfilment  would  be  hailed 
with  genuine  delight  by  all  who  are  fully  alive  to 
the  growing  importance  of  fruit  culture. 

The  purposes  of  the  garden,  as  a  proper  auxil- 
iary to  the  department,  will  not  be  fully  answered 
until  a  botanical  collection  and  museum  is  estab- 
lished. It  is  a  source  of  well-founded  surprise  by 
visitors  to  the  capital  of  the  nation,  that  no  sys- 
tematic attempt'has  been  advanced,  having  in  view 
the  foundation  of  a  museum  of  native  vegetable 
products,  or  a  general  botanical  garden  of  plants. 

To  accomplish  more  fully  what  I  deem  to  be 
necessary  for  the  full  developement  of  this  branch 
of  the  department,  it  will  be  necccssary  to  increase 
the  glass  conservatories  and  propagating  houses, 
for  which  I  have  asked  an  additional  appropriation. 

I  long  perceived  that  the  few  acres  of  the  propa- 
gating garden  were  quite  too  limited  for  the  need 
of  this  department  in  its  present  organization,  and 
that  much  more  land  would  be  required  to  carry 
out  my  ideas  of  what  experimental  ground  should 
show.  To  do  this  effectually,  and  essentially  for 
the  benefit  of  the  farmers  of  the  country,  there 
should  be  placed  at  the  control  of  the  department, 
land  enough  to  test  the  various  grains,  grasses,  and 
seeds  of  every  kind  that  may  be  offered,  to  try  their 
genuineness,  their  soundness,  their  value,  and  the 
adaptability  of  any  foreign  ones  to  our  own  use. 

In  the  belief  however,  that  this  want  will  be  but 
temporary,  it  is  hoped  that  Congress  will  make  a 
permanent  appropriation  for  the  use  of  this  de- 
partment, with  suflacient  means  for  its  improve- 
ment." 


M) 


•(g- 


®h4  (Sardenijr'^  (P0nthlg, 


COCCOLOBA  PLATYCLADA  —  F  lat-hranclied 
Lnhe-hcrrij.  —  Nat.  ord. ,  Pol}'gonacea3.  Linn. , 
Octaiidria  Trigynia.  This  remarkable  plant  was 
discovered  at  Wanderer  Bay,  Solomon's  Islands, 
"  Herald."  "  Being  throughout  the  year  covered 
with  innumerable  blossoms,  generally  interspersed 
with  bright  red,  and  finally  dark  purple  berries,  we 
regard  this  plant  as  one  of  the  most  interesting  ac- 
quisitions of  our  gardens.  It  is  readily  multiplied 
from  cuttings. " — Bot.  Mag..,  t.  5382.^ 


hedge  plant,  more  lively  in  appearance  than  the 
Yew,  and  more  rapid  in  growth  than  the  Box,  is 
much  felt,  and  this  want,  the  new  species  is  ex- 
pected to  supply.  —  Cot.  Gard. 


XIlGGINSIA  GlIEISBECIITir —  GllcisbecM  !i  W(J- 
giusia. — Nat.  ord.,  Bubiactie.  Linn.,  Tetrandria 
jNIonogynia.  Probably  a  native  of  New  Grenada. 
Leaves,  rich  velvety  green  above,  and  reddish  pur- 
ple beneath.  It  is  a  handsome  stove  plant. — (Ihid. , 
t.  5383.  J  

PlI^EDRANASSA  OBTUSA  — Blunt  Pliadro.nassa. 
This  was  discovered  above  10,000  feet  above  the 
surface  of  the  sea,  upon  the  Pichinca  mountain, 
near  Quito.  It  blooms  during  the  winter,  and  has 
pretty  scarlet  flowers,  tipped  with  greenish-yellow. 
Figured  in  the  Bot.  Mag.,  t.  5361, 


Cypripedium  Hookers — Ladij  Iloohcrs  Q/- 
pripcdium. — Discovered  by  Mr.  Hugh  Low,  jr.,  in 
Borneo,  and  sent  by  him  to  the  Clapton  Nursery. 
It  was  figured  in  the  Bot.  Mag.,  t.  5362,  and  aji- 
pears  to  have  dark  green  variegated  leaves,  with 
pale  mottling.  The  flowers  are  marked  with  yel- 
low and  purple  on  a  pale  green  ground. 


Fern-leaved  Chinese  Primrose. — Raised  by 
Messrs.  E.  G.  Henderson  &  Son,  Wellington  Eoad 
Nursery.  It  is  a  crimson-flowered,  and  has  the 
unusual  property  of  coming  true  from  seed. — 
Floral  31agazinc,  pi.  149. 


Ilex  Fortuni. — A  new  evergreen,  is  another 
invaluable  addition  to  our  collection  of  hardy 
shrubs  ;  it  is  thickly  set  with  small,  glossy,  dark 
green  leaves,  which  shine  like  varni.sh,  is  of  rapid 
growth,  and  stands  clipping  into  any  desired  shape. 
It  is,  therefore,  admirably  adapted  for  hedges; 
those  which  are  formed  of  it  in  Japan  are,  we  are 
told,  so  close  that  one  may  walk  on  the  top — and,  of 
course,  the  sharp  spines  on  the  leaves  render  such 
a  fence  totally  impenetrable  to  the  boldest  would- 
be  intruder.  Now  that  geometrical  gardens  are 
coming  so  much  into  fashion,  the  want  of  a  good 


Abies  Polita.— A  very  fine  fir  from  Japan.  It 
is  described  by  Siebold  as  a  superb  sort  of  Spruce, 
found  wild,  according  to  his  informants,  in  vast 
forests  on  the  lofty  mountains  that  extend  to  the 
north  of  Nippow,  and  also  in  the  Kuriles. 


Pitcairnia  tabul^formis. — New  Bromelia- 
cea,  exhibited  by  M.  Linden,  of  Brussels.  Native 
of  Chiapas.  Orange  flowers  on  short  stalks,  on  a 
level  almost  with  the  surrounding  tuft  of  leaves, 
giving  one  the  idea  of  a  table,  whence  the  name. — 
Hort,  helge. 


PiiYLLOCACTUS  CRENATUS,  var.  Rox.  gvavdifl. — 
A  variety  obtained  by  crossing  the  Ph.  crenatus 
with  the  Ph.  Ackermanni,  remarkable  for  its  large 
pale  pink  flowers.  —  Gartenflora. 


Panax  sessiliflorum.— One  of  the  arboresent 
Araliaceae  which  those  two  travellers,  Maack  and 
Maximowicz,  brought  from  the  River  Amoor.  Per- 
fectly hardy  in  central  Europe.  Small  tree,  no 
stings  on  the  main  stem,  but  a  a  few  sharp  ones  on 
the  branches.  Only  specimens  of  this  remarkable 
novelty  to  be  found  in  the  Botanical  Gardens  of  St. 
Petersburg,  and  in  Ilaage's  establishment  in  Er- 
furt, Germany. — Ih. 


Berberidopsis  corallina. —  From  Valdavia, 
climbing  shrub,  evergreen,  cylindrical  branches. 
Simple  leaves,  short  foot-stalk,  oblong,  lower  end 
cordated,  upper  one  pointed,  serrated  edge,  under 
side  dark  green.  Magnificent  flowers,  brilliant  pur- 
ple, hanging  grape-like  on  large  peduncles  of  same 
shade.  Considered  hardy  by  Sir  W.  Hooker.  Has 
traits  of  both  the  Berberidcae  and  Lardizabalere, 
and  thus  forming  almost  the  transition  between  the 
two. — Rev.  Hort. 


RiTCHiEA  POLYP etala. — Very  remarkable  Cap- 
paridea,  from  Western  Africa.  Originally  discov- 
ered by  Barter,  of  the  Niger  Expedition.  Alternate 
leaves,  composed  of  from  3  to  5  leaflets  each.  The 
same  number  of  flowers,  large  size,  from  a  cluster 
which  often  measures  a  foot  and  more. — Bot.  Mag. 


Calanthe  Veitchii  hybrida,  (Yeitclis  Cal- 
anthc). — This  is  a  garden  variety  with  pink  flowers, 
obtained  by  Mr.  Dominy  at  Messrs.  Veitch  &  Son')''. 


26 


S^hij  fiSarien^r's  JPonlMg* 


Exeter  Nursery,  by  fertilizing  LimatoJes  rosea  with 
the  pollen  of  "  that  variety  of  the  white  Calanthe 
vestita,  which  has  a  purple  spot  at  the  base  of  the 
lips."— 76.  t.  5375. 


(M 


Ceanothus  CTJNEATVS.-NuttaU.-iThc  Wcdge- 
leaved  Ceanothus.) — An  evergreen  shrub,  growing 
from  six  to  eight  feet  high,  with  somewhat  thorny 
grejish  shoots  very  closely  interwoven.  Leaves 
half  an  inch  long,  wedge-shape  or  somewhat  oval, 
and  not  unfrequently  with  two  serratures  near 
their  extremities,  and  furnished  with  numerous 
elevated,  simple  and  oblique  veins  on  the  under 
side.     Flowers  white,  in  small  axillary  umbels. 

It  is  found  on  the  Sacramento  Mountains  in  Cal- 
ifornia, and  on  the  dry  gravelly  islands  and  bars  of 
the  rivers  in  the  Oregon  country,  flowering  in 
May. — George  Gordon. 


Lycloptelium  pubiflorum  (downy-flowered. ) 
This  plant  was  introduced  by  Messrs.  Veitch  & 
Son,  through  their  collecter,  Mr.  Richard  Pearce, 
from  near  Chiloe  ;  it  is  therefore  probably  hardy. 
The  flowers  are  handsome  purple,  and  remind  one 
some  what  of  the  Foxglove. — Bot.  Magazine,  t. 
5373.  

Striped  Japanese  Chrysanthemum. — Intro- 
duced by  Mr.  Fortune,  and  exhibited  by  Mr. 
Standish,  of  Bagshot  and  Ascot  Nurseries.  Some 
of  the  florets  are  red,  and  some  white,  while  others 
are  striped  longitudinally  red  and  white. — Floral 
Mag.,  pi.  143, 


The  Bon  Gardiner  (good  gardener),  for  1863,  a 
French  annual,  speaks  of  the  following  as  remarka- 
ble amongst  the  best  novelties  of  the  past  year : 

Adelaster  albiveinis — Anthurium  leucnneuron — 
Arnebia  Griffithii — Clarkia  pulchella,  /?.  pleno — 
Dianthus  hybridus  multifl. — Geranium  plutypctal- 
lan — Maranta  oniata — Hebeclinium  atrorubcns — 
Mutisia  decurrens — Nemophila  atomaria  oculata — 
Penstemon  Lohhi,  new  Californian  plant,  discovered 
by  and  named  after  Mr.  Lobb — Pyrcthrum  dellca- 
tinsiminn  and  P.  eximium — Rynchoria  alhoniteiis — 
Twenty-four  new  roses — Five  new  varieties  of  Glad- 
iolus gandavensis — Thirty-seven  new  Chrysanthe- 
mums— Caladium  Wightii,  Pcrrieri,  regale,  macro- 
phyllum,  Lemaireanum,  Hardii,  splendidum,  cu- 
preum,  Sclioelleri  and  Sclimitzii — Camellia  Reine 
des  Beauties,  or  Queen  of  Beauties,  and  C.  reticu- 
lata fl.  j^levo,  introduced  by  Mr.  Fortune  from 
China — the  Pansy  Fanstii.'i,  or  King  of  the  Blacks, 
the  only  flower,  besides  the  Bean,  said  to  have  a 


true  black  shade^Salvia  cacaliarfulia — Sedumpw^' 
chellum — Streptocarpus  Saundersii — a  new  Zinnia 
from  Mexico — and  the  following  Begonias,  intro- 
ducing to  the  world  at  large,  the  following  hitherto 
obscure  personages :  Friedrich  Liesmeyer,  Charles 
Leireus,  Victor  Hemoine,  Madame  Celeste  Winans, 
Edward  Teel,  Walter  Butt,  Baron  Oustinoff,  Ker- 
amis,  Estrella  da  Brezil,  Be  Fernando  and  Sambo, 
the  latter  a  gentleman  well-known  in  the  United 
States ;  also  Begonia  longipila. 


Ellisdale  Raspberry. — This  a  new  Raspberry, 
found  by  the  writer,  growing  wild  upon  the  Ellis- 
dale  farm  in  this  county.  The  plant  has  the  liabit 
of  the  common  Blackcap  Raspberry,  but  is  of  more 
robust  growth.  Still,  with  the  foliage  off,  it  might 
be  taken  for  that  variety.  It  propagates  from  the 
ends  of  the  canes  in  the  same  manner  as  the  wild 
sort,  through  the  fruit  is  more  like  the  Antwerp. 
In  size  the  fruit  is  medium  to  large,  perhaps  a 
trifle  larger  than  Brinckle's  Orange,  with  a  flavor 
unsurpassed.  It  is,  however,  rather  soft  for  a 
market  berry,  though  it  answers  remarkably  well 
for  home  consumption.  The  canes  grow  from  five 
to  eight  feet  in  length  usually,  though  I  have  them 
on  very  rich  ground  that  now  measure  thirteen  feet 
in  length.  The  color  of  the  canes  is  a  light  purple, 
spines  small  and  not  troublesome  in  picking  the 
fruit.  It  is  a  very  prolific  bearer,  producing  more 
fruit,  and  of  a  better  quality,  in  my  grounds,  than 
celebrated  Doolittle  Raspberry.  The  fruit  is  light 
purple  with  a  whitish  bloom.  It  is  quite  as  pro- 
ductive, and  the  fruit  is  equally  as  good  as  any  of 
the  Antwerp  class,  and  this  has  the  advantage  of 
being  perfectly  hardy. 

Taken  altogether,  I  consider  this  one  of  the  most 
valuable  varieties  in  cultivation,  to  grow  this  far 
north,  as  I  have  never  known  it  to  winter-kill  in 
the  least. — H.  A.  Terry,  in  Iowa  Homestead. 

Graham's  Autumn  Nelis  Pear.— We  have 
received  from  Mr.  Graham  some  fruit  of  this  deli- 
cious Pear,  trees  of  which  are  now  for  sale  by  Mr. 
Standish,  of  Ascot  and  Bagshot.  The  fruit  is 
rather  larger  than  the  Winter  Nelis,  and  for  rich- 
ness of  flavor  is  not  surpassed  by  any  pear  of  its 
season.  The  tree,  which  is  as  yet  quite  young, 
bore  this  year  upwards  of  a  bushel  of  fruit,  which 
was  so  heavy  that  the  branches  required  to  be  sup- 
ported with  stakes. 


^' 


mn  §Mi\m'i  JRonthlg. 


The  "Colvert  Apple."— While  at  the  Ste- 
phenson County  Pair,  our  attention  was  attracted 
by  a  very  fine,  showy  apple,  among  the  collection 
of  Mr.  E.  Ordway,  of'Freeport,  which  he  called  the 
Colvert.  The  apples  are  large  size,  nearly  covered, 
when  exposed  to  the  sun,  with  stripes  and  splashes 
of  crimson  ;  a  few  russet  dots  are  scattered  over  the 
surface ;  basin,  russet,  spread  out  on  one  side — 
calyx,  closed  in  shallow  basin ;  stem  very  short  and 
thick ;  flesh  greenish  white,  coarse  grained,  agree- 
ably acid  ;  core  small,  seeds  close  in  cavities. 

The  above  apple  was  brought  into  Stephenson 
Co.,  Ills.,  about  1850,  by  Wheeler  &  Brewster. 
Has  been  in  bearing  about  six  years.  The  apple 
is  one  of  the  best  of  its  season  for  all  uses.  Ripe 
last  of  September  and  first  of  October.-7^/-aiVie  Far. 


Fungi. — The  number  of  germs,  or  other  repro- 
ductive bodies,  which  parasitic  fungi  produce,  is 
incalculable,  almost  infinite.  It  has  been  ascer- 
tained that  one  grain  of  the  black  matter  which 
fills  up  the  ear  of  corn  in  smut,  contains  upwards  of 
four  millions  of  spores  or  seed  vessels,  which  are 
again  filled  with  sporules  or  seeds  so  infinitesimally 
minute  and  impalpable,  that  no  definite  forms  can 
be  distinguished  by  the  highest  powers  of  the  mi- 
croscope. When  a  seed-vessel  is  ruptured,  they 
are  seen  to  escape  in  the  form  of  an  airy  cloud, 
filmy  as  the  most  delicate  gossamer  ;  and  on  a  fine 
summer  day,  a  keen-sighted  observer  may  behold 
them  rising  from  diseased  heads  of  growing  grain 
into  the  air,  by  evaporation,  like  an  ethereal 
smoke,  dispersing  in  innumerable  ways,  by  the  at- 
traction of  the  sun,  by  insects,  by  currents  of  wind, 
by  electricity,  or  by  adhesion.  The  atmosphere  is 
freighted,  to  an  inconceivable  extent,  with  such 
germs,  quick  with  life  and  ready  to  alight  and 
spring  up.  So  tenacious  are  they  of  vitality,  that 
neither  summer's  heat  nor  winter's  frost  can  des- 
troy them ;  and  when  these  are  absent,  they  will 
not  develope  themselves  or  spread  ;  otherwise  the 
whole  world  would  be  speedily  overrun  with  them  ; 
the  fig-tree  would  not  blossom,  and  there  would  be 
no  fruit  on  the  vine ;  the  labor  of  the  olive  would 
fail,  and  the  fields  would  yield  no  meat." — Scien- 
tific  American. 

New  Variety  of  Potato. — It  is  related  in  a 
Belfast  paper,  that  a  new  variety  of  potato  has 
been  raised  in  Ireland,  from  American  seed,  brought 


by  one  of  the  blockade  runners,  and  named  ''  Con- 
federates." In  shape  thoy  greatly  resemble  the 
now  almost  unknown  but  once  favorite  "ash  leaf 
kidneys,"  being  a  long  oval  with  flat  sides.  The 
size  is  immense,  many  weighing  a  pound  each,  and 
the  quality  when  cooked,  is  excellent. 


The  May  Cherry,  here  called  Early  Richmond, 
is  all  the  go,  and  every  tree  is  set  that  can  be  ob- 
tained. We  heard  wonderful  stories  of  the  profits 
of  this  fruit ;  one  man  sold  one  hundred  and  twen- 
ty-six bushels  from  a  young  orchard  of  six  hundred 
trees,  four  years  set,  at  an  avorage  of  over  four 
dollars  the  bushel ;  that  is  over  a  hundred  dollars 
an  acre.  Next  year  he  thinks  it  will  double  the 
crop. — Me.  Far. 

The  Experimental  Garden,  Washington. — 
When  it  is  remembered,  that  but  a  short  while  ago, 
the  site  of  this  fine  garden  was  only  a  worthless 
smamp — that,  in  point  of  fact,  the  garden  is  all 
"  made  ground,"  having  been  filled  up  with  rub- 
bish, and  only  topped  with  earth — the  institution 
cannot  fail  to  be  regarded  as  a  great  success.  The 
garden  is  now  in  better  order  than  it  has  ever  been, 
for  Mr.  Saunders'  energetic  and  conscientious  man- 
agement is  beginning  to  tell  upon  it.  Many  need- 
less walks  and  merely  ornamental  beds  have  been 
dispensed  with,  and  the  room  thus  wasted  has  been 
turned  to  good  account.  Nevertheless,  tlie  garden 
is  still  rather  ornamental  than  useful,  at  least  to  the 
degree  which  Mr.  Commissioner  Newton  and  Mr. 
Saunders  desire  it  to  be.  It  contains,  however,  an 
immense  number  of  fine  grape  vines  of  countless 
varieties;  large  beds  of  strawberries,  raised  from 
seed  of  the  very  best  kind,  and  a  variety  of  other 
fruits,  as  well  as  experimental  beds  of  cereals,  po- 
tatoes, &c.,  with  a  remarkably  healthy  collection  of 
greenhouse  and  other  plants  and  shrubs. —  Wash. 
Clironicle.  

The  Ribstone   Pippin  Apple  in  Iowa. — I 

have  found  the  tree  hardy,  and  the  fruit  fully  sus- 
taining its  high  reputation  in  other  countries,  and 
well  worthy  of  cultivation  here ;  especially  as  the 
varieties  recommended  byA.  J.  Downing,as  surpass- 
ing it,  except  the  Swaar  do  no  not  succeed  here.  He 
saJ^s:  "The  Ribstone  Pippin,  a  Yorkshire  apple, 
stands  as  as  high  in  Great  Britain  as  the  Bank  of 
England,  but  must  give  place  with  us  to  the  New- 
town Pippin,  the  Swaar,  the  Spitzenberg,  or  the 
Baldwin,  &c.  The  sample  I  gave  you  is  below 
medium  size. — Wm.  Longworth, P?ea.sa«^  IIIU 
Nurseries,  Duhuque. — Iowa  Homstead. 


W^ 


^f^^ 


ihtl  iardener's  JRontMj. 


©1 


Old  Pear  Trees. — Pear  trees  are  standing  in 
Detroit,  planted  by  the  French  settlers  over  one 
hundred  and  fifty  years  ago,  and  they  bear  pro- 
fusely without  presenting  any  symptoms  of  decay. 


Delaware  Peaches. — Mr.  Reybold  is  the 
"Peach  King"  of  Delaware.  No  less  than  800 
acres,  of  which  150  were  planted  last  j-ear,  and  200 
more  will  be  added  this  fall,  making  one  thousand 
acres  in  all,  exclusively  devoted  to  peach  culture. 
The  crop  while  maturing,  two  steamboats  are 
constantly  running  to  carry  off.  The  net  profits 
for  the  last  three  years  are  roughly  estimated  at 
$300,000.  

Double  Apples.  — Four  bushels  of  double 
apples — two  on  a  stem — grew  this  season  on  a  tree 
in  Lenox,  Mass.— Daily  Paper. 


Central  Park  Fountain.— The  Central  Park 
Commissioners  have  adopted  plans  for  a  basin  and 
fountain  to  occupy  the  space  between  the  grand 
staircase  at  the  end  of  the  promenade,  and  the  lake 
below.  The  basin  will  be  round,  and  over  90  feet 
in  diameter,  constructed  of  massive  stones,  without 
ornamentation.  The  fountain  will  be  of  the  la- 
miliar  urn-shaped  pattern,  than  which  nothing 
more  beautiful  can  be  designed.  The  jet  will  rise 
to  the  height  of  about  25  feet,  so  that  its  crest  will 
be  visible  from  the  level  of  the  promenade.  The 
fountain  will  play  in  the  afternoon  of  every  fair  day 
in  mild  weather,  and  will  be  one  of  the  most  inter- 
esting objects  in  the  park.  It  will  be  the  only 
fountain  of  any  size  in  operation  in  the  city. 


Sequoia  gigantea. — The  editors  of  the  Sd- 
entific  American  have  received  from  California  a 
peice  of  wood  from  a  tree  thirty  feet  in  diameter, 
the  annual  rings,  upon  which  indicate  the  age  of 
the  tree  to  be  G,300. 


Greenhouses  and  Grounds  of  Mr.  Hackett 
THE  Comedian. — Mr.  Hackett,  the  Shaksperian 
comedian,  has  returned  east  from  a  long  visit  to  his 
agricultural  property  on  the  Western  .prairies. 
During  his  absence  Mr.  Hackett  has  made  the 
prairie  blossom  like  the  rose.  He  has  set  out  a 
forest  of  trees,  which  have  grown  ten  feet  in  two 
years.  He  has  built  a  chateau  of  brick  manufac- 
tured near  by.  He  has  laid  out  lawns,  dug  ponds, 
bridged  rivers,  and  fenced  in  his  section.  He  has 
erected  a  magnificent  greenhouse,  and  a  chalef.,  and 
a  billiard  house,  and  a  bowling  alley,  and  a  "barn, 
and  several  splendid  stables,  and  various  summer 


arbors.  Now  he  returns,  bronzed  with  the  sun  and 
invigorated  by  toil,  to  again  play  Falstaff  before 
our  jocose  President.  This  versatility  of  genius  is 
most  wonderful- — Dailjj  Paper. 


Oi&ifuarg. 


Death  op  Donald  Beaton. — This  distin- 
guished British  gardener,  Cformerly  gardener  to 
Sir  W.  Middleton,)  whose  fame,  as  a  thoroughly 
practiced  and  scientific  writer,  is  well  known 
wherever  English  Horticultural  literature  has  a 
place,  recently  died  in  his  63d  year.  He  was  one 
of  the  principal  associate  editors  of  the  London 
Cottage  Gardener,  the  most  interesting  of  all  our 
foreign  exchanges. 


Death  op  David  Haggerston. — This  well- 
known  ornamental  gardener,  (formerly  in  the  em- 
ploy of  the  late  John  P.  Cushing,  and  more  re- 
cently superintendent  of  Mt.  Hope  Cemetery,) 
which  bears  evidence  of  his  ability,  died  on  Friday, 
Nov.  6th,  1863.  Mr.  Haggerston  was  born  in 
Macclesfield,  England,  1802.  After  passing  through 
a  thorough  education  as  a  practical  horticulturist, 
at  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  came  to  America, 
where  his  taste  and  experience  were  soon  availed  of 
by  some  of  our  opulent  suburbans.  He  was  em- 
ployed to  lay  out  grounds  of  jMt.  Auburn  Cemetry, 
of  which  he  was  the  superintendent  during  the 
first  year  of  its  establishment.  He  subsequently 
took  charge  of  the  conservatory  and  grounds  of 
John  P.  Cushing,  Esq.,  in  Watertown,  where  lie 
remained  for  nearly  twenty  years,  and  then  ac- 
cepted the  i)osition  of  Superintendent  of  Mt.  Hope 
Cemetery,  which  originated  as  a  private  enterprise 
about  twelve  years  ago.  In  1857  this  cemetery 
was  purchased  by  the  City  of  Boston,  and  placed 
in  charge  of  a  Board  of  Trustees,  whose  confidence 
in  his  ability  and  qualifications  has  been  annually 
expressed  by  unanimously  electing  him  the  super- 
intendent until  his  decease. 


Bedding  Plants. — Arrange  the  propagation  of 
these  according  to  their  habits.  Those  that  re- 
quire to  make  a  free  growth  before  they  bloom  to 
be  got  on  first,  and  those  that  come  into  bloom 
quickly  may  be  deferred.  Petunias,  Heliotropes. 
Geraniums,  Aireratums,  Neirembergias,  Lobelias, 
Cupheas  and  Lantanas,  to  be  cut  from  as  soon  as 


Sft^  @ardi?ni!r's  dflonthlg. 


29 


the  old  plants  furnish  shoots  for  the  purpose,  There 
need  be  no  haste  aboutVerbenas,  Dahlias,  Miiuulus, 
Perillas,  ffinotheras,  Salvias  and  Tropa3oluuis ; 
they  will  make  as  good  plants  from  cuttings. 


To  Dry  Floavers. — The  easiest  to  begin  with 
are  j'ellow  flowers,  as  they  retain  the  color  best. 
Spread  them  as  flat  as  possible, and  without  altering 
their  natural  forms,  on  clean  dry  blotting-paper. 
Cover  them  with  three  or  four  thicknesses  of  the 
same,  aird  apply  a  very  slight  weight  to  flatten 
them  gradually  without  rupture  of  the  vessels. 
After  five  or  six  hours,  take  otlier  sheets  of  new 
blotting-paper  and  warm  them  at  the  fire,  and 
while  they  are  warm,  change  the  flowers  into  them  ; 
apply  more  pressure  than  before.  Let  them  re- 
main till  the  next  day,  and  change  again  in  the  same 
way,  and  you  will  have  them  perfectly  dried  and 
the  color  beautifully  preserved.  Blue  are  more 
difficult.  Proceed  in  in  the  same  way,  and  at  the 
first  change  cover  the  blotting-paper  with  two 
thicknesses  of  flannel,  and  apply  a  moderately  hot 
iron  to  hasten  the  drying  process.  We  have  dried 
all  sorts  of  flowers  with  a  tenth  part  of  the  trouble, 
by  merely  placing  them  between  blotting-paper  in 
a  book,  and  piling  a  few  other  books  on  it,  but 
only  those  of  thin  texture  and  that  do  not  abound 
in  sap  can  be  treated  in  so  slight  a  way.  In  al 
cases,  di-y  quickly  ;  never  crush  the  stems  or  cause 
the  juices  to  exude,  and  avoid  laying  one  leaf  on 
another,  which  causes  discoloration. 


Good  Old  Roses.— The  best  Bourbons,  for 
town  culture,  are  as  follows  : 

Appoline,  very  vigorous ;  Aurore  du  Guide, 
crimson  ;  George  Cuvier,  rose ;  George  Peabody, 
purple  crimson,  dwarf,  but  very  free  bloomer ; 
Prince  Albert,  scarlet  crimson  ;  Pierre  de  St.  Cyr, 
pale  rose ;  Sir  Joseph  Paxton,  rose,  suitable  for  a 
wall.  Experiment,  would  much  extend  the  lists 
in  this  class. 

China,  Mrs.  Bosanquet,  pale  flesh.  Noisettes, 
Jean  d' Arc,  white  ;  Jaune  Desprez,  sulphur,  centre 
pink,  very  tender ;  Lamarque,  lemon ;  La  Biche, 
blush  white ;  Ophirie,  salmon  coppen;  Narcisse, 
sometimes  entered  as  a  Tea,  pale  yellow,  good. 

The  Teas,  to  be  depended  on,  are  few ;  perhaps 
only  Devoniensis,  tinted  white,  shot  rose  ;  and 
SafFrano,  apricot  in  bud,  but,  when  expanded, 
fawn  ;  too  loose.  The  following  may  be  added  as 
probable  successes : 

Homere,  pale  rose  color ;  Bougere,  rose  color ; 
Madame  Willermoz,  white,  centre  salmon. 


Cool  Treatment  op  Orchids. — Our  catalogue 
of  cool  country  plants  is  at  present  very  meagre, 
simply  because  we  have  hitherto  lost  them  as  fust 
as  they  came,  but  we  look  confidently  to  the  en- 
terprise of  our  nurserymen,  such  as  IMessrs.  Veitoh 
and  Messrs  Low,  to  provide  materials  for  a  fresh 
start.  Even  under  cool  treatment  Orchids  require 
air,  shade,  and  humidity,  and  will  not  succeed  unless 
treated  very  diff'erently  from  other  greenhouse 
plants.  A  cool  house  ought  always  to  face  the 
north.  Ada  aurantiaca,  BraSsia  Gireoudiana,  B. 
cinnamomea,  Cypripediura  Schlimii,  Epidendrum 
sceptrum,  E.  vitellinum,  E.  verrucosum  majus, 
Barkeria  spectabilis  and  Skinneri,  Cyconches  bar- 
batum  (Paphinia  barbata,)  Cattleya  citrina,  Com- 
parettia  falcata,  Cyrtochilum  maculatum,  Disa 
grandiflora,  Eriopsis  bilobaandaltissima,  Cojlogyne 
cristata,  Laalia  autumnalis  and  anceps,  Lycaste 
Skinneri,  Maxillaria  venusta,  Notylia  bicolor,  Mas- 
devallia  coccinea  and  tovariensis,  Odontoglossum 
angustatum,  0.  aureo  purpureum,  0.  bictoniense, 
0.  cariniferum,  0.  Cervantesii,  0.  cordatuni,  O. 
crinitum,  0.  grande,  0.  Ineve,  0.  nebulosum,  O. 
naivium  najus,  0.  Pescatorei,  0.  Phalgennpsis,  0. 
pulchellum,  0.  pretiosum,  0.  Reichenheimii,  0. 
Uro  Skinneri,  0.  terrestre,  0.  stellatum,  Oncidium 
ornithorrychum,  0.  leucochilum,  0.  tigrinum,  0. 
Skinneri,  Paphina  tigrina,  Peccatorea  (Huntleya) 
cerina,  Sophronitis  cernua,  grandiflora  and  ptero- 
carpa,  Uropediutii  Lindeni,  Trichopilia  picta  and 
suavis,  Warrea  Lindeniana.  The  above  include 
nearly  all  the  American  Orchids,  with  which  I  am 
acquainted,  that  not  only  delight  in  a  cool  house, 
but  are  worth  growing  in  any  house  at  all.  A  few 
more  might,  however,  be  added,  such  as  Cypri- 
pedium  insigne,  Odontoglossum  hestilabium,  etc., 
to  which  a  cool  house  is  not  essential. — Seraplas, 
in  Gardener  s  Chronicle. 


Never  pot  a  plant  without  giving  one-fourth  in 
height  of  crocks  Cbroken  pots)  or  other  drainage  to 
the  other  three  of  compost.  —  Glenny. 

Begonia  Bex. — The  best  way  for  a  beginner  to 
manage  Begonias,  is  to  keep  them  in  a  shady  green- 
house moderately  well  aired  till  October,  then  re- 
move them  to  the  warmest  part  of  the  greenhouse, 
let  them  go  nearly  dry,  and  keep  them  so  till  spring, 
and  then  place  them  in  a  pit  or  frame,  in  which 
propagating  is  going  on,  to  give  them  a  start,  and 
at  the  same  time  let  them  have  a  little  more  water. 
The  soil  should  consist  of  turfy  peat,  sandy  loam, 
leaf-mould,  and  dung  rotted  to  powder,  equal  parts  ; 
when  growing  they  require  plenty  of  water,  but  not 


^^ 


:^^ 


^f^^ 


30 


M^  §ndmf^  ^o\\t\i% 


a  drop  should  ever  fall  on  the  leaves.  The  easiest 
way  to  propagate,  is  to  cut  out  some  of  the  buds 
with  a  leaf  to  each  from  the  collar  of  the  plant, 
and  plant  these  in  silver-sand  and  place  on  a  moist 
bottom  beat.  In  a  damp  stove,  a  leaf  laid  on  a 
damp  place  will  make  roots  directly ;  in  a  green- 
house this  may  be  done  by  using  a  bell-glass  cov- 
ered with  a  peice  of  canvass  or  sheet  of  paper,  and 
keeping  them  modeartely  damp.  When  rooted, 
they  soon  form  small  plants,  which  of  course 
require  delicate  handling,  and  warmth  and  mois- 
ture to  bring  them  on. — Lond.  Cot.  Gar. 


Keeping  Grapes  after  They  are  Ripe.— 
"  This  is  a  matter  where  care  and  attention  can  do 
much.  I  have  this  season  kept  Lady  Downe's 
Seedling  Grapes  hanging  on  the  vine  till  May,  in 
a  house  where  we  began  cutting  Black  Hamburgs 
in  August.  This  house  is  110  feet  long,  11  feet 
high,  and  11  feet  wide,  and  has  been  referred  to 
already  as  having  been  planted  in  1858.  It  is  a 
common  lean-to  house,  built  to  serve  the  double 
purpose  of  growing  figs  on  the  back  wall,  a  vine  up 
each  rafter,  and  one  half-way  up  the  centre  of  each 
sash,  the  sashes  being  5  feet  wide.  The  ventila- 
tion is  by  an  opening  sash  to  the  north,  on  the  top 
of  the  wall,  and  the  front  sashes  open  outwards  in 
the  usual  way  by  lever  and  rod.  The  cost  of  this 
house,  including  boiler  and  two  rows  of  four-inch 
pipe  along  the  front,  was  under  £200,  and  at 
Christmas  last,  we  had  four-hundred  bunches  of 
Lady  Downe's  and  West's  St.  Peter's  Grapes 
hanging  in  it,  representing  a  commercial  value 
little  short  of  its  original  cost. 

"In  order  that  grapes  may  keep  well,  it  is  ne- 
cessary that  they  should  be  well  ripened  by  the  end 
of  September,  and  not  grown  in  a  wet  border  ;  nor 
should  the  internal  atmosphere  of  the  house  be 
kept  loaded  with  moisture.  What  is  required  in 
grapes  to  keep  well,  is  a  firm  fleshy  berry,  not  one 
full  water.  The  bunches  should  have  the  berries 
well  thined  out,  more  so  than  in  the  case  of  grapes 
that  are  to  be  used  shortly  after  they  are  ripe. 
Long  tapering  bunches  keep  better  than  broad- 
shouldered  ones,  as  the  berries  in  the  centres  of 
the  latter  are  apt  to  damp  off"  and  destroy  the 
bunch  before  it  is  observed.  As  soon  as  the  grapes 
are  thoroughly  ripe,  the  night  temperature  should 
at  once  be  lowered  to  50°,  till  the  leaves  fall  off  or 
ripen,  when  they  should  be  removed  carefully  by 
hand  from  the  vines.  After  this  date  the  fire  heat 
should  never  exceed  45°,  nor  fall  below  35°  at  night ; 
and  in  damp  foggy  weather,  I  keep  the  house  care- 
fully shut  up  for  nights  and  days  at  a  time.     To 


give  air  during  a  damp  foggy  day,  is  to  fill  the 
house  with  the  very  evil  you  wish  to  avoid — damp 
air.  'The  surface  of  the  internal  border  is  allowed 
to  get  perfectly  dry,  and  to  remain  so  all  winter, 
care  being  taken  that  as  little  sweeping  or  raking 
take  place  as  possible,  for  by  this  means  dust  is 
raised,  which,  settles  on  the  bunches.  Half  the 
roots  are  in  the  outside  border,  and  has  no  cover- 
ing at  all. 

"Towards  the  close  of  February,  I  cut  about 
fifty  bunches  of  Lady  Downe's,  detaching  the 
branch  on  which  the  bunch  grew  as  when  pruning 
the  vine.  I  then  sharpened  the  ends  of  the 
branches,  and  run  some  four  of  five  of  them,  with 
a  buncii  on  each,  into  the  side  of  a  Mangold  Wurt- 
zel  laid  on  the  shelf  of  the  fruit  room,  allowing  the 
bunches  to  hang  over  the  side  of  the  shelf  In  this 
way  the  grapes  keep  perfectly  fresh  till  April.  I 
left  some  fifteen  bunches  on  one  vine  for  experi- 
menting upon,  two  of  which,  are  still  hanging  at 
this  date.  May  2.  About  the  15  of  April,  the  sap 
began  to  rise  in  the  vines,  and  some  the  berries 
that  were  a  little  shrivelled  suddenly  got  plnmp, 
while  others  that  have  shown  no  signs  of  shrivelling 
burst  their  skins,  and  the  sap  of  the  vine  that  had 
forced  itselfMnto  them,  began  to  drip  from  them. 

It  was  tinged  with  coloring  matter  out  of  the 
berry,  and  had  the  taste  of  the  berry.  To  stop 
this  bursting  of  the  berries,  I  made  an  incision  in 
the  lateral  on  which  the  bunch  hung,  betwixt  it 
and  the  parent  stem  of  the  vine,  in  two  places, 
half  through,  at  opposite  sides  of  the  lateral.  This 
drew  off  the  sap,  and  no  more  berries  burst.  The 
vines  have  now  young  growths  on  them  9  inches 
long,  and  are  appropriating  all  the  sap,  and  the 
bleeding  has  ceased  from  the  incisions.  In  Febru- 
ary, I  had  all  the  eyes  picked  out  of  the  laterals, 
except  the  one  at  the  base  of  each.  These  are 
showing  fruit  like  others  that  were  pruned  in  the 
usual  way,  except  the  three  I  bled  ;  they  are  much 
weaker  than  the  others.  From  this  experiment  it 
may  be  reasonably  inferred,  that  it  is  not  judicious 
to  keep  grapes  hanging  on  the  vines  after  the  sap 
begins  to  rise.  It,  however,  proves  that  it  is  poss- 
ible to  cut  old  grapes  in  May,  and,  considering  that 
new  can  be  cut  in  January,  gives  an  overlap  of  four 
months  in  the  supply  of  Grapes. "— W.  Thompson. 


The  French  Horticultural  Society's  last  re- 
port makes  mention  of  a  basket  of  apples,  contain- 
ing the  following  "  precious  varieties  :" 

Cathead  Greening,  Golden  Apple,  Golden  Rus- 
set, Federal  Pearmain,  New- York  King,  Beauty 
of  the  West,  Carrol's  striped,  Priestly,  Mere  part- 


(5f[ 


:^^ 


Ut  Oiiarbnter's  Honthlj, 


81 


ner  little  (?  my  little  partner),  Vermont  Nonpareil. 
Lady's  Finger,  Baldwin  or  Red  Cheek,  Yankee 
Pearmain,  Black  July  Flower,  Brownite,  King's 
Sweeting,  Wood's  Greening,  Sweet  and  Sour, 
Grave's  Pippin,  and  a  new  German  apple,  called 
Rhein  Apfel, — "All  foieign  kinds,  grown  by  differ- 
ent people  in  France,  going  to  be  moulded  in  wax, 
and  to  be  examined  in  regard  to  their  special 
merits. 

The  same  report  instances  the  strawberry  Vicora- 
tesse  Hericart  de  Thury,  as  a  very  abundant  bearer, 
very  good  fruit,  and  daily  getting  better  appreciated. 

Intermediate  Stock. — The  use  of  this,  as  also 
of  Ten-week  and  other  Stocks  in  the  spring  is  well 
known.  By  a  very  simple  process,  the  Intermedi- 
ate can  be  had  in  flower  in  perfection  during  the 
whole  winter,  with  spikes  as  fine  and  plants  as 
large  as  when  out  ot  doors  at  midsummer.  Their 
usefulness  is  indisputable  as  cut  flowers  for  bouquets 
and  house  decoration.  Even  in  the  conservatory, 
they  are  very  acceptable  in  the  middle  of 
winter. 

They  should  be  sown  in  February  or  March, 
starved  into  showing  bloom,  whether  single  or 
double,  in  April.  The  single  have  been  discarded, 
when  properly  hardened  plant  them  out  in  a  me- 
dium good  border,  about  a  foot  apart,  to  be  event- 
ually properly  staked  if  necessary.  As  the  flower 
shows  during  the  whole  summer,  cut  it  off.  The 
plant  becomes  more  bushy  if  those  flowering  shoots 
are  cut  home.  In  October  the  plants  should  be 
taken  up,  carefully  potted,  and  placed  under  a  north 
wall,  where  they  must  remain  until  they  recover 
from  the  check  received,  when  they  can  be  taken 
into  the  greenhouse.  I  find  the  Scarlet  Intermedi- 
ate does  best.  —  Cot.  Gardener. 


Annuals  WITH  Ornamental  Foliage. —Atri- 
plex  hortensis  rubra,  Amaranthus  melancholicus 
ruber  Crich  redj,  Ricinus  communis  (H.  H.  j,  Bra- 
zilian and  Crimson-topped  Beet,  Cannas,  various, 
(may  be  planted  out  and  kept  over  winter,  if  taken 
up  before  frost,)  Chenopodium  atriplicifolium 
(purple, J  Milk-thistle,  Perilla  nankinensis  (purple) 
Venus' s  Navel  wort,  common  garden  Beet. — Ih. 

Azaleas  done  Blooming.— First  take  off  the 
dead  blooms  and  seed  pods,  and  clear  away  the  re- 
mains of  the  flowers  that  cling  about  among  the 
stems.  Then  give  them  a  good  syringing,  and  put 
them  in  a  warm  close  place  ;  syringe  frequently  till 
they  have  made  new  growth.  Then  give  air  by  de- 
grees, and  at  the  er»d  of  a  fortnight,  put  them  un- 
der a  north  wall  or  fence  till  autumn,  and  before  I 


frost  comes  get  them  into  the  house,  and  give 
water  only  moderately.  They  should  be  just  kept 
from  frost,  and  in  no  way  coddled,  but  may  have 
extra  warmth  and  moisture  when  about  to  flower. 
A  light  airy  house  with  south  or  south-east  aspect, 
with  a  ridge  and  furrowed  roof,  and  means  for 
breaking  the  sun's  rays,  morning  and  afternoon,  is 
the  best  for  roses.  The  grand  thing  is  to  ensure 
plenty  of  light,  and  means  for  the  freest  ventilation; 
with  these  requisites  any  kind  of  house  will  suit. 
The  mean  temperature  from  December  to  January, 
should  be  45°,  and  about  February  to  rise  from  five 
to  ten  degrees  for  early  blooms.  —  Gard.   Weekit/. 

Fragrant  Annuals.— Abronia  umbellata,  Ag- 
eratum  Mexicanum,  Amblyolepis  setigera,  Cer- 
inthe  auriculata,  Cedronella  Mexicana,  Datura 
Wrightii,  ,Dianthus  Garnerianus,  Hibiscus  Afri- 
canus,Limnanthes  Douglasii,  Lindheimeria  texana, 
Lupinus  luteus  and  most  others,  Martynia  fragrans. 
Marvel  of  Peru,  Mignonette,  Nemesis  floribuuda, 
Nicotiana  longiflora,  Nycterina  capensis,((Enothera 
acaulis,  Perilla  ocymoides,  Petunia  nyctaginaflora, 
Schizopetalon  Walkerii,  Scabious,  Stock,  Sweet 
Pea,  Sultan,  Tagetes  lucida. 

Maple  Sugar.— Although  a  sufl[icient  quantity 
of  maple  sugar  has  never  been  manufactured  in  this 
country,  to  rank  it  among  our  articles  of  exporta- 
tion, it  has  for  many  years  past,  been  about  the 
only  sugar  used  by  a  large  number  of  people — es- 
pecially those  who  live  in  the  more  thickly-wooded 
districts  of  the  States,,  and  those  inhabiting  the 
northern  and  western  fronti(^rs  of  the  United  States 
and  Canada. 

From  the  very  nature  of  the  business,  the  making 
of  maple  sugar  is  commonly  carried  in  an  encamp- 
ment, and  now  I  purpose  to  describe  the  various 
kinds  with  which  I  am  acquainted;  beginning,  as  a 
matter  of  course,  with  an  Indian  camp.  I  am 
speaking  of  the  remote  past,  and  of  an  encamp- 
ment of  Ottawa  Indians,  in  one  of  the  maple 
forests  skirting  the  western  shore  of  Green  Bay. 
It  is  the  month  of  April,  and  the  hunting  season  is 
at  an  end.  Albeit,  the  ground  is  covered  with 
snow,  the  noonday  sun  has  become  quite  powerful, 
and  the  annual  offering  has  been  made  to  the 
Great  Spirit,  by  the  medicine  men,  of  the  first 
product  of  one  of  the  earliest  trees  in  the  district. 
This  being  the  preparatory  signal  for  extensive 
business,  the  women  of  the  encampment  proceed 
to  make  a  large  number  of  wooden  troughs  to  re- 
ceive the  liquid  treasure,  and,  after  these  are  fin 
ished,  the  various  trees  in  the  neighborhood  are 


'^ 


32 


ihi|  (gardener's  cPonthlg^ 


tapped,  and  the  juice  begins  to  run.  In  the  mean 
time,  tlie  men  of  the  party  have  built  the  necessary 
fires,  and  suspended  over  them  their  earthen,  brass 
or  iron  kettles.  The  sap  is  now  flowing  in  copious 
streams,  and  from  one  end  of  the  camp  to  the  other, 
is  at  once  presented  an  animated  and  romantic 
scene,  which  continues  without  interruption,  day 
and  night,  intil  the  end  of  the  sugar  season.  The 
principal  employment  to  which  the  men  devote 
themselves,  is  that  of  lounging  about  the  encamp- 
ment, shooting  at  marks,  and  playing  the  moccasin 
game ;  while  the  main  part  of  the  labor  is  per- 
formed by  the  women,  who  not  only  attend  to  the 
kettles,  but  employ  all  their  leisure  time  in  making 
the  the  beautiful  birchen  mocucks,  for  the  preser- 
vation and  transportation  of  the  sugar  when  made; 
the  sap  being  brought  from  the  troughs  to  the 
kettles  by  the  boys  and  girls. 


INDIANA  POMOLOGICAL  SOCIETY. 

The  third  Annual  Meeting  will  convene  at  Indi- 
anapolis, on  Tuesday,  January  5th,  ]S('A,  and  con- 
tinue in  session  four  days.  A  general  invitation  is 
extended  to  all  persons  who  are  in  any  way  interested 
in  fruit  culture.  It  is  hoped  that  all  who  can  possibly 
do  so,  will  bring  with  them  samples  of  fruits  and 
wines.  An  interesting  meeting  may  be  expected. 
Several  of  the  principal  horticulturists  in  the  South- 
west will  deliver  essays  on  the  occasion. 
Geo.  M.  Beeler,  Secy.,  I.  D.  (1.  Nelson,  Prest. 


streth,  for  extra  fine  plants  of  Cereus  Jenkinsonii, 
one  of  the  old,  but  most  desirable  of  the  flowering 
Cactuses  ;  and  $3  to  W.  Joyce,  gardener  to  ex- 
President  Baldwin,  for  two  pots  of  the  beautiful 
Hot-house  plant,  Sonerilla  margaritacea. 

The  Fruit  Committee  awarded  the  premium  for 
Foreign  Grapes,  to  W.  Joyce,  gardener  to  M.  W. 
Baldwin.  They  were  White  Nice, — excellent  spe- 
cimens of  this  good  late  keeping  kind.  Pears— 12 
varieties,  3  each,  to  E.  Satti3rthwa.it.  The  list  com- 
prised Vicar  of  Winkfield,  Lawrence,  Duchess, 
Easter  Beurre,  Josephine  de  Malines,  Doyenne 
d'Alen^on,  Tajdor,  Petre,  Beurre  d'Anjou,  Oswego 
Beurre,  Colmar  des  Invalid  \s,  Chaptal. 

They  awarded  a  pren)i>  m  of  $1  to  T.  Garrigues, 
for  a  plate  of  Jones'  Seedling  Pears;  but  we  sup- 
pose this  is  not  the  Jones  Pear,  a  New  Jersey 
seedling  described  by  Dr.  Brinckle  in  past  transac- 
tions of  the  Pennsylvania  Horticultural  Society.  As 
it  was  worth  a  special  premium  in  the  estimation 
of  the  society,  it  should  be  worth  describing  by  a 
more  distinctive  name. 

The  Vegetable  Committee  awarded  the  first  pre- 
miums for  Celery  :  Brussell's  Sprouts  ;  and  a  spe- 
mium  of  $1  for  Spinage,  to  Thos.  Meghran,  gard- 
ener to  Girard  College  ;  and  a  special  premium  of 
$1  to  Mr.  J.  McGowen,  for  s'uperior  Carrots. 


PENNSYLVANIA  HOUT.  SOCIETY. 

MONTHLY    DISPLAY,    NOV.    IOTIL 

The  principal  feature  of  interest  this  evening, 
was  the  great  improvement  exhibited  in  the  taste- 
ful arrangement  of  Bouquets  and  Baskets  of  Flow- 
ers; so  much  so,  indeed,  as  to  call  for  especial  re- 
mark from  the  committee.  The  basket  of  cut 
flowers  exhibited  by  Mr.  Joyce,  gardener  to  ex- 
President  Baldwin,  was  certainly  one  of  the  best 
ever  placed  in  competition  before  the  society.  This 
had  the  first  premium. 

Best  Table  Design  to  F.  O'Keefe,  gardener  to 
Mr.  Jos.  Harrison. 

Best  Vase  Plants,  to  same. 

Best  pair  of  Hand  Bouquets,  to  E.  Sattcrthwait. 

A  Special  Premium  of  $2,  was  awarded  to  H.  A. 
Dreer,  for  a  fine  collection  of  Chrysanthenuimr,  $2 
to  Donald  McQueen,  gardcnei    to  Joshua  Long-  '  vanagh 


THE  BPvOOKLY.N  HOET.  SOCIETY, 

The  followiug  named  gentlemen  were  elected  to 
the  respective  offices,  to  serve  for  the  term  of  twelve 
months : 

President — J.  W.  Degrauw. 

Vice-Presidents — W.  A.   Anthony,  D.  P.   Barn- 
ard, R.  W.  Ropes,  Henry  Baxter. 

Treasurer — J.   W.  Degrauw. 

Cor.  Secretary— A.  S.  Fuller. 

Pec  Secretary — G.  H.  Vanwagenen. 

Librarian — S.  B.  Brojihy. 

E.cecutive  Committee — C.  B.  Nichols,  G.  Ham- 
lin, Prof  Eaton. 

Finance  Committee — Walter  Park,  D.  P.  Barn- 
ard, II.  W.  Ropes. 

Library  Committee — L.  A.  Roberts,  A.  S.  Fuller. 
C.  H.  Vanwagenen. 

Premium  Committee  —  B.  C.  Townsend,  C. 
Gaingee. 

Fruit  Committee — J.  Dalledouse,  J.  Weir,  N, 
Copley. 

Plant  Committee — Wm.  Davison,  G.  Hamlin, 
E.  S.  Scott. 

Yegetable   Committee — A.   Chamberlain,   J.  Ca* 


i^^ 


=^ 


DEVOTED     TO 


T'^HMAS     MTIFHAW,     Editor. 
W.  O.  p.  BHIJSrCKLOE,  Publisher. 


FEBRUARY,     1864. 


VOL.    VI. — NO.  2. 


PLOWEK-GAnUSn   AND    PLEASURS- 
GHOUND. 

Now  that  the  phy.sical  season  of  the  gardener's 
year  is  replacing  the  mental,  all  winter  work  should 
be  speedily  got  through  with.  Pruning  especially 
must  be  finished  up.  Some  kinds  of  flowering 
shrubs,  as  Altheas,  Coluteas,  Hypericums,  and  oth- 
ers that  flower  from  the  new  growth,  should  be 
severely  pruned.  Others,  as  the  Lilac,  Pyrus  ja- 
ponica,  and  such  that  flower  from  wood  ripened 
last  year,  should  merely  have  their  weak  growth 
thinned  out  in  pruning. 

In  preparing  to  plant  small  places,  arrange  to 
employ  plenty  of  shrubbery  ;  nothing  gives  them 
so  great  an  air  of  completeness  and  finish  as  these. 
Our  remarks  last  month  are  still  applicable. 


VEGETABLE   GARDEN. 

There  is  nothing  so  acceptable  as  early  vegetables, 
and  one  of  the  most  useful  aids  to  this  is  a  hotbed. 
Every  amateur  should  have  one,  as  every  well  reg- 
ulated horticultural  establishment  regards  it  as  one 
of  its  most  essential  features.  Not  only  is  heat 
generated  by  manure  more  favorable  to  vegetation 
than  that  from  any  other  kind  of.  heat  usually  ap- 
plied, but  the  manure  itself,  after  being  so  em- 
ployed, seems  better  than  that  preserved  any  other 
way.  We  would  sooner  have  one  load  of  hotbed 
manure  for  horticultural  purposes,  especially  for 
pot  plants  generally,  than  two  of  the  same  kind  of 
manure  that  had  not  been  so  employed. 

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


The  foundation  for  the  hotbed  should  be  about 
eighteen  inches  wider  than  the  frame  to  be  set  on 
it  when  finished,  and  the  manure  regularly  laid  on 
till  about  the  height  of  three  feet  has  been  obtained, 
when  the  frame  may  be  set  on.  It  is  not  well  to 
tramp  the  manure  too  heavily,  or  the  heat  will  be 
too  violent.  Sometimes  the  manure  is  very  'strawy,' 
in  which  case  it  should  be  watered  with  drainage 
from  the  manure  heap,  or  the  heat  will  be  '  a  good 
time  coming,'  when  it  would  be  very  inconvenient 
to  'wait  a  little  longer.' 

If  the  ground  is  dry,  the  soil  may  be  dug  out 
about  a  foot  in  depth  ;  but  for  very  early  forcing  it 
is  best  to  have  the  whole  above  ground,  as  when 
sunk,  the  cold  rains  or  thawing  snow  collects  in  the 
pit  and  cools  the  materials. 

The  sashes  for  hotbeds  are  usually  six  feet  long, 
and  about  three  feet  wide,  costing  from  $2  to  $2  f)0 
when  glazed  and  finished.  The  frame  should  be 
about  2^  feet  high  at  back,  and  1  in  front — steeper 
at  the  back,  if  any  thing. 

To  make  a  hotbed,  long  stable  manure  should  be 
employed,  and  if  it  can  be  turned  a  couple  of  times, 
before  heating  violently  each  time,  before  perma- 
nently vising,  the  more  regular  will  be  the  heat  in 
the  bed,  and  the  longer  it  will  last. 

When  the  manure  and  frame  are  both  fixed,  a 
half  inch  of  soil  should  be  thrown  over  the  manure 
under  the  sash  to  absorb  the  gross  gases  that  would 
else  be  too  strong.  For  a  few  days  after,  the  heat 
will  be  too  violent,  but  when  the  thermometer  in- 
dicates a  temperature  of  90°,  operations  may  begin  ; 
but  the  usual  aim  is  70°.  When  the  bed  shows 
signs  of  getting  below  this,  linings  of  st4ble  manure 
must  be  applied  round  the  frames,  one  and  a  half 
feet  thick,  and  if  boards,  shutters,  mats,  or  any 
similar  material  can  be  spread  over  these  linings, 
the  heat  will  be  maintained  much  longer. 

Having  secured  the  hotbed.  Dahlias,  Annuals, 
Cucumbers,  Tomatoes,  Peppers,  Egg-plants,  and 
many  other  interesting  things,  can  be  started,  by 
which  we  may  get  several  weeks  ahead  of  our 
neighbors  in  the  enjoyment  of  vegetable  luxuries,. 


^^ 


34 


iljt  ianltiw's  .Pont^lg. 


and  when  done  -with  the  bed  in  May,  it  will  be  the 
very  place  for  Gloxinias,  Achimenes,  and  many 
other  beautiful  house  plants  which  delight  in  a 
warm  moist  heat. 


FRUIT  GARDEN. 

Pruning  of  fruit  trees,  when  required,  should  be 
proceeded  with  at  favorable  opportunities.  We 
write  lohen  requu-ed,  for  in  our  climate,  more  injury 
is  done  by  the  knife  than  by  the  neglect  to  use  it. 
Gooseberries,  for  instance,  are  usually  ruined  by 
pruning.  In  Europe,  it  is  customary  to  thin  out 
the  centre  well  to  '  let  in  the  sun  and  air.'  Here  it 
is  the  sun  and  air  that  ruin  them,  by  inviting  mil- 
dew ;  and  so  the  more  shoots,  the  better.  Our 
country  farmers  are  the  best  gooseberry-growers, 
where  weeds  run  riot,  and  grass  and  gooseberries 
aflFect  a  close  companionship.  Wherever,  in  fact, 
the  gooseberry  can  find  a  cool  corner,  well  shaded 
from  the  sun,  and  with  a  soil,  which,  never  wet, 
nor  yet  by  any  means  dry,  there  will  gooseberries 
be  produced  unto  you.  The  English  kinds  mildew 
so  universally,  as  to  be  almost  gone  out  of  cultiva- 
tion south  of  the  St.  Lawrence.  Nor,  indeed,  is  it 
to  be  so  much  regretted,  since  the  improved  seed- 
lings of  large  size  and  fine  quality,  raised  from  the 
hardier  American  species,  are  becoming  known,  and 
their  merits  appreciated  by  growers. 

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

The  rule,  in  pruning  grape-vines,  is  to  shorten 
tlie  shoots  in  proportion  to  their  strength  ;  but,  if 
the  advice  we  have  given  in  former  summer  hints 
has  been  attended  to,  there  will  be  little  dispropor- 
tion in  this  matter,  as  summer  pinching  of  the 
strong  shoots  has  equalized  the  strength  of  the 
vine.  Those  who  are  following  any  particular  sj's- 
tem  will,  of  course,  prune  according  to  the  rules 
comprising  such  system.  As  a  general  rule,  we 
can  only  say,  excellent  grapes  can  be  had  by  any 
system  of  pruning  ;  for  the  only  object  of  pruning 


in  any  case,  is  to  get  strong  shoots  to  push  wliere 
they  may  be  desired,  or  to  increase,  with  the  in- 
creased vigor  of  the  shoot,  which  pruning  supposes 
will  follow  the  act,  increased  size  in  the  fruit  it 
bears. 


PLANTS    AND    PLANT    HOUSES. 

Neat,  well  formed  specimens  of  plants  are  now 
held  as  desirable  as  well-flowered  plants.  To  get 
these,  as  the  strong  shoots  grow,  pinch  them  back 
with  the  finger  and  thumb,  not  touching  the  weaker 
ones  unless  it  is  desirable  to  make  them  branch  to 
fill  out  an  open  space.  Where  the  shoots  grow 
thick  together,  tie  out  by  light  stakes  to  let  the  air 
and  iight  in  equally  to  all  parts  of  the  plant.  Where 
the  wood  is  hard,  and  a  shoot  is  wanted  to  break 
out,  a  notch  cut  in  above  the  place  desired,  will 
generally  accomplish  the  object — not  too  deeply,  or 
the  part  above  will  suffer  as  if  the  branch  had  been 
ringed.  If  Fuchsias  are  wanted  to  bloom  early, 
cut  back  a  few  now  that  flowered  last  year,  repot, 
and  grow  in  a  heat  of  about  45°,  and  they  will 
bloom  in  March.  As  a  rule,  with  most  plants  it  is 
best  to  let  a  plant  push  half  an  inch  or  so  of  its  new 
growth  before  repotting,  as  the  roots  do  not  move 
until  some  new  growth  is  made ;  and  they  do  best 
when  the  roots  push  at  once  into  newly  potted  soil. 
Soil  constantly  watered,  without  healthy  roots  grow- 
ing through  it,  soon  becomes  'sour.'  Ventilate 
whenever  the  external  temperature  is  above  45°, 
unless  cold  winds  are  blowing,  which  will  soon 
make  your  leaves  look  brown. 

We  have  spoken  of  the  advantages  of  manure 
water  to  plants  when  growing  freelj'.  This  is  dan- 
gerous advice  in  inexperienced  hands,  as  it  may  be 
made  too  strong,  and  injury  to  the  plants  result. 

For  general  purposes,  a  garden-shovel  full  of  rot- 
ten hotbed  manure,  put  in  a  barrel  of  water,  and 
suffered  to  remain  till  it  becomes  clear  for  using. 
Liquid  manures  made  from  guano,  and  other  con- 
centrated fertilizers,  should  be  employed  only  by 
skillful  hands.  Narcissus,  Hyacinths,  and  other 
bulbs,  that  have  been  in  pots  and  glasses,  kept 
cool  and  dark  as  they  should  be,  may  some  of  them 
be  brought  forward  gradually  to  light  and  heat, 
and  a  few  every  week  for  a  succession  of  bloom. 
Mildew  frequently  makes  its  appearance  in  green- 
houses at  this  season.  Flour  of  Sulphur  in  water 
syringed  through  the  plants,  is  the  best  cure.  The 
best  preventive  is  to  look  well  to  the  general  health 
of  the  plant.  Any  derangement  is  likely  to  pro- 
duce disease. 


i 


:^i^| 


^\\^  ©ardatr's  <piont|In. 


35 


THE    NEW    ROSES    OF    1862. 

BY  JOHN   SAUL,  WASHINGTON  CITY,   D.  C. 

It  has  been  said  by  the  first  Rose-growers  in 
England,  that  the  New  Roses  of  1862  were  the  best 
which  had  been  sent  out  in  any  one  season  for  a 
long  time ;  and  my  experience  with  them  in  our 
cHmate  confirms  me  in  the  same  opinion.  From 
the  number  of  Hybrid  Perpetuals  annually  sent  out, 
it  would  appear  that  more  attention  is  given  to  this 
class,  both  in  France  and  England  ;  and  with  us  it 
is  equally  valuable.  With  the  Editor's  permission, 
I  will  give  a  short  description  of  such  varieties  as 
bloomed  with  me  the  past  summer.  I  will  take 
them  alphabetically : 

HYBRID   PERPKTUALS. 

Alphonsc  Damaizin  is  a  very  rich  deep  crimson, 
very  dark  and  velvety  ;  a  good  grower  and  free 
bloomer. 

Beauty  of  WdJtham^  was  raised  by  W.  Paul  from 
'Jules  Margottin,'  and  like  that  old  favorite  is 
really  superb  ;  color  beautiful  light  crimson,  very 
large  and  double,  and  exceedingly  vigorous. 

Comtesse  de  Seguier,  crimson  shaded  with  purple, 
large  and  double ;  growth  moderate,  a  profuse 
bloomer. 

Emilc  Dulac,  deep  rosy  red,  cupped  very  large  and 
double,  of  perfect  form  ;  growth  very  vigorous, 
a  free  bloomer,  a  really  magnificent  new  rose. 

General  Washington,  is  a  verj'  vigorous  grower  and 
free  bloomer  ;  at  the  date  I  write,  Cbeginning  of 
December)  my  plants  are  full  of  buds,  and  half 
opened  flowers,  striving  against  the  inclemency 
of  the  season  to  expand ;  color  brilliant  rosy 
crimson,  very  large  and  double,  first  rate. 

GJoire  de  Chatdlon,  a  brilliant  crimson,  very  large 
and  double  ;  good  grower  and  free  bloomer. 

Henrietta  Dubus,  violet  purple  shaded,  beautifully 
imbricated  ;  a  fine  new  flower. 

John  Hopper,  a  rose  of  English  origin,  sent  out  as 
one  of  the  very  finest  flowers,  which  it  fully  main- 
tains with  me ;  color  rose,  with  rosy  crimson 
centre,  exquisitely  formed  flowers  and  fine  grower. 

Madame  Boutin,  is  very  distinct;  a  bright  cherry 
color,  very  large  and  of  the  finest  form  ;  a  vig- 
orous grower  and  free  bloomer,  a  superb  rose. 

Madame  Charles;  Wood,  vivid  crimson,  beautifully 
shaded  with  purple  ;  flowers  of  immense  size  and 
fine  form,  a  splendid  rose. 

Madame  Chmence  Joigneaux,  has  flowers  of  a  deep 
rone,  shaded  with  lilac,  very  large  and  double  ;  a 
vigorous  grower,  superb  rose. 


Madame  Ernest  Dreol,  is  a  deep  rose,  most  beauti- 
fully shaded,  large  and  double  ;  a  vigorous  grower 
and  free  bloomer,  very  fine. 

Madame  Fur t a  do.  This  fine  rose  must  be  grown 
upon  Manetti,  as  it  is  not  sufficiently  vigorous  for 
its  own  roots;  color  a  bright  rose  ;  large  globular 
and  very  double :  during  the  past  fall  this  fine 
variety  has  given  abundance  of  the  finest  flowers ; 
deliciously  sweet. 

Madame  Julie  Daran,  has  flowers  of  crimson  scar- 
let, shaded  with  purple,  very  large  and  of  fine 
form  ;  a  vigorous  grower  and  free  bloomer  ;  one 
of  the  finest  new  roses. 

Maurice  Bernardin,  I  consider  the  finest  rose  of 
1862 ;  color  brilliant  vermilion  ;  large  and  double, 
vigorous  in  growth,  in  every  respect  first  rate. 

Marech'il  Vaillant,  has  been  called,  and  very  just- 
Ij',  the  perpetual  'Paul  Ricaut,'  as  it  bears  a 
great  resemblance  to  that  fine  old  Summer  rose; 
bright  scarlet,  very  large  and  double  ;  one  of  the 
gems  of  the  season. 

Monte  Christo,  is  a  rose  of  the  greatest  beauty; 
blackish  purple,  painted  or  flushed  with  scarlet ; 
one  of  the  most  beautiful.  It  was  equally  fine 
with  me  during  the  hot  weather  of  July  and 
August,  as  in  the  pleasant  season  of  autumn.  At 
the  present  time  Cbeginning  of  December)  my 
plants  are  full  of  buds  and  half  blown  flowers. 
A  vigorous  grower,  in  every  respect  first  rate. 

Olivier  DeViomme,  color  a  brilliant  scarlet,  large 
and  double  ;  a  vigorous  grower,  superb. 

Professor  Koch,  may  be  called  a  crimson  'Coup  de 
Hebe,'  flowering  in  the  autumn  ;  color  rich  deep 
crimson,  vigorous  grower;  a  very  magnificent 
rose. 

Robert  Fortune,  deep  rose,  beautifully  veined  and 
shaded,  very  finely  shaped  ;  a  superb  rose. 

Souvenir  du  Comte  Cavour,  a  seedling  from  'Gen- 
eral Jacqueminot;'  crimson  and  black  shaded, 
large  and  double ;  vigorous  grower  and  free 
bloomer  ;  very  fine  and  distinct. 

Tarrenne,  bright  scarlet,  large  and  of  fine  form, 
exceedingly  vigorous  ;  a  splendid  rose. 

Vulcain,  flowers  purplish  violet,  shaded  with  black, 
very  dark  and  distinct,  growth  vigorous,  free 
bloomer,  very  fine. 

TEA  ROSES. 

Gloire  de  Bordeaux,  is  a  seedling  from  'Gloire  de 
Dijon,'  and  like  its  parent  exceedingly  vigorous 
and  a  free  bloomer;  color  silvery  white,  the  in- 
ner side  of  the  petals  bright  pink  ;  a  distinct  and 
most  desirable  variety. 
I  have  many  other  roses  of  the  same  year,  some 

of  which  will  doubtless  fully  equal  the  above,  but  I 


36 


®lj^  §arbtntr's  Hlontljlj. 


must  test  them  fully  before  recommending,— at 
present  I  could  only  give  the  description  of  other 
growers. 

Among  roses  a  little  older,  1  would  recommend 
'  Victor  Verdier.'  It  is  a  flower  which  should  find 
its  way  into  every  garden  where  roses  are  grown  ; 
color  rose  shaded  with  carmine ;  flowers  of  im- 
mense size,  finely  shaped,  petals  of  great  substance; 
one  of  the  finest  of  roses  in  the  fall ;  vigorous  grow- 
er and  profuse  bloomer. 


FURNACES   INSIDE  GREENHOUSES. 

BY  A.  L.  PENNOCK,  JR.,  UPPER  DARBY,  PA. 
In  looking  over  the  Monthly  for  the  present  year, 
I  noticed  an  aiticle  advocating  outside  furnaces, 
upon  the  ground  that  the  house  is  chilled  by  the 
cold  air  drawn  through  the  crevices  to  supply  the 
place  of  that  consumed  by  the  fire. 

The  plan  upon  which  my  furnaces  are  built  ap- 
pears to  obviate  that  difficulty.  They  are  placed 
within  the  houses  beneath  a  board  floor,  with  a 
trap  door,  which,  when  open,  allows  the  heat  to 
ascend,  and  when  closed,  prevents  smoke,  gas  or 
dust  from  escaping  into  the  house.  A  conductor, 
terminating  near  the  lower  furnace  door,  supplies 
the  fire  with  air  from  outside,  the  quantity  being 
regulated  by  a  damper. 

If  building  again,  I  would  bring  the  conductor 
into  the  furnace  below  the  fire-bars,  and  only  use 
the  lower  door  to  rake  the  fire,  or  to  take  out  ashes. 
An  opening,  closed  when  not  required,  in  the  out- 
side wall  above  the  furnace,  allows  smoke  or  gas  to 
pass  oflP.  The  brick  work  of  the  furnace  is  separa- 
ted from  the  Crreenhouse  walls  by  the  space  of  a 
few  inches,  so  that  but  little  heat  is  absorbed  by 
them. 

If  the  above  plan  is  not  the  best,  it  may  elicit 
better  ideas  from  others. 

[We  shall  be  very  glad  to  have  the  experience 
of  our  correspondents  on  the  best  arrangement  of 
greenhouse  furnaces.  Besides  inside  and  outside 
questions,  depth  is  worth  attention.  Now  that  it 
is  generally  thought  best  to  have  the  flues  as  high 
from  the  ground  as  possible,  there  seems  no  u.se  for 
such  deep  stokeholes,  with  all  their  inconveniences, 
as  once  were  fashionable. — Ed.] 


NOTES   ON   GRAPES. 

BY   A.    HUIDEKOPER,    MEADVILLE,    PA! 
IN   VINERY. 

Red  Trayniner—Qrevf  this  alongside  of  the  Dela- 
ware, to  compare  :    found  them  quite  distinct. 


Tramincr  is  larger  and-of  a  duller  red  color,  and 
jacks  the  pink  tint  of  the  Delaware.  The  latter 
did  not  ripen  quite  so  early  as  it  did  last  year, 
and  the  foliage  was  not  so  perfect :  probably  I 
let  it  overbear,  which  is  its  tendency. 

Grosse  Coiilard — This  vine  Mr.  Prince  sent  to  me 
as  a  substitute  for  the  Buckland  Sweetwater.  It 
proved  the  same  as  Child's  Superb,  which  I  al- 
ready had.  The  clusters  of  this  grape  are  chubby, 
and  not  symmetrical  at  first,  though  it  improves 
somewhat  in  form  as  it  developes  its  growth.  It 
ripens  early,  and  hangs  well,  but  I  consider  it 
but  second  rate. 

Golden  Ilamhurgli — Large  in  berry  and  cluster, 
and  very  sweet,  but  does  not  improve  by  hanging, 
acquiring  an  over  ripe  taste  ;  strong  grower. 

Boicnod  Muscat — Strong  grower  ;  fruit  large,  fine, 
and  among  the  best  to  keep  ;  the  color  this  year 
passed  from  a  yellow  to  quite  a  shade  of  brown. 

Canadian  Chief — Berries  small,  and  very  sweet  at 
maturity ;  has,  I  think,  on  the  whole,  been  un- 
derestimated. It  is  the  Delaware  of  the  Chas- 
selas  varieties,  if  left  long  enough  on  the  vines. 

Black  Ilamhurgli — I  laid  a  number  of  well-ripened 
bunches  of  this  grape  on  paper  i\\  a  cool  room, 
this  season,  and  they  kept  in  good  condition  un- 
til the  middle  of  the  present  month  (December). 
The  extreme  thinness  and  tenderness  of  the  skin 
make  them  preferable  to  sick  persons  over  other 
kinds. 
I  may  add,  that  I  used  no  fire  heat  whatever  in 

the  vinery  this  year,  and  ventilated  freely  :  one  of 

the  gable  ventilators  being  kept  open  day  and  night 

as  soon  as  the  frosts  were  over.     The  fruit  ripened 

in  good  season,  and  very  thoroughly,  no  red  grapes 

by  any  mislocation  showing  themselves  upon  vines 

which  should  produce  black  ones. 

I  was  somewhat  annoyed  by  the  thrip,  which 

seems  to  live  through  summer  and  winter,  despite 

funiigation,  &c. 

OFT-DOOR   PxRAPES. 

Diana — This  fruit,  generally  very  uneven  in  its  ri- 
pening, was  doing  better  with  me  this  season  than 
usual,  but  was  caught  by  a  frost  before  maturity. 
Northern  Muscadine — Ripened  early,  and  fell  ofi"  at 

once. 
Burton^  E(trly — Did  the  same.    I  consider  neither 
worth  cultivating. 

A  friend  this  fall  remarked,  after  eating  Dela- 
wares.  he  did  not  care  to  have  any  other  out-door 
kinds.  I  half  subscribe  to  his  opinion.  I  gave 
persons  Concords  and  Hartford  Prolifics,  this  fall, 
and  most  of  them  preferred  the  latter. 

I  made  some  wine  out  of  a  variety  I  suppose  to 


il) 


Z^^ 


:^^^i 


i;hi|  (Sardi^ntr's  (P^onthlj* 


87 


be  the  Early  York,  (lately  disseminated  as  Frank- 
linj  and  shall  report  next  year  when  time  has  tested 
the  experiment. 


APPLE-PIS    MELON. 

BY   SWIFT. 

This  useful  fruit  is  not  so  generally  cultivated  as 
it  ought  to  be,  owing  to  the  fact,  probably,  that  it 
costs  too  much,  when  grown,  to  make  it  palatable. 
The  following  receipt,  for  which  I  am  indebted  to 
my  wife,  is  preferable  to  my  taste,  and  certainly 
costs  less  than  spiced  citron  : 

To  ten  pounds  Apple  Pie  Melon,  Cpared,  seeds 
and  pulp  taken  out,}  and  cut  in  pieces  about  one 
inch  square  ;  add  three  pounds  of  sugar  ;  one  pint 
of  vinegar;  a  few  pieces  of  stick  cinnamon,  and  a 
few  cloves.  Boil  the  whole  together  for  an  hour 
and  a  half,  and  when  it  cools,  it  is  fit  for  immediate 
use ;  or,  it  will  keep  till  apple  pie  melon  time 
again,  by  being  put  in  jars,  and  covering  them  with 
a  double  thickness  of  paper,  providing  you  dont 
make  too  free  with  it. 


WESTERN    raAHYLAND. 

BY   YARDLEY  TAYLOR. 

Some  months  ago,  a  correspondent  in  the  Month- 
Ii/,  from  Rochester,  if  I  remember  right,  asked  for 
information  as  to  soil,  rocks,  and  situation  in  regard 
to  fruit  culture,  in  Western  Maryland,  particularly 
the  vicinity  of  Baltimore  and  Frederick  City.  Two 
communications  in  reply  appeared,  but  neither  of 
them  seemed  to  answer  fully  the  inquiries. 

The  soil  west  from  Baltimore,  with  few  excep- 
tions, is  formed  from  the  rocks  in  place,  hence, 
when  we  know  the  rocks,  we  can  understand  the 
nature  of  the  soil.  First,  there  is  granite  and  gneiss, 
for  some  twenty  miles  or  more,  with  a  tolerably  good 
soil ;  then  a  bed  of  limestone;  then  magnesian  rock 
such  as  steatite  or  soap  stone;  then  micaceous  rock, 
to  the  summit  of  Pan's  ridge,  at  Mt.  Airy,  on  the 
railroad,  at  an  elevation  of  800  feet  above  tide. 
Here  the  soil  is  light,  glittering  with  scales  of  mica, 
and  mostly  chestnut  timber.  West  from  here,  va- 
rious slates  occur,  with  sometimes  whitish  colored 
sandy  slates,  and  in  one  place  roofing  slates  are 
quarried  to  considerable  extent.  As  we  approach 
the  Monocacy  river,  limestone  is  sometimes  met 
with  ;  when,  after  crossing  that  stream,  it  is  the 
principal  rock.  Then  we  descend  to  about  250  or 
300  feet  above  tide.  Frederick  City  stands  in  this 
valley,  based  on  primordial  limestone ;  but  the 
western  part  of  this  valley  is  covered  up  with  se- 
condary formation,  such  as  red  shale  and  conglom- 
erate limestone  or  Potomac  marble,  as  it  is  called. 


-^KT 


A  few  miles  west  from  Frederick,  the  single  range 
of  the  Catoctia  mountain  comes  in.  This  is  com- 
posed of  chlorate  slate  and  epidote  rock  ;  and  west, 
in  the  iMiddletown  valley,  there  are  many  varieties 
of  rock,  making  an  excellent  soil.  Still  further  west,  , 
the  white  compact  sandstones  of  the  Blue  Ridge  oc- 
cur; and  still  furth  erwest,  the  great  limestone  valley 
crosses  the  State  from  Pennsylvania  into  Virginia. 

On  this  line,  where  the  magnesian  and  micaceous 
slates  predominate,  the  soil  is  light,  and  is  not  so 
good  for  fruit  growing;  however,  in  some  places 
peaches  succeed,  but  the  limestone  soils,  or  those 
containing  a  portion  of  that  mineral,  are  the  best 
for  apples.  Where  chlorate  slate  and  epidote  rock 
abound,  apple-trees  grow  well, — as  well  as  in  the 
Middletown  valley. 

But  little  attention  has  hitherto  been  paid  to 
fruit-growing ;  but  of  late  some  individuals  are 
turning  their  attention  to  it.  David  Richardson, 
near  Buckeyetown,  on  the  railroad,  some  six  miles 
from  Frederick,  has  planted  largely,  and  in  a  few 
years  will  probably  realize  handsomely. 

I  see  no  reason  why  fruit-growing  may  not  be- 
come a  very  much  larger  business  than  heretofore. 
There  are,  however  some  drawbacks.  We  are  here 
situated  within  the  influence  of  southerly  winds 
from  off  the  Gulf  stream,  that  bring  forward  veg- 
etation early  in  the  spring,  and  then  the  westerly 
gales  sometimes  brings  us  a  low  temperature,  that 
blasts  the  prospect  of  fruit.  Elevated  situations 
sometimes  would  be  protection ;  but  these  cannot 
always  be  had.  Limestone  soil  generally  is  in  val- 
leys, while  other  soils  are  more  elevated. 

There  are  other  considerations  that  should  claim 
the  attention  of  one  desirous  of  going  into  fruit  cul- 
ture here,  and  that  is  the  varieties  for  market, 
whether  for  early  or  late  use.  What  is  valued  in 
Western  New  York  as  good  keeping  fruit,  is  fall 
fruit  when  grown  here  ;  and  for  late  fruit,  we  had 
better  look  south  for  keeping  varieties.  A  few 
years  ago,  when  the  Federal  troops  were  stationed 
at  Harper's  Ferry,  we  took  several  varieties  of  ap- 
ples there  for  sale,  in  the  fall,  the  last  week  in  the 
tenth  month,  COct.)  such  as  the  Northern  Spy, 
Domine  and  others,  that  at  the  north,  are  con- 
sidered good  winter  fruit,  when  here  they  were  fully 
ripe.  We  showed  some  of  the  Northern  Spy  to 
some  officers,  from  Western  New  York,  who  knew 
them,  and  said  they  were  just  such  as  they  have 
there' in  the  middle  of  winter.  We  have  been  for 
several  years  engaged  in  testing  fruits,  from  both 
north  and  south ;  but  those  from  the  south  have 
not  had  time  to  be  tested  fully,  many  of  them  not 
yet  in  bearing. 


^■|t' 


■B^^ 


^^i 


38 


Wi\^  iBm&mtr'^  cPlcnthlg, 


The  writer  asks  about  the  Albeniaile  Pippins  of 
Virginia.  That  is  the  Newtown  Pippin  of  the 
north  ;  it  was  no  doubt  introduced  there  and  the 
name  lost  or  forgotten.  I  saw  it  on  exhibition  at 
the  Virginia  State  Fair,  some  years  ago,  and  knew 
it  at  once,  having  been  acquainted  with  it  more 
than  fifty  years.  I  see  no  reason  why  the  elevated 
limestone  valleys  of  Virginia  might  not  yield  the 
Newtown  Pippin  in  as  great  perfection  as  any  place 
on  the  Hudson  river.  All  that  is  needed  in  going 
south,  is  elevation  to  equalize  temperature.  The 
same  might  be  said  of  Pennsylvania.  In  Maryland 
the  valleys  are  hardly  elevated  enough,  yet  some 
of  them,  towards  the  Alleghany  mountains,  might 
answer. 


41 


NOTES    ON    FERNS. 

BY  .J.  ^r. 

This  is  the  season,  of  all  others,  that  Ferns 
and  Lycopodiums  are  most  appreciated  by  lovers 
of  plants,  owing  to  the  general  scarcity  of  plants  in 
flower  at  this  time  of  year,  while  the  Ft,rn  may  be 
said  to  be  always  at  perfection,  when  well  grown, 
owing  to  its  flowers  being  inconspicuous.  A  few 
remarks  on  them  will,  1  hope,  be  found  sufiiciently 
interesting  to  gain  admittance  to  the  pages  of  the 
Monthly. 

The  great  demand  for  Ferns  and  Mosses,  for 
Hanging-basket  purposes,  has  brought  them  prom- 
inently forward  of  late,  so  that  they  are  now  to  be 
found  in  almost  all  greenhouses.  There  are  a  great 
many  small-growing  Ferns  admirable  adapted  for 
this  purpose  :  among  them  Asplenium  Mexicana, 
Adiantum  cuneatum,  A.  setulosum,  Blechnum 
quinatum,  Platyloma  rotundifolia,  Pteris  geranii- 
folia,  and  numerous  others,  off"er  a  fine  quantity  to 
choose  from.  Among  larger  growing  kinds,  the 
Phlebodium  aureum,  Nephrolepis  tuberosus,Neph- 
rodium  niolle,  Pteris  tricolor,  P.  longifolia,  P.  ser- 
rulata  and  P.  Cretica  albo  lineata,  are  most  com- 
monly used.  The  Nephrolepis  is  unequalled  for 
its  effect,  when  placed  in  the  centre  of  a  basket  with 
small  Begonias  around  it,  intermixed  with  Lycopo- 
dium  denticulatum,  which  is  the  best  one  of  any 
I  have  seen,  on  account  of  its  rapid  spreading  ha- 
bit. Others  approaching  near  this  in  merit,  are 
delicatissima,  serpensi,  coesium,  anddensa;  of  more 
upright  growing  ones,  the  best  probably  are  cordi- 
folia,  stolonifera,  umbrosa,  Mertensii,  Wildenovii 
and  ccesium  arborea. 

Ferns  do  well  in  a  soil  of  sandy  peat,  or  wood- 
ashes  and  turfy  loam  will  do  as  well,  if  not  better, 
with  a  sprinkling  of  coarse  sand  mixed  with  it. 


They  are  mostly  raised  from  seed,  which  sown  in  a 
bed  of  rather  tine  charcoal,  will,  if  it  succeed  as  well 
as  a  bed  I  raised  in  this  way,  give  entire  satisfaction. 
After  the  seed  is  sown,  it  should  be  covered  with 
glass  until  the  seedlings  are  a  few  inches  high. 

Ferns,  as  a  rule,  should  be  kept  in  a  moist  hot- 
house, with  the  glass  shaded  in  summer.  The 
thrip  is  very  troublesome  on  some  species,  and  will 
cause  the  plant  to  look  brown  if  not  soon  destroyed. 
A  good  plan  for  their  riddance  is  to  immerse  the 
foliage  in  water  heated  to  135°  ;  this  will  destroy 
both  thrip  and  the  green  fly. 

Our  native  Ferns  should  not  be  overlooked  in  a 
collection,  as  there  are  some  quite  as  pretty  as  any 
of  the  Foreign  cultivated  kinds.  Of  those  to  be 
got  near  Philadelphia,  the  Asplenium  pinnatifiduni, 
A.  Felix  foemina,  Adiantum  pedatum,  Asplenium 
trichomanes ;  the  Osmundas,  Polypodiums,  and 
Onoclea,  are  all  worthy  of  cultivating,  and  can  be 
given  the  coolest  part  of  the  house. 


ON    THE    LIMA    BEAN. 

BY    "dauphin   CO.,"    PA. 

I  am  pleased  to  see,  by  your  attention  to  vege- 
tables, in  the  "  monthly  hints,"  and  by  occasional 
articles  from  correspondents,  that  you  do  not  place 
us  poor  "cabbage  gardeners"  out  of  the  pale  of 
horticulture.  I  like  flowers  and  love  fruits  ;  but 
yet  confess  a  partiality  for  the  vegetable  garden. 
Flowers  have  an  interest.  Some  smell  sweet,  and 
most  are  pretty ;  but  that  is  all  you  can  make  of 
them.  Fruits  are  also  well  enough  in  their  way. 
They  look  pretty  too, — have  a  sort  of  an  aroma, 
and  ai'e  nice  to  take  when  one  is  somewhat  thirsty, 
and  no  better  stuff  about.  Moreover,  they  have 
been  recently  brought  into  notice  for  their  me- 
dicinal qualities,  and  some  philanthropists  are 
urging  them  as  daily  articles  of  medicine  for  chil- 
dren ;  and  their  splendid  hygienic  powers.  They 
are  also  recommended  to  adults  to  be  taken  as  often 
as  three  times  a  day. 

Now  there  is  something  substantial  in  a  vege- 
table,— at  least  as  my  wife  cooks  them.  We  have 
an  abundance  every  day,  and  the  fragrance  that 
flows  from  them  as  they  steam  on  the  round  table, 
might  tempt  the  rigid  muscles  of  an  anchorite.  I 
have  heard  some  men  say,  they  cared  nothing  for 
vegetables.  Poor  fellows  !  Some  men  are  born 
for  the  lunatic  asj-lums  ;  and  others  are  not  exactly 
cninjios  mentis,  who  are  not  in  there.  If  it  is  poss- 
ible to  love  a  bastile  as  ones  life,  it  would  not 
weigh  against  ????/  love  of  freedom  and  the  open 
air. 


-^^^^^^' 


Ut  §m'kmxB  llonthlj. 


39 


But  about  the  Lima  Bean — the  chief  of  all  my 
favorites.  Did  you,  friend  Editor,  ever  know  any 
one  tCget  Lima  Beans  earlier  by  trying  any  pre- 
cocious plan  whatever?  I  never  did.  I  have  sown 
them  under  glass,  and  dibbled  them  out — sown 
them  on  pieces  of  sod  and  set  them  out— grown 
them  awhile  in  pots,  till  they  almost  flowered,  and 
then  put  them  out;  but  the  ones  sown  at  the  right 
time,  beat  them  all.  The  great  thing  with  the 
Lima  Bean,  is  the  right  time,  for  the  least  cold  or 
dampness,  while  they  are  germinating,  will  rot 
them.  But  the  '  right  time  '  may  be  much  accel- 
erated by  a  large  hill  of  sand  on  which  to  sow 
your  Lima  Beans — rich  sand — a  soil  that  will  not 
only  keep  your  bean  warm  and  dry,  but  give  it 
something  to  eat,  worth  eating,  besides.  There  is 
no  use  trying  for  early  beans,  without  large  hills  of 
light  soil ;  with  them  you  are  all  right. 

Of  course  the  holes  should  be  filled  with  the 
poles  before  the  hills  are  made ;  but,  about  these 
poles,  they  are  often  much  too  long.  A  bean  will 
bear  earlier  on  a  short  pole  than  a  long  one.  The 
reason  why,  I  cannot  tell,  but  it  is  the  logic  of 
events.  Again,  the  sooner  you  can  train  a  shoot 
from  one  plant  away  across  to  the  pole  of  the  other, 
the  sooner  it  will  bear.  I  know  this  to  be  a  fact 
also,  because  I  have  done  it,  and  doing  a 
hing  as  well  as  the  old  phrase  has  it,  is  be 
lieving. 

Then  about  the  posts,  a  fact  may  be  repeated, 
that  I  am  indebted  to  the  Montlihj  for — char  the 
ends  of  the  poles  before  using.  My  poles  do  not 
cost  me  much — nothing  but  the  cuttings  from  my 
'  scrubbery  '  as  my  girls  call  it,  when  I  poke  fun  at 
their  'shrubbery.'  But  who  wants  to  be  cutting 
poles  every  year.  I  have  had  j^our  charred  poles 
four  years,  and  they  are  good  as  new  now. 

And  one  thing  more  I  could  say  to  the  would-be 
Bean  grower.  Do  not  set  your  seed  too  deep  ;  an 
eighth  of  an  inch  beneath  the  surface  is  enough. 
Sow  early,  and  watch  closely.  If  so  soon  that  some 
untimely  cold  rain  nips  them  in  the  bud,  sow  again 
— 'tis  but  a  few  Beans,  and  a  few  hours  more  work 
to  be  set  off  against  perhaps  some  weeks  enjoyment 
of  the  luxury. 

Perhaps  something  may  be  added  about  saving 
seed.  Our  Tychmen,  who  sell  all  they  can  and  eat 
the  balance,  carry  out  the  same  beloved  system  even 
to  seed  saving.  They  seldom  save  a  pod  on  the 
pole  that  they  can  transform  into  gelt ;  and  when 
the  day  has  come  for  sharp  white  frosts,  and  a  few 
laggards  that  have  not  come  up  to  the  market 
time,  get  nipped  with  the  rime,  these  are  left  to 
ripen  as  best  they  may,  and  are  carefully  preserved 


along  side  the  gelt  bag,  but  in  another  stocking,  to 
raise  the  crop  for  the  ensuing  year.  Such  Beans 
rot  very  easily  in  the  ground.  One  half  the  Beans 
to  be  had  in  the  market  are  frost-ripened  refuses 
of  marketable  crops ;  and  though  cold  weather  in 
spring  rots  many  beans,  the  majority  go  into  the 
rotting  business  on  their  own  account,  and  from 
this  very  cause. 

Leave  one  pole  untouched  for  your  seed  crop  ; 
and,  when  you  can  spare  time  to  do  so,  select  the 
earliest,  largest,  and  best  ripened  for  the  next  year, 
and  it  will  well  repay  for  the  extra  care. 


18G3. 


window 


PENNSYLVANIA    HORTICULTURAL 
SOCIETY. 

PISCUSSIONAL    MEETING,    DECEMBER    1, 

The  President  in  the  chair. 
No  written  P]s8ay  on  the  topic, 

"WINDOW  GARDENING," 
was  presented. 

The  President — The  most  successful 
plants  I  have  ever  seen  were  grown  by  country 
ladies  in  a  cold  parlor;  cactuses,  wax  plants  and 
others  were  remarkably  vigorous  and  thrifty. 
The  great  difficulty  consists  in  the  hot,  dry  atmos- 
phere of  most  living  rooms.  The  old  fashioned 
Daphne  is  excellent  for  this  purpose. 

Mr.  Hibbert — Tradescantia  is  a  good  plant  for 
hanging  baskets.  Lobelia  is  one  of  the  best  win- 
dow plants  and  easy  to  cultivate.  Geraniums 
generally  fail,  even  in  a  warm  room. 

Mr.  Satterthwait — Window  gardening  and  green- 
house culture  are  very  different;  the  conditions  are 
quite  dissimilar.  There  is  something  quite  puzzling 
and  difficult  about  it.  Many  succeed  but  cannot  tell 
how  or  why.  Knows  of  one  window  which  has 
always  a  beautiful  array  of  plants  ;  Geraniums, 
Bouvardias,  Begonias,  Ferns,  &c. ,  all  do  well.  A 
lady  friend  had  a  small  plant  of  rose  geranium, 
which  she  grew,  in  a  window,  to  the  height  of  4  ft. 
A  cutting  from  the  same  original  plant  in  his  own 
greenhouse  only  attained  6  to  8  inches. 

Dr.  Burgin  explained  the  treating  and  chemical 
action  of  the  rays  of  sunlight,  upon  plants.  Has 
seen  plants  in  a  perfectly  tight  glass  box,  to  thrive 
well,  if  furnished  with  abundant  sunlight.  Cur- 
tained rooms  are  not  favorable  for  healthy  life 
either  of  plants  or  animals. 

The  President — The  difference  in  the  moisture  of 
the  atmosjihere  of  a  jjarlor  and  a  greenhouse  is  an 
essential  point.  An  ordinary  bay  window  covered 
with  a  sliding  sash  and  the  shelf  spread  with  wet 
sand,  as  recommended  by  Dr.  Jack,  in  his  essay 


)^^ 


&f1 


40 


Wxn  §mit\\tf%  (Plonthlg. 


last  }'ear  presents  favorable  conditions  for  healthy 
growth  of  plants.  Another  great  point  is  to  have 
the  room  cool. 

Mr.  Kilvington — Window  plants  fail  more  from 
want  of  proper  moisture  than  an}'  other  cause.  The 
roots  die  for  want  of  water.  The  small  roots  on 
the  outside  of  the  ball  of  earth  dry  and  die  first. 
Camellias  dro])  their  buds  if  not  well  watered.  The 
watering  is  often,  too  often,  a  mere  sprinkling,  not 
moistening  the  soil  one-half  inch  deep.  The  water 
should  always  be  applied  thoroughly,  so  as  to  wet 
every  particle  of  soil  in  the  pot,  but  not  so  as  to 
soak  the  roots ;  the  pot  should  be  well-drained. 
The  finest  Cuphea  he  ever  saw  was  grown  by  a 
shoemaker  in  a  close  hot  room,  about  12  feet 
square  ;  it  covered  the  whole  window.  Would  re- 
commend Camellias,  for  room  culture  to  be  in  dou- 
ble pots  with  wet  moss  or  sand  between  the  inner 
and  outer  pot ;  if  well  watered,  they  will  not  drop 
their  buds.  Double-flowering  Volkamerias  and 
Myrtles  do  well  He  severely  reprobated  the 
use  of  curtains  or  any  impediments  to  the  sunlight. 

Mr.  Hibbert — Had  remarked  the  same  general 
fault,  as  Mr.  Kilvington,  —  a  want  of  proper 
attention  to  watering.  Malviaviscus  is  a  good 
window  plant.  In  an  east  room,  with  no  fire,  has 
succeeded  well  with  Geraniums,  Begonias  and 
Fuchsias.  Bulbous  plants,  hyacinths  and  the  like, 
do  best  in  moss,  which  is  preferable  to  loam  for 
house  culture. 

Mr.  Kilvington  confirmed  Mr.  Hibbert' s  re- 
marks about  moss.  It  accorded  with  his  experience. 

The  President — Moss  well  pulverized  is  stated  to 
be  preferable  to  sand  for  striking  cuttings,  and  for 
propagating  generally. 

IMr.  Hibbert — Fine  charcoal  is  better  than  either. 

Several  members  spoke  of  the  use  of  Ivy  grow- 
ing in  pots  for  the  decoration  of  parlors. 

JMr.  Eadie — Ivy  for  parlor  screens  is  very  fash- 
ionable in  Great  Britain.  The  pots  are  attached  to 
the  screens,  which  are  made  movable ;  and  when 
covered  with  the  foliage,  form  convenient  and 
graceful  shelter  for  tete  a  tete  conversations. 

The  President  introduced  the  subject  of  blue  glass 
in  graperies  and  plant  houses,  and  desired  the  ex- 
perience of  members. 

Dr.  Burgin  made  some  instructive  remarks  on  the 
general  action  and  eff"ect  of  the  sun's  rays,  the  cause 
and  nature  of  light  and  its  influence  upon  vegetable 
life.  We  regret  that  our  reporter  became  too  much 
interested  in  them  to  take  full  notes  for  publica- 
tion. 


CONSTRUCTION    OF    GKEENIZOUSES, 

BY  PETER   HENDERSON,  JERSEY  CITY,  PA. 

In  your  January  number  I  gave  our  manner  of 
constructing  a  Propagating  house.  I  now  proceed 
briefly  to  describe  our  Plant  Houses,  wliich  are 
used  for  growing  Roses  and  all  other  kinds  of  bed- 
ding plants. 

The  external  construction  of  them  is  in  all  re- 
spects the  same  as  in  the  Propagating  house,  ex- 
cept that  the  ridge  and  furrow  system  is  adopted, 
as  represented  in  the  accompanying  sketch. 

The  advantages  of  this  plan  are  so  manifest,  that 
the  wonder  is  that  it  has  not  got  into  general  use 
long  ago.  Its  claims  over  detached  hou.ses,  are 
economy  of  sjmce,  economy  of  Jicaf,  (having  only 
two  exposed  wallsj,  and  economy  in  cost  of  construc- 
tion. The  only  objection  we  have  ever  heard  raised 
against  it,  is  the  imagined  difficulty  in  removing 
the  snow  from  between  the  houses.  But  this  is  a 
very  small  matter  compared  to  its  great  advantages. 

Our  plan  is  to  connect  only  three  houses  togeth- 
er, as  shown  in  sketch,  and  as  there  is  a  space  of 
9  or  10  inches  between  the  houses,  a  man  can 
walk  along  and  throw  the  snow  over  each  house, 
to  the  right  and  left.  Last  winter  the  snow  never 
once  required  to  be  taken  oif,  but  to-day  we 
had  some  9  inches  of  snow,  which  a  man  removed 
from  the  three  houses  in  less  than  an  hour.  So 
convinced  am  I  of  its  great  advantages,  that  I  in- 
tend to  remodel,  next  season,  my  whole  greenhouse 
establishment  after  this  plan,  They  will  be  con- 
structed three  together,  JOO  feet  in  length  by  11 
feet  in  width  each  ;  each  three  heated  by  one  boil- 
er. The  outer-walls  will  be  of  brick  ;  the  dividing 
plate  will  be  a  timber  3x12,  resting  on  locust  posts 
or  brick  piers.  The  whole  three  houses  may  be  as 
one  ;  but  we  prefer  to  have  board  partitions  divid- 
ing them,  as  the  diiferent  plants  grown  may  re- 
quire a  diflferent  temperature. 

This  system  may  be  adopted  by  adding  on  to 
houses  already  erected,  or  with  beginners,  who  only 
require  one  house,  it  may  be  so  erected  that  one 
or  more  may  be  joined  to  it,  when  the  increase  of 
business  demands  it. 
Houses  so  constructed  are  extremely  eailsy  worked, 
the  plants,  though  near  the  glass,  are  under  the 
hand  and  eye,  consequently  easily  watered. and  easily 
got  at  in  shifting,  filling  orders,  &c.  I  arc  perfectly 
satisfied  that  better  plants  can  be  grown  in  such 
houses  with  half  the  labor,  than  in  lean-to  houses, 
with  stages,  or  in  high  and  wide  spans  with  the 
centre  stage  or  table. 

The  interior  arrangements  must  be  somewhat  in 
I  accordance  with  the  kind  of  plants  grown,  and  the 


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nature  of  the  ground  j'ou  have  to  build  on.  If  dry, 
it  is  preferable  to  have  the  paths  sunk  IG  or  20  in- 
ches, and  the  soil  thrown  on  to  the  bench  on  each 
side,  and  the  side  planked  or  walled  up  with  brick, 
making  the  bench  for  the  plants  of  solid  earth.  But 
if  the  ground  is  wet,  the  pathways  had  better  not 
be  sunk  ;  in  this  case,  the  benches  will  require  to 
be  made  of  boards,  and  the  flue  or  pipes  passing 
under  it. 

It  will  be  understood  that  the  roof  is  formed  of 
6  feet  sashes,  the  ridge  piece,  as  in  the  Propaga- 
ting house,  being  without  a  cap, and  aired  by  the 
same  method,  every  alternate  sash  being  fixed,  the 
other  lifted  up  when  air  is  wanted,  by  means  of  the 
iron  bar. 

Many  of  our  leading  nurserymen  and  florists  are 
now  adopting  the  ridge  and  furrow  system  ;  among 
others.  Parsons  &  Co.,  of  Flushing,  L.  I.,  have 
four  houses  so  connected,  each  100  feet  in  length, 
now  in  course  of  erection. 


m 


NOTES    ON    PEACHES. 

BY   S.    V.    T.,    CHESTER   CO.,    PA. 

If  some  reader  of  the  Monthli/  had  given  his  ex- 
perience or  observations  on  the  productiveness  and 
quality  of  peach  trees,  and  fruit,  five  years  ago,  I 
would  Cand  many  others)  have  been  saved  the  labor 
of  planting  many  worthless  varieties.  There  is  to 
me  nothing  more  interesting  than  the  experience 
of  working,  practical  pomologists,  and  annually  as 
fruit  ripen,  if  each  of  us  would  in  visiting  our  or- 
chards, always  have  a  memorandum  book  with  us, 
in  which  to  record  on  the  ground,  the  comparative 
merits  of  the  various  kinds,  for  publication  in  the 
Monthly^  how  much  labor  or  money  would  be  spared 
planters?  and  how  soon  would  nurserymen's  cata- 
logues be  shortened?  With  this  object,  I  con- 
tributed short  articles  to  the  Montlihj,  last  year, 
and  I  now  propose  continuing  the  practice.  I  have 
not  the  same  result  quite,  in  all  cases,  this  year  as 
last,  but  no  matter,  having  no  particular  pets,  I 
give  the  facts  as  I  find  them.  This  year,  as  last, 
Druid  Hill  was  the  most  productive,  as  it  is  also  one 
of  the  best.  Both  years,  all  the  trees  of  this  variety, 
were  loaded.  Stump  the  World  was  not  quite  so 
good  as  the  first,  but  the  trees  were  full  of  more 
showy  fruit.  Troth's  Early  Red,  very  full  of  fruit 
of  second  quality.  Smock,  loaded  with  fruit, 
which  for  eating  from  the  tree,  is  hardly  second 
rate,  but  with  sugar  and  cream,  is  good  enough. 
Delaware,  President  and  Old  Nixon  ai-e  good  bear- 
ers, of  good  merit,  the  first  of  the  three  much  the 
best.     George  IV. ,  this  year,  bore  a  full  crop  of 


fine  sweet  fruit.  Not  so  last  year.  Crawford's 
Early,  both  years,  were  full,  and  the  fruit  is  first 
rate,  and  one  of  the  largest  and  most  showy  kinds. 
Ward's  Late  Free,  fully  sustains  its  character  for 
productiveness,  this  year ;  the  trees  bore  a  full 
crop  both  years,  and  the  fruit  uniforudy  fair  and 
good. 

Early  Bed  Rareripe  is  not  productive  with  me, 
but  the  fruit  is  perhaps  the  most  luscious  of  all 
my  varieties.  Morris'  White  bore  moderate  crops 
of  fine  sweet  peaches,  and  it  grows  in  favor  with 
me.  The  trees  grow  also  in  health  and  vigor, 
though  an  old  variety.  My  estimate  of  the  value 
of  this  peach  has  much  improved.  Those  who 
have  eaten  it  only  after  some  days,  and  taken  too, 
from  the  tree  before  being  fully  ripe,  know  little  of 
the  good  qualities  of  this  peach.  In  the  latter 
case,  it  is  dry  and  second  rate,  while  good  speci- 
mens, taken  fully  ripe  from  the  tree,  are  juicy, 
sweet  and  rich.  The  comparative  merits  of  the 
various  kinds,  for  canning,  would  form  an  interest- 
ing article  of  itself,  but  I  must  not  digress  further 
than  to  say,  that  for  this  purpose,  Morris'  White 
is,  I  think,  unsurpassed.  In  order  to  make  this 
comparison,  I  will  add,  that  in  canning,  we  do  not 
mix  varieties,  but  keep  all  distinct  and  work  care- 
fully each  kind  as  the  cans  are  filled.  The  Snow 
Peach,  while  similar  to  the  last,  is  in  all  respects 
hardly  as  desirable. 

Cole's  Early  bore  this  year  for  the  first,  the  trees 
being  young.  It  is  a  vigorous  tree,  and  will  bear, 
I  think,  fair  crops  of  fine  showy  peaches  of  second 
quality.  Cooledge's  Favorite,  about  the  same  in 
quality  and  productiveness.  Grosse  Mignonne  trees 
were  loaded  last  year,  and  the  fruit  was  the  first  to 
ripen.  This  year  while  the  trees  were  full  of  fruit 
early  ;  afterward  many  suffered  from  curculio  and 
fell  off".  This  variety  suff"ered  more  than  any  other 
kind,  with  me,  from  that  little  insect.  Smock  was 
badly  stung,  but  it  resists  the  curculio  better. 

Of  all  peaches  in  our  list,  Crawford's  Late  is  cer- 
tainly the  most  splendid  ;  the  fruit  also  is  very 
good,  and  very  large,  but  the  trees  bear  only  mod- 
erate crops.  Susquehanna  is  still  larger,  but  not 
so  richly  colored  ;  and  this  feature  in  the  Crawford 
is  so  well  marked,  as  to  place  it  far  ahead  of  any 
peach  that  I  have  yet  seen.  The  Susquehanna  is 
with  me  a  very  shy  bearer  :  both  years  the  trees 
had  but  a  dozen  or  so  on  each. 

Ilarker's  Seedling  bore  this  year  and  last;  but, 
while  I  am  still  undecided,  I  am  inclined  to  think  it  is 
no  acquisition.  Early  York  is  not  a  good  bearer  yet, 
with  me,  nor  so  early  as  Grosss  Mignonne,  though 
the  fruit  is   better.     Gorgas,  being  a  young  tree, 


^ 


?^ 


i^ft^  #ardi?n^r's  ^ontHg» 


bore  for  the  first  time  this  s'^ear.  The  fruit  is  nearly 
as  large  as  Crawford's  Late ;  quite  as  good  but  not 
so  splendidly  colored. 

Morris'  Red  Rareripe  and  Brevoort's  Morris,  both 
bore  for  the  first  time,  being  young,  as  also  the 
Late  Red  Rareripe.  All  these  are  very  good ;  the 
latter  may  be  first  rate,  but  whether  all  will  prove 
productive,!  will  leave  for  another  year  to  determine. 

Noblesse  Heath  Cling,  La  Grange,  Amelia,  Gol- 
den Ball,  New  York  Rareripe,  Maiden's  "White, 
aud  Honey,  seem  unproductive.  The  last,  how- 
ever, deserves  for  its  singularity,  a  little  more 
notice.  The  tree  makes  slender  shoots,  loses 
its  leaves  earlier  than  any  other  kind,  and  yet, 
though  yearly  loaded  with  young  fruit  in  the  spring, 
it  sufi"ers  so  from  the  cold  as  to  lose  both  fruit  and 
leaves.  Often,  when  in  bloom,  it  seems  to  be  a 
sheet  of  flame.  With  a  little  protection  in  winter, 
it  would  be,  probably,  one  of  the  most  productive 
of  peaches ;  while  for  house  culture  it  would  doubt- 
less answer  finely. 

The  fruit  is  most  singular  and  beautiful,  having 
at  the  apex  a  curious  beak,  which  also  appears  on 
the  stone.  While  not  so  smooth  as  a  Nectarine, 
the  down  is  very  short,  and  altogether  the  appear- 
ance of  the  fruit,  that  reminds  one,  of  the  candy 
imitations  at  the  confectioners.  It  is  the  sweetest 
of  peaches,  rendering  the  use  of  sugar  quite  unneces- 
sary, when  eaten  with  cream.  Now,  that  sugar  is  18 
cents  per  pound,  this  is  quite  important.  It  is, 
however,  deficient  in  flavor  I  fear,  though  when 
the  fruit  is  from  high  up  on  the  tree,  it  may  be  all 
right  in  that  particular.  This  year  our  older  trees 
lost  all  their  fruit,  and  the  few  that  ripened,  were 
from  one  year  old  trees  in  the  rows  ;  of  course  they 
were  shaded. 

Will  no  one  say  a  word  for  the  Nectarine  ? 

Perhaps  my  experience,  with  this  handsome  va- 
riety of  the  peach,  will  interest  some. 

And  though  this  article  may  be  tedious  enough 
already,  I  will  add  a  little  more,  in  the  hope  that  a 
fruit  so  little  known,  may  be  more  generally  cul- 
tivated. 

The  few  that  I  have  raised  this  year,  have  aff"orded 
a  great  deal  of  pleasure,  but  are  in  this  region  a 
decided  curiosity.  I  showed  them  to  many  persons, 
not  one  of  whom  could  say  what  they  were.  The 
trees  bore  one  year  from  the  bud.  A  variety  which 
was  received  as  Early  Violet,  was  by  far  the  most 
productive,  but  the  Stanwick  was  twice  as  large 
and  much  the  best  of  seven  kinds.  The  seed  of 
the  last  is  very  large,  and  the  fruit  cracks  some, 
which  spoils  its  appearance,  but  docs  not  interfere 
with  its  quality. 


ATTACHED    GREENHOUSES. 

BY   C.   II.  S.,  I'HILADELPIIIA. 

The  pleasure  the  writer  has  derived  from  a  small 
greenhouse,  attached  to  his  dwelling,  has  induced 
him  to  pen  the  following,  in  the  hope  that  some  of 
your  numerous  readers,  contemplating  building  one, 
may  "go  and  do  likewise."     The  advantages  of  an 
attached  house  are  manifold.     Your  plants  are  al- 
ways under  your  eye,  (also,  delightfully  under  your 
nose,)  and   are  at  all  times  easily  accessible.     In 
the   dreary,   sleepy  winter   weather,  you  are  not 
compelled  to  bundle  up  to  attend  to  them,  or  to 
enjoy  their  beauty  and  fragrance.     The  fires  are 
always  under  your  control ;  and  if  an   unusually 
cold  night  should  make  danger  from  frost  liable, 
you  can  open  a  window  or  door  from  some  heated 
room  of  your  dwelling,  and  retire  to  bed,  without 
any  misgivings  of  frozen  plants,  and  blighted  hopes. 
And  then  think  of  the  beauty  of  a  healthy  collection 
of  plants,  in  full  bloom,  seen  thrdftgh  the  window 
of  a  sitting  room  or  parlor.    The  eye,  tiring  of  the 
monotony  of  a  dreary  winter  landscape,  rests  with 
delight  and  pleasure  on  the  fresh  verdure  and  rich 
coloring  of  this  tropical  picture.     Here,  with  even 
the  window  closed,  the  odor  of  the  Daphne,  the  Jas- 
mine, or  the  Mahernia,  will  fill  the  air  with  fragrance. 
And  let  the  wind  blow  ever  so  bleak  and  cold  ;  a  step 
from  your  hall  will  take  you  into  a  climate  of  perpet- 
ual spring,  where  the  warm  sunshine  is  unfolding 
the  blossoms  of  rare  tropical  plants,  or  developing 
the   tiny  seed  into  tiny  plants,  or  liberating  the 
globules  of  oxygen,  from  your  algae  in  the  Aqua- 
rium ;  rising  slowly  one  after  another,  to  the  great 
wonder  of  3  our  fish,  who  instead   of  a  delicious 
morsel,  find  them  as  empty  as  the  apples  of  Sodom. 
A  pane  of  thin  glass  separates  all  this  beauty  from 
an  Arctic  winter.     If  confined  to  your  house,  from 
illness,  you  can  still  enjoy  your  greenhouse  from 
your  sitting-room  window.     There  is  also  a  great 
saving  of  fuel,  if  your  house  (situated  as  mine  is, 
in  an  angle  facing,  S.  S.E. )  is  protected  from  the 
W.  and  N.  W.  and  N-  E.  winds.    For  those  having 
extensive  Horticultural  Greenhouses,  these  remarks 
are  not  intended;  for  those,  however,  a  conservatory 
must  be  indispensable.     But  for  persons,  intending 
having  the  one  small  house,  I  would  say,   by  all 
means,  haveitattatched,  if  possible,  tothedwelling. 
It  may  be  interesting  to  some,   about  stocking 
their  house,  to  know  what    plants  to  choose   for 
winter  blooming.     The  following  are  in  full  bloom 
now,  (Nov.  20th,  j  and  most  of  them  will  continue 
in  bloom  all  winter : 


5) 

9^- 


^f^^: 


u 


Clje  (Sarhntfn  |!lontIjIg. 


BLOOM    ALL   WINTER. 

Bouvardias,  rich  scarlet  trusses. 
Ageratuni,  light  blue. 

OlJcnlandia,  fine  light  flowers,  in  profusion. 
Lopezia  rosea,  bright,  pink,  airy  and  graceful. 
Tropfeolums,  scarlet,  orange,  maroon,  &c. 
Browallia  alata,  bright  blue,  loaded  with  flowers. 
Oxalis  grandiflora,  pink  and  white,  large  flowers 
beautiful. 
Salvia  coccinea,  bright  scarlet,  in  tall  spikes. 
Begonia  incarnata,  light  pink,  very  beautiful. 

WILL  BLOOM   SOME  TIME   YET. 

Begonia  Sandersii  coral,  pink. 
Stevia  serrata,  white,  fine  for  bouquets,  fragrant. 
Epiphylluni  truncatum,  bright  crimson,  over  fifty 
flowers  in  6-inch  pots. 

Epiphylluni  violaceuni,  bright  crimson  and  white. 
Belleperone  oblongata,  bright  pink,  very  prety. 
Daphne  odorata,  white,  delightful  spicy  fragrance 
Heterocentronf  album  and  roseum,  indispensable. 

JUST  GOING   OUT   OF  BLOOM. 

Justicea  carnea  and  magnifica,  pink,  indispen- 
sable. 

Veronicas,  blue  and  purple. 

Also,  Jasmines,  Salvia  Mexicana,  Scarlet  Sage, 
Abutilons,  Camellias,  Heliotropes,  Lantanas,  Pe- 
tunias, Canna  Warscewicezii.Isotomas,  Habrotham- 
pus,  Osalis  Bowii  Cuphoa,  etc.,  etc.,  are  blooming ; 
and  most  of  them  will  continue  until  spring. 


RHODODENDRONS. 

BY  P.  L.  HARRIS,  GAR.  TO  H.  H.  HUNNEWELL,  ESQ., 
WELLESLEY,   MASS. 

So  much  has  already  been  written  by  practical 
men  on  the  culture  of  the  Rhododendron,  that  1  feel 
it  almost  superfluous  to  add  any  thing  thereto  ;  and 
yet  it  is  a  subject  that  cannot  be  too  frequently 
brought  to  the  attention  of  the  lovers  of  this  noble, 
but  much  neglected  class  of  plants — .so  adapted  as 
they  are,  not  only  to  the  small  country  villa,  but 
to  the  more  extensive  estates  now  becoming  so  nu- 
merous in  this  country. 

A  large  portion  of  the  admirers  of  this  class  of 
evergreens,  have  an  impression  that  they  are  not 
very  hard}' — that  they  require  a  peculiarly  prepared 
soil — and  are  withal  so  costly  that  they  feel  de- 
terred fi-om  introducing  them  to  their  grounds. 

Having  had   much  experience   and   very   great 
success  in  their  general  cultivation,  a  few  remarks 
in  reference  to  their  management,  may  not  be  un- 
acceptable to  many  of  your  numerous  readers. 
„  Many  who  visit  the  country  residence  of  H.  H. 

/^     Hunnewell,  Wellesley,  are  struck  with  the  quality 


and  general  good  health  of  the  Bhododendron,  and 
ask  how  it  is,  with  a  soil  naturally  shallow  and 
poor.  They  are  made  to  grow  so  luxuriant  and 
withal  flower  so  profusely.  The  secret  is  in  making 
this  soil  retentive  of  moisture.  Whoever  acts  on 
this  principle,  need  not  fear  the  result,  but  will 
in  after  years  realize  the  benefits  from  a  proper  pre- 
paration of  the  soil. 

Situation  and  Soil.  Choose  a  cool,  moist,  north- 
eastern aspect,  where  they  can  enjoy  the  morning 
sun,  and  where  the  pure  air  of  heaven  can  find  un- 
interrupted access.  Should  not  it  be  possible  to 
obtain  .such  a  location,  they  will  thrive  admirably 
under  the  foliage  of  any  Pinus  family,  protected  as 
they  must  be  from  the  finer  rays  of  the  mid-day  sun. 
They  delight  in  a  light  sandy  loam,  with  a  plentiful 
supply  of  decayed  leaves,  or  in  fact,  any  vegetable 
substance,  such  as  swamp  muck,  peat,  sawdust,  &c. , 
well  incorporated,  and  the  border  prepared  to  the 
depth  of  two  or  three  feet — the  deeper  the  better. 
This  is  all  important,  it  being  so  essential  to  their 
vigorous  growth  in  summer,  when  the  whole  energy 
of  the  plant  is  required  to  form  flower  buds  the 
ensuing  year. 

Planting. — During  the  pa.st  seven  or  eight  years, 
I  have  planted  and  replanted  nearly  two  thousand, 
some  of  which,  were,  when  removed,  fifteen  feet 
in  circumference,  and  I  have  invariably  found 
the  last  of  August,  for  their  removal,  by  far  the 
most  preferable  season,  as  it  enables  the  plant  to 
get  well  established  before  winter  arrives,  whereas, 
if  deferred  until  spring,  the  severe  check  they  re- 
ceive, and  the  excessive  evaporation  from  so  large 
a  surface  of  foliage,  impairs  and  cramps  their  en- 
ergies, giving  the  appearance  of  living  skeletons. 

In  selecting  plants,  obtain  such  as  are  dwarf 
and  bushy — say  one  or  two  feet  high — and  plant 
thick,  if  they  nearly  touch  each  other  the  first  or 
so — so  much  the  better — aff"ording  each  other  pro- 
tection from  drying  winds  in  summer  and  shelter  in 
winter.  When  the  plants  become  too  crowded, 
gradually  remove  to  another  location. 

Aftrr  Culture. — In  summer  all  they  require,  is 
to  be  kept  free  from  weeds  by  constant  light  stirring 
of  the  soil.  In  autumn  cover  the  borders  six  in- 
ches deep  with  fresh  leaves,  which  prevents  their 
delicate  silvery  roots  from  injury  by  frost  or  sudden 
changes. 

Pfuning. — This  is  essential,  when  a  symmetrical 
specimen  is  required,  but  in  mas.ses  it  is  seldom 
necessary  to  resort  to  it,  unless  when  a  shoot  grows 
too  luxuriantly ;  in  this  case,  I  prefer  pinching 
the  young  growth,  rather  than  waiting  until  May, 
to  cut  them  back  with  a  knife. 


^!^ 


ilu|  hardener's  Jlonllik 


Sorls. — The  following  are  very  hardy,  good  and 
comparatively  cheap  : 

^DcUcatissima,  blush,  changing  to  white  ;  a  plea- 
sing variet}'. 

Parpurcum  chgans,  a  noble  trusser  and  very  fine 

Roseum  eJcgans,  a  general  favorite. 

Archimedes,  bright  rose,  light  centre,  most  dis- 
tinct and  beautiful. 

Atrosanguineum,  intense  blood  red,  fine  foliage, 
late  blooming. 

Conrgio,  bright  crimson,  fine. 

Victoria,  claret,  extra. 

Alhnm  elegans,  white,  green  spots,  good  shape, 
one  of  the  best. 

Bicolor,  rose,  with  a  distinct  white  spot  on  the 
upper  petals. 

CtdeMinum,  fine  blush,  with  yellow  eye. 

Gloriosinn,  large  blush,  excellent. 

Splendent,  rose,  good. 


THAT  WONDERFUL  BOCK.  "THE  BOOEE 
CP  THE  GOUNTRIE  PARRS,"  BY  EICHAHD 
EUKPLET. 

BY    L. 

Friend  Editor  : — I  think  I  never  was  so  for- 
cibly impressed  with  the  value  of  science  in  its 
applications  to  Horticulture,  and  with  the  worth 
of  just  and  correct  teachings,  as  contradistinguished 
from  the  empiricism  and  superstition  of  the  middle 
ages,  as  on  reading  that  wonderful  work,  '  The 
Booh  of  the  Countrie  Farme,  '  by  that  rare  old 
writer,  Richard  Surflet. 

This  heir-loom  of  two  centuries  has  been  thumbed 
almost  to  pieces  by  seekers  for  the  profound 
knowledge  its  pages  revealed,  one  half  of  which,  I 
hope  no  reader  ever  gave  credence  to.  For  such 
a  melange  of  sense  and  nonsense,  f;ict  and  fanc)', 
truth  and  falsehood,  superstition  and  folly,  I  trust 
was  never  before  or  since  put  forth  for  the  serious 
perusal  of  any  farmer  or  gardener.  I  would  excuse 
any  farmer  all  his  dislike,  even  hatred,  for  book 
farming,  had  his  experience  of  the  backings  of 
books  been  derived  from  this  work. 

It  contains,  however,  some  good  things.  Some, 
we  imagine,  new.  Thus  he  descanteth  nearly  three 
hundred  years  ago.  '  Some  do  ordinarily  plant 
stocks  of  the  Garden  Quince  Tree,  and  graft  Pear 
Trees  thereon ;  as  also  Apple  Trees  and  great 
Peaches.  The  fruit  whereof,  taste  as  if  they  were 
Peach  Plums,  but  they  must  be  grafted  one-half 
a  foot  within  the  ground,  because  they  never  have 
any  faire  trunke,  and  being  grafted  thus  low,  the 
graft  will  put  forth  roots  of  itselfe,  which  will  make 
it  endure  and  continue  the  longer  time.' 


UHJ' 


Here  is  something  valuable,  and  will  not  be 
doubted  ;  we  quote  verbatim  : 

'To  cause  fruit  to  grow,  that  shall  be  halfe 
peach  and  halfe  nut,  take  an  eylet  of  the  one  and 
the  other,  and  cut  them  as  necre  the  eyelet  as  you 
can,  both  the  one  and  the  other,  and  scrape  their 
bottoms  a  little ;  then  joyning  them,  bind  them 
verie  well  together,  and  after  cut  away  their  toppes ; 
the  fruit  growing  from  these  will  be  halfe  peaches 
and  halfe  nuts.' 

'  Write  what  you  will  in  the  eyelet  of  a  figge 
tree,  which  you  meane  to  graft,  and  the  figge 
growing  thereof,  will  contain  the  said  writing.' 

In  the  chapter  '  of  remedying  of  strange  incidents, 
that  may  happen  unto  Ilearbes,'  we  find  :  against 
Haile,  ancient  men  were  wont  to  set  the  whole 
com  passe  of  their  growth  about  with  white  wild 
vine,  or  else  to  fasten,  into  the  top  of  a  high  post  an 
owl,  having  her  wings  spread.'  And  again  'the 
Lightenings  and  Thunderings  will  doe  no  harme, 
if  their  be  buried  in  the  midst  of  the  Garden,  a 
kind  of  toad,  called  a  Hodge-toad,  closed  up  in  a 
pot  of  earth." 

Here  is  an  instance  of  credulity  of  the  wise  acres 
of  the  time.  '  He  who  hath  sometimes  beene  sub- 
ject unto  the  biting  of  a  mad  dogge,  or  otherwise, 
must  not  sleepe  or  rest  under  the  shadow  of  the 
cervise-tree  ;  for  if  hee  doe,  it  will  hazard  him,  to 
cast  him  into  his  former  madness  againe,  etc. 

The  Figge-tree  appears  to  be  too  much  for  the 
bulls.  The  following  receipt  is,  however,  defective, 
in  that  it  does  not  state  how  large  the  tree  must  be, 
nor  how  long  the  unruly  beast  must  remain  attached 
thereto.  It  seldom  grows  large  enough  with  us,  I 
apprehend,  to  detain  one  long  in  durance.  Per- 
haps the  same  influence  that  tender  meat  softens 
the  'rough  flesh  '  of  the  living  bull,  and  thus  the 
mystery  may  be  explained.  It  is  certainly  curious, 
if  true. 

Here  is  the  receipt. 

'  Furthermore,  the  figge-tree  hath  this  vertue, 
that  if  you  have  a  wild  and  unruly  bull,  which  you 
cannot  tame  by  any  means ;  if  you  tie  him  to  a 
figge-tree,  by  and  by  he  will  become  gentle,  for- 
getting his  natural  savageness.  Furthermore,  to 
make  the  hard  and  rough  flesh  of  any  beast,  tender, 
by  and  by  you  must  hang  it  to  a  branch  of  a  figge 
tree ;  as  also  to  make  it  boil  quickly,  you  must 
strirre  it  oftentimes  in  the  pot,  wherein  it  bryleth, 
with  a  laddie  of  the  wood  of  a  figge-tree.*  *  *  *  * 
"We  may  further  note,  I  know  not  what  secret 
vertue  in  the  figge,  for  the  horses  and  asses,  laden 
with  figges,  doe  easily  fall  downe  under  their  burden, 
and  lose  all  their  strength,  which,  notwithstanding, 


^^ 


^I 


46 


^t  §im\t\m's  ^oi\t\\i 


'I? 


arises  easily,  recovered  of  their  strength  and  re- 
freshed, if  they  have  but  given  them  a  morsel  of 
bread. ' 

The  following  is  interesting,  we  commend  it  to 
the  Homoepathists.     Similia  Siinilibus  curantur. 

'If  a  man  have  swallowed  down  a  horse-leech,  in 
drinking  water,  you  would  give  him  fleas  with  strong 
vinegar. ' 

How  to  grow  nuts  without  shells,  gymnosperms. 

'  To  have  nuts  without  shells,  you  must  take  a 
kernele,  which  is  verie  sound,  and  not  any  whit 
hurt,  and  wrap  it  in  wool,  or  the  leaves  of  a  vine; 
or  in  plum  tree  leaves,  that  it  may  not  be  eaten  of 
ants  ;  set  it  thus,  and  the  nut  tree  coming  thereof, 
will  bring  forth  nuts  without  shells.  The  like  may 
be  done  in  Almond  trees,  if  you  sometimes  put 
others  unto  the  roots  thereof,  or  vinto  the  roots, 
under  the  ground,  and  this  also,  holdeth  generally 
in  all  other  fruits,  which  have  an  outward  shell,  if 
they  be  set  in  this  order. ' 

Here  is  reference  made  to  the  curculio.  How- 
ever, the  little  pests  do  not  appear  to  have  yet 
learned  to  injure  the  plum.  He  has  progressed 
during  the  century  past. 

'  There  breed  in  trees,  certain  small  beasts,  al- 
most like  to  weevils,  and  they  are  somewhat  blewish 
blackc,  and  certain  of  them  have  long  and  sharpe 
pointed  peakes  or  bills,  these  do  great  harnie  to 
grafts  and  other  young  trees,  for  they  cut  oif  young 
scions,  which  are  yet  but  tender,  put  forth  not  past 
the  length  of  a  finger.  You  must  at  the  height  of 
the  day,  when  you  shall  see  them  there,  lay  your 
hand  upon  them  softly,  without  stirring  the  tree ; 
for  they  let  themselves  fall  downe,  when  one  goeth 
about  to  take  them,  because  they  cannot  quickly 
betake  themselves  to  flight,  and  if  they  let  not  them- 
selves fall  into  your  hand,  then  reach  up  and  take 
them  upon  the  scions  with  your  other  hand. 

He  discourseth  somewhat  sensibly  on  cucumbers. 

'  The  use  of  the  cucumbers  is  altogether  hurtful, 
because  the  nourishment  and  juice  coming  off  them, 
is  easily  corrupted  in  the  veines,  whereupon  there 
grow  in  our  bodies,  burning  agues,  and  such  as  are 
very  hard  to  cure.  Wherefore,  it  is  better  to  ap- 
point them  for  mules  and  asses,  to  which  kind  of 
beasts  this  fruit  is  very  pleasant  and  profitable, 
than  to  ordaine  them  for  men's  food  and  sustenance. 
*  *  *  Some  say  that  a  cucumber,  placed  long-wise 
near  a  child,  which  hath  an  ague,  being  of  the 
same  greatnesse  that  the  child  is,  doth  deliver  it 
altogether  from  the  ague.' 

Grafting  was  a  remarkable  art  in  Ancient  times. 
Many  of  the  apparent  attachments  of  graft  to  stocks 
of  incompatible  nature,  were  frauds  upon  the  sim- 


plicity of  the  ignorant.  But  there  seems  to  be  no 
room  for  deception  in  the  following,  which  appear 
to  have  been  genuine  grafts.  The  observer  of  the 
process,  I  apprehend,  was  impatient,  and  did  not 
await  the  result,  but  drew  upon  his  fancy  for  the 
promised  fruits. 

Important,  if  true. 

'  If  the  White  Poplar  be  grafted  upon  the  Mul- 
berie  tree,  it  will  bring  forth  white  mulberies.' 

'  Graft  a  Plum  tree  graft,  or  any  other  fruit-tree 
graft,  upon  the  figge  tree,  and  you  shall  have  your 
fruit  without  blossoming. ' 

'  Peares  will  have  no  stones,  if  at  the  first  you 
pike  away  the  stones  and  all  other  gravel  from 
under  them,  very  carefully,  making  the  ground 
where  the  tree  shall  stand,  free  thereof,  and  withal 
lay  upon  it  at  the  roots,  being  planted  good  store 
of  sifted  earth,  watering  it  afterward  very  dili- 
gently. 

How  to  produce  evergreen  oaks  and  live  oaks. 

'To  cause  an  oak  or  other  tree  to  continue  greeno 
as  well  in  winter  as  in  summer;  graft  it  upon  a 
Colewort  Stocke.' 

'  Graft  Chcsnut  and  Caliot  Peare  trees  upon  a 
Gooseberies  bush,  if  you  would  have  them  to  bearo 
their  friiit  early. ' 

'  Graft  the  graft  of  the  Peach  tree  upon  the 
Quince  tree,  you  shall  have  peaches  and  quinces 
together. ' 

The  graft  that  is  made  upon  the  Alder  Tree  or 
Oake,  bringeth  forth  a  very  strong  tree  ;  but  if  it 
beare  fruit,  yet  the  fruit  is  of  no  savour  or  taste.' 

'  You  shall  have  cherries  on  many  trees,  which 
will  be  good  to  eat  unto  November,  if  you  graft  the 
Cherry  tree  upon  a  reclaginer  Mulberrie  tree,  and 
upon  a  wild  one.' 

The  writer  of  the  above,  and  fifty  more  as  valu- 
able receipts  for  grafting  and  changing  the  quality 
of  the  fruit,  to  be  green  from  the  graftj  has  this 
one  sensible  paragraph. 

'  The  grafting  which  is  performed  to  a  graft  upon 
a  tree,  correspondent  and  answerable  to  the  nature 
of  the  graft,  proveth  of  most  beautifull  growth  and 
most  fruitfuU  and  his  fruit  most  durable  ;  which 
falleth  not  out  when  this  correspondence,  sympa- 
thie,  and  fellowship  is  wanting :  and  this  is  the 
cause  why  the  Peach  tree  thriveth  better,  being 
grafted  in  the  Plum  tree,  than  elsewhere,  and  the 
Peare  Plum  tree  in  the  Almond  tree,  and  there 
continue  a  long  time.' 

This  folio  of  about  740  pages,  appears  to  have 
been  written  about  the  end  of  the  16th  Centur}', 
say  1580,  as  deduced  from  the  reference  to  dates 
therein.     It,  no  doubt,  was  considered  a  full  trea^ 


tise  on  Agriculture,  Horticulture,  Domestic  Pre- 
paration, Distillation,  Preserving  Fish  in  ponds, 
Surveying,  Vine  Growing,  Care  of  Game,  of 
Woods,  Dogs,  Deer,  Rabbits  and  Birds,  for  the 
time  it  was  written.  It  doubtless  cost  the  vener- 
able Surflet  a  life-time  of  research,  and  brought 
him  fome  in  his  day,  which  has  not,  however, 
proved  enduring,  for  I  cannot  find  him  named  in 
any  biographical  or  bibliographical  work  to  which  I 
have  access. 

Thou  venerable  volume,  scored  and  seamed  by 
the  ruthless  scythe  of  time,  how  hast  thou  been 
pored  over  by  seekers  for  the  wisdom  they  deemed 
thy  pages  held.  How  trusting  have  the  young 
eyes  of  full  two  centuries,  read  the  wonderful 
virtues  of  the  unfailing  compounds  thou  recordest. 
Now  torn  and  leatherless,  browned  and  dog-eared 
thou  art  thrown  aside  subject  for  ridicule,  a  mon- 
ument of  the  folly  and  ignorance  of  the  age  that 
produced  thee.  Not  without  merit  art  thou,  nev- 
ertheless, for  thy  strange  stories  are  interlarded 
with  many  truths,  and  much  that  we  deem  recent 
finds  a  record  in  thy  time-honored  pages.  We  will 
treasure  thee  for  those,  and  bless  thee  for  the  good 
thou  hast  done  to  our  fathers,  but  while  we  do  so, 
thank  our  stars  we  live  three  centuries  further 
down  the  course  of  time — that  since  thy  days,  the 
lights  of  science  have  arisen,  and  upon  the  darkness 
a  Linnaeus,  a  Knight,  a  Van  Mons,  a  Downing 
and  a  Lindley,  have  taught  the  true  principles  of 
Horticulture,  filled  up  the  wide  gap  of  300  years 
between  thee  and  us,  and  in  thy  place  given  us  the 
truths  of  nature  without  the  illusions  of  fancy. 


GRAPES. 

BY  W.    C.    STRONG,  BRIGHTON,  MASS. 

Mr.  Editor  : — I  am  somewhat  tardy  iu  com- 
plying with  your  request,  to  state  my  experience  in 
respect  to  the  profit  of  growing  Grapes  for  the 
Market.  It  is  very  certain  that  one  rule  will  not 
apply  to  all  parts  of  the  country.  Even  supposing 
the  best  varieties  will  do  equally  well  in  the  diff- 
erent sections,  yet  the  growers  near  cities  should 
study  to  bring  in  their  fruits  when  the  market  is 
not  glutted  by  the  products  of  the  cheaper  lands 
of  the  interior.  To  a  considerable  degree,  it  is  the 
same  with  the  fruit-grower,  as  with  the  vegetable 
market-men.  Growers,  near  the  suburbs  of  cities, 
strive  to  bring  in  their  produce  early.  I  know  it 
is  customary  to  say,  that  the  supply  of  fruit  is  not 
equal  to  the  demand,  and  that  the  demand  is  likely 
to  increase  in  still  larger  disproportions.  But 
experience  does  not  warrant  me  in  following 


the  same  opinion.  I  do  not  doubt  that  fruit-grow- 
ing is,  and  will  continue  to  be,  profitable.  But  it 
will  not  do  to  base  our  estimates  upon  the  pieces, 
which  some  give,  and  which  they  claim,  will  even 
advance.  We  have  seen  estimates  on  the  profits 
of  an  acre  of  grapes,  at  20  cents  per  pound.  The 
Delaware  has  been  gravely  quoted  even  at  50  cents 
per  pound.  Now  the  fact  has  been,  that  for  the 
past  two  years,  the  best  Ohio  grapes  have  been  re- 
tailed in  the  remote  market  of  Boston,  at  15  cents. 
Those  who  have  had  experience  in  the  cost  of 
transportation,  and  in  the  commission  of  dealers, 
can  estimate  the  serious  shrinkage  to  the  producer. 
The  producer  could  not  expect  to  net  over  10  cents, 
and  probably  not  so  much.  But  this  price  is  un- 
doubtedly remunerative,  upon  the  cheap  and  fertile 
lands  of  the  West.  Yet  at  the  East,  we  must  do 
better  than  this ;  we  must  bring  in  our  fruit  in  ad- 
advance.  Hence,  we  must  seek  for  the  earliest 
varieties  and  bring  them  in  early.  I  have  spoken 
well  of  the  Hartford,  for  the  purpose,  and  not  so 
well  of  the  Concord,  and  of  course,  Western  grow- 
ers would  consider  my  opinion  of  little  value.  But 
the  facts  with  me  are  as  follows :  the  Ilartfords 
fiind  a  clear  market  and  are  bought  at  20  cents 
net,  for  say  a  third  part  of  the  crop,  from  the  10th 
to  the  15th  of  September,  and  at  15  to  18  cents  for 
the  balance.  On  the  other  hand,  the  Concords 
come  in  with  the  Isabella  and  Catawba  of  the 
West,  and  must  submit  to  western  prices.  The 
fact  that  the  Hartford  is  liable  to  drop,  is  no  se- 
rious objection,  to  those  who  live  near  a  market, 
and  indeed  it  is  an  advantage  to  such,  as  they  are 
saved  from  the  competition  of  producers  at  a  dis- 
tance. It  will  not  appear  strange,  then,  that  I 
continue  to  speak  well  of  the  Hartford.  We  are 
not  discussing  quality  now  ;  it  is  simply  a  question 
of  profit.  And  the  Hartford  has  yielded  me,  at 
least  a  third  more  profit  than  any  other  of 
fifty  varieties.  It  must  also  be  understood,  that 
the  opinion  refers  only  to  the  Boston  market. 
There  are  scores  of  grapes  which,  as  far  surpass  the 
Hartford  in  quality,  as  it  does  the  Perkins.  But 
can  they  be  grown  cheaply  and  in  quantity  for  the 
market  ? 

The  Delaware  takes  from  one  to  two  years  lon- 
ger time  to  come  into  full  bearing.  Then  it  is, 
with  us,  liable  to  mildew,  and  as  an  average  rule, 
must  ripen  its  fruit,  for  the  last  three  weeks, 
upon  half  fare  from  its  leaves.  If  it  were  not  for 
this,  it  would  be  earlier.  But  it  is  early  and  most 
excellent.  Yet  it  is  so  small  and  so  light.  We 
weighed  some  remarkably  fine  premium  bunches, 
at  our  annual  exhibition.    Being  absent  from  home, 


^^ 


48 


Cljc  ©arkntr'j)  Slontjjlg. 


I  have  not  the  notes  by  me,  and  am  afraid  to  say 
how  much  the  six  bunches  weiglied.  Did  you  ever 
have  any  experience  in  raising  the  beautiful  httle 
Rose  Chasselas,  for  profit?  A  charming  variety 
for  home  use  and  for  presents,  but  I  think  you 
could  hardly  stick  enough  fruit  upon  a  vine  to  make 
it  weight  for  the  market.  This  would  not  be  true 
of  the  Delaware  to  this  extent.  Yet  I  am  sure,  if 
the  producer  judges  of  the  weight  of  his  crop  from 
the  appearance  of  the  bunches  on  the  vine,  he  will 
be  woefully  disappointed.  Boston  is  said  to  have 
notions,  and  so  it  has,  whether  others  may  have  or 
not.  Boston  does  not  like  the  size  and  appearance 
of  the  Delaware.  Luscious  black  grapes,  with  a  rich 
bloom,  with  a  sprinkling  of  white,  for  relief,  are 
preferred  for  making  up  a  showy  dish.  I  think 
the  color  of  the  Delaware  is  beautiful,  but  there  is 
some  truth  in  the  objection,  that  the  little  pale  rose 
bunches  sink  down  and  are  lost,  for  effect.  In 
short,  the  result  is,  that  those  who  know  and  love 
good  fruit,  are  glad  to  pick  it  up  ;  but  it  is  not, 
and  I  do  not  think  will  be  in  such  demand  as  to 
command  fancy  prices.  My  experience  is,  that  it 
should  sell  for  .30  cents  per  pound,  net,  in  order  to 
be  as  profitable  as  the  Hartford,  at  18  cents.  Let 
me  mention  one  other  variety,  as  a  type  of  another 
class.  The  Union  Village  is  late,  scarcely  ripening 
with  us.  Yet  it  is  less  liable  to  mildew  than  the 
Lsabella,  and  with  good  management,  can  be  gen- 
erally ripened.  It  is  large  and  remarkably  showy, 
and  will,  therefore,  command  an  extra  price.  Such 
weighty  bunches  cannot  be  brought  from  a  distance, 
without  destroying  the  bloom  and  beauty.  Here 
again  we  can  get  an  advantage,  and  I  am  inclined 
t3  think  the  Union  is  a  good  market  kind  for  us. 
The  Creveling  bids  fair  to  displace  the  Hartford, 
unless  a  tendency  to  mildew,  first  observed  the  past 
season,  shall  prove  to  be  serious  and  permanent.  I 
do  not  speak  of  some  of  the  newer  kinds,  of 
promise,  since  I  am  limited  to  the  actual  results 
of  my  experience  in  our  market.  Again,  I  must 
beg,  in  conclusion,  that  the  above  may  be  con- 
sidered as  the  verdict  of  our  market,  rather  than 
any  expression  of  opinion  as  to  qualitj'. 


FLUES. 

BY   J.    W.    H. 

In  a  former  number  I  noticed  an  article  on  fur- 
naces inside  the  houses  :  but  have  my  doubts  as  to 
the  utility  of  the  practice.  It  seems  to  me  that  no 
matter  how  tightly  you  may  board  off  or  separate 
the  stoke  hole  from  the  rest  of  the  greenhouse, 
the   air  that  supplies  the  stoke  hole  or  furnace, 


must  be  drawn  from  the  atmosphere  of  the  house, 
and  by  just  so  much,  is  the  temperature  reduced  as 
shown  in  the  Monthly  referred  to.  To  set  off  against 
this  objection  I  see  no  advantage.  There  is  the  dust, 
the  annoyance, the  room  lost,the  extra  labor  of  ashes 
in  and  out,  and  the  dirty  appearance  ;  for  with  the 
best  arrangements  it  will  look  so  at  times.  'Again, 
what  is  the  disadvantage  of  outside  furnaces'?  Is 
there  any  heat  of  consequence  lost?  I  think  not. 
When  standing  near  the  furnace  door,  it  seems 
warm  to  be  sure  ;  and  the  snow  melting  on  my  trap- 
door over  the  furnace,  shows  a  little  lost ;  but  the 
slow  VTianner  in  which  the  snow  disappears,  shows 
how  little  that  is.  After  alj,  is  it  not  an  advantage 
to  have  the  stoke  holes  warm  a  little  ?  I  should 
suppose  the  warmer  the  air  before  entering  the 
flue,  the  less  fire  would  be  required  to  warm  it. 

One  word  more  about  the  fire  brick  flue  pipes. 
Three  years  ago  I  saw  them  recommended,  by  Mr. 
Saunders.  I  pulled  away  my  brick  flues,  and  put 
up  these  in  their  place.  I  was  told,  when  asking 
if  they  would  crack,  '  probably  they  will,  brick  flues, 
boilers  and  everything  crack  sometimes  ;  but  these 
probably  no  more  easy  than  they.'  One  day  while 
watering  plants  on  the  stage  over  the  flues,  when 
the  flues  were  very  hot,  some  water  fell  on  a  pipe, 
and  it  immediately  cracked  along  its  whole  length. 
I  was  sure  my  old  brick  flue  would  not  have  cracked 
so  easy,  and  I  felt  pretty  indignant  at  jMr.  Saun- 
ders, and  the  whole  crew  of  Horticultural  theorists, 
as  I  called  them.  To  save  my  flue,  I  put  at  once  a 
piece  of  wire  round  it.  It  kept  that  way  the  whole 
season,  and  I  was  so  pleased  with  it  afterwards, 
that  it  has  remained  unto  this  day,  and  I  don't  care 
how  many  crack,  for  I  would  not  throw  away  the 
pipe  and  return  to  the  flue  for  all  the  bricks 
in  Pennsylvania.  My  pipe  is  fifty  feet  in  length, 
and  in  a  few  minutes  after  the  fire  is  alight,  the 
heat  is  at  the  extreme  end.  Before  we  could  never 
get  the  end  of  the  brick  flue  warm,  and  before  a 
very  severe  frost,  it  was  necessary  to  have  a  fire 
alight  a  whole  morning  before,  to  be  sure  of  keep- 
ing out  frost,  which  it  was  then  very  diflUcult  to  dn. 

I  am  opposed  to  mere  pipes  against  flues ;  but 
with  pipes  and  wire,  I  think  it  makes  perfection. 

[We  doubt  whether  our  correspondent's  sugges- 
tion about  warming  the  stoke  holes,  amounts  to 
much ;  for  the  lieat  comes  from  the  fire  to  do  it, 
and  is  by  so  much  lost  to  the  flue  ;  but  on  the 
other  hand,  it  is  generally  admitted,  that  in  all 
these  heating  arrangements,  mere  theory  amounts 
to  little,  as  a  very  small  circumstance  in  construc- 
tion will  alter  a  whole  jjlan.    There  may  be  '  some- 


►^ 


SIrit  ©nrrkntr'f)   ^ontljln. 


49 


thing  in  it.' 

As  to  the  wire  round  the  flue  pipe,  our  corespond- 
ent need  not  lay  claim  to  that  discovery.  We 
know  several  whose  pipes  are  fixed  in  the  same 
way.  The  wire  neutralizes  any  objection  to  the 
cracking  of  the  pipes. — Ed.] 


JOHN    BARTRAM. 

BY   S.  L.  B.,  NORRIDGEWOCK,  ME. 

I  honor  the  name  of  this  old  botanist,  and  should 
never  weary  of  reading  about  his  useful  and  hon- 
orable life.  Every  lover  of  botanical  science,  owes 
a  debt  of  gratitude  to  the  late  Dr.  Darlington,  of 
West  Chester,  Pa.,  for  preserving,  in  such  an  ad- 
mirable volume,  the  memorials  of  his  life,  as  illus- 
trated by  his  correspondence  with  the  eminent  men 
of  his  day  ;  and  no  portion  of  the  volume  is  more 
interesting  than  the  delightful  account  of  his  home 
and  daily  life,  as  furnished  by  a  "Russian  gentle- 
man" named  Iwan  Alexiowitz,  after  a  visit  to 
Bartram,  in  1769. 

For  several  evenings  past,  I  have  been  reading 
Dr.  Darlington's  '  Memorials,'  and  took  up  my 
pen,  just  now,  to  refer  to  one  or  two  things  that  es- 
pecially pleased  me,  in  looking  it  over. 

The  first  is  Mr,  Bartram's  account  of  a  '  scheme' 
by  which  he  was  to  confer  a  great  benefit  upon  the 
ftirmers  of  the  colonies,  contained  in  a  letter  to  Dr. 
Alexander  Garden,  a  distinguished  physician  and 
botanist,  of  Charleston,  S.  C,  dated  March  14th, 
1756.  This  was,  first :  to  bore  the  ground  to  great 
depths,  in  all  the  different  soils  in  the  several  pro- 
vinces, with  an  instrument  fit  for  the  purpose,  to 
search  for  marls  or  rich  earths,  to  manure  the  sur- 
face of  the  ground  ;  second,  to  search  for  all  kinds 
of  medicinal  earths,  sulphurs,  bitumens,  coal,  peat, 
salts,  vitriols,  marcasites,  flints,  metals,  etc-,  and 
third,  to  find  the  various  kinds  of  springs,  to  know 
whether  they  arc  portable,  medicinal  or  mechanical. 
Mr.  Bartram's  directions,  in  regard  to  carrying 
this  '  scheme  '  into  operation, — which  would  oc- 
cupy too  much  of  your  room — as  contained  in  the 
letter,  are  curious,  minute  and  original,  and  well 
merit  the  following  foot-note  from  Dr.  Darlington  : 

'This   scheme  of  John   Bartram's — if  original 

with  him — would  indicate  that  he  had  formed  a 

pretty  good  notion  of  the  nature  and  importance  of 

a  Geological  Survey  and  Mq-),  more  than  half  a 

century  before  such  undertakings  were  attempted 

I  in  our  own  country,  or  even  thought  of  by  those 

J  whose  province  it  was  to  authorize  them. ' 

f.  i      Bartram's  style  of  writing,  as  exhibited  in  his 

/^     letters,  is  remarkable  for  simplicity,  terseness,  ori- 


ginality and  vigor.  Occasionally  it  is  surpassingly 
beautiful,  as  witness  his  description  of  the  almost 
countless  array  of  flowers,  contained  on  pages  oUS, 
399,  of  the  '  Memorial.'  This  was  one  of  the  many 
things  that  delighted  me  in  reading  the  work,  and 
intended  to  copy  it  in  this  connection,  but  find  it 
will  take  too  much  time.  If  you  have  the  volume 
at  hand,  my  dear  Mr.  Meehan,  will  you  publish 
the  extract  in  the  Montldy,  lor  the  pleasure  and 
benefit  of  its  numerous  readers? 

In  your  second  volume,  you  gave  a  portrait  of 
John  Barti'am.  Can  you  not  insert  it  again,  that 
your  new  subscribers  may  have  the  jiriveledge  of 
beholding  the  amiable  and  happy  countenance  of 
this  jiatriarch  of  American  Botany? 

[Our  correspondent  will  find  by  a  subsequent 
correction,  the  portrait  we  gave  was  of  John  Bart- 
ram's son  William,  as  great  a  botanist,  though 
with  greater  opportunities  than  his  father.  There 
is  no  i)ortrait  of  John  the  elder,  in  existence,  that 
we  can  find.     The  extract  shall  appear.] 


NOTES    ON    GRAPES. 

BY   OLIVER  TAYLOR,    LOUDON   CO.,  VIRGINIA, 

A  very  cold,  late  spring  and  wet  summer,  fol- 
lowed by  a  dry  autumn,  caused  every  variety,  with- 
out a  single  exception,  to  show  some  mildew  on 
the  leaves  ;  but  a  few  were  so  little  affected  as  to 
not  injui'e  the  fruit :  such  as  Clinton,  Delaware, 
Purple  Favorite,  Lenoir  and  Concord.  All  other 
varieties  lost  so  much  of  their  foliage  as  to  cause 
them  to  be  imperfect  in  ripening.  Some  varieties, 
as  the  llebecea,  Allen's  Hybrid,  Garrigues,  Con- 
stantia  (or  Cape  Grape),  most  of  Rogers'  Hybrids, 
Ontario,  Cassady,  and  .some  others,  a  little ;  whilst 
others  remained  green,  and  part,  or  entirely,  were 
not  ripe  enough  to  eat  when  frost  came:  such  were 
Catawba,  Diana,  To  Kalon,  Franklin,  some  Dela- 
wares  that  overbore,  and  a  few  others. 

As  to  the  quality  of  the  Concord  here.  It  is  not 
good  on  young  vines  generally,  but  on  older  vines 
it  improves  so  much  that  the  most  of  persons  pre- 
fer it  to  the  Catawba  for  the  table  ;  and  when  in  its 
perfectly  ripe  state,  is  very  far  superior  to  what  it 
is  when  just  colored  ;  .so  it  is  not  surprising  that 
])ersons  living  in  different  parts  of  our  country, 
should  differ  as  to  its  merits.  With  us  it  gets  thoi'- 
oughly  ripe  ;  and  if  there  is  any  rain  about  the  time 
it  is  perfectly  ripe,  the  berries  crack  open,  and  if 
not  soon  gathered,  the  birds  are  apt  to  eat  them. 

Why  has  the  Clinton  grape  been  passed  by  as  of 
little  worth  ?  With  us  it  proved  to  be  our  only  de- 
pendance  this  year  :  it  was  not  affected  among  the 
late  varieties.  When  thoroughly  ripe  it  is  very  good; 
and  for  family  use,  to  cook,  it  is  far  better  than  the 
Catawba,  nwking  a  sweeter  and  higher  flavored 
marmalade,  which,  by  the  bye,  is  an  article  that 
seems  to  be  ignored  by  the  public  without  a  trial ; 
yet,  so  far  as  I  can  learn,  is  much  relished  by  every 
one  who  tastes  it,  and  it  is  at  the  same  time  one  of 
the  most  refreshing  and  substantial  articles  in  the 
fruit  diet.  The  vines  bear  more  neglect  than  any 
variety  without  injury,  though  it  well  repays  high 
cultivation. 


50 


Sth^  ©arimr's  cPontfilg. 


23=  All  Communications  for  the  Editor  should  be  addressed, 
"TnoMAs  Meehan,  Germantown,  Philadelphia," and  Business  Let. 
ters  directed  to  "W.  G.  P.  Brinckloe,  Box         Philadelphia." 


For  Terms  of  Subscription  see  second  page  cover. 

For  Terms  of  Advertising  see  page  33. 

Volumes  1,  2,  3,  4  and  5,  furnished  for  $1  50  each. 


U 


ROSES. 

Can  any  thing  new  be  said  of  Roses  ? 

'"Tis  hard  to  venture  where  our  betters  tail. 
Or  lend  fresh  interest  to  a  twice  told  tale." 

The  pens  of  the  wisest  of  all  ages  have  failed  to 
exhaust  the  Rose  subject, — and  if  a  tale  loses  its 
interest  by  being  repeated,  dull  and  uninteresting 
must  the  Rose  story  be. 

Still,  we  will  venture  one  word  more.  If  what 
we  say  be  not  new,  it  will,  we  trust,  be  true  ;  and 
we  are  sure  will  add  to  the  interest  of  our  gardens 
and  grounds  if  acted  on. 

Almost  all  Roses  but  Hybrid  Perpetuals  are  un- 
fashionable. Every  one  wants  Hybrid  Perpetual 
roses.  They  call  them  monthly  roses ;  hut  the  best 
claim  most  of  them  have  to  the  distinction,  is  that 
they  have  a  few  flowers  jier  month.  One  half  of 
them  do  not  have  as  many  flowers  throughout  the 
season  as  a  good  Hybrid  China  or  June  Rose, 
would  have  in  that  single  month.  Yet  we  would 
not  have  one  Hybrid  Perpetual  less  than  we 
have.  No  garden  is  complete  without  a  good  stock 
of  them. 

But  the  tenderer  Teas,  Chinas,  Bourbons,  and 
Noisettes,  how  seldom  do  we  see  them  in  the  great 
beauty  they  are  capable  of  affording?  Occasionally 
one  meets  a  tolerable  Hermosa,  Louis  Philippe,  or 
one  other  or  so,  of  the  hardier  individuals  of  these 
classes,  but  so  rarely  as  to  amount  to  nothing  at  all. 
Most  of  them  will  just  live  through  our  winters ; 
but  injured  so  much,  that  they  never  get  to  be 
much  above  herbaceous  plants.  Some  have  better 
plants  of  them  than  others  by  protecting  them  in 
winter  with  straw  or  leaves,  or  bending  them  down 
like  the  Raspberry,  and  covering  with  earth  ;  but 
with  the  best  of  these  modes  of  protective  treat- 
ment, they  are  always  injured  more  or  less,  and  the 
plants  never  reach  any  great  size.  On  even  a  mod- 
erate scale,  these  modes  of  treating  half  hardy  roses 
cannot  be  dispensed  with. 

However,  some  few  plants  of  these  choice  and 


tender  kinds  we  should  like  to  see  treated  as  tub 
plants,  to  be  grown  for  lawn  purposes,  and  the 
summer  decoration  of  gardens  and  door-yards.  We 
have  now  Aloes  and  Cacti,  Oleanders  and  Oranges, 
Fuchsias  and  Abutilons,  and  many  other  things, — 
but  we  rarely  see  Roses. 

But  what  can  be  prettier?  What  can  look  better 
in  every  point  of  view?  We  suppose  people  grow 
Oleanders  and  such  things  in  tubs,  because  they 
cannot  have  them  at  all  through  our  winters  in  the 
open  air,  when  they  can  have  something  of  a  rose  ; 
but  there  is  no  comparison  between  the  roses,  as 
they'are  in  our  gardens,  and  roses  as  they  might  be 
by  careful  and  slightly  protected  culture  in  pots 
and  boxes. 

What  would  be  more  effective  than  an  avenue 
lined  by  fifty  or  a  hundred  boxes  of  choice  Ro.^es, 
six  feet  high  and  three  feet  in  circumference, — 
perfect  cones  or  pyramids,  with  hundreds  of  fra- 
grant blushing  blossoms,  opening  from  bottom  to 
top  ?  There  are  few  of  even  the  most  delicate  that 
might  not,  at  least  by  the  grafter's  art,  be  brought 
to  this  height  and  condition, — and  then  so  easy  to 
protect  them.  While  your  Oleanders  and  Lemons, 
and  other  favored  plants,  must  have  expensive 
greenhouse?;  or,  at  any  rate,  warm  cellars  or  rooms 
to  care  for  them  in  winter ;  Rose-boxes  might  be 
stowed  away  in  a  barn  or  out-building,  like  so  much 
lumber;  or  as  grocery,  cases  in  a  store,  one  above 
another,  in  many  cases,  with  the  branches  standing 
up  in  the  spaces  between.  No  degree  of  cold  we 
have  seems  to  hurt  the  tenderest  of  our  roses.  The 
trouble  seems  to  be  our  warm  February  and  March 
suns  on  the  frozen  wood ;  and  against  these  a  barn 
or  shed  is  an  efficient  protection. 

The  time  will  soon  come  when  steps  can  be  taken 
towards  carrying  out  the  idea.  Let  the  strongest 
and  most  likely  looking  specimens  be  selected  this 
spring;  and  as  soon  as  the  early  spring  frosts  are 
gone,  prepare  a  small  tub  for  plants  selected.  Let 
the  soil  be  of  a  turfy  character,  enriched  with  any 
well-decayed  manure  that  may  be  at  hand,  in  the 
proportion  of  about  one-sixth  of  manure  to  the 
whole,  Of' course  the  tubs  must  be  'drained,' — 
this  is  of  a  truth  a  '  twice-told  tale,'  but  it  bears  in- 
terest for  all.  When  the  plant  is  potted,  or  rather 
tubbed:  for  pots  should  not  be  used  :  they  would 
burst  with  the  frost  in  the  sheds  in  winter — set  it 
in  a  partially  shaded  place  for  the  summer.  It 
would  be  best  to  have  no  flowers  bloom -the  first 
season  ;  each  bud  may  be  pinched  out  as  it  appears; 
and  if  the  fine  pyramids  we  have  described  be 
desired,  strong  top  shoots,  that  may  rob  young 
weaker  ones,  may  be  topped  occasionally  also. 


~r<P. 


•€\ 


^^^ 


£hi;  ©ardcncr'fj  ^ontljk 


51 


The  subject  is  by  no  means  exhausted,  but  we 
have  said  enoui^h  to  call  attention  to  the  matter. 


DRYING    FLOWEHS  IN  THEIR  NATURAL 
COLORS. 


4). 


Probably  no  article  ever  attracted  more  attention 
among  our  Horticulturists  than  the  one  we  gave 
in  an  early  number  of  our  magazine,  as  a  transla- 
tion from  the  German  Garten  Flora,  on  the  'Art 
of  Drying  Flowers  with  their  Natural  Colors  in 
Sand.'  Our  ladies  took  hold  of  the  subject  with 
spirit,  and  many  at  this  time  practise  the  art  with 
a  tolerable  degree  of  efficiency.  Many  write  to  us 
that  they  do  not  succeed  so  well  as  they  could  wish; 
but  in  all  arts  of  this  kind  there  are  little  niceties 
to  be  learned  which  no  treatise  can  teach,  and  which 
can  only  be  acquired  by  practice. 

Though  so  long  since  the  art  has  been  popular 
with  the  Germans,  they  are  only  just  now  perfect- 
ing it.  During  the  few  past  years,  a  few  firms  have 
taken  it  up  as  a  business,  or  branch  of  business, 
and  it  is  now  becoming  almost  as  extensive  a  trade 
in  some  parts  of  Germany,  as  the  artificial  flower 
business  is  with  us.  They  are  made  into  baskets 
and  bouquets,  and  arranged  in  vases  and  hanging 
baskets  ;  and  they  are  among  the  most  popular  of 
presents,  for  Christmas  or  other  festival  daj\s. 

But — and  let  our  lady  friends  who  complain  of 
partial  failures,  note  well  and  take  heart  thereat — 
they  find  by  experience  that  all  flowers  do  not  dry 
equally  well ;  and  of  those  that  get  into  the  market 
the  number   seems  extremely  limited, — and  it  is 


worth  remembering,  that  it  is  not  only  an  art  to 
dry  the  flowers,  but  also  to  find  out  those  that  are 
best  fitted  for  the  art.  The  composition  of  the  two 
we  use  as  illustrations,  seems  confined  to  the  fol- 
lowing list  of  flowers  and  grasses,  with  one  or  two 
others  that  we  do  not  recognise  in  their  dried  state. 
We  give  the  list  for  the  benefit  of  our  readers  :  — 
Acroclinium  roseum,  a  pretty  little  pink  flower ; 
Ammobium  alatum  ;  Roses  ;  Zinnias,  very  fine  and 
double  ;  Pansies,  looking  very  natural  indeed,  and 
we  should  judge  them  to  be  among  the  best  to  op- 
erate on  ;  Globe  Amaranthus,  principally  the  crim- 
son variety ;  German  or  China  Asters,  these  look 
truly  beautiful ;  Helichrysums,  seemingly  of  all 
colors,  from  white  and  yellow  to  a  bright  scarlet, 
and  we  were  at  a  loss  to  decide  whether  these  were 
really  their  natural  colors  or  had  been  dyed,  as 
some  of  the  grasses  certainly  were  ;  Clananche  coer- 
ulea  ;  the  Corn  Bottle  (Centaiirea  cyanus) ;  diff"er- 
ent  kinds  of  Larkspurs  ;    Hollyhocks  ;    Gypsopila 


paniculata;  Sanvitalia  procumbens ;  Statices,  of 
various  kinds  ;  Xeranthcmum  annuum.  The  grasses 
were  not  numerous,  and  of  these  some  appear  dried. 
All  we  noted  in  the  two  sets  were  Briza  media ; 
Hare's-foot    grass;    Reed    ("some   Aruiulo)    small 


'«cr 


=^^^ 


/jo; 


52 


Clji|  §mkntxs  IB^ntljIj. 


I? 


quaking  grass;  Cotton  grass  {En'ophornm) ;  Ca- 
nary grass  ;  animated  Oats ;  and  a  few  Poas. 

We  trust  that  those  of  our  readers  who  may  find 
other  flowers  to  succeed  well,  will  furnish  us  with  a 
list,  as  also  with  any  notes  of  what  they  find  con- 
tributing to  the  success  of  this  interesting  branch 
of  the  Decorative  Art. 


A  NEW  WAY  TO  PROPAGATE   GRAPE 

VINES. 

We  get  our  new  fashions  from  Paris,  and  it  is 
said  that  most  of  the  new  practical  ideas  of  culture, 
originate  from  the  French.  On  looking  through  a 
file  of  French  papers  recently,  we  found  the  fol- 
lowing '  new  idea,'  which  as  it  must  be  new,  when 
the  French  say  it  is ;  we  translate  for  our  readers 
benefit. 

'  The  best  way  to  propagate  the  grape  vine,  un- 
doubtedly is  the  system  recently  discovered,  by  jNI. 
Fabvier,  a  celebrated  vigneron  of  the  Haut  Gar- 
ronne.  He  selects  the  strongest  of  last  years  shoots 
as  soon  as  the  leaves  fall  in  autumn,  and  cuts  out 
the  eyes,  with  about  a  quarter  of  an  inch  of  wood, 
above  and  below  the  bud,  at  that  season.  He  then 
mixes  an  abundance  of  earth  with  them,  and  sets 
them  in  a  cool  cellar  for  the  winter.  As  soon  in 
Spring  as  the  ground  will  work,  he  sets  the  buds 
two  inches  deep  under  ground,  and  about  nine 
inches  apart  in  the  rows,  covering  the  depth  of  two 
inches,  above  the  eye,  with  very  rich  soil.  The 
vines  so  produced  are  equal  in  strength  to  one 
year's  growth,  to  the  strongest  layers  of  the  same 
age.' 

Now  there  does  not  seem  to  an  American  much 
novelty  in  raising  grapes  from  eyes  :  nine-tenths 
of  the  grapes  sold  here,  being  so  raised  ;  but  there 
is  for  all  a  little  novelty  in  successfully  raising  them 
this  way,  in  the  open  air.  The  trouble  with 
us  has  been,  that  in  open  air  attempts,  we  imitate 
our  hot-house  practice,  and  set  the  bud  just  level 
with  the  surface  of  the  ground,  and  our  warm 
summer  sun  soon  settles  that  business.  The  buds 
dry  out  before  the  roots  get  deep  enough  to  save 
them.  We  doubt  if  any  American  propagator 
thought  of  putting  a  bud  two  ini-hes  under  ground, 
or  dreamed  if  he  did,  that  a  bud  would  manage  to 
push  through  that  thickness  of  soil. 

Perhaps  they  will.  It  is  at  any  rate  worth  the 
trial.  If  really  good  one  year  vines  can  be  had  from 
eyes  in  the  open  ground,  it  will  be  a  much  cheaper 
way  of  raising  grapes  than  that  now  generally  fol- 
lowed ;  and  the  plants  without  doubt  would  be 
considerably  healthier. 


FRUIT-GROWERS  SOCIETY  CP  EASTERN 
PENNSYLVANIA. 

We  learn  from  Mr.  Hacker,  the  Secretary  of  this 
flourishing  society,  that  the  Annual  Meeting  will 
commence  at  Meeh's  Hall,  Norristown,  on  Wed- 
nesday, ]7th  and  18th  of  February.  No  Fruit- 
growers'-Society  has  proved  itself  more  useful  than 
this  one,  and  we  hope  there  will  be  a  large  attend- 
ance. 


UFr!FS* 


Jl3^ Communications  for  this  department  must  reach  the  Editor 
on  or  before  the  10th  of  the  month. 
Jn3=The  Editor  cannot  answer  letters  for  this  department  pri- 


Propagating  Houses— 7.  A. ,  Lake  Mills,  ^Yls. 
— '  Will  you,  or  some  of  the  readers  of  the  Montlihj, 
give  some  practical  plan  of  the  construction  of  a 
Propagating  House.  I  should  like  to  know  the 
height  of  walls,  width,  etc.  ;  best  method  heating; 
how  the  beds  to  be  constructed  ;  location  and  cost. 
I  have  side  hill,  depending  South-east  and  We.*t, 
also  North.  Plenty  of  stone.  Which  is  the  cheapest 
fuel,  wood  at  $2  per  cord,  or  coal  at  $10  per  ton  ? 
Can  the  tank  inside  be  built  of  brick,  and  covered 
with  water  cement.  Could  the  water  in  such  a 
tank,  50  feet  long,  and  return  back  the  same  length, 
be  hot  by  having  40  or  .50  feet  of  li-inch  Gas  pipe 
coiled  in  a  common  Box  stove,  with  one  end  of 
pipe  to  discharge  into  tank,  and  the  other  end  set 
a  little  lower  to  receive  the  returning  water?  Sup- 
pose the  tank  to  be  perfectly  level,  would  there  be 
a  constant  current  around  it  ?  What  boilers  for 
heating  do  you  recommend?  It  would  be  very  in- 
teresting to  me,  and  I  doubt  not  to  man}'  other  of 
j'our  readers,  to  see  a  plan  of  a  house  that  it  would 
be  practicable  to  build." 

[There  are  so  many  good  plans  of  building  prop- 
agating houses,  that  we  shall  be  glad  to  receive  from 
any  of  our  readers  who  have  good  ones,  some  ac- 
count of  them.  Mr.  Henderson  has  opened  the 
way,  by  a  description  of  his  in  our  January  num- 
ber ;  and  we  will  gladly  illustrate  any  other  success- 
ful ones. 

With  regard  to  the  special  points  mooted  by  our 
correspondent,  we  may  here  say  that  the  height 
and  width  are  matters  of  mere  convenience.  For 
propagating  purposes,  it  is  not  as  essential  that  the 
plants  be  as  near  the  glass  as  rooted  and  growing 
plants.  The  best  method  of  heating  depends  on 
size  of  house  :  for  very  extensive  houses,  hot  wa- 
ter is  decidedly  best;    for  small  houses,  well-cn- 


-r^) 


Ik 


ih^  iiartkn^r's  cPonthlg. 


53 


structed,  flues  do  well.  If  good  lumber  is  cheap, 
and  labor  dear,  we  should  use  it,  though  stone 
were  plenty  on  the  ground,  charring  the  ends  of  all 
posts  set  in  the  ground  ;  and  certainly  use  wood  at 
$2  a  cord,  in  preference  to  coal  at  $10  per  ton  for 
fuel.  Much  however  depends  on  managing  fires, 
which  few  know  how  to  do.  The  proprietor  of  the 
Germantown  Knitting  Mills  recently  told  us  that 
by  giving  a  man  who  understood  fires  $2  per  week 
more  than  one  who  did  not  know  as  much,  he  saved 
$70  per  week  in  coal, — and  this  is  our  experience. 
To  manage  fires  economically  is  a  great  art. 

The  cheapest  and  best  tank  is  to  be  made  of 
White  Pine  boards.  Have  nothing  to  do  with  any 
small  pipe  in  the  fire, — nor,  indeed,  with  any  kind 
of  pipe  or  boiler  that  is  to  be  covered  with  fire : 
they  work  admirably  for  a  year,  or,  perhaps,  a  little 
more ;  but  the  iron  has  never  yet  been  cast  that 
will  stand  white  heat  long,  no  matter  if  water  be 
inside, — it  will  flake  and  peel  away  in  time,  and 
at  some  peculiarly  inconvenient  time,  the  thing  will 
be  found  out  of  order.  This  has  been  the  fate  of 
all  coils  of  small  pipe, — or  of  large  ones  for  that 
matter, — that  have  ever  been  used.  A  good,  sub- 
stantial strong  boiler  should  be  used,— one  with  as 
much  surface  as  possible  exposed  to  the  fire,  without 
being  actually  in  the  fire,  is  better  than  any  coil  of 
pipe.  Any  pipe — lead  is  as  good  as  any — will  serve 
to  connect  the  boiler  with  the  tank.  The  tank  may 
be  perfectly  level  :  circulation  is  merely  the  efl'ort 
ofwatertofind  its  own  level,  after  becoming  elevated 
a  little  above  the  level  by  the  expansion  of  warmed 
water.  Any  of  the  boilers  advertised  in  our  paper 
are  good.  Some  of  them  heat  quicker  and  wear 
sooner;  others  heat  slower  and  last  longer, — the 
best  will  depend  on  the  peculiar  purposes  of  each. 

The  subject  is  too  extensive  to  be  exhausted  sat- 
isfactorily in  this  column  ;  but  our  brief  replies  to 
our  correspondent's  enquiries  may  serve  at  least  to 
put  him  on  the  track.] 


Alterations  and  Improvements  in  the  Phil- 
adelphia Seed  Trade. — We  notice  in  our  adver- 
tising columns  that  oMr.  Robert  Buist,  Sniinr,  has 
withdrawn  from  the  Seed  business,  with  which  he 
has  been  so  long  and  so  honorably  connected,  in  fa- 
vor of  his  son,  Robert  Buist,  Junior,  under  which 
name  the  business  will  be  conducted,  with,  we  hope, 
as  much  encouragement  as  heretofore.  Mr.  Buist, 
the  elder,  will  now  give  his  undivided  attention  to 
the  nursery  branch,  already,  in  some  of  its  branches, 
superior  to  any  thing  in  this  country. 


Mr.  Henry  A.  Dreer,  too,  we  are  pleased  to  no- 
tice, has  out-grown  his  former,  by  no  means  small 
establishment,  down  town,  and  has  purchased  a 
magnificent  store  not  far  from  the  "Continental.'" 
j^Ir.  Dreer  has  been  one  of  the  most  liberal  adver- 
tisers in  the  Gardener  s  Monthly,  and  it  was  very 
gratifying  to  hear  him  express  his  sentiments  free- 
ly, when  paying  our  respects  to  his  new  quarters, 
last  month,  that  he  owed  his  great  success  in  busi- 
ness, as  much  as  any  thing,  to  the  fact,  that  when 
he  had  any  good  things  to  sell,  he  was  not  afraid 
to  advertise  them  well. 

Mr.  James  Daniels,  also,  has  retired  from  the 
Seed  business,  and  intends  devoting  his  entire  at- 
tention to  his  Greenhouses.  His  establishment 
will  be  continued  by  two  enterprising  young  men, 
under  the  firm  of  Norman  &  Little.  We  hope 
they  will  be  successful,  in  not  only  retaining  the 
old  customers  of  the  business,  but  in  adding  many 
new  ones. 


Curious  Errors. — It  is  often  a  matter  of  as- 
tonishment to  us,  how  little  other  countries  know 
of  America,  or  things  in  it,  when  sources  of  infor- 
mation are  almost  innumerable ;  and  Brother 
Prince  is  almost  excusable  for  charging  them  with 
'  wrapping  themselves  in  a  mantle  of  intellectual 
exclusiveness. '  It  is  amusing  to  read  in  the  gene- 
ral English  news,  how  names  and  localities  are 
strangely  mixed  up  and  confused  in  reference  to 
occurrences ;  and  in  our  own  department,  the  Ken- 
tucky Coffee,  a  leading  English  authority  recently 
told  its  readers,  is  the  Pinclmeya  pithens.  Another 
l)aper,  whose  Editor  had  seen  Persimmons  for  sale 
in  our  markets,  tells  its  readers,  that  '  applrii,  al- 
ready roasted,  are  sold  by  the  peck  in  the  markets 
of  America. 


Propagating  Thorns,  kc—Mrs.  J.  E.  Taylor- 
ville,  Ills. — "Will  you  please  inform  me  through 
your  Monthly : — First,  Whether  the  Evergreen 
Thorn  can  be  easily  grown  from  seed ;  and  if  so, 
when  is  the  time  to  plant  it,  and  what  soil  does  it 
like  best?  a ) 

Second,    Does  it   bear    transplanting    well? 
Should  it  be  done  in  Fall  or  Spring  ?C2j 

Third,  In  taking  up  some  Pajonies  last  spring  a 
number  of  large  roots  were  broken  off,  and  left  in 
the  ground  ;  in  digging  the  same  bed  this  fall, 
I  found  them  perfectly  sound,  with  what  seemed 
to  be  a  callous  over  the  end  that  had  been  broken, 
and  a  number  of  fibrous  roots  on  the  other  end  ; 
would  they  have  grown  and  made  Pfeonia  plants?.3(  j 

Fourth,  Does  the  Convallaria.  or  Lily  of  the  Val- 
ley, have  a  bulbous  or  fibrous  root  ?  {4) 


1^ 


'^^^- 


_rBB 


54 


Slh^  ^Hnkncr's  (Ponthlg. 


Fifth,  When  is  the  best  time  to  make  cuttings 
of  the  Perpetual  roses?  (o) 

SLvth,  Can  Clematis  viticella  be  grown  from  cut- 
tings? (6) 

By  answering  the  above  questions  you  will  great- 
ly oblige  one  who  has  been  a  subscriber  and  reader 
of  the  Monthly y  for  four  years  past. 

[1.  Evergreen  Thorn  (Cratayus  pyracantha)  ii' 
the  seed  be  sown  in  spring,  will  germinate  the  fol- 
lowing year.  The  best  way  to  propagate  it  is  by 
layers  :  if  the  young  shoots  are  notched  in  July, 
and  covered  with  soil,  they  will  root  well  the  same 
season.  The  seed  will  gi'ow  in  any  common  garden 
soil. 

2.  It  may  be  transplanted  cither  in  early  winter, 
or  in  spring.  It  is  not  difficult  to  grow,  but  should 
always  be  well  pruned  at  transplanting. 

3.  The  pieces  of  Paeonia  roots  will  remain  for 
years  in  the  condition  you  name ;  and  curiously 
enough,  will  never  make  plants. 

4.  Convallarias  have  fleshy  fibrous  roots. 

5.  Just  before  the  wood  ripens  in  fall — about  the 
end  of  October  in  this  latitude. 

G.  Cuttings  taken  off  in  September,  of  two  eyes 
or  more  in  length,  buried  down  so  that  the  top  eye 
is  above  the  ground,  and  protected  from  being 
thawed  out  in  winter,  by  having  a  little  dry  litter 
thrown  over,  usually  root  pretty  well.  One  or  two 
out  of  three  generally  growing.  Florists  usually 
layer  them  as  recommended  for  Evergreen  Thorn.] 


Greenhouse  Plants,  kc—J.  A.,  Paris,  C.  W. 
— "  I  have  a  small  Greenhouse,  where  I  keep 
plants  for  sale.  Last  spring  I  bought  a  Coleus 
Verschaffeltii ;  in  a  few  days  it  appeared  to  damp 
off  in  spite  of  me.  I  bought  another  this  fall,  and 
it  also  gave  up  the  gliost !  What  is  the  matter  ?(1) 

I  bought  some  Azaleas  ;  they  were  small  ones, 
then,  but  they  grew  'beautifully  less,'  until  thej' 
were  almost  gone.  In  the  summer  I  put  them  out 
on  the  north  side  of  a  building  ;  but  it  was  all  of 
no  use,  they  are  gone  !(2) 

Where  can  I  purchase  some  Liquorice  root,  for 
planting  ?C3)  Our  soil  is  a  good  sandy  loam  ;  is  that 
suitable?  We  raise  good  strawberries,  good  wheat, 
barley,  and  apples,  and  are  beginning  to  raise  good 
pears.  Plums  are  very  uncertain  ;  the  curculio  de- 
stroys the  fruit,  and  black-knot  is  killing  all  the 
trees.  Grapes  are  very  uncertain.  I  have  two 
])each  trees,  but  never  get  a  fruit ;  the  cold  winters, 
I  presume,  kill  the  fruit  buds.  This  winter  I  have 
wrapped  up  some  of  the  branches,  in  hopes  that  I 
will  ])re.serve  them.  We  begin  to  look  for  the 
Monthly  as  much  as  for  an  old  friend.     A  severe 


storm  of  eastern  wind  and  sleet,  with  rain  freezing 
as  it  falls,  this  morning  (Dec.  17).' 

[1.  Coleus  Verschaffeltii  will  not  live  over  win- 
ter well  unless  in  a  house  always  above  55°. 

2.  Our  friend  gives  scarcely  enough  of  particu- 
lars to  enable  us  to  guess  what  might  be  the  mat- 
ter. There  should  be  no  trouble  in  growing  Aza- 
leas. Possibly  he  put  them  from  very  small  pots 
into  very  large  ones:  when,  if  a  heavy  rain  came 
on  them,  the  soil  would  sour  and  the  roots  would 
rot. 

3.  We  do  not  know.  Should  be  glad  for  any 
correspondent  to  give  the  desired  information. 


Pear  Seeds— 7.  II.  6^.—"  Is  it  as  well  to  sow 
Pear  seeds  in  the  Fall  or  early  Winter  as  in  the 
Spring,  after  the  ground  has  settled  ?" 

[If  one  can  get  Pear  seed  in  Fall  or  early  Win- 
ter, it  would  be  best  to  sow  it  at  once ;  but  very 
little  is  ever  in  the  market  before  January.  It  ia 
best  to  mix  it  with  slightly  damp  sand,  and  keep 
it  cool — sowing  as  early  in  spring  as  possible.  Some- 
times seed,  if  it  has  become  somewhat  dry,  will 
stay  over  one  season  in  the  ground  and  germinate 
finely  the  following  j'ear.] 


Three  best  Grapes  to  Plant — C.  P.,  Pem, 
in. — Some  of  the  newer  grapes  'promise  well,'  but 
of  the  older  and  proved  kinds.  Concord,  Delaware, 
and  Maxatawney,  will,  we  think,  please  you.  The 
latter,  however,  has  not  yet  so  '  Union  wide'  a  rep- 
utation as  the  other  two. 


Raspberry — A  '  Suhscrihcr,'  Phihdclphii. — 
Mr.  H.  A.  Terry,  Iowa  City,  could  probably  give 
you  the  information. 


1*^ 


Fuchsias  from  Seed — 'Patience,''  New  Tori: — 
Asks  the  best  way  to  proceed  to  raise  Fuchsias 
from  seed.  Many  kinds  are  completely  barren, 
and  though  they  produce  berries  freely,  the  seed  is 
imperfect,  and  will  not  grow.  If  the  seed  is  good, 
it  should  sink  in  water,  if  it  will  not  do  this,  it  is 
worthless,  and  not  worth  trying.  When  you  have 
found  a  variety  that  will  produce  good  seed,  hybrid- 
ization will  bring  on  varied  progeny  ;  this  is  noth- 
ing more  than  applying  the  powdery  substance  from 
the  stamens  of  the  one  flower,  to  the  point  or  justil 
of  the  one  you  would  save  seed  from.  When  the 
berry  is  black,  the  seed  should  be  washed  out,  and 
sown  immediately.  It  grows  very  easily.  Any 
light,  sand.v  soil  suits  it,  coverina:  the  seed  about 
one-sixteenth  of  an  inch,  and  not  letting  the  toil 

Ji^    ^ 


.U) 


:^^ 


M^  (&Mmtf%  cPonthlj. 


55 


under  any  circumstances  become  dry,  or  ever  very 
wet.     The  second  year  they  will  bloom. 


Liquorice  Roots. — ^-I  Wincousm  Correspondent 
asks,  where  they  can  be  had.  We  do  not  find 
them  in  any  catalogue  at  our  command,  and  shall 
be  obliged  by  the  information. 


Supplement  to  Gordon's  Pinetum, London,  1862. 

We  have  only  just  had  an  opportunity  of  exam- 
ining this  work,  and  after  the  experience  of  the 
"  Pinetum,"  can  scarcely  say  we  are  disappointed, 
for,  indeed,  it  is  no  improvement. 

The  first  thing  that  strikes  the  reader  unfavora- 
bly, is  the  sneering  manner  of  his  notices  of  his 
contemporaries  :  Bridges  is  merely  '  a  collector  in 
California. '  Abies  Alcoqueana  is  '  botanical  pedan- 
try,' though  he  says  said  pedantry  is  a  'compliment' 
to  Rutherford  Alcock,  Esq.  Something  is  '  mis- 
named by  one  of  our  great  botanical  advisers. '  Dr. 
Royle  has  a  '  usually  abandoned  style.'  Some  per- 
son not  referred  to  by  name,  is  '  not  over  amiable. ' 
Dr.  Griffith  takes  facts  on  trust ;  and  some  other 
'  drove  botany  to  occupy  the  low  footstool  of  flat- 
tery,'— are  specimens  of  this  unfortunate  disposi- 
tion. 

Nor  are  his  facts  more  happy.  lie  tells  us  the 
Sequoia  gigantea  is  known  in  American  gardens  as 
'  Washingtonia  Americana,'  which  is  not  a  fact. 
It  was  never  known  in  any  American  garden  as 
such,  nor  in  any  thing  American,  but  the  ignorant 
letters  to  the  Eastern  dailj  papers  of  over  patriotic 
Californian  trappers.  Sequoia,  he  says,  is  derived 
from  "sequence  ;"  separated, — when  every  intel- 
ligent man  now  concedes  it  to  be  most  probably  from 
Se-quoi.yah  :  the  great  Cherokee  chief  The  Si- 
berian Arborvitae  is  turned  into  a  Syn.  of  Thuja 
Tartarica,  Lodd ;  but,  unfortunately,  it  prefers  to 
turn  itself  into  T.  occidentalis,  when  raised  by 
Americans  from  seed,  too  frequently  to  give  honor 
to  the  arrangement. 

The  threadbare  story  of  Libocedrus  Craigeana 
being  a  Syn.  of  Thuja  gigantea  of  Kuttall,  is  again 
rehashed  in  this  work  ;  and  Douglass'  error  about 
it  being  found  in  Nootka  Sound,  also  repeated. 
Thuja  ericoides,  of  gardens,  with  its  two  leaved  fo- 
liation, whatever  it  may  be,  cannot  be  Iletinospora 
ericoides,  as  here  stated,  which  has  a  trifoliate  ar- 
rangement. 

Rcezel's  Pines  are  nearly  all  wrong,  and  in  this  he 
may  be  somewhat  near  right.     Pinus  Australis,  he 


says,  the  settlers  in  the  Northern  States  call  Red 
Pine,  and  Pitch  Pine;  when  they  know  nothing  of 
it, — Au^^tralis  being  unknown  north  of  the  Caroli- 
nas.  Thuja  japonica,  of  gardens,  if  justly  to  be 
classed  as  a  variety  of  the  Chinese  Arborvitae,  must 
be  a  very  different  plant  to  the  Thuja  japonica  of 
American  gardens.  The  Black  and  Red  American 
Spruces  are  spoken  of  as  distinct  species,  when  they 
can  barely  be  distinguished  as  the  slightest  of  va- 
rieties. Abies  Mertensiana,  we  are  told,  is  found 
abundantly  in  the  Oregon  country,  which  we  should 
very  much  doubt,  even  were  there  no  other  error 
in  Gordon.  Abies  Pattoni,  with  leaves,as  broad  as 
a  Balm  of  Gilead,  we  are  told  is  the  same  as  Wil- 
liamsoni,  which  looks  more  like  a  Hemlock  Spruce. 
Abies  Brunoniana,  'is  quite  hardy,'  may  deceive 
American  readers  :  it  will  be  killed  easily  by  10° 
below  freezing  point,  according  to  an  American 
made  thermometer. 

Independent  of  these,  and  many  other  absolute 
errors,  it  is  hard  to  understand  what  Mr.  Gordon 
means  by  a  species,  or  by  a  variety.  That  it  comes 
'  true  from  seeds,'  would  make  a  White  Carrot  or 
Radish  a  different  species  from  the  Red  ones, — yet 
this  seems  to  be  the  best  foundation  for  many  of 
his  divisions.  In  other  cases  the  differences  seem 
to  be  in  the  mere  change  of  expression  in  the  terms 
he  uses.  For  instance,  Picea  grandis,  he  tells  us, 
is  fearfully  mixed  up.  There  appears  to  be  but 
one  original  genuine  one  in  England.'  The  kind 
generally  known  as  such,  totally  different ;  and  pro- 
ceeding to  rename  it  P.  Lowiana,  he  thus  describes 
them  : 


Picea  grandis. 

Lenvs  arranged  horizontally 
ia  double  rows  ua  each  side  ou 
short  twisted  footstalks. 

Scales  rounded  on  the  expos- 
ed liart,  incurved  at  the  edges, 
downy  externally. 

Bracttas  hidden  by  the  scales. 


Picea  Lowiana. 

Leaves  arran^red  in  two  hori- 
zontal rows  on  each  side,  more 
or  less  twisted  at  the  liase. 

Scales  rounded  on  the  outer- 
side,  incurved  at   the  margins, 
woolly  on  the  exposed  parts 
Bract  (as  dorsal  I  y  placed  at  the 
base  of  the  scales. 


and  so  on.  If  there  be  any  great  difference  in  these 
two  Pines,  so-called,  it  cannot  be  made  out  by  the 
description. 

In  the  matter  of  synonyms,  we  should  judge  our 
author  had  been  paid  by  the  hundred  for  hunting 
them  up.  Every  mistake  made  by  a  reputable 
writer,  no  matter  how  evident  the  mistake  may  be, 
is  made  into  a  respectable  synonym  ;  and  the  at- 
tempts at  learnedness  made  in  tenth-rate  cata- 
logues, of  which  probably  not  one  man  in  ten  thou- 
sand who  reads  Gordon's  book  would  ever  have 
heard  of  otherwise,  are  duly  recorded.  Judging  by 
the  names,  and  by  the  instance  of  "  Washingtonia 
Americana,"  there  is  no  knowing  how  many  Welsh 
Cabbage  gardens,  or  Scotch  Window  sills,  are  re- 


56 


2PItf[  iardtner's  (Ponthlj. 


m 


ferred  to  under  the  mysterious  '' Ilort.  BriC  as 
authority  for  the  synonyms  given  ;  and  on  the 
whole,  we  are  sorry  to  say,  that  when  we  looked  up 
the  supplement,  as  we  did  the  original  Pioetum, 
feeling  that  there  was  considerable  confusion  among 
the  Pine  tribe ;  we  laid  it  down  with  the  painful 
feeling  that  the  confusion  was  worse  confounded, 
and  that  Mr.  Gordon  had  better  have  left  it  alone. 


Landretli  &  Son,  Philadelphia.  Ptural  Register 
for  1864. 

Buuit  &  Son,  Philadelphia.  Almanac  and  Guide 
Book. 

IT.  A.  Drcer,  Philadelphia.  Yegetuble  and 
Field  Seeds. 


Fl 


Proceedings  of  the  Philadelphia  Academy 
OF  Natural  Sciences  for  December,  1863. 
In  this  issue,  our  esteemed  friend,  Mr.  Durand, 
has  a  paper  on  the  "American  Tea  Plant,"  (Cean- 
othus  amencamis),  going  to  prove  that  it  is  not  the 
Chinese  Tea  Plant  (Thea  vlridis).  We  are  not  sure 
that  such  papers  do  credit  to  the  proceedings  of 
such  a  distinguished  society.  It  seems  like  a  scien- 
tific argument  on  the  question  whether  the  "moon 
is  made  of  green  cheese."  Imagine  the  Linnscan 
Society  of  London  publishing  a  memoir  to  prove 
that  the  Orange  does  not  grow  wild  on  the  York- 
shire hills  ;  or,  the  French  Academy,  that  the 
Pine-apple  is  not  found  wild  on  the  mountains  of 
Normandy.  As  a  very  valuable  essay,  tending  to 
disabuse  the  public  mind,  of  what  we  regard  as  lit- 
tle less  than  a  bold  attempt  at  fraud,  it  would  have 
been  in  place  in  the  public  prints, — but  not  at  all 
so,  to  our  mind,  in  these  transactions. 

catalogues. 

Gmrqe  Baher,  Toledo,  0.  Descriptive  Cata- 
logue of  68  pages. 

Peter  Henderson,  Jersey  City,  N.  J.  Spring 
Catalogue  of  New  Plants, 

Francis  Parhnan,  Boston,  Mass.  Hardy  Orna- 
mental Plants;  one  of  the  most  interesting  we 
have  seen. 

John  Saul.  Washington,  D.  C.  Fruit,  Ever- 
greens, &c.,  wholesale. 

Lindlei/  S  IL'uks,  Bridgeport,  Ct.     Selected  list. 

W.  Patrick,  Terre  Haute,  lud.  Fruit  and  Or- 
namentals. 

J.  M.  Price,  Wallingford,  Pa.  Fruit  and  Or- 
namentals. 

Prince  d^  Co..  Flushing.     Herbaceous  Poeonies. 

C.  F.  Erliard,  Ravenswood,  L.  I.  Wholesale  list. 

.7.  Best,  Utica,  N.  Y.     Small  Fruits. 

Kenton  &  Mercer,  Harrison,  N.  J.     Fruits,  &c. 

I.  H.  Adams,  Middletown,  Ind.     Fruits,  &c. 

E.  A.  Bauman,  Morrisania,  N.  Y.  Trees, 
Shrubs,  &c. 

.7.  M.  Tliorlurn  &  Co.,  New  York.  Spring  list 
of  Seeds,  &c. 


New  Pyrethrums. — Those  of  our  readers  who 
seek  amusement  or  instruction  in  our  advertising 
columns,  will  doubtless  have  observed  a  few  weeks 
since,  the  announcement,  by  Mr.  Salter,  of  an  Ex- 
hibition of  Pyrethrums.  The  race  of  Pyrethrunis 
to  which  this  announcement  referred,  and  which 
comes  from  the  stock  indifferently  called  Pyrethrum 
Carneum  or  roseum,  is  a  new  garden  flower,  which 
promises  to  rival,  if  it  does  not  excel,  such  subjects 
as  the  Phlox  and  the  Pent^temon,  having  more- 
over the  advantage  of  blooming  at  an  earlier 
period. 

The  parent  plant  is  tolerably  well-known  as  a 
hardy  herbaceous  perennial,  with  finely  cut  almost 
fern-like  leaves,  and  large  daisy-shaped  flower- 
heads  with  a  broad  spreading  ray  of  pale  pink  or 
rose  color.  That  it  should  have  given  lise  to  a  new 
race  of  ornamental  border  plants  with  "double" 
flowers  no  one  would  have  dreamed  a  few  years 
since  ;  and  yet  as  its  sisters,  the  Chrysanthemum 
and  the  Feverfew,  have  shown  themselves  to  be 
sportive  maidens,  ever  and  anon  putting  on  double 
faces,  it  is  not  to  be  much  wondered  at  that  Sister 
Carneum  should  follow  in  their  wake. 

The  first  change — a  sport  in  color — as  we  learn 
from  Mr.  Salter,  took  place  about  1853;  and  for 
following  this,  us  cultivators  are  indchted  to  the 
indefiitigable  hybridizer,  the  late  M.  Tiiemistere. 
In  1858  the  first  semi-double  Anemone-flowered 
variety  was  obtained,  since  which  the  progress  has 
been  so  rapid  that  at  the  present  time,  what  with 
singles,  semi-doubles,  reflexed  doubles,  and  Ane- 
mones, there  are  something  like  fifty  or  sixty 
named  varieties,  among  which  there  occurs  a  con- 
siderable amount  of  diversity  of  color.  Here  then 
is  a  new  subject  rapidly  developing  into  what  is 
called  a  florist's  flower. 

This  being  so,  it  behooves  us,  while  the  character 
of  the  flower  is,  as  it  were,  being  moulded  to  our 
desires,  to  determine  what  is  the  most  perfect 
character  that  can  be  given  to  it.  It  seems 
to  us  that  the  nearly-related  show.  Chrysan- 
themum will  afford  the  requisite  model.  Setting 
aside  the  mere  singles  and  demi-doubles  as  border 


:==^^ 


flowers — and  very  showy  border  flowers  too  they 
are — we  have  remaining  the  Anemones  and  re- 
flexed  doubles  as  the  highest  points  severally 
attained  in  two  diff"erent  directions.  From  these 
must  be  moulded  more  perfect  Anemones  and  more 
perfect  doubles,  the  latter  being  the  more  impor- 
tant class  of  the  two.  At  present  this  latter  group 
yields  us  only  varieties  with  reflexed  florets.  We 
must  go  on  seeding  and  selecting  from  these  till 
we  get  the  florets  arranged  with  perfect  regularity, 
and  the  flower  heads  nearly  globular  in  form,  not 
less  than  two-thirds  of  a  ball  being  accepted  as 
perfection.  From  these  in  due  time  we  shall  no 
doubt  obtain  sports  with  incurved  florets,  and  then 
these  must  be  seeded,  selected  and  perfected  in  the 
same  way.  So  will  these  Pyrethrums,  viewed  as 
florist's  flowers,  be  rapidly  converted  into  an  inter- 
esting and  novel  group  of  early  summer-blooming 
pet  plants. 

But  they  are  not  flowers  for  florists  only.  They 
are  gay,  showj',  ornamental  subjects  for  the  garden, 
flowering  abundantly  from  the  middle  of  May  to 
the  end  of  June,  and  again  less  vigorously  from 
side  shoots  in  August  and  September.  It  so 
happens  that  the  singles  and  semi-doubles,  from 
being  taller  in  growth  are  the  more  suitable  for 
the  least  pretentious  positions,  as  shrubbery  borders 
and  such-like  places,  while  the  choicer  double 
sorts  are  better  fitted  for  beds  and  the  more  dressy 
parts  of  the  garden.  The  average  height  of  the 
double  varieties  is  from  twelve  to  eighteen  inches, 
that  of  the  single  kinds  a  couple  of  feet. 

This  showy  Pyrethrum  has  one  especial  good 
quality,  namely,  that  it  will  flourish  almost  any- 
where. For  high  cultivation,  however,  the  most 
suitable  treatment  is  to  plant  them  in  good  rich 
loamy  earth,  in  an  open  situation  ;  and  being  her- 
baceous they  can  be  propagated  with  every  ficility 
by  division.  This,  according  to  Mr.  Salter's  expe- 
rience, is  best  done  in  February  or  March,  though 
it  may  be  effected  in  July  after  the  first  flowering  is 
over.  Seeds  may  be  sown  either  in  August  or  in 
early  spring,  and  the  seedlings,  if  duly  encouraged, 
generally  flower  the  first  year. 

In  order  to  give  our  readers  some  idea  of  the 
nature  and  extent  of  the  materials  which  are  at 
present  available,  we  append  the  following  list  of 
the  better  sorts,  which  as  been  kindly  handed  to  us 
by  Mr.  Salter,  by  whom  those  marked  (S)  have 
been  raised : 

DOUBLE  VARIETIES. 

Album  plenum,  white  ;  Boule  Rose,  rosy  blush  ; 
Candidum  plenum,  white;  Carneum  plenum, 
blush ;    Charles  Baltet,   bright  rose ;    Comte   de 


^ 


Montbrun,  rosy  lilac  ;  Delicatum,CSj)French  white; 
Floribundum  plenum,  bright  rose  ;  Fulgens  plenis- 
simum,  dark  red  ;  Galathee,  light  rose  ;  Gustave 
Heitz,  bronzy  rose  ;  Hendersonii,  dark  red  ;  Her- 
man Stcnger,  rose,  ranunculus-formed ;  Iverya- 
num  (S)  very  large  rosy  red,  ranunculus-formed; 
Lysias,  {S)  dark  rosy  red,  Madame  Fourcade, 
white;  M.  Bonamy,  creamy  white;  Mr.  Dix.  [S) 
bright  rose,  very  large  ;  Mrs.  Dix,  (S)  blush  white; 
Pink  Pet,  rose  pink;  Princess  Alexandra,  fS) 
large  pure  white  ;  Purple  Prince,  CS)  dark  red 
purple  ;  Purpurum  plenum,  red  purple ;  Roseum 
album, rS)  rose,  with  white  centre;  Roseum  plenum, 
rose  lilac;  Striatum  plenum,  (S)  rose,  flaked  with 
whste ;  Themis,  rose  carmine ;  Thomas  Massart, 
rosy  buff";  Versailles  Defiance,  CS)  rose,  ranunculus- 
formed  ;  Vilmorin,  rose  ;  Wilhelm  Kramper,  rose, 
ranunculus-formed. 

SINGLE  VARIETIES. 

Duchesse  de  Brabant,  rose  ;  Gloire  de  Nimy, 
red  ;  Kleinholtz,  crimson  ;  Milleri,  peach  ;  Pilnce 
Alfred,  [8)  bright  red,  very  large  ;  Puncesse  Char- 
lotte, rosy  red  ;  Tom  Pouce,  red,  very  dwarf 

Even  ordinary  mixtures  of  this  flower,  such  as 
may  be  obtained  from  sowing  a  packet  of  mixed 
seeds,  produce  beds  of  very  gay  looking  flowers,  as 
we  have  on  more  than  one  occasion  witnessed  du- 
ring the  present  season.  We  may  also  mention 
that  a  group  of  some  of  the  earlier  varieties  of 
these  Pyrethrums  will  be  found  in  the  Illustrated 
Bouquet.  —  Gardener  s  Citron  icle. 

Variegated  Hemlock,— In  a  hedge  of  Hem- 
locks on  the  grounds  of  Dr.  E.  S.  Kelley,  at  New- 
buryport,  Mass.,  is  a  variety  with  beautiful  silvery, 
variegated  leaves.  If  it  could  be  propagated  and 
disseminated,  it  would  be  a  very  handsome  addition 
to  our  ornamental  grounds. 


Chrysanthemum  coronarium.  Dwarf  Yel- 
low.— This  new  variety  is  of  a  low  habit,  forming 
a  thick,  branchy  bush,  about  15  inches  high,  on  20 
to  24  inches  in  diameter,  and  produces  on  this  re- 
duced space  about  as  many  flowers  as  the  old  vari- 
ety on  its  much  larger  plants.  As  a  bedding  and 
border  plant,  this  new  Chrysanthemum  will  soon 
be  a  favorite,  and  reconquer  the  place  which  the 
tall  variety  seems  to  have  been  obliged  to  give  up 
to  other  plants,  more  in  consequence  of  its  ancient- 
ness  than  for  the  superiority  of  the  merits  of  its 
younger  competitors. 


Abies  Bridgel — A  correspondent  of  the  Lon- 
don Gardener  s  Chronicle,  writing  from  the  Pacific 

— — ^jm    ^ 

> Jig 


58 


^j)C  ©arhncffi  lili^irf^te 


coast,  says  :— "In  the  course  of  the  daj',  1  made  a 
very  agreeable  discovery  in  the  examination  of  what 
I  thought  the  Abies  canadensis  of  the  Atlantic 
slope  ;  but  which  I  found  represented  by  a  species 
which  may  be  little  known  in  England.  It  has 
only  been  recently  described  by  my  friend  Dr.  Al- 
bert Kellogg,  Secretary  of  the  Californian  Acade- 
my, in  their  Transactions,  vol.  ii.,  p.  8,  under  the 
name  of  Abies  Bridgei.  I  will  send  you  plenty  of 
it  later  in  the  season.  It  is  a  tree  80  to  100  feet 
in  height,  of  dark  verdure  and  graceful  appearance. 
The  branchlets  are  very  villous,  slender  and  droop- 
ing. The  timber  is  said  to  be  firmer,  finer,  and 
straighter-grained  than  the  Canadian  Hemlock 
Spruce,  which  it  represents  on  the  Pacific  coast. 
It  is  certainly  closely  allied  to  A.  canadensis,  but  I 
believe,  with  Kellogg,  that  it  is  distinct.  Even  the 
Canadian  woodsmen,  who  are  very  apt  to  forget 
that  similarity  is  not  identity,  and  apply  'old  coun- 
try' names  to  any  thing  at  all  resembling  what  they 
are  familiar  with  in  Canada  or  Maine,  recognize  it. ' ' 

Helipterum  Satjifordil— a  very  pretty  dwarf, 
tufted,  bright  yellow  Everlasting,  quite  distinct 
from  any  other  in  gardens,  and  of  easy  manage- 
ment. 


though  having  handsome  leaves,  and  contrasting 
well  with  the  Ancectochili,  it  can  hardly  be  consid- 
ered as  equalling  them  in  beauty. 


Sph^ralcea  acerifolia.  —  A  sub-shrubby 
Malvaceous  plant,  apparently  of  moderate  stature, 
having  cordate  five  or  seven-lobed  leaves,  and  nume- 
rous flowers  of  a  delicate  rose  color,  crowded  along 
the  upper  part  of  the  stems  ;  it  is  a  rather  showy 
plant,  and  probably  hardy,  being  found  in  British 
Columbia,  and  the  north-western  regions  of  America. 


GODETIA   RUBICUNDA   SPLENBENS.— The    Gode- 

tia  rubicunda  is  one  of  our  best  annuals  and  a  gen- 
eral favorite  with  amateurs  of  fine  flowers.  The 
new  variety  diifers  from  its  senior  by  its  purple 
stain  in  the  centre,  which  is  larger  and  of  a  much 
brighter  color,  being  thus  more  showy  and  produ- 
cing a  much  greater  eff'ect. 

We  do  not  doubt  that  the  new  variety  which  has 
proved  during  two  years'  cultivation  quite  perma- 
nent, will  supersede  the  old  as  soon  as  it  is  suffi- 
ciently known. 

Rose  Mrs.  William  Paul.-— Was  raised  by  M. 
Verdier,  is  one  of  the  flnest  of  the  present  year ;  a 
thick-petaled  cupped  flower,  of  an  intensely  deep 
shaded  crimson,  with  fiery  scarlet  in  the  centre  ; 
radiant  and  beautiful  as  Mr.  Radclyfi'e  puts   it. 


Eranthemum  tuberculatum.— a  '  very  flori- 
bund,'  slender  branched  shrub  of  dwarf  bushy  ha- 
bit, having  small  opposite  broadly  elliptic  or  obo- 
vate  obtuse  leaves,  tuberculated  branches,  and  very 
copious  white  flowers  with  a  long  slender  tube,  and 
a  five  lobed  spreading  somewhat  two-lipjied  limb  ; 
it  is  an  Australasian  plant,  introduced  by  Sir  Daniel 
Cooper,  and  recently  flowered  by  Mr.  Veitch. 


Microstylts  discolor. — A  terrestrial  Cingha- 
lese  orchid,  with  short  stems,  each  bearing  about 
four  ovate  oblong  leaves  of  a  rich  purple,  some- 
times edged  with  green,  plaited  longitudinally,  and 
much  crisped  at  the  margin  ;  the  minute  flowers  in 
a  narrow  spike,  yellow,  changing  in  age  to  deep  or- 
ange. Sir  W.  Hooker  observes  that  it  may  be 
reckoned  among  the  most  lovely  of  terrestrial  or- 
chids,  ranking  with  Anoectochilus  setaceus;  but. 


HlBISCUUS      IIUEGELII     QUINQUEVULNERA. — A 

handsome  Swan  River  shrub,  of  erect  habit,  with 
deeply  five-lobed  leaves,  having  the  segments  also 
deeply  sinuato-lobate,  and  large  rosy  flowers,  like 
those  of  an  Althea  frutex,  each  petal  being  marked 
at  its  base  by  a  deep  blood-red  spot.  H.  Wrayoe, 
and  H.  grossulariocfolius  are  now  considered  mere 
forms  of  H.  Huegelii. 

Ceropegia  Bowkeri. — A  very  singular  Cafi"ra- 
rian  Asclepiadaceous  i)lant,  with  a  depressed  glo- 
bose tuber,  and  a  few  erect  simple  stems,  with 
narrow  linear  leaves,  bearing  in  the  uper  axils  sol- 
itary flowers,  of  remarkable  form  and  color,  the 
corolla  tube  being  cjdindrical,  dilated  and  globose 
at  the  base  and  summit,  and  its  segments,  linear- 
oblong,  narrow  at  the  base,  fringed  at  the  margin, 
yellow  with  green  blotches,  and  remarkably  reflex- 
ed  so  as  almost  to  hide  the  greater  part  of  the  tube, 
but  exposing  its  brown-stained  bluntly  five-spurred 
orifice. 


Lifting  the  Roots  of  Vines  and  Renew- 
ing THE  Border.— When  this  operation  is  com- 
menced, its  completion  should  be  accomplished 
with  as  little  delay  as  possible.  It  is,  therefore, 
necessary  to  have  in  readiness,  before  the  old 
border  is  interfered  with,  the  amount  of  material 
that  shall  be  needed  for  drainage  and  for  the  for- 


^==;^^ 


niation  of  the  new  border.  When  the  subsoil  is 
clay,  it  is  alwa^'S  advisable  to  concrete  the  bottom 
before  the  draining  material  is  laid  on, and  gravel 
and  lime  should  be  included  in  the  mixture.  A 
main  drain  should  run  parallel  with  and  at  the  ex- 
treme front  of  the  border,  and  cross  drains  from  the 
front  of  the  vinery  should  run  into  the  main  drain 
at  intervals  of  6  feet,  and,  of  course,  a  good  outlet 
should  be  secured  for  the  whole.  Four-inch-tile 
drains  will  be  sufficient.  These,  with  as  many 
brickbats  or  small  stones  as  will  form  a  layer  one 
foot  deep  all  over  the  bottom,  and  a  few  barrow- 
loads  of  coarse  gravel  with  the  sand  sifted  out  of  it, 
to  blend  with  the  brickbats  or  stones,  will  be  all 
that  is  required  for  the  formation  of  the  site  on 
which  the  border  is  to  rest. 

The  border  itself,  to  be  what  is  considered  of  first- 
rate  quality,  should  consist  of  friable  turfy  loam 
taken  from  an  old  pasture  to  the  depth  of  4  inches, 
herbage  included.  To  eight  cartloads  of  loam  add 
two  of  mortar  rubbish,  one  of  horse-droppings,  and 
4  cwt.  of  inch  bones.  As  our  correspondent,  'C.V.' 
has  charcoal  at  command,  he  may  substitute  it  for 
the  mortar  rubbish,  or  a  cartload  of  each  may  be 
added  instead  of  the  two  of  mortar  alone.  The 
loam  should  be  chopped  up  with  a  spade,  and  the 
whole  thoroughly  mix'^d  together  and  protected 
from  rain  in  a  place  close  at  hand  till  it  be  re- 
quired. 

Though  such  a  compost  as  this  is  recommended, 
I  am  far  from  desiring  to  lead  the  inexperienced  to 
suppose  that  grape-growing  is  not  to  be  attempted, 
or  that  the  roots  of  vines  are  to  be  left  undisturbed 
in  cold,  wet  borders  till  they  can  command  such  a 
border  to  the  very  letter  as  has  been  described. 
The  nearer  they  approach  to  it,  however,  the  bet- 
ter. If,  for  instance,  the  loam  at  command  is 
heavier  than  that  which  deserves  the  name  of 
friable  or  turfy,  then  more  mortar  rubbish  or  char- 
coal, or  both,  should  be  applied  ;  and  when  the 
two  latter  cannot  be  had,  a  third  of  the  soil,  itself 
may  be  charred,  or  even  burned,  an  expedient 
which  I  have  frequently  had  to  adopt  myself. 
Even  where  nothing  in  the  shape  of  turf  from  an 
old  pasture  can  be  had,  very  good  grapes  can  be 
grown  with  moderately  light  common  garden  soil 
having  the  same  amount  of  the  other  ingredients 
mixed  with  it,  or  more  or  less  of  them,  just  in  pro- 
portion as  the  soil  is  stiff  and  likely  to  become  con- 
solidated, or  the  reverse.  Any  composition  that  is 
free  and  open,  and  moderately  enriched  with  ma- 
nure, produces  very  good  grapes,  and  no  discour- 
agement should  be  thrown  in  the  way  of  any  one 
who  can  form  his  border  of  such,  when  that  which 


is  considered  best  cannot  be  more  closely  imitated. 
An  amateur  friend  near  here  has  done  wonders  with 
a  border  of  little  more  than  black  sand  close  to  the 
sea.  Too  much  water  about  the  roots  was  next  to 
impossible,  from  the  nature  of  the  soil,  and  the 
secret  of  his  success  lay  mainly  in  rich  top-dressing. 

Supposing,  then,  that  the  time  for  lifting  the 
vines  has  arrived,  which,  as  has  already  been 
stated,  in  the  case  of  vines  that  can  be  cleared  ot 
their  crop  before  they  become  dormant,  is  early  in 
autumn.  But  when  the  reverse  of  this  is  the  case, 
and  the  crop  is  a  late  one,  the  operation  is  to  be 
performed  in  spring  in  preference  to  winter.  In  as 
far  as  the  operation  of  lifting  the  roots  is  concerned, 
the  time  of  doing  it  makes  no  difference,  although 
in  several  points  the  after  treatment  required  at 
the  different  seasons  varies  considerably,  and  will, 
therefore,  be  separately  referred  to. 

The  first  thing  that  must  be  done  i^  to  remove  the 
whole  of  the  inert  surfoce  soil  down  to  the  roots  of 
the  vines.  Then  a  trench  should  be  taken  out 
along  the  front  of  the  border  deep  enough  to  be 
below  the  roots.  The  removal  of  the  whole  soil 
should  then  be  effected  with  as  little  injury  to  the 
roots  as  possible.  Every  rootlet  that  can  be  saved 
will  contribute  its  own  share  toward  the  success 
that  is  to  follow.  After  the  trench  is  opened,  the 
soil  must  be  gradually  and  carefully  worked  away 
from  the  face,  and  the  trench  should  be  constantly 
cleared  of  the  loose  soil.  There  are  no  better  tools 
for  this  purpose  than  a  four-pronged  steel  fork, 
and  a  sharp-pointed  piece  of  hardwood  stake.  Any 
attempt  that  may  be  made  to  hurry  forward  such 
an  operation  as  this  is  sure  to  be  attended  with  a 
corresponding  injury  to  the  roots.  No  large  slices 
of  the  border  must  be  taken  off  at  a  time,  but  it 
must  be  gradually  picked,  forked,  and  crumbled 
away.  Yet  the  operation  should  be  completed 
as  quickly  as  it  can  be  done,  so  that  the  roots 
should  be  as  short  a  time  as  possible  out  of  the 
ground.  Therefore,  as  many  hands  as  can  work 
without  being  in  each  other's  way  should  be  em- 
ployed. 

As  soon  as  the  roots  are  all  liberated,  they  should 
be  covered  up  car.efully  with  damp  moss  and  mats, 
to  prevent  their  suffering  from  the  weather,  till  the 
new  border  is  ready  for  them. 

[To  he  contiuned.] 


Early  Flowering  Annuals. —  Sweet  Alys- 
sum.  Campanula  Lorei,  Clarkia  pulchella?;ar.  Tom 
Thumb,  C.  alba,  Gilia  bicolor  and  tricolor,  Euchari- 
dium  grandifloruin,  Crvpsophila  muralis,  Collir.sia 
atrorubens,  bicolor,   bartsioefolia  and   bartsiajfolia 


^C) 


-^^ 


60 


£[j^  ^arhittr's  Ulcitfljlj. 


alba,  Escholtzia  Californica,  and  crocea  alba, 
Silene  pendula  and  alba,  Limnanthe  grandiflora 
and  alba,  Lupinus  nanus  and  nanus  alba,  Nenio- 
pliila  insignis  niaculata,  Nolana  atriplicifolia,  alba 
and  paradoxa,  Venus'  Looking-glass,  Leptosiphon 
aureus  aud  densiflorus,  Candytuft,  and  Erjsimum 
Peroffskianum.  These,  with  many  more,  bloom 
early.  March  is  the  best  time  to  move  them, 
though  we  have  found  very  little  difference  between 
those  moved  in  October  or  the  beginning  of  No- 
vember, and  those  transplanted  in  March.  The 
grand  secret  is  to  lift  them  with  balls,  and  to  dis- 
turb the  roots  as  little  as  possible.  All  transplant 
well  with  balls  of  earth  attached  to  them.  —  Cottage 
Gardener. 


The  Tree  Carnation.  —The  cultivation  requir- 
ed to  have  the  tree  Carnation  in  perfection  must 
be,  of  course,  different  from  that  ordinarily  pursued 
with  the  florists'  varieties.  They  ought  not  to  be 
allowed  to  flower  the  first  year ;  but  when  the 
plants  are  received  from  the  nursery,  they  should 
be  at  once,  if  well  rooted,  placed  in  the  blooming- 
pots.  These  should  be  about  6  or  eight  inches  in 
diameter.  The  tops  should  be  pinched  off  in  order 
to  encourage  them  to  throw  out  shoots  ;  but,  at  the 
same  time,  no  shoots  should  be  allowed  to  come 
out  low  down  the  stem,  the  growth  being  encouraged 
on  the  head  of  the  plant,  while  no  flower  stems 
should  be  allowed  to  rise.  They  may  be  placed  du- 
ring the  spring  and  summer  months  in  a  cool  and 
airy  situation,  and  when  they  have  obtained  their 
growth,  may  be  placed  out  of  doors,  but  sheltered 
from  very  heavy  rains,  which  are  always  injurious 
to  plants  in  pots  :  they  will  then  form  their  flower- 
stems  and  bloom  buds.  Water  should  be  carefully 
ai)plied,  the  plants  never  being  allowed  to  flag;  and 
then,  when  there  is  appearance  of  frost— say  in  Oc- 
tober, they  should  be  brought  into  the  house. 

The  soil  in  which  they  delight  is  a  rich  and  fri- 
able one,  but  not  too  much  manured,  as  this  is  apt 
to  cause  the  color  to  run.  Loam  about  one-half, 
leaf  mould  and  old  manures  one-fourth  each,  with 
the  addition  of  some  sand,  form  a,  very  excellent 
mixture,  in  which  they  will  be  sure  to  thrive. — Ih. 


Hollies  prom  Seed.— Hollies  are  jusually  raised 
from  berries  ;  They  are  kept  in  the  rot-heap  for  a 
year,  then  sown  in  beds  of  rich  sandy  loam.  They 
also  come  from  cuttings,  but  are  difficult  to  strike, 
and  need  five  years'  growth  to  make  plants  of  them. 
Rhododendrons  may  be  increased  by  seed,  layers, 
ami  cuttings.  In  the  month  of  May,  scoop  out  a 
little  hollow  under  a  branch  suitably  placed  for  lay- 


ering, and  fill  it  with  sandy  peat  or  half-rotted  moss 
well  chopped  up  with  silver-sand,  bend  the  joint 
down,  fix  it  with  a  hooked  stake,  so  that  there  will 
be  no  fighting  with  it  after  the  branch  is  cut. 
Then  loosen  it  from  the  peg,  and  with  a  sharp 
knife  cut  half  through  the  stem  and  upwards  an 
inch  and  a  half  toward  the  top  of  the  shoot,  taking 
care  to  leave  sufficient  wood  and  bark  on  the  side 
not  cut  to  maintain  the  branch  in  health.  Insert  a 
small  pebble  or  slip  of  wood  to  keep  the  incision 
open  ;  bend  a  branch  down  again,  and  bring  the 
head  of  it  upright  or  nearly  so,  without  breaking  it 
at  the  cut  part,  and  fix  it  firmly  under  the  hook  to 
the  stake.  Press  the  peat  firmly  about  the  tongue, 
and  lay  a  bunch  of  moss  over,  with  a  stone  or  tile 
to  iirevent  it  being  blown  away,  and  leave  the  rest 
to  nature.  The  branch  will  not  be  sufficiently 
rooted  for  removal  for  a  year,  when  it  may  be  cut 
away  and  carefully  planted,  with  others  similarly 
treated,  in  a  nursery-bed  of  peat,  and  well  supplied 
with  water. — Gardeners   Weekly. 


The  PtUSSiAN  Violet. — To  those  who  have  to 
furnish  a  boudoir  or  drawing-room  with  scented 
flowers  during  the  dull  months  of  November  and 
December,  this  kind  of  Violet  is  invaluable.  Man- 
aged in  the  way  I  describe,  it  flowers  here  more  or 
less  the  whole  year  round.  In  May  I  prepare  a 
l)iece  of  ground  for  it  at  the  foot  of  a  south  wall ; 
1  take  off  all  the  strongest  runners  and  plant  them 
in  rows  1.')  inches  apart  and  about  10  inches  asunder 
in  the  row;  I  prepare  a  compost  consisting  of  equal 
parts  of  sand,  loam,  and  well  rotted  leaf-mould, 
and  in  this  I  plant  the  runners.  No  more  atten- 
tion is  required  except  shading  them  for  a  few  days 
until  they  become  rooted ;  should  the  summer 
prove  dry,  they  will  be  benefited  by  copious  wa- 
tering, and  if  the  weather  should  be  boisterous  and 
wet  in  October,  an  old  spare  light  may  be  put  over 
them,  tilting  it  on  bricks  at  the  corners.  This  will 
prevent  the  blooms  from  being  damaged. — Gard. 
Chronicle. 


Rhododendron  Seed.— Sow  in  February,  in 
shallow  pans,  in  sandy  peat,  on  a  moist  dungheap. 
Keep  close  till  large  enough  to  handle  ;  then  prick 
them  out,  three  or  four  round  the  sides  of  five-inch 
pots,  in  similar  soil,  and  keep  close  and  warm  till 
they  start  again.  As  they  begin  to  touch  each 
other,  pot  them  singly,  and  give  greenhouse  culture 
till  the  next  spring,  when  they  should  be  put  out 
in  a  shady  place  till  October,  and  then  wintered  in 
pits,  till  large  enough  to  plant  in  nursery  rows  for 
blooming. 


^r?5V3L 


S^Ii^  hardener's  (Ploiithlg. 


PENNSYLVANIA  HORT.  SOCIETY. 

MONTHLY   DISPLAY,    DECEMBER   STH,    1SC3. 

It  is  pleasant  to  record  the  increasing  attention 
given  to  tasteful  arrangement  in  making  up  bou- 
quets and  baskets  of  cut  flowers.  The  first  premium 
Table  Design,  from  F.  O'Keefe,  gardener  to  Mr. 
Jos.  Harrison,  was  very  commendable.  W.  Joyce, 
gardener  to  ex-President  Baldwin,  obtained  the 
first  premium  for  Basket  of  Cut  Flowers.  The  best 
Hand  Bouquets,  E.  Satterthwait.  Best  Hanging 
Basket,  from  Mr.  Harrison's  gardener.  Some 
splendid  pots  of  Anoectochilus,  a  premium  of  one 
dollar  to  the  same.  T.  Meghran,  gardener  to  Gi- 
rard  College,  had  a  special  premium  for  a  fine 
Basket  of  Cut  Flowers.and  another  special  premium 
for  a  j'ellow-fruited  Egg-plant,  in  a  pot,  which  the 
committee  thought  very  ornamental. 

The  Fruit  Committee  reported  :  First  premium 
for  Foreign  Grapes,  3  bunches,  to  W.  Joyce,  gar- 
dener to  M.  W.  Baldwin — Palestine  variety ;  the 
onl}'  ones  on  exhibition.  Best  6  varieties  of  Pears, 
J.  McLaughlin,  gardener  to  I.  B.  Baxter — they 
were  Reading,  Niles,  Solda,  Laboreur,  Belle  An- 
gevine,  Triomphe  de  Jodoigne,  Winter  Bon  Chre- 
tien. Apples,  best  12  varieties,  to  S.  W.  Noble — 
they  were  Fornwalder,  Northern  Spy,  Baldwin, 
Ridge  Pippin,  Smith's  Cider,  Autumn  Pearmain, 
Jonathan,  Rawle's  Janet,  Pennock,  Michael  Henry 
Pippin,  Cooper's  Redling,  Roxbury  Russet.  The 
committee  especially  noticed  a  fine  dish  of  Glout 
Morceau  pears,  from  A.  L.  Felten,  and  a  special 
premium  of  $2  to  Mr.  Baldwin's  gardener,  for 
some  splendid  Pine-apples. 

The  Vegetable  Committee  awarded  the  first  pre- 
mium for  Celery  to  T.  Meghran,  gardener  to  Gir- 
ard  College ;  and  for  the  best  6  heads  of  Winter 
Lettuce,  to  W.  Joyce,  gardener  to  Mr.  Baldwin, 
and  a  special  premium  of  $5  to  A.  L.  Felten,  for 
a  splendid  collection  of  very  tine  vegetables. 

DISCUSSIONAL    MEETING,    JANUARY    5,    1864. 

Mr.  Charles  V.  Hagner  in  the  chair. 

Mr.  Walter  Elder  presented  the  following  essay 
on    "FRUITS  x\LL  THE  YEAR  ROUND." 

The  first  garden  I  worked  in  was  a  Fruit  Market 
garden,  and  a  succession  was  kept  up  all  the  year 
round.  Strawberries  were  first,  beginning  with  the 
Virginia  Scarlet,  and  ending  with  Hauthois ;  ta- 
king two  months.  Gooseberries  followed,  begin- 
ning with  Green  Gaston,  and  ending  with  Red  War- 
riiir/ton ;  lasting  two  months.  Raspberries  of  the 
various  canes  and  Antirerps,  lasted  six  weeks. 
Cherries,  beginning  with  May  Duke  and   ending 


with  Enr/lish  MoreUo,  lasted  two  months.  Apples 
began  in  June,  with  a  small,  sweet-scented  yellow, 
which  I  cannot  now  name,  and  ended  with  Gngar 
Pippin,  which  was  picked  in  December,  and  kept 
until  the  following  August ;  with  the  various  Cod- 
lins,  Pippins,  etc.,  a  constant  ."succession  was  kept 
up.  Pears  began  with  Green  Chisel,  in  July,  and 
ended  with  Moor-fowl  Egrf  and  Swan  Egg ;  gath- 
ered late  in  November  and  kept  until  Green  Chisel 
ripened  the  following  year ;  the  various  collections 
kept  up  a  continual  succession. 

The  winter  keeping  apples  and  pears  were  packed 
in  boxes,  such  as  are  used  for  packing  soap  and 
candles ;  no  box  held  over  a  bushel.  The  boxes 
were  lined  in  the  bottoms  and  .sides  with  soft  mead- 
ow hay,  well  dried.  A  layer  of  fruit  was  alternated 
with  a  thin  layer  of  hay,  and  covered  on  top  with 
hay.  Three  days  after  packing,  the  tops  of  the  boxes 
were  screwed  on,  and  they  were  placed  above  each 
other, — each  variety  of  fruit  by  itself  None  of  the 
boxes  were  over  a  foot  deep;  they  werekeptin  second 
story  rooms,  without  fire,  but  frost  never  reached 
them  ;  the  walls  were  two  feet,  of  stone.  None  of 
the  boxes  touched  the  walls,  but  were  placed  three 
inches  off,  so  as  to  guard  against  dampness.  When 
the  boxes  were  opened  to  examine  the  fruits  before 
sending  them  to  the  Fruiterer's,  it  was  very  rare 
that  a  rotten  one  was  found  :  the  dry  hay  absorbed 
all  sweat  and  moisture  which  the  fruits  gave  out, 
without  becoming  damp  itself 

I  will  now  tell  you  what  I  have  done,  and  what 
I  know  that  several  others  have  done.  With  three 
glass  graperies  we  have  produced  ripe  foreign 
grapes  eight  months  in  the  year.  Set  the  first 
house  to  work  early  in  January,  and  by  good  man- 
agement grapes  are  ripe  in  April ;  and  a  various 
collection  will  continue  to  ripen  for  ten  weeks.  The 
second  house,  set  to  work  the  middle  of  March, 
will  come  in  to  succeed  the  first.  The  third,  or 
cold  grapery,  will  succed  the  second,  and  will  con- 
tinue with  ripe  fruit  until  Christmas.  These 
grapes,  grown  in  the  confined  and  moist  air  of  glass 
houses,  will  not  keep  long  after  being  gathered ; 
but  if  large  ventilation  is  given,  and  the  air  is  kept 
from  the  time  the  fruit  is  half  colored,  and  the 
fruit  is  gathered  a  week  before  it  is  ripe,  or  when 
it  begins  to  shrivel,  and  packed  in  shallow  boxes 
with  soft  hay  or  even  dried  bran,  or  any  other  ma- 
terial that  will  absorb  all  the  moisture  the  fruits 
give  off,  they  will  keep  sound  several  months ;  and 
in  this  way  grapes  can  be  had  'all  the  year  round. ' 

Next,  in  the  forcing  department,  is  the  Orchard 
House,  with  a  well  selected  collection  of  varieties 
and  good  management,  tree  fruits  are  produced  for 

■ — xxr 


-^C)" 


t  §mt\mtxB  Jflonfljtj, 


three  months  in  succession  ;  and  these  being  suc- 
ceeded with  tree  fruits  grown  in  the  open  ground, 
fresh  picked  fruits  are  had  eight  months  in  the 
year.  I  am  an  advocate  for  growing  all  the  trees 
in  pots  in  Orchard  Houses,  as  they  can  be  carried 
out  when  the  weather  gets  warm,  to  ripen  their 
fruits  or  mature  and  harden  their  wood.  Apricots, 
Peaches,  and  Nectarines  are  the  best  kinds  to  force; 
and  these  are  much  grown  on  inside  borders  of 
shed-roofed  graperies,  and  trained  upon  the  back 
walls.  The  varieties  of  apricots  and  nectarines  are 
not  numerous,  but  peaches  are  of  many  varieties  ; 
we  may  begin  with  the  Earit/  York,  and  end  with 
Late  Heath,  and  the  other  varieties  succeeding 
each  other  between  them,  a  long  succession  is  ob- 
tained without  extra  care. 

The  Pinery  comes  next,  and  ripens  its  fruits  in 
long  succession  ;  and  no  kinds  of  fruit  are  more 
delightful.  The  Pinery  needs  a  great  quantity  of 
fuel,  as  the  temperature  must  be  kept  high  to  in- 
sure success ;  the  fruit  is  more  costly  on  that  ac- 
count. The  Pine-apple  is  the  golden-cased  jewel 
among  fruits. 

Strawberries  may  be  had  ripe  a  month  before 
their  natural  time,  by  setting  them  a  foot  apart  in 
beds  five  or  six  feet  broad  in  spring,  and  let  the 
runners  make  all  the  plants  they  can  ;  keep  them 
free  of  weeds,  and  in  November  set  shallow  hotbed 
frames  upon  the  beds;  sink  them  a  few  inches  in 
the  ground,  and  bank  up  the  outside  a  few  inches, 
so  as  to  keep  off  cold  bottom  air.  In  December 
cover  the  plants  with  tree  leaves  or  clean  straw, 
three  inches  thick.  Do  not  cover  them  with  hay, 
as  it  contains  many  seeds  of  weeds.  In  March  re- 
move the  covering,  and  put  glass  sashes  upon  the 
frames,  and  give  air  on  warm  days,  the  same  as 
with  hotbeds.  Pull  out  all  weeds  as  they  appear, 
and  the  fruit  will  be  ripe  a  month  earlier  than  its 
kind  out-doors.  Three  frames,  of  three  sashes 
each,  six  feet  long  and  forty  inches  wide,  with  a 
different  variety  in  each  frame,  to  succeed  each 
other,  they  will  produce  ripe  fruit  until  those  in 
the  open  garden  come  on  to  succeed  them.  (The 
treatment  will  also  produce  early  asparagus.)  Mel- 
ons can  be  had  ripe  the  year  round  in  hotbeds  ;  but 
it  needs  a  skillful  gardener  to  grow  them  in  winter. 

Let  us  now  attend  to  hardy  fruits,  grown  in  the 
open  ground.  The  Strawberry  takes  the  lead  for 
earliness.  Plant  four  or  six  varieties,  from  earliest 
to  latest,  and  a  succession  will  be  long  kept  up  ;  or 
where  one  or  two  varieties  only  are  grown,  plant  a 
portion  of  them  in  a  warm  sunny  place,  and  anoth- 
er portion  in  a  cool  place. 

The  Raspberry  comes  next,  and  the  many  choice 


varieties,  ripening  at  different  times,  keep  a  long 
succession.  Plant  four  kinds  to  succeed  each  other  ; 
or,  grow  the  same  kinds  in  warm  and  cold  spots, 
as  in  that  way  the  same  variety  will  keep  up  a  suc- 
cession a  fortnight  longer. 

Gooseberries  and  Blackberries  may  also  be  had 
in  succession.  The  surest  plan,  and  that  which 
gives  least  trouble  to  keep  up  a  long  succession 
of  any  one  kind  of  fruit,  is  to  grow  several  varie- 
ties that  will  naturally  succeed  each  other. 

The  Currant  has  but  few  varieties,  and  to  have 
a  long  succession  of  ripe  fruit,  plant  some  in  a  warm, 
sunny  spot,  and  others  in  a  cool,  partially  shaded 
one,  and  the  latter  will  succeed  the  former. 

Of  Native  Grapes  there  are  many  varieties,  some 
a  month  earlier  than  others.  Plant  several  varie- 
ties, from  earliest  to  latest,  to  succeed  each  other. 
The  fruit  ripened  in  dry  seasons  will  keep  some 
months  if  packed  in  the  manner  we  have  advised 
for  foreign  grapes. 

Of  tree  fruits.  Cherries  come  first,  and  there  are 
many  varieties  that  ripen  at  different  times,  begin- 
ning with  31aij  Dnhe,  and  ending  with  English 
MoreUo,  which  give  a  succession  of  from  six  to 
eight  weeks. 

Apricots,  during  July  and  August ;  Peaches, 
from  August  to  December,  and  Plums  in  their  sea- 
son, for  from  two  to  three  months,  give  an  abun- 
dant succession  of  the  most  delicious  fruit. 

The  Apple  has  such  a  muUiitlicity  of  varieties 
that  ripe  fruit  can  be  taken  off  the  <rees  from  July 
to  December,  and  many  of  the  winter  kinds  keep 
sound  till  apples  come  again  :  Earhf  Harvest  ripens 
in  July,  and  the  green  Newtown  Pippin  will  keep 
sound  until  the  former  comes  again. 

The  Pear,  with  its  multitude  of  varieties,  gives 
us  ripe  fruit  '  all  the  year  round.'  Like  the  apple, 
we  can  pick  ripe  fruit  off  the  trees  from  July  until 
December  ;  and  the  fruit  keeps  sound  till  pears 
ripen  again.  There  is  no  fruit,  of  our  climate,  so  de- 
licious as  a  real  well-ripened  pear ;  and  a  dozen 
varieties  will  give  us  ripe  fruit  twelve  months. 
Bloodgood  is  one  of  the  earliest,  aud  Winter  Nelis 
one  of  the  latest. 

Nuts  are  not  so  much  cultivated  as  they  should 
be.  Filberts  are  among  the  earliest.  Chestnuts, 
Walnuts,  Butter  Nuts,  Shellbarks,  Beechnuts,  &:c. , 
are  all  good  fruits,  and  the  trees  are  all  ornamental ; 
indeed  the  gathering  and  husking  of  the  various 
nuts,  forms  a  mirthful  amusement. 

In  the  keeping  of  fruits,  we  should  study  the 
philosophy  of  their  ripening.  After  being  formed, 
they  continue  increasing  their  size,  until  they  lose 
the  power  of  extension — when  a  change  takes  place 


■^ET- 


mu  (Sarkntr's  |Hoiith%. 


in  tlieir  constituents.  Wliile  increasing  in  size, 
their  constituents  are  all  air,  water  and  fibre.  Un- 
pleasant to  the  taste  and  unwholesome  to  eat. 
But  when  they  lose  the  power  of  enlargement, 
wood  and  sugar  form  an  increase,  and  so  corrode  the 
other  matter  as  to  make  them  delicious  and  whole- 
some. Wood  hardens  and  matures  the  seed,  while 
sugar  gives  sweetness  and  mellowness  to  the  pulp, 
until  the  fruit  is  ripe.  While  the  change  is  going 
on,  the  fruit  is  constantly  evaporating  Cgiving  out 
moisture)  and  the  plant  continues  supplying  it  with 
sap,  to  keep  up  its  natural  moisture  until  it  is  ripe, 
and  if  left  upon  the  plant  after  that,  it  loses  mois- 
ture by  evaporation,  and  becomes  dry  and  mealy. 
But  if  picked  before  it  is  fully  ripe,  and  packed 
closely  from  the  eiFects  of  light  and  air,  it  ceases  to 
evaporate  in  a  few  days,  and  retains  its  natural 
juiciness.  Sugar  increases  a  little  longer,  and 
the  fruit  becomes  sweeter  and  better  flavored,  than 
if  left  to  ripen  upon  the  plant.  Of  course,  the  pro- 
cess is  slower  in  hard  fruit,  and  quicker  in  soft 
watery  fruits.  But  the  cooler  the  ten)i)erature,  in 
which  the  fruit  is  kept,  the  longer  they  will  keep 
from  decay  ;  but  they  should  never  get  frosted,  and 
should  never  get  damp.  But  the  failures  in  keep- 
ing apples  and  pears,  niay  be  as  much  owing  to  the 
state  of  the  fruit  when  gathered,  as  in  wrong  pack- 
ing or  improper  temperatures.  Pick  the  fruit  be- 
fore they  are  ripe,  pack  so  as  to  exclude  light  and 
air.     Keep  cool,  but  free  from  frost  and  damp. 

The  hinderances  to  a  continued  succession  of  tree 
fruit  and  grapes,  may  be  briefly  summed  up  in  this 
way.  Where  the  plants  are  growing,  they  are  con- 
tinually evaporating  ;  and  while  the  soil  is  moist, 
the  roots  not  only  supply  the  evaporation,  but  en- 
large the  fruit,  and  make  new  shoots  also.  But 
dui'ing  a  long  drought  in  hot  weather,  the  evapo- 
ration from  both  plants  and  soil  is  excessive,  the 
roots  cannot  get  moisture  to  supply  the  evaporation 
of  the  plants,  and  vegetation  stops.  Grrapes  mould 
or  shrivel,  plums  rot,  pears  crack  and  apples  are 
small.  If  a  spell  of  wet,  warm  weather. succeeds  a 
drought,  the  plants  revive  and  take  up  much  mois- 
ture, part  of  which,  goes  into  the  fruit,  just  when 
woody  and  sugary  matters  have  half  done  their 
maturing  work,  and  causes  a  derangement.  Grapes 
continue  green,  and  so  do  the  young  shoots  of  the 
vines.  The  grapes  never  color,  and  are  destitute 
of  sweetness  and  flavor.  Apples  and  pears  begin 
to  rot  first  at  the  core,  and  the  decomposition 
sooner  or  later  consumes  the  whole  fruit.  When 
they  become  a  mass  of  corruption,  and  much  of  the 
fruit  appear  sound,  outwardly,  to  the  last :  such 
fruit  would  not  long  keep  up  a  succession.     I  have 


always  observed,  that  trees  and  vines  growing  upon 
sod,  were  less  aff"ected  by  a  wet  spell,  and  their 
fruit  less  injured,  than  when  growing  upon  culti- 
vated lands.  The  reason  I  attribute  that  to  is,  the 
grass  takes  the  first  benefit  of  the  rains,  and  the 
trees  and  vines  get  less,  and  a  reaction  in  growth  is 
slower  ;  and  even  in  droughts,  the  grass  greatly  re- 
tards evaporation  of  moisture  from  the  soil,  and 
has  a  strong  attraction  for  night  dews.  Trees  and 
vines  growing  upon  rolling  lands  are  seldom  affected 
injuriously  by  a  wet  spell ;  and,  again,  fruit  trees  and 
vines,  sheltered  by  belts  and  groves  of  forest  trees, 
are  less  injuriously  affected  by  droughts,  as  the 
drying  winds  are  tamed  before  they  reach  them, 
and  evaporation  is  less  excessive,  and  night  dews 
fall  heavier  in  the  shelter.  Underdraining  flat,  co- 
hesive soil,  has  also  a  beneficial  effect  on  fruits. 

I  had  almost  neglected  to  state,  that  without  the 
proper  application  of  the  Science  of  Pruning,  tree 
fruits  and  grapes  of  really  good  qualities  cannot  be 
obtained.  Some  persons  carefully  prepare  their 
soils  by  deep  tillage  and  manures,  and  purchase  the 
choicest  varieties  of  fruit,  have  them  skillfully 
planted  and  otherwise  cared  for;  but  they  think 
no  knowledge  is  needed  to  cut  off  the  branch  of  a 
tree  or  a  shoot  of  a  vine ;  so  with  knife  and  saw 
they  do  it  themselves,  or  get  inexperienced  persons 
to  do  it,  and  never  see  until  it  is  too  late,  that  they 
have  been  doing  an  irreparable  injury. 

The  discussion  which  followed  turned  mainly  on 
the  preservation  and  ripening  of  fruits. 

The  Chairman  had  preserved  Isabella  grapes  in 
the  saw-dust  used  in  packing  Malaga  grapes,  and 
always  with  success.  Packed  in  bran  they  spoiled 
in  ten  days,  The  particles  of  flour  in  the  bran  ex- 
cite fermentation. 

Mr.  Harrison — Has  tried  various  substances  for 
keeping  fruits,  such  as  saw-dust,  bran,  sand,  char- 
coal, chaff,  &c.  All  absorboit  muteruih  are  worth- 
less for  the  purpose.  Pine  saw-dust  communicates 
a  smell  and  taste  of  turpentine  ;  that  of  mahogany 
is  the  least  objectionable.  Cork  dust  is  the  best 
possible  material,  being  dry,  non-absorbent  and  not 
fermentable. 

Mr.  Schaffer — A  friend  packed  his  crop  of  Law- 
rence pears  in  wheat  chaflP  last  winter  and  lost  them 
all.  This  year  put  them  in  barrels  with  no  packing 
material  whatever,  and  they  have  kept  well. 

Mr.  Hays — At  the  north  grapes  are  packed  be- 
tween layers  of  paper  and  kept  till  March. 

Mr.  Schaffer  differed  from  the  P^ssayist  as  to 
picking  fruit  before  it  is  ripe.  Thinks  most  kinds  of 
pears  should  ripen  on  the  tree. 


i 


Mr.  Satterthwait — The  Bloodgood  is  by  no  moans 
the  earliest,  nor  is  the  Winter  Nelis  the  latest  pear. 
The  use  of  bran  for  packing  fruit  is  not  advisable. 
Has  come  to  the  conclusion  that  most  pears  ripen 
on  the  tree. 

Mr.  Harrison — The  maturity  and  ripening  of 
fruits  are  not  synonymous  terms.  The  latter  is  the 
first  stage  of  decay.  Most  pears,  well  matured  on 
the  tree,  ripen  best  in  the  house,  yet  there  is  a 
great  difference  in  this  respect.  The  Seckel  ripens 
best  on  the  tree,  the  Des  Nonnes  equally  well  on 
the  tree,  or  liouse  ripened,  the  d'Aremberg  and  all 
winter  pears,  indeed  all  astringent  pears,  must  be 
ripened  in  the  house. 

Mr.  Satterthwait — What  advantage  is  there  in 
packing  material  ?  It  is  only  neccessary  to  keep 
fruits  dry  and  cool.  Grapes  might  require  a  layer 
of  paper. 

Mr.  Harrison — Perishable  fruits  require  some 
material  to  pack  in  for  transportation  long  distances. 
For  ripening  them  none  is  required. 

Mr.  Schaffer — The  very  best  way,  is  to  pack 
them  in  barrels,  fruit  in  contact  with  fruit.  They 
keep  better  thus,  and  retain  a  higher  flavor. 

Mr.  Meghran  described  a  method  of  pitting 
fruits  in  the  open  ground.  A  hole  was  dug,  a 
large  flower  pot  put  in  the  bottom,  the  fruit  placed 
in  it,  surrounded  with  hay,  and  a  stove  pipe  three 
feet  below  ground,  and  one  foot  above,  for  ventil- 
ation. This  was  closed  in  very  cold  weather. 
Easter  Beurre  pears  thus  treated  kept  until  April. 

IMr.  Satterthwait — Here  is  danger  of  mice  har- 
boring in  the  hay  and  destroying  the  fruit.  If 
earth  be  put  in  contact  with  it,  an  earthy  flavor  is 
imparted. 

Mr.  Hays — The  Essayist  speaks  of  draught  as 
injurious  to  fruits.  Now  in  my  experience,  the 
drier  the  season  the  better  for  grapes.  The 
finest  I  ever  saw  were  grown  in  a  very  dry  season, 
and  never  found  any  of  them  to  wilt.  Deep  culture 
and  good  preparation  of  the  soil  is  all  important. 

Mr.  Satterthwait — Drought,  except  in  the  case 
of  young  trees  or  vines,  does  not  effect  the  fruit 
injuriously. 

The  Chairman — In  the  cholera  season  of  1832,  a 
gentleman  of  Norfolk,  Va. ,  had  a  fine  crop  of  Isa- 
bella grapes,  which  he  removed  from  the  vines  and 
buried  in  the  ground,  fearing  to  let  them  be  eaten. 
In  the  Spring  they  were  exhumed  perfectly  sound. 

]VIr.  Satterthwait — Apples  keep  in  the  ground, 
like  turnips,  but  have  a  slightly  earthy  taste. 
What  is  wanted,  to  preserve  fruit,  is  a  dry  place, 
free  from  draughts  of  air,  and  a  cool  equal  tem- 
perature- 


Mr.  Harrison — A  fruit-grower  near  Hari'isburg, 
who  sends  tons  of  Isabella  grapes  to  Baltimore  in 
winter,  showed  me  samples  at  the  meeting  of  the 
Fruit-Growers'  Society,  in  February  last.  Wlien 
perfectly  ripe,  the  bunches  are  laid  upon  aboard  in 
a  cool  and  airy  shed  until  entirely  dry,  then  packed 
in  paper  boxes  in  two  laj^ers  with  paper  between. 

Mr.  Satterthwait — It  is  very  important  that  the 
fruit  be  perfect  as  well  as  ripe  ;  all  green  besides 
should  be  removed  from  the  bunch. 

Mr.  Schaffer — Last  year  packed  some  of  my  fruit 
in  leaves  on  the  ground,  well  protected  from  the 
frost;  they  kept  and  ripened  well.  Last  October 
received  from  Mr.  Satterthwait  some  Easter  Beurre 
pears,  and  packed  them  in  the  same  way.  They 
are  still  green  and  hard.  Keep  all  my  winter  fruit 
out  till  hard  frost,  then  house  it. 

Mr.  Satterthwait — Last  fall  found  some  Belle 
Lucrative  on  the  ground,  covered  by  rhubarb  leaves, 
a  month  after  the  others  were  gone,  which  ripened 
well.  Fruits  can  be  hastened  or  retarded  in  ripen- 
ing by  a  change  of  temperature. 

Mr.  Harrison — Pears  forced  in  rii)ening  are  often 
mealy  and  tasteless.  Each  fruit  has  its  natural 
season,  and  this  it  should  be  allowed  to  attain. 

Mr.  Satterthwait — What  is  the  natural  season 
of  a  fruit?  My  pears  ripen  much  earlier  than  Mr. 
Schaffer' s.  Most  of  the  winter  pears  ripen  very 
early  in  a  cold  closet,  where  the  temperature  aver- 
ages about  50°.  All  of  the  fruit  is  from  very  young 
trees.  The  Vicar  proves  worthless  as  a  dessert  pear. 

Mr.  Petitt  presented  very  handsome  specimens 
of  the  Niles  pear,  which  had  been  kept  on  matting 
in  a  cool  dark  closet,  where  they  ripen  until  Feb- 
ruary. These  were  grown  upon  the  original  tree, 
now  standing  in  his  yard.  No.  1518  Chestnut  St. 
The  fruit  was  large,  fair,  bright  lemon  yellow,  sweet 
and  excellent.  Being  gathered  rather  too  early 
they  were  somewhat  withered,  and  not  as  juicy  and 
tender  as  when  allowed  to  mature  thoroughly  on 
the  tree. 


HAMPDEN  CO.HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 

At  the  Third  Annual  Meeting,  held  at  Spring- 
field, Ma.ss. ,  the  19th  ult.,  the  following  ofiicers 
were  elected  for  the  ensuing  year : 

President — J.  B.  Stebbins,  Springfield. 

Vice-Presidents — Dr.  T.  L.  Chapman 
meadow ;  Geo.  E.  Howard  and  W.  L. 
Springfield. 

Secretemj — J.  E.  Taylor,  Springfield. 

Jreasurcr — Gurdon  Biil,  Springfield. 


Long- 
Smith, 


DS VOTED     TO 


f iriiiEir^,  ^pkriruItuFP,  Jpoleng  %  liiira!  2£ffeirE, 


THOMAS     MEEHAlSr,    Editor. 

W.   G.   P.   BIlI]^^CKIJOE,POBLlSHER. 


MAECH.     1864. 


VOL,  VI. — isro.  3. 


PLOWEIS-GARDEIJ    AND 
GROUND. 


pleasure- 


As  soon  as  the  frost  is  thoroughly  out  of  the 
ground,  and  -while  the  surface  is  j-et  soft,  lawns 
should  have  a  thorough  rolling,  which  will  not  onlj' 
tend  to  level  the  surface,  but  also  press  into  the 
earth  the  roots  of  any  finer  grasses  that  the  frost 
may  have  drawn  out.  Lawns  frequently  become 
coarse,  by  this  operation  of  the  winter  season.  If 
the  grass  is  poor  and  thin,  a  top-dressing  of  guano 
and  salt  may  be  applied  before  the  rolling.  Stable 
manure  injures  fine  lawns  by  introducing  coarse 
weeds.  Soot  or  wood-ashes  are  excellent  for  giving 
lawns  a  fine  green  color.  In  making  new  lawns  a 
deep  soil  is  very  important.  In  shallow  soils  the 
soil  soon  dries  in  hot  summers,  and  the  lawn  be- 
comes brown  when  its  green  is  the  most  desirable. 

The  edges  of  walks,  beds  and  borders,  should 
have  their  annual  edging — not  cut  deeply  down 
like  a  wall,  but  as  neatly  and  shallow  as  possible ; 
a  good  eye  is  necessary  to  avoid  harsh  lines ;  and  a 
very  sharp  spade,  or  what  is  better,  an  edging 
iron  made  for  the  purpose,  employed.  "Walks 
should  be  forked  up  with  a  drag  or  fork  hoe,  and 
an  aditional  fine  coat  put  on  the  gravel  where 
needed,  and  then  rolled  over.  The  wetter  the 
gravel,  the  better  for  the  rolling  operation,  provided 
it  is  not  wet  enough  to  adhere  to  the  roller.  It  is 
bad  policy  to  have  more  than  half  an  inch  of  sand 
on  the  stone  bed  of  a  carriage  road,  as  it  cuts  in  too 
deeply  in  wet  or  thawy  weather.  In  foot  walks  it 
is  not  so  important,  as  the  rounding  of  the  centre 
throws  off  the  water  to  the  sides,  and  it  soon  dries 
hard  after  a  rain. 


Where  box  edging  is  employed,  it  often  becomes 
too  large  and  thick  after  having  remained  some 
years  in  one  place — now  is  the  time  to  take  it  up 
and  relay  it.  After  digging  up,  the  lower  roots  are 
cut  off"  with  a  hatchet,  and  the  young  top  shoots 
squared  with  a  sharp  knife.  The  border  is  then 
tramped  hard  and  firm,  made  level  or  plane  on  the 
surface,  a  smooth  cut  down  three  or  four  inches 
into  the  soil,  made  with  a  sharp  spade  along  the 
face  of  a  line  stretched  on  the  surface  for  a  guide, 
and  then  the  box  set  in  with  the  hand,  neat  and 
level,  finishes  the  process.  The  surplus  box  can  be 
sold  or  exchanged  with  the  nurseryman,  or  employed 
elsewhere  in  the  ground.  Laying  of  turf  and 
sodding  should  be  forvfarded  at  the  earliest  oppor- 
tunity after  the  frost  is  out  of  the  ground ;  the 
earlier  it  is  done,  the  better  will  it  be  during  the 
season  following. 

It  used  to  be  the  universal  practice  to  dig  among 
shrubbery  clumps  at  this  season  of  the  year,  "  to 
let  in  the  air  about  the  roots,"  but  a  light  dressing 
of  well  rotted  manure,  raked  in  with  a  coarse  rake 
over  the  surface,  is  now  preferred  by  all  the  prin- 
cipal European  gardeners,  and  will  no  doubt  prove 
as  good  here. 

Nothing  adds  so  much  to  the  beauty  of  a  place 
as  plenty  of  shrubbery.  This  is  the  season  for 
putting  in  cuttings  :  many  kinds  growing  easily  so. 
The  pieces  are  cut  to  about  six  inches  in  length 
usually,  and  inserted  about  two-thirds  of  their 
length  in  the  soil — much  left  out  of  the  ground  ex- 
poses too  great  a  surface  to  the  atmosphere,  and  if 
the  cutting  does  not  dry  up  altogether,  it  is  a  long 
time  rooting. 

Chrysanthemums  are  now  indispensable  for  au- 
tumn decoration  of  the  flower  garden.  Now  is  the 
time  to  procure  a  supply.  They  do  well  in  any 
rich  garden  soil  that  is  not  too  dry.  The  Lillipu- 
tian, or  Pompone  class  are  still  popular  for  conser- 
vatory or  pot  culture,  but  the  large  flowering  kinds 
still  remain  the  gems  of  the  open  ground. 

Hyacinths,  Tulips,  Liliums,  and  other  hardy 
bulbs  set  out  in  the  fall,  and  covered  through  the 


(§>^ 


^^ 


M) 


winter,  should  be  occasionally  examined,  and  when 
they  show  signs  of  active  growth,  must  be  uncov- 
ered ;  in  this  latitude  this  is  not  safe  until  towards 
the  end  of  the  month. 

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

Pseonies,  Dicentras,  and  other  hardy  herbaceous 
plants  that  have  been  two  years  in  one  situation, 
should  be  taken  up,  divided  and  reset  in  new  soil, 
if  the  finest  flowers  are  desired.  There  is  a  growing 
revival  of  the  taste  for  beautiful  herbaceous  plants, 
which  the  Frenchy  fashion  of  growing  a  few  kinds 
in  masses  for  mere  gaudy  display,  had  well  nigh 
annihilated.  Herbaceous  plants  take  a  little  more 
tying  and  fixing  through  the  summer,  but  make  up 
for  it  by  variety  and  peculiar  interest. 

This  is  particularly  the  month  to  pay  attention  to 
the  hardy  annuals.  The  sooner  they  are  sown,  the 
finer  they  will  flower ;  that  is,  provided  they  are 
really  hardy.  Tender  annuals,  such  as  Globe  ama- 
ranthus.  Balsams,  &c.,  rot  if  they  are  sown  before 
the  weather  becomes  quite  warm.  The  seedsmen's 
catalogues  usually  distinguish  these  classes  for  their 
customers.  In  sowing  annuals,  the  soil  should  be 
slightly  stirred  with  a  broad-bladed  knife  or  trowel, 
and  after  the  seeds  are  sown,  they  should  have  a 
little  soil  sprinkled  over  them,  about  one-sixth  of 
an  inch  deep,  according  to  the  size  of  the  seed — 
barely  enough  to  cover  is  all  that  is  required. 
Faihires  usually  arise  from  the  seeds  being  buried 
too  deeply.  Failures  also  frequently  occur  from  the 
soil  with  which  the  speeds  are  covered  being  too 
stiff  or  clayey,  "baking"  after  a  rain.  Light 
sandy  earth  or  decayed  vegetable  loam  from  the 
woods  should  be  employed  for  the  purpose.  Stick 
a  peg  in  where  the  seeds  are  sown,  so  that  when 
turning  out  the  plants  in  May  from  pots,  the  an- 
nuals will  not  be  disturbed.  Also  take  care  to  pre- 
serve the  names  of  the  kinds.  This  is  a  great  part 
of  the  interest  in  a  flower-garden. 

Of  annuals  that  may  be  sown  in  March,  there  are 
some  that  are  so  very  beautiful,  and  which  do  so 
well  generally,  that  they  at  hast  should  be  grown. 
These  are  a/ei«  of  them  :  Cacalia  coceinea.  Core- 
opsis Drummondii,  Erysimum  Peroffskianum,  Es- 


choltzia  Californica,  Malope  grandiflora,  Marvel  of 
Peru,  Nemophila  insignis.  Phlox  Drummondii. 
Mignonette,  Whitlavia  grandiflora,  Clarkia  pul- 
chella,  Gaillardia  picta,  Palafoxia  texana,  Linum 
grandiflorum  rubrum,  Lobelia  gracilis,  White  and 
purple  candytuft,  and  Phacelia  congesta.  Where 
a  hot  bed  can  be  commanded,  many  of  the  tender 
kinds  can  be  forwarded  under  glass. 

Planting  trees  will  require  particular  attention 
now ;  but  do  not  be  in  a  hurry  the  moment  the 
frost  is  out  of  the  ground.  Cold  winds  are  very 
hard  on  newly  set  out  trees.  Wait  till  they  are 
gone.  Always  shorten-in  a  little  the  shoots  of  all 
trees  planted.  They  will  grow  the  faster  for  it. 
and  are  more  certain  to  live.  Evergreens  should 
be  left  to  the  last. 

Herbaceous  plants  do  badly  if  several  years  in 
one  place.  Every  second  year,  at  this  season,  take 
up  and  divide  them.  Sow  as  soon  as  possible  some 
hardy  annuals.  The  earlier  they  are  in  the  ground 
after  the  frost  leaves  it,  the  finer  they  bloom. 

In  laying  out  new  places  of  small  extent,  be 
careful  of  aping  "principles  of  landscape  garden- 
ing" that  are  only  applicable  to  places  of  large 
extent.  Remember  that  everything  we  do  should 
have  a  meaning,  and  that  this  meaning  as  often 
depends  on  the  time  and  circumstances  as  on  any 
real  existence  in  the  principles  themselves.  It  will 
be  a  failure  to  attempt  to  make  a  two  hundred  feet 
square  lot  look  like  a  "  country  place."  It  is  better 
to  make  the  gardening  border  a  little  on  the  arti- 
ficial. In  this,  terraces,  vases  and  architectural 
objects  will  aflP.)rd  much  assistance  ;  and  neatness, 
polish  and  finish  generally,  be  more  pleasing  than 
the  sober  negligence  that  should  characterize  a 
more  quiet  and  extensive  natural  scene. 


FRUIT   GARDEN. 

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

The  Strawberry,  where  it  has  been  covered  during 
the  winter,  should  be  uncovered  as  early  as  possi- 
ble in  spring,  that  the  warm  spring  suns  may  exert 
all  their  influence  on  producing  an  early  crop  ;  as 


-wc" 


-r(p. 


soon  as  growtli  commences,  a  sowing  of  guano  has 
been  found  to  be  of  great  benefit  to  the  crop  of 
fruit. 

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

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

As  we  write,  reports  are  reaching  us  from  the 
Western  States  of  an  almost  total  destruction  of 
peach  and  apricot  buds,  by  the  severe  weather. 
Oar  friends  will  j'et  find  it  to  their  interest  to  take 
"trouble"  with  a  few  trees,  and  train  them  to 
stakes  "  a«  espalier,'^  by  which  they  can  readily  be 
protected  by  branches,  from  the  sun,  which  is  the 
cause  of  the  injury  by  its  shining  on  the  frozen 
buds.  Those  who  have  such  trees  on  boards  or 
fences,  should  take  measures  to  protect  the  flowers 
from  the  warm  mid-da}^  sun. 

The  currant  forms  very  beautiful  objects  trained 
"  a«  espalier j''  and  are  very  convenient  to  protect 
from  birds,  or  to  shelter  from  sun  and  dry  air  when 
it  is  desirable  to  keep  back  the  fruit  until  a  very 
late  period  of  the  season. 


VEGETABLE   GARDEN. 

In  the  hot-bed,  Pepper,  Egg-  plant,  Tomato  and 
Cucumbers  may  be  sown — -and  in  a  cooler  hotbed 
frame.  Early  York  Cabbage,  Cauliflower  and  Celery. 
Those  who  have  not  got  a  hotbed  can  sow  a  few 
pots  or  boxes,  and  keep  them  near  the  light  in  a 
warm  room. 

In  the  open  air.  Peas  and  Potatoes  are  about  the 
first  crops  to  be  attended  to  ;  of  the  former,  the 
varieties  have  now  become  so  numerous  that 
even  ''  new  grapes"  will  soon  have  to  give  waj'  in 
that  respect.  The  difl'erence,  too,  is  so  slight  that 
we  are  in  doubt  whether  yet  to  recommend  to  our 
readers  any  other  as  the  earliest  than  the  Prince 
Albert,  so  long  cultivated,  or  the  "  Extra  Earlies" 
of  our  own  seedsmen.  The  "  Daniel  O'Eourke  " 
has  become  an  early  pea  in  England.  Of  early 
Potatoes,  we  think  Fox's  Seedling  is  the  earliest, 


though  in  some  localities  the  preference  is  given  to 
the  Early  Walnut.  Beets,  the  Early  Six  Weeks 
Turnip  rooted,  is  perhaps  the  earliest.  Carrot,  the 
Early  Horn.  Cucumber,  the  early  White  Spine, 
or  Early  Cluster.  Lettuce,  the  Silesian,  or  Early 
Curled — to  cut  before  heading;  and  the  Early 
Butter  left  to  head,  are  the  first  in  season.  Among 
the  Radishes,  the  Old  Short  Top,  and  Red  and 
White  Turnip  are  still  ahead  ;  and  in  Spinach,  the 
Old  Round  Leaved  ;  so  that  on  the  whole  there 
has  been  little  advance  made  on  early  kinds  of  veg- 
etables. 

In  adition  to  sowing  of  the  above,  Onions,  Leeks, 
Parsnips  and  Parsley  must  be  sown  at  this  season — 
not  for  the  main  crop,  but  to  have  a  few  in  advance 
for  the  rest.  To  keep  over  the  winter,  almost  all 
kinds  of  root  crops  become  tough  or  coarse  if  sown 
too  soon. 

The  Old  Green  Globe  Artichoke,  though  a  deli- 
cious vegetable  when  rightly  cooked,  is  seldom  seen 
in  gardens.  Now  is  the  time  to  make  beds  ;  they 
require  no  peculiar  cultivation  ;  what  would  suit  a 
crop  of  rhubarb,  does  for  this  exactly  ;  and  the 
rhubarb— see  that  your  garden  is  well  supplied  ; 
now  that  it  can  be  dried  like  apples,  and  preserved 
in  so  many  ways,  it  can  be  had  on  the  table  all  the 
year  round. 

The  Hamburg  Parsley  also,  which  has  a  root  like 
a  Parsnip,  is  very  much  valued  by  some.  It  grows 
best  in  rich,  sandy  soil. 

In  the  open  ground  Peas  and  Potatoes  receive 
the  first  attention.  Then  Beets  and  Carrots.  Then 
Lettuce,  Radish,  Spinach,  Onions,  Leeks  and 
Parsley.  Beyond  this,  unless  in  more  fixvored  lati- 
tudes than  Pennsylvania,  little  can  be  done  till  the 
first  week  in  April.  There  is  nothing  gained  in 
working  soil,  until  it  has  become  warm  and  dry. 


GREENHOUSE    PLANTS.    &c. 

Dahlias  should  now  be  brought  forward.  A  good 
plan  is  to  shorten  the  extremity  of  the  roots,  put 
them  in  six  inch  pots  and  place  in  a  warm  green- 
house. In  a  few  weeks  they  will  sprout,  when  they 
should  be  shaken  out,  divided  with  a  piece  of  root 
to  each  sprout  and  separately  potted  in  four  inch 
pots. 

Camellias  will  require  rather  more  water  while 
growing  than  at  other  times.  Just  before  they 
grow  is  a  good  season  to  graft.  Cut  down  the 
stock,  cleft  graft  in  the  crown,  wax,  and  plunge  in 
a  bottom  heat  of  70**.  A  great  many  kinds  may  be 
had  on  one  plant  by  the  bottle  system,  practi.«ed  by 
the  writer's  father,   thirty  years  ago.      A   shoot 


1^^^: 


about  to  grow  is  obtained  and  attached  to  the  stock 
as  in  inarching,  the  end  of  the  shoot  being  put  in  a 
small  phial  of  water  suspended  beneath  it.  This 
plan  does  best,  however,  with  the  young  wood  in 
July. 

Azaleas  succeed  well  by  grafting  with  the  half 
ripe  shoots  of  the  present  season's  growth  on  plants 
raised  either  by  seeds  or  cuttings.  Old  wood  does 
not  take  readily. 

Chrysanthemums  should  now  be  raised  from  cut- 
tings for  fall  flowering.  They  make  better  blooming 
plants  than  off-setts. 

Fuchsias  may  now  be  readily  struck  from  the 
young  growth  from  the  old  plants,  which  will  make 
excellent  blooming  plants  for  the  next  summer 
season. 

Geraniums,  Pelargoniums,  Cinerarias,  and  Chi- 
nese Primroses  must  be  kept  as  near  the  glass  and 
light  as  possible;  they  do  little  good  in  shady 
places.  Keep  off  the  green  Aphis— for  this  on  a 
small  scale  there  is  nothing  like  hot  water,  as  des- 
cribed in  our  last  volume  ;  on  a  large  scale,  tobacco- 
smoke  in  several  successive  light  doses  is  still  the 
best  remedy. 

Auriculas,  Carnations,  Pinks  and  Polyanthus — 
the  prettiest  of  florist's  flowers  must  be  kept  cool, 
just  free  from  frost,  with  plenty  of  air  if  the  best 
results  are  desired. 

New  Holland  and  Cape  plants,  such  as  Epacris, 
Acacia,  Heaths,  etc.,  are  now  the  glory  of  the 
greenhouse  ;  hot  bursts  of  sun  on  them  should  be 
avoided,  as  it  lays  in  them  the  seeds  of  "  consump- 
tion," which  frequently  carries  them  off  the  fol- 
lowing summer. 

Look  out  for  a  good  stock  of  bedding  plants  in 
time  :  by  striking  cuttings  of  such  things  as  grow 
rapidly  and  speedily,  and  sowing  seeds  of  such  an- 
nuals as  may  be  advanced  to  advantage. 

Pansies  are  coming  now  into  flower.  They  like 
an  airy  frame,  where  they  will  not  be  roasted 
at  midday  nor  exposed  to  drying  winds,  and  yet 
have  a  free  circulation  of  air  and  plenty  ot  light. 
Planted  out  in  such  a  frame,  and  the  old  shoots 
cut  away  as  soon  as  the  plant  has  done  flowering, 
the  plants  will  keep  healthy  over  till  the  next 
season. 

Superior  varieties  can  be  raised  from  seed. 
Choose  those  with  the  roundest  petals,  best  colors, 
and  the  first  flowers  that  open,  to  raise  seed  from. 


A  JAPANESE  WORK  ON  HOETICULTURE. 

liY   F.  PARK.MAN,    JAJIAICA  PLAIN,    MASS. 

Dr.  Hall,  who,  during  a  long  residence  ift  Japan, 
collected  and  sent  to  America  many  of  the  most 
remarkable  plants  of  that  country,  has  lately  re- 
ceived a  horticultural  work  in  twenty-five  volumes, 
which  he  has  kindly  given  the  writer  an  oportunity 
of  examining. 

The  volumes  are  thin,  containing  from  eighty  to 
a  hundred  pages,  of  the  form  and  size  of  a  very 
large  octavo.  The  paper  is  of  silk,  and  the  title, 
as  is  the  case  in  various  oriental  languages,  is  at  the 
extreme  right,  instead  of  the  left,  of  the  volume, 
so  the  book,  speaking  from  our  standard,  is  read 
backwards.  The  letter  press,  as  well  as  the  engra- 
vings, seem  to  have  been  struck  off  from  a  plate, 
and  not  from  moveable  types.  The  character  is  in 
the  usual  vertical  columns  of  Japan  and  China. 
There  is  very  little  of  it,  however,  nearly  the  whole 
work  being  occupied  by  the  engravings,  consisting 
chiefly  of  representations  of  an  astonishing  variety 
of  plants,  and  in  number  not  less  than  two  thou- 
sand. A  few  of  the  plates  are  colored  by  hand, 
but  for  the  most  part,  they  are  line  engravings,  ad- 
mirably drawn,  and  perfectly  characterizing  the 
variety.  Many,  however,  are  designated  by  wooden 
or  paper  labels,  represented  as  attached  to  them, 
and  bearing  their  names  in  Japanese  character. 

After  looking  through  these  volumes,  the  con- 
viction is  forced  upon  us  that  the  floral  treasures  of 
Japan  are  far  from  being  exhausted,  and  the  art  of 
horticulture  has  been  there  cultivated  with  a  skill 
and  assiduity  which  has  resulted  in  the  production 
of  an  immense  number  of  seminal  varieties,  full  of 
interest  to  the  horticulturist  if  not  to  the  botanist. 
The  work  seems  to  have  been  issued  as  a  serial,  for 
there  is  but  a  very  partial  attempt  at  systematic 
arrangement,  though  a  few  of  the  volumes  seem 
to  have  a  character  distinctly  botanical,  containing 
representations  of  plants  of  little  interest  in  any 
other  regard,  accompanied  with  colored  dissections 
of  the  vital  organs  and  other  parts  of  the  flower, 

Among  the  genera  represented,  are  Magnolia, 
Rhododendron,  Azalea,  Vaccinium,  SaHsburia, 
Palma,  Aralia,  Sophora,  Ardisia,  Acacia,  with  a 
host  of  herbaceous  plants,  including  many  varieties 
seemingly  new.  But  one  of  the  most  interesting 
and  characteristic  features  of  the  work  is  to  be 
found  in  six  volumes  filled  with  illustrations,  hund- 
reds in  number,  of  variegated  leaved  jDlants,  some  of 


T^^. 


\^i 


them  of  extraordinary  beauty.  Among  the  rest, 
we  observed,  a  variegated-leaved  Hose,  a  variegated 
Passion  Flower,  Saggitaria,  Arundo,  Iris,  Semper- 
vivum,  Dianthus  Ileddewigi,  Arum,  Sauromatum, 
Orchids  of  many  sorts.  Acacias,  all  distinctly  striped, 
spotted,  or  otherwise  marked  upon  stem  and  leaves. 
There  is  also  a  vast  collection  of  variegated  Ca- 
mellias. 

In  another  volume,  fifteen  distinct  sorts  of  Lily 
arc  represented,  several  of  them  new  to  the  writer. 

Another  volume  is  devoted  to  water  plants  and 
Cacti ;  but  one  of  the  most  curious  of  the  whole 
series  is  that  devoted  to  the  instruments  and  ap- 
pliances of  floriculture.  And  here,  more  than 
ever,  we  found  cause  to  lament  that  the  abundant 
notes  and  explanations  in  Japanese,  which  accom- 
pany all  these  plates,  were  worse  than  Greek  to  us. 
No  doubt,  useful  hints  might  be  drawn  from  some 
of  them,  for  no  one  can  examine  these  volumes 
without  being  satisfied  that  the  Japanese  are  adepts 
in  the  arts  of  cultivation.  A  multitude  of  appli- 
ances are  figured  for  shading,  protecting  from  cold, 
and  forcing  by  artificial  heat,  some  of  them  quite 
incomprehensible  without  the  explanation.  There 
is  also  a  multitude  of  flower-pots  and  vases,  of  every 
variety  of  ornamental  device,  together  with  pans 
and  supports  ;  some  of  them  ingenious  and  tasteful 
to  a  high  degree. 

A  volume,  companion  to  the  last,  is  filled  with 
illustrations  of  the  various  methods  of  propagation, 
accompanied  with  copious  descriptions,  causing  us 
more  than  ever  to  lament  the  defects  of  our  Jap- 
anese education.  First,  there  is  propagation  from 
the  single  leaf,  as  modified  in  its  application  to 
different  species  of  plants ;  then  from  cuttings ; 
then  from  layers,  in  many  different  forms ;  then 
from  inarching.  In  the  last  case,  the  plant  to  be 
propagated  is  sometimes  lifted  with  a  ball,  bound 
around  the  roots  with  wet  moss  ai^  matting,  and 
in  this  manner  applied  to  the  stock,  or  a  large 
number  of  stocks  planted  near  together.  The 
book  closes  with  the  grafting  of  coniferae  and  de- 
ciduous trees;  but  strange  to  say,  there  is  no  illus- 
tration of  budding. 


ON    THE    CULTURE    OP    THE    ONION. 

BY   J.  T.   r^KiUXDVILLE,  WIS. 

Your  Minnesota  correspondent,  0.  H.  K.,  ap- 
pears much  perplexed  with  his  onions,  which  per- 
sist in  doing  anything  but  form  good  solid  bulbs,  as 
well  behaved  onion  ])lants  are  expected  to  do. 

Possibly  I  may  aid  in  helping  him  out  of  his 
difficulties.     In  endeavoring  to  raise  the  black-seed 


onion,  as  they  are  called  here,  he  says  he  has 
followed  the  instructions  of  the  Messrs.  Buist,  yet 
his  sets  when  planted  invariably  go  to  seed. 

0.  H.  K.  may  have  noted  the  object  of  sowing 
the  seed  quite  thick,  viz:  "to  prevent  the  bulbs 
attaining  too  large  a  size,"  but  he  probably  did  not 
know  exactly  when  they  were  too  large,  or  what 
would  be  the  matter  if  they  were  too  large  when 
planted,  but  I  apprehend  the  cause  of  his  failure 
with  these  lies  here. 

Mr.  T.  A.  Knight  was  the  first,  I  believe,  to  di- 
rect attention  to  this  mode  of  growing  the  onion. 
His  way  of  raising  the  young  bulbs  was  to  sow  the 
seed  at  the  usual  period  in  spring,  "  very  thickly 
and  on  poor  soli,  generally  under  the  shade  of  a 
fruit  tree.' 

0.  H.  K.  being  directed  to  sow  the  seed  in  the 
ground  "not  over  rich,"  may  have  concluded  that 
there  would  be  no  harm  in  sowing  in  land  in  tole- 
rably good  condition.  Herein  was  probably  his 
first  error.  The  seeds  were  to  be  sown  in  drills, 
and  as  nothing  is  said  about  the  distance  between 
the  drills,  they  may  have  been  too  far  apart,  and 
the  plants  may  have  been  grown  exposed  to  the 
sun  and  not  in  the  shade  ;  these  circumstances  or 
an}'  one  of  them  would  have  a  tendency  to  cause 
the  bulbs  to  grow  too  large,  and  therefore  be  useless 
for  the  purpose  intended.  By  sowing  on  poor  soil 
the  young  plants  have  a  scanty  supply  of  food  to 
begin  with  ;  by  sowing  very  thickly  broadcast,  we 
have  a  sortof  Malthusian  pressure  of  population  on 
subsistence,  the  plants  crowd  each  other  on  every 
side.  By  sowing  in  drills  unless  the  plants  stand  in 
single  file,  the  outside  ones  will  have  a  more  exten- 
sive pasture  for  their  roots,  than  others  less  favor- 
ably situated.  And  besides  the  risk  of  these  being 
too  large,  the  crop  of  bulbs  will  not  be  so  uniform 
in  size  as  when  the  whole  patch  of  plants  stand  at 
about  equal  distance  apart,  and  have  to  share  and 
share  alike.  Then  again,  all  other  things  being 
equal,  a  plant  like  the  onion  can  elaborate  and 
store  up  more  sap  in  direct  sunlight,  than  in  the 
shade  or  with  diffused  light,  and  blossom  buds  will 
be  much  more  likely  to  be  developed  in  the  young 
bulbs  when  growing  in  bright  light  than  when 
grown  in  the  shade.  0.  H.  K.  will  probably  see 
at  once,  that  his  bulbs  blossomed  and  were  useless, 
owing  to  their  being  too  large,  when  I  state  that 
those  raised  by  Mr.  Knight,  as  above  described, 
"  were  rarely  found  much  to  exceed  the  size  of  a 
large  pea." 

As  you  have,  doubtless,  many  readers  not  pro- 
fessional gardeners,  I  may  state  that  the  advantage 
of  the  mode  of  culture,  over  that  usually  practised, 


^1 


^ 


f^^ 


70 


Sth^  ^ardnicr's  (PoniIi% 


(ki 


isowing  to  the  young  bulb  containing  a  much  greater 
quantity  of  previously  generated  sap  than  a  seed, 
and  it  hasagreateramount  of  realised  and  available 
capital  to  start  with  ;  hence,  when  the  two  are 
coniniitted  to  the  soil,  while  the  plant  from  the 
seed  is  a  slender  thread-like  body,  slowly  feeling  its 
way  at  first,  the  bulb  produces  at  the  outset  a 
comparatively  stout  leaf.  This  soon  matures,  and  by 
its  action,  aided  by  sap  previously  stored,  gives  rise 
to  another  and  larger  loaf  By  their  united  action 
a  third  and  still  larger  speedily  follows,  and  so  on 
until  a  time  arrives,  when  instead  of  going  on  form- 
ing leaves  without  end,  the  whole  as  with  one  accord, 
settle  down  steadily  to  the  chief  work  of  their  ex- 
istence, viz  :  to  elaborate  and  store  up  a  quantity 
of  organized  sap  in  the  shape  of  a  bulb,  which  is 
destined  to  per]ietuate  the  species  by  producing 
flowers  and  maturing  seeds  the  following  year. 
The  more  vigorous  growth  of  the  plant  produced 
by  the  bulb,  and  the  greater  breadth  of  leaf  surface 
acquired  early  in  the  season,  are  equivalent  in  their 
effects  to  a  prolonged  season  of  growth  ;  hence,  by 
this  mode  of  culture,  JTr.  Knight  was  able  to  grow 
onions  in  the  comparatively  cold  climate  of  England, 
nearly  equal  in  form  and  size  to  the  fimous  onions 
of  Spain  and  Portugal.  "The  bulbs  he  thus 
raised  often  exceeded  considerably  five  inches  in  di- 
ameter, and  being  more  mature,  they  were  with 
more  certainty  preserved  in  a  state  of  perfect  sound- 
ness, through  the  winter,  than  those  raised  from 
seed  in  a  sincle  season." 

IfO.  H.  K.  should  again  have  young  bulbs  go 
to  seed,  he  may  turn  them  to  some  account  by  des- 
troying the  flowers ;  the  plants  will,  in  the  end, 
form  bulbs,  not  round,  shapely,  saleable  bulbs, 
as  they  would  have  done  if  they  had  not  attempted 
to  blossom,  but  such  as  may  be  made  use  of  in  the 
grower's  own  family.  The  first  experiment  I  ever 
made  with  plants,  was  to  determine  this.  I  had 
begun  to  understand  something  of  the  mysteries  of 
plant  life  ;  that  flowers  and  seeds,  for  instance,  are 
formed  at  the  expense  of  all  other  parts  of  a  plant ; 
that  they  check  rather  than  add  to  the  growth  of  a 
plant,  as  leaves  do  ;  that  the  same  sap  which  gives 
existence  to  and  feeds  flowers  and  seeds,  may,  if 
the  flowers  are  destroj'ed,  add  to  the  growth  of 
bulbs  or  tubers,  or  be  stored  up  in  wood,  and  so'on. 
Well,  I  was  curious  to  prove  this  for  myself,  and 
thought  I  could  not  have  a  better  plant  than  the 
common  onion  for  the  purpose,  as  it  forms  a  bulb 
one  year,  blossoms  and  seeds  next,  and  so  dies.  I 
planted  about  half  a  dozen  onions,  nipped  off  the 
flower  buds  as  soon  as  seen,  tied  up  the  headless 
stems  to  a   string  stretched   between  two  of  my 


nicely  painted  carnation  sticks,  so  that  no  rude  blast 
should  upset  them  and  interfere  with  the  result  of 
my  experiment.  There  being  something  unusual 
in  this,  and  the  utility  of  growing  them  so,  not  very 
apparent,  questions  were  naturally  asked  as  to  the 
object  in  view  ;  and  when  I  said  I  had  nipped  off 
the  flowers  to  see  if  the  plant  would  not  again  form 
bulbs  rather  than  die,  the  incredulous  smile 
which  followed,  told  me  as  i)lain  as  words,  these 
wise  old  folk  (friends  of  my  father)  were  mentally 
exclaiming,  "  how  ever  could  such  a  foolish  notion 
have  got  into  the  lad's  head."  Rather  than  subject 
myself  to  further  annoyance,  by  an  attempt  at  ex- 
planation, I  consoled  myself  with  the  thought  that 
in  the  fullness  of  time,  I  should  be  able  to  show 
them  "  there  was  something  more  in  heaven  and 
earth  than  was  dreamt  of  in  their  philosophy." 
Time  and  again  I  examined  my  ])lants  without  find- 
ing the  expected  bulbs,  until  I  almost  began  to 
despair  as  to  the  result,  when  one  evening  noticing 
two  or  three  of  the  plants  were  changing  color, 
I  knew  bulbs  must  be  formed  then  or  never,  and 
if  a  jet  of  nitrous  oxide  had  issued  from  the  earth, 
as  I  laid  bare  the  bulb  of  the  first  plant  examined, 
it  could  not  have  had  a  more  instantaneous  or  lu- 
dicrous effect.  With  a  loud  "  hurrah  for  science  !" 
away  went  cap  into  the  air,  and  away  I  went  twirl- 
ing round  the  garden  walks  jumping  and  hurrahing 
in  a  perfect  extasy  of  delight.  I  need  scarcely  add 
the  plants  were  taken  up  and  laid  on  the  ground 
where  they  grew,  and  I  am  thinking  they  were 
allowed  to  remain  there  somewhat  longer  than  was 
absolutely  needed,  to  dry  them  for  storing. 

It  would  be  well  if  every  tyro  in  gardening  would 
make  for  himself  a  similar  experiment;  for  a 
knowledge  of  the  effects  of  seed  bearing  is  second 
only  in  the  importance  to  that  of  the  uses  and  func- 
tions of  leaves,  and  1  have  thought  at  times,  when 
reading  the  MontUy  and  other  journals,  that  you 
might  render  a  good  service,  to  some  of  your  rea- 
ders, if  you  were  to  reprint  in  your  columns,  Clement 
Hoare's  observations  on  the  disastrous  effects  of 
over-bearing  on  the  growth  of  the  grape  vine,  and 
on  the  quality  of  its  fruit.  It  is  a  long  time  since 
I  read  his  treatise  on  grape  culture,  but  I  remem- 
ber well,  it  contains  important  facts  and  good  ad- 
vice relating  to  the  matter. 


TREE    PROTECTORS. 

BY  DR.  J.  WEEr),  MUSCATINE,    IOWA. 
We  continue  our  record  of  comparative  tempe- 
ratures, commencing  on  the  18th  of  December,  the 
first  zero  weather  of  the  season. 


fiJ^^S^ 


^B^ 


W^(^  ®ardmtr'8  J^tonthlg. 


Our  experiments  this  winter  include  tlie  tempe- 
ratures of  three  structures. 

The  one  which  afforded  the  data  for  our  table 
last  j^ear,  eighteen  feet  long,  twelve  wide  and  twelve 
high,  constructed  of  a  double  coveringof  boards,  with 
an  intervening  space  of  six  inches  filled  with  saw-dust, 
has  again  answered  our  expectations. 

Another,  the  same  width  and  height,  eighty 
feet  long,  made  by  nailing  inch  square  strips  hori- 
zontally six  inches  apart  on  each  side  of  rafters 
eight  inches  wide,  constituting  movable  frames,  the 
intervening  space  of  eight  inches  being  closely 
packed  with  leaves,  with  the  intention  of  thatching 
on  both  sides  with  straw.  The  season,  however, 
only  allowed  of  placing  the  leaves  which  unfortu- 
nately contained  numerous  lumps  of  snow.  These 
having  f^incc  melted  away  on  the  occurrence  of  a  warm 
rain,  have  left  many  loosely  packed  spaces  unfavora- 
ble to  the  degree  of  tightness  desirable.  The  low  tem- 
perature indicated  in  this  enclosure  on  the  1st  and 
2nd  of  January,  was  probably  owing,  in  part,  to  a 
near  vacancy  in  the  leaves  admitting  a  current  of  air 
directly  upon  the  thermometer. 

The  other  structure,  six  feet  wide,  six  high 
and  sixteen  feet  long,  consists  of  a  single  covering 
of  rough  boards  one  inch  thick  and  twelve  wide, 
nailed  to  the  rafters  after  the  manner  of  lapped 
siding  reversed — beginning  at  the  top,  thus  forming 
the  shoulder  of  the  joints  upwards,  which  it  was 
proposed  to  render  air-tight  by  luting  with  coal  tar, 
the  joints  in  the  gables  to  be  battened  with  stripes 
bedded  in  the  same  material.  The  weather  sud- 
denly changed  cold  before  the  joints  were  closed 
and  simultaneously  with  the  fall  of  a  foot  of  snow, 
which  has  since  protected  all  the  joints  except  those 
in  the  gables.  This  structure  encloses  several  quince 
and  one  low  peach  tree ;  near  the  base  of  which  a 
cistern  was  dug  five  feet  in  diameter  and  eight  feet 
deep,  with  an  open  neck  two  feet  wide,  constituting 
a  subterranean  air  chamber — no  water  having  been 
admitted  into  it. 

The  modifying  influence  of  this  air  chamber  is 
regarded  as  important,  and  we  have  other  experi- 
ments in  view  in  connection  with  it,  which,  if  the 
weather  soon  becomes  sufficiently  mild  to  enable  us 
to  complete  the  enclosure,  we  shall  report  in  the 
spring. 

The  fruit-buds  of  the  peach  were  generally  killed 
by  the  cold  of  the  19th  of  December,  and  it  is 
greatly  to  be  feared  that  the  extreme  and  protrac- 
ted low  temperature  of  the  past  two  weeks  will  be 
manifest  in  its  disastrous  effects  on  those  of  some 
varieties  of  the  cherry  and  plum,  and  also  on  many 
trees  and  shrubs. 


TEMPERATURE. 


TEMPEUATUUE I 
1S153. 


I.NSIDU. 

Ooiilile'  Frames' 
Boiirdsi     filled 
„&   Saw  I    wilh 
I  diKt.    I  Screws. 


Single 

Buard 

and 

Oistprn. 


December  ISth 


"         '23 

"         24 

"         29 

"  30 

"         31 

1SG4. 

January  1st' 

2 

3 

•'  4 

"  5 


8° 
12 

8 

in° 

6 

20 

^ 

1S° 
20 

j. 

26° 

i 

14 



24 

24 

32°    1 

17 

23 

23 

31      1 

24 

....a  23 

23 

31       i 

"o" 

12 
0 

a 

28 

IS 

oO 

2 

4 

21 

22 

0 

23 

IS 

IS 

12 

10 

26 

2.: 

10 

6 

12 

12 

18 

4 

4 

0 

14 

4 

20 

7 

4 

fi 

14 

4 

20 

12 

6 

9 

It 

2 

20 

14 

4 

12 

14 

2 

20 

22 

2 

l.i 

12 

4 

20 

14 

2 

o 

12 

2 

20 

8 

8 

7 

12 

3 

22 

2 

10 

12 

14 

4 

24 

Clear. 

Clear. 
jCleir. 
I  Cloudy. 

(  lear. 

Clear. 

Clear. 

Hazy. 

Clear. 

Clear. 


PLANTING     ASPARAGUS. 

BY   F.    TROWBRIDGE,    MILFORD,    CONN. 

Having  had  some  experience  in  planting  out  As- 
paragus, Cwhich  differs  from  the  mode  usually 
adopted^  and  which  has  proved  entirely  successful, 
I  give  it  for  the  benefit  of  others  : 

In  the  spring  of  ISGl  I  decided  to  plant  out  a 
few  hundred  roots.  After  our  spring  sales  of  trees 
were  over,  I  had  plants  left  unsold,  and  covered 
them  with  dirt  until  they  had  started  their  shoots 
from  3  to  10  inches.  I  then  took  each  root  care- 
fully and  put  them  out,  stems  above  ground,  first 
of  June.  Every  root  started  with  a  rank  growth  ; 
and  the  next  season  cut  the  grass  for  a  number  of 
weeks.  Having  had  such  success  in  1861,  I  pur- 
sued the  same  course  with  like  result  in  1862.  Last 
spring,  after  all  my  planting  was  over,  and  in  the 
midst  of  the  severe  drought  last  week  in  June,  I 
took  up  and  planted  a  seed  bed,  one  year  from  the 
seed,  had  started  to  grow  on  the  2nd.  When  the 
shoots  had  been  growing  some  weeks,  and  the  grass 
up  6  to  12  inches,  after  trenching  the  rows  two 
spades  deep,  and  filling  nearly  up  with  manure, 
watered  the  roots  twice  with  like  favorable  results. 

From  three  successive  trials,  I  am  satisfied  that 
that  the  best  time  to  plant  out  Asparagus  is  after 
it  has  started  to  grow — any  time  from  the  last  of 
May  to  last  of  June. 


WIDE  GRAPE   HOUSES  WITHOUT  INSIDE 
POSTS. 

BY  WM.    BRIGHT,    PHILADELPHIA. 

The  great  rage,  among  cultivators  of  the  grape 
under  glass,  at  the  present  time,  is  for  wide  houses. 


f]' 


72 


Cljc  SarkitcrVj  lilontljig. 


or  long  rafters,  with  tlie  greatest  possible  extent  ;  greatlj'  mars  the  beauty  of  the  structure.     A  neat, 
of  cane.  I  convenient,  and  efficient  method  of  supporting  long 


A  -wide  house,  with  long  rafters,  renders  it  ne- 
cessary to  employ  inside  posts  and  braces,  to  sup- 
port the  roof;  which,  in  houses  of  any  pretensions, 


rafters,  without  inside  posts  or  braces,  is  shown  in 
the  following  engravings : 


Fig.  1.  Lean-to  Vinery,  with  long  rafter. 


Fig.  2.  Rafter,  with  Wire  rope  Supporter. 

In  Fig.  1.  we  have  an  end  view  of  a  lean-to  Yi- 
nery,  with  inside  border  detached  from  the  front 
wall,  but  resting  upon  a  concrete  floor.  The  rafter 
may  be  thirty  to  fifty  feet  long,  if  desired,  and  can 
be  perfectly  supported,  without  inside  posts  or 
braces,  by  means  of  a  Wire  rope  running  over  a 
central  wheel,  as  shown  in  the  engraving.  In  Fig. 
3,  we  have  an  enlarged  view  of  the  Wire  rope,  and 
means  of  tightening  it,  should  the  rafter  sink. 

Inside  posts  are  always  unsightly,  and  much  in 
the  way,  and  cross-braces  of  wood  make  a  vinery 
look  more  like  a  barn  than  a  hot-house.  We  now 
construct  houses  of  any  width,  without  any  sort  of 
inside  posts  or  braces.  The  rafters  are  bolted  to- 
gether at  the  ridge,  by  concealed  bolts,  and  all 
danger  of  spreading  or  lifting  is  prevented  by  bands 
of  iron  and  bolts  running  from  the  rafters  and 
plates,  into  the  solid  wall. 

The  Wire  ropes  and  wheels,  employed  to  sup- 
port the  rafters,  in  the  above  design,  will  be  en- 
tirely concealed  from  view  by  the  trellis  and  vinery. 


AGCLIinATIZ£I«?G    OF    FL&lsfTS. 
BY    D. 

Individual  exertions  to  extend  the  range  of  our 
plants  seem  to  increase,  and  even  to  merge  into 
efforts  on  a  grander  scale,  made  by  such  bodies  as  are 
our  horticultural  societies.  Crovernment  itself  is 
creating  an  Agricultural  department,  and  seems 
eager  to  anticipate  wants.  Such  articles,  as  have 
appeared  in  the  Gardener  s  Monthly,  betoken  the 
interest  taken  by  the  public  at  large,  in  their  en- 
deavors and  experiments.  And  as  the  public 
dislikes  general  theses  and  pointless  objects,  the 
public  mind  has  thrown  itself  on  the  grape. 
"America  in  search  of  the  wine-grape,"  is  the 
present  phase. 

If  we  knew,  understandingly  knew,  the  exact  na- 
ture of  the  difficulties  in  the  way,  we  would  soon 
be  able  to  surmount  or  to  go  round  most  of  them. 
Unhappily  we  don't  know  them.  All  is  vague. 
We  know  there  is  a  big  mountain  before  us,  and 
we  have  to  cross  it;  but  the  mountain  itSelf  is  hid  in 


''^^- 


^;^i- 


Cljr[  @ardtit£r*s  .plflnfhliT. 


a  fog,  and  instead  of  the  knowledge  of  the  difficulty, 
we  have  only  the  sense  of  it. 

Under  the  circumstances,  anything  will  be  inter- 
esting which  gives  us  data,  experiences  and  the 
points  of  comparison.  And  in  this  hght  we  shall 
find,  of  relatively  great  interest,  a  paper  of  Dr. 
Sagot,  treating  on  the  climate  and  vegetation  of 
Guyana.  That  gentleman  naturally  endowed  for 
such  study,  has  had  ample  time  for  it,  having  been 
sent  officially  to  that  colony  by  the  French  govern- 
ment. For  want  of  the  paper  itself,  we  must  content 
ourselves  with  an  abstract  of  it  in  the  Revue  Hort. 

The  fruit  trees  of  the  temperate  zone,  such  as 
apples,  pears,  peaches  and  the  grape  vine,  succeed 
very  indifferently,  or  not  at  all  in  the  West  India 
Islands,  and  other  tropical  countries.  Wherever 
a  comparatively  better  growth  has  been  obtained, 
it  was  found  that  the  trees  stood  in  elevated 
spots,  consequently  not  exactly  under  "tropical" 
influence. 

It  was  generally  believed,  that  the  greater  heat 
was  the  cause  of  the  difficulty.  Dr.  Sagot  says, 
the  greater  heat  is  only  one  of  the  difficulties,  but 
not  the  greatest  of  them.  That  is  the  exceeding 
great  amount  of  humidity  in  the  air,  and  the  uu- 
sufficiency  of  the  sun's  light,  which  characterises 
the  West  Indies.  Africa,  on  the  same  degree  of 
latitude  as  the  West  Indies,  has  a  drier  air  and 
even  greater  heat,  and  plants  introduced  there  from 
the  temperate  region,  succeed  relatively  well. 

In  the  low  parts  of  Guyana,  says  Dr.  Sagot,  some 
of  our  vegetables  will  not  grow  ?it  all.  He  in- 
stances onions,  lentils  and  artichoke.  Others,  as 
green  peas,  bloom  often,  but  the  yield  is  insignifi- 
cant. Such  vegetables,  of  which  we  eat  the  leaves, 
like  cabbage  and  par-sley,  grow  well  enough,  but 
won't  seed.  They  require,  moreover,  an  unusual 
amount  of  care,  best  drainage,  manure  and  frequent 
waterings,  particularly  during  the  hot  season, 
which  is  the  most  favorable.  Above  all  they  want 
the  full  sunlight,  and  must,  therefore,  be  grown  in 
well  exposed  spots.  The  shade  of  a  tree  near  them 
is  sure  to  kill  them. 

The  further  we  go  from  the  Equator,  or  the 
higher  we  choose  the  spot,  the  easier  become  the 
cultivation  of  these  vegetables,  though  in  produc- 
liveness,  still  far  behind  the  temperate  countries. 

The  difficulty,  then,  is  in  the  state  of  the  at- 
mosphere, which  is  very  warm,  very  damp  and 
therefore  also  but  moderately  bright  (htmweiise.) 
Clouds  are  not  necessary  to  weaken  the  sunlight; 
an  invisible  fog  will  quite  effectually  do  it.  At 
first  blush,  this  diminution  of  Hght  is  not  so  great 
in  itself,  bwt  taken  in  proportion  to  the  heat  and 


the  dampness,  its  consequences  are  important.  A 
plant  which,  in  its  native  country,  enjoys  clear 
sunlight,  and  a  dry  atmosphere  cannot  here  elabo- 
rate its  watery  particles,  gets  disorganised,  checked 
and  actually  suffocates  in  its  sap.  The  inhabitants 
of  Guyana,  says  the  plant  have  died  by  sunstroke. 
The  sunstrokes  never  happen  during  the  dry  season, 
but  generally  in  the  wet  season  and  after  heavy 
showers. 

Nature,  then,  has  given  different  tempers  and 
constitutions  to  different  plants,  which  cannot  very 
well  be  interfered  with.  If  in  the  tropics,  then, 
according  to  popular  mistake,  vegetation  is  strong- 
est and  rankest — innumerable  plants  cannot  grow; 
others  will  only  grow  there  and  no  where  else. 
Banana  trees,  annanas  and  other  West  India  plants 
have  been  transplanted  to  Egypt,  to  the  Canaries, 
to  the  African  deserts,  and  to  ever  so  many  differ- 
ent spots  of  the  same  latitudes.  In  vain  the  trou- 
ble ;  they  would  either  not  grow  at  all  or  badly. 

To  sum  up :  Dr.  Sagot  establishes  the  following 
parallel  between  tropical  vegetation  and  that  of  the 
temperate  and  brighter  regions. 

"  In  countries  near  the  Equator,  arborescent  ve- 
getation predominates ;  the  country,  so  to  say,  is  a 
forest,  flowers  are  much  rarer  than  with  us.  The 
cereal  crops,  even  those  which  are  natives,  viz  : 
rice,  sorgho  and  Indian  corn,  don't  yield  anything 
like  they  do  with  us.  Those  vegetables  which  are 
cultivated  there  successfully,  being  indigenous  citi- 
zens of  the  soil,  do  not  yield  as  abundantly  as  do 
ours,  nor  are  their  seeds  as  nourishing.  On  the 
other  hand,  farinaceous  roots  (sweet  potatoes  and 
manioc^  yield  most  abundantly,  but  don't  contain 
much  nourishing  substance.  The  same  may  be 
said  of  fruit,  particularly  the  Banana,  so  full  of 
mealy  matter  before  it  ripens.  The  grass,  above 
all  things,  is  poor,  and  hardly  sustains  the  cattle." 
"  Byway  of  compensation,  the  yield  of  the  forest 
is  in  tropical  countries  very  much  larger  than  in  our 
countries.  Comparing  a  six  months'  growth  of  theirs 
and  ours,  (for  with  us  there  is  not  twelve  but  six 
mon'ths  of  the  growing  year)  we  find  tropical  vege- 
tation heading  ours  like  two  to  one.  In  Guyana, 
five  year  old  trees  are  as  strong  and  big  as  fifteen 
year  old  ones  with  us. 

"  With  average  heat  of  27  to  28  degrees  of  Be- 
aumur,  with  a  very  damp  atmosphere  and  compar- 
atively weak  light,  vegetation  under  the  tropics  is 
certainly  rank,  but  little  albumen  is  produced 
against  plenty  of  woody  fibre. 

"  The  reverse  is  the  case  in  countries  of  tempered 
climate,  and  with  plenty  of  sunlight.  Vegetation 
is  of  moderate  dimensions,  but  what  wealth  of  food  ? 


■'^ET 


@1 


74 


ilq  (Sardmur's  JRonthlg, 


Abundant  crops  of  grains  and  of  vegetables.  The 
land  of  the  generous  vine,  of  the  olive  and  of  grass, 
which  feeds  the  best  cattle  and  the  finest  horses." 
And,  we  may  add,  raises  also  the  best  race  of  men, 
those  who  by  their  exploits  and  knowledge,  do 
their  Creator  most  credit. 

The  work  of  colonizing  plants  must  be  preceded 
by  the  study  of  the  soils'  temperature  at  various 
depths  and  the  atmosphere  at  various  heights. 
There  must  be  statistically  established  the  average 
numbers  of  sunny  hours  of  the  year,  and  of  each 
separate  month.  The  same  must  be  done  to  ascer- 
tain the  degree  of  humidity  in  the  air.  We  must, 
in  fact,  first  learn  what  constitutes  a  climate,  before 
we  can  look  for  success. 

"  We  are  a  great  nation  "  for  we  must  needs  be- 
lieve ourselves  as  well  as  in  ourselves.  We  are 
not  a  scientifically  great  nation,  speaking  of  science 
as  worth  seeking  for  its  own  worth.  And  why 
should  we,  being  mere  infants  in  growth,  struggling 
even  now  for  its  own  existence  ?  But  we  have 
much  of  "practical"  science  among  us,  an  ama- 
zingly vast  deal  of  it,  considering  our  infancy. 
Aided  by  our  variety  of  soil  and  climate,  we  have 
already  achieved  much.     Cotton,  rice  and  Indian 


corn  yield  more  and  better  crops  to  us,  than  in 
their  own  homes.  Sorghum  has  been  added  lately. 
When  shall  we  have  the  grape — the  generous  wine- 
grape  ? 


PROPAGATING    HOUSE. 

BY  A.    CUM3IINGS,  JR.,  READING,    MASS. 

Dear  Sir  :  Permit  me,  through  your  Juurnal, 
to  thank  our  much  esteemed  friend,  Mr,  Hender- 
son, for  the  excellent  drawing  and  description  of 
his  new  "Propagating  House,"  which  he  has 
given  us  in  the  January  issue  of  your  paper. 

I  know  of  no  one,  whose  opinion  on  the  subject 
of  which  he  treats,  commands  more  profound 
respect,  than  the  above  named  gentleman. 

Last  season,  I  built  a  Propagating  house,  to 
which  I  would  call  his  and  other  gentlemen's  atten- 
tion and  criticism. 

I  do  not  believe  it  is  the  best  thing  that  can  be 
built,  but  I  think  I  have  hit  upon  the  true  prin- 
ciple, and  shall  experiment  till  I  have  perfected  it. 
I  enclose  a  rough  sketch,  drawn  without  regard  to 
mathematical  proportions,  but  hope  sufficiently  plain 
to  be  understood. 


A  is  tank.  63  feet  long, liy  3  feet  wide. 

b  is  space  of  3  inches  between  tank  and  outBide  wall. 

c  A  d  are  flow  and  return  jiipes — 2  inches. 

ee  are  air  chauibeis  undertlie  tank. 

F  is  stone  foundation  on  which  the  tank  rests. 

g  is  walk  18  inches  wide. 

Size  of  this  house,  is  66  x  12  feet,  and  fronts  due 
north.  Propagating  tank  is  built  of  brick,  8  in- 
ches deep,  with  top  and  bottom  of  slate,  thoroughly 
plastered  with  cement  inside.  Air  chamber  under 
the  tank,  made  with  brick  placed  on  edge,  and  15 
inches  apart.  An  open  space  of  two  inches  is  left 
between  the  tank  and  wall  of  the  house,  to  admit 
free  circulation  all  around  the  tank,  which  makes 
radiating  surface  sufficient  to  heat  the  house  to  48° 


h — h  are  posts  sustaining  roof. 

I  is  a  bed  raised  IJ  inches  above  the  walk  for  Camellias. 

j  line  showing  top  of  tank  and  bottom  of  propagating  bed. 

k  sills  to  the  house.- 

1  stone  wall,  sustaining  camellia  bed. 

m— m  bricks  on  edge  forming  air  chamber. 

on  the  coldest  night  of  the  season.  On  top  is  a 
row  of  brick  on  edge,  forming  a  bed  for  sand.  The 
top  slate  are  cemented  to  prevent  the  escape  of 
steam.  A  division  wall,  four  inches  high,  runs 
through  the  centre  of  the  tank  ;  making  the  flow 
and  return  without  the  aid  of  an  additional  pipe. 
The  steam  created  has  free  a.''cess  from  side  to  side, 
thus  equalizing  the  heat  in  the  tank.  One  inch  of 
water  is  found  sufficient;  a  greater  depth  would  in- 
crease the  heat. 


m 


•'<mb' 


Jyf€^ 


^^ 


211^  ®ardcni?r*s  ^ontfilg. 


to 


Upon  testing  my  work,  I  found  that  the  glass 
pUinged  in  the  sand,  stood  at  85°,  while  the  atmos- 
phere, in  the  house,  was  onlj^  4G°,  and  the  sand  was 
throwing  off  warm  vapor,  which  must  be  injurious 
to  cuttings.  To  reduce  the  temperature  of  the 
sand  and  escape  of  vapor,  I  removed  the  sand,  and 
laid  a  false  bottom  with  slate ;  cementing  the 
same,  and  leaving  an  air  chamber  of  f  of  an  inch 
deep  between  the  two.  I  now  found  the  other  ex- 
treme— the  sand  would  be  as  dry  as  powder  in  24 
hours.  This  I  found  to  be  a  greater  evil  than  the 
former.  I  then  filled  the  air  chamber  with  water, 
and  I  have  no  doubt,  I  have  obtained  the  desired 
result. 

The  pipes  which  supply  the  tank,  are  connected 
to  pipes  in  another  house,  thus  saving  an  extra 
fire,  and  without  much  if  an}^  additional  coal. 

Next  season  I  shall  experiment  still  further — 
particularly  on  a  forcing  pit,  for  early  celeries,  and 
will  give  you  the  result  of  my  operations. 


<ki' 


PRESERVING    FRUIT, 

BY   D.  M. 

Do  you  know  Kennebunc,  Mr.  Editor?  "No."' 
Well,  if  you  don't  know  Kennebunc,  you  will  still 
less  know  me,  who  is  the  population  of  Kennebunc, 
taking  my  wife  and  children  as  being  one  with  my- 
self, and  throwing  in  Davy,  my  hired  man.  And 
so  I'd  better  tell  you  all  about  us.  "  If  you  please; 
Mr.  D.  M.?"  Well,  sir,  Kennebunc  lies  right  in 
the  middle  of  our  state,  that  is  C'nettcut,  as  we 
speak  it ;  or  Con-nect-i-cut,  as  we  spell  it,  and  my 
place  is  right  in  the  middle  of  what's  called  Kenne- 
bunc bottom,  about  two  hours  from  Hartford,  as 
the  bee  flies,  and  about  three  hours  and  a  half,  as 
the  "  General, "  my  brown  horse,  travels  when  he 
goes  home  ;  that  is,  from  Hartford  to  Kennebunc, 
and  not  versa  vice,  or  vice  versa,!  don't  know  which 
it  is  and  which  it  ain't,  but  it  is  no  matter.  "And 
what  can  you  do  for  me?"  Bless  your  precious 
bones,  Mr.  Editor,  you  can  do  a  vast  deal  for  me, 
my  posterity,  and  all  the  world  beside.  I'll  not 
detain  you  more  than  a  minute,  and  tell  you  all 
about  it,  in  the  twinkle  of  an  eye  ;  which  is  more 
than  your  2.40. 

Already  you  know  who  I  am,  and  where  T  am. 
And  now  you  shall  know,  that  I  have  something  of 
an  apple  orchard,  in  full  bearing;  and  a  small  pear 
orchard.  And  that,  whatever  else  I  am,  I  am  a 
cultivator  of  fruit,  and  like  to  go  more  and  more 
into  the  business.  "Raising  for  market?"  Yes 
and  no.  "You  mean  New  York  market?"  Well  you 
seem  to  know  that  I  have  pretty  extensively  done, 
in  Washington  market,  there.     But  that  I  took 


there,  was  the  raising  of  my  neighbors  twenty  or 
thirty  miles  round.  What  comes  off  my  own 
orchard,  I  shipped  to  a  foreign  market — Liverpool. 
"You  are  in  the  importing  line,  then,  and  a  po 
mological  shipping  merchant?"  Thank  you  for 
the  name,  Mr.  Editor,  though  you  smile  at  it,  and 
wishing  to  deserve  that  name,  is  the  very  thing  why 
I  apply  to  j-ou.  "How  so?"  Why,  you  see, 
that's  to  be  shipped  to  distant  ports — and  I  want 
to  go  into  the  Russian  trade  next — particularly 
pears,  which,  as  I  understand,  fetch  the  tallest 
prices  there, — much  beyond  that,  I,  with  native 
modesty  ever  dreamt  of  asking  heretofore — that's  to 
be  shipped  to  distant  ports,  as  I  said,  wants  the 
most  particular  and  'ticularest  care  in  the  pul- 
ling, housing,  keeping  and  barrelling. 

I  am  a  self-made  man,  and  like  most  Yankees, 
acquire  most,  by  having  our  eyes  open  first  on  our 
own  business,  and  next  on  that  of  other  people's. 
Now,  our  section  of  country  being  so  near  New  York 
market,  and  shipping  facilities  so  abundant,  storing 
of  fruit  is  not  going  on  much,  and  people  had'nt 
to  learn  the  art  of  it.  My  own  observations  are  far 
from  being  sufficient  for  me,  and  so  I  want  to  learn 
yet,  how  fruit  is  best  handled  and  preserved?  Your 
much  esteemed  journal,  Mr.  Editor, —  "Please 
proceed,  without  any  soap  whatever."  I  take  the 
hint,  sir.  Your  journal,  already,  has  taught  me 
considerably,  and  I  am  not  going  to  tell  you  now, 
how  much  I  owe  to  you  and  your  writers,  but  will 
plump,  come  down  with  the  question,  How  can  we, 
that  is,  you,  I  should  say,  best  draw  out,  and  at  once, 
the  sum  and  substance  of  the  knowledge  all  parties? 
'  'And  your  answer,  Mr.D.  M.?' '  Well,  if  you  want  me 
to  answer  for  you,  I  would  address  the  most  influ- 
ential bodies,  in  regard  to  this  question.  I  would 
invite  the  Horticultural  and  Agricultural  societies, 
to  promise  premiums,  about  in  this  way  :  $500  for 
the  best  preserved  bushel  of  pears — kinds  named — 
$200  for  the  best  preserved  barrel  of  apples — kinds 
named — $100  for  grapes,  etc.  None  to  be  less  than 
a  year  old.  Modus  operandi  to  be  faithfully  stated 
by  ihe  happy  winner,  before  pocketing  the  laurels 
and  the  cash.  "  Something  in  that,  sir."  Glad  to 
hear  you  say  so.  We  Yankees  are  a  liberal  race, 
whatever  some  few  degenerate  ones  may  have  done 
to  make  people  think  otherwise,  and  to  draw  their 
questionable  admiration  for  our  variety  of  Amer- 
icans. "What  next?"  Why,  in  the  first  place, 
to  offer  $20  myself,  which  I  will,  when  called  upon, 
give  to  the  National  Pomological  Society,  towards 
these  premiums.  In  the  next  place,  to  tell  you  my 
own  viodus  operandi,  not  that  I  believe  people  can 
in  this  line  learn  much  of  one,  but  to  show  my 


good  faith,  and  encourage  others  to  do  likewii^e. 
"Very  0.  K.,  give  us  the  points."  Here  goes, 
sir,  my  observation  on  pears : 

If  I  want  to  bring  to  market  ripe  fruit  at  once,  I 
pull  when  it  comes  off  somewhat  easy,  with  a  gen- 
the  pull.     That  determines  ripeness. 

Do  I  want  to  bring  early  fruit,  early  to  market,  I 
pull  when  not  quite  ripe — spread  them  under  a 
glass  cover,  keep  the  air  out,  and  cover  them  with 
blankets  or  any  other  cloths.  This  is  the  way 
to  anticipate  nature.  I  get  the  best  prices  in  market, 
for  what  I  bring,  and  those  I  may  have  left  on  the 
tree,  will  get  extra  fine,  as  all  the  good  will  now  go 
into  them,  and  they  will,  in  their  turn,  fetch  the 
best  price  in  market.  I  can  also,  if  I  like,  leave 
the  worst  specimens  on  the  tree,  and  thus  turn 
them  into  good  and  plump  ones.  This  is  helping 
nature  in  her  shop. 

This  does  not  apply  to  shipping  kinds,  which 
must  be  rather  late  varieties. 

As  to  keeping  fruit,  my  plan  is  to  store  them  in 
a  dry,  not  over  dry,  place  on  frames  covered  with 
strings,  so  that  the  air  can  play  about  freely.  Per- 
haps coarse  canvass  would  do  as  well,  or  lathes,  or 
anything  open.  I  use  moveable  frames,  such  as  I 
can  conveniently  shift.  I  give  them  first,  the  space 
of  eighteen  inches,  between  each  frame  or  shelf, 
and  after  a  time  I  shift  them  to  twelve,  then  to 
nine,  and  then  to  six  inches  space.  Just  accordingly 
as  I  think  more  air  is  necessary,  and  as  more  come 
in.  I  look  to  that  course,  because  I  am  cramped 
for  room,  or  for  the  want  of  it,  rather. 

Now  for  shipping.  I  prefer  to  pack  them,  by  all 
odds,  in  fine  hay.  No.  1  hay,  that  is.  The  second 
cut  will  do  very  well,  and  may  be  preferable  for 
being  short.  They  can  be  pressed  close  and  yet  be 
elastic,  and  won't  lump.  The  principle  is  to  avoid 
shaking  when  they  travel.  Shaking  damages,  and 
then  they  go.  Iknow  of  nothing  better  than  fine  hay. 
Sawdust  will  not  do.  It  may  do  for  grapes.  They 
arc  no  weight  comparatively,  they  pack  in  layers, 
and  but  few  of  them.  Sawdust  would  gradually 
sink  to  the  bottom,  and  leave  the  upper  pears 
bare  ;  straw  is  harsh  and  does  not  give.  Moss,  I 
fancy,  would  attract  dampness,  and  might  spoil  the 
flavor  of  the  fruit.  I  have  not  tried  either,  and  so 
am  not  positive,  Air  holes  for  the  barrels.  Half 
barrels  preferred.  "  Is  that  all?"  It  is,  Mr.  Edi- 
tor, and  good  bye.  "  Good  bye,  Mr.  D.  M."  Say, 
one  more  word.  "Well,  sir."  My  best  respects 
to  the  Montldy. 


IIefp  Bn&  Jh^  fxmK 


Danvers  Farmers'  Club. —  Grapes  and  Grape 
CuUure. — The  regular  meeting  of  the  Club  was 
held  on  Wednesday  livening,  November  18th,  Mr. 
John  C.  Butler  presiding.  The  subject  for  discus- 
sion was  Grapes  and  Grape  Culture. 

Mr.  Nathan  Page,  Jr.,  said:  As  his  Isabella 
vines  had  failed  to  give  him  a  crop,  oftener  than 
once  in  three  years,  he  had  grafted  one  of  his  vines 
with  the  Rebecca,  which  was  killed  last  winter,  and 
he  inferred  that  it  was  not  sufiiciently  hardy.  He 
had  also  grafted  one  with  Rogers'  Hybrid,  No,  15, 
which  has  grown  well,  and  will  probably  fruit 
another  season.  He  had  eaten  these  grapes  and 
thought  them  very  nice. 

Mr.  Fowler  having  inquired,  if  any  one  was  ac- 
quainted with  the  Rogers'  Hybrid?  The  Secre- 
tary replied  substantially,  as  follows : 

Numbered  the  plants  in  the  order  that  they 
stood  the  first  year.  Not  according  to  merit, 
though  No.  1  happens  to  be  one  of  the  best.  It 
is  of  a  light  color — bunch,  large  and  sweet — ripe  in 
September — ranks  4th  in  his  list,  according  to  my 
judgement. 

No.  2  was  a  very  large  berry,  on  a  good  size 
bunch,  but  not  an  extra  grape — dark  purple. 

No.  3,  a  medium  size  bunch  and  berry — the  ear- 
liest ;  ripens  at  the  same  time  with  the  Hartford 
Prolific,  but  the  berry  does  not  drop  off,  like  that 
and  the  native — of  a  reddish  hue. 

No.  4  is  a  superior  grape,  ranking  second  on  his 
list — very  sweet,  bunches  very  large  and  with  large 
berry — as  large  as  the  Hamburg  under  glass  ;  of 
dark   purple   color,   very   showy  and   bears   large 

crops. 

No.  15,  the  number  that  carries  the  palm,  has 
a  very  large  bunch  and  berry,  of  a  reddish  hue, 
very  sweet,  an  excellent  wine  grape,  a  great  grower 
and  a  prodigious  bearer.  It  ripens  from  the  15th 
to  the  25th  of  September.  I  ate  them  this  last 
fall  on  the  10th  of  September  ;  they  were  then  very 
sweet. 

The  crop  was  then  estimated  at  about  three 
bushels.  When  the  crop  was  gathered  it  was  800 
or  901)  bunches,  the  majority  of  them  weighing  a 

pound  each. 

No.  19.  Bunch  of  good  size,  with  dark  purple 
berries— rather  thicker  skin  than  No.  4,  but  not 
quite  so  large  a  bunch,  of  the  same  color  and  about 
the  same  quality  ;  a  little  better  grower,  and  seems 
to  be  a  little  better  known  and  sought  after  ;  though 
I  think  the  No.  4  superior. 


Wh>^ 


J^^. 
?/i^ 


SIhf[  ^ardi^nijr's  cPonthlg. 


77 


No.  43.  A  good  grower,  a  very  fair  sized  bunch 
and  berr}'  and  of  good  quality. 

None  of  the  fruit,  that  I  tried,  had  any  of  the 
foxy  taste,  or  the  very  thick  skin,  that  always  ac- 
companies the  native. 


The  Buffalo  Strawberry.— Mr.  Hodge  gives 
the  following  description  : 

The  fruit  is  of  large  size,  even  larger  than  the 
'Wilson,'  and  much  more  uniform  in  size:  red 
core,  juicy,  and  of  superior  flavor.  A  vigorous 
grower,  with  large  glossy  foliage  ;  fruit  stali^s  long 
and  erect,  very  productive;  comparing  side  by  side 
with  the  'Wilson,'  I  could  see  but  little  difference 
in  productiveness  ;  blossoms  quite  small,  and  at 
first  sight  would  be  taken  for  a  pistillate  flower, 
but  upon  a  close  examination  small  stamens  will  be 
discovered. 


The  Stanard  Apple. — Mr.  Dunlap  has  fur- 
nished us  the  following  remarks  relating  to  this 
apple : 

This  Apple  was  received  from  the  Buffalo  (N. 
Y. )  Nursery,  Col.  B.  Hodge  proprietor,  in  the 
spring  of  1846.  The  tree  came  under  the  name 
of  the  Peach  Apple,  subsequently  it  came  under  its 
true  name — the  modesty  of  the  Colonel  seldom 
allowing  him  to  send  out  a  fruit  under  its  true  name. 

The  trees  fruited  in  1849,  and  have  given  large 
annual  crops  of  fine  and  heavy  fruit  until  the  present 
time.  Not  a  twig  has  been  injured  by  winter,  nor 
the  crop  in  any  wise  injured  by  frost.  It  bears  the 
same  relation  to  winter  apples  that  the  Keswick 
Codlin  does  to  those  of  suijimer,  being  an  early  and 
abundant  bearer. 

Description — Col.  Hodge,  in  his  catalogue  for 
1845,  described  it  as  "large,  oblate,  green,  red  and 
yellow ;  December  to  March ;  very  productive, 
juicy,  pleasant,  fine."  To  be  a  little  more  precise, 
the  fruit  is  of  large  size,  slightly  angular,  rather 
flattish,  and  some  specimens  tapering  to  the  eye  ; 
skin  at  first  a  dull  green,  changing  to  yellow  at  ma- 
turity ;  deeply  splashed  and  striped  with  red,  dot- 
ted with  numerous  large  russet  specks,  with  a  slight 
margin  of  pale  russet  about  the  stem.  Stalk  rather 
deeply  inserted  half  an  inch  long,  and  holding  the 
fruit  firmly  to  the  front  spur.  Calyx  closed,  set  in 
a  moderate  basin,  slightly  corrugated.  Flesh  yel- 
lowish white,  rather  coarse,  very  juicy,  with  a 
rather  rich  sub-acid  flavor.  Ripens  in  December 
and  keeps  through  March.  Is  a  superior  cooking 
aud  a  very  good  table  apple.  For  cooking  it  is  in 
use  from  the  first  of  September,  and  from  that  time 
until  the  first  of  April  has  no  superior  for  this  pur- 


pose. Add  to  this  that  the  tree  is  hardy  in  all 
parts  of  the  State,  is  a  rapid  grower,  a  young, 
abundant  and  annual  bearer,  it  is  a  fruit  that  should 
not  be  slightly  passed  over.  The  tree  is  a  crooked, 
spreading,  irregular  grower,  with  large  deeply  ser- 
rated leaves,  the  young  shoots  of  a  deep  wine  color, 
crowned  with  a  white  bloom,  with  prominent  white 
buds. 

The  trees  have  been  fruited  by  several  parties  in 
Cook  county — among  them  'the  Old  Doctor,'  at 
'The  Grove,'  and  his  brother  Joseph  Kennicott, 
at  Dunton  Station.  In  my  orchards  at  Leydon  are 
three  trees  that  have  borne  fifteen  crops. -P.  Farmer. 


The  Underhill  Seedling  Grape. — The  ber- 
ries ripen  from  the  10th  to  the  15th  of  September, 
always  being  fully  ripe  by  the  latter  date  :  this  in 
lat.  432°  north,  at  Charlton,  Saratoga  county,  N.  Y. 

The  vine  resembles  the  Catawba  very  much,  both 
in  leaf  and  wood.  The  points  of  difference  are  :  the 
earliness  of  ripening,  the  larger  size  of  the  bunches 
and  berries,  and  its  more  delicate  flavor.  The  color 
of  the  berry  is  a  dark  lilac,  with  a  bluish  bloom. 
The  quality  of  the  fruit  is  fine,  rich,  sweet,  without 
pungency,  pulp,  tender  and  juicy,  parting  readily 
from  the  seeds,  of  which  there  are  usually  but  two 
in  a  berry. — Exchange. 


Nickerson  Pear. — It  originated  in  Readfield, 
IMaine,  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  Nickerson.  In  form 
and  general  appearance,  it  somewhat  resembles 
Louise  Bonne  de  Jersey,  and  the  specimens  were 
equal  to  that  variety  in  quality.  The  original  tree 
came  from  seed  planted  by  ex-Governor  Huntoon, 
when  he  resided  in  Readfield,  and  the  tree  was 
transplanted  from  there  to  Mr.  Nickerson's  place. 
It  has  borne  every  year,  but  a  larger  quantity  is 
produced  every  other  year.  Does  not  keep  a  great 
while  after  it  is  in  eating.  It  was  exhibited  at  the 
exhibition  of  the  Massachusetts  Horticultural  So- 
ciety six  or  seven  years  ago,  and  was  called  the 
Louise  Bonne  de  Jersey  by  them.  A  discussion 
concerning  this  pear  was  had  in  the  Boston  Journal 
at  that  time,  and  its  claim  to  originality  established. 
The  skin  of  the  pear  is  hard  ;  will  not  bruise  when 
quite  ripe,  and  is  never  knotty.  Should  be  taken 
off  about  two  weeks  before  it  is  ripe. — Report  of 
Maine  Board  of  Agriculture. 


The  Grimes  Golden  Pippin.— We  have  re- 
ceived a  sample  of  this  apple  from  the  well-known 
nurseryman,  L.  N.  Wood,  successor  to  Samuel 
Wood  &  Son  of  Smithfield,  Jefferson  Co.,  Ohio. 
Friend  Wood  says,  that  all  things  considered,  this 


is  one  of  the  best  varieties  of  apples  in  that  part 
of  the  State,  and  refers  to  the  report  of  the  Ohio 
Poiuological  Society  for  1856  and  1857. 

In  his  'Western  Fruit  Book,'  Mr.  Elliott  quotes 
the  Grimes  Golden  Pippin  among  the  standard  va- 
rieties as  follows  : — From  Brook  county  Va.  Fruit 
medium,  oblong  flattened,  golden  yellow ;  flesh 
yellowish  white,  sub-acid ;  very  good.  Decem- 
ber to  March." 

The  apple  has  a  deep  calyx  and  basin,  long  slen- 
der stem,  small  core  and  seeds,  and  a  little  lop-sided 
in  form,  which  we  find  to  be  a  characteristic  of  this 
variety.  Of  the  good  qualities  of  this  apple  we 
take  pleasure  in  bearing  testimony.  It  is  firm 
fleshed,  crisp,  very  rich  and  juicy ;  in  flavor  and 
sprightliness,  about  the  strength  of  the  Northern 
Spy,  and  in  general  appearance  much  like  the  Por 
ter  Apple,  but  not  so  long.  For  an  apple  not  pos- 
itively sweet,  this  is  the  richest  variety  we  remem- 
ber ever  to  have  tasted,  and  if  friend  Wood  has 
the  stock  for  sale,  we  should  advise  orchardists  to 
put  this  on  their  list  for  a  choice  winter  apple. — 
Ohio  Farmer. 


Larix  Lyalli. — A  tree  found  on  the  Eastern 
slope  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  in  the  Cascade  and 
Galton  Ranges,  by  Mr.  Lyall,  at  about  49  N.  lat., 
and  at  an  elevation  above  the  sea  of  between  6000 
and  7000  feet.  A  remarkable  species  because  of 
the  cob- web  like  wool  that  clothes  the  leaf  buds  and 
young  shoots,  and  the  long  fringe  of  the  scales  of 
the  former.  The  tree  grows  from  36  to  45  feet 
high,  and  is  therefore  much  dwarfer  than  the  al- 
lied 'Larix  occidentalis,'  which  is  also  difl"erent  in 
the  number  of  leaves  in  a  cluster,  their  direction 
and  form,  and  in  the  cones. — Pallatore  in  Gard. 
Chronicle. 


Azalea  indica.  Imperialis. — A  bright  rosy 
scarlet  flower,  of  immense  size,  superior  texture, 
and  perfect  form.  It  is  very  vigorous  in  habit,  and 
possesses  the  double  advantage  of  being  a  free  and 
very  late  bloomer.  Whether  regarded  as  a  variety 
suitable  for  exhibition  purposes,  or  for  general  de- 
coration, this  is  one  of  the  finest  Azaleas. 


Stenograsta  jiultiflora. — A  pretty  dwarf- 
tufted  stove  plant,  having  roundish,  ovate,  crenate 
leaves,  purplish  on  the  under  side,  and  from  the 
axils  of  which  it  produces  immense  numbers  of  red- 


dish-lilac tubular  flowers.  Like  '  Stenograsta  con- 
cinna  Cfrom  which  it  is  a  hybrid)  it  remains  in 
bloom  10  months  out  of  the  12,  and  being  of  free 
and  easy  growth,  is  peculiarly  suited  for  cultivation 
in  plant  cases  and  under  glass  shades  in  rooms. 


Calceolaria  ericoides.  —This  beautiful  hardy 
herbaceous  plant  was  discovered  by  Mr.  Pearce,  on 
mountains  of  considerable  elevation,  near  Cuenca, 
Equador.  It  is  one  of  the  most  distinct  of  its  ge- 
nus. In  habit  and  foliage  it  strongly  resembles  a 
free-growing  Erica,  and  produces  long  spikes  of 
bright  yellow  flowers  in  great  abundance. 


Sph^rogyne  latipolia. — A  plant  of  truly  no- 
ble aspect.  In  habit  it  somewhat  resembles  the  far- 
famed  Cyanophyllum  magnificum  ;  but  whilst  being 
perfectly  equal  to  that  species  in  the  magnificence 
of  its  foliage,  it  far  surpasses  it  in  habit  and  the 
general  beauty  of  its  appearance.  The  stem  and 
leaf  stalks  are  red  and  thickly  covered  with  revers- 
ed hairs.  Its  magnificent  ovate  leaves  are  of  a  rich 
velvety  olive-green  color  on  the  upper  surface,  and 
of  a  beautiful  red  underneath. 


Eranthemum  rubrovenium. — This  beautiful 
little  plant  was  sent  from  Peru  by  Mr.  Pearce.  In 
general  appearance  it  resembles  an  Ancectochi- 
lus,  is  of  a  very  dwarf  trailing  habit,  having  all  its 
leaves  thickly  veined  and  netted  with  deep  pink. 
It  is  of  very  free  growth  and  easy  culture,  and  will 
be  a  great  favorite. 

PouRETTiA  pungens,  —  A  liardy  greenhouse 
Bromeliaceous  plant,  introduced  from  Chili.  It 
produces  erect  spikes,  1  to  2  feet  in  length,  of 
bright  scarlet  flowers  in  great  abundance.  Its  ha- 
bit is  dwarf,  with  pointed  radical  leaves,  the  upper 
of  which  are  pinnate  and  spiny. 


Sarmienta  repens. —  An  exceedingly  pretty 
Chilian  plant,  of  dwarf  trailing  habit.  It  has  fleshy 
light  green  oblong  convex  leaves  about  an  inch 
long,  with  numerous  beautiful  drooping  tubular 
scarlet  flowers,  reminding  one  of 'Mitraria  coccinca. ' 
Its  pendulous  habit  and  showy  flowers  render  this 
a  most  desirable  plant  for  filling  hanging  baskets. 


Juniperus  rigida  CLindley^.— This. exceeding- 
ly handsome  hardy  evergreen  shrub  was  found 
growing  most  luxuriantly  at  a  gi'eat  elevation  on 
the  Hakone  ridge  of  mountains  by  Mr.  J.  Yeitcli, 
during  his  trip  to  the  interior  of  Japan.  It  is  de- 
scribed as  growing  to  a  height  of  15  to  20  feet,  and 


having  somewhat  pendulous  branches  thickly  stud- 
ded with  light  glaoous  foliage,  giving  it  at  once  a 
very  elegant  and  graceful  appearance. 


New  Aucuba  japonic  a. — The  true  is  not  va- 
riegated, but  has  beautiful  shining  green  leaves, 
which,  when  young,  are  of  the  brightest  color ;  and 
when  the  female  plants  are  impregnated,  it  will 
possess  an  additional  charm  in  being  covered  with 
its  large  red  berries.  It  may  safely  be  predicted 
of  this  new  introduction,  that  in  a  few  years  it  will 
be  planted  in  every  shrubbery,  where  it  will  be 
quite  as  valuable  as  the  common  Laurel,  and,  like 
it,  will  form  admirable  hedges.  For  planting  near 
London  and  other  large  towns,  it  will  prove  invalu- 
able, for  the  leaves  will  not  look  dirty  so  soon  as 
those  of  the  blotch-leaved  sort. 

Such  a  shrub  as  this  is  alone  an  ample  recom- 
pense for  Mr.  Fortune's  journey,  being,  as  it  un- 
doubtedly is,  one  of  the  greatest  acquisitions  among 
hardy  shrubs  that  has  been  made  in  our  time. 

The  male  Aucuba,  in  Mr.  Standish's  possession, 
is,  as  far  as  its  general  appearance  is  concerned, 
but  little,  if  at  all  different  from  the  female.  Its 
great  value  lies,  in  its  producing  long  catkins  of 
flowers,  somewhat  like  those  of  Garrya  elliptica,  by 
means  of  which  the  female  plants  may  be  fertilized 
and  enabled  to  produce  their  beautiful  berries.  It 
is  very  scai'ce,  even  in  Japan,  where  it  is  only  pro- 
pagated for  this  purpose  ;  but  in  a  few  years,  when 
it  shall  have  become  sufficiently  disseminated,  there 
is  no  reason  why  every  female  plant  in  the  country 
should  not  be  covered  with  fruit.  —  Cot.  Gardener. 


New  G-eraniums,  '  Zonale  Section  :' 
Ossian — A  splendid  garden  or  conservatory  va- 
riety ;  trusses  very  large,  with  individual  blossoms 
of  fine  shape,  which  in  their  color  show  a  fine  com- 
bination of  the  brilliant  violet-puce  and  crimson 
color  seen  in  Cactus  speciosissimus.  The  centre  of 
the  flowers  is  a  deep  shade  of  magenta,  with  an  or- 
ange-scarlet tint  in  the  top  petals ;  colors  proof 
against  sun  and  rain. 

Madame  Rudersdorff — As  a  bloomer  this  is  the 
i5nest  variety  in  its  section  for  adaptation  to  plant- 
ing in  extensive  beds  and  ribbon  lines ;  flowers 
bright  carmine  salmon  finely  margined  with  white  ; 
trusses  large,  compact' and  numerous,  rising  well 
above  the  leaves ;  the  individual  blossoms  of  a  good 
form,  close  lobed,  colors  proof  against  sun  and  rain; 
habit  of  growth  compact,  and  of  medium  vigor,  12 
to  16  inches  in  height,  forming  a  beautiful  and  dis- 
tinct new  feature  in  the  flower  garden,  well  adapt- 
ed for  middle  row  between  a  higher  and  a  lower 


color.  This  variety  has  proved  a  beautiful  beddor, 
giving  more  trusses  (full  size  balls  of  flowersj  than 
any  other  we  know. 

Alexandra — A  rival  to,  and  an  improvement  on 
Christine  ;  habit  vigorous  and  compact,  12  to  16 
inches  in  height ;  leaves  with  dark  zone  ;  trusses 
globular  and  large  ;  blossoms  bright  magenta  tinted 
rose  with  a  light  shade  in  the  upper  centre.  Adap- 
ted for  large  groups  or  ribbon  lines,  and  forming 
an  exquisite  middle  row  between  darker  tints.  Its 
profuse  blooming  habit,  with  a  richer  tinted  Chris- 
tine color,  constitutes  a  beautiful  and  effective  fea- 
ture in  the  arrangement  of  colors. 


Camellia  Duchesse  de  Nassau. — The  raiser 
of  this  variety  has  dedicated  it  to  Her  Highness 
the  Duchess  of  Nassau,  the  worthy  partner  of  a 
Prince  who  is  a  generous  and  enlightened  patron 
of  horticulture  ;  and  to  say  that  the  noble  Princess 
partakes  of  the  taste  of  the  Duke  for  flowers,  will 
but  justify  the  dedication  of  the  Camellia  to  her. 
It  is  distinguished  in  the  category  of  perfections  to 
which  it  belongs,  by  flowers  formed  of  very  large 
petals,  slightly  toothed  at  the  summit,  a  particular- 
ity in  which  it  is  unique,  we  believe  ;  it  is  of  a  very 
pale  rose  color,  inclining  to  white  towards  the  sum- 
mits of  the  centre  petals. — Gard.  Chronicle. 


Beautiful  New  Dahlia. — The  next  most  re- 
markable Dahlia  was  a  light  French  lilacy  flower 
with  pale  blue  lacing  all  over  the  edges,  as  in  Lady 
Elcho's  style  of  Picotee.  This  was  from  Mrs.  Jas. 
Stoddard,  the  only  lady  I  have  ever  seen  or  heard 
of  who  was  by  nature  a  thorough  Geranium  florist; 
and  Mrs.  Stoddart  has  a  stand  for  these  and  all  her 
flowers  immediately  on  the  right  side,  or  on  the 
west  side  of  the  great  Handel  Orchestra.  Only  go 
and  see  them,  and  if  you  do  not  find  them  as  1  say 
I  shall  pay  for  the  journey,  be  it  from  Caithness  or 
from  Cork.  And  the  third  most  remarkable  Dahlia 
there  was  mucronated  with  pure  gold,  to  speak  bo= 
tanically.  When  a  leaf  ends  in  a  sharp  point  or 
bristle,  botanists  say  it  is  mucronate,  instead  of  it 
will  prick  you.  "Well,  the  points  of  all  the  florets 
of  this  most  remarkable  Dahlia  are  a  little  peaked 
as  one  might  say,  and  that  will  do  for  mucronate. 
The  very  peaks  are  of  the  color  of  refined  gold,  but 
the  merest  specks  only— they  stand  as  regularly  as 
any  thing  in  Euclid  ;  and  the  ground  color  of  the 
Dahlia  is  a  rich  new  shade  of  scarlet  with  a  tinge 
of  cerise  or  magenta  in  it.  The  name  is  Gem 
(Stafford.),  and  it  was  exhibited  by  Mr.  Sladden, 
of  Ash,  near  Sandwich.— (7o<.  Gardener. 


"wcr 


Kljij  6mkmxs  |!l0nij)lj. 


Fuchsia  '  Lord  of  the  Manor.  '  —  We  were  asked  a  few  days  since  if  we  would  inform  the  read- 
ers of  this  work  of  the  progress  of  the  Fuchsia  in  1863,  the  request  being  made  by  a  private  grower, 
who  buys  all  the  new  Fuchsias  every  season,  and.  who  appears  to  be  quite  dolorous  about  the  scarcity 

of  new  Fuchsias,  and  the  consequent 
loss  of  an  occasional  new  sensation.  We 
Lave  seen  a  considerable  number  of 
promising  seedlings  this  season,  but 
very  few  that  we  would  venture  to  bring 
forward  as  worthy  of  a  place  in  history. 
Among  the  single-flowered  seedlings 
we  have  nothing  to  equal  the  two  sent 
out  this  season  by  Messrs.  Pince  and 
Lucombe,  namely  '  Exhibitor'  and  the 
'Earl  of  Devon,'  and  we  imagine  it  will 
be  many,  many  years  ere  they  are  sur- 
passed, for  they  combine  the  massive- 
ness  and  grandeur  of  the  double  with 
the  exquisite  elegance  of  the  single 
flower,  and  though  the  largest  singles 
yet  produced,  the  plants  bloom  as  pro- 
fusely as  Banks'  Glory,  and  that  most 
showy  of  all  Fuchsias,  the  old  Alpha. 
We  can  now,  however,  select  one  from 
among  the  new  double  Fuchsias  as  su- 
per-excellent ;  the  raiser  is  Mr.  George 
Fry,  of  Manor  Nursery,  Manor  Lane, 
Lee,  Kent,  and  the  Fuchsia  .has  been 
named  '  Lord  of  the  Manor.'  This  is  a 
flower  of  immense  size,  well  propor- 
tioned, and  unu.sually  attractive  in  col- 
or and  habit.  The  sepals  are  bright 
carmine,  thick,  fleshy,  quite  reflexed, 
tube  long  and  slender,  and  of  the  same 
color.  The  corolla  consists  of  broad, 
smooth,  stout,  overlapping  petals,  car- 
mine at  the  base,  deepening  towards 
the  margin  into  crimson  and  crimson- 
purple.  The  figure  represents  average 
specimens  of  flower,  bud,  and  leaf  It 
will  be  seen  the  sepals  are  so  broad  as 
to  be  almost  out  of  proportion  to  the 
breadth  of  the  corolla,  but  this  is  a  de- 
fect of  trifling  importance  in  a  double 
Fuchsia,  as  we  never  expect  in  them 
the  artistic  grace  of  a  well-built  single 
flower.  'Lord  of  the  Manor'  is  un- 
questionably one  of  the  best  double 
Fuchsias  yet  produced,  and  will  be  in- 
valuable for  specimen  culture  and  ex- 
hibition. Besides  the  grandeur  of  form 
and  the  bright  color  of  the  flowers,  it 
has  two  other  good  characters— name- 
ly, a  healthy  and  ample  foliage,  and  long  slender  flower-stems.     The  flowers  thus  hang  lightly  amon^ 


'J^^^^l:^ 


ih^  €Mewtr's  Iponthlg. 


81 


the  leaves,  and  have  grace  not  common  to  double 
Fuchsias,  too  many  of  which  are  heavy  and  formal 
in  their  aspect. — Gardener  s  Wcekli/  Mag. 

PiNUS  LANCEOLATA.— This  is  a  really  noble  spe- 
men ;  I  suppose  it  is  doubtful  if  its  like  is  to  be 
found  anywhere  in  Britian.  The  height  is  fully  25 
feet,  and  is  beautifully  furnished  almost  from  the 
ground  upward.  This  plant  is  so  thickly  furnished 
with  fine  lieahhy  shoots  as  almost  completely  to 
hide  the  dead  foliage  of  preceding  years,  which,  by 
its  persistent  character  is  often  a  great  drawback  to 
the  beauty  of  the  species.  — Cor.  of  Cot.  Gardener. 


The  Botanical  Magazine  figures  the  followmg  : 

BoLBOPHYLLUM  RiilzoPHORiE  :  Mangrove  BoJ- 
hophylhun. — A  very  lovely  little  plant.  Found 
growing  on  Mangrove  trees  by  the  Nun  river,  trop- 
ical Africa.  Flowered  at  Kew  both  in  April  and 
November.  Flowers  reddish-purple,  yellow,  and 
brown,     t.  5309. 

Clomenocoma  MONTANA  :  Mo7tntain  Clomenoco- 
ma. — It  has  also  been  called  'Dy.sodia  grandiflora. ' 
Native  of  Guatemala.  Crimson  orange,  color  of 
flower  very  rich,  and  it  may  prove  to  be  a  valuable 
summer  bedding  plant,     t.  5310. 

SoNERILA  GRANDIFLORA  :   Lavge-floicered  Son- 
erila. — Native  of  the  Nilgherry  Mountains.    Intro 
duced  by  Messrs.   Low  &  Son,  Clapton   Nursery. 
Flowers  in  October.     Color  deep  purplish-crim.son. 
t.  5354. 

Tricyrtts  iiirta  :  Hairi/,  or  Thunherg  s  Iri- 
cj/rfis. — It  has  also  been  called  '  Uvularia  hirta. ' 
Mr.  Fortune  found  it  in  Japan.  It  flowered  in  No- 
vember, at  Mr.  Standish's,  Bagshot  Nursery. 
Flowers  pearly  white  dotted  with  purple,     t.  5355. 

Pitcairnia  pungens  :  Spinose  Pitcaimia.  — 
Native  of  the  Andes  in  New  Grenada.  Flowers, 
or,  rather  perianths,  orange  red.  A  very  hand- 
some greenhouse  plant,     t.  5356- 

CoRYSANTHES  LI3IBATA  :  White-edged  Corysan- 
tJies. — This  'perfect  gem'  was  introduced  from  Java 
bp  Mr.  W.  Bull,  Nursery,  King's  Road,  Chelsea. 
Flowers  in  October.  Decidedly  the  most  exquisite 
little  plant  of  its  size,  4  inches  high,  that  ever  came 
under  our  notice.  Stem  transparent,  its  solitary 
leaf  vividly  green  and  white-veined ;  petals  rich 
purple  edged  with  white,     t.  5357. 

Sedum  Sieboldii  :  SiehoMs  Sedum. — A  Stone- 
crop  from  Japan.  Introduced  by  Messrs.  Hender- 
son, Pine-apple  Place.  Leaves  glaucous,  tinged 
with  purple.     Flowers  purplish-rose.     t.  5358. 


Dammara  orientalis  :  Dammara,  or  Amhoyna 
Pitch- Pine.—^Ative  of  Moluccas.  Perhaps  the 
rarest  of  all  Conifera!  cultivated  in  Europe,  t.  5359. 


Mr.  Howard  Daniels  died  recently  in  Balti- 
more, where  he  was  superintending  the  Druid  Hill 
Park.  He  was  one  of  the  best  Land,sca[)e  Garden- 
ers in  the  United  States,  and  the  profession  sustains 
a  severe  loss  by  his  death.  He  was  fond  of  his 
business  to  an  eminent  degree,  sparing  no  pains  or 
expen.se  to  make  himself  a  thorough  master  of  the 
art.  He  had  collected  every  work  on  Horticulture 
he  could  hear  of,  and  had  probably  the  best  private 
library  of  Horticultural  books  in  the  country.  His 
greatest  fault  was  his  modesty.  Like  most  men 
of  substantial  attainments,  he  recoiled  from  com- 
petition with  quackery,  hence  he  was  not  as  well 
known  as  he  deserved  to  be  ;  and  his  end  is  another 
illustration  of  the  trite  remark,  that  we  do  not 
know  the  value  of  our  best  men  till  we  lose  them. 


Dr.  Boot,  one  of  the  most  distinguished  of 
American  botanists,  died  recently  near  London, 
where  he  had  resided  for  some  years  past.  He  was 
particularly  distinguished  for  his  researches  among 
the  difficult  tribe  of  Sedge  grasses  ( Carex. ) 


Dr.  E.  Emmons,  the  Geologist,  died  on  October 
1st,  1863,  within  the  rebel  lines  at  Brunswick,  N. 
C.  He  was  born  in  Massachusetts,  in  1798.  Prof 
Dewey,  in  Sillimans  Journal,  says  he  died  loyal 
to  the  last. 


Mr.  Charles  McIntosii.— We  regret  having 
to  announce  the  lo.ss  of  another  distinguished  gar- 
dener. Mr.  Mcintosh  died  at  his  residence,  near 
Edinburgh,  on  the  9th  ult.  He  was  born  in  1794, 
at  Abercairney,  in  Perthshire.  After  serving  as 
head  gardener  to  the  Marquis  of  Breadalbane,  Sir 
T.  Baring,  Prince  Leopold,  and  finally  the  Duke 
of  Buccleuch,  Mr.  Mcintosh  became  a  professional 
Landscape  Gardener.  He  has  been  long  and  favor- 
ably known  as  a  writer  on  horticultural  subjects, 
his  first  work,  'The  Practical  Gardener  and  Modern 
Horticulturist,'  being  published  in  1828,  and  his 
last  and  longest  work,  'The  Book  of  the  Garden,' 
in  1863  ;  but  as  far  back  as  1825  he  communicated 
to  the  Gardeners'  Magazine  drawings  and  descrip- 
tions of  a  new  verge  cutter,  and  a  tub  suitable  for 
the  growth  of  Oranges,  or  other  large  shrubs. 


^s^  iarbtncr's  M«Ak- 


C|e  ^nxkuu  pontlljr. 


PHILADELPHIA,  MARCH,  1864. 


Jr3=  All  Communications  for  the  Editor  should  he  addressod, 
"Thomas  Meehan,  Germantown, Philadelphia," and  Business  Let. 
ters  directed  to  "W.  Q.  P.  Brinckloe,  Box         Philadelphia." 


For  Terms  of  Subscription  see  second  page  cover. 

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COUNTRY    LIFE. 

Reports  of  enormous  profits  from  fruit  raising, 
or  some  other  branch  of  husbandry,  are  continually 
paraded  in  the  public  papers.  "  A  German  Far- 
mer, at  Sandusky,  made  over  $900  per  acre  in 
Grapes  last  year."  Another  man  in  Delaware, 
"  made  over  $10,000  clear  on  one  hundred  acres  of 
Peach  trees."  Again  another  "  netted  $5000  on 
seven  acres  of  Strawberries,"  and  one  fortunate 
individual  "made  $2000  on  an  acre  of  Blackber- 
ries." These  are  specimens  of  strange  stories, 
such  as,  no  doubt,  all  our  readers  have  heard  of, 
during  the  past  year. 

All  these  things  are  simple  absurdities.  The 
laws  of  trade  admit  of  no  such  large  profits.  Com- 
petition invariably  keeps  all  things  at  the  lowest 
paying  profits— and  whenever  any  one  man  can  ob- 
tain large  returns  on  small  investments,  it  is  owing 
to  some  new  discovery  he  has  made  for  himself; 
or  to  some  natural  faculty  of  business  shrewdness 
with   which    nature    or    education    has   endowed 

him. 

So  ftir  as  the  profits  of  fruit  raising  are  concerned, 
a  shoemaker  or  a  tailor,  who  thoroughly  under- 
stands his  business,  will  make  more  money  than  a 
fruit  raiser  who  does  not ;  yet,  all  advantages  being 
equal,  there  is  no  doubt  but  that  an  intelligent 
and  business  like  investment  in  the  raising  ot  fruit 
is,  to  say  the  least,  as  profitable  and  as  certain  an 
investment,  in  the  long  run,  as  any  pursuit  a  man 
can  engage  in.  It  is  the  ridiculous  or  exaggerated 
stories  of  profits  that  we  object  to.  They  do  no 
good  to  any  one,  but  they  do  immense  harm  in  a 
quarter  not  expected.  A  few  thoughtless  men, 
who  have  failed  or  are  unfitted  for  other  pursuits, 
in  the  hope  of  reanimating  their  joyless  lives  or 
cashless  pockets,  are  tempted  to  embark  in  the 
speculation,  and  usually  fiil,  disgusting  and  debar- 
ring even  other  men  of  the  same  calibre  as  them- 

mss — 


selves  from  attempting  it  for  awhile ;  but  rarely 
is  an  intelligent  business  man  caught  by  the  figures. 
Their  glaring  absurdity  disinclines  him  to  examine 
what  little  of  solid  worth  there  is  beneath  them. 

Enormous  profits  are  occasionally  made  from  fruit 
raising,  as  they  may  be  from  making  buttons  ;  but 
in  every  case  we  know  it  was  the  business  tapt  that 
did  it.  Peach  raising  for  instance.  We  remem- 
ber a  case,  where  a  man  unexpectedly  found  him- 
self the  owner  of  a  very  large  crop  of  Peaches.  He 
was  a  wealthy  man,  having  already  succeeded  well 
in  his  regular  business.  Figuring  up,  he  found 
that  at  the  regular  rates  of  transportation,  and  the 
price  then  ruling  in  his  nearest  market,  they  would 
yield  him  a  handsome  profit ;  but  he  had  sense 
enough  to  know  that  when  his  large  crop  was 
brought  into  market  the  prices  would  fall,  and  thus 
it  became  a  question.  Some  of  the  usual  expenses 
of  marketing  had  to  be  reduced  to  admit  of  this, 
and  his  decision  was  to  buy  a  steamboat,  and  he 
took  not  only  his  own,  but  his  neighbors'  peaches 
to  market  besides.  After  awhile  he  took  passen- 
gers  and  freight  of  other  kinds ;  and  there  is  no 
doubt  he  did  make  an  enormous  profit  on  his 
peaches  in  this  way. 

We  have  been  at  some  pains  to  ascertain  what  is 
the  profit  of  agricultural  pursuits,  as  they  are  gen- 
erally followed  with  us — considering  fruit-growing 
for  market  as  one  of  the  branches  of  agriculture — 
and  are  satisfied  it  does  not  average  2|  per 
cent.  Instances  are  plenty,  where  one  crop  or 
one  season  shows  an  enormous  gain,  but  the  fair 
thing  is  to  take  a  five,  or  at  least,  a  three  years' 
course  of  the  whole  estate. 

In  the  instances  where  science  and  good  practical 
shrewdness  have  gone  together,  we  find  that  an 
average  of  10  per  cent,  on  a  five  years'  course  is  a 
certain  result.  We  have  no  hesitation  in  saying,  that 
fruit-raising  will  average  this  annually,  without 
any  extraordinary  talent,  and  as  certainly  as  the 
best  stock  security  in  the  land. 

As  often  enjoyed,  country  life  is  an  expensive 
thing.  It  takes  a  farm  in  the  city  to  keep  up  the 
fixrm  in  the  country.  But  there  is  no  reason  that 
we  know  of,  why  the  majority  of  our  heavy  mer- 
chants, might  not  have  their  self  sustaining  fruit 
and  regular  agricultural  stock  farms,  within  ten, 
twenty  or  even  fifly  miles  of  their  places  of  busi- 
ness, on  which  they  would  either  live  altogether, 
if  not  too  inconvenient  for  daily  access— or  several 
months  in  summer  if  farther  off. 

And  live  too,  as  Heaven  intended  them  to  live— 
a  part  of  nature— not  to  support  her,  but  to  be  by 
her  supported.     To  share  in  the  warmth   and  thus 


m^^ 


KIi^  §m&tmfri  Jftonitjk 


83 


shine — the  cool  bracing  air — the  music  of  the  birds, 
the  beauty  of  the  flowers,  the  rippling  of  the  Tun- 
ing waters,  and  the  inunierable  other  blessings, 
mental,  moral  and  physical,  which  nature  liberally 
provides  for  all  her  children  who  follow  her  in  all 
these  natural  ways.  We  know  of  none  so  insensible 
to  the  pleasures  of  country  life,  as  not  to  be  willing 
to  forego  some  conveniences,  that  he  and  his  family 
may  enjoy  it  at  least  a  portion  of  the  year  ;  but  it 
is  only  natural  for  him  to  expect,  that  the  invest- 
ment should  in  return  pay  its  own  expenses,  as  it 
certainly  can  and  should  do. 

It  is  for  intelligent  capitalists,  among  the  agri- 
cultural community,  to  show  citizens  what  really 
can  be  done  on  a  farm — not  by  absurd  stories,  or 
an  occasional  lucky  hit  on  some  one  crop  ;  but  by 
a  carefully  prepared  balance  sheet  for  a  series  of 
years,  in  a  business  way.  The  mere  health  and 
pleasures  alone  of  country  life,  will  never  attract 
capital  in  anj^  way  to  the  soil.  But  prove  that  in 
addition  to  this,  there  is  a  regular  income  of  10  per 
cent,  per  annum  ;  and  country  seats  and  improved 
farms  will  spring  up  around  our  cities  as  by  magic, 
and  the  whole  country  reap  an  estimable  benefit,  for 
no  trite  saying  is  truer,  than  that  improved  agri- 
culture is  the  basis  of  a  nation's  continued  pros- 
perity. 

IMAGINATION    AND    FANCY    IN    GAR- 
DENING. 

The  celebrated  English  Landscape  Gardener,  J. 
C  Loudon,  was  a  man  of  unusually  keen  and 
correct  perceptions.  He  once  expressed  himself 
astonished  that  Americans,  with  so  much  inimita- 
ble natural  scenery,  and  with  indeed  natural  sce- 
nery of  every  description  so  abundantly  about 
them,  should  be  satisfied  with,  what  the  English 
term,  the  natural  system  of  Landscape  Gardening. 
In  this.  Loudon  was  right.  In  Europe  where  art 
is  everywhere,  a  truly  natural  design  in  gardening  is 
a  pleasant  luxury — a  relief  from  the  every  day  occur- 
rece  of  an  artificial  scene.  It  is  hence  that  the 
Dutch  style  of  gardening  soon  gave  place  to  the 
modern  one,  when  once  fairly  understood.  Right 
lines  and  angles,  to  a  nation  which  had  little  of  na- 
ture loft,  soon  gave  way  to  curves  and  irregularities — 
and  we  who  have  nature  enough  and  to  spare,  con- 
tinue to  imitate  them, erroneously  estimating  beauty 
to  lie  in  certain  inherent  principles,  instead  of  the 
circumstances  under  which  seen. 

The  writer  has  nearly  stood  alone  in  urging  this 
point  on  the  attention  of  American  gardeners. 
One  of  the  earliest  efforts  of  his  pen,  was  an  article 
to  the  Horticulturist,  expressing  these  views ;  but 
its  lamented   editor,   Mr.  Downing,  was  so  fully 


imbued  with  the  "natural  style,"  as  laid  down  in 
his  Landscape  Gardening— and  that  truly  talented 
work  had  gained  for  its  author  such  a  well  merited 
claim  on  the  horticultural  community,  as  an  au- 
thority in  these  matters,  that,  to  this  day,  Ameri- 
can Landscape  Gardening  is  measured  by  the  rule 
of  how  far  it  is  an  '  imitation  '  of  nature." 

In  our  country  we  have  enough  of  nature  on 
every  side.  We  have  never  yet  seen  the  man, 
however  great  might  be  his  love  of  nature— no 
matter  how  beautifully  natural  the  spot  he  selected 
for  a  house,  who  did  not  feel  a  natural  impulse 
that  something  more  was  required  of  him.  He 
had  to  dress  it,  and  shave  it,  and  trim  it,  as  surely 
as  he  would  do  to  his  own  personality.  Nature  in 
one  sense,  may  make  the  man ;  but  in  another, 
and  very  essential  sense,  it  is  the  tailor  who  goes 
largely  into  his  make  up  ;  and  so  it  is  art  makes 
Landscape  Gardening.  Let  nature  make  as  pretty 
a  scene  as  she  may,  man  must  do  more  than  she 
does,  or  can  do,  before  it  will  be  a  garden. 

It  is  curious  to  notice,  how  universally  the  uned- 
ucated American— that  is,  uneducated  in  the  prin- 
ciples of  natural  taste,  as  laid  down  by  Downing 
and  others— rebel  against  the  laws  of  said  taste  , 
and  we  find  a  striking  inconsistency  almost  as  uni- 
versal in  the  practice  of  the  most  ardent  professors 
of  this  school  of  garden  artists.  And  it  is  still 
more  singular,  that  the  greatest  successes  are 
where  the  rules  of  the  master  have  been  the 
most  set  aside.  When  a  man  decides  to  lay 
out  a  place,  if  conscious  of  his  own  deficiencies,  he 
sends  for  his  Landscape  Gardener;  and  he  is 
shocked  to  learn  that  the  straight  avenue,  lined 
with  shady  and  beautiful  trees,  which  he  always 
thought  so  grand,  is,  from  its  being  merely  straight, 
in  bad  taste,  and  must  not  be  considered ;  and  all 
his  pretty  geometric  styles  summarily  laid  aside  as 
perfectly  inadmissible.  In  view  of  his  concious 
ignorance,  however,  he  gives  way  for  a  time  ;  but 
invariably  conies  to  insist  at  the  last,  that  his  trees 
at  least  shall  be  straight,  regular,  compact,  well 
finished,  perfectly  balanced— in  short  be,  what  is 
well  known  to  the  trade,  as  "  perfect  specimens," 
and  in  short,  it  is  lost  time  to  endeavor  to  convince 
him,  that  the  crookedness  of  an  oak  is  its  greatest 
beauty. 

And  it  is  in  those  places,  where  we  find  the  rule 
of  following  nature  the  most  departed  from,  that 
we  see  the  most  successful  instances  of  Landscape 
Gardening.  The  best  instance  that  occurs  to  us  as 
we  write,  is  thecountry  seat  of  John  Asnurst,  Esq., 
in  Delaware  County,  near  Philadelphia.  We  have 
had  but  one  opportunity  of  ever  seeing  this  placa, 


====^'' 


84 


^^  §mk\xtfs  (PoutMg. 


and  then  but  for  a  few  hurried  minutes,  and  have 
no  notes ;  but  no  one  who  sees  it  but  for  a  few 
moments,  will  never  forget  its  chief  features,  and, 
associating  pleasant  recollections  with  them,  feel 
in  this  fact  alone,  an  instructive  certainty,  that 
the  ''  principle  "  is  correct. 

On  entering  from  the  main  road,  the  drive  is  bj- 
a  straight  avenue,  perhaps  the  eighth  of  a  mile  long. 
On  each  side  of  this  drive  is  a  strip  of  lawn, 
about  1 ")  ft.  wide,  and  then  a  row  of  deciduous  trees 
rather  close  together,  not  less,  we  believe,  than  ten 
feet  apart.  The  trees  are  perhaps  40  years  old,  and 
their  soft  mellow  foliage,  softened  still  more  by  the 
bold  width  of  green  turf  beneath,  must  make  it  an 
exceedingly  pleasant  summer  drive.  The  usual 
objection  that  straight  roads  are  monotonous,  does 
not  here  apply.  Every  foot  of  the  road,  as  one 
progresses,  reveals  new  scenery,  and  the  whole 
journey  is  a  moving  ]ianorama  of  the  prettiest  char- 
acter, excepting  that  we  move  instead  of  the  pic- 
ture. At  the  termination  of  the  straight  avenue, 
which  is  on  level  ground,  the  mansion  is  seen  on 
the  top  of  a  high,  but  gentle  rise,  directly  in  front. 
The  character  of  the  ground  here  calls  for  another 
style  of  beauty,  and  advantage  being  taken  of  a 
bridge  over  a  creek  to  terminate  the  avenue,  the 
road  is  made  to  turn  gradually  and  gracefully,  and 
wind  easily  around  the  hill  to  the  front  door. 

Ascending  the  hill,  you  now  begin  to  read  the 
planter's  mind  as  clearly  by  his  works  as  if  he  were 
present  and  told  you  all.     We  use  the  masculine 
form  as  most  expressive  of  an  unknown  cause,  yet 
it  is  tolerably  evident  that  to  a  lady's  fancy  much 
that  we  see  is  owed.     A  few  scattered  shrubs,  of 
rare  and  choice  kinds,  first  remind  you  that  you  are 
fast  leaving  unshorn  nature,  and  are  reaching  the 
domains  of  art.     These   are  first  only  on  one  side. 
Farther  on,   the   other  side  has  a  very  few,   and 
then    again,    on   the    other,    they    become    quite 
crowded  and  begin  to  take  regular  forms  in  their 
massed  outlines.     Not  satisfied  with  art,  thus  far, 
it    is     at    length     made    more    apparent     by     a 
border  of  osage  orange,  thick   as  a  hedge— it  is  a 
hedge  in  fact,  on  the  roadside  border  of  the  term- 
ination  of  this  piece  of  shrubbery.      The    whole 
design  of  the  place  has  too  clear  a  language  for  us 
to  suppose  this  fancy  means  nothing,  so  we  look 
about  for  the  explanation.     It  is  found  in  an  al- 
cove or  bower,  across  the  lawn,  between  which  and 
the  road,   the  shrubbery  is  thrown.     This   alcove 
looks  down    on    the    shrubbery,    and   the   osage 
orange  will  form  a  lovely  back  ground  to  the  view 
after  it  grows  up.     The  alcove  itself  is  formed,  we 
think,  of  Hawthorn,  planted  so  as  to  form  about 


two  thirds  of  the  outline  of  a  circle  about  ten  feet 
in  diameter.  It  was  kept  neatly  trimmed  in  hedge 
fashion,  and  was  about  six  feet  high  ;  making  a 
perfect  screen  from  all  observers.  A  few  feet  from 
the  Hawthorn,  on  the  outside,  were  six  or  eight 
trees  of  the  Kentucky  coffee,  about  20  or  25  feet 
high,  forming  a  grateful  summer  shade  for  the  re- 
treat beneath. 

Returning  to  the  road,  and  advancing  towards 
the  house,  by  its  left  hand  course,  on  the  right  the 
eye  takes  in,  on  a  rough  rocky  hill,  a  splendid  piece 
of  natural  wood,  whose  age  carries  us  back  to  a  long 
past  generation.  There  is  too  much  cultivation  and 
refinement  around  it,  to  favor  barbaric  associations 
with  the  early  history  of  this  country.  The  whole 
picture  has  an  eminently  classic  look.  One  might 
fancy  that  in  such  a  place  as  this : 

There  lived  a  Kaight 

Not  far  from  thence,  now  for  many  years 

A  hermit,  who  had  prayed,  labored  and  prayed. 

And  even  laboring  had  scooped  himself 

In  the  hard  rock  a  chapel  and  a  liall 

On  massivecniuinus,  likea  shorecliff  cave, 

And  cells  and  eliivmbeis  :  a'l  so  fair  and  dry  ; 

The  green  lisht,  from  the  rneadoves  underneath, 

Struck  up  and  lined  along  the  milky  roofs; 

And  in  the  meadows  tremulous  aspen  trees 

And  noDlars  made  a  noise  of  falling  showers. 

All  in  harmony  with  these  feelings,  on  the  edge 
of  the  wood,  we  come  to  an  old  ruin,  as  completely 
ivy  covered  as  it  well  can  be.  There  is  nothing 
but  the  walls  standing.  The  effect  of  the  ivy  is 
much  increased  by  large  specimens  of  tree  box, 
perhaps  15  feet  high,  standing  about  the  ruin,  the 
shade  from  these  box  trees,  adding  to  the  deep  re- 
cesses of  the  ruined  walls.  In  the  neighborhood 
of  the  ruin  are  old  specimens  of  the  bush  or  edging 
box— probably  approaching  a  hundred  years  of  age, 
but  which  we  thought  had  not  been  made  as  much 
use  of  as  they  might  have  been,  probably  from  a 
consciousness  of  the  danger  of  failure;  and  we  had 
to  admit  to  ourselves  the  wisdom  of  handling  it, 
either  with  much  caution  or  not  at  all. 

Leaving,  however,  the  right  with  its  antique  as- 
sociations, and  following  the  left  course  of  the  road, 
we  are  led  to  read  a  treatise  on  modern  garden- 
ing, with  evidently  no  fear  of  the  rules  of  "na- 
ture "  in  the  author's  mind. 

On  ascending  to  the  top  of  the  hill,  we  are  rather 
taken  by  suprise,  to  find  it  a  nearly  level  terrace  of 
about  an  acre,  extending  from  the  house  in  front. 
This  has  been  made,  and  instead  of  the  edge  of 
of  terrace  being  a  usual  sodded  slope,  the  slope 
is  a  dry  wall,  and  in  and  out  of  the  stones  of  this 
wall,  a  hedge  of  different  mixed  plants,  principally 
Honey  Locust    and  Washington    Hawthorn  has 


^^} 


^]x([  (^mkuf^  JKonthlg, 


85 


grown  up.  The  hedge  completely  disguises  the 
fact  of  a  terrace  being  there,  until  one  is  on  it, 
while  the  walling  up  (done,  we  suppose,  after  the 
hedge  was  planted)  keeps  the  soil  of  the  embank- 
ment firm  in  its  place. 

On  the  terrace,  shrubbery  is  arranged  in  beds  and 
belts,  sometimes  backing,  and  sometimes  bordering 
flower  beds.  Sometimes  dividing  one  bed  or  border 
from  another ;  ever  fanciful,  but  always  full  of 
meaning.  In  some  places  the  walks  are  straight, 
in  others  curved,  just  as  the  carriage  road  is,  and 
just  as  they  ought  to  be.  They  express  in  them- 
selves what  they  are  for,  and  why  they  were  made 
as  they  are,  and  their  reasoning  convinces  us.  The 
l^lace  is  by  no  means  perfection — and  herein  is  the 
beauty  of  a  place  truly  artistic — it  even  affords 
scope  for  inipr(^[,"ement. 

We  don't  want  anything  more  beautiful  than 
nature. 

It  is  a  splendid  picture  on  which  we  gaze,  and 
never  tire  ;  but  we  want  the  art  of  the  gardener  to 
put  life  in  this  picture,  to  clothe  its  bare  form,  and 
give  it  an  expressive  countenance,  and  a  language 
by  which  we  may  learn  the  author's  meaning  ;  and 
if  that  meaning  shall  interest  and  please  us ;  ele- 
vate our  thoughts,  and  exercise  a  conscious  refi- 
ning influence  over  all  we  do — whether  we  receive 
all  these  blessings  like  school  boys  by  "pot  hooks 
or  hangers" — by  straight  lines,  or  by  circles — we 
shall,  at  least,  feel  that  we  have  imbibed  the  real 
spirit  of  Landscape  Gardening,  before  which  mere 
"  natural  rules  of  form  "  must  evei'  bow. 


THE    NEW    VOLUME    OP    THE    GARDEN- 
ER'S   MONTHLY. 

The  publisher  desires  to  thank  the  friends  of  the 
Montlihj  for  their  successful  efforts  in  increasing 
^he  circulation  of  the  magazine. 

In  one  respect  an  evil  has  resulted.  Though  ex- 
pecting an  increased  list,  he  was  unprepared  for  one 
so  great.  Consequently  the  edition  was  exhausted 
before  all  got  supplied,  and  many  complaints  of  the 
non-arrival  of  numbers  was  the  natural  consequence. 
As  the  Mnntlihi  is  stereotyped,  another  edition  had 
to  be  struck  off,  causing  some  delay,  for  which,  he 
hopes,  under  the  circumstances,  to  be  pardoned. 


^3^Coinmunications  for  this  d  >partment  must  reach  the  Editor 
an  or  before  the  10th  of  the  month. 
Jl3=The  Editor  cannot  answer  letters  for  this  department  pri- 

rately. 


Rogers'  Hybrid,  No.  15,  again — Lindley  & 
Ui/i/cs,  Bridgeport^  Conn. — In  the  fall  of  1862,  we 
purchased  of  jMr.  Edward  S.  Rogers,  some  thousand 
ej'es  of  his  hybrids.  No.  4,  15  and  19. 

We  were  successful  in  growing  them,  and  applied 
to  Mr.  Rogers  to  get  us  an  electrotype,  by  means 
of  which,  to  bring  our  vines  before  the  public. 

He  replied  tons  as  follows :  "I  send  you  the 
blocks  of  No.  4  and  15,  by  Express,  which  you  can 
return  after  using.  And  as  the  engravings  are  not 
good  representations,  and  not  much  more  than  half 
the  size,  these  kinds  were  grown  last  season,  1  do 
not  think  it  iconUl  he  Jiardhj  worth  while  to  get 
electrotypes  of  them  from  these  blocks,  but  in  the 
fall  to  get  out  some  from  better  specimens." 

On  receiving  the  blocks,  we  thought  the  size  as 
large  as  the  public  credulity  was  prepared  for,  and 
preferred  having  the  grapes  larger  than  represen- 
ted, rather  than  smaller,  and  feeling  a  delicacy  in 
regard  to  using  Mr.  Rogers'  blocks  for  all  our 
printing,  we  took  them  to  New  York  and  had  elec- 
trotypes taken  from  them,  in  accordance  with  the 
spirit  of  Mr.  Rogers'  note,  from  which  we  have 
quoted  above. 

We  loaned  them  to  3^ou,  under  the  impression, 
that  all  growers,  as  well  as  the  public,  would  be 
benefited  by  giving  them  the  widest  publicity. 

PS. — In  a  note,  just  received  from  Mr.  Rogers, 
he  informs  us  that  the  blocks  which  he  loaned  us 
were  presented  to  him  by  IMr.  Wilder,  v?hich  fact 
he  did  not  inform  us  of  at  the  time. 


Note  on  the  Rignonia  Capreolata  and  R. 
CRUCIGERA— J..  W.  Corson,  Plymouth  Meeting, 
p^f — I  desire  to  know  whether  there  are  two  dis- 
tinct species  of  the  Rignonia,  one  called  Crueigcra 
and  the  other  Capreolata,  or  whether  the  two 
names  are  used  as  one  species. 

I  find  both  named  on  the  sale  catalogue  of  the 
Rartram  garden,  the  common  names  added,  were, 
for  the  Capreolata,  the  four  leaved,  and  for  the 
Crucigera,  the  cross  bearing  ;  both,  in  the  list,  of 
hardy  vines.  In  the  Ilortus  Kewensis,  published 
in  1812,  being  a  Catalogue  of  Plants,  cultivated  in 
the  gardens  at  Kew,  England,  they  are  also  both 
described  asfoliis  congugatis  cirrhosis,  the  Crucigera 


.i@ 


""^KT 


lit 


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u 


86 


Ulje  gardener's  JHontljlj. 


also  stated  to  be  hifoh'a  et  trifnlin  ligvo  criice  sig- 
nato,  and  designated  as  Cross  bearing  Trumpet 
Creeper,  native  of  South  An.erioa,  and  marked  as  a 
woody  stove  plant — while  the  Caprrnhita  is  called 
four-leaved  Trumpet  flower,  native  of  North  Ame- 
rica, and  marked  as  a  hardy  woody  plant. 

In  the  American  edition  of  Rees'  new  Cyclopedia, 
the  description  of  Crucigera,  is  "leaves  conjugate 
cirrhose.  leaflets  cordate,  stem  muricated"  "deriving 
its  trivial  name  from  a  section  of  the  stem,  which 
represents  a  cross,  sent  to  IMr.  IMiller  from  Cam- 
peachj."  Then  follows,  in  brackets,  a  statement, 
signed  Bartram,  probably  William,  that  the  people 
of  Carolina  used  the  vines,  with  other  ingredients, 
in  making  beer.  And  in  the  same  work  the  Cap- 
reohtta  is  described  "leaves  conjugate,  cirrhose, 
leaflets  cordate  lanceolate, bottom  leaves  simple,  also 
sent  to  Mr.  Miller  from  Campeachy,  and  a  native 
of  Virginia  and  Carolina."  In  Elliott's  sketch  of 
the  plants,  in  the  Carolinas  and  Georgia,  he  names 
only  the  Capreolata,  which  he  notices  as  the  Cap- 
reolata  of  Michaux,  of  Pursh,  and  of  the  species 
jilantarum  ;  being  the  same  as  the  Crucigera  of 
Walter,  and  is  described  as  "  leaves  conjugate,  cirr- 
hose the  lower  ternate,  leaflets  ovate  cordate  acu- 
minate," no  mention  of  four-leaved,  or  of  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  cross  section  of  the  vine. 

In  "  Nutall's  Genera,"  Crucigera  is  mentioned 
as  not  indigenous  to  the  United  States. 

In  "Michaux's  Flora  of  North  America,"  the 
Caprcolnta  is  described  as  two-leaved,  but  no  notice 
is  taken  of  the  singular  appearance  of  the  cross  sec- 
tion of  the  vine. 

And  in  "Gray's  Manual,"  the  C<tpreolntao\\\y\s 
described,  in  which,  among  other  things,  is  "leaves 
of  two  ovate  or  oblong  leaflets,  and  a  banished  ten- 
dril, often  with  a  pair  of  accessory  leaves  in  the 
axil,  resembling  stipules.  Virginia,  Kentucky  and 
westward,  a  transverse  section  of  the  wood  showing 
a  cross. 

Notwithstanding  the  statement,  that  in  two  col- 
lections of  plants,  under  the  direction  of  worthy 
Botanists,  both  species  are  mentioned  as  being  cul- 
tivated at  the  same  time.  The  description  by 
Grey,  which  is  the  only  specific  description,  that 
notices  the  accessory  leaves,  leads  to  the  doubt, 
whether  it  is  not  the  four-leaved  Trumpet  Creeper 
and  also  thy  cross-bearing. 

A  line  or  two  in  the  Gardeners  Monthly  may 
give  the  opinion. 

[We  have  seen  these  Bignonias  in  many  collec- 
tions, sometimes  under  one  name  and  again  under 
the  other,  and  have  settled  down  to  the  opinion, 
that  there  is  but  one  species.     The  only  work  we 


have  by  us  in  which  the  two  are  described,  is  the 
old  Herbal  of  Thomas  Green,  where  they  are  given 
as  distinct,  but  like  the  descriptions  in  Gordon's 
Pinetum,  noticed  last  month,  the  descriptions  are 
so  nearly  alike,  that  the  inference  is  fliir,  that  they 
are  both  the  same.  We  should  be  glad  if  any  of 
our  botanical  readers  could  decide  the  point  for 
us.] 


The  Cold  of  January  in  the  South  West. — 
Our  section  of  the  country  seems  to  have  e.scaped 
the  very  severe  cold  "  snap  "  of  the  1st  of  January. 
Here  in  Germantown,  the  thermometer  did  not  go 
below  5°. 

In  Kentucky,  Tennessee  and  Missouri,  it  was  very 
severe. 

A  correspondent  from  Demosville,  says: — The 
1st  day  of  January,  1864,  was  th^  coldest  day  that 
was  ever  seen  in  Northern  Kentucky.  The  ther- 
mometer stood  10°  below  Zero  all  day. 

Sweet  Cherries  are  nearly  all  killed  to  the  ground, 
both  young  and  old.  Peach  trees  are  all  "  gone  by 
the  board."  Has  this  been  the  case  all  over  the 
country  ? 

A  lady,  writing  from  Henderson,  Kentucky, 
says: — The  glass  was  1G°  below  Zero,  and  though 
my  hot  and  greenhouses  were  heated  by  hot  water, 
and  had  board  shutters,  my  i^lants  were  destroyed. 
Peaches,  and  many  Pears  have  been  injured,  but 
Cherries  look  well. 

Our  Springfield,  Mo.,  correspondent, writes  :  We 
have  experienced  the  most  intense  cold  ever  known 
to  that  very  common,  but  somewhat  mystical  per- 
sonage, "  the  oldest  inhabitant."  The  last  day  of 
the  old  year,  wind  from  the  north-west,  blew  a  per- 
fect hurricane,  accompanied  with  a  heavy  f;^ll  of 
snow:  Thermometer  at  7  A.M.,  1°  above  Zero;  at 
5  P.  M.,  2°  below. 

The  morning  of  the  first,  Thermometer  at  7,  26° 
below;  at  12,  15°  ;  at  5  P.  M.,  4°  below. 

The  fury  of  the  blast  Thursday  and  Thursday 
night,  was  truly  appalling  to  witness,  as  fro- 
zen noses  and  frozen  "  toeses  "  amply  attest.  A 
number  of  persons  actually  froze  to  death.  Our 
hardiest  grapes  were  much  injured,  unA  fruit  trees, 
in  some  localities,  nearly  or  quite  destroyed. 


Grapes  for  Greenhouse. — Novice,  CoJumLus, 
Ohio. — A  friend  has  a  greenhouse,  in  which  he 
wishes  to  cultivate  some  Foreign  Grapes.  What 
are  the  best  four  varieties  for  that  purpose  ?  Can 
grapes  and  greenhouse  plants  be  grown  successfully 
in  the  same  house? 

[Buckland  Sweetwater,  Golden  Hamburg,  Grizzly 


:=^^^ 


Sth^  §arien^r's  <pi0nthlg. 


Prontignac.  Grapes  can  be  grown  prettywell  with 
plants ;  but  of  course  not  quite  as  well  as  wlien 
separate.  ] 

Brick  Making  Machine — J.  G.  L.,  Mount 
Plenmnt,  Wefitmoreland  Co.,  Pa.,  tcrites: — 1  no- 
ticed in  one  of  your  J\Jonthlys,  dated  March,  1860, 
Vol.  ii.  No.  3,  page  78,  an  article  on  Drain  Tiles, 
describing  a  machine  for  making  tiles  and  brick 
right  from  the  clay  bank  without  the  use  of  the 
pug  mill.  Plea.se  do  me  the  kindness,  and  let  me 
know  where  such  a  machine  can  be  purchased. 

[We  know  nothing  more,  than  noticed  on  the 
page  referred  to,  but  should  be  glad  to  hear  more 
from  any  one  who  has  tried  it.] 


(Il 


Correction — T.  S.  K.  sends  us  the  following 
correction  : 

On  page  371,   Dec,  1863,  you  say,  '^oration,'' 
"a   public   address,"    and    orallij,  "by   word    of 
mouth,"  are,   no  doubt,   derived  from  the  Latin 
ora,  "  a  sea  coast." 

Permit  me  to  suggest  that  these  words  are  de- 
rived from  Os,  oris,  a  mouth  ;  as  Cicero  says :  in 
ore  omnium  esse — that  is,  in  everybody's  mouth,  or 
ihe  common  talk  ;  another  Latin  phrase  of  the 
same  meaning,  is  vi  ora  vidgi — that  is,  in  the 
mouth  of  the  people,  or  the  common  talk. 

Ora,  orce,  is  the  Latin  for  the  extremity  of  a 
thing,  the  border,  edge,  margin,  coast,  sea  side, 
end,  boundary,  shore,  &c. 

I  know  of  no  P^nglish  word,  derived  from  ora  ; 
Horizon  is  Grreek. 

[Our  lingual  studies  scarcely  warrant  us  in  going 
deeply  into  this  matter.  We  intended  to  illustrate 
the  difficulty  of  tracing  the  ancient  roots  of  mod- 
ern words,  and  possibly  chose  an  unfortunate 
illustration.  We  knew  that  Webster  gives  oris  as 
the  root  of  '  oration,'  but  supposed  he  was  in  error, 
as  he  certainly  often  is  in  other  respects. 

In  our  early  latin  studies,  it  struck  us  as  singular 
that  the  term  oratio  was  of  somewhat  modern 
use,  and  confined,  through  all  its  change  of  form, 
to  conditions  of  'declamation.'  If  we  remember 
rightly,  it  is  more  used  by  Cicero  than  by  any  other 
Latin  writer.  The  older  Latin  authors  seem  to 
have  relied  more  on  the  verb  Concio  to  express 
public  speaking, — and  when  a  higher  order  of 
eloquence  was  attached  to  the  idea,  a  new  word 
was  called  in  to  express  it,  as  is  the  case  with  new 
ideas  to  this  day. 

We  give  this  opinion,  however  with  diffidence, 
making  no  pretension  to  extra  classical,  attain- 
ments. J 


Grapes  and  Dwarf  Pears  for  Canada — 
A.  B.,  Toronto,  inquires. — I  am  going  to  plant 
a  couple  of  acres,  next  spring,  with  dwarf  fruit 
trees,  and  about  one  acre  of  grape  vines.  Would 
you  please  give  me  hint  as  to  best  kind  of  grape 
for  this  locality,  and  the  best  kinds  of  dwarf  pears, 
for  this  locality. 

I  have  my  grounds  thoroughly  drained,  and  have 
had  a  root  crop  in  them  this  year,  to  clean  them 
of  weeds  and  to  break  up  the  sod. 

Hoping  that  your  people  will  stop  fighting  and 
attend  to  their  gardens  is  the  earnest  desire  of  your 
correspondent. 

[For  Canada  we  should  plant,  Clinton,  Delaware, 
Concord  and  Hartford  Prolific,  among  grapes. 

Pears — Belle  Lucrative,  Beurre  d' Anjou,  Beurre 
Diel,  Beurre  Langelier,  Beurre  Superfin,  Brandy- 
wine,  Louise  Bonne  de  Jersey,  Urbaniste,  Vicar  of 
Winkfield,  Howell,  Tyson,  Passe  Colmar. 

Our  correspondent  wishes  no  more  heartily  for 
peace,  than  every  true  American  does,  and  has  done 
for  the  last  three  years ;  but  if,  when  he  finds  his 
national  ship  with  a  pretty  big  hole  knocked  in  her 
bottom,  and  is  endeavoring  to  stop  the  leak,  he  ap- 
pears a  little  excitable  and  unreasonable ;  it  is  to 
be  hoped  disinterested  lookers  on  will  bear  with 
his  weakness-is,  till  he  finishes  his  job.  If  he 
founders  at  la.st,  'tis  but  natural  to  wish  to  float  as 
long  as  possible.] 

New  Grape — Subscriber,  Cleveland,  0. — We 
know,  really,  very  little  of  the  grape  you  name.  A 
bunch  was  sent  us  two  years  ago,  and  we  could  not 
give  a  favorable  opinion.  It  is  possible  that  the 
bunch  was  injured  by  transportation,  but  that  did 
not  occur  to  us  at  the  time.  It  is  praised  all  around, 
and  may  deserve  it — we  hesitate  till  we  know  more 
about  it.  New  fruits  are  like  old  horses,  which 
can  be  fixed  up,  by  care,  to  look  amazing  nice  for 
a  little  while  ;  but  when  we  remember  the  $20 
premium,  awarded  to  the  Clara  Grape,  and  the 
many  other  mistakes  that  have  been  made  with  new 
fruits,  we  incline  "  slightually "  to  the  doctrine, 
that  in  much  haste  there  may  be  little  speed. 


Cape  Jasmine— TT^  TF.— Will  the  editor  of 
the  Gardener's  Monthly  please  inform  me,  how  to 
manage  a  Cape  Jasmine  ? 

[Plant  it  out  in  the  open  ground,  in  rich  soil 
and  partially  shaded,  carefully  repot  in  September. 
This  is  the  easiest  and  best  way  of  growing  this 
beautiful  plant.] 

Name  of  Plant — J.  H.  Tliomson. — Lopezia 
rosea. 


Mt,  §&rimr'&  JKonthlg. 


W 


Making  Super-phosphate. —  I  procure  the 
bones  at  from  50  to  80  cents  per  100  pounds,  throw 
them  into  a  hogshead  sunk  one  half  its  depth  in 
the  ground,  (or  what  is  much  more  convenient,  in- 
to a  tight,  strong  trough,  somewhat  similar  to  those 
formerly  used  for  holding  pomace  when  making 
ciderj,  pour  over  them  10  gallons  of  water,  then 
empty  1  carboy  best  'Chamber's'  sulphuric  acid; 
and  in  that  proportion  increase  until  the  bones  are 
all  covered.  As  they  dissolve  and  sink  down,  add 
more  bones,  until  the  whole  becomes  a  thick,  pasty 
mass,  which  it  will  in  the  course  of  two  or  three 
weeks.  Care  must  be  taken  to  keep  it  covered 
tightly,  and  avoid  letting  the  acid  touch  any  part 
of  the  clothing,  as  it  will  certainly  leave  its  mark. 
When  wanted  for  use,  have  ready  along  side  of  the 
tub  a  bed  of  fine  mouldy  dry  muck  or  2ilustei%  into 
which  shovel  or  ladle  the  mass,  turn  over  and  mix 
until  sufficiently  dry  to  handle  pleasantly.  Poultry 
dung  and  plaster  are  valuable  additions.  The  result, 
from  applications  of  ])hosphate  vso  manufactured, 
has  always  been  highly  satisfactory  ;  one  applica- 
tion of  which,  to  a  field  of  rye  was  remarkable  in 
its  effects,  and  will  furnish  a  subject  for  a  future 
communication  if  desired.  I  have  sometimes  bro- 
ken or  chopped  the  bones  up  with  an  old  axe  or 
hatchet. — Wm.  P.  Townsend,  in  R.  Advertiser. 


Solvent  for  Old  Putty  and  Paint. — Soft 
soap  mixed  with  solution  of  potash  or  caustic  soda) 
or  pearl  ash  and  slaked  lime,  mixed  with  sufficient 
water  to  form  a  paste.  Either  of  these  laid  on  with 
an  old  brush  or  rag,  and  left  for  some  hours  will 
render  it  easily  removable. 


Academy  at  Lansing,  Mich. — The  Botanical 
Pcpartment  is  connected  with  the  Horticultural, 
under  the  charge  of  Mr.  A.  N.  Prentiss.  Very 
great  progress  has  been  made  in  getting  the  grounds 
supplied  with  specimens  of  such  trees,  shrubs,  and 
plants,  as  are  suitable  for  open  air  culture  in  the 
latitude  of  Lansing  ;  and  the  tuition,  so  far  has 
been  as  perfect  as  the  nature  of  the  st,udy  would 
permit ;  but  until  greenhouses  and  propagating- 
houses  are  erected,  this  study  cannot  be  as  fully 
and  thoroughly  taught  by  direct  practice,  as  is  de- 
sirable • — Exchange. 


Trer  Cotton  in  California. — I  am  now  en- 
gaged in  raising  Tree  Cotton.    The  first  year,  from 


seed,  it  grew  four  feet.  Frost  don't  affect  it.  The 
second  year  it  bears  a  small  quantity  of  cotton,  and 
the  cotton  is  mixed  with  the  seeds  ;  and  third  year 
the  cotton  and  seeds  are  separated.  After  the  third 
year  the  yield  is  one  hundred  pounds  of  cotton  to 
each  tree.  The  tree  grows  as  large  as  the  peach 
tree. — C.  E.  Campbell,  in  Prairie  Farmer. 


Onions. — Mr.  Meeker,  of  Westport,  a  famous 
cultivator  of  the  onion  crop,  thus  describes  hi.i 
mode  of  raising  them  : — 

"  Our  mode  of  preparing  the  ground  is,  as  early 
practicable  in  the  spring,  to  cart  on  about  20  tona 
of  manure  to  the  acre,  having  previously  had  it 
thrown  into  a  heap,  that  it  may  be  well  heated, 
and  thus  kill  all  noxious  weeds.  After  spreading, 
we  plow  it  in,  turning  it  in  .so  deep  that  the  harrow 
will  not  draw  it  to  the  surface.  If  it  will  not  turn 
under  readily,  a  man,  following  the  plough,  pushes 
it  into  the  furrow.  We  next  cover  it  thoroughly 
with  a  wooden-toothed  harrow,  then  use  the  brushy 
leaving  the  ground  in  good  order  for  raking,  which 
is  done  with  a  common  wooden  hay-rake.  We  then 
sow  from  o\  to  4  pounds  of  seed  to  the  acre.  When 
the  onions  are  up,  we  commence  hoeing,  and  the 
weeding  follows,  which  is  continued  at  regular  in- 
tervals, as  long  as  required.  In  September,  the 
tops  become  dry  and  fall,  when  onions  should  be 
pulled  and  spread  on  the  ground,  separating  the 
green  ones  from  the  dry.  The  latter  should  be  ra- 
ked into  heaps,  after  a  few  days  ;  for  if  allowed  to 
remain  too  long  exposed  to  the  sun,  they  will  as- 
sume a  dull-red  color,  and  be  liable  to  injury. 
When  well  cured,  remove  them  to  a  building  for 
the  winter,  where  they  should  be  spread  upon  a 
platform,  about  a  foot  from  the  floor,  giving  them 
air,  when  the  weather  will  permit.  In  topping 
them,  cut  about  an  inch  from  their  bulbs.  Hog- 
manure  and  wood^ishes  are  the  best  fertilizers  for 
this  crop." — Canada  Farmer. 

The  Lombard  Plum. — This  is  on  the  whole 
the  most  certain  and  reliable  plum  for  the  North- 
ern states.  During  the  severe  winters,  it  has  been 
scarcely  affected,  while  other  varieties  have  been 
badly  injured — it  is  a  fine  strong  grower,  and  an 
abundant  bearer.  In  recently  examining  an  expe- 
rimental orchard  of  about  60  varieties,  which  had 
been  nearly  all  stripped  of  its  fruit  by  the  curculio, 
(owing  to  absence  of  the  proprietor,  j  the  Lombard 
had  a  f;iir  crop.  The  fruit  although  not  of  the 
very  highest  quality,  is  pleasant  and  agreeable,  and 
better  than  some  famous  sorts — such  as  the  Wash- 
ton,  Smith's  Orleans,  &c. — Country  Gentleman. 


§mlmtxB  clUanthlu. 


c^ 


Tea  Eoses.— Mr.  William  Paul,  F.  R.  II.  S., 
Paul's  Nurseries,  Walthani  Cross,  contributes  the 
following  to  the  London  Gardener's  Chronicle  : 

The  Tea-scented  is  the  only  first-class  group  that 
remains  unnoticed,  and  this  is  quite  worthy  of  a 
separate  paper.  It  is  unfortunate  that  the  most 
beautiful  varieties  are,  as  a  rule,  the  tenderest. 
Those  who  have  grown  them  out  of  doors  only,  can 
form  no  idea  of  their  increased  beauty  when  culti- 
vated under  glass.  Plant  them  out  in  a  house  with 
or  without  heat ;  if  heat  be  employed  they  will  grow 
stronger,  bloom  earlier,  and  suffer  less  from  mildew. 
The  strong-growing  sorts  may  be  trained  to  pillars, 
or  up  the  rafters  of  the  house  in  the  way  of  vines, 
and  will  produce  flowers  from  every  joint.  The  in- 
termediate and  dwarfer  kinds  may  be  grown  as  py- 
ramids and  bushes.  Tea-scented  Roses  succeed 
admirably  grown  in  pots  under  glass,  especially  if 
worked  on  the  Manetti,  and  require  little  pot  room, 
and  little  pruning  when  in  a  young  state.  If  grown 
out  of  doors,  the  best  plan  is  to  plant  them  in  a 
border  in  front  of,  but  a  little  distance  from,  a  south 
wall,  for  if  fastened  to  the  wall,  they  are  liable  to 
suffer  from  the  attacks  of  lied  Spider.  Budded  on 
the  Dog  Rose  in  August,  and  allowed  to  remain 
dormant  through  the  winter,  they  form  beautitul 
objects  in  the  flower  garden  ducing  the  succeeding 
summer  and  autumn.  No  lover  of  Roses  should 
reject  the  Tea-scented  because  they  are  tender,  or 
on  the  assumption  that  they  are  difficult  of  culture; 
they  are  better  worthy  of  a  house  or  frame  than 
half  the  greenhouse  plants  that  are  cultivated,  and 
far  easier  to  manage  than  one-fourth  of  the  Hybrid 
Perpetual  Roses.  But  then  they  must  not  be  treat- 
ed as  ordinary  Roses.  If  grown  out  of  doors,  a 
warm  and  light,  rather  than  a  moist  and  heavy  soil, 
is  required,  and  they  should  not  be  pruned  till  late 
in  spring  CApril).  Distinct  in  color,  exquisite  in 
form,  rich  in  foliage,  and  surpassing  all  in  delicacy 
and  power  of  fragrance,  theydeservedlj'  hold  a  very 
high  position  among  the  subjects  of  the  'Queen  of 
Flowers. ' 

Ahricote  is  a  good  hardy  free-growing  sort,  though 
scarcely  vigorous  ;  the  flowers  are  fawn  color  v;ith 
apricot  centres,  large  and  double,  very  beautiful  as 
buds.  Adam  has  rosy  blush  flowers,  very  large  and 
full,  and  is  one'of  the  sweetest  and  best.  AmahiUs 
is  a  good,  hardy,  vigorous-growing  sort,  with  large, 
full,  flesh-colored  flowers.  Auguste  Ogier  has  large 


rosy  flowers,  with  deeper  colored  centres,  and  is  of 
moderate  growth.  Auguste  Vacher  is  distinct  and 
good ;  the  flowers  are  yellow  shaded  with  copper- 
color,  of  good  average  size  and  quite  full ;  the  growth 
is  moderate.  Belle  de  Bordeaux  is  of  rampant 
growth,  and  the  branches  are  well  clothed  with 
beautiful  deep  green  leaves  ;  the  flowers  are  pink, 
large  and  full. 

In  addition  to  the  above,  Bougere,  although  one 
of  our  oldest  Roses,  cannot  yet  be  dispensed  with  ; 
the  flowers  are  rosy  bronze,  very  large,  full,  and 
globular  ;  the  growth  is  vigorous.  Clara  Sylvain 
is  a  good  pure  white  Rose  with  creamy  centre, 
large  and  full,  of  moderate  growth.  Comtede  Paris 
is  a  beautiful  flesh-colored  flower,  shaded  with  rose; 
large,  full,  hardy  in  habit,  and  of  great  excellence. 
Comtesse  Ouva-off  is  beautiful  in  bud,  but  does  not 
always  expand  symmetrically  ;  tlie  flowers  are  rose 
shaded,  large  and  full.  Devoniensis,  which  is  an 
English  seedling  raised  at  Plymouth,  is  still  one  of 
the  best ;  the  flowers  are  pale  yellow,  very  large, 
full  and  beautiful.  Due  de  Magenta  has  immense 
salmon-colored  flowers,  which,  if  few  in  number, 
are  of  unequalled  breadth  and  substance.  Elise 
Saicvage,  Madame  William,  and  L' Enfant  trouve 
— for  I  regard  these  as  one  and  the  same — is  one 
of  the  sweetest  and  lovliest  of  the  group  ;  the  flow- 
ers are  yellow,  with  a  rich  orange-colored  centre, 
and  very  sweet ;  the  habit  is  sometimes  robust  but 
more  usually  delicate.  Unfant  de  Lyon  deserves 
a  special  word  of  commendation  on  account  of  the 
freedom  with  which  it  flowers,  and  the  exactitude 
of  its  form  ;  although  it  resembles  '  Narcisse'  a  lit- 
tle too  closely,  it  is  of  a  paler  yellow.  Eugene  Des- 
gaches  is  quite  first-class  ;  its  large,  full,  and  glob- 
ular clear  rose-colored  flowers  are  very  beautiful ; 
the  growth  is  vigorous.  Gloire  de  Dijon  stands 
unrivalled  and  alone  ;  it  is  as  hardy  as  a  summer 
Rose,  having  lived  through  the  winter  of  18G0-'61 
in  places  where  all  the  Hybrid  Perpetual  Roses  were 
killed  ;  flowers  of  this  Rose  were  sent  to  me  from 
Dijon,  before  it  was  introduced,  and  exhibited  at 
one  of  the  Horticultural  Society's  shows  at  Chis- 
wick.  I  have  seen  it  grow  20  feet  in  a  season, 
trained  against  a  house,  producing  leaves  of  a  size 
and  substance  truly  remarkable  ;  the  flowers  are 
yellow,  fawn,  and  salmon,  variously  shaded,  large, 
full  and  globular.  Josephine  ALdton  is  a  beautiful 
but  delicate  Rose  with  cream-colored  flowers,  large 
and  double. 

Julie  Mansais^  I  may  add,  is  not  one  of  the  freest 
of  Roses,  but  when  well  grown  it  is  certainly  one 
of  the  loveliest ;    the  flowers  are  usually  ■white, 


er- 


90 


®|t  bantam's  ^ontljlj. 


though  sometimes  tinged  with  lemon,  large  and 
full.  La  Boule  d'  Or  is  the  deepest  yellow  of  this 
group,  and  sometimes  beautiful  under  glass ;  out 
of  doors  the  buds  are  often  as  hard  as  a  cricket- 
ball,  and  as  little  disposed  to  open ;  it  is  never- 
theless desirable  for  its  color,  and  is  hardy,  vigorous 
and  free.  Loose  petals  of  this  Rose  were  sent  to 
me  from  Paris  the  year  before  it  was  introduced. 
I  was  struck  with  the  color,  but  adjudged  it  too 
hard  in  the  bud ;  Rosists  can  make  out  a  flower 
from  a  petal  as  physiologists  an  animal  from  a  bone. 

^  Louis  de  Savoic  is  a  fine  large  pale  yellow  Rose, 
good  for  under  glass.  Madame  Braiij  is  a  prettily 
shaped  cream  colored  flower,  good  out  of  doors  as 
well  as  within.  Madame  Damaizln  is  very  free, 
both  in  growth  and  flowering,  and  hardy  also  ;  the 
flowers  are  salmon  color,  large,  full  and  sweet. 
Madame  Falcot  is  quite  first-class  ;  it  is  much  the 
style  of '  Saff"rano, '  but  deeper  in  color,  and  more 
double  ;  it  remains  to  add  that  it  does  not  grow  so 
freely  as  that  old  favorite.  Madame  de  St.  Joseph 
has  very  large  salmon  pink  flowers,  powerfully  fra- 
g.ant  and  of  great  beauty;  it  is  best  under  glass. 
Madame  ILilpliin  differs  from  all  others ;  the  flow 
ers,  which  are  large  and  tolerably  full,  vary  from 
salmon  pink  to  yellowish  white.  Madame  Faidine 
L<d)oute  is  a  large  flat  salmon  colored  rose,  showy, 
and  very  hardy.  Madame  Vlllcrmoz  is  one  of  the 
gems  of  this  group  ,  the  large,  full,  wax-like  flow- 
ers— white  shaded  with  salmon — and  splendid  foli- 
age, unite  to  form  an  object  of  rare  beauty;  the 
habit  is  also  hardy,  the  growth  free.  Marquis  de 
Foucault  produces  variable  flowers,  white,  fawn  and 
yellow,  large,  very  sweet,  of  perfect  outline,  but 
not  full.  Moirct  is  a  grand  old  Rose,  but  one  that 
is  only  occasionally  to  be  caught  in  perfection  ;  the 
flowers  are  pale  yellow,  shaded  with  fawn  and  rose, 
very  large,  full,  and  of  great  substance.  Narcisse 
deserves  universal  cultivation  ;  the  flowers  are  yel- 
low with  creamy  edges,  perfectly  circular  and  full, 
reminding  one  of  a  transverse  section  of  a  hard 
boiled  egg  ;  the  plant  is  hardy,  the  habit  good  and 
free.  Niphetos  is  a  match  for  '  Due  de  Magenta' 
in  size,  though  more  globular  in  form,  and  of  a 
different  color — pale  lemon  to  snowy  white.  Presi- 
dent ranks  also  among  the  largest  and  most  beauti- 
ful of  this  group,  surpassing  both  the  preceding  in 
fragrance  and  form ;  the  flowers  are  rose  shaded 
with  salmon.  Saffra.no,  in  the  bud  state,  is  one  of 
the  most  beautiful,  but  the  expanded  flower  is  thin 
and  poor ;  the  buds  are  apricot,  the  flowers  fawn 
color ;  the  plant  grows  so  freely,  flowers  so  abund- 
antly, and  is  withal  so  uncommon  in  color,  that  it 
forms  a  most  attractive  object  in  the  garden.    Som- 


brieid  is  a  good  hardy  free  flowering  white  Rose, 
of  large  size  and  vigorous  growth;  well  suited  for 
out  of  doors.  Souvenir  d' Elise  Vardoii  is  an  in- 
door Rose,  varying  in  color  from  white  to  creamy 
yellow,  very  lai'ge  and  of  great  substance ;  the 
flowers  are  usually  few  but  fine.  Souvenir  dun 
Ami,  or  '  Victoria'  as  it  is  sometimes  called,  is  not 
surpassed  by  any  other  in  the  group  ;  the  flowers 
are  salmon  and  rose  shaded,  large  full  and  globular; 
the  constitution  is  hardy,  the  foliage  fine.  Vicoin- 
tesse  de  Cazes,  if  of  loose  and  irregular  shape,  pro- 
duces flowers  of  exquisite  color,  coppery  yellow, 
and  cannot  be  set  aside  as  a  decorative  R.ose  in 
house  or  garden ;  it  is  very  sweet,  free,  and  toler- 
ably hardy. 


mm%. 


NATIONAL  POMOLOGICAL  SOCIETY- 

The  Hon.  Marshall  P.  Wilder,  President  of  this 
popular  society,  has  appointed  the  1 3th  of  Sep- 
tember next  as  the  date  of  the  biennial  meeting. 
It  will  be  held  at  Rochester,  New  York, — and  from 
the  increasing  interest  in  fruit-growing,  and  the 
success  of  the  society,  we  have  no  doubt  it  will 
prove  one  of  the  most  successful  sessions  ever  held. 


FRUIT-GROWERS'  SOCIETY  OF  WESTERN 
NEW  YORK. 

This  society  held  its  annual  or  winter  meeting  on 
the  27th  of  January.  The  usual  large  number 
of  members  were  in  attendance,  and  a  fine  but  lim- 
ited collection  of  fruit  was  exhibited. 

The  afternoon  meeting  opened  with  the  annuai 
address  of  the  President,  S.  H.  Ainsworth,  of 
West  Bloomfield.  It  was  wholly  occupied  with 
the  subject  of  the  culture  of  the  grape,  and  em- 
braced many  interesting  facts,  showing  the  high 
profits  that  had  always  attended  the  good  and  ju- 
dicious culture  of  the  best  hardy  sorts — varying 
from  $400  to  $1,200  per  acre,  above  cost  of  cultiva- 
tion and  marketing,  according  to  a  large  number 
of  instances,  which  were  cited,  of  the  actual  pro- 
ducts of  vineyards  last  season. 

The  following  is  a  brief  outline  of  the  discussion 
at  this  meeting  of  the  Society  : 

Hardiness  of  the  Peach  on  Plum  Stocks.  On 
the  whole,  the  expression  was  decidedly  unfavorable 
to  this  mode  of  propagating  and  growing  the 
peach. 

KEEPING  WINTER  TEARS. 

H.  E.  Hooker  had  found  them  to  keep  best  put 


up  in  rather  large  and  cold  packages— in  barrels  or 
half  barrels.  He  thinks  they  are  best  ripened  in  a 
cool  cellar,  instead  of  being  brought  into  a  warm 
room  to  complete  the  process,  as  has  been  recom- 
mended. Keeping  them  in  a  cool  atmosphere  re- 
tards the  ripening,  but  this  period  cannot  be  greatly 
retarded  without  injuring  the  the  quality.  Some 
cellars  are  too  dry,  and  the  pears  shrivel ;  others 
are  too  damp,  and  they  decay  or  become  mouldy — 
the  proper  medium  is  of  great  importance.  Gr.  Ell- 
wanger  agreed  in  main  with  these  views,  and  he 
found  it  of  great  importance,  to  hang  as  long  on  the 
tree  as  they  could  with  safety.  He  prefers  half  barrels 
for  packing  and  sending  to  market.  They  are  kept 
in  cool  barn  cellars — cooler  than  any  house  cellar. 
He  had  two  barrels  of  very  fine  Winter  Xelis, 
the  day  before  Christmas,  kept  in  this  manner. 

BEST   NEW   SORTS    OF   THE   PEAR. 

Charles  Downing  named  the  following  promising 
sorts :  Doyenne  du  Cornice,  Durayideau,  Jones' 
Seedliiiff,  Dana's  Hovei/,Lijcnrgus  and  Wilmington, 
but  he  had  not  sufficient  experience  yet,  to  speak 
of  them  with  confidence  ;  they  must  be  tried  longer. 
Gr.  Ellwanger  thought  the  Edmonds  (a  large,  early 
autumn  sort)  one  of  the  best,  and  the  Belle  Wil- 
liams as  very  promising.  H.  E.  Hooker  strongly 
recommended  the  Durindeau  or  De  Tongres,  but 
had  not  found  it  a  strong  grower.  W.  B.  Smith 
said,  although  it  was  very  handsome  and  an  abun- 
dent  bearer,  and  suited  many  palates,  it  was  to  acid 
for  him,  and  the  tree  was  not  vigorous.  C.  Down- 
ing said,  with  him  it  was  an  excellent  pear,  and 
strong  grower,  but,  that  in  many  localities,  it  drops 
its  leaves  too  soon. 

BEST  FOURTEEN   VARIETIES    OF   THE  PEAR. 

Doyenne  d'Ete,  Rostiezer,  Tyson,  Osband  Sum- 
mer, Beurre  Gifi'ard,  Dearborn's  Seedling,  Bartlett, 
Belle  Lucrative,  Sheldon,  Flemish  Beauty,  Beurre 
d'x\njou,  Lawrence,  Desnonnes,  Pratt,  Beurre  Su- 
perfin,  and  Winter  Nelis,  were  generally  named, 
among  their  favorites. 

"WHICH   ARE   THE   BEST  VARIETIES   OF   GRAPES 
FOR   WESTERN   NEW  YORK? 

Mr.  Frost,  Rochester — The  Hartford  Prolific,  the 
best  early  grape — next,  the  Delaware  and  Concord. 

Judge  Larowe,  Hammondsport — would  say  the 
Hartford  Prolific,  Delaware  and  Concord. 

H.  N.  Langworthy  would  name  H.  Prolific,  Con- 
cord, Delaware,  Diana,  Issabella  and  Rebecca,  but 
thought  the  Diana  would  ripen  well,  and  exhibited 
some,  which  had  been  grown  upon  a  western  expo- 
sure, which  were  very  well  grown. 


PLANTING  AND  PRUNING  THE  GRAPE. 

J.  J.  Thomas  thought  we  ought  to  allow  more 
room  than  American  cultivators  generally  do. 

W.  A.  Underhill,  of  Croton,  commenced  with 
trellises,  6  feet  high,  and  afterwards  increased  them 
to  9  feet,  and  in  consequence  increased  the  product 
nearly  twice.  Both  he  and  his  brother,  Dr.  Un- 
derhill, thought  the  vines  became  more  valuable  as 
they  became  older.  Some,  23  years  old,  were  more 
valuable  than  those  of  12  and  15  years. 

H.  H.  Olmstead  has  a  vineyard  of  10  acres  of 
Delaware  grapes,  planted  at  a  distance  of  12  feet, 
so  as  to  render  easy  access  with  teams  to  put  in  ma- 
nure and  gather  the  fruit. 

Judge  Larowe  would  plant  grapes  8  feet  each 
way.  Thought  the  experience  of  the  old  world, 
would  aid  us  in  forming  just  conclusions  in  regard 
to  pruning  the  grapes.  The  proper  way  is  to  fill 
the  trellis  with  new  wood  and  fruit,  and  cut  out  all 
the  old  wood.  Each  vine  should  be  pruned  ac- 
cording to  the  habits  of  the  variety.  Would  not 
cut  back  much  the  cane,  intended  for  next  year's 
fruit  bearing.  Those  bearing  this  year  should  be 
cut  off  just  beyond  the  fruit.  In  this  way  you  have 
less  shade — practised  nearly  upon  the  renewal  sys- 
tem. Would  never  prune  or  work  in  a  vineyard 
when  in  blooming  season,  as  it  interferes  with  the 
setting  of  the  fruit.  The  nearer  you  get  your 
grapes  to  the  surface  of  the  ground,  the  richer 
your  grapes  will  be  in  saccharine  matter. 

H.  H.  Ohnstead  had  found  loss  from  too  close 
pruning  in  the  summer — rubs  off  the  shoots  he  docs 
not  need  for  fruit  or  next  year's  bearing,  but  would 
not  prune  much  after  the  fruit  set. 

Dr.  Sjdvester  thought  we  had  made  our  vines 
sickly  by  over  manuring.  Where  the  ground  is 
rich  enough  to  raise  good  corn,  it  is  plenty  rich 
enough  for  grapes. 

BEST  WINTER  APPLES. 

Upon  the  results  of  the  past  very  favorable  sea- 
son, the  following  vote  on  the  best  six  varieties  of 
apples  for  winter  market,  was  had  : 

Rhode  Island  Grreening,  Roxbury  Russet,  King 
of  Tompkins  County,  Northern  Spy,  Golden  Rus- 
set and  Baldwin. 

Officers  of  the  society,  for  1S64,  were  elected  as 
follows : 

President — P.  Barry,  Rochester. 

Vice  Presidents — Hugh  T.  Brooks,  Joseph  Harris 
and  W.  B.  Smith. 

Secretari/ — James  Vick,  Rochester. 

Ireasurer — W.  P.  Townsend,  Ijockport. 

Executive  Committee — J.  J.  Thoiiuis,  C.  W. 
Seelye,  E.  Moody,  E.  A.  Bronson,  H.  N.  Lang- 
worthy. — Ah.  from  Countrrj  Gentleman. 


'M^ 


m 


92 


®Ije  ^mltitcr's  (Plonij)!])* 


OHIO  POMOLOGICAL  SOCIETY. 

Meeting  of  the  Committee  ad-interim  at  Cleve- 
land, September,  1863. — Discussion  on  Grapes  and 
Peaches. 

This  meeting  was  held  on  Wednesday  evening, 
the  week  of  tlie  State  Fair,  for  the  purpose  of  ex- 
amining some  of  the  Fruits  on  exhibition  at  the 
Fair,  and  discussing  their  merits,  &c. 

GRAPES. 

CiiyaJioffa — Specimens  nearly  ripe,  quite  good. 

Lydla — Specimens  fine — fi'om  Mr.  Carpenter, 
of  Keiley's  Island,  and  Mr.  Campbell,  of  Delaware. 

Mr.  Campbell  said  the  Lydia  had  fruited  finely 
with  him  tnis  season — though  last  year  it  sshowed 
some  disposition,  in  common  with  many  other  va- 
rieties, to  rot ;  less,  however  than  the  Catawba, 
Diana,  Anna  and  some  others. 

Allen  s  Ilyhrid — Another  white  or  light-colored 
grape — Mr.  Campbell  said  it  fruited  well  with  him 
this  season,  and  it  is  very  handsome  and  good 
grape. 

Mr.  Bateham  said  he  hoped  this  would  prove 
just  what  we  wanted  for  a  hardy  white  grape ;  but, 
from  what  he  had  seen  of  the  vine  and  fruit,  he 
was  afraid  it  was  too  much  like  to  its  foreign  pa- 
rent to  prove  hardy  and  reliable  here. 

Rebecca — Fine  specimens  exhibited;  and  the  fruit 
esteemed  by  all  present,  but  the  feeble  growth  of 
the  vine  and  liability  to  mildew  in  unfavorable 
seasons,  were  admitted  to  be  serious  objections. 

Creveliitff —  Specimens  fully  ripe  (good  but  not 
high  flavored)  resembling  Isabella. 

Mr.  Bateham  said  he  was  pleased  with  the  va- 
riety, especially  on  account  of  its  earliness. 

Mr.  Campbell  found  it  earlier  than  any  other 
black  grape  of  decent  quality,  much  superior  to  the 
Hartford  Prolific  in  its  flavor  and  freedom  from 
pulp,  as  well  as  in  hanging  perfectly  on  the  vine, 
even  when  over  ripe. 

Diana — Fine  bunches  exhibited  from  Columbus, 
Cleveland  and  other  sections — not  fully  ripe,  but 
quite  good,  and  promising  well.  Specimens  of  a 
spurious  kind  were  walso  exhibited,  quite  worthless 
in  character,  but  the  vines  have  been  extensively 
disseminated  for  genuine. 

Anna. — Specimens  unripe,  and  the  testimony  of 
all  who  have  tried  it  was,  that  it  ripens  too  late  to 
be  of  value  in  this  latitude. 

Ontario  and  Union  Village — Specimens  of  both 
of  these  were  exhibited  and  so  nearly  alike,  that 
most  persons  would  say  they  were  identical. 


loKalon,  Garrignes  and  Louisa--J)r.  Taylor  said 
could  only  be  regarded  as  sub-varieties  of  the  Isa- 
bella, and  of  no  particular  value. 

''Aiken"  and  Isabella — Most  of  grapes  exhibited 
at  the  Fair,  as  Isabellas,  were  of  the  kind  having 
large  compact  bunches,  and  large  round  berries,  so 
unlike  the  old  style  Isabellas,  that  few  persons 
could  regard  them  as  the  same,  and  yet  the  testi- 
mony of  a  large  number  of  growers,  would  seem  to 
show  that  the  change  is  only  result  of  soil,  season 
and  culture. 

Capt.  Stewart  said  he  had  found  in  his  vinej'ard 
great  difference  among  Isabella  vines,  in  the  size, 
shape  and  time  of  ripening  of  the  fruit,  as  affected 
by  the  soil  and  location  ;  could  cut  some  ten  days 
earlier  than  others,  and  thinks  all  the  difference  in 
the  specimens  exhibited  may  be  effects  of  soil,  etc. 
Mr.  Storrs,  of  Painsville,  expressed  the  same 
opinion. 

Dr.  Taylor  thought  it  would  be  found  that  the 
large  round  specimens  grew  on  rich  sandy  land 
where  the  roots  found  plenty  of  food  and  moisture, 
and  the  vines  not  over-loaded  with  fruit.  Dr. 
Kirtland  had  told  him,  that  last  fall  he  found 
the  large  round  (Aiken)  variety  growing  on  his 
ground,  where  the  vine  stood  near  a  sewer,  while 
other  vines  of  the  same  origin,  on  common  soil  bore 
old  fashioned  Isabellas. 

Concord — Only  a  few  specimens  at  the  Fair,  but 
very  good.  Mr.  Bateham  though  this  variety  was 
becoming  more  popular  than  had  formerly  been  ex- 
pected. Though  not  a  first  rate  grape  in  quality 
in  quality,  its  merits  in  other  respects  were  suffi- 
cient to  gain  for  it,  the  good  will  of  the  people. 

Taylor  s  Bullitt— Dv.  Taylor  said  this  variety  had 
done  so  much  better  with  him  this  year,  that  he 
felt  inclined  to  speak  more  of  it  than  he  had  done 
formerly.  It  may  prove  valuable  especially  as  a 
wine  grape. 

Oporto— Was  thought  to  be  too  mean  a  fruit  for 
even  the  posibility  of  making  wine  that  could  be 
palatable. 

Roger  s  Hybrids — Specimens  of  several  varieties 
exhibited  from  Mr.  Campbell's  collection.  Mr. 
Bateham  said  he  was  apprehensive  that  people  will 
be  disappointed  in  not  finding  the  fruit  of  finer 
quality. 

Mr.  Campbell — As  to  quality,  none  of  them 
equal  the  Delaware,  or  approach  near  it,  so  far  as 
I  have  at  present  tasted  them.  But  I  regard  Nos. 
3,  4,  .5,  9,  1.5,  19  and  33  as  superior  in  flavor  and 
quality  to  Isabella  and  Ctmcord,  while  they  are, 
most  of  them,  also,  much  superior  in  size  and  ap- 
pearance to  those  varieties. 


1] 


®i 


%h  0»arkiier's  l^oniMs- 


PEACHES. 
Dr.  Taylor  had  a  fine  dish  labelled  Mlddletons 
Imperial.  The  tree  came  from  New  Jersej',  and 
was  sold  to  him  under  that  name,  but  he  finds  no 
such  name  in  any  of  the  books  or  catalogues.  It  is 
a  large  handsome  yellow  peach,  ripening  early  in 
September,  about  the  season  of  Crawford's  Late  ; 
not  as  highly  colored  as  that  variety,  but  like  it 
apparently;  n;)t  sufficiently  productive  for  a  good 
market  variety.  Dr.  T.  thinks  it  may  prove  to  be 
the  SiisqucJianna  or  Griffith  peach  of  Pennsylvania, 
which  it  certainly  resembles.  [Probably  Petit's 
imperial,  which  we  thought  the  Susquehanna. — 
Ed.  G.  31] 

BergevLS  Yellow — Mr.  Batehara  said  he  believed 
this  to  be  the  finest  market  peach  known  to  him,  as 
coming  in  season  after  Crawford's  Early,  and  be- 
fore Crawford's  Late  ;  though  he  was  not  quite 
certain  in  regard  to  its  productiveness.  It  is  called 
Orange  Free  Stone  in  some  parts  of  Ohio.  The 
Jacques'  Rare-ripe  is  also  a  good  yellow  peach,  ri- 
pening ab;)ut  the  same  time,  and  much  estemed 
for  the  markets,  though  not  as  rich  and  juicy  as 
Bergen's 

Hales  Early — (Too  late  for  specimens.)  Mr. 
Bateham  said  he  had  seen  this  variety  in  bearing 
this  season  for  the  first  time,  on  the  grounds  of 
Storrs  &  Harrison,  at  Painesville — where  the  Ser- 
rate Early  York  and  Early  Tillotson  were  growing 
in  the  .same  row  and  under  precisely  the  same  cir- 
cumstances. From  what  he  saw  and  tasted  of  the 
fruit  he  can  say  that  its  merits  exceed  the  highest 
anticipations,  as  to  earliness,  size,  looks  and  quality 
of  fruit,  and  the  habits  of  the  tree  ;  and  he  is  not 
at  all  surprised  to  learn  that  people  are  loud  in  its 
praise  wherever  it  has  come  into  bearing.  The 
Chicago  peach  growers  say  it  is  so  much  earlier 
than  any  other  good  market  variety,  that  they  are 
in  want  of  another  kind  equal  to  it  to  fill  up  the  in- 
terval of  a  week  or  so  between  the  time  when 
Hale's  is  finished  and  the  next  comes  in. 

Dr.  Taylor  said  he  had  seen  and  tasted  the  fruit 
the  two  past  seasons,  and  it  was  undoubtedly  the 
best  early  peach  extant.  Market  peach  growers 
were  now  eagerly  buying  and  planting  the  trees  in 
all  parts  where  it  is  known.  The  nurseries  would 
not  be  able  to  half  supply  the  demand  for  trees. 

Mr.  Marshall,  of  Massillon,  had  fruited  it  this 
year ;  ripe  about  ten  days  sooner  than  Early  York 
(Serrate),  fruit  handsomer,  full  as  good,  and  tree 
much  healthier.  Mr.  Boalt,  of  Norwalk,  Dr. 
Beardslee  and  Mr.  Storrs,  of  Painesville.  bore  the 
same  testimony. 


iSHJ' 


In  a  letter  received  by  the  Secretary  since  the 
meeting,  from  Dr.  L.  Collins,  of  St.  Josephs, 
Michigan,  where  peaches  are  grown  most  exten- 
sively for  the  Chicago  market,  he  says: — "Hale's 
Early  is  first  in  season,  then  what  is  here  called 
Wheeler's  Early  (a  very  poor  little  peachj,  and 
next  Troth's  Ked.  The  only  fault  I  haMe  seen  in 
Hale's  is  it  shows  a  tendency  to  rot  on  the  tree, 
like  some  others  in  this  region,  in  some  seasons.  — 
Abridged  from  Ohio  Farmer. 

INDIANA  POMOLoIbICAL  SOCIETY. 

There  was  a  fair  attendance  and  and  a  fine  dis- 
play of  fruits  and  wines.  The  opening  address  by 
the  President,  I.  D.  G.  Nelson,  presented  forcibly 
the  identity  of  interest  between  Agriculture,  Hor- 
ticulture and  Pomology,  which  he  said  were  joint 
partners  for  the  general  prosperity  of  the  country. 

The  list  of  apples,  recommended  for  general  cul- 
tivation, was  read  and  the  following  stricken  out : 
Early  Strawberry,  Gilpin  or,  Little  Red  Ro- 
manite.  White  Winter  Pearmain.  Pryqr's  Red 
was  recommended  for  cultivation  south  of  the  Na- 
tional Road,  and  Wcstfield  Seek  no  Further  for  the 
North. 

We  regret  that  we  have  not  the  list,  recommend- 
ed as  corrected.  The  "  Ben  Davis  "  was  adopted 
for  general  cultivation  for  market  purposes.  Pick- 
ard's  Reserve  was  adopted  as  promising  well. 

Fears — Dr.  Helm,  of  Muncie,  read  a  paper  on 
the  planting  and  cultivation  of  pear.  He  said  it 
was  very  essential  to  have  sound  seed.  Probably 
one-half  the  seed  we  generally  get  is  worthless. 
The  best  time  to  plant  is  in  the  fall,  as  late  as  the 
ground  will  bear  working.  When  planted  in  the 
spring,  they  will  fail  to  come  up  three  times  out  of 
four.  He  did  not  believe  in  root  grafting,  prefer- 
ring to  bud  the  stocks  and  cut  up  the  roots. 

Dr.  Helm  thought  the  good  varieties  limited  to 
eight  or  ten — considering  hardihood  and  freedom 
from  blight,  the  Flemish  Beauty  is  the  best  va- 
riety. 

Mr.  Nelson  also  regards  the  Flemish  Beauty  as 
the  best  variety,  bearing  young  and  abundantly. 
The  White  Doyenne  is  next.  The  Bartlett  is  good 
except  for  hardiness.  He  considers  the  Winter 
Nelis  hardy,  but  not  very  productive. 

The  Louise  Bonne  de  Jersey  was  stricken  from 
the  list,  as  unworthy  of  consideration,  on  stocks  for 
standards. 

Grapes — There  was  considerable  discussion  upon 
this  subject,  the  Delaware  consuming  a  good  share 
of  the  time.  Gentlemen  generally  agreed,  that 
false  physiological  conditions  were  the  cause  of 
whatever  failure  the  Delaware  has  made. 


¥1 


m 


94 


®j)i|  ^arbmtr's  HlonJfjIg, 


Dr.  Warder  thought  the  list  sufficient,  but  if 
gentlemen  wished  to  recommend  a  particular 
grape  for  every  man,  let  it  be  the  Concord. 

The  following  motion  finally  passed. 

While  we  regard  the  Delaware  and  Catawba,  as 
better  in  quality,  we  recommend  the  Concord  as  the 
best  single  variety  for  the  million. 

Peaches— But  little,  that  was  new,  was  elicited 
in  the  discussion  upon  this  fruit.  Hales'  Early 
was  recommended  as  promising  well. 

Strawberries —  Mr. Loyd,    of  Indianapolis, 

discussed  different  varieties,  among  which,  Wilson's 
Albany  and  Triomphe  de  Gand,  were  presented  as 
particularly  valuable.  He  had  realized  from  $600 
to  $800  per  acre  from  strawberries,  when  properly 
attended. 

Dr.  Warder  spoke  further,  in  reference  to  straw- 
berries, reccommending  the  following  for  trial : 
Golden  Seeded,  Jenny  Lind,  Fillmore,  Extra  Red, 
Russell,  Mote's  Seedling,  Knox's  '700,'  all  of 
which  were  put  on  the  list,  except  the  '  TOO.' 

The  list  of  raspberries  was  read,  and  the  Catawissa 
recommended  for  amateurs. 

The  name  of  the  society  was  changed  to  the  In- 
diana State  Horticultural  Society. 


ILLINOIS  STATE  HORTICULTURAL 
SOCIETY. 

The  Annual  Meeting,  of  this  active  association 
was  held  at  Alton,  Ills.,  commencing,  Dec.   15th. 

A  very  interesting  essay  on  the  Peach,  was  then 
read,  by  Dr.  Hull,  of  Alton,  in  the  course  of  which 
he  recommended  the  following  varieties,  in  the 
order  of  ripening. 

1.  Serrate  Early  York. 

2.  Haine's  Early  Red. 

3.  Large  Early  York  and  Crawford's  Early. 

4.  Bergen's  Yellow  and  Oldmixon  Free. 

5.  George  IV.  and  Crawford's  Late. 
C.  Late  Admirable  and  Columbia. 

7.  Smock. 

8.  Heath  Cling. 

The  committees  on  apples  reported  : 

APPLES  FOR  NORTHERN  ILLINOIS. 

MarTtet. — Red  Astrachan,  Car.  Red  June,  Kes- 
wick Codlin,  Piarly  Pennock,  Sweet  June,  Pomme 
de  Neige,  Bailey  Sweet,  Maiden  Blush,  Fall  Swaar, 
Lowell,  Striped  Gilliflower,  Ramsdell  Sweet,  Yel- 
low Siberian  Crab,  Winesap,  Rawle's  Janet,  Do- 
mine,  Jonathan,  Willow  Twig,  Gilpin,  Minister, 
Tallman  Sweeting,  Yellow  Bellflower,  Northern 
Sweet. 


Famihj  f'se.— Early  Harvest,  Car.  Red  June, 
Keswick  Codlin,  Benoni,  Hocking,  Sweet  June, 
Pomme  de  Neige,  Bailey  Sweet,  Maiden  Blush, 
Fall  Swaar,  Aut.  Strawberry,  Holland  Pippin, 
Lowell,  Rambo,  Striped  Gilliflower,  Dyer,  Mother, 
Haskell  Sweet,  Yellow  Siberian  Crab,  Fulton, 
Winesap,  Rawle's  Janet,  Domine,  Jonathan, 
Willow  Twig,  Yellow  Bellflower,  Tallman  Sweet- 
ing, White  Winter  Pearmain,  Westfield  Seek-no- 
further,  Roman  Stem,  Northern  Spy,  Ramsdell 
Sweet,  Swaar. 

T'/'wZ— Kirkbridge  White,  Duchess  of  Olden- 
burg, Fall  Orange,  Northern  Sweet,  Fall  Wine, 
Montreal  Beauty  CCrab,)  Transcendent  (Crab, J 
White  Pippin,  Paradise,  Win.  Sweet,  N.  Y.  Pippin, 
King  of  Tompkins  County,  Hubbardston's  Norn 
such,  Broadwell,  Newtown  Pippin,  Rhode  Island 
Greening. 

APPLES   FOR  CENTRAL   ILLINOIS. 

Marhet. — Early  Harvest,  Golden  Sweet,  Bailey 
Sweet,  Maiden  Blush,  White  Winter  Pearmain, 
Domine,  Winesap,  N.  Y.  Pippin,  Willow  Twig, 
Rawle's  Janet,  Newtown  Pippin,  upon  rich  lime- 
stone soils  and  with  high  cultivation. 

Family  K-e.— Yellow  June,  Early  Harvest, 
Sweet  June,  Red  Astrachan,  Keswick  Codlin, 
Golden  Sweet,  Ramsdell  Sweet,  Am.  Sum.  Pear., 
Benoni,  Car.  Red  Juno,  Maiden  Blush,  Fall  Wine, 
Buckingham,  Bailey  Sweet,  Fulton,  Hubbardston 
Nonsuch,  Aut.  Swaar  (of  the  West, J  Pomme  de 
Neige,  Domine,  Jonathan,  Pryor's  Red,  Swaar, 
White  Win.  Pearmain,  Roman  Stem,  Peck's  Plea- 
sant, Esopus  Spitzenberg,  Winesap,  New  York 
Pippin,  Rawle's  Janet,  Newtown  Pippin,  Ortley, 
Lady  Apple. 

Trial. — Early  Joe,  Downing's  Paragon,  Rome 
Beauty,  Ladies'  Sweeting,  Sweet  Romanite,  White 
Pippin,  Nickajack. 

APPLES  FOR  SOUTHERN  ILLINOIS. 

Marl<et. — Early  Harvest,  Red  Astrachan,  Caro- 
lina Red  June,  Yellow  Bellflower,  Winesap, 
Rawle's  Janet,  Newtown  Pippin,  Pryor's  Red. 

Family  Use. — Early  Harvest,  Large  Yellow 
Bough,  Am.  Summer  Pear.,  Rarabo,  Yellow  Belle- 
flower,  White  Winter  Pearmain,  Pryor's  Red, 
Newtown  Pippin,  Rawle's  Janet. 

Trial. — Yellow  June,  Sine-qua-non,  Porter, 
Rome  Beauty,  New  York  Pippin,  Willow  Twig, 
Nickajack. 

The  foregoing  lists  were  subsequently  adopted 
"with  some  trifling  amendments,"  not  stated. 

The  Pear  committees  submitted  reports,  which 
were  adopted  with  slight  amendments  as  follows : 


m 


i;^  §m&mtf%  JdonfMg. 


95 


PEARS   FOR   NORTHERN   ILLINOIS. 

For  jVarket.—Barthtt,  standard  ;  Flemish  Beau- 
ty ;   Louise  Bonne  de  Jersej%  dwarf. 

For  Famili/.— Doyenne  d'Ete  ;  Osband's  Sum- 
mer; Bartlett,  standard  and  dwarf;  Flemish 
Beautj^;  White  Doyenne,  standard  and  dwarf; 
Belle  Lucrative ;  Louise  Bonne  de  Jersey;  Sheldon  ; 
Howell;  Seckel ;  Beurre  d'Anjou;  Urbaniste ; 
Lawrence,  dwarf. 

For  Trial. — Beurre  Clffard,  Beurre  Clalrgeau, 
Tyson,  Onondaga,  Beurre  Hardy,  Duchesse  d'An- 
goulcme,  Beurre  Diel,  Winter  Nelis,  Doyenne  d' 
Alengon. 

PEARS  FOR  CENTRAL  ILLINOIS. 

For  'Marl-d- —  Bloodgood,  Bartlett  Doyenne 
Boussock,  Easter  Beurre. 

For  Family  Use. — Bloodgood,  Doyenne  Bous- 
sock, Bartlett,  Howell,  Louise  Bonne  de  Jersey, 
White  Doyenne,  Belle  Lucrative,  Sheldon,  Seckel, 
Beurre  Bosc,  Gray  Doyenne,  Beurre  Diel,  Duchesse 
d' Angouleme,  Glout  Morceau,  Winter  Nelis,  Easter 
Beurre. 

PEARS   FOR   SOUTHERN   ILLINOIS. 

,For  Marlcet. — Doyenne  d'Ete,  Bartlett,  Fon- 
dante  d'Automne,  White  Doyenne,  Louise  Bonne 
de  Jersey,  Duchesse  d' Angouleme. 

For  Famihi — Doyenne  d'Ete,  Rostiezer,  Tyson, 
Bartlett,  Fondante  d'Automne,  Howell,  Seckel, 
Duchesse  d' Angouleme,  Easter  Beurre. 

For  Trial — Osband's  Summer,  Beurre  d'Anjou, 
Glout  Morceau,  Bloodgood,  Lawrence,  Sheldon, 
Onondaga. 

Frrsidcnt — Smiley  Shepherd,  Hennepin,  Putnam 
Co.  Illinois. 

Vice  Presidents — 0.  B.  Galusha,  Vice  President 
at  large ;  Jonathan  Periam,  Thornton  Station, 
Cook  Co.;  C.  N.  Andrews,  Rockford,  Winnebago 
Co.  ;  A.  R.  Whitney,  Franklin  Grove,  Lee  Co.  ; 
J.  H.  Stewart,  Quincy,  Adams  Co.  ;  W.  A.  Fen- 
nel, Granville,  Putnam  Co.  ;  J.  0.  Dent,  Wenona, 
Marshall  Co.  ;  M.  L.  Dunlap,  Champaign.  Cham- 
paign Co.  ;  0.  M.  Coleman,  Bloomington,  Mc- 
Lean Co.  ;  C-  C.  Sturtevant,  Beardstown,  Cass 
Co. ;  Jonathan  Huggins,  Woodburn,  Macoupin 
Co.  ;  Chas.  Kennicott,  Sandoval,  Marion  Co.  ;  E. 
S.  Hull,  Alton,  Madison  Co.  ;  T.  J.  Evans.  South 
Pas^,  LTnion  Co. 

Cor.  Secretary— W.  C.  Flagg,  Moro,  Madison 
County. 

Rec.  Secretary— C.  W.  Murtfelt,  Rockford,  Win- 
nebago Co. 

Treasurer — Chas.  Diramock.  Alton,  Madison  Co. 

Expcutive  Committee — G.  W.  Minier,  Smiley 
Shepherd  and  0.  B.  Galusha. — Abridged  from  the 
Country  Gentleman. 


MISSOURI    AND  ILLS.  HORTICULTURAL 
IMPORTING  ASSOCIATION. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Missouri  State  Horticnltural 
Society,  held  on  the  17th  of  January,  at  its  late 
session,  in  St.  Louis ;  Dr.  E,  S.  Hull,  was  called 
to  the  chair,  and  W.  C.  Flagg,  appointed  Secre- 
tary ;  and  it  was  unanimously  Fesolvcd,  that  we 
form  a  Horticultural  Importing  Association. 

The  following  gentlemen  were  then  elected  offi- 
cers for  the  ensuing  year : 

President—^.  S.  Hull,  Alton,  Illinois. 

Treasurer— U.  T.  Mudd,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Secretary—^.  C.  Flagg,  Alton,  Ills. 

Fxecntice  Board— K  S.  Hull,  Alton  ;  W.  C. 
Spaulding,  St.  Louis ;  H.  T.  Mudd,  St.  Louis  ; 
N.  J.  Colman,  St.  Louis ;  W,  C.  Flagg,  Alton. 

The  follwing  Constitution  was  adopted  : 

Article  1. — This  society  shall  be  known  as  the 
"Missouri  and  Illinois  Horticultural  Importing 
Association. ' ' 

Art.  2. — Its  object  shall  be,  the  importation  of 
such  Fruit  Trees,  Ornamental  Trees,  Plants,  Stocks, 
Bulbs,  &c.,  as  may  be  ordered  by  its  members. 

Art.  3. — Any  person  may  become  a  member,  by 
the  payment  of  one  dollar,  and  signing  this  consti- 
tution. 

Art.  4. — The  officers  shall  consist  of  a  Presi- 
dent, Treasurer  and  Secretary,  who,  in  connection 
with  the  other  members,  to  be  elected  by  the  so- 
ciety, shall  constitute  an  Executive  Board,  charged 
with  the  direction  and  control  of  the  affairs  of  the 
society,  and  subject  to  its  instructions.  They  shall 
hold  their  office,  for  one  year,  and  until  their  suc- 
cessors are  chosen. 

Art.  5. — The  society  shall  hold  its  annual  meet- 
ings, on  the  Thursday  after  the  second  Tuesday  in 
January,  and  the  society  or  the  Executive  Board, 
may  be  called  together  at  any  time  by  the  Presi- 
dent. 

Art.  6. — This  Constitution  may  be  amended  at 
any  meeting,  by  a  two-thirds  vote  of  the  members 
present. 

Quite  a  number  of  gentlemen  then  paid  their 
fee,  and  became  members. 


MAINE  BOARD  OF  AGRICULTURE. 

Mr.  Pratt's  essay  on  the  '  Culture  of  Small 
Fruits  '  was  read  a  second  time  (during  the  reading 
of  this  paper,  it  was  discussed  by  some  of  the  mem'- 
hers  quite  freely)  after  which 


s 


m 


fl 


96 


Cljc  (Sarhncr's  IBontljIg. 


Mr.  Rogers  said  he  would  like  to  know  the  best 
varieties  of  grapes  for  out-door  growth  in  Maine, 
for  general  culture. 

Dr.  Weston —  The  Delaware,  although  small, 
both  in  the  size  of  the  berry  and  bunch,  had  pro- 
ved successful  in  Bangor.  The  Hartford  Prolific  [ 
would  grow  anywhere,  and  ripen  its  fruit  if  judi- 
ciously cared  for.  The  Rebecca  is  not  so  hardy  as 
the  others,  but  is  a  good  berry.  The  ends  of  the 
shoots  are  apt  to  winter  kill.  The  Diana  has  also 
ripened,  but  he  could  not  recommend  it  for  general 
cultivation  ;  should  be  trained  against  the  wall  of 
a  house  on  the  sunny  side. 

Mr.  Goodale  remarked  that  the  Delaware,  Hart- 
ford Prolific,  and  Northern  Muscadiup  were  the 
three  best  grapes  for  out-door  culture  in  Maine. 
They  should  be  protected  in  winter,  for  they  will 
bear  so  much  better  for  it  the  year  following.  Did 
not  think  so  much  of  the  Diana  as  formerly,  as  it 
is  subject  to  the  dry  rot.  The  great  secret  in  grape 
growing  is  to  procure  good  healthy  well  ripened 
wood,  and  take  oif  three-fourths  of  the  bunches  of 
the  fruit  as  soon  as  they  are  fully  formed.  In  re- 
gard to  the  Old  Colony  grape,  he  said  that  for  the 
extreme  northern  part  of  this  State  it  could  be  re- 
commended, as  it  is  very  hardy,  and  is  earlier  than 
the  Delaware  or  Hartford  Prolific. 

Mr.  Dill — Regards  Hartford  Prolific  as  the  best 
he  has  ever  grown. 

The  subject  of  the  'Application  of  Manures'  was 
taken  up. 

Mr.  Bigelow,  of  Somerset,  was  called  to  the  chair. 
In  using  green  manure  he  spread  it  on,  back-fur- 
rowed, planted  corn,  and  afterwards  seeded  down, 
and  got  a  good  crop  of  grass.  Had  obtained  a  large 
increase  in  his  hay  crop  by  spreading  four  or  five 
cords  of  manure  to  the  acre  as  a  top-dressing. 

M  r.  Rogers — Had  been  in  the  habit  of  top-dress- 
ing for  a  number  of  years.  Was  satisfied  it  was  the 
best  method  of  applying  manure  to  grass  lands. 

Mr.  Haines — Had  tri-od  various  experiments  in 
the  application  of  manures,  and  was  satisfied  it  was 
better  applied  near  the  surface. 

Mr.  Lee  applied  his  manure  to  the  surfxce  and 
cultivated  or  harrowed  it  in. 

IMr.  Jaquith  applies  his  manure  to  the  surfiice. 
From  experiments  made  by  some  agricultural  socie- 
ties, it  has  been  demonstrated  that  manure  applied 
to  the  surface  has  produced  the  best  crops  of  grain, 
of  corn  and  of  grass. 

Mr.  Dill  thought  it  should  be  applied  differently 
upon  different  soils  ;  on  light  porous  soils  it  should 
be  plowed  under  ;  on  hea^^y  clay  soils  it  should  be 
applied  to  the  surface  or  near  it. 


Mr.  Dillingham  of  the  House  of  Representatives, 
was  called  upon,  and  spoke  at  some  length  upon 
the  subject.  He  had  plowed  in  manure  at  the  rate 
of  100  loads  to  the  acre,  and  never  received  any  be- 
nefit from  it ;  and  afterwards  applied  it  near  the 
surface — plowing  the  soil  first  and  working  it  into 
the  surface  soil  as  much  as  practicable  with  an  ox 
cultivator.  In  this  way  had  received  the  most  sat- 
isfactory results. 

Mr.  Rogers  said  his  experiences  and  opinion  cor- 
responded \yith  that  of  the  gentleman  last  up.    Be- 
lieved but  little  manure  was  lost  by  evaporation. 
[Condensed  from  the  liJuine  Farmer. 


TORONTO    GAEDENEE'S    IMPEOVEMENT 
SOCIETY. 

Pursuant  to  notice,  given  in  our  last  issue,  the 
above  society  held  its  annual  meeting  at  the  Board 
of  Agriculture  Rooms,  on  the  18th  ult. 

Professor  Buckland  delivered  an  able  address  on 
the  "  Relations  of  Science  to  Horticulture." 

A  very  pleasing  feature  of  our  meetings,  has  been 
the  exhibition  of  many  new  and  rare  plants,  a  list  of 
which  we  have  much  pleasure  in  recording:  — 

Feb.  16.— Exhibited  by  Mr.  G.  Vair,  (gardenw 
toD  L.  McPiierson,  Esq.,;  Azaleas,  Obtusa  Mar- 
ginata,  Louis  Napoleon  :  also,  "  Meyenia  erecta," 
a  beautiful  and  much  admired  Mexican  shrub. 

March  16.— Exhibited  by  Mr.  C.  Young,  (gard- 
ener to  Judge  Morri.son.)  A  select  variety  of 
Azaleas  and  seedling  Cinerarias,  also  an  orchid— 
"  Phalajnop.sis  grandiflora." 

May  18.— Exhibited  by  Mr.  Turner,  (gardener 
to  Judge  Harrison.)  Orchids— "  Oncidium  pa- 
pillio,  0.  Warchita,  0.  Ampliatum,  Epidend- 
drum  Cochleatum,  Epidendrum  Macrochilum, 
Cymbidium  Sinensis,  C.  Aloefolium,  Bra.ssia  Hoggii 
and  Dendrobium  nobile. 

June  15.— Exhibited  by  Mr.  C.  Young,  (gard- 
ener to  Judge  Morrison. )  Collection  of  Carnations, 
Picotees  and  Pinks. 

August  17.— Exhibited  by  Mr.  James  Fleming. 
Collection  of  Gladiolus,  Fuchsias  and  Asters;  also, 
a  new  verbena  named  "  Foxhunter."  Mr.  Turner 
showed  a  fine  collection  of  Lilliputian  Dahlias. 

December  21.— Exhibited  by  Mr.  Turner.  Or- 
chideous  plants— "Barkeria  elegans,"  Crytochilum 
Maculatum,  "  Catasetum  Tridentatum,"  Vanda 
Coerulea  and  Epidendrum  Vitellinuni ;  also,  Passi- 
flora  Goutterii,  P.  Decaisneana  and  Bignonia 
Venusta. 

Exhibited  by  Mr.  Vair.  Camellia  Alba  Pleno, 
Camellia  Jenny  Lind,  Celosea  aurea,  Primula  Si- 
nensis, Correa  Brilliant,  Acacia  Dealbata,  Epacris 
Semonia  and  E.  Fire  Ball  — Canada  Farmer. 


^l^y^^LZ. 


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DEI  VOTED     TO 


rriTTOTyrAS     KSTHAW,     Editor. 
\V.  G.  P.  BBIIfCKIiOE,  Publisher. 


APEIL.     1864. 


VOIj.    VI.— no.  4. 


FLO¥/EIl-GAKUSrJ   Amu    PLEASUIlS- 
G-HOUMD. 

As  soon  as  the  grass  on  the  lawns  commences  to 
grow,  if  it  has  had  a  top-dressing  of  manure  in  the 
winter,  whatever  straw  may  be  on  should  at  once 
be  cleanly  raked  off,  and  as  soon  as  it  is  long  enough 
to  taJce  the  edge  of  the  scythe,  it  should  be  mowed. 
It  is  of  tirst  importance  that  the  first  mowing  should 
be  done  as  early  as  possible  in  the  season.  If  left 
to  grow  long  before  the  first  cutting,  the  leaves  get 
yellow  at  the  ba,se,  and  at  every  cutting  after  the 
yellowness  appears,  totally  destroying  the  fine  green 
color  which  gives  the  lawn  its  chief  attraction. 
"Where  a  first-rate  mowing  is  desired,  it  is  best  to 
roll  the  grass  the  day  before  cutting.  The  grass  is 
then  turned  all  one  way,  and  cut  evenly,  and  any 
dirt  or  stones  pressed  beneath  the  surface  that 
would  otherwise  take  the  edge  off  the  scythe.  A 
good  lawn-mower  keeps  his  scythe  very  sharp. 
Some  grind  a  little  before  each  regular  set-to  at 
mowing.  Those  who  are  not  accustomed  to  mowing 
lawn.s,  should  take  but  a  few  inches  in  width  at  a 
time,  so  as  not  to  '  score.'  With  a  little  thought 
and  judgment,  any  field-mower  can  soon  become  a 
good  lawn  hand.  A  sharp  scythe  is  the  chief  ele- 
ment of  success. 

This  is  the  best  part  of  the  spring,  on  the  whole, 
to  plant  evergreens.  For  immediate  effect,  they 
are  usually  planted  much  thicker  than  they  are 
ultimately  able  to  occupy  with  advantage.  In 
planting,  take  care  to  plant  those  that  will  final- 
ly remain  first,  and  fill  in  the  temporary  ones 
after.  It  is  not  uncommon  to  see  trees — a  Norway 
Spruce,  for  instance,  that  will  in  a  few  years  pos- 


sess a  diameter  of  thirty  feet — planted  perhaps  but 
six  or  eight  feet  from  the  edge  of  a  walk,  and  no 
other  near  to  stay  when  the  one  so  inconveniently 
close  has  to  be  removed. 

All  trees  do  better  in  a  deep,  rich  soil ;  but  for 
dry  places,  some  will  not  do  at  all  well.  Amongst 
evergreens,  as  a  rule,  most  of  the  pines  will  do  well 
in  dryer  soils  than  others,  the  spruces  in  interme- 
diate places,  and  the  firs  in  more  damp  and  shel- 
tered spots.  The  firs  will  not,  any  of  them,  do  in  dry 
soils.  The  Balsam  Fir,  particularly,  is  a  miserable 
object  in  a  dry  and  exposed  place,  while  fn  moist 
and  sheltered  spots  it  is  one  of  the  most  happy 
looking  evergreens  we  have. 

IMany  evergreen  shrubs  supposed  to  be  difncult 
of  culture,  are  easily  grown  in  a  deep  and  cool  soil. 
Rhododendrons,  Kalmias,  &c.,  do  well  where  these 
conditions  of  growth  are  attended  to.  The  former 
is  supposed  to  do  best  in  the  shade  ;  but  it  docs 
better  in  the  full  sun  in  a  good  and  proper  soil,  than 
in  the  shade  in  a  dry  spot.  The  fact  that  they  grow 
among  rocks  on  hillsides,  gives  rise  to  the  idea  that 
they  like  a  dry  soil ;  but  our  experience  in  their 
native  localities  proves  that  the  coolest  spots  on  a 
hot  summer's  day  is  where  these  plants  are  found. 
Planting  of  deciduous  trees  must  now  be  forwarded 
rapidly,  and,  towards  the  end  of  the  month, 
commence  with  the  evergreens.  We  advocate 
strongly  pruning  or  shortening  the  extreme  points 
of  the  branches  at  transplanting,  not  only  of  decid- 
uous trees,  but  of  evergreens  also.  It  is  one  of  the 
modern  '  revolutions,'  to  be  able  to  speak  thus  of 
evergreen  trees  ;  the  idea  would  have  been  laughed 
at  not  a  half  dozen  years  ago.  Of  course,  there  is 
a  way  to  prune  without  injuring  the  symmetry  or 
fine  form  of  the  evergreen  tree,  which  a  little  prac- 
tice will  soon  teach  the  amateur. 

In  preparing  beds  for  flowers,  it  is  of  first  impor- 
tance that  the  soil  should  be  deep.  It  should  be 
dug  up  or  subsoiled  to  the  depth  of  eighteen  inches 
at  least,  and  a  fair  dressing  of  enriching  material 
given  them.  The  best  kind  of  soil  to  grow  flowers 
in  is  the  top  soil— say  two  inches  in  depth— of  an 


:^ 


x^f§>^ 


98 


j^,^l:^;ii§^ 


W\t  §m\tmxs  dllanlfjtj. 


old  piece  of  woodland.  This  may  be  mixed  at  the 
rate  of  about  one-half  with  the  natural  soil.  Where 
this  cannot  be  had,  some  very  rotten  stable  manure 
or  the  old  sods  from  the  surface  of  a  common  will 
do.  It  is  not  well  to  have  the  soil  very  rich,  or 
more  leaves  than  flowers  will  result. 

As  soon  as  all  danger  of  frost  is  over,  the  border 
plants  will  have  to  be  planted  out.  They  should  not 
be  taken  at  once  out  of  the  greenhouse  to  the  open 
ground.  It  is  better  to  set  them  in  a  sheltered  spot 
in  their  pots  for  a  few  days,  until  the  leaves  have 
become  somewhat  hardened.  Before  turning  them 
out  of  their  pots  to  the  flower-beds,  waiter  vfeUJirsf; 
the  soil  must  be  pressed  firmly  against  the  balls  of 
roots,  as  they  are  planted  in  the  ground. 

Where  bedding-plants  have  to  be  bought,  it  is  not 
good  policy  to  choose  tall,  delicate  plants,  that  have 
been  forced  early  into  growth.  Select  such  as  are 
green,  dense  and  bushy,  and  have  vigorous  looking 
foliage.  Fine  leaves,  at  this  season,  is  a  greater 
sign  of  health  than  fine  flowers. 

Annuals  are  getting  yearly  more  popular  on  ac- 
count of  their  great  variety,  and  the  cheapness  with 
which  they  may  be  obtained.  A  lady  no  more  wants 
her  flower  garden  to  have  the  same  look  every  year; 
here  the  same  geraniums,  there  the  same  verbenas, 
and  elsewhere  the  same  patch  of  mignonette  as  she 
had  last  year — than  she  wants  her  new  Spring  bon- 
net to  last  forever.  And  to  obtain  this  everchang- 
ing  and  pleasing  variety,  annuals  are  the  very  things 
for  the  purpose.  But  they  must  have  good  soil  and 
careful  attention,  or  the  seed  will  be  sure  to  be 
'  bad  ;'  'a  convenient  term  for  neglect  or  bad  prac- 
tice in  many  instances.  Very  fine  seeds  may  be 
sown  quite  on  the  surface,  and  a  little  mossj  dried 
and  powdered,  spread  thinly  over  the  seeds.  The 
common  cause  of  failure  is  deep  sowing.  The  neai-^ 
er  the  surface,  the  better,  provided  they  do  not  ever 
become  dry — which  is  as  fatal  as  deep  planting.  It 
is  a  happy  practice  that  can  just  hit  the  middle 
way.  Climbing  annuals  are  particularly  interest- 
ing. Tuberoses  are  best  planted  out  as  soon  as  all 
danger  of  frost  is  over,  in  a  rich,  moist,  warm, 
sandy  soil,  if  perfection  is  desired.  Roots  that 
flowered  last  year  will  not  flower  again  for  two 
seasons. 

Bulbs  that  have  flowered  in  glasses  or  pots  in  the 
house,  if  planted  out  into  the  open  ground  as  soon 
as  their  flowers  are  fairly  faded,  and  before  their 
leaves  have  became  seared,  will,  if  left  in  the  open 
ground  till  next  Spring,  give  a  small  bloom  again ; 
though,  of  course,  nothing  to  be  compared  to  the 
imported  roots. 


FRUIT  G-AEXEBT. 
Grafting  can  be  continued  till  the  buds  of  the 
trees  are  nearly  pushed  into  leaf  Sf)metimes,  from 
a  pressure  of  other  work,  some  valuable  scions  have 
been  left  on  hand  too  late  to  work.  It  may  be  in- 
teresting to  know,  that  if  such  scions  are  put  into 
the  ground  much  the  same  as  if  they  were  cuttings, 
they  will  keep  good  for  six  weeks  or  two  months, 
by  which  time  the  bark  will  run  freely,  when  the 
scions  may  be  treated  as  buds,  and  will  succeed  just 
as  well  as  buds  taken  from  young  summer  shoots. 

In  planting  dwarf  Pears,  it  is  very  important  to 
have  them  on  a  spot  that  has  a  moist  subsoil,  either 
naturally,  or  made  so  by  subsoiling  or  mixing  some 
material  with  the  soil  that  will  give  out  moisture  in 
dry  weather.  Trees  already  planted  on  a  dry  grav- 
elly-subsoil, should  have  a  circle  dug  out  two  feet 
deep  and  two  or  three  feet  from  the  tree.  This 
should  be  filled  up  with  well-enriched  soil.  If  the 
dwarf  Pear  does  not  grow  freely,  it  is  a  sign  tha-t 
something  is  wrong.  It  should  at  once  be  severely 
pruned,  so  as  to  aid  in  producing  a  vigorous  growth. 

Strawberry-beds  are  very  frequently  made  at  tliis 
season,  and  though  they  will  not  bear  fruit  the 
same  j'ear,  are  much  more  certain  to  grow,  and  will 
produce  a  much  better  crop  next  year  than  when 
left  till  next  August.  Though  it  is  a  very  common 
recommendation,  we  do  not  value  a  highly  luanured 
soil.  It  should  be  well  trenched  or  subsoiled  :  this 
we  consider  of  great  value.  In  rich  soils  there  is 
ton  much  danger  of  having  more  leaves  than  fruit. 

Buds  that  were  inoculated  last  fdl  should  not  be 
forgotten,  but  as  soon  as  vegetation  has  pushed 
forth,  the  buds  should  be  examined,  and  all  other 
issues  from  the  old  stock  taken  away.  It  may  also 
be  necessary  to  make  a  tie  in  order  to  get  the  young 
shoot  of  the  bud  to  go  in  the  way  from  which  you 
would  not  hereafter  have  it  depart. 

Above  all,  do  not  allow  the  month  to  pass  with- 
out posting  yourself  afresh  on  the  various  methods 
recommended  for  destroying  insects,  or  preventing 
their  attacks.  The  advantage  of  a  stitch  in  time  is 
never  more  decided  than  in  the  great  struggle  with 
fruit  destroying  insects.  A  mass  of  information  on 
these  points  lies  scattered  through  our  past 
volumes,  that  will  well  repay  a  careful  reperusal  for 
the  purpose  alone  of  refurni  Jiing  ones  ideas  in  that 

line. 

_ — <«••* 

VEGETABLE   GARDEN. 

Those  who  look  with  peculiar  affection  on  the 
'  sour  krout '  barrel,  must  look  out  at  once,  if  not 
already  sown,  for  good  cabbage  seed.  The  Drum- 
head is  the  kind  most  generally  used ;  but  those  iu 


?T- 


'&h 


^■<€^,;^^ 


'1^/. 


Wi\\  €mkm\  (^lontIil||, 


J3Sw__E^,L^ 


99 


tlie  secret  give  a  knowing  wink  -when  the  Savoy  is 
named  in  tliat  connection.  Purple  Cape  Broccoli, 
Autumn  Cauliflower,  and  Eed  Dutch  Cabbage  by 
those  who  '  love'  pickles,  must  also  be  sown.  After 
all  the  receipts  given  for  preserving  these  seeds 
from  the  Turnip  fly,  the  best  plan  is  to  sow  the 
seeds  in  a  frame  or  box  with  high  sides.  The  '  lit- 
tle juniper  '  does  not  seem  to  like  to  risk  his  limbs 
by  a  high  leap,  or  his  nasal  organs  may  not  be  good 
— or  '  what  the  ej'e  does  not  see,  the  heart  does  not 
grieve  for;'  or  for  some  other  reason,  he  leaves 
them  alone  under  such  circumstances. 

Celery,  with  most  families,  is  an  important  crop, 
and  should  be  sown  about  this  period.  A  very  rich 
moist  spot,  that  will  be  shaded  from  the  mid-day 
April  sun,  should  be  chosen  ;  or  a  box  in  a  frame 
by  those  who  have  the  convenience. 

Tomatoes,  Egg-plants,  Peppers,  and  similar 
plants,  every  gardener  tries  to  get  as  forward  as 
possible.  South  of  Philadelphia  they  may  be  out 
unprotected  by  the  middle  of  the  month.  Here  we 
seldom  ri-k  them  before  jMaj^  The  same  may  be 
said  of  Sugar  Corn,  dwarf  and  Lima  Beans,  Okra, 
Squash,  Cucumber,  and  Melons.'  No  'time'  can 
be  set  for  sowing  these,  except  not  to  sow  till  the 
ground  has  become  warm.  A  few  warm  days  often 
makes  us  'feel  like  gardening,'  but  unless  the 
ground  is  warmed,  the  seeds  will  be  very  likely  to 
rot.  Here  we  sow  about  the  first  week  in  JMay. 
Onions  for  seed  should  be  sown  in  rich  soil,  but 
very  thickly,  so  as  not  to  become  larger  than  mar- 
bles. Very  far  North,  where  they  perfect  in  one 
year,  this  advice,  of  course,  is  not  intended.  A 
crop  of  Carrots  should  be  sown  the  end  of  April. 
In  moist  seasons  the  earlier  crops  are  liable  to  run 
to  seed. 

l^Iuch  has  been  written  about  growing  Potatoes, 
and  the  plan  of  covering  the  sets  with  straw,  leaves, 
or  brushwood,  before  covering  slightly  with  soil,  is 
quite  popular. 

Early  York  Cabbage  sown  last  month,  or  kept 
over  the  winter,  must  now  be  planted  out,  where 
there  is  a  demand  for  summer  greens  ;  and  to  meet 
this  want,  another  crop  of  Spinage  may  yet  be 
sown. 

Few  things  mark  a  well-kept  garden  better  than 
an  aliundance  of  all  kinds  of  herbs.  Now  is  the 
time  to  make  the  beds.  Sage,  Thyme,  and  Laven- 
der, grow  from  slips,  which  may  be  set  in  now  pre- 
cisely as  if  an  edging  of  box  were  to  be  made  of 
them.  They  grow  very  easily.  Basil  and  Sweet 
jMarjoram  must  be  sown  in  a  rich  warm  border. 

Salsafy  and  Scorzonera  like  a  damp  rich  soil. 


GREENHOUSE  PLANTS.  &c. 
Dahlias — one  of  the  most  popular  of  fall  bloom- 
ing flowers — should  now  be  put  into  pots,  all  the 
roots  being  shortened  to  admit  of  its  being  more 
readily  done.  As  soon  as  they  sprout,  they  should 
be  taken  off  from  the  old  stocks,  a  piece  of  root 
being  retained  with  each  shoot, — by  the  second 
week  in  May,  the  time  to  plant  out  Dahlias,  they 
will  be  ready.  Calceolarias  and  Cinerarias,  of  all 
house  plants,  hate  a  dry  atmosphere,  and  on  this 
account  it  is  difficult  to  keep  them  over  the  sum- 
mer. If  there  be  any  sunk  pits  at  hand,  such  as 
are  employed  for  wintering  plants,  no  better  place 
could  be  found  for  their  summer  quarters.  The 
same  remarks  apply  to  the  Pansy  and  Daisy. 


LENDING    GRACH    TO    EVERGREENS. 
BY   J.    T.,    MOUNDVILLE,    WIS. 

My  first  winter  here,  mild  though  it  was  compar- 
ed with  such  a  one  as  this,  gave  me  a  sufficiently 
broad  hint  that  if  I  wished  to  make  my  house  snug, 
cosey,  and  home-like,  it  was  requisite  to  shelter  it 
on  the  North  and  West  sides  with  Evergreen  trees. 

I  planted  several  White  Pines,  all  of  which  save 
one  are  fine  thrifty  trees,  15  to  20  feet  high,  straight 
as  an  arrow,  and  feathered  with  branches  to  the 
ground.  I  have  usually  the  Hollyhock  growing  on 
the  lee  side  of  the  Western  trees,  and  agree  with 
j'ou  that  in  no  other  situation  does  that  fine  old 
stately  flower  appear  to  so  much  advantage ;  but 
when  you  say  "  to  give  a  summer  grace  to  the  ev- 
ergreen nothing  surpasses  the  Hollyhock,"  I  am 
induced  to  ask  you  if  you  ever  saw  a  young  White 
Pine,  over  which  two  or  three  plants  of  the  very 
common  but  very  elegant  Morning  Glory  had  been 
allowed  to  ramble.  The  pine  on  the  S.  W.  corner, 
which  was  the  largest  when  planted,  grew  slowly  at 
first;  and  as  shading  the  stems  of  unthrifty  trees 
is  considered  by  some  beneficial,  it  occurred  to  me 
to  plant  round  it  some  seeds  of  the  Morning  Glory, 
which  had  that  spring  been  sent  to  me  with  other 
flower  seeds  from  England  ;  the  flowers  proved  of 
different  colors,  which  added  to  the  charm  of  varie- 
ty: one  was  a  white  with  pink  stripes,  one  pink, 
one  deep  rose,  and  two  were  of  the  ordinary  purple 
color.  You  may  form  some  notion  of  the  appear- 
ance of  my  pine  when  these  flowers  were  in  the 
height  of  their  glory,  hanging  in  garlands  from 
branch  to  branch,  with  here  and  there  a  loose 
streamer  waving  in  the  air.    When  seen  at  sunrise, 


^^>T- 


— -H^. 


ff(^ 


;ff?^ 


100 


Sk  ^urdcnxr's  cPoitlljIin 


in  all  their  freshness  and  purity,  bathed  in  dew, 
they  presented  a  sight  whose  simple  beauty  and 
airy  elegance  would  have  won  for  it  hosts  of  admi- 
rers, even  amid  the  gorgeous  splendors  of  a  Chis- 
wick  show. 

May  not  beautiful  climbers  of  more  enduring 
growth  be  united  to  pines  of  larger  size  and  thus 
be  led  to 

"  invest  his  branch  ; 
Else  unadorned,  -with  many  a  gay  festoon 
And  fragrant  chiiplet,  recompensing  well 
The  strength  they  borrow  with  the  grace  they  lend." 

Pine  branches  are  not  unfrequently  used  to  pro- 
tect tender  plants  during  winter.  You  have  ob- 
served the  importance  of  even  slight  protection  or 
shelter  to  somewhat  tender  fruit  trees  and  other 
plants.  Do  you  remember  reading  among  Andrew 
Knight's  suggestive  papers,  one  on  the  beneficial 
effects  of  protecting  the  stems  of  fruit  trees  from 
frosts  in  early  spring  ?  lie  mentions  that  an  apple 
tree,  in  a  friend's  garden,  whose  stems  and  larger 
branches  were  covered  by  evergreen  trees,  had 
borne  a  succession  of  crops  of  fruit,  while  other 
trees  of  the  same  kind,  growing  near  to,  but  not 
protected,  had  been  entirely  unproductive.  In  the 
garden  of  another  friend,  a  nectarine  sprang  acci- 
dentally from  seed  in  a  plantation  of  laurels ;  it 
bore  as  a  standard  three  successive  crops  of  fruit ; 
the  owner  thinking  he  had  got  an  extremely  hardy, 
and  therefore  valuable  variety,  thinking  to  promote 
its  growth  and  health,  cut  away  the  laurel  branches 
which  sheltered  it;  but  the  result  was  simply  an 
end  to  its  fruiting.  A  plant  of  the  tender  China 
Rose  and  of  the  Iri.sh  Ivy  were  planted  together  by 
Mr.  Knight  at  the  foot  of  a  wall ;  in  time  both 
grew  considerably  above  the  top  of  the  wall,  which 
was  13  feet  high,  and  the  rose,  whose  stem  was 
covered  by  the  ivy,  "annually  produced  more 
abundant  flowers,  and  exhibited  symptoms  of  more 
luxuriant  health  than  any  other  rose  of  the  same 
kind  in  his  possession." 

Now  as  sheltering  walls  are  out  of  the  question 
with  most  of  us  here,  supposing  an  amateur,  anima- 
ted with  the  true  amateur  spirit,  desirous,  not  only 
to  grow  ordinary  things  extraordinary  well,  but  to 
grow  fruits  of  great  excellence  and  flowers  of  rare 
beauty,  which  are  considered  somewhat  too  tender 
or  too  difficult  of  culture  to  be  "recommended  for 
general  cultivation,"  should  have  growing  in  his 
garden  an  isolated  White  Pine  or  other  suitable 
evergreen,  which,  after  the  first  two  or  three  years 
of  its  life,  had  extended  its  leaders  abouc  two  feet 
each  year,  so  that  its  shoots  or  branches  may  be  at 
a  good  di.'^tanee  apart,  is  it  not  probable  that  by  the 
aid  of  the  shelter  afforded  by  the  pine,  he  might, 


in  a  somewhat  adverse  climate,  be  able  to  grow  that 
noble  climber  the  Chinese  Wistaria,  or  Bignonia 
radicans,  and  even  vigorous  growing  varieties  of 
the  rose,  clematis,  &c.  By  shelter  I  mean  that  the 
main  stem  of  the  climber  shall  be  trained  up  the 
main  stem  of  the  pine,  and  that  lateral  branches  of 
the  climber  shall  be  induced  to  grow  along  the  lat- 
eral branches  of  the  pine.  The  Wistaria  thus  grown 
and  well  managed,  if  it  is  possible  to  keep  it  up  in 
order  within  the  limits  of  a  pine  tree,  could  not  fail 
to  be  otherwise  than  exceedingly  beautiful. 

If  orchards  in  these  States  on  the  wrong  side  of 
the  great  lakes,  were  sheltered  by  evergreens  on 
the  North  and  Yfest  sides,  as  I  am  persuaded  they 
should  be  to  insure  the  highest  success  in  fruit  cul- 
ture, the  inside  row  of  pines  of  the  North  belt 
might  be  made  useful  as  well  as  ornamental,  by 
training  a  grape  vine  up  each.  This  you  will  con- 
sider a  very  primitive  mode  of  growing  the  grape  ; 
old  as  Adam  and  Eve,  if  Milton  may  be  considered 
any  authority  in  the  matter,— unperplexed  by  a 
multiplicity  of  rival  systems, 

"they  led  the  vine 
To  wed  her  Elm  ;  she  spous'd  about  him  twines 
Her  marriageable  arms,  and  with  her  brings 
Her  dower,  th'  adopted  cluster",  to  adorn 
His  barren  leaves." 

It  is  a  common  remark  that  vines  which  have 
been  allowed  to  ramble  at  will  over  trees,  are  usu- 
ally healthy  and  bear  well.  If  a  suitable  border  was 
prepared  on  the  south  side  of  a  vow  of  pines,  and 
the  leading  shoot  of  such  vine  planted  therein  was 
layered  in  the  way  recommended  by  Grant  in  the 
Thomery  system  of  grape  culture,  till  the  pine  was 
reached,  we  might  probably,  owing  to  the  greater 
height  from  the  ground  of  the  bearing  branches, 
and  to  the  shelter  afforded  by  the  pine,  obtain  ripe 
grapes  in  some  seasons,  when  those  on  trellises  or 
stakes  in  the  open  ground  would  be  immature,  ow- 
ing to  the  foliage  being  destroyed  by  early  frosts. 

It  is  rare  to  see  a  farm  house  or  orchard  here- 
abouts sheltered  by  trees  planted  for  that  purpose. 
Are  you  Nurserymen  wholly  blameless  in  this  mat- 
ter ?  On  looking  over  the  advertising  pages  of  the 
February  and  March  numbers  of  last  year,  I  find 
evergreens  offered  in  large  quantities,  at  very  low 
rates.  In  two  or  three  retail  catalogues  I  have,  the 
price  of  single  plants  only  is  stated.  For  a  nice 
thrifty  pine  or  spruce,  furnished  with  a  mass  of 
fibrous  roots  by  frequent  transplanting,  and  which 
is  wanted  to  dot  here  and  there  about  the  house, 
and  be  grown  as  a  specimen  plant,  50  cents  or  there- 
away, as  is  usually  charged,  is  none  too  much  ;  but 
it  seems  the  wrong  way  about  to  give  three  or  four 


(r>]^ 


^^ 


im 


®Ii4  ©aritcntr's  3|tont|[iT. 


101 


times  as  much  for  a  plant  to  protect,  as  for  a  plant 
to  be  protected ;  much  more  for  a  common  forest 
tree  than  for  the  choicest  fruit  tree.  What  is 
wanted,  or  rather  what  I  as  an  amateur  feel  I  want, 
is  nursery  raised  evergreens,  on  which  less  labor 
has  been  bestowed,  less  land  occupied  by  them  and 
sold  much  younger,  so  that  the  nurseryman  may 
more  quickly  get  a  return  for  the  money  and  labor  ex- 
pended in  their  production,  and  therefore  be  enabled 
to  sell  with  profit  in  moderate  quantities  at  low 
prices.  Why  then  not  state  briefly  in  your  cata- 
logues the  utility  and  necessity  of  shelter  to  houses 
and  orchards,  the  plants  best  suited  for  the 
purpose,  with  some  hints  about  preparation  of  soil, 
planting  and  after  management;  then  state  the  size 
or  age  of  }'^our  plants,  and  how  much  for  25,  50  or 
lOO"  This,  I  think,  would  help  matters  some,  but 
in  the  Western  States  especially,  State  and  County 
Agricultural  Societies  should  take  the  matter  in 
hand. 

In  old  European  countries,  it  is  found  expedient 
to  offer  premiums  to  induce  a  man  to  grub  up  old 
and  crooked  fences,  which  it  was  obviously  for  his 
interest  to  do.  May  not  the  offer  of  premiums  in- 
duce men  here  to  plant  evergreens  about  their  hou- 
ses and  orchards^  which  would  add  so  much  to  in- 
dividual comfort,  to  success  in  fruit-growing,  and 
tend  so  much  to  beautify  and  adorn  the  country. 


NOTES    ON    THE    MELON, 
BY   S.    F.    T. 

On  a  hot  day,  in  summer  or  the  early  autumn, 
there  is  no  fruit  more  refreshing  than  a  ripe  juicy 
water-melon.  Not  so  rich  and  luscious,  perhaps, 
as  the  peach,  yet  for  its  refreshing  qualities,  not 
surpassed  by  any  other  fruit.  The  water-melon  is, 
therefore,  held  in  universal  esteem,  and  there  are 
few  persons,  in  this  part  of  Eastern  Pennsylvania, 
who  do  not  plant  a  few  hills  every  j'car.  Ever 
since  I  was  able  to  plant  at  all,  at  each  returning 
season,  the  water-melon  was  not  forgotten,  and  this, 
always  in  the  face  of  universal  failures.  Except, 
when  a  tough  sod  in  some  rich  meadow  bank 
was  turned  under,  so  far  as  I  have  seen,  onr  far- 
mers all  had  the  same  result — a  very  poor  croop  of 
little  half-starved  melons,  than  a  Jerseyman  would 
not  think  of  eating.  T  have  often  thought  that 
this  fruit,  loved  as  it  is  by  every  one,  should  not  be 
passed  by,  with  the  little  notice  that  it  receives  in 
the  journals,  and  I  have  often  thought  too,  that 
some  successful  Jerseyman,  Cand  it  is  said,  they  all 
succeed)  should  give  us  occasional  notes  on  the 
subject,  in  relation  to  the  culture — new  varieties 


and  other  facts,  as  they  become  known  ;  but  have 
looked  in  vain.  Surely  there  is  great  room  for  the 
observation  and  experience  of  successful  cultivators 
of  this  fruit. 

Not  deterred  by  such  a  universal  want  of  success, 
I  never  fail  to  keep  up  the  custom  of  planting  a 
few  melon  hills ;  this  year,  however,  with  such 
good  success,  that  I  feel  tempted  to  give  the  read- 
ers of  the  MontJdi/,  with  the  Editor's  permission, 
my  mode  of  cultivation  pretty  fully. 

It  has  been  long  known  that  a  rich  meadow  bank 
tvirned  under,  seldom  fails  to  produce  a  good  crop 
of  melons.  But,  unfortunately,  all  of  us  do  not  have 
such  favored  spots,  or  if  we  do,  they  are  so  remote 
from  the  dwelling  that  the  tempted  fruit  becomes 
a  prey  to  melon  thieves. 

My  own  soil  is  a  gravelly  loam,  much  inclined  to 
bake  in  the  spring,  and  is,  therefore,  unsuitable  for 
melon  culture,  but,  notwithstanding  this,  proper 
care  will  bring  the  melons.  An  early  start  is  essen- 
tial here,  even  if  they  should  require  some  protec- 
tion at  first ;  and  in  this  case,  a  small  shallow  bore, 
three  or  four  inches  deep,  without  top  or  bottom, 
and  a  pane  of  glass  laid  over  the  top,  answers  a 
good  purpose. 

In  making  the  hills,  which  should  be  not  less 
than  eight  feet  apart,  dig  out  a  hole,  eight  or  ten 
inches  deep,  by  two  feet  across,  throwing  the  sub- 
soil away.  Into  this,  place  one  or  two  good 
forksful  of  fresti  manure  from  the  horse  stables, 
and  on  this,  place  the  soil  which  should  be  enriched 
by  adding  or  mixing  with  it  some  wood  mould  ; 
the  hills  should  be  raised  a  few  inches,  and  made 
flat  on  top  when  the  seeds  may  be  planted.  Care 
in  selecting  of  seeds  will  always  pay.  My  plan  has 
been  to  save  the  seeds  of  the  best  melons  of  the 
previous  year.  Plant  in  each  hill  12  or  15  seeds, 
and  as  the  plants  grow,  and  are  fairly  out  of  the 
reach  of  insects  and  other  pests,  reduce  to  about 
three.  The  young  plants  need  careful  attention, 
and  must  be  kept  thrifty  by  very  frequent  hoeing, 
and,  if  the  season  be  dry,  watering.  Weekly  ap- 
plications of  liquid  manure  answer  a  good  pur- 
pose. 

If  the  plants  are  not  kept  thrifty  and  growing, 
but  on  the  contrary  seem  to  stand,  they  soon 
dry  up. 

As  the  season  advances,  at  each  hoeing  draw  up 
the  dirt  a  little,  this  increases  the  diameter  of  the 
hill,  and  making  it  a  little  concave  on  the  top,  so 
as  to  keep  the  rains  from  flowing  away.  Wet  sea- 
sons this  is  not,  perhajjs,  necessary.  In  a  few  weeks, 
if  the  ground  has  been  kept  well  stirred  and  watered 
when  dry,  the  vines  will  have  covered  the  ground, 


^^^rT■ 


102 


%l$^  6-dxk\ux%  |lIoni|)In. 


m^ 


and  they  will  require  little  further  attention,  ex- 
cept an  occasional  weeding.  Still  I  keep  up  the 
hoeing  as  long  as  I  can  move  the  vines  about,  out 
of  the  way  of  the  hoe,  without  injury,  but  as  the 
tendrils  will  soon  attach  themselves  to  anything 
within  reach,  they  can  then  be  no  longer  removed, 
and  the  let  alone  policy  will  be  the  best. 

The  next  difficulty  is,  to  know  just  M'hen  the  fruit 
is  ripe,  and  this  can  be  readily  ascertained  by  taking 
a  melon  between  the  hands  and  applying  a  little 
pressure,  when  if  a  faint  cracking  is  heard,  the 
fruit  is  ripe.  If  then  laid  in  a  cool  cellar,  a  day  or 
so,  it  will  be  in  good  condition  for  eating. 

The  same  treatment  applied  to  the  Canteloupe, 
will  seldom  fail  to  produce  a  bountiful  return. 

This  fine  fruit  is  more  successfully  raised  here, 
than  the  water-melon.  The  hills  may  be  six  teet 
apart,  and  the  fruit  is  ripe  when  it  leaves  the  vine 
by  a  very  slight  pull.  A  small  variety  called  Jenny 
Llud,  is  good  enough,  with  a  long  kind  which  I  re- 
ceived as  the  Cassabar  Melon,  is  one  of  the  greatest 
acquisitions  of  the  past  few  years.  They  are  about 
as  good  as  the  first  named,  but  are  very  large. 

One  of  these,  raised  last  season,  measured  one 
yard  in  circumference. 

This  article  is,  perhaps,  long  enough  to  tire  the 
liatience  of  many  of  your  readers,  and  I  will  con- 
clude with  a  short  chapter  on  hoeing  made  easy. 

Ordinarily  boeing  is  a  toilsome  work,  but  with  a  lit- 
tle light  implement,  such  as  I  procured  of  Rogers  & 
Gest,  Market  Street,  Philadelphia,  hoeing  is  easy 
and  pleasant.  This  very  light  and  most  effective 
hoe  has  five  prongs  on  the  back  like  a  rake,  while 
the  cutting  blade,  on  the  other  side,  is  a  light  piece 
of  steel,  one  incli  wide,  by  five  or  six  long.  With 
this  instrument  I  can  go  over  n)y  melon  patch  in 
the  morning  before  breakfast,  and  the  flower  beds, 
which  aie  quite  extensive,  are  kept  in  order  with 
comparative  ease  by  myself 

Some  years  since,  a  hoe  like  this,  without  the 

blade,  wa?  described  in  the  jVoyitJih/.    Will 

I  the  editor  be  so  good  as  to  give  the  exact 

pattern  and  size,  with  any  improvements 

that  have  been  added  since?   If  any  better 

ill:S3Ss;than  the  first,  I  would  like  to  have  some. 

[See  answer  in  another  column. — Ed.] 

rOrCSNG-   PRSr^CSFALLY    BY  SUIf-HSAT. 
JAMES   WEED,  MUSCATINE,  IOWA. 

To  produce  choice  fruits  with  certainty  and 
cheaply,  has  always  been  regarded  as  an  object 
worthy  of  the  best  minds  in  horticulture,  and  en- 
gaged the  highest  genius  and  skill  of  practical 
gardeners. 

"^ — ^jgj-j — — 

o>? ■ 


The  following  illustrations  are  designed  to  show 
the  application  of  substantial  and  efficient  shutters 
to  forcing-pits,  or  other  glazed  structures : 


"•r  ^'^xKiAJ'-': " 


"-rr^^"?^ 


NO.    I. — CROSS   SECTION,    CLOSED. 

The  house  may  be  supposed  to  be  fourteen  feet 
wide,   eight   high,    with   rafters   eight  feet  long. 

The  shutters  ten  feet  high,  and  eight  or  ten  in- 
ches thick,  should  enclose,  in  their  construction,  a 
perfectly  shut  air-chamber,  and  close  tightly  over 
the  glazed  structure,  as  shown  in  the  first  cut. 

The  house  should  extend  east  and  west,  and  the 
north  shutter,  when  opened  to  a  perpendicular  po- 
sition, is  fastened  to  substantial  posts,  and  thus 
forms  a  back  wall  eleven  feet  high,  the  rocker- rails 
being  one  foot  from  the  ground,  which  should  be 
mulched  with  a  suitable  covering  one  or  two  feet 
thick.  The  south  shutteris,  when  open,  also  attached 
to  posts,  and  turned  over  sufficiently  to  admit  the 
full  action  of  the  sun's  rays  upon  the  house,  as  rep- 
resented in  the  second  cut.  The  base  of  the  shut- 
ters, below  the  center  of  the  circle,  is  weighted  with 
sand  or  other  suitable  material,  until  they  are  bal- 
anced on  the  centers,  when  they  may  be  opened  or 
closed  with  the  greatest  ease  and  fiicility.  The 
ends  of  the  house  are  closed  with  similar  shnftcrs. 


KO.    II.— SAME,    WITH   SHUTTERS    REMOVED,    EXPOSING   THE 
GLASS  TO  THE  SUN. 

The  objetts  sought  to  be  obtained  by  this  mode, 
are,  so  to  enclose  and  protect  the  house  that  the 
temperature  may  be  suffered  to  decline  naturally 
during  the  night,  without  endangering  the  plants— 
to  economize  fuel,  simplify  the  management,  and 
lessen  the  cost  of  heating  apparatus. 

Writers  on  the  subject  of  forcing,  all  agree  that 
the  injuries  residting  to  plants  from  high  night- 
temperature,  which  is  unavoidable  in  severe  cli- 
mates, subject  to  extreme  vicissitudes  and  sudden 
changes,  are  among  the  most  serious  and  difficult 
to  obviate.     We  advise  to  "leave  on  a  little  air  all 

?r<E) 


®It4  ^ardcn^'s  JHoiiihlg. 


103 


night,"  with  so  many  cautions  and  counter-in- 
structions, which,  put  together,  amount  to  just  as 
little  as  possible  in  the  very  coldest  weather,  when 
the  greatest  fire-heat  is  required,  and,  consequently, 
the  most  ventilation  needed. 

To  apply  this  house  to  the  purpose  of  forcing  the 
peach  economically,  put  up  the  frame  and  shutters, 
and  plant  the  trees  in  the  border  at  the  base  of  suit- 
able trellises,  and  after  training  the  first  season, 
close  the  shutters  over  them  until  the  next  spring. 
Continue  the  training,  and  allow  a  few  specimens 
cf  fruit ;  in  the  fall  again  enclose  for  the  winter, 
and  the  third  summer  a  moderate  crop  may  be  re- 
alized. Thus  we  secure  a  perfect  condition  in  the 
trees,  and  raise  "  peaches  without  glass."  As  soon 
as  the  trellises  are  filled  and  the  trees  in  condition 
for  a  full  crop,  and  for  forcing,  cover  the  frame 
with  hot-bed  sash,  and  when  desirable  to  start  the 
trees,  open  the  shutters  daily  to  the  sun,  and  close 
up  securely  at  night.  A  common  stove  and  pipe, 
or  simple  flues,  will  be  necessary  in  cold,  cloudy 
weather,  and  in  extremely  cold  nights  ;  but  there 
are  many  warm  days  in  winter  when  the  sun  would 
afford  all  the  heat  wanted. 

The  following  directions,  from  the  Gardener  s 
CJironide,  for  the  management  of  peach  trees  in 
pots,  indicate  that  the  peach  requres  much  less 
heat  in  forcing  than  the  grape  : 

"The  trees  started  in  December,  should  be  com- 
menced with  the  temperature  of  about  40°  by  night 
and  45°  by  day.  After  the  first  fortnight,  the  tem- 
perature should  rise  to  4.3°  by  night  and  50°  by  day, 
■Trith  an  increase  of  about  10°  with  sun  heat.  At 
the  end  of  another  fortnight,  the  temperature 
should  rise  to  about  50°  by  night  and  55°  by  day. 
The  night  temperature  should  not  exceed  this  until 
after  the  fruit  is  set.  This  is  the  rock  on  which  so 
many  beginners  suflTer  shipwreck.  They  forget 
that  the  peach  must  be  flowered  under  a  compara- 
tively low  degree  of  temperature  ;  they  are  fright- 
ened to  give  air,  especially  if  the  weather  be  cold 
and  frosty ;  they  keep  a  close,  warm  atmosphere, 
and  the  results  are,  that  the  petals  all  drop  ofi" 
without  any  fruit  setting.  Whilst  peach  trees  are 
iu  blossom,  air  must  be  admitted  abundantly  by 
day,  and  a  little  also  at  night ;  precautions  must  of 
course  be  taken  in  severe  weather,  to  j^lace  some 
material  over  the  openings,  to  break  the  cold 
draughts  of  air.  So  long  as  the  temperature  is 
kept  above  35°,  the  blossoms  are  safe,  but  only 
keep  a  close  atmosphere  and  a  high  temperature, 
and  there  is  a  certain  end  to  the  crop.  This  is  a 
point  which  cannot  be  too  much  insisted  on,  as 
every  thing,  as  regards   the  crop,   depends  on  it. 


By  admitting  plenty  of  air,  and  keeping  a  night 
temperature  of  from  45°  to  50°,  if  the  wood  was, 
previous  to  forcing,  well  ripened,  a  much  greater 
quantity  of  fruit  will  set  than  is  ever  needed  to  re- 
main for  a  crop.  When  the  fruit  is  all  set,  and 
about  the  size  of  large  peas,  the  temperature 
should  be  raised  to  about  55  to  60°  by  night,  and 
G5°  by  day,  with  an  increase,  by  sun  heat,  of  10°. 
Air  should  be  freely  admitted.  The  night  tempe- 
rature should  not  exceed  60°,  until  the  '  stoning ,  is 
over  ;  for  this  is  a  very  critical  period  in  peach-for- 
cing. After  this,  the  temperature  should  be  raised 
to  .65°  by  night,  and  70°  by  day.  Peach  trees  will 
stand  a  high  temperature  after  this.  When  the 
fruit  is  approaching  maturity,  which,  when  the 
trees  are  started  in  December,  and  the  firegoing 
treatment  attended  to,  will  be  about  the  beginning 
of  June,  it  should  have  all  the  exposure  to  light 
and  air  possible.  Trees  treated  thus  will  be  in  the 
best  possible  condition  for  forcing  the  next  season. 
The  above  mode  of  treatment  will  api3ly  to  the 
trees  started  at  any  .subsequent  period  ;  and  to  have 
a  succession  of  fruit,  a  fresh  batch  should  be  started 
every  three  or  four  weeks. ' ' 

If  trees  are  started  the  last  of  January,  instead 
of  December,  in  this  climate,  the  average  temper- 
ature, from  sun  heat,  will  increase  after  the  first 
month,  in  something  like  the  proportion  required. 

When  under  thiss3'stem  of  pot  culture  in  orchard- 
houses,  in  this  country,  it  is  recommended  to  re- 
move the  trees  to  the  open  grounds,  v/e  remove  the 
sash  from  the  house,  and  use  the  shutters,  if  occa- 
sion requires. 

The  advantages  of  planting  directly  in  the  border, 
are  aimed  to  be  contrasted  with  pot  culture,  in  the 
following  quotation  from  the  above  authority,  in 
1862: 

"  Glass  Houses  for  Fruits. — I  am  sure  that 
all  gardeners  must  bear  testimony  to  the  great 
stimulus  which  '  T.  K.'  has.  given  this  particular 
branch  of  horticulture,  and  to  the  indomitable  per- 
severance with  which  he  has  continued  to  fight  for 
a  number  of  years  for  his  'orchard  hou-ses,' 
and  for  his  peaches  and  nectarines  'in  pots.'  'A 
look  into  their  roots,'  he  saj's,  '  is  like  a  look  into 
the  book  of  Nature,  most  valuable  to  a  reflective 
mind.'  I  accept  the  cultivation  of  fruit-trees  in 
pots  exactly  in  this  sense.  But  as  a  matter  of 
£.  s.  d.,  and  of  supply,  I  must  leave  my  potted 
pets  to  keep  company  with  my  gei-aniums  and 
orange  trees,  where,  as  objects  of  beauty,  they  shall 
have  mjT^  attention  still.  That  fruits  of  all  kinds 
can  be  grown  in  pots,  there  can  be  no  doubt ;  but 
when  a  constant  and  substantial  supply  is  required 


104: 


Slh^  C^ardawr's  JJIonffilg. 


for  table  or  for  market,  of  the  finest  quality  and  in 
the  greatest  quantity,  then  there  is  no  question 
that  j'ou  must  decidedly  plant  out.  If  my  opinion 
is  worth  anything,  I  recommend  glasshouses  of  the 
highest  possible  construction,  and  trees  planted  out 
for  supply.  In  this  way,  there  will  be  no  disap- 
pointment, and  if  you  wish  to  grow  in  pots,  let  it 
be  understood  that  it  is  for  the  pleasure  which  such 
a  fancy  conveys,  and  not  for  profit. 

That  the  peach  and  all  other  choice  fruits  can  be 
grown  on  troliises,  trained  as  espaliers,  to  great  ad- 
vantage in  many  respects,  and  in  substantial  quan- 
tities for  market  purposes,  there  can  be  no  doubt, 
and  it  is  believed  the  product  of  espalier-trees  will 
pay  good  interest  on  the  investment  required,  em- 
bracing the  cost  of  shutters  for  preventing  injury 
to  the  trees,  or  their  blossoms,  from  autumn, 
winter  or  spring  frosts,  even  in  seasons  when  it  has 
to  compete  with  local  crops  in  the  open  ground — 
the  early  varieties  being  thus  carefully  grown  and 
sheltered  may  be  easily  marketed,  say  ten  days  be- 
fore the  product  of  open  culture,  and  in  teasons  of 
fivilure,  from  any  of  the  common  casualties,  a  re- 
imbursement of  the  whole  capital  invested  may 
soon  be  realized  ,  and  when  we  add  the  advantage 
of  the  practicability  of  forcing  these  fruits,  and 
bringing  to  market  full  crops,  at  a  season  when 
they  always  command  very  high  prices,  with  but 
little  more  than  the  simple  cost  of  a  glazed  covering, 
the  system  appears  worthy  of  the  capital  of  com- 
mercial fruit-growers,  and  the  enthusiasm  of  am- 
ateurs. 

*••«* 

THS    WALL-FL0WEI2. 
BY  SWIFT,  DELAWARE. 

The  wall-flower  has  long  been  a  favorite  of  mine, 
not  that  there  is  any  especial  beauty  in  the  plant  it- 
self; the  delicious  sweetness  of  its  flowers,  the  season 
ot  its  blooming,  its  habit  of  growing  on  old  walls  and 
ruins,  "  above  the  wrecks  of  time  ;"  its  very  name 
endears  it  to  those  who  have  seen  it  growing  in 
its  native  habitat,  and  gathered  the  yellow  petals, 
where  once  echoed  the  song  of  revelry.  There 
may  be  nothing  new  in  what  I  am  going  to  say,  in 
regard  to  its  cultivation,  still  I  cannot  resist  the 
impulse  to  plead  in  its  fixvor. 

The  Wall-flower  is  a  plant  of  easy  growth,  re- 
quiring to  be  kept  cool.  A  half  shady  place  in  the 
border,  is  just  the  thing  for  it,  during  our  hot,  dry 
summer  weather.  The  fragrance  of  its  flowers 
alone,  will  compensate  for  all  the  pains  bestowed  on 
its  cultivation.  Although  not  perfectly  hardy,  it 
can  be  protected  so  easily,  that  no  garden,  however 
small,  ought  to  be  without  this  sweet-scented, 
spring-flowering  plant. 


The  single  flowering  kinds  are  best  raised  from 
seed,  sown  in  spring,  either  in  a  bos  or  in  the  open 
ground  ;  when  two  or  three  inches  high,  plant  them 
in  beds  made  for  that  purpose.  The  double  va- 
rieties are  increased  by  cuttings,  which  root  readily 
in  pots  or  pans  filled  with  sandy  soil,  when  taken 
ofi"  the  young  wood,  just  before  burstinginto  bloom, 
to  be  afterwards  treated  similarly  to  those  raised 
from  seed.  They  require  no  further  care,  except 
weeding,  and  when  fall  comes  there  will  be  a  fine 
lot  of  plants  for  flowering  in  spring.  On  the  ap- 
proach of  hard  freezing  weather,  lift  all  the  plants, 
select  some  dry  sheltered  spot,  and  lieel  them  in, 
covering  them  at  the  same  time  with  half-flour 
barrels ;  there  remain  until  spring,  or,  if  tliere  be 
cold  frames  convenient,  and  to  spare,  heel  them  in 
there  close  together,  but  be  sure  and  take  oflf  the 
sash  on  mild,  sunny  days  ;  otherwise  the  plants 
would  damp  off".  When  spring  arrives,  plant  them 
in  a  bed  near  the  parlor  window,  leaving  room  be- 
tween each  plant,  for  heliotrope,  which  will  be  a 
mass  of  bloom,  when  the  Wall-flower  is— passe. 


PENNSYLVANIA    HCRTICULTURAL 
SOCIETY. 

DISCUSSIOXAL   MEETING,    FEB.    2,    18G4. 

President  Fairraan  Ilogers  in  the  chair. 

Mr.  J.  Daniels  presented  the  following  essay,  on 
"HEATING  OF  GLASS  HOUSES." 

In  commencing,  allow  me  to  make  a  few  prelim- 
inary remarks: 

Waiving  all  con.sideration  of  the  theories  which 
philosophers  have  advanced,  regarding  the  nature 
and  properties  of  heat ;  let  it  be  our  task  to  con- 
sider its  application  for  horticultural  purposes. 

As  man  advances  in  civilization  and  luxury,  arti- 
ficial heat  becomes  necessary  to  him  ;  first,  for 
warming  his  dwelling,  and  ai'terwards  to  produce 
those  exotic  rarities  for  his  table,  which  his  native 
climate  had  denied  him.  For  this  latter  purpose, 
heat  has  been  employed  for  ages,  but  true  it  is,  that 
until  within  a  vcrj^  recent  date,  it  lias  been  in  many 
cases  applied  ujjon  tlie  most  unphilosophical  prin- 
ciples. Not  only  in  respect  of  the  production  of  an 
unhealthy  atmosphere  and  uncertain  temperature, 
but  also  as  regards  the  consumption  of  an  unne- 
cessary quantity  of  fuel.  Nor  are  the  opposite 
results  all  the  advantages  which  modern  improve- 
ment has  made  in  this  case.  Econoni}^,  neatness 
and  order  have  taken  the  place  of  filth,  waste  and 
confusion. 

As  healthy  an  atmosphere  is  now  produced  in  all 
well  regulated  hot-houses,  as  there  is  in  the  opea      (W\ 


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air,  and  instead  of  difficulties  presenting  themselves, 
in  heating  a  moderate  sized  house,  we  find  none 
now  in  heating  an  eijtire  garden,  whatever  may  be 
its  extent. 

Ln  preparing  these  few  lines  we  have  had  to  con- 
sult several  works  of  merit,  in  which,  heating,  so 
far  as  regards  our  present  subject,  is  treated  of; 
and  have  examined  a  number  of  difi'erent  modes 
of  applying  heat  by  combustion,  personally. 

We  find  the  most  primitive  mode  of  heating  was 
that  employed  by  the  Dutch,  as  early  as  the  be- 
ginning of  the  sixteenth  centurj^,  for  we  find  at 
that  period,  their  gai'dens  contained  many  of  the 
plants  of  the  East  Indies.  It  consisted  of  the  com- 
mon stove  of  the  country,  placed  at  one  end  of  the 
hot-house,  inside ;  the  smoke  and  heated  air  being 
carried  along  the  front  or  middle  in  earthenware 
pipes  or  tubes,  about  ten  inches  in  diameter,  and 
smaller  at  one  end  than  the  other,  so  as  (o  admit 
the  end  of  the  one  entering  that  of  the  next. 

Another  mode  of  heating  wns  adopted,  and  is 
said  to  have  been  carried  out  within  a  very  recent 
period,  that  was  by  a  small  iron  wagon  mounted  on 
wheels,  and  filled  with  burning  charcoal,  which 
was  drawn  backwards  and  forwards  through  the 
house  in  severe  weather.  This  we  should  think  a 
every  dangerous  mode  of  heating. 

Brick  flues  constituted  the  next  step  towards  an 
improved  mode  of  heating,  and  those  first  used 
were  mei'ely  drains,  built  under  ground. 

These  were  followed  by  the  broad  and  deep  flues 
of  the  Dutch,  built  on  the  surface  but  not  separate 
from  it ;  these  are  in  very  general  use  still  through- 
out some  parts  of  Europe. 

The  detached  brick  flue,  adopted  about  the  end 
of  the  last  century,  was  a  decided  improvement  on 
the  former,  and  is  pretty  general  in  use  at  the  pre- 
sent time.  These,  it  is  said,  if  well  built  and  pro- 
perly managed,  have  their  advantages,  they  being 
somewhat  less  expensive  than  the  steam  or  hot 
water  pipes. 

Heating  by  hot  air  stoves  was  thought  at  the  time 
to  be  a  great  improvement  on  the  former  mode, 
but  Mr.  Nicol,  who  had  experimented  more  than 
any  man  of  his  day  upon  them,  has  declared  them 
worse  than  useless. 

Heating  by  steam  appears  to  be  the  next  im- 
provement in  heating  Glass  Houses,  but  that  now 
being  so  completely  superseded  by  hot  water,  that 
our  observations  or  remarks  need  only  be  brief; 
I  suffice  it  to  say,  that  it  being  more  costly  than  hot 
water  arrangements,  also  requiring  a  more  experi- 
enced person  to  manage. 

Hood,  in  his  excellent  Treatise  on  Heating,  very 


properly  remarks  :  "  As  the  power  of  iron  to  de- 
compose water  increases  with  the  temperature,  the 
limit  to  which  the  temperature  of  any  metallic  sur- 
face ought  to  be  raised,  which  is  used  for  radiating 
heat  for  the  warming  of  Glass  Houses,  should  not 
much,  if  at  all,  exceed  212°,  if  the  preservation  of 
health  is  the  matter  of  moment.  The  importance 
of  this  rule  cannot  be  too  strongly  insisted  on ;  it 
ought  to  be  the  fundamental  principle  of  every  plan; 
for  upon  it  depends  the  wholesomeuess  of  every  sys- 
tem of  artificial  heat. 

As  the  heat  in  hot  water  pipes,  rarely  exceeds 
180°  or  200°,  the  decomposition  of  water  by  that 
heat  is  immaterial,  compared  to  that  produced  by 
steam,  which  is  seldom  under  from  220  to  230°, 
and  infinitely  less  than  that  by  heated  air,  which 
frequently  have  to  pass  over  metallic  bodies,  red  hot, 
as  is  often  the  case  when  hot  air  stoves  are  em- 
ployed." 

HEATING   BY  FLUES. 

Having  before  remarked  on  flues  generally,  we 
shall  now  proceed  to  consider  a  few  varieties  indi- 
vidually. 

Earthenware  or  can  flues — it  has  been  already 
observed,  that  these  are  of  various  kinds,  the  most 
primitive  being  tubes  made  of  brick  clay,  tapering 
at  one  end,  so  as  to  join  more  readily  with  each 
other  ;  they  are  usually  about  2  feet  in  length  and 
10  inches  in  diameter. 

FIRE   CLAY   FLUES. 

With  spigot  and  faucet  joints.  These  are  a  great 
improvement  on  the  last  named,  as  being  stronger, 
less  liable  to  warp  or  crack  in  burning,  having  a 
much  neater  appearance — they  can  also  be  jointed 
so  as  to  prevent  the  escape  of  gaseous  matter — in 
some  cases  have  been  used  as  an  economical  sub- 
stitute for  iron  pipes  for  circulating  hot  water. 

The  modifications  of  fire  clay  flues  are  the  square, 
egg-shaped,  round  and  round-topped,  very  excel- 
lent improvements,  both  in  strength  and  appear- 
ance, and  all  seem  to  have  their  advocates. 

The  common  or  detached  flue.  This  was  the 
first  real  improvement  in  flue  building.  Flues  of  this 
description  vary  in  dimensions,  from  9  to  12  inches 
in  width,  and  from  12  to  18  inches  in  height.  They 
are  built  of  regular  and  well  formed  bricks  placed  on 
edge,  but  where  great  and  constant  heat  is  required, 
they  should  be  laid  flat,  being  thus  much  stronger. 
They  need  to  be  neatly  jointed  with  well  prepared 
mortar;  it  ought  to  be  raised  from  4  to  6  inches 
above  the  floor  of  the  house:  this  is  for  the  purpose 
of  keeping  the  flue  fire  from  damp,  which  would 
have  a  tendency  to  cool  the  air  in  it,  and  to  obstruct 
the  draught  or  current  of  smoke  and  heat,  which 


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are  both  lighter  than  cold  and  particularly  damp 
air,  as  well  as  of  preventing  the  loss  of  heat  by 
absorption. 

The  heating  capabilities  of  flues,  have  been  va- 
riously estimated ;  but  as  much  depends  on  the 
construction  of  the  house  to  be  heated,  mode  of 
glazing,  &c. — no  correct  data  can  be  laid  down, 
either  for  this  or  any  other  mode  of  heating. 

HEATING  BY  HOT  WATER. 

An  invention  so  important  as  that  of  heating  by 
the  circulationof  hot  water,  soon  became  extremely 
popular,  and,  as  a  natural  consequence,  men  of 
science  turned  their  attention  to  the  subject. 

We  find  that  Mr.  Atkinson's  system  was  the 
fir.-t  that  was  exemplified  in  a  perfect  state;  it  may  be 
termed  the  horizontal  mode,  as  the  water  was  made 
to  flow  from  the  boiler  to  the  reservoir  or  turn  of 
the  pipes  upon  a  perfect  level,  and  however  far 
most  of  the  others  have  essentially  difi'ered  from  it, 
in  some  feature  or  other,  still  the  principle  remains 
unchanged. 

Heating  by  hot-water  pipes,  tanks  or  gutters,  in 
all  their  modifications,  is  a  most  decided  improve- 
ment on  the  old  system  for  horticultural  purposes. 
It  has  many  advantages  over  steam,  because  by  it  a 
sufl&cient  and  more  uniform  temperature  can  be 
maintained  at  less  expense,  and  with  no  danger. 

BOILERS   AND   PIPES. 

Of  boilers,  there  is  now  a  great  variety.  As  it  is  in 
form  that  these  principally  differ  from  each  other, 
we  may  here  observe  that  that  form  is  most  cer- 
tainly the  most  perfect,  which  presents  the  greatest 
extent  of  surflice  to  the  action  of  the  fire,  either  at 
bottom,  through  the  centre,  or  over  the  sides, 
whether  caused  by  corrugation  or  projections,  either 
inside  or  out ;  holding  the  smallest  quantity  of 
water  necessary,  causing  a  quicker  circulation.  But, 
at  the  same  time,  complicated  forms  should  be 
avoided.  Copper,  zinc,  wrought  and  cast  iron,  and 
in  some  cases,  lead  and  earthenware  boilers,  have 
been  recommended,— of  these,  we  should  prefer 
the  cast  iron,  as  being  the  strongest  and  less  hable 
to  corrosion  than  wrought  iron.  The  metal  requires 
to  be  of  the  best  quality,  and  carefully  cast,  so  as  to 
be  of  equal  thickness  throughout,  else  they  are 
liable  to  crack  upon  fire  being  applied  to  them  for 
the  first  time,  on  account  of  the  inequality  of  ex- 
pansion, and  for  this  purpose  they  should  be  grad- 
ually heated  when  first  subjected  to  the  fire. 

Another,  and  one  of  the  most  important  points 
to  be  understood  and  acted  upon,  in  the  arrange- 
ment of  a  hot  water  apparatus,  is  theiiroper  setting 
of  the  boiler;  if  that  is  not  properly  attended  to, 


the  best  apparatus  will  be  a  failure.  Whereas, 
badly  designed  boilers,  when  well  set,  often  answers 
beyond  expectation. 

It  is  a  great  desideratum  with  good  gardeners,  as 
far,  at  least,  as  my  acquaintance  goes,  to  get  up  a 
heat  in  a  short  time,  and  their  oi'diuary  test  of  the 
excellence  of  a  hot-water  apparatus  is,  how  .speed- 
ily they  can  get  the  water  to  circulate.  Where  an 
apparatus  is  properly  constructed,  this  can  seldom  be 
eff"ected  without  a  most  extravagant  waste  of  fuel. 
If  a  house  is  to  be  heated  rapidly,  the  pipes  should 
be  of  the  smallest  diameter,  which  is  consistent 
with  a  free  circulation,  but  it  must  be  borne  in 
mind,  that  small  pipes  will  cool  with  equal  rapidity. 
But  we  do  hold,  that  small  pipes,  say  1  inch  in  di- 
ameter, will  convey  heat  away  from  the  boiler  much 
faster  than  larger  size,  say  4  inches.  As  the  cir- 
culation in  the  former,  being  sixteen  times  as  fast 
as  the  latter,  caused  by  the  heat  thi-nwn  oiF  so 
much  more  rapid,  thereby  returning  to  the  boiler  at 
a  much  lower  temperature, — it  is  well  known  the 
colder  the  water  returns  to  the  boiler  the  quicker 
the  circulation. 

Nor  is  this  all  the  advantage,  we  think,  in  using 
small  pipes,  and  especially  in  the  form  of  economy; 
as  we  said  before,  that  if  they  are  cooled  quicker, 
they  are  heated  quicker,  and  that  with  the  same 
radiating  surface,  with  much  less  fuel,  for  instance, 
four  1  inch  pipes  have  quite  as  much  radiating  sur- 
face as  one  4  inch  pipe,  and  we  do  hold,  will  throw 
off"  as  much  heat,  tlie  former  requiring  onely  one- 
fourth  as  much  water  as  the  latter,  it  therefore  only 
ought  to  I'equire  one-fourth  the  quantity  of  fuel. 

We  have  tried  a  number  of  experiments,  with 
small  pipes,  and  with  all,  and  we  are  still  of  the 
opinion  that  small  pipes,  for  moderate  side  glass- 
houses, are  by  far  the  most  economical. 


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GROWING   THE    LIMA    EEAN    IN    BS3DS. 
BY    "CHESTER   CO."    PA. 

I  do  not  know  whether  to  feel  mad  or  merry  at 
the  remarks  of  'Dauphin  County,'  on  the  Lima 
bean.  He  might  have  said,  all  he  did  say,  in  favor 
of  vegetable  culture,  without  the  extra  fling  at 
fruits  and  flowers.  I  think  no  less  of  a  good  vege- 
table than  he  does — would  go  so  far,  as  to  admit, 
that  a  gardener  should  understand,  first  and  fore- 
most, vegetable  growing  before  all,  but  not  at  the 
expense  of  flowers  or  fruit  either. 

IS'ot  feeling  in  the  best  of  humor  with  him,  I 
take  a  malicious  pleasure  in  telling  him  his  great 
trouble  about  poles  and  poling,  is  all  nonsense— 
and  it  astonishes  me  that  this  antiquated  plan  of 


-K^l 


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She  €arj!tittr's  Montliltr. 


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107 


bean  growing  has  not  long  ago  departed  this  life. 
My  plan  is  much  more  simj^le. 

I  lay  off  my  Lima  Bean  ground  into  beds,  as  to 
plant  asparagus — about  four  feet  wide,  leaving 
about  a  foot  of  space  between  the  beds.  I  then 
draw  a  deep  drill  with  a  hoe  right  across  the  bed, 
fill  in  with  good  rich  manure,  and  then  draw  over 
the  soil  on  each  side,  forming  a  steep  ridge  four 
feet  long — every  ten  feet,  this  operation  is  repeated 
across  the  bed,  and  the  beans  are  sown  about  six 
inches  apart  on  the  top  of  the  ridge, — I  have  then 
six  or  eight  plants  on  each  four  feet  ridge.  As 
soon  as  the  vines  are  well  above  ground,  brushwood 
or  pea  sticks  are  laid  on  the  ground  thickly  between 
the  ridges,  covering  the  whole  ground,  and  the 
vines'  soon  begin  to  run  along  the  brush.  By  Au- 
gust the  beds  are  covered  with  green  vines,  and  the 
beans  soon  follow. 

I  think,  by  my  plan,  I  can  get  more  beans  to  the 
acre  by  a  long  way,  and  a  plaguy  sight  earlier  bean, 
than  your  Dauphin  County  friend,  with  all  his  trou- 
ble and  fights  with  his  girls,  and  in  the  friendliest 
of  spirits  possible,  propose  to  send  you  a  half 
bushel  of  beans,  against  a  similar  quantity  from 
him,  purely  with  the  view  of  your  deciding  which 
plan  will  bring  the  earliest  beans.  I  suppose  there 
will  be  little  difference  in  the  earliness  of  the  sea- 
son between  this  and  'Dauphin  Co.' 

[The  bean  question  is  growing  interesting.  We 
have  not  heard  of  this  mode  of  growing  beans  be- 
fore, and  should  imagine  there  would  be  le.-s  space 
to  grow  the  beans  on  the  ground,  than  when  on 
poles ;  but  perhaps  the  extra  productiveness  makes 
the  difference.] 


BIEP^NIAL    FLOWERING    PLANTS. 
BY   WALTER  ELDER,    PIIILAD'a,  PA. 

This  is  a  beautiful  class  of  plants,  and  many  of 
them  are  very  fragrant,  and  are  also  of  simple  cul- 
ture. IMany  of  the  varieties  and  sub-varieties  are 
wonderful  imiDrovements  compared  with  their  ori- 
ginal species. 

Althea  sinensis,  (Hollyhock J  with  its  single 
blooms,  was  almost  banished  from  culture,  but  has 
returned  with  very  rich,  double  blooms  of  all  shades, 
and  is  now  a  great  ornament  to  the  Pleasure- 
grounds. 

Antirrhinum  has  so  many  improved  varieties, 
that  one  is  apt  to  exclaim,  how  much  further  will 
improvements  go  to  reach  perfection  ? 

Aquilegia,  fColumbineJ  has  very  many  new,  im- 
proved varieties  ;  far  transcending  in  loveliness  the 
fondest  wishes  of  their  originators. 


Campanula,  Canterbury  bell,  has  also,  very  many 
improved  varieties  ;  they  bloom  twice  the  size  of 
the  old  species — they  are  of  far  brighter  colors  and 
of  various  hues — deep  blue,  light  blue,  pure  white, 
yellowish  white,  &c. 

Digitalis  purpurea,  (Toxglovej  have  many  supe- 
rior varieties  of  different  colors,  and  bloom  thrice 
the  size  of  the  species. 

Dianthus,  is  of  a  very  numerous  and  highly  im- 
proved family.  The  Carnation  pink  has  been  a 
favorite  for  generations  ;  how  much  more  should  it 
be  now  with  the  many  superior  varieties?  and  many 
of  them  keep  in  constant  bloom  all  the  growing 
season.     The  Picotees  are  also  much  improved. 

Sweet  William  was  alwaj's  a  favorite,  and  is  much 
more  now,  with  the  wonderful  varieties,  both  of 
double  and  single  blooms.  Many  as  large  as  small 
roses  and  of  dazzling  colors. 

China  pink  is  very  numerous  in  varieties  of  sur- 
passing beauty,  of  almost  every  shade,  and  many 
forms  and  sizes.  They  all  bloom  the  year  they  are 
sowed,  but  far  more  profusely  the  following  year ; 
the  Hcddewigi  is  peculiarly  superb  in  all  its  sub- 
varieties. 

Mule  pink  has,  also,  many  improved  varieties, 
and  highly  deserving  good  culture. 

Hesperis,  CSweet  E-ocket)  has  many  new  varie- 
ties, and  many  of  their  blooms  are  as  large  and 
and  double  as  Daisys,  and  remarkably  show3\ 

Wall-flower — the  blooms  of  many  of  the  new 
kinds  are  as  large  and  double  as  Small  Carnation 
pinks,  and  all  delightfully  fragrant. 

Gilly-flower  has  also  very  many  improved  new 
varieties,  and  all,  of  the-  sweetest  perfume.  No 
one  could  pass  by  a  bed  of  wall-flowers,  or  a  bed 
of  Gilly-flowers,  without  being  enamored  with  the 
beauties  and  sweet  odors.  And  no  one  could  pass 
any  of  the  other  Biennials,  above  named;  without 
being  struck  with  their  amazing  lovely  blooms. 

They  may  be  all  sown,  in  April  or  Slay,  and 
transplanted  into  nursery  beds  a  foot  apart  each  way, 
in  June  or  July  ;  and  they  will  be  large  plants  in  fall. 
Those  that  bloom  the  same  year  should  have  the 
flowers  cut  off  where  they  fade  ;  if  left  to  bear  seeds 
their  growth  would  be  so  checked  as  to  injure  their 
flowering  the  next  year.  They  may  all  be  left  in 
the  nursery  beds  until  early  in  spring,  and  lifted 
with  balls  of  earth  at  their  roots,  and  then  planted 
in  the  flower  beds  and  borders ;  then  arrange  them 
so  as  to  make  a  pleasing  contrast  of  colors.  When 
they  bloom  their  flowers  should  be  cut  off  as  they 
fiide,  and  they  will  branch  out  and  bloom  a  second 
time,  and  some  will  bloom  all  the  season.  Any 
one   wishing  pleasure   in    their  flowering   plants. 


iMP 


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108 


ij\t  (§mk\xtx^  |il(^nt[jlg. 


should  never  let  them  bear  seeds,  as  by  that,  half 
the  pleasure  is  lost. 

Antirrhinums,  Carnations,  Wall- flowers  and  Gil- 
ly-fiowers,  need  more  protection  in  winter  than  any 
of  the  others.  Frames  may  be  made  with  four 
boards  nailed  together  at  the  corners,  and  set  on 
the  beds  where  they  ar-i  growing,  and  covered  in 
cold  weather  with  lids  or  shutters  made  of  boards. 
Indeed  they  are  well  worthy  of  having  shallow  hot- 
bed frames,  with  glass  sashes  and  shutters,  over 
them  in  very  cold  weather  ;  they  will  well  repay 
that  small  care.  Although  all  the  others  are  hardy, 
yet  they  are  benefited  by  a  slight  covering  of  tree 
leaves  or  clean  straw,  from  December  till  the  mid- 
dle of  March.  Bean  poles  or  pea  slicks  may  be 
put  on  top  of  the  leaves  or  straw,  to  prevent  them 
being  blown  off  by  liigh  winds.  An  annual  bloom 
of  Biennials  can  be  kept  up  by  sowing  seeds  everj 
year,  and  manage  them  as  above  directed.  If 
people  could  see  the  new  and  improved  varieties, 
they  would  not  hesitate  a  moment  to  purchase 
seeds  and  sow  them.  Their  matchless  beauties 
and  sweet  odors,  cannot  be  described  in  a  short  ar- 
ticle in  a  magazine  ;  it  would  occupy  several  pages 
to  describe  any  one  species.  They  must  be  seen  to 
be  admired,  as  no  language  can  paint  their  various 
forms,  hues,  sweet  odors  and  wonderful  markings. 


PUSNACES    INSIDE    GKEENHOUSES. 
BY  J.   M. 

I  was  as  much  interested  in  perusing  the  two  arti- 
cles in  the  February  number  of  the  Monthly,  on  the 
Furnace  question,  as  I  have  been,  since  the  open- 
ing of  the  subject  by  you,  some  time  ago.  Mr. 
Pennock's  plan,  as  he  states  it,  although  doing 
away  partly  with  dust  inside,  would  not,  I  think, 
be  so  well,  as  having  the  Furnace  outside.  The 
trap  door,  he  speaks  of,  as  allowing  the  heat  to 
ascend  when  open,  would  have,  I  think,  the  oppo- 
site effect;  and  he  would  find  his  plants  the  worse 
for  the  change,  as  the  cold  air  passing  down  to  the 
fire  would  keep  the  pl-ants  above  almost  frozen  in 
cold  weather.  I  have  had  a  house,  with  the  fur- 
nace inside,  under  my  care  this  winter;  the  length 
of  it,  is  about  45  feet.  I  have  seen,  on  cold  nights, 
the  plants,  a  foot  or  so  from  the  furnace,  frozen 
quite  hard,  owing  to  the  cold  draft,  whilst  the  re- 
mainder of  the  house  would  be  from  45  to  50°  above 
Zero.  I  find  it  necessary  in  winter,  to  put  plants, 
that  are  nearly  hardy,  on  this  particular  shelf,  it 
being  the  coldest  place  in  the  house.  The  space 
he  speaks  of,  as  being  between  the  furnace  and  the 
wall  of  the  greenhouse,  I  quite  agree  with  him  in 


having,  as  where  it  is  built  in  to  the  wall,  the  loss 
of  heat  is  enormous.  The  fireplace  I  would  build  out- 
side, the  mouth  of  furnace  in  wall  of  the  greenhouse. 
Among  the  advantages  of  the  outside  sj'stem,  would, 
I  think,  be  found  the  following  :  more  heat;  more 
space  for  plants,  as  when  inside,  the  place  over  the 
furnace  is  almost  useless ;  and  a  house  free  from 
dust,  coal  or  wood  necessary  for  fire.  In  fact,  I 
do  not  know  of  one  good  point  in  the  inside  sj^stem, 
while  the  disadvantages  are  obvious.  The  fire-brick 
flue  pipe,  your  other  correspondent  speaks  of,  I 
have  to  add  my  testimony  to  its  superiority  over 
the  brick-flue,  and  get  double  the  heat  from  the 
same  fire,  the  brick  flue  would  take.  I  have  heard 
persons  express  dislike  for  the  pipes,  on  account  of 
their  cooling  off  faster  than  the  brick  flue,  the  pipes 
not  being  cf  the  thickness  of  brick.  This  objection, 
I  think,  hardly  admissible,  as  I  am  sure  no  good 
gardener  leaves  his  fire  in  cold  weather,  with  any 
doubt  on  his  mind,  as  to  the  possibility  of  its  keep- 
ing alight  till  he  returns. 


ON  THE  CULTUEB   CP  THE  CPF2CINAL 

RHUBARB, 

BY  J.    STAUFFER,    LANCASTER,    PA. 

There  are,  at  least  six  species  of  the  Rhubarb, 
the  roots  of  all  of  which,  possess  medicinal  prop- 
erties. 

There  are  two  sorts  of  rhubarb  imported  into 
this  country,  Chinese  and  Turkey  Khubarb,  differ- 
ing in  quality  ;  although  they  both  come  from  the 
same  countr}'.  Nearly  all  the  Rhubarb  of  com- 
merce, is  brought  from  China ;  it  grows  near  the 
source  of  the  river  Chorlco.  The  R.  unduJatum 
and  R.  palmatum,  are  both  officinal. 

The  R.  rhaponictim,  or  Pie  Rhubarb,  well  known, 
and  extensively  cultivated  for  its  stout  acid  petioles, 
used  as  a  substitute  for  fruit  in  early  spring.  The 
Persians  have  for  a  long  period  been  in  the  habit 
of  using  them  for  this  purpose. 

And,  as  the  officinal  plant,  the  R.  pahnntmn,  is 
of  as  easy  culture,  there  is  no  reason  why  this 
valuable  drug  should  not  be  raised  in  our  own 
country.  I  am  aware  that  there  is  a  prejudice  in 
favor  of  foreign  roots,  but  this  is  no  reason  to  dis- 
courage the  home  growth,  and  only  needs  the  re- 
quisite knowledge  to  make  it  a  complete  success; 
it  is  my  object  to  give  this,  as  some  one  of  your 
numerous  readers  may  profit  by  it,  and  do  his  state 
a  service. 

The  first  object  to  be  attended,  is  to  get  the  gen- 
uine seed.  "It  is  sown  in  spring  in  a  light  soil, 
and  transplanted   next   spring,  into  a  similar  soil 


m 


^^ 


(?) 


-M§)^ 


M^  hardliner's  J^lonthlg. 


109 


■u-eli  treiiclied,  the  pl:ints  being  set  at  a  distance  of 
tliree  feet  apart  each  way,  from  each  other.  The 
third  year  some  plants  begin  to  flower ;  but  the 
roots  are  not  lifted  till  the  autumn  of  the  sixth 
year.  When  dug  out  of  the  ground,  they  are  first 
to  be  washed  in  a  large  quantity  of  water  ;  and 
after  the  fibres  and  small  roots  are  cut  off,  they  are 
well  brushed  in  fresh  water,  and  cut  into  pieces  of 
a  proper  size. 

The  brown  bark  is  then  wa.shed  oif,  and  they  are 
again  thrown  in  fresh  water  for  three  or  four  hours, 
in  which  they  give  out  a  great  quantity  of  gummy 
matter. 

They  are  then  taken  out  and  laid  upon  twigs  to 
drip  till  next  morning:  and  it  is  chiefly  in  this  time 
that  they  exude  at  every  part,  a  white,  transparent, 
gummy  matter,  resembling  jelly.  They  are  lastly 
placed  in  a  stove,  heated  to  120°  or  140°  till  they 
dry. 

Twenty-five  pounds  of  the  recent  root,  yield  only 
about  eight  pounds  of  the  dry.  It  is  not,  however, 
yet  fit  for  sale.  All  the  wrinkles  must  be  rasped 
and  filed  out,  and  the  pieces  thus  dressed,  put  in  a 
barrel,  fixed  on  an  axis,  and  rolled  about  in  it  for 
about  half  an  hour,  when  they  get  covered  with  a 
fine  powder,  formed  by  their  rubbing  against  each 
other." 

"  Prepared  in  this  way,  it  may  be  powdered,  and 
has  in  every  respect  the  appearance  of  foreign  rhu- 
barb." (Rhind's  Vegetahh  Kingdom.) 

British  Rhubarb  is  cultivated  in  considerable 
quantities  in  the  neighborhood  of  Edinburgh,  and 
sold  at  nearly  the  price  of  the  Turkey  Rhubarb. 

According  to  Baume,  the  roots  cannot  be  re- 
duced to  powder,  even  when  perfectly  dry,  if  the 
roots  are  not  previously  steeped  in  water  to  extract 
the  gum  or  mucilage.  It  is,  nevertheless,  easily  re- 
duced to  powder  if  merely  washed  and  peeled,  be- 
fore it  is  cut  into  proper  pieces,  and  dried  upon  the 
top  of  a  baker's  oven. 

In  order  to  distinguish  the  Rheum  palmatum,  it 
may  be  well  to  append  a  brief  description : 

The  stalk  is  erect,  round,  hollow,  jointed, 
sheathed,  and  rises  to  the  height  of  6  to  8  feet. 
The  radical  leaves  are  numerous,  large,  rough,  of  a 
roundish  figure,  and  deeply  cut  into  lobes,  and  ir- 
regular pointed  segments.  The  stalk  leaves  spring 
from  the  joints,  which  they  supply  with  membra- 
nous sheaths.  The  flowers  terminate  the  branches 
in  numerous  clusters,  forming  a  kind  of  spike,  ap- 
pearing in  the  latter  part  of  May  or  in  April.  The 
flowers  are  like  those  of  the  Pie  Rhubarb,  of  a 
greenish  white  color. 

The  root  is  perennial,  thick,  of  an  oval  shape. 


and  sends  off  long  tapering  branches  ;  externally  it 
is  brown,  and  internally  ot  a  deep  yellow  color. 

The  Rhubarb,  Dock,  Sorrel,  &c.,  belong  to  the 
natural  order  of  Po^'gonaceoi  (the  Buckwheat 
family,)  herbs  with  alternate  leaves,  remarkable 
for  their  stipules,  of  which  both  margins  are  united 
forming  a  sheath  around  the  stem,  just  above  the 
leaf  of  a  membranaceous  texture,  termed  ochrecr. 
Dr.  Gray  says,  in  his  text  book,  pp.  4G3,  ed.  1850, 
most  species  of  Rhubarb  are  purgative  :  "  but  it  is 
not  yet  known  what  particular  species  of  Tartary 
yields  the  genuine  officinal  article." 

Dr.  Hope  read  an  article,  before  the  Royal  So- 
ciety of  London,  giving  an  account  of  the  R.  pal- 
matum, which  grew  in  the  Botanical  Garden,  at 
Edinburg,  and  says,  "From  the  perfect  similarity 
of  the  root,  with  the  best  foreign  Rhubarb,  in  taste, 
smell,  color  and  purgative  qualities ;  we  cannot 
doubt  of  our  being,  at  last,  possessed  of  the  plant 
which  produces  the  true  Rhubarb ;  and  may  rea- 
sonably entertain  the  agreeable  expectations  of  its 
proving  a  very  important  acquisition  to  Britain," 
and  why  not  to  the  United  States? 


OKNITHOLOGUm    AUREUm. 
BY  W.,  WASHINGTON    HEIGHTS,  N.  T. 

I  presume  you  and  many  of  your  readers  are  ac- 
quainted with  the  bulb  Ornithologum  auream,  I 
believe  I  have  known  it  for  the  past  20  years,  or 
more,  and  it  strikes  me  very  forcibly  that  it  used 
to  bloom  every  spring,  the  same  as  Ixias  Lachena- 
lias,  etc.  Now  if  this  is  so,  which  I  believe  it  is, 
these  bulbs  of  mine  have  been  jilting  me  for  the 
last  eight  years,  i.  e.  they  have  refused  to  grow  at 
all,  or  flower  every  other  year,  for  that  space  of 
time.  Last  year  every  bulb  bloomed  beautifully. 
This  winter  they  are  perfectly  dormant,  but  fresh 
and  plump  ;  and  so  it  has  been  every  alternate 
year.  Please  inform  me.  if  you  can,  how  to  wake 
them  from  their  slumbers. 

[We  have  never  noticed  the  peculiarity,  "  W." 
refers  to  and  insert  the  inquiry  as  received,  hoping 
to  hear  from  those  of  our  friends  who  may  have 
seen  similar  freaks. — Ed.] 


& 


^m 


110 


Klje  6anlciicr's  2|l0nt|jltj. 


Iters 


PHILADELPHIA,  APEIL,  1864. 


Jr3=  All  Communicatious  for  the  Editor  should  be  addressed, 
"Thomas  Meehan,  Germantown, Philadelphia," and  Business  Let. 
ters  directed  to  "W.  G.  P.  Brinckloe,  Box        Philadelphia." 


For  Terras  of  Subscription  see  second  page  cover. 

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m 


CLASSIFICATION    OP    PKmTS. 

Some  years  ago,  while  reviewing  some  new  work 
on  fruits  in  the  Gardener  s  Monthh/,  we  remarked 
that  the  best  of  existing  works  was  unsatisfactory, 
by  reason  of  defective  classification.  If  we  take 
what  we  regard  as  the  best  work — Downing's — and 
attempt  to  find  out  the  name  of  an  unknown  fruit, 
it  proves  an  impossibility.  We  have  the  same  idea 
all  through.  The  fruit  is  sub-acid,  vinous,  buttery, 
juicy  ;  red  rosy,  or  yellow ;  large,  small,  or  medi- 
um ;  and  the  examiner  lays  down  the  book  with  an 
idea  that  his  fruit  may  be  one  of  a  dozen,  which 
seems  to  all  agree  very  nearly  with  it.  We  sug- 
gested what  we  thought  a  very  simple  plan,  re- 
quiring for  its  successful  accomplishment  not  so 
much  of  talent  or  genius  as  of  hard-working  indus- 
try,— and  we  have  since  urged  our  views  on  some 
of  our  principal  pomologists,  by  private  letter ;  but 
all  seem  to  think  the  plan  requires  greater  elabo- 
ration than  they  could  efi'ect. 

The  great  failure  with  our  usual  fruit  classifica- 
tions is  that  they  all  seek  to  define  a  fruit  by  posi- 
tive and  certain  characters, — while  these  characters 
are  so  nicely  distinguished  that  no  two  persons  will 
agree  exactly  regarding  them. 

In  the  article  referred  to  we  stated  that  we  should 
abandon  all  attempts  at  positive  definition,  and 
instead  define  by  comparisons. 

Nature  herself— much  abused  nature — teaches 
us  this  mode  of  classifying.  If  we  are  trying  to  de- 
scribe to  some  friend  a  third  person,  we  do  not 
succeed  near  so  well  by  saying  he  has  blue  eyes,  or 
dark  hair,  or  a  long  nose, — as  we  do  if  we  say  at 
once  he  resembles  John  Brown,  or  Bob  Smith.  If 
your  friend  knows  Smith  or  Brown  he  will  under- 
stand more  of  the  appearance  of  the  one  of  which 
you  speak,  in  the  one  expression,  than  if  you  give 
him  the  best  description  possible.  If  to  this  com- 
parative description  you  add  the  positive, — if  you 
say  '  he  is  the  very  image  of  Smith,  but  he  has 
light  hair  and  eyes,'  you  see  the  man  distinct. 


O} 


To  apply  this  to  fruits.  The  commoner  forms 
are  well  known  to  mere  tyros  in  pomology.  If  a 
friend  tell  us  he  has  a  Pear,  very  large,  pyriform, 
and  of  a  smooth  lemon  yellow,  with  a  fine  white 
juicy  flesh,  and  ripening  in  December,  we  shall  not 
understand  near  so  well  what  he  means,  as  if  he 
were  to  say,  '  my  Pear  very  closely  resembles  the 
Bartlett,  but  ripens  in  December. ' 

Why  not  then  take  well-known  types,  and  des- 
cribe them  as  minutely  as  may  be — not  confining 
oneself  to  mere  juiciness,  form  and  color;  but  take 
into  consideration  also  difference  m  growth,  size  of 
flower,  shape  of  leaves,  color  of  wood,  and,  in  fact, 
all  the  differences  that  really  exist.  A  nurseryman 
will  distinguish  a  Seckel  from  a  Rostiezer  pear  bet- 
ter by  the  growth  of  the  tree,  than  he  would  by  the 
fruit ;  and  why  not  avail  oneself  of  any  character 
that  will  guide  us  to  a  correct  nomenclature  ? 

The  types  should  be  of  well-known  varieties. 
These  should  be  minutely  described ;  and  the  fruit 
that  most  nearly  resembles  them  be  described  im- 
mediately after,  and  the  one  or  two  points  in  which 
it  diff'ered  from  the  type  would  be  strikingly  mani- 
fest, so  that  even  a  child  could  understand  the  dif- 
ference. Sucil  an  apple  would  be  like  a  Baldwin, 
only  flatter, — a  pear,  like  the  Vicar,  only  yellower 
— a  grape,  like  the  Delaware,  only  sweeter  and 
darker — or  a  strawberry,  like  the  Ilovcy,  but  with 
larger  seeds  and  softer  flesh. 

At  the  last  meeting  of  the  Eastern  Pennsylvania 
Fruit-growers'  Society,  held  at  Norristown,  some- 
thing of  this  plan,  as  we  understood  it,  was  laid 
before  the  society  for  approval,  by  the  Committee 
on  Nomenclature,  and  adopted  ;  and  is,  we  believe, 
to  be  undertaken  at  once  by  the  society.  This  so- 
ciety does  not  by  any  means  claim  connection  with 
any  ancient  order  of  fossils ;  but  seeks  closely  to 
identify  itself  with  the  modern  progressive  age, — 
and  we  have  strong  hopes  that  much  good  will  en- 
sue from  its  action.  All  we  fear  is,  that  a  work  of 
this  kind  will  never  be  so  well  done  or  so  early 
done,  as  when  in  the  hands  of  a  private  individual. 
Large  bodies  move  slowly ;  and  a  single  individual 
will  usually  accomplish  more  in  one  day  than  a 
committee  will  in  a  month.  His  personal  ambition 
is  involved,  and  his  interest — be  that  in  the  shape 
of  fame  or  pecuniary  profit — is  a  more  personal  in- 
ducement to  persevere,  than  the  honor  and  glory 
of  any  society  to  which  he  may  belong.  We  have 
seen  the  unfortunate  operation  of  society  schemes 
too  often.  We  worked  hard,  privately,  for  years 
to  induce  the  establishment  of  a  Botanic  Garden  in 
Philadelphia,  and  had  succeeded,  as  we  thought, 
in  getting  the  thing  fairly  on  foot,  when  some  over 


-c<^ 


'(^^ 


Clin  (SnrdmrV)  (P^oiitlik 


111 


zealous  friends  supposed  the  gaining  of  the  weahhy 
Pennsylvania  Horticultural  Society  over  to  the 
cause  would  be  a  fine  thing.  It  was  done,  referred, 
and  so  on,  and  the  infant  died  before  it  had  its  eye 
teeth  cut. 

The  scheme  of  fruit  class'fication  in  the  present 
instance  is  in  excellent  hand-, — and  in  !-pite  of  the 
slight  misgivings  of  ihe  perinanenL-y  of  the  enthu- 
siasm the  members  have  thrown  into  it,  we  trust  it 
will  meet  with  the  best  aid  and  support  from  all. 


41 


eS?ATING  HOETICULTUIIAL  DUSLDir\JGS. 

Wherever  we  go  among  gardeners,  we  find  the 
subject  that  stirs  up  most  discussion  just  now  is  the 
heating  of  garden  structures.  The  rival  systems 
are  hot  water  and  hot  air. 

As  usual  there  are  advantages  on  both  sides,  and 
which  is  best  to  adopt  will  depend  on  circumstances. 

There  are  many  cases  where  hot  water  is  indis- 
pensable, and  flues  would  not  do  at  all, — and  on 
the  other  hand,  flues  will  often  do  all  that  can  be 
desired.  It  may  help  our  readers  to  decide  for 
themselves  if  we  point  out  the  advantages  and  dis- 
advantages of  each. 

In  all  well-kept  gardens  neatness  and  elegance 
are  of  first  importance.  In  these  advantages  hot- 
water  pipes  by  a  long  way  excel.  We  hold  it  to  be 
a  good  point  gained  to  have  the  heat  conductor  as 
near  as  possible  to  the  glass,  and  the  coldest  part 
of  the  house.  Here  again  hot-water  pipes  are  more 
manageable.  We  can  often  bring  three  or  four-inch 
pipes  under  steps  or  doors,  or  through  narrow 
places,  where  flues  could  not  be  led.  Again,  hot 
water  will  convey  heat  farther^  and  generally  with 
more  regularity,  than  the  best  constructed  flue, — 
and  many  houses  can  be  heated  from  one  fire,  thus 
saving  much  labor,  dirt  and  trouble. 

On  the  other  hand,  hot  water  is  expensive.  In 
its  first  cost,  it  is  about  eight  times  greater  than  a 
smoke  flue  ;  and  it  is  found  in  practice  to  take  more 
coal  to  heat  a  house  to  a. given  temperature,  than 
hot  air  would  do.  The  larger  the  pipe  employed, 
the  greater  the  amount  of  coal  necessary  to  keep 
up  the  temperature  ;  but  the  safer  from  sudden 
changes.  With  small  pipe  houses  get  frequently 
frozen.  The  smaller  the  boiler  and  pipes  also,  the 
greater  is  it  found  in  practice  to  be  liable  to  acci- 
dents. When  we  speak  of  the  relative  cost  of  hot 
water  and  hot  air,  therefore,  we  consider  the  pipes 
and  boilers  found  in  practice  to  be  the  safest  and 
best,  namely,  pipes  from  3  to*4  inches,  and  boilers 
holding  from  10  to  15  gallons. 

Flues  are  cheap,  and  they  take  comparatively 


!l3=Commuuiciition.s  for  this  department  must  reach  the  Editur 
on  or  before  the  10th  of  the  month. 

23=Xhe  Editor  cannot  answer  letters  for  this  department  pri- 
vately. 


V^ 


less  fire  to  get  the  same  heat  to  the  house  than  hot 
water.  Here  is  their  strongest  argument.  We 
have  of  course  to  take  these  with  the  same  proviso 
as  we  take  hot  water,  namely,  that  they  be  judi- 
ciously built.  If  built  low  on  the  ground,  the  earth 
will  absorb  much  of  their  heat, — and  so,  also,  if 
built  of  very  thick  material. 

For  houses  of  less  than  50  by  20,  and  where  cir- 
cumstances present  no  mechanical  objection,  wo 
judge  the  argument  is  entirely  in  favor  of  well  con- 
structed flues;  but  for  several  houses,  or  large 
houses,  or  very  neat  and  tasteful  houses,  hot  water 
will  undoubtedly  bear  away  the  palm  of  victory. 


Planting  Strav/berry-beds — J.  P.,  Cincin- 
nati, 0. — "  In  a  part  of  my  garden  I  wish  to  plant 
a  Strawberrj'-bed.  My  ground  for  fruit  and  vege- 
tables is  quite  limited,  and  I  wish  to  make  the  most 
of  it.  I  am  told  I  will  gain  nothing  by  planting 
Strawberries  now — that  they  will  do  just  as  well 
planted  in  Augusi,  and  that  I  can  have  the  ground 
for  other  crops.  What  do  you  advise?  You  may 
think  this  a  simple  question  for  your  experienced 
readers,  but  this  is  my  first  year  with  you,  and  I 
have  but  recently  had  any  time  to  spare  from  com- 
mercial pursuits  to  give  to  gardening. ' ' 

[Plant  now.  Your  plants  will  bear  double  next 
year  what  they  would  if  not  set  out  till  fall,  unless 
you  were  very  well  skilled  in  plant  culture.  Be- 
sides, you  may  sow  radishes,  light  salads,  onion 
sets  for  seed  Cnot  too  early  however,  or  they  will 
grow  too  large),  or  any  short  lived  vegetable  of 
low  growth  between  the  plants — and  if  j'our  Straw- 
berries are  in  beds,  you  can  have  bush  beans,  or 
other  dwarf  crops  between  the  beds  in  the  alley 
way.] 

Pennsylvania  Tea  Plant.— A  Philadelphia 
correspondent,  C  B.  S. ,  takes  us  to  task  for  our 
remarks  on  this  subject,  in  our  last  number.  He 
does  not  "wish  his  note  published,"  but  would 
have  us  "  profit  by  his  advice."  He  thinks  we 
have  not  followed  our  "usual  patriotic  course  in 
denouncing  the  new  discovery,"  which  would  save 
millions  of  dollars  to  the  country,  that  are  now  sent 
to  a  "nation  of  cut  throat  barbarians,"  that  will 


.^>T- 


"^sy 


-^^J'^J^ 


m^ 


i""infi- y 


m 


112 


©urdditr's  JHonihliT. 


take  nothing  from  us  "in  return  for  the  favor." 

Our  friend  starts  wrong.  We  have  not  denoun- 
ced the  'tea;'  but  the  wretched  swindHng  that 
would  persuade  the  people  it  is  the  real  Chinese 
Tea.  It  may  be  good  as  the  genuine  for  aught  we 
know  ;  but  the  fact  that  it  is  necessary  to  counter- 
feit the  name,  is  against  the  probability  that  it  is 
of  as  good  quality  as  the  original. 

No  journal  feels  a  deeper  interest  in  our  national 
prosperity  than  ours  ;  and  it  is  precisely  this  which 
makes  us  feel  more  keenly  the  disgrace  of  our  po- 
sition before  the  "rest  of  the  world,'  at  having  a 
body  of  men — capitalists,  and  with  pretensions  to 
an  intelligent  character — attempting  to  make  the 
world  believe  that  the  Ceanothus  is  the  real  Chi- 
nese Tea.  If  it  is  good  for  any  thing,  let  it  go  as 
American  Tea.  Our  people  are  fond  of  novelties, 
and  if  equal  to  Chinese  Tea,  it  will  have  a  good 
enough  run  on  its  own  merits. 

It  is  out  of  our  province  to  argue  the  'barbarian' 
part  of  our  friend's  'advice  ;'  yet  we  may  add,  that 
we  know  the  great  Chinese  traveller,  Fortune,  per- 
sonally somewhat,  and  have  heard  of  him  from 
good  authority  much  more, — and  believe  him  to  be 
one  of  the  most  unprejudiced  of  men, — and  his 
opinion  is  that  the  Chinese  as  a  nation,  and  on  the 
whole,  stand  among  the  foremost  in  morality,  if 
not  at  the  very  head.  The  '  cut-throatedness'  is 
confined  to  the  seaports  that  are  in  contact  with 
Europeans.  However,  this  is  nothing  to  the  point. 
If  we  can  produce  a  home-grown  article,  that  will 
equal  the  imported,  let  it  be  from  what  plant  it 
may,  and  at  the  same  time  keep  a  large  portion  of 
our  wealth  at  home,  no  one  will  rejoice  more  than 
we  shall. 


New  Basket  Plants— 6*.  Cliicago,  llh.,  asks: 
"Whether  there  be  any  new  basket  plants  that 
have  not  been  noticed  particularly  in  the  Garden- 
er's Monthly,  that  are  well  adapted  to  the  purpose?' ' 

fWe  are  not  sure  that  we  have  not  noticed  some 
of  the  following  before,  but  we  have  seen  them  very 
beautiful  during  the  past  year.  For  dry  sunny  po- 
sitions, all  the  Sedums  are  excellent,  particularly 
Sedum  acre,  S.  villosum,  S.  Sleboldii,  and  S.  car- 
neum  variegatum.  Vinca  major  variegata,  for 
shade ;  Centradenia  rosea  and  C.  floribunda,  for 
warm  and  sunny  rooms,  also  Lopezia  rosea  for  win- 
ter, and  Lobelia  marmorata.  For  entire  shade, 
the  fern  Nephrolepis  bulbosa,  and  Ivy  algei'ine 
(with  very  large},  and  Russian  (with  very  small), 
leaves. 

The  best  plant,  however,  for  any  and  all  circum- 
stances, comprising  merit  and  case  of  culture,  is 


W^- 


the   Vinca. 

gi'apes. 


It   is   what   the    Concord  is   among 


Drag  IIoes— 6*.  /l,  Cincinnati,  0.,  asks:  — 
"Is  there  any  modern  improvement  on  the  com- 
mon hoe  in  the  Eastern  States?  I  am  informed 
that  it  is  frequently  done  by  a  kind  of  fork,  that 
lessens  half  the  labor,  and  quite  as  effectual.  I 
should  suppose  it  would  not  cut  the  weeds  up,  but 
would  be  glad  of  what  you  know  about  it  in  an 
early  number  of  the  jVontJdi/." 

[Our  correspondent  refers  probably  to  the  'Drag 
Hoe,'  of  wliich  the  following  representation  was 
given  in  an  early  volume  of  the  Monthly  : 


It  has  become  very  popular  since.  Many  are 
made  with  five  teeth  or  prongs  as  an  improvement, 
but  the  old  four-pronged  one  is  still  the  best.  It 
will  not  cut  the  weeds  if  they  are  very  strong.  In 
fact,  it  is  only  to  those  who  follow  the  '  stitch  in 
time  '  practice,  that  the  hoe  is  useful. 

A  correspondent  in  another  column  inquires  if 
any  improvements  have  been  made  since  our  first 
cut  as  above  was  given.  They  are  made  with  teeth 
flat  in  the  front,  and  triangular  for  the  back,  and 
with  sharper  ends,  which  we  think  better. 

Names  of  Plants— i?.,  Cleveland,  0. — 1  In- 
digofera  australis.  2  Acacia  lineata.  3  Eranthis 
hyemalis,  this  is  hardj\  4  Eujiatorium  elegans. 
5  Some  Correa,  cannot  name  it  from  a  leaf  and  an 
unexpanded  bud.  6  Pittosporum  tobira.  7  Chor- 
ozema  cordata.  8  Lachenalia  tricolor.  9  Cannot 
undertake  to  name  single  flowers  of  Azaleas — per- 
haps Pride  of  Dorking. 

Cold  at  PtOCHESTER,  Wisconsin. —  A  corres- 
pondent from  this  place,  which  is  in  Eacine  coun- 
ty, says : 

"  On  January  1st,  the  thermometer  was  31°  be- 
low zero,  and  not  above  29°  below  zero  all  day.  On 
the  2nd  it  was  32°  below  zero,  and  from  10  to  20° 
below  zerothe  week  through. ' ' 


Cold  Grapery- .7".  r>.  IT.  C,  Cumherland, 
3Id.—I  am  about  to  build  a  Cold  Grapery,  20x24 
feet,  12  feet  high  in  the  centre,  and  am  at  a  loss  to 
know  whether  it  would  be  best  to  have  it  3  or  4J 
feet  high  at  sides.  I  propose  to  support  the  house 
on  locust  posts,  and  have  it  planted  about  3  feet. 


M 


®h4  ©ardiJiur's  (Plonthlg, 


Mc^^, 


113 


and  then  tliought  of  having  18  inches  of  glass  above 
that ;  but  perhaps  that  -will  not  give  the  roof  pitch 
enough.  Will  j'ou  be  kind  enough  to  give  me  j'our 
views  on  this  matter,  or  refer  me  to  some  published 
article  that  will  give  me  the  information." 

[Except  for  ornament,  there  is  no  use  in  glass 
sides  for  a  cold  vinery.  Three  feet  would  be  quite 
high  enough  for  the  sides. 

Practical  men  differ  in  their  views  about  the  pro- 
per pitch  of  a  vinery.  Our  views  incline  to  flattish 
roofs.  Certainly  your  house  would  not  be  'flat,' 
even  to  a  '  steep  pitch  '  advocate,  and  we  have  no 
doubt  will  prove  satisfactory.] 


Raspberries — ^S'.  /.  Miller,  Gi-anfsviRe,  3Jd., 
asks: — "Please  let  me  know  through  jour  journal 
which  is  the  best  mode  of  raising  Raspberry  plants 
for  sale.  Which  do  you  consider  the  three  best 
hardy  varieties,  beside  the  Orange,  for  family  use  ? 
I  think  of  planting  the  American  Purple-cane, 
Franconia,  and  Philadelphia." 

[Cutting  up  the  roots,  and  sowing  on  a  hotbed 
in  April,  and  planting  out  the  sets  like  Cabbage 
pliints  in  June. 

The  varieties  named  would  probably  be  as  good 
as  any  on  the  whole. 


What  Grape  for  Wine ?— Tr  L.  A.,  Greens- 
hitrg,  Pa. — This  is  a  question  now  asked  by  many 
who  are  now  preparing  ground  and  contemplate 
planting  the  coming  spring. 

The  Grape  interest  is  becoming  of  much  impor- 
tance in  the  vicinity  of  Pittsburgh,  and  an  answer 
to  the  above  query  by  men  of  experience  would  be 
a  public  benefit.  Is  it  the  Concord,  Delaware, 
Yenango,  Rogers  No.  15,  or  any  other  new  grape? 

Private  advices  from  Cincinnati  place  the  Ven- 
ango high  among  the  new  varieties,  as  valuable  for 
wine  purposes.     Is  it  so  in  other  places? 

Can  a  response  be  had  in  the  April  number  of 
the  Montlihj? 

[Almost  all  the  Wine-growers  we  know  are  pla- 
cing the  Clinton  pretty  high  on  the  list  of  wine 
grapes.  It  is  a  subject  in  which  we  have  no  per- 
sonal experience,  and  would  perfor  to  have  the 
views  of  our  more  practical  correspondents.] 


The  Winter  in  Maryland— aS-  /.  M.,  Grants- 
ville,  Md.,  writes: 

"It  would  interest  me  to  know  how  low  the 
mercury  has  sunk  in  your  city  this  winter.  The 
lowest  reached  here  was  13°,  while  two  miles  dis- 
tant, on  Cassclman's  river,  a  small  stream,  it  was 
said  to  have  been  20°  below  zero.     The  fruit-buds 


of  the  peach  and  the  heart  cherries  are  killed  here. ' ' 
[In  Germantown,  8  miles  from  Philadelphia,  the 
Thermometer  was  about  Zero.  Is  it  possible  Peach 
and  Cherry  buds  were  killed  by  13°  above  Zero? 
Our  correspondent  no  doubt  means  13°  bel.  Zito.] 


Inquiry  about  Honey  Locust — T.  C.  3I<trion, 
0. — "  Will  some  of  your  subscribers  please  inform 
me,  through  the  Monthltj,  how  to  raise  a  hedge 
from  Honey  Locust  seed? 

1st.  How  should  the  seeds  be  prepared  for  plant- 
ing? 2d.  Time  and  manner  of  planting  the  seed. 
3d.  Will  it  do  to  plant  the  seed  where  you  want 
the  hedge  to  stand?  If  so,  what  distance  apart 
should  the  plants  be  permitted  to  stand?  4th. 
After-treatment  in  order  to  form  a  good  hedge. 
5th.  Will  the  Honey  Locust  form  a  good  durable 
hedge  on  a  rather  stiff  clay  loam?  The  Osage 
Orange  does  not  answer  the  purpose  here.  The 
thorn  is  imperfect,  and  besides  the  plant  often 
winter-kills  down  to  the  ground." 


jwkwiu  iwpni^^-pti.  JiuiHJHiH 


Dreamthorp:  A  Book  of  Essays,  written  in  the 
Country.     By  Alexander  Smith.     Boston:  Pub- 
lished by  J.  E.  Tilton  &  Co. 
To  those  who  are  in  love  with  country  life,  this 
little  volume  will  be  particularly  welcome.     It  em- 
braces twelve  essays  entitled,  one,  Dreamthorp,  two, 
on  the  writing  of  essays  ;  three,  of  Death  and  the 
fear  of  Dying;  four,  William  Dunbar;  five,  a  Lark's 
Flight ;  sixth,  Christmas;  seventh,  Men  of  Letters; 
eighth,  on  the  Importance  of  man  to  himself;  ninth, 
a  Shelf  in  my  Book-case  ;  tenth,  Geoffrey  Chaucer ; 
eleventh,  Books  and  Gardens ;    twelfth,  on  Vaga- 
bonds. 

The  "  Poems"  of  Mr.  Smith  have  become  part 
of  the  standard  literature  of  the  day,  and  wh.oever 
has  read  them  and  admired  their  beauty,  will  be 
prepared  to  find  in  the  present  a  very  delightful 
book.  The  author  is  a  poet  by  nature.  He  writes 
as  if  he  felt  he  had  a  mission  to  perform,  and  that 
mission  to  be  the  interpretation  of  nature.  He  can 
explain  more  to  us  in  one  hour,  than  most  of  us 
would  learn  alone  in  our  lives — and  all  without  ef- 
fort, and  as  it  were  unconsciously  to  himself.  The 
great  merit  of  Smith's  writings  indeed  lies  in  their 
simplicity.  Though  he  seldom  loses  sight  of  him- 
self, the  ego  is  not  thrust  forth  obtrusively.  He 
does  not  let  j'ou  forget  that  it  is  he  who  is  talking 
to  you  ;  but  lie  would  have  you  know  nature  is  his 


IT 


S^ 


lU 


-M«^ 


%\i[  6uxk\xtx\  W^mi\h. 


T< 


mistress,  and  tliat  lie  is  but  her  moutli  piece.  He 
tells  us  of  himself,  that  he  would  rather  '^'^be  re- 
membered by  a  song  than  by  a  victory."  "To  be 
occasionally  quoted  is  the  only  fame  I  care  for." 

There  is  no  reason  why  he  should  not  have  the 
poor  reward  he  wishes  for.  There  is  scarcely  a 
sentence  that  does  not  contain  a  brilliant  and  orig- 
inal thought— not  perhaps  that  the  idea  is  in  itself 
new,  but  that  it  is  presented  to  us  in  so  new  a  stj'le, 
as  to  appear  as  "  good  as  new."  We  know,  to  be 
sure,  as  the  old  saying  long  ago  expressed  it,  "  that 
a  sad  heart  needs  no  chastening  "—but  it  comes 
home  much  nearer  when  clothed  in  Smith's  ex- 
pression, that  "  the  man  who  has  a  grave  or  two  in 
his  heart,  does  not  need  to  haunt  church-yards." 

In  one  respect  Smith  is,  perhaps,  superior  to  any 
living  writer.  He  knows  how  to  vary  style  to  suit 
his  subject.  We  often  hear  a  tune  that  does  not 
strike  the  ear  as  particularly  sweet— or  read  verses 
that  have  nothing  peculiarly  pleasing  :  but  in  the 
hands  of  a  master  of  music,  the  words  and  the  air 
have  been  specially  adapted,  and  when  sung  to- 
gether make  the  most  delightful  music  one  could 
wish  to  hear.  In  this  species  of  prose-melody 
Smith  excels. 

To  our  readers,  in  whom  the  intellectual  ele- 
ment, is  one  of  the  most  considerable  of  the  plea- 
surable resources  of  country  life,  we  cordially  rec- 
ommend this  edition  to  their  rural  libraries— and 
close  our  notes  with  an  extract  from  the  essay  on 
'  Books  and  Gardens  :' 

In  my  garden  I  spend  my  days ;  in  my  library  I 
spend  my  nights.    My  interests  are  divided  between 
my  geraniums  and  my  books.     With  the  flower  I 
am  in  the  present ;  with  the  book  I  am  in  the  past. 
I  go  into  my  library,  and  all  history  unrolls  before 
me.     I  breathe  the  morning  air  of  the  world  while 
the  scent  of  Eden's  roses  yet  lingered  in  it,  while 
it  vibrated  only  to  the  world's  first  brood  of  night- 
ingales, and  to  the  laugh  of  Eve.     I  see  the  pyra- 
mids building  ;  I  hear  the  shoutings  of  the  armies 
of  Alexander  ;  I  feel  the  ground  shake  beneath  the 
march  of  Cambyses.     I  sit  as  in  a  theatre— the 
stage  is  time,  the  play  is  the  play  of  the  world. 
What  a  spectacle  it  is  !     What  kingly  pomp,  what 
processions  file  past,  what  cities  burn   to  hearen, 
what  crowds  of  captives  are  dragged  at  the  chariot- 
wheels  of  conquerors !     1  hear  or  cry  "  Bravo  " 
when  the  great  actors  come  on  shaking  the  stage. 

The  house  I  dwell  in  stands  apart  from  the  little 
town,  and  relates  itself  to  the  houses  as  1  do  to  the 
y     inhabitants.     It  sees  every  thing,  but  is  itself  nu- 
ll     seen,  or,  at  all  events,  unregarded.    My  study-win- 
dow looks  down  upon  Drearathorp,  like  a  medita- 


tive eye.     Without  meaning  it,  1  feel  I  am  a  spy 
on  the  ongoings  of  the  quiet  place.     Around  my 
house  there  is  an  old-fashioned  rambling  garden, 
with  close  shaven  grassy  plots,  and  fantastically- 
clipped  yews,  which  have  gathered  their  darkness 
from  a  hundred  summers  and  winters ;  and  sun- 
dials, in  which  the  sun  is  constantly  telling  his  age  ; 
and  statues,  green  with  neglect  and  the  stains  of 
the  weather.     The  garden   I  love  more  than  any 
place  on  earth  ;  it  is  a  better  study  than  the  room 
inside  the  house  which  is  dignified  by  that  name. 
I  like  to  pace  its  gravelled  walks,  to  sit  in  the  moss- 
house,  which  is  warm  and  coscy  as  a  bird's  nest, 
and  wherein  twilight  dwells  at  noonday  ;  to  enjoy 
the  feast  of  color  spread  forme  in  curiously-shaped 
floral  spaces.     My  garden,  with  its  silence  and  the 
pulses  of  fragrance  that  come  and  go  on  the  airy 
undulations,  affect  me  like  sweet  music.    Care  stops 
at  the  gates,  and  gazes  at  me  wistfully  through  the 
bars.     Among  my  flowers  and  trees  nature  takes 
me  into  her  own  hands,  and  I  breathe  freely  as  the 
first  man.     It  is  curious,  pathetic  almost,  I  some- 
times think,  how  deeply  seated  in  the  human  heart 
is  the  liking    for  gardens  and    gardening.      The 
sickly  seamstress  in  the  narrow  city  lane  tends  her 
box  of  sicklier  mignonette.     The  retired  merchant 
is  as  fond  of  tulips  as  ever  was  Dutchman  during 
the  famous  mania.     The  author  finds  a  garden  the 
best  place  to  think  out  his  thought.     In  the  dis- 
abled statesman  every  restless  throb  of  regret  or 
ambition  is  stilled  when  he  looks  upon  his  blos- 
somed apple-trees.     Is  the  fancy  too  far  brought, 
that  this  love  for  gardens  is  a  reminiscence  haunt- 
ing the  race  of  that  remote  time  in  the  world's 
dawn  when  but  two  persons  existed — a   gardener 
named  Adam,  and  a  gardener's  wife  called  Eve? 

I  like  my  garden  better  than  any  other  garden 
for  the  same  reason.     It  is  my  own.     And  owner- 
ship in  such  a  matter  implies  a  great  deal.     When 
I  first  settled  here,  the  ground  around  the  house 
was  sour  moorland.     I  made  the  walk,  planted  the 
trees,  built  I'iie  moss-house,  erected  the  sun-dial, 
brought  home  the  rhododendrons  and  fed   them 
with  the  mould  which  they  love  so  well.     I  am  the 
creator  of  every  blossom,  of  every  odor  that  comes 
and  goes  in  the  wind.     The  rustle  of  my  trees  is  to 
my  ear  what  his  child's  voice  is  to  my  fi'iends  the 
village  doctor  or  the  village  clergyman.     I  know 
the  genealogy  of  every  tree  and  plant  in  my  garden. 
I  watch  their  growth  as  a  father  watches  the 
growth  of  his  children.     It  is  curious  enough,  as 
i  showing  from  what  sources  objects  derive  their  im- 
portance, that  if  you  have  once  planted  a  tree  for 
'  other  than  mere  commercial  purposes — and  in  that 


Clu  ®arkntr*s  ^^anthlg. 


llo 


case  it  is  usual!}'  done  by  your  orders  and  by  the 
hands  of  hirelings — you  have  alwaj's  in  it  a  quite 
peculiar  interest.  You  care  more  for  it  than  you 
care  for  all  the  forests  of  Norway  or  America.  Yon 
have  planted  it,  and  that  is  suflficiont  to  make  it 
peculiar  among  the  trees  of  the  world. 


The  Chronicles  of  a  Garden  :  its  Pets  and  its 

Pleasures.     New  York  :  Robert  Carter  &  Bros. 

From  A.  S.  Martien,  Philadelphia. 

This  volume  is  got  up  in  superb  stjde,  and  would 

recommend  itself  even  as  a  beautiful  ornament  for 

a  parlor  table.    On  a  casual  opening  we  are  pleased 

to  find  that  the  kernel  is  as  sweet   as  the  shell  is 

beautiful — and  we  propose  to  enjoy  it  leisurely  and 

discuss  its  merits  more  fully  next  month. 


CATALOGUES. 

Charles  Davis,  Jr.,   Phillipsburg,  New  Jersey. 
Fruits,  &c. 

JB.   K.    Bliss,    Springfield,   Mass.      Flower  and 
Kitchen  Garden  Seeds. 

E.  ^»«/,J/\,  Philadelphia.     Almanac  and  Gar- 
den Calendar. 

James  U.    Gregory,  Marblehead,  Mass.     Seeds. 

Francis  Brill,  Newark,  N.  J.     Summer  Flower 
Bulbs. 

Alfred  Bridgeman,  New  York.  Vegetable  Seeds. 

Flower  Seeds. 
French  Gladiolus. 

J.  31.  Thorhurn  &  Co.,  New  York.     Vegetable 
and  other  Seeds. 

II.  E.  Hooker  &   Co.,  Rochester,  New  York. 
"Wholesale  List. 

Robert  Buist,  76th  &  Darby  Road,  Philadelphia. 
One  of  Roses  and  another  of  Greenhouse  Plants. 

J.  Knox,  Pittsburg,  Pa.     Small  Fruits. 

H.  A.  Dreer,  Philadelphia.     Garden  Calendar. 

n.  B.  Linn,  Sandusky,  0.     Flower  Seeds. 

James    VicJc,  Rochester,   N.    Y.     Guide  to  the 
Flower  Garden.     Seed  List. 

Stephen  Iloyt  &  Son,  Caanan,  Conn.      Whole- 
sale List. 

J.  31.   Thorhurn    &    Co.,  New  York.     Flower 
Seeds. 


JIAGAZINES,    PAMPHLETS,    &C. 

Harper's  31agazine. — We  have  received  from  the 
publishers  a  set  of  this  valuable  serial,  for  which 
we  are  much  obliged. 

Their  publications  stand  at  the  head  of  the  peri- 


odical press?  'Harper's  Weekly'  alone  having  a  cir- 
culation of  over  100,000. 

Transactions  of  the  31a,s.'iachit.setts  Ilortictdtiiral 
Society,  for  1863 — for  which  the  Secretary  will 
please  accept  our  best  thanks. 

Traiisactions  of  the  Indiana  Pomological  Society. 
From  Geo.  M.  Beeler,  Esq.,  and  from  the  President 
Nelson.  We  noticed  last  month,  the  last  session 
of  the  society,  from  a  newspaper  report.  The  full 
proceedings  show  the  society  to  be  one  of  the  most 
useful  of  tliese  popular  associations. 

B^ta  or  IIeff  ]P!E!ife* 

POLYCHILUS   CORNU-CERYI,    StaGSHORN   PoLY- 

CHILUS. — Among  a  host  of  other  new  orchids 
from  Moulmein,  Messrs.  Hugh  Low  &  Co.  have 
been  fortunate  enough  to  introduce  a  few  individuals 
of  this  remarkable  plant,  which  appears  to  be  of 
free  growth,  and  will  no  doubt  speedily  produce 
flowers.  In  habit  it  resembles  a  Phalasnopsis,  to 
which  indeed  Prof  Reichenbach  refers  it ;  but  the 
lip  is  diflferently  formed,  and  the  flowers  are  at- 
tached to  a  broad  branching  toothed  rachis,  unlike 
anything  that  has  yet  been  seen  in  the  genus  in 
question.  The  flowers  of  P.  cornu-cervi  are  des- 
cribed as  of  a  reddish-yellow,  about  two  inches 
across,  and  speckled  in  lines  with  a  deeper  red. 


The  Botanical  3Iagazine  figures  the  following : 
Pelargonium  Bowkeri  Olv.  Bowser's  Pelar- 
gonium 0 — Nat.  ord,,  Geraniace.'c.  Linn.,  Mona- 
delphia  Decandria.  Native  of  the  Trans-Kei  coun- 
try in  South  Africa.  Graceful  in  foliage  and  flow- 
ers, but  the  latter  are  devoid  of  striking  color  ;  they 
are  tinted  partially  flesh-color  and  partly  yellowish 
green,     t.  5421. 

SCHIZOSTYLIS  COCCINEA  (Crimson  Schizostylis.) 
Nat.  ord.,  IridaccEe.  Linn.,  Triandria  Mono- 
gynia.  Native  of  watery  places  in  British  CafFraria. 
Flowers  crimson,  blooming  late  in  autumn,  t. 
5422. 

■ Hg 


Dendrobium  infundibulum. — A  single  flower 
of  the  glorious  Moulmein  Dendrobium  has  just 
been  produced  on  a  small  plant  in  Mr.  Pucker's 
collection.  It  is  inimitably  beautiful,  the  sepals 
and  petals  being  of  a  dazzling  white,  with  a  lip  to 
correspond,  marked  at  the  base  with  clear  lines  of 
deep  Roman  red.  This,  too,  is  one  of  Messrs. 
Low's  introduction,  and  appears  to  be  of  the  easi- 
est cultivation. 


Si 


^ 


^f=i=; 


____C*iu. 


116 


®;j)c  ^arkntr'fj  IBonijjii 


MiMULUS  REPENS  CCreeping  Monkey-Flower.  J)— 
Nat.  ord.,  Scrophulaviaccffi.  Lmn.,  Didynamia 
Gymnospermia.  Native  of  extra  tropical  Austra- 
lia, and  as  far  as  Victoria,  and  then  in  Tasmania. 
It  is  also  cominon  "  in  valine  situations,  and  muddy 
bands  of  rivers  in  New  Zealand. ' '  It  will  probably 
require  the  protection  of  a  cold  frame  in  winter. 
Its  flowers  are  lilac,  partially  dotted  with  yellow. 
t.  542.3. 

Sol'anum  anthropopiiagoritm  CCannibals' 
Solanum.) — This  is  one  of  the  condiments  eaten 
with  human  flesh  by  the  Cannibals  of  the  Fejee 
Islands.  Such  flesh  they  all  acknowledge  is  most 
indigestible  ;  and  the  fruit  of  this  plant,  called  by 
them  Boro  dina,  somewhat  resembles  the  Tomato, 
l-ut  having  an  aromatic  smell,  is  employed  to  assist 
digestion,  and  its  leaves  are  wrapped  round  the  flesh 
previously  to  its  being  baked,     t.  5424. 

The  Floral  Magazme  figures  the  following: 
Rhododendron,  Princess  of  Wales.  Prevail- 
ing color,  dark  mauve,  shading  off  to  a  white  throat. 
Its  truss  is  large,  and  altogetlier  the  variety  is  su- 
perior, liaised  by  Mr.  Young,  Milford  Nurseries, 
near  Godalming.     pi.   177. 

Rose,  Baron  de  Rothschild.  Brilliant  crimson, 
very  large,  and  very  double,     pi.  178. 

Gloxinias. — Lady  Emily  Villiers,  pink  ground, 
darker  towards  the  throat,  which  is  white  ;  centre 
of  lower  segment  have  a  band  of  white  spots.  Lady 
Victoria  Howard,  mauve,  towards  the  throat 
brownish  crimson,  throat  white  ;  centre  of  low  seg- 
ments have  an  irregular  band  of  white  lines.  31a- 
dcmoiselle  Suzanne  de  la  Bouvillerie,  segments  of 
corolla  dark  lilac,  throat  white.  They  were  raised 
by  Mr.  Breeze,  and  are  now  in  the  possesssion  of 
Messrs.  E.  G.  Henderson  &  Son.     pi.  179. 

AcilIMENES.  —  Purpurea  elegans,  claret  color, 
throat  orange.  Leopard,  pale  crimson,  throat 
orange,  spotted  with  crimson.  Raised  by  Mr. 
Parsons,  of  Welwyn,  and  now  possessed  by  Mr.  B. 
S.  Williams,  Paradise  Nursery,  Ilolloway.   pi.  180. 


The  Florist  and  Pomolor/ist,  iii.,  1,  gives  the 
following : 

Camellia,  Sarah  Frost.  Said  to  be  of  Amer- 
ican origin,  but  now  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Stan- 
dish,  of  Ascot  Nurseries.  Remarkable  for  the 
perfect  regularity  of  the  arrangements  of  the  petals, 
and  the  accurate  circularity  of  its  entire  form. 
Color  pale  carmine,  substance  good,  and  retaining 
both  form  and  color  for  a  long  time. 


A  Strawberry  Mound.— Select  a  spot  of 
ground  in  your  door-yard,  or  elsewhere,  where  you 
do  not  design  plowing,  and  make  a  small  mound 
of  turf,  litter,  a  few  stones,  etc.,  with  soil  enough 
to  fill  up  all  the  crevices,  and  let  the  whole  be 
pressed  firml}'  together,  so  that  it  shall  settle  as  lit- 
tle as  possible.  Then  collect  a  quantity  of  pebble- 
stones of  various  sizes,  and  after  covering  the  mound 
to  the  depth  of  four  or  five  inches  with  gravelly 
soil,  commence  at  the  bottom  and  enclose  it  with  a 
circle  of  the  largest  pebbles  you  have,  pressing  them 
firmly  into  the  soil ;  then  at  the  distance  of  five  or 
six  inches  up  the  side  of  the  mound,  place  another 
circle  of  smaller  pebbles,  and  so  continue  until  the 
surface  of  the  mound  is  all  divided  in  tliis  manner 
into  sections. 

Now  procure  some  fine  strawberry  plants,  and 
place  a  row  of  them  in  each  division,  and  next  year, 
if  your  vines  do  well,  you  will  have  not  only  a  nice 
green  mound,  which  will  be  an  ornam-ent  to  your 
yard,  but  also  a  very  fruitful  one.  These  mounds 
may  be  made  of  any  desirable  size.  Three  feet  in 
diameter,  and  the  same  in  perpendicular  height, 
is  about  the  size  which  will  usually  be  found  con- 
venient.—  Ohio  Farmer. 


Shall  we  plow-  our  Orchards  ? —  I  am  of 
the  opinion  that  a  jjlowis  not  a  suitable  implement 
to  use  in  an  orchard. 

A  few  years  since,  after  having  plowed  my  or- 
chard about  every  way,  and  harrowed  it  the  same, 
I  seeded  it  to  grass — but  found  the  surface  of  the 
ground  too  uneven  to  seed  down,  without  much 
labor  with  hoe  and  shovel  to  level  the  tree-banks, 
but,  at  last,  got  it  quite  well  done,  and  I  think  it 
will  slay  done. 

Now  what  will  keep  the  trees  in  good  growing 
condition  ?  I  have  practised  mulching  around  the 
trees  annually,  which  appears  to  be  just  what  is 
needed.  In  the  winter  or  spring, — probably  mid- 
winter is  better  if  snow  will  permit — take  straw  from 
the  straw  pile,  after  the  cattle  have  trodden  it  un- 
der foot  and  miyed  the  manure  with  it,  and  put  it 
around  the  trees,  at  the  rate  ot  a  good  load  to  eight 
or  ten  trees,  ihick  enough  to  keep  down  grass  and 
weeds.  Consider  whether  the  trees  need  much 
or  little  manure  with  the  straw,  and  govern  accord- 
ingly. If  the  orchard  has  been  seeded  down  so 
long  that  the  turf  has  become  close  and  tough,  I 
would  take  a  pick  or  other  implement,  and  dig  up 


fm^- 


Mc. 


£Ii4  6ardfnrr*f)  (P^ontljk 


p^' 
^(^ 


117 


the  turf  for  several  feet  around  the  tiee,  replace 
the  turf  bottom-side  up,  and  mulch  as  before.  This 
seems  to  be  what  is  wanted  to  keep  the  soil  loose 
and  enrich  it  as  much  as  necessary.  In  fact,  it 
seems  to  be  what  new  rum  was  said  to  be  in  my 
boyhood— good  in  wet  weather,  and  good  in  dry 
weather ;  good  in  hot  weather,  and  good  in  cold 
weather  ;  and,  finally,  good  all  the  time.  I  shaU 
practise  this  method  a  while  longer,  and  if  I  dis- 
cover my  orchard  to  be  running  down,  and  cannot 
find  a  better  preventive,  I  shall  again  resort  to  the 
plow.  —  Cor.  of  Wis.  Fanner. 


The  Blackberry. — 1.  The  Dorchester  is  the 
most  profitable  blackberry  to  cultivate  for  the 
market. 

2.  The  average  price  to  be  obtained  for  good  fliir 
berries  through  the  season,  maybe  safely  estimated 
at  from  20  to  25  cents  per  box. 

3.  The  expense  of  time  and  labor  in  cultivating 
and  picking  them,  and  the  expense  of  fertilizing  is 
comparatively  small. 

4.  Everything  considered,  they  are  the  most 
profitable  small  fruit  cultivated. 

And  how  can  the  latter  proposition  fail  to  be 
correct,  if  the  former  are  ? 

Mr.  Hyde  estimates  the  average  value  of  straw- 
berries, per  box,  at  20  cents,  through  the  season. 
This  is  two  cents  per  box  higher  than  I  have  usu- 
ally been  informed  by  cultivators  from  Boston  mar- 
ket. I  sell  my  strawberries  in  the  country,  and 
thus  save  the  expense  of  hulling.  Some  city  mar- 
kets do  not  require  strawberries  hulled. — Corres- 
pondent of  N.  Eng.  Farmer. 


xVpples  for  the  Northwest. — Experienced 
cultivators  and  observing  men  recommend  the  fol- 
lowing varieties  as  valuabJe  apples  for  cultivation 
in  the  Northwest,  and  as  being  extra  hardy.  They 
furnish  a  supply  the  year  round  : 

Red  Astrachan,  Duchess  Oldenburg,  Fall  Stripe, 
Aut.  Strawberry,  Sweet  Pear,  Fameuse,  Fall  Wine 
Sap,  Colvert,  Cider,  Sweet  Wine,  Tollman  Sweet, 
Pomme  Gris,  Northern  Spy  Apple,  Winter  Wine 
Sap,  Perry  Ilusset,  Golden  Russet,  Raules  Janet, 
Canada  Black,  Red  Romanite,  Dumelows, 

There  are  nearly  as  many  more  that  ])romise  well, 
but  have  not  had  thorough  trial,  which  will  give 
entire  surety  in  their  ability  to  stand  our  hard 
wir/.ers. 

Eastern  varieties  that  arc  hardy  grow  very  fair 
fruit;  and  of  good' size.  Canada  and  Eastern  peo- 
ple are  often  at  loss  to  recognize  well-known  varie- 
ties.    L.  L.  Fairchild,  in  N.  Eng.  Far. 


^ 


Origin  of  the  Massachusetts  Horticul- 
tural Society. — The  First  meeting  of  this  society 
was  on  the  24th  of  February,  1829,  when  sixteen 
gentlemen  convened  at  the  insurance  office  of  Ze- 
bedce  Cook,  Jr.,  11  Congress  Street,  Boston,  for 
the  purpose  of  instituting  a  Horticultural  Society, 
when  the  Hon.  John  Lowell,  of  Roxbury,  was 
chosen  Moderator,  and  Zebedee  Cook,  Jr.,  ap- 
pointed Secretary. 

It  was  then  voted — that  Messrs.  II.  A.  S.  Dear- 
born, Zebedee  Cook,  Jr.,  and  Samuel  Downer,  be 
a  Committee  to  prepare  a  Constitution  and  By- 
Laws  for  the  government  of  the  Society. 

Among  the  sixteen  were  two  from  Salem,  Mr. 
Robert  Manning  and  myself  I  am  desirous  to 
ascertain  how  many  are  now  living.  Those  present 
at  that  meeting,  as  far  as  I  can  remember,  that 
are  deceased,  are  Messrs.  Manning,  Dearborn, 
Cook,  Downer,  Bartlett,  Brewer,  French  and 
Phinney.  If  you  can  furnish  the  names  of  the 
sixteen  for  your  Journal,  you  wilP  oblige,  yours 
truly,  John  M.  Ives,  in  N.  Eng.  Far. 


Grape  Culture. — Mr.  Knox  thinks  grape  cul- 
ture has  been  injured  by  its  friends,  who  advise 
great  expense  in  preparing  the  ground  ;  some  of 
them  advise  to  stir  the  soil  three  and  others  four 
feet  deep.  This  is  a  useless  expense,  and  positive- 
ly injurious  to  the  vine.  Fifteen  to  twenty  inches 
is  as  deep  as  the  soil  need  bestirred.  If  worked 
much  deeper,  and  manured  heavily,  the  vines  grow 
too  rampant.  Beginning  with  the  newly  planted 
vine,  he  cut  back  to  two  or  three  eyes.  The  second 
year  he  cuts  out  all  but  one  cane,  and  the  next  fall 
cuts  that  back  to  three  eyes.  These  produce  three 
strong  fruiting  canes  for  the  third  year,  two  of 
which  are  bent,  to  form  the  arms,  and  the  middle 
one  trained  upright.  The  trellis  is  not  erected  un- 
til the  third  year.  The  vines  will  each  mature 
10  lbs.  of  grapes  the  third  season,  and  throw  up 
canes  for  future  fruiting.  The  process  then  con- 
sists in  cutting  out  each  alternate  upright  shoot 
every  year,  which  leaves  four  bearing  and  four 
growing  canes  to  each  vine— the  vines  being  six 
feet  apart,  and  the  upright  about  nine  inches  dis- 
tant and  eight  feet  long.  During  the  summer  the 
new  growth  of  the  spurs  is  pinched  in,  retaining  as 
many  leaves  beyond  the  last  cluster,  as  there  are 
clusters  on  the  spur.  Arms,  he  thinks,  does  not 
afford  sufficient  room  for  our  rampant  growers,  that 
if  left  to  themselves,  would  cover  a  tree  100  feet  in 
height.  Prunes  in  November.— ..4?>iertca)i  Agri- 
culturist. 


^U 


^■^v* 

m 


118 


W^t  ®anknxfs  dHonfljlg. 


Apple  Jelly  Made  Cheaply  from  New 
Cider. — Statcwmt  of  Gore\]  &  Son. — ^Ye  send 
3-ou  by  express  several  specimens  of  cider  jell)', 
which  j'ou  will  please  have  the  goodness  to  test 
and  dispose  of  o(Z //ii<Vi(»i.  It  is  made  purely  of 
the  juice  of  the  apple,  without  any  admixture 
whatever,  no  sugar,  no  cheniicals.  The  apples 
were  ground  and  pressed  in  the  ordinary  way,  and 
the  cider,  after  being  strained,  and  before  its  fer- 
mentation, was  passed  in  a  thin  and  nearly  con- 
tinuous current  over  the  intensely  heated  surface  of 
our  clarifying  and  evaporating  sugar  pan.  The 
Vv'hole  process  of  cleansing  and  condensing  to  the 
rcqui.-ite  consistency  for  jellies,  being  about  eight 
gallons  into  one,  is  performed  in  from  twenty  to 
thirty  minutes  from  the  time  that  the  cider  enters 
the  clarifier  until  it  leaves  the  opposite  end  of  the 
evaporator,  duly  cleansed,  condensed  and  cooked. 
From  fifteen  to  twenty  barrels  of  cider  maybe  thus 
transformed  per  day  often  hours'  service,  on  a  pan 
of  suitable  dimensions  for  family  or  neighborhood 
use. 

Our  apparatus  is  made  of  copper,  and  proves 
equally  adapted  to  the  manufacture  of  these  plea- 
sant tarts  and  our  northern  sweets.  It  is  observa- 
ble that  cider  jellies  do  not  (at  least  in  our  three 
years'  experiments^  congeal  into  candy  nor  mould 
on  the  surface.  Its  flavor  also  improves  by  age. 
The  jellies  herewith  presented,  of  the  past  season's 
manufacture,  were  made  of  a  mixture  of  tart  and 
sweot  apples,  and  the  fair  samples  of  several  thou- 
sand gallons  made  in  this  region  by  ourselves,  and 
by  others  who  have  adopted  our  implements  and 
method  of  manufacture.  An  abundance  of  the 
like  may,  in  propitious  seasons,  be  made  to  advan- 
tage in  all  the  fruit-growing  portions  of  our  country. 
It  has  been  much  admired  wherever  introduced, 
and  our  physicians  prefer  it  for  their  ]iatients  to 
other  jellies  made  of  the  best  materials.  —  Ohio 
Farmer. 


Honey  Locust  Hedges  in  Canada. — The 
Canadu  Farmer  says  : 

The  Honey  Locust  has  also  been  tried,  and  any 
one  who  is  desirous  of  seeing  a  hedge  of  this  plant 
will  be  cheerfully  welcomed  at  Sir.  Beadle's  resi- 
dence near  St.  Catharines,  where  he  can  show  him 
a  field  of  twenty  acres  enclosed  with  it. 

Poisonous  Properties  of  Shade  Grown 
Plants. — The  Acaden}y  of  Sciences  held  an  intei"- 
estinir  meeting  on  Monday,  Mr-  Collingwood  said  : 

"  M.  Burgeois,  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Ag- 
riculture, communicated  to  the  Academy  of  Sciences 


at  their  last  meeting,  some  observations  on  the 
grass  of  a  meadow  which  had  partly  grown  under 
the  influence  of  the  sun,  and  partly  in  a  shady  spot. 
The  grass  having  been  converted  into  hay,  the  por- 
tion which  had  sprung  up  in  the  shade  was  refused 
by  three  horses,  which  on  the  other  hand,  greedily 
ate  up  that  which  had  the  benefit  of  the  sun. 
Chemically  examined,  the  two  kinds  of  hay  pre- 
sented certain  differences  of  composition.  A  cur- 
rent of  steau)  having  been  made  to  pass  through 
each  of  the  two  kinds  and  then  collected  in  glass 
receivers  it  was  found  that  the  unsunned  hay  had 
yielded  a  much  less  odoriferous  product  than  the 
other  :  and  that  the  steam  collected  from  the  sun- 
ned hay  deposited  only  a  few  white  flakes  after 
many  days  ;  while  the  steam  collected  from  the  un- 
sunned hay  deposited  a  great  many  in  a  much 
shorter  time.  Moreover,  the  latter,  kept  in  a  close 
vessel,  was  soon  covered  with  mould,  while  the 
other  was  not." 

During  the  discussion  which  followed,  Prof  Ford 
stated,  that  Celery,  when  grown  in  il?e  cellar  for 
winter  use,  developed  a  deadly  poison :  and  pota- 
toes, which  grew  away  from  the  sun-light  formed 
a  deadly  poison,  called  soianum,  full  as  fatal  as 
nux-vomica.  Celery  grown  out  door,  and  then 
put  in  the  cellar  and  covered  up,  does  not  partake 
of  this  character.  — F  Imira  paper. 


The  Berberry  as  a  Hedge  Plant.— The 
Canada  Farmer  says : 

There  are  many,  however,  who  think  the  Ber- 
berry will  prove  to  be  just  what  is  wanted,  and  we 
now  call  attention  to  it,  in  the  hope  that  those  who 
have  made  any  experiments  with  it,  will  give  us  all 
the  b(!nefit  of  their  experience,  and  that  the  plai  i 
may  be  thoroughly  tested  for  this  purpose.  It  ccr- 
tianly  seems  to  possess  many  very  4^esirable  quali- 
ties in  a  Hedge  Plant. 


Lord  Byron's  Trees.— "Quitting  the  Abbey, 
and  passing  into  the  gardens,  we  followed  the  gar- 
dener through  the  deepening  gloom  to  the  wood, 
where,  in  former  days,  an  ancestor  of  the  Byrons 
had  set  up  leaden  statues  of  Satyrs,  which  the 
country  people  call  "The  old  Lord's  devils,"  and 
very  much  like  Devils  they  look.  The  tree  was 
pointed  out,  on  which  Lord  Byron  cut  the  name  of 
'Augusta'  and  'Byron,'  with  the  date  during  a  last 
walk  the  brother  and  sister  took  together,  at  New- 
stead.  It  was  a  double  tree,  springing  from  one 
root,  wdiich  he  chose  as  emblematical  of  themselvon. 
The  dim  light  barely  enabled  us  to  discern  the  let- 


^(^> 


^■^,r*>: 


m 


Mi[  §mAmf^  Jllonttilg* 


119 


ters  deeply  carved,  but  growing  less  visible  with 
expanding  bark.  One  of  the  trees  has  blasted, 
seeming  under  that  spell  which  has  withered  all  con- 
nected with  the  name,  and  is  cut  oif  just  above  the 
inscription.  The  oak  planted  by  Byron  in  his 
j'outh,  on  another  part  of  the  ground,  was  also 
shown  us.  It  is  yet  strong  and  vigorous.  'Mn- 
ncslet/  Man  and  A^ewstead  Abhey.'" — At.  Montldy. 

Treatment  op  an  Apple  Orchard. — As  to  an 
apple  orchard,  I  have  no  hesitation  in  saying,  that 
if  you  can  sell  the  fruit  well,  and  your  sorts  are 
good,  it  will  pay  j^ou  to  leave  the  whole  crop  of 
grass  to  rot  on  the  ground,  and  you  will  never  want 
for  a  full  crop  of  apples.  You  must,  however, 
plaster  heavily  each  spring. 

Adjoining  the  orchard,  above  mentioned,  we 
have  a  garden  with  some  apple  trees  in  it.  We 
manure  this,  and  dig  round  the  trees,  and  raise 
vegetables.  These  apple  trees  bear  one  crop  in  three 
years  only,  and  the  growth  and  health  of  the  trees 
is  not  to  be  compared  -with  those  in  the  orchard, 
where  the  ground  is  never  touched,  or  manured, 
except  by  the  after  grass  and  plaster. 

People  who  either  plow  or  dig  in  an  orchard,  need 
not  expect  a  certain  crop  of  apples,  or  a  thrifty 
growth  of  trees.  Therootsof  the  apple  trees  natural- 
ly seek  the  surface  for  the  nourishment  of  decaying 
vegetation.  If  you  plow  or  dig  you  destroy  these 
roots,  and  thus  deprive  the  trees  of  the  means  of 
growth.  No  manure  you  can  give  will  ever  make 
Tip  for  this  wholesale  destruction  of  the  roots  ©f 
the  trees.  —  Canadian  Correspondent  of  Genesee 
Farmer. 


Boston  Curled  Lettuce. — I  sent  to  Marble- 
head  for  the  true  sort ;  planted  no  other;  found 
the  leaves  very  pretty,  but  so  thin,  hard  and  insipid, 
that  I  should  as  sooh  think  of  eating  plantain. — 
11.  W.  Mathewson,  Durham,  Conn.,  in  Country 
Gentleman. 


LoMBARDY  Poplar  for  Fences. — Favorites 
for  Hedge  Fences  in  the  west,  rule  about  as  long  as 
Jlexican  politicians.  Scarcely  has  the  White 
Willow  got  fairly  seated  on  the  popular  throne, 
before  a  new  candidate  starts,  in  the  person  of  the 
Lombardy  Poplar.  A  correspondent  of  the  III. 
Farmer  is  loud  in  its  praise.  We  saw  a  huge 
Lombardy  turned  up  by  the  roots,  in  Eastern  Penn- 
sj'lvania,  recentlj' — the  last  of  a  long  line  of '  hedge. ' 
We  suppose  these  things  are  a  sort  of  horticultural 
measles  or  rash,  which  all  must  have.  Pennsjl- 
vania  has  had  hers  long  ago.  Pier  younger  wes- 
tern sisters'  turn  comes  now. 


Coffee  and  Tea  Culture  in  California. — 
The  cultivation  of  coffee  and  tea  promises  to  be- 
come an  important  business  in  California.  One 
nursery  at  Sacramento  has  over  five  thousand  coffee 
plants  on  trial,  and  it  is  believed  that  there  will  be 
no  difficulty  in  bringing  up  the  plant  to  a  standard 
of  hardiness  to  weather  the  mild  winter  of  that 
climate.  Near  the  Mission  Dolores  several  thous- 
and tea  plants  have  been  raised  during  the  last 
year.  The  tea  plant  is  grown  in  China  and  Japan 
very  extensively  in  latitudes  corresponding  to  all 
California,  and  the  San  Francisco  journals  think 
there  can  be  Httle  doubt  that  it  will  be  cultivated 
liereafter,  for  household  purposes  at  least,  on  every 
farm  in  that  State. 


DooLiTTLE  Black  Cap  Fvaspberry.— Among 
the  small  fruits  the  Black  Cap  deservedly  holds  a 
high  place.  Last  year,  Mr.  S.  Hood,  of  Spring- 
field, this  State,  gathered  from  a  half  acre  1459 
quarts,  for  which  he  received  $182  85  ;  and  he  says 
the  prospect  the  coming  season  is  for  a  third  larger 
crop.  The  price  per  quart  was  not  large,  being 
only  12^  cents,  or  $4  50  a  bushel.  Reducing  the 
quarts  to  bushels — thirty-six  wine  quarts  to  a  bushel 
— and  we  have  eighty  bushels  to  the  acre.  Allow- 
ing 2o  cents  a  quart  for  picking,  we  have  $292  per 
acre  for  the  crop. 

To  set  an  acre  of  plants  and  cultivate  them  two 
years  will  not  cost  $40. 

In  five  years  we  will  wager  that  the  Black  Cap 
raspberry  will  be  more  abundant  than  the  Currant 
in  our  markets. — I lluiois  Farmer. 


A  New  Grafting  Wax.— Several  of  r-ir  friends 
who  have  tried  the  following  composition  as  a 
grafting  wax,  have  been  much  pleased  with  it.  We 
see  it  also  recommended  in  some  of  the  horticultu- 
ral journals — to  wit :  One  pound  of  rosin,  five 
ounces  95  per  cent,  alcohol,  one  ounce  beef  tallow, 
one  table-spoon  of  spirits  of  turpentine. 

IMelt  the  rosin  over  a  slow  fire,  add  the  beef  tal- 
low, and  stir  with  a  perfectly  dry  stick  or  piece  of 
wire.  When  somewhat  cooled  add  the  turpentine, 
and  last,  the  alcohol  in  small  quantities,  stirring 
the  mass  constantly.  Should  the  alcohol  cause  it 
to  lump,  warm  again  until  it  melts.  Keep  in  a  bot- 
tle. Lay  it  on  in  a  very  thin  coat  with  a  brush.  In 
a  room  of  moderate  temperature,  the  wax  should 
be  of  the  consistence  of  molasses.  Should  it  prove 
thicker,  thin  it  down  with  alcohol.  It  is  always 
ready  for  use,  is  never  affected  by  heat  or  cold, 
and  heals  up  wounds  hermetically.  —  Germantoicn 
Telegraph. 


f^r 


The  Black  Thorn  for  Fences. — A  corres- 
|iondent  of  the  Vidlcij  Farmer  has  become  tho- 
iiiugU-y  convinced,  from  experiments  made,  that 
the  Cir.niiion  Black  Thorn,  which  grows  wild  in  our 
WDods  and  prairies,  is  peculiarly  adapted  for  fen- 
cin.jr. 


A  good  Glue  is  prepared  by  dissolving  common 
glue  in  vinegar  to  the  consistency  desirable  for  use. 
Tt  will  keep  for  a  long  time. 


Pegging  down  Roses. — This  plan  has  been 
before  noticed  in  our  journal.  As  the  season  is 
apprnacliing,  the  following  in  addition,  from  the 
Gardener  s  Chronicle^  will  be  useful  : 

j\Ir.  C.  J.  Perry  strongly  recommends  Pegged- 
down  Roses  for  the  flower-garden  ;  and  states  the 
advantages  to  be: — 1.  That  a  much  greater  quan- 
of  good  blooms  are  produced ;  2.  The  blooming 
period  is  much  prolonged  ;  3.  Many  kinds  which 
are  otherwise  too  much  crowded  with  buds  to  open 
freely,  will  thus  produce  single  blooms  of  great  size; 
4.  The  plants  are  less  subject  to  injury  from  winds. 
The  mode  of  procedure,  which  is  described  in  last 
month's  Florist,  is  to  take  vigorous  plants,  budded 
low  on  the  Manetti,  or  better  on  their  own  roots  ; 
to  cut  away  all  the  small  shoots,  and  a  few  inches 
of  the  ends  of  the  strong  ones,  and  to  bend  '^hcse 
pruned  shoots  carefully  down  to  the  ground,  and 
fasten  them  with  pegs  strong  enough  to  last  for  the 
season.  The  result  is  a  crop  of  fine  blooms — such 
blooms,  indeed,  as  enabled  3Ir.  Perry  to  carry  off 
two  leading  prizes  at  Birmingham  last  July.  But 
besides  the  flowers,  many  shoots  will  be  produced 
from  the  base,  too  strong  for  summer-flowering, 
but  most  of  them  such  as  produce  'noble  flowers' 
in  the  autumn.  These  are  shoots  for  pegging  down 
the  following  season.  The  eld  ones  are  cut  away  in 
the  course  of  the  winter,  and  the  plants,  with  their 
ample  supply  of  strong  shoots  4  to  8  feet  high,  are 
described  as  then  resembling  Raspberry  bushes. 
These  shoots  are  bundled  together  and  tied  to  a 
stake  to  prevent  their  being  injured  by  wind,  and 
at  the  latter  end  of  March  are  pegged  down.  jMr. 
Perry  observes,  that  vdien  this  method  of  pegging 
down  and  dwarfing  strong-growing  Roses  becomes 
generally  known,  many  of  the  valuable  robust  show 
varieties  will  occupy  the  prominent  position  in  oar 
flower  gardens,  to  which  their  merits  entitle  then. 


New  Qualifications  for  a  Clergyman.— 
The  following  advertisement  we  clip  from  an  En- 
glish paper: 

"A  few  lovei-s  of  Gospel  truth  are  in  want  of  a 
minister.  One  who  understands  gardening,  hot- 
houses and  greenhouses,  and  who  would  be  willing 
to  employ  himself  in  the  same,  would  receive  £40 
per  year,  in  addition  to  what  might  be  raised  by 
the  friends.  x\pply  to  Mr.  John  Bartlett,  Sav.' 
Mills,  Ringwood,  Hants." 


Notices  to  the  Public  in  English  Gar- 
dens.— A  few  years  ago  I  sent  to  this  Journal,  a 
description  of  some  gaidens,  which  I  had  an  oppor- 
tunity of  vi^-iting  during  my  travels  in  China,  and 
among  those  described,  was  one  belonging  to  IIou- 
qua,  the  great  tea  merchant  of  Canton,  well  known 
in  connection  with  the  once  celebrated  compound, 
called  "  Houqua's  Mixture." 

In  this  garden  there  were  many  things  well  wor- 
thy of  notice,  and  altogether  it  was  a  very  pretty 
place. 

Roses,  cultivated  in  pots  and  covered  with  flow- 
ers, were  there  in  abundance,  and  this  too  at  a  time 
when  such  a  thing  was  considered  impossible  by 
practical  gardeners  in  England.  Orange  trees  also 
were  there,  some  of  them  of  a  goodly  size,  and 
others  only  a  foot  or  two  feet  in  height,  but  all 
equally  under  the  control  of  the  gardener,  and 
loaded  with  delicious  fruit. 

In  England  we  have  overcome  our  difficulties  as 

v-egards  pot  Roses,  and  some  day  soon  we  hope  to 

be  equally  successful  in  the  culture  of  the  Oi'ange. 

Many  other  kinds  of  plants,  remarkable  on  ac- 
count of  the  beauty  of  their  foliage,  flowers  or  fruit, 
were  also  cultivated  in  this  garden.  These,  with 
the  nicely  paved  walks,  ornamental  dwarf  walls, 
halls,  summer  houses,  alcoves,  and  small  lakes  or 
fish  ponds  for  gold  and  silver  fish,  had  a  very  pretty 
appearanbe,  and  were  very  enjoyable.  But  it  is  to 
the  public  notice  boards  observed  in  this  garden, 
which  I  described  at  the  time,  to  which  I  wish  to 
draw  especial  attention  on  the  present  occasion, 
more  particularly.  Ilouqua,  like  a  true  English 
lish  gentleman,  was  quite  willing  that  those  enjoy- 
ments and  luxuries  which  he  had  created  for 
himself,  should,  under  certain  restrictions,  be  en- 
joyed by  the  public,  and  it  was,  therefore,  easy  for 
any  one  to  obtain  access  to  his  garden. 

The  good  people  of  Canton  were  not  slow  to  avail 
themselves  of  his  liberality.  During  high  days  and 
holidays  they  used  to  go  there  in  great  numbers, 
and  to  their  credit,  let  me  add,  they  were  as  wi'll 
behaved  as  tho>e  crowds  nro  who  nov/  vi^i;.  oar 
great  National  Garden  at  Kew. 


g>T-~- 


p-r(5yi- 


ilhi;  (Sardeni?r's  cPorahlg. 


-sU^)', 


121 


In  these  early  clays,  of  -whicli  I  write,  the  work- 
ing classes  in  this  country  were  looked  upon  as 
wild  and  mischevious  in  their  habits,  and  were  not 
considered  fit  to  be  trusted  in  our  public  gardens. 
If  admitted  at  all  they  were  watched  like  so  many 
thieves,  and  the  stoves  and  greenhouses  were  care- 
fully kept  under  lock  and  key. 

The  writing  on  the  "notice"  boards  of  those 
days  were  warnings  indeed.  To  be  given  into  cus- 
tody, to  be  fined  and  imprisoned,  or  to  be  prose- 
cuted with  the  utmost  rigor  of  law,  was  to  be  the 
fate  of  all  those  who  should  walk  on  the  grass,  or 
tough  the  flowers  or  the  fruit.  Now  what  were 
the  garden  notices  like  at  the  other  end  of  the 
world  at  this  period,  among  a  people  whom  we  are 
accustomed  to  consider  barbarians  and  uncivilized? 
Houqua  had  up  notice  boards  also  in  his  garden  for 
the  guidance  of  the  public.  But  he  was  evidently 
of  opinion  that  human  nature  is  not  quite  so  bad  as 
some  would  have  us  believe,  that  there  is  a  chord 
in  the  lowest  mind  which  will  vibrate  if  it  is  prop- 
erly struck,  and  that,  in  short,  as  we  ourselves  say, 
"  there  is  honor  among  thieves."  His  garden  no- 
tices were  therefore  very  difi'erent  from  ours.  Here 
is  one  or  two  of  them  as  examples  : 

"In  this  garden  the  plants  are  intended  to  de- 
light the  eyes  of  all  visitors  ;  a  great  deal  has  been 
expended  in  planting  and  in  keeping  in  order,  and 
the  garden  is  now  beginning  to  yield  some  return. 
Those  who  come  here  to  saunter  about  are  earnestly 
prayed  not  to  pluck  the  flowers,  in  order  that  the 
beauty  of  the  place  may  be  preserved.  We  beg 
persons  who  understand  this  notice  to  excuse  it." 
On  a  Leeehee  tree  which  was  growing  on  the 
side  of  one  of  the  walks,  and  whose  branches  were 
loaded  with  bunches  of  scarlet  or  crimson  fruit, 
there'  was  the  following  polite  notice  : 

"Ramblers  here  will  be  excused  plucking  the 
fruit  of  this  tree."  Another  notice  "earnestly  re- 
quests those  who  chew  Betel  Nut  to  spit  outside 
the  railings."  The  notices  were  all  of  the  same 
character  as  those  I  have  quoted;  no  threatening 
language  was  used,  but  the  better  part  of  human 
nature  was  appealed  to,  and  certainly  the  appeal 
was  not  made  in  vain.  The  visitors  were  made  to 
feel  that  they  were  trusted,  that  the  garden  was 
kept  up  for  their  enjoyment,  and  that  they  were  in 
honor  bound  to  respect  it  themselves,  and  to  guard 
it  from  being  injured  in  any  way  by  the  ill-disposed. 
This  is  the  waj'  they  do  things  in  China,  and  it  is 
probable  the  practice  had  been  in  existence  for  a 
long  time  previous  to  the  date  of  my  visit  to  that 
country. 


I  will  not  venture  to  say  that  the  Chinese  cus- 
tom I  have  described  has  had  any  efl"ect  upon  those 
who   frame  the  notices  which  we  now  see  in  our 
English  gardens,  but  a  change  for  the  better  has 
certainly  taken  place  since  the  time  to  which  I  have 
alluded.     "What  are  the  notices  to  the  public  like, 
which  we  observe  in  our  gardens  now?"    Take  the 
notice  boards  at  Kew  as  an  example.     As  we  enter 
this  noble    National  Garden,    we  read   something 
like  the  following — '  Visitors  are  requested  not  to 
touch  any  of  the  plants. '     'As  these  gardens  are 
for  instruction  and  recreation,  smoking,  idle  sports 
and  play  are  forbidden.'     At  Batterse'h,  Park  we 
read  that  'visitors  are  requested  not  to  walk  on  the 
Grass  on  this  .side  of  the  Park.'    And  in  the  train- 
ing schools  at  South  Kensington  there  is  a  notice, 
stating  that  'the  protection  of  the  school  property 
is  confided  to  the  students  :'  this  is  '  By  order  of 
the  Lords  of  the  Committee  of  Council  of  Educa- 
tion.'    I  might  give  many  other  examples  of  a  like 
kind  which  I  have  met  with  in  various  parts  of  the 
country,  but  the  above  are  sufficient  to  mark  the 
change  which  has  taken  place.  The  examples  given 
are  perhaps  not  quite  up  to  the  Chinese  mark  f  )r 
politeness  ;  but  they  are  probably  as  near  as  could 
be  expected  from  us  'outer   barbarians!'      These 
little  matters,  although  at  first  sight  apparently  in- 
significant in  themselves,  tend   to  show  that  we 
have  learned  to  form  a  higher  opinion  of  the  work- 
ing classes  than  we  form.^rly  had  ;  we  have  discov- 
ered that  they  are  not  quite  so  bad  as  we  had  sup- 
posed them  to  he,  and  that  it  is  possible  to  trust 
them  to  walk  in  gardens,  amongst  trees  and  green 
grass  and  flowers,  under  certain  restrictions  of  a 
very  gentle  kind.  And  in  addition  to  this,  we  have 
also  learned  a  little  more  of  human  nature.     It  is 
a  curious  thing  that  most  persons  in  the  world  are 
particularly  anxious  to  do  any  thing  which  they  are 
desired  to  leave  alone.     Tell  a  child  he  may  eat  of 
all  the  fruits  of  the  garden  except  one — the  sourest 
perhaps  of  them  all — and  he  will  not  rest  until  he 
has  tasted  the  forhiddcn  fruit.     And  so  it  is  with 
children  of  larger  growth,  from  the  time  of  the  first 
gardener's  wife  until  the  present  day.     But  there 
is  also  a  better  part  of  human  nature  to  be  worked 
upon — the  jiart  to  which  I  have  a4i-eady  alluded  as 
being  so  well  understood  and  worked  upon  by  the 
Chinese. 

In  dealing  with  the  working  classes,  in  so  far  as 
their  admission  to  our  Gardens  is  concerned,  two 
things  ought  to  be  kept  in  view.  The  better  feel- 
ings of  their  nature  ought  to  be  called  into  action, 
and  they  ought  not  to  be  menaced  and  tempted  by 
too  stringent   prohibitions.     We  are  going  upon 


-<r@^3 


-fifi^ 


122 


&i^  Smimtf^  dilonthlg. 


tliis  tack  now,  and  apparently  with  the  most  satis- 
factory results.  Look  at  the  open  gates  of  our 
great  National  Garden  at  Kew.  See  how  proudly 
the  people  flock  into  their  garden,  for  they  feel 
that  it  is  a  kind  of  freehold  which  they  are  bound 
in  honor  to  protect.  That  they  hehave  themselves 
well, and  that  little  damage  is  ever  doneto  the  plants, 
is  satisfactorily  shown  in  Sir  Wm.  Hooker's  Re- 
port.— Robert  Fortune,  in  Gard.  Chron. 


PtUSSELiA  JUNCEA  CULTURE.— Russelia  juncea 
is  a  stove  plant  from  Mexico,  and  one  of  the  most 
graceful  plants  in  cultivation.  It  requires  a  com- 
post of  equal  parts  turfy  loam  and  fibry  peat,  chop- 
ped with  a  spade,  but  not  sifted  unless  through  a 
riddle  with  inch  meshes,  and  a  liberal  admixture 
of  silver  sand.  We  presume  yours  is  a  small  plant ; 
if  so,  pot  it  and  keep  it  in  a  moist  atmosphere 
to  induce  free  but  not  luxuriant  growth. 
Shift  into  a  pot  a  size  larger^  immediately  th^roots 
reach  the  sides  of  the  pot.  Repeat  the  same  until 
the  plant  attains  the  size  j"0u  wish,  when  you  will 
give  the  last  shift,  double  the  sized  pot  of  any  of 
the  former  being  employed.  When  this  pot  be- 
comes full  of  roots  the  plant  will  show  flowers  ;  but 
much  will  depend  on  pinching  the  strong  shoots 
back  when  they  are  a  foot  in  length.  The  branches 
may  be  tied  to  a  stick,  from  which  the  laterals 
droop  gracefully.  It  flowers  more  abundantly  on 
moderate  than  luxuriant  growths.  You  will,  there- 
fore, stop  all  strong  and  rampant  growths,  encour- 
aging the  weaker  until  growth  begins  to  slacken, 
when  stopping  will  be  discontinued  and  syringing 
too,  the  plant  being  kept  drier  at  the  root  and  less 
moisture  given  above.  Any  straggling  blooms  to 
be  removed  if  they  appear  whilst  it  is  growing. 
Sudden  changes  of  temperature  are  inimical  to  its 
well-being ;  and  it  rarely  does  well  after  flowering 
once,  consequently  young  plants  must  be  ready  to 
grow  on  to  supply  a  worn-out  specimen.  It  is 
easily  propagated,  either  by  single  joints  of  the 
shoots  or  cuttings  in  a  little  bottom  heat,  or  from 
suckers  and  division. — London  Cot.  Gar. 


Gladiolus  at  the  London  Ilorticultural  Socie- 
ty's fall  exhibition  : 

Of  these  there  was  a  fine  display  from  various 
growers,  whose  best  varieties  were  Madame  Vil- 
/d\      nioiiu,    pink,  striped  with  purple;  Lord  Raglan, 


salmon,  with  dark  blotches  on  the  under  i)etaI.-_,; 
Othello,  deep  crimson  scarlet  and  yellow  ;  Oiucle, 
rose  striped  with  carmine  ;  Princess  Ciotilde,  rosy 
salmon,  striped  with  purple  ;  Napoleon  HI.,  sjarlet, 
with  a  yellow  throat;  Le  Poussin,  very  handsome 
rosy  salmon,  with  a  clear  vrhite  centre ;  Madauie 
Haquin,  white,  striped  and  flushed  with  lilac ; 
Mazeppa,  large  red  and  yellow  ;  Jeanne  d'Arc, 
French  white,  striped  with  purple  ;  Brenchleyen^is, 
glowing  crimson  scarlet ;  Eudymede,  large  rosy 
salmon  ;  Mrs.  F.  Rouget,  like  the  last,  but  darker ; 
Madame  de  Vatry,  white  striped  with  crimson ; 
Queen  Victoria,  white  flushed  and  streaked  with 
purplish  lilac ;  Madame  Basseville,  salmon  with 
white  blotched  under  petals ;  Penelope,  delicate 
pink  striped  with  purple ;  Madam  Souchet,  pink 
stained  and  streaked  with  crimson  ;  Mis.  Reynolds 
Hole,  carnation  striped  white ;  Prospero,  crimson 
scarlet ;  Iniperatrice  Eugenie,  a  splendid  kind, 
white,  striped  and  suffused  with  rosy  lilac;  Etna, 
scarlet ;  Mrs.  Pix,  white,  striped  with  purple ; 
Charles  Davis,  crimson  streaked  with  purple  ;  Brian 
Boru,  scarlet  streaked  with  violet;  Roscius,  large 
showy  rich  salmon,  streaked  with  violet ;  and  Comte 
de  Morny,  crimson  and  white. 

The  Oldest  Rose  Tree. — A  botanical  as  well 
as  an  archteological  curiosity  is  seen  now  at  Hilde« 
sheim,  in  Gerujany.  Ancient  legends  connect,  if 
not  the  foundation  of  the  city,  at  least  the  founda- 
tion of  its  see,  by  the  Emperor  Louis  the  Pious,  the 
son  of  Charles  the  Great,  with  a  certain  wild  rose- 
tree,  which  is  supposed  to  have  stood  in  its  present 
place  on  the  cemetery  of  the  Dome  long  before 
even  those  days.  Although  documentary  evidence 
as  to  its  existence  in  Charles  tne  Great's  tini-e  is 
wanting,  it  is  yet  distinctly  mentioned  in  a  docu- 
ment of  Bishop  Ilezilo,  who  in  1078  carried  a  fence 
around  it.  There  is  no  doubt  whatever  that  it  is 
the  oldest  rose-tree  in  Europe  ;  and  for  centuries  it 
has  attracted  the  attention  of  naturalists  in  a  high 
degree.  But  the  most  extraordinary  circumstance 
is  this,  that  two  new  shoots  have  come  out  of  the 
root  in  the  course  of  this  summer,  the  one  of  which 
has  already  reached  a  height  of  twelve  feet,  and  at 
its  diameter  measures  no  les  than  an  inch  near  the 
root.  There  is  an  interesting  account  of  this  tree 
in  Mr.  Rivers's  invaluable  "Rose  Amateur's 
Guide." 


Twelve  Million  Butterflies. — In  the  canton 
of  Basle,  no  less  than  12,000,000  butterflies  have 
been  caught  this  year,  and  the  Government  has 
paid  the  catchers  the  not  inconsideiMblc  sum  of 


H 


^fe 


■T»^ 


M^.- 


C-^-A" 


©to  ©ardtni^r's  Monthlir. 


12J 


l,000,000f.  Naturalists  tell  us  that  of  every  hun- 
dred of  these  beautifid  insects  forty-live  are  females; 
and  as  each  of  the  latter  is  estimated  to  laj',  on  the 
average,  forty  fruitful  eggs,  the  destruction  of  thsee 
lL',000,000  is  virtually  the  same  as  the  annihilation 
of  216,000,000  caterpillars. 


Paris  Flower  jMarkets. — Paris  is  about  to  be 
enriched  with  another  flower-market,  to  be  estab- 
lished on  the  Boulevard  Eichard  Lenoir,  between 
the  Bastile  and  the  Fountain  of  the  Boulevard  du 
Temple.  The  sale  of  flowers  and  shrubs,  which 
now  constitutes  an- important  branch  of  commerce 
in  Paris,  was  until  of  late  years  of  no  great  value. 
Gardeners  in  former  times  did  not  possess  the  va- 
riety they  do  at  present,  and  they  sold  the  few 
flowers  they  cultivated  at  the  Marche-aux-Poirees 
or  at  the  Pont  Neuf  Their  collection  comprised 
only  the  native  Violet  and  Rose,  the  Ranunculus 
of  the  Archipelago,  and  the  Damascus  Rose,  im- 
ported during  the  reign  of  Louis  IX.;  the  Lilacs, 
imported  from  Persia  in  the  16th  century;  and  the 
Pinks,  of  which  Rabelais  brought  the  first  from 
Ital}'  for  his  friend  Cardinal  Estissac.  In  the  reign 
of  Louis  XIII.  some  Spanish  woman  gave  the 
Paris  flower-market  an  additional  attraction.  The 
Parisian  corporation  of  flower-sellers  would  not  be 
surpassed,  and  in  the  following  reigns  the  market 
on  the  Pont-Neuf  acquired  considerable  importance. 
The  French  gardeners  had  by  this  time  increased 
their  stock  by  the  Japan  Tulip,  which  they  receiv- 
ed through  Holland  at  the  beginning  of  the  17th 
century,  the  Narcissus  from  the  East,  and  the  Hy- 
acinth from  Constantinople.  The  cultivation  of 
flowers  was  thenceforth  considerably  extended,  and 
^lignonette  and  the  Bengal  Rose  were  imported  into 
France  toward  the  conclusion  of  the  reign  of  Louis 
XV.  ;  the  Dahlia  was  sent  to  Paris  in  1702  from 
the  Botanical  Garden  of  Madrid,  which  had  re- 
ceived it  from  Mexico  two  years  before.  Some 
years  later  a  French  captain  brought  another  new 
plant  from  China,  which  he  called  Ilortensia,  after 
his  wife  Hortense.  Since  then  various  exotics 
have  arrived  in  such  abundance  that  many  plants 
which  were  at  first  received  with  favor  are  now 
neglected.  Towards  the  end  of  the  last  century 
the  Pont-Neuf  was  no  longer  sufficient  for  the  ever- 
increasing  number  of  dealers  in  flowers.  The  mar- 
ket spread  over  the  Quai  de  la  Ferraille,  and  in  1808, 
the  carriage  way  being  completely  blocked  up,  it 
was  transferred  to  the  Quai  Desaix,  in  the  island 
of  the  Cite.  In  1824  the  number  of  flower-markets 
was  increased  to  four,  and  there  is  an  additional 
market  about  to  be  established  at  present. — Times. 


Northern    Spy    Apple    in    England. — The 
London  Gardener  s  Chronicle^  sa3's  : 

"Finer  flavored  specimens  we  never  tasted  of 
this,  the  most  delicious  of  United  States  Apples, 
as  well  as  one  of  the  very  finest  of  table  varieties. 
We  prefer  it  to  the  best  Newtown  Pippins." 


Bird  Murder. — AVe  commend   the   following, 
from  Punchy  to  the  attention  of  our  'Robin  killers,' 
who  will  soon  be  in  season,  and  more  numerous, 
we  fear,  than  the  "three  men  of  Crawley  :" 
Who  killed  Cock-sparrow  ? 

"I,"  said  three  men  of  Crawley, 
"  With  my  club  in  my  mawley, 
I  killed  Cock-sparrow  ! ' ' 

Who  saw  him  die  ? 

"I,"  said  Caterpillar, 
"And  I  blessed  sparrow-killer, 

As  I  saw  him  die." 

Who'll  dance  on  his  grave  ? 

"I,"  said  Mr.  Slug, 
With  Green-fly  and  Red-bug, 
"  We'll  dance  on  his  grave." 

Who'll  weep  for  his  loss? 

"I,"  said  young  Wheat-shoot, 
Fruit  and  Flower-bud  and  Root, 

"  We'll  weep  for  his  loss." 


Mushroom  House. —  This,  when  sufiiciently 
roomy,  is  one  of  the  most  useful  structures  about 
a  garden.  Seakale  may  be  forced  here  in  constant 
succession  with  as  little  trouble  as  raising  a  crop  of 
small  salad.  The  old  plan  of  raising  a  bed  of  fer- 
menting material,  over  the  crowns  out  of  doors,  is 
an  uncertain  process  compared  with  this.  It  is 
equally  well  adapted  for  Rhubarb  forcing."  Nothing 
is  needed  but  a  long,  narrow  pit  along  the  bottom 
of  the  house,  on  one  or  both  sides,  tlie  top  of  the 
pit  to  be  level  with  the  floor.  It  should  be  four 
feet  deep,  and  filled  in  portions  as  wanted,  with 
any  hot,  fermenting  material,  to  within  half  a  yard 
of  the  top,  which  would  be  very  perfect  if  covered 
with  a  lid.  The  Kale  and  Rhubarb  should  be 
placed  on  the  surface  of  the  fermenting  matter  as 
thick  as  it  can  stand,  and  then  filled  in  lightly  with 
soil  or  fine  old  tan.  Chicory  roots  may  be  placed 
in  a  circle  round  roomy  pots,  and  set  on  the  flues 
of  this  house.  Lily  of  the  Valley,  too,  may  be 
plunged  overhead  in  a  fermenting  bed  of  70^^  here, 
until  the  blossom -spikes  appear,  Tihen  it  must  be 
inured  to  light,  but  in  the  most  gradual  and  cau- 
tious   way  imaginable.     Early   potted    Hyacinths 

cs^? — ~:: 


WC) 


^ 


-^  = 


-*H€V 


i. 


124 


§l\^  iankncr's  IPlontMg, 


and  Narcissi  may  also  be  treated  precisely  the  same 
as  the  Lilies,  taking  care  not  to  withdraw  them 
until  the  pots  are  nearly  full  of  roots,  and  many 
other  uses  may  likewise  be  found  far  this  house. 


Gigantic  Australian  Tree.— In  a  gorge  on 
the  declivity  of  the  Mount  Wellington  range,  near 
Tolossa,  about  sis  miles  from  ITobart  Town,  a  tree 
of  the  blue  gum  species  was  found  to  be  84  feet 
in  circumference. 


Language  of  Insects.— x\.  most  singular  dis- 
covery, the  credit  of  which  appertains,  we  believe, 
to  Mr.  Jesse,  is  that  of  the  antennal  language  of 
insects.  Bees  and  other  insects  are  provided,  as 
everybody  knows,  with  feelers  or  antennae.  These 
are,  in  fact,  most  delicate  organs  of  touch,  warning 
of  danger,  and  serving  the  animals  to  hold  a  sort 
of  conversation  with  each  other,  and  to  communi- 
cate their  desires  and  wants.  A  strong  hive  of 
bees  will  contain  thirtj'-six  thousand  worker.'. 
Each  of  these,  in  order  to  be  assured  of  the  pres- 
ence of  their  queen,  touches  her  every  day  with  its 
nntsnnae.  Should  the  queen  die,  or  be  removed, 
the  whole  colony  disperse  themselves,  and  are  seen 
in  the  hive  no  more,  perishing  every  one.  and  quit- 
ting all  the 'Store  of  now  useless  hone,v,  which  they 
had  labored  so  industriously  to  collect  for  the  use 
of  themselves  and  the  larvae.  On  the  contrary, 
should  the  queen  be  put  into  a  small  wire  cage 
plac  'd  at  the  bottom  of  the  hive,  so  that  her  sub- 
jects can  touch  and  feed  her,  they  are  contented, 
and  the  business  of  the  hive  proceeds  as  usual. 
]\lr.  Jesse  has  also  shown  that  this  antennal  power 
of  communication  is  not  confined  to  bees.  Wasps 
and  ants,  and  probably  other  insects,  exercise  it. 
If  a  caterpillar  is  placed  near  an  ant's  nest,  a  cu 
rious  scene  will  often  arise.  A  solitary  ant  will 
perhaps  discover  it,  and  eagerly  attempt  to  draw 
it  away.  Not  being  able  to  accomplish  this,  it  will 
go  up  to  another  ant,  and  by  means  of  the  antennal 
language,  bring  it  to  the  caterpillar.  Still,  these 
two*  perhaps,  are  unable  to  perform  the  task  of 
moving  it.  They  will  separate  and  bring  up  rein- 
forcements of  the  community  by  the  same  means, 
until  a  sufhcient  number  are  collected  to  enable 
them  to  drag  the  caterjiillar  into  their  nest. 


The  P(^pe  Black  Hamburg  Grape. — The 
'  Pope  '  Grape  is  another  kind  of  Black  Hamburg, 
which  is  well  worthy  of  culture  from  its  being 
the  earliest  and  sweetest  of  the  numerous  varieties 
of  this  really  useful  and  7:iost  generally  grown  vine. 
It  is  the  only  kind  of  Hamburg  grown  by  Mr. 
y 


Ptobertson,  at  Swinnerton,  near  Stone,  in  Staff- 
ordshire ;  and  we  have  seldom  seen  finer  crops  than 
he  obtains.  The  bunches  are  large  and  handsome, 
and  black  as  jet;  and  the  berries,  although  not  so 
large  as  what  is  called  "  Wilmot's  Victoria,"  are 
better  flavored.  The  ''Pope  "  Giape  is  the  best 
forcing  one  we  have  ever  tried,  being  a  free  grower, 
an  abundant  bearer,  and  becoming  well-flavored, 
even  when  ripened  in  February  or  March.  It  is 
the  best  of  its  class  to  plant  in  small  houses  for 
producing  early  crops. 


Competition  in  Flower  Beds. — The  London 
Horticultural  Society  consider  much  interest  would 
be  taken  in  the  Garden  at  South  Kensington,  if 
portions  were  set  apart  as  exhibition  grounds  of 
bedding  plants,  flowers,  shrubs,  etc.,  let  out  to  re- 
sponsible nurserymen  and  florists  of  eminence. 
They  accordingly  have  prepared  a  plan  of  such  por- 
tions, which  maj^  be  seen  at  the  Gardens,  and 
invite  tenders  for  filling  such  spaces  with  bedding 
or  other  plants  during  each  month  of  the  year  1864. 
The  selection  and  arrangement  are  to  be  left  en- 
tirely to  the  taste  of  the  exhibitor,  provided  they 
shall  be  in  kee]>ing  with  the  general  character  of 
the  Gardens.  The  beds  so  planted  must  be  kept 
in  order  throughout  the  season  by  the  parties 
planting  them.  The  names  and  addresses  of  the 
nurserymen  and  florists  will  be  placed  conspicuously 
upon  the  beds  so  filled  by  them.  A  competent 
Jury  will  be  appointed  to  examine  the  spaces  two 
or  three  times  during  the  season,  and  will  adjudi- 
cate upon  the  merits  of  the  several  arrangements, 
and  select  the  best.  The  test  of  merit,  we  are  in 
formed,  will  be  the  best  arrangement  of  color  with 
plants  that  will  remain  longest  in  flower.  Certifi- 
cates of  merit  will  be  awarded  to  the  most  suc- 
cessful competitors. 

AYeeping  Oaks. — The  most  distincly  pendulous 
oak  is  Quercus  peduncuhita  peiuhda.,  a  very  livelj' 
tree,  combining  grace  with  majesty.  The  weeping 
Turkey  oak,  Q.  ccrris  pendula,  is  a  great  beauty. — 
Gardener  s  Weehhj. 


CriARLESWORTTI  ToKAY,  A  GoOD  LaTE  GrAPE. 

— Next  in  importance  to  having  Grapes  early, 
is  having  them  to  keep  late;  and,  after  trying 
several  experiments,  we  have  found  the  Charles- 
worth  Tokay  to  keep  longer  without  shrinking  than 
any  we  have  grown.  Its  flavor  is  very  similar  to 
the  Muscat  of  Alexandria,  and  from  its  being  of  a 
7uore  robust  habit  and  setting  freely,  it  is  a  more 
desirable  vine.     The  ^luscat  of  Alexandria,  grafted 


=^^ 


upon  the  White  Toka}^,  keeps  its  fruit  lon^^cr  in  a 
plump  state  than  when  on  its  own  roots,  which  we 
believe,  is  owing  to  the  latter  being  a  strong  root- 
ing Vine,  which  grows  very  late  in  the  season. 
We  have  the  White  Toka}'  here  as  a  stock  for  the 
Muscat,  with  leaves  still  upon  it  CJanuary  8th  ;) 
while  the  leaves  of  the  jMuscat  grafted  upon  it  have 
ripened  perfectly  and  fallen  more  than  a  fortnight. 
The  fruit  upon  the  grafted  vines  are  of  a  beautiful 
amber  color,  and  quite  fresh  ;  while  those  on  Mus- 
cats of  the  same  age  on  their  own  roots  are  shrink- 
ing.— Lon.   Cottage  Gar. 


Thermometers. — The  diiference  between  Reau- 
mur's and  Fahrenheit's  Thermometers  is  as  follows: 
In  Reaumur's  scale  the  zero  is  fixed  at  the  freezing 
point  of  water ;  and  between  that  and  the  boiling 
point  there  are  80°.  In  Fahrenheit's  scale  the 
zero  is  32°  below  the  freezing  point  of  water  ;  and 
between  the  freezing  and  the  boiling  point,  the 
scale  is  divided  into  180°.  Consequently  80°  Reau- 
mur is  equal  to  180°  Fahr.  ;  8°R.=18°  F.  ;  and  1° 
Reaumur  is  equal  to  2J°  Fahrenheit.  Degrees  be- 
low freezing,  according  to  Reaumur's  scale,  should 
be  marked  {—)  ;  thus,  23°  Fah.  or  9°  below  the 
freezing  point,  would  be — 4°  Reaumur.  Here  we 
may  add,  that  degrees  below  freezing,  according  to 
the  Centigrade  scale  should  be  also  similarly  mar- 
ked, but  when  the  temperature  falls  below  the  zero 
of  Fahrenheit's  scale  ;  the  degrees  should  likewise 
have  the  minus  sign  ( — )  prefixed. 


Best  Verbenas  at  the  London  IIort.  So- 
ciety Show. — The  London  Cottage  Gardener 
says  of  the  exhibition  last  fall : 

Of  these  there  were  several  interesting  exhibi- 
tions, in  which  were  fine  trusses  of  Emperor  of 
I^Iorocco,  plum  with  white  eyes;  Ida,  rose  ;  Rosy 
Morning,  brightrose  with  white  eye;  Count  Orsini, 
purple  with  white  eye ;  Lord  Leigh,  scarlet  with 
white  eye  ;  L' Avenir  de  Ballant,  delicate  pink  with 
rosy  eye ;  Annihilator,  crimson  with  white  eye ; 
Mrs.  Moore,  deep  violet  with  white  eye ;  Mauve 
Queen  ;  Modesty,  purplish  crimson  with  white  eye  ; 
Ruby  King,  salmon  red  ;  Startler,  crimson  with 
white  eye ;  Rubens,  like  the  last,  but  a  shade  or 
two  darker;  Countess  of  Bradford,  lavender ;  and 
Fairest  of  the  Fair,  Vt^hite  with  purple  eye  ;  all 
valuable  show  varieties. 


Waste    op    Heat  in   Glass   Structures. — 

"Loudon  has  shown  that  every  square  foot  of  glass 

cools  a  cubic  foot  and  a  quarter  of  enclosed  atmos- 

j^  phere  per  minute,  as  many  degrees  as  the  inner 


temperature  exceeds  that  of  <he  outer  air ;  so  that, 
assuming  the  heat  inside  to  be  66°,  and  the  outside 
44°,  every  100  superficial  feet  of  glazing  would  de- 
press 125  cubic  feet  of  air.  22°  every  minute,  and 
the  largest  body  of  atmosphere  would  thus  be  I'ap- 
idly  reduced  to  the  external  level  but  for  the 
warmth  artificially  generated  within. 

The  plea  upon  which  the  better  and  more  sub- 
stantial principles  of  construction  observed  in  the 
plant-houses  of  the  last  century  has  been  departed 
from,  seems  to  be  that  of  obtaining  more  light,  but 
it  is,  in  fiict,  a  groundless  argument,  for  light  is  so 
extremely  diff'usive,  that,  as  illustrated  in  the  Pan- 
theon, at  Rome,  a  single  foot  of  glass  will  illumi- 
nate, in  an  agreeable  manner,  3000  cubic  feet  of 
space. 

With  this  fact  before  us,  we  may  safely  hrre  walls 
on  the  north  and  cast  sides ;  and  if  the  roof  be  also 
of  opaque  materials,  to  act  as  a  reflector  on  these 
quarters,  and  transparent  only  on  the  south  and 
west,  the  heat  acquired  during  the  day  will  be  suf- 
ficient to  exclude  frost  in  the  night,  except  in  sea- 
sons of  intense  cold  ;  and  the  contemptible  flirasi- 
ness  of  appearance,  now  so  general  in  the  structures, 
will  be  obviated." — London  Cot.  Gar. 


The  Cotton  Plant  in  Italy. — A  Report  from 
Royal  Commissioners,  has  lately  been  presented  to 
the  Italian  Grovernment,  on  the  cultivation  of  the 
Cotton  plant  in  Southern  Italy.  About  80,000 
bales  of  cotton  have  been  grown  during  the  past 
season  in  the  latter  district,  including  Sicily.  This 
quantity  would,  it  is  said,  have  been  trebled,  had 
it  not  been  for  the  excessive  drought  that  prevailed. 
The  attempts  hitherto  made  to  grow  the  celebrated 
Sea  Island  Cotton  have  failed;  the  quality  pro- 
duced is,  however,  very  good,  returning  a  profit  to 
the  cultivator,  at  the  present  price  of  cotton  of  20/. 
an  acre. 

A  feature  of  the  Report  is  the  favorable  nature 
of  a  vast  area  of  Central  and  Southern  Italy  for  the 
growth  of  cotton.  There  is  very  little  doubt  that 
Southern  Italy  alone  could  easily  furnish  550,000 
bales  of  excellent  cotton  annually,  which  exceeds 
by  50,000  bales  the  quantity  produced  by  South 
Carolina.  The  insignificantquantity  of  cotton  now 
grown  in  Italy  is  the  more  remarkable,  when  it  is 
remembered  that  during  the  last  century  it  was 
cultivated  as  far  north  as  Tuscany,  and  was  so 
abundant  that  during  the  wars  of  Napoleon  I, 
and  the  continental  blockade,  Italy  supplied  almost 
the  whole  of  Europe  with  cotton.  The  plant  was 
especially  grown  around  Naples,  and  was  known  in 
commerce  as  Castellamar  cotton. 


-^^ 


»)< 


WkO. 


126 


^anleiuxs  SoulMir. 


-^  0    '■o 


PENNSYLVANIA  HOST.  SOCIETY. 

MONTHLY   DISPLAY,    JANUARY   12,    1864. 

Our  best  gardeners  are  rather  sly  of  the  icy  blasts 
of  the  new  year,  and  are  loth  to  bring  their  choice 
plants  out  into  the  wintry  air.  The  January  meet- 
ing generally  presents  litle  of  interest  in  plants, 
except  designs,  baskets  of  cut  flowers,  and  the  like. 
Some  fine  specimens  of  handiwork  in  this  depart- 
ment, graced  the  Society's  tables,  as  the  following 
awards  of  premiums  indicate. 

To  Mr.  J.  Pollock,  (gardener  to  James  Dundas, 
Esq.,)  first  premium  for  table  design,  special  pre- 
miums for  two  beautiful  plants  of  Cypripedium  ve- 
nustum  and  insignis,  finely  trained  and  laden  with 
bloom. 

To  Mr.  James  Eadie,  Cgardener  to  Dr.  James 
Rush,)  first  premiums  for  basket  of  cut  flowers  and 
hand  bouquets. 

Mr.  F.  O'Keef,  (gardener  to  Joseph  Harrison, 
Esq., J  who  exhibited  a  hanging  basket,  a  very 
pretty  object,  in  the  shape  of  a  wasp  nest,  took  the 
second  premium  for  basket  of  cut  flowers.  Also  a 
special  premium  for  a  new  style  of  table  design, 
the  form  of  a  large  truncated  cone,  composed  of 
lycopodiums  and  selaginellas,  dotted  over  with  ca- 
mellias, azaleas  and  roses.  This  was  a  very  attrac- 
tive and  novel  composition,  and  the  idea  is  capable 
of  many  pleasing  modifications. 

A  light,  graceful  floral  ornament,  for  the  parlor 
or  dinner  table,  presented  by  Mr.  Dreer,  attracted 
a  crowd  of  admirers.  It  was  made  of  open  wicker- 
work,  like  slender  wire,  blackened,  gilt  and  var- 
nished, containing  three  or  four  small  baskets  or 
vases  (?ach,  holding  a  pretty  group  or  bouquet  of 
choice  and  briliant  flowers.  It  was  not  less  tasteful 
and  pleasing  in  eff"ect  than  novel  and  graceful  in 
design,  and  received  a  special  premium  from  the 
committee. 

To  Mr.  E.  Satterthwait,  second  premiums  for 
hand  bouquets,  and  first  premium  for  winter  pears, 
six  good  specimens  of  Easter  Bcurre. 

IMessrs.  Haller  &  Samuel,  Second  Street,  above 
Noble,  brought  a  collection  of  fruit,  put  up  in  water 
only,  of  a  very  fine  quality ;  also,  green  corn,  on 
the  cob,  in  air-tight  jars,  the  air  being  exhausted  by 
an  air  pump  of  their  own  invention.  We  are  prom- 
ised a  full  description  of  their  process,  for  publi- 
cation. 

Mr.  P.  S.  Bunting  had  a  dish  of  winter  pears, 
and  Mr.  W.  E.  Petitt  a  half  dozen  Niles  pear,  of 
which,  mention  is  made  in  our  notes  of  the  discus- 
sional  meeting.  The  committe  report  it  as  "cer- 
tainly the  most  beautiful  of  all  our  winter  pears, 
and  in  quality,  very  good." 


To  Mr.  Thomas  Mcghran,  (gardener  to  Girard 
College.J  was  awarded  the  regular  premiums  for 
forced  lettuce  and  celery,  and  special  premiums  for 
mushrooms,  and  remarkably  early,  perfect  speci- 
mens of  cucumbers,  the  first  ever  shown  before  the 
Society,  at  this  season  ;  February  being  the  earliest 
date  of  any  previous  display  of  this  delicious  veg- 
etable. The  bright  yellow  blossoms,  attached  to 
the  stem  of  each  sample  of  the  fruit,  gave  them  a 
fresh  and  attractive  appearance.  Mr.  IMeghran's 
skill  in  this  department  is  unsurpassed. 
,  A  rustic  flower  and  fern  stand,  in  two  parts,  of 
artistic  design  and  creditable  workmanship,  by 
jMr.  T.  C.  Bayliss,  complete  our  report  of  this 
small  but  excellent  exhibition. 


EETJIT-GROWERS'  SOCIETY  OF  EASTERN 

PENNSYLVANIA 
The  Annual  Meeting  was  held  in  Noriistown, 
on  the  18th  of  February,  pursuant  to  public  an- 
nouncement, and  was  well  attended,  by  members 
from  a  distance.  The  citizens  of  Norristown,  them- 
selves, took  no  interest  in  the  proceeding, — though 
one  of  the  largest  towns  in  the  state,  boasting  of 
three  or  four  newspapers ;  and  though  the  Society 
advertised  its  coming  freely,  in  all  the  borough 
papers — and  many  of  the  members  paying  their  two 
dollars  for  dinner,  supper  and  breakfast  of  the 
roughest  kind,  and  with  the  extra  privilege  of 
being  turned  out  of  the  hotel  at  bed  time,  to  hunt 
a  bed  wherever  they  could,  with  the  thermometer 
at  Zero — all  these  sacrifices  to  learn  the  experience 
of  the  Norristowners,  in  fruit  culture,  and  give 
the  members'  in  return,  brought  but  four  or  five  of 
these  gentlemen  to  the  rooms. 

Judging  by  the  appearances  of  the  town,  the  in- 
habitants have  voted  Horticulture  as  fit  only  for 
the  next  generation ;  and  altogether,  if  there  be 
any  merit  in  preaching  the  gospel  to  the  heathen, 
the  pomol'Ogical  missionaries,  who  risked  themselves 
in  Norristown  on  that  particular  occasion,  deserve 
the  applause  of  all  the  rest  of  the  United  States. 

Some  forty  members  reported  at  roll  call,  and 
many  more  came  in  during  the  meeting.  Mr. 
Ptufus  A. Grider,of  Bethlehem,  the  President,  made 
the  opening  address,  which  possessed  so  much  in- 
terest, particularly  in  grape  culture,  that  we  make 
no  abstract  of  it,  in  the  hope  of  finding  a  place  for 
it  entire,  on  some  future  occasion. 

Previous  to  the  appointment  of  the  business 
committee,  Mr.  W.  Saunders  called  the  attention 
of  the  Society  to  the  great  want,  in  most  associa- 
tions of  the  kind,  of  a  proper  direction  to  their  in- 
vestigations. The  cff'ort  should  be  to  deduce  some 
general  principle  from  all  the  various  experience^. 


-^^^ 


Sflij^  §'Ark\\tf^  <PontMg, 


127 


detailed.  Some  ploughed  and  some  harrowed ;  hut 
few  could  tell  what  object  they  proposed  to  gain  by 
these  operations.  Thus  it  seemed  to  the  public, 
that  the  experiences  brought  out  by  these  meetings, 
were  contradictory,  when  in  reality,  we  did  not 
know  the  seperate  objects  of  each.  One  man  ma- 
nured his  orchard,  and  it  did  well— another  did 
so,  and  it  ruined  it.  Probably  in  the  one  case,  the 
trees  were  starved,  and  the  manure  helped  them  ; 
in  the  other  case,  they  were  growing  well  enough 
before,  and  the  manure  overdone  it.  This,  he  said, 
was  merely  to  illustrate  how  important  it  was  to 
have  a  method  and  principle  to  work  on,  so  as  to 
know  to  what  object  cultivation  was  directed. 

The    meeting    then    proposed    to    discuss    the 
question, 

WHAT   IS   CULTIVATION? 

Mr.  A.  W.  Harrison  said  cultivation  resolved  it- 
self into  two  divisions.  1st.  Mechanical.  2d.  Nu- 
tritive. The  first  had,  for  its  object,  the  improve- 
ment of  the  texture  of  the  soil,  by  underdraining  and 
pulverization  ;  the  second,  by  adding  to  the  soil  the 
elements  taken  away  or  required  for  the  perfection 
of  the  growing  crops.  Thought  all  soils  improved 
by  underdraining :  even  sandy  soils  are  rendered 
by  it  moister  in  summer,  by  the  condensation  of 
the  moist  air  drawn  through  the  soil  to  the  under- 
drains.  The  object  of  pulverization  was  to  present 
new  surfaces  continually  to  the  action  of  the  air. 
Air  and  moisture  must  act  together  before  the  ox- 
idation necessary  to  prepare  plant  food  can  go  on. 
The  soil  must  be  so  pulverized  that  the  particles 
must  just  touch.  If  too  wide  apart,  moisture  can- 
not act  with  the  oxygen.  If  we  examine  a  pile  of 
round  iron  balls,  we  find  rust  only  where  the  balls 
touch.  The  great  object  of  cultivation,  in  its  me- 
chanical sense,  was  to  pulverize  the  ground  into  as 
many  small  surfaces  as  possible,  and  then  to  pro- 
vide for  a  continued  current  of  fresh  air  and  mois- 
ture through  it. 

Mr.  Satterthwait  said  some  soils  could  be  injured 
by  pulverizing  too  much.  The  particles  would 
grind  so  very  fine,  that  neither  air  nor  moisture 
could  go  through. 

Judge  Knox  agreed  with  Mr.  Satterthwait. 
Soils  that,  in  common  language,  'bake,'  do  so 
through  a  tendency  to  this  over  fine  pulverization. 

Mr.  W.  Saunders,  also,  inclined  to  this  view. 
Yet  thought  no  one  could  go  wrong  if  he  knew  his 
object.  If  we  want  air  and  moisture  in  the  soil, 
and  if  it  is  too  heavy  for  it,  pulverize  ;  but  if  the 
other  extreme,  pulverization,  which  when  wet 
makes  mud,  obstructs  air  and  moisture — stop  the 
practice.     With  a  clear  object  one  could  not  go 


wrong.    One  might  say,  manure  was  good  for  soils  ;    I 
but  if  we  wanted  leaf  growth  and  succulcncy,  as  in 
the  cabbage,  we  wanted  one  kind  and  quality ;  but 
if  we   wanted   sound   wood   and   fruit,  as   in   the 
orchard,  manure  is  quite  another  question. 

In  answer  to  a  (lucstion,  Mr.  Saunders  added, 
that  his  rule  for  covering  seeds,  was  to  regulate  it 
by  the  seed.  A  seed  ]  inch  in  diameter,  to  receive 
a  4^  inch  of  covering  ;  I  inch,  I  of  soil,  and  so  of 
all  others. 

Mr.  Samuel  jMiller  mentioned  a  singular  instance 
of  a  grape  vine,  that  had  extended  its  roots  deeply 
in  a  stiff  clay  subsoil,  which  was  saturated  with 
water  in  winter  time,  and  in  which  little  air  could 
penetrate;  that  was  one  of  the  best  vines  he 
knew. 

Mr.  Satterthwait  was  sure  there  was  as  much 
money  lost  by  some  per.sons  in  cultivating  too 
much — uselessly — as  by  others  who  did  too  little 
of  it. 

Cultivation  dealt  in  compromises.  There  was 
no  doubt,  as  a  rule,  it  was  bad  to  injure  the  roots — 
cultivation  always,  more  or  less,  injures  roots  ;  yet 
corn  never  cultivated,  left  with  its  roots  to  run  un- 
cut in  stiff  hard  soil,  would  not  do  as  well  as  corn 
which  had  its  roots  a  little  disturbed  by  the  cul- 
tivator. 

Mr.  Grustavus  Heines  thought  it  would  be  diffi- 
cult to  lay  down  rules  that  would  apply  to  all.  Ob- 
jects were  so  very  numerous",  and  soils  so  varied. 

Dr.  Opfelt  explained  the  principles  of  root  pru- 
ning, when  judiciously  performed,  it  had  great  ad- 
vantages. If  one  long  root  were  cut  at  the  point, 
a  dozen  or  more  roots  branched  out  in  various  di- 
rections, and  by  just  so  many  were  added  sources  of 
food  to  the  tree. 

]\Ir.  S.  ]\Iiller  had  seen  much  evil  from  much 
cutting  of  surface  roots.  In  his  orchard,  the  lar- 
gest trees  were  where  the  trees  were  never  culti- 
vated, and  simply  top-dressed.  The  finest  crops 
of  raspberries  with  him,  were  invariably,  where  the 
roots  were  unmolested ;  additions  being  simply 
made  on  the  surface. 

Mr.  Satterthwait  had  found  immense  benefit  from 
these  surface  mulchings. 

Mr.  Ileines  would  never,  under  any  circumstan- 
ces, stir  about  the  roots  of  his  vines.  Mulches 
heavily  on  the  surface,  and  has  the  most  decided 
success. 

Mr.  Josiah  Hoopes  opposed  dry  mulch,  which 
had  for  its  object,  the  mere  shading  of  soil.  It 
was  more  favorable  to  mice  and  insects,  than  to 
vegetation.  The  greatest  advocates  of  mulching 
for  these  objects,  had  to  abandon  their  practice. 


1> 


^^ 


HORTICULTURAL  ADVERTISER. 


A  BOOK  rOR  EVERY  LOVER  OF  FLOWERS. 


\mm  FOR  THE  P&RLOR  M  GiRDEN. 

BY  EDWAED   S.  EAND.  JE. 


A  splendid  illustrated  volume  on  the  culture  of  Greenhouse,  Conservatory, 
Stove,  Parlor,  and  Garden  Flowers;  Ferns,  Bulbs.  &e.  Instructions  and 
plans  on  the  building.  stockin<,'.  and  keeping  Conservatories,  Greenhouses, 
&c. ;  Waltonian  fases,  Fernerie>;,  &c. ;  Soil  for  tlie  Flower  Garden ;  List 
of  best  Plants  and  Seeds  ;  how  to  propagate  :  tiine  of  planting  and  flowering. 
In  short,  every  information  needed  liy  the  amateur  or  the  most  experienced 
gardener.  It  is  a  volume  long  needed ;  and  the  author's  Idgli  reputation  in 
these  matters  will  insure  a  work  that  will  supply  every  want. 

Price,  nnislin  extra,  .«!2..'50;  Imlf-calf,  .^3.50:  full  T)irkey,  io.OO. 

Sold  at  all  the  jirincipal  book  and  seed  stores,  and  sent  by  mail  by  the 
publishers,  J.  E.  Tjlton  &  Co.,  Boston. 


ir"rpm.    tlie    IVew    York    XiiTies. 

'•  Though  allied  to  the  annual  triiie,  by  its  beautiful  execution,  the  interest 
of  this  l)ook  is  perennial,  and  will  endure  as  long  as  admiration  of  the  beauties 
of  Nature's  works  marks  the  existence  of  refined  taste  and  elegant  culture.  It  will 
interest  all  classes  engaged  in  the  raising  of  flowers,  from  the  possessors  of  the 
aristocratic  greerihouse  and  conservatory,  to  tliose  whose  share  of  the  soil  is  contined 
to  the  contents  of  the  box  before  their  window,  or  the  hanging  basket  that  decorates 
the  only  room.  Jt  is,  indeed,  one  of  the  greatest  blessings  connected  with  floricul- 
ture that  its  kindly  influence  may  be  shared  by  all  classes,  however  humble  may  lift 
the  scale  on  which  it  is  pursued.  The  directions  given  seem  ample  for  all  neces- 
saiy  instruction,  and  an  ornamental  charm  is  imparted  to  the  volume  by  a  pro- 
fiision  of  fanciful  illustrations  on  wood.  They  will  compare,  without  disadvantage, 
with  ail}'  recent  home  or  foreign  specimens  of  the  art,  and  give  an  air  of  elegance  to 
the  practical  prosaic  part  of  the  work.  The  mechanical  execution  of  the  volume 
could,  indeed,  scarcely  be  improved,  and  is  hisldy  credir^ible  to  the'  young  house 
'.vho  may  take  the  credit  of  producing  a  Vade  Mecvm  th-it  will  be  welcome  in  every 
home  of  rctinement." 

A\'T:iat  the  "Rural  I^ew  Yorkor"  says  of  it. 
'■  This  is  an  admirable  work.  .Just  such  a  work  was  needed  —  is  needed  bj' every 
one,  almost,  who  delights  in  window  gardening.  And  a  great  many  persons  would 
take  delight  in  it,  who  do  not,  did  they  know  how  to  take  c&vq  of  plants  which  they 
admire  in  other  people's  parlors  ;  and  thej'  will  learn,  if  they  can  purchase,  at  d 
reasonable  price,"  specific  directions.  From  what  we  have  seen  of  it,  we  think  we 
can  safely  say  that  this  work  is  the  specific  they  need.  The  mechanical  execution 
of  the  book  is  very  fine  indeed;  paper  excellent:  engravings  ditto:  lettei--press 
un  and  in  excellent  taste.  But  the  chief  recommendation  is  that  the  matter  is 
.  i.utical,  detailed,  specific,  so  as  to  meet  the  wants  of  ;\1!  who  love  flowers,  and 
would  cultivate  them  iu  windows  or  gardens.  We  .are  aware  that  this  is  high  praise, 
but  tills  work  apijroaehes  more  nearly  v.uai  we  have  long  been  aware  was  needed 
thau  liny  wl-  havu  seen.     We  axe  deliijUici-l  with  it." 


mi 


nm.. 


DEVOTED     TO 


!pkrirE!!uPF,  Jpofang  %  ^uxul  Affairs. 


THOMAS     MEEHA3Sr,    Editor. 
W.  G.  P.  BRINCKLOE,  ruBLisHER. 


MAY.     1864. 


VOL.    VI. — WO.  5. 


;inh  Per  fDQeg. 


FLO't^ER-GARDERT   ANH    PIoEASUEE- 

GKOUND. 

The  month  of  IMay  having  come,  there  will  no 
longer  be  any  dread  of  spring  frosts,  and  their  dis- 
astrous consequences  to  tender  plants  ;  and  green- 
houses, cellars,  frames,  and  every  little  nook  and 
corner,  where  plants  have  been  preserved  through 
the  winter,  will  speedily  be  emptied  of  their  con- 
tents. Many  of  the  flower-beds  have  been  filled 
with  Hyacinths,  Tulips,  and  other  spring-blooming 
bulbs.  Unless  very  thickly  planted,  the  summer- 
blooming  border  plants  may  be  set  out  of  their  pots 
in  between  these — that  is,  if  they  have  done  flow- 
ering. Tulips  will  probably  scarcely  have  had  their 
bloom  over,  and  must  remain  longer.  If  any  pres- 
sing necessity  exists  to  remove  such  bulbs,  with 
care  they  may  be  transplanted,  watering  the  soil 
before  and  after  transplanting.  They  can  then  be 
put  in  any  spare  spot  where  they  will  not  be  in  the 
way  for  a  time.  Transplanted  bulbs,  however,  sel- 
dom bloom  so  well  the  next  season.  It  is  very  im- 
portant, where  this  is  an  object,  to  retain  the  fo- 
liage fresh  to  the  latest  possible  period. 

The  first  week  in  May  is  usually  the  time  to  set 
out  Dahlias.  They  do  best  in  a  trenched  soil,  say 
18  inches  deep  at  least,  and  prefer  cow-manure  to 
any  other  when  it  can  be  obtained.  If  planted  on 
thin  or  dry  soils,  they  will  not  bloom  till  near  the 
approach  of  frost,  when  the  chief  enjoyment  of  the 
Dahlia  is  lost.  It  is  best,  where  possible,  to  plant 
a  duplicate  of  each  kind. 

Tuberoses  should  also  be  planted  this  month,  but 
they  like  a  warm  rich  sandy  soil ;  though,  like  the 


Dahlia,  they  do  not  like  dry  soil.  As  a  rule.  Tube- 
roses that  flowered  last  fall  will  not  do  so  this,  but 
the  ofi"sets  will  do  so  the  year  after. 

Amaryllis  formosissima,  or  the  Jacobea  lily,  flow- 
ers usually  very  beautifully  in  the  open  border  in 
August,  and  should  now  be  planted.  Many  kinds 
of  annuals  that  have  been  raised  in  pots  or  boxes, 
in  windows  or  frames,  should  be  transplanted  into 
the  open  ground  whenever  the  weather  is  favorable, 
that  is  showery  or  dull.  The  pots  containing  them 
should  be  well  watered  before  the  plants  are  lifted, 
and  the  soil  into  which  the  seedlings  are  planted  is 
best  dampened,  or  what  ite  perhaps  better,  well 
watered  the  day  before,  so  as  not  to  require  a  heavy 
watering  immediately  after  the  seedlings  are  plant- 
ed. Too  heavy  waterings  render  the  ground  hard, 
and  this,  when  dry,  becomes  unsuitable  to  the 
growth  of  plants. 

In  transplanting  any  thing  that  has  roots  large 
enough  to  admit  of  the  practice,  it  is  best  to  dip 
the  roots,  immediately  before  planting,  into  water. 
IJhis  will  obviate  the  necessity  of  after-watering, 
and  its  consequent  injurious  effects.  If  the  plants 
appear  to  flag,  shade  or  put  an  inverted  flower-pot 
over  the  plant  for  a  few  days ;  if  this  does  not  bring 
the  plant  to,  it  must  have  water. 

Trellisses  and  stakes  for  climbing  plants  and 
vines  should  be  put  in  at  or  before  setting  out  the 
plants.  These  plants  always  seem  to  grow  with 
more  freedom  and  vigor  when  they  can  find  some- 
thing at  once  to  cling  to.  Climbing  vines  add 
greatly  to  the  interest  of  a  garden.  They  can  be 
trained  into  all  sorts  of  forms  and  shapes;  and  many 
of  them,  for  gracefulness  of  form,  or  beauty  of  their 
flowers,  cannot  be  excelled  by  any  other  tribe  of 
plants. 

Evergreen  shrubs,  such  as  Mahonias,  Yews,  Eu- 
onymiis.  Tree  Box,  etc. ,  should  be  planted  only  on 
the  north  side  of  buildings,  fences  or  screens ;  or 
under  the  shade  of  trees  or  bushes.  The  great 
danger  in  the  laiter  case  is,  that  they  will  become 
too  dry  in  summer,  by  the  roots  of  the  trees  abstrac- 
ting so  much  moisture  from  the  soil.     This  is  the 


C!|4  iardtm  s  (PontMg. 


common  cause  of  failure  with  the  Rhododendron, 
Kalmia  and  similar  evergreens,  which  it  is  often  at- 
tempted to  grow  under  the  shade  of  trees.  In  this 
case  the  proper  course  of  procedure  is  to  dig  out 
the  bed  previous  to  planting  the  evergreens  two 
feet  deep  ;  filling  in  or  mixing  with  the  natural  soil 
some  spongy  or  fibrous  material.  This  will  keep 
the  soil  moist  and  cool  through  several  summers, 
until  the  roots  of  the  covering  timber,  attached  to 
so  much  loose  and  moist  soil,  will  be  pretty  trou- 
blesome. When  this  trouble  arises,  the  way  to 
proceed  is  to  dig  out  all  around  the  mass  of  ever- 
greens two  feet  deep,  severing  all  the  roots  that 
have  interloped  from  the  trees— and  this  should  be 
repeated  every  few  years,  or  as  often  as  the  soil 
seems  to  suffer  from  drought  through  the  summer 
season.  By  this  care,  which  in  practice  is  found 
very  trifling,  evergreens  thrive  with  a  vigor  and 
beauty  in  our  climate  that  is  truly  surprising. 


FRUIT    GARDEN. 
paramount  question  with   the  fruit 


The  most 
gardener  is  tbe  destruction  of  insects.    We  have  to 
confess  to  a  belief  that  all  schemes  for  their  whole- 
sale destruction  have  proved  failures,  and  that  our 
best  hope  is  in  their  individual  destruction.     The 
different  kinds  of  moths  and  flies  may  be  entrapped 
by  the  thousand,  in  a  persevering  employment  of 
wide  mouthed  bottles  of  sweet  liquids  hung  about 
the  trees.     The  curculio,  whose  most  tempting  al- 
lurements do  not  lie  like  moths  in  the  way  of  sweet 
food  ;  but  in  finding  a  nice  juicy  nidus  for  the  de- 
posit of  eggs  wherewith  to  perpetuate  its  species, 
can  be  slain  by  the  hundred,  by  perseverance  in  the 
shaking  process.     A  snag,  made  by  sawing  off  a 
small  branch  a  few  inches  from  the  main  trunk  of 
the  tree,  should  be  secured  on  each,  on  the  point 
of  which  to  hammer,  or  otherwise  the  bark  of  the 
tr-ee  would  be  irreparably  injured.     With  a  sheet 
spread  under  the  tree,  and  a  sharp,  quick  jar  with 
the  hammer,  all  the  pests  then  on  the  tree  may  be 
•  secured  and  destroyed.     They  are  rather  lazily  in- 
clined, but  still  a  few  will  come  from  your  neigh- 
bor'strees  ;  but  a  few  jarrings  occasionally  will  keep 
them  down.      Experience  has  shown    that    this 
course,  which  only  demands  a  little  labor,  is  m«ch 
more  effectual  than  the  thousand  schemes  that  have 
been  devised  for  hanging  various  charms  about  the 
branches,  and  then  kneeling  down  and  crying  on 
Hercules  for  assistance. 

Where  water  can  be  commanded,  there  is  noth- 
ing so  profitable  as  to  well  soak  the  soil  about 
small  fruits ;  .first  about  the  time  that  they  have  set 


their  fruit.  Much  of  the  value  of  this  operation, 
however,  will  depend  on  the  nature  of  the  soil. 
The  advantages  are  least  in  a  tenacious,  and  great- 
est in  a  porous  soil.  It  is  said  that  an  animal  de- 
rives most  benefit  from  food  when  it  is  hungry  be- 
fore it  begins  to  eat ;  it  is  certainly  so  with  plants. 
Water  applied  to  soil  already  wet  is  an  injury ;  and 
water  never  has  so  telling  an  advantage  on  vegeta- 
tion as  when  every  leaf  is  about  to  wither  up 
for  Want  of  it.  A  i^lant  that  never  seems  to  want 
water  is  in  a  very  doubtful  co'ndition  in  regard  to 
its  health. 

When  the  strawberry  crop  is  about  to  ripen, 
mulch  with  clean  straw,  to  prevent  rain  soiling  the 
fruit.  Short  grass  from  the  lawn  is  often  used ; 
but  it  mildews  as  it  decays,  and  detracts  from  the 
flavor  of  the  fruit.  Hot  suus  increase  flavor,  and 
strawberry  tiles  were  once  in  fashion  to  put  around 
the  hills,  which,  by  absorbing  heat,  added  greatly 
to  the  fruit's  rich  quality.  All  that  we  have  Said 
of  strawberries  supposes  them  to  be  fruited  on  the 
hill  system,  with  the  runners  kept  off.  Those  who 
desire  the  best  results,  will  grow  them  no  other 
way. 

In  summer  pruning  or  disbudding,  it  is  also 
worth  while  to  watch  for  shoots  pushing  stronger 
than  others,  and  always  take  them  out.  This  is 
the  only  way  that  shoots  of  equal  strength  can  be 
encouraged  in  every  part  of  the  tree.  This  is  par- 
ticularly true  of  grape-vines.  If  a  shoot  once  get 
the  start  of  the  others  in  strength  and  vigor,  the 
others  will  gradually  get  weaker  to  the  other's  in- 
creasing luxuriance. 

Watch  all  young  fruit  trees  against  bearing  too 
abundantly  while  young,  or  the  first  season  after 
planting.  There  can  be  no  objection  to  the  ripen- 
ing of  one  or  two  fruits  on  a  tree  the  first  season 
of  setting  out,  in  order  to  test  the  kind,  or  to  ad- 
minister to  curiosity,  if  the  tree  be  otherwise  grow- 
ing freely.  If  little  growth  is  making,  no  fruit  at 
all  should  be  permitted.  It  is  a  better  practice  to 
disbud  or  take  out  soon  after  shooting  all  shoots 
that  are  needless  to  the  perfect  shape  of  the  tree, 
than  to  wait  till  fall  or  winter.  The  pruning-knife 
need  then  only  to  be  used  to  shorten  a  branch  into 
where  several  branches  are  desired  to  push,  or  to 
induce  a  more  vigorous  growth  from  the  pruned 
parts.  In  the  gooseberry,  raspberry  and  strawberry 
also,  no  more  shoots  should  be  suffered  to  grow 
than  will  be  required  to  bear  the  next  season. 


f^^ 


■=^;^l 


¥\ 


Wixt  O^arkiar's  Poirfhij. 


VSGETABLB   GARDEN. 

Melons,  Cucumbers,  Corn,  Okras,  Squash,  Beans, 
Sweet  Potatoes,  Lima  Ceans,  Peppers,  Egg-plants, 
Tomatoes,  and  other  tender  vegetables  that  do  not 
do  well  till  the  sun  gets  high  and  the  ground  warm, 
should  go  into  the  soil  without  delay. 

Bean  poles  should  be  set  before  the  beans  are 
planted,  and  near  cities,  where  they  are  compara- 
tively high  priced,  their  ends  should  be  charred. 
This  will  make  them  last  some  j-ears. 

Drumhead  Cabbage,  Savoy,  Picd  Cabbage,  Au- 
tumn Cauliflower,  and  other  kinds  of  fall  greens, 
should  be  put  out  at  once.  The  soil  can  scarcely  be 
too  rich  for  them. 

Keep  weeds  of  all  kinds  down  from  the  time 
they  first  show  their  seed  leaves.  It  not  only  saves 
labor  "in  the  end,"  but  the  frequent  stirring  of 
the  soil  vastly  serves  the  crop.  Sow  a  succession 
of  vegetables  every  few  weeks — sometimes  insects, 
sometimes  frost,  or  occasionally  other  accidents  will 
cut  off  a  crop,  and  then  there  is  some  chance  for 
its  successor  not  wholly  to  disappoint. 


GREENHOUSE    PLAPJTS,   &c. 

The  plants  here  will  soon  be  pretty  much  thinned 
by  the  demands  of  the  flower  garden,  and  pleasure 
grounds — the  cellars  and  window-frame^ill  give 
up  their  proteges,' and  a  grand  renovation  of  all 
things  will  have  taken  place.  Nothing  gives  a 
more  happy  appearance  to  a  pleasure-ground  than 
to  have  the  walks  and  particular  spots  about  it 
lined  and  studded  with  Aloes,  Oranges,  Pomegra- 
nates, Lemons,  and  similar  tropical  plants,  set  out 
in  tubs  or  large  pots  for  the  summer.  The  scale 
insects  often  prove  great  pests.  These  are  easily 
destroyed  by  syringing  the  plants  with  soap-suds 
heated  to  130°.  This  was  discovered  many  years 
ago  by  some  cultivator  of  Pine-apples  in  England, 
but  seems  to  have  been  lost  to  the  knowledge  of 
our  modern  cultivators. 

Azaleas,  Heaths,  Rhododendrons,  Camellias,  and 
other  tender-rooted  plants,  are  often  irrecoverably 
injured  by  being  too  long  exposed  to  the  hot  suns 
under  glass.  If  they  are  liable  to  such  exposure, 
it  is  better  to  whitewash  the  glass,  which  will  ad- 
mit light  without  heat,  and  in  some  measure  pro- 
tect them.  A  very  good  plan  is  to  prepare  a  piece 
of  ground  in  the  open  air  in  such  a  way  as  most 
nearly  approach  the  kind  of  soil  the  different  plants 
most  delight  in,  and  then,  about  the  second  week 
in  May,  turn  them  out  of  their  pots  into  this  prepar- 
ed border.  They  will,  of  course,  have  to  be  lifted 
carefully  into  pots  again  early  in  the  fall. 


A  shaded  place  should  be  selected  for  those 
which  inhabit  the  more  temperate  climes,  and  for 
the  citizens  of  the  tropics  the  full  sun  will  be  much' 
more  desirable.  For  this  open  ground  cultivation 
of  choice  plants,  a  shady  spot  does  not  mean  under 
a  tree,  as  the  roots,  and  tbe  drip,  and  the  confined 
air,  and  the  want  of  light,  existing  under  such  cir- 
cumstances, are  injurious. 


Ill 


NOTES   ON  THE   GRAPE. 

BY    G.    UEINES,   DOWXINGTOWN,    PA. 

According  to  your  wish,  I  communicate  to  j'ou 
my  way  of  planting  and  pruning  the  Grapevine. 

Having  procured  the  vine,  I  cut  it  back  to  two 
buds,  and  plant  as  follows  :  I  dig  the  hole  deeper 
than  wanted,  put  into  it  a  good  forkful  of 
fresh  horse  manure,  upon  that  about  an  inch  of 
good  soil,  and  then  the  vine,  tramping  all  firm. 
After  the  buds  have  started,  I  select  the  strongest 
and  train  perpendicularly,  leaving  the  other  to  run 
upon  the  ground.  In  the  following  fall,  CNovem- 
berj  I  cut  down  the  upright  cane  to  two  buds,  and 
the  horizontal  to  one.  Nest  year  I  select  again  the 
strongest  shoot,  and  train  perpendicularly,  leaving 
all  others  to  run  upon  the  ground.  In  the  fall,  I 
bend  down  the  upright  cane,  (if  strong  enough  to 
bear,  if  not,  I  repeat  the  operation  of  last  year) 
to  the  lowest  rail  of  the  trellis,  cutting  back  all 
others  to  one  bud  as  before.  The  third  spring  I 
do  not  tie  up  the  bearing  cane  until  all  the  buds 
have  fairly  started.  Selecting!  as  before,  the 
strongest  cane  from  the  buds,  at  the  base  of  the 
vine,  I  tie  it  as  near  perpendicular  as  possible, 
leaving  the  others'  to  run  upon  the  ground  as  be- 
fore. The  bearing  cane  I  pinch  very  little  indeed, 
or  not  at  all-  In  the  fall,  of  the  third  year,  I  cut 
down  this  (bearing)  cane  to  within  2  or  3  inches  of 
the  ground,  laying  down  the  cane,  which  I  trained 
perpendicularly  to  the  lowest  rail  as  before,  leaving 
it  to  bear  the  next  year,  and  cutting  all  other  canes 
to  one  bud.  This  principle  I  carry  out  in  the  fol- 
lowing years.  I  allow  no  cane  to  grow  higher  than 
7  feet,  but  I  often  select  two  or  three  of  the  strong- 
est buds  at  the,  base  for  bearing  wood,  making  my 
choice  of  numbers  according  to  the  strength  of  the 
vine. 

It  is  now  nearly  five  years  since^  I  started  this 
plan,  and  thus  far  I  have  had  always  more  wood 
than  wanted  ;  bu^  I  think  my  experience  not  sufii- 
cient,  since  ten  years  are  required  to  test  any  mode 
tlforoughly.     I  offer  this  for  what  it  is  worth. 


-•/^JH 


132 


%\^  @arbtntr's  UlantljIiT. 


STRIKING   CUTTSNGS. 

BY    "enthusiast"    ADRIAN,    MICH. 

Let  nie  tell  your  readers  my  plan  for  striking  cut- 
tings— whether  used  by  others  or  not,  I  do  not 
know.  It  is  certainly  vastly  superior  to  any  other 
method  I  have  tried.  It  is  simply  to  plunge  the 
slips  in  sawdust ;  cut  off  fresh  j'oung  shoots ,  cut 
smooth  with  a  sharp  knife  below  a  joint ;  insert 
one  or  two  joints  in  the  sawdust ;  wet  thoroughly 
and  keep  wet ;  cover  with  a  pane  of  glass  and  you 
will  hardly  lose  a  cutting.  Half  rotted  sawdust  is 
better  than  the  fresh — and  that  from  a  planing 
mill  is  better  than  the  finest  dust  from  a  common 
saw.  Fuchisias,  Calceolarias,  Begonias,  Passifloras, 
Abutilons,  Cissus,  and,  in  fact,  nearly  all  green- 
house and  hothouse  plants  root  thus  with  the  great- 
est readiness.  Roses,  with  me,  always  do  best  in  a 
common  hotbed,  with  light  waterings.  Pelargo- 
niums should  be  in  a  separate  pan,  so  as  to  receive 
less  water  than  the  most  of  cuttings  need.  I  would 
recommend  the  sawdust  to  the  ladies  especially ; 
for  it  will  allow  you  to  pull  up  the  slip,  as  ladies 
like  to  do,  to  see  if  it  be  really  rooting.  However, 
this  curiosity  may  be  pushed  to  an  excess.  Saw- 
dust is  so  light  and  loose  that  the  roots  run  with 
the  greatest  ease  and  spangle  out  beautifully. 
Another  advantage  is  that  in  removing  the  rooted 
cuttings  you  do  not  need  to  break  any  of  the  finer 
rootlets.  These  each  hold  on  to  its  bit  of  wood, 
and  if  you  pry  out  instead  of  pulling  the  plant,  you 
have  every  fibre  sound.  Sawdust  is  also  a  neater 
medium  than  sand  or  mud.  It  is  light  and  easily 
moved.  It  will  not  injure  a  fine  fruit  or  sauce  dish, 
or  an  open  jar.  It  will  well  repay  the  amateurs  to 
try  a  few  cuttings  from  mere  curiositj'. 

Now  a  word  for  the  Fuchsias.  If  any  one  wishes 
a  select  list,  let  them  try  the  following  : 

LordElcho,  very  large,  purple;  Mad.  Corneilson, 
double  white  ;  White  Lady,  exquisite ;  Governor 
G-eneral,  very  fine  habit ;  Rose  of  Castile,  old,  but 
good ;  Count  Cavour,  mauve  colored ;  Sir  Robert 
Peel,  amaranth,  colored ;  Dr.  Livingstone,  blush, 
rose  ;  Sir  Colin  Campbell,  double  purple  ;  Annie, 
rose  colored,  beautiful ;  Meteor,  fine  bronze  fo- 
liage ;  Prince  of  Orange,  very  rich  dark. 

The  above  dozen  are  of  good  habit,  distinct  and 
charming.  It  will  be  all  that  the  amateur  needs  at 
present.  It  includes  the  best,  old  and  new.  Schil- 
ler is  a  fine  flower,  but  the  habit  is  wretched. 
Others  are  not  distinct  enough. 

I  believe  it  was  from  your  magazine  that  I  first 
learned'  the  folly  of  pruning  Fuchsias.  Give  them 
enough  light  and  little  sun— plenty  of  moisture  and 
no  saucers  full— good  drainage  and  good  soil,  Snd 


let  them  grow  almost  as  they  will.  A  Fuchsia  let 
alone  will  naturally  assume  a  lovely  form,  if  it  have 
the  above  requirements.  In  cutting  back  old  plants, 
cut  down  nearly  to  the  soil.  If  they  will  not  start 
from  the  base,  they  are  not  "worth  keeping. 

If  any  of  j'our  flower  garden  lovers  wish  to  enjoy 
themselves,  let  them,  the  coming  season,  plant  an 
oriental  bed — say  10  feet  in  diameter.  Plant  Can- 
nas,  Ricinus  Sanguineus,  Caladinum  Esculen- 
tum,  Gynerium  Argenteum,  Yuccas,  Acanthus, 
Gladiolus,  a  few  White  Lilies.  In  the  shade  under 
the  others  Gazania  and  Farfugium.  Border  with 
Sedum. 

^^^^^ 

MAGAZINE    OF    HORTICULTURE. 

BY  H.    BOSTON;    IVIASS. 

I  noticed,  in  a  recent  number  of  Uovey's  Maga- 
zine, an  article  by  Mr.  Hovey,  on  the  "Progress 
of  Horticulture  ;"  in  which  he  says,  in  speaking  of 
Rogers'  Hybrids,  "that  after  a  careful  examina- 
tion of  them  for  three  years,  we  can  see  nothing 
that  should  give  them  the  name  of  Hybrids ;  as 
they  are  simply  improved  varieties  of  the  kinds 
they  were  raised  from,  and  we  cannot  detect  the 
least  foreign  blood  in  them." 

Now  I  cannot  let  this  erroneous  statement  pass 
without  making  some  correction.  I  think  that  it 
is  due  \0  Mr.  Rogers,  to  whom  the  pubHc  owe  so 
much,  for  not  only  having  produced  new  and  valu- 
able kinds,  but  also  for  having  placed  in  its  hands 
the  means  of  producing  an  unlimited  number  of 
kinds  or  varieties.  And  if  you  can  allow  me  a 
small  space  in  your  valuable  magazine,  I  would 
like  to  say  a  few  words  in  contradiction  to  those 
statements. 

In  the  first  place,  he  says,  "  after  a  careful  exam- 
ination of  them  for  three  years,  '  he  '  can  see  noth- 
ing that  should  give  them  the  name  of  Hybrids." 
Now  what  is  a  Hj'brid  ?  Webster  gives  the  defi- 
nition of  Hybrid  as  follows :  "  A  mongrel :  produ- 
ced by  the  mixture  of  two  species."  Let  us  exam- 
ine the  grapes  and  the  process  by  which  they  were 
obtained,  and  see  if  they  were  produced  by  the 
union  of  two  species.  Mr.  R.  took  the  flowers  of 
the  wild  grape,  a  variety  known  under  the  names 
of  Fox  Grape,  the  Mammoth,  &c.,  and  to  the  bot- 
anist as  Vitis  Labrusca,  and  before  they  were  quite 
ready  to  open,  carefully  removed  the  cap,  which  is 
composed  of  the  petals  joined  together,  then  with 
a  knife  c'arefully  removed  the  undeveloped  stamens 
of  each  flower  of  several  bunches  ;  as  yet  no  ferti- 
lization had  taken  place.  Each  pistil  was  then 
touched  witK  pollen  from  the  Black  Hamburg, 
(Vitis  Vinifera.)    A  small  bag  of  cloth  was  then 


=^^ 


i 


i 


SCh^  diardtiw'a  JKoiilIiIg. 


^  tied  about  each  bunch  to  prevent  the  bees  interfer- 
ing with  the  process.  Now  it  is  evident  that  fruit 
would  not  have  been  formed  after  the  stamens  were 
removed,  if  fertilization  had  not  taken  place  by 
some  other  means;  this  has  been  tried  and  proved. 
But  fruit  was  formed,  the  seeds  were  developed. 
And  I  ask  how  they  were  produced  if  not  by  the 
union  of  the  Black  Hamburg  and  our  Wild  Grape, 
which  are  acknowledged  by  all  botanists,  two  difF^ 
erent  species. 

But  if  this  examination  of  the  process  is  not  suf- 
ficient, let  us  take  a  glance  at  the  fruit.  I  have 
known  Rogers'  Hybrids  for  several  years,  and  can 
speak  of  them  from  experience.  I  have  also  visi- 
ted the  garden  of  IMr.  R.,  in  Salem,  that  I  might 
witness  the  operation  of  hybridizing,  which  was 
substantially  as  I  have  described.  I  was  struck 
with  the  care  and  forethought  which  Mr.  R.  used. 
His  politeness  and  attention  in  showing  and  ex- 
plaining to  me  I  cannot  forget ;  and  I  take  this  op- 
portunity to  partially  return  that  kindness.  The 
plants  grown  from  seeds  produced  by  the  hybridizing 
were  set  in  a  row  and  numbered  according  to  their 
order  in  the  row,  the  first  one  being  No.  1,  etc. 
When  they  fruited.  No.  1  bore  large  bunches  of 
large  white  grapes,  slightly  pink  on  one  side.  No. 
2  proved  to  be  a  large  brownish  grape,  the  bunch 
being  larger  even  than  the  first.  No.  3  was  a  small, 
light  red  grape,  earlier  than  the  Hartford  Prolific, 
larger  than  the  Delaware  and  better  flavored.  No. 
4  was  a  large  black  grape,  rivaling  its  parent,  the 
Black  Hamburg,  both  in  size  of  bunch  and  berry, 
and  very  much  resembles  it  in  quality.  Here  I  have 
given  just  an  outline  of  the  first  four,  and  they  are 
all  very  different,  and  the  same  difi"erence,  or  rather 
as  great,  may  be  found  in  all  of  his  43  numbers. 
Now,  I  ask,  were  there  ever  four  seeds  sown  from 
one  vine,  perhaps  from  one  bunch,  that  produced 
vines  each  so  different  from  the  other?  .  A  wonder- 
ful improvement  this,  effected  ii*  one  season, 
which  could  not  have  been  done  by  any  other 
known  way  in  the  course  of  ages.  Indeed  I  doubt 
if  a  wild",  disagreeable,  leather  like  skin,  solid 
pulped,  small  bunched  grape  (3  to  6  being  the 
number  of  berries  in  a  bunch, )  could  ever  be  im- 
proved to  a  thin  skinned  melting,  large  bunched, 
high  flavored  fruit,  and  equal  to  the  foreign  grapes. 
And  yet  in  these  Hybrids  "we  cannot  detect  the 
least  foreign  blood.  "  If  we  can't — we  can  foreign 
sap,  or  at  any  rate,  foreign  qualities,  for  I  have 
only  mentioned  a  few  of  the  many  evidences  that 
tliey  are  Hybrids  of  foreign  grapes  ;  not  only  does 
the  proof  appear  in  the  fruit,  but  also  in  the  form 
and  color  of  the  leaves,  in  the  stocks,  and  even  in 


133 


the  seeds,  for  it  may  be  traced  here.  But  one  of 
the  most  marked  proofs  may  be  found  in  the  flow- 
ers. I  will  not  enter  into  the  details,  for  the  field 
is  too  large.  But  it  is  well  known  that  if  we  raise 
seedlings  of  the  wild  grape,  one  half  or  more  of  the 
plants  will  be  male,  or  stamiuate,  and  never  bear 
fruit,  but  Mr.  Rogers  had  43  seedlings  from  his 
first  attempt,  not  one  of  which  were  male  plants, 
and  all  have  borne  fruit,  more  or  less,  like  the  for- 
eign grapes.  And  still  another  proof,  is  his  second 
crosses,  which  so  much  resemble  the  foreign  varie- 
ties as  to  be  taken  for  them  any  where,  for  instance, 
Mr.  R.  was  showing  a  Scotch  gardener  (who  has 
few  superiors  in  his  profession)  through  his  garden, 
and  came  upon  one  of  the  second  crosses,  between 
No.  15  and  the  Rose  Chasselas.  "What  should 
you  call  that?"  said  Mr.  R.  "I  should  take  it  for 
the  Rose  Chasselas,"  replied  he,  and  so  would  any 
one.  And  yet  there  are  some  men  who  tell  the 
public  that  they  have  examined,  and  cannot  see 
any  trace  of  foreign  blood.  They  must  l)e  blind. 
Ml-.  Ilovey  is  as  he  always  was.  Downing  says, 
"Our  amiable  contemporary,  Mr.  Hovey,  of  Bos- 
ton, is  remarkable  for  the  pertinacity  with  which 
he  stands  still,  while  the  age  moves  on  ;  and  pre- 
sides over  the  past,  in  Horticulture,  like  some  sol- 
emn Sphynx  that  once  told  how  high  the  tide  rose 
in  Egypt,  but  has  long  ago  been  left  high  and  dry 
by  the  progress  of  the  ages. " 

[Notwithstanding  our  contemporary  wrote,  that 
it  had  given  the. subject  "  a  careful  examination," 
we  believe  the  Magazine  expressed  the  views  has- 
tily. It  does  not  seriously  believe  that  any  one 
could  get  so  many  good  varieties  from  one  sowing 
of  a  lot  of  Fox  Grrapes.  It  would  be  an  easy  mat- 
ter to  raise  good  grapes,  if  these  wild  things  sub- 
mitted to  the  taming  process  so  easily — and  the 
three  and  five  dollar  vines,  whether  Brackett's 
Seedlings,  Adirondacs,  or  any  other  novelty  would 
find  the  occupations  of  their  raisers  gone. 

On  this  subject  friend  Hovey  will,  no  doubt,  do 
for  once  what  it  has  been  pronounced  impossible 
for  him  to  do,  make  a  handsome  acknowledgement 
that  he  is  wrong. — Ed.  G.  M.\ 


HEATir^JG  HORTICULTURAL  BUILS5INGS. 
BY   AV:>I.  SAUNDERS,    AVASIIINGTOX,    D.  C. 

I  had  hoped  to  be  able  to  furnish  a  short  essay 
on  "Heating,"  for  your  .meeting  on  the  Sth.  I 
find  I  will  not  be  able  to  do  so,  hut  will  suggest  a 
few  important  points  that  seems  to  me  should  be 
kept  prominently  in  vicw.b>'  ihose  di-cussing  this 
subject. 


m 


i^ 


— ^,^ 


134 


®Ii4  §mi\mtfB  (P:0ntf% 


The  only  superioritj'-  posessed  in  tliie  water  heat- 
ing lies  in  the  conducting  power  of  water.  If  there 
is  any  other  advantage  I  have  failed  to  trace  it, 
after  using  it  for  twenty  years.  But  then,  indi- 
rectly, this  conducting  property  is  of  great  impor- 
tance, as  it  enables  us  to  procure  a  considerable 
radiating  surface  heated  at  a  comparatively  low 
temperature.  This  has  always  been  one  of  its 
greatest  advantages  over  flue  heating,  but  even  in 
this  respect  the  flue  is  condemned  by  many  who 
never  trouble  themselves  far  enough  to  ascertain 
whether  or  not  their  condemnation  will  stand  the 
questioning  of  common  sense,  or  sustained  by  facts. 
It  is  very  well  known,  that  a  properly  built  furnace 
and  flue  is  a  very  proper  and. economical  mode  of 
heating  a  building.  With  badly  built  flues  I  make 
no  comparison,  and  they  ought  not  to  be  entertained 
in  discussions  of  this  kind.  Furnaces  that  ivont 
draw  and  flues  that  leak  and  give  out  gases,  must 
first  be  remedied  from  both  of  these  evils  before 
they  are  taken  for  examples. 

The  principal  question  in  the  case  of  flues  versus 
water,  is  that  of  economy.  Taking  advantage  of 
the  conducting  power  of  water,  we  can  warm  ex- 
tensive houses  by  one  fire.  With  flues  we  can  only 
heat  a  limited  place  with  one  fire.  The  question 
resolves  down,  therefore,  to  one  of  first  cost  and 
labor.  Of  course  there  are  other  matters  worthy 
of  consideration,  such  as  the  neatness  of  pipes  and 
the  small  amount  of  space  they  occupy  as  com- 
pared with  flues.  But  in  many,  indeed  the  ma- 
jority of  cases,  the  flues  occupy  positions  that  are 
not  available  for  any  other  purpose,  so  that,  in  a 
general  sense,  this  objection  has  no  great  weight. 

The  question  is,  at  what  point  in  the  dimensions 
of  a  building  will  it  be  most  economical  to  heat 
with  a  water  apparatus?  Supposing  that  the  extra 
labor  required  in  looking  after  the  flues  is  the  only 
difference  in  the  economy.  But  that  is  not  the 
only  difference  ;  and  here  let  me  remark,  that  there 
is  a  surprising  amount  of  fallacy  entertained  with 
regard  to  the  economy  of  fuel  in  heating  by  means 
of  water.  Let  us  look  at  it  a  moment.  Even  with 
the  most  complete  boiler  that  human  ingenuity  has 
ever  invented,  it  is  evident  that  the  fire  or  heated 
air  must  leave  the  boiler  at  a  temperature,  at  least, 
equal  to  t"hat  of  the  water  through  which  it  passes. 
Supposing  the  water  in  the  boiler  to  be  heated  to 
180°,  we  must  necessarily  find  that  the  heated  air 
after  passing  through  this'heated  water  is,  at  least, 
equal  to  the  latter  in  temperature.  We  will,  in  fact, 
find  it  much  higher.  Now  here  is  an  unavoidable 
loss  of  heat,  consuming  a  vast   amount   of  fuel. 


which  might  be  economized  by  adopting  the  method 
of  flue  heating, 

With  regard  to  the  size  of  pipe,  it  is  a  matter 
practically  of  small  importance.  I  will  not  pursue 
that  point  further  here,  only  .to  make  the  remark, 
"Heat  is  the  same  material,  however  produced, 
and  a  given  quantity  of  fuel  will  produce  no  more 
heat  when  burning  under  a  boiler,  than  when  burn- 
ing in  a  common  furnace."  To  suppose  that  you 
gain  heat  by  simply  increasing  the  length  of  piping, 
is  akin  to  the  idea  that  the  strength  of  a  horse  is 
increased  by  increasing  his  load. 

As  remarked  in  my  former  letter  to  the  Society 
on  this  subject,  (read,  I  think,  in  Oct.  1862,;  the 
most  economical  mode  of  warming  of  plant  struc- 
tures is  by  a  combination  of  the  flue,  and  water  in 
pipes.  Let  a  flue  be  built  on  the  principle  of  di- 
minishing its  thickness  as  you  recede  from  the  fur- 
nace. Let  the  cover  of  the  furnace  be  a  small 
boiler,  from  which  lead  a  flow  and  return  pipe — 
this  will  conduct  heat  to  any  desired  point  in  the 
house  where  the  radiating  surface  can  be  increased 
by  introducing  coils  of  pipes.  So  far  as  heating  a 
single  structure  is  concerned,  I  maintain  that  this 
is  aC  once  the  best  and  most  economical  mode  of 
heating  that  can  be  adopted. 

This  is  my  conviction  after  having  worked,  I 
think,  eleven  different  forms  and  modifications  of 
boilers,  and  given  the  whole  subject  of  heating  and 
ventilating  close  study  and  professional  attention 
for  many  years; 


GARDENERS. 

BY  ALEX.  PONTEY,    GARDENER,   TORONTO,  C.  W. 

When  it  is  intended  that  a  youth  shall  become  a 
mechanic,  an  artist,  or  a  member  of  any  of  the 
professions,  (except  gardening)  especial  care  is  ta- 
ken in  his  education,  that  he  may  learn  everything 
appertaining  ^o  the  calling  for  which  he  is  intended. 
If  he  is  to  become  an  artist,  the  idea  is  early  in- 
stilled into  his  mind,  that  he  must  be  something 
beyond  mediocrity,  or  it  is  no  use  becoming  a  pdn- 
ter  at  all— to  be  a  mere  daub,  it  is  considered,  will 
never  pay,  he  must  be  something  more  than  that. 
No  man  ever  thinks  of  bringing  his  son  up  for  the 
medical  profession  and  stopping  him  in  his  studies 
just  at  the  time  he  was  about  to  commence  walking 
the  wards  of  an  hospital.  Even  if  any  one  could 
be  so  foolish.,  the  law  has*  provided  otherwise,  and 
enacted  that  you  must  posess  a  diploma  of  ability 
and  capacity,  or  you  can't  practice  medicine— same 
of  law — but  how  about  gardening?  that  profession 
which  dates  back  to  the  first  existence  of  man  for 


T 


=^^ 


m. 


its  origin.  Surely  if  on  no  otlier  grounds  but  its 
antiquity,  it  demands  some  preparation  at  the 
hands  of  those  who  are  to  take  place  in  its  ranks. 
If  the  man  who  is  to  embellish  the  walls  of  your 
mansion  with  landscapes,  deems  it  necessary  that 
in  order  to  be  fully  competent  to  do  so  properly, 
that  he  should  visit  classic  Italy  and  other  lands 
renowned  for  their  productions  in  the  art,  how 
much  more  necessary  is  it  that  the  man  who  has 
to  take  the  external  landscape  and  bring  out  all  its 
beauties,  should  take  pains  and  trouble  with  his 
education. 

There  are  a  thousand  things  about  such  an  oc- 
cupation requiring  correct  taste  and  judgment  and 
abilities,  I  think,  to  a  higher  order  than  those  re- 
quired to  fill. up  pleasantly  and  artistically  a  few 
square  feet  of  canvas  with  a  landscape — but  no  !  it 
is  not  generally  considered  necessary  that  the  man 
who  has  to  do  all  this  should  have  any  extraordi- 
nary preparation.  What  need  is  there  for  him  to 
be  put  through  any  extraordinary  course  of  study 
for  this  sort  of  thing? 

Take  the  would  be  gardener  as  our  apprentice, 
and  how  do  you  generally  find  him?  As  long  as 
the  terms  of  his  indentures  will  admit  of  it,  kept 
at  all  the  drudgery  belonging  to  the  business,  and 
perhaps  told,  in  answer  to  any  enquiries,  he  may 
make  of  those  around  him  older  and  more  experi- 
enced than  himself — that  he  must  be  content  to 
work  as  they  have  done,  and  learn  as  best  he  can. 
There  seems  to  be  a  very  prevalent  idea  that  no 
knowledge  can  be  imparted  properly  under  such 
circumstances  except  through  the  medium  of  the 
spade  or  hoe  handle.  Out  of  his  apprenticeship  he 
finds  himself  able  to  command  just  suflScient  wages 
to  clothe  and  feed  himself  comfortably,  nothing  to 
spare  to  buy  books  v/ith,  appertaining  to  his  busi- 
ness, or  if  he  has.  it  must  be  to  such  a  limited  ex- 
tent that  he  can  get  hold  of  only  those  which  give 
him  but  the  preface  of  the  science  he  would  be 
master  of.  • 

A  very  convincing  proof,  I  think,  that  the  gar- 
deners themselves  consider  that  as  a  body  they  re- 
quire more  knowledge,  is  the  Gardeners'  Improve- 
ment Societies,  and  a  right  good  sign  it  is.  I  only 
hope  they  may  do  a  tithe  of  the  good  it  is  calcula- 
ted to  do,  if  properly  adhered  to  and  supported 
by  their  members." 

One  object  I  have  in  penning  these  few  remarks 
is,  that  those  among  us  who  have  j'ouths  under  our 
care  who  will,  in  probability,  some  day  or  other, 
take  their  stand  in  the  ranks  of  as  ennobling  a  pro- 
fession as  man  can  boast  of  belonging  to  ;  may  re- 
member, that  oii  us,  in  a  great  measure,  depends 


what  sort  of  lights  these  men  shall  be — whether 
they  shall  go  out  into  the  world  fettered  and  hob- 
bled with  prejudice  and  ignorance,  or  whether  they 
shall  bear  with  them  all  the  good  we  can  do  them 
by  example,  by  precept,  by  admonitions  and  words 
spoken  in  the  right  way,  when  opportunity  offers. 
The  human  mind  bears  a  strong  resemblance  to  the 
branch  or  twig  of  a  tree,  which  ever  way  it  is  bent 
or  warped,  when  young,  so  it  will  be  likely  to  grow 
in  after  years.  Then  do  not  let  us  bear  any  of  the 
responsibility  of  turning  out  a  generation  of  stunted 
and  dwarfed  gardeners  into  the  world,  stunted  by 
any  old  fogy  practice  or  conceit  of  ours.  Rather 
let  us  do  all  we  can  to  originate  a  class  of  men  with 
large  ideas,  minds  expanded  to  the  full  extent  of 
their  capacity  ;  this  and  more  too  can  all  be  done 
by  leading  the  enquiring  mind  in  the  pleasant  paths 
of  knowledge  within  our  reach,  and  teaching  those 
under  our  care  to  admire  and  learn  all  the  wonders 
we  can  of  the  wondrous  vegetable  world  we  are 
daily  engaged  among. 

Some  of  the  reasons  why  we  have  not  a  better 
class  of  men  as  gardeners,  are,  I  think,  attributable 
to  the  employers.  For  instance — a  gentleman 
wants  a  gardener,  a  man  who  can  look  after  a 
kitchen  garden,  and  a  little  patch  of  ornamental  or 
flower  garden.  He  mentions  his  wants  to  his  friends, 
some  one  of  them  is  sure  to  know  a  "  handyman  " 
that  maj'hap  has  been  employed  by  him  in  the  ca- 
pacity of  groom  or  stable  boy,  with  opportunity  of 
filling  up  his  spare  time  in  the  garden.  He  is  hit 
upon  at  once  as  being  just  the  man,  he  has  had  the 
opportunity  of  working  a  few  hours  a  day  under 
the  gardener,  who  by  the  bye  thought  no  more  of 
imparting  knowledge  to  him,  than  he  did  to  the 
lady's  pet  poodle— so  he  must  know  all  abiDut  these 
matters— the  place  is  small  and, the  proprietor  can 
pay  some  attention  to  the  garden  himself— and  the 
man  can  be  got  cheap — so  he  will  answer. 

Very  likely  he  remains  a  year  in  his  situation, 
then  moves  off  for  some  other  part  of  the  country, 
where  he,  of  course,  styles  himself  "Gardener," 
and  knows  nothing,  whatever,  about  horses  or  the 
like.  Many  hundreds  of  men  coming  into  this  con- 
tinent yearly,  are  thus  made  gardeners,  by  simply 
crosing  the  Atlantic,  and  because  they  can  find 
cheap  gentlemen.  "  Save  the  mark,"  it  fosters  the 
class,  they  report  themselves  to  their  associates, 
and  the  result  is  the  profession  is  continually  get- 
ting demoralized,  so  to  speak  by  these  '^quondam 
Grooms  of  tlie  Spade. 

That  there  are  plenty  of  good  gardeners,  practi- 
cal and  theoretical  men,-  I  do  not  deny,  but  for 
every  one  of  these  you  will  find  a  dozen  who  are  as 


"^ 


W 


M^  §m&t\uf%  ^ontMj* 


entirely  ignorant  of  all  agricultural  theory,  as  they 
are  of  most  of  its  practical  operations..  It  is  a 
very  common  occurrence  to  hear  gentlemen  com- 
plaining of  the  ignorance  of  their  gardeners,  when 
they  know  themselves  perfectly  well  that  they  never 
have  given  inducements  sufficient,  in  the  way  of 
wages,  to  tempt  any  gardener  to  go  near  their 
places. 

Let  proprietors  of  establishments  make  the  situ- 
ation of  gardeners  as  lucrative  as  other  situations 
are,  where  some  amount  of  knowledge  and  energy 
is  required,  and  it  will  induce  a  different  class  of 
men  to  turn  their  attention  to  it.  Men  then,  gar- 
deners themselves,  who  have  sons  growing  up 
will  give  them  an  opportunity  of  learning  the  busi- 
ness. Instead  of  putting  them  to  any  thing  almost 
but  gardening,  as  Is  often  the  case  now. 

I  may  have  said  things  which,  to  some  sensitive 
ears,  may  sound  harsh.  If  I  have,  to  such  I  say, 
I  have  the  advancement  of  gardeners,  as  a  class,  at 
heart,  and  have  no  other  wish  than  to  see  them 
occupy  the  position  among  men  they  deserve,  and 
hope,  that  on  this  account,  I  shall  be  pardoned 
for  anything  I  have  said  having  a  tendency  to  of- 
fend or  annoy. 


ABOUT    THE   CHENANGO  STRAWBERRY 
APPLE, 

BY  B.    W.    STEERE,   ADRIAN,    MICH. 

In  the  article  on  the  Chenango  Strawberry  Ap- 
ple, in  December  Number,  I860;  by  N.  Collins, 
he  says :  "  The  C.  S.  Apple  was  raised  from  seed, 
planted  many  years  since  by  a  colored  man,  named 
Frank,"  farther  on  he  says,  "it  was  for  a  long  time 
called  the  Frank  Apple,  subsequently  it  was  named 
the  Jackson  Apple,  and  lastly  the  Strawberry,  to 
which  I  attached  the  name  of  the  county,  to  dis- 
tinguish it  from  the  early  and  late  strawberries  of 
Western  N.  Y." 

And  just  here  is  the  point  to  which  I  wish  to  call 
attention,  the  name.  Pray  why  not  call  it  the 
Frank?  It  was  the  original  name,  is  short,  sounds 
well,  is  easily  spoken,  and  may  save  nurserymen 
many  a  precious  moment  in  writing.  Besides  this 
rejecting  the  name  by  which  a  fruit  was  first  known 
for  any  length  of  time  and  adopting  another,  every 
way  less  appropriate,  is  a  flagrant  violation  of  the 
rules  of  our  highest  authority  on  the  subject. 

The  early  and  late  Strawberries  are  popular  here 
and  elsewhere ;  should  this  third  candidate  for  the 
name  become  equally  so,  we  shall  have  confusion, 
even  worse  confounded. 

Who  that  has  sold  trees  of  both  the  old  sorts, 


"^sr 


does  not  know  the  difficulty  of  even  two  of  like 
name  ?  Many  of  the  farmers  have  been  familiar 
with  only  one  of  the  two,  and  enquire  for  the 
Strawberry,  being  surprised  to  learn  there  is  ano- 
ther of  the  name,  and  must  have  an  explana- 
tion before  they  know  which  they  want.  But  what 
is  their  astonishment,  when  you  inform  them  that 
there  is  still  a  third. 

In  addition  to  the  above,  it  might  be  argued, 
that  justice  to  the  originator  would  require  us  to 
retain  his  name,  although  "he  may  not  boast  a 
skin  colored  exactly  like  our  own." 

I  saw  the  fruit  at  our  State  Fair  last  fall,  it  is 
certainly  very  beautiful,  and  I  have  no  doubt,  at 
least,  "very  good."  The  trees  in  the  nursery,  as 
noted  by  INIr.  Collins,  are  very  distinct,  having 
light  drab  bark,  and  from  present  indications,  I  be- 
lieve they  will  prove  hardy  at  the  west. 


PRIZE    LIMA    BEANS. 
BY  WALTER  ELDER,   PHILA'dA,   PA. 

At  the  Annual  Exhibition  of  the  Pennsjdvania 
Horticultural  Society,  held  at  the  Academy  of  Mu- 
sic, in  September,  last  year,  the  two  general  dis- 
plays of  vegetables,  which  got  the  first  and  second 
prizes,  were  so  nearly  balanced  to  outward  appear- 
ance that  caused  me  to  inspect  them  more  minutely. 

In  Mr.  A.  Felton's  display,  the  Lima  Beans  had 
four  full  grown  seeds  in  each  pod.  Not  one  pod 
had  less  than  four,  while  Mr.  Thomas  Meghran's 
Lima  Beans  had  only  three  seeds  in  each  pod  ;  not 
one  pod  had  four  seeds.  A  fortnight  after  that,  I 
met  Mr.  Felton,  in  H.  A.  Breer's  seed  store,  and 
told  him  what  I  had  observed,  and  asked  him  if  he 
thought  it  was  in  the  seeds  or  in  the  culture  that 
made  the  difference  in  the  two  crops.  He  said,  it 
must  certainly  have  been  first  in  the  seeds,  but  that 
good  culture  was  essential  to  raise  good  crops.  I 
asked  him  if  he  sowed  his  own  seeds?  he  said  no, 
he. bought  all  his  seeds.  He  grows  his  vegetables 
for  market,  and  it  would  not  pay  for  him  to  save 
seeds.  He  had  tried  it  for  some  years,  but  the 
time  lost  in  attending  to  them  was  double  worth 
the  price  of  seeds,  besides  his  crop  grew  less  every 
year,  with  his  own  seed. 

IMr.  Dreer  said  his  Lima  Beans  had  four  full 
grown  seeds  in  every  pod,  and  some  pods  had  five 
full  grown  seeds.  Says  I,  a  five  seed  Lima  Bean 
pod  must  be  like  a  four  leaved  clover— hard  to  find. 
Many  of  mine  have  only  two  full  grown  seeds  ir. 
apod. 

Some  time  after  that,  I  met  Mr.  Meghran,  and 


^ 


^. 


spoke  to  him  as  I  had  done  to  Mr.  Felton,  he  said 
it  was  in  the  seeds.  He  had  bought  all  his  seeds 
but  Lima  Beans,  as  there  were  plenty  on  the  place, 
and  being  his  first  year  he  planted  them,  and  wish- 
ed afterwards  that  he  had  bought  a  fresh  lot.  He 
had  manured  his  grounds  heavily  and  tilled  them 
well,  but  he  could  not  raise  superior  crops  from 
seed  long  saved  upon  the  same  grounds.  These 
statements  of  two  skillful  vegetable  gardeners,  with 
ray  own  observations,  substantiate  the  doctrine  I 
have  sought  to  promulgate.  Fresh  seeds  from 
other  lands  are  essential  in  the  production  of  supe- 
rior crops. 

BLACK    RUST    ON    VHRBENAS. 
BY  W.    CAIRNS,    READING,    JIASS. 

Hearing  from  all  points  of  the  compass  of  the 
destruction  caused  by  the  "Verbena  disease,"  or 
black  rust,  as  some  call  it,  and  paying  a  visit  last 
fall  to  an  infested  neighborhood,  I  was  surprised 
to  hear  the  gardeners  talking  seriously  of  putting 
the  verbena  out  of  the  list  as  a  bedding  plant.  This 
set  me  to  thinking  if  something  could  not  be  done 
to  arrest  its  progress.  I  got  some  cuttings,  (our 
collection  being  comparatively  clear  of  it, )  to  expe- 
riment on,  it  was  in  August,  and  I  thought,  being 
so  early,  they  would  out-grow  it.  Such,  however, 
was  not  the  case,  for  about  the  middle  of  January, 
it  was  hard  to  tell  what  they  were,  the  leaves  were 
black  and  curled,  and  very  few  of  them  at  that.  I 
have  always  considered  the  "  disease"  a  species  of 
mildew,  from  the  fact,  that  the  same  causes  pro- 
duce disease  in  the  verbena  that  produces  mildew 
in  the  grape  vines  and  other  plants,  viz :  extremes 
of  cold  or  heat,  moisture  or  dryness.  I  accordingly 
mixed  up  the  old  cure  for  mildew. 

And  as  some  of  your  numerous  readers  may  not 
have  seen  it,  I  will  give  you  my  experience  in  full. 
Take  four  quarts  of  lime  in  the  shell,  put  into  a 
water-tight  barrel,  add  one  pound  of  sulphur,  pour 
enough  of  boiling  water  in  to  thoroughly  slack  the 
lime,  which  will  disolve  the  sulphur,  at  the  same 
time,  keep  the  top  of  the  barrel  closely  cov- 
ered to  confine  the  steam.  When  cold  put  water 
enough  on,  that  you  can  draw  off  four  gallons  of 
pure  water.  Using  one-third  of  the  above,  and  two- 
thirds  of  pure  water,  I  syringed  my  patients  once  a 
week  for  three  weeks.  Commencing  the  middle  of 
January — by  the  middle  of  March  you  could  scarcely 
find  a  diseased  leaf— and  now,  the  end  of  March, 
they  have  perfect  flowers,  which  a  diseased  plant 
never  produces. 

Our  collection,  at  one  time,  showed  symptoms  of 
disease,  but  one  syringing  of  the  above  entirely 
eradicated  them. 


I  notice  that  whenever  the  system  of  lifting  old 
plants  to  propagate  from  is  practiced,  the  disease 
appears  in  its  most  virulent  form.  The  foregoing 
application  can  be  used  after  the  plants  are  in  the 
ground,  and  will  enable  them  quickly  to  outgrow 
any  tendency  to  disease  that  may  be  lingering  in 
their  constitutions. 


CHEAP    HOT    WATER    APPARATUS. 
BY   II.  E.  HOOKER,    ROCHESTER,    N.  Y. 

Ever  since  the  introduction  of  hot  water  for  heat- 
ing greenhouses,  vineries,  and  other  horticultural 
structures  ;  the  want  of  a  cJieap  method  of  receiving 
a  circulation  of  water  through  houses  and  forcing 
pits,  has  been  a  great  obstacle,  and  a  serious  draw- 
back upon  the  general  use  of  this  only  satisfactory 
and  truly  economical  mode  of  heating. 

The  iron  pipes  used  in  our  best  structures  are  too 
costly  to  justify  their  common  use  in  vineries,  Or- 
chard houses,  and  the  cheap  buildings  of  our  mar- 
ket gardeners ;  and  cannot  be  put  up  except  by 
skillful  workmen,  who  are  to  be  had  only  in  our 
principal  cities,  or  by  sending  there  for  them,  at 
considerable  expense ;  the  smallest  repair  is  the 
source  of  considerable  inconvenience. 

Wooden  propagating  tanks  we  have  used  for 
several  years,  and  find  them  very  useful,  but  they 
are  also  quite  expensive  when  well  built  as  they 
must  be,  to  be  tight,  and  are  subject  to  decay. 

Water  Lime  has  been  tried  in  various  forms,  but 
not,  to  my  knowledge,  satisfactorily,  until  the  ex- 
periments, I  am  about  to  describe,  were  made. 
These  experiments  have  proved  that  a  vei^j  cheap, 
durable  and  simple  apparatus  can  be  made  by  any 
person  of  common  ingenuity  and  fair  mechanical 
skill — even  without  any  professional  experience,  by 
the  aid  of  a  few  simple  directions  in  carrying  out 
the  ideas  here  offered.  These  directions  are  more 
fully  set  forth  in  the  circular,  which  is  furnished  to 
those  who  purchase  the  right  to  use  or  construct 
these  tanks ;  for  which  a  patent  has  recently  been 
granted  me  by  the  United  States  Government. 

This  expense  of  hot  water  apparatus,  has  hereto- 
fore been  so  great  as  to  deter  many  from  attempting 
to  have  either  a  greenhouse,  vinery  or  forcing  pit 
of  any  kind ;  for  the  same  reason  few  nurserymen 
have  had  good  propagating  pits,  and  gardeners  have 
been  compelled  to  rely  upon  hot  beds ;  which,  at 
best,  are  a  poor  substitute  for  houses,  in  which  the 
heat  can  be  steadily  maintained  and  applied  as 
needed,  without  danger  of  the  stock  being  scorched 
or  frozen. 

Two  years  ago  I  conceived  the  idea,  that  shallow 


""^D" 


water  lime  tanks  miglit  be  laid  ui^on  the  soil,  after 
leveling  and  making  it.firm  without  tlie  aid  of  ma- 
sonry or  any  supi^orting  structure  except  the  earth, 
and  such  a  thin  boarding  as  would  preserve  the 
required  form  whilst  the  mortar  was  becoming 
hard. 

Upon  trial  I  found  this  to  be  true,  and  the  tanks 
so  made  became,  in  the  course  of  a  month,  as  hard 
as  stone  and  perfectly  tight. 

I  nest  constructed  tanks  upon  the  same  principle 
for  a  forcing  pit  for  cucumbers  and  early  vegetables, 
connecting  the  tanks  with  the  boiler  of  an  adjoining 
greenhouse.  This  pit,  12  feet  wide  and  48  long, 
has  been  in  use  two  winters,  and  with  no  heat  ex- 
cept the  hottom  heat,  supplied  by  the  water,  to  the 
six  inches  of  soil  lying  upon,  and  covering  all  the 
top  of  the  tanks,  has  resisted  the  coldest  weather, 
without  mats  or  covering  of  any  kind,  or  a  visit  of 
the  gardener  between  the  hours  of  6  P.  M.  and  7 
the  next  morning. 

The  growth  of  cucumbers  was  something  mar- 
vellous, and  far  exceeded  any  hot-bed  works,  both 
for  care  of  management  and  abundance  of  crops. 
Not  a  cent  of  repairs  has  been  needed,  and  not  a 
drop  has  leaked  out  that  I  can  ascertain.  The 
present  season  cucumbers  are  being  grown  after 
gathering  a  crop  of  lettuces,  radishes  and  tomato 
plants  for  out-door  work.  All  have  done  admirably 
thus  far. 

My  next  experience  was  with  a  larger  house  for 
nursery  propagation  ;  this  is  80  feet  long,  10  feet 
wide  inside.  The  tanks  are  simply  laid  upon  the 
soil  made  level,  and  level  with  the  earth  outside.  No 
excavation  was  made,  except  a  walk  2  feet  3  inches 
wide,  sunk  deep  enough  to  give  head  room  under 
the  ridge  boards. 

These  tanks  are  nearly  4  feet  wide,  on  each  side 
of  the  walk,  and  divided  through  the  middle,  caus- 
ing the  water  to  flow  around  the  outside  of  the 
house  and  back,  next  the  walk  to  the  place  of  be- 
ginning, in  all  300  feet  from  flow  to  return. 

The  covering  of  these  tanks  is  hemlock  boards, 
covered  with  water  lime,  to  secure  a  dry  atmos- 
phere, and  which  I  find  is  obtained  as  completely 
in  this  way  as  by  means  of  iron  pipes,  and  dispen- 
sing with  them  entirely,  except  a  short  piece  con- 
necting the  boiler  with  th^  tank  at  the  flow,  and 
a  similar  piece  and  elbow  at  the  return.  The 
boiler,  used  in  this  house,  is  a  small  one,  made  by 
Wethered  &  Cherevoy,  of  New  York,  at  an  expense 
of  $45,  located  in  an  adjoining  greenhouse  furnace 
room  ;  this  has  proved  amply  sufficient  to  maintain 
a  temperature  in  the  water  of  110°  at  the  flow,  and 
90°  at  the  return.    In  the  coldest  weather  a  night 


temperature  of  55  to  60°  has  been  kept,  the  gar- 
dener rarely  visiting  the  house  between  6  P.  M. 
and  7  A.  M.  The  entire  cost  of  this  house,  inclu- 
ding labor,  lumber,  glass,  boiler,  painting  two  coats, 
tanks  and  eveiy  item  of  expense,  was  less  than 
$400.  which,  in  these  times  of  high  prices,  may  be 
called  cheap— scarcely  equal  to  the  expense  of  an 
equal  area  of  hot-beds,  and  so  much  superior,  iu 
every  respect,  that  I  am  satisfied  any  man  who 
has  sash,  can,  by  using  them  in  some  such  way,  as 
is  described  in  your  magazine,  by  Mr.  Henderson, 
and  putting  in  the  water-lime  tanks,  greatly  increase 
his  profit  and  comfort,  iu  growing  every  description 
of  plants  and  vegetables  requiring  heat. 

My  houses  are  built  somewhat  iu  the  manner  of 
Mr.  Henderson's  except  that  I  use  a  fixed  roof,  and 
wide  ridge  board,  into  which  ventilators  are  cut  at 
suitable  intervals,  and  which,  are  readily  accessible 
from  the  walk.  This  method  diminishes  the  cost 
of  construction,  and  the  shade-of  the  ridge  boards 
falling  mainly  upon  the  walk,  is  beneficial  rather 
than  otherwise.  The  house  runs  north  and  south, 
and  is  G  inches  lower  at  one  end  than  the  other,  by 
which  means  a  gutter  is  formed  of  the  cave  board  on 
each  side. 

Before  trial  I  found  that  there  would  be  a  loss 
of  heat  from  locating  the  tanks  upon  the  soil,  but 
this  fear  proved  groundless,  as  will  be  seen  upon 
reflection,  heat  is  absorbed  and  carried  readily  up- 
wards, but  not  downwards,  and  after  a  few  degrees 
of  heat,  have  been  imparted  to  the  soil  in  immedi- 
ate contact  with  the  bottom  of  the  tanks,  no  more 
is  taken  up,  but  as  soon  as  the  water  inclines  to 
cool,  the  heat  of  the  earth  below  helps  to  maintain 
the  temperature  of  the  tanks,  and  preserve  that 
uniform  heat  which  is  so  essential  to  success  in 
propagation.  A  tank  containing  two  or  three 
inches  of  warm  water,  will  warm  six  inches  of  su- 
per-incumbent soil  in  the  most  thorough  and  perfect 
manner  which  can  be  desired. 

The  cost  of  constructing  water-lime  tanks,  4  feet . 
wide,  in  the  manner  of  which  I  have  spoken,  here 
(where  lumber  is  $20  per  J/.,  labor  $1  50  per  day 
for  common  laborers,  and  lime  40  cents  per  bush.,  j 
is  25  cents  per  running  foot,  exclusive  of  patent  fee, 
it  would  require  4  rows  of  4  inch  iron  pipes  to  give 
the  same  heating  surface,  and  then  it  would  not  be 
in  a  form  as  convenient  as  the  flat  surface  of  the  tank. 

It  will  be  readily  perceived  that  if  water  lime 
and  sand  can  be  thus  readily  made  to  take  the 
place  of  iron  pipe,  and  if  the  cost  of  excavations 
and  walls  can  be  saved,  and  our  stayings  and  tables 
for  plants  can  bo  replaced  by  clean  imperishable 
stone  or  cement  surfaces,  giving  ofl"  a  gentle  heat 


-KO. 


.^3Ai 


%\\^  §m&mtf^i  JRcnljjIij. 


139 


when  and  wherever  required,  and  all  at  one  expense 
within  the  reach  of  persons  of  very  moderate 
means ;  we  soon  expect  to  fee  quite  a  change  in 
the  manner  of  constructing  our  houses,  and  in  the 
number  of  persons  who  can  enjoy  the  luxury  of  a 
greenhouse. 

This  season  of  the  year  finds  me  much  too  busy 
to  enter  more  fully  into  this  subject ;  but  if  your 
readers  are  as  sanguine  as  I  am  of  the  advantage 
of  this  method  of  heating,  they  will  excuse  me  for 
puffing  my  own  wares,  and  prepare  to  have  a  good 
propagating  house  and  a  cheap  one,  before  next 
winter. 


A  TALK  ABOUT  CHEAP  COLD  VINEKI133. 
BY  DR.  G.  PEPPER  NORRIS,  WILMINGTON,  DEL. 

It  may  seem  to  you,  Mr.  Editor,  a  trite  subject, 
and  you  may,  perhaps,  say  to  yourself,  why  every- 
body knows  all  that  is  to  be  known  about  them. 
This  to  you  and  many  others,  who  have  lived  in 
glass  houses  all  your  lives,  is  true  ;  but  recollecting 
that  it  has  not  been  so  very  long  ago  that  we  could 
only  associate  the  subject  of  growing  grapes  under 
glass  with  large  fortunes — we  believe  there  is  a 
a  very  large  cAass  who  are  uninitiated  ;  to  these  we 
propose  to  address  a  few  words. 

A  cold  grapery  should  always  be  provided  in  the 
latitude  of  Philadelphia,  or  further  north,  with  the 
means  of  producing  artificial  heat,  A  flue  is  the 
simplest  and  cheapest,  and  will  answer  all  oiir  pur- 
poses— with  this  we  can  defy  the  weather  and  grow 
grapes  thift  will  compare  favorably  with  those  pro- 
duced from  the  most  costly  hot  water  apparatus. 
Now  we  have  not  a  word  to  say  against  hot  water. 
To  those  who  can  say,  let  us  have  hot  water — hot 
water  let  them  have — it  is  not  to  them  we  are 
talking. 

With  a  flue  (cost  about  $25,  J  and  a  ton  of  coal 
we  are  comfortable.  In  a  cold  vinery  the  grapes 
will  be  tied  up  to  the  wires  about  the  first  to  the 
middle  of  April,  in  your  neighborhood.  Now  we 
sometimes  have  pretty  cold  nights  in  April,  and 
you  will  sleep  sounder  with  a  couple  of  shovelfuls 
of  coal  thrown  into  your  furnace  about  10  P.  M. 
Then,  again,  we  often  have  sharp  frosts  in  May, 
when  your  vines  are  in  blossom,  and  with  a  little 
more  Anthracite  you  will  avoid  all  mishaps — and 
especially  if  you  want  Muscats,  (and  why  should 
not  you  have  them,  and  the  best  too,  when  the 
largest  bunch  ever  grown  in  the  world,  was  grown 
in  a  cold  grapery  in  the  neighborhood  of  your  city, ) 
a  little  fire  heat  at  the  period  of  setting  is  inval- 
uable.    And  again,  in  August;  when  the  vines  over 


which  you  have  watched  with  a  parental  aff'ection 
are  about  to  yield  to  you*  their  delicious  fruit,  a 
damp  '  spell '  may  occur,  and  a  few  bushels  of  black 
jewels  will  make  them  safe,  peradventure  ;  and 
lastly  the  cost  of  your  flue  will  be  many  times  over- 
paid by  the  length  of  time  that  you  can  keep  your 
grapes.  With  an  occasional  firing  you  can  have  the 
best  until  December,  by  lightening  a  little  fire  in 
damp  rainy  weather,  and  in  a  fine  dry  day  giving 
plenty  of  air.  A  ton,  or  a  ton  and  a  half  of  coal 
will  carry  a  moderate  sized  vinery  through  a  season; 
occasional  firing  is  only  advocated.  Some  may 
object  to  the  flue  on  account  of  unsightliness,  but 
by  making  the  stoke  hole  deep  enough  to  ensure  a 
good  draught,  your  flue  may  be  altogether  below 
the  surface  and  directly  under  your  feet  if  you  pre- 
fer it.  An  air-tight  stove  will  answer  tolerably 
well,  and  may  suit  some  who  are  adverse  to  flues — 
but  the  difficulty  of  diff'using  the  heat  through  a 
grapery  of  any  length  will  not  make  them  desira- 
ble, except  to  those  of  small  size — besides  the  cost 
is  nearly  as  great  as  a  flue.  Means  should  be  ta- 
ken to  secure  moisture,  by  either  building  the  flue 
in  such  a  manner  that  on  the  top  there  shall  be  re- 
ceptacles for  water,  or  else  by  substituting  earthen 
shallow  evaporating  pans.  Never  allow  your  flue 
to  be  too  near  your  wood  work — we  knew  of  a 
forcing  house  that  came  near  destruction  by  omit- 
ting this  precaution,  although  not  so  likely  to  hap- 
pen where  the  vines  are  not  forced ;  it  is  well  to 
look  after  this.  An  evaporating  trough  will  be 
found  useful  in  a  cold  vinery,  especially  during  the 
first  season  before  much  foliage  is  secured,  they  can 
be  made  cheaply  of  wood,  carefully  joined,  made 
water  tight,  and  may  be  eighteen  inches  wide  by 
four  deep,  to  run  the  whole  length  of  the  building, 
only  to  be  filled  in  bright  sunny  weather;  sometimes 
the  water  rises  in  these  to  such  a  temperature  as  to 
be  uncomfortable  to  the  hand.  A  supply  of  warm 
water  for  syringing  the  vines  is  thus  always  at  hand  ; 
if  they  leak  after  not  being  used,  fill  the  seams  with 
pitch. 

Bass  matting  is  better  than  twine  to  tie  up 
the  shoots,  and  care  must  be  exercised  not  to  tie 
too  tightly — allowance  to  be  made  for  the  future 
swelling  of  the  joints.  We  never  knew  a  beginner 
to  thin  his  grapes  too  freely — if  they  are  not  in- 
tended for  the  market,  good  thinning  will  be  the 
means  of  keeping  them  late. 

A  good  rule  to  the  amateur  is,  after  he  is 
through,  to  go  over  and  cut  out  one-half  of  those 
that  remain — the  bunches'will  swell  up  in  a  man- 
ner that  will  astonish  him.  An  ample  supply  of 
water  must  be  looked  to — rain  water  is  always  most 


^^ 


140 


^t  (Smkiuu  ii0iit[jig» 


desirable,  and  alwaj'S  to  be  had  if  tanks  of  a  suffi- 
cient size  are  provided.'  Manure  water  is  not  to  be 
forgotten.  Cow  manure  is  well  tliouglit  off,  al- 
though when  the  grapes  are  maturing,  we  like 
something  stronger — it  should  always  be  clear,  not 
to  clog  up  the  small  fibrous  roots. 


THE    PREMIUM    ROGERS'    HYBRID, 
No.  19. 

BY  J.  S.  LIPPINCOTT,   IIADDONFIELD,  N.  J. 

Having  observed  that  you  propose  to  give  us  an 
an  illustration  of  Rogers'  Hybrid,  No.  19,  which 
received  a  special  premium  as  the  best  new  hardy 
grape,  shown  at  the  late  exhibition  in  Philadelphia, 
by  the  Pennsj'lvauia  Florticultural  Society,  permit 
me  to  offer  you  the  accompanying  outline  sketch 
of  one  of  the  bunches  then  exhibited. 

The  cuts  that  have  hitherto  done  duty  for  the 
Rogers'  Hybrids,  do  not  represent  the  product  of 
mature  vines,  as  you  will  preceive  by  the  outline 
presented,  of  which,  I  believe  no  part  is  exagger- 
ated. 

By  actual  measurement,  the  bunches  of  No.  19, 
were  found  respectively  5,  51  and  6  inches  in  length, 
and  the  longest  was  fully  five  inches  across  the 
shoulders. 

The  berries  were  f  of  an  inch  in  diameter,  and 
quite  one  inch  long,  of  a  blue-black  color.  The 
largest  bunch  weighed  twelve  ounces,  or  f  of  a 
pound. 

The  fruit  was  of  good  quality,  not  strongly  Ham- 
burg-like, but  was  well  described  by  a  lady  of  pure 
taste,  and  familiar  with  superior  grapes,  but  igno- 
rant of  the  origin  of  this  variety,  "as  remarka- 
bly fine  Isabella."  It  had  not,  at  the  time,  at- 
tained its  full  ripeness,  when  it  becomes  entirely 
melting  and  agreeable  to  palates  not  spoiled  by 
the  highest  flavored  grapes.  I  believe  it  will  prove 
an  excellent  substitute  for  the  Isabella,  as  its  fruit 
is  quite  equal  to  any  of  the  latter  variety  we  are  fa- 
vored to  mature  in  the  country  unsheltered  by  walls. 
Ripening  but  a  little  later  than  the  Delaware,  and 
many  days  before  the  °  Isabella, — producing  withal 
a  most  noble  bunch  and  berry,  it  may  well  replace 
the  latter  uncertain,  though  long  favorite  variety. 

The  vine  that  produced  the  premium  Rogers', 
No.  19,  was  grown  by  Jacob  L.  Rowand,  Esq., 
of  Haddonfield,  N.  J.,  who  also  grew  the  very 
fine  Delawares,  to  which  the  first  premium  was 
awarded.  The  soil  of  this  garden  appears  to  be 
good  loam,  well  adapted* to  grapes.  The  vines  are 
somewhat  protected  on  the  north,  east  and  west, 
but  open  to  the  south,  towards  which  the  surface 


slopes.  No  mildew  whatever  appears  in  this  gar- 
den, while  everywhere  else  that  my  observation  ex- 
tended, far  and  near  around  me,  mildew  prevailed, 
and  in  some  places  was  very  destructive.  My  own 
Rogers'  and  Concords  appeared  to  be  less  affected 
than  any  other  varieties — the  leathery  texture  of 
the  leaves  resisting,,  perhaps,  in  a  great  measure, 
the  influences  inducing  the  growth  of  this  pest. 
The  Catawba,  however,  rots  badly  in  the  above 
garden.  The  above  Rogers'  vine  is  now  4  years 
old,  and  has  made  a  fine  growth.  At  the  surface 
of  the  soil  its  circumference  is  fully  three  inches, 
and  it  produced  during  the  past  season,  one 
dozen  strong  shoots,  each  from  12  to  15  feet  long, 
some  of  them  bearing  leaves  one  foot  in  diameter, 
of  a  leather-like  texture,  adhering  well  to  the 
branches,  and  seemingly  incapable  of  mildew. 

In  the  same  garden,  Rogers'  No.  1  has  produced 
fruit  of  fine  quality,  and  larger  than  any  of  Mr. 
Rogers' ,  that  I  have  seen  illustrated  by  wood  cuts. 

The  vines  about  as  strong  as  that  of  No.  19,  with 
persistent  leather-like  leaves,  one  foot  in  diameter, 
and  has  not  mildewed. 

The  berries  are  nearly  an  inch  in  length,  of  a 
long  oval  form,  color  reddish  amber,  skin  very  thin, 
the  flesh  quite  tender,  melting,  sweet  with  a  high 
aromatic  flavor. 

Having  had  several  bunches  upon  my  table,  I 
partook  of  them  at  times  with  peculiar  satisfaction, 
though  I  had  Delawares  and  Hamburgs  at  com- 
mand. I  would  not  thereby  imply  that  No.  1 
would  be  preferred  by  many  to  the  above  named, 
but  I  found  it  more  desirable  at  the  time,  and 
doubt  not  there  are  others  who  would  agree 
with  me. 

Whether  these  Hybrids  exhibit  more  or  less  of 
the  native,  they  certainly  surpass  any  of  the  pure 
nativ^e  varieties  in  size,  and  in  flavor  I  prefer  them 
to  all  others  that  I  have  tasted,  the  Catawba  alone 
excepted.  The  Delaware  will,  however,  be  more 
highly  esteemed  by  the  majority  of  connoiseurs. 

There  are  some  who  think  the  Northern  Musca- 
dine a  very  fine  grape,  and  to  those  who  judge  of  a 
fruit  by  its  saccharine  properties  alone,  it  is  no 
doubt  agreeable.  A  just  combination  of  sugar, 
acid  and  aroma,  we  deem  more  desirable.  The 
Delaware  and  Hamburgs  have  the  sugar,  but  not 
the  aroma  of  the  Catawba  or  of  Rogers'  Hybrid, 
No.  1,  which  to  some  tastes  may  be  'foxy,'  to 
others  Muscat-like,  but  by  many  will  be  deemed  a 
merit.     But  De  gustibus  non  est  disputandum. 

[The  drawing  was  like  the  originals  we  saw,  and 
as  here  described. — Ed.] 


^(gH- 


JSBk 


Slj^  @arkiicr's  Utontfjlj. 


dl' 


PENNSYLVANIA    HORTICULTURAL 
SOCIETY. 

DrscussiONAL  Meeting,  April  5th,  1864. 
W.  L.  Schaffer,  Esq.,  in  the  chair. 
Mr.  Thomas  Meehan  presented   the  following 
essay  on 

"HERBACEOUS  PLANTS." 

When  Lord  Bacon  made  the  often  quoted  asser- 
tion, that  "a  garden  is  the  purest  of  all  human 
pleasures,"  he  had  no  reference  to  gardening  as  we 
have  it  now.  What  we  call  "massing*  had  no 
existence  in  his  day.  Now  a  few  Verbenas,  a  score 
or  so  of  Geraniums,  and  a  small  stock  of  what  we 
call  bedding  plants,  compose  the  chief  element  in 
what  we  call  the  flower  garden.  But  in  Lord  Ba- 
con's time,  the  purest  of  human  pleasures,  consisted 
of  little  more  than  the  cultivation  of  a  few  annuals 
and  herbaceous  plants. 

In  the  progress  of  gardening  taste,  herbaceous 
plants  have  been  overlooked,  until  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a  few  old  fashioned  botanists,  no  one  culti- 
vates them  ;  and  were  it  not  for  an  occasional  Phlox 
or  Peony,  many  real  lovers  of  gardening  would  not 
know  what  an  herbaceous  plant  was. 

Cultivating  bedding  plants  in  masses  is  all  prettj'' 
enough.  The  eff'ect  of  the  whole  when  properly 
arranged  is  magnificent.  The  harmonies  of  color, 
and  the  play  of  light  and  shade  afford  a  pleasure 
nothing  else  can  give  ;  but  this  is  all  it  will  do — 
while  the  mixed  border  of  herbaceous  plants  will 
furnish  an  almost  inexhaustible  fund  of  other, 
and  no  less  pleasurable  enjoyment,  than  the  best 
arranged  massed  beds  of  flowers  in  the  modern 
stj'le  will  do. 

In  the  first  place,  with  your  common  bedding 
plants  nursed  through  the  winter  in  frames,  or  pet- 
ted in  greenhouses  through  winter,  we  can  have 
flowers  at  most  but  six  months  in  the  year;  but  with 
herbaceous  plants  we  have  flowers  nearly  the  whole 
year — for  nine  months  at  least,  abundantly.  In  the 
fall  the  Chrysanthemums  and  other  aster-like  plants 
have  scarcely  been  killed  by  the  November  frosts, 
before  the  Violet  endeavors  to  open  its  blossoms. 
If  a  few  dry  leaves  get  above  them  so  as  to  make  a 
slight  protection,  and  the  situation  is  somewhat 
sheltered  from  cold  winds,  they  will  bloom  consid- 
erably up  to  the  new  year.  Then  hardy  plants  got 
quite  common.  Some  of  the  Hellebores  flower  in 
January,  and  the  Winter  Aconite,  and  very  often 
the  Snowdrop  and  Crocus  are  open  before  the 
month  goes  out.  The  past  winter  the  double  and 
single  Snowdrops  were  in  full  bloom  the  last  week  in 


Januar}'.  From  this  time  forward  until  frost  again 
returns,  something  or  other  gjves  a  daily  interest 
to  the  mixed  border  path. 

One  would  scarcely  suppose  that  the  peculiar 
kinds  of  plants  cultivated  would  have  any  influence 
on  the  health  or  social  habit  of  whole  communities; 
yet  we  are  accustomed  to  say  that  the  female  race  has 
degenerated ;  and  the  commonest  localizer  for  the 
newspaper  press,  finds  a  never  failing  subject  for  an 
item  in  the  physical  degeneracy  of  young  ladies  of 
the  present  day,  as  compared  with  the  stalwart 
frames  of  their  grandmothers.  We  do  not  believe 
in  this  degeneracy,  although  it  may  be  true,  for 
there  is  no  incentive  to  exertion  in  modern  flower 
gardening.  When  the  social  pleasures  of  winter 
are  over,  and  a  few  warm  April  days  are  come,  a 
day  i-s  spent  in  selecting  stock  at  the  florist's,  ano- 
ther day  spent  in  setting  out,  according  to  color  and 
art — all  the  rest  of  the  year  may  be  spent  in  lazily 
lolling  at  the  parlor  window  watching  for  the  daily 
developement  of  the  charming  effect.  On  the  other 
hand  herbaceous  plants  require  daily  attention. 
While  some  that  have  been  named,  staked  and 
dressed,  are  rewarding  us  with  their  blooms,  others 
are  but  just  shooting  above  ground,  and  in  their 
turn  require  support  against  their  own  overgrowth, 
or  from  coarse  rude  winds — while  some  are  ripen- 
ing seed  which  you  wish  to  cut  away  or  preserve, 
the  opening  buds  of  others  are  but  just  bursting 
forth.  Others,  again,  open  their  flowers  best  in  the 
morning — before  noon  the  glories  are  gone;  while 
still  others  are  but  evening  primroses,  and  blooui 
only  for  us  when  the  dewey  eve  shall  come. 
Hence,  continual  activity  is  an  essential  to  a  well 
kept. herbaceous  garden — daily,  monthly,  nay  yearlj' 
activity — and  the  lady  who  loves  this  stjde  of  gar- 
dening, will  not  have  time  to  get  sick  ;  and  will 
in  the  continual  recurrence  of  interesting  novelties, 
find  a  continual  inducement  to  while  time  pleas- 
antly away. 

The  lovers  of  the  modern  gaudy  st3'le  of  flower 
garden  decoration,  know  not  what  great  pleasures 
they  lose  by  the  neglect  of  the  herbaceous  plants. 
Formerly  the  ranks  of  the  botanists  were  recruited 
from  among  young  flower  gardeners.  They  watch- 
ed the  opening  blossoms,  admired  the  beautiful 
forms,  and  examined  the  various  structures,  of  their 
hardy  garden  pets.  The  garden  was  a  school  of 
observation.  Nothing  escaped  notice.  They  be- 
came familiar  with  stamens  and  pistils,  petals  and 
corollas,  and  arrangement  and  classification  necess- 
arily followed.  The  mental  element  of  human  na- 
ture was  thus  appealed  to,  and  rose  superior  usu- 
ally to  the  more  sensual  love  of  color  and  show. 


^.JL 


(C)^ 


142 


Che  iSarkm's  ffloirfhlir. 


c^* 


Since  herbaceous  i^lants  have  lost  popularity,  botany 
has  dccliued  in  the  number  of  its  students.  Wo 
look  for  them  no  longer  in  gardens  ;  but  meet  them 
onljf  once  in  a  while,  like  fare  plants  themselves; 
far  away  in  the  ■wild  wood. 

Almost  all  the  poetry  of  gardening  is  connected 
with  herbaceous  plants.  Some  fancy  writer  has 
told  us  of  a  young  and  loving  couple  once  walking 
by  the  river  side,  when  by  some  accident  the  man 
fell  into  the  deep  and  rapid  stream.  .  The  young 
woman  exhausted  every  effort  to  save  him,  but  all 
in  vain.  When  hope  had  reached  its  lowest  ebb,  and 
he  felt  his  numbered  moments  drawing  to  a  close, 
he  clutched  a  handful  of  sweet  blue  flowers,  which 
she  could  barely  reach  from  the  bank  side,  and 
throwing  them  to  his  loved  one,  exclaimed  '  'forget 
me  not ! ' '  and  sank  to  rise  no  more.  No  mere  annual 
bedding  plant  could  have  handed  this  touching 
story  down  to  us.  The  young  woman  might  have 
sown  the  seeds,  or  stuck  in  the  cutting  for  the  first 
year  or  two  ;  but  time  which  heals  all  heart  sores 
would  have  soon  made  love's  labor  a  trouble  ;  the 
plant  vrould  have  first  died  out,  and  then  the 
memory  of  the  lost  one,  and  no  "Forget  me  not" 
would  have  been  handed  down  to  us  of  this  day. 

Ilyacinthus,  the  beautiful  boy,  when  murdered 
by  ZephjTus,  to  the  great  grief  of  Apollo,  would 
have  been  lost  to  posterity  had  Apollo,  raised  up 
merely  an  annual  from  his  blood  ;  but  the  sensible 
god  knew  better,  and-choosing  the  vrell  known  bul- 
bous root,  to  commemorate  the  lost  companion, 
showed  at  once  his  good  sense  and  love  for  us  in 
raising  up  the  sweet  and  lovely  plant  as  we  find  it. 

And  so  of  Narcissus,  fool  that  he  was  for  killing 
himself,  because  he  thought  no  young  damsel 
handsome  enough  to  posess  so  charming  a  beauty  as 
himself;  yet  he  showed,  so  far,  good  sense  when  he 
determined  to  turn  himself  into  a  flower^  as  to  choose 
a  perennial  herbaceous  plant  for  the  purpose.  We 
never  look  on  a  Narcissus  but  we  read  the  lesson 
plainly  that  there  is  wisdom  even  in  fools. 

And  when  we  remember  the  Violets  and  Prim- 
roses, and  the  Daisys  and  Cowslips  —  the  Ane- 
mones and  Buttercups  and  Dandelions  that  pleased 
our  childhood  so  ;  Lilies  of  Japan,  and  Lilies  of 
the  Valley;  Stars  of  Bethlehem,  and  thousands  of 
other  glorious  things  that  every  school  boy  knows ; 
what  would  our  literature  have  been  were  all  these 
annuals  or  bedding  plants  any  thing  else  to  us 
than  what  they  are  ? 

The  individuality  of  herbaceous  plants  is  one  of 
their  greatest  charms.  That  Peony,  perhaps,  is  a 
piece  of  one  that  grew  in  mother's  yard  ;  this  Ivy- 
leaved  plant  came  from  Kenilworth  Castle ;  and 


that,  again,  is  a  plant  from  a  Violet  that  grows 
over  our  children's  grave.  We  cannot  get  the  same 
associations  or  the  same  cherished  ideas  out  of  the 
loveliest  annuals  that  grow.  Year  by  year  your  fa- 
vorite plant  remains.  You  become  attached  to  it, 
as  to  an  old  friend ;  and  its  annual  appearance  is 
looked  forward  to  with  the  more  pleasure,  with  the 
weight  of  years  attached  to  it.* 

I  would  not  have  the  beautiful  bedding  flowers 
less  cultivated  than  they  are ;  but  ask  that  they 
shall  not  have  all  the  ground  to  themselves.      I 
would  have  a  herbaceous  border  in  every  flower- 
garden  ;  and  would  even  have  the  mixed  border 
first — leaving  only  what  is  left  for  the  fancy  bedding 
plants.     In  laying  out  the  ground  for  them,  what- 
ever system  of  beds  is  adopted,  the  beds  themselves 
should  bo  narrow,  so  that  one  can  get  all  around 
about  them  for  weeding,  tying,  and  close  admira- 
tion, without  treading  on  the  borders  themselves. 
The  tallest,  of  course,  should  be  planted  farthest 
from  the  point  of  view,  and  the  dwarfest  growers 
in  front.     If  possible,   two  separate  parts  of  the 
ground  should  be  selected  for  herbaceous  plants. 
Those  which  come  from  more  northern  countries, 
or  high  mountainous  regions,  delight  in  a  moist  at- 
mosphere.   We  sometimes  fail  with  the  latter  class 
of  plants  through  confounding  a  shady  place  with 
a  moist  atmosphere.     But  a  shady  spot  is  fre- 
quently drier  than  a  sunny  one.     In  the  ground 
under  trees,  for  instance,   the  roots  of  the  trees 
make  the  earth  very  dry,  and  yet  it  is  not  unfre- 
quently  the  case,  that  persons  select  such  spots  for 
these  northern  plants,  under  the  belief  that  it  is 
the  shade  and  not  the  moister  atmosphere  of  cool 
climates  which  they  require.     1  myself  have  fallen 
into  this  error  in  times  past.   In  my  earlier  attempts 
at  cultivating  that  beautiful  herbaceous  plant  the 
Auricula,  I  used  to  put  them  under  the  shade  of 
trees  for  the  summer  ;  but  usually  lost  the  greater 
part  of  them.     For  the  past  few  years  I  keep  them 
in  summer  under  glass  frames ;  and  though  often 
exposed   under    them   to   the    full  sun,   they  do 
admirably,  the  glass  enclosing  the  moisture  and 
rendering  the  atmosphere  as  humid  as  the  Auri- 
cula could  wish. 

There  are  also  a  great  many  rock  plants,  which  ■ 
come  under  the  head  of  herbaceous  plants,  that  can 
be  made  veiy  attractive  in  garden  culture.  The 
best  way  to  form  a  rockery  on  a  small  scale  is  to 
make  it  look  like  one  piece  of  rock.  Made  of  many 
small  pieces  of  stone  a  rockery  looks  childish — fre- 
quently the  attempt  to  form  one  has  no  more  beauty 
about  it  than  there  is  in  a  load  of  building  stone 
dumped  down  on  a  hummock.    The  way  to  pro- 


m^ 


^^  §m&mtfs  JKonthlg, 


143 


ceed  is  to  build  the  piece  of  stone  and  mortar,  in 
the  usual  way,  but  so  as  to  inake»  as  many  hollows 
as  possible  to  contain  earth  and  the  plants,  and  to 
have  the  whole  outline  as  grotesque  and  still  as  nat- 
ural as  may  be.  At  the  bottom  of  each  of  these, 
hollow  holes  should  be  left,  so  that  the  soil  in  these 
hollows  should  communicate  with  the  soil  under 
the  building  work  ;  which  soil  should  be  filled  in  as 
the  work  proceeds,  and  Ibrm  the  great  bulk  of  the 
material  of  which  the  rock  mound  is  formed.  Af- 
ter the  whole  mason  work  has  been  built,  it  should 
be  washed  over  with  a  thin  solution  of  cement 
which  will  make  stone  and  mortar  look  all  stone 
alike,  and  asif  of  one  piece.  Rockwork  of  many  sep- 
arate stones  never  looks  well  except  on  a  very  large 
scale.  Nature  laughs  at  all  feeble  attempts  to  mi- 
mic her ;  and  a  laugh  from  any  source  is  sure  to 
raise  the  laugh  all  round. 

In  regard  to  the  cultivation  of  herbaceous  plants, 
all  the  single  flowering  kinds  can  be  raised  from 
seed,  which  should  be  sown  in  the  open  ground  in 
the  fill,  when  they  will  flower  next  year  :  otherwise 
they  will  not  bloom  till  the  season  following.  All 
the  kinds  can  be  raised  from  offsets  from  the  roots, 
which  in  most  cases  they  produce  abundantly.  The 
best  time  for  this  is  in  the  spring.  Some  kinds  do 
not  produce  plants  fast  enough  by  off'sets.  These 
are  raised  by  cuttings  of  the  flower-stems.  Lilies 
and  bulbs  generally  cannot  be  increased  this  way, 
unless  it  be  the  Lilies  which  will  often  produce 
bulbs  at  the  axils  of  the  leaves  if  §oil  be  mounded 
up  around  the  flower  stems.  They  also  increase  by 
tearing  apart  the  scales  on  the  bulbs,  and  keeping 
them  rather  dry  for  a  short  time,  when  bulbs  will 
form  at  the  base  of  each  scale. 

As  a  rule  herbaceous  plants  are  best  reset  every 
few  years,  the  soil  becomes  exhausted,  and  so  many 
suckers  and  offsets  together  rob  one  another.  The 
spring  is  the  best  time  for  this,  except  in  the  case 
of  bulbous  roots,  which  should  be  replanted  after 
they  have  matured  their  growth  in  the  fall. 

One  great  enemy  to  the  cultivation  of  herbaceous 
plants,  especially  the  bulbous  section,  is  the  inroad 
of  mice  and  vermin  on  the  roots — in  some  classes 
also,  as  in  the  Lily  and  Gladiolus,  the  leaves  are  at- 
tacked by  a  disease  which  so  weakens  the  plants 
that  the  flowers  are  very  small  in  consequence ;  but 
as  I  have  already  drawn  these  opening  remarks  to 
a  greater  length  than  customary  at  our  meetings,  I 
will  not  enter  on  these  questions  now. 

[The  discussion  on  this  essay  will  be  found  under 
the  head  of  Horticultural  Notices' — Ed.]. 


ORCHARD    HOUSE    CULTURE!. 

BY  E.    FRYER,    NEW  LONDON,    CONNECTICUT. 

Our  thanks  to  "  S.  F.  T."  for  his  useful  notes  on 
peaches,  in  the  February  number.  I  was  in  hopes 
while  reading  his  article,  to  find  some  account  of 
the  Early  Anne.  Should  be  glad  if  some  one'  hav- 
ing that  variety  under  cultivation,  would  give  his 
opinion  of  the  fruit-bearing  capacity  of  tree,  &c. 

Will  some  one  also  give  his  experience  with  diff- 
erent varieties  for  orchard-house  culture?  Here 
we  find  most  of  the  Nectarines  to  do  well.  Early 
Roman  and  Early  Violet  particularly  so  for  peach. 
George  4th,  CrawfoJ-ds  Late,  Old  Mixon,  Grosse 
Mignonne  do  well  in  pots.  Morris'  White  does  not 
bear  enough  to  pay  for  the  trouble. 

An  early  productive  peach  of  good  flavor  and  fair 
size,  would  be  a  great  desideratum  for  Orchard- 
house  culture. 

I  think  large  pots  the  most  profitable^  in  which 
to  grow  peaches  or  nectarines,  and  plants  in  them 
are  less  liable  to  sufl'er  from  want  of  water,  than  in 
small  pots.  Those  about  fifteen  or  sixteen  inches 
diameter  will  be  found  the  most  convenient  size, 
bound  with  two  wires,  one  near  the  top  and  the 
other  near  the  bottom,  they  will  be  less  liable  to  in- 
jury. Tubs  well  bound  with  iron  hoops,  are  more 
enduring,  though  more  expensive  at  first,  and  the 
trees  grow  and  bear  as  well  in  them  as  in  pots. 

For  cultivation  in  the  orchard  house,  it  will  be 
found  an  excellent  plan  to  have  two  sets  of  trees, 
bearing  one  set,  or  group,  alternate  years  under 
glass,-  and  growing  them  alternate  in  the  open 
ground,  without  fruit,  subjecting  them  to  pinching, 
root-pruning,  &c.,  during  the  season  they  are  out 
doors. 

Thus  the  trees  get  a  years  rest,  and  bear  a  crop 
only  every  two  years, — the  trees  which  are  fruit- 
ing this  year,  will  be  grown  out  doors  next,  and  so 
on  in  succession. 

[There  are  some  excellent  suggestions  in  the  re- 
marks of  our  correspondent.  The  question  of 
whether  it  would  be  best  to  have  a  double  set  of 
trees  every  year,  would  have  to  be  tested  by  expe- 
rience. That  they  would  bear  better  is  certain,  but 
as  they  usually  bear  well  every  year,  it  would  be 
worth  trying  whether  the  superiority  of  the  bien- 
nial plan  was  worth  the  extra  care. — Ed.] 


M) 


14-i 


©h^  inrd^n^r's  ^outI% 


arkntr's 


PHILADELPHIA,  MAY,  1864. 


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THE    STRAWBERRY    IN    1864. 

We  expect  the  forthcoming  Strawberry  season  to 
be  one  of  the  most  interesting  that  has  been  for 
many  years.  Through  the  efforts  of  enterprising 
men  at  Boston,  Cincinnati,  Pittsburgh,  and  other 
places.  Strawberry  culture  has  improved  so  wonder- 
fully, that  we  expect  to  hear  of  the  most  surprising 
crops,  should  the  weather  prove  favorable,  all  over 
the  land. 

The  statements  made  by  some  of  the  gentlemen 
above  referred  to  as  to  the  amount  they  raise,  have 
been  received  very  cautiously  by  the  public ;  but 
our  deliberate  opinion  is  that  the  highest  figure 
that  has  been  published,  has  not  reached  that 
which  the  Strawberry  can  attain.  We  base  this 
opinion  on  what  we  have  seen  the  past  year. 

Late  in  July,  being  in  Southern  Pennsylvania, 
though  not  on  a  horticultural  tour,  we  had  the 
pleasure  of  a  few  hours'  chat  with  some  gardening 
friends,  near  York,  and  was  told  of  crops  on  the 
high  table  lands  near  that  place  which  reached  a 
higher  figure  than  any  thing  we  have  yet^  heard 
of  As  the  rebel  fofces  were  in  the  vicinity,  no 
very  accurate  account  could  be  kept,  as  some  days 
the  gathering  would  have  to  be  omitted  altogether. 
Hence  we  do  not  give  the  figures,  in  case  it  might 
be  said  fear  of  the  rebels  magnified  them.  But  we 
went  to  see  the  grounds ;  and  from  what  we  saw 
were  satisfied  the  beds  would  produce  more  than 
any  beds  we  had  ever  seen.  The  plantation,  as  far 
as  we  now  remember,  may  have  been  about  one 
acre,  and  at  a  distance  might  be  taken  for  a  field 
of  bush  beans,  so  great  was  the  vigor  and  luxuri- 
ousness  of  the  plants.  The  plants  were  set  in  rows 
across  the  field,  about  twelve  inches  apart,— and 
in  the  rows  the  plants  did  not  appear  to  be  more 
than  six  inches  from  each  other.  Every  fourth  or 
fifth  row  was  missed,  so  as  to  make  a  pathway,  by 
which  it  was  never  necessary  to  go  in  amongst  the 
plants.  The  runners  were  kept  cut  off  by  hand, 
and,  as  soon  as  the  fruit  began  to  color,  a  layer  of 


corn-staUcs  was  laid  between  the  rows.  Much  im- 
portance was  given  to  the  corn-stalks.  No  weeds 
of  any  account  .got  through  them.  The  roots  of  the  ■ 
Strawberries  could  come  near  the  surface,  and  yet 
not  be  exposed  to  the  light ;  and  no  doubt  the  im- 
mense mass  of  coarse  spongy  matter  forming  the 
stalk  must  have  retained  much  moisture  for  a  long 
time,  iiffording  an  excellent  supply  for  the  plants 
at  a  time  they  most  required  it.  But  whether  it 
was  the  peculiar  mulch,  or  whether  it  was  some 
peculiarity  of  soil,  it  was  certainly  the  most  likely 
looking  lot  of  strawberries  to  produce  an  astonish- 
ing crop  we  had  ever  seen. 

We  were  telling  our  elder  Brother  Hovey  of  this 
remarkable  bed  last  summer,  but  he  frightened  us 
out  of  repeating  it  till  now.  A  clerical  friend  of  ours 
tells  a  good  joke  of  what  happened  to  him  in  China. 
A  rare  curiosity  occurred  there  one  morning  in  a 
thin  skim  of  ice.  "  Did  you  ever  see  any  thing  like 
that  before?"  said  a  Chinaman.  "Yes,"  here- 
plied,  "  in  my  country  it  is  often  so  hard  and  thick 
wagons  go  over  the  rivers  on  it,  as  on  a  board." 
The  Chinaman  looked  very  angry,  and  turning  to 
another  listener,  exclaimed:  "  Did  you  ever  hear 
such  a  liar  in  your  life  ?"  This  is  what  we  thought 
friend  Hovey  mentally  said  of  us ;  but  remember- 
ing, as  we  write,  that  the  crops  were  not  of  Hovey's 
Seedling,  but  of  Albany's  and  Triomphe  de  Gand, 
we  conclude  to  charitably  forgive  him,  and  tell  the 
tale  in  part  again. 

Hoping  that  friend  Lee  will  stay  at  home  this 
year,  and  not  frighten  our  Strawberry  men,  we  ex- 
pect to  have  more  exact  accounts  of  this  plan  of 
Strawberry  growing  than  we  now  can  give. 

There  will  also  be  much  anxiety  to  hear  what 
about  the  newer  kinds?  We  have  lived  long  enough 
to  see  so  many  '  new  and  splendid  '  varieties  wield 
their  few  '  hours  of  brief  authority '  over  other 
kinds,  to  be  utterly  forgotten  the  next  day,  that 
we  really  expect  little  from  any  sent  out  the  past 
few  years.  The  vigor  usually  accompanying  seed- 
lings no  doubt  honestly  deceives  the  raisers.  Still, 
some  one  may  stand  the  test  of  time,  and.  prove  an 
invaluable  blessing  to  the  community.  The  great 
case  for  trial  will  undoubtedly  be  Russell's  Prolific, 
because  it  has  been  long  enough  before  the  public 
to  be  tolerably  distributed ;  and  because  it  comes 
before  us  with  high  endorsements  of  men  in  whom 
the  community  rest  a  high  confidence. 

But  it  is  no  use  anticipating  our  pomological 
pleasures.  Like  good  children,  looking  for  Kriss 
Kringle,  we  may  as  well  take  a  strawberry  nap  for 
a  while,  and  wake  at  the  proper  time  to  '  see  what 
we  shall  see.' 


wn 


<~BSt^ 


M^  (Bndtmf^  JtloiiiMj. 


145 


PEACH    GROWING. 

It  is  a  remarkable  fact,  that  -whatever  is  a  real 
benefit  to  a  comiuunity  works  its  own  way  with 
very  little  eifort  into  public  fovor.  It  has  not  been 
by  line  upon  line,  or  precept  upon  precept,  that 
Sorghum  culture  has  taken  its  place  as  an  agricul- 
tural department  of  first-class  national  importance. 
All  the  magazine  strictures  that  could  be  writ- 
ten against  Maple-sugar  making,  would  not  cause 
one  pound  less  to  be  manufactured.  In  foct,  when- 
ever complaint  is  made  that  newspaper  articles  are 
'checking  projects  of  national  importance,'  it  may 
be  safe  to  conclude  that  the  nation  will  be  as  well 
ofi"  without  them. 

There  are  two  articles  of  culture  to  which  national 
attention  is  just  now  called,  that  well  illustrate 
this  position, — Peach  raising,  and  American  '  Chi- 
nese Tea '  culture.  Both  claiming  to  be  of  im- 
mense value  in  the  catalogue  of  our  national 
resources, — yet  the  one  progressing  so  noiselessly 
that  no  magazine  or  periodical  has  yet  referred  to 
it ;  and  no  one's  attention  even  has  been  called 
to  the  fiict,  until  the  sudden  announcement  that 
Peach  trees  could  not  be  had  in  the  market  at  any 
price,  opened  the  public's  eye, — the  other,  starting 
under  fraudulent  colors,  writhes  and  wriggles  un- 
der the  first'  breath  of  public  notice.  No  newspa- 
per has  been  asked  to  puiF  up  the  peach  business  ; 
while  the  mere  intimation  in  the  Garderier\'! 
MontMy,  that  the  'Chinese  Tea,'  so  called,  is  but 
the  wild  American  Ceanothvs^  brings  complaints 
that  we  '  seek  to  check  an  enterprise  of  immense 
national  importance.' 

Leaving  the  Tea  swindle  to  its  inevitable  fate, 
let  us  examine  the  looming  prospects  of  the  Peach 
business. 

Though  a  native  of  Persia,  the  Peach  has  found 
its  best  home  in  these  United  States.  In  England 
the  best  Peaches  are  raised  under  glass,  or  trained 
with  much  care  on  walls  with  southern  or  eastern 
aspects.  Even  in  the  south  of  France  and  Italy, 
where  they  can  be  grown  as  standard  trees,  though 
they  do  tolerably  well,  their  success  is  not  in  any 
way  to  be  compared  with  ours.  Though  labor  is 
very  cheap  as  compared  with  American  labor,  fine 
open  air  raised  Peaches  in  England  readily  bring 
from  four  to  eight  cents  eacji ;  which,  when  com- 
pared with  the  relative  purchasing  power  of  money 
in  the  two  countries,  is  equal  to  about  eight  to  six- 
teen cents  in  our  market. 

The  great  success  which  has  attended  the  at- 
tempts to  introduce  American  raised  Peaches  into 
Europe,  have  given  an  impetus  to  the  Peach  busi- 
ness.   The  demand  for  them,  for  many  years  to 


come,  will  no  doubt  be  unlimited ;  and  America 
need  fear  no  competition  in  the  trade. 

In  view  of  these  facts,  the  Peach  question  be- 
comes one  of  first  national  importance  ;  and  its  dis- 
eases and  peculiarities  should  receive  more  careful 
study  and  attention  than  it  ever  has  received  before. 

In  Peach  culture  there  is  one  fact  which  we 
think  cannot  be  contradicted  :  that  if  the  tree  re- 
main healthy  for  the  first  three  or  four  years,  it 
will  live  in  good  condition,  and  without  any  com- 
plaint that  seriously  aifects  the  crop,  for  many 
years — as  long  in  fact  as  an  apple-tree. 

If  this  be  true,  and  we  think  it  will  not  be  de- 
nied, we  have  a  starting  point  of  immense  value. 

It  removes  at  once  all  fear  of  contagion  :  for 
there  is  no  reason  why  disease  should  not  be  as 
contagious  to  an  old  tree  as  to  a  young  one. 

There  is  another  fact,  fully  as  important  as  the 
above.  Peach  trees  under  glass,  young  or  old,  sel- 
dom have  the  diseases  Peaches  in  the  open  air  do. 
Some  few  instances,  we  believe,  have  been  adduced 
to  show  that  Peaches  do  at  times  have  the  yellows 
under  glass.  We  have  never  seen  it,  nor  have  at 
least  ninety  per  cent,  of  under  glass  fruit-growers  ; 
but  as  we  have  heard  others  say  they  have  seen  it, 
not  to  endanger  the  force  of  the  argument,  it  is  as 
well  to  concede  that  it  does  in  rare  cases  exist  in 
glass  houses. 

But  the  general  rule  remains,  that  Peaches  over 
four  years  old,  to  any  much  greater  age,  are  free 
from  dangerous  diseases, — and  that  it  is  only  when 
in  open  air  culture  that  young  trees  meet  fatal 
obstacles. 

If  we  look  for  the  differences  we  shall  find 

1.  That  old  trees  do  not  grow  with  as  great  lux- 
uriance as  young  ones. 

2.  Trees  in  pots  or  tubs  under  glass,  or  even  in 
borders  under  glass,  where  they  are  usually  severe- 
ly summer-pruned,  do  not  grow  with  as  great  vigor 
as  trees  in  the  open  air. 

3.  Trees  under  glass  are  not  exposed  to  extremes 
of  dry  air,  or  low  temperature,  as  are  trees  in  the 
open  air. 

The  effect  of  low  temperature  on  succulent,  or 
what  is  the  same  thing,  unripe  wood,  is  well-known. 
Most  roses  grow  very  late  in  the  fall.  Some  are  to 
a  considerable  extend  hardy,  but  the  upper  portions 
of  their  stems  get  injured.  If  we  watch  such  stems 
in  the  spring,  the  upper  buds,  being  quite  killed, 
do  not  of  course  push,— the  next  dozen  or  more 
push,  but  are  pale-7-have  the  yellows ; — the  lower 
push  more  freely,  pretty  much  as  if  the  plant  had 
been  pruned  low  down.  This  is  the  invariable 
effect  of  frost  on  over  luxuriance. 


-Mcy 


^ 


146 


C^4  §KxAmu  (Pl0ntMj. 


'I^ 


In  reference  to  the  Peach,  its  great  luxuriance  is 
its  fault.  It  cannot  expect  to  escape  the  general 
law  of  "injury  from  cold  or  sappy  wood.  All  our 
efforts  should  be  directed  to  checking  that  luxuri- 
ance, until  age  should  do  it  for  itself  New  Jersey, 
Delaware,  Virginia  and  North  Carolina  are  fonious 
for  their  Peaches, — not  on  of  account  their  cli- 
mates, but  for  the  poorness  of  their  soils.  We  have 
seen  finer  peaches  in  mere  quarry  refufe  in  Penn- 
sylvania, than  in  any  state  in  the  Union. 

Natural  trees,  or  Peaches  from  the  stone,  with- 
out being  inoculated  or  budded, are  usually  esteemed 
less  liable  to  disease  than  the  named  nursery  varie- 
ties,—not  because  they  are  seedlings,  for  budded 
trees  are  little  less,  but  because  they  are  not  as 
vigorous  the  second  year.  A  nurseryman  buds  his 
peach,  and  the  next  spring  cuts  it  back  to  the  bud, 
which  of  course  pushes  up  with  the  vigor  of  a  crop- 
ped willow ;  and  even  the  first  hard  frost  will 
scarcely  detach  the  leaves  from  it.  Should  it  es- 
cape injury  till  this  extra  vigor  is  past,  the  tree  is 
safe.  If  not,  it  is  a  failure.  What  conclusion  can 
be  more  clear? 

We  would  lay  down  the  following  rules  for  the 
incipient  Peach-grower : 

1.  Choose  an  exhausted  soil  in  preference  to  a 
new  or  rich  one. 

2.  If  possible  choose  a  northern  or  western  as- 
pect in  preference  to  a  sunny  one,  as  the  action  of 
sun  on  frozen  sappiness  is  one  of  the  causes  of  in- 
jury to  ill-ripened  wood. 

3.  Choose  trees  for  planting  that  are  not  over 
vigorous. 

4.  Do  not  crop  or  cultivate  your  Peach  orchard 
with  any  thing  which,  by  forcing  you  to  add 
manures  to  the  soil  to  obtain  them,  will  make  your 
trees  grow  luxuriantly.  When  their  vigor  has  be- 
come exhausted,  and  the  trees  by  age  safe  from 
disease,  top-dressings  can  be  resorted  to,  to  main- 
tain fertility. 


!l3=  Communications  for  this  department  must  reach  the  Editor 
on  or  before  tlie  lOth  of  the  month. 

Jl3=The  Editor  cannot  answer  letters  for  this  department  pri- 
vately. 


Double  EpiGiEA  repens— i^.  McK,  Halifax, 
jY;  ^. — I  have  enclosed  a"  sketch  of  Nova  Scotia's 
Double  Mayflower  (Epigasa  repens).  I  was  the 
first  that  discovered  this  beautiful  plant,  in  May, 
l&Gl.  I  have  both  the  pure  white  and  pink  grow- 
ing in  my  garden.    The  plants  seem  to  thrive  re- 

'qa>     '■ — — 


markably  well  in  the  garden,  more  so  than  the 
single  varieties,  on  account  of  the  nature  ot  the 
soil,  which  is  of  a  dark  peat  substance,  composed 
of  decayed  leaves  and  roots  and  grasses,  free  from 
any  sand  or  gravel.  They  are  found  in  bloom  from 
the  2-4th  of  April  to  the  24th  of  May.  They  are 
more  upright  in  their  growth  and  smaller  leaves 
than  the  single  varieties. 

[zV  colored  sketch  accompanied  the  above,  and 
shows  the  plant  to  be  one  of  the  prettiest  things 
imaginable.  It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  all 
attempts  to  cultivate  the  Epigjea  have  usually  fail- 
ed. Even  in  Europe,  where  the  culture  of  Amer- 
ican plants  has  been  reduced  to  almost  the  certainty 
of  a  science,  the  Epigaea  fails. 

If  the  single  one  could  be  cultivated,  easily  this 
double  variety  would  be  welcome  to  every  garden. 

The  fact  has  an  interest  in  a  scientific  point  of 
view,  as  being,  we  believe,  the  only  Ericaccous  plant 
known  to  have  double  flowers,  besides  Arhutics  and 
Azalea.  ] 

Cold  Vineries— »Z  Evanston,  J 11— My  em- 
ployer is  about  to  build  a  new  Cold  Grapery.  Will 
you  let  us  know  the  most  approved  width  of  house 
and  length  of  rafter  for  a  Span-roof ;  and  with  a 
fixed  roof,  the  best  way  to  fix  our  ventilators? 

[We  prefer  to  have  long  rafters.  Twenty-two  to 
twenty-five  feet  wide  is  a  good  size  for  a  span-roof 
house,  which  may  be  built  so  high  in  the  centre  as 
to  make  the  rafters  form  an  angle  of  about  30°. 

The  best  way  to  arrange  the  ventilators  is  on  the 
swivel  or  balance  plan.  Each  ventilator  may  be 
opened,  shut  or  secured  separately,  by  a  small  iron 
rod  with  a  swivel  eye  ;  or  the  whole  set  of  ventila- 
ting-rods  may  be  attached  by  movable  eyes  to  one  , 
rod,  running  through  the  house  under  the  ridge 
pole,  and  all  opened  together,  by  a  simple  lever 
arrangement  at  one  end  of  the  house,] 


Hardy  Herbaceous  Plants.— We  hope  to  be 
excused  for  publishing  the  following  extract  from  a 
private  letter  of  a  New  York  correspondent;  as 
calling  attention  to  our  beautiful  herbaceous  plants. 
There  are  many  yet  unknown  to  cultivators.  Who, 
for  instance,  grows  Silcne  Virgimca  ? 

"  We  have  nothing  new  in  the  herbaceous  way, 
that  I  am  aware- of,'around  here.  I  received  a 
package  of  seeds  some  time  ago  from  Mr.  Hogg, 
who  is  in  Japan,  (chiefly  Coniferas),  and  among 
them  was  a  variegated  Hibiscus  x)alustris,  and  an 
Achillea  with  finely  pinnated  foliage  ;  the  flowers 
like  Millifolium  rubrum.  Hardy  herbaceous  plants 
come  out  very  slowly,  compared  with  other  plants. 


^^' 


ih^  (Sardm^r^s  cPmttWg* 


This  continent  I  know  has  been  pretty  well  explor- 
ed between  here  and  California,  but  my  impression 
is  that  there  are  many  good  herbaceous  plants  yet 
between  here  and  there  which  have  not  been  des- 
cribed or  discovered.  You  know  some  plants  are 
very  local  in  their  habitats.  I  wish  Mr.  Hogg  could 
only  penetrate  into  the  interior  of  Japan,  he  would 
find  something  or  other  on  those  mountains  which 
would  be  worth  having,  and  hardy,  also." 


Marvel  of  Four  Seasons  Raspberry— J. 
Subscriber,  Cincinnati,  0. — "  Is  there  any  differ- 
ence between  Belle  de  Fontenay  and  Marvel  of 
Four  Seasons,  and  is  either  one  worth  growing, 
and  if  so,  which  ?  With  me  the  fruit  rarely  sets 
and  is  worthless. ' ' 

[Some  good  pomologists  consider  them  distinct, 
and  point  out  the  differences.  We  believe  them 
to  be  the  same,  as  practically  they  certainly  are.. 

Well  managed  it  is  an  admirable  variety.  The 
chief  thing  is  to  thin  out  the  canes  as  they  grow, 
and  cut  down  in  the  spring  to  about  six  inches  in 
length.  No  garden  of  small  fruits  is  in  our  opinion 
complete  without  this  or  Catawissa.  ] 


Planting  Hot-house  Grapes— ^?i  Amateur 
Grape- groiccr,  Pittsburg,  Pa. — "I  have  been  told 
in  planting  Grape  vines  to  bury  a  cane  down  six 
feet  if  the  plant  be  ten  feet  long,  so  as  to  leave  only 
an  eye  or  two  exposed  ;  is  better  than  to  cut  down 
the  vine  to  two  or  thrQe  eyes  ;  what  is  the  Month- 
ly's opinion?" 

[Not  to  bury  the  cane  dovni ;  but  to  lay  it  hori- 
zontally under  the  ground,  leaving  out  only  an  eye 
or-  two  at  the  end,  is  commendable  practice,  and 
much  better  than  pruning  back  the  vine.] 


Nursery  business  in  California— .4?i,  Al- 
amada  Correspondent  writes : 

"Prices  this  year  are  reduced  nearly  or  quite 
one-half.  Sales  very  limited,  on  account  of  the 
drought.  We  have  had  no  rain  since  Jan.  30th, 
and  5  GO-lOO  inches  up  to  that  time.  Crops  all 
over  suffering,  cattle  dying,  and  prices  for  farm 
produce  up  very  high  :  hay  $50,  wheat  3c  per  lb., 
barley  $3|c.,  oats  $050.  My  nursery  does  not  ap- 
pear to  suffer ;  but  I  dare  not  'sow  or  plant  any 
thing,  and  now  a  complete  stoppage  of  sales.  We 
confidently  expect  rain  shortly.  In  1851,  up  to 
March  11th  3  30-100  inches  fell,  and  3  71-100  after. 
In  1853  over  10  inches,  and  in  1855  over  10  inches, 
that  we  do  not  despair  of  getting  enough  to 
make  our  crop  with. 


Stearic  Acid— J".  II.  B.,  Hartford,  Conn. — 
"  Would  you  oblige  me  by  informing  where  I  can 
find  Stearic  Acid,  mentioned  in  your  Monthly  for 
1862,  some  time  about  November." 

[Stearic  acid  is  but  the  principle  of  tallow.  Pro- 
bably a  pure  Spermaceti  candle  would  be  as  near 
the  article  as  our  correspondent  could  get.] 


Craig  Microscope — .1  Subscriber,  Rochester, 
N".  Y. — "  Will  3'ou  please  inform  me  through  your 
Monthly,  ^'hether  the  Craig  Microscope  would  an- 
swer botanical  purposes?" 

[The  Microscope  in  question  is  very  good  to  give 
a  young  mind  an  idea  of  the  wonders  of  the  invisi- 
ble world,  but  of  DO  use  to  botanical  students.] 


TuE  Grape  Culturist  :  A  Treatise  on  the  Cul- 
tivation of  the  Native  Grape.  By  A.  S.  Fuller. 
We  have  given  this  work  a  careful  perusal,  and 
consider  it  one  of  the  most  valuable  contributions 
to  American  Horticultural  literature  that  has  ap- 
peared for  some  time.  It  treats  first  of  growing 
from  seed,  both  under  glass  and  in  the  open  ground, 
until  their  fourth  or  bearing  year.  Secondly,  Pro- 
pagating by  buds  or  eyes,  showing  its  advantages, 
and  the  most  successful  methods  of  procedure. 
Thirdly,  Propagating  from  unripe  wood,  which  is 
given  in  detail,  though  not  approved  of.  Fourthly, 
Propagating-houses,  with  several  well  designed 
plans  for  the  purpose.  Fifthly,  How  to  raise 
Grape-vines  in  the  open  air.  Sixthly,  Of  Layer- 
ing. Seventhly,  Grafting  the  Grape,— his  most 
successful  plan  being  to  graft  just-  below  the  ground 
in  October,  November,  or  December.  Eighthly, 
Hybridizing  and  Crossing.  Mr.  Fuller  enters  deeply 
into  the  definition  of  the  two  terms,  and  argues  for 
a  difference.  This  is  one  of  the  few  chapters  in  the 
book  on  which  intelligent  readers  will  differ. 
Ninthly,  Transplanting.  Tenthly,  Soil  and  Situa- 
tion. Eleventh,  Stem  appendages,  treating  of  the 
forms  of  leaves,  etc.,  as  furnishing  assistant  char- 
acters in  defining  varieties.  Tivelfth,  Planting  the 
Vine.  Thirteenth,  Grape  Trellises.  Fourteenth, 
Time  to  plant.  Prune  and  Train.  'Fifteenth,  Gar- 
den Culture, — a  useful  chapter,  so  far  as  it  goes, 
but  on  which  we  think  much  more  might  be  said 
to  advantage, — particularly,  instead  of  raising  the 
soil  of  borders,  so  that  the  soil  would  ultimately 
sink  to  the  level  of  the  surrounding  soil,  we  would 
have  it  so  as  to  be  permanently  higher.  '  On  the 


'1 


MC)^ 


143 


W^t  §im\mtx's  Jllantljlj* 


T@ 


manm-ing  and  cultivating  questions,  also,  Mr.  Ful- 
ler is  comniendably  moderate, — not  so  much  as  lie 
might  be,  but  still  on  the  progressive  track.  Six- 
teenth, Miscellanies, — principally  of  thinning  fruit, 
preserving  fruit,  wine  making,  etc.  Seventeenth, 
Insects  and  Diseases.  Nineteenth,  Varieties  and 
Descriptions, — in  which  Mr.  Fuller  gives  his  views 
of  the  merits  of  the  rival  candidates  ;  and  though 
we,  of  course,  as  no  two  men  will  exactly  agree  on 
such  a  subject,  differ  in  some  points  from  the  au- 
thor, we  think  he  has  treated  it  in  a  very  impartial 
manner, — much  more  so,  in  fact,  than  from  his 
past  business  connections  the  public  would  be  will- 
ing to  credit.  Nineteenth,  Review  of  various  sys- 
tems of  Training.  " 

We  are  willing  to  confess  to  an  agreeable  disap- 
pointment on  laying  down  the  work,  as  we  get  to 
the  last  page.  The  book  is  what  it  pretends  to  be 
and  nothing  more.  It  is  not  one  of  those  double 
meaning  things,  which  leaves  you  in  doubt  how 
much  or  what  it  does  mean, — whether,  as  it  pro- 
fesses to  be,  something  entirely  for  your  benefit,  as 
worth  for  the  money  asked  for  it ;  or  whether  it  is 
to  lead  you  on  to  invest  largely  in  the  author's  ma- 
nures, or  his  Grape-vines  ;  or  as  some  other  adver- 
tising dodge.  We  mention  this  fact  because  we 
know  that  a  very  prevalent  feeling  of  mistrust  exists 
in  reference  to  a  small  coterie  of  grape  men,  with 
whose  habits  of  bending  even  principle  to  profit, 
the  public  have  become  disgusted.  Tliis  work  is 
free  from  all  such  blemishes,  and  we  cordially  re- 
commend it  to  all  our  readers. 


Proceedings  op  the  Academy  op  Natural 
Sciences  op  Philadelphia,  for  January. 
This  number  contains  an  interesting  chapter,  en- 
titled "  Notes  of  Botanical  Visits  to  the  lower  part 
of  Delaware  and  the  Eastern  Shore  of  Maryland," 
by  W.  M.  Canby.  Some  very  rare  plants  were  dis- 
covered, and  one  entirely  new,  which  is  described 
in  the  paper  by  Dr.  Asa  Gray  as  Carex  Canhyii. 
The  following  note,  on  a  very  rare  shrub  of  some 
beauty,  will  interest  nurserymen  : 

Alnus  ^iaritima,  Muhl,  !  in  Herb,  et  Plant. 
Amer.  Sept.,  MSS.,  vol.  i..p.  193;  Nutt.,  Sylva, 
vol.  i.  p.  34.  Frequent  in  Sussex  county,  Delaware, 
and  southward  in  Maryland.  Flowering  in  Sep- 
tember !  Specimens  of  this  plant,  consisting  of 
small  branches  with  leaves  only,  exist  in  the  her- 
barium of  Muhlenburg.  In  the  Academy's  herba- 
rium there  are  specimens,  collected  by  Dr.  Picker- 
ing, with  leaves  and  fruit.  By  last  season's  collec- 
tions, the  anomaly  of  a  fall-flowering  alder  is 
brought  to  light.  So  singular  a  departure  from  the 


habit  of  the  genus  may  well  excite  a  doubt  as  to 
whether  it  is  not  a  mere  sport,  or  the  precocious 
blooming  of  an  ordinarily  spring  flowering  plant. 
Yet  the  observations  may  seem  to  preclude  this 
idea.  The  plant  was  noticed  at  several  stations 
over  a  range  of  fifty  miles,  and  in  the  beginning  of 
September  was  everywhere  found  in  blossom.  In 
going  over  much  the  same  ground  about  the  mid- 
dle of  the  month,  the  sterile  catkins  had  all  fallen 
or  withered  ;  and  when  again  observed  in  the  be- 
ginning of  October,  no  preparation  for  spring-flow- 
ering could  be  seen,  although  on  A.  serndata  the 
young  catkins  were  alread3r  an  inch  long.  Next 
season's  observations  will  i^robably  decide  the  ques- 
tion. This  shrub,  or  small  tree,  attains  the  height 
of  16  to  18  feet,  growing  much  like  A.  serrulata,  but 
with  a  more  open  habit,  and  with  the  bark  lighter 
colored.  The  leaves  are  smoth  and  glossy,  on  long- 
ish  petioles,  not  furrowed  above,  thick,  and  strongly 
veined  beneath.  Sterile  catkins  resembling  those 
of  ^4.  incana,  but  the  scales  more  glutinous.  The 
glossy  foliage  and  handsome  sterile  catkins  (should 
they  prove  to  be  regularly  produced  in  the  fall,^ 
would  make  this  a  desirable  shrub  in  lawns,  &c. 


Proceedings  op  the  Missouri  State  Horti- 
cultural Society  for  1863 — 1864. 
This  is  one  of  the  most  interesting  volumes  we 
have  received  from  any  society.  AVe  extract  the  fol- 
lowing essay  from  Dr.  Hull,  of  Alton,  Ills.,  on  ever- 
greens entire.  As  it  presents  some  very  curious  facts 
of  interest  to  Horticulturists  all  over  the  Union.  As 
compared  with  this  point,  some  of  the  things  he 
names  as  hardy  there,  are  here  quite  tender  ;  and  on 
the  other  hand  many  things  that  stand  well  here 
will  not  do  at  all  with  him.  There  is  something  re- 
markable in  these  facts  worth  investigation  : 

EVERGREENS— THEORY  OF  GRAFTING. 

BY  E.    S.    HULL,   ALTON,   ILLS. 

Mr.  President,  and  gentlemen  of  the  Missouri 
Horticultural  Society : 

The  beautiful  tribe  of  evergreen  trees  and  shrubs 
deserves  more  attention  than  they  generally  receive 
in  the  west.  As  I  have  had  the  plants  named  in 
this  paper  in  cultivation,  it  may,  perhaps,  not  be 
amiss  to  give  my  views  and  experience  as  to  the 
adaptability  of  some  of  them  to  our  soil  and 
climate. 

Picea  Cephalonica. — Trees  badly  browned  the 
first  season  ;  all  die  during  the  second  winter. 

Picea  Wehhianna. — When  vigorous  and  well  pro- 
tected, it  is  a  beautiful  tree ;  the  winter  sunshine  is 
destructive  to  it. 


jg9' 


TrrFh 


Siljit  @arhitcr's  P^ntljlg. 


149 


I? 


P/cea  piudi-ow;  P.  nob  His ;  P.  Hudsoiiica;  P. 
Nordmaniana,  and  ijiclita,  have  beeu  classed,  by 
sanguine  amateurs,  as  hardy ;  not  one  of  them  will 
stand  the  wipter  sun-light  unprotected,  nor  will  out 
door  protection  carry  them  to  the  end  of  the  third 
winter. 

Picea  pectiiiata  (The  European  Silver  Fir. )— Is 
a  tree  of  the  highest  excellence  ;  it  deserves  a  place 
in  the  smallest  collection  of  evergreen  trees.  When 
once  established,  its  growth  is  sufficiently  rapid. 
This  tree  is  less  formal  in  its  habit  than  the  Amer- 
ican varie  y  ;  the  leaves  are  broad,  and  of  a  silvery 
green  color,  and  retain  their  freshness  unimpaired 
during  the  winter.  It  is  yet,  unfortunately,  ex- 
pensive and  difficult  to  transplant,  but  must,  ulti- 
mately, take  the  first  rank  among  evergreens  suited 
to  this  climate. 

P.  hahamea  (American  Balsam  Fir.)  — Speci- 
men trees,  plantiid  near  Alton,  in  1845,  now  twenty- 
five  feet  high,  are  objects  of  great  beautj'.  It  holds 
its  foliage,  without  change  of  color,  throughout 
the  year. 

Ahics  cxcelsa  (Norway  Spruce.) — This  tree  is 
easily  transplanted.  It  is  beautiful,  when  young, 
and  improves  with  a^  ;  when  old  it  is  truly  vener- 
able. It  is  valuable  for  screens  and  hedges,  for 
the  lawn  or  groups,  it  is  unrivalled,  and  is  fast  be- 
coming popular  planted  alone,  or  in  belts  on  our 
prairies. 

Abies  pigmcEa. — This  dwarf  will  advance  about 
one  foot  in  ten  years ;  the  foliage  browns  when  ex- 
posed to  the  sun ;  it  may  prove  hardy  in  shady 
situations. 

Abies  ininima. — Tender;  it  mildews,  and  is  in- 
jured by  winter  sunshine. 

Abies  gigantea ;  A.  exeelsa ;  A.  Menziesii ;  A. 
Clanbrasiliana  ;  all  die  early  in  December. 

Abies  Douglasii. — This  tree  is  half  hardy  ;  it  usu- 
ally survives  two  or  three  winters,  gradually  parting 
with  its  foliage. 

Abies  pinsapo,  or  Picea  pinsapo  of  some.  A 
beautiful  tree  ;  at  a  little  distance,  it  somewhat  re- 
sembles the  silver  firs  ;  its  leaves  are  recurved  ;  it 
has  stood  two  winters  well  unprotected. 

Abies  Canadensis. — ^Among  evergreen  trees,  per- 
haps, there  are  none  more  beautiful  than  the  hem- 
lock. It  is  perfectly  hardy,  and,  standing  alone, 
forms  a  broad  low  head,  with  somewhat  irregular 
branches,  clothed  with  a  fine  green  foliage,  of  great 
beauty.  This  tree  is  entirely  free  from  that  stifi- 
ness  which  attaches  to  some  other  trees  of  the  same 
family,  and  cannot  fail  to  attract  the  attention  of 
the  most  indifferent  observer,  especially  when  the 
dark  green  mass  of  foliage  is  moved  by  the  breeze. 

u 

JJ-— — ^^^ — 

^gVj ■ 


Abies  alba  C White  Spruce ;)  A.  nigra  (Black 
Spruce  ;)  and  A.  rubra  (Red  Spruce  ])  well  known 
American  trees ;  hardy,  and  desirable  in  large  col- 
lections. 

Abies  Morinda. — In  England,  in  a  collection  of 
about  one  hundred  choice  sorts  of  evergreen  trees, 
this  beautiful,  weeping  Himalayan  Spruce  was,  per- 
haps, the  most  attractive  sort  among  them.  Here, 
unfortunately,  it  will  only  succeed  when  shaded 
during  the  winter  ;  unprotected,  it  will  endure  two 
or  three  winters,  by  which  time  it  will  be  deprived 
of  all  its  leaves. 

Pinus  sylvcstris  (The  Scotch  Pine.) — This  tree 
is  perfectly  hardy,  and  deserves  to  rank  first  for  its 
real  merits.  It  is  specially  suited  to  our  climate  ; 
its  foliage,  though  stiff,  retains  its  color  frc^sh 
throughout  the  year. 

Pbms  ponderosa. — This  new  tree,  from  the  high 
lands  of  Oregon,  bids  fair  to  become  a  great  acqui- 
sition. The  persistency  of  its  leaves  throughout 
the  year,  without  change  of  color,  the  rapidity  of 
its  growth — thus  far,  exceeding  that  of  any  other 
sort — its  long  leaves,  its  wide  spreading  branches, 
all  combine  to  make  it  a  popular  rival  of  other 
sorts. 

Pinus  Cembra ;  a  remarkable  slow  growing  and 
hardy  sort. 

Pinus  Gerardiana  ;  P.  Lambertiana  ;  P.  insignis  ; 
P.  laricio ;  P.  Llaveana  ;  P.  Pyrenaica  and  aura- 
carise  imbricata,  are  all  tender. 

Pinus  exeelsa. — This  tree  has  often  been  named  as 
superior  to,  and  a  rival  of,  the  White  or  Weymouth 
Pine,  which  it  closely  resembles.  It  mildews,  and 
gradually  parts  with  its  leaves,  and,  somehow  or 
another,  it  is  dead  before  we  are  aware  of  it. 

Finns  Harticegii, — This  beautiful  tree  stood  well 
one  winter,  partly  shaded,  when  it  was  accidentally 
destroyed. 

Finns  Jcffrojana  (Jeffrey's  PineJ — Is  nearly 
hardy  ;  it  has  stood  eight  years  unprotected.  Older 
trees  may  prove  quite  hard}'.  It  makes  a  broad 
spreading  head,  leaves  five  to  seven  inches  long  of 
a  light  green  color,  which  brown  a  little  iu  severe 
winters. 

Finns  Austriaca  (Austrian  Pine.) — This  tree, 
considering  the  ease  in  transplanting;  the  rapidity 
of  its  growth,  its  grand  appearance  in  age,  its  sui- 
tableness to  our  soil  and  climate,  renders  it  valuable 
for  the  lawn,  and  for  planting  in  belts. 

F.  Strobus  (White  or  Weymouth  Pine.) — In 
every  respect  a  desirable  tree  for  this  latitude. 
Too  well  known  to  require  description. 

Cedrus  Deodara — Too  tender  for  further  trial.  A 
lack  of  moisture  in  the  atmosphere  during  the  win- 


150 


SDh^  hardliner's  (Plonthl]). 


tcr  months,  alone  will  kill  it.  Barrels  turned  over 
them  have,  in  some  instances,  failed  to  secure 
the  requisite  degree  of  humidity  needed  for  their 
safety'. 

Ccdrus  argentea  is  not  a  tree  at  all  adapted  to 
our  climate. 

Ccdrus  Lihani  {The  Cedar  of  Lebanon.)— Re- 
peated trials  have  demonstrated  the  unfitness  of 
this  tree  for  the  west ;  when  planted  out,  protec- 
tion will  not  save  it. 

Cedriis  Athntica.— This  tree  has  often  been 
named  as  a  substitute  for  Libani.  Unprotected, 
its  leaves  brown  badly,  and  all  drop  off  except  when 
protected  by  snow. 

Cedrus  Africanus. — Tender. 

Juniperus  escelsa ;  J.  Tamarieifolia ;  J.  Bed- 
fordiana;  J.  ericoides;  J.  oblonga;  J.  repens, 
and  J.  Chineusis,  are  all  tender,  or  their  leaves 
burn  badly. 

J.  hibernica,  half-hardy ;  J.  squamata,  hardy ; 

J.  rccurvea,  a  low  spreading  tree,  of  slow  growth  ; 

it  retains  its  leaves  uninjured.      J.    pendula,    a 

weeping  tree,  quite  hardy,  of  very  slow  growth.   J. 

Sabina  variegata,  may  prove   hardy.      J-  suecica 

(the    Swedish  Juniper,;  well    known ;    nearly  or 

quite  hardy. 

[To  he  continued.] 

Chronicles  of  a  GtArden.    By  Miss  Henrietta 

Wilson. 

We  promised  last  mon^h   to   notice  this  work 

again.  We  cannot  do  better  than  give  the  following 

extract  from  the  book  itself,  by  which  our  readers 

will  be  able  to  form  a  good  opinion  of  its  character  : 

"love  for  trees. 

It  may  appear  absurd  to  tl^e  owners  of  woods 
and  forests  that  the  trees  of  a  villa  garden  should 
be  thought  worthy  of  remark  ;  and  perhaps  some 
persons  may  consider  the  leafy  monarchs  out  of 
place  in  such  a  situation,  and  feel  no  regret  at  see- 
ing them  laid  low  to  make  way  for  beds  and  bor- 
ders. It  is  indeed  grievous  to  see  the  want  of 
taste  and  feeling  shown  on  this  subject  by  almost 
all  classes  concerned  in  the  building  of  suburban 
residences.  Tojudge  by  the  unsparing  use  of  axe 
resoVted  to  when  a  wooded  park  is  '  feued '  for 
villas,  be  they  mansions  or  cottages,  one  would 
think  that  a  fine  tree  or  group  of  trees  was  a  nui- 
sance, to  be  got  rid  of  as  quickly  as  possible  ;  and 
that  no  allotment  of  ground,  whether  of  six  acres 
or  only  consisting  of  one,  could  be  ready  for  either 
building  on  or  laying  out  as  a  garden  or  shrubbery, 
till  every  tree  had  been  uprooted,  and  the  ground 
left  bare  as  the  blasted  heath.   Then  the  roads  and 


pathways  where  once  we  walked  under  shady  syca- 
mores or  spreading  beeches,  alas  for  their  leafy 
honors  now  !  Poor  comfort  it  is  for  those  who 
once  admired — ay,  and  loved  those  noble  trees,  to 
be  told  that  now  the  footpaths  will  be  drier  and 
the  roads  in  better  order,  for  the  litter  of  fallen 
leaves  is  at  an  end,  and  the  sun  and  wind  will  now 
dry  up  all  mud  and  moisture.  How  sadly  do  we 
now  recall  the  rural  beauty  of  one  of  those  by-roads, 
with  its  avenue  of  trees  on  each  side,  and  bounded 
on  the  west  only  by  an  old  crumbling  xvall,  over 
which  one  could  see  into  the  sweet  green  fields, 
gay  with  buttercups  and  daisies,  while  every  here 
and  there,  where  the  road  widened,  there  were  ir- 
regular grassy  knolls  covered  with  whins,  where 
one  might  sit  and  rest,  even  though  it  was  '  within 
a  mile  of  Edinburgh  town.'  First  came  the  repair- 
ing of  that  old  mossy  wall,  so  that  one  could  no 
longer  see  into  the  grass,  or  look  on  the  trunks  of 
the  tall  trees  ;  but  still  their  branches  waved  over- 
head, and  still  the  green  resting-places  remained. 
But  ere  long  the  ground  was  fenced,  the  old  trees 
were  cut  down,  a  staring  stone  and  lime  wall  was 
built,  and  road  and  footpath  were  alike  macadami- 
zed^ or  paved  with  little  hard  stones ;  the  grass 
pared  off,  the  golden  whins  dug  up,  and  the  once 
rural  country  road  was  turned  into  as  dull  and  un- 
interesting a  highway  as  ever  road  contractor  re- 
joiced in.  There  may  be  situations  where  even  a 
fine  tree  is  in  the  wrong  place,  and  must  be  removed 
— if  too  close  to  the  dwelling,  or  where  it  closes  up 
a  fine  view,  or  where  too  crowded  upon  other  trees ; 
but  in  general  the  enjoyment  as  well  as  the  beauty 
of  a  small  place  is  greatly  enhanced  by  large  trees. 
There  is  no  season  when  trees  are  not  a  source 
of  pleasure,  varied  and  unwearied.  You  may  have 
but  one  of  each  kind,  and  you  may  think  you  know 
that  one  well ;  but  watch  it,  study  it,  and  every 
season  of  the  year,  every  change  in  the  weather, 
will  bring  out  new  beauties. 

No  plot  so  narrow,  be  but  Nature  tbero, 
No  waste  so  vacant,  tut  may  vrell  employ 
Each  faculty  of  sense,  and  keep  the  heart 
Awake  to  love  and  beauty. 

If,  as  Arthur  Helps  truly  says,  '  the  moral  ex- 
periments of  the  world  may  be  tried  with  the 
smallest  quantities,'  so  may  the  pleasures  of  the 
woodlands.  One  tree  may  afford  diversified  enjoy- 
ment, not  only  by  its  form,  its  shade,  its  foliage, 
but  by  the  effect  its  leaves  give  to  light,  whether 
it  be  the  '  cool  green  light'  that  is  so  exquisitely 
refreshing,  or  the  brilliant  glow  of  carmine  or  or- 
ange, seen  glinting  through  the  flickering  foliage  at 
noon  or  dewy  eve. 


^^f^ 


SFlui  iarter's  JlontMg. 


151 


I  know  few  saunters  more  enjoyable  than  one 
along  by  a  hedgerow  in  spring  ;  and  when,  as  j'ou 
pause  and  linger  in  delight  over  the  rich  clusters 
of  the  hawthorn  blossom,  a  breeze  passes,  and  the 
ground  is  whitened  with  the  frail  flowers,  do  not 
the  words  of  our  Saviour  come  home  to  the  heart 
— "If  God  so  clothe  the  grass  of  the  field,  which 
to-day  is,  and  to-morrow  is  cast  into  the  oven,  shall 
He  not  much  more  clothe  you,  0  ye  of  little  faith?" 

In  summer  every  one  values  a  tree  for  its  shade, 
as  well  as  for  its  beauty  ;  but  the  latter  quality 
comes  more  into  notice  in  autumn,  when  even  in 
this  country,  there  is  a  coloring  bright  enough  to 
give  us  some  idea  of  the  much  boasted-of  American 
'fall.'  Even  in  that  universally  disliked  weather, 
a  thick  November  fog,  I  have  seen  the  leafless  trees 
assume  a  certain  grandeur,  like  giant  skeletons 
looming  through  the  mist,  and  breaking  up  the 
dull  uniformity  spread  over  the  landscape.  Not 
unfrequently,  also,  does  a  sudden  frost  come  on 
during  the  night,  and  lo  !  the  morning  light  shows 
all  the  trees  sparkling  as  with  diamonds,  the  heavy 
dripping  moisture  changed  to  brilliant  jewels — 
meet  emblem  of  the  depressing  trials  of  the  Chris- 
tian, meekly  and  nobly  borne,  ofttimes  changed  to 
blessings,  and  '  the  garments  of  praise '  given  for 
the  '  spirit  of  heaviness.' 

"Well  may  Kuskin  say  that  no  one  can  be  far 
wrong,  in  way  of  life  or  right  temper  of  mind,  if 
he  loves  the  trees  enough  ;  adding,  "  if  human  life 
be  cast  among  trees  at  all,  the  love  borne  to  them 
is  a  sure  test  of  its  purity.' 

It  has  been  said  that, every  man's  trees  should 
be  cut  down  by  his  neighbor.  I  know  I  should  be 
sorry  to  see  the  best  Samaritan  that  ever  lived  with 
axe  in  hand  among  our  trees.  But  when  a  tree  i^ 
doomed  to  fall,  it  is  wise  to  make  its  removal  now 
the  source  of  pleasure,  instead  of  indulging  vain 
regrets ;  and  it  must  be  admitted  that  very  fre- 
quently its  absence  does  give  great  additional  en- 
joyment, for,  besides  opening  out  a  view  of  distant 
mountain  or  extended  champaign,  there  is  a  pecu- 
liar feeling  of  delight  in  the  expanse  of  sky  now 
seen.  Then  the  pleasure  derivable  from  one  tree 
is  by  no  means  ended  when  it  is  cut  down  ;  to  have 
it  cut  up  and  used  as  firewood  is  another  interest 
connected  with  it,  where  the  gnarled  root  may  be 
put  into  some  shady  corner,  primroses  and  ferns 
planted  in  its  hollow  crevices  and  around  it,  so  that 
it  becomes  a  new  '  thing  of  beauty,'  and  an  addi- 
tional source  of  enjoyment. 


Ptrethrum  Mons.  Barral.— The  introduction 
of  the  PiTethrum  marks  a  new  era  in  flower-garden 
decoration.  Though  an  old  plant,  it  has  only  re- 
cently been  improved  ;  but  the  progress  of  the  im- 
provement has  been  very  rapid.  The  Asters  do 
not  succeed  well  in  our  climate.  This  plant  is  quite 
as  beautiful,  and  like  the  Feverfew,  will  no  doubt 
suit  our  climate  well. 

The  following  is  from  a  sketch  sent  us  by  our 
correspondent,  M,  Yilmorin,  and  will  give  some 
idea  of  the  appearance  of  the  flowers.  Mons.'Y. 
calls  this  variety  3Ions,  Bcural.  It  is  of  deep  car- 
mine rose  color. 


'?V 


152 


®li4  ^ardm^r'a  (P^ontMg, 


There  are  now  all  sorts  of  shades,  from  pure  white 
to  lively  red,  some  single,  ofihers  seem  double,  and 
double, — with  as  many  modifications  of  form  as 
the  Cliina  Aster. 

We  hope  to  see  them  in  several  American  col- 
lections the  coming  season. 


U lllmtration  Horticoh  for  December  contains 
a  faithful  colored  representation,  with  description, 
of  the  following  rare  plant : 

DiERViLLA  (Weigelia)  multiflora.— It  is  a 
matter  of  some  doubt  whether  or  not  botanists  are 
justified  in  separating  the  three  genera  Diervilla, 
Weigelia,  and  Calysphyrum.  The  characteristic 
difierenees  given  as  reasons  for  their  separation  are 
really  so  very  trifling,  that  the  question  arises 
whether  it  is  not  advisable  to  re-unite  them  all  u-n- 
der  the  one  head  Diervilla,  as  it  is  a  matter  of  some 
embarrassment  to  decide  to  which  of  the  three 
genera  named  some  plants  really  belong.  However, 
there  is  no  difficulty  in  deciding  with  respect  to  the 
plant  at  the  head  of  this  paragraph,  as  it  is  in  every 
sense  of  the  word  a  Diervilla.  It  was  discovered 
in  Japan  by  M.  Yon  Siebold  during  his  last  visit 
to  that  country,  and  sent  by  him  to  Europe.  M. 
Verschaffelt  has  procured  the  whole  stock,  and  is 
now  prepared  to  send  them  out.  It  is  a  highly  or- 
namental hardy  shrub,  which,  during  the  flowering 
season  is  covered  profusely  with  bunches  of  five  or 
sis  bright  crimson  flowers,  and  is  undoubtedly  a 
very  great  acquisition  to  our  gardens.  Its  cultiva- 
tion is  easy,  as  it  will  grow  in  any  light,  rich, 
friable  soil,  and  it  may  be  readily  propagated  by 
cuttimrs  and  suckers. 


MiMULUS  TIGRIDIOIDES.— A  new,  very  beautiful 
and  distinct  strain,  obtained  by  hybridizing  the 
Ttlimulus  cupreus  with  the  best  named  varieties  of 
Mimulus.  The  dwarf  habit  and  freedom  of  growth 
of  these  desirable  novelties  render  them  great  ac- 
quisitions for  flower-garden  bedding  ;  and  for 
Greenhouse  and  conservatory  decoration  they  are 
invaluable,  equaling  the  finest  herbaceous  Calceo- 
larias in  the  variety  of  their  brilliant  colors. 


PiNUS  Peuce. — ^We  have  received  from  Messrs. 
Hague  &  Schmidt,  of  Erfurt,  fine  specimens  of  this 
rare  Fir,  which  is  nearly  related  to  Strobus,  and  by 
no  means  to  Cembra.  It  is  the  Penhe  of  the  Grreeks, 
and  grows  wild  in  Macedonia  on  the  sides  of  Mount 
Peristeri,  on  granite  soil,  to  an  elevation  of  near 
2000  yards,  at  which  height,  however,  it  becomes 
a  scrubby  gnarled  tree.  Grordon's  account  of  it  is 
a  miserable  mess  of  blunders. 


DiCTYOPTERis  VARIANS.— This  bold-habited  and 
very  distinct  fern  was  introduced  some  two  or  three 
years  since  to  the  Edinburgh  Botanic  Garden  from 
Calabar.  It  is  remarkable  amongst  the  poly- 
podioid  net-veined  species  for  its  very  co- 
pious and  very  irregularly  disposed  and  variously 
formed  sori.  "its  fronds  produce  from  six  to  twelve 
bold-looking  oblong  pinnce,  which  are  of  thickish 
texture  and  somewhat  irregular  at  the  edge,  term- 
inating abruptly  in  a  narrow  tail-like  point  fully  an 
inch  long.  The  caudex  is  thick,  and  covered  with 
lanceolate  acuminate  appressed  brown  scales.  The 
fronds  are  of  a  dull  deep  green  color,  and  grow 
from  a  foot  and  a  half  to  two  feet  high,  and  from 
fourteen  to  twenty  inches  broad.  The  plant  is  well 
adapted  for  pot  culture,  on  account  of  the  freely 
branching  character  of  its  creeping  caudices.  At 
the  under  surface  of  the  anterior  base  of  the  pinnae 
tubercular  processes  are  formed,  which  ultimately 
assume  the  rhizomatic  character,  giving  oiF  fronds 
and  rootlets.  For  some^of  these  observations  on 
the  habit  of  the  plant  I  am  indebted  to  Mr,  Scott, 
of  the  Edinburgh  Botanic  Garden. — T.  M.,  xn 
(JlironidQ. 


Helichrtsum  Mannii  CMr.  Mann's  Helichry- 
sum.) — Nat.  ord.^  Compositge.  Xi'H?i. ,  Syngenesia 
superflua.  Who  does  not  even  in  his  nursery  days 
remember  the  "Yellow  Everlasting"  on  the  mantle- 
shelf?  and  Sir  W.  Hooker  says  that  "the  present 
noble  species,  if  it  can  be  retained  in  our  gardens 
and  increased,  may  revive  the  taste  for  the  genus." 
It  is  a  native  of  Fernando  Po,  and  the  Cameroon 
Mountains,  at  heights  from  4000  to  13,000  feet 
above  the  sea's  level. — {Bot.  Mag.  t.  5431.) 


AsPLENRTM  EERiTLACErM. — A  very  distinct  and 
most  beautiful  tropical  fern,  with  something  the  as- 
pect of  B.  scandeiis,  but  more  compound,  and  diff- 
ering entirely  in  its  short,  erect,  not  creeping  cau- 
dex. The  fronds  stand  up  around  this  short  up- 
right stem,  and  have  stout  stalks  or  stripes,  a  foot 
in  length,  and  a  very  much  divided  lamina,  four  or 
five  times  pinnate,  a  foot  and  a  half  long,  and  about 
a  foot  in  breadth  at  the  base.  The  whole  frond  is 
smooth,  and  of  a  clear  green  color.  The  secondary 
pinnae  are  somewhat  deflexed  from  the  plane  of  the 
frond ;  and  the  ultimate  segments  are  alj  narrow 
linear,  with  blunt  rounded  ends,  the  uppermost  on 
the  ultimate  pinnules  simple,  the  lower  two  or 
three  cleft.  The  species  belong  to  the  Darea  group, 
and  is  a  most  charming  addition  to  the  other  hand- 


^^^^ 


Mi  ^mkm'a  .piontMg. 


153        .  U 


some  species  of  this  section  already  in  cultivation. 
It  is  found  in  New  Grenada,  where  it  was  gathered 
by  Hartweg  (No.  1519;)  and  in  Quito,  where  it 
was  found  by  Jameson.  The  cultivated  plants-, 
which  we  have  seen  in  the  nursery  of  Mr.  Bull,  of 
Chelsea,  are  stated  to  have  been  obtained  from 
'Cortago,  in  Central  America.  Its  finely  cut  Ferula- 
Uke  fronds  will,  wd  have  no  doubt,  render  it  quite 
a  favorite  among  cultivators. 


An  Orange  Tree  Borer  has  appeared  in  the 
Orange  districts  of  Spain,  which  a  correspondent 
of  the  Gardener  s  Chronicle  says,  has  caused  the 
losses  of  the  growers  to  be  enormous.  Many  of 
the  trees  cannot  be  got  to  live  over  three  or  four 
years  on  account  of  the  borer. 

Character  of  a  Good  Rose. — The   Ldndon 

Gardener  s  Chronicle  says  the  flat,  hard  petaled  va- 
rieties are  growing  out  of  favor.  Those  that  have 
cupped  petals  are  now  fashionable.  Of  this  class 
it  names  as  the  most  popular  English  varieties. 
Senateur  vaisse,  Comtesse  de  Chabrillant,  General 
Jacqueminot,  Gloire  de  Santenayj  Madame  Fur- 
tado.  Beauty  of  "Waltham,  Madame  Vidot,  and 
Madame  Rivers. 


Variation  in  Fruits. — Noticing  the  Canadian 
exhibition  of  fruits  in  London,  the  Gardener's 
Chronicle  remarks  :  ' '  The  Belle  Lucrative  should 
be  the  same  as  the  Fondante  d'Automne,  but  from 
the  drawing  it  is  doubtful.  The  Doyenne  d'Hiver 
should  be  the  same  as  Easter  Beurre,  but  the  fig- 
ure is  that  of  something  quite  different."  No 
doubt  from  what  we  know  of  the  difficulty  of  iden- 
tifying fruit  grown,  in  our  wide  spread  localities, 
our  Canadian  friends  had  their  fruit  correctly  fig- 
ured ;  and  the  extract  shows  how  careful  we  all 
should  be  in  pronouncing  decisively  on  the  '  erroi's' 
of  others  without  a  large  experience. 


Division  of  Vine-Borders. — The  utility  of 
this  may  be  questioned,  and  the  idea  may  seem  no- 
vel, and,  perhaps,  interesting  to  some  ;  but  im- 
provement comes  looming  in  the  distance,  and  in 
the  process  of  time  they  become  immediate  reali- 
ties. The  plan  I  advance  is,  that  the  roots>  of 
every  individual  vine  be  separated  fi-om  those  of  its 
fellows  by  a  four-inch  brick  wall  running  transver- 
sely through  the  border,  both  outside  and  in. 

Bv  the  above  means  more  command  is  gained 


over  every  plant.  First,  in  withholding  or  giving 
moisture  according  to  the  individual  necessities  and 
constitutions  of  the  plants,  for,  in  general,  vineries 
are  planted  with  different  varieties :  hence,  the  ap- 
plication. Second,  it  facilitates  the  lifting  or  trans- 
planting of  any  individual  vine,  and  completely 
obviates  the  necessity  of  crippling  the  roots  of  that 
particular  vine,  or  those  of  its  fellows.  Third,  in 
renewing  the  soil,  a  compost  may  be  given  suitable 
to  the  appetite  of  any  variety  of  vine.  Again, 
when  a  limited  pumber  of  vines  are  grown,  and  a 
continuous  supply  demanded,  when  the  vines  wear 
out  from  constant  hard  forcing,  the  replanting  of 
the  house  would  be  easily  effected  by  taking  out 
every  alternate  vine,  or  every  third  vine,  so  that  in 
three  years  the  house  might  be  renewed,  both  in 
plants  and  soil,  and  never  miss  a  crop.  These 
brick  walls  would  also  assist  in  airing  and  keeping 
the  border  sweet. — P.  M.,  Comhe  Ahhey. 

[We  think  all  your  reasons  good  ones,  except 
the  airing  of  the  border.  We  do  not  see  that  solid 
brick  walls  would  help  that  much. 

Many  years  ago  Mr.  Mearns  planted  his  vines  in 
separate  pits  or  boxes,  so  to  speak  ;  and  at  one  of 
our  best  places,  we  recollect  some  fifteen  years  ago 
seeing  early  vines  so  planted  in  separate  boxes,  and 
a  flue  below  them,  which  answered  well,  and  per- 
mitted of  changing  and  renewing  as  you  suggest. 
In  fact,  no  doubt  the  plan  would  be  more  general 
but  for  the  expense;  gardeners  find  enough  of  trou 
ble  to  get  a  border  done,  let  alone  dividing  it  with 
walls.  —  Cot.  Gar.\ 

[American  enterprise  was  not  frightened  by  the 
expense,  but  under  the  leadership  of  friend  Bright, 
tried  the  plan  extensively  and  utterly  failed.— -Ed. 
G.  M.l 

Culture  op  Perennial  Phloxes.— There  are 
few  herbaceous  plants  superior  to  the  many  beau- 
tiful varieties  of  Phlox  decussata,  combining  as 
they  do  fragrance,  beauty,  and  size  of  flower,  with 
rich  variety  of  color.  They  are  well  known  also  as 
being  late  autumn-flowering  plants,  gifted  with  a 
hardihood  that  enables  the  most  delicate  of  the 
newer  varieties,  with  very  slight  assistance,  to 
withstand  the  assaults  of  frost  with  impunity. 
They  are  almost  without  an  exception,  readily  pro- 
pagated by  the  young  growths  of  spring,  which 
growths  are  already  discernible  above  ground. 
These  should  be  taken  off  when  with  two  or  three 
joints,  and  struck  like  Calceolarias.  Plants  are  also 
readily  multiplied  by  division  of  the  old  stool  of  a 
year  or  more  old,  though  I  have  a  preference  for 
properly-treated  cuttings,  which  make  very  hand- 


jUc^. 


154 


%k  (Bmkmfs  ilonthls. 


some  plants  the  second  season.  Phloxes  delight  in 
a  light  loamy  soil,  especially  if  with  a  slight  sprink- 
ling of  good  decomposed  leaf  mould  intermixed.  I 
would  observe,  more  especially,  one  marked  feature 
in  their  successful  treatment,  attention  to  which 
increases  materially  not  only  their  large  heads  of 
flower,  but  also  the  well-being  of  the  plants  gener- 
ally. They  should  at  all  times  be  in  a  place  shaded 
from  the  midsummer  sun  between  the  hours  of  10 
and  3,  as  from  the  very  delicate  texture  of  the  flor- 
ets these  become  very  readily  scorched. 

In  such  a  partially-shaded  border  I  would  plant 
out  a  few  of  the  more  showy  and  better  varieties, 
having  the  shortest,  some  of  which  barely  reach  12 
inches  high,  in  front.  What  a  beautiful  little  plant 
as  an  edging,  or  for  the  front  row,  would  be  the 
Phlox  frondosa.  Before  planting  it,  it  would  be 
advisable  to  form  (slightly  covered  with  the  soil, 
and  slightly  mound-shaped,^  a  ridge  with  moderate 
sized  stones,  say  four  or  five  thick,  upon  which  to 
plant  them  firmly.  This  little  frondosa  I  seldom 
meet  with  grown  successfully ;  its  neat  little 
branches  are  3  or  4  inches  high,  and  covered, 
Heath-like,  with  pointed  leaves  ;  and  it  bears,  for 
its  size,  a  large  and  lively  flower,  in  color  some- 
what of  a  dark  rose. — Cot.  Gardener. 


Azaleas  Done  Blooming. — About  a  fortnight 
after  blooming  they  should  be  repotted,  giving  but 
a  very  small  shift — that  is,  just  suflicient  to  let 
some  fresh  compost  be  put  between  the  ball 
and  the  pot.  The  ball  should  not  be  disturbed, 
only  the  drainage  being  removed.  Perfect  drain- 
age must  be  provided  for  in  the  new  pot.  Employ 
a  compost  formed  o  sandy  brown  peat  three-fourths, 
and  turfy  yellow  loam  one-fourth,  with  a  free  ad- 
mixture of  silver  sand.  In  potting  the  crown  of 
the  plant  should  be  kept  rather  high.  After  pot- 
ting, place  in  a  moist-  and  rather  shaded  pit  or 
house  with  a  mininum  temperature  of  60°,  and  a 
rise  by  day  of  from  15  to  25°.  They  should  be  well 
sj'ringcd  morning  and  evening  until  the  growth  is 
made,  when  the  plants  should  have  abundant  light 
and  air,  with  less  moisture,  until  the  buds  are  set, 
when  they  should  be  removed  to  a  light,  well-ven- 
tilated, cold  house.  In  this  situation  they  will  need 
watering  when  necessary,  and  a  little  fire  now  and 
then  to  dry  up  damp  and  excluded  frost.  If  you 
have  a  vinery  just  now  starting  that  will  be  an  ad- 
mirable place  for  the  Azaleas ;  for  when  the  grapes 
are  ripening  the  Azaleas  will  have  set  their  buds, 
and  that  is  the  time  to  remove  them  to  a  cho\, 
light,  well-ventilated  greenhouse,  where  they  should 
be  wintered. — Cot.  Gar. 

<r~ — "w^)     


The  Grape  '  Archfield  Muscat,'  is  receiving  fa- 
vor among  English  Grape  growers  as  one  of  the 
earliest  and  best. 


Triteleia  uniflora. — This  is  an  elegant  little 
blue  flowering  bulb  from  Buenos  Ayres.  It  is  al- 
most, if  not  quite  hardy,  but  does  well  under  green- 
house ti-eatment.  Keep  it  well  supplied  with  wa- 
ter whilst  flowering,  and  when  the  weather  becomes 
warm,  in  the  latter  part  of  May,  turn  it  out, 
plunging  the  pot  in  a  dry  sunny  border.  Take  the 
pot  up  in  September,  and  repot  the  plant,  disturb- 
ing the  ball  as  little  as  possible,  taking  care  to  se- 
cure good  drainage.  It  does  well  wintered  in  a 
greenhouse  near  the  glass.  It  usually  flowers  in 
June,  and  we  should  therefore  fancy  your  plant  has 
been  rather  warmer  than  is  requisite;  it  will  flower 
next  year  if  not  made  weak  by  too  much  heat. 
We  should  like  to  know  if  any  others  of  the  Trite- 
Icias  are  in  cultivation  ^t  present,  especially  the 
North  American  species. — Lo7i.  Cot.  Gar. 


Varnishing  Calico. — To  render  this  a  substi- 
tute for  glass,  use  linseed  oil  one  quart,  acetate  of 
lead  one  ounce,  white  resin  three  ounces.  Grind 
the  lead  with  a  little  of  the  oil  on  a  stone  slab  ;  add 
the  remainder  of  the  oil  and  the  resin,  and  incor- 
porate thoroughly  in  a  large  iron  pot  over  a  slow 
fire.  Apply  whilst  hot  to  the  calico  stretched 
loosely,  by  means  of  tacks  upon  the  fi-ame.  When 
cold  it  is  fit  for  use,  and  may  be  tacked  on  the 
frame  tightly,  i3utting  a  piece  of  tape  between  the 
tacks'  heads  and  the  calico.  The  composition 
should  be  applied  with  a  brush. 


Lifting  the  Roots  of  Vines,  and  Eenew- 
ing  toe  Border. — Co]itviuedfrom2Mge79. — The 
bottom  or  site  for  the  border  should  be  gradually 
sloped  ofi"  from  the  front  of  the  vinery  to  the  ex- 
treme front  of  the  border,  where  the  main  d;  ain  is 
to  be  laid,  and  if  practicable  give  it  a  fall  of  1  foot 
in  12.  When  it  is  necessary  from  the  bad  subsoil 
to  concrete  the  bottom,  in  a  casecf  this  sort  I  have, 
for  the  sake  of  getting  on  quickly  with  the  work, 
formed  a  firm  surface  for  the  drainage  to  rest  on, 
by  first  putting  a  layer  of  stone  of  the  size  of  the 
road  metal  over  the  surface,  and  beating  it  into  the 
clay,  and  then  placing  the  whole  up  with  concrete. 
This  at  oneo  gives  a  bottom  on  which  tiles  and 
brickbats  car  V.o  laid  without  tearing  up  the  fresh- 
laid  concrete.  The  tiles  and  drainage  being  all  ad- 
justed as  already  described,  put  a  layer  of  thin  turf 
over  the  whole,  with  the  grass  downwards,  if  such 
can  be  had ;  if  not,  a  thin  layer  of  straw,  or  the 


■5^?:^ 


i^%? 


roughest  part  of  the  soil.  While  the  drainage  is 
being  completed,  I  would  advise  that  upright  pipes 
be  fixed  close  to  the  front  wall  of  the  vinerj',  and 
connected  with  the  tile  drains  in  the  bottom, 
and  a  similar  series  of  funnels  along  the  front  in 
connection  with  the  main  drain.  This  will  in  hot 
weather  give  the  power  of  admitting  a  circulation 
of  air  beneath  the  border,  and  the  pipes  can  be 
plugged  up  at  night.  In  cases  where  the  border 
extends  inside  the  vinery,  the  one  set  of  air-holes 
should,  of  course,  be  inside  the  house,  when  the 
circulation  of  air  will  be  mpre  effectual  from  the 
difference  of  temperature. 

The  new  soil  should  be  laid  on  in  layers,  and 
rather  firmly  beaten  down  with  a  closely-pronged 
fork  to  prevent  its  subsiding  much  and  dragging 
down  the  roots  of  the  vines.  When  filled  up  to 
within  10  inches  or  a  foot  of  the  desired  level,  the 
roots  of  the  vines  should  be  disentangled  and  care- 
fully and  regularly  spread  out  over  it.  Immedi- 
ately over  them  place  a  thin  layer  of  the  finest  of 
the  soil,  and  then  fill  up  with  it,  just  as  it  comes, 
to  the  level,  which  should  always  be  a  little  higher 
than  is  ultimately  desired,  to  allow  for  subsiding, 
but  never  cover  the  roots  deeper  than  10  or  12 
inches. 

The  depth  of  border  should  be  at  front  of  vinery 
2  feet  9  inches,  sloping  off  2  feet  at  the  extremity 
of  the  border. 

Vines  that  are  thus  lifted  and  replanted  by  the 
middle  of  September,  when  they  are  still  in  leaf, 
and  the  temperature  of  the  soil  still  high,  should 
have  the  new  border  snugly  covered  up  with  a  foot 
deep  of  some  nonconducting  material,  such  as  fern, 
straw,  or  leaves,  with  a  covering  over  all  of  wooden 
shutters  or  straw,  to  completely  protect  it  from  rain. 
This  will  prevent  the  radiation  of  heat,  and  protect 
the  young  rootlets  made  in  autumn  from  wet  in 
winter.  Immediately,  or  even  before  the  vines  are 
lifted,  a  shading  of  some  thin  materiaj,  such  as  tif- 
fany, should  be  fixed  on  the  roof  of  the  vinery,  to 
keep  the  leaves  from  being  exposed  to  the  full  sun. 
The  house  should  be  kept  close  and  moist,  to  pre- 
vent as  much  as  possible  the  leaves  from  flagging. 
Generally,  some  of  the  oldest  leaves  drop  off,  but 
with  attentive  management  in  the  matter  of  keep- 
ing the  atmosphere  moist  and  rather  close,  root- 
action  soon  commences,  and  the  laterals  will  make 
fresh  growth,  which  should  be  encouraged  for  a  few 
weeks.  After  the  vines  have  recovered  the  shock 
the  shading  should  be  removed,  the  atmospheric 
moisture  reduced,  and  more  air  admitted.  Should 
the  weather  be  cold,  as  it  often  is  about  the  end  of 
September  and  beginning  of  October,   fire  heat 


should  be  applied,  particularly  during  cold  nights. 

Vines  requiring  such  radical  treatment  as  this 
are  generally  not  well  ripened  ;  and  if  a  crop  is  ex- 
pected next  season,  and  for  the  improvement  of  the 
constitution  of  the  vines,  fire  heat  should  be  ap- 
plied with  a  regular  but  not  violent  cu'culation  of 
air  throughout  October,  to  ripen  the  wood,  which 
object  for  the  present  is  next  in  importance  to 
getting  the  vines  to  make  fresh  roots  in  their  new 
bed  of  earth. 

In  spring,  and  just  as  the  vines  begin  to  swell  their 
buds  without  fire  heat,  a  bed  of  warm  leaves,  or  leaves 
.  and  stable  dung  mixed  together,  should  be  placed 
over  the  surface  of  the  border  in  plan  of  winter  cov- 
ering put  on  in  autumn.  This  will  throw  a  little  heat 
into  the  border  and  assist  the  progress  of  the  vines 
very  much.  The  vines  should  not  be  hurried  in 
their  progress,  and  only  a  light  crop  of  fruit  should 
be  taken,  even  should  they  show  plenty  of  fruit, 
which  must  not  be  too  sanguinely  looked  for. 

When  the  operation  of  lifting  is  performed  in 
spring,  when  the  vines  are  about  to  start,  the  bed 
of  hot  fermenting  material  should  be  applied  im- 
mediately the  work  is  done.  The  vines  should  be 
slung  down  further  from  the  glass  than  the  ordinary 
cases;  and  instead  of  forcing  them  on  &llow  them, 
so  to  speak,  to  feel  their  way.  They  must  be  ex- 
pected to  break  more  weakly  than  usual ;  and  in 
order  to  assist  the  young  growths  to  support  them- 
selves till  the  roots  are  brought  fairly  into  play,  a 
moist  atmosphere  must  be  kept  up,  particularly 
during  bright  weather,  and  they  will  soon  establish 
themselves,  and  bear  a  moderate  crop  of  fruit. 
The  bed  of  leaves  should  not  be  removed  from  the 
border  till  midsummer,  and  then  a  slight  mulching 
of  dung  should  be  substituted.  Where  leaves 
cannot  be  procured,  as  is  the  case  with  many  ama- 
teurs, a  load  or  two  of  stable-manure  will  answer 
the  purpose ;  and  wherever  that  is  not  attainable 
the  next  best  thing  to  do  is  to  cover  the  border  with 
something  that  will  prevent  chilling  winds  and  rains 
from  influencing  it. 

In  all  other  matters  in  the  routine  of  culture, 
our  correspondents  must  consult  works  on  the  sub- 
ject, and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  what  has  been  said 
will  be  of  service  to  them,  and  others  similarly  sit- 
uated, who  have  not  had  experience  in  lifting  the 
roots  of  vines.— D.  Thomson  in  Cottage  Gar. 

•   MuTisiA  DECURRENS  has  recently  bloomed  in 
England.     Dr.  Lindley  says  "when  the  hardiness  . 
of  the  plant,  its  free  blooming  character,  and  the 
large  size  and  brilliant  orange  of  its  flower  heads 
are  taken  into  account,  this  may  be  estimated  as 


-'^Kr 


-!3B' 


156 


CIjc  @anleiter's  (P^cnt^Ij^ 


one  of  the  finest  of  hardy  climbers  recently  intro- 
duced." 


Habit  of  Conifer^.— In  Europe  it  is  under- 
stood that  coniferae  very  rarely  make  new  leaders 
after  losing  the  originals.  In  America  all  but  Pi- 
nus  make  new  leaders  readily — Ahies  and  Picea 
particularly  so. 

Preserving  Oranges  and  Lemons.— In  Egypt 
these  ripen  about  January.  They  are  preserved 
till  June  by  being  packed  in  half  dried  sand  in  lay- 
ers of  about  six  deep,  and  with  two  inche^s  of  sand 
between  each  layers. 

The  Pomegranate  Moth. —  Misery  loves 
company,  and  it  is  in  some  sense  a  consolation  to 
know  that  other  countries  have  their  insect  troubles 
as  well  as  we.  The  Pomegranite  is  the  commonest 
fruit  in  every  Egyptian  Garden  ;  but  just  as  the 
fruit  is  well  set  a  moth  lays  its  eggs  in  the  fruit, 
which  is  thus  rendered  worthless.  But  the  Egyp- 
tians do  not  vote  Pomegranite  growing  '  a  humbug' 
on  that  account,  but  enclose  the  bushes  in  finely 
wove  palm  leaf  baskets,  when  danger  is  appre- 
hended, and  thus  get  as  many  fruit  as  they  want. 


Thyrsacanthus  Kutilans  for  Dinner-table 
Decorations. — I  have  been  much  interested  in  the 
various  articles  on  this  head,  which  have  recently 
appeared  in  your  Journal ;  and  I  write  to  express 
my  surprise  that  Mr.  Kobson  has  omitted'  in  his 
list  Thyrsacanthus  rutilans. 

It  is,  when  well  grown,  perhaps  one  of  the  most 
suitable  as  well  as  most  splendid  plants  for  this 
purpose.  Its  long,  tropical-looking,  jointed  stem 
carries  the  crown  above  the  line  of  visions ;  while 
its  delicate  pendent  racemes  of  brilliant  scarlet 
flowers,  show  brilliantly  by  candlelight,  without  in- 
tercepting the  view.  I  speak  from  particular  ex- 
perience at  my  own  table.— A.  D.  A.  in  London 
Cottage  Gardener. 

Iron  Green  Houses.— On  the  relative  merits 
of  wood  and  iron  houses  for  horticultural  purposes, 
much  information  would  be  elicited  if  the  subject 
were  freely  discussed,  each  writer  giving  his  opinion 
on  the  matter. 

My  own  views  of  the  case  are  certainly  in  favor 
of  wood,  but  I  am  by  no  means  opposed  in  any 
prejudiced  way  of  iron.  I  certainly  think  that 
wooden  houses  have  approached  much  nearer  to 

4"^    perfection  than  those  made  of  iron ;  but  that  the 
J  latter  may  make  great  advances  I  have  no  doubt, 


for  it  is  only  by  degrees  that  such  progress  is  really 
made  ,  and  we  are  told  that  this  is  the  age  of  iron, 
and  if  we  look  at  the  many  great  objects  attained 
by  the  use  of  that  metal,  the  justness  of  the  ob- 
servation is  beyond  a  question.  Perhaps  the  ad- 
vocates of  iron  for  hothouses  received  a  great  re- 
pulse by  the  universal  condemnation  that  has 
passed  on  the  large  domes  at  the  International  Ex- 
hibition in  1862  ;  but  on  the  other  hand,  they  have 
the  Crystal  Palace,  as  an  example  of  structure,  in 
which  iron  may  be  used  to  advantage  to  a  certain 
extent,  but  in  that  case  very  little  is  used  as  glazing- 
bars.  Some  railway  stations  also  afi"ord  examples 
of  the  same  kind,  but  on  the  whole  the  art  of  buil- 
ding metallic  houses  for  horticultural  purposes  is 
yet  far  from  being  perfect. — London  Cottage 
Gardener. 


Scenery  near  Yedo. — Never  in  my  wander- 
ings in  any  other  country  did  I  meet  with  such 
charming  lanes  as  we  passed  through  on  this  occa- 
sion. Sometimes  they  reminded  me  of  what  I  had 
met  with  in  some  of  the  country  districts  of  Eng- 
land ;  but  I  was  compelled,  notwithstanding  early 
prejudices,  to  admit  that  nothing  in  England  even 
could  be  compared  to  them.  Large  avenues  and 
groves  of  Pines,  particularly  of  Cryptomeria,  were 
frequently  met  with,  fringing  the  roads,  and  afi"ord- 
ing  most  delicious  shade  from  the  rays  of  the  sun. 
Now  and  then  magnificent  hedges  were  observed, 
composed  sometimes  of  evergreen  Oak,  sometimes 
of  Cryptomeria  japonica  and  other  Evergreens. 
These  were  kept  carefully  clipped,  and  in  some  in- 
stances they  were  trained  to  a  great  height,  re- 
minding one  of  those  high  hedges  of  Holly  or  Yew 
which  may  sometimes  be  met  with  in  the  parks  or 
gardens  of  our  English  nobility.  Everywhei-e  ihQ 
cottages  and  farm-houses  had  a  neat  and  clean  ap- 
pearance, such  as  I  had  never  observed  in  any  other 
part  of  the  East.  Frequently  we  came  upon  tea- 
houses for  the  refreshment  of  travellers ;  and  these 
had  little  gardens  and  fish-ponds  in  their  rear,  of 
which  glimpses  were  obtained  as  we  rode  slowly  by. 
The  scenes  was  always  changing  and  always  beauti- 
ful—hill and  valley,  broad  roads  and  shaded  lanes, 
houses  and  gardens,  with  a  people  industrious,  but 
unoppressed  with  toil,  and  apparently  happy  and 
contented.  Such  is  the  appearance  of  the  sylvan 
scenery  in  the  vicinity  of  Yedo.  I  could  scarcely 
fancy  myself  on  the  borders  of  one  of  the  largest 
and  most  populous  cities  in  the  East,  with  a  popu- 
lation of  two  millions  of  human  beings,  and  cover- 
ing nearly  100  square  miles  of  land. — Fortunes 
' '  Yedo  and  Peking. ' ' 


JS&. 


§hu  ©ardati^r's  lHontltto. 


CuLTiTRE  OF  Cyclamens. — We  select  from  the 
lovely  Erythroniums,   Primulas,  Doronicums,  and 
the  rest  of  the   spring  flowers,  one  which  might 
claim  pre-eminence  for  beauty  if  it  did  not  happen 
also  to  be  one  of  the  most  modest ;  and  endeavor 
to  carry  the  thoughts  of  our  readers  forward  by 
proposing  the  more  extensive  cultivation  of  the 
Cyclamen  as  a  task  admirably  adapted  to  the  range 
of  practice  and  means  of  the  majority  of  amateur 
cultivators,  and  as  one  of  the  best  of  all   plants 
known  for  the  entertainment  of  lady  gardeners.  If 
the  enthusiasm  for  bedding  plants  would  only  leave 
its  victims  an  hour  of  Icisul-e,  and  a  spare  corner  of 
the   brain  for  a  thought  about  spring  flowers,  we 
should  see  as  many  Cyclamens  as  Geraniums  in 
all  private  gardens,  the  hardy  kinds  showing  their 
bloom  in  the  borders  in  the  first  flush  of  the 
spring,  and   the  tender  kinds  filling   stages  and 
shelves  in  the  greenhouse,   and  giving  a  coiq)  de 
grace    to    the    dinner    table    and    drawing  room 
window ;    for   a  few  flowering   Cyclamens  beside 
one   during  a  deluge   in   February  or  a  howling 
March  wind  enable   us  to   antedate   the  summer 
when  it  is  yet  very  far  off",  and  experience  some  of 
the  warmth  and  fragrancy  already  in  our  plants. 
What  a  matchless  grace  is  there  in  the  Cyclamen  ! 
its  deep  green  shining  leaves  like  a  cluster  of  fairy 
shields,  its  delicately  tinted  and  deliciously  odorous 
flowers  elegantly  poised   on  their  slender  stems, 
like  banners  and  beacons  for  Puck  and  his  play- 
mates, the  wonder  is  that  it  has  not  some  such 
place  in  story  and  song  as  the  Violet,  the  Rose, 
and  the  Primula  ;  and  indeed  it  would  have  had  a 
first  place,  had  nature  but  have  sprinkled  its  blos- 
soms on  our   plains  as  she   has   sprinkled  them 
among  the  slopes  of  the  Alps  and  Pyrenees,  and 
among  the  woods  and  wastes  of  Georgia  and  Cyprus. 
Indeed  we  can  almost  claim  Cj^clamen  hederaifo- 
lium,  the  Ivy-leaved  Sowbread,  as  a  native,  for  it 
is  said  to  be  found  growing  wild  in  some  Welsh  lo- 
calities, and  in  Deakin's  "  Florigraphia  "  habitats 
are  assigned  it  at  Bramfield,  Suff"olk  ;  Sandhurst 
Green,  and  Goudhurst,  Kent. 

Dr.  Deakin  says  of  this  species,  "It  is  frequent 
in  the  woods  and  shady  places  in  various  parts  of 
Italy  ;  and  so  profuse  in  some  districts  about  Pisa, 
as  to  give  the  surface  of  the  ground  an  apparent 
clothing,  at  a  distance,  of  a  delicate  pink  tissue." 

SPECIES   OF  CYCLAMENS. 

The  Cyclamen  takes  its  name  from  JcnJchs,  "a 
circle,"  probably  from  the  circles  formed  by  the 
spiral  peduncles.  In  the  natural  system,  it  is  classed 
with   the  Primulacese,  and  is  only  distinguished 


from  the  true  Primulas  by  its  peculiar  outlines, 
and  the  coiling  of  the  peduncle,  its  formation  being 
precisely  the  same,  the  stamens  being  attached  to 
the  lobes  of  the  corolla,  instead  of  being  alternate 
to  them,  as  in  most  other  plants,  and  the  capsule 
being  only  onc-cellcd. 

The  species  may  be  classed  as  hardy  and  tender. 
The  hardy  kinds  are  C.  coum,  C.  Europaeum,  C. 
hederasfolium,  C.  ibericum,  C.  latifolium,  C.  lin- 
earifolium,  C.  littorale,  C.  Neapolianum,  and  C.~ 
Vernum.  The  tender  species  are  C.  Persicum  and 
C.  repandum. 

CULTURE  or  HARDY  CYCLAMENS. 

It  would  be  a  folly  to  deal  with  hardy  Cyclamens 
as  We  deal  with  most  other  hardy  spring  flowers, 
because  if  exposed  to  all  the  rigors  of  the  early  sea- 
son at  which  they  bloom,  nothing  but  disappoint- 
ment is  to  be  expected.     Hardy  Cyclamens  must 
not  be  committed  to  a  common  garden  border  in 
the  same  way  as  we  plant  tufts  of  Daisy  and  Ara- 
bis,  and,  except  in  warm  localities  where  the  soil  is 
peaty,  the  border  must  be  specially  prepared  for 
them.     Those  who  grow  Ixias,  Sparaxis,  and  other 
of  the  newly  hardy  Cape  bulbs,  out  of  doors,  are  in 
just  a  proper  position  to  do  justice  to  hardy  Cj-cla- 
mens.     A  border  facing  south,   sheltered  with   a 
back  wall  or  greenhouse,  or  enjoying  some  of  the 
surplus  warmth  from  a  stove  or  furnace,  and  con- 
sisting chiefly  of  peat  and  leaf-mould,  on  a  warm 
and  well  drained  subsoil,  is  the  place  for  Cyclamens, 
Tritonias,  Ixias,    the  hardy  Amaryllises,  Alstrre- 
merias,  and  myriads  of  the  choicest  flowei-ing  plants 
known,  which  need  not  so  much  the  help  of  arti- 
ficial heat  as  moderate  protection  against  the  sca- 
thing blasts  and  perishing  sleets  of  our  springs.    In 
such  a  border  in  some  parts  of  the  south-western 
counties,  all   the   species  of   Cyclamen   could   be 
grown,   but  anywhere  the   so-called  hardy  kinds 
might  be  cultivated  with  the  certainty  of  success. 
We  can  promise  to  any  one  of  our  readers  who  will 
make  up  a  border  for  plants  of  the  kind  just  named, 
an  amount  of  enjoyment  far  surpassing  all  that 
they  have  ever  derived  from  the  pursuit  of  garden- 
ing according  to  the  established  routine  of  making 
a  grand  summer  display,  and  devoting  every  poss- 
ible energy  to  the   developement  of  the  bedding 
system.     But  as  we  cannot  now  pursue  this  sub- 
ject, we  will  just  state  that,  if  the  position  is  well 
drained  and  sheltered,  all  that  hardy  Cyclamens 
require  is  a  mixture  of  turfy  peat,  leaf  mould,  and 
silky  yellow  loam,  equal  parts.     This  must  be  a 
foot  to  18   inches  deep,  and  when  the   bulbs  are 
planted,  the  bed  should  be  covered  with  2  inches 


^im 
# 


MC)' 


l/iCt 


i 


158 


Shi[  iSariltnt^r'H  (Plcnfhlg, 


of  dung  rotted  to  powder.  The  season  for  planting 
is  October,  and  every  succeeding  October  the  bulbs 
should  be  taken  up  and  replanted,  otherwise  the 
flowers  get  fewer  and  poorer  every  year.  In  plant 
ing,  use  silver-sand  in  contact  with  the  bulb,  and 
press  the  bulbs  of  C.  coian  an  inch  below  the  sur- 
face. The  others  press  in  slightly,  in  the  way  in 
which  onions  are  planted.  The  bed  should'be  cov- 
ered during  winter  with  4  inches  of  tanners'  bark, 
as  a  protection  against  frost. 

CULTURE   OP   GREENHOUSE  CYCLASIENS. 

The  usual  method  of  culture  is  to  pot  the  bulbs 
in  autumn  in  successional  batches,  so  as  to  ensure 
a  successional  and  long-continued  bloom.  The 
same  soil  as  recommended  for  border  culture  an- 
swers for  plants  in  pots,  if  a  fifth  part  of  silver-sand 
is  added  to  the  bulk.  The  first  potting  of  strong 
bulbs  should  be  in  small  pots.  When  this  is  ac- 
complished, place  the  pots  containing  the  bulbs  in 
a  frame,  and  give  them  very  little  water.  As  soon 
as  they  begin  to  grow  freely,  increase  the  supply 
of  water,  but  always  be  moderate  with  it,  and  as 
soon  as  the  pots  are  full  of  roots  shift  to  the 
nest  size,  and  use  plenty  of  drainage.  We  find 
that  we  can  grow  very  handsome  specimens  in  54- 
sized  pots,  but  large  old  bulbs  will  readily  fill  48 
or  32-size.  Whether  in  greenhouse  or  frame,  the 
plants  must  have  air  as  often  as  possible,  but  be 
kept  quite  secure  from  frost,  and  as  soon  as  they 
show  for  bloom  let  them  have  plenty  of  water.  As 
soon  as  the  bloom  is  over,  set  them  out  of  doors  in 
a  sheltered  and  somewhat  shady  place,  and  give 
water  moderately,  keeping  them  almost  dry  for 
three  or  four  weeks,  yet  not  so  dry  as  to  hasten  the 
decay  of  the  leaves.  We  have  used  them  in  groups 
for  the  margins  of  beds,  for  the  sake  of  their  rich- 
ly-tinted and  elegantly-formed  leaves,  during  the 
early  part  of  the  summer,  and  very  effective  they 
have  proved  themselves  as  a  relief  to  masses  of  rich 
color.  Gather  the  seed  when  ripe,  and  as  soon  as 
the  leaves  begin  to  decay  give  no  more  water. 
When  the  leaves  have  entirely  withered,  store  away 
in  a  dry  place,  the  pots  containing  the  bulbs,  and 
so  let  them  remain  in  the  pots  until  required  again 
for  potting.  Sometimes  there  is  a  little  tendency 
in  the  bulbs  to  form  new  leaves,  and  continue  grow- 
ing very  late  in  the  season.  This  is  usually  the  re- 
sult of  having  too  much  water,  as  may  happen  in 
a  wet  season  through  the  plants  being  always  out 
in  the  rain.  We  cure  this  by  a  very  simple  method  ; 
(.  we  place  the  plants  on  the  top  shelf  of  a  greenhouse, 
and  there  keep  them  tolerably  dry,  and  so  secure 
perfect  ripening  of  the  bulbs. — Gardener  s  Weekly. 


PEHH'A.  HOETICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 

Discussion  on  Herbaceous  Plants, 
April  5th,  1864. 
Mr.  W.  L.  Shaffer  in  the  chair. 
Mr.   Meehan  presented  the  leading  essay  Csee 
page  141.) 

Mr.  Walter  Elder  alsp  contributed- a  paper. 

The  Chairman — I  find  field  mice  to  be  very  des- 
tructive of  some  varieties  of  bulbous  roots.  Have 
suffered  from  their  depredations  for  eight  years 
past.  One  winter  planted  poisoned  peas  with  the 
bulbs.  The  bulbs  died,  and  the  peas  grew.  Last 
winter  put  them  into  gas  tar-water  before  planting 
and  did  not  lose  a  bulb.  This  winter  repeated  it 
with  equal  success.  Mice  attack  the  tiger  flower 
but  not  the  tuberose  or  gladiolus. 

Mr.  Kilvington — Common  field  mice  also  eat  the 
tiger  flower. 

Mr.  Meehan — Lilies,  when  about  8  inches  high, 
are  often  subject  to  a  disease,  presenting  the  ap- 
pearance of  a  white  frost ;  it  often  comes  on  after  a 
warm  night  iu  spring,  and  they  die  oS  rapidly.  The 
same  disease  sometimes  attacks  the  gladiolus,  just 
before  the  flowers  open, especially  when  late  planted. 

Mr.  Kilvington — Would  attribute  it  to  the  con- 
dition of  the  soil.  Lihes  can  be  taken  up  with  ad- 
vantage in  the  falh  Mr.  Butler's  gardener  was 
very  successful  with  them  in  that  way. 

The  Chairman — My  French  gardener  took  up 
Hyacinths,  Tulips,  &c.,  early,  soon  after  blooming, 
laid  them  on  the  ground  and  covered  with  earth ; 
left  them  thus  six  weeks,  then  lifted  and  stored 
them  in  a  dry  place,  and  planted  out  late  in  Octo- 
ber, with  marked  success. 

Mr.  Meehan — Herbaceous  plants  are  benefited 
by  a  slight  protection  of  light  brush  or  leaves  with 
earth  enough  to  keep  them  in  their  place.  The 
hot  sun  striking  upon  them,  when  frozen,-  does  the 
mischief. 

Mr.  Schaffer— Last  year  protected  pansieswitha 
coat  of  leaves  and  a  few  sticks  on  the  top.  They 
came  out  finely  in  the  spring. 

Mr.  Kilvington — Last  year  I  received  native 
plants  from  Texas,  among  the  Soap  Berry,  which 
stood  the  winter  well.  Verbenas  are  tender,  yet 
they  often  endure  the  winter  if  well  protected  by 
bush.  This  winter  I  kept  all  my  seedling  Verbenas 
in  cold  frames. 


®;iti|  iartocr'ii  JKontljIg. 


159 


I? 


Our  native  plants  are  deserving  of  much  more 
attention  than  they  receive.  Many  of  them  arc  far 
more  beautiful  than  the  high  priced  exotics,  and 
are  more  esteemed  in  England  as  rarities  than  here 
•where  they  are  so  common,  j'et  so  little  known  to 
those  making  collections.  The  Phlox  is  a  native 
of  America.  Phlox  surbulata  or  Moss  Pink,  grows 
wild  by  the  acre  in  Berks  County.  The  Double 
Anemone  is  very  beautiful,  and  though  formerly 
abundant,  is  now  lost.  Among  the  attractive  na- 
tive plants  I  would  name  the  Lobehas,  Gentiana 
saponaria,  and  ochroleuca,  Asclepias,&c.  The  native 
Lily  is  superior  to  the  Foreign ;  the  superbum 
grows  in  our  swamps  to  the  height  of  eight  or  ten 
feet.  Lobelia  cardinalis  is  a  beautiful  plant,  the 
Asclepias  is  highly  prized  in  England.  The  old 
fashioned  Orange  Lily,  the  cause  of  so  much  hea- 
ted discussion  and  bloodshed  in  L'eland,  has  been 
found  in  our  south  western  swamps.  Its  nativity 
is  not  given  in  the  books. 

Mr.  Meehan — Is  it  not  necessary  to  take  native 
plants  to  other  countries  to  improve  them  ?  The 
Lobelia  fulgens  is  an  improved  variety  of  the  Cardi- 
nalis. Here  all  of  our  wild  plants  always  grow  true 
from  the  seed.  Hepaticas,  Phlox,  &c. ,  sent  to  Eu- 
rope, changed  and  improved.  Very  few  native 
Englisl)  plants  imjirove  in  England. 

Mr.  Kilvington — I  have  twice  seen  white  varie- 
ties of  the  scarlet  Lobelia  Cardinalis  wild.  ' 

Mr.  SchalTer — The  improvement  of  our  wild 
flowers  in  Europe  is  due  to  the  greater  attention 
and  more  patient  cultivation  there  bestowed  upon 
them.  There  are  several  varieties  of  the  Gerardia, 
very  beautiful,  but  hard  to  transplant  and  cause  to 
grow-  in  gardens.  They  bear  large,  showy  spikes 
of  handsome  flowers. 

Mr.  Meehan — It  may  be  somewhat  parasitic  in 
its  nature,  and  hence  difficult  to  transplant. 

Mr.  Kilvington — The  Sarracenia  purpurea,  used 
in  small  pox  is  quite  handsome.  .  Violets  we  have 
too,  in  great  variety,  but  not  fragrant ;  they  are 
much  called  for  in  Europe,  as  are  also  the  Pipsiss- 
ewa  and  many  other  native  plants. 


m 


FRUIT-GROWEES'  SOCIETY  OF  EASTERN 

PENNSYLVANIA 

C  Continued  from  page  128, ) 

"WILD  CRAB  APPLES. 

An  inquiry  was  started  whether  our  Wild  Crab 
{Pi/rus  coronaria)  had  ever  been  improved.  No 
one  knew  of  any  variety  of  it.  It  was  considered 
worthy  of  the  attention-  of  Pomologists.     Its  deli- 


cious perfume,  would  render  varieties  of  it  delight- 
ful, could  they  be  made  as  "good  as  they  smell." 

ACTION  OP  LIME  ON  SOIL  FOR  ORCHARDS. 

Dr.  Houghton  thought  after  a  crop  of  trees  had 
been  taken  off,  lime  was  useful  in  many  soils  as  a 
corrective  to  the  acid  given  off  by  decayed  roots, 
which  otherwise  formed  a  matrix  for  fungi,  which 
was  deleterious  to  the  succeeding  ci'ops.  Nursery- 
men take  off  a  crop  of  trees,  and  usually  lay  the 
ground  in  something  else  before  they  take  trees 
again.  This  is  probably  owing  to  the  decaying 
roots  in  the  soil,  generating  a  fungus,  which  would 
attack  healthy  roots  of  the  same  perhaps  sooner  than 
roots  of  other  kinds.  Where  trees  must  go  in 
again  it  is  preferred  by  most  growers  to  put  in  some 
very  different  kin^ds.  In  New  Jersey  the  fruit 
growers  prefer  to  plant  Pears  after  Peaches. 

Mr.  Satterthwait  thought  the  soil  could  be  kept 
in  a  healthy  state  by  good  cultivation,  so  that  there 
would  be  no  fear  of  injury  from  parasite  fungi  from 
decaying  vegetation. 

Mr.  S.  W.  Noble  had  not  noticed  much  evil  to 
arise  from  fungi  on  decaying  vegetable  matter.  He 
had  once  an  old  orchard  which  he  undertook  to 
crop,  but  in  a  few  years  the  trees  became  so  much 
decayed,  that  he  decided  to  take  them  out  and  re- 
plant. He  put  a  load  of  chip  dirt  in  each  hole. 
The  orchard  is  now  a  first  class  one.  He  believes 
with  moderate  top  dressing,  orchards  will  bear  mod- 
erately every  year. 

Mr.  Satterthwait  had  seen  apples  set  in  the 
places  of  old  apple,  trees,  that  had  done-as  well  as 
any. 

Dr.  Busch  employed  lime  together  with  salt,  in 
decomposing  tan  and  sawdust,  which  mixed  with 
manure  water,  he  had  found  an  excellent  top-dress- 
ing for  orchards.  His  farm  comprised  sixty  acres, 
every  part  of  which,  at  different  times,  has  had 
this  decomposed  vegetable  matter.  He  makes 
about  100  loads  of  it  per  year.  Uses  the  lime  in 
large  quantities  for  the  purpose.  Used  about  a 
bucket  of  air  slacked  lime  to  a  load  of  this  rubbish, 
the  salt  and  lime  destroys  all  tendency  to  fungi. 
He  used  the  compost  largely  for  Potatoes ;  and  had 
not  lost  one  bushel  in  fifteen  since  1843.  The  salt 
and  lime  does  not  totally  decompose  the  material. 
Has  seen  pieces  of  bark  in  the  soil  for  years  after. 
He  would  on  no  account  plow  his  orchard.  His  or- 
chard has  not  been  disturbed  for  20  years.  Top- 
dresses  with  this  Stuff  annually. 

Mr.  Merceron  had  seen  vines  grown  in  tan,  very 
old,  growing  with  great  luxuriance. 

Mr.  David  Miller,  of  Limerick,  would  prefer  not 


m 


to  plant  in  an  old  orcliard — would  not  plow  in  ma- 
nure, but  would  top-dress  annually,  and  heavily. 
Likes  to  have  trees  branch  close  to  the  ground. 
The  leaves  which  fall  then  do  not  blow  away,  and 
make  a  valuable  winter  protection  to  the  trees,  and 
as  the  lower  ones  decay,  feed  the  roots,  which  in 
that  case,  hover  very  near  the  surface,  which  he 
would  by  no  means  plow  or  disturb.  He  finds  low 
bushy  trees  grow  twice  as.  fast  as  trees  on  tall 
stems. 

Mr.  Longacre  remarked  that  the  well  known  fact 
of  trees  doing  best  on  new  land,  tended  to  show 
that  trees  could  not  do  so  well  planted  successively 
on  the  same  soil. 

Mr.  Butter  seconded  this  view.  Peaches  partic- 
ularly would  not  do  well  where  peaches  were 
before. 

i}r.  Gross  had  an  old  worn  out  Peach  orchard, 
wherein  Peaches  would  grow  scarcely  at  all.'  By 
simply  dressing  heavily  with  wood  ashes,  they  did 
admirably  well. 

Mr.  Harrison  remarked  that  good  succulent  an- 
nual vegetables  could  only  be  raised  by  an  abun- 
dance of  enriching  manures.  In  perennial  woody 
plants,  the  use  of  strong  fermenting  material  to 
make  succulent  wood,  was  the  reverse  of  what  we 
should  aim  at.  In  a  vegetable  we  wanted  sap — in 
wood  soRdity. 

Judge  Knox  remarked  that  deep  alluvial  soils, 
no  matter  how  poor,  grew  fruit  trees  foster  and 
healthier,  than  the  richest  but  shallow  soils. 

Mr.  Josiah  Hoopes  rem.arked  in  reference  to  the 
fungi  question,  that  whether  the  fact  was  or  was 
not  established,  that  fungi  would  attack  healthy 
roots,  there  was  no  doubt  that  from  some  cause  or 
other,  raw  and  half-decayed  leaf  mould  was  inju- 
rious. 

Mr.  Butter  said  old  worn  out  soil  favored  yellows 
in  the  Peach. 

Mr.  Saunders  htid  seen  the  j^ellows  as  bad  in  vir- 
gin soils  as  in  any  other.  It  was  very  important  to 
look  for  the  principle  in  all  such  discus.sion,  and  to 
trace  closely  thfe  cause  and  effect.  To  illustrate 
with  the  manure  question.  The  production  of 
wood  and  the  production  of  fruit,  were  opposite 
processes  in  vegetation.  If  we  favored  wood 
growth  we  had  little  fruit.  If  we  favored  too  much 
fruit  bearing,  it  was  at  the  expense  of  healthy  wood 
growth.  It  was  essential  to  know  what  processes 
led  to  that  object.  This  was  the  principle  of  all 
success. 

He  was  not  in  the  habit  of  praising  any  one,  but 
could  not  illustrate  his  meaning  better,  than  by  re- 
ferring to  the  great  success  and  usefulness  of  the 


Gardeners  MontJdy.  He  saw  from  the  first  that 
the  journal  would  succeed,  because  _it  was  evident 
its  conductors  had  faith  in  principles.  Founding 
its  views  on  well  ascertained  principles,  it  was  gen- 
erally able  to  maintain  its  positions  against  all  odds. 
With  this  style  of  introduction,  even  what  he  and 
others  might,  and  doubtless  often  did  consider  ex- 
treme views,  were  eminently  useful,  and  led  to  the 
examination  of  the  principle  involved,  when  more 
tame  dissertations  would  be  labor  thrown  away. 

It  was  difiicult  at  times  to  apply  principles. 
The  mistakes  made  were  generally  in  their 
application.  Some  would  say,  what  was  good 
for  dry  soils  was  nojt  good  for  sandy  soils,  but 
yet  the  principle  in  both  cases  would  be  precisely 
the  same. 

Mr.  Parry  said  rotation  seemed  a  law  of  nature. 
When  Chestnut  woods  were  cleared,  Oak  u.sually 
grew  up,  and  the  reverse,  when  Oak  woods  were  cut 
away.  The  Oak  followed  the  Pine,  and  the  Pine 
the  Oak — that  was  New  Jersey  experience.  There 
was  a  sort  of  my.stery  about  getting  exactly  to  the 
application  of  principles,  but  we  could  come 
very  near.  Peach  trees  do  not  do  well  on  rich 
wood  clearings,  they  do  best  on  worn  out  corn 
grounds.  The  Peach  is  not  naturally  a  short  lived 
tree — over  rich  soils  is  one  great  cause  of  early  ex- 
haustion. Saw  Peach  trees  about  four  years  ago, 
at  IMount  Vernon,  that  bore  peaches  in  General 
Washington's  time.  If  one  could  keep  off  borers 
and  disease  for  three  summers,  trees  .usually  did 
well  for  a  long  time  after. 

NATIVE    GRAPES. 

Wo  cannot  do  justice  to  this  part  of  the  proceed- 
ings, which  created  quite  an  animated  discussion, 
which  will,  no  doubt,  appear  in  full  in  the  society's 
printed  report,  for  the  use  of  the  members.  It  was 
said  of  the  Miles  grape,  that  it  was  the  earliest  of 
all — before  Canby's  August  even. 

Mr.  Saunders  gave  instances  to  show  that  fungi 
would  attack  and  destroy  healthy  Grape  Vines. 
Had  seen  it  spread  from  rotten  Hemlock  wood  to 
the  stem  of  Grape  vines,  and  eat  it  completely  off. 

On  motion  it  was  adopted  that  Dr.  Michener,  one 
of  the  ablest  mj'cologists  of  the  United  States,  and 
a  member  of  the  society,  be  invited  to  prepare  an 
essay  on  the  destructive  power  of  fungi — for  the  use 
of  the  society. 

ON  DWARF  PEARS. 

It  was  argued  by  many  members  that  they  actu- 
ally sent  out  Pear  roots  in  time  ;  but  that  they  bore 
early  all  the  same,  and  never  became  so  large  as 
standard  trees. 


■"say- 


■*»**i«'^  >  «  ^1  t  ifcj>AifcA^  i\  i»i«ii^iift»i<i  t  »  f  I  iii»«ilWft<h<>«.!fc<h«t»l^«tefc»»j<>i>»IWMV>.4i<Wtofc<tii»jA««»«>.«ah<illrfiiif1«>»'liltlt*^it  firli  ri  «  it  rufliilfi  «t  i»  ^ItifliAlXi^lX^M^^  ■ 


1 

il 


D 


WE  DESIRE  TO  REMIND 


*^ 


JL^ZVi 


Of  the  near  approach  of  the  season  for  sowing  Turnip  and  Ruta  Baga. 
We  shall  be  able  to  offer  a  large  supply  of  all  the  approved  varieties,  and 

let  it  be  observed, 

I®- EVERY  GRAIN  THE  PRODUCE  OF 


We  have  not,  and  shall  not  liave  an  ounce  of 


WITH  PARTICULARS  OF  INTEREST  TO  ALL  WHO  DEAL  IN 


5 


WILL   BE   MAILED    TO   ALL   WHO  APPLY. 

DAVID   LANDRETH   &   SON, 

Nos,  21  and  23  South  Sixth  Street, 


^^f^mm^'m^^^i^^^f'v^^mi'vmtfww'vwm^^Mf^fvt  «>>»»<  pnni»>>m^^i^i^^p  nm  y  ^  ^^tf>^^m^mv"v  mii'w^ii'v^nww^'^^v^wv^w^w^w^ww^' 


DEVOTED     TO 


THOMAS     MEEHAN,    Editor. 
"W.  G.  P.  BRINCKLOE,  PuBHSHEE. 


JUNE.    1864. 


VOIi.    VI.— NO.  6. 


^inh  for  '3mh 


& 


FLOWER-GARDEN   AND    PLEASURE- 
GROUND. 

All  those  who  have  set  out  trees  the  past  spring, 
should  take  the  first  chance  of  a  dry  spell  to  loosen 
the  soil  deeply  about  them  with  a  fork,  and  imme- 
diately after  beat  it  down  hard  again  with  the  heel, 
or  some  better 'clod  crusher.'  Innumerable  lives 
of  trees  may  be  saved  by  this  simple  practice. 

Grood  walks  are  the  most  striking  features  of  a 
well  kept  garden.  Weeds  should  be  taken  in  time, 
and  the  labor  of  keeping  them  down  will  be  very 
slight.  The  edges  or  '  verges'  should  be  trimmed 
at  every  mowing  of  the  grass-bordering  ;  for  which 
purpose  a  common  sheep-shears,  or  grass-edging 
shears,  made  specially  for  the  purpose  and  sold  at 
most  horticultural  stores,  should  be  kept  on  hand. 
Washing  by  heavy  rains  should  be  guarded  against; 
or,  when  so  injured,  speedily  repaired. 

After  the  walks  and  lawns,  the  flower-beds  should 
be  a  constant  source  of  attention.  If  the  plants 
appear  to  suffer  by  drouth,  fhere  is  no  better  rem- 
edy than  to  place  a  fork  around  the  plant  and  loosen 
up  the  soil  deeply,  without  disturbing  the  plant 
more  than  can  be  avoided.  After  being  thus  loos- 
ened, it  will  not  dry  out  negr  as  much  as  before. 
Above  all,  keep  the  surface  continually  broken  by 
hoeing  and  raking  fine.  Nothing  is  so  sure  a  pre- 
ventive of  soil  drying  as  a  loose,  porous  texture. 

Mow  lawns  often,  if  you  would  have  them  green 
and  velvety.  Keep  the  scythe  sharp ;  usually 
mowers  do  not  use  the  grindstone  often  enough. 
Common  farm  f'Cythes  are  not  fit  for  lawn  use  ;  riv- 
etted  and  short  scythes  are  the  kind  to  get.  If  a 
lawn  is  mowed  often,  the  grass  need  not  be  raked 


clean, — the  sappy  blades  soon  wither,  and  make  a 
manure  for  the  roots.  The  longest  should  be  raked 
off,  or  the  lawn  will  have  a  littery  appearance. 

The  watering  of  flower-beds  in  a  dry  time  should 
not  be  done  often ;  but  when  necessarj',  done  thor- 
oughly. 

Bulbous  roots,  when  done  flowering,  and  the 
leaves  have  faded,  should  be  taken  up  and  dried, — 
mixed  with  chaff,  or  other  light  loose  material, 
placed  in  paper  bags  and  stowed  away  in  a  dry 
place  till  fall. 

Cut  off  the  flowers  of  roses  as  they  fade, — the 
second  crop  will  be  much  better  for  the  attention. 
Seeds  of  all  flowering  plants  should  be  also  taken 
off ;  all  this  assists  the  duration  of  the  blooming 
season. 

Propagation  by  laj'ering  may  be  performed  any 
time  when  strong  vigorous-growing  shoots  can  be 
had.  Any  plant  can  be  propagated  by  layers. 
Many  can  be  readily  propagated  in  no  other  way. 
Cut  a  notch  on  the  upper  side  of  the  shoot,  not  be- 
low, as  all  the  books  recommend,  and  bend  down 
into,  and  cover  with  rich  soil.  In  a  few  weeks  they 
root,  and  can  be  removed  from  their  parent.  Stakes 
for  plants  should  be  charred  at  the  ends  before 
using,  when  they  will  last  for  yeai-s. 

No  trees.  Evergreens  especially,  should  be  suf- 
fered to  have  grass  grow  about  them  for  a  year  or 
so  after  planting.  It  becomes  '  rank'  in  the  deeply 
loosened  soil,  abstracts  moisture,  and  otherwise 
seriously  interferes  with  the  tree.  When  the  tree 
gets  a  fair  start,  grass  does  less  injury,  and  when 
it  becomes  a  tough  sod,  and  the  tree  by  its  shade, 
or  say  by  frequent  mowing  keeps  the  grass  short, 
the  grass  roots  do  not  penetrate  deep,  and  the  sod 
is  a  benefit,  by  keeping  the  surface  spongy,  and 
the  substratum  cool. 

Evergreen  hedges  will  require  attention  as  they 
grow.  Where  the  height  desired  has  been  attained, 
the  top  and  strong  growth  should  be  cut  back  while 
they  are  still  watery.  The  side  shoots  need  not  be 
touched  till  past  midsummer.  All  wise  people  now 
employ  the  conical  shape  for  hedges.     In  cutting 


162 


|i|^  §w:&mu  (Ponthlj. 


back  the  top  growth  at  this  season,  the  conical  form 
can  still  be  preserved. 

Every  opportunity  will,  of  course,  be  taken  to 
keep  down  the  weeds.  As  soon  as  they  are  barely 
visible,  the  ground  should  be  hoed  over  lightly,  and 
the  surface  afterwards  broken  fine  and  smoothed 
over  with  the  back  of  a  small  rake.  This  not  only 
gives  a  neat  and  cared  for  appearance  to  the  flow- 
er-beds, but  the  free  admission  of  air,  which  a 
thorough  pulverization  of  the  surfoce  soil  effects,  is 
one  of  the  best  means  of  keeping  the  soil  from  dry- 
ing out,  and  thus  avoiding  the  necessity  of  frequent 
waterings,  which,  though  they  cannot  at  times  be 
avoided,  have  always  attendant  disadvantages. 
Should  the  soil  so  finely  raked  appear  to  'bake,' 
—that  is,  form  a  crust  on  the  surface,— after  heaVy 
rains,  all  you  have  to  do  is  to  hoe  and  rake  it  over 
again.  It  will  be  any  thing  but  labor  lost  on  your 
flowers. 

Many  herbaceous  plants,  such  as  Phloxes,  Hol- 
lyhocks, and  similar  plants,  that  are  scarce  and 
valued,  may  be  propagated  now  very  easily  by  ta- 
king portions  of  their  flower-stems  before  the  flow- 
ers open,  and  inserting  them  as  cuttings  in  a  half- 
shaded,  cool,  and  not  dry  situation.  Layering  of 
many  things,  shrubs,  half-shrubby  perennials,  &c., 
should  be  done  before  the  young  wood  becomes  too 
hard,  if  good  plants  are  required  the  first  year. 
Most  plants  root  more  quickly  by  having  a  notch 
cut  in  the  layered  shoot.  Good,  rich  soil,  put  just 
about  layers,  is  very  important.  Good  soil  favors  an 
abundance  of  roots.  One  of  the  greatest  mistakes 
in  gardening  is  the  prevalent  notion  that  plants  in 
a  poor  soil  have  a  greater  proportion  of  roots  than 
in  a  rich  one. 

Many  parties  have  a  difficulty  in  keeping  trellises, 
when  covered  with  a  weight  of  vines,  from  becom- 
ing '  top-heavy,'  and  blowing  over  in  a  wind.  This 
can  be  remedied  by  naiUng  a  cross  piece  to  the  trellis 
a  few  inches  long,  just  above  the  ground,  or  even 
two  pieces,  making  four  cross-shaped  arras.  This 
will  effectually  prevent  'swagging,'  no  matter  trom 
what  part  of  the  compass  the  rudest  winds  may 
blow. 

Dahlias  must  not  be  allowed  to  bloom  too  early. 
Keep  them  growing  well  till  fall,  at  any  cost.  If 
they  become  stunted  by  early  flowering,  a  few  mis- 
erable   sundried  July    flowers  will    be  the   poor 

reward. 

. *»»•» 

I  FRUIT    GARDEN. 

Red  spider  and  other  insects  closely  follow  on  the 
heels  of  a  dry  atmosphere.  They  must  be  watched, 
and  nothing  suffered  to  injure  the  leaves  till  by  na- 


1 


tural  maturity  the  plant  has  no  longer  use  for  them. 

Grapes  coming  in  bearing  should  not  be  per- 
mitted to  perfect  large  crops  of  fruit  while  young. 
It  is  excusable  to  fruit  a  bunch  or  so  on  a  young 
vine,  'just  to  test  the  kind,'  but  no  more  should 
be  permitted  till  the  vine  has  age  and  strength. 
Vigorous  growth,  and  great  productiveness,  are  the 
antipodes  of  the  vegetable  world.  Encourage  as 
much  foliage  as  possible  on  the  vines,  and  aina  to 
have  as  strong  shoots  at  the  base  as  at  the  top  of 
the  cane ;  this  can  be  done  by  pinching  out  the 
points  of  the  strong  shoots  after  they  have  made 
a  growth  of  five  or  six  leaves.  This  will  make  the 
weak  ones  grow  stronger.  Young  vines  grow  much 
faster  over  a  twiggy  branch  stuck  in  for  support 
than  over  a  straight  stick  as  a  trellis,  and  generally 
do  better,  every  way.  Where  extra  fine  bunches 
of  grapes  are  desired,  pinch  back  the  shoot  bearing 
it  to  about  four  or  five  leaves  above  the  bunch. 
This  should  not  be  done  indiscriminately  with  all 
the  bunches.  Too  much  pinching  and  stoppi/ig 
injures  the  production  of  good  wood  for  next  season. 
These  hints  are  for  amateurs,,  who  have  a  few  vines 
on  trellisses ;  for  large  vineyard  culture,  though  the 
same  principles  hold  good  so  far  as  they  go,  they 
will  vary  in  their  application. 

Strawberries,  when  grown  in  hills, — the  most  la- 
borious but  most  productive  method  of  growing 
them, — should  have  runners  cut  off  as  they  grow, 
and  the  surface  soil  kept  loose  by  shallow  hoeings 
occasionally.  Short  litter,  half  rotten,  as  a  mulch  is 
also  beneficial.  Lawn  mowings  are  often  applied, 
but  with  little  benefit.  Where  they  are  grown  in 
beds,  they  should  not  be  too  thick,  as  they  starve 
one  another,  and  the  crop  next  year  will  be  poor. 

Blackberries  are  not  ripe  when  they  are  black. 
Leave  them  on  till  they  part  readily  from  their 
stalks. 

Currants  are  so  easily  grown  as  to  require  few 
hints  for  their  management.  If  they  throw  up 
many  suckers,  take  but  a  portion  now,  instead  of 
waiting  till  winter  to  cut  them  away.  The  Currant 
borer  is  a  great  pest,  eating  out  the  pith  of  the 
young  shoots,  and  causing  them  to  grow  poorly, 
and  bear  but  small  fruit  next  year. 

Gooseberries  should  have  the  soil,  and  even  the 
plants,  if  it  were  practicable,  shaded  a  little.  Dry 
air  about  them  is  one  great  cause  of  mildew. 

Stone  fruits  will  now  be  attacked  by  curculio,  and 
no  means  should  be  spared  to  keep  it  down.  Those 
who  try  the  jarring  process  should  saw  off  a  branch 
on  the  main  trunk,  a  few  inches  from  it,  to  hammer 
away  at.     Some  we  see  hammer  the  trunk,   but 


M 

-•^- 


SCh^  fyim/%  Pantl% 


this  cannot  be  done  suddenly  and  hard   enough 
without  injury  to  the  tree. 

Leaf  blight  in  Pear  trees  frequently  shows  itself 
at  this  season  of  the  year ;  probably  owing  to  too 
rich  a 'soil,  as  those  growing  in  highly  cultivated 
vegetable  gardens  are  always  the  worst.  In  nursery 
seedlings,  it  is  worst,  in  the  first  few  years,  while 
the  roots  are  in  the  upper  and  rich  surface  soil, — 
after  the  roots  go  down  into  the  poorer  subsoil,  as 
in  the  Pear  they  seem  to  delight  to  do,  leaf  blight 
is  not  so  formidable.  In  old  neglected  Pear  or- 
chards, though  there  are  many  penalties  to  pay  for 
said  negligence,  leaf  blight  is  not  one  of  them. 

Fire  blight — the  apoplexy  of  Pear  trees  by  which 
they  often  die  in  day, — is  probably  traceable  in 
part  to  the  same  cause  as  leaf  blight,  as  trees  raised 
and  grown  in  what  may  be  termed  a  poorish  soil, 
never  have  fire  blight. 

As  it  is  now  the  settled  conviction  of  intelligent 
cultivators,  that  the  Black-knot  in  the  Plum  and 
Cherry  is  the  result  of  fungoid  action, — whether 
as  the  consequence  of  disease,  or  by  the  immediate 
action  of  fungi  on  healthy  tissue, — the  only  recom- 
mendation we  can  give  is  to  cut  out  and  burn  them 
as  fast  as  they  appear.  Whatever  spores  may  be 
matured,  will  thus  be  destroyed,  and  many  a  new 
crop  be  '  nipped  in  the  bud.'  Besides  this,  as  it  is 
known  the  curculio  and  other  noxious  insects  de- 
posit their  eggs  in  the  soft  tumors,  many  of  these 
will  be  destroyed  at  the  same  time.  Also  attend 
to  whatever  may  tend  to  the  general  health  of  the 
tree.  Strong  vitality  is  one  of  the  best  precautions 
against  the  fatality  of  an  attack. 

In  the  interior  department,  peaches  that  have 
been  slightly  forced  will  be  about  maturing,  and  the 
atmosphere  must  be  allowed  to  become  dryer  by  ad- 
mitting more  air  and  using  the  syringe  less  freel3\ 
This  is  necessary,  not' only  to  perfect  the  flavor  of 
the  fruit,  but  to  mature  the  wood  properly. for  next 
season's  fruit.  All  of  this  has  to  be  done  with 
caution,  as  a  sudden  change  from  a  moist  system 
of  culture  to  a  dry  one  will  be  certain  to  injure  the 
tissue  and  breed  disease. 


VEGETABLE  GARDEN. 

Peas  for  a  fall  crop  may  be  sown.  It  is,  however, 
useless  to  try  them,  unless  in  a  deeply  trenched  soil, 
and  one  that  is  comparatively  cool  in  the  hottest 
weather  overhead,  or  they  will  certainly  mildew  and 
prove  worthless.  In  England,  where  the  atmos- 
r  ''  phere  is  so  much  more  humid  than  ours,  they  nev- 
/^     ertheless,  have  great  difficulty  in  getting  fall  peas  to 


get  through  free  from  mildew  ;  and  to  obviate  these 
drying  and  mildew-producing  influences,  they  often 
plant  them  in  deep  trenches,  made  as  for  celery, 
and  are  then  much  more  successful  with  them. 

Cabbage  and  Broccoli  may  still  be  set  out  for  fall 
crops,  also  requiring  an  abundance  of  manure  to  in- 
sure success. 

Lettuce,  where  salads  are  in  mu^li  request,  may 
yet  be  sown.  The  Curled  Indian  is  a  favorite  sum- 
mer kind ;  but  the  varieties  of  Cos,  or  Plain-leaved 
kinds,  are  good.  They  take  more  trouble,  having 
to  be  tied  up  to  blanch  well.  JIany  should  not  be 
sown  at  a  time,  as  they  soon  run  to  seed  in  hot 
weather. 

Endive  is  becoming  very  popular  as  a  winter 
salad.  Now  is  the  time  to  sow.  The  Curl-leaved 
is  the  most  desirable.     Sow  it  like  Lettuce. 

Celery  for  early  use  is  often  planted  out  this 
month,  though  for  winter  use  July  or  August  will 
be  early  enough.  It  is  best  to  set  out  in  shallow 
trenches,  for  convenience  in  watering,  the  celery 
being  fond  of  hydropathic  appliances.  If  the  ground 
has  been  deeply  subsoiled,  and  the  subsoil  well  en- 
riched, the  trenches  may  be  near  a  foot  in  depth, 
for  convenience  in  blanching ;  but  beware  of  plant- 
ing down  in  poor,  barren  subsoil.  Many  plant  in 
double  rows.  Where  very  superior  celery  is  not 
an  object,  this  will  do,  but  the  single  row  .system  is 
the  best  for  excellency.  The  season  is  now  arriving 
when  the  advantages  of  subsoiled  ground  will  be 
apparent.  In  such  soil  plants  will  grow  freely 
though  there  be  no  rain  for  many  weeks.  Some 
of  our  best  growers  now  plant  entirely  on  the  sur- 
face, and  depend  on  drawing  up  the  soil,  or  the 
employment  of  boards  or  other  artificial  methods 
of  blanching. 

Cucumbers  for  pickling  maybe  sown  this  month. 

Parsley  for  winter  use  may  be  sown  now  in  boxes 
of  rich  soil,  and  set  in  a  cool,  shady  place  till  it 
germinates. 

Asparagus  beds  should  not  be  cut  after  the  stalks 
seem  to  come  up  strong,  or  there  will  be  but  a  poor 
crop  the  next  season,  and  the  beds  will  'run  out,' 
in  few  years. 

The  Swede  Turnip  or  Ruta  Baga  should  be  sown 
about  the  end  of  the  month.  A  well-enriched  piece 
of  ground  is  essential,  as  by  growing  fast  they  get 
ahead  of  the  ravages  of  the  fly.  Mabures  abound- 
ing in  the  phosphates — bone-dust,  for  instance, — 
are  superior  for  the  Turnip. 

Sweet  Potatoes  must  be  watched,  that  the  vines 
do  not  root  in  the  ground  as  they  run,  which  will 
weaken  the  main  crop  of  roots.     They  should  be 


:^^) 


164 


%^i  darter's  S04I5. 


gone  over  about  once  a  month,  and  with  a  rake  or 
pole,  the  vines  disturbed  somewhat  from  their  po- 
sition. 


ANNUAL    ADDRESS 

Delivered  before*  the   Fruit    Growers'   Society   of 
E.  Pennsylvania,  at  Norristoum,  Feb.  \7th,  1864, 

BY  PRESIDENT  R.  A.   GRIDER,  OF   BETHLEHEAI. 

As  the  subject  of  Grape  Culture,  both  for  the 
table  and  for  wine,  is  one  of  general  interest,  and 
of  great  importance  to  every  member  here  present, 
some  remarks  by  me  upon  that  subject  will  be  dif- 
fidently offered.  I  would  premise  that  the  opinions 
to  be  expressed  were  formed  upon  actual  experience 
and  observation,  and  are  my  convictions  of  to-day; 
whether  those  convictions  are  to  remain  the  same 
through  future  seasons  you  will  not  ask  me  to  pro- 
mise in  advance.  I  call  on  each  and  every  one  of 
j'ou  to  examine  for  himself, — either  to  confirm  or 
to  disprove.  If  you  do  so,  the  aim  and  object  of 
this  society  will  be  attained,  and  we  shall  progress. 

That  Grape  culture  has  assumed  vast  proportions 
in  the  United  States,  you  already  know, — the  num- 
ber of  acres  planted  having  greatly  increased,  and 
it  is  becoming  an  important  product  of  our  country, 
although  general  success  has  so  far  not  rewarded 
the  growers, — the  rule  is  Failure  ;  the  exception, 
Success. 

The  impression  on  the  public  mind  seems  to  be 
that  it  is  bound  to  succeed.  Vineyards  have  greatly 
increased :  the  war  having  in  a  great  measure  ex- 
cluded foreign  wines,  owing  to  their  enhanced 
value ;  which  circumstance  also  aids  to  stimulate 
our  native  productions. 

From  the  evidence  gathered  b}'  this  society, 
through  a  series  of  years,  embracing  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania,  from  evidences  of  kindred  societies, 
throughout  the  Eastern,  Middle,  Northern,  West- 
ern States  of  the  Union  ;  through  the  public  prints 
and  various  other  sources  ;  the  scarcity  of  fruit  and 
small  quantities  of  American  wines;  we  are  led  to 
the  conclusion  that  open  air  Grape-growers  (calcu- 
lating a  series  of  at  least  ten  years  and  speaking 
generally),  are  not  paid  for  their  labor  and  outlay  ; 
and  are  not  rewarded  with  the  success  of  other 
branches  of  agricultural  industrj'. 

Abandoned  vineyards  are  seen  in  many  localities; 
inquiry  is  answered,  that  success  at  first  proved  too 
short-lived.  We  cannot  always  trace  the  want  of 
success  to  the  mode  of  pruning :  as  various  modes 
practiced  were  attended  with  the  same  results ;  the 


evidence  generally  amounts  to,  "  The  vines  gener- 
ally are  well  loaded  with  fruit,  but  disease  of  some 
kind  prevents  success. ' ' 

In  the  '  Report  of  the  U.  S.  Commissioner  of 
Agriculture,'  in  that  portion  devoted  to  the  '  Na- 
tional Experimenting  Garden,'  we  find  the  follow- 
ing remarks: — "While  the  introduction  and  pro- 
pagation of  new  and  valuable  plants  will  always 
command  a  large  share  of  attention,  as  one  of  the 
principal  objects  of  the  garden,  still  it  is  believed 
that  investigations  having  in  view  a  more  thorough 
knowledge  of  Diseases  of  Plants,  especially  with 
reference  to  those  of  our  more  valuable  and  gener- 
ally cultivated  fruits,  should  receive  more  attention 
than  formerly." 

Firmly  believing  that  good  will  result  if  the  sug- 
gestions above  quoted  are  acted  on,  let  us  give  the 
sijbject  the  attention  asked  for  by  the  National 
Government,  and  we  shall  thereby  advance  the 
general  interest,  and  our  individual  welfare. 

THE  DISEASES  OF  THE  GRAPE. 
When  our  Native  Grape-vines  are  properly 
pruned,  kept  clear  of  grass  and  weeds,  tied  to  trel- 
lisses  or  stakes,  and  receive  ordinary  care,  the 
causes  of  failure,  other  than  by  early  frosts,  winter- 
killing, hail  storms,  or  by  long-continued  rains 
when  in  bloom,  and  over  which  the  grower  has  no 
control,  are  by  Mildew,  by  Insects,  and  by  Rot. 

MILDEW 

we  are  told  is  caused  by  sudden  changes  of  temper- 
ature, and  by  currents  of  atmosphere  :  from  warm 
to  cold,  and  cold  to  warm ;  causing  a  mould  or 
dusty  coating,  which  dust  destroys  the  vegetable 
substance  and  stops  growth  and  expansion. 

As  there  are  various  kinds  of  mildew,  it  is  be- 
lieved that  they  arise  from  various  causes  ;  but  as 
that  belongs  to  scientific  minds,  and  as  that  subject 
is  not  yet  definitely  settled  to  the  conviction  of  all 
parties,  we  will  endeavor  to  find  a 

Preventive  against  mildew. — Protection  is  most 
generally  resorted  to, — protection  by  walls  of  stone, 
brick,  wood,  or  wooden  fences,  hedges,  planting 
of  Evergreens,  etc.  ;  and  in  some  localities,  sucn 
protection  is  not  needed,  as  nature  has  already  pro- 
vided sufficient ;  covering  or  mulching  the  ground 
under  and  near  by  the  vine,  or  covering  it  above  in 
part  by  means  of  boards  or  the  eaves  of  a  house  ; 
by  allowing  the  vine  to  ramble  among  the  branches 
of  a  tree  ;  in  greenhouses  by  sulphuring  the  ground 
and  fire-flues. 

It  first  appears  when  the  young  grape  has  attained 
to  about  the  size  of  a  pea.  It  spreads  rapidly,  and 
at  once  stops  the  growth  of  that  portion  of  the     |g\ 

= —        -^^^: 


ih^  inrden^r's  Ponthlg. 


.65 


If 


i 


plant  on  which  it  settles ;  and  if  not  quickly  re- 
moved, the  fruit  looseus  and  drops,  and  the  crop 
is  lost. 

Various  modes  are  practiced  to  destroy  the  mould 
on  the  fruit.  In  some  districts  in  Europe  they  wet 
the  bunches  and  distribute  Flour  of  Sulphur  on 
them  while  wet,  by  means  of  a  white.-wash  brush, 
or  bellows. 

One  of  the  German  Horticultural  Societies,  lo- 
cated in  one  of  the  wine  districts  of  Germany, 
deemed  the  following  mode  so  much  superior  to 
the  former,  that  circulars  were  sent  by  the  society 
to  all  the  Wine-growers,  recommending  them  to 
use  Sulphuret  of  Potassium  {Liver  of  Sulphur), 
diluted  with  water,  to  be  applied  soon  after  the 
plants  are  affected ;  this  is  practiced  with  marked 
success,  and  destroys  the  Epiletz  or  mildew  in  30 
days.  3000  plants  required  35  pounds. — See 
Wintzer  Bud,  by  F.  Kubens. 

The  latter  mode  distributes  the  Sulphur  over 
every  part  of  the  fruit,  being  liquid  ;  while  the  for- 
mer distributes  it  very  unequally,  and  is  therefore 
very  imperfect. 

Liver  of  Sulf^hur  is  a  greenish  substance,  which 
druggists  keep  in  bottles  to  prevent  its  dissolving, 
and  decomposing  by  exposure.  It  dissolves  thor- 
oughly with  water,  and  when  applied  spreads  itself 
over  every  portion  of  the  fruit  bunch.  I  have  no 
doubt  the  sarjiQ  remedy  will  answer  to  clear  the 
Gooseberry  of  the  mould  also. 

Mildew  on  the  fruit  is  the  least  of  the  three 
great  evils  which  annoy  the  grape-grower.  Mildew 
does  not  appear  every  year,  and  some  varieties  are 
not  subject  thereto.  In  the  fall  of  the  year,  when 
the  grapes  begin  to  ripen,  the  foliage  is  oftentimes 
destroj^ed  by  it ;  when  that  is  the  case,  the  fruit 
cannot  ripen,  and  the  crop  which  has  escaped  all 
other  ills,  becomes  a  failure.  Mildew  on  the  leaf 
cannot  be  cured, — if  not  prevented  by  means  of 
mulching  or  other  protection,  it  must  be  endured. 

INSECTS 

are  the  second  great  evil.  Various  kinds  of  insects 
feed  upon  the  Grape-vine.  They  appear  as  soon 
as  the  vine  begins  to  grow,  and  continue  to  feed 
upon  them  until  frost  destroys  the  leaves  and  ten- 
der shoots.  Where  but  a  limited  number  of  vines 
exist,  the  ants,  wasps,  and  birds  generally  keep  the 
insects  in  check,  but  in  vineyards,  where  abundant 
food,  and  great  chances  to  propagate  their  species, 
is  found,  the  insects  obtain  control,  and  then  it  be- 
comes necessary  to  destroy  them,  or  the  crop  will 
be  ruined.  To  destroy  them  is  to  prevent  their 
appearing  again  in  great  numbers  for  years  to  come. 
Before  describing  the  various  tribes  which  annoy 


the  Vine-dresser,  let  me  say,  that  large  Bugs  and 
large  Worms  are  not  worth  mentioning,  as  they  do 
comparatively  little  damage,  and  are  easily  caught 
and  destroyed  ;  the  small  ones,  however,  are  hard 
to  catch  and  difficult  to  destroy,  and  do  immense 
damage. 

ThiQ  first  which  appears  in  spring  is  the  bluish- 
green  Bug.  It  begins  to  operate  as  soon  as  the 
vines  begin  to  grow  ;  they  bore  into  the  bud,  and 
work  into  and  through  the  tender  blossom  ere  it  is 
fully  developed,  and  injure  or  destroy  it  as  chance 
may  happen. 

The  bugs  are  easily  taken  and  destroyed  ;  they 
work  during  warm  sunshine  ;  by  passing  along  the 
vines  they  are  readily  detected  by  holding  a  hat, 
or  any  thing  else,  beneath  them,  and  reaching  for 
them  with  the  hand :  they  immediately  drop  into 
the  vessel  beneath,  where  they  can  be  destroyed. 
If  this  precaution  is  practiced  early  in  the  season 
and  repeated  several  times,  very  little  injury  will 
accrue  from  the  Green-bug. 

The  second  is  a  blackish  colored  Worm,  which 
destroys  all  the  young  foliage  and  blossoms. 
Whether  the  progeny  of  the  Green-bug  or  not  I 
am  unable  to  say,  but  they  generally  appear  where 
the  Green-bug  was  found.  The  slug  is  easily  de- 
stroyed by  dusting  air-slacked  lime  over  the  vines 
affected. 

The  third  is  the  Rose-bug.  This  was  formerly 
a  great  pest ;  it  delights  to  feed  on  the  grape  blos- 
soms when  in  bloom.  As  the  bugs  appear  in  great 
numbers  they  are  often  very  destructive.  Since 
the  introduction  of  that  fashionable  tree,  the  Ail- 
anthu.'!,  the  blossoms  of  which  are  preferred  by  the 
Rose-bug  to  the  Grape-vine  blossoms,  they  have 
almost  entirely  disappeared, — the  Ailanthus  blos- 
som being  a  deadly  poison  to  the  bug.  Where  they 
still  are  destructive,  it  would  be  well  to  plant  a  few 
of  that  variety  of  tree.  Here  we  find  a  plea  for  the 
despised  Ailanthus. 

All  of  you,  no  doubt,  have  noticed  that  your 
vines  have  been  damaged,  by  some  means,  when 
quite  young  and  tender;  the  fruit  also  is  marked 
with  black  spots,  which,  if  few  in  number  on  one 
berry,  will  not  do  much  injury ;  if  more  spots  are 
found  the  size  of  the  berry  is  decreased,  and  if 
man}',  they  oftentimes  do  not  ripen,  but  remain 
hard,  although  the  color  changes,  and  at  other 
times,  both  the  fruit  and  all  the  shoots  and  foliage 
are  destroyed.  In  this  way  I  lost  four  or  five  crops 
in  succession  of  two  acres  of  Catawba  vines,  with- 
out being  able  to  discover  the  cause  of  the  damage; 
neither  could  I  ascertain  any  thing  about  it,  from 
members  of  the  Pomological  Society,  or  the  mem- 


•%' 


-'=^< 


H) 


inm 


^^t  hardener's  (|Kont|%;: 


bers  of  this  society,  both  of  which  I  joined  in  order 
to  learn  how  to  remedy  the  evil.  Nothing  reliable 
could  be  found  in  the  various  works  on  Grape  cul- 
ture then  existing.  Chorlton,  in  his  work,  treats 
on  that  very  subject,  and  attributes  it  to  the  rays 
of  the  sun  shining  through  drops  of  water  suspen- 
ded from  the  grape  leaves,  forming  a  lens,  and  thus 
burning  a  black  spot  into  the  tender  fruit.  Upon 
examining,  however,  the  spots  were  found  on  all 
sides  where  it  was  not  possible  the  sun's  rays  could 
reach,  it  became  evident  that  a  different  cause  ex- 
isted. As  the  evil  is  spreading,  and  we  hear  our 
oldest  and  most  observing  members  complain  of 
the  same, — as  even  the  sample  bunches  brought  to 
our  exhibitions  are  oftentimes  full  of  spots, — I  will 
venture  to  offer  a  different  theory  as  to  the  cause 
of  the  hlacJv  spots,  than  that  found  in  Chorlton' s 
book,  to  which  I  invite  your  attention,  as  the 
theory  can  be  established  or  overthrown  in  a  single 
season,  by  giving  the  subject  your  attention.  If 
the  theory  be  wrong,  you  will  be  doing  your  duty 
to  overthrow  it ;  if  correct,  to  aid  in  establishing 
It,  in  order  that  others  may  share  the  benefits  of 
our  experience : 

The  Theory  of  the  cause  of  the  hIacJc  spots. — As 
soon  as  the  vine  begins  to  grow,  with  the  aid  of  a 
magnifying-glass,  you  will  be  able  to  discover  glassy 
white  spots  or  eggs  on  the  tender  shoots ;  they  ex- 
pand and  are  soon  visible  to  the  naked  eye  ;  as  they 
grow  larger,  they  change  color,  becoming  more 
,  yellowish  and  more  opaque;  the  shape  also  becomes 
oblong  ;  they  attain  in  size  to  about  1-16  of  an  inch, 
when  feet  and  wings  become  visible,  and  a  perfect 
Thrip  or  Grape-vine  Hopper  (?)  emerges  from  the 
ovum  or  egg.  Wherever  an  insect  was  matured, 
there  a  spot  will  le  found;  if  many  insects  on  one 
place— many  spots.  We  are  led  to  believe  that  the 
insect  feeds  on  the  tender  fibers  or  the  juices  until 
matured,  which  causes  the  wound  ;  but  we  go  fur- 
ther, and  say  that  the  wounds  on  the  young  vine 
shoots,  which  look  like  festering  sores,  first  being 
of  a  crimson-red  color,  then  turning  brown,  and 
lastly  black,  causing  the  shoot  to  break  off,  stop- 
ping its  growth,  and  ruining  it  entirely, — acting 
upon  it  like  a  poison, — is  caused  by  the  same  in- 
sect; the  variety  in  the  form  of  the  wound — those 
on  the  berry  being  round,  and  those  on  the  faster 
and  longer-growing  shoots  being  long — must  be  at- 
tributed to  the  difference  in  growth  :  the  insect 
causes  but  a  small  wound,  but  growth  expands  it, 
and  makes  the  injury  greater. 

The  wounds  can  be  found  on  every  young  part 
of  the  vine,  on  the  leaves,  tendrils,  leaf-stems, 
shoots,  fruit,  etc.,  and  throughout  the  whole  sea- 


son until  cold  weather  destroys  the  foliage,  the 
only  condition  required  is  young  and  tender  food  ; 
they  are,  therefore,  only  found  on  the  newest 
growth.- 

The  effects  of  the  depredations  caused  by  this 
insect  are  very  serious  when  they  appear  in  great 
numbers  and  obtain  full  sway  :  the  entire  crop,  the 
entire  growth,  is  destroyed ;  not  a  green  leaf  can 
be  found ;  the  vines  are  left  naked  and  have  the 
appearance  as  if  fire  had  passed  over  them. 

The  second  growbh  starts  from  latent  buds,  gen- 
erally succeeds  in  ripening  its  wood,  but  the  crop 
is  destroyed,  and  the  vines  injured  for  years  to 
come. 

The  Remedy. — The  insect  being  verj'  small 
and  active,  cannot  be  caught  by  hand,  neither 
could  any  mode  be  found  to  entice  it  into  bot- 
tles or  on  sticky  substances.  It  is  found  on  the 
under  side  of  the  leaf,  is  inactive  during  cool 
weather  and  at  night.  The  most  practical  mode 
of  destroying  them  is  by  torches  made  of  dry  Mul- 
len stalks,  or  straw  dipped  into  tar  or  coal  oil,  on 
any  warm  dark  night,  \^hen  the  leaves  of  the  vine 
have  attained  about  one-fourth  to  one-half  their 
full  size.  Two  persons  are  required,  one  to  shake 
the  vine,  which  starts  the  insect,  the  other  to  pass 
the  torch  beneath  the  agitated  part :  the  insects 
fly  into  the  fire  and  are  con|umed,  causing  a  hiss- 
ing sound.  If  this  is  done  several  times,  the  ma- 
tured insects  will  become  rare.  It  is  necessary  to 
state  that  the  torches  should  be  carefully  used  and 
not  kept  at  one  place  long,  else  the  remedy  might 
do  more  damage  than  the  insects.  To  destroy 
their  brood  it  is  only  necessary  to  dust  the  vines 
when  moist  with  dew  with  powdered  air-slacked 
lime  ;  the  few  remaining  eggs  are  destroyed  by  the 
ants  and  wasps  :  the  ants  delight  to  feed  on  the 
ova,  and  seem  to  exercise  much  judgment ;  while 
doing  so  they  pass  along  examining  the  brood  care- 
fully lifting  them  up  and  replacing  them  ("in  order, 
we  suppose  to  test  whether  fully  matured  and  ten- 
der), and  examine  well  ere  they  determine  which 
to  carry  off  as  food. 

CaterpiUars  and  worms  are  blamed  for  the  drop- 
ping of  single  berries  and  bunches  of  grapes  from 
the  vines  :  they  feed  on  the  stems.  The  best  way 
tp  prevent  that  would  be  to  destroy  them  in  every 
part  where  they  build  their  nests. 

The  Scab  is  believed  to  be  caused  by  the  sting 
of  an  insect,  causing  it  to  grow  one-sided  ;  the  berry 
remains  hard  internally,  although  the  outside  does 
not  betray  the  disease.  It  is  not  so  injurious  as  the 

Worm,  which  hollows  the  berries,  and  passes 
from  one  berry  to  another  where  they  adjoin,  cans- 


M 


(Bixr&mtf%  Mm\M% 


167 


jfv^ 


1? 


i 


ing  greater  damage.  I  have  not  examined  into  the 
origin  of  this  worm. 

Excresscenccs. — Of  late  years  the  smooth-leaved 
varieties,  such  as  Taylor,  Clinton,  and  others,  have 
been  damaged  by  excrescences  on  the  foliage  and 
young  and  tender  vines,  which  appear  in  the  month 
of  August.  The  disease  may  become  formidable, 
judging  by  their  number  and  their  rapid  increase. 
May  we  not  consider  this  a  species  of  gall?  In 
order  to  prevent  the  brood  maturing,  we  cut  off  the 
parts  affected  with  a  sickle,  and  left  them  to  dry  in 
the  sun;  the  fruit  matured  well,  and  no  great 
damage  has  resulted  in  consequence  of  robbing  the 
vines  of  extra  foliage. 

A  Worm^  which  appears  in  the  summer,  and  is 
still  found  late  in  summer  and  early  autumn,  in- 
habits the  lower  side  of  the  grape  leaf,  upon  which 
it  feeds  :  the  whole  family  keeping  together  on  the 
same  leaf  until  it  is  devoured ;  it  can  be  easily 
found,  and  is  readily  checked  by  destroying  them. 

Wasps^  Yellow  Jackets,  Bees  and  Hornets  also 
damage  the  ripened  fruit,  by  Reding  thereon.  This 
can  be  readily  prevented,  as  they  prefer  the  Cata- 
wissa  raspberry  to  the  grape.  In  order  to  have  a 
full  crop  in  grape  season,  plant  a  row  near  the  grapes 
— cut  them  down ;  every  fall  or  spring  let  them 
start  fresh,  and  they  will  yield  largely  in  the  fall. 
My  friend  Mereeron  can  direct  you  where  and  how 
to  obtain  the  plants. 

GRAPE  ROT. 

It  is  said  the  late  Nicholas  Longworth  offered 
$10,000  to  any  one  discovering  the  cause  of  Grape- 
rot,  and  that  the  reward  was  never  claimed  by  any 
one. 

We  hear  various  theories  in  this  our  day  as  to 
its  cause.  Some  attribute  it  to  the  nature  of  the 
soil  being  too  close  and  tenacious ;  but  are  differ- 
ently convinced  when  rot  is  shown  to  exist  on  open 
porous  soils  also.  It  is  again  attributed  to  a  dete- 
rioration of  varieties,  owing  to  over  propagation ; 
to  the  sting  of  an  insect ;  to  an  overflow  of  sap, 
and  a  want  of  exhalation  :  the  plant  not  having 
leaves  enough  to  exhale  rapidly^,  causing  the  ber- 
ries to  crack  and  rot ;  but  no  such  wound  can  be 
found  on  the  berry,  neither  does  the  cutting  off  of 
roots,  which  stops  the  overflow  of  sap,  stop  the 
rot.  Others  ascribe  it  to  a  want  of  proper  nourish- 
ment in  the  soil,  in  order  to  mature  the  fruit,  or  too 
dense  foliage,  or  too  little  foliage  ;  to  the  dry  winds 
of  the  Simoon  passing  from  African  deserts  to  this 
continent ;  to  a  fungus ;  and  to  other  causes.  I 
believe  it  is  safe  to  assert,  thM  we  know  nothing  as 
to  its  cause ;  that  not  a  single  principle  assigned  as 
one  of  the  causes  has  been  found  the  same  in  all 


localities  ;  we  are  entirely  ignorant  as  to  its  cause, 
and  our  philosophy  is  at  a  full  stop.  Those  who  have 
had  most  chances  to  observe,  generally  agree  that 
they  know  nothing  of  this  greatest  enemy  to  grape 
culture,  and  which  destroys  entire  crops  in  a  few 
days  or  weeks.  It  is  a  well-known  fact,  that  if  rot 
starts  during  dry  and  warm  weather,  a  rain  stops 
it  at  once  ;  should  the  rain  continue  a  few  day?, 
they  rot  faster  than  ever,  and  thus  it  continues 
until  the  grapes  color,  when  it  stops ;  but,  alas ! 
but  few  berries  remain  to  be  ripened. 

The  varieties  most  subject  to  rotting  are  Catawba, 
Isabella,  Diana,  ToKalon  ;  the  Delaware  and  Con- 
cord rotted  badly  also  the  past  season. 

We  all  have  heard  the  prophecy  : — "  The  United 
States  must  become  the  greatest  wine  producer  of 
the  globe,  it  having  more  acres  suited  to  its  culture 
than  any  other." 

I  have  some  doubts  as  to  the  truth  of  the  pro- 
phecy, unless  means  can  be  found  to  stop  the  rot- 
ting of  grapes.  It  is  a  wide-spread  evil,  encoun- 
tered in  all  parts  of  our  country,  California,  perhaps, 
excepted  ;  it  destroys  part  of  every  crop,  and  often- 
times destroys  it  entirely. 

We  have  thus  reviewed  the  dangers  and  difl&cul- 
ties  which  beset  the  prosperity  of  the  Vine  culture 
of  our  country.  What  reason  have  we  to  hope  for 
an  abatement  of  the  evils?  Upon  what  must  we 
ground  our  hopes  for  a  better  prospect  before  us? 

The  incentives  to  industry,  to  energetic  efforts, 
and  the  grounds  for  brighter  prospects,  are  not  less 
in  our  career  than  in  every  other  department  of 
husbandry.  In  what  field  have  we  not  seen  diffi- 
culties of  all  sorts — from  frosts  and  snows,  from 
winds  and  rain,  from  hail  and  sunshine,  from  in- 
sects, and  from  droughts  and  blights — all  have  de- 
vastated with  relentless  ruin  the  best  prospects  of 
the  farmer  in  every  region  of  this  earth. 

The  growers  of  various  productions  have  the 
same  difficulties  to  encounter.  The  curse  of  Cain 
is  not  lifted  from  a  single  one  of  them,  and  man 
must  continue  to  eat  his  bread  at  the  price  of  the 
sweat  of  his  brow. 

It  is  our  privilege  to  live  in  an  ago,  though 
cursed  with  its  dark  trials,  bitter  enough  to  expiate 
the  misdeeds  of  centuries,  still  blest  beyond  all  ages 
which  have  rolled  befoi'e  it,  in  the  possession  of 
knowledge,  and  illuminated  by  the  glow  of  science, 
as  no  years  of  the  great  past  have  been  before. 
Hand  in  hand  with  tho  plow  and  the  pruning-hook 
are  now  advancing  the  beacons  of  a  surer  knowl- 
edge, and  the  great  truths  of  physiology,  of  chem- 
istry, and  of  geology,  lend  their  guiding  voices  to 
cheer  the  husbandman  in  every  department  of  his 
labors. 


MLL. 


168 


m\  iarter's  W^^m% 


True  and  perfect  knowledge  may  still  be  far,  very 
far  beyond  our  grasp  ;  yet  no  year,  with  its  load 
of  gains,  or  its  void  of  disappointments  roll  away, 
which  does  not  contribute  a  valuable  store  to  the 
knowledge  we  have  gained. 

It  has  been  my  duty  not  to  congratulate  you 
upon  the  success  of  your  efforts;  not  to  lull  you  to 
a  fatal  security,  by  pointing  to  results  already  ac- 
complished ;  for  I  could  readily  show  you  familiar 
facts,  coupled  with  details  of  great  success,  where 
the  rich  oJTerings  of  the  fruitful  vine  have  poured 
a  full  reward  upon  the  labors  of  the  cultivator ;  but 
desired  rather  to  guard  you  like  a  sentinel  against 
the  stealthy  foe,  who  comes  upon  gauze-like  wings 
in  the  glittering  sunshine,  or  with  measured  pace 
by  night  as  the  ravaging  worm,  or  the  mysterious 
rot,  which  comes  alike  in  sunshine,  in  shower,  and 
at  night — all  enemies  most  dread  and  dangerous, 
and  yet  not  one  of  them  against  which  we  are  ut- 
terly without  some  defence. 

Facts  are  accumulating  even  upon  the  mysterious 
Mildew,  and  many  analogies  already  point  to  direc- 
tions where  important  solutions  are  far  from  im- 
probable. 

The  Vine  disease  of  Europe,  it  has  been  proved, 
is  caused  by  a  Fungus. 

The  Potato-blight  at  one  time  threatened  that 
invaluable  tuber  with  extermination,  and  this  cal- 
amity was  promised  through  the  agency  of  the 
same  mysterious  family,  an  invisible  fungus ;  al- 
ready we  begin  to  understand  and  to  practice  cer- 
tain rules  by  which  the  destruction  is  prevented. 

More  recently,  science  has  pointed  to  other  cu- 
rious and  important  facts,  small  and  slight  in  them- 
selves, yet  as  they  accumulate,  important  and 
critical  in  directing  our  energies.  Among  ourselves 
it  is  well  known,  that  certain  families  of  our  beau- 
tiful and  beloved  Vine,  are  more  liable  to  mildew 
and  rot  than  others— that  the  same  varieties  in 
different  soils  and  situations  possess  greater  powers 
of  resistance.  "We  know  that  some  are  entirely  ex- 
empt in  any  situation.  I  need  not  call  your  atten- 
tion to  the  hopeful  side  of  the  picture. 

If  time  were  allowed,  your  attention  would  be 
called  to  the  interesting  facts  upon  the  subject  of 
Fungus  attacks,  which  abound  in  the  works  of 
Carpenter,  the  great  English  Physiologist ;  in  the 
papers  of  our  own  Professor  Leidy  upon  tlais  inter- 
esting subject. 

Parasitic  fungus  growths  abound  under  favora- 
ble circumstances  almost  everywhere.  Every 
breath  which  enters  our  nostrils  carries  countless 
spores  to  the  deepest  recesses  of  the  human  lungs. 
In  some  diseases  the  plants  are  found  fully  devel- 


oped in  the  human  body.  They  infest  the  infant's 
mouth,  and  even  the  breast  of  the  mother.  The 
Barber's  Itch  and  Scald  Head  are  attacks  of  vege- 
table fungus.  How  then  shall  we  hope  that  our 
vines  be  entirely  free  ? 

Observation  has  proved  that  the  spores  or  germs 
abound  in  every  direction,  and  acquainted  as  we 
are  with  their  wonderful  development,  energies  and 
growth,  we  are  filled  with  wonder  that  every  cor- 
ner of  our  fields  are  not  occupied  by  them,  to  the 
exclusion  of  every  green  herb.  But  a  wonderful 
Providence  has  thus  far  preserved  our  crops  and 
our  lives. 

The  investigation  of  the  causes  of  Rot,  mysteri- 
ous as  this  pest  may  seem,  may  not  be  a  desperate 
task.  Analogy  may  at  some  day  develop  the  law 
we  desire ;  and  those  of  us  met  here  to  day,  may 
yet  live  to  smile  at  a  result  not  less  surprising  than 
the  problem  of  Columbus'  egg.  It  is  certain  that 
we  are  still  in  the  infancy  of  Grape  culture  in  this 
country ;  who  will  not  say  that,  with  intelligence 
and  perseverance,  we  may  not  hope  on — hope  ever 
— and  hope  for  the  best. 

Yes,  hope  remains.  Some  of  the  smooth-leaved 
varieties,  such  as  Taylor,  Franklin,  and  Gravel, 
have  so  far  not  rotted  at  all ;  Clinton  only  a  very 
little;  Herbemont  and  Norton's  Virginia,  also,  of 
that  class,  are  likewise  free,  I  am  told.  Then  there 
is  room  to  exert  ingenuity.  Let  us  produce  a  cross 
of  the  smooth-leaved  varieties,  of  better  quality 
and  larger  in  size  than  now  exists ;  perhaps  one 
can  be  produced  free  from  rot,  if  so,  it  will  be  a 
mine  of  wealth  to  the  country  ;  and,  unless  that  be 
possible,  grape  growing  must  remain  in  the  hands 
of  ^amateurs,  or  be  conducted  in  glass  structures, 
and  open  air  grape  culture,  on  a  large  scale,  will 
continue  to  languish. 

I  call  on  you  as  members  of  a  society  who  have 
for  years  shown  disinterested  patriotism,  and  show 
it  now  by  your  presence  here  to-day,  to  continue  in 
the  good  work.  Let  your  public  spirit  not  flag  or 
tire  ;  let  us  make  efforts  in  the  direction  indicated. 
Allow  me  to  hope  and  wish  that  at  some  future 
time  it  may  be  said,  that  owing  to  efforts  made  by 
members  of  this,  the  Fruit-Growers'  Society  of 
Eastern  Pennsylvania,  the  United  States  became 
the  greatest  wine  producing  country  on  the  globe. 

I  thank  you  for  your  kind  attention  to  this  my 
maiden  speech,  and  trust  that  our  deliberations 
may  tend  not  only  to  our  own,  but  to  the  benefit 
of  the  public  in  general. 


t^§i 


S|^.  §mhmxs  Hoittljlj. 


169 


ii 


THE    CATAWBA    GRAPE. 

BY  JOHN  REDNER,   PHILADELPHIA,   PA. 

I  fully  coincide  with  a  remark  made  some  time 
ago  by  the  Editor,  that  new  fruits  are  mostly  su- 
perior to  old  varieties,  because  they  are  new, — in 
other  words,  the  vigor  which  seedlings  possess, 
improves  them  for  a  time,  until  age  debilitates  the 
vital  powers  of  the  plant,  and  renders  its  once  supe- 
rior qualities  inferior.  Perhaps  it  is  not  age  merely 
that  causes  this  retrogression  of  character ;  but  yet 
it  is  evidently  the  incidentals  of  age,  we  may  call  it 
treatment,  climate,  or  what'we  will. 

Be  this  as  it  may,  the  Delaware  seems  to  me  now 
better  than  the  Catawba,  and  the  Concord  better 
than  Isabella  ;  and  yet,  good  as  they  are,  I  am  sure 
they  are  no  better  than  I  have  eaten  Isabellas  and 
Catawbas  in  days  gone  by.  With  regard  to  the 
Catawba,  I  occasionally  meet  yet  with  a  bunch  far 
exceeding,  ia  my  opinion,  the  best  Delawares  I 
ever  ate.  I  suppose  this  opinion  will  hurt  some- 
body's feelings.  No  matter,  I  am  not  objecting  to 
their  preferences,  but  stating  my  own. 

Imagining  there  may  be  others  who  have  a  fond- 
ness for  the  Catawba  grape  as  well  as  myself,  I 
ofier  a  few  notes  on  what  seems  to  be  with  me  its 
most  successful  management. 

I  think  of  all  the  grapes  I  know,  the  Catawba 
likes  a  warm  soil,  a  sandy  soil,  a  rich  soil,  and  to 
have  its  roots  near  the  surface  of  the  soil.  No 
grape  is  so  impatient  of  wet  feet.  If  the  soil  is 
heavy,  raise  it  above  the  surface  at  least  a  foot : 
this  is  quite  as  good  as  underdraining.  In  fact 
though  possibly  I  am  opposing  men  of  more  prac- 
tice and  of  more  experience  than  I  pretend  to  have, 
my  gardening  operations  being  confined  to  less  than 
half  an  acre  in  the  suburbs,  I  consider  underdrain- 
ing  for  grape  vines  money  thrown  away — raising 
the  soil,  in  my  opinion,  effects  the  same  object, 
and  is  better  for  other  advantages. 

My  Catawbas  are  on  a  bed  raised  about  one  foot 
above  the  natural,  and  is  about  10  feet  wide,  from 
thence  sloping  easily  to  the  natural  grade  of  the 
ground.  When  the  vines  were  first  planted,  the 
soil  was  dug  up  deeply,  first  before  the  overlaying 
foot  was  put  on, — and  it  was  liberally  dressed  with 
rotten  hotbed  manure,  and  a  small  quantity  of 
bone-dust.  Since  then  it  has  had  no  manure  of 
this  character.  Taking  a  hint  from  the  forests,  I 
covered  my  bed  with  leaves  from  the  street  trees  in 
November,  and  on  these  leaves  put  about  quarter 
of  an  inch  thick  of  road  sand,  washed  afler  heavy 
rain  storms  into  a  gutter  near  my  house.  Every 
year  I  add  a  few  of  these  leaves  and  sand ;  and 
they  remain  there  without  ever  being  disturbed. 


Though  I  have  followed  this  practice  some  eight 
years,  I  do  not  notice  the  raised  bed  get  much 
higher.  I  am  satisfied  the  sand  and  the  leaves  to- 
gether make  all  the  nutriment  necessary  for  the 
proper  food  of  the  vine. 

My  grapes,  though  they  are  equal  to  any  I  ever 
see  in  the  market,  do  not  always  bear  the  very  su- 
perior fruit  they  sometimes  do  ;  but  the  vines,  are 
healthier  than  any  Catawbas  I  know  of,  and  the 
fruit  always  better  than  any  grown  near  me.  My 
neighbors,  in  fact,  consider  all  the  Catawbas  a 
failure  except  mine. 

I, think  my  vines  would  be  superior  to  what  they 
are  but  for  very  bad  pruning.  Previous  to  subscrib- 
ing for  the  Monthly,  I  never  saw  a  horticultural 
work  ;  and  it  is  comparatively  recently  that  I  have 
understood  the  value  of  proper  pruning.  I  am  in- 
clined to  think  they  were  'pruned  to  death,' — at 
any  rate,  the  past  three  years  they  have  had  much 
more  wood  left  on  the  vines,  and  longer  canes  left, 
and  I  think  there  is  a  marked  improvement  in  the 
health  of  the  vines. 

The  bunch  I  gave  you  last  fall,  and  which  you 
expressed  yourself  so  much  pleased  with,  was  from 
a  cane  grown  from  an  old  stem  I  laid  down  after 
reading  an  article  of  Mr.  Bright' s  in  the  llonthly, 
three  years  ago.  As  I  have  said,  my  vines  have 
not  had  very  scientific  pruning,  and  the  canes  were 
getting  quite  naked  below. — all  the  strong  bearing 
canes  coming  from  out  of  the  old  wood  at  the  top. 
I  took  down  from  the  trellis  one  of  the  worst  of 
these  canes,  and  cut  down  the  topmost  bearing 
shoot  to  near  its  junction  with  the  old  wood.  This 
old  cane  was  then  laid  down  about  six  inches  un- 
derground, coiling  it  up  as  much  as  possible  so  as 
not  to  extend  too  far  away  from  the  trellis.  The 
cane  was  buried  to  the  end,  leaving  only  the  few 
eyes  of  the  last  year's  bearing  wood  above  the  earth. 
The  shoot  that  came  up  was  enormous,  and  was 
trained  up  a  stout  bean-pole ;  and  the  following 
fall  it  was  left  with  about  seven  feet  of  cane,  and 
the  fruit  referred  to  came  from  this  cane,  and  was 
the  best  I  have  had  for  some  years. 

I  do  not  take  much  credit  to  myself  for  my  su- 
perior culture  of  the  Catawba  grape.  Luck  had 
more  to  do  with  my  raised  bed  than  science,  for 
the  digging  of  the  ground  was  done  before  I  knew 
I  had  the  earth  to  spare  to  make  the  bed,  and  it 
was  placed  there  more  because  I  did  not  know  what 
else  to  do  with  it  at  the  time.  It  is  subsequent  ob- 
servations on  their  growth  that  convinces  me  the 
plan  is  a  good  one. 

Your  appreciation  of  the  fruit  tasted,  led  me  to 
make  these  notes,   whicl  you  can  use  for   the 


t^^ 


170 


Clj4  §miimu  (plonthlj. 


Monthly  or  not  as  you  may  think  of  interest  to  its 
readers. 


FURNACES    INSIDE    GREENHOUSES. 

BY  A.    L.    PENNOCK,   JR. 

In  the  April  number  of  the  Monthly  I.  M.  ob- 
jects to  the  plan  of  inside  furnace  arrangements, 
upon  the  grounds  that  the  outside  system  gives 
more  heat,  more  space  for  plants,  no  dust,  coal,  or 
fire-wood  in  the  house.  He  says,  the  trap-door  I 
speak  of,  to  allow  the  heat  to  ascend,  would,  he 
thinks,  have  the  opposite  effect  by  the  cold  air,  in 
passing  down ;  also  the  space  above  the  furnace 
would  be  comparatively  useless,  being  the  coldest 
part  of  the  house.  As  I  suppose  he  does  not  un- 
derstand my  plan,  I  will  repeat  part  of  it.  A  con- 
ductor, terminating  near  the  mouth  of  the  furnace, 
supplies  the  fire  with  air  from  outside,  thus  pre- 
venting the  cold  air  from  entering  through  the 
crevices  and  among  the  plants,  in  place  of  the 
warm  air,  passing  ofi"  by  the  flues.  There  is,  also, 
another  advantage  in  the  conductor.  I  allow  more 
cold  air  to  enter  than  is  needed  by  the  fire,  which 
surplus,  being  warmed  by  the  furnace,  ascends 
through  the  trap-door^  as  in  the  ordinary  hot-air 
furnace  for  heating  dwellings.  So  far  from  plants 
being  frozen  solid  in  the  space  above  the  furnace, 
it  is  the  warmest  and  most  valuable  part  of  the 
house,  and  occupied  by  the  most  tender  plants. 
The  coal  and  wood  are  kept  in  a  cellar  adjoining 
the  furnace,  and  are  put  in  through  a  trap-door  in 
the  floor,  and,  as  that  occurs  but  once,  or  at  most 
twice,  a  year,  the  disadvantages  are  slight.  Smoke 
or  gas  is  obviated  by  closing  the  warm-air  trap- 
door,  and  opening  the  communication  with  the 
outside,  to  allow  them  to  escape.  He  agrees  to 
the  space  between  the  furnace  and  the  greenhouse 
walls,  as,  where  it  is  built  in  the  walls,  the  loss  of 
heat  is  enormous.  If  it  is  enormous  when  built 
in  the  walls  how  much  greater  must  it  be  when 
the  furnace  is  outside  ?  I  am  decidedly  in  favor 
of  my  plan  of  inside  furnace,  as  the  arrangement 
is  neater  and  more  compact,  the  fire  can  be  regu- 
lated without  exposure  to  the  storm  and  cold  in 
winter,  and,  consequently,  will  receive  better  at- 
tention, and,  comparatively,  no  heat  is  lost. 


WESTERN   GOSSIP. 

BY  DR.  TV.  BIRD,  MT.  PLEASANT,  HENRY  COUNTY, 

IOWA. 

I  have  lived  at  this  place,  in  South-eastern  Iowa, 
about  fifteen  years.     Oace,  during  that  time,  the 


thermometer  went  down  to  25°  below  zero,  and  last 
winter  to  29°,  and,  as  I  have  been  somewhat  obser- 
vant of  the  eff"ects  of  the  climate  here  on  difi"erent 
fruits,  I  propose  to  give  you  a  lew  items.  As  such 
items  from  other  parts  of  our  country  are  of  inte- 
rest to  me,  I  suppose  these,  may  be  so  to  others. 
Last  winter,  at  the  extreme  of  cold,  the  ground 
was  heavily  covered  with  snow,  which,  undoubt- 
edly, had  a  modifying  influence. 

1st.  As  to  cherry  trees.  The  Heart  Cherry  trees 
are  all  killed.  Heine  Hortense,  Early  Purple 
Guigne,  and  Belle  de  Choisey  are  also  so  badly  da- 
maged, that  they  will  never  recover.  May  Duke 
fruit-buds  all  killed,  but  trees  uninjured.  '  Belle 
Magnifique,  Late  Duke,  Royal  Duke,  Carnation, 
Early  llichmond  and  English  Morello  are  unin- 
jured, and  now  give  promise  of  an  abundant  crop 
of  fruit. 

Peach  trees  and  apricots  are  both  damaged  about 
alike.  Part  of  the  limbs  seem  to  be  entirely  dead, 
but  here  and  there  you  can  see  a  green  shoot  strug- 
gling its  way  into  life. 

Apple  and  pear  trees  have  passed  the  extreme 
cold  uninjured  in  body  or  fruit-buds,  and  now  give 
promise  of  a  more  than  usual  abundant  crop  of 
fruit  the  coming  fall. 

In  regard  to  dwarf  pear  trees,  I  will  say,  in  pass- 
ing, that  I  have  been  experimenting  with  them 
here  for  the  past  ten  years,  and  now  have  full 
faith  in  them.  They  need  a  good  preparation  of 
soil  before  planting,  and  proper  cultivation  after- 
ward, perhaps  more  so  than  with  standard  pear 
trees,  but  I  am  well  satisfied  that  the  dwarfs  are 
not  so  subject  to  blight  as  the  standards.  Perhaps 
the  same  mode  of  cultivation  would  make  the 
standards  equally  exempt  from  blight. 

Grapes.  None  that  I  have  in  cultivation  stood 
the  cold  but  the  Clinton.  The  Catawba,  Isabella 
and  Diana,  where  unprotected,  were  killed  to  the 
ground.  The  Delaware,  Concord  and  Hartford 
Prolific  badly  damaged,  but  not  so  completely  killed 
as  the  first  named.  I  am  well  satisfied  that  winter 
protection,  by  a  covering  of  straw,  corn-fodder,  or 
something  of  the  kind,  will  alone  secure  us  a  relia- 
ble crop  of  grapes  of  any  kind  that  I  have  any 
knowledge  of,  except  the  Clinton. 

But,  after  all  the  drawbacks,  South-eastern  Iowa 
is  now  producing  an  abundance  of  fruits.  For 
several  years,  apples,  pears,  cherries  and  grapes, 
and  those  of  the  finest  quality  produced  any 
where  in  the  Union,  have  been  abundant  here, 
and  they  bid  fair  to  continue  to  be  so.  Of  course, 
our  list  of  varieties  of  some  kinds  of  fruit  must  be 
more  limited  than  further  South. 


.IJBJ^         ,- 


■THR. 


Cltil  inrtt^ntr's  (Pcnt^Im 


171 


[Very  interesting  notes.  We  should  be  glad  to 
have  similar  sketches  from  others  of  our  Western 
friends.— Ed.  G.  M.] 


THS    PEACH   THEE    BORER. 
BY   WALTER   ELDER. 

I  have  succeeded  the  past  four  years  in  prevent- 
ing the  Borer  from  injuring  the  stems  of  my  peach 
trees,  simply  by  digging  small  circles  around  the 
trees,  and  setting  tomato  plants  close  to  the  stems 
in  May,  sometimes  one  plant  to  a  tree,  and  some- 
times two  plants  to  a  tree  ;  and,  as  they  grew,  they 
were  tied  to  the  stems  eighteen  inches  high,  and 
then  left  to  themselves.  They  soon  encompassed 
the  stems,  and  the  borer  did  not  attack  them,  but 
took  to  the  branches  high  up.  The  gum  soon 
oozed  out  at  the  incisions  made  in  depositing  the 
eggs,  and  the  grubs  were  destroyed  in  their  infancy, 
and,  if  they  had  been  left  alone,  they  would  only 
have  injured  some  of  the  branches ;  whereas,  if 
they  had  been  in  the  stems,  they  would  have  killed 
the  trees  entirely. 

I  got  two  peach-growers  in  New  Jersey  to  try 
the  experiment,  and  they,  too,  have  been  success- 
ful the  past  two  years.  Not  a  stem  has  been  at- 
tacked where  the  tomatoes  were  set.  The  tomato 
plants  yield  a  good  crop  of  ripe  fruit  in  fall,  about 
the  time  the  late  peaches  come  in,  and,  where 
grown  extensively,  both  fruits  are  marketed  at  the 
same  time.  Every  winter  I  have  a  half  bushel  of 
rotted  manure  spread  around  each  tree,  to  replen- 
ish the  soil  for  what  the  tomatoes  took  from  it, 
and  all  the  trees  have  kept  very  thrifty. 

When  I  first  tried  the  experiment,  I  thought 
that  the  odor  of  the  tomato  plants  would  be  so  of- 
fensive to  the  borer,  as  to  make  it  keep  off,  and  so 
it  has  proved.  The  thing  is  so  simple,  and  tomato 
plants  so  plenty,  that  any  body  can  try  it,  and  it 
will  speak  for  itself.  All  our  seedsmen  and  nur- 
serymen sell  tomato  plants  for  two  cents  each,  and 
that,  with  the  labor,  will  not  cost  over  five  cents 
for  each  tree,  and  the  ripe  fruit  of  each  plant  will 
bring  fifty  cents.  So  the  experiment  is  a  profita- 
ble one  every  way, 

«•••* — 

SCRAPS. 
BY  M. 
Mr.  Editor : — When  a  younger  man,  it  was  my 
habit,  in  the  course  of  my  reading,  to  make  very 
brief  notes  as  I  read,  merely  with  the  object  of 
looking  over  them  a  few  times  to  fix  the  facts  on 
my  memory,  and  afterwards  they  were  destroyed. 
The  following  page  turned  up  recently,  having 


escaped  the  general  destruction,  and,  noting  that 
it  contains  many  facts  in  a  brief  space,  I  send  it  to 
you  for  your  younger  readers'  benefit,  if  you  think 
it  of  use  to  them.  I  do  not  remember  now  form 
what  work  the  notes  were  made : 

Alnes  orientalis.  Loudon.  Slender  kind,  like 
American  White  Spruce. 

Picea  religiosa.  H.  et  B.  Leaves  like  A.  Dotl- 
glassi,  but  the  leaves  glaucous  beneath  ;  cones  like 
the  Cedar  of  Lebanon,  but  larger.  Used  by  the 
Mexicans  for  adorning  their  churches  on  saints' 
days.  Mountains  of  Augauguco.  Five  to  six  feet 
in  diameter,  and  fifteen  feet  high. 

Picea  pinsapo.  Loudon.  Variety  of  Cephalo- 
nica. 

Thuja  Wareana.  Booth.  Same  as  Orientalis 
tartarica. 

Cupressus  ihurifera.  Mexico.  Fifty  to  sixty 
feet. 

Juniperus  taurica.  A  distinct  variety  of  J.  oxy- 
cedrus. 

Juniperus  squamosa.  Palleck.  Dwarf,  trailing, 
robust  species. 

Juniperus  dahurica.     Same  as  J.  nana. 

Jimipei'us  Jlaccida.  Small  tree.  Fifteen  to 
twenty  feet ;  weeping  branches ;  fruit  as  large  as 
a  hazel-nut. 

The  politicians^  in  the  time  of  Elizabeth,  fan- 
cied that  the  state  would  be  ruined  by  Sir  Hugh 
Mid'dleton's  plan  of  bringing  water  into  our  houses 
by  pipes,  instead  of  buckets. 

A  hach-ground  to  shrubs  ought  to  be  composed 
of  shrubs  of  dense  opaque  foliage,  such  as  the  oak, 
beech,  or  evergreen,  and  which  have  descending 
roots,  that  will  not  rob  the  shrubs. 

Weeping  Ash  would  look  beautiful  grafted  with 
Persian  Lilac. 

Sida  ahutilon  makes  excellent  hemp  for  ropes. 
Maceration  of  large  stalks  is  efi'ected  in  twelve 
days. 

Ptelea  trifoliata.  Killed  in  hard  winters  in 
England. 

Pursh  lies  buried  in  the  suburbs  of  Montreal, 
without  a  monument  or  tablet. 


CURCULXO   REMEDY. 

BY  J.    M.    M.,   LEBANON,   TA. 

Take  of  refuse  left  in  kettle  after  cutting  out 
hard  soap,  3  pecks;  of  air-slacked  lime  1  peck;  wa 
ter  sufiieient  to  make  a  thick  mixture ;  then 


i;h^  §nr&tm'^  Jtl0ntl% 


one-third  of  this  mixture  add  two-thirds  soft  wa- 
ter and  syringe  the  trees.  To  be  first  applied 
about  the  stoning  period,  and  repeated  after  each 
rain. 

I  have  found  the  above  infallible  for  a  number 
of  years.  If  you  think  it  worth  publishing,  it  is 
at  your  disposal. 


WILD    FLOWERS. 

BY  THOMAS   GARDNER. 

Trees,  shrubbery  and  flowers :  all  know  how  to 
distinguish  them,  and  all  know  their  value  and  im- 
portance in  the  adornment  of  homes  of  taste,  and 
in  the  numberless  ways  in  which  they  minister  to 
the  pleasures  and  comforts  of  life. 

This  chapter  treats  only  of  flowers— wild  flowers 
— flowers  which  every  American  may  meet  in  some 
part  of  the  United  States,  and  which,  by  their 
beauty,  would  probably  attract  the  attention  of  the 
most  indifferent  to  floral  charms. 

"Wild  flower"  has  not  the  same  significance  in 
our  country  that  it  has  in  most  others.  In  that, 
for  instance,  from  which  we  derive  our  language- 
England— native  flowers  and  wild  flowers  have 
much  the  same  meaning,  very  few  being  cultivated, 
except  such  as  are  imported  from  other  countries, 
or,  as  we  would  say,  "  exotics."  Her  territory  em- 
bracing no  greater  area  than  some  of  our  medium- 
sized  States,  the  most  showy  of  the  wild  flowers 
become  well  known  to  the  inhabitants,  and  thus 
seem  too  common  for  cultivation. 

Our  wild  flowers  do  not  seem  common  to  us  ;  our 
country  is  too  large  for  this  idea.  The  beautiful 
flowers  of  Texas  or  Arkansas  are  as  really  exotics 
to  the  inhabitants  of  Maine  as  the  Fuchsia  of  Peru 
or  the  Victoria  regia  of  Brazil ;  yet  to  a  citizen  of 
the  United  States  they  are  "  native  plants"— wild 
flowers — of  his  country. 

In  a  certain  sense,  all  flowers  are  wild  floiccrs. 
When  we  speak  of  domestic  animals  as  distinguished 
from  wild  animals,  we  understand  a  species  of  chan- 
ged nature  which  they  assume  by  the  taming  pro- 
cess. The  transfer  of  a  wild  rabbit  to  a  cage  would 
notcover  our  idea  of  domestication;  though  confined 
for  a  long  term  of  years,  it  would  bo  but  a  "  wild" 
rabbit  still.  So  most  of  the  beautiful  flowers  that 
adorn  our  greenhouses  and  gardens  are  still  but 
wild  flowers,  that  have  been  culled  from  the  broad 
field  of  nature's  covering.  Yet  some  flowers  do 
undergo  this  taming  process,  and,  as  in  the  case 
of  domestic  animals  when  under  skilful  care  and 
intelligent  management,  change  their  wild  nature 


and  assume  forms  and  characters  unknown  to  them 
in  a  wild  state.  The  Pansy,  Geranium,  Fuchsia, 
Carnation,  Rose,  amongst  many  others,  are  in- 
stances of  this  changed  character,  most  of  tliem, 
in  a  wild  state,  being  very  insignificant  weeds,  or, 
at  most,  not  particularly  attractive  wild  flowers. 
Also,  as  in  animals,  there  are  many  that  cannot  be 
tamed,  so  amongst  flowers ;  but  very  few  can  be 
brought  thus  to  change  their  nature  by  any  skill 
thus  far  brought  to  bear  on  them.  The  sweet 
Mignonette,  well  known  to  all  for  its  delicious 
fragrance,  is  yet  the  same,  in  every  respect,  as 
those  growing  wild  in  the  south  of  Europe,  though 
it  has  been  under  culture  for  many  generations ;  it 
is,  in  reality,  the  same  wild  flower. 

The  difference  in  the  meaning  of  this  term 
"  wild,"  as  relatively  applied  to  pknts  or  animals, 
is  pointed  out  because  great  numbers  suppose  a 
cultivated  plant  to  be  an  improved  wild  flower; 
and  it  is  often  expressed,  as  a  matter  of  astonish- 
ment, that  such  or  such  a  wild  flower  is  not  culti- 
vated, "  as  it  is  quite  as  handsome  as  any  in  the 
gardens."  This  difference  is  also  pointed  out  to 
show  that  some  wild  flowers  can  be  "  domestica- 
ted" in  the  sense  in  which  animals  are  ;  and  it  is 
hoped  that  those  who  have  not  hitherto  been  much 
attracted  to  our  wild  flowers,  and  who,  on  a  peru- 
sal of  these  pages,  may  be  induced  to  take  an  in- 
terest in  them,  perhaps  may  notice  in  some  one 
flower  a  disposition  to  vary  that  has  not  yet  been 
known  to  show  this  character,  and  thus  a  new  race 
of  cultivated  plants  be  added  to  our  collections. 

These  flowers  that  have  been  found  to  vary  and 
become  improved  by  cultivation  are  called  "florist's 
flowers."  They  are  thus  called  because  they  owe 
their  variations  to  the  skill  of  florists,  and  not  to 
the  ordinary  processes  of  nature.  Some  of  our 
wild  flowers  have  already  been  brought  into  this 
condition.  The  perennial  Phlox  is  one  of  this 
class.  There  are  about  a  dozen  of  different  wild 
species  growing  in  different  parts  of  the  United 
States,  from  Canada  to  Florida,  along  river  banks 
or  in  swaiiips  or  Wet  places. 

The  French  and  Belgians,  having  noticed  in 
them  a  tendency  to  vary,  have  applied  to  them 
their  "florist's"  skill,  and  have  now  many  hun- 
dreds of  different  forms,  many  of  them  of  great 
beauty,  and  all  from  twelve  originals,  so  nieau  and 
uninviting  in  appearance,  that  probably  not  one  in 
a  hundred  of  those  who  read  these  papers  ever 
knew  a  wild  Phlox,  or  had  his  attention  in  any 
way  called  to  it,  common  everywhere  though  wild 
Phloxes  be.  Our  Mountain  Laurels  (Rhododen- 
drons) afford  another  instance.     We  have  but  four 


J^^=- 


Sfh^  barter's  JHoiitMj. 


wild  species — one  of  these,  a  little  insignificant 
plant,  growing  on  New  England  mountains,  and 
another,  a  small  bush,  small-flowered,  growing  in 
Georgia.  The  other  two  are  known,  one  as  the 
Northern  Mountain  Laurel  (Rhododendron  maxi- 
mum); the  other  as  the  Catawba  Rose  (Rhododen- 
dron Catawh tense).  From  these  two,  English 
cultivators  have  raised  hundreds  of  most  beau- 
tiful and  magnificent  varieties,  which  are  at 
noce  the  pride  and  glory  of  English  gardens. 
They  give  a  name  to  a  class  of  plants  which  they 
distinguish  particularly  as  "American  plants," 
mostly  composed  of  these  improved  "Rhododen- 
drons, and  poor,  indeed,  is  that  garden  considered 
which  has  not  a  portion  laid  off  as  the  "  American 
ground." 

We  will  now  turn  to  our  "  herbarium  " — a  col- 
lection of  dried  specimens  of  the  plants  of  the 
United  States  east  of  the  Mississippi,  and  point 
out  to  the  friends  who  will  go  with  us  through  the 
examination,  those  wild  flowers  that  are  particu- 
larly worthy  of  attention  for  their  beauty  or  for 
some  peculiar  attractiveness. 

The  first  collection  comprises  the  Ramoicidits,  or 
butter-cup  family,  which  embraces  many  very  pretty 
varieties.  The  snow  is  scarcely  gone  ere  the  Hepatica 
is  in  flower  in  the  woods  through  the  whole,  except 
a  few  of  the  most  southern,  of  the  United  States. 
It  has  small,  three-lobed  leaves  of  a  thick  texture, 
from  which  it  takes  its  name  of  "Liverwort" — 
wort  being  an  old  Saxon  name  for  "  plant."  There 
are  red,  white  and  blue  varieties,  wild ;  and  culti- 
vation has  produced  double  varieties  of  all  these 
colors;  then  the  "wind  flowers,"  or  Anemones — 
low-growing  plants,  which  are  well  known  by  their 
leaves  being  borne  on  a  single  stem,  and  the  single 
flower  again  arising,  as  it  were,  out  of  the  nest  of 
leaves.  There  are  many  pretty  species ;  one,  the 
"Pasque  Flower,"  {A.  Nuttalhana,)  a  large  blue 
flower,  is  common  in  Illinois.  The  Carolina  Wind 
Flower  (A.  CaroUniana)  has  a  large,  sweet-scent- 
ed, rosy,  white  flower.  The  Wood  Wind  Flower 
(A.  nemorosa)  is  the  pretty  white  one,  seen  every- 
where in  spring,  and  the  Rue-leaved  Wind  Flower, 
(A.  ihalicfroides,)  growing  with  and  much  resem- 
bling the  last.  The  Larkspur  {Delphiniuvi)  be- 
longs to  this  same  "butter-cup  "  family.  We  have 
four  beautiful  kinds,  all  with  tallish  stems,  of  blue 
flowers — one,  the  large  blue,  {D.  azureum,)  grow- 
ing in  Wisconsin  and  southward  ;  another,  the  tall 
Larkspur,  (D.  cxcdtatum,)  from  the  Middle  States 
southwest ;  the  greenish-white  of  North  Carolina, 
(D.  virescens.)  and  the  three-spurred  (D.  tricnrnr) 
of   Pennsylvania  and   Ohio.      The  Black   Snake 


root  (cimia'fuga),  is  also  a  very  pretty  plant 
of  this  family.  There  are  also  Aconites,  several 
species  with  blue  flowers,  resembling  Monks' 
hoods  ;  the  yellow  marsh  Marigolds  ( Calthas)  of 
the  swamps  ;  Columbines,  of  which  one(Aqmlegia 
Canadensis)^  with  crimson  and  yellow  blossoms, 
growing  among  rocks,  is  one  of  the  prettiest  of  the 
spring-blooming  flowers ;  •  the  Clematis  and  Ranun- 
culus, or  true  'butter-cups;'  all  these  embrace  the 
most  ornamental  plants  of  the  family. 

The  family  of  Berberries  has  some  interesting 
individuals.  Unlike  some  other  natural  divisions 
of  the  vegetable  kingdom,  they  have  little  striking 
resemblance  to  one  another.  The  May  apple,  for 
instance,  belongs  to  this  class,  as  does  the  red  ber- 
ried plant  well  known  as  Berberry.  One  of  these 
plants  is  interesting,  as  having  been  named  by  a 
botanist  in  honor  of  President  Jefferson,  [Jefferso- 
nia  diphylla).  It  is  commonly  known  as  tht3  '  twin- 
leaf,'  has  something  of  the  appearance  of  the  May 
apple,  but  not  quite  so  coarse,  and  grows  in  the 
middle  and  southwestern  States. 

In  a  systematic  arrangement  of  plants,  several 
orders  of  aquatics  come  next.  The  yellow  Pond 
Lily  of  the  northern  States  is  well  known.  In  the 
■  streams  of  New  Jersey  and  States  north  of  it,  the 
white  Water  Lily  attracts  by  its  odor  and  beauty 
during  July  and  August.  This  is  the  Nymphcea 
odorata  of  botanists,  or  sweet-scented  nymph,  and 
is,  by  far,  the  most  interesting  of  our  wild  flowers 
amongst  aquatics. 

Further  south  they  increase  in  beauty.  The 
Victoria  Regia,  of  Brazil,  is  world  renowned.  Its 
flowers  have  measured  twenty-two  inches  across, 
and  the  leaves  six  feet  in  diameter,  when  under 
cultivation  in  greenhouses  in  the  north,  and  are 
often  larger  in  its  native  river.  The  yellow  Ne- 
lumbo  [Nelumhium  lutcum)  is  an  attractive  curios- 
ity, not  so  much  for  its  beauty  as  for  the  interest 
attached  to  it  as  the  only  American  representative 
of  the  sacred  Lotus  of  the  Egyptians, 

The  Pitcher  plant  family  [Sarracenias)  are  very 
curious  swamp  plants:  what  would  be  the  leaf 
stalks  in  other  plants,  are  in  this  swollen  out,  so  as 
to  form  large  hollow  pit«her-like  vessels.  The 
flowers  in  shape  are  somewhat  like  the  yellow  Pond 
Lily,  not  so  large  or  showy.  The  purjjle  one  (;S'. 
purpurea)  is  the  only  northern  species ;  the  others, 
of  various  shades  of  yellow  and  purple,  extend 
through  the  swamps  of  the  Atlantic  States  to 
Florida. 

[To  he  continued.] 


^(g)- 


:=^'^ 


174 


.fc  %\\  %^\km'i^  Jitonthlg. 


C|t  %n\mi%  Stontllg. 


PHILADELPHIA,  JUNE,  1864 


.  Xi^  •All  Conimuuicatioiis  for  the  Editor  should  bo  addressed, 
"Thomas  Mrehas,  Germantown, Philadelphia," and  BusinesR  Let. 
ters  directed  to  "W.  G.  P.  Brixckloe,  Bpx        Philadelphia." 


For  Terms  of  Subscription  see  second  page  cover. 

For  Terms  of  Advertising  see  page  33. 

Volumes  1,  2,  3,  4  and  5,  furnished  for  $1  50  each. 


WASmSNG  WATER  FOR  USE  EN  PLANT- 

HOUSICS. 

In  one  of  our  early  volumes,  we  called  attention 
to  the  absurdity  of  using  water  cold  from  the  pump 
or  hydrant,  for  watering  plants  in  houses  where  it 
is  necessary  to  have  a  higli  temperature.  The  sud- 
den cooling  of  the  tem.perature  of  the  earth  around 
the  roots  some  20°  or  30°  is  very  injurious,  and  a 
large  amount  of  extra  heat  is  required  in  such 
houses  to  supply  the  waste. 

More  recently,  in  erecting  plant  houses,  as  much 
attention  is  given  to  appliances  for  warming  the 
water  for  watering  as  for  heating  the  atmosphere 
of  the  building. 

Last  spring  we  saw  a  plan  in  use  at  Mr.  Joseph 
Kift'ri  the  Florist,  of  West  Chester,  Pa.,  which 
was  adopted  to  cause  a  better  distribution  of  heat 
in  the  house,  but  which  will  serve  a  double  purpose 
by  furnishing  warm  water  for  use  at  the  same  time. 

Every  one  knows  that  when  houses  are  heated 
by  flues,  or  in  fact  by  any  system,  there  is  more 
heat  than  is  wanted  near  the  furnace.  To  carry 
off  some  of  this  surplus  heat  to  the  other  end  where 
it  was  more  useful,  IMr.  Kift  got  a  large  oil  barrel, 
fixed  it  under  the  stage  at  the  opposite  end  of  the 
house  to  the  fii-e,  and  connected  it  by  3-inch  pipe, 
with  a  small  boiler  fixed  in  the  furnace.  He  has 
had  the  water  to  almost  boil  in  the  barrel,  and  by 
collecting  so  large  a  body  of  heat  at  the  far  end  of 
the  house  has  had  his  plants  there  as  safe  as  at  the 
furnace. 


Mr.  Kift  was  not  without  meeting  difficulties, 
He  found,  for  instance,  that  the  iron  pipes  con- 
tracted and  expanded  to  such  an  extent  as  to  cause 
a  continual  leakage  at  the  point  of  connection  with 
the  barrel.  This  he  afterwards  removed  by  substi- 
tuting a  short  piece  of  lead,  bent  as  in  the  engra- 
ving, which  allowed  for  expansion  without  weaken- 
ing the  joints. 

Mr.  Kift's  use  of  this  arrangement  was,  we  be- 
lieve, simply  to  form  a  reservoir  of  heat ;  but  there 
is  no  reason  why  it  should  not  also  be  employed  for 
the  wafer  heating  purposes  we  refer  to.  A  small 
pipe  at  the  end  near  the  boiler, — or  near  the  point 
of  supplying  water  to  the  barrel, — set  so  as  to  be 
higher  than  the  barrel,  would  serve  the  purpose 
of  a  guage  to  show  the  depth  of  water  and 
also  act  as  a  safety  valve,  to  guard  against 
undue  expansion  of  the  water  in  the  barrel.  For 
our  purpose,  also,  the  barrel  would  have  to  be  more 
elevated  than  in  the  case  we  refer  to,  so  as  to  facil- 
itate drawing  off  water  as  wanted. 

We  have  not  asked  Mr.  Kift's  permission  to 
make  this  public  use  of  his  plan  ;  but  we  know  him 
to  be  a  very  liberal  minded  gentleman,  who  is  not 
afraid  of  a  few  of  his  '  secrets'  becoming  known  to 
his  neighbors,  and  have  acted  accordingly.  That  he  is 
no  loser  by  his  course,  is  evident  from  the  flict  that 
he  commenced  business  in  West  Chester  but  a  few 
years  ago  with  little  capital  but  business  tact,  in- 
dustry, and  a  thorough  knowledge  of  his  profession, 
and  has  already  progressed  to  considerable  eminence 
among  the  florists  of  the  United  States. 


SCIENTIFIC  AND  It\T®USTRIAL  EXPLO- 
RATION  IN    EASTERN   ASIA. 

We  are  glad  to  perceive,  by  a  Report  of  the  Ag- 
ricultural Committee  of  Congree,  that  there  is  some 
chance  of  a  projected  Commission  to  Eastern  Asia 
being  favorably  reported  on.  The  enterprize  was 
started  by  Dr.  D.  J.  MacCowan,  of  New  York, 
and  has  for  its  object  the  explor.ation  of  that  part 
of  the  globe  with  the  object  of  introducing  to  this 
country  a  knowledge  of  the  minerals,  plants,  and 
animals,  arts  and  manufactures,  that  may  possibly 
have  an  influence  on  the  commercial  or  agricultural 
prosperity  of  our  country. 

From  all  we  have  learned,  few  persons  in  the 
country,  perhaps,  are  better  fitted  to  be  the  leading 
spirit  in  such  an  enterprize  than  Dr.  MacGowan. 
He  has  already  spent  part  of  a  life  in  similar  enter- 
prises in  Asia,  and  has  the  reputation  among  scien- 
tific men  of  uniting  a  good  scientific  character  with 
the  happy  faculty  of  making  that  knowledge  prac- 
tically useful. 


'"satr 


mm 


W^x^  ^mkmf%  (Ponthlj^ 


175 


The  only  only  fear  we  have  that  Congress  will 
fail  to  send  out  the  Commission,  arises  from  the 
fact  that  we  cannot  see  how  the  act  would  have  any 
bearing  on  party  politics.  When  it  was  proposed 
to  establish  an  Agricultural  Department,  it  was 
evident  that,  in  the  language  of  the  political  'ring,' 
'  it  would  be  a  big  thing  '  with  the  farmers.  They 
had  an  idea  that  the  government  should  do  some- 
thing, somehow,  some  way  for  agriculture  ;  but  no 
one  knew  how  or  what.  The  politicians,  however, 
knew  how  thankfully  small  favors  would.be  receiv- 
ed ;  and  the  last  Report  of  our  respected  Commis- 
sioner Newton  testifies  to  the  joy  which  the  little 
parcels  of  Peas  and  Pumpkins  (chickens  and  pigs, 
paint,  putty  or  glass  for  horticultural  purposes,  and 
other  important  items,  we  believe  have  not  been 
distributed^  have  occasioned  through  the  whole 
voting  community. 

In  the  art  of  governing  we  have  probably  reached 
greater  perfection  than  any  people  in  the  world  ; 
but  our  rulers  are  generally  singularly  deficient  in 
any  knowledge  outside  of  that  art.  Senator  Mason, 
of  Virginia,  had  great  reputation  as  a  diplomatist, 
yet  when  a  friend  of  ours  pointed  to  a  fine  speci- 
men of  Kolreuteria  paniculata,  perhaps  30  years 
old,  as  a  Japan  tree,  "Impossible,"  replied  Mr. 
M.,  "  how  cauld  you  get  trees  from  Japxin  before 
Commodore  Perry  went  there?" 

It  was  such  influence  in  high  places,  no  doubt, 
that  wasted  thousands  in  sending  Fortune  to  China 
for  Tea  plants,  when  there  were  already  hundreds 
of  plants  in  the  country  ;  but  even  that  expedition 
would  never  have  been  projected  but  for  an  im- 
mense political  object  at  the  end  of  it.  Perhaps 
had  Tea  culture  been  found  as  practicable  in  North 
Carolina  as  these  politicians  hoped,  that  State 
might  have  fought  as  early  and  as  heartily  for  the 
peculiar  institution,  as  her  sister  Cotton-growing 
State. 

We  are  all  learning  wisdom  from  the  sad  lessons 
of  the  past.  War,  it  is  hoped,  will  not  much  lon- 
ger spread  its  dark  clouds  over  us.  Mere  politics 
has  received  a  severe  check,  and  whether  the  pro- 
jector of  the  present  expedition,  whom,  as  we  have 
said,  we  know  by  reputation,  leads  it  or  not,  it  is  to 
be  hoped  that  science  and  the  arts  of  peace  will  en- 
gage the  serious  study  of  those  who  are  chosen  to 
rule  over  us, — and  that  such  expeditions  as  that 
now  projected  by  Dr.  MacGowan,  receive  all  the 
attention  their  immense  influence  for  good  on  the 
whole  community  eminently  deserves. 


PLAN   FOR   A   ROSE    BED. 

Since  the  plan  of  pegging  down  Roses  has  be- 
come so  deservedly  popular,  much  enquiry  is  made 
respecting  plans  of  beds  suited  to  the  purpose. 
Narrow  beds  are  essential  for  roses, — and  particu- 
larly so  when  the  pegging-down  system  is  employed. 
The  following  is  a  set  of  eleven  beds,  adapted  to  an 
oval  outline. 


Free-blooming  roses,  of  course,  must  be.  employed 
for  filling, — the  Bengal  and  Bourbon  Roses  fur- 
nishing the  best.  For  the  beds  in  the  plan  given 
above,  we  would  name : 


7  Agrippine, 

8  Archduke  Charles. 

9  Do.        do. 

10  Agrippine. 

11  White  Daily. 


"imEr 


1  Hermosa, 

2  Bourbon  Queen, 

3  Do.  do. 

4  G-eorge  Peabody, 

5  Do.        do. 

6  White  Daily, 
Growing  Roses  in  masses  pegged  down  will  be 

very  popular  on  account  of  the  permanency  of  the 
plants.  Geraniums,  Verbenas,  etc.,  used  in  mass- 
ing being  annuals  have  to  be  replaced  every  year ; 
but  the  Rose  once  set  out,  not  only  endures  for 
years,  but  improves  every  year  in  beauty  with  its 
strength. 

All  the  kinds  named  above  will  of  course  require 
a  little  protection  in  winter.  The  plants  being 
pegged  down  as  they  grow,  are  easily  covered  with 
any  light  litter  that  may  be  at  hand,  and  a  very 
little  will  keep  them  securely. 

Our  engraver  has  attempted  an  improvement 
on  tbe  original  idea  ;  but  as  there  are  various  tastes, 
we  have  decided  to  give  it  as  he  has  figured  it. 
Instead  of  the  blunt  ends  to  the  beds,  we  would 
have  them  all  taper  to  the  oval  outline,  as  the 
lower  ends  of  the  beds  5,  6,  and  7  do. 

The  beds  may  be  edged  with  box,  and  have  gra- 
vel walks, — or  the  walks  may  be  of  closely  mown 
grass. 


176 


^t  ^Hrbtntr'jJ  P0itt|lg, 


STRAWBERRIES  FOR  THE   GREAT  SAN- 
ITARY   PASR    AT    PH2LADELPHIA. 

The  Coiumittee  on  Fruits  of  the  Great  Central 
Fair  of  the  Sanitary  Commission,  to  be  held  in 
Philadelphia,  commencing  June  Vth,  1864,  propose 
to  distribute  a  number  of  Silver  Fruit  Knives  with 
.appropriate  inscriptions  as  mementoes  of  the 
occasion : 
1st.  The  best  2  quarts  of  Strawberries  of  any  kind 

on  the  8th  of  June. 
2d.  The  best  2  quarts  of  Hovey's  Seedlings  on  the 

9th  of  June. 
3d.  The  largest  quantity  of  any  kind  or  kinds  on 

the  10th  of  June. 
4th.  The  greatest  number  of  varieties,  not  less  than 

1  quart  each,  on  the  11th  of  June. 
5th.  The   best  2  quarts  of  Triomphe  de  Gand  on 

the  13th  of  June. 
6th.  The  largest  quantity  of  any  kind  or  kinds  on 

the  14th  of  June. 
7th.  The  best  2  quarts  of  Albany  Seedlings  on  the 

15  th  of  June. 
8th.  The  best  one  quart  of  any  kind  on  the  16th 

of  June. 
9th.  The  greatest  number  of  varieties,  not  less  than 

one  quart  each,  on  the  17th  of  June. 
10th.  Best  2  qts.  of  any  kind  on  the  ISth  of  June. 

As  the  chief  object  of  the  Committee  is  to  induce 
large  donations  for  the  benfit  of  the  Fair  on  each 
day,  persons  contributing  can  send  as  many  more 
than  the  quantity  called  for  as  they  can  spare,  and 
the  Committee  will  select  two  quarts  of  the  ones 
least  damaged  in  transit  as  claimants  for  the  me- 
morial Knives. 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  growers  of  the  new 
varieties  will  be  out  in  great  force,  and  make  the 
exhibition  a  credit  to  Strawberry  growers,  as  well 
as  profitable  to  the  philanthropic  objects  of  the  fair. 


Il3=Cominunicaaon.s  fur  this  department  must  reach  the  Editor 
on  or  before  ;he  10th  of  the  month. 

5Cj=Tho  Editor  cannot  answer  letters  for  this  department  pri- 
vately. 


Root-grafted  Apple  Trees  —  Ciienanoo 
Strawberry  Apple— G.  W.  D.,  FranhUn  Mills, 
0. ,  writes : 

"Your  May  number  is  a  capital  one,  and  alto- 
gether J  consider  the  Gardener  s  Montlihj  the  best 
publication  of  the  kind  in  the  country.     But  there 

one  thiug  due  from  it,  I  believe,  which  in  justice 


should  appear :  that  is  a  fair  unprejudiced  article 
on  the  modern  method  of  Root-grafting  the  Apple, 
given  with  a  full  understanding  of  the  subject.  It 
is  very  rare  that  an  eastern  man  will  talk  candidly 
upon  the  subject.  He  has  plenty  of  sneers,  and 
offers  them  freely;  and  what  real  objections  he 
pretends  to  have  are  based-  on  mistaken  notions. 
For  instance,  one  writer  says  :  "  the  pieces  of  roots 
gradually  die  ;"  and  others  talk  as  if  old  roots  (side 
roots  from  old  trees j  were  used,  etc.  I  merely  wish 
to  call  your  attention  to  the  subject,  and  its  impor- 
tance will  not  be  questioned — for  a  vast  majority 
of  all  the  trees  raised  in  the  country  are  so  propa- 
gated ;  and  if  there  is  a  system  in  vogue  that  is 
sending  out  millions  of  bad  trees  annually,  it  should 
be  stopped  if  possible. 

I  wish  to  say  a  word  for  the  Chenango  Straw- 
berry apple.  It  has  fruited  with  me  several  years, 
and  I  have  seen  no  commendation  of  the  fruit  that 
comes  up  to  my  estimatioa  of  it.  I  rank  it  '  best ' 
in  all  respects  ;  it  needs  to  be  thoroughly  ripened 
on  the  tree  to  attain  its  finest  condition,  and  then 
I  know  of  no  equal  to  it.  The  American  Summer 
Pearmain  or  Early  Joe  may  be  richer,  and  please 
some  palates  better ;  but  not  mine;  and  I  have  seen 
no  one  that  has  eaten  it  in  its  best  state,  that  has 
not  pronounced  it  best.  It  is  an  annual  bearer,  and 
the  fruit  is  very  beautiful." 

[Root-grafted  apple  trees  are  as  good  as  trees 
grafted  or  budded  on  seedling  stocks.  The  objec- 
tion to  them  is  more  hypothetical  than  to  be  dis- 
covered in  practice. 

After  some  years  of  observation  of  trees  raised 
both  ways,  we  find  the  following  facts : 

First.  As  a  rule,  root-grafted  trees  come  into 
bearing  abundantly  earlier  than  budded  trees,  and 
do  not  live  quite  so  long  ;  but  the  dilFerence  is  very 
little,  and  on  this  head  we  should  give  the  prefer- 
ence to  root-grafted  trees. 

Second.  The  roots  of  root-grafted  trees  never 
extend  so  far  as  trees  otherwise  raised ;  but  they 
are  much  more  fibrous,  and  furnish  quite  as  much 
f  jod  to  the  tree  as  the  others.  Tlie  tree  is  not 
therefore  injured  in  its  growth  by  this  mode  of 
propagation ;  but  is  more  liable  to  lean  over  in 
heavy  rain  and  wind  storms,  than  trees  with  long 
main  roots.     This  is  a  point  against  root  grafting. 

Third.  The  fibrous  nature  of  the  roots  favor 
successful  transplanting.  AH  other  circum- 
stances being  equal,  there  will  be  fewer  deaths 
among  transplanted  root-grafts  than  budded  trees. 
Fourth.  Root-grafted  trees  during  the  first  few 
years  of  their  existence  are  hardier  than  budded 
ones.  Whenever  the  thermometer  goes  below  zero, 


^?^- 


:=^^m 


ij^,* 


mthntxs  Mm 


177 


the  very  vigorous  shoots  on  strong  budded  stocks 
•will  often  split,  when  root-grafted  ones  of  the  same 
variety,  side  by  side,  being  less  vigorous  escape. 

The  chief  objections  to  root-grafting,  we  think, 
have  arisen  from  mistaken  individuals  who  seem 
to  consider  nurserymen  as  the  most  dishonorable 
men  out  of  jail.  We  have  oftenMicard  it  said  that 
"  nurserymen  praise  root-grafted  apples  merely  be- 
cause it  is  convenient  for  them  to  do  it  in  winter, 
when  they  have  little  work  for  their  men."  The 
writer  is  ever  indifferent  to  what  motives  may  be 
imputed  to  him  in  his  business  transactions  ;  but 
it  so  happens,  that  while  giving  his  good  opinion 
of  root-grafting  apples,  he  buds  most  of  his  own, — 
the  nature  of  his  business  furnishing  full  employ- 
ment for  his  hands  at  other  work  through  the  win- 
ter season. 

We  have  before  spoken  highly  of  the  Chenango 
Strawberry  apple. 

Greenhouse  Plants— TF!  M.  D.,  Pittsburgh, 
Pa. — I  have  a  number  of  well-grown  plants  of 
Bletia  Tankervilloe,  which  I  purchased  five  years 
ago.  They  seem  healthy  and  vigorous,  but  will  not 
bloom.     Can  you  suggest  a  reason  ?  (1) 

Also,  Poinsettia  pulcherrima — one  winter  the 
plants  were  all  that  could  be  desired,  magnificent 
above  all  others  in  the  hot-house,  I  have  followed 
Mr.  Buist's  directions  closely  for  three  years  past, 
but  the  scarlet  bractse  are  very  small.  (2) 

How  can  the  earthenware  or  brick  tile  flue  pipe 
be  cleansed ;  and  would  it  answer  for  our  soft 
coal?  (3) 

[1.  Give  it  plenty  of  pot  room  through  winter. 
In  spring  partially  plunge  the  pot  out  of  doors,  in 
a  moderately  shaded  place  ;  put  it  next  winter  in  a 
hea/.  of  70°  or  80°,  and  it  will  flower.  Gardeners 
flower  it  by  their  regular  ways ;  we  recommend 
this  for  its  ease  in  desperate  cases. 

2.  Put  this  out  the  same  way,  only  in  the  full 
sun.  Pinch  it  back  occasionally  to  make  it  as  bushy 
as  possible  ;  next  winter  give  it  a  heat  of  60°,  and 
it  will  flower  profusely. 

3.  Most  people  take  out  the  end  piece.  We  use 
movable  collars  for  securing  joints  instead  of 
phlanges  in  the  usual  way, — having  two  or  three 
in  a  space  of  fil'ty  or  sixty  feet.  These  thin  bands 
are  liable  to  crack  during  the  putting  together 
while  plugging  in  the  joint  clay,  by  so  much  pres- 
sure. We  guard  against  this  by  putting  a  band  of 
wire  round  before  commencing,  also  where  there 
may  be  any  possibility  of  any  pipe  cracking.  We 
should  suppose  with  bituminous  coal  you  wonld 
require  to  clean  an  8-inch  flue  every  other  year.  ] 


Books— J:  C.  W.,  Flshkia  Landing,  K  Y.— 
I  want  to  get  a  book  that  will  give  correct,  direc- 
tions for  the  management  of  Stove,  Garden  and 
Greenhouse  flowers,  bulbs,  tubers,  etc.  Is  the  wor'k 
by  Edward  S.  Band  the  book  I  want ;  if  not,  what 
one  would  you  recommend  ?  I  also  want  a  good 
Botanical  Dictionary,  can  you  recommend  one  ? 
Please  answer  my  inquiries  through  the  Monthly, 
[Mr.  Rand's  Haook  is  mainly  for  '  Parlor  Garden- 
ing.' There  is  no  work  exactly  suited  to  your 
wants.  '  Buist's  Flower-Garden  Directory  '  is  the 
nearest.  '  Paxton's  Botanical  Dictionary  '  is  in 
general  use  among  gardeners. 


Name  of  Strawberry.— i*.  Neio  York,  writes : 
"I  obtained  this  Strawberry  as  'Abingdon  Blush,' 
and  was  led  to  suppose,  by  others  since,  that  it  was 
the  same  as  '  Lennig's  White ;'  but  my  plants  are 
pistillate.     Have  I  got  it  correct  ?" 

['Abingdon  Blush  '  is  not  the  same  as  'Lennig's 
White.'  With  regard  to  the  flowers,  it  is  one  of 
the  varieties  that  are  more  than  usually  change- 
able. Pure  pistillate  and  well  developed  herma- 
phrodites are  abundant,  often  on  the  same  plant.] 

Pumps — J.  31.,  Lebanon,  Pa. — My  cistern  is 
about  45  feet  distant  from  my  well ;  the  latter  being 
about  35  feet  deep.  I  want  a  pump  that  I  can 
place  near  the  one  in  cistern  and  draw  the  water 
from  the  well.  Can  you  recommend  one  that  will 
answer  my  purpose,  and  price  of  same  ? 

[There  are  sevei'al  different  kinds  which  might 
suit  your  purpose.  We  will  hand  your  address  to 
the  makers,  who  will  answer  your  inquiries.] 

Name  of  Plants— >S'.  B,.,  Christiana,  Pa.— 
1.  Cotyledon  sp.  2.  Double  Red  Campion;  Lych- 
nis diurna.     3.     Lamium  rugosum. 


Ascent  of  the  Sap— J..  L.  S.,  Parhersbwg, 
Va. — "Perhaps  you  may  not  think  the  following 
query  of  any  practical  value,  but  more  than  I  think 
it  curious,  and  would  be  glad  of  your  explanation 
through  the  Monthly : 

"A  large  trunk  of  Willow,  cut  down  last  winter, 
has  shoots  now,  on  the  top  of  a  wood  pile,  six  inches 
long ;  where  does  the  sap  come  from  to  supply  the 
shoots?  Pear  branches,  cut  down  at  the  same  time, 
along  side  of  these,  have  no  shoots." 

[Willow-wood  contains  a  great  deal  of  watery 
sap.  The  shoots  feed  on  it.  AVhen  the  supply  is 
exhausted  the  shoots  will  die.  Hard,  close  wood, 
like  the  Pear,  has  not  enough  sap  to  support 
shoots.  When  the  moisture  is  dried  out  of  the 
willow  the  pear-wood  will  be  the  heaviest.] 


=?g^ 


JBC 


178 


gh  (Sarbener's  Panthlf. 


I? 


{(Boofes,  (JafalnguFS,  %t. 


Ten  Acres  Enough  :  A  Practical  Treatise  for  the 
Million.  Showing  how  a  very  small  farm  may 
he  made  to  keep  a  very  large  family.  New  York : 
James  Miller. 

The  name  of  the  author  of  this  little  book  is  not 
given ;  and  for  the  best  of  possible  reasons :  the 
whole  thing  is  a  fiction,  which  has  been  brought  to 
look  like  truth.  It  is  doubtless  the  work  of  a  clever 
lawyer,  who  is  interested  in  the  eale  of  Jersey  lands. 
If  merely  employed  in  the  capacity  of  an  attorney 
for  some  land  company,  we  are  pleased  to  say  he 
has  served  his  clients  well,  for  we  never  read  a  bet- 
ter made  out  case.  Every  thing  that  is  recorded 
as  having  been  done,  might  have  been  accomplish- 
ed ;  for  such  results  have  been,  and  are  being  ob- 
tained from  ten  acres,  and  less,  every  day.  The 
following  abstract,  however,  of  the  book  will  give 
an  idea  of  what  the  writer  calls  his  experience.  : 

For  forty  years  he  lived  in  Philadelphia.  Com- 
mencing life  without  a  dollar,  by  dint  of  close  ap- 
plication to  business,  and  by  avoiding  taverns  and 
oyster-houses,  theatres  and  fashionable  tailors,  he 
managed  to  save  a  few  hundred  dollars,  married 
and  went  into  business.  In  this  he  was  moderately 
successful.  The  crisis  of  1837.  >>"^ever,  nearly 
ruined  him,  but  he  kept  struggliiii;  aiong  through 
the  next  five  succeeding  years  of  hard  times. 

At  length  he  determined  to  leave  the  city,  and 
turn  his  attention  to  farming.  He  sold  his  busi- 
ness, and  after  paying  all  his  debts  had  $2,000  lefc. 
He  purchased  a  small  place  in  New  Jersey,  of 
eleven  acres,  for  $1,000,  and  bid  adieu  to  the  city. 
One  acre  was  in  clover,  and  another  was  occupied 
with  the  house  and  garden.  This  left  him  nine 
acres  for  general  fruit  and  vegetable  culture.  He 
hired  it  plowed  and  subsoiled,  going  down  twenty 
inches.  He  thinks  if  he  eould  have  plowed  two 
feet  deep  it  would  have  been  all  the  better  !  He 
laid  out  $200  in  the  purchase  of  well-rotted  barn- 
yard manure,  and  put  it  on  the  nine  acres.  He 
then  set  out  six  acres  of  peach  trees,  eighteen  feet 
apart  each  way,  or  134  to  the  acre.  These  would 
not  be  in  the  way  of  other  crops,  and  in  three  years 
would  be  likely  to  yield  a  good  return. 

He  has  a  relative  in  Ohio  who  has  a  peach  orchard 
of  eleven  acres,  which  has  yielded  him  $5,000,  in 
a  single  season,  while  peaches  were  selling  in  Cin- 
cinnati at  25  cents  a  bushel.  He  did  not,  however, 
sell  his  for  that  price.  He  received  $2  a  bushel 
more  readily  than  his  neighbors  got  25  cents  for 

^BQ ' 


the  same  variety  of  peaches.  This  result  was  ac- 
complished by  thinning  the  fruit.  He  determined 
to  adopt  the  same  practice  on  the  old  trees  which 
he  found  on  the  place.  When  the  young  peaches 
were  as  large  as  hickory  nuts  te  began  the  opera- 
tion of  removing  all  the  smallest,  and  of  thinning 
out  unsparingly  wherever  they  were  excessively 
crowded.  Five  were  thinnned,  and  five  lefl  un- 
touched The  result  was  that  the  peaches  on  the 
five  denuded  trees  grew  vastly  larger  and  finer  than 
those  on  the  other  five.  The  peaches  from  those 
five  trees  were  sent  to  market  and  netted  $41,  while 
the  fruit  from  the  other  five  netted  only  $17,  and 
those  used  in  the  family,  from  the  same  trees,  es- 
timated at  the  same  rates  were  worth  $9,  making 
on  those  five  a  difference  of  $15  in  favor  of  the 
thinning. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  chapters  in  the  work 
is  his  account  of  his  war  with  the  weeds.  The 
quick  warm  soil  of  New  Jersey  is  particularly  in- 
fested with  them.  In  June  he  found  every  inch, 
of  his  plowed  land  in  a  fair  way  of  being  smothered 
by  them. 

He  fought  the  weeds  the  whole  season,  and  did 
not  allow  a  single  one  to  go  to  seed.  The  next  year 
he  found  his  land  quite  clean. 

Every  thing  that  he  had  planted  grew  with  sur- 
prising luxuriance.  It  was  an  illustration  of  the 
value  of  thorough  culture. 

His  profits  the  first  year  amounted  to  $336,  de- 
rived principally  from  the  sale  of  Lawton  black- 
berry plants,  which  he  happened  to  have.  The 
next  year  showod  a  better  result — the  profits 
amounting  to  $1,025.  His  most  profitable  crop 
was  his  six  acres  of  strawberries,  planted  among 
his  peach  trees.  He  got  5,360  quarts,  averaging 
16  cents  per  quart  net,  or  $857,60  for  the  whole. 

He  had  never  done  better  than  this  in  the  city, 
and  had  never  been  so  happy  in  his  life.  The  third 
year  his  receipts  were  $2,133  08.  Expenses  $806  06 
— leaving  a  net  profit  of  $1,327  02.  This  is  a  profit 
of  nearly  $  1 30  per  acre.  The  ground  was  crowded 
to  its  utmost  capacity,  and  cultivated  with  unflag- 
ging industry  and  care. 

Pie  closes  with  a  chapter  recommending  the 
thorough  cultivation  of  a  few  acres  at  the  East, 
rather  than  the  indifferent  cultivation  of  a  large 
area  at  the  West. 

This  is  the  sum  of  the  history,  and  is  as  natural 
as  if  it  really  had  happened.  The  book  will  be- 
come, indeed  is  already,  very  popular,  and  Jersey 
lands  will  bring  good  prices  for  the  next  year  or 
two.  We  do  not  object  to  this  result.  If  thous- 
ands who  now  over-crowd  the  usual  walks  of  busi-    I  ^ 


^=^: 


^ 


Cft^  ^ardentrs  (Pont|Ij. 


179 


ness  and  trade,  would  settle  on  the  land,  either  in 
New  Jersey  or  elsewhere,  it  would  be  bettter  for 
most  of  them,  and  for  the  country.  The  majority 
would  not  find  '  ten  acres  enough,'  and  many  more 
would  find  it  entirely  '  too  much,'  for  a  good  while 
after  their  first  settlement;  but  in  the  end  they 
would  be  more  independent  and  happy. 

But  the  men  who  try  every  other  business  and 
fail,  are  not  the  men  whom  we  wish  particularly  to 
see  settle  on  the  land.  We  prefer  a  more  enter- 
prising and  energetic  race.  These,  however,  are 
the  men  who  usually  buy  poor  lands ;  and  these 
this  book  is  particularly  adapted  to  catch.  It  was 
not  the  '  ten  acres'  that  made  so  fair  a  show  on  the 
balance  sheet,  but  an  excellent  business  tact  and 
shrewdness,  which  will  make  a  man  succeed  in  any 
business  he  understands ;  and  we  are  quite  sure 
that  he  who  could  make  such  an  exhibit  from  ten 
acres  in  so  short  a  time,  would  not  be  the  man  who 
struggled  for  forty  years  in  city  business,  only  to 
have  $2000  to  show  in  the  end. 

As  we  have  before  said,  the  more  knowledge 
skill  and  capital  we  can  get  on  the  soil  the  better 
for  us  all, — without  these,  we  fear  few  would  re- 
alize the  picture  portrayed  in  "Ten  Acres  Enough. ' ' 


Proceedings  of  the  Missouri  State  Horti- 
cultural Society  for  1863 — 1864. 
1  Concluded  from  page  150.] 
Thuja  occidentalis  (American  Arborvitfe.^ — The 
value  of  this  tree,  for  our  immediate  locality,  has 
been  greatly  over-estimated.    It  browns  (|Bfing  the 
winter  months,  and  is,  in  every  respect  'ifeferior  to 
the  following,  viz.  : 

Siheri'aii  Arhorvitce. — This  tree  bears  the  shears 
admirably,  and  in  every  other  particular  it  is  well 
adapted  for  a  hedge  plant. 

Thuja  aurea. — This  new  Golden  Arborvitas  is 
the  only  one,  that  we  are  acquainted  with,  that  re- 
tains its  freshness  unimpaired  throughout  the  year. 
Plants  of  this  tree  are,  unfortunately,  scarce  and 
dear.  It  may  be  easily  grafted  on  other  sorts  as 
hereinafter  described. 

Thuja  orientaUs  and  jax^nica. — Are  not  desira- 
ble where  either  of  the  preceding  kinds  can  be  ob- 
tained. 

Thuja  fiJlformts. — A  hardy  weeping  tree,  quite 
dwarfish  in  habit  It  attains  to  the  height  of  five 
feet. 

Taxus  Cthe  Yew.)— T.  baccata,  T.  hibernica,  T. 
brevifolia,  T.  japonica,  T.  pendula,  T,  pyramidalis, 
and  T.  Canadensis. 

All  the  species,  except  the  last  named,  are  too 
tender  for  the  Western  climate.    The  Canadensis 


grows  freely  in  a  mixture  of  top  soil,  leaf  mould 
and  decayed  wood,  and  forms  a  low  rambling  head; 
and,  when  partly  or  wholly  shaded,  produces  nu- 
merous berries  of  a  bright  red  color. 

Saxegothea  conspicua,  —  This  tree,  which  has 
excited  so  much  interest  of  late,  is  a  native  habitant 
of  the  elevated  regions  of  Patagonia,  growing  near 
the  line  of  snow.  Small  plants  closely  resemble 
the  English  Yew,  except  the  under  side  of  the 
leaves,  which  are  of  a  light  sea-green  color.  This, 
as  well  as  the  two  following  :  Fitzroya  Patagonica 
and  Lihocedrus  tctragona,  (both  of  which  were 
found  between  the  lower  limits  of  winter  and  per- 
petual snow  lines,  J  will  fail  in  this  climate  for  want 
of  the  proper  degree  of  humidity  in  the  atmosphere. 

Rhododendrons. —  Some  thirty-eight  varieties, 
embracing  most  of  the  new  sorts  from  Asia,  were 
tried.  Beds  for  their  reception  were  prepared  in  a 
shaded  situation,  over  a  deep  loose,  loamy  soil,  out 
of  decayed  leaves,  wood  and  top  soil.  The  plants 
were  then  planted  and  carefully  mulched,  with  half 
decayed  leaves  and  decayed  wood,  to  the  depth  of 
five  inches.  All  of  the  plants  grew  finely,  and  on 
many  of  them  the  blossoms  were  truly  magnificent. 
As  early  as  the  latter  part  of  June  following,  a 
slight  mouldiness  was  perceptible  on  the  new  leaves, 
which  gradually  extended  to  all  parts  of  the  plants. 
From  the  first  appearance  of  the  mildew  until  the 
end  of  the  season,  the  leaves  were  constantly  drop- 
ping and  new  ones  forming.  The  new  leaves  sel- 
dom grew  to  half  the  size  of  their  predecessors, 
before  they  in  turn  were  forced  to  give  place  to 
much  smaller  ones;  when,  at  the  end  of  the  second 
season,  all  were  destitute  of  foliage,  except  orte  va- 
riety, the  R.  cih'atum,  which,  since  then,  has  gone 
the  way  of  its  predecessors. 

Cerasus  lusitanica  (the  Portugal  Laurel.) — This 
shrub  is  unsuited  to  our  locality  ;  the  leaves  az'e  in- 
jured by  sun-light,  and  are  killed  outright  early  in 
the  winter. 

Arbutus  unedo  (the  Strawberry  Tree. J— This 
shrub  is  a  native  of  Ireland  and  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope,  and  in  Europe  it  is  an  evergreen  tree  or 
shrub  ;  here  it  is  of  slow  growth,  and  parts  with 
its  leaves  early  in  autumn.  Its  fruit,  in  size,  shape, 
and  color,  is  that  of  a  small  strawberry,  which  ma- 
tures from  June  to  November. 

Berberis  (the  Berberry.) — Several  of  the  Euro- 
pean sorts  part  with  their  foliage,  which  greatly 
retards  their  growth. 

Mahonia  aquifoUa — Is  one  of  the  hardy  ever- 
greens ;  flowers  yellow  and  fragrant ;  berries  pur- 
ple, and  ripe  in  August. 

Cotoneaster  buxifolia,  C.  marginata,  C.   micro- 


i@ 


- — t<cjj- 


:^^ 


180 


^^  §nx&mxs  Jttonthlj. 


phylla,  and  C.  thymifolia; — Two  hours  of  our  bright 
winter  sun-light,  I  believe,  would  suffice  to  kill 
them. 

Buxxis  (the  BoxJ  elata. — New  gold-edged,  sil- 
ver-striped, thyme-leaved,  and  dwarf.  All  these 
much  neglected  shrubs,  so  desirable  for  edging  or 
planting  out  singly  in  the  shade  of  trees,  will  be 
found  to  be  hardy  with  a  little  shade  during  the 
winter  months. 

Thea  viridls  and  bohea  (the  Chinese  Tea  Plant.) 
— The  Agricultural  Department  at  Washmgton  are 
distributing  gratuitous  tea  plants  to  those  who  ap- 
ply for  them.  In  1855  I  imported  plants  from 
England,  which  were  carefully  planted  and  cultiva- 
ted. In  the  fall  they  were  deeply  covered  with  the 
boughs  of  evergreen  trees;  but,  notwithstanding 
the  protection  they  received,  they  were  ail  killed 
during  the  winter  months. 

Sequoia  gigantea. — Two  plants  of  this  species 
were  planted  out  in  March,  1857.  They  were  kept 
well  shaded  by  planting  evergreen  boughs  near 
them,  From  seven  o'clock,  a.m.,  to  six  p.m.,  of 
each  day  until  July  following,  when  the  shade  was 
withdrawn  from  one  of  them  for  one  day ;  three 
days  later,  the  branches  and  leaves  of  the  one  ex- 
posed were  found  to  be  wilted  and  dead  ;  the  re- 
maining plant,  protected  as  described  from  the 
mid-day  sun,  grew  with  great  vigor,  but  after  the 
first  hard  frost  of  autumn  it  was  found  to  be  dead 
quite  down  to  the  ground.  It  may  not  be  amiss  to 
remark  that  the  plants  referred  to  were  one  year 
old.  From  the  seed  grown  under  glass,  older  plants 
might  have  fared  different. 

Crjjptomenajaponica. — Hundreds  of  these  trees 
have,  within  the  past  fifteen  years  been  planted  in 
the  vicinity  of  Alton,  Ills.,  and  one  single  specimen 
planted  by  myself  in  1855,  in  the  deep  shade  of 
evergreen  trees,  entirely  protected  from  the  sun, 
has,  like  a  messenger  of  Job's,  "alone,  escaped 
alone,"  as  a  reminder  of  departed  hopes. 

Grafting. — The  style  of  grafting  which  you  de- 
sired me  to  explain  was  first  described  by  Mr.  L. 
M.  Dunlap,  before  the  Illinois  Horticultural  So- 
ciety, at  the  time  of  its  organization,  and  was  by 
him  considered  applicable  only  to  young  cherry 
stocks.  Experience  has  since  that  time  demonstra- 
ted its  value  for  both  evergreen  and  deciduous 
stocks  and  roots,  and  has  also  been  successfully  ex- 
ecuted on  perennial  and  annual  plants.  The  ope- 
ration may  be  performed  by  selecting  a  graft  of  the 
exact  size  of  the  root,  stock,  or  branch  to  be  graft- 
ed ;  cut  the  top  of  the  stock,  root  or  branch  in  the 
shape  of  a  wedge  ;  the  sloping  cut  should  be  about 
*  one-and-a-half  inches  long  ;  next  split  the  end  of 


the  scion,  and  thin  away  each  half  to  correspond 
with  the  slope  on  the  stock  ;  put  the  two  together, 
and  with  a  strong  linen  thread,  well  waxed,  bind 
them  together  as  firmly  as  possible  without  imbed- 
ding the  string  in  the  bark.  This  ligatune  must  be 
applied  spirally,  leaving  about  one-twentieth  of  an 
inch  between  each  turn,  and  continue  spiral  binding 
as  described,  until  the  stock  and  graft  are  brought 
firmly  together ;  then,  with  a  brush,  apply  a  thin 
coating  of  warm  grafting  wax.  If  too  much  wax 
has  not  been  used,  you  can  easily  see  any  change 
that  may  take  place  under  it.  In  from  one  to  four 
weeks  you  will  find  that  from  the  connecting  edges 
of  the  graft  and  stock,  that  new  wood  will  have 
made  its  appearance.  This  new  growth  closely  re- 
sembles the  callus  which  protrudes  from  the  base 
of  cuttings,  and  will,  in  a  short  time,  knit  the  stock 
and  graft  firmly  together,  when  the  ligature  should 
be  cut. 

In  grafting  on  pieces  of  root,  wax  the  thread  with 
shoemaker's  wax  and  cover  with  one  thickness  of 
cloth,  or  paper,  dipped  in  grafting  wax  ;  this  cov- 
ering, together  with  the  waxed  thread,  being  placed 
below  ground,  will  decay  away  in  time  to  avoid 
injury. 

The  superiority  of  this  mode  of  grafting  consists 
in  bringing  the  connecting  edges  to  be  united  firmly 
together,  and  holding  them  there  without  strang- 
ling, which  would  occur  were  the  pressure  applied 
to  the  whole  surface  as  in  the  ordinary  way. 


JIM  or  3iarp  ]PIflnR 


The  Botanical  Magazine  figures  the  following  : 
The  Cannibal's  Tomato  (Solanum  anfliropo- 
plwgorum). — The  'Correspondence  relative  to  the 
Fiji  Islands,'  presented  to  both  Houses  of  Parlia- 
ment, by  command  of  her  Majesty,  in  May,  1862, 
is  accompanied  by  an  interesting  Appendix,  being 
a  report  by  Dr.  Socman,  on  the  '  Vegetable  Pro- 
ductions and  Kesources  of  the  Vitian  or  Fijian 
Islands,'  in  which  a  chapter,  at  page  58,  is  devo- 
ted to  '  Vegetables  eaten  with  human  flesh  ;'  from 
which  I  make  the  following  extract :—"  These  it 
may  be  important  to  notice ;  since,  thanks  to  the 
influence  of  commerce,  Christian  teaching,  and  the 
presence  of  a  British  Consul,  cannibalism  survives 
only  in  a  few  localities,  and  is  daily  becoming  more 
and  more  a  matter  of  history.  Human  flesh,  Fi- 
jians  have  repeatedly  assured  me,  is  extremely  dif- 
ficult to  digest,  and  even  the  healthiest  suffer  for 


^e  iarfeiw's  Jlontljlj. 


181 


two  or  three  days  after  partaking  of  it.  Probably, 
in  order  to  assist  the  process  of  digestion,  bokola, 
as  dead  man's  flesh  is  technically  termed,  is  always 
eaten  with  the  addition  of  vegetables.  They  are 
principally  three  kinds,  which  in  Fijian  estimation 
ought  to  accompany  bokola, — the  leaves  of  Malaw- 
ari  (Trophis  anthropophagorum,  Seem.))  the 
Tudano  (Omalanthus  pedicellatus,  Benth.J,  and 
the  Boro  dina  (Solanum  anthrophagorum,  Seem.). 
The  two  former  are  middle-sized  trees,  growing 
wild  in  many  parts  of  the  group,  but  the  Boro  dina 
is  cultivated,  and  there  are  generally  several  large 
bushes  near  every  '  bure'  (or  stranger's  house), 
where  the  bodies  of  those  slain  in  battle  are  always 
taken.  The  Boro  dina  is  a  bushy  shrub,  seldom 
higher  than  six  feet,  with  a  dark  glossy  foliage, 
and  berries  of  the  shape  and  color  of  Tomatoes. 
This  fruit  has  a  faint  aromatic  smell,  and  is  occa- 
sionally prepared  like  tomato  sauce.  The  leaves 
of  these  three  plants  are  wrapped  round  the  bokola, 
as  those  of  the  Taro  are  around  pork,  and  baked 
with  it  on  heated  stones.  Salt  is  not  forgotten. 
Whilst  every  other  kind  of  vegetable  and  meat  are 
oaten  with  the  fingers,  cannibal  food  is  touched 
only  with  forks,  generally  made  of  the  wood  of  the 
Nokonoko  CCasuarina  equisetifolia),  or  the  Vesi 
(Afzelia  bijuga,  A.  Grray),  bearing  curious  names, 
and  having  three  to  four  long  prongs.  The  reason 
given  for  this  deviation  from  the  general  mode  of 
eating,  is  a  wide-spread  belief  that  fingers  which 
have  touched  bokola  are  liable  to  generate  cutane- 
ous diseases  when  coming  in  contact  with  the  ten- 
der skin  of  children ;  and  as  the  Fijians  are  very 
fond  of  their  offspring,  they  are  most  scrupulous 
in  using  forks  on  the  above  occasions." 

The  Boro  dina  above  mentioned  is  the  subject 
of  some  interest.  The  plants  were  reared  from  seed 
brought  home  by  Dr.  Seeman,  and  which  flowered 
in  the  stove  of  the  Royal  Garden  in  July.  Except 
when  in  fruit,  this  species  of  Solanum  has  no  beauty 
to  recommend  it  for  cultivation  ;  it  is  only  interest- 
ing historically,  as  connected  with  a  practice  which 
is  happily  yearly  becoming  more  and  more  obso- 
lete,    t.  5424. 

Cereus  pterogonus  fWing-angled  Cereusj.-^- 
Native  of  Carthagena,  South  America.  Flowers 
white,  blooming  in  August,     t.  53G0. 

Ph^dranassa  obtusa  (Blunt  Phasdranassaj. — 
Called  also  Phycelia  obtusa.  Native  of  Pichinca 
Mountain,  near  Quito,  more  than  10,000  feet  high. 
Flowers  scarlet,  tipped  with  greenish-yellow. 
Blooming  in  winter,     t.  5361. 

/^        CrPRiPEDirnvi  Hookers  (Lady  Hooker's  Cy- 


pripedium). — Imported  by  Messrs.  Low  &  Sons, 
Clapton  Nursery,  from  Borneo.  Leaves  variegated, 
dark  green,  with  pale  mottling.  Flowers  variously 
marked  with  yellow  and  purple  on  a  pale  green 
ground,     t.  5362. 

PLUjrBAGO  rosea  vot.  coccinea  (Scarlet  lied 
Leadwort  j. — It  has  also  been  called  Thalia  coccinea. 
Messrs.  Veitch  &  Sons,  Exeter  and  Chelsea  Nur- 
series, received  seeds  of  it  from  the  Neilgherry 
Hills.     Flowers  brick  red,  in  panicles,     t.  5363. 

Ccelogyne  lagenaria  (Flasked-shaped  Ca^lo- 
gyne). —  Native  of  the  Himalaya;  flowers  white, 
lip  blotched  with  crimson,  but  the  leaves  do  not 
appear  at  the  time  of  the  flowers.  It  was  bloomed 
at  Messrs.  Jackson's  Nursery,  at  King;tou-on 
Thames,     t  5370. 

Encephalartus  horridus  var.  trispinosa 
(Three-toothed). — A  native  of  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope,  and  has  also  been  known  under  the  name 
of  Zamia  horrida.     t.  5371. 

CoDONOPSis  CORDATA  (Heart-Icavcd  Codonop- 
sis). — Native  of  Java,  in  moist  woods  on  the  moun- 
tains, at  elevations  between  3,500  and  8,000  feet. 
It  is  a  gracefully-climbing  plant,  with  pale  green 
flowers,     t.  5372. 

Cyrtanthus  lutescens  (Yellow-flowered).— a 
Cape  bulb  with  graceful  and  very  fragrant  flowers, 
which  are  produced  in  February  in  a  warm  green- 
house. Introduced  by  W.  W.  Saunders,  Esq., 
t.  5374. 


Gloxinia  maculata.— This  was  introduced  into 
England  in  1730,  by  Robert  Millar,  who  sent  some 
seeds  from  Carthagena,  in  South  America;  and 
although  it  is  a  plant  of  unquestionable  beauty,  yet 
it  is  almost  impossible  to  meet  with  it  in  any  col- 
lection. The  whole  plant  is  covereS  with  very  fine 
whitish  hairs,  and  the  corolla  is  of  delicate  lilac 
color. 


Phal^nopsis  intermedia  var.  Portel— The 
flower  of  this  variety  resembles  a  small  flower  of 
Phalsenopsis  Aprodite  famabilis,  Lindl.J;  it  is  of 
a  snowy  whiteness,  with  a  purple  lip,  the  centre  of 
which  is  yellow,  as  well  as  the  callosity,  which  is 
marked  by  blackish  purple  spots  ;  the  lateral  sepals 
and  petals  are  from  spots  at  their  base.  M.  Marius 
Porte  found  but  one  single  specimen  of  this  plant 
during  his  long  stay  at  the  Philippines.  Neither 
does  he  appear  to  have  found  more  than  one  plant 
of  Phal;>3nopsis  intermedia,  Lindl.  (Lobbii,  Hort.), 
which  appears  to  accord  with  i\I.  Reichenbach's 
statement,   that  there  it  is  a  hybrid,  the  issue  of 


f)' 


182 


ih^  (Sari^ii^r's  JflonlMg, 


Phalaenopsis  Aphrodite  and  equestris,  Rchb.  ("rosea, 
LindlJ.  It  ought,  therefore,  according  to  the 
rules  adopted  for  naming  hybrids,  to  be  called 
Phalaenopsis  Aphroditi-equestris.  The  oply  plant 
that  is  known  of  this  remarkable  variety  or  hybrid 
belongs  to  Mr.  Robert  Warner,  of  Broomfield,  a 
distinguished  amateur,  in  whose  house  there  is  a 
plant  of  Phalajnopsis  Schilleriana,  which  has  lately 
produced  80  flowers.— Jbur/iaJ  de  la  Societe  Imp. 
et  Centr.  d"  Horticulture. 


^ 


Bfto  Hnb  p,ap?  I'pulh. 


New  Foreign  Grape.— ^Ae  Duchess  of  Bjic- 
clevgh  Grape. — Being  at  Dalkeith  a  few  days  ago, 
and  having  an  hour  to  spare,  I  embraced  the  op- 
portunity of  calling  at  the  Palace  Gardens  there.  I 
was  fortunate  in  finding  Mr.  Thomson  at  home,  and 
still  more  so  by  seeing  this  new  variety  of  Grape  in 
an  early  stage  of  growth.  I  was  shown  into  a  lean- 
to  house,  where  there  are  a  number  of  plants  of  it 
fruiting  in  pots.  There  are  also  some  Black  Ham- 
burghs  in  the  same  house,  but  entirely  eclipsed  by 
the  Duchess.  On  entering  the  house,  I  was  truly 
delighted,  nay,  astonished,  by  the  profusion  of 
bunches  showing  upon  these  young  vines.  The 
rods  are  about  8  feet  long,  good  stout  vines,  though 
not  extra  strong,  they  having  been  grown  under 
the  shade  of  vines  last  year,  consequently  not  so 
well  matured  as  they  would  have  been  under  more 
favorable  circumstances ;  nevertheless,  many  of  the 
shoots  are  showing  large  bunches  at  the  third  and 
on  to  the  fifth  leaf,  proving  to  a  certainty  its  free- 
bearing  character  as  an  early  Grape.  I  had  the 
curiosity  to  measure  some  of  the  bunches,  which, 
though  not  yet  in  flower,  measured  14  inches  in 
length  exclusive  of  the  stalk ;  bunches  tapering, 
lightly  shouldered.  Some  idea  may  be  formed  as 
to  what  they  will  be  when  fully  grown,  and  this,  be 
it  recollected,  from  pot  vines,  and  started  on  the 
1st  of  January  last.  I  had  also  the  pleasure  of 
seeing  it  in  another  house  a  stage  later,  but  here 
they  are  planted  out.  The  bunches  were  just  show- 
ing, and  the  buds  had  the  appearance  of  being 
literally  packed  with  bunches,  indicating  still  more 
fully  the  free-bearing. character  of  this  new  Grape. 
The  flavor  partakes  of  that  fine  grape  Chasselas 
Musquc,  which  is  the  parent  crossed  with  Muscat, 
but  free  from  the  cracking  nature  of  that  variety. 
It  was  exhibited  last  year  at  Kelso,  where  it  car- 
ried off  the  first  prize  for  the  best-flavored  Grape 
from  all  comers. 


■^tr 


I  would  thus  early  in  the  season  draw  attention 
to  this  new  grape,  that  one  and  all  may  observe  and 
judge  for  themselves,  as  1  understand  it  is  to  be 
sent  out  in  the  autumn  of  the  present  year ;  and 
amongst  the  many  new  grapes  of  recent  introduc- 
tion, I  am  convinced  the  Duchess  will  secure  a  place 
in  the  foremost  rank. — A.  Anderson,  in  Loudon 
Cottage  Gardener. 


Oftjluflpg* 


Dr.  Evan  Pugh,  President  of  the  Pennsylvania 
State  Agricultural  College,  died  on  the  30th  of 
April,  at  Bellefonte,  near  the  College,  after  a  short 
illness,  in,  we  believe,  the  45th  year  of  his  age. 

We  never  had  the  pleasure  of  his  personal  ac- 
quaintance, but  the  Gardener's  Monthly  found  in 
him  an  early  friend,  and  some  of  the  best  articles 
in  the  journal  were  from  his  pen. 

The  following  sketch  from  the  Country  Gentle- 
man, we  reprint,  as  showing  our  own  appreciation 
of  this  excellent  man  : 

"Dr.  Pugh  was  devoted,  most  earnestly,  to  the 
cause  of  Agricultural  Education.     We  had  long 
known  him  by  correspondence,  but  only  met  him 
personally  once — at  Rothamsted,  in  1859,  where 
he  was  employed  for  some  time  in  pursuing  his 
chemical  studies,  and  carrying  on  various  impor- 
tant investigations,   not  only  as  assistant  to  Mr. 
]jawes  and  Dr.  Gilbert,  but  also  those  instituted 
and  conducted  by  himself.     He  was  wholly  a  self- 
made  man,  having  as  a  teacher  at  home  economized 
sufiicient  to   enable  him   to  spend   several  years 
abroad  in  securing  a  thorough  scientific  education, 
both  in  Germany  and  England.     His  aim  in  this 
was  mainly  if  not  solely,  to  fit  himself  to  carry  on 
the  work  upon  which  he  entered  immediately  on 
his  return  in  1860 — the  management   of  a  high 
school   or  college   for  the   education  of  farmers' 
sons.      He    was    indefatigable    and    self-denying 
in  study  and  effort ;  and  had  an  unfaltering  confi- 
dence in  the  practicability  of  adapting  such  an  in- 
stitution to  the  wants  of  those  for  whose  benefit  it 
should  be  established,  and  whose  progress  in  intel- 
ligence and  skillful  practice,  it  was  the  highest  end 
of  his  life  to  promote. 

He  has  been  taken  away  just  as  success  seemed 
dawning  before  him.  His  place,  we  might  almost 
say,  it  will  be  impossible  to  fill.  We  had  hoped  that 
he  might  be  an  acknowledged  leader  Cas  indeed  he 
was  so  far  as  he  had  gone)  in  solving  the  great  pro- 
blems of  the  course  of  instruction  best  suited  to  tit 


a;it4  §mdmtf%  cPonthlg. 


our  farmers  for  their  pursuit,  and  of  the  widest  and 
most  eflFective  application  of  science  to  the  demands 
and  duties  of  the  practical  cultivator.  Cautious  in 
his  conclusions  ;  earnest  and  painstaking  in  what 
ever  he  undertook  ;  conscientiously  fearful  of  wrong 
and  antognistic  to  deciet  and  humbug ;  possessing 
a^  mind  marked  by  solidity  of  acquirement  and 
soundness  of  judgment,  rather  than  by  peculiar 
brilliancy  or  specious  polish  ;  warmly  interested  in 
the  branch  of  science,  to  secure  the  mastery  of 
which  he  had  exerted  himself  so  long  and  zealous- 
ly ;  qualiBed  in  a  high  degree  for  the  cootrol  and 
instruction  of  the  young  ;  undaunted  by  the  diffi- 
culties which  try  the  faith  and  courage  of  many, 
his  loss  will  be  severely  felt  by  the  agricultural  com- 
munity." 


or  no  wind,  allows  the  operation  to  be  performed 
with  ease.  Nothing  but  a  small  knife,  and  a  roll 
of  waxed  strips  wound  on  a  bit  of  wood  a  little  lar- 
ger than  a  lead  pencil,  is  required ;  and  this  roll 
can  be  carried  in  a  pocket  for  warmth  or  suspended 
from  a  button.  Only  a  single  spiral  wrapping 
should  be  given,  and  it  will  then  unwrap  itself 
without  attention  as  growth  progresses,  and  with- 
out checking  or  choking  it.— W.  G.  Waring,  Ty- 
rone, Pa.,  in  Country  Gentleman. 


Best  time  for  Grafting. — Early  grafting,  if 
properly  done,  is  much  more  effective  than  late 
operations.  Grafts  set  late  may  take  with  great 
certainty,  but  they  never  make  much  growth  du- 
ring the  first  season.  Time  seems  to  be  required, 
after  the  graft  is  set,  for  the  broken  and  bruised 
cells  on  the  IValls  of  the  wound  to  heal  and  unite 
so  as  to  allow  free  passage  for  the  circulation  of  sap. 
Some  pear  grafts  which  I  set  in  February  of  last 
season,  made  a  growth  quite  equal  to  the  natural 
shoots  on  the  other  parts  of  the  tree,  and  there 
was  no  trouble  with  sprouts  or  suckers,  which  in 
late  grafting  issue  numerously  and  successively, 
owing,  no  doubt,  to  the  difficulty  above  adverted 
to.  For  cherry,  plum  and  the  grapevine,  early 
grafting  is  a  sine  qua  non. 

There  is  a  risk  in  grafting  early,  arising  from  the 
long  exposure  of  the  scion  to  the  effects  of  drying 
wind  in  March  and  April,  which  so  parch  and  con- 
tract it  as  to  close  it  against  the  flow  of  sap.  This 
can  be  prevented  by  using  short  scions,  and  by 
coating  the  entire  scion,  or  at  least  the  lower  buds, 
with  a  filni  of  wax  or  varnish.  Grape-grafts,  or 
others  near  the  ground  can  be  covered  with  a  little 
hay,  straw  or  paper,  to  retain  moderate  moisture; 
and  prevent  ill  effect  from  the  contracting  effects 
of  frost  and  expansion  by  warmth  which  might 
either  cause  cracks  in  the  coating  of  wax  or  dis- 
place the  scions.  Particular  care  must  be  taken 
I  that  every  part  of  the  wound — even  the  slightest 
jj  .mark — is  covered  by  wax  to  prevent  evaporation, 
r  %  Whip-grafting  is  the  easiest  and  neatest  method. 
/^  J  For  early  work,  a  temperature  of  45°,  with  a  little 


The  Allen  Raspberry.  —  I  noticed  that 
BrincMes  Orange  raspberry  was  bearing  heavily, 
and  remarked  that  it  and  the  Purple  Cane  and 
the  Blade  Cap  were  the  only  varieties  worth  cul- 
tivating at  Rockford. 

"Strange,  however,  B.,"  said  Dr.  K.,  "that  our 
family  and  our  neighbors  prefer  the  Allen  to  all 
others.  Here  it  is,  with  a  fewof  Brinckle's  to  fer- 
tilize it,  bearing  abundant!}'." 

And  we  found  it  so ;  that  the  defence  of  the 
Allen  made  by  Dr.  K.,  at  the  meeting  of  the  Illi- 
nois State  Hot  ticultural  Society,  last  December, 
was  well  supported  by  the  fine  crop  it  was  bearing 
when  I  visited  Kenwood. — Rural  JVew-Yorher. 


Heliotrope  for  Winter  Flowering. — As  a 
pot  plant  the  Heliotrope  is  valuable,  and  with  good 
management  may  be  formed  into  handsome  speci- 
mens. For  this  purpose  young  plants  should  be 
taken,  and  liberally  shifted  into  thoroughly  drained 
pots,  and  kept  growing  through  the  summer,  but 
not  allowed  to  bloom,  the  ends  of  the  shoots  being 
frequently  pinched  off  to  keep  them  dwarf  and 
compact.  The  plants  being  thus  made,  they  will 
flower  in  a  warm,  light,  airy  situation,  freely  all 
winter. —  Valley  Farmer. 


Orchard  Management  by  Dr.  Warder.— 
There  are  portions  of  the  country  where  the  growth 
of  orchard  trees  is  too  rampant  to  permit  an  early 
prpductiveness  of  the  trees  ;  this  early  bearing  is  a 
great  desideratum  in  a  new  country^  and  with  an 
impatient  orchardist ;  as  a  mere  matter  of  financial 
calculation  it  is  also  a  question  of  some  moment. 
As  a  general  rule,  the  more  thorough  the  culture 
of  the  young  trees,  the  more  rapidly  they  are  de- 
veloped to  their  full  extent,  the  more  satisfactory 
will  be  the  ultimate  result  in  large  crops  of  fine 
fruit;  while  all  plans  that  force  the  trees  into  a 
premature  fruitage,  must  have  a  tendency  to  pro- 
duce early  decrepitude. 

But  the  encouragement  of  wood  growth  must  not 
be  continued  too  long,  sinoe  it  is  the  antagonist  of 


ft 


^!^ 


184 


Che  (Sarbtner*s  glanthlj. 


fruitage ;  it  must  be  subdued  and  brought  within 
certain  limits  to  insure  abundant  crops,  though  it 
should  never  be  altogether  suspended,  the  growth 
of  the  tree  should  continue  with  the  production  of 
fruit.  In  some  soils  it  has  been  necessary  to  curb 
the  excessive  production  of  wood,  by  discontinuing 
the  cultivation  of  the  soil,  and  laying  down  with 
blue  grass,  which  makes  a  close  sod,  and  thus 
checks  the  growth  of  the  trees,  forcing  them  into  a  ' 
fruiting  condition.  Every  orchardist  must  decide 
for  himself,  whether  the  orchard  of  larger  trees, 
capable  of  bearing  larger  crops  at  a  later  period  of 
their  existence,  is  to  be  preferred  to  that  containing 
smaller  trees  bearing  a  crop  within  a  tew  years 
from  planting,  and  continuing  to  be  productive  for 
a  considerable  period,  even  though  the  trees  should 
never  attain  the  large  size  that  is  so  much  admired, 
nor  continue  to  be  productive  so  long  as  the  other. 

A  New  Horticultural  Hall.  —  Tlie  new 
building  to  be  erected  for  the  Massachusetts  Hor- 
ticultural Society,  on  the  site  of  the  Montgomery 
House,  will  be  one  of  those  structures  that  cannot 
fail  of  being  hereafter  regarded  with  pride  by  Bos- 
tonians.  The  exterior  will  be  more  elaborately  and 
richly  ornamented  than  any  other  public  edifice  in 
the  city.  An  examination  of  the  designs,  drawn 
by  G.  J.  F.  Bryant  and  Arthur  Gillman,  reveals  a 
beauty  of  conception,  and  a  magnificence  of  detail 
not  surpassed  in  any  building  now  standing  in  the 
city.  The  front  and  two  sides  will  be  in  the  mod- 
ern French  style  of  architecture,  the  columns  and 
projections  being  arranged  so  as  to  produce  the 
most  picturesque  effect. 

Emblematical  and  allegorical  sculpture  will  en- 
hance the  splendid  appearance  of  the  front.  Po- 
•  mona,  attended  by  the  four  infant  seasons,  is  to 
crown  the  sky-line  of  the  facade,  while  the  frieze 
of  the  portico  over  the  centre  window  will  be 
adorned  with  Cupids,  wreathing  strings  of  flowers. 
This  portion  of  the  building  will  satisfy  the  de- 
mands of  the  most  cultivated  taste,  and  throughout 
the  entire  edifice  the  idea  of  beauty,  as  well  as 
convenience,  is  carefully  preserved,  and  exhibted 
in  elegant  and  many  varying  forms. 

A  cellar  story,  partially  finished  into  apartments 
as  a  basement,  will  include  the  whole  area  of  the 
estate,  and  the  land  beneath  the  sidewalks  of  the 
streets.  These  apartments  will  all  be  employed. — 
The  first  or  street  story  is  to  be  so  fitted  as  to  be 
used  for  stores.  One  of  the  exhibition  halls,  the 
whole  width  of  the  estate,  will  be  on  the  second 
T-.  story.  In  the  same  story,  there  will  be  four  rooms 
(n\     to  the  west  of  the  hall,  two  of  which  will  be  for  the 

■^ — 


Superintendent  and  Treasurer,  and  the  other  for  a 
library.  The  several  apartments  of  the  second  story 
will  be  amply  lighted. 

The  third  story  will  be  mainly  devoted,  over  its 
whole  extent,  to  a  principal  exhibition  hall,  cover- 
ing the  length  and  breadth  of  the  entire  property, 
except  a  comparatively  small  space.  This  hall  will 
have  a  gallery  at  one  end,  and  be  50.6  by  77.9.  Its 
height  will  be  27  feet.  It  is  designed  that  five 
stores  shall  be  made  in  the  basement  story,  and  an 
equal  number  in  the  first  story.  The  hall  in  the 
second  story  will  be  51  by  57  feet. 

The  building  committee  of  the  Horticultural  So- 
ciety, which  consists  of  the  President  of  the  Society 
and  eight  of  its  principal  members,  have  devoted  a 
very  large  share  of  their  time  for  the  last  six  months 
to  the  consummation  of  this  project,  and  have 
closed  all  the  contracts  required  to  build  the  struc- 
ture within  the  sum  placed  at  their  disposal  by  the 
vote  of  the  organization.  The  removal  of  the 
building  now  occupying  the  site  of  the  intended 
edifice,  will  be  bfegun  on  'May  morning,'  and  it  is 
confidently  believed  the  latter  will  be  ready  for  oc- 
cupancy as  early  as  May  1,  1865. — Boston  Cult. 


Museum  op  Natural  History  at  Charles- 
ton, S.  Carolina,  in  I860.— The  Museum  of 
Natural  History  at  the  College  surprised  me  ;  the 
collection  is  the  best  in  the  United  States,  except- 
ing that  of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  at 
Philadelphia.  The  Smithsonian  Institution  has  a 
larger  collection  than  the  one  here,  in  some  depart- 
ments, especially  in  reptiJes,  and,  perhaps,  birds ; 
but  the  museum  here  has  certainly  more  mounted 
birds  than  the  Smithsonian,  and  is  more  complete 
in  the  other  branches  of  natural  history.  The 
Smithsonian  has  no  herbarium,  and -here  there  are 
both  EUiott's  and  Ravenell's,  embracing  most  of 
the  plants  in  the  United  States  east  of  the  Missis- 
sippi river.  The  'Aquariums  and  Ferneries  '  here 
attract  most  attention,  and  do  much  good,  for  visi- 
tors on  seeing  them  are  delighted,  and  go  away  and 
get  some  for  their  own  homes,  and  a  good  Aquari- 
um and  Fernery  will  make,  any  home  itiore  pleas- 
ant. It  will  delight  the  children"  and  please  the 
old.— S.  B.  Buckley. 


The  Williams  Apple  in  Massachusetts.— 
The  '  Williams  Apple  '  is  probably  the  jnost  pop- 
ular market  apple  among  the  summer  varieties,  its 
size  and  magnificent  color,  when  allowed  to  ripen 
on  the  tree,  make  it  very  saleable.  It  is  not  a  high 
flavored  fruit,  and  for  quality  would  rank  almost 
or  quite  second-rate.     It  requires  peculiar  cultiva- 


'i 


:^;^l 


ih^  dardcn^r's  cPonthlg, 


185 


tion,  of  which  I  will  briefly  speak.  It  should  be 
left  to  ripen  on  the  tree,  or  it  will  not  color  up  well. 
It  d(?es  not  ripen  all  at  once,  but  continues  to  ripen 
and  drop  for  some  two  or  three  weeks. 

A  person  intending  to  make  this  variety  profita- 
ble should  have  several  trees  of  it,  say  from  five  to 
twssnty,  which  he  should  keep  well  trimmed  and 
rather  thin  of  wood  ;  and  which  he  should  manure 
freely — don't  be  afraid  to  do  that — then  he  should 
mulch  the  trees  as  far  as  the  limbs  extend,  with 
meadow,  or  something  of  that  sort,  so  that  the  ap- 
ples as  they  drop,  will  not  be  bruised, — for  the 
Williams  should  never  be  picked  from  the  tree,  but 
allowed  to  ripen  and  color  up  fully,  and  then  drop, 
when  they  may  be  picked  up  daily  and  sent  to 
market.  The  advantage  of  having  several  trees  is 
that  one  or  two  days'  picking  will  furnish  enough 
to  make  it  an  object  to  send  them  to  market.  If 
treated  as  recommended  above,  they  will  be  very 
fine,  and  will  always  command  a  ready  sale  with 
good  prices ;  this  year  a  high  price.  The  best  Wil- 
liams apple  tree  I  ever  saw,  and  the  one  that  pro- 
duced the  largest  apples,  stood  right  by  a  cow-yard 
and  got  the  benefit  of  a  pool  of  manure  water. 

No  apple  on  the  whole  list  will  better  pay  for 
cultivation  than  the  Williams,  when  properly  grown. 
This  variety  took  the  first  prize  at  the  Horticultu- 
ral Rooms  this  year,  for  summer  apples. — iV.  E. 
Farmer. 


Oiling  Boots. — The  application  of  castor-oil  to 
new  boots  renders  them  as  soft  as  a  buckskin  glove. 
It  is  also  the  best  application  that  can  be  made  to 
render  a  new  boot  water-proof. 


SuGiiR  Trade  ^vixn  the  Indians. — It  is  now 
about  the  middle  of  June,  and  some  fifty  birchen 
canoes  have  just  been  launched  upon  the  waters 
of  Green  Bay.  They  are  occupied  by  the  Ottawa 
sugar-makers,  who  have  started  upon  a  pi^grimage 
to  Mackinaw.  The  distance  is  near  two  hundred 
miles,  and  as  the  canoes  are  heavily  laden,  not  only 
with  mocucks  of  sugar,  but  with  furs  collected  by 
the  hunters  during  the  past  winter,  and  the  In- 
dians are  travelling  at  their  leisure  ;  the  party  will 
probably  reach  their  desired  haven  in  the  course 
of  ten  days.  Well  content  with  their  accumulated 
treasures,  both  the  women  and  the  men  are  in  a 
particularly  happy  mood,  and  many  a  wild  song  is 
heard  to  echo  over  the  placid  lake.  As  the  even- 
ing approaches,  day  after  day  they  seek  some  con- 
venient landing-place,  and  pitching  their  wigwams 
on  the  beach,  spend  a  goodly  portion  of  the  night 
carousing  and  telling  stories  around  their  camp 


fires,  resuming  their  voyage  after  a  morning  sleep, 
long  after  the  sun  has  risen  above  the  blue  waters 
of  the  east.  Another  sunset  hour,  and  the  caval- 
cade of  canoes  is  quietly  gliding  into  the  crescent 
bay  of  Mackinaw,  and  reaching  a  beautiful  beach 
at  the  foot  of  a  lofty  blufi",  the  Indians  again  draw 
up  their  canoes,  again  erect  their  wigwams.  And, 
as  the  Indian  traders  have  assembled  on  the  spot, 
the  more  improvident  of  the  party  immediately 
proceed  to  exhibit  their  sugar  and  furs,  which  are 
lisually  disposed  of  for  flour  and  pork,  blankets  and 
knives,  guns,  ammunition,  and  a  great  variety  of 
trinkets,  long  before  the  hour  of  midnight.  In 
about  a  week  after  their  arrival  at  Mackinaw,  the 
Ottawa  Indians  begin  to  sigh  for  the  freedom  of 
the  wilderness  ;  and,  before  the  trader  has  left  his 
bed,  some  pleasant  morning,  there  is  nothing  to  be 
seen  on  the  beach  at  Mackinaw  but  the  smoking 
embers  of  a  score  or  two  of  watch-fires. 


Starting  Delaware  Grape  from  Cuthngs. — 
A.  S.  Moss  wishes  some  one  to  give  him  the  'modus 
operandi'  for  starting  Delaware  cuttings  in  the  open 
air.  Two  years  ago  I  tried  it,  with  partial  success. 
Last  season  I  saw  a  method  by  which  almost  every 
cutting  was  started.  Cut  j'our  cuttings  in  Novem- 
ber, so  that  they  will  not  be  injured  by  frost,  and 
bury  them  till  April.  Now  the  trouble  of  the  Del- 
aware wood  is  its  hardness  to  root.  To  overcome 
this,  lay  them  in  tiers  with  dirt  between,  having 
the  bottom  of  the  cuttings  toward  the  sun,  in.  some 
warm  locality,  and  water  them  occasionally.  In 
this  way  you  will  get  the  roots  partially  started  be- 
fore the  buds.  No  fears  need  be  entertained  con- 
cerning the  buds  starting.  As  soon  as  the  roots 
are  fairly  started,  place  them  in  beds,  the  cuttings 
having  about  two  inches  space  between  them,  and 
water  them  faithfully.  This  is  one  of  the  diflScul- 
ties  of  starting  cuttings  of  any  kind  with  most  per- 
sons—they do  not  give  them  water  enough.  After 
the  bud  is  fairly  started,  they  should  be  .shaded  on 
the  hottest  days.— E.  A.  King,  in  Country  Gmt. 


JForpign  InfrflfgFnrp, 


BorrLiNO  Cherries.— Those  who  try  the  fol- 
lowing recipe,  cannot  fail  to  have  delicious  fruit  for 
tarts  through  the  winter  : — To  every  pound  of  fruit 
add  six  ounces  of  powdered  lump  sugar.  Fill  the 
jars  with  fruit ;  shake  in  the  sugar  over  ;  and  tie 
each  jar  down  with  two  bladders,  as  there  is  dan- 
ger of  ono  bursting  duriog  the  boiling.     Place  the 


^^^m 


.r^^^ 


186 


^t  §mi\mtu  (p0nt^% 


jars  in  a  boiler  of  cold  water,  and  after  the  water 
has  boiled  let  them  remain  three  hours  ;  take  them 
out,  and  when  cool  put  them  in  a  dry  place,  where 
they  will  keep  over  a  year.  We  have  tried  this 
recipe  for  several  years  and  never  found  it  fail. — 
London  Field. 


Double  Flowers. — I  confess  myself  to  be  en- 
tirely ignorant  of  the  mode  by  which  the  old  florists 
obtained  double  flowers,  and  I  believe  no  one  can 
now  point  out  the  real  way.  I  look  on  the  produc- 
tion of  double  flowers  to  be  the  end  of  a  tether  in 
one  style  of  cultivating  plants  ;  and  I  hold  it  as  a 
'fact '  of  the  want  of  decay  in  the  art  of  cultivation, 
that  when  cultivation  emerged  from  the  rule  of 
thumb,  to  assume  the  natural  or  scientific  practice 
now  so  far  on  the  march  of  progress,  the  change 
was  inimical  to  the  production  of  double-flowering 
seedlings ;  that,  like  the  variegation  of  plants, 
about  which  we  have  been  so  long  and  so  far  out  at 
sea,  the  cause  of  doubleness  was  not  owing  to  the 
superior  cultivation  of  the  parents,  but  to  ^  long 
course  of  very  unnatural  way  of  growing  plants,  so 
to  speak.  All  these  changes  I  hold  to  have  been 
brought  about  under  conditions  which  were  not 
natural,  or  likely  to  bring  out  the  vigor  of  the  pa- 
rents in  a  natural  way.  I  hold,  also,  that  there  was 
nothing  accidental  in  the  cause  why  double  flowers 
or  variegated  leaves  have  been,  or  still  are  produ- 
ced ;  that  the  result  was  owing  to  a  sure  and  cer- 
tain law,  which  would  be  now  just  as  sure  and 
certain  in  its  results,  if  we  did  but  know  it.  And 
although  I  hold  that  opinions  which  are  not  backed 
by  experiment  are  of  little  worth,  I  shall  give  my 
private  opinion  on  how  double  flowers  have  been 
formerly  obtained,  without  putting  more  stress  on 
it  than  if  I  had  never  given  the  subject  a  thought. 

It  has  often  appeared  to  me,  then,  that  the  pa- 
rent plants  of  double  flowers  have  long  been  under 
a  course  of  high  cultivation  wrongly  applied,  if  you 
can  understand  how  that  can  be ;  but  I  shall  ex- 
plain by  a  reference  to  what  is  now  very  common. 
A  fruit  tree  is  bought,  and  is  cared  for  in  the 
highest  degree  of  cultivation,  and  the  consequence 
is  an  immense  deal  of  wood  and  very  little  fruit. 
The  system  is  changed  ;  lighter  soil,  less  roots,  and 
the  lesser  number  of  them  more  near  to  the  surface 
— that  causes  a  check,  and  fruit-buds  come  instead 
of  wood  ones.  Then  the  high  state  of  culture 
wrongly  applied,  which  I  assume  did  the  same 
thing  at  the  same  time,  stimulated  the  vital  pow- 
ers, and  at  the  same  time  curbed  that  power  un- 
naturally, and  that  brought  about  the  derangement 
in  the  progeny  which  we  see  iu  double  flowers. 


And  the  practice  was  on  this  wise : — The  composts 
were  then  of  the  most  stimulating  character,  and 
the  application  of  them  was  exactly  the  reverse  of 
what  is  now  practised.  Neither  pots  nor  borders 
were  then  much  drained,  and  all  the  compost  was 
sifted  to  the  finest  mould.  Turn  to  that  system, 
and  in  time  it  will  do  as  formerly. — D.  Beaton,  in 
Jour.  Hort. 


Anacharis  Canadensls.— This,  called  in  Eng- 
land the  American  Water  Weed,  is  giving  our 
English  friends  much  trouble.  We  were  at  one 
time  disposed  to  believe  they  were  mistaken  in  sup- 
posing it  introduced  from  America,  thinking  it  was 
a  case  of  a  plant  long  overlooked,  as  we  frequently 
find  plants,  especially  water  plants,  are.  But  the 
trouble  they  find  with  it,  is  at  least  new ;  and-  is 
circumstantial  evidence  that  the  plant  has  found  a 
new  and  congenial  home.  It  is  another  instance 
of  what  we  have  often  urged,  that  the  popular 
theory  of  plants  being  best  adapted  to  the  original 
places  where  found  wild  is  a  fallacy.  With  us  the 
Anacharis  is  seldom  more  than  a  delicate  and  fra- 
gile water  weed.  In  England  they  complain  that 
it  fills  lakes  and  streams  to  such  an  extent  as  to 
make  boat  rowing  nearly  impossible.  The  London 
Gardener  s  Chronicle  concludes  an  interesting  ar- 
ticle on  the  subject  by  assuring  its  readers  that 
"there  is  no  domestic  danger  comparable  to  that 
which  must  follow  the  stoppage  of  internal  water 
motion." 


Strawberries  in  New  Zealand.— Seeing  in 
your  Journal  last  received,  the  extraordinary  weight 
of  strawberries — namely,  fourteen  to  the  pound  of 
16  ounces, — I  write  to  say  that  I  have  this"  season 
seen  some  here  in  New  Zealand  of  ten,  eleven,  and 
twelve  to  the  pound,  produced  in  a  bed  of  extreme 
prolificacy.  The  bed  is  fourteen  yards  square,  and 
was  planted  in  February,  1853  ;  it  is  a  stifi"  loam, 
well  dressed  with  old  manure  from  the  cucumber 
frames,  and  was  top-dressed  in  spring,  about  Au- 
gust. Gathering  commenced  on  the  15th  of  Octo- 
ber, and  has  continued  from  that  time  until  now 
CJanuary  12),  averaging  two  gallons  per  day  ever 
since.  The  plants  have  now  thrown  out  a  second 
set  of  blooms.  The  bed  lies  facing  the  west,  with 
a  slight  inclination  to  the  north,  on  a  gentle  rise. 
One  Strawtierry,  gathered  in  my  own  garden  yes- 
terday, was  2  inches  long,  1|  inch  broad,  and  U 
inch  thick.  The  owner  of  the  garden  I  have  spo- 
ken of,  is  Mr.  Mansell,  and  he  has  had  many  much 
larger  strawberries  than  those  I  have  described. — 
Gr.  Edwards,  in  Cottage  Gardener.  . 


-fB^ 


ih^  §m&mtf%  cPoittMg. 


187 


Economic  Heating. — The  winter,  now  over  I 
hope,  has  been  perhaps,  one  of  the  most  trying 
tliat  we  have  had  for  several  years  past ;  for,  al- 
though it  has  not  at  any  time  been  very  severe,  the 
absence  of  any  sun  for  suth  a  length  of  time,  with 
a  thick  heavy  atmosphere,  made  tiring  both  night 
and  day  a  necessity,  and  no  doubt,  has  caused 
many  beside  myself  to  study  the  economy  of  heat- 
ing, particularly  where  fuel  is  expensive.  I  was  led 
into  considering,  and  also  trying  to  make  a  practi- 
cal use  01  the  system  1  am  about  to  explain,  from 
the  application  of  a  friend  whom  I  was  particularly 
anxious  to  oblige.  He  was  desirous  of  heating  a 
greenhouse,  and  also  to  derive  from  the  same  fire 
by  some  contrivance  sufficient  heated  air  to  supply 
a  Turkish  bath  adjoining.  This  could  only  be  ac- 
complished by  some  modification  of  the  Polmaise 
system,  and  knowing  its  successful  working  at  Drop- 
more,  I  made  application  to  Mr.  Frost  to  allow  me 
to  take  plans,  which  was  not  only  readily  granted, 
but  Mr.  Frost  himself  gave  every  explanation  I 
could  desire.  These  explanations,  with  the  plans, 
I  have  much  pleasure  in  placing  at  your  disposal, 
if  you  consider  them  sufficiently  interesting  to  the 
readers  of  your  Journal. 

It  may  be  as  well  at  once  to  state,  that  T  feel 
convinced  that  it  is  utterly  impossible  to  find  any 
other  system  of  heating  more  economical,  and  at 
the  same  time  affording  such  a  complete  command 
of  almost  any  amount  of  heat  in  the  houses  with  a 
very  small  consumption  of  fuel. 

One  of  the  houses  heated  in  this  way  is  a  large 
early  vi'nery,  the  other  a  span-roofed  plant-stove  ; 
they  are  both  exactly  on  the  same  construction  of 
flue,  etc.,  and  I  have  therefore  sent  a  drawing  of 
the  stove,  as  likely  to  be  the  most  useful. 


HOUSE 

E    GROUND      PLAN 
c 


ft        E         O' 


C  O 


No.  1  that  A  is  the  fire-hole,  the  flue  passing  under 
the  path  B,  and  under  the  pit  C,  in  the  middle  of 
which  a  division  is  introduced  at  D  ;  one-half  of  the 
flue  then  goes  one  way,  the  other  half  takingtho  op- 
opposite  way  round, and  both  meeting  at  E,and  drop- 
ping under  the  path,  go  outside  into  the  chimney. 
We  will  now  com- 
mence again  at  A ; 
and  in' the  engrav- 
ing No.  2,  on  each 
side  of  the  furnace- 
door,  is  shown  on 

a  level  line  with  the  grate  a  ventilator  with  either 
a  slide  or  some  other  contrivance  to  shut  or  reduce 
the  air  to  be  admitted  at  pleasure,  The  fire-place 
is  outside,  and,  therefore,  the  air  passing  in  is  al- 
ways pure  ;  but  although  there  is  all  advantage  in 
this  instance,  there  is  no  reason  why  it  should  pre- 
vent others  from  adopting  other  methods  of  secu- 
ring the  air  pure  where  it  does  not,  as  in  this  case, 
exist.  For  example,  the  air  may  be  brought  from 
the  outside  of  a  shed,  the  top  of  a  h^use — in  fact, 
from  anywhere  most  convenient ;  the  fire  will  soon 
draw  it  in  very  forcibly. 

No.  3  is  the  flue  going  right  across  li°2 
the  house,  underneath  the  bed,  from  f!  |-~j~| 
which  it  will  be  seen  that  the  flue  E,  1 1"  e  jJ 
except  at  the  bottom,  is  wholly  sur-  --L!- — LLL 
rounded  by  the  air  admitted  by  the  ventilator  shown 
in  No.  2.  This  air  as  it  passes  along,  becomes 
thoroughly  heated,  and  in  this  consists  the  econo- 
my. First,  it  will  be  readily  admitted  by  any  one 
who  has  put  up  flues,  that  to  carry  this  across  the 
house  as  shown,  would,  in  any  case,  be  the  best 
way  to  make  the  flue  draw,  because  when  hamper- 
ed with  a  rise  near  the  fire  all  draught  is  stopped. 
If  this  is  admitted,  we 
must  also  admit  that  all, 
or  nearly  so,  of  this  heat 
is  lost  in  the  ground.  Or 
suppose,  for  the  sake  of 
comparison,  the  flue  to  be 
raised  to  the  level  above 
the  jfath  b  in  plan  No.  4, 
still  the  greatest  amount 
of  heat  is  buried  under- 
neath the  path.  All  this 
heat  is  gathered  up,  so  to 
speak,  by  the  air  that 
passes  in  round  the  path. 
Its  effects  I  will  explain 


:n'x. 


It  will  be  seen  by  a  reference  to  the  ground  plan  |  by-and-byo. 


m^ 


188 


®ft4  (Sardiiner'a  JHoirfhlg^ 


In  the  section  of  the  house  No.  4,  it  will  be  seen 


that  between  the  flue  and  the  4-inch  wall  of  the 
plunging-pit  is  a  cavity — this  is  still  the  air-flue, 
— and  that  E,  in  the  plan  No.  1,  and  this  plan  No. 
4,  are  the  same.  They  consist  of  one-and-a-half 
inch  zinc  pipes,  and  each  are  fitted  at  the  top  with 
Ijlugs,  whicV  can  be  taken  out  or  put  in  as  required. 

There  is  no  doubt  thafmany  will  say,  that  to  ad- 
mit this  dry  or  hot  air  into  the  house  will  kill  every 
thing.  But  no  such  efiect  is  occasioned,  although 
the  air  from  the  pipes  nearest  the  hot  part  of  the 
flue  is,  in  very  cold  weather  when  the  fire  is  driven 
on  a  little  extra,  sufficiently  liot  to  scorch  a  tender 
leaf;  but  the  latter  must  be  directly  over  the  pipes 
to  sufler.  The  air  is  soon  dispersed  without  any 
injury  to  the  general  plants  in  the  house,  which 
have  all  the  healthy  green  appearance  which  the 
most  fixstidious  could  desire.  They  also  consist  of 
a  sufficient  variety  to  be  a  proof— Cucumbers,  Pines, 
general  stove  plants.  Dwarf  Kidney  Beans,  Straw- 
berries, small  seedlings,  etc. 

Again :  if  the  weather  causes  a  brisk  fire,  the 
plugs  nearest  the  fire  may  be  left  in,  only  taking 
those  out  where  the  air  has  further  travelled  ;  but 
this  can  scarcely  occur,  for  the  small  amount  of  fire 
required  makes  the  greatest  caution  necessary  at  all 
times  to  prevent  the  house  becoming  overheated. 
For  example:  if  I  do  not  mistake  the  date,  on  the 
22nd  of  February,  I  found  the  thermometer  outside 
at  12°,  whilst,  with  a  very  small  fire,  the  house  was 
at  50°.  Mr.  Frost  removed  a  few  of  the  plugs,  and 
in  twenty  minutes  the  house  stood  at  90°.  The  dry 
heat  is  also  soon  reduced  by  pouring  water  down 
one  or  two  of  the  pipes. 

Of  course,  this  is  Polmaise  simplified  ;  but  I 
have  no  hesitation  in  saying  that  amateurs  apply- 
ing this  system  to  their  small  houses  would  find 
that  with  a  small  fire  and  a  shortened  damper,  the 


bricks  once  warm  would  only  require  attention  once 
in  twenty-four  hours,  whatever  severe  weather 
might  occur. 

Again,  for  large  orchard-houses,,  suppose  we  even 
say  tliey  enclose  half  an  acre,  if  the  tubes  were  car- 
ried up  to  the  bottom  of  the  rafters,  the  air  rush- 
ing into  this  house  would  keep  up  a  circulatory 
ventilation,  and  the  amount  of  heat  required  in  that 
air  would  be  very  small  indeed  to  keep  out  any 
amount  of  frost. 

Great  care  is  necessary  in  making  the  fire  part 
of  the  flue  to  prevent  any  smoke  escaping  into  the 
air ;  also,  as  before  mentioned,  to  make  the  damp- 
ers 2  or  3  inches  shorter  than  the  frame,  so  that 
the  vent  cannot  at  any  time  be  entirely  stopped. — 
F.,  in  Cottage  Gardener. 


Pruning  of  Pyramidal  Peach  Trees.— Some 
few  years  since,  being  much  charmed  with  the  idea 
of  cultivating  the  Peach-tree  as  a  pyramid  I  com- 
menced that  description  of  culture  by  having  some 
trees  potted.  I  am  delighted  with  my  perfect  suc- 
cess in  both  modes  of  culture. 

I  found  pinching  in  the  young  shoots  of  my  py- 
ramids in  the  first  year  of  culture  to  answer  per- 
fectly. The  second  year  it  was  equally  so  with  the 
trees  in  pots — in  short,  it  continues  so  with  them 
to  this  day.  This  is  the  fifth  year  of  their  culture, 
and  I  can  see  no  reason  why  it  should  not  go  on  for 
many  years,  for  no  method  can  be  more  beautiful 
and  satisfactory.  With  my  pj^ramids  planted  in  the 
borders  of  my  orchard-house,  I  have  had  some 
little  trouble,  owing  to  their  vigorous  growth,  (in 
spite  of  occasional  root- pruning),  and  constant  '  in- 
clination of  sap  to  the  head. ' 

When  pruning  them  to-day,  I  found  their  stems 
pretty  well  furnished  with  branches  full  of  blossom- 
buds  ;  but  they  are  weakly  and  very  unlike  the 
crowns  of  the  trees,  which  from  being  pinched-in 
all  the  summer,  are  masses  of  well-ripened,  robust, 
blossom -bearing  shoots,  by  far  too  much  crowded. 
I  have,  therefore,  felt  called  upon  to  perform  some 
desperate  amputations  with  my  strong,  sharp  pru- 
ning-knife,  done  in  this  way  :  I  have  cut  out  the 
central  or  crown  branches  of  every  tree,  so  as  to 
leave  it  with  almost  a  flat  head.  This  will  tend  to 
give  the  lower  branches  more  strength,  and  the  sun 
will  have  more  access  to  the  fruit.  I  have'  indeed 
reason  to  believe  that  with  trees  planted  out  in  or-' 
chard-houses,  either  half-standards  or  standards, 
this  open  flat-headed  style  of  pruning  will  be  found 
the  most  eligible. 

I  have  tried  another  way,  besides  summer-pinch- 
ing, to  restrain  the  too  vigorous  growth  of  Peach 


t^m 


ih^  ®ardmr's  Ponthlj, 


189 


trees  planted  out.  This  is  described  in  the  '  Or- 
chard-House,' 11th  edition,  p.  82:— "In  1862,  and 
again  the  past  season,  1863,  buds  of  some  kinds  of 
Peaches  and  Nectarines  were  much  wanted  for  pro- 
pagation. I  therefore  allowed  some  of  the  trees  to 
make  their  first  growth  without  being  pinched. 
The  shoots  they  made  were  most  vigorous,  many 
of  them  from  4  to  5  feet  in  length,  About  the 
middle  of  July  these  were  all  cut  off  to  within  4 
inches  of  their  base.  The  trees  were  loaded  with 
fruit,  and  I  thought  that  this  sudden  decapitation 
would  put  the  crop  in  peril,  and  cause  it  either  to 
cease  to  grow  or  drop  off  in  its  then  immature 
state.  To  rny  surprise,  the  fruit  has  grown  to  its 
full  size,  and  ripened  well.  The  decapitated  shoots 
have  put  forth  numerous  young  shoots,  which  this 
day  (August  30)  have  been  pinched  to  within  3 
and  4  leaves  of  their  base,  and  the  trees  look  as 
they  did  last  autumn — healthy,  promising,  and  ca- 
pable of  bearing  a  good  crop  next  year.  I  observe 
that  their  growth  seems  much  more  under  control 
than  those  planted  in  the  same  border  that  have 
been  under  pinching  all  the  summer."  I  have 
slightly  deviated  from  this  method,  and  have 
pinched  all  but  6  or  7  strong  shoots,  leaving  them 
to  grow  without  control.  Their  vigor  is  most  re- 
markable, and  they  exhaust  the  tree  of  much  su- 
perabundant sap.  About  the  third  week  in  July 
they  are  cut  down  to  5  or  6  inches  ;  the  buds  at  the 
base  of  each  shoot  break  immediately,  and  form 
short  spurs  which  ripen  well  during  the  autumn. 

By  this  method,  my  planted  out  pyramidal 
Peaches  and  Nectarines  have  formed  themselves 
into  flat-headed  half-standards,  slightly  feathered 
down  their  stems  with  branches  rather  weakly,  still 
fruitful.  These  will  in  the  end  die  off,  and  leave 
the  trees  half-standards,  with  open  heads  inclined 
to  horizontal  growth.  As  far  as  I  can  see,  this  is  a 
most  excellent  mode  of  cultivating  Peaches  and 
Nectarines  under  glass.  Among  these,  trees,  if 
there  be  sufficient  room,  trees  in  pots  may  be  pla- 
ced ;  and  these,  if  pyramids,  may  be  formed  into 
perfect  fruitful  '  cordons'  by  summer  pinching. 

I  have  to  add  something  rather  curious,  and 
■which  I  confess  is  at  present  a  mystery.  In  1860 
and  '61  the  fruit  from  the  trees  in  pots  in  the  same 
house  was  much  superior  in  flavor  to  that  from  the 
trees  in  pots  being  in  a  warmer  medium  surrounded 
by  the  heated  air  of  the  house.  In  1862  the  fruit 
from  the  trees  planted  out  was  decidedly  superior 
to  that  from  the  potted  trees  ;  but,  to  my  surprise, 
in  1863,  although  we  had  a  bright  warm  summer, 
it  was  just  the  reverse,  for  the  fruit  from  the  potted 
trees  was  infinitely  richer  than  any  gathered  from 


the  trees  growing  in  the  borders,  and  I  felt  at  a  lo.-^ 
to  account  for  it. — D.,  in  Jour.  Horticulture. 


Value  of  Science. — The  generalize  in  botany, 
zoology,  or  any  other  science  which  may  rightly  be 
denominated  the  science  of  observation,  must  rely 
for  his  generalities  on  the  aggregation  of  results  of 
innumerable  individual  observations.  Thus  it  was 
once  supposed  that  a  certain  moss,  Bitxhmtmia 
aj^hylh,  was  destitute  of  leaves,  and  it  might  not 
have  mattered  whether  it  had  leaves  or  not,  except 
that  there  are  physiological  as  well  as  technical  rea- 
sons for  concluding  that  a  moss  without  leaves  is  an 
impossibility.  It  was  Brown's  good  fortune  to  dis- 
cover at  the  base  of  the  footstalk  true  leaves  like 
wisp,s  of  silk,  and  this  observation  tended  to  confirm 
and  establish  the  law  that  all  mosses  have  leaves, 
both  of  necessity  and  in  fact.  No  observer  can  say 
what  is  the  value  of  his  observing ;  he  may  at  the 
moment  when  he  feels  most  deeply  convinced  he  is 
but  admiring  or  examining  what  has  been  admired 
or  examined  by  every  one  of  his  predecessors,  be 
actually  taking  note  of  something  that  was  never 
observed  before,  and  the  result  of  his  observations 
may  in  the  end  prove  the  untying  of  some  gordian 
knot  in  classification,  or  the  establishment  of  some 
principle  of  utility  that  may  be  of  incalculable  be- 
nefit to  mankind  at  large.  The  great  Linnreus,  by 
simple  observation  of  the  habits  of  Cantharis  na- 
valis,  was  enabled  to  point  out  to  the  Swedish 
government  how  to  avoid  the  loss  of  many  thou- 
sands of  pounds  every  year,  through  the  ravages 
of  an  insec  which  destroyed  immense  quantities 
of  timber  in  the  dockyards  of  that  country.  The 
remedy  suggested  by  Linnoeus  was  the  immersion 
of  the  timber  in  water  during  the  period  when  the 
fly  lays  its  eggs,  and  this  was  found  to  be  complete- 
ly effectual  in  putting  a  stop  to  the  ravages.  The 
same  master  of  the  art  of  observing  detailed  the 
cause  of  a  dreadful  disease  among  the  cattle  of 
North  Lapland,  which  was  thought  to  be  unac- 
countable and  irremediable,  but  which  Linnreus 
discovered  to  be  owing  to  the  prevalence  of  poison- 
ous plants  in  the  marshes  where  the  cattle  fed,  and 
the  eradication  of  these  put  a'stop  to- the.  career  of 
national  calamity.-— G^arc/encr's  Wcekli/.  • 


Dwarf  Apples  for  Suburban  Gardens. — 
But  very  few  occupiers  of  small  gardens  know  with 
what  facility  apple  trees  may  be  cultivated  even  in 
the  smallest  plot  of  ground.  A  few  instructions 
may  not  therefore  be  out  of  place.  In  nurseries 
apples  are  generally  grafted  on  two  kinds  of  stock 
— on  the  crab  stock  to  form  large  standard  trees  for 


H 


190 


ij\t  §m\mtxs  (Pont|lg. 


orchards,  and  on  a  dwarf  growing  variety  of  apple 
called  the  Paradise  apple,  adapted  for  gardens ;  on 
this  kind  of  stock  apple-trees  form  small  trees  re- 
liiarkablj^  «-olific.  There  are  two  forms  under  which 
they  may  be  cultivated  in  gardens— as  pyramids, 
or  upright  trees,  like  the  Lombardy  Poplar,  and  as 
bushes  in  the  form  of  a  gooseberry  or  currant  bush. 
It  is  this  latter  form  that  we  earnestly  recommend 
to  town  gardeners,  and  we  must  urge  upon  them 
the  necessity  of  buying  trees  that  can  be  warranted 
to  be  grafted  on  the  English  Paradise  stock.  The 
very  dwarf  French  Paradise  stock  is  too  delicate  for 
our  climate,  for  Avhile  they  are  young,  none  but  an 
experienced  fruit  gardener  can  distinguish  any  dif- 
ference in  their  growth,  so  that  trees  bought  of 
persons  without  a  reputation  to  lose  may  prove  to 
be  grafted  on  the  crab  stock,  and  wofully  deceive 
the  planter  by  their  vigorous  growth  and  unfruitful 
habit. 

The  rather  modern  practice  of  cultivating  apples 
as  bushes  grafted  on  the  Paradise  stock  will  in  time 
lead  to  a  revolution  in  the  culture  of  apples,  for, 
instead  of  waiting  from  seven  to  ten  years  before  a 
good  crop  can  be  gathered  from  a  vigorous  apple 
tree  grafted  on  the  crab  stock,  trees  grafted  on  the 
Paradise  will,  if  two  or  three  years  old  when  pur- 
chased, bear  some  fruit  the  first  season  after  plant- 
ing, so  that  a  tree  planted  in  December,  January, 
or  February,  will  gladden  the  heart  of  the  planter 
by  producing  so7tic  fine  fruit  the  following  summer. 
Apples  grown  on  dwarf  trees  are  safe  from  violent 
winds,  and  are  generally  much  finer  than  fruit  from 
the  earth. 

These  bush  apple  trees  may  be  planted  from  3  to 
3i  feet  apart,  and  the.  only  pruning,  or  nearly  so, 
they  require  is  done  in  summer,  after  this  fashion  : 
In  the  month  of  June,  as  soon  as  the  young  shoots 
have  grown  to  the  length  of  6  inches,  2  inches 
should  be  pinched  or  cut  off  from  the  end  of  each, 
and  this  must  be  done  all  through  the  summer  till 
the  end  of  August,  or  as  long  as  the  trees  continue 
to  make  young  shoots.  In  the  course  of  three  or 
four  years  they  become  compact,  sturdy,  fruitful 
bushes.  At  the  end  of  that  time,  if  they  are  too 
much  crowded  with  shoots,  some  of  them  may  be 
thinned  out  with  a  sharp  knife  in  winter,  when  the 
leaves  have  fallen.  If  the  culture  of  pyramids  is 
preferred,  the  same  system  may  be  pursued,  but 
the  leading  shoot  must  not  be  shortened  till  the 
end  of  summer,  and  then  only  to  the  length  of  10 
or  12  inches ;  on  the  whole,  bush  trees  are  best 
adapted  for  suburban  gardens.  If  the  soil  the  trees 
are  planted  in  be  too  rich,  so  as  to  give  over-luxu- 
riant growth,  they  should  at  the  end  of  two  or  three 


years  be  taken  up  and  replanted;  this  will  give 
them  a  healthy  check. 

Apple  trees  in  small  town  gardens  are  apt  to  be 
infested  with  the  American  blight,  a  sort  of  aphis, 
which  makes  its  appearance  in  the  shoots,  and  is 
covered  with  a  white  substance  like  floss  silk  ;  a 
certain  cure  for  this  is  an  infusion  of  4  ounces  of 
soft  soap  to  a  quart  of  warm  soft  water,  applying 
it  with  a  painter's  brush. 

The  large  quantity  of  useful  apples  that  may  be 
grown  in  a  very  small  garden,  by  pursuing  the  me- 
thod above  described,  is  surprising. — E-nglish  Gar- 
dener's Ahnanaclc. 


.     DISCDSSIONAL  MEETING,   MAY   3RD,  1864. 

THE  CONSTRUCTION  OF  PLANT-HOUSES. 

The  Essayist  appointed  for  the  evening,  Mr. 
William  Saunders,  presented  no  written  essay,  but 
offered  a  few  verbal  remarks  on  the  leading  points 
of  the  subject. 

The  first  object  to  attain  is  plenty  of  light.  The 
next  is  a  low  roof,  as  low  as  is  consistent  with  ar- 
chitectural beauty.  In  high  houses  it  is  diflicult 
to  regulate  the  temperature  and  moisture.  Venti- 
lation should  be  ample.  New  views  are  prevailing 
on  this  point,  and  ventilation  is  more  ample  than 
formerly.  Daily  ventilation  also  is  giving  place  to 
seasonal.  Fixed  roofs,  with  light  rafters,  are  more 
economical  than  sliding  sash  with  the  heavy  rafters 
they  require.  In  glazing,  no  putty  should  be  used 
on  the  outside,  but  the  glass  should  be  laid  with 
the  concave  side  outward,  lapping  about  one-eighth 
of  an  inch,  and  bedded  in  putty  or  paint.  I  usually 
fasten  the  glass  with  pads,  driving  one  at  the  lower 
edge,  so  as  to  prevent  its  slipping  down.  The 
lights  should  not  be  less  than  10x12  inches :  this 
size  is  preferable,  both  for  light  and  resistance  to 
hail  storms,  to  a  smaller  size. 

As  to  form  of  roof,  the  curvilinear  is  becoming 
quite  prevalent.  It  should  have  considerable  up- 
right portion  before  the  curve  commences.  For  all 
practical  purposes,  the  straight  roof  is  fully  equal 
to  it  and  less  expensive. 

There  should  be  a  tank  provided,  of  sujfficient 
capacity  to  receive  all  the  roof  water. 

There  is  no  advantage  in  constructing  a  house 
partly  below,  and  he  would  disapprove  of  it  cardi- 
nally.   Any  gain  of  heat  would  be  counterbalanced 


gth^  (Sarden^r's  Pcitlhlj* 


191 


m 


by  any  excess  of  moisture.  Is  now  building  a  lean- 
to  house  against  a  bank,  witb  another  section  above 
to  economize  the  heat,  which,  rising  from  the  lower 
section,  warms  the  upper  one. 

Has  used  the  Aquaria  Cement  of  Davis,  New 
York,  for  glazing,  but  found  no  especial  advantage 
in  it. 

Some  houses  have  a  large  apparatus  for  heating 
water  up  to  160°  for  watering  plants  and  vine  bor- 
ders ;  an^  the  practise  results  favorably.  The  soil 
retains  the  heat  a  long  while,  especially  if  well 
drained. 

An  article  was  read  by  the  Secretary  from  a  daily 
paper  on  the  influence  of  the  moon  upon  vegeta- 
tion ;  and  a  general  conversation  took  place  on  the 
merits  of  diflferent  colors  for  the  interior  of  plant- 
houses  which  our  reporter,  being  called  away  at  an 
early  hour,  was  unable  to  take  notes  of. 


MONTHLY  DISPLAY,   MAY  IOtH,    1864. 

In  consequence  of  so  few  exhibitors  attending 
strictly  to  the  regulations  of  the  society  which  asks 
that  they  hand  to  the  Secretary  a  list  of  the  varie- 
ties they  exhibit,  we  cannot  give  as  full  reports  of 
these  interesting  meetings  as  we  would  wish.  It  is 
of  no  interest  to  the  community  to  know  that  A  or 
B  obtained  the  premium  for  Verbenas  or  Foliage 
plants,  unless  we  can  tell  them  what  kinds  of  Ver- 
benas or  plants  gained  the  premium.  Then  the 
reports  become  in  a  measure  a  guide  to  the  public 
in  making  selections.  Occasionally  we  have  to 
omit  the  reports  altogether,  when  personally  unable 
to  attend  and  make  notes,  owing  to  the  almost  en- 
tire absence  of  such  information  in  the  materials 
given  by  exhibitors  to  the  Secretary,  who  very 
kindly  loans  them  to  us  for  use.  As  most  exhibi- 
tors estimate  the  honor  equally  with  the  pecuniary 
value  of  the  premiums, — it  is  their  interest  to  help 
the  society  in  the  publication  of  their  merits. 

The  display  on  May  10th  was  very  fine  indeed. 

The  best  collection  of  Ornamental-foliage  plants 
was  awarded  to  Mr.  Edward  Hibbert,  gardener  to 
Fairman  Rogers,  Esq.  The  most  interesting  among 
these  were  the  different  species  of  Campylobotris — 
C.  refulgens,  C  discolor,  C.  argyroneura,  and  C. 
regalis.  The  balance  was  principally  of  Dracoenas, 
Pandanus,  and  other  well-known  varieties. 
.  The  best  12  plants  in  10-inch  pots,  was  gained 
by  Mr.  James  Eadie,  gardener  to  Dr.  Jas.  Rush. 
They  were :  Aralia  reticula,  A.  palmata,  Dracoena 
ferroe,  Tillandsia  rosea,  Alocasia  metallica,  Adaraia 
versicolor,  Maranta  bicolor,  Azalea  optima,  A.  ex- 
tranii,  A.  Juliana,  A.  decora,  A.  spectabilis. 

Mr.  Hibbert  obtained  the  second  premium. 


'^ET 


The  collections  of  Pelargoniums,  Tulips,  Ver- 
benas, Petunias,  Calceolarias,  and  particularly  the 
Roses  were  unusually  fine ;  and  we  regret  that  in 
consequence  of  the  absence  of  lists  of  the  varieties, 
we  can  make  no  use  of  the  awards.        * 

The  best  collection  of  Orchidacea  was  awarded  to 
Mr.  James  Pollock,  gardener  to  Jas.  Dundas,  Esq., 
and  was  one  of  the  finest  exhibitions  of  this  beauti- 
ful and  rare  tribe  of  plants  made  before  the  society 
for  some  time.  It  comprised  Dendrobium  nobile, 
D.  Wallichianum,  Vanda  tricolor,  Catleya  violacea, 

Mr.  Eadie  had  again  one  of  his  finely  arranged 
Table  designs  and  Hand  bouquets ;  each  of  which 
were  awarded  first  premiums. 

Mr.  O'Keefe,  gardener  to  Jos.  Harrison,  Esq., 
first  premium  for  a  Vase  of  plants. 

C.  V.  Hagner,  Esq.,  had  a  premium  awarded 
him  for  a  fine  dish  of  Mushrooms. 


AMERICAN  INSTITXTTE  HORT.  SOCIETY. 

At  a  regular  meeting  of  this  society,  held  at  the 
rooms  of  the  American  Institute,  Wednesday  even- 
ing. May  4th,  the  subject  for  discussion  was  Flow- 
ers. The  tables  were  appropriately  filled  with  pots 
of  sjeedling  Carnations,  Heliotropes,  Verbenas, 
Pansies,  etc.,  presented  by  John  Henderson  of 
Jersey  City.  His  Heliotrope,  'Belle  of  Jersey,' 
was  pronounced  the  best  variety  yet  introduced. 
Cut  flowers  of  Crown  Imperial,  Double-flowering 
Peach,  Chinese  I^Iagnolias,  Dicentra,  Mahonia, 
Cydonia  Japonica,  Double-flowering  Almond,  Flor- 
entine Tulip,  etc.,  were  also  present  by  Mr.  Prince, 
Mr.  Isaac  Buchanan,  showed  fine  specimens  of  the 
Cactus  family  ;  also  Orchids  and  Camellias. 

The  President  of  the  society,  Mr.  B.  C.  Town- 
send,  being  a  comparative  stranger,  was  introduced 
with  appropriate  remarks  by  Mr.  P.  B.  Mead,  to 
which  he  responded  in  a  felicitous  manner,  remark- 
ing, that  with  *all  the  advantages  New  York  pos- 
sessed, in  its  extensive  park,  rich  surroundings, 
magnificent  gardens  and  greenhouses,  it  was  not 
creditable  to  say  we  were  destitute  of  a  Horticul- 
tural Society,  and  he  trusted  that  the  present  or- 
ganization would  fill  a  long  felt  want,  and  awaken 
a  new  interest  in  horticultural  pursuits. 

The  regular  business  or  discussion  was  opened  by 
Mr.  Henderson,  who  read  a  lengthy  and  interesting 
paper  on  his  fiivorite  theme  :  '  Flowers,  which  have 
always  been  cultivated  by  civilized  nations  in  all 
parts  of  the  world. '  The  ancients  spread  them  upon 
their  feast  tables,  scattered  flowers  in  the  way  of 
heroes  or  warriors  returning  from  conquest,  and 
used  them  for  adorning  their  gods.    They  are  our 


:=^^ 


*<^. 


192 


i^Ije  ^ardena's  ^ontljlj. 


second  children,  and  in  beholding  them  we  never 
tire,  though  the  eye  is  soon  satisfied  in  viewing  a 
thing  of  art.  We  surround  our  homes  with  t"hem, 
and  rejoice  in  the  early  blooms  of  Spring.  Beside, 
all  these  have  a  commercial  value,  and  the  apothe- 
cary shop  is  odorous  with  their  perfume.  Thous- 
ands of  acres  are  planted  to  flowers  in  France  and 
Italy,  for  making  perfumes  alone.  A  single  grower 
in  Southern  France  sells  annually  60,000  pounds 
rose  flowers,  30,000  pounds  eacb  of  jasmine  and 
tuberose,  40,000  pounds  of  violet  blossoms,  beside 
thousands  of  pounds  of  mint,  thyme,  rosemary,  etc., 
and  he  is  but  one  out  of  hundreds  engaged  in  this 
branch  of  horticulture.  The  atmosphere  of  some 
of  these  towns  is  so  filled  with  fragrance  that  a  per 
son  is  made  aware  of  his  approach  to  them  by  the 
odors  which  greet  him  miles  away.  America  has 
every  variety  of  soil  and  climate,  equal  to  cither 
France  or  Italy,  and  she  may  yet  rival  the  old 
world  in  her  perfumery.  Already  hundreds  of 
acres  of  peppermint  and  lavender  are  planted  in 
this  country,  and  the  product  exported  to  Europe. 
Though  the  old  world  bears  the  palm  in  the  per- 
fumery line,  and  London  and  Paris,  with  their 
Conv^ent  (lardens  and  Marche  aux  Fleurs,  lead  our 
own  city  in  window  gardening  and  the  cultivation 
of  flowers  in  pots  generally,  yet  New  York  carries 
on  a  larger  trade  in  cut  flowers  than  either  of  the 
cities  mentioned,  or  any  other  in  the  world.  To 
show  what  is  done  in  that  line,  he  instanced  his 
own  sales  of  some  of  the  leading  flowers  since  last 
September,  which  were  50,000  Carnation-blossoms, 
30,000  Bouvardias,  70,000  Chinese  Primroses, 
30,000  Tuberoses,  beside  over  10,000  Koses,  Ca- 
mellias, Heliotropes,  etc.,  and  he  was  but  one  of 
a  large  number  engaged  in  this  business. 

The  cultivation  of  natural  flowers  leads  to  their 
imitation  for  ornamental  purposes,  and  France 
alone  exports  $200,000  worth  of  artificial  flowers 
annually.  The  artist  manufactturer  studies  the  colors 
of  flowers  with  the  design  of  transferring  them  to 
silks  and  ribbons,  and  some  of  tKe  richest  goods 
are  a  close  imitation  of  certain  shades  found  only 
in  the  flowers. 

A  perfect  mania  for  flowers,  confined  mainly  to 
bulbs,  existed  in  Holland  about  the  j'car  1G36,  and 
a  Tulip  was  spld  for  $6,000.  It  was  not  uncommon 
for  a  stock  company  to  have  the  ownership  of  a 
single  bulb,  'the  flower  being  too  valuable  for  one 
person  to  own.  Referring  to  a  pure  white  Calla, 
or  Ethiopian  Lily,  upon  the  table,  the  speaker  re- 
marked that  it  was  probably  the  flower  alluded  to 
in  Scripture,  where  Solomon  in  all  his  glory  was 
not  arrayed  like  one  of  them. 


After  a  vote  of  thapks  to  Mr.  Henderson  for  his 
valuable  paper,  the  President  remarked  upon  the 
beauties  of  some  Rhododendrons  shown  by  Mr. 
Buchanan,  and  wondered  they  were  not  more  cul- 
tivated. Comparatively  few  persons  in  this  country 
know  what  they  are,  even,  while  in  Europe  they 
are  extensively  grown  under  the  name  of  American 
plants.  An  evergreen,  perfectly  hardy  and  easy 
of  culture,  this  flowering  shrub  should  be  planted 
more  extensively. 

Mr.  Peter  B.  Mead  referred  to  some  fine  Pansies 
present,  and  spoke  of  the  great  improvement  in 
this  flower  within  a  few  years.  Its  size  had  been 
increased,  its  form  improved,  and  the  colors  made 
more  beautiful.  He  gave  a  minute  description  of 
the  methods  pursued  by  florists  to  originate  new 
sorts  or  to  perpetuate  established  varieties,  and  ob- 
served, that  though  the  uninitiated  might  strike 
them  from  cuttings,  they  would  find  it  cheaper  and 
l)etter  every  way  to  obtain  them  of  regulai-  florists. 
He  also  took  occasion  to  condemn  the  common 
method  of  making  up  bouquets,  where  every  thing 
is  crowded  into  a  stiff"  set  mass,  and  asked  what  the 
innocent  flowers  had  done  that  they  must  be  put 
into  'straight  jackets.'  Speaking  of  the  Dicentra 
spectabilis,  he  remarked  that  it  was  one  of  the  finest 
flowers  for  Winter-blooming  in  the  house.  It  was 
only  necessary  to  take  up  a  large  root  and  set  it  in 
the  cellar  in  the  fall,  divide  and  pot  it  at  intervals 
during  the  Winter,  set  it  in  the  living  room,  and 
you  may  have  a  fine  bloom  all  Winter. 

For  a  plant  to  sell  it  must  liave  an  European  re- 
putation. If  Mr.  Henderson  had  only  imported 
his  fine  Heliotrope,  'Belle  of  Jersey,'  and  called  it 
'  Belle  of  Lancaster,'  he  would  have  sold  thousands 
of  them  ;  florists  frequently  change  the  name  of  a 
plant  before  they  can  effect  sales. 

The  President  alluded  to  this  desire  for  foreign 
plants,  and  gave  as  one  reason,  the  lack  of  any  re- 
cognized standard,  or  body  to  indor.^e  a  variety  be- 
fore it  is  sent  out.  Not  so  in  England.  A  plant 
is  put  on  trial  for  one  or  two  years,  and  if  it  stands 
the  various  tests,  it  then  receives  official  indorse- 
ment, and  every  purchaser  knows  he  is  buying  a 
good  thing  when  he  secures  it. 

It  was  resolved  to  hold  the  next  meeting  on 
Tuesday  evening,  the  31st  of  May,  to  begin  at  8 
o'clock,  and  close  promptly  at  10.  It  was  also  con- 
cluded to  hold  a  flower  and  strawberry  show  about 
the  middle  of  June,  the  Prize  Committee  to  report 
upon  a  schedule  and  the  exact  date  at  the  next 
meeting,  the  regular  business  for  which  is  to  be 
the  discussion  of  Small  Fruits,  opened  by  Mr.  R. 
Gr.  Pardee. 


■'asr 


•|  1^  I)  0 


DSVOTS'D     TO 


iopHralfer^,  ^pfieriraKuF^;  PoIhhii  %•  jjlura!  Mkfe 


TTI02/rAS     MEEHAINT,    Fptt^r. 
VZ.  G.  P.  BEIJVCKLOE,  Plbljoher. 


JULY.    II 


VOL.    VI. — NO.  7. 


■^iHfs  for  3ii!g. 


PLOWER-GARBESr   AB?D    FLEASUISE- 

The  raising  of  new  varieties  of  florists'  flowers  is 
an  interesting  occupation  to  the  amateur.  The 
process  of  lij'bridization  applies  to  all  plants  as  well 
as  to  grapes ;  but  good  improved  kinds  of  some 
things  may  be  obtained  from  chance  seedlings.  The 
finest  and  doublest  of  Roses,  Petunias,  Dahlias, 
Carnations,  etc.,  should  be  selected,  and  as  soon  as 
the  petals  fade,  they  should  be  carefull}'^  removed, 
or  they  will  cause  the  delicate  organs  of  reproduc- 
tion to  decay  before  niaturit}\  A  flower  may  he  so 
very  double  as  not  to  bear  seed  at  all,  as  in  the  case 
of  the  Gillyflower  or  Stock ;  but  if  the  pistil  re- 
mains perfect,  as  it  usually  does,  seed  will  ensue. 

The  summer  pruning  of  hedges  and  ornamental 
trees  and  shrubs,  that  require  to  be  brought  into 
particular  shape,  will  he  sedulously  attended  to 
through  the  season,  according  to  former  directions. 

Amateurs  may  have  some  rare  or  choice  shrub 
they  may  desire  to  increase.  They  may  now  bo 
propagated  by  layers.  This  is  done  by  taking  a 
strong  and  vigorous  shoot  of  the  present  season's 
growth,  slitting  the  shoot  a  few  inches  from  its 
base,  and  burying  it  a  few  inches  under  the  soil,  or 
into  a  pot  of  soil  provided  for  the  purpose.  Any 
thing  can  be  propagated  b}'  layers ;  and  it  is  an  ex- 
cellent mode  of  raising  rare  things  that  can  be  but 
with  difiiculty  increased  by  any  other. 

Plants  set  against  walls  and  piazzas  frequently 
suffer  fronj  want  of  water  at  this  sea.son,  when  even 
ground  near  them  is  quite  wet.  Draw  away  the 
soil  around  each  plant  so  as  to  form  a  basin  ;  fill  in 
with  a  bucket  full  of  water,  allowing  it  tipie  to  soak 


gradually  away  ;  and  when  the  surface  has  dried  a 
little,  draw  in  loosely  the  soil  over  it,  and  it  will  do 
without  water  for  some  weeks.  This  applies  to  all 
plants  wanting  water  through  the  .season.  If  water 
is  merely  poured  on  the  surface,  it  is  made  more 
compact  by  the  weight  of  water,  and  the  harder  the 
soil  becomes,  the  easier  it  dries ;  and  the  result  is, 
the  more  water  you  give  the  more  is  wanted. 

In  many  gardens  there  will  be  roses  of  poor  and 
inferior  kinds,  or  of  good  ones  that  the  owner  may 
desire  superseded  by  better  ones.  This  may  readily 
be  accomplished  by  budding  or  inoculating,  and  now 
and  nest  month  is  the  season  to  operate. 

In  almost  all  works  on  budding  it  is  recommended 
to  take  the  wood  out  of  the  bud  to  be  inserted.  This 
is  necessary  in  the  English  climate,  but  unnecessary 
here,  and  never  used  by  practiced  hands. 

Dahlia  seed  may  be  preserved  till  the  spring. 
Antirrhinum,  Rose,  Carnation,  and  such  hardy  pe- 
rennials, should  be  sown  soon  after  ripening. 

Hollyhocks  will  be  coming  into  bloom  at  this 
season.  They  have  now  become  so  much  improved 
as  to  be  one  of  the  most  popular  flowers  for  the 
!-umn«ier  decoration  of  the  flower-garden.  If  the 
kinds  are  kept  carefully  separate,  any  particular 
variety  will  reproduce  itself  from  seed.  They  may 
be  more  certainly  kept  pure  by  cutting  off  the  flower 
stem  ;  each  bud  will  make  a  plant.  The  seed  should 
be  sown  as  soon  as  ripe  in  a  light  rich  soil,  in  the 
open  air.  If  retained  till  late  in  the  season  they 
will  not  probably,  flower  until  the  next  year. 

Fuchsias  in  pots  should  have  the  coolest  position 
of  the  flower-garden  assigned  to  them.  They  usu- 
ally suffer  much  from  Red  iSpider,  which  makes 
their  leaves  drop.  The  various  remedies  we  have' 
so  often  recommended  should  be  applied.  Frequent 
heavy  syringings  are  particularly  grateful  to  thtj 
Fuchsia. 

The  Chrysanthemums  should  be  examined,  and 
if  the  shoots  thrown  up  are  thickly  together,  some 
of  them  should  be  rooted  out.  If  the  flower  shoots 
are  laj'ered  into  four  or  six  inch  pots,  they  make 
very  pretty  dwarf  plants,  that  are  well  adapted  to 


f 


T^'J 


Pri 


-C./(C^ 


r^k 


194 


Wx^  €m&t\m\  ^awM^. 


neatly   ornament  a   room   or  small   conservatory, 
where  larger  plants  would  be  objectionable. 

The  time  is  coming  when  transplanted  trees  of 
the  past  fall  and  spring  will  suffer  more  than  during 
any  other  part  of  the  season.  If  they  show  a  vig- 
orous growth  of  young  wood,  no  danger  need  be 
apprehended,  as  it  indicates  that  the  roots  are  ac- 
tive, and  can  supply  all  the  moisture  the  foliage 
calls  for ;  but  if  no  growth  has  been  made,  no  roots 
have  been  formed,  and  the  leaves  are  living  for  the 
most  part  on  the  sap  in  the  wood  and  bark,  and 
hot,  drying  weather  will  tell  with  injurious  effect 
on  such  trees.  This  is  generally  first  shown  by  the 
peeling  off  of  the  bark  on  the  south-western  side 
of  the  tree, — the  most  drying  aspect ;  and  where 
such  exhaustion  appears  probable,  much  relief  may 
be  afforded  by  cutting  back  some  of  the  branches, 
syringing  with  water  occasionally,  shading  the  trees 
where  practicable,  or  wrapi)ing  the  trunk  in  hay- 
bands,  or  shading  the  south-west  with  boughs  or 
boards. 


GREENHOUSE. 
Most  of  the  plants  are  set  out  for  the  summer, 
as  has  been  recommended, — little  care  will  be  re- 
quired beyond  seeing  that  they  are  not  over  or  un- 
der watered.  Some  will  be  yet  growing,  and  may 
be  full  of  roots.  If  growth  will  probably  continue 
for  a  while  longer,  pots  a  size  larger  may  be  fur- 
nished such.  Whenever  a  shoot  appears  to  grow 
stronger  than  the  rest,  so  as  to  endanger  compact- 
ness or  any  desired  shape,  pinch  it  back  ;  and  any 
climbing  vines  should  receive  due  regulation  as 
they  grow  over  the  trellis,  or  they  will  speedily  be- 
come naked  below.  A  good,  stiff  trellis  is  a  desid- 
eratum hard  to  be  obtained  by  the  uninitiatea. 

In  training  vines,  so  manage  that  there  shall  be 
a  due  proportion  of  branches  hanging  loosely  about 
the  trellis, — as  it  is  this  flowing  gracefulness  that 
adds  half  the  charms  to  this  tribe  of  plants  which 
they  so  profusely  possess. 

An  important  point  just  now  is  to  prepare  win- 
ter-flowering plants.  Cinerarias,  Chinese  Primrose, 
and  Calceolarias  should  be  sown  about  the  end  of 
the  month ;  and  cuttings  made  of  most  kinds  of 
plants  that  are  desirable.  It  is  a  great  mistake, 
often  made,  to  store  up  and  treasure  year  after  year, 
old  and  even  grown  specimens,  when  younger  ones 
would  bloom  more  vigorously,  and  give  better  sat- 
isfaction. Propagation  of  plants  will  go  on.  It  is 
one  of  the  pleasures  of  the  gardening  art ;  and 
where  old  treasures  are  prized,  the  greenhouse  soon 
becomes  a  crowded  mass  of  ugliness,  with  credit  to 
neither  gardener  nor  owner. 


.FRUIT   GARDEN. 

Keep  pinching  out  all  shoots  from  all  fruit  trees 
that  ar^  likely  to  grow  stronger  than  the  rest,  or 
where  they  are  not  wanted. 

Look  after  insects.  Caterpillars  of  all  kinds  are 
best  kept  down  by  hand-picking. 

Strawberries  should  be  assisted  to  make  strong- 
rooted  runners,— good  and  loose  soil  placed  near 
where  the  runners  are,  and  if  these  are  slightly 
covered  all  the  better. 

Raspberries  and  Blackberries  should  have  their 
suckers  thinned  out,  as  weeds,  as  they  grow,  per- 
mitting only  those  to  remain  that  will  be  wanted 
next  year. 


VEGETABLE  GARDEN. 
The  main  crop  pi  winter  Cabbage  is  often  planted 
the" first  or  second  week  in  July-  I"  planting,  if 
the  weather  he  dry,  it  is  a  good  plan  to  make  the 
holes  before  planting  and  fill  up  with  water ;  after 
soaking'  away,  the  plants  may  be  set  in,  and  they 
seldom  wither  afterwards,  though  without  rain  for 
a  month.  Another  and  more  expeditious  plan  is  to 
have  the  plants  ready  with  their  roots  in  a  pan  of 
water.  They  are  then  set  into  the  hole  at  the  time 
it  is  made.  The  water  adhering  to  the  roots  then 
gives  to  the  set  out  plants  the  advantages  of  pud- 
dling. 

Sow  Endive,  and  towards  the  end  of  the  month, 
transplant  in  rows.  They  should  be  set  out  in 
rows  eighteen  inches  apart,  and  one  foot  from  each 
other.  The  soil  can  scarcely  be  too  rich  for  them. 
Seed  may  yet  be  sown  for  a  later  crop. 

The  remarks  of  last  month  are  applicable  for 
Celery. 

If  Broccoli  is  a  desired  vegetable,  it  may  be  had 
all  through  the  winter  by  being  sown  now.  In  about 
four  weeks  plant  out  into  rich  garden  soil.  On  the 
approach  of  frost,  take  up  the  plants,  with  a  por- 
tion of  soil  adhering,  and  pack  them  closely  in  a 
warm  and  somewhat  damp  cellar.  They  will  con- 
tinue to  grow,  and  produce  nice  heads. 

Cucumbers  for  pickles  are  also  sown  about  this 
time.  They  usually  produce  a  greater  number,  and 
consequently  smaller  fruit,  than  when  sown  earlier. 
The  Shoi*  Prickly  is  the  kind  to  employ. 

In  some  families,  large,  full-grown  Carrots  are 
objectionable.  Seeds  of  the  Long  Orange,  sown 
now  on  rich  sandy  soils,  form  neat  and  desirable 
roots  before  winter.  The  same  may  be  said  of 
Beets. 

Beans  may  be  sown  up  to  the  end  of  the  month. 
For  winter  use,  the  White  Kidney  is  very  popular, 


^, 


■iKC 


.^: 


i 


2lj)t  §m\tnn'i  ^onfljlg. 


195 


although  other  kinds  are  very  extensively  grown  for 
the  same  purpose. 

Our  hints  for  the  last  month  will,  in  a  great  mea- 
sure, bear  a  reperusal  at  the  commeiiceujcntof  this. 


erkinimirEfmiis* 


MISCELLANEOUS    SKETCHES. 
NOTES    ON    HAllDY    CONIFER.E. 

BY   ORCHIS. 

The  constitutional  requirements  of  the  Coniferas 
vary  so  widely  throughout  the  different  sections  of 
our  country,  that  to  form  an  approved  list  of  infal- 
lible species,  suited  to  every  locality,  would  be  an 
impossible  ta^k. 

Excepting,  in  a  few  well-known  instances,  that 
are  apparently  ufiaffected  by  almost  ever}'  contin- 
gency of  soil  and  climate,  the  great  majority  display 
a  coquettish  disposition, — defying  utterly  all  rules 
that  can  be  formed  to  secure  their  ^adaptability  to 
our  climate. 

Practical  experiments  have  for  several  year  been 
made,  fot  the  purpose  of  endeavoring  to  ascertain 
certain  fixed  principles,  that  evidently  control  the 
health  and  vigor  of  the  tree  ;  but  as  each  succeed- 
ing season  unfolds  new  ideas,  and  startles  us  with 
unexplained  facts,  we  are  forced  into  the  belief  that 
there  are  mysterious  truths,  underlying  the  well- 
known  practical  system  that  relates  to  their  devel- 
opment, and  which  is  as  yet  a  sealed  book  to  plan- 
ters. Necessarily  this  should  be  in  consequence  of 
so  variable  a  climate  as  ours,  and  doubtless  it  is 
owing  in  a  great  measure  to  this  very  cause ;  but 
when  one  has  become  attached  to  a  rar§  and  beau- 
tiful specimen,  that  has  succeeded  admirably  for 
several  years,  and  probably  passed  through  three 
or  four  severe  winters  without  injury,  and  'now 
having  grown  to  a  size  that  we  feel  will  secure  it 
against  further  casualities,  then  perhaps  to  have  it 
killed  during  a  mild  season,  is  a  calamity,  against 
which  we  have  no  known  remedy,  and  for  which 
■we  cannot  prescribe.  Especially  provoking  is  it 
when  more  tender  plants  that  surround  it,  (which 
have  been  in  the  practice  of  annually  dropping 
their  foliage,  against  the  law  of  nature  for  such 
plants),  thrive  at  the  same  time  with  perfect  im- 
punity. 

Frequent  and  severe  trials  of  this  kind  having 
been  experienced  by  the  writer,  makes  him  perhaps 
rather  tedious  on  this  subject ;  but  a  desire  to  as- 
certain the  cause  of  these  effects  must  be  offered  as 
an  extenuation  of  his  apparent  fault. 


The  foregoing  ideas  were  suggested  upon  reading 
the  Notes  of  Dr.  Hull  published  in  the  May  and 
June  numbers  of  the  MontJdy.  We  have,  there- 
fore, taken  the  liberty  of  using  the  Doctor's  notes, 
for  the  purpose  of  comparing  his  experience  with 
that  of  some  planters  in  Pennsylvania,  thus  show- 
ing, what  not  only  a  slight  change  of  climate  will 
accomplish,  but  also,  (which  in  most  instances  we 
contend  is  of  greater  importance),  that  a  different 
consistency  of  soil  tends  to  produce  a  totally  con- 
trary effect. 

The  writer  of  the  aforesaid  notes  commences  with 
th^  Picea  or  Silver  Firs,  and  in  describing  the  P. 
Cephahnica,  he  states  it  browns  badly  the  fir.st 
winter,  and  dies  during  the  next ;  but  with  us  it  is 
as  available  as  any  hardy  conifer  in  the  whole 
family.  We  are  aware  that  some  arboriculturists, 
even  in  this  immediat(j  neighborhood,  have  not 
succeeded  with  it  to  their  entire  satisfaction  ;  but 
this,  we  contend,  is  on  account  of  the  nature  of 
the  soil. 

The  P.  Wehhiann  is  considered,  "when  vigorous 
and  well  protected,  a  beautiful  tree,"  but  the  F. 
Pradrow  is  classed  with  many  that  "  out-door  pro- 
tection will  not  carry  to  the  end  of' the  third  win- 
ter." These  two  conifers,  the  first  a  native  of  our 
north-western  country,  and  the  last  of  the  Hima- 
layas of  Europe,  are  so  nearly  alike  with  us,  in 
growth,  vigor  and  general  appearance,  as  to  be  fre- 
quently confounded,  and  neither  can  be  relied  on 
with  any  certainty  of  success.  In  England  they 
are  both  considered  quite  precarious,  owing  to  the 
liability  of  the  leading  shoot  to  be  injured  by  late 
frosts  or  the  \vinter  sun. 

One  of  the  most  curious  assertions  made  by  the 
same  author,  is  that  which  relates  to  the  P.  nohilis, 
Hudsonica^  Nordmanniana,  and  pichta.  The  as- 
sertion to  which  we  allude  states  that  these  "  have 
been  classed  by  sanguine  amateurs  as  hardy ;  not 
one  of  them  loill  stand  the  winter  sunlight  unprotec- 
ted., nor  ivill  ont-dnor  protection  carry  them  to  the 
end  of  the  third  winter. ' ' 

We  confess  that  we  are  pleased  to  be  able  to  class 
ourself  among  these  'sanguine  amateurs,'  and  we 
would  dearly  love  to  point  out  to  the  Doctor  a  spe- 
cimen of  the  P.  pichta,  growing  near  Philadelphia, 
that  is  some  20  or  25  feet  in  height,  and  a  perfect 
model  of  beauty.  P.  Fraseri  var.  Hndsonica,  is  a 
very  pretty  little  dwarf  from  Hudson's  Bay,  and 
unquestionably  hardy*  everywhere  that  we  have 
seen  it.  Can  the  Doctor  have  it  true  ?  P.  Nord- 
manniana  is  a  particular  favorite  in  this  section  of 
country  ;  perfectly  hardy,  rich  dark  green  verdure, 
rapid  growth,  and  unexceptionable  in  every  way. 


fm>± 


*^^- 


196 


^t  (Sarhncr's  Hont^te 


Although  we  have  no  very  large  specimens  of  P. 
nobilis,  the  young  plants  thrive  with  us  in  the  most 
satisfactory  manner,  and  give  promise  of  future 
usefulness. 

The  F.  pccfinata  is  next  commentefl  on  with  a 
long  description,  and  is  eulogized  in  quite  strong 
terms.  To  this  we  must  take  exception  ;.  for,  after 
having  all  the  above  fivorites  discarded  in  so  sum- 
marily a  manner,  we  do  not  feel  like  listening  to  a 
pleasing  dissertation  on  a  species  that  is  at  best 
uncertain  with  us  in  this  latitude  ;  and  in  our  list 
of  hardy  conifers,  we  place  this  Silver  Fir  in  a  far 
lower  position  than  the  previous  list  so  unhesita- 
tingly denounced. 

We  pass  over  the  P.  hahamea,  not  considering 
it  of  suflBcient  use  to  planters  to  merit  an  extended 
notice— being  beautiful  whilst  young,  but  becoming 
disfigured  by  age  ;  but  to  the  descriptions  of  Ahics 
excclsa,  the  valuable  and  magnificent  Norway 
Spruce,  aui.  the  A.  Canadensis,  our  own  lovely 
Hemlock,  we  cheerfully  say— Amen.  Two  more 
charming  and  beautiful  trees  it  is  impossible  to 
produce,— combining  grace  and  elegance,  with  reg- 
ularity of  "outline,  divested  of  all  forms  of  stiffness, 
and  artificial  appearance  ;  the  one  a  representative 
of  the  transatlantic  forests,  the  other  a  type  of  our 
own  productions,  they  stand  as  an  embodiment  of 
perfection  in  a  tree. 

A.  Menziezii,  says  the  Doctor,  "  all  die  early  in 
December ;"  with  us  it  is  quite  hardy,  and  we  be- 
lieve this  to  be  the  experience  with  others  in'  this 
latitude. 

What  is  meant  by  A.  excelsa  also  dying  early  in 
winter?     Certainly  an  error. 

F.  pinsapn  stands  two  winters  unprotected,  where 
many  much  hardier  plants  die  outright.  It  is  un- 
certain at  the  East. 

A.  FougJnsdl.  is  reported  as  half-hardy,  and  only 
survives  two  or  three  winters  ;  here  it  generally 
survives  finely,  and  was  only  injured  a  few  years 
since  during  the  two  extremely  severe  winters.  A 
specimen  frequently  alluded  tp,  in  the  Evans  Ar- 
boretum, a  few  mile?  from  Philadelphia,  is  about 
30  feet  high,  and  a  magnificent  tree. 

We  coincide  with  the  remarks  relative  to  A. 
Mor'inda,  although  it  mostly  manages  to  survive 
here,  frequently  for  several  years. 

The  experience  of  the  Pine  fimily  proper  is  so 
similar  to  our  own,  that  we  sbull  not  deem  it  ne- 
cessary to  offer  any  remarks'  thereon,  excepting  to 
record  our  assent  with  the  Doctor's  opinion  of  the 
7'.  cxccha.  He  says,  "It  mildews,  and  gradually 
pans  with  its  leaves,  and,  somehow  or  another,  it 
/Q^      is  dead  before  we  are  aware  of  it."     A  whole  vol- 


ume could  not  better  describe  this  unfortunate  pe 
culiarity  of  an  otherwise  elegant  tree,  than  has  the 
Doctor  in  this  simple  remark.  The  best  preventive 
is  a  light  and  rather  poor  soil,  that  will  check  its 
overabundant  growth. 

Cech-Hs  nrgented,  Atlantica,  and  Afn'cnna  are 
one  and  the  same  thing  ;  and  the  Doctor's  expe- 
rience being  very  similar  with  them  all,  confirms 
the  truth.  Some  individual  plants  are  much  har- 
dier than  others  of  the  same  species,  hence  the 
slight  difference  in  the  report  of  these  three  men- 
tif)ned.  Cedrns  Lihnni  is  usually  successful  with 
us  in  proper  soils  and  situations. 

Juniperus  ohloyvga,  repens,  and  Climmsis  are  all 
hardy  here  ;  J.  recurrn  (true,  for  there  is  a  si)uri- 
ous  plant  in  cultivation)  is  not  entirely  so ;  J.  com- 
mmiis  siiccica  quite  as  hardy  as  the  Irish  variety. 

In  the  continuation  of  the  same  article,  published 
in  the  June  number  of  the  Monfldy,  facts  are  stated 
in  connection  with  the  Arborvitae  class  that  we  en- 
tirely disagree  with.  Thvja  occidehtalis,  our  well 
known  and  valued  native  sdecies,  is  quite  dispara- 
ged, on  account  principally  of  the  change  in  the 
foliage  during  the  winter  months.  The  whole 
family  is  more  or  less  subject  to  this  slight  draw- 
back, but  not  sufiiciently  so  in  our  judgment  to  dis- 
card it.  The  author  says  it  "has  been  greatly 
over-estimated."  The  Siberian  is  doubtless  pre- 
ferable in  some  respects,  but  is  a  niuch  slower 
grower,  and  '  possibly  will  not  make  so  la-ge 
a  tree.  Thuja  anrca  (if  the  common  Golden  Ar- 
borvita3  of  the  nurseries,  which  is  now  considered 
by  botanists  a  Biota)  is  certainly  more  reliable  in 
the  West  than  throughout  this  section.  This  va- 
riety is  frequently  injured  with  us  during  severe 
winters,  and  is  rapidly  becoming  unpopular.  The 
Weeping  variety  is  also  mentioned  as  hardy,  whilst 
with  us  it  is  quite  often  severely  injured. 

The  Doctor's  remarks  on  the  Sequoia  gigantea, 
certainly  gives  that  celebrated  tree  a  qnietvs,  as  far 
as  its  cultivation  in  Missouri  and  Illinois  is  con- 
cerned ;  and  after  long  and  patient  trial,  which  has 
resulted  in  the  loss  of  several  specimens,  we,  too, 
feol  willing  to  resign  it. 

We  had  intended  noticing  a  few  species  and  fine 
varieties  of  the  Goniferae,  which  promise  success  in 
this  State,  and  which  the  Doctor  has  not  mention- 
ed, but  our  notes  have  already  reached  a  much 
greater  length  than  we  originally  purposed  ;  we 
must,  therefore  leave  them  for  the  present. 

In  conclusion  we  desire  to  add,  that  such  infor- 
mation as  is  conveyed  in  the  article  alluded  to,  is 
of  the  greatest  value  to  arboriculturists  ;  and  it  has 
really  been  a  treat  to  find  this  commendable  love 


^ 


m 


Stft^  ©aril^n^r'a  ^mrfhlg. 


197 


of  trees  spreading  throughout  our  land.  The  au- 
thor certainly  deserves  great  praise,  not  only  for 
testing  so  many  novelties,  but  for  his  desire  to  im- 
part knowledge  in  regard  to  their  future  adapta- 
bility to  his  particular  locality. 

[Our  correspondent  resides  about  25  miles  from 
Philadelphia,  and  has  a  dryish  stony  soil,  and  an 
elevated  and  exposed  situation.  We  should  be 
very  glad  of  similar  notes  from  other  persons. 
There  is  something  singular  in  the  varying  hardi- 
ness of  these  rare  pines..  Nothing  but  collecting 
the  experience  of  various  cultivators  will  enable  us 
to  deduce  any  rule. — Ed.] 


SCIEI^CB    IPJ    SPORT. 

BY  J.    S.,    LANCASTER,    PA. 

My  attention  was  called  to  a  dense  group  of  in- 
sects, on  the  8th  of  June,  1864,  basking  in  the  sun 
on  one  of  the  extended  laths  to  a  grape  vine.  There 
they  were,  like  a  full  company  of  Zi.maves,  all  on  a 
huddle,  iis  if  they  had  just  broken  ranks ;  with 
their  black  shining  heads  erect,  their  jointed  an- 
tennae, Calso  black,  except  the  terminal  joint,  which 
is  of  an  orange  yellow),  sticking  out  like  bayonets 
from  the  crowd,  their  jet  black  thorax  like  a  round 
jacket,  with  a  pair  of  short  rudimentary  wings,  like 
short  coat  tails,  also  black,  while  their  enlarged, 
ovate  and  pointed  abdomen  is  like  the  full-blown 
Zouave's  unmentionables,  highly  inflated,  and  of  a 
reddish  or  deep  orange  color.  The  three  pairs  of 
legs  are  also  jet  black,  and  the  sword-shaped  pro- 
boscis from  its  snout,  of  formidable  dimensions  for 
so  small  an  animal,  one-fourth  of  an  inch  in  length. 

The  i-tutely  gravity  of  their  movements  is  amus- 
ing. These  little  creatures  are  readily  known  to 
belong  to  the  order  Hemiptera,  and  family  Penta- 
toinidas,  like  the  common  squash  or  pumpkin  bug; 
and  being  under  proscription,  any  ordinary  gardener 
■would  think  he  had  done  the  State  some  service 
by  smashing  the  whole  brood  at  a  single  blow,  clus- 
tered as  these  were  previous  to  separation. 

I  will  add,  that  on  the  lower  side  of  the  lath  I 
found  a  large  patch  of  oblong,  cylindrical  cells, 
placed  in  rows  close  to  each  other,  like  a  honey- 
comb, the  eggs  fi'om  which  the  brood  had  evidently 
escaped. 

Before  we  commit  ourselves  to  wholesale  murder, 
let  us  inquire  whether  they  are  a  friend  or  foe  to 
the  gardener.  We  will  find  that  they  belong  .to  a 
carnivorous  class, —  these  are  the  young  of  the 
Prinotus  nomnarins ;  they  feed  upon  aphids,  cocci, 
and  other  mischievous  vegetable  feeders,  so  annoy- 
ing to  the  horticulturist, — ^^heuce  we  even  suffered 


the  one  captured  (for  examination  under  the  lens) 
to  escape  under  a  free  pass  to  shift  for  himself. 
That  is  our  policy. 

The  matured  female  measures  over  an  inch  and 
a  half  in  length,  and  is  easily  known  by  the  toothed 
crest  on  the  thorax,  like  a  portion  of  a  coarse 
toothed  circular  saw.  They  are  quite  common  in 
and  about  Lancaster. 


HOYA    CAKNOSA. 
BY  J.    P.    NORRIS,    WESTCHESTER,    PA. 

This  well  known  hot-house  plant  has  some  pecu- 
liarities which  may  not  be  generally  known.  It 
shall  be  our  endeavor,  in  this  brief  sketch,  to 
point  out  these  and  afford,  if  possible,  some  reason- 
able explanation  of  the  cause  of  the  said  pecu- 
liarities. We  have  had  this  plant  under  cultiva- 
tion for  some  time  past,  and  it  has  always  been 
among  our  favorites. 

It  claims  our  attention 'not  only  on  account  of 
its  peculiar  waxy  leaves,  but  also  for  its  beautiful, 
though  very  unnatural,  flowers.  Mad  a  manufac- 
turer of  wax  flowers  made  one  of  these  plants  for 
the  first  time,  and  adorned  it  with  a  couple  or  so 
of  its  strange  flowers  he  would  have  been  pronoun- 
ced a  bungler  and  one  who  had  mistaken  his  voca- 
tion :  such  is  their  unnaturalness ! 

The  leaves  of  this  plant  are  about  an  eighth  of 
an  inch  think,  and  have  a  very  waxy  appearance. 
The  writer  had  heard  that  the  plant  could  be  pro- 
l)agated  by  taking  off  one  of  these  leaves  and 
placing  it  in  a  cutting-box  in  such  a  manner  that 
the  stem  of  the  leaf  was  in  the  ground.  He  re- 
solved to  make  the  exjieritnerit.  He  accordingly 
cut  about  eighteen  of  the  leaves  of  he  plant  close 
to  the  stem  of  the  plant.  These  were  inserted  with 
the  stems  in  a  cutting-box,  containing  an  equal 
mixture  of  pure  sand  and  potting  compost.  The 
result  was  awaited  with  considerable  interest.  Three 
weeks  after  they  had  been  placed  in  the  cutting- 
box,  one  of  them  was  pulled  up  and  found  to  be 
very  well  rooted.  It  was  replaced  in  the  box,  and 
the  whole  box  of  them  set  in  a  greeiihouse,  where 
they  were  kept  during  the  summer.  The  glass  of 
the  greenhouse  had  been  whitewashed,  and  the 
temperature  was  never  allowed  to  rise  higher  than 
80°.  This  was  in  June.  In  September  they  were 
again  examined,  and  proved  to  have  greatly  in- 
creased in  roots,  but  there  was  no  sign  of  a  bud 
shooting  Up  from  the  leaf,  as  it  was  said  they  would 
do.  They  were  kept  in  the  cutting-box  that  win- 
ter and  the  following  summer.  It  was  now  just  a 
year  and  a  half  since  they  had  been  planted,  and 


!^(Ws. 


\^rr 


t-^. 


6/~ 


198 


SMt^  6ardmr*»  (Plontltlg* 


yet  they  showed  no  signs  of  shooting  up.  It  may 
be  interesting  to  the  readers  of  the  Gardoier's 
Monthly  to  know  that  they  are  still  wider  trial. 

It  was  feared  that  perhaps  in  cutting  off  the 
'leaves  the  bud  that  is  contained  at  the  junction  of 
the  leaf  to  the  stem  of  the  plant,  had  not  been  ta- 
ken off  with  it.  Accordingly  more  leaves  were  pre- 
pared— this  time  cutting  ofip  the  leaf  so  close  that 
it  took  off  some  of  the  bark  with  it.  Still  the  same 
result  happened  as  in  the  former  experiment. 

The  writer  has  found  no  difficulty  whatever  in 
propagating  the  IToya^ car nosa  from  cuttings,  pro- 
vided that  they  had  a  piece  of  the  stem  of  the  plant 
connected  to  the  leaf 

For  a  person  who  wishes  to  propagate  a  large 
number  of  them,  we  recommend  the  following  plan  : 
Take  an  old  plant,  which  has  grown  to  a  consider- 
able height,  and  place  it  upon  a  bench  near  the 
glass  of  the  greenhouse.  Next  fill  about  fifty  3- 
inch  pots  with  soil,  composedof  half  sand  and  half 
good  potting-soil.  The  pots  are  now  to  be  placed 
on  the  bench,  along-side  of  the  old  one.  We  now 
take  a  shoot  of  the  old  plant  and  layer  it  into  the 
small  pots  until  we  come  to  the  end  of  the  thoot. 
We  proceed  in  this  way  until  the  whole  of  the 
shoots  of  the  old  plant  have  been  treated  in  this 
way.  They  are  now  to  be  left  alone,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  keeping  the  earth  from  getting  dry.  In 
about  three  weeks  the  stem  of  the  old  plant  should 
be  cut  between  each  pot.  The  pieces  of  stem  now 
shoot  up,  and  we  have  any  number  of  j'oung  plants. 
The  old  plant  also  shoots  up  from  the  roots,  and 
makes  a  fine  plant  as  ever. 


A    PROPAGATING   HOUSE. 

BY   H.    E.    HOOKER,    ROCHESTER,    N.    T. 

Nurserymen  and  gardeners  feel  the  necessity  of 
glass  structures  of  some  kind,  to  secure  that  con- 
trol of  temperature  and  moisture  which  is  necessary 
to  the  successful  and  profitable  propagation  and 
growth  of  many  specimens  and  varieties  of  plants, 
but  so  far  as  I  know,  have  never  heretofore  been 
able  to  secure  this  control  at  a  low  cost,  or  in  a 
shape  adapted  to  their  wants.  The  house,  and  the 
apparatus,  which  I  am  about  to  describe,  secures, 
1  think,  these  requisites  in  a  very  complete  man- 
ner ;  and,  although  I  am  not  so  vain  as  to  suppose 
it  will  not  be  improved  upon,  I  am  well  satisfied  it 
is  a  decided  improvement  upon  most,  if  not  aH,  of 
those  not  constructed  in  this  manner. 

Since  writing  a  previous  article  upon  "Cheap 
Hot- Water  Apparatus,"  I  have  received  a  number 
of  letters  of  inquiry  concerning  such  houses.     I 


shall,  therefore,  in  this  article  reply  to  vSome  of 
them,  and  in  so  doing,  endeavor  to  meet  the  reas- 
onable curiosity  of  those  who  wish  to  know  more 
about  these  houses. 

I  call  the  house  a  "Propagating  House,"  be- 
cause so  termed  by  nurserymen  ;  but  with  a  varia- 
tion of  the  dimensions,  to  correspond  with  the  size 
of  the  plants  to  be  grown,  it  will  answer  well  for 
almost  all  classes  of  plants  and  vegetables.  It  is 
constructed  upon  the  smallest  scale,  at  the  end, 
which  it  is  desirable  to  build — the  length  may  be 
increased  or  decreased  to  suit  the  wants  of  the 
builder.  If  built  with  a  separate  flow  and  return 
upon  each  side  of  the  house,  there  would  be  no 
difficulty  in  working  one  150  feet  long,  or  even  lon- 
ger. This  size  is  suitable  for  nurserymen,  and  gar- 
deners who  wish  to  grow  plants  only  to  a  moderate 
size,  for  removal  to  another  and  larger  house,  or  to 
the  open  grounds.  It  is  described  from  one  now  in 
use  in  our  own  nurseries. 


SECTION  OP   A   PROPAGATINO  HOUSE. 

This  building  is  10  feet  wide  inside,  viz.  :  tanks 

3  feet  9  inches,  on  each  side  of  the  house,  walk  2 
feet  6  inches  wide  in  the  clear.  This  walk  is  exca- 
vated in  the  soil  about  3  feet  deep,  and  is  all  the 
excavation  required,  except  to  throw  off  the  loose 
surface  soil  sufficiently  to  secure  a  firm  and  level 
bed  for  the  tanks.  The  sides  of  the  building  are 
made  of  planed  and  matched  boards,  nailed  hori- 
zontally upon  posts  of  2x4  inch  hemlock  scantling, 

4  feet  apart :  this  is  best  done  before  setting  the 
posts,  a  whole  side  is  then  set  up  at  once,  and  the 
foot  of  the  posts  firmly  fixed  in  the  earth,  about 
one  foot  deep  below  the  boarding.  No  side  light 
is  required,  nor  side  ventilation.  The  building  is 
6  inches  lower  at  one  end  than  it  is  at  the  other,  to 
give  a  current  in  the  gutters  formed  by  rabbeting 
and  nailing  a  .slip  along  the  eave  boards ;  at  the 
highest  end  it  is  about  2  feet  feet  above  the  surface 
of  the  surrounding  soil  The  eave  boards  are  9  in- 


t3m 


W^t  .§m\tmx*s  (||l0ntljlj. 


199 


dies  wiJo,  nailed  firmly  upon  the  inside  and  out- 
side boarding,  covering  the  whole  thickness  of  the 
wall,  and  forming  all  the  plate  needed.  As  this 
board  is  to  receive  the  lower  ends  of  all  the  sash 
bars,  it  should  be  1 2 inch  thick  and  of  good  stufF. 
,  Rafters  1  inch  by  4  inches  are  nailed  to  each  post, 
and  to  a  ridge  pole  of  the  same  size  as  the  rafters. 

Short  '  collar  beams,'  firmly  nailed  with  pressed 
nails  to  the  rafters  secure  the  necessarj'  stiiTness  to 
the  whole  structure ;  these  collar  beams  barely 
clear  the  head  of  a  person  walking  within. 

The  sash  bars  are  let  into  the  eave  board,  (-with  a 
plain  levelj,  so  as  to  bring  the  glass  down  fair  upon 
it ;  the  upper  ends  of  the  bars  rest  upon  a  purline 
1x4  inches,  nailed  in  between  the  rafters,  about  14 
inches  down  from  the  ridge  pole.  Ridge  boards  15 
or  16  inches  wide,  on  each  side,  cover  the  walk  and 
lap  upon  the  glass  sufficiently  to  keep  all  tight  : 
five  lights  of  8x10  glass  just  reach  from  the  ridge 
boards  to  the  eave.  Ventilation  is  secured  by  cut- 
ting holes  thro.ugh  the  ridge  boards,  1  foot  wide  by 
2i  or  3  feet  long,  at  intervals  of  12  feet ;  these 
holes  are  covered  by  board  shutters  (well  elevated 
to  prevent  warping)  lying  upon  the  top  of  the  ridge 
boards,  and  meeting  each  other  in  the  centre  of  the 
ridge,  to  prevent  leakage ;  they  are  hung  by  the 
loicer  edge,  and  are  readilj'^  accessible  from  the  walk 
below:  A  door  at  each  end  Cor  a  door  at  one  end 
and  a  window  at  the  otherj  completes  the  venti- 
lator. 

There  is  a  boarding  alongside  the  walk,  to  retain 
the  earth  in  place  ;  carried  high  enough  above  the 
top  of  the  tanks  to  keep  pots  or  soil  from  falling 
into  the  walk  ;  this  is  nailed  to  small  oak  posts  H 
or  2  inches  square,  driven  into  the  earth  at  the 
foot,  and  tied  across  under  the  tanks  to  the  side 
posts  of  the  building  ;  these  are  put  in  before  the 
tanks  are  made.      ,■» 

The  wood  work  is  painted  with  three  coats  of 
white  lead,  and  carefully  glazed ;  such  buildings 
being  peculiarly  exposed  to  the  action  of  dampness 
and  heat,  should  always  be  well  protected  with 
paint. 

The  location  of  a  Propagating  House  should  be 
such  that  complete  and  rapid  drainage  can  be  se- 
cured to  the  fire-pit,  or  furnace-room  ;  and  a  tile 
drain  be  laid  along  each  side,  outside  the  house, 
sunk  lower  than  the  bottom  of  the  walk  in  the 
house. 

The  house  runs  north  and  south,  or  nearly  so, 
and  has  an  inclination  of  22J  degrees  in  the  roof, 
equal  to  a  rise  of  1  foot  in  2. 

Houses  built  in  the  above  described  manner,  are 
scarcely  as  expensive  as  an  equal  area  of  hotbed 


sash  and  frames,  and  are  far  less  subject  to  damage 
by  breakage  of  glass  and  sash.  They  are  secure 
from  winds  which  penetrate  and  carry  of  the  heat 
from  taller  buildings,  and  are  readily  protected  in 
winter  or  shaded  in  summer.  They  do  not  require 
near  so  much  fuel  for  heating,  and  they  grow  bet- 
ter, plants,  because  every  plant  comes  near  the 
glass.  They  require  no  staging,  and  if  supplied 
with  the  heating  apparatus  I  shall  describe,  can  be 
perfectly  and  equally  heated  in  every  part,  at  a 
small  expense.  Hotbed,  or  other  sash,  can  very 
readily  be  made  into  a  house  of  this  form,  by  build- 
ing the  rafters  just  far  enough  apart  to  receive  the 
sash  between  ;  and  nailing  a  strip  under  the  sash, 
upon  the  rafters,  dispensing,  if  desired,  with  the 
eave  board,  but  using  the  ridge  boards  and  ventila- 
tors. 

Having  described  a  house,  let  me  proceed  to  de- 
scribe my  apparatus  for  heating  it;  and  here  I 
would  say,  that  the  Patent  which  has  been  granted 
to  me  applies  only  to  this  part,-  viz. ,  to  the  Tanks 
or  Troughs  for  conducting  the  warm  water  through 
the  building.  The  principle  of  the  troughs  is  not 
new,  but  the  apparatus  is  of  my  own  invention. 
This  apparatus  can  be  best  understood  by  an  ex- 
amination of  the  following  engravings,  designed 
to  illustrate  the  principal  points : 

Fig.  1. 


This  is  a  ground  plan,  showing  the  manner  of 
securing  a  circuit  of  water  through  the  house,  and 
back  to  the  boiler,  by  connecting  the  top  of  the 
boiler  with  the  flow-pipe  A,  and  the  hottom  of  the 
boiler  with  the  return-pipe  A'.,  Our  Propagating 
House  is  75  feet  long,  which  gives  a  current  through 
300  feet  of  tank,  before  reaching  the  boiler  again  ; 
in  this  case  there  is  usually  a  loss  of  about  20°  of 
beat  from  the  water  in  the  circuit. 
Fig.  2. 


'E 


A 

_   J) 


An  elevation,  showing  the  manner  of  connecting 
the  pipes  with  the  tanks  through  the  side,  at  one 
end. 


— ?sr<. 


fj 


t^m 


200 


Cljfi  ^arbencr'fj  ET^f^^WjIS* 


i^/i7.  3. 


T^ 


A  similar  elevation,  showing  the  manner  of  con- 
necting through  the  bottora  of  the  tanks,  and  wliich 
is  generally  considered  the  best.  In  all  cases  the 
highest  point  of  the  boiler  must  be  a  little  hdow  the 
tanks,  otherwise  the  tanks  would  overflow  befure 
the  circuit  could  be  obtained. 
Fig.  4. 


A  cross  section  of  the  tanks  in  the  plane  of  the 
line  X  a;.  Fig.  1. 

The  first  illustration,  of  a* section  of  the  house, 
also  furnishes  a  perspective  view  of  the  tanks. 

These  tanks  are  covered  with  one  course  <if  inch 
rough  boards,  upon  which  is  spread  a  coating  i  in. 
thick  of  water  lime  morter.  The  mortar  when  dry 
effectually  prevents  the  escape  of  steam,  or  damp- 
ness from  the  tanks  into  the  house  ;  and  forms  a 
stone  surface  admirably  adapted  to  giving  off  a 
temperate  heat,  and  furnishing  a  wiirm  bottom 
upon  which  to  stand  pots,  place  soil  for  growing 
plants  in,  or  sand  in  which  to  strike  cuttings.  This 
covering  is  Stronger  than  slate,  and  I  am  inclined 
to  think  preferable  to  any  thing  else. 

It  would  exceed  the  limits  of  a  reasonable  article 
for  your  magazine  to  describe  vimvfrh/  the  man- 
ner of  constructing  these  tanks  ;  but  I  would  say, 
they  are  formed  sole  of  strips  of  rough  boards  for 
the  boundaries,  and  water  lime/mortar  both  laid 
upon  upon  the  soil,  without  any  frame  or  founda- 
tion whatever.     In  a  few  days  after  the  laying,  the 

'^§rT- — ■ 


mortar  becomes  firm  enough  to  retain  water,  and 
after  that  hardens,  until  as  firm  as  stone,  and  en- 
tirely impervious  to  water  or  dampness,  in  this 
state,  and  lying  immoveably  upon  the  solid  earth, 
it  is  a  perfect  and  indestructable  conductor  for  the 
water  and  heat. 

Hot  water  for  these  tanks  or  troughs  can  be  best 
secured  here  by  the  use  of  a  cast-iron  boiler,  and 
good  hard  coal.  Several  patterns  arc  before  the 
public;  I  cannot  decide  upon  their  comparative 
merits,  not  having  tested  them  ;  the  one  used  in 
the  Propagating  House  figured  in  this  article,  was 
made  by  Messrs.  Weathered  &  Cherevoy,  of  New 
York,  at  a  cost  of  $45,  last  fall,  and  has"  proved 
sufiicient  for  this  one  house,  in  the  coldest  weather, 
without  the  "help  of  a  fine.  If  a  larger  houge  is  to  be 
heated,  I  should  advise  a  larger  boiler.  A  flue  can- 
not be  advantageously  introduced  into  such  a  Pro~ 
pagating  House,  but  should  be  made  to  help  heat 
a  wider  plant  house,  or  warm  the  work  room  ;  if 
the  boiler  is  well  set,  the  flue  passed  around  over 
the  top,  and  a  damper  built  in  the  chimney  to 
check  the  fire  when  well  ignited  no  serious  loss  of 
heat  will  occur. 

The  following  are  some  of  the  advantages  pos- 
sessed by  the  arrangement  described  : 

First.  The  tanks  are  perfectly  tight  and  indes- 
tructible, growing  better  by  use,  and  not  liable  to 
be  out  of  repair,  while  the  wooden  tanks  are  with 
difficulty  made  tight,  will  shrink  and  spoil  if  tfie 
water  is  withdrawn,  and  must  soon  decay. 

Second.  The  construction  is  verg  cheap,  costing 
not  more  than  one-sixth  thatot  good  wooden  tanks, 
which  have  heretofore  been  considered  the  least 
expensive  of  any. 

Third.  They  do  not  require  the  services  of  a 
professional  or  skillful  person  to  construct  them, — 
any  man  of  moderate  ingenuity  can  make  one. 

Fourth.  The  form  is  just  what  is  wanted,  the 
flat  surface  being  much  better  than  round  pipes. 
■  Fifth.  They  possess  the  advantage  of  retaining 
the  heat  for  a  long  time,  parting  with  it  gradually, 
so  that  sudden  and  injurious  changes  .of  tempera- 
ture and  moisture  are  avoided ;  the  plants  are  not 
scorched  in  one  part  of  the  house  and  frozen  in  an- 
other ;  the  air  is  not  robbed  of  moisture,  so  as  to- 
cause  cuttings  to  perish,  nor  steamed  until  every- 
thing damps  off. 

Sixth.  A  hottom  heat  is  secured  to  every  place 
and  plant,  eminently  favorable  to  the  formation  of 
roots,  and  causing  cuttings  to  strike  root  without 
difficulty. 

The  following  are  some  of  the  objections  to  these 
tanks,  suggested  to  me  by  practical  men  : 


-^^' 


Is  there  not  a  loss  of  heat  by  absorption  into  the 
soil ;  which  is  thus  conducted  away  where  it  is  not 
available?  I  an'swer,  no,  not  to  any  injurious  ex- 
tent ;  very  little,  if  any,  is  carried  oq,t  of  the  build- 
ing ;  what  is  absorbed  when  the  tanks  are  Jiot  must 
be  given  off  if  the  air  or  tanks  become  cooler.  This 
loss,  if  any,  is  more  than  compensated  by  the  lesser 
area  of  air  that  remains  to  be  heated.  Heated  air 
escapes  rapidly  out  of  a  house  if  there  is  opportu- 
nity ;  but  warm  soil  or  mortar  will  not  so  readily 
become  cold.  There  is  no  building  with  which  I. 
am  acquainted,  which  can  be  kept  at  an  even  tem- 
perature through  all  the  changes  of  weather,  so 
readily  as  one  with  a  large  tank  of  warm  water, 
and  none  where  the  loss  of  heat  is  so  small. 

Are  not  such  houses  damp  in  winter  and  in  dull 
weather?  No  ;  they  would  be  damp  if  the  whole 
top  of  the  tanks  were  covered  with  moist  earth, 
boxes  of  sand,  or  other  damp  materials,  when  there 
is  little  sun  heat  to  dr}'  the  air.  Dampness  is  pro- 
vided against,  by  leaving  enough  of  the  surface  of 
the  tanks  clear  to  dry  off  the  moisture  of  the  at- 
mosphere. As  the  power  of  the  sun  increases,  the 
tanks  are  to  be  more  and  more  covered  with  soil, 
pots,  or  sand,  by  which  a  great  saving  in  watering 
is  effected,  and  the  necessary  humidity  of  the  at- 
mosphere preserved  ;  this  point  is  of  great  impor- 
tance, and  this  is  one  great  merit  of  my  apparatus, 
it  will  be  very  carefully  attended  to  by  good  pro- 
pagators. There  will  be  no  dampness  from  the 
tanks  if  they  are  well  made,  and  well  covered  with 
cement. 

Is  there  no  difficult}'  in  making  them  tight  ?  I 
answer,  none  whatever;  ii' good  materials  are  used 
in  the  construction,  and  sufficient  time  allowed  be- 
fore turning  the  water  on, — there  will,  be  some  ab- 
sorption of  water  at  Jirst,  but  no  leakage. 

Will  not  frost  penetrate  and  destroy  the  tanks? 
I  presume  if  such  houses  were  allowed  to  freeze  up 
solid,  there  would  be  cracks  made,  as  there  would 
be  in  iron  pipes  or  wooden  tanks ;  no  such  appara- 
tus should  be  allowed  to  freeze, — it  would  spoil  the 
boiler  to  freeze  it  with  water  in  ;  but  such  houses 
are  so  low,  and  so  much  in  the  ground,  that  they 
can  very  easily  be  protected  against  all  bjit  the 
most  intensely  cold  days,  at  such  times  a  fire  should 

be  kept. 

Can  the  iron  pipes  be  securely  connected  with 
the  cement  tanks?  Yes;  by  building  a  little  ma« 
sonry  around  the  pipes  and  into  th^  cement  tank 
to  hold  the  pipes  firmly. 

Will  the  cement  stand'  Jiot-water  ?  It  will,  per- 
fectly ;  and  become  harder  each  month,  until  it  is 
as  hard  almost  as  flint :  hot  water  has  no  more 
effect  than  cojd. 


This  subject  opens  in  many  different  directions, 
each  one  important  enough  for  a  separate  essay; 
but  I  cannot  enter  upon  any  of  them  now.  The 
subject  of  vegetables,  for  instance,  which  T  believe 
can  be  more  profitably  and  better  managed  in  this 
way  than  in  hotbeds,  may,  perhaps,  afford  the 
topic  of  a  future  communication,  if  this  should  be 
found  acceptable  to  the  readers  of  the  Monthly. 


WILD    FLOWERS. 

BY  THOMAS   GARDNER. 

(  Continued  from  page  173. ) 
The  Poppy  family  mostly  belongs  to  Asia, — but 
very  few  representatives  being  found  in  our  coun- 
try. The  Bloodroot  or  Puccoon,  ( Sanguinaria 
Canadensis),  however,  is  very  common  over  the 
whole  of  the  United  States.  There  is  but  one  other 
true  Poppywort  really  indigenous  to  this  country, 
and  this  is  not  very  showy.  It  is  a  low-growing, 
yellow-flowering,  perennial  plant,  of  western  woods, 
known  to  botanists^s  Jleconopsis  dipJiylla. 

The  class  of  fumitories  has  one  genus,  in  which 
almost  all  its  members  are  pretty.  This  is  the  Di- 
centra,  coinmonly  known  as  'Dutchman's  Breeches,' 
from  a  resemblance  in  the  flower  to  some  antique 
pattern  of  pantaloons.  They  are  all  northern 
plants;  one  white  [D.  cnctdlaria),  one  purple  (/>. 
forinosa),  and  one  white  and  purple,. flowers  very 
pretty,  {B.  hidhosa).  There  is  a  pretty  climb- 
ing plant,  known  in  cultivation  as  the  Alle- 
ghany Vine  ;  this  is  the  Adlumia  cirrhosa,  and 
though  not  common,  is  found  on  rocky  hills  in  most 
parts  of  the  Union. 

The  next  tribe  of  plants  to  be  noticed  is  a  very 
large  one — the  Cabbage  tribe,  or  cruciferous,  as  it 
is  most  generally  known.  This  is  a  very  natural 
looking  class ;  all  the  flowers  consist  of  only  four 
petals,  arranged  in  the  form  of  a  cross,  whence  the 
name  'cruciferous.'  The  Wall-flower,  Stockgilly, 
Turnip,  Mustard,  and  Candytuft  are  some  common 
thin.ffs  that  we  may  name  as  serving  to  identify  the 
class  to  the  common  observer.  Though  there  are 
some  seventy  species,  natives  of  the  United  States, 
very  few  are  handsome  enough  to  warrant  notice 
here.  Most  of  them  are  very  common  weeds  ;  one 
of  them  [Draba  vernaj  is  the  first  flower  to  bloom* 
in  spring.  It  is  a  very  small  plant,  with  white 
flowers,  and  is  abundant  ev.ery  where  before  the 
frost  is  fully  away  in  spring. 

[To  be  continued.] 


rs — 


t^srp 


M^  barter's  dHonthlg*. 


PHILADELPHIA,  JULY,  1864 


5-1=  All  Communications  for  the  Editor  Fhould  bo  addressed, 
"Thomas  Meehan,  Germantown, Philadelphia," and  Business  Let. 
tera  directed  to  "W.  G.  P.  Brinckloe,  Box        Philadelphia." 


For  Terms  of  Subscription  see  second  page  cover. 

For  Terms  of  Advertising  see  page  33. 

Volumes  1,  2,  3,  4  and  5,  furnished  for  $1  50  each. 

ROLLING    THE    GROUND. 

IMany  cultivators  of  the  soil,  not  excepting  some 
of  the  best,  frequently  err  in  leaving  their  soil  too 
loose  about  their  trees  and  plants.  In  new  planta- 
tions of  strawberries,  this  is  a  common  cause  of 
failure.  The  ground  is  dug,  line  '  stretched '  and 
plants  set  out  all  in  one  day  ;  and  continual  water- 
ing, shading,  or  other  care  is  necessary  to  keep  the 
young  plants  from  withering,  if  the  weather  proves 
dry  for  a  few  days  after  planting. 

It  may  be  set  down  as  a  rule,  that  after  turning 
up  the  soil,  it  cannot  again  be  pressed  down  too 
firmly,  if  dry  enough  to  pulverize  by  the  rolling. 
This  seems  to  be  better  understood  by  the  farmer 
than  the  gardener.  The  roller  is  an  indispensable 
implement  of  cultivation  to  him ;  but  to  the  gar- 
dener it  is  almost  unknown  for  any  other  purposes 
than  for  using  when  the  ground  is  wet  to  level  his 
lawn  or  harden  his  walks.  Yet  it  may  be  used  to 
very  great  advantage  in  numberless  cases. 

To  suppose  a  case  with  an  extensive  Strawberry- 
grower.  Let  the  ground  be  first  plowed  up,  har- 
rowed level,  and  the  plants  set  out.  The  nest  day 
or  the  first  day  after,  when  the  upper  surface  of 
soil  is  dry  enough  to  crumble,  let  a  horse-roller  be 
drawn  over  the  whole  piece,  and  the  benefit  would 
be  incalculable. 

We  have  never  known  this  to  be  done  in  this 
way,  but  we  have  often  seen  it  practiced  in  small 
gardens,  in  a  smaller  way  with  the  foot,  and  inva- 
riably with  excellent  results.  We  know  one  culti- 
vator who  is  a  great  advocate  of  September  plant- 
ing,— for  all  successful  cultivators  have  their  par- 
ticular '  times '  for  the  success  that  might  perhaps 
be  properly  accounted  for  by  other  reasons, — and 
he  always  follows  the  pressing  plan.  The  merest 
novice  knows  that  if  a  strawberry  has  its  crown 
covered  by  the  soil  in  transplanting  the  heart  is  apt 
to  rot  away  ;  and  yet,  when  the  soil  is  loose,  if  they 
are  not  deeply  planted  they  soon  dry  and  wither 


away.  Our  friend  plants  very  shallow.  He  sets 
them,  in  fact,  so  as  to  barely,  cover  the  fibres. 
After  setting  each  row  he  goes  over,  and  setting 
his  foot  on  each  plant,  presses  it  firmly  into  the 
ground.  In  the  course  ojp  a  day  or  so  he  goes  over 
the  whole  patch,  watching  for  any  that  may  appear 
a  little  wilted.  They  get  no  water  if  he  does  find  any 
of  them, — nothing  but  another  firm  pressure  of  the 
foot.  It  may  not  rahi  for  weeks,  but  we  do  not 
remember  of  his  having  any  failure  to  speak  of. 

So  far  as  the  '  loosening  of  the  soil '  njcans  pul- 
verizing in  cultivation,  it  is  an  idea  of  the  first  im- 
portance. Digging  and  plowing  are  not'so  much 
to  make  the  soil  loose,  as  they  are  to  comminute  and 
separate  one  small  particle  of  the  soil  from  another, 
so  as  to  make  as  many  absorbent  surfaces  as  possi- 
ble; and  this  can  be  better  accomplished  by  heavy 
pressure  on  partially  dry  soil,  than  by  any  other 
way. 

Plant  cultivators,  we  think,  are  further  ahead  in 
this  knowledge  than  the  operators  in  other  depart- 
ments of  gardening.  The  best  of  them  choose 
rather  dry  soil  for  potting,  and  then  ram  it  ia 
around  the  plants  as  tightly  as  possible,  and  always 
with  good  results.  The  finer  the  fibres,  usually  as 
in  heaths  and  azaleas,  the  tighter  is  the  soil  press- 
ed ;  but  is  singular  that  the  very  men  who  under- 
stand this  best,  seem  to  forget  it  in  their  out-door 
operations. 

Many  a  transplanted  tree  that  would  otherwise 
die,  can  be  saved  by  having  the  soil  about  it  beaten 
hard  when  dry.  The  finely  powdered  soil  seems  to 
have  the  power  of  absorbing  moisture  from  the  air; 
and  in  many  other  ways  will  the  practice  be  found 
immensely  beneficial. 

There  are  innumerable  instances  where  the  rol- 
ler would  be  of  far  more  benefit  to  the  crop  than 
the  water-pot.  We  have  no  doubt  many  of  these 
will  readily  occur  to  skillful  cultivators, — and  we 
are  sure  it  is  only  necessary  for  us  to  ;'efer  to  the 
matter  as  we  have  done,  to  receive  a  response  from 
them,  that  "it  is  quite  correct,  but  we  did  noj; 

think  of  it." 

••••• 

POSTAGS  ON  SEEDS  AND  CUTTINGS. 
Many  of  our  readers  send  us  specimens  of  fruits, 
flowers,  etc.,  to  get  their  names,  or  perhaps  an 
^opinion  of  their  average  merits.  It  is  well  to  bear 
in  mind  that  by  the  new  postage  law,  seeds  funder 
which  head  fruit  comes)  and  flowers  fcuttings)  can 
be  sent  by  mail  in  parcels  under  four  pounds,  for 
half  a  cent  per  ounce. 

The  parcel  must  be  marked  on  the  outside  'seeds' 
or  '  cuttings,'  as  the  case  may  be,  and  must  be  tied 


-xssr 


-Hf^ 


Ik 


in  such  a  manner,  and  not  sealed,  so  that  if  neces 
sary,  the  officials  may  examine  contents  without 
destroying  tlie  wrapper. 

Quite  recently,  a  kind  friend  sent  us  a  parcel  of 
Western  Prairie  seeds,  by  mail,  on  which  he  paid 
48  cents  letter  postage,  when,  if  he  had  marked  it 
'  Seeds,'  he  need  have  paid  hut  8.  It  was  annoy- 
ing to  feel  that  our  friend,  in  his  desire  to  serve  us, 
had  expended  more  than  there  was  occasion  for. 
The  seeds,  however,  were  valuable,  and  we  should 
have  been  satisfied  to  pay  much  moi'e,  had  we  to 
buy  them. 

Sometimes  it  works  the  other  way.  Recently  a 
far  away  correspondent  wanted  our  opinion  of  a 
seedling  flower.  It  did  not  weigh  four  ounces,  and 
if  sent  by  mail,  would  have  cost  2  cents.  He  sent 
it  by  Express,  and  paid  it  through  to  Philadelphia, 
One  Dollar.  Adams  Express  sends  it  to  Cxerman- 
town  by  a  pet  line  of  theirs,  costing  us  25  cents 
more, — but  the  worst  feeling  was  that  there  was 
nothing  new  or  uncommon  in  the  flower  for  all. 

Last  fall  we  received  some  apples  from  Iowa. 
The  person  sending  'paid  through'  for  them.  But 
the  Expregs  company  understood  '  through'  to 
mean  so  far  as  they  went.  The  next  company 
charged  us  $2  25,  and  the  apples  were  worthless. 
The  fruit*  did  not  weigh  3  jjounds,  and  a  tin  box 
would  have  weighed  perhaps  half  a  pound  more — 
costing  by  mail  28  cents  to  our  door.  ^ 

The -Adams  Express  company,  when  things  are 
paid  '  through'  for  us,  do  not  deliver  them  here, 
and  we  have  usually  to  pay  nearly  as  much  for  their 


Fig.  1. 


sending  them  from  Philadelphia  to  Germantown, 
as  our  friends  perhaps  pay  from  Ohio  to  Philadel- 
phia. We  were  taxed  some  fift>;  dollars  this  way 
last  year  and  the  preceding  ;  in  three-fourths  of  the 
cases  entirely  for  the  sender's  benefit, — but  even  in 
these  cases  we  should  not  so  much  object,  as  we 
are  willing  to  lose  a  little  in  the  efi'ort  to  be  useful, 
but  it  is  sheer  waste  to  the  sender  and  to  us,  as  the 
mail  will  carry  quicker  and  so  low. 

As  the  season  is  again  approaching,  when  we 
know  our  friends  do  not  forget  us  when  enjo}'ing 
their  novelties,  we  strongly  recommend  to  them  to 
remember  the  excellent  mail  facilities  now  exist- 
ing ;  and  it  is  well  for  all  business  men,  and  others 
interchanging  with  each  other,  to  bear  in  mind  the 
same  thing. 


WHITTLESEY'S   LOCOMOTIVE    SEAT. 

We  had  the  misfortune  to  have  to  do  all  our 
hard  work  in  a  generation  when  every  plan  for 
doing  work  easily  was  considered  as  indicating 
laziness.  The  Locomotive  seat  would  have  had  no 
chance  of  success  in  that  day  ;  but  the  wonders  of 
the  real  locomotive  have  broken  down  all  this  pre- 
judice, and  such  inventions  as  this  of  Mr.  Whittle- 
sey's cause  the  originators  to  be  classed  among  the 
blessed. 

The  following  illustrations  explain  the  idea. 

Fig.  1  is  the  seat.  Fig.  2  shows  it  fastened  to 
the  foot. 


:^5 


204 


©h^  (Sanlaer'2  JlontMj^ 


Tlie  inventor  says  of  it : 

"  The  invention  is  designed  to  relieve  a  want  long 
seriously  felt  bj^  Gardeners,  Florists,  Strawberry- 
pickers,  etc.,  by  furnishing  an  ever-ready  support 
in  all  cases  where  their  hands  need  to  be  employed 
on  or  near  the  ground. 

Its  chief  advantages  are  : 

Simplicity — It  consists  only  of  a  malleable  iron 
foot  piece,  with  an  oblique  standard  and  seat  of 
wood,  all  (weighing  about  one  pound)  firmly  and 
quickly  attached  to  the  foot  by  two  straps. 

Locomotion — It  enables  the  wearer  to  walk  about 
at  pleasure,  ("the  stool  constantly  attending  him), 
with  both  hands  free  for  other  purposes. 

Adaptation — It  can  be  used  between  -thickest 
rows,  or  wherever  the  wearer  can  set  his  foot." 


H 


THE  ESa-ZIESTIOM  OP  STRAWBERRISS  AT 
THE  SANITARY  FAIR. 

As  noticed  in  our  last  number,  the  offers  of  the 
Fruit  Committee  of  Silver  Fruit  Knives,  closed  on 
the  18th  of  June.  The  exhibition,  though  highly 
interesting,  was  not  equal  to  the  expectations  of 
the  committee  ;  in  consequence  partly  of  very  short 
crops,  and  partly  through  the  imperfect  direction. 
on  the  part  of  the  contributors,  by  which  much 
intended  for  the  Fruit  Committee  got  delivered  to 
the  wrong  departments,  and  never  came  under  their 
observation  or  control.  The  contributions  of  A. 
Maillard,  of  Bordentown,  N.  J.,  promised  every 
day,  reached  the  committee  only  once,  on  the  8th 
of  June  ;  and  many  similar  instances  occurred.  In 
fact,  none  but  those  delivered  by  the  exhibitors 
themselves  on  the  tables  of  the  committee,  seem 
to  have  reached  their  destination. 

In  spite  of  these  great  drawbacks,  there  were 
some  splendid  fruit  exhibited. 

For  the  best  Two  quarts  of  any  kind,  on  the  8th 
of  June,  the  Silver  Knife  was  awarded  to  Nathan 
Leeds,  of  Cinnaminson,  N.  J.,  for  Russell's  Pro- 
lific. There  were  some  splendid  dishes  in  competi- 
tion against  it;  the  most  note  worthy  of  which  were 
Hnvey's  Seedling,  Albany  Seedling,  Triompho  de 
Gand,  Iowa,  Athlete,  French's  Seedling,  and  a 
new  seedling,  suppossed  to  be  a  cross  between 
White  Alpine  and  Albany  Seedling.  The  acting 
committee  on  this  day  were  Thomas  Meehan,  Jas. 
Ritchie  and  Robert  Kilvington. 

The  French's  Seedling  were  magnificent,  and 
very  little  inferior  to  Russell's  Prolific,  and  much 
superior  to  any  samples  of  the  same  variety  we 
have  ever  seen  before.  It  is  a  large  round  berry, 
flesh  rather  soft,  but  of  good  quality. 


The  offer  for  Ilovey's  Seedling,  on  the  Second 
day,  was  not  responded  to  by  any  one.  Probably 
it  is  going  out  of  cultivation,  through  being  super- 
seded by  more  popular  kinds. 

For  the  largest  quantity  of  any  kind,  on  the  10th, 
to  Wm.  Parry,  Cinnaminson,  N.  J.,  who  contrib- 
uted Thirty-two  quarts  of  Albany  Seedling. 

The  best  Two  quarts  of  Triomphe  de  Gand  were 
sent  on  the  13th,  by  IX  W.  Herstine,  of  German- 
town,  Pa.  They  were  splendid  berries,  and  it  was 
perhaps  poetical  justice  that  he  should  have  the 
Silver  knife  for  them,  for,  in  addition  to  the  supe- 
riority of  his  berries  on  this  day.  he  was  the  most 
regular  and  liberal  of  the  Strawberry  contributors. 

W.  L.  Schaff"er,  Esq.,  gained  the  knife  off"ered 
for  the  best  Albany  Seedlings,  on  the  15th. 

For  the  best  quart  of  any  kind,  on  the  16th.  the 
competition  included  many  fine  dishes.  The  closest 
rivalry  was  between  Triomphe  de  Gand,  Fillmore, 
Lady  Finger,  and  Albany  Seedling.  The  Lady 
Finger  was  the  most  remarkable  fruit  of  that  variety 
probably  ever  exhibited,  and  so  pressed  the  Tri- 
omphe de  Gand,  that  the  committee  thought  pro- 
per to  act  only  with  full  numbers,  as  by  size  and 
general  appearance  alone  the  spectators  would  un- 
doubtedly vote  for  the  Lady  Finger.  After  fairly 
testing  them,  the  committee  unanimously  awarded 
the  knife  to  J.  Vaughan  Merrick,  E.sq.,  for  Tri- 
omphe de.Gand.  The  committee  comprized  Messrs. 
R.  Buist,  R.  Kilvington,  W.  Hacker,  H.  A.  Dreer, 
J.  E.  Mitchell,  W.  L.  Schaffer,  Thomas  Evans  and 
Thomas  Meehan. 

Probably  the  most  attractive  strawberries  con- 
tributed during  the  Fair,  was  the  Lennig's  White, 
from  Mr.  Peter  Mason,  of  Absecon,  N.  J.  In  size 
and  quality  they  were  superior  to  any  thing  exhib- 
ited during  the  whole  period.  We  would,  in  fact, 
take  this  kind  for  our  standard  of  flavor,  as  Burr's 
Pine  used  to  be.  They  were  exhibited  on  the  day 
when  the  premium  was  ofi"ered  .  for  the  greatest 
number  of  varieties,  or  they  would  most  probably 
have  met  some  better  fate  than  merely  this  notice 
of  them.  Some  of  the  same  variety,  of  superior 
quality  were  exhibited  by  Miss  Lennig  on  the  day 
set  apart  for  Hovey's  Seedling. 

It  is  clear  that  no  exhibition  of  Strawberries  will 
decide  which  is  the  best  Strawberry  in  every  re- 
spect. Russell's  Prolific  being  usually  a  pistillate, 
will  at  times  fail  no  doubt,  and  will  get  an  uncer- 
tain character,  while  Lennig's  White  usually  grows 
so  much  to  foKage,  as  to  be  comparatively  unpro- 
ductive in  rich  soils.  Mr.  Mason  reports  that  his 
bears  abundantly,  probably  owing  to  the  poor  soil, 
which   prevails  in  that   portion  of  New  Jersey, 


'^^^ 


„_.£^, 


v5i:^ 


m 


^13 


i 


Sth^  Cardensr's  JHonthig. 


205 


checking  over-growth.  Those  who  wish  to  culti- 
vate this  variety,  will  probablj^  find  it  to  their  in- 
terest to  grow  them  rathei-  thickly  together,  and  in 
poor  soil ;  and,  as  some  people  find  a  good  ac- 
count in  mowing  off"  the  foliage  of  rank  growing 
varieties  before  the  leaves  are  quite  matui-e,  this 
practice  will  prolubly  be  found  of  much  value  in 
raising  this  superb  kind. 


WARMING  ANI    COnSTEUGTENG  PLANT 
HOUSES. 

We  commend  to  the  special  attention  of  our 
readers  the  articles  in  our  past  and  present  num- 
bers, by  Mr.  H.  E.  Hooker. 

When  new  inventions  are  patented,  so  that  no 
one  can  use  them  without  paying,  it  is  but  just,  as 
a  rule,  that  inventors  should  expect  to  make  their 
inventions  known  by  advertising.  This  is  so  well 
known,  that  for  fear  it  should  be  charge  to  Mr. 
Hooker  that  he  has  taken  an  unfair  way  to  adver- 
tise his  plan,  we  take  occasion  to  say  that  the  ar- 
ticles have  been  written  at  our  -special  request. 

We  pride  ourselves  somewhat  on  having  led  the 
van  toward^  the  improved  cheap  hou.ses  now  so  nu- 
merous in  the  United  States,  and  are  anxious  that 
every  new  suggestion  should  be  fully  discussed  in 
our  columns. 

We  see  very  much  to  commend  in  ^Iv.  Hooker's 
views.  Some  of  them  we  think  will  bear  a  still 
further  improvement, — about  all  of  which  we  shall 
no  doubt  hear  from  our  readers  in  due  time. 


$1 


nmm 


|r3^^''-'ii^niu-n'cations  for  this  dGpartment  must  reach  tho  Editor 
on  or  before  rlv-  KXh  of  the  month. 

Ji:;j^Tbo  Eiiitor  cannot  answer  letters  for  this  department  pri- 
Tato! 7. 


•  Grapery— iV.  F.  F.,  IMIoicell,  Maine.  — In 
one  of  your  last  year's  numbers,  you  had  a  notice 
of  Mr.  Chaney's  Grapery,  of  Manchester,  Conn.  I 
was  much  pleased  with  Mr.  C.'s  plan.  Wishing 
to  close  my  house,  and  to  be  absoni  for  the  winter, 
what  I  should  do  v.ith  my  pot  grapery  of  only  \'l 
feet  square,  and  ton  vinos,  was  the  question?  As  I 
should  -leave  all  closed,  and  uo  one  to  take  charge 
of  it,  T  concluded  to  ndojjt  Mr.  O.'s  plan,  and  al- 
tered my  front  sash,  so  us  to  o[)en  at  the  top  ;  and 
cut  a  small  door  at  the  top  of  the  house  on  the  east 
side,  about  2  feet  square.  In  November  I  laid 
down  my  vines,  ("2  year  old  in  the  grapery),  cover- 
ed them  with  Spruce  boughs,  to  the  depth  of  12 


inches.  I  then  fastened  my  front  sash  open  about 
4  inches,  and  my  2  feet  sash  opened — locked  my 
door,  and  left  it,  and  did  not  return  until  April 
28th.  I  then  removed  the  boughs,  raised  the  vines 
a  little  from  the  ground,  (they  were  cut  down  last 
fall  ?>  to  4  feet  long),  watered  them,  and  left  them 
until  May  12th.  At  this  time  a  number  of  the 
buds  had  started,  and  on  the  21st  tied  the  canes  to 
the  rods,  and  now,  the  30th,  the  laterals  are  from 
4  to  15  inches  in  length.  I  have  besides  my  2  feet 
ventilators,  one  at  the  top  of  the  house  3  ft.  square, 
hung  at  the  top — opening  at  the  bottom. 

My  trouble  is  the  extreme  heat  of  my  grapery, 
112°,  more  in  July  I  am  afraid,  although  the  leaves 
will  protect  it  some  from  the  extreme  heat.  Will 
it  remedy  it  by  cutting  another  window  at  the  other 
end,  opposite  tlie  2  foot  one  ;  or  will  it  do  to  leave 
open  my  front  window  at  the  top,  say  4  inches. 

I  have  a  strip  of  board  at  the  top,  which  the 
sash  falls  against,  leaving  an  opening  4  inches  the 
length  of  the  sash,  so  that  the  air,  as  it  enters,  is 
thrown  against  the  roof,  between  the  glass  and  the 
vines.  I  also  have  a  window  opening  from  my 
dining-room  into  the  grapery,  (say  12  square  11x16 
glass),  but  lowering  the  top  sash  does  not  change 
the  temperature.  * 

Will  you  be  kind  enough  to  give  me  your  advice? 

[You  will  find  much  benefit  from  coating  your 
glass  on  the  outside  with  a  thin  solution  of  Sugar 
of  Lead.  It  will  keep  out  at  least  20°  of  heat,  and 
still  afford  light  enough.  If  still  too  hot,  we  should 
prefer  cutting  another  top  window. 

If  it  were  possible  to  keep  your  house  moister, 
\VT  would  not  hurt.  Opening  a  front  window  will 
only  make  the  air  drier,  when  grapes  suffer  more.] 


Seedling  Polyanthus —  L.  B.  G.,  EocJuHn\ 
JS'.  Y. — I  enclose  you  a  flower  taken  from  a  seed- 
ling Polyanthus.  It  bears  flowers  in  clusters,  like 
common  Polyanthus,  each  flower  like  the  one  en- 
closed. It  is  a  new  thing  to  me,  and  takiii'.'-  it  for 
an  odd  freak  of  nature,  send  it  for  your  insjiection. 

[This  is  u^HKtlly  called  'cup  and  saucer'  among 
gardeners,  one  flower  being  within  another.  It  is 
not  uncommon.] 


CURCULTO— .1/.  B.,  RocJiexfer,  K  IT— Please 
state  in  your  next  number  if  there  is  any  other  cure 
for  the  Curcnlio  than  shaking  the  treeaccordisig  to 
the  well  known  process. 

,  [There  is  no  better  remedy  discovered  (ban  shak- 
ing and  ,  destroying.  Partial  success  has  been  ob- 
tained by  different  other  processes,  as  described  by 
our  correspondents ;  but  Ave  have  no  faith  in  any 


"^1 


206 


ffht  (Srirbtitcr's  IHonMj. 


thing  but  shaking  being  uniformly  satisfactory,— 
and  this  will  not  be  entirely  satisfactory.  For 
choice  fruit  it  is  better  to  train  espalier  f\ishion, 
and  cover  with  gauze  steeped  in  tan  bark.] 

SnADiNCi  Evergreens—./.  C.  S.-,  DexMoiries, 
io?«a.— Should  one  year  old  Norway  Spruce,  that 
have  been  transplanted,  be  shaded  from  the  noon- 
day sun  ? 

[If  they  came  a  long  way,  and  had  their  roots 
perhaps  somewhat  dried,  shading  will  benefit  them. 
If  merely  removed  carefully  from  one  part  of  ones 
grounds  to  another,  there  will  scarcely  be  occasion 
for  the  extra  trouble.] 

Seedling  Pelargonium—./.  Hirst,  Neio  Phil- 
adelphia, 0.— Your  flower  came  in  good  order, 
packed  in  damp  moss.  It  is  pretty;  but  not. we 
think  distinct  from  other  French  hybrids,  of  which 
there  are  now  numerous  varieties.  Still  your  suc- 
cess is  so  encouraging,  that  we  advise  you  to  perse- 
vere in  raising  them.  You  will  probably  be  able  to 
raise  new  varieties  fully  equal  to  to  imported  oues,] 

The  Tribune  Strawberries.— We  have  seen 
these  in  bearing  this  year,  from  young  plants  set 
out  last  foil.  We  can  form  no  opinion  of  them  be- 
yond this,  that  we  think  they  promise  well.  One 
of  them,  the  Monitor,  we  think  will  probably  prove 
a  very  desirable  early  variety. 

American  Tea— C  P.  S.—S^a  do  not  know. 
The  originator  of  the  scheme  was,  we  believe  a  Dr. 
Bonsall,  but  who  he  is,  or  as  to  where  he  resides, 
we  are  ignorant. 


paafes,  ^EfEloguFX,  %t. 


Wax  Flowers  :  How  to  Make  Them.   With  New 
Methods  of  ModeMng  Fruit,  Sheeting  Wax,  dx. 
Published  by  Tilton  &  Co.,  Boston.     Philadel- 
phia :  J.  B.  Lippincott  &  Co. 
We  have  had  several  occasions  during  the  past 
year  to  notice  works  issued  by  Messrs.  Tilton  &  Co. 
on  various  subjects  connected  with  gardening  and 
the  adornment  of  houses  and  homes  of  taste.     All 
these  works  are  got  up  in  beautiful  style,  well  wor- 
thy of  the  subjects  illustrated  by  them. 

The   present  one  is  a  worthy  companion  to  the 
others,  and  will  be  welcome  to  every  drawing-room. 
The  design  of  the  work  is  well  explained  in  the 
introductory  chapter,  which  we  extract  entire  : 
There  are  no  imitations  of  natural  objects  more 


exact  and  pleasing  than  those  made  of  wax,  more 
especially  therepresentationsof  Fruit  and  Flowers. 
So  exact,  indeed,  are  they,  that  if  well  made,  the 
most  practiced  e.ve  cannot  sometimes  detect  the 
real  from  the  artificial. 

In  Fruit,  the  choicest  specimens  of  every  clime 
tnay  be  thus  assembled  in  a  single  vase,  in  all  their 
apparent  lusciousness  and  perfection  ;  while  in  their 
waxen  prototypes,  lovely  Flowers  may  be  viewed 
in  all  their  gorgeous  coloring  and  transparent  deli- 
cacy. As-  ornaments  to  the  drawing-room,  when 
grouped  with  taste,  and  blended  with  harmonic 
contrast,  these  waxen  objects  are  .not  to  be  surpass- 
ed, whether  we  look  at  them  as  records  of  foreign 
productions  seldom  seen, — of  extraordinarily  beau- 
tiful specimens  of  home-growth, — of  favorites  which 
it  is  desirable  to  preserve, — or  merely  as  beauties 
of  ordinary  production,  which  the  ej^e  delights  to 
rest  upon.  Indeed,  all  lovers  of  flowers  (and  who 
are  not?)  must  admire  these, -^their  lovely  images, 
transparent,  vivid,  and  brilliant  as  they  are. 

The  chief  thing  is  to  know  hoio  to  select  the  proper 
materials,  and  how  to  set  about  the  work  in  a  proper 
manner ;  and,  it  may  be  added,  to  commence  with 
what  is  most  easy.  Should  it  be  a  fruit,  let  it  be 
one  of  a  single  color, — as  an  orange  or  a  lemon  ;  or, 
if  a  flower,  we  might  recommend  a  snowdrop,  a 
violet,  or  a  narcissus,  in  which  there  is  no  com- 
plexity, and  little  pencilling. 

In  our  larger  cities,  the  requisite  materials  can 
always  be  readily  procured,  and  it. is  not  worth 
while  that  any  ot  them  should  be  home-made  ;  yet, 
as  persons  who  desire  to  practise  this  art  may  live 
far  in  the  country,  where  it  is  diflicult  to  obtain 
oven  the  simpler  requisites;  and,  as  circumstances 
often  arise  in  which  it  is  absolutely  impossible  to 
procure  what  may  be  wanted  for  a  particular  pur- 
pose, as  in  the  case  of  a  mould  be  required  for  a 
certain  specimen  of  a  fruit,  or  the  extra  thick  wax 
desirable  for  particular  flowers,  &c.,  we  intend  to 
include  in  this,  our  little  book,  every  available  inr 
formation  ;  that  the  learner,  however  remotely  sit- 
uated may  be  his  residence,  or  unique  his  model, 
may  have  as  much  as  possible  his  difficulties  re- 
moved, his  mind  stimulated,  and  his  fingers  directed 
to  attain  excellence.  _  _    _ 

Beo-inning  with  the  easiest  department,  it  is  ne- 
cessary to  divide  the  subject  into  making  of  Fruit, 
and  the  making  of  Flowers.  These  are  quite  dis- 
tinct in  themselves  ;  the  former  includes  the  imita- 
tion of  all  solid  objects,  with  melted  wax  poured 
into  moulds.  The  latter  includes  those  more  deli- 
cate ones,  which  are  made  without  moulds,  of  wax 
previously  cut  into  thin  sheets. 


^^^ 


Ben  Davis  Apple. — In  the  accompanying  box 
you  Y.ill  find  12  specimens  of  the  Ben  Davis  apple, 
which  I  think  is  by  far  the  best  apple  for  all  pur- 
poses we  have  for  this  climate. 

The  tree  is  a  free  grower,  with  dark  wood,  much 
like  the  Winesap,  but  more  erect  and  regular. 
Young  trees  in  the  nursery  rows  cannot  be  distin- 
guished from  the  Winesap.  It  comes  into  bearing 
very  yougg,  and  bears  every  year;  as  it  is  late  about 
putting  out,  it  is  apt  to  escape  the  late  spring  frost. 

With  us  here,  almost  in  the  land  of  cotton,  it  is 
difficult  to  get  good  keeping  apples,  particularity 
northern  varieties :  the  Baldwin,  Greening,  ^Spit- 
zenburg,  and  many  ot*her  northern  keeping  apples, 
fall  short  here. 

The  Ben  Davis,  if  handled  carefully  and  kept 
from  freezing,  I  am  sure  will  keep  until  July,  with- 
out losing  ten  per  cent.  The  specimens  I  send  you 
are  about  average  size,  of  general  appearance,  but 
not  of  best  quality  ;  they  have  been  frozen  the  sec- 
ond time  this  winter,  and  of  course  have  lost  their 
taste,  and  become  dry  and  mealy.  This  is  a  good 
sprightly  apple  when  it  is  in  proper  condition. 

I  received  the  grafts  of  this  variety  of  Mr.  J.  S. 
Downer,  of  Elkton,  Todd  Co.,  Kentcky,  not  far 
from  where  the  great  battle  of  Fort  Donnelson  was 
fought,  undet  the  name  of  Ben  Davis,  and  this 
seems  to  be  the  oldest  title,  and  I  think  the  name 
should  be  retained,  instead  of  New  York  Pippin. — 
A.  L.  Caldwell,  Demossville,  Ky.   May  10,  '64. 

[We  have  nothing  at  the  period  of  our  writing 
this  note,  June  8th,  equal  in  quality  and  beauty 
^combined,  with  these  apples  from  Mr.  Caldwell. 
The  reports  we  receive  from  all  quarters,  also  indi- 
cate the  Ben  Davis  as  doing  well  in  so  many  widely 
separated  localities,  that  we  expect  to  see  it  a  pow- 
erful rival  to  many  better  known  kinds. — Ed.  ] 


French's  Seedling  Strawberry.  We  have 
received  a 'box  of  these  from  Mr.  Nathan  Leeds, 
of  Cinnaminson.  N.  J.  They  are,  in  the  first  place 
easily  distinguished  from  any  other  variety,  by  their 
light  scarlet  color  and  very  small  seeds, — two  char- 
acters we  do  not  now  remember  to  be  united  in  any 
other  berry.  We  have  never  thought  tlie  flavor 
equal  to  some  other  berries, — but  that  is  but  one 
quality.  Growth,  productiveness,  hardiness,  adap- 
tation to  varied  soils,  and  many  other  points  go  to 
Biake  up  a  valuable  variety.  We  may  say  that  it 
is  a  berry  of  fair  size  and  fluvor,  firm,  and  a  pretty 


color,  and  from  what  we  judge  of  these  berries  of 
Mr.  Leeds,  and  some  young  plants  growing  on  our 
grounds,  we  believe  it  will  be  found  at  least  as  val- 
uable a  variety  as  any  of  the  new  ones  now  oflered. 


Hale's  Early  Peach. — I  send  to  you  a  few 
specimens  of  Hale's  Early,  also  a  specimen  of 
Troth's  Early  Peach.  The  latter  variety  being  the 
earliest  and  most  valuable  market  peach  known  for 
the  last  fifteen  years. 

We  now  have  the  Hale's  Early,  produced  by  a 
German  in  Ohio,  that  ripens  so  long  before  the 
Troth's  Early  that  it  must  prove  of  great  value  to 
the  Peach-growers  throughout  this  country,  by  ad- 
ding some  two  or  three  weeks  to  the  first  part  of 
the  season.  The  fruit  I  send  you  I  grew  in  my 
Orchard-House.  I  took  great  care  to  give  both 
kinds  an  equal  chance  :  I  placed  them  side  by  side 
so  that  they  should  receive  the  direct  rays  of  the 
sua  alike.  The  difference  as  to  time  of  ripening 
you  can  judge.  The  first  ripe  Hale's  Early  fell 
from  one  of  the  trees  on  May  the  8th,  and  they 
have  continued  to  ripen  from  that  time  till  now, 
this  being  the  last  picking.  —  Isaac  Pullen, 
Hightstown,  N.  J.     May  24<A,  '64. 

[The  Peaches  were  superior,  and  fully  sustained 
the  excellent  character  of  this  variety  we  have  so 
often  given  in  our  journal.  It  is  undoubtedly  the 
most  valuable  addition  the  Peach  list  has  seen  for 
a  long  time.-T-ED.] 


The  Belmont  Apple  in  Indiana.— The  State 
Pomological  Society  discussed  the  merits  of  this 
apple.  J.  D.  G.  Nelson,  of  Fort  Wayne,  said  it 
was  almost  uniformly  fine,  healthy  and  prolific, 
little  disposed  to  rot,  and  that  he  regarded  it  as 
the  best  single  variety  with  which  he  was  acquain- 
ted. He  said  that,  like  most  varieties,  did  better 
in  the  open  air  than  in  close  confinement. 

Genl.  Orr  said  it  had  not  done  well  in  the  north 
part  of  the  State.  It  was  often  scabbed  and  speck- 
ed. Still  he  regarded  it  as  a  good  variety  for  a 
small  orchard. —  Ohio  Farmer. 


New  English  Pears. — In  every  new  home- 
produced,  robust  or'hardy  variety  of  fruit,  of  good 
quality,  which  is  originated,  there  is  a  clear  gain  to 
the  Pomologist  in  the  acquisition  of  a  superior  fruit 
especially  suited  to  our  climate.  The  value  of  the 
prize  may  not  at  first  be  fully  realized,  as  it  often 
takes  time  to  develope  all  the  good  qualities  inhe- 
rent in  a  novel  variety  ;  but  if  the  preliminaries  we 
have  mentioned  are  to  be  satisfoctorily  made  out, 
the  future  becomes  full  of  promise.     We  linvo  ro- 


m 


^(S>^ 


Jt.^. 


_k]B&. 


208 


%\t  (Sarbentff)  |Saiti|Ig. 


ceiitly  mentioned  some  fine  new  Pears  of  Devon- 
shire origin,  but  there  are  others  also  of  recent 
date,  tliut  deserve  to  be  better  known,  ou  account 
of  their  intrinsic  merits.     One  of  them  is  the 

British  ^Heeft— Raised  by  Mr.  Ingram  of  Frog- 
more,  and  said  to  be  a  seedling  from  the  Seckel 
crossed  with  the  Marie  Louise.  This  is  a  very  fine 
looking  Pear,  and  as  good  .as  it  looks ;  it  has  been 
shown  me  on  two  occasians,  and  has  invariably  met 
with  approval.  The  fruit  itself  is  large  and  pyra- 
midal, with  an  undulating  surface,  and  smooth 
shilling  golden  yellow  skin,  here  and  there  freckled 
with  patches  of  thin  cinnamon  russet,  and  on  the 
exposed  side  often  acc|uiring  a  crimson  flush.  In 
flavor  it  resembles  Marie  Louise,  the  flesh  being 
fine  grained  and  melting,  with  a  rich  saccharine 
juice,  and  fine  aroma.  As  an  autumn  Pear,  ripe 
in  October  and  November,  this  has  few  equals. 

Another  to  which  we  may  specially  refer,  is  the 

Autumn  Ndis—A  variety  raised  by  Mr.  F.  J. 
Graham,  of  Cranford,  a  variety  of  remarkably  hardy 
character,  and  so  compact  and  short-jointed  in 
habit,  that  the  branches  become  closely  set  with 
spurs.  Indeed,  the  whole  habit  of  the  tree  espe- 
cially recommends  it  for  culture  as  a  pyramid, 
either  out-doors  or  in  the  orchard-house.  The  fruit 
is  rather  above  medium  size,  obovate-turbinate  in 
outline,  almost  entirely  russeted  on  a  surface  which 
here  and  there  shows  a  little  patch  of  greenish-yel- 
low. The  flesh  is  yellowish,  fine-grained,  and  mel- 
ting, with  abundance  of  rich  aromatic  sugary  juice, 
and  an  exquisite  flavor,  which  has  been  compared 
to  that  of  the  Winter  Nelis.  The  ripening  season 
is  October.  The  parent  tree  of  this  variety  has  been 
in  bearing  for  some  five  or  six  years,  and  proves  to 
be  most  prolific.  We  believe  this  is  the  same  as  a 
Pear  which  •  Mr.  Graham  exhibited  before  the 
British  Pomoleical  Societ  in  1858,  under  the  name 
of  Graham's  P>ergamot,  when  it  was  considered  one 
of  the  most  delicious  of  Pears,  but  that  before  being 
let  out  last  year,  it  was  rechristened  Autumn  Nelis. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  these  Pears,  both  of 
whir'h  have  had  First-class  Certificates  from  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Society's  Fruit  Commiltee,  are 
like  Mr.  Huyshe's  varieties,  acquisitions  of  real 
merit,  and  as  such  destined  along  with  them  to  oc- 
cupy a  prominent  place  amonist  our  hardy  dessert 
fruits.  It  ar>pears  to  us  that  the  Fruit  Committee 
would  do  well  another  year  to  include  them  in  its  list 
of  i)rizcs  to  be  distributed  on  ordinary  meeting  days. 
They  might  be  invited  in  the  shape  of  pot  plants 
grown  in  orchard-houses,  for  which  the  Pear  seems 
veiy  well  adapted  ;  and  if  young  plants  were  invi- 
ted, all  growers  would  compete  on  equal  terms,  the 

^(g>^- ■ '- , 


fruit  being  shown  on  the  plant.  It  would  add,  we 
think,  very  much  of  interest  to  these  meetings  to 
adopt  such  a  mode  of  familiarizing  the  public  eye 
with  the  aspect  of  fruits  so  well  deserving  to  bo 
generally  known.  —  Gardener  s  Chronicle. 


Atiianasia  annua. — We  observe  that  one  of 
the  plants  which  the  Horticultural  Society's  Floral 
Committee  has  approved,  in  its  year's  report  on 
the  experimental  plants  grown  at  Chiswick,  is  the 
the  Athanasia  annua,  an  old-fiashioned  annual, 
which  it  is  stated  was  very  eflfective  for  a  consider- 
able period  during  the  summer  months.  We  saw 
these  plants,  and  can  bear  testimony  that  such  was 
the  case,  The  subject  is  mentioned  here  for  the 
sake  of  pointing  out  that  the  efFeciiveness  of  this 
Athanasia  was,  as  is  the  case  in  so  many  other  in- 
stances that  could  be  named,  owing  entirely  to  good 
cultivation.  Sown  thickly  on  poor  soil,  as  is  the 
lot  of  too  many  of  our  annual  flowers,  the  Athanasia 
is  a  mere  weed;  but  here,  transplanted  singly  ilito 
good  soil,  it  formed  a  close  mass,  adorned  with  a 
profusion  of  its  bright  yellow  flower-heads.  The 
branching  habit  which  the  plant  assumes  under 
such  treatment  is  highly  favorable  to  the  produc- 
tion of  a  succession  of  flowers.  In  the  instance  re- 
ferred to,  the  individual  plants  formed  dwarfish 
freely-branched  tufts  of  about  a  foot  in  height,  the 
ends  of  all  the  branches  being  decorated  with 
a  •corymb  of  the  peculiar  rayless  flower-heads. 
These  are,  as  gardener's  Would  say,  all  'eye,'  want- 
ing entirely  the  ray-florets,  which  in  general  give 
their  beauty  to  composite  flowers  ;  in  point  of  fact, 
they  very  much  resemble  those  of  the  Tansy,  but 
from  their  bright  yellow  color,  they  arc  very  showy 
when  produced  abundantly.  —  Gard.  Chronicle. 


DjJNPROBirM  LITTEOLUM  (Bateman). — With  the 
exception  of  a  few  reddish  streaks  on  the  lip,  the 
flowers  of  this  new  Denbrobium  are  of  a  uniform 
pale  pritnrose  tint.  Indeed,  I  should  have  called 
ed  it  D.  primulinura,  if  that  name  had  not  been 
already  ajipropriated  to  another  and  totally  diff'er- 
species.  The  mentum  (or  spur)  is  about  the  length 
of  the  ovaiy,  and  is  curved  inwards.  The  flmvers 
are  about  2  inches  across,  and  are  remark-iile  tor 
their  stright  margins  or, edges,  which  arc  not  waved 
or  curled,  as  in  most  Dendrobia  ;  they  are  borne  ip 
short  lateral  racemes  that  come  forth  towards  the 
upper  (not  the  end)  portion  of  the  stems.     With 


■p 


-=^^>^ 


# 


§r|e  §mi\t\\txB  ^onfljtj. 


209 


me  these  racemes  are  two-flowered  ;  but  in  a  much 
finer  specimen  from  Clapton,  of  which  a  drawing 
has  been  prepared  for  the  Botanical  Magazine,  as 
many  as  four  flowers  appeared  together,  and  pos- 
sibly this  number  may  be  exceeded  when  the  plant 
— which  is  of  the  easiest  culture — has  been  longer 
established.  Even  now  it  is  very  ornamental.  Its 
nearest  affinity  is  with  D.  rhombeum. 

Moulmein  seems  to  be  inexhaustible  in  new 
Dendrobia ;  Messrs.  Hugh  Low  &  Co.  can  already 
boast  of  having  introduced  nearly  a  dozen  species 
that  were  previously  unknown,  among  which  the 
present  is  one  of  the  most  distinct. — Ih. 


New  Bedding  Geraniums.— The  following  set 
of  the  late  Mr.  Donald  Beaton's  Geraniums  are  an- 
nounced by  the  Messrs.  Career  &  Co.  : 

Cyhisfer  CBeaton). — This  Mr.  Beaton  considered 
the  best  nosegay  Geranium  he  had  raised.  For 
two  successive  years  it  was  exhibited  in  the  most 
prominent  beds  at  South  Kensington  and  the  Crys- 
tal Palace  Gardens,  and  universally  admired.  The 
color  of  the  flowers  is  vivid  scarlet ;  the  trusses  are 
immense,  with  sometimes  200  flowers  and  pips  on 
a  truss  ;  its  habit  is  excellent. 

Lady  Colum  CBeaton). — This  is  the  first  and 
only  nosegay  Geranium  of  the  Christine  color,  viz., 
delicate  rose  ;  the  blooms  are  well  thrown  up  above 
the  foliage,  which  is  slightly  zonale ;  the  flower 
trusses  are  very  large,  and  freely  produced.  During 
the  last  season  at  the  Crystal  Palace,  it  was  grown 
in  the  circular  basins  surrounding  the  Crystal  Foun- 
tain, where  it  was  very  efl"ective  ;  it  is  also  well 
adapted  for  Greenhouse  or  Conservatory  culture. 

Beaton'' s  Pet  (Beaton).  — This  was  a  great  favorite 
with  the  late  Mr.  Beaton  ;  it  is  mininum  in  growth 
rarely  exceeding  6  or  8  inches  in  height ;  it  is  also 
a  most  profuse  bloomer,  with  a  peculiar  crimson 
lake  color,  exceedingly  rich  and  glowing ;  for  ri- 
banding  and  general  bedding  purposes  it  will  be 
found  very  eff"ective. 

Mrs.  Whitty  CBeaton). — Helen  Lindsay  was  uni- 
versally admitted  to  be  much  superior  to  the  gene- 
ral favorite,  Christine.  A  still  finer  variety  is  Mrs. 
Whitty.  It  has  a  beautiful  deep  rose  color,  with  a 
large  white  eye  ;  blossoms  in  profussion ;  foliage 
slightly  zonale.  Last  season  a  bed  of  it  at  the  Crys- 
tal Palace  Gardens,  planted  at  the  special  request 
of  Mr.  Beaton,  produced  a  magnificent  effect,  and 
continued  in  bloom  till  the  frost. 

Monitor  (Beaton^. — This  is  a  remarkably  fine 
variety,  from  which  Mr.  Beaton  hoped  ultimately 
to  produce  a  yellow  Geranium,  a  color  hitherto  un- 
known in  this  tribe  of  plants ;  color  a  deep  orange 


scarlet ;  bloom  freely  produced,  and  well  thrown 
up  above  the  foliage. 

hinoiohall  CKeelor). — A  new  pure  white  bedding 
Geranium,  raised  by  Mr.  Keeler,  of  Wood  House, 
Dulwich.  Of  the  same  type  as  Madame  Vaucher, 
but  in  every  respect  superior  ;  fine  large  truss,  well 
up  in  the  centre,  giving  a  flat  even  surface,  and 
both  in  form  and  color  almost  equal  to  the  old 
Double  White  Camellia.  Petals  pure  white,  good 
form,  and  of  great  substance.  Habit  very  robust 
and  compact.  Foliage  rich  green,  with  dark  zone  ; 
will  form  a  most  desirable  pot  plant  for  Conserva- 
tory, and  is  without  doubt  a  valuable  acquisition 
for  general  bedding  purposes.  It  is  the  opinion  of 
Mr.  Keeler,  the  raiser,  that  it  is  superior  to  any 
thing  yet  introduced  to  the  notice  of  the  public, 
and  the  best  White  Geranium  ever  raised. 

Bel  Demonio  CKeelerJ. — A  bright  lively  salmon 
color,  of  dwarf,  compact,  but  very  robust  habit  of 
growth.  The  free  blooming  habit  of  this  variety 
will  make  it  most  desirable  for  planting  in  large 
masses  or  extensive  riband  lines.  The  trusses  are 
very  large,  individual  flowers  large  and  of  uncom- 
mon substance  in  petal,  and  blooms  well  up  above 
the  foliage.  This  variety  resists  the  effects  of  sun 
and  rain  better  than  any  before  offered  of  this  class, 
and  was  raised  at  the  same  place  as  the  preceding 
splendid  White  variety. 

Hibberd's  Pet  (Hibberd^. — This  one  may  recom- 
mend as  the  best  scarlet  Horse-shoe  Geranium  in 
cultivation  :  it  is  a  strong  grower,  and  throws  up 
large  trusses  of  bloom,  slightly  darker  in  color  than 
Cottage  Maid. 

Messrs.  C.  &  Co.  have  also  now  in  full  bloom 
quantities  of  the  showy  early  flowering  bulb,  Orni- 
thogalum  tJiyrsoides,  the  great  conical  shaped  snow- 
white  flower,  heads  of  which,  borne  well  upas  they 
are  on  stout  stems,  are  conspicuous  even  at  a  dis- 
tance, and,  intermixed  with  other  plants  on  a  green- 
house shelf,  have  a  fine  effect. 

Among  bedding  plants,  of  which  Messrs.  Carter 
have  many  thousands  now  out  of  doors  hardening 
off"  for  fiower-garden  decoration,  consisting  of  vari- 
egated and  other  Pelargoniums,  Lobelia  speciosa, 
Verbenas,  Gazanias,  Calceolarias,  etc.,  was  a  golden 
variegated  Balm,  which,  in  the  formation  of  rib- 
bons, cannot  fail  to  be  useful ;  it  is  very  hardy,  and 
some  situations  might  be  quite  as  effective  as  Gol- 
den Chain  Pelargonium. — Gard.   Chromde. 


Begonia  Mannii  (Mr.  Mann's  Begonia).— One 
of  the  Begonias  with  wingless  flowers.  Native  of 
Fernando  Po,  at  an  elevation  of  about  1300  feet. 
Flowers  rose-colored. — Bat.  Mag. 


m 


*^^ 


210 


W^  gardener's  c^bntltlg. 


^oinFsfir   iHlFfligFnrp. 


HORTICULTUnAL  BEPARTMENT  OF  THE 
SANITARY    PAIR. 

Philadelphia  has  made  a  great  effort  to  maintain 
her  horticultural  supremacy  on  the  occasion  of  the 
great  Sanitary  Fair,  and  with  such  success  that  we 
are  sure  we  shall  please  our  readers  by  giving  some 
detailed  account  of  this  department.  Every  one 
throughout  the  country  is  more  or  less  interested 
in  the  getting  up  of  agricultural  and  other  fairs 
and  exhibitions,  and  the  hints  afforded  by  any  suc- 
cessful one  are  always  read  with  profit.  In  addi- 
tion to  what  we  give  in  the  following  report,  and 
for  which  we  are  indebted  to  G.  W.  Childs,  Esq., 
Chairman  of  the  Publishing  Committee,  and  which 
is  taken  from  the  Daily  Fare,  for  which  paper  the 
report  was  prepared  by  one  of  the  reporters  of  the 
Gardener  s  Montldy, — we  may  say  that  the  Horti- 
cultural Department  has  played  no  small  part  in 
ensuring  the  success  of  the  Grreat  Central  Fair. 

Although  25  cents  extra  was  .charged  for  admis- 
sion into  the  Horticultural  Department,  at  the  time 
of  this  writing,  the  Fair  being  only  half  over, 
75,000  persons  have  paid  this  extra  charge,  and 
over  SOOjOOO  (season  tickets  and  others)  have  been 
admitted.  Probably  500,000  persons  will  have  vis- 
ited this  department  before  the  fair  closes, — per- 
haps the  greatest  number  of  persons  who  ever  en 
tered  a  strictly  Horticultural  exhibition  since  the 
world  began : 

"  Next  to  the  Art  Gallery,  there  is  no  more  beau- 
tiful display  than  that  made  in  the  Horticultural 
Department,  where  nature  and  art  have  combined 
to  furnish  a  magnificent  exhibition.  With  many 
visitors,  the  horticultural  display  ranks  above  that 
presented  in  the  Art  Gallery,  and  we  have  no  rea- 
son to  quarrel  with  the  decision.  Nothing  like  it 
has  ever  been  seen  in  th^s  country,  and  to  all  visi- 
tors it  must  be  a  matter  of  profound  regret  that 
such  a  fairy  creation  will  soon  pass  away  from  sight 
forever. 

The  visitors  upon  entering  the  rotunda,  have 
spread  out  before  them  a  rare  display  of  plants, 
fruits  and  flowers,  arranged  with  faithless  skill  and 
taste,  and  intermingled  with  these  are  waving  ban- 
ners, tinkling  fountains,  and  beautiful  ladies  in  at- 
tendance upon  the  tables.  Treasures  drawn  from 
every  clime  have  been  compelled  to  do  the  bidding 
of  the  goddess  Flora,  and  here  in  her  beautiful 
court,  she  holds  high  carnival.  Her  subjects  are 
numbered  among  the  thousands,  and  are  among 
the  most  devoted  of  any  earthly  potentates.     She 


here  proves  herself  worthy  of  the  homage  drawn 
from  her  admirers,  and  to  those  who  have  reared 
this  temple  for,  her  short-lived  abode  among  the 
mortals,  she  owes  a  crown  of  glory  fragrant  and 
ever  bright  as  the  flowers  that  surround  her  tem- 
porary throne. 

What  description  shall  do  justice  to  the  scene  ? 
The  pen  refuses  to  do  duty,  and  words  fail  to  con- 
vey to  the  few  unfortunates  who  have  not  seen  the 
unparalleled  richness  of  the  collection,  and  the  ex- 
quisite taste  of  the  decorations  of  the  Horticultural 
Department.  Fancy  a  rotunda  190  feet  in  diame- 
ter, filled  with  rare  plants  and  flowers,  arranged  in 
a  succession  of  circles,  through  which  vistors  pass 
and  re-pass,  drinking  in  the  fragrance  of  the  per- 
fume of  the  orange  tree  and  the  palm,  the  banana 
and  the  magnolia.  From  the  lake,  in  the  centre 
of  this  fairy  palace,  is  the  Island,  with  its  fountain 
of  hundreds  of  jets,  brilliantly  illuminated  at  night, 
and  a  thousand  burners  of  gas,  and  thus  intermin- 
gled with  all  that  is  sweet  and  beautiful  in  the 
Floral  realms,  comes  the  soft  music  of  the  band, 
hid  from  sight  by  the  dense  foliage  of  the  Island. 

The  fountain  is  worthy  of  its  surroundings. 
Around  the  base  of  a  vast  pjTamid  of  exotic  plants, 
rising  up  in  air,  flows  the  crystal  brook,  bordered 
with  grassy  banks  and  bearing  on  its  bosom  lovely 
water  blossoms,  and  the  broad  green  leaves  of  the 
Victoria,  reffia,  while  from  it.s  depths  burst  forth, 
at  intervals,  delicate  fountains  of  quaint  and  vari- 
ous designs.  From  the  summit  of  the  pyramid  of 
pla,nts  th^re  falls  on  every  side  a  dome-like  sheet 
of  water,  covering  the  whole  as  if  with  a  great  bell- 
glass.  On  the  outside  of  this,  and  below  the  circle 
of  water-jets  is  a  circle  of  fire — a  jet  of  fl'ame  for 
every  one  of  water.  The  effbct  of  this  arrangement 
of  fire  and  water  is  indescribable.  The  thousand 
fantastic  colors  sent  forth  must  be  seen,  and  when 
seen  will  never  be  forgotten.  Every  drop  of  water 
becomes  a  jewel. 

The  circular  pond  or  brook  which  surrounds  the 
pyramid  of  plants  is  about  fifteen  feet  in  width  and 
three  hundred  feet  in  circumference,  and  is  filled 
with  water  plants  and  every  variety  of  aquatic  de- 
corations. Twenty-four  small  fountains  plaj'  from 
it;  some  spouting  from  the  mouths  of  swans,  oth- 
ers revolving  in  circles  of  spray,  and  others  mount- 
ing gaily  in  feathered  jets.  Spreading  their  great 
leaves  on  the  surface  of  the  water,  are  several  plants 
of  the  Victoria  regia ;  and  numberless  ducks  swim 
about  as  naturally  as  if  they  were  alive.  The  pond 
is  bordered  by  a  circle  of  smooth  green  sward, 
three  feet  wide.  The  central  pyramid  rises  thirty 
feet  high,  and  is  of  proportionate  diameter  at  the 


-r^ 


•(^4 — - 


Slhij  ©ardcnrr's  JIIoTitMg. 


211 


base.  It  is  formed  entirely  of  tropical  plants,  con- 
tributed mainly  by  Mr.  James  Dundas,  and  arranged 
by  his  skillful  gardener,  Mr.  Pollock. 

Among  the  va.<t  mass  of  foliage  and  blossom 
which  forms  the  most  attractive  feature  of  the  de- 
partment, may  be  named  the  following  plants:  The 
Date-palm,  rising  high  above  all ;  the  Dragon-tree, 
from  which  is  obtained  the  extract  of  Dragon's- 
blood  ;  Tree  Ferns,  from  Australia ; ,  the  great 
Brouonla  grandiceps,  from  India,  of  which  there  is 
only  one  other  specimen  in  the  country  ;  a  well- 
grown  Camp)hor-tree ;  the  Bourhon-pahn ;  two 
Bananas,  in  full  fruit;  the  Ileparusa  longifulla,  a 
splendid  plant ;  many  Rhododendrons  and  Pome- 
granates, and  a  fine  Indiaruhber-tree.  At  the  oase 
is  a  circle  of  Zehra-plants  and  handsome  Caladi- 
ums.  There  may  also  be  seen  in  the  pyramid  a 
Korfolh  Island  Fine,  some  very  fine  Fi'tcher  plants, 
and  the  Madagascar  Ltce-p)lant.  Around  the  bor- 
der of  the  pond  are  vases  containing  rare  plants, 
fcuch  as  the  DiffenbacJu'a  picta,  discovered  by  Hum- 
boldt, and  a  variegated  Pineapple;  whiLt  over 
these  hang  baskets  containing  OrcJuds,  or  air 
plants,  some  of  them  very  beautiful. 

The  upper  ring  of  water  jets,  which  surmounts 
and  crowns  this  pyramidal  group,  is  fifteen  feet  in 
diameter,  and  contains  one  hundred  and  fifty  jets. 
The  circle  of  gas  pipe  below  is  fifty  feet  in  diame- 
ter, and  contains  one  hundred  and  fifty  burners. 
Among  the  foliage  in  the  central  group  are  statues, 
from  Mr.  S.  E.  Hai-rison,  and  deer,  etc.,  beauti- 
fully cast  in  iron,  and  contributed  by  Messrs.  Wood 
&  Perot.  These  gentlemen  also  furnished  the  ar- 
rangements for  the  fountains  in  the  pond. 

The  plants  on  the  island  are  so  arranged  as  to 
leave  space  for  the  accommodation  of  the  orches- 
tra, which  is  thus  entirely  concealed  from  view, 
adding  greatly  to  efi'ect  of  the  music.  Access  to 
the  island  is  had  by  a  beautiful  rustic  bridge  of 
graceful  design. 

The  Horticultural  Hall  is  one  hundred  and  ninety 
feet  in  diameter,  and  is  surmounted  by  a  canvas 
dome  eighty-five  feet  wide  at  the  base.  There  are 
two  circular  rows  of  tables,  the  outside  one  against 
the  wall,  with  sixteen  tables  twenty-five  feet  long 
and  five  wide.  Then  we  have  a  circular  passage- 
way twenty-five  feet  wide  and  five  hundred  and 
fifty  feet  long,  overhung  with  a  vast  ring  of  gas- 
pipe,  containing  five  hundred  and  fifty  burners. 
The  inner  circle  of  tables  is  twelve  feet  wide,  with 
a  passage  in  the  middle  of  it  for  the  ladies  in  at- 
tendance. The  passage  round  the  fountain  is  twen- 
ty-five feet  wide,  and  on  its  outside  circumference 
are  fifty  columns,  each  ornamented  with  two  gas- 


burners.  On  the  inside  of  the  outer  passage-way 
are  also  fifty  columns.  Between  each  two  of  these 
pillars  are  festoons  of  evergreens  and  hanging- 
baskets,  and  the  columns  themselves  are  clothed 
with  laurel,  hemlock  and  pine  boughs,  brought 
from  the  Alleghany  Mountains. 

Around  the  base  of  the  canvas  dome  are  fifty 
flags  of  different  nations,  and  on  the  columns  hang 
one  hundred  shields,  bearing  the  coats  of  arms  of 
various  nationalities,  and  painted  by  the  artist 
Grain.  Bunting  is  effectively  draped  among  the 
columns,  and  the  coup  d'oeil  of  all  this  color  and 
graceful  design  is  charming  in  the  extreme. 

The  collection  of  plants  and  flowers  is  worthy  of 
an  extended  notice.  And  first,  upon  entering,  a 
number  of  fine  aloes  and  date-palms,  from  the  col- 
lection of  Mrs.  George  W.  Carpenter,  will  attract 
attention.  The  two  tables  belonging  to  Fairmain 
Bogers,  Esq. ,  are  under  the  charge  of  Mr.  Hibbert, 
his  gardener.  Among  the  very  many  rare  and  well- 
grown  plants  are  the  Fandantts  javaniats,  the  Da- 
vallia  elegans,  many  fine  Gloxinias,  among  which 
are  the  fine  varieties,  31rs.  Fisher,  grandijiora  uR>a 
and  invperialis ;  the  Dracaena  ferroe,  brought  first 
from  China  in  1771  ;  the  Caladium  Chant inii ;  the 
Dicksonia  antarctica,  from  Van  Dieman's  Land; 
the  Pteris  tricolor;  the  Marant^  hicolor ;  golden 
and  silver  Ferns;  the  new  plant,"  Cyperus  alternifolia 
variegata  ;  the  Magnolia  pumila,  from  China  ;  the 
Tradescantia  discolor,  brought  from  South  America 
in  1783  ;  the  Croton  variegata,  from  the  East  In- 
dies ;  the  Cyrtocerus  reflexa,  from  Japan,  which  is 
a  perennial  bloomer,  and  many  more  worthy  of 
notice. 

The  table  occupied  by  plants  belonging  to  Mr. 
Joseph  Harrison,  is  under  the  care. of  Mr.  Francis 
O'Keefe.  Mr.  Harrison  exhibits  the  Auracaria 
excelsa,  a  remarkably  fine  plant.  The  value  of  this 
specimen  is  about  $500.  Also  a  Ficus  elastica,  or 
Indiarubber-plant,  very  ornamental  and  striking ; 
the  Sonerilla  margaritacea,  which  is  an  extremely 
beautiful  plant,  with  spotted  leaves,  and  is  under  a 
bell-glass;  a  fine  specimen  oi  Latania  Bourhonica  ; 
a  splendid  fern,  the  Blechmim  Braziliensk ;  also,  a 
fine  collection  of  Begonias,  and  by  far  the  best  show 
of  Lycopodiums  in  the  exhibition — one  of  these, 
the  L.  lepidophylla,  is  under  glass. 

He  also  has,  .above  the  table,  in  a  hanging  bas- 
ket, a  Ficus  repens,  in  the  shape  of  a  wasp's  nest. 

On  the  table  devoted  to  the  collection  of  ]\Ir.  H. 
A.  Di'eer,  there  is  an  admirable  collection  of  lyco- 
podiums, caladiums,  ferns,  fuchsias,  coleus,  bego- 
nias, calceolarias,  and  a  fine  Australian  Pine.  This 
collection  is  all  in  that  admirable  condition  in  which 


risi^^J^ 


-x<tJ 


m 

:^\)^ 
/d 


212 


^t  hardener's  'poirfIj% 


:^3^^ 


^..-^f^^S^ 


§mk\\txs  Ulciitljlj, 


f> 


THE    HORTICULTURAL    DEPARTMENT. 


41 


^S'^ahr 


'^m 


Mr.  Dreer's  p-lants  are  generally  found.  Next  to 
Mr.  Dreer's  collection,  are  two  of  the  famous  Lnng- 
streth  Hives,  exhibited  (and  presented  to  the  Fair), 
by  Mr.  John  Turner.  .  In  one  is  a  new  swarm,  and 
in  the  other  the  full  crop.  This  latter  hive  yielded 
last  year  between  sixty  and  seventy  pounds  of 
honey.  Mr.  Turner's  success  and  liberality  entitle 
him  to  honorable  notice. 

The  adjoining  two  tables  are  covered  with  plants 
from  the  splendid  collection  of  Mr.  D.  R.  King, 
Chairman  of  the  Horticultural  Committee.  These 
plants  are  all  tropical,  and  extraordinarily  well- 
grown.  Here  is  a  very  fine  Billhergia  rosea,  a  Dra- 
caena terminalis,  a  Maranta  regalis,  and  a  M.  zc- 
brina ;  many  Begonias,  among  which  is  the  fine 
variety  B.  rex.  Also,  fine  plants  of  the  Crcopana 
dactyh/folia  and  Strelitzia,  reglna.  This  gentleman 
has  also  some  fine  plants  in  the  central  pyramid. 

Mr.  M.  W.  Baldwin  has  two  tables,  presided 
over  by  Mr.  William  Joyce.  Here  are  fine  Orchids, 
or  air  plants,  Cattleya  mosslce,  CalaJinm  hicolor  and 
argyrites,  a  fine  Bourhon  x>ahn,  and  a  fine  plant  in 
bloom  of  the  curious  species — the  0  acidium  liapilio, 
or  butterfly  orchid.  The  collection  of  Caladiums 
on  this  table  is  remarkably  fine. 

The  next  is  a  ^pply  table  for  the  sales  apart- 
ment. Adjoining  it  is  one  filled  by  Messrs.  Wright, 
\)f  Germantown,  and  Fergusson,  of  Laurel  Hill. 

Among  the  plants  on  Mr.  R.  Buist's  table,  we 
notice  the  Croton  variegatum  ruhntni,  many  fine 
Acacias  and  Gloxinias,  the  Pandanua  javanicus, 
the  Ananissa  variegata,  the  Pavctta  Bourhonica, 
and  the  Doryanthus  excelsa.  This  display  is  rich 
and  full,  covering  two  large  tables. 

Mr.  Joshua  Longstreth  has  a  fine  display  of 
large  plants  ;  and  next  comes  the  table  of  Messrs. 
Peter  MacKenzie  &  Son,  with  its  display  of  fine 
things.  Dragon  trees.,  with  their  rich,  red  leaves. 
Cinnamon  trees,  the  real  Sugar  cane,  the  Yucca 
variegata,  Japan  Cedars,  variegated  Hydrangeas,^ 
the  Auricaria  BraziUenzis,  or  Brazilian  pine,  and 
Acacias,  Ivies,  &c.  Messrs.  MacKenzie  have 
many  plants  in  hanging  baskets,  etc.,  all  over  the 
hall. 

Mrs.  George  W.  Carpenter  has  some  remarkably 
fine  Palms,  Pines,  etc.,  in  tubs,  distributed  in  va- 
rious parts  of  the  hall.  Some  of  these  are  in  the 
central  pyramid. 

The  "  Flower  Market  "  is  another  feature  of  this 
Floral  Temple.  Here  cut  flowers  and  plants  are 
daily  furnished  by  liberal  citizens,  and  no  matter 
how  large  the  contributions,  nothing  remains  at  the 
close  of  the  evening.  Mr.  J.  E.  Mitchell,  Chair- 
man of  the  Committee  on  Arrangements  and  Deco- 


rations, has  had  charge  of  the  Flower  Market,  and, 
with  his  usual  taste  and  liberality,  he  has  not  per- 
mitted any  other  portion  of  the  Horticultural  dis- 
play to  exceed  his  own  special  department. 

The  entrance  to,  the  "  Market"  is  through  three 
arches  with  doric  columns,  and  the  inscriptions  over 
the  arches  are  in  English,  French  and  German — 
Flower  Market;  Marche  au  Fleuks,  and 
Blumen  Markt.  The  exit  for  the  market  has 
rustic  arches  of  ornahiental  design. 
(To  he  continued.] 

Evergreens  from  ])eciduous  Trees. — A  cor- 
respondent of  the  Maine  Farmer  says,  while  tra- 
velling in  Canada,  in  November,  1862,  in  some 
locality,  which  he  does  not  give,  he  was  surprised 
to  see  shade  trees  around  the  houses  in  full  leaf, 
apparently  as  green  as  in  June.  On  inquiring  the 
cause,  he  was  informed  it  resulted  from  inserting  a 
piece  of  pork  rind  in  the  tree  the  spring  previous. 
He  asserts  that  he  tried  the  experiment  on  a  single 
tree  last  spring,  by  boring  into  it  about  five  inches 
with  a  2-inch  augur,  and  lining  the  hole  with  pork 
rind.  His  letter  is  dated  March  10th,  1864,  when, 
he  says,  "  this  tree  retains  its  leaves  and  the  same 
general  appearance  as  in  June."  The  article  is  en- 
titled the  'Sugar  Maple  Evergreen,' — R.  N-Yorher 

[A  friend  at  our  elbow  says  a  much  better  way  to 
accomplish  the  same  purpose,  is  to  insert  a  portion 
of  the  tail  of  a  bullfrog.  —  Country  Gent.] 

[Our  printer's  devil — a  very  malicious  devil  by 
the  way — suggests  that  if  by  any  process  a  portion 
of  the  brain  of  some  correspondents  could  be  insert- 
ed in  the  trunks  of  the  Maple,  the  ''greenness'  would 
be  considerably  intensified — Ed.] 


Vegetation  in  the  Moon. — Upon  the  growth 
of  plants  the  moon  exercises  a  remarkable  influence. 
The  chenucal  action  of  light  is  necessary  to  their 
principal  work,  the  absorption  of  carbon  from  the 
carbonic  acid  gas  of  the  atmosphere.  This  work  all 
plants  carry  on  during  the  day,  and  in  the  night 
they  sleep-  excei)t  when  the  moon  shines.  She 
wakes  them  and  sets  them  at  work.  So  the  far- 
mers who  plant  only  just  before  the  full  moon 
are  right,  and  the  scoffers  who  call  them  supersti- 
tious, are  themselves  the  foolish  ones.  For,  if 
sown  before  or  near  the  new  moon,  the  young  plants 
get  above  ground  just  at  the  full-,  when  the  tender 
things  need  sleep.  But  if  sown  just  before  the  full, 
they  come  up  about  new  moon,  pass  by  their  baby- 
hood under  the  soothing  influence  of  dark  nights, 
and  when  the  full  moon  comes,  are  sturdy  urchins 
able  to  work  night  and  day. 


ih^  darto^'s  HloiifMg, 


215 


Webb,  after  a  careful  comparison  of  tbe  present 
appearance  of  tlie  moon  with  the  very  precise  maps 
made  by  Madler  some  twenty  years  ago,  has  shown 
that  there  have  been  considerable  changes.  Some 
of  the  small  craters,  in  particular,  have  a  notably 
different  form  from  what  they  had  when  Madler 
observed  them.  These  changes  show  the  existence 
of  water  and  an  atmosphere.  Father  Seechi,  Di- 
rector of  the  Roman  Observatory,  after  much  ob- 
servation, has  come  to  the  conclusion  that  the  peaks 
of  the  highest  mountains  on  the  moon  are  covered 
•with  Snow.  And,  to  make  us  still  more  at  home 
on  the  moon,  De  la  Rive,  the  owner  of  the  obser- 
vatory at  Crawford,  near  London,  gives  it  as  his 
opinion,  that  what  were  at  first  marked  down  as 
seas,  and  afterwards  supposed  to  be  barren  plains, 
are  in  fact  extensive  forests.  In  support  of  this 
,/;omes  up  a  great  astronomic  authority — Schwabe, 
the  discoverer  of  the  periodic  times  of  the  sun's 
spots.  Besides  these  great  smooth  plains,  which 
were  called  seas,  there  area  number  of  furrows  and 
wrinkles,  nearly  a  hundred,  the  nature  of  which  is 
entirely  unknown.  Their  length  varies  from  three 
to  thirty-five  miles,  and  their  greatest  breadth  is 
about  five  thousand  feet;  most  of  them  are  consid- 
erably narrower.  Their  sides  are  parallel,  and 
smooth  ;  some  are  run  in  straight  lines,  and  some 
are  gently  curved.  Ordinarily  they  are  separate, 
but  sometimes  they  cross  craters,  but  occasionally 
they  seem  to  be  cut  off  by  them.  They  are  found 
all  over  the  surface  of  the  moon,  except  on  the 
mountain  chains. 

Of  these  furrows  Schwabe  has  made  careful  studJ^ 
at  various  times.  He  found  them  to  consist  of  very 
fine  parallel  dark  lines,  separated  by  clear  spaces. 
A  few  months  later,  the  lines  of  streaks  had  disap- 
peared, but  after  a  little  while  they  returned,  again 
to  disappear.  In  this  periodic  change  he  thinks 
that  he  finds  proof  that  these  lines  are  rows  of  trees, 
and  the  clear  streaks  between  them  is  the  bare 
ground  seen  when  the  trees  are  leafless  ;  when  the 
trees  are  in  full  leaf,  the  ground  is  so  covered  as  to 
produce  a  uniform  shade,  and  the  lines  disappear. 

Nothing  is  more  natural  than  to  suppose  that  the 
dark  spots  on  the  moon  are  forests  ;  but  how  shall 
we  account  for  the  growth  of  these  trees  in  right 
lines?  This  hypothesis  we  must  for  the  present 
consider  to  be  only  a  hypothesis.  With  the  aid  of 
photography,  which  will  secure  for  us  accurate  pic- 
tures of  tl\e  moon  from  time  to  time,  we  may  hope 
that  the  question  will  be  solved,  and  that  we  may 
really  find  out  what  is  going  on  upon  the  surface 
of  our  satellite, — N'.  Y.  Tribune. 


O&iiuerg^ 


Rkv.  Chauncey  E.  Goodrich.— The  Utica 
papers  announce  the  death  of  this  gentleman  in 
that  city.  To  the  agricultural  interest  of  the  coun- 
try the  death  of  Mr.  Goodrich  is  a  public  loss.  His 
labors  in  a  special  branch  of  improvement  have 
been  so  perseveringly  and  so  intelligently  directed 
as  to  lead  to  important  and  valuable  results,  and 
the  country  at  large  has  had  the  benefits  of  these 
labors.  In  the  early  stages  of  the  potato  disease, 
Mr.  Goodrich,  then,  and  for  many  years  since, 
Chaplain  of  the  State  Lunatic  Asylum  at  Utica, 
entered  upon  a  series  of  experiments  and  a  thorough 
investigation  of  the  causes  of  that  great  calamity 
to  the  agricultural  interests ;  and  he  has  pursued 
these  investigations  under  circumstances  the  most 
discouraging,  for  a  period  of  a  dozen  or  fifteen 
years,  with  most  extraordinary  results. 

Mr.  Goodrich  has  produced,  during  his  experi- 
ments, many  new  varieties  of  the  potato,  some  of 
which  have  proved  of  great  value  to  the  country. 
These  have  been  widely  disseminated,  and  have 
proved  exceedingly  useful.  As  is  usual  in  such 
cases,  the  benefits  have  inured  to  the  public,  while 
the  benefactor  has  suffered  loss  rather  than  derived 
advantage  from  his  labors. 

During  the  meeting  of  the  State  Agricultural 
Society,  at  Albany,  a  public  recognition  of  the  ser- 
vices of  Mr.  Goodrich  in  the  cause  was  tendered, 
in  the  form  of  resolutions,  and  a  testimonial,  by 
subscription,  amounting  to  several  hundred  dollars ; 
a  markof  approval  which  must  have  been  peculiar- 
ly grateful  to  the  recipient  in  the  decline  of  his 
health  and  of  active  eftbrt. 
When  the  history  of  American  agriculture  shall  bo 
written — if  such  a  work  shall  ever  be  undertaken — 
justice  will  be  done  to  the  labors  and  efforts  of  Rev. 
Chauncey  E.  Goodrich. —  World. 


OFFIgn 


[Fnrp, 


Origin  op  Species. — Mr.  Darwin,  not  content 
with  astonishing  naturalists  of  an  older  school  with 
his  views  of  species,  is  getting  them  into  trouble 
with  their  views  of  genera  also..,  He  has  recently 
proved  that'  Catasetum  tridentatum,  Monachdni/ivs 
viridis,  and  Myanthus  barhatus,  -vtere  all  originally 
the  same  plant. 


216 


%k  (Sarkner's  glonthlj. 


Thoughts  about  Varieties. — In  1853 1  raised 
a  number  of  seedlings  from  the  pips  of  Pears,  se- 
lected from  four  varieties  acknowledged  by  all  po- 
mologists  as  being  quite  distinct  from  each  other. 
They  were  our  old  Poire  d' Angleterre,  which  every 
knows ;  the  Bosc,  the  form  of  which  is  like  that 
of  a  longish  gourd,  with  the  skin  of  a  uniform  cin- 
namon color ;  the  Belle- Alliance,  a  dumpy  pear 
with  a  yellow  and  red  complexion  ;  the  Sanger,  a 
wild  variety,  or  nearly  so,  and  which  was  so  named 
from  its  foliage  resembling  in  its  white  woolliness 
the  common  Sage.  The  batch  of  seedlings  of  the 
last  were  all  raised  from  a  tree  which  grew  by  itself 
on  the  road  from  Marcoussis  to  Gue.  The  pips  of 
these  Pears  came  up  the  same  ye^r  as  they  were 
sown,  whilst  those  of  the  Poire  d' Angleterre  did 
not  appear  till  the  following  year,  and  that  in  two 
different  sowings,  without  my  being  able  to  account 
for  it.  Very  few  of  these  trees  have  begun  to  bear 
fruit,  which  I  regret,  because  the  result  with  which 
they  would  have  furnished  me,  if  all  had  produced 
fruit,  would  have  been  more  varied,  and.  for  that 
reason  more  conclusive  than  what  I  am  now  able 
to  place  before  the  Academy.  The  first  glance  at 
the  colored  figures  now  prodced  shows  how  much 
the  fruit,  in  each  case,  has  already  changed  from 
the  original ;  thus  in  the  Sanger,  four  trees  which 
have  borne  fruit  have  given  four  different  forms  ; 
one  egg-shaped  and.entirely  green  y  a  second  dumpy 
and  almost  apple-shaped,  red  and  green  ;  a  third, 
still  more  depressed  ;  and  a  fourth  regularly  pear- 
shaped,  twice  as  large  as  the  preceding  ones,  and 
of  a  uniform  yellow  tint. 

From  the  Belle- Alliance  have  come  nine  new 
varieties,  none  of  which  resemble  their  mother, 
either  in  form,  size  or  color,  or  even  in  the  time  of 
ripening.  To  two  of  these  I  wish  to  draw  atten- 
tion, one  for  its  size,  which  is  double  that  of  the 
Belle-Alliance,  the  other  for  the  dumpy  form, 
which  imitates  the  apple-shaped  Pears.  In  like 
manner  the  Bosc  produced  three  new  fruits  of  very 
different  type,  one  resembling  so  much  one  of  the 
forms  obtained  from  the  Sanger  as  to  be  scarcely 
distinguishable.  The  variations  of  the  Poire  d'An 
gleterre  were  not  less  remarkable ;  from  six  trees 
which  have  fruited  we  had  six  new  kinds,  all  as 
different  from  each  other  and  from  their  mother, 
as  she  was  from  the  greater  part  of  our  old  varie- 
ties ;  one  of  the  plants  even  produced  winter  fruit 
similar  to  the  Saint-Germain.  It  is  not  only  in  the 
fruit  that  trees  raised  from  the  same  seed  differ,  it 
is  also  in  their  time  of  ripening,  general  appearance 
and  the  form  of  their  leaves.  These  differences  are 
striking  when  the  trees  are  seen  growing  together 


in  the  same  border.  So  many  trees,  so  many  dif- 
ferent appearances.  Some  have  spines,  some  have 
none  ;  some  have  slender  wood,  in  some  it  is  stout 
and  coarse.  Upon  some  of  the  seedlings  from  the 
old  Poire  d' Angleterre,  the  variation  went  so  far  as 
to  produce  lobed  leaves,  like  those  of  the  Hawthorn 
or  Pyrus  japonica.  Every  thing  varies  in  the  Pear 
tree,  even  to  its  sap.  As  proof  of  this,  observe  the 
very  difi'erent  success  of  the  graft,  according  to  the 
stocks  employed.  All  the  varieties  and  races  of 
Pear  trees  bear  grafting  upon  a  Pear  tree,  that  is 
to  say  upon  the  wild  Pear  tree  ;  but  all  will  not  take 
upon  the  Quince  ;  as  for  example,  the  Ranee,  Clair- 
geau,  Bosc,  Duchesse  de  Mars,  &c.  When  it  is 
desired  to  keep  these  trees  dwarf,  which  can  only 
be  done  by  employing  the  Quince  stock,  the  latter 
must  be  first  grafted  with  Belle-Angevine,  Jarmien- 
ette,  Crassane,  Sucre-vert,  or  any  other  that  will 
do  on  the  Quince ;  and  then  the  first  grafts  may 
be  successfully  regrafted  with  the  sorts  whose  sap 
will  not  agree  with  the  Quince.  This  operation  is 
known  and  practiced  by  all  nurserymen.  The  rela- 
tive size  of  flowers  and  the  appearance  of  the  foli- 
age present  a  not  less  striking  variation.  Certain 
sorts,  such  as  the  Catillac,  Sauit-Gall,  Gnoeco, 
Epargne,  the  Poire  de  Vallee,  have  petals  very 
much  rounded  and  waved,  a  corolla  from  5  to  6 
centimetres  wide,  and  their  wood  when  young  as 
downy  as  that  of  the  Sauger  ;  later  in  life  they  lose 
this  peculiar  woolliness.  Others,  such  as  de  Heric, 
Sylvange,  Fortunee,  &c.,  have  oval  or  lanceolated 
petals,  with  flowers  only  half  as  large  as  the  last. 
Finally,  I  have  seen  in  the  collection  of  M.  Jamin- 
Durand,  a  Pear  tree  which  by  mistake  bore  the 
name  of  Chartreuse,  whose  linear-lanceolate  petals 
were  not  more  than  3  millimetres  wide  by  9  long. — 
M.  Pecaisne,  in  Frocecdtngs  of  French  Academy 
of  Sciences. 

Peaches  in  Japan. — Thomas  Hogg,  in  the  ITor- 
ticnlturht,  writing  of  the  fruits  of  Japan,  .says  of 
the  Peach  there  : — "  Although  of  fair  size  and  ap- 
pearance, they  are  inferior  in  flavor.  This  may  be 
partly  attributed  to  the  practice  of  picking  all  their 
fruits  in  a  very  green  state.  No  fruit  sufi"ers  more 
from  this  treatment  than  the  peach." 


The  Canada  Thistle  at  Red  River.— This 
nuisance  has  become  so  prevalent  and  so  serious  in 
the  Red  River  Settlement,  that  the  Nor'  Wester, 
of  March  31st,  devotes  its  leading  editorial  to  a  dis- 
cussion of  the  question  what  shall  be  done.  The 
article  is  headed,  "  Shall  the  Settlement  be  Aban- 
doned?" and  the  statement  is  made  that  the  evil 


ih^  ^Hrda^r's  (Pon% 


217 


ha3  assumed  such  proportions  as  to  "  menace  the 
existence  of  the  Settlement."  The  editor  says  : — 
"  We  have  heard  of  some  who  are  convinced  they 
cannot  on  this  account  remain  on  their  farms  more 
than  a  j'ear  or  two."  The  Nor^  Wester  strongly 
urges  upon  the  legislature  of  the  colony  the  pas- 
sage of  a  remedial  measure  forthwith. — Canada 
Farmer. 


Modern  Gardening. — Horticulture  is  no  lon- 
ger what  it  formerly  was  ;  that  is  to  say,  a  blind 
practice  turning  constantly  in  a  single  circle,  com- 
posed of  Auriculas  and  Tulips,  and  Anemones  and 
Pinks,  and  such  like.  The  circle  is  greatly  enlarged 
now ;  it  is  so  vast  and  so  extended,  and  comprises 
so  many  diiFerent  genera  of  plants,  and  so  many 
plants  from  different  countries  and  different  lati- 
tudes, that  the  art  of  gardening  rests  upon  a  basis 
essentially  scientific.  In  reality  all  the  sciences, 
physical  and  chemical,  as  well  as  natural,  come  to 
its  aid,but  that  which  rules  all  the  others  by  its  essen- 
tial qualities,  that  which  is  the  basis  of  all  culture, 
is  in  reality,  the  science  of  Botany,  with  its  theories, 
its  facts,  its  hypotheses,  and  its  laws.  It  is  upon  the 
observation  of  physiological  facts  that  horticultural 
science  is  based.  To  claim  in  our  days  the  rank  of 
a  true  amateur  of  flowers,  it  is  necessary  to  under- 
stand wonders  :  to  know  the  familiar  structure  of 
the  organs  of  plants  and  their  functions,  to  possess 
some  idea  of  the  mechanism  of  their  life,  and  of 
their  nutrition  and  fecundation,  to  be  able  to  ac- 
count for  the  phenomena  of  respiration,  and  of  the 
sleeping  and  awaking  of  plants,  and  lastly,  to  know 
something  of  their  stations  and  habitations,  and  of 
the  laws  according  to  which  they  are  distributed  in 
the  different  regions  of  the  earth. 

These  few  words  will  suffice,  I  hope,  to  make  it 
understood  that  botany  has  now  become  an  indispen- 
sable science  for  cultivating  with  intelligence  and 
success  the  numerous  plants  imported  into  Europe 
from  all  parts  of  the  world.  Botany,  has,  besides, 
many  attractions,  and  acquires  every  day  a  new 
importance  by  its  numerous  relations  with  the 
philosophy  of  the  man  of  nature.  Let  us  then  be 
thankful  to  the  many  distinguished  botanists  who, 
notwithstanding  the  distance  and  fatigue  of  the 
journey,  have  not  feared  to  come  to  us,  to  initiate 
us  in  the  mysteries  of  vegetation.  Let  us  address 
to  them  a  sincere  and  cordial  welcome  ;  let  us  con- 
gratulate them,  or  it  would  be  better  to  say,  let  us 
congratulate  ourselves  on  seeing  them  among  us ; 
for  they  come  to  establish  between  horticulture  and 
botany  an  intimate  and  indissoluble  bond. — Address 


of  M.   Vandenhenll,  before  Hart.   Congress  at 
Brussels. 


The  Ink  Plant.— A  plant  with  very  curious 
properties,  under  this  name,  has  been  introduced 
into  English  gardens.  It  is  the  Coriaria  thymifo- 
lia  of  botanists. 


The  Tallow  Tree. — Stillingia  sehifera  of  bot- 
anists, is  one  of  the  most  valuable  of  trees.  In  the 
Island  of  Chusan,  large  quantities  of  oil  and  tallow 
are  extracted  from  the  fruit,  which  are  gathered  in 
November  and  December.  The  tallow  is  steamed 
off,  and  the  oil  extracted  from  the  dregs  by  pres- 
sure. The  tree  is  quite  hardy  in  the  Southern 
States  of  the  Union,  and,  would  probably  do  well 
much  farther  north  thau  it  has  yet  been  tried. 


Hollyhock  Seed. — Double  Hollyhocks  give 
plenty  of  seed ;  and  the  plants  raised  from  well- 
saved  seed  come  pretty  true  to  the  parent.  Take 
off  the  pods  when  ripe,  and  hang  them  in  bunches 
in  a  dry  room  till  March,  then  rub  them  out,  and 
sow  in  shallow  pans  in  a  gentle  heat.  Cut  down 
the  stems  as  soon  as  you  have  got  as  much  seed  as 
you  require,  and  apply  no  mulching  till  spring  :  for 
damp  at  the  collar  often  causes  the  destruction  of 
hollyhocks  in  winter. 

Scandinavian  Fences.— The  sort  of  fence  in 
general  use  along  the  roadsides  is  of  a  peculiar 
kind,  differing  from  what  is  generally  in  use  for 
that  purpose  in  middle  Europe.  It  consists  of 
Spruce  Fir  trees,  split  up  roughly  into  triangular 
pieces,  which  are  placed  at  about  an  angle  of  45°, 
with  one  end  sunk  slightly  in  the  ground,  and  so 
close  as  to  prevent  hogs  or  lambs  from  getting 
through  them.  The  whole  is  then  bound  with  two 
or  three  lines  of  withes,  of  twisted  Spruce  Fir, 
Birch,  or  Willows,  at  certain  heights  from  the 
ground  ;  and  in  this  was  a  formidable  fence  is  con- 
structed, difficult  to  get  over,  as  well  as  sufficiently 
open  to  permit  the  snow  to  blow  through  it. — D. 
Moore,  in  Proceedings  of  Royal  Dublin  Society. 


An  English  Nursery. — Backhouse^s  Nurse- 
ries, York. — Leaving  the  first  group  of  houses,  a 
short  glazed  verandah  conducts  us  to  a  range  160 
feet  long,  chiefly  occupied  by  a  general  collection 
of  greenhouse  plants,  vines,  succulents,  etc.  In  a 
large  house,  devoted  to  the  culture  and  raising  of 
Vines,  a  fine  stock  of  ScJiizostylis  coccinea,  the  first 
representative  of  a  new  genus,  imported  by  Messrs. 
Backhouse  under  the  name  of  a  'new  scarlet  Trito- 


S^S>^ 


218 


%\t  §m\mtxB  ^mi\% 


ma,'  and  recently  figured  in  tlie  Botanical  Mag- 
azine, was  coming  rapidly  forward.  If,  it  should 
prove  hardy,  which  was  confidently  expected,  it 
will  be  a  great  acquisition  to  the  out-door  as  well 
as  in-door  department,  flowering  as  it  does  at  a  time 
when  brilliant  things  are  scarce  or  absent.  Here 
also  were  many  fine  flowering  bulbs  of  Gastronema 
sanguineum,  a  new  and  handsome  bulb  from  South 
Africa,  with  orange-red  or  scarlet  blossoms  3  to  4 
inches  across.  Another  house,  used  for  Vines 
during  the  early  part  of  the  year,  contained  a  lot 
of  Agaves,  Yuccas,  and  such  plants,  amongst  them 
a  fine  specimen  of  Yucca  filamentosa  variegata, 
with  Y.  tricolor,  quadricolor,  and  others,  Agave 
schidigera  and  filifcra,  etc.,  the  whole  mixed  up 
and  contrasting  well  with  the  commoner  forms  of 
vegetation.  The  greenhouses  were  filled  with  Eri- 
cas, Geraniums,  etc.,  clean  and  well  done,  but  with 
nothing  among  them  claiming  special  notice,  ex- 
cept perhaps  a  lot  of  fine  specimens  of  Shanghae 
Palm  interspersed.  This  is  an  interesting  plant, 
from  the  strong  probability  of  its  adding  the  Palm 
to  the  garden  landscapes  of  Britain.  If  living  in 
the  contumacious  clay  of  north-western  London  for 
the  past  four  years  without  a  rag  of  protection  of 
any  kind,  be  a  proof  of  hardiness,  Chaimrrops  For- 
tuni  is  certainly  so.  A  young  plant  survived  with 
the  Messrs.  Backhouse,  when  the  thermometer  fell 
nearly  to  zero  several  years  ago,  but  was  killed  the 
following  year  by  being  '  protected '  with  Spruce 
Fir  boughs :  not  being  able  to  bear  the  moisture 
and  cold  combined,  though  the  temperature  was 
not  so  low  by  10  or  12°. 

Having  '  passed  on  '  through  the  principal  hou- 
ses, the  next  movement  was  in  a  downward  direc- 
tion ;  along  a  winding  passage  terminated  by  a 
rustic  doorway,  and  opening  into  the  subterranean 
glen  or  partly  filled  crevasse,  known  as  the  '  Tri- 
chomanes  house,'  which,  from  its  unique  design 
and  arrangements,  and  the  wonderful  collection  of 
Trichomanes  and  Hymenophyllums  cultivated 
therein,  is  without  doubt  the  most  remarkable  and 
interesting  garden  structure  in  England  at  the  pre- 
sent moment.  120  tons  of  rough  sandstone  were 
used  in  its  construction  ;  and  though  in  many  parts 
the  huge  rocks  overhang — though  every  variety  of 
inclination  is  presented  by  them — though  the  whole 
thing  is  of  recent  origin — yet,  without  the  aid  of 
bricks  or  cement,  so  naturally  and  safely  are  they 
placed,  that  one  fancies  the  scene  a  mountain  rent 
through  which  the  water  hand  trickled  for  ages. 
The  rocks  reminded  me  of  those  under  which  I  had 
crept  years  ago  on  the  shattered  sides  of  the  Scalp 
Mountain  in  Wicklow,   and  one  can  fancy  some 


such  '  covered  way'  being  found  there,  were  the 
opposing  sides  of  that  curious  mountain  to  meet 
from  depression. 

The  ground  plan  is  in  the  form  of  an  irreglar 
horse-shoe,  one  limb  being  for  the  species  of  Tri- 
chomanes and  Hymenophyllums  from  cool  regions, 
and  the  other  for  tropical  species.  The  two  divis- 
ions are  not  separated  by  any  door,  but  a  huge 
stone  drops  across  and  forms  a  low  rude  rocky  arch, 
which  is  so  placed  that  its  summit  is  only  a  few 
inches  higher  than  the  ascending  floor  at  the  fur- 
ther extremity  of  the  warm  division,  thus  prevent- 
ing the  escape  of  the  heated  atmosphere  till  the 
whole  of  that  portion  has  been  charged  with  it.  A 
still  more  remarkable  efi'ect  is  produced  by  this  arch 
in  generating  atmospheric  currents — and  not  more 
remarkable  than  valuable ;  for  to  this  cause  must 
be  attributed  to  the  great  success  of  the  house.  It 
will  at  once  be  seen  that  two  atmospheres  of  difier- 
ent  temperatures  and  degrees  of  moisture  cannot 
remain  quiescent.  The  warm  and  moist  air  admit- 
ted from  a  heated  tank  (thoroughly  concealed)  at 
the  furthest  extremity  of  the  warm  division,  rap- 
idly passes  towards  the  arch,  filling  that  division 
from  its  roof  downwards,  A  cool  current  under- 
neath the  other,  in  the  opposite  direction.  This  in 
passing  condenses  the  vapor  of  the  upper  warm 
current  in  so  remarkable  a  manner,  that  eyery  thing 
within  the  range  of  that  current  is  incessantly  cov- 
ered with  dew.  And  such  dew  !  every  Fern,  nay 
every  pinnule,  and  every  particle  of  moss  was  radi- 
ant with  tiny  drops  that  glistened  like  polished 
diamonds  and  emeralds,  for  the  reflection  of  light 
— now  green,  now  gold — on  these  living  gems  was 
wonderful.  And  yet  this  moisture,  incessant  day 
and  night,  scarcely  touches  them.  They  would  not 
bear  it,  so  delicate  is  their  texture.  It  stands  upon 
their  tiny  hairs,  hardly  touching  the  real  substance 
of  the  frond.  Even  the  sprinkling  of  the  finest 
watering  pan  or  the  thinnest  misty  spray  is  too 
much,  so  admirably  are  their  delicate  forms  fitted 
by  the  hand  of  the  great  Creator  to  be  nurtured 
by  evening  dews,  and  defended  by  the  deep  recesses 
and  intense  shade  of  tropical  forests  from  the 
storms  and  tempests  which  abundantly  assail  the 
elevated  and  robust  forms  of  vegetation.  In  this 
house  they  have  '  a  little  world  of  their  own,'  with 
its  '  equatorial  and  polar  currents'  constant  in  their 
operation.  Close  the  girch  with  a  door,  and  the 
spell  would  be  broken  ;  atmospheric  motion,  always 
so  valuable  to  vegetation,  would  be  stopped,  and 
the  grand  condensing  process  ruined. 

As  before  stated,  the  entire  structure  is  under^ 
ground,  9  to  10  feet  deep  and  very  narrow,  the 


(fJ 


1V!5^ 


mm 


Wm![  ©ardmcr's  JlontMg. 


^^i 


219 


cooler  division  being  in  some  places  considerably 
deeper  and  lower  than  the  warmer.  Iron  bars  span 
the  chasm,  bearing  the  large  slabs  of  thick  glass 
which  form  the  roof.  The  top  is  of  course  the  only 
surface  exposed  to  the  influence  of  frost,  and  that 
danger  is  obviated  by  the  introduction,  just  under 
the  glass  roof,  of  a  common  drain  pipe,  connected 
with  the  open  air  space  round  the  boiler,  by  which 
means  a  thin  and  slightly  warmed  stratum  of  air 
is  diffused  just  under  the  only  place  where  frost 
could  otherwise  enter.  The  floor  is  formed  of 
rough  slabs  of  stone,  and  is  always  moist  from  the 
percolation  of  water  by  natural  drainage  among  its 
fissures.  In  rainy  weather  the  whole  house  filters 
water  from  its  rocky  sides,  and  the  floor  becomes  a 
veritable  watercourse,  clean  and  pure-looking  as  a 
mountain  streamlet.  Abundant  moisture  in  the 
atmosphere,  and  but  little  variation  of  temperature, 
are  the  natural  results,  and  produce  just  the  effect 
the  Ferns  desire,  to  judge  from  their  appearance. 
—  Gardeners'  Chronicle. 


^_ 


The  Japan  Varnish  Tree.— Xe  Moniteur  11- 
lustre  dps  Inventions  recommends  the  introduction 
into  France  of  the  Rhus  vernix,  which  yields  the 
Japan  varnish.  It  is  cultivated  in  Japan  and 
China,  and  could  doubtless  be  raised  to  any  extent 
in  this  country.  The  varnish  is  procured  by  mak- 
ing an  incision  in  the  trunk  in  the  same  way  that 
is  practiced  in  gathering  pitch  from  the  pine.  The 
yield  is  said  to  be  very  large,  and  there  is  every 
prospect  that  that  the  cultivation  of  the  tree  would 
be  profitable. 

The  Lemon  Tree  in  Northern  Italy.— 
The  branches  being  full  of  turpentine,  and  of  an 
elastic  structure,  can  bend  under  their  winter  load 
of  snow  without  breaking,  and  can  thus  either  shake 
it  off  or  give  way  beneath  it  without  injury.  This 
is  another  manifestation  of  the  admirable  manner 
in  which  trees  are  adapted  by  nature  to  the  atmos- 
pheric phenomena  of  the  region  where  they  are 
destined  to  exist.  Even  could  Olive  trees  grow  and 
flourish  in  a  northern  climate,  they  would  soon  be 
despoiled  of  all  their  branches  by  the  mere  weight 
of  the  winter  snows. 

The  Lemon  trees  certainly  showed  a  more  vigor- 
ous constitution  than  the  inhabitants  of  the  south 
of  Europe  give  them  credit  for.  Those  that  were 
only  exposed  to  two  or  three  degrees  of  frost  were 
not  injured  in  the  least.  A  degree  or  two  more 
killed  the  young  shoots  at  the  circumference  of  the 
tree,  but  it  was  only  in  the  lower  part  of  the  cold- 
est ravines  or  torrents  leading  up  to  the  highest 


mountains  that  the  trees  were  destroyed.  In  some 
such  regions,  however,  entire  orchards  were  killed. 
Although  individual  proprietors  were  thus  injured 
by  the  loss  of  their  Lemon  trees,  the  district  as  a 
whole  was  not  materially  damaged,  the  immense 
majority  of  the  trees  having  escaped.  Indeed,  it 
struck  me  that  the  destruction,  where  it  occurred, 
is  to  be  explained  by  the  proprietors  having  been 
tempted  by  the  great  profit  attending  the  culture 
of  Lemon  trees  to  extend  it  to  exposed  unsheltered 
regions,  which  do  not  give  them  the  protection 
they  require  in  exceptional  years,  even  on  the  Riv- 
iera. The  fruit  was  destroyed  in  many  places  where 
the  trees  were  uninjured,  or  only  the  small  shoots 
nipped.  I  presume  that  two  or  three  degrees  of 
frost  really  had  this  effect. — Gard.  (Jlironicle. 

Training  Plfm  Trees. — I  send  you  a  sketch 
or  a  tree  of  Denyer's  Victoria  Plum,  which  has 
been  planted  four  years.  As  the  mode  of  pruning 
and  training  which  has  been  followed  is,  I  think, 
well  suited  for  low  walls  or  fences,  a  brief  descrip- 
tion may  prove  interesting.  After  the  tree  had 
been  planted,  every  branch  was  cut  away  but  the 
two  bottom  leaders,  which  were  left  a  foot  long, 
and  trained  in  a  horizontal  direction  with  the  points 
a  little  raised.  After  the  tree  had  broken,  and  the 
buds  were  about  an  inch  long,  thumb  and  finger 
pruning  commenced.  Two  shoots  were  left  on  each 
leader,  one  as  near  the  base  as  possible,  the  other 
at  the  point ;  the  latter  was  allowed  to  run  in  an 
upward  direction  and  stopped  when  about  24  inches 
long,  while  the  shoot  near  the  base  was  stopped 
when  a  foot  long.     In  the  second  year's  pruning 


the  leaders,  which  were  36  inches  long,  were  pruned 
back  to  30  inches,  and  trained  horizontally,  the 
points  being  a  little  raised  ;  the  subordinate  shoots 
were  pruned  back  to  9  inches,  and  trained  in  a  line 
with  the  leader.  At  the  time  of  disbudding,  three 
shoots  were  lefl  on  the  leader,  and  two  on  the  sub- 
ordinates ;  the  end  shoot  on  the  leader  was  allowed 
to  grow  in  an  upward  direction,  and  not  stopped ; 
and  the  shoots  on  the  subordinates  were  stopped, 
the  one  nearest  the  base  when  a  foot  long,  the  oth- 
er when  18  inches.  The  third  year's  management 
was  similar  to  the  preceding.— Charles  Squires, 
Heywood,  Westbury,  Wilts,  in  Gard.  Chronicle. 


■^^ 


Pear  Doyenne  du  Comice;  was  obtained  by 
the  Cornice  Hortmole  of  Maine  and  Loire-France. 
There  is  a  figure  and  description  iu  a  recent  num- 
ber of  Decaisne's  '  Fruitier  Museum.'  It  was  ob- 
served first  in  1849,  and  was  named  Doyenne  du 
Comice.  Decaisne  remarks,  that  it  is  particularly 
remarkable  for  the  beauty  of  its  color,  and  the  del- 
icacy of  its  flesh. 


Difficulties  of  Defining  Species. — Dr. 
Hooker,  who,  with  his  father  Sir  W.  J.  Hooker, 
has  perhas  the  largest  collection  of  dried  plants  in 
the  world,  says  the  difficulty  of  distinguishing  one 
species  from  another  in  the  large  genera  is  very 
difficult  indeed.  Yet  he  was  utterly  unaware  of  the 
full  extent  of  this  difficulty  before  he  ^undertook 
the  preparation  of  the  "Flora  Indica,"  with  Dr. 
Thompson.  The  task  of  determining  what  were 
really  species  was  very  perplexing. 

The  Carices,  which  most  young  botanists  think 
so  difficult,  he  says,  present  the  most  definite  char- 
acters of  any  genus. 


Stocks  for  Vines. — Shortly  after  the  introduc- 
tion of  Snow's  Muscat  Hamburgh,  a  great  many 
gardeners,  and  myself  among  the  number,  prophe- 
sied that  it  would  soon  slip  out  of  cultivation,  even 
that  its  excellent  quality  would  not  sustain  it,  owing 
to  constitutional  debility ;  and  judging  from  the 
ordinary  way  in  which  Grapes  are  grown,  there 
existed  cogent  reasons  for  the  supposition.  The 
result  of  my  experience,  after  having  grown  it  for 
three  consecutive  years,  is,  that  I  could  never  pro- 
duce a  sound  bunch  ;  more  than  three  parts  con- 
stantly shanked,  while  many  of  the  berries  not  un- 
frequently  remained  green  to  the  last :  not  grown 
on  its  own  bottom,  but  grafted  in  a  shoot  of  the 
Golden  Hamburgh.  What  staggered  me,  and  set 
at  defiance  every  attempt  to  solve  the  problem,  no 
shanking  ever  occurred  with  the  Golden  Ham- 
burgh ;  many  of  the  bunches  exceeded  3  pounds  in 
weight,  and  many  of  the  berries  were  3J  inches  in 
circumference.  We  would  naturally  suppose,  un- 
der such  circumstances,  the  Muscat  Hamburgh 
could  find  no  excuse  for  shanking,  unless  under  the 
plea  of  pertinacity ;  however,  its  unsatisfactory 
proceedings  eventually  led  to  its  expulsion.  Three 
years  next  June,  I  went  to  see  Mr.  Snow,  of  Wrest 
Park,  who,  I  am  informed,  stands  sponsor  to  this 
Grape  ;  and  here  it  failed  to  exhibit  itself  to  much 
better  advantage  than  elsewhere.  It  also  may  be 
noticed,  that  I  have  never  seen  it  produced  at  our 
metropolitan  or  provincial  shows,  in  a  state  to  de- 
serve attention,  till  entering  the  exhibition  rooms 


of  the  Edinburgh  Horticultural  Society  last  Sep- 
tember, my  eye  caught  the  noble  bunches  produced 
by  Mr.  Fowler,  gardener  at  Castle  Kennedy.  While 
telling  Mr.  Thomson  of  my  unsuccessful  efibrts,  he 
at  once  said — ',  Graft  it  on  the  Black  Hamburgh 
and  your  troubles  will  cease."  So,  without  one 
word  more,  off  we  started  to  see  his  performance. 
Judge  of  my  surprise  to  find  ordinary  sized  canes, 
the  produce  of  grafts  put  on  in  1862,  each  carrying 
six  bunches,  many  of  them  considerably  over  5  lb. 
in  weight,  without  a  shanked  or  deformed  berry. 
This  utilitarian  stroke,  if  I  may  use  the  expression, 
at  once  convinced  me  that  Mr.  Thomson's  experi- 
ment was  a  decided  success,  and  I  at  once  resolved 
to  put  it  into  execution.  While  discussing  this 
matter,  the  conversation  turned  over  to  the  ques- 
tion, "What  is  the  best  stock  on  which  to  work 
delicate  growing  Vines?"  when  Mr.  Thomson  at 
once  introduced  the  Black  Hamburgh  as  the  best 
qualified  for  every  purpose ;  nor  does  our  present 
knowledge  allow  us  to  impugn  the  validity  of  his 
statement,  more  particularly  when  looking  at  what 
he  has  accomplished  in  the  case  of  the  Muscat 
Hamburgh.  But,  said  he,  "  the  Barbarossa  is  the 
worst — no  Grape  is  found  to  do  well  on  it. ' '  This 
I  know,  to  my  extreme  regret,  to  be  experimentally 
true.  When  this  useless  variety  was  first  introdu- 
ced, I  planted  nearly  the  whole  of  our  late  Vinery 
with  it,  but  ultimately,  owing  to  its  bad  flavor,  I 
found  it  necessary  to  cut  it  down,  and  had  it  graft- 
ed with  the  following  kinds : — White  Muscat  of 
Alexandria,  Golden  Hamburgh,  and  Lady  Downes' 
Seedling,  neither  of  which,  with  every  care  and  at- 
tention, could  be  made  to  produce  more  than  a 
half  a  crop,  and  that  of  so  miserable  a  description 
as  to  induce  me  to  keep  every  one  out  of  the  house 
unless  upon  business.  "  The  bunches  were  long  and 
straggling,  the  berries  set  imperfectly.  I  have 
nothing  to  complain  of  in  the  way  of  shanking,  but 
the  stems  yearly  shrivelled,  and  the  skin  became 
as  tough  as  Morocco  leather.  The  border  cannot 
be  charged  with  any  defect,  as  in  the  same  house 
West's  St.  Peter's  yearly  produces  excellent  crops. 
In  one  of  our  early  Vineries  the  Barbarossa  has 
been  used  as  a  stock  for  the  Buckland  Sweetwater, 
and  although  the  effect  is  not  so  decided  as  in  the 
former  case,  the  inferior  condition  of  the  fruit  fully 
testifies  that  the  deteriorating  influence  is  at  work. 
The  above  detail  has  caused  me  to  wander  some- 
what out  of  my  way.  I  can  only  claim  the  liberty 
of  having  done  so  in  my  anxiety  to  prevent  others 
running  into  the  same  mistake,  and  to  support 
with  practical  testimony  the  truth  of  Mr.  Thom- 
son's assertion. — A.  Cramb,  in  Scottish  Gardener. 


^t  §m\mtx'&  cPont^Ij. 


KiOTA  PENDULA,  says  M.  Ortgies,  in  Gartm. 
Flora,  it  is  well  proved,  is  but  a  seedling  of  Biota 
on'rntGu's,  a  well  known  polymorphus  plant. 


Dahlia  imperialis,  received  by  M.  Ortgies  of 
Zurich,  from  Mexico.  He  says,  in  the  Garten 
Flora,  that  "  in  its  elegant  habit,  rapid  increase, 
ease  of  culture,  beauty  and  number  of  its  flowers, 
splendor  of  form,  grandeur  of  color,  it  is  surpassed 
by  none  of  its  older  rival  species." 

Orchard-houses  at  Sawbridgeworth. — The 
Orchard-houses  at  Sawbridgeworth  are  now  in  their 
glory ;  and  those  who  are  desirous  of  forming  an 
opinion  as  to  the  advantages  to  be  derived  from 
this  system  of  fruit  culture,  should  seize  the  pres- 
ent opportunity  of  seeing  the  first  stage  of  the  pro- 
cess, and  judging  as  to  whether  it  is  a  success  or 
not.  For  our  own  part  we  believe  that  it  is  the 
only  way  by  which  Peaches,  Nectarines,  and  Apri- 
cots can  be  grown  in  this  country  with  any  degree 
of  security,  or  with  any  assurance  of  a  crop,  short 
of  the  usual  systems  of  fruit  forcing ;  and  all  that 
has  been  for  so  many  years  said  of  the  difficulties  at- 
tending it,  must  have  been  gained  from  cases  in 
which  therequired  amount  ot  skill  has  beendeficient. 

"When  we  see  venerable  old  Apricot  trees,  luxu- 
riant, even  under  their  weight  of  years,  covered 
with  masses  of  bloom  ;  and  when  we  consider  that 
these  same  trees  have  occupied  the  same  pots  for  a 
period  of  ten  years,  we  cannot  but  admire  the  beauty 
and  advantage  of  the  system.  In  one  of  the  largest 
of  the  Orchard-houses,  which  is  100  feet  long  by 
24  wide,  there  is  a  perfect  forest  of  Peaches,  Nec- 
tarines, and  Apricots  in  full  bloom,  while  many  of 
the  last  named  have  already  set  their  fruit,  and  are 
perfectly  safe  and  uninjured  by  the  severe  frost  of 
11°,  'to  which  those  out  of  doors  were  subjected  on 
Thursday  last.  How  many  of  these  have  escaped? 
and  what  prospect  of  a  crop  of  fruit  is  there  from 
those  that  have  been  exposed  to  such  a  trial  ?  We 
would  advise  all  who  are  fruit-growers  to  take  the 
present  opportunity  of  visiting  Mr.  Rivers'  nurse- 
ries, and  of  forming  an  opinion  for  themselves  as 
to  what  may  be  done,  and  how  easily,  in  this,  one 
of  the  mo.st  captivating  branches  of  horticulture. — 
London  Cottage  Gardener,  March  29th,  '04. 


Abandonment  of  the  Botanic  Gardens  op 
Trieste  and  Venice  by  the  Austrian  Gov- 
ernment.— We  learn  from  an  European  corres- 
pondent, that  these  famous  old  Botanic  Gardens 
have  been  abandoned  by  the  Government.  The 
former  has  been  let  out  to  a  former  Curator  for  the 
purpose  of  a  commercial  establishment.  The 
Trieste  Garden  has  fallen  into  the  hands  of  a  local 


Horticultural  Society,  which  intends  to  maintain  it 
if  possible. 

It  is  remarkable,  that  as  nations  progress  their 
love  of  horticulture  increases ;  while  as  they  de- 
cline, the  love  of  gardening  dies  with  it.  There  are 
no  gardens  in  barbaric  wastes. 


Superstitions  Concerning  the  Mistletoe. — 
The  mistletoe  was  with  the  Druids  an  object  of 
much  higher  veneration  than  the  oak.  They  were 
accustomed  to  strew  leaves  and  branches  of  the 
latter  around  their  altars,  but  in  honor  of  the 
former  they  had  special  ceremonies.  Every  year 
they  assembled  to  receive  what  they  regarded  as 
gifts  from  the  gods.  A  priest  arrayed  in  white, 
ascended  the  tree  in  the  presencvi  of  the  people, 
and  with  a  consecrated  golden  knife  cut  the  mistle- 
toe, and  threw  it  down  into  a  sheet  held  for  its 
reception.  It  was  then  distributed  to  the  people, 
who  preserved  it  with  the  utmost  care,  or  give 
small  pieces  to  the  friends  as  valuable  new  year's 
presents.  They  had  not  always,  however,  golden 
knives  with  which  to  perform  the  operation  of  cut- 
ting, and  were  obliged  to  use  an  inferior  metal,  for 
in  the"MedaIlic  History  of  Carausius,"  by  Stukoley, 
the  writer,  in  speaking  of  the  winter  solstice,  our 
Christmas,  says  :  "  This  was  the  most  respectable 
festival  of  our  Druids,  called  yule-tide  ;  when  mis- 
tletoe, which  they  called  'all-heal,'  was  carried  in 
their  hands  and  laid  on  their  altars,  as  an  emblem 
of  the  salutiferous  advent  of  the  Messiah.  The 
mistletoe  they  cut  off  the  trees  with  their  upright 
hatchets  of  brass,  called  '  celts,'  put  upon  the  ends 
of  the  staffs  which  they  carried  in  their  hands. 
Innumerable  are  these  instruments  found  all  over 
the  British  isles.  The  custome  is  still  preserved  in 
the  north,  and  was  lately  at  York.  On  the  eve  of 
Christmas  Day  they  carried  mistletoe  to  the  high 
altar  of  the  cathedral,  and  proclaim  a  jjuhlic  and 
universal  liberty,  pal-don,  and  freedom  to  all  sorts 
of  inferior  and  even  wicked  people,  at  the  gntes  of 
the  city,  towards  the  four  quarters  of  hcjiven  " 
This  was  less  than  a  century  and  a  half  ajro.  All 
the  northern  nations  of  Europe  entertained  .-i  great 
respect  for  the  mistletoe  at  the  time  of  tli.'  y.';ir 
when  the  sun  approached  the  winter  so1-tif;\  ;uid 
the  use  of  the  plant  was  not  unknown  to  the  ;in  icnt 
Greeks  and  Romans,  for  we  find  allusions  nia<i  •  vo 
it  in  Virgil,  who  compares  the  golden  bnngh  in  Tn- 
fernis  to  the  mistletoe.  And  some  remnanr  of 
these  ancient  superstitions  remain  with  us  to  this 
day,  for  we  cannot  gaze  upon  it  without  some  ^li'j-ht 
feeling  of  reverence,  although  utterly  disconnected 
with  any  religious  ceremony,  unless  it  be  th^.t  of 


^<^- 


•<^'*1 


222 


Clj4  §iixitmx\  (P^onihlj. 


iiKitriiMony.  Mr.  Archdeacon  Nares  saj^s.  "The 
custom  longest  preserved  was  the  hanging  up  of  a 
bush  of  mistletoe  in  the  kitchen  or  servants'  liall, 
with  the  charm  attached  to  it  that  the  maid  who 
was  not  kissed  under  it  at  Christmas  would  not  be 
married  in  that  year."  Of  course  we  would  not 
charge  our  maidens  of  the  present  day  with  believ- 
ing in  such  -a  superstition  as  this,  but  there  are 
probably  few  of  them  who  would  like  the  season  to 
pass  away  without  having  one  kiss  under  the  mis- 
tletoe. 

The  mistletoe  being  so  much  associated  afc  this 
period  of  the  year  with  Holly,  Laurel,  Ivy,  and 
other  evergreens,  we  find  mention  of  it  in  con- 
nexion with  them  by  the  poets.     Gay  says  : 

"  When  rosemary  and  bays,  the  poet's  crown, 
Are  bawled  in  frequent  cries  Ihrough  aU  the  town, 
Then  judge  the  festival  of  Christmas  near, 
Christmas,  the  joyous  period  of  the  year! 
Now  with  bright  holly  all  the  temples  strow, 
With  laurel  green  and  sacred  mistletoe." 

Langhorne  in  his  poem  of  the  mistletoe  and  the 
passion-flower,  referring  to  his  schoolboys  days, 
says : — 

"  That  truant  time  full  well  I  know, 
When  here  I  brought  in  stolen  hour, 

The  Druid's  magic  mistletoe, 

The  holy  hermit's  passion-flower." 


a 


Shamrock  \Tnfolium  repens,  L.'\  from  an  Irish 
word,  seamrog^  which  seems  to  be  compounded  of 
seamar  ogh,  holy  Trefoil,  and  is  apparently  the 
same  as  the  Celtic  name  of  Clover  given  by  Mar- 
cellus  of  BorlJeaux,  physician  to  Theodosius  the 
Great,  visu7narn.s,  from  ?;i',  sheep,  and  sumar.  It 
is  usually  taken  to  be  the  Dutch  Clover,  and  this  is 
regarded  by  the  Irish  them.selves  as  the  right  Sham- 
rock, Mr.  Bicheno,  however,  in  a  paper,  of  which 
there  is  an  abstract  in  the  Philosophical  Magazine 
for  1830,  p.  288,  has  maintained  that  the  Wood 
Sorrel  is  entitled  to  this  honor,  on  the  ground  that 
the  Shamrock  is  represented  as  having  been  eaten 
by  the  Irish,  and  a  sour  plant;  that  it  is  abundant 
in  early  sju-ing  before  the  White  Clover  is  in  blos- 
som ;  and  that  it  is  called  Shamrog  by  the  older 
herbalists ;  while  the  Clover  is  not  esculent,  is  not 
sour,  and  was  not  common  itntil  it  was  introduced 
for  cultivation  in  the  17th  century,  and  not  in 
blossom  on  St.  Patrick's  day,  the  17th  of  March. 
Unfortunately,  in  the  sliort  abstract  given  of  his 
paper,  there  are  no  reference  to  the  Herbals  where 
the  Wood  Sorrel  is  called  Shamrag,  or  to  the  works 
in  which  this  is  said  to  be  sour.  Nares  quotes  from 
Taylor:— 


"  Whilst  all  the  Hibernian  Kernes  In  multitudes 
Did  feast  with  Shamerags  stew'd  in  usquebaugh." 


And  from  Wythers:  — 

"  Anil  f.ir  my  clothing  in  a  mantle  goe, 
And  feasts  on  Sham  roots  as  the  Irish  doe." 

But  such  sarcastic  allusions  as  these  prove  nothing. 
It  is  further  to  be  remembered  that,  as  it  was  upon 
the  leaf  of  the  plant  and  not  its  flower  that  St. 
Patrick  explained  the  Trinity,  it  is  nothing  to  the 
purpose  that  the  White  or  Dutch  Clover  is  not  in 
blo.ssom  on  his  day.  Any  Trefoil  would  have 
served  his  turn  equally  well.  It  is  scarcely  possi- 
ble that  Mr.  Bicheno  really  found  the  ftame  assigned 
in  old  Herbals  to  the  Wood  Sorrel,  for  neither  in 
our  English  works,  nor  in  Keogh's  Botanologia 
Hibernica,  is  this  the  case.  There  is  therefore  no 
ground  whatever  for  admitting  this  change,  and  the 
Shamrock  may  remain  as  before,  the  White  Clover. 
Prior  s  Popular  Names  of  British  Plants. 


^orfirnlfiiFEl  %%fdm 


CIRCULAE  OF  THE  AMERICAN  POMOLO- 
GICAL  SOCIETY. 

In  conformity  with  a  resolution  adopted  at  the 
last  meeting  of  this  National  Association,  the  un- 
dersigned give  notice  that  its  Tenth  Session  will 
commence  in  Corinthian  Hall,  in  the  city  of  Roches- 
ter, N.  y.,  on  Tuesday,  September  13th,  1864,  at 
12  o'clock,  noon,  and  will  continue  several  days. — 
All  Horticultural,  Pomological,  Agricultural  and  ' 
other  kindred  institutions  in  the  United  States  and 
the  Briti.--h  Provinces,  are  invited  to  send  delega- 
tions, as  large  as  they  may  deem  expedient ;  and 
all  other  persons  interested  in  the  cultivation  of 
fruits  are  invited  to.be  present  and  to  take  seats  in 
the  Convention.  The  great  Annual  Fair  of  the  N. 
York  State  Agricultural  Society  will  be  hold  at 
Rochester  on  the  following  week,  so  that  delegates 
who  desire  to  do  so  can  attend  both  meetings,  and 
those  who  contribute  collections  of  fruits  to  the 
Pomological  Society  can  afterwards  exhibit  them 
at  the  State  Fair.  Throughout  a  large  portion  of 
the  country  the  prospects  o'f  the  fruit  crop  are  very 
encouraging,  and  as  the  Fruit  Growers'  Society  of 
Western  New  York  will  place  its  entire  collection 
at  the  disposal  of  the  American  Pomological  Socie- 
to,  a  display  of  extraordinary  interest  may  reason- 
ably be  expected. 

Among  the  prominent  subjects  which  will  come 
before  the  Society  at  this  session  will  be  that  of  the 
revision  of  the  Society's  Catalogue  of  Fruits.  The 
Special  Committee  appointed  for  this  purpose  are 
now,  witla  the  various  State  and  local  committees, 


rj 


-^^^^^^' 


%X  (^Mtmx\  cPontljIjT. 


223 


actively  engaged  in  collecting  such  information  as 
will  aid  in  determining  what  varieties  are  best  adap- 
ted to  the  different  sections  of  our  country,  and 
this  information,  in  form  of  reports,  "will  be  submit- 
ted to  the  action  of  the  Convention. 

All  the  States  and  Territories  are  urgently  invi- 
ted to  be  present,  by  Delegation,  at  this  meeting, 
that  the  amicable  and  social  relations  which  have 
heretofore  existed  between  the  members  of  the 
Society  may  be  fostered  and  perpetuated,  and  the 
result  of  its  deliberations,  so  beneficial  to  the  coun- 
try at  large,  be  generally  and  widely  diffused. — 
Members  and  Delegates  are  requested  to  contribute 
specimens  of  the  fruits  of  their  respective  districts, 
and  to  communicate  in  regard  to  them  whatever 
may  aid  in  promoting  the  objects  of  the  Society 
and  the  science  of  American  Pomology.  Each 
contributor  is  requested  to  come  prepared  with  a 
complete  list  of  his  collection,  and  to  present  the 
same  with  his  fruits,  that  a  report  of  all  the  varie- 
ties entered  may  be  submitted  to  the  meeting  as 
soon  as  practicable. 

AH  persons  desirous  of  becoming  members  can 
remit  the  admission  fee  to  Thomas  P.  James,  Esq., 
Treasurer,  Philadelphia ;  or  to  the  President  at 
Boston,  who  will  furnish  them  with  Transactions  of 
the  Society.  Life  membership.  Ten  Dollars  ;  Bien- 
nial, Two  Dollars.  Packages  of  Fruits  may  be  ad- 
dressed as  follows  :  "  American  Pomological  Socie- 
ty, care  of  James  Vick,  Rochester,  N.  Y." 

JIarshall  p.  Wilder,  President, 
James  Vick,  Secretary. 


BUOOKLYN  HOETICULTITRAL  SOCIETY. 

This  energetic  society  is  progressing  considerably 
towards  a  superior  influence  in  Horticultural  affairs, 
and  we  look  for  it  to  take  its  place  as  a  permanent 
institution  alongside  of  its  sister  societies  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  Massachusetts.  In  some  particulars 
it  is  setting  both  a  better  example.  In  the  matter 
of  premiums,  in  particular,  it  is  very  liberal ;  at 
the  recent  exhibition  $10  was  offered  for  Cut- 
Flowers,  $30  for  Cut-Roses,  $8  for  Cut  Hardy 
Plants,  $15  for  best  4  bunches  Grapes,  $10  for 
Strawberries  and  so  on.  This  is  the  right  way  for 
societies  to  encourage  competition.  The  offer  of  a 
few  dollars  for  a  lot  of  stuff  that  will  scarcely,  per- 
haps, pay  porterage  across  the  street,  will  not  bring 
competition  from  any  one  but  those  who  live  but  a 
stone-throw  from  the  exhibition  hall,  and  who 
usually,  in  consequence,  sweep  the  whole  board  of 
premiums  offered,  through  no  competitors  having  a 
chance  to  offer  against  them. 

"^Ti ' 


The  liberality  of  the  Brooklyn  Society  induced 
us  to  expect  a  fine  exhibition,  and  we  consequently 
enlisted  a  friend  going  on,  to  take  notes  for  us.  He 
does  not  think  the  articles  exhibited  anything  near 
equal  to  what  he  has  seen  of  the  same  kind  at  the 
Philadelphia  shows,  but  found  everything  much 
better  than  he  expected.  Of  the  grapes,  particu- 
larly, he  thought  highly;  some  of  the  Muscats 
and  Hamburghs,  from  Fox  Meadow  Gardens, 
weighing  3  and  4  pounds  each, — and  these  too  he 
understood  from  vines  that  had  been  regularly 
forced  for  the  past  9  years. 

The  strawberries  he  thought  very  fine,  both  at 
the   Brooklyn   Horticultural   Society  and   at   the 
Agriculturist  office  where  there  was  an  exhibition 
going  on.     He  thinks  though,  of  all  he  seen,  new 
or  old,  the  Triomphe  de  Gand  was  still  the  best. 
The  general  impression   in  New  York,  however, 
was  that  the  season  was  so  very  poor  for  straw- 
berries, that  the  new  kinds  had  little  chance  to 
show  themselves  to  advantage, — where  one  plant  of 
these  were  grown  there  were  probably  a  thousand 
Triomphe  de  Gands,  and  by  so  much  a  greater  field 
to  select  fine  fruits  of  the  latter  from. 
We  give  below  an  abstract  of  the  award  list : — 
Flowers  and  Plants. — The  collection  is  too 
large  to  enumerate,  most  of  them  common  plants. 
The  Pelargoniums,  Fuchsias,  Seedling  Verbenas, 
Petunias,  Cut  Ro.ses,  Carnations,  hanging  baskets 
of  Flowers,  Orchids,  Cacti  and  Variegated  Leaved 
Plants  are  worthy  of  a  more  extended  notice. 
The  following  premiums  were  awarded : — 
Plants    in   Pots. — Best  collection,   Adolphus 
Wacker,  gardener  to  H.  Bearnes,  $30 ;  best  four 
specimens,  $10  ;  best  six  ornamental  leaved  plants, 
Mr.  Skinner,  gardener  to  Mr.  Hoyt,  Astoria,  $10 : 
second  best,  A.  Wacker,   &c,,  $5;  best  collection 
of  Cacti,  Wm.  Grant,  gardener  to  Mr.  Vanderven- 
ter,   Astoria,    $10 ;  best  single   specimen  Cactus, 
same,  $3  ;  best  six  Fuchsias.  Mr.  Skinner,  garde- 
ner to  Mr.  Hoyt,  $10 ;  second  best,  Jos.  Edwards, 
gardener  to   W.    C.    Pickersgill,   L.  I.,  $5;  best 
three  Fuchsias,  A.  Wacker,  &c.,$3;  second  best, 
Thomas  Templeton,  gardener  to  A.  E.  Masters,  $2  ; 
single  specimen  Erica,   Mr.    Skinner,  gardener  to 
Er.  Hoyt ;  best  collection  Orchids,  A.  Wacker,  &c., 
$20;  second  best,  Isaa**  Buchanan,   Astoria,  $10; 
best  single  specimen  Orchids,  A.  Wacker,  &c.,  $.'> ; 
best  12  Pelargoniums,  Mr.   Skinner,  gardener  to 
Mr.  Hoyt,  $3;  best  six  do.,  same,  $5;  best  single 
do.,  same,  $2  ;  best  collection  of  Petunias,  Andrew 
Bridgeman,  Astoria,  $3 ;  do.  Verbenas,  Mr.  Davi- 
son, $5  ;  best  collection  Seedlings,  $8. 


:=^^' 


Cut  Flowers. — Best  collection,  J.  Kavanagh, 
$10 ;  do,  second  best,  A.  Wacker,  gardener  to  H. 
Bearnes,  Astoria,  $6  ;  best  Roses,  Andrew  Bridge- 
man,  Astoria,  $30;  do.  second  best,  Dailledouze 
&  Zeller,  $12  ;  best  12  hybrid  perpetual  Roses,  A. 
M.  Henning,  gardener  to  J.  Park,  $6  ;  second  best, 
James  Weir,  $2 ;  best  12  moss  Roses,  A.  M.  Hen- 
ning, &c.,$4;  second  best,  Dailledouze  &  Zeller, 
$3  ;  best  collection  of  herbaceous  Paeonies,  Prince, 
of  Flushing,  $6. 

Basket  and  Bouquets.— Best  arranged  basket 
of  Cut  Flowers,  P.  Reid  &  Son,  Brooklyn,  $10: 
second  best,  Beattie  &  Foulis,  N.  Y.,  $6;  third 
best,  J.  Kavanagh,  $3  ;  best  table  Bouquet,  Mrs. 
Chamberlain,  $4;  second  best,  James  Weir,  jr., 
$2  ;  best  pair  hand  Bouquets,  Thomas  Templeton, 
gardener  to  A.  E.  Masters,  $5  ;  second  best,  James 
Mallon,  $3  ;  third  best,  James  Weir,  jr.,  $3  ;  best 
hanging  Basket,  A.  C.  Chamberlain,  $G ;  second 
best,  same,  $4. 

Strawberries. — The  Tnhunc  prize  berries — 
Brooklyn  Scarlet,  Monitor  and  Col.  Ellsworth — 
were  shown  in  ^great  perfection.  Triomphe  de 
Gand  and  Russell  also  looked  well.  Thos.  Cavanagh 
took  the  first  prize  of  $15  for  the  best  20  sorts. 
The  second  prize  of  $10  went  to  A.  S.  Fuller  for 
his  collection.  Mr.  W.  F.  Hoins  showed  22  varie- 
ties, among  them,  several  white  sorts  of  promise. 
E.  Williams,  of  New  Jersey  had  20  sorts,  among 
the  finest  of  which  was  the  Triomphe. 

Grapes  from  the  hot-house  showed  off  well. 
Some  really  superb  clusters  of  Black  Hamburgh, 
Muscat  of  Alexandria,  Bowood  Muscat,  Zinfindel, 
St.  Peter,  &c. ,  were  shown  by  John  Ellis,  of  Fox 
Meadow,  N.  Y.,  who  bore  off  six  prizes  on  these 
and  other  grapes,  amounting  to  $40. 

Wax  Work. — The  show  of  Fruits  and  Flowers 
was  equal  to  anything  we  have  seen ;  some  of  it 
was  really  elegant.  The  best  and  second  best  bas- 
ket of  Wax  Flowers,  by  Mrs.  Anna  Smith,  were 
awarded  $25,  while  the  Judges  give  Miss  De  Wolfe 
$15  for  a  splendid  dish  of  Wax  Fruit,  and  Mrs. 
Van  Zandt  $10  for  a  basket  of  Fruit. 

Aquarium.  An  award  of  $20  was  given  Drake 
&  Palmer  for  the  best,  and  $15  to  C.  H.  Baxter 
for  second  best  do. — Neto  York  Tribune. 


EXHIBITION  OF  THE   TORONTO  HORTI- 
CULTURAL SOCIETY. 

The  first  Exhibition  of  the  Toronto  Horticultu- 
ral Society,  for  the  present  year,  took  place  in  the 
Music  Hall,  on  the  Queen's  birth-day,  and  was 
.among  the  most  successful  shows  of  the  kind  ever 


held  in  the  city.  The  attendance  was  large,  ex- 
ceeding that  of  any  previous  exhibition,  the  hall, 
especially  during  the  evening,  being  uncomfortably 
crowded.  The  display  of  Flowers,  Plants  and  Ve- 
getables was  really  fine  and  decidedly  the  best  the 
society  has  yet  made.  There  were  eight  large 
tables,  covering  fully  one  half  of  the  floor  of  the 
hall,  and  every  inch  of  them  was  occupied  by  either 
Flowers,  Fruits,  or  Vegetables — of  the  latter  there 
was  a  fine  collection,  considering  the  backwardness 
of  the  season.  The  Rhubarb,  Celery,  Lettuce. 
Onions  and  Cucumbers  were  very  fine,  while  the 
Asparagus  could  not,  we  believe,  be  surpassed.  The 
Floral  collection,  however,  offered  the  chief  attrac- 
tion, and  a  great  attraction  it  certainly  was.  The 
Geraniums,  Roses,  Fuchias,  Gloxinias,  Tulips,  and 
Verbenas  were  highly  creditable  to  their  respective 
exhibitors.  Mr.  Fleming's  collection  of  Geranium 
blooms,  was  much  and  deservedly  admired.  So 
were  Mr.  Gray's  hybrid  perpetual  Roses.  But  the 
most  attractive  objects  among  the  flowers  were  the 
first  prize  Verbenas,  exhibited  by  Mr.  G.  Vair, 
gardener  to  D.  L.  McPherson,  Esq.  These  were 
the  observed  of  all  observers  on  account  of  a  sim- 
ple but  most  effective  mode  of  training,  whereby 
the  creeping  habit  of  this  flower  is  corrected  and 
the  spikelets  of  bloom  made  to  stand  erect. 

There  was  a  large  table  devoted  exclusively  to 
Foliage  Plants  and  specimens  of  new  and  rare 
plants  which  were  much  admired,  particularly  by 
those  versed  in  botany.  Some  very  beautiful  and 
tastefully  arranged  Bouquets — table  and  hand- 
were  also  exhibited.  The  collection  of  Fruits  was 
small,  as  of  course,  must  be  the  case  at  this  season. 
A  very  fine  Orange  plant,  bearing  fruit,  stood  at 
the  liead  of  one  of  the  tables  and  was  an  object  of 
unusual  attraction. 

The  Hon.  G.  Allan's  gardener  exhibited  some 
table  Apples  which,  though  long  since  out  of  sea- 
son, appeared  as  fresh  and  sound  as  when  taken 
from  the  tree.  It  is  said  that  Mr.  Allan  has  a 
secret  for  preserving  tenderapples  from  decay  and 
keeynng  them  sound  and  fresh-looking  for  any  length 
of  time.  If  so,  we  hope  he  will  let  the  entire 
brotherhood  of  Horticulturists  have  the  benefit  of 
it  without  delay.  A  rare  fruit  from  the  hot-house 
of  Judgie  Harrison  attracted  n)uch  attention,  from 
its  shape  and  taste.  It  somewhat  resembles  a  cu- 
eun;V.v'r  in  appearance,  and  its  flavor  is  not  unlike 
that  of  the  Pine-apple.  It  is  named  the  Phihden- 
drnn  j>i rfvosiim.  The  Horticultural  Society  have 
reasn-.  to  be  proud  of  their  first  exhibition  for  this 
year,  and  we  trust  future  ones  will  surpass  that  just 
held.— Ca»ia(^a  Farmer. 


^^^ 


"m 


NO.  8. 


FLOWER-GARDSW    AND 
GROUND. 


PLEASURE 


Persons  who  have  small  places  are  often  exercised 
as  to  the  best  way  to  lay  them  out.  A  too  common 
error  is  to  attempt  too  much.  Having  read  of  fine 
specimens  of  taste,  or  imbibed  a  love  of  the  art 
from  some  superior  work  on  Landscape  Gardening, 
or  some  friend's  extensive  country-seat,  it  is  quite 
natural  to  wish  to  make  the  most  of  a  limited  plot. 
And  this  making  the  most  of  the  thing  implies  a 
good  deal,  while  it  leads  into  many  errors.  The 
relation  of  the  means  to  the  end  should  never  be 
lost  eight  of,  and  nothing  attempted  that  has  not 
some  well-defined  object. 

When  a  house  is  built,  the  first  object  is  to  con- 
nect it  with  the  public  road,  with  the  stable,  and 
with  the  ofiices.  lu  laying  out  these  roads,  conve- 
nience and  beauty  must  be  consulted.  The  first 
suggests  to  go  'straight  on;'  the  last  whispers, 
'curve  gracefully  round.'  Convenience  being  the 
chief  object,  must  be  respected  ;  and  whatever  de- 
viations from  the  straight  line  is  allowed  to  the  im- 
portunities of  beautj'^,  should  be  done  from  a  seem- 
ing compulsion.  Hence  the  curve  should  have  its 
salient  point  filled  with  a  heap  of  roots  or  rocks,  or 
a  thick  mass  of  shrubbery  ;  or,  what' is  still  better, 
the  soil  should  be  raised  to  form  a  rise  or  knoll,  as 
if  the  road  had  to  be  taken  around  to  avoid  the  ob- 
struction. Much  may  be  done  for  a.small  plot  by 
this  plaft  of  making  the  surface  irregular.  A.  dead 
level,  or  a  regular  plnne,  looks  smaller  than  itreallj' 
is.  Around  the  house,  it  should  be  so,  as  a  svid- 
den  tran;-ition  from  the  delicacies  of  art  in  the 
building,  to  the  i-oughness  of  nature  in  the  grounds^ 


is  offensive, — but  a  little  distance  off,  very  lively 
effects  may  be  obtained  by  taking  off  a  little  soil 
here,  and  adding  there,  so  as  to  make  the  surface 
broken  and  irregular.  The  effect  may  still  further 
be  increased  by  planting  the  rises,  and  leaving  the 
lower  surfaces  bare.  To  still  further  give  the  idea 
of  extent,  shrubbery  should  be  planted  in  irregular 
masses  to  conceal  the  fences  and  boundaries  ;  and 
many  objects  on  the  place  itself  may  be  partially 
concealed  by  planting  all  with  the  view  of  exciting 
the  curiosity  to  know  '  how  much  more  is  beyond. ' 
Besides  the  mere  purposes  of  shade  from  the  sun, 
and  screen  from  winds,  large  growing  trees  should 
not  be  employed  in  decorating  the  property,  as  all 
large  objects  lessen  the  apparent  size  of  the  lot. 
Besides,  small  and  medium  growing  trees  afford  a 
greater  variety. 

The  walks  being  decided  on  with  a  view  to  con- 
venience and  beauty,  and  the  general  idea  of  giving 
the  plot  the  appearance  of  as  much  extent  as  pos- 
sible, being  kept  in  view,  it  may  be  useful  to  say 
something  as  to  the  making  of  walks  and  lawns, 
and  preparing  the  soil  for  trees  and  vegetabjes. 
A  carriage-road  on  a  small  place  should  be  at  least 
eight  feet  wide.  If  so  large,  or  the  road  so  long 
that  there  is  a  chance  of  carriages  meeting,  it  should 
be  fourteen  feet.  There  is  not  much  use  in  under- 
draining  most  roads ;  it  is  better  to  make  provision 
for  the  water  to  run  freely  over  the  surface.  The 
road  should  be  dug  out  six  inches  deep,  and  filled 
up  entirely  to  the  surface  with  rough  stones,  the 
harder  the  better.  When  full,  the  surface  should  be 
broken  very  fine  with  the  hammer.  The  surface 
stones  are  usually  broken  to  the  size  of  hens'  eggs, 
but  if  still  smaller  so  much  the  better.  Then  sand 
should  be  put  over  the  broken  stone  sufficient  to 
fill  in  the  spaces,  and  over  the  whole  enough  gravel 
or  whatever  material  is  employed,  to  just  cover  the 
sand  ;  so  that,  when  finished,  the  broken  stone  will 
not  be  more  than  a  quarter  of  an  inch,  at  most,  be- 
neath the  surface.  Should  the  road  be  steep,  pro- 
vision must  be  made  to  guard  against  washing  by 
heavy  rains,  either  by  small  gutters  of  stone   or 


m 


mi 


jf:^ 


226 


©hit  Smimtf^  cPonthlj. 


brick,  or  by  inserting  cross  bara  occasionally  to 
carry  the  water  over  the  verges  of  the  road.  It 
inay  be  further  remarked,  in  road-making,  that  the 
extent  of  a  lawn  is  apparently  increased  by  having 
the  walk  or  road  sunk  some  inches  below  the  gen- 
eral surface.  On  the  other  hand,  a  full  walk  seems 
to  lessen  the  space.  Small  foot-paths  need  not  be 
dug  out  over  four  inches,  but  in  other  respects  they 
should  be  constructed  as  the  others.  Roads,  in  all 
cases,  should  have  both  sides  nearly,  or  quite  level 
— where  one  .side  is  higher  than  the  other,  besides 
the  unpleasantness  to  pedestrians,  carriages  wear 
Buch  roads  rapidly  away,  by  the  weight  being  so 
much  greater  on  the  lower  wheels. 

In  preparing  the  grounds,  it  shoTzld  be  remem- 
bered that  grass  and  trees  are  not  only  required  to 
grow  therein,  but  that  they  must  grow  well  The 
top  soil  of  the  lot  is  often  covered  by  the  soil  from 
the  excavations,  trusting  to  heavy  manuring  to  pro- 
mote fertility.  But  this  is  a  too  slow  and  expensive 
process.  The  top  surface  soil  should,  in  all  cases, 
be  saved,  and  replaced  over  the  baser  soil.  Also, 
where  it  is  necessary  to  lower  a  piece  of  ground, 
the  top-  soil  should  be  saved  to  place  over  again. 
The  depth  of  the  soil  is  an  important  matter,  both 
for  the  trees  and  tbe  lawn.  It  should  be  at  least 
eighteen  inches  deep.  In  shallow  soils  grass  will 
burn  out  under  a  few  days  of  hot  sun.  In  a  soil 
eighteen  inches  deep  a  lawn  will  be  green  in  the 
driest  weather.  For  the  sake  of  the  trees,  also,  the 
ground  should  be  not  only  deep,  but  rich.  If  from 
thirty  to  forty  loads  of  stable-manure  to  the  acre 
could  be  appropriated,  it  would  be  money  well 
spent.  Life  is  too  short  for  it  to  be  an  object  to 
wait  too  long  for  trees  to  grow,  and  planting  large 
ones  is  an  expensive,  as  well  as  unsatisfactory  busi- 
ness. A  tree  in  a  rich  and  deep  soil  will  grow  as 
much  in  one  year  as  in  five  in  a  poor  one.  So  in 
preparing  a  lawn,  it  is  fortunate  that,  while  aiming 
at  the  best  effects,  we  are  helping  our  trees  also. 
It  is  generally  best  to  sow  for  a  lawn  than  to  sod, 
where  much  of  it  has  to  be  done.  The  edges  of 
the  road  must,  of  course,  be  sodded,  the  balance 
neatly  raked  over  and  sown.  The  best  kind  of  grass 
to  be  employed  in  seeding  is  a  disputed  point,  and 
it  will,  no  doubt  depend  in  a  great  measure  on- the 
lociility.  Philadelphia  and  northward,  the  peren- 
nial rye  grass  is  excellent.  It  commences  to  grow 
very  esriy,  and  h-as  a  peculiar  lively,  shining  green. 
South  of  Philadeliihia  it  is  very  liable  to  get  burned 
out  in  summe-r,  and  the  -Kentucky  blue  grass  would 
be  much  better.  It-is  mucJi  the  best  to  have  but 
one  kind  of  grass  for  a  lawo,  provided  it  is  suited 
to  the  locality.     A  mixture  of  kinds  is  apt  to  give 


a  spotted  and  variegated  character,  not  at  all  pleas- 
ing. Some  people  like  to  see  white  clover  growing 
thickly  in  a  lawn,  and  others  object  to  any  thing 
but  green.  However,  if  a  good  gra^.s-rake  is  em- 
ployed freely  in  summer  time,  the  heads  of  these 
flowers  may  be  kept  from  expanding.  Where  there 
is  a  prospect  of  a  month  of  growing  weatlier,  lawns 
may  still  be  sown  with  grass  seed, — the  clover, 
where  used,  to  be  kept  for  sowing  in  April  or 
March  next.  A  small  quantity  of  rye  should  be 
thinly  sown  with  the  grass,  which,  by  the  shade  it 
affords,  will  prevent  the  grass  from  being  thrown 
out  by  the  frost.  The  r^'e  must,  of  course,  be  closely 
cut  in  the  spring,  to  allow  the  grass  to  get  ahead 
of  it. 

The  latter  end  of  August  is  one  of  the  best  sea- 
sons of  the  year  to  transplant  evergreens.  The 
young  growth  of  the  past  season  has  got  pretty  well 
hardened,  so  as  to  permit  of  but  very  little  evapo- 
ration,— and  the  earth  being  warm,  new  roots  push 
with  great  rapidity,  and  the  tree  becomes  estab- 
lished in  the  ground  before  cold  autumn  winds  be- 
gin. The  chief  difficulty  is  that  the  soil  is  usually 
very  dry,  which  prevents  much  speed  with  the  op- 
eration ;  and  the  weather  being  usually  very  warm, 
the  trees  have  to  be  set  again  in  the  ground  almost 
as  fast  as  they  are  taken  up  ;  so  that  it  is  not  safe 
to  bring  them  from  a  distance.  It  is  as  well,  there- 
fore, to  make  all  ready  in  anticipation  of  a  rain, 
when  no  time  may  be  lost  in  having  the  work  pushed 
through.  Should  a  sjiell  of  dry  weather  ensue,— 
which  in  September  and  October  is  very  likely, — 
one  good  watering  should  be  given,  sufficient  to 
soak  well  through  the  soil  and  well  about  the  roots. 
A  basin  should  be  made  to  keep  the  water  from 
running  away  from  the  spot,  and  to  assist  its  soak- 
ing in.  After  being  well  watered,  the  loose  soil 
should  be  drawn  in  lightly  over  the  watered  .soil, 
which  will  then  aid  in  preventing  the  water  from 
drying  out  soon  again. 

As  soon  in  the  fall  as  bulbs  can  be  obtained,  they 
should  be  planted, — though  this  will  not  generally 
be  the  case  till  October, — but  it  is  as  well  to  bear 
in  mind  that  the  earlier  they  are  planted,  the  finer 
they  will  flower. 

Towards  the  end  of  the  month,  and  in  Septem- 
ber, evergreen  hedges  should  receive  their  last 
pruning  till  the  next  summer.  Last  spring,  and  in 
the  summer,  when  a  strong  growth  required  it,  the 
hedge  has  been  severely  pruned  towards  the  apex 
of  the  cone-like  form  in  which  it  has  been  trained, 
and  the  base  has  been  suffered  to  grow  any  way  it 
pleases.  Now  that,  in  turn,  has  come  under  the 
shears,  so  far  as  to  get  it  into  regular  shape  and 


>^Vj — - 


m 


ih^  ©Hrdmr'a  Pontltlg. 


227 


form.  It  will  not  be  forgotten  that,  to  be  verj'  suc- 
cessful with  evergreen  hedges,  they  ought  to  have 
a  growth  at  the  base  of  at  lea.st  four  feet  in  diameter. 


FRUIT    GAEDEN. 

August  and  September  are  favorite  months  to 
plant  out  Strawberries,  with  those  who  desire  a  crop 
of  fruit  the  next  season.  In  making  a  strawberrj'- 
bed,  a  warm,  dry  spot  of  ground  should  be  chosen, 
with,  if  possible,  a  good  loamy  or  clayey  subsoil. 
A  moist,  wet  situation  is  very  unfavorable.  It  is 
best  to  subsoil  at  least  two  feet  deep,  and  if  the  soil 
is  poor,  let  it  be  moderately  enriched  with  well  de- 
cayed stable  manure.  In  setting  out,  take  care  that 
the  plants  do  not  become  dry  from  the  time  they  arc 
taken  up  till  they  are  replanted,  and  see  that  they 
do  not  wither  afterwards.  Many  persons  cut  off 
the  leaves,  if  they  are  afraid  of  their  wilting  under 
hot  suns,  but  a  much  better  plan  is  to  shade.  In- 
verted 4-inch  flower-pots  are  excellent  for  this  pur- 
pose ;  they  may  be  taken  off  at  night.  The  dews 
will  so  invigorate  them,  that  the  shade  will  only  bj 
required  for  a  few  days.  Sometimes  in  September 
they  may  need  a  good  watering ;  but  this  should 
never  be  attempted  unless  a  thorough  saturation 
of  the  bed  is  given  ;  and  in  a  few  days  after,  the 
hoe  and  the  rake  should  be  employed  to  loosen  and 
level  the  surface,  which  the  heavy  watering  will,  in 
all  probability,  have  caused  to  bake  and  become 
very  crusty. 

Strawberries  are  best  grown  in  beds  about  four 
feet  wide  for  the  convenience  in  gathering  the  fruit, 
and  giving  them  the  best  of  cultivation.  About 
three  rows  in  a  bed,  and  the  plants  twelve  inches 
apart  in  the  row,  will  be  a  good  arrangement. 

As  soon  as  the  fruit  has  been  perfected  on  the 
Raspberry,  the  canes  that  have  borne  should  be  at 
once  cut  out.  Sop-e  kinds  throw  up  suckers  very 
freely,  and  by  this  means  rob  one  another  and  cause 
a  very  poor  crop  to  be  produced  the  next  season. 
No  time  should  be  lost  in  thinning  out  the  weaker 
ones,  and  only  enough  canes  left  that  will  be  re- 
quired to  produce  a  crop  the  next  season.  The 
Raspberry  ought  to  be  so  treated  in  the  summer, 
that  no  pruning  will  be  required  in  tlie  spring  but 
to  shorten  the  ends  of  the  canes.  In  rare  kinds, 
where  it  is  of  more  importance  to  get  up  a  stock 
of  young  plants,  than  to  get  a  crop  of  fruit,  this 
advice  will  not,  of  course,  apply. 

Blackberries  will,  in  the  main  require  very  much 
the  same  treatment  as  the  Raspberry.  They  are 
also  very  liable  to  sucker  up  more  than  is  desirable, 
and  much  attention  will  be  required  to  keep  them 


within  due  bounds.  Neither  of  these  two  kinds  of 
fruit  should  be  planted  near  a  lawn,  as  the  roots, 
if  they  once  get  into  the  grass,  are  very  difficult  of 
eradication  and  as  troublesome  as  the  vilest  weeds. 

Many  kinds  of  fruit  trees  that  have  arrived  at  a 
bearing  age,  may  perhaps  be  growing  very  vigor- 
ously and  producing  very  little  or  no  fruit.  Those 
who  have  read  our  remarks  in  past  numbers,  will 
understand  that  whatever  checks  the  wood  produ- 
cing principle,  tends  to  throw  the  plant  into  a  bear- 
ing state.  For  this  purpose,  summer  pruning  is 
often  employed,  which,  by  checking  the  most  vig- 
orous shoots,  weakens  the  whole  plant,  and  throws 
it  into  a  fruitful  condition.  The  same  result  is 
obtained  by  root  pruning,  with  this  difference,  that 
by  the  last  operation  the  whole  of  the  branches  are 
proportionately  checked,  while  by  pinching  only 
the  strong-growing  shoots,  the  weak  ones  gain  at 
the  expense  of  the  stronger  ones.  Presuming  that 
the  branches  have  been  brought  into  a  satij-factory 
condition  in  this  respect,  root  pruning  may  now 
this  month  be  resorted  to.  We  cannot  say  exactly 
how  far  from  the  trunk  the  roots  may  be  operated 
on,  so  much  depends  on  ttie  age  and  vigor  of  the 
tree.  In  a  luxuriant,  healthy  tree,  one-fourth  may 
be  safely  dispensed  with.  In  a  four  year  old  stand- 
ard Pear  tree,  for  instance,  the  roots  will  perhaps 
have  reached  four  feet  from  the  trunk  on  every  side. 
A  circle  six  feet  in  diameter  may  then  be  cut 
around  the  stem,  extending  two  feet  beneath  the 
surface.  It  is  not  necessary  to  dig  out  the  soil  to 
accomplish  the  result ;  a  post  spade,  or  strong  spade 
of  any  kind,  may  be  driven  down  vigorously,  des- 
cribing the  circle,  and  doing  the  work  very  effectu- 
ally. Of  all  trees,  the  Peach  is  as  much  benefited 
by  root  pruning  as  any. 

Many  of  the  diseases  of  the  Peach  tree  appear 
to  arise  from  the  effect  of  hard  winters  on  the 
over-vigorous  and  half-ripened  shoots.  Root  prun- 
ing has  alwa^'s  the  tendency,  not  only  to  throw  a 
tree  into  bearing  early,  but  also  to  ripen  the  wood 
early  in  the  season,  and  before  ths  frost  can  act 
much  to  injury. 

The  Grape  vine  at  this  season  will  require  atten- 
tion, to  see  that  the  leaves  are  all  retained  healthy 
till  thoroughly  ripened.  It  is  not  a  sign  of  healthi- 
ness for  a  vine  to  grow  late  :  on  the  contrary,  such 
late  growth  generally  gets  killed  in  the  winter, — 
but  the  leaves  should  all  stay  on,  to  insure  the 
greatest  health  of  the  vine,  until  the  frost  comes, 
when  they  should  all  be  so  mature  as  to  fall  to- 
gether. Frequent  heavy  syringings  areamonst  the 
be.st  ways  to  keep  off  insects  from  out-door  grapes, 
and  so  protect  the  foliage  from  their  ravages. 

;sr—z:§^ 


228 


€\t  €mkmx%  llontljlg. 


i 


HOT  AND  GREENHOUSE. 

Preparations  mupt  nnw  be  marie  ■with  a  view  to 
stocking  the  houses  for  the  next  winter  and  spring's 
use.  Geraniums  of  all  kinds  maj'  now  be  readily 
struck.  A  frame  in  a  shady  place,  set  on  some 
light  sandy  soil  in  the  open  air,  affords  one  of  the 
best  places  possible  for  striking  all  kinds  of  half- 
ripened  wood.  A  partial  shade  is  at  all  times  best 
for  cuttings  at  the  start,  though  the  sooner  they 
can  be  made  to  accustom  themselves  safely  to  the 
full  light,  the  better  do  they  usually  do. 

Seed  of  many  things  may  also  be  sown  for  winter 
and  spring  blooming,  particularly  Cineraria,  Calce- 
olaria, Pansy,  Daisy,  Chinese  Primrose,  and  some 
of  the  annuals.  Great  care  is  necessary  with  the 
Calceolaria.  The  seed  is  so  small,  that  it  rebels  at 
the  smallest  covering  of  soil.  The  best  way  is  to 
sow  it  on  the  surface,  water  well,  and  then  cover 
with  a  pane  of  glass  until  fairly  germinated  ;  this 
will  prevent  evaporation  and  consequent  drying  of 
the  seed.  Almost  al-1  kinds  of  seeds  germinate  most 
readily  in  partial  shade ;  but  as  soon  as  possible 
after  germination,  they  should  be  inured  to  as 
much  light  as  they  will  bear. 

Many  kinds  of  greenhouse  plants,  as  Oranges, 
Lemons,  Camellias,  etc.,  may  be  inarched  or  budded 
at  this  season.  The  process  of  inarching  is  simple, 
and  consists  merely  in  bringing  the  shoots  of  two 
different  plants  together.  The  bark  is  very  lightly 
shaved  for  half  an  inch  or  more  on  each  shoot, 
which  are  then  both  tied  together,  and  in  about 
two  months  the  union  may  be  examined,  and  if 
found  sufficiently  strong,  the  scion  may  be  separa- 
ted and  suffered  to  go  for  better  or  for  worse  with 
the  stock  you  have  selected  for  its  helpmate 
through  life. 

4*m»» 

VEGETABLE  GARDEN. 

Towards  the  end  of  the  month,  a  sowing  of  Spi- 
nach may  be  made  in  rich  soil,  which  will  come  in 
use  before  winter.  That  desired  for  winter  and 
early  spring  use,  is  usually  sown  in  September  in 
this  region.  A  few  Turnips  may  be  also  sown  for 
an  early  crop,  but  will  be  hot  and  stringy  unless 
the  soil  is  very  rich. 

As  fast  as  Etidivc  is  desired  for  salad,  it  should 
be  blanched.  Matting  thrown  over  is  the  best  for 
this  purpose,  as  the  plants  are  not  so  liable  to  rot 
as  when  pots  or  boards  are  employed.  In  cold  or 
mountainous  regions,  Melons  are  hastened  in  the 
ripening  process  and  improved  in  flavor,  by  a  piece 
of  tile  being  placed  under  the  fruit. 

Celery  will  require  earthing  up  as  it  grows,  to 
get  it  to  blanch  well.     It  is  not  well,  however,  to 


commence  too  early,  as  earthing  up  tends,  in  a 
slight  degree,  to  weaken  the  growth  of  the  plants. 
Take  care,  also,  not  to  let  the  soil  get  into  the  heart 
in  earthing,  or  the  crown  is  apt  to  rot. 

At  this  season  of  the  year,  more  than  perhaps  at 
any  other,  it  is  important  to  hoe  and  rake  between 
rows  of  growing  crops.  A  loose  surface  soil  not 
only  admits  the  various  gases  that  the  roots  luxuriate 
in,  but  it  also  prevents  evaporation  and  checks  a 
too  great  absorption  of  heat,  and  then,  besides  all 
this,  the  weeds  are  kept  down,  and  neatness  and 
order  reigns.  After  every  heavy  shower,  if  the  time 
can  at  all  be  spared,  the  hoe  and  the  rake  should 
be  freely  employed. 


BIRDS   vs.  SQUIRRELS   FOR   PUBLIC 
SQUARES. 

Report  of  Committee  on  Entomology  of  Pennsylva- 
nia Horticultural  Society,  submittedJune  21,  '64>. 
Whereas,  It  is  a  subject  of  earnest  inquirj'^  among 
Horticulturists,  Pomologists,  and  others,  how  best 
to  destroy  the  various  insects  that  so  seriously 
interfere  with  their  operations,  and  are  especially 
destructive  to  the  shade  trees  of  our  city ;  and  it 
being  universally  admitted  that  birds  are  among 
the  most  effectual  agents  to  that  end.     And, 

Whereas,  It  is  the  opinion  of  many  that  the 
squirrels  in  our  public  squares  have  driven  away 
the  many  birds  that  formerly  flourished  there,  and 
built  their  nests  in  the  trees ;  Therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  subject  be  referred  to  the 
Committee  on  Entomology,  with  directions  to  in- 
quire and  report  on  the  following  points,  with  the 
view  of  laying  the  matter  before  the  City  Councils 
for  their  action  if  thought  advisable  : 

First.  Were  the  birds  more  numerous  in  the 
public  squares  previous  to  the  introduction  of  the 
squirrels  in  them  than  they  are  now  ? 

Second.  Do  the  squirrels  interfere  with  or  de- 
stroy their  nests  ? 

Third.  Can  any  plan  be  adopted  to  encourage 
birds  to  build  their  nests  in  the  trees  in  our  public 
squares,  and  throughout  the  city  'generally,  by 
placing  boxes  for  their  accommodation  or  otherwise? 
Fourth.  Can  any  measure  be  suggested  for  the 
consideration  of  the  proper  authorities,  to  more 
effectually  protect  birds  and  their  nes's  from  in-. 


jury 


The  foregoing  preamble  and  resolutions,  submit- 


jr 


'(9V»- 


Sflje  gardener's  Jttanlljlj, 


229 


ted  by  Mr.  Hagner  at  a  former  meeting  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Horticultural  Society,  and  refei-red  to 
their  Committee  on  Entomology,  to  inquire  and  re- 
port thereon,  although  involving  some  questions 
coming  more  properly  within  the  sphere  of  a  mam- 
mologist  or  an  ornithologist^  have  nevertheless  been 
duly  considered,  and  in  relation  to  which,  your 
committee  beg  leave  to  offer  the  following  sugges- 
tions : — 

In  regard  to  the^rs^  proposition,  as  to  whether 
the  birds  were  more  numerous  in  the  public  squares. 
of  Philadelphia  previous  to  the  introduction  of  the 
squirrels  into  them  than  they  are  now,  your  com- 
mittee, for  obvious  reasons,  cannot  all  be  equally 
positive ;  but,  they  are  of  the  opinion  that  they 
were ;  and,  if  any  doubt  had  existed  in  the  minds 
of  those  members  of  the  committee  who  reside  in 
localities  remote  from  those  under  discussion,  it 
would  have  been  dissipated  by  the  admission  of 
the  writer  of  the  foregoing  preamble,  where  allu- 
sion is  made  to  "  themany  birds  that  formerly  flour- 
ished thereJ^ 

During  parts  of  the  j^ears  1833  and  1834,  the 
chairman  of  your  committee  was  a  resident  of  the 
City  of  Philadelphia,  and  although  he  made  no 
special  note  of  it,  yet,  according  to  the  best  of.  his 
recollection  of  the  matter,  there  were  then  no 
squirrels  in  the  public  squares,  nor  were  there  any 
complaints  about  the  ravages  of  destructive  insects. 
Of  these  latter,  doubtless,  many  existed,  but  their 
limited  depredations  were  not  sufficient  to  excite 
the  alarm,  or  even  the  special  notice  of  the  people  ; 
moreover,  during  the  months  of  May  and  June, 
the  public  squares  seemed  freely  visited  by  birds, 
and  vocal  with  their  songs. 

Your  committee,  therefore,  in  this  connection 
venture  to  suggest,  that  had  the  same  fostering 
care  been  extended  towards  the  birds  that  has  been 
uniformly  extended  towards  the  squirrels,  there 
would  not  have  been  at  this  daj'  the  same  causes 
of  complaint  against  the  destruction  of  the  fruit 
and  foliage,  as  well  as  the  trunks,  of  the  city  trees, 
by  noxious  insects.  Other  members  of  the  com- 
mittee, who  have  been  more  constantly  residents 
near  the  localities  under  consideration,  will  be  able 
to  give  a  more  conclusive  testimony  as  to  whether 
the  birds  were  more  numerous,  and  destructive  in- 
sects fewer  in  number,  before  the  introduction  of 
the  squirrels  in  the  public  squares,  than  they  are 
at  the  present  time. 

In  regard  to  the  second  proposition,  as  to  whether 
the  squirrels  interfere  with  or  destroy  the  nests  of 
the  birds,  your  committee  answer,  tliat  it  is  not 
improbable  that  they  do, — at  least  that  they  may 


very  seriously  interfere  with  them,  if  they  do  not 
actually  destroy  them, — and  this  <5onclusion  is  de- 
duced from  the  nature  and  habits  of  both  the  ani- 
mals in  question.  Squirrels  are  essentially  arboreal 
in  their  habits,  and  most  of  insectivorous  birds  are 
equally  so ;  and  this  being  the  case,  there  would 
verj'  likely  be  a  trespass  on  each  others  domain, — 
the  stronger  and  more  courageous  driving  off  and 
possessing  the  premises  of  {he  more  timid  and  or 
the  weak. 

Although  the  various  species  of  squirrels  consti- 
tute a  family  belonging  to  the  order  Rodentia,  or 
'  gnawers,'  and  their  food  consists  entirely  of  nuts, 
.grain,  and  sometimes  the  buds  and  young  leaves  of 
trees  ;  yet  it  is  recorded  of  a  British  species,  that 
it  is  carnivorous  as  well  as  frugivorous,  and  that 
"it  attacks  young  birds,  and  greedily  devours 
them,  nor  is  even  the  Wood-pigeon  safe  from  its 
assaults." 

Although,  without  any  positive  evidence  of  the 
carnivorous  habits  of  squirrels,  yet  it  is  not  impos- 
sible that  their  gastronomic  nature  may  undergo 
some  modification  or  change,  by  long  contact  with 
the  aliments  of  civilization  or  domestication,  as  in 
the  public  squares.  It  is  said  of  the  Lion,  even  in 
his  native  wilds,  when  he  has  once  tasted  human 
blood,  he  forever  after  prefers  that  kind  of  food  ; 
and  that  squirrels  should  learn  to  prefer  other  than 
their  usual  food,  is  no  more  remarkable  than  what 
is  every  day  witnessed  in  partially  or  wholly  dom- 
esticated animals  of  other  natural  orders. 

But  even  if  it  were  conclusively  manifest  that 
squirrels  do  not  attack  the  nests  of  birds  for  the 
purpose  of  destroying  either  the  eggs,  the  young, 
or  the  nests  themselves,  the  committee  suggest 
that,  according  to  their  experience,  the  most  casual 
interruption  or  interference  alone  is  calculated  to 
intimidate  birds,  and  expel  them  from  a  chosen 
lo»]!ality,  especially  if  the  interruption  is  practiced 
and  continued  during  their  nuptial  or  nesting  sea- 
son. The  relation  between  mankind  and  birds,  if 
it  is  desired  to  retain  their  company  and  good 
offices  near  human  habitations,  must  be  one  of  un- 
impaired confidence, — a  single  invasion  of  the  do- 
main of  the  bird  may  create  a  state  of  inquietude 
and  suspicion,  if  it  does  not  cause  it  immediately 
to  change  its  locality.  Birds  have  a  singular  faculty 
of  discovering  in  whom  they  may  safely  confide, 
and  whom  they  ought  to  avoid.  The  inclosures  of 
those  persons  who  keep  cats  and  dogs  and  other 
climbing  and  prowling  animals  about  them,  will 
not  be  visited  so  freely  and  so  extensively  by  birds, 
as  those  will  who  have  none  of  these  animals ;  pro- 
vided that  the  people  themselves  do  not  trespass 


W\ 


^.fs 


230 


Sljil  §mi\nitxs  ^m\iU^, 


upon  tlie  premises  of  the  birds  and  thus  disturb 
them. 

The  chairman  of  3  our  committee  has  seen  this 
characteristic  in  birds,  and  also  in  other  animals, 
most  happily  and  satisfactorily  exemplified  in  the 
inclosurc  of  a  gentleman  in  Lancaster  city,  for  a 
number  of  years.  All  the  members  of  his  family 
seemed  to  have  a  tender  regard  for  the  birds,  and 
appeared  to  appreciate  the  mutual  relations  of  con- 
fidence which  was  necessary  to  exist  in  order  to  re- 
tain the  company  of  these  animals  near  them,  and 
hence  birds  of  various  kinds,  as  well  as  our  common 
wild  rab!>it,  were  in  the  habit  of  building  their 
nests  every  season  upon  the  grounds,  and  in  the 
trees  and  shrubbery  of  his  premises ;  and  in  undis- 
turbed repose  rearing  their  young  there,  whilst 
other  enclosures,  where  there  were  vicious  or  mis- 
chievous children,  were  entirely  destitute  of  these 
animals. 

We  need  no  stronger  evidence  of  the  beneficial 
effects  of  the  confidential  relations  between  man- 
kind and  the  animal  world,  in  order  to  increase 
their  numbers  and  efficiency,  and  retain  them  near 
human  habitations,  than  that  which  exists  at  the 
present  time  in  the  public  squares  of  Philadelphia, 
in  relation  to  the  squirrels.  These  animals  are  pro- 
tected there  by  authority,  and  hence  you  do  not 
find  the  squirrels  as  docile,  as  prolific,  and  as  om- 
nivorous in  their  native  wilds,  as  you  do  in  the  very 
heart  of  a  noisy  and  populous  city. 

The  season  too  of  lactation  on  the  part  of  squir- 
rels occurs  about  the  incubating  and  rearing  season 
of  birds, — in  May  and  June, — when  there  is  al- 
ways a  stato  of  anxiety  and  jealousy  of  intrusion  on 
the  part  of  the  adults,  rendering  their  harmonious 
occupancy  of  the  same  premises  almost  an  impos- 
sibility, especially  if  those  premises  are  limited  in 
size  ;  and  the  facilities  of  escape  being  greatly  in 
favor  of  the  birds,  they  are  the  first  that  would  be 
likely  to  seek  another  habitation  in  a  new  locality. 
.  The //arc?  proposition,  "Can  any  plan  be  adopted 
to  encourage  birds  to  build  their  nests  in  our  public 
squares  and  throughout  the  city,  by  placing  boxes 
for  their  accommodation  or  otherwise,"  is  one  that 
involves  many  difficulties  in  the  realization  of  any 
theory  on  the  subject,  however  i>lausible  it  may  be. 

According  to  theobservationsof  your  committee, 
corroborated  by  the  report  of  Dr.Leidy  to  the  City 
Councils,  in  the  summer  of  1SG3,  there  are  at  least 
three  dilTereut  species  of  insects  that  are  conspicu- 
ously destructive  to  the  foliage  and  general  health 
of  the  trees  in  the  public  squares,  not  including 
ri  1  those  that  in  their  larva  state  bore  into  the  trunks 
(^     and  branches,  and  these  three  have  been  more  or 

d^T-Li zrr 


less  confounded  as  the  same  insect,  in  its  different 
stages  of  development. 

The  'Span-worm,'  [Eudalimia suhsignaria),  ap- 
pears to  be  the  most  numerous,  the  most  repulsive 
and  the  most  destructive  in  its  habits. 

The  'Sack-bearer,'  (.  Tfiyridoptcryx ephcmercefor- 
mi's),  seems'to  be  next  in  numbers  and  destructive 
qualities ;  indeed,  so  far  as  the  experience  of  the 
chairman  of  your  committee  goes,  this  insect  may 
be  the  most  destructive  of  the  two  insects  named, 
as  it  certainly  is  the  most  inaccessible  to  insectivor- 
ous birds. 

The  'Bark-louse,'  (Coccus  aceris),  although  de- 
pleting the  trees  more  or  less  of  their  sap,  and 
thereby  very  sensibly  effecting  their  general  health 
and  thriftiness,  is  not  an  enemy  of  so  serious  and 
repulsive  a  character  as  the  two  first  named. 

As  a  standing  remedy  to  counteract  the  perni- 
cious effects  of  these  and  other  insects,  the  question 
under  consideration  involves  the  successful  intro- 
duction of  birds  into  the  public  squares,  by  offering 
them  facilities  for  building  their  nests,  rearing  their 
young,  and  protection  against  the  assaults  of  their 
eneuiies.  In  answering  the  main  question,  the 
committee  presumes,  that  like  causes  will  ptoduce 
like  effects  at  all  times  and  in  all  places,  and  as 
they  are  cognizant  of  the  fact  that  birds  Jiave  been 
encouraged  to  build  their  nests  and  rear  their  young 
in  boxes  erected  for  that  purpose,  in  the  very  heart 
of  other  populous  villages  and  towns  of  Pennsylva- 
nia, that  therefore  the  idea  of  colonizing  them  in 
the  public  squares  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia  may 
be  reasonably  entertained,  although  the  progress 
at  first  might  be  slow,  and  attended  with  many 
difficulties.  If  birds  were  encouraged  to  make  their 
habitations  in  the  public  squares,  and  were  protec- 
ted there,  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  they 
would  choose  such  a  locality,  as  an  escape  from  the 
annoyance  of  those  heartless  'crack-shots  '  that  are 
so  often  found  in  pursuit  of  them  in  the  country. 
The  chairman  of  your  committee  has  known  in- 
stances where  birds  have  visited  the  same  boxes, 
or  boxes  in  the  same  locality,  from  his  earliest  re- 
collection, through  a  period  of  more  than  thirty 
years,  and  have  annually  roared  one  or  two  broods 
ofj'oung  ones  in  them,  and  that  too  in  the  main 
street  of  a  populous  town,  and  where  they  received 
no  special  municipal  protection. 

Until  that  confidence  in  man  was  cultivated  on 
the  part  of  the  birds  that  now  exists  on  the  part 
of  the  squirrels  in  the  public  squares,  the  beneficial  * 
effects  of  the  system  of  colonization  could  not  he 
known,  and  as  all  the  remedies  for  the  destruction 
of  the  insects,  that  have  been  heretofore  recom- 


^^^ 


MC)' 


®h^  iardatr's  ^ont!jIj» 


231 


mended,  seem  to  have  been  ineifectual,  there  ap- 
pear to  be  well-founded  reasons  for  trying  some 
other  plan. 

In  regard  to  the  fourth  proposition,  ''  Can  any 
measure  be  suggested  for  the  consideration  of  the 
proper  authorities,  to  more  eiFectually  protect  birds 
and  their  nests  from  injury?"  the  committee  may 
with  proprif;ty  reiterate  much  that  they  have  said 
in  regard  to  the  second  question. 

In  addition  to  stringent  municipal  laws  for  their 
protection,  every  teacher  in  the  public  and  private 
educational  institutions,  as  well  as  every  parent 
and  head  of  a  family  in  the  city,  ought  to  inculcate 
the  duty  of  protection  to  the  birds;  and  not  only  pro- 
tection, but  also  such  measures  of  encouragement 
as  will  induce  birds  to  come  into  the  public  squares 
and  elsewhere,  and  make  their  abiding  place  there. 
Protective  laws  are  essential,  but  faithful  officers  to 
execute  the  laws,  and  an  intelligent  and  orderly 
community  to  act  in  obedience  to  those  laws,  are 
concomitants  quite  as  essential,  if  not  more  so, 
than  the  enactment  of  the  laws  themselves. 

Before  dismissing  the  subject,  the  committee  beg 
leave  to  remark  that  too  much  confidence  ought 
not  to  be  placed  in  ani/  remedy  for  the  destruction 
of  noxious  insects,  because  such  a  course  often 
throws  people  off  their  guard,  and  induces  them  to 
relax  those  manual  efforts,  which,  if  persevered  in, 
would  in  many  cases  eventually  produce  the  desired 
result.  The  employment  of  birds  for  this  purpose, 
under  the  most  favorable  circumstances,  ought  ever 
to  be  regarded  rather  as  auxiliaries  or  preventives, 
than  as  a  positive  cure  for  a  redundancy  of  destruc- 
tive insects.  Moreover,  their  successful  introduc- 
tion and  colonization  in  the  public  squares  would 
require  time  and  patient  experiment ;  in  the  mean- 
while the  destructive  insects  are  already  there  in 
countless  numbers,  and  something  must  be  done  to 
check  their  progress  by  artificial  means  before  a 
natural  remedy  can  be  brought  to  bear  upon  them. 
It  is  known  that  birds  of  the  swallow  kind  feed 
entirely  upon  insects,  and  it  is  also  known  that  cer- 
tain species  of  them  readily  take  up  their  habitation 
in  boxes  that  have  been  prepared  for  them.  But, 
unhappily,  these  birds  feed  only  in  daylight,  and 
on  the  wing,  therefore  they  would  be  of  little  or  no 
use  in  destroying  the  larva  of  the  'Span-worm,' 
and  would  only  capture  such  of  the  moths  as  might 
sally  forth  in  the  early  part  of  the  evening,  before 
the  swallows  had  retired.  Wrens,  Robins,  and 
Blue-birds  would  be  most  effectual  as  destroyers  of 
the  larva  during  the  day,  and  Bats  for  the  flj'ing 
moths  during  the  night.  Many  of  these  moths  might 
also  be  destroyed  by  building  bonfires  in  the  public 


squares  during  the  latter  part  of  the  month  of  June, 
when  they  evolve  from  the  pupa  state.  Some  idea 
may  be  formed  of  the  usefulness  of  a  firetrap  of 
some  kind  for  the  destruction  of  winged  insects,  by 
noticing  the  number  of  dead  carcasses  that  may  be 
found  every  morning,  during  very  warm  weather, 
beneath  the  gaslights,  in  store  windows  and  eha- 
where.  The  sight  of  these  moths  flitting  about  the 
street  lamps  in  the  City  of  Philadelphia  during  tho 
month  of  June,  ought  to  suggest  to  the  inventive 
genius  of  some  one,  a  plan  for  some  kind  of  a  'fire- 
trap'  for  this  purpose. 

Tapping  the  trees  with  a  muffled  mallet,  as  re 
commended  in  the  report  of  Dr.  Leidy,  if  simulta 
neously  applied  over  the  whole  city,  and  persevered 
in  during  the  continuance  of  the  span-worm  in  \ti 
larva  state,  the  committee  thinks  must  eventually 
prove  the  most  effectual  remedy  for  the  destructior, 
of  this  insect ;  in  the  meantime^  any  and  every 
other  remedy  that  human  ingenuity  may  devise, 
ought  also  to' be  tried,  and  the  result  carefully  re- 
corded. An  appropriation  ought  to  be  made  bj 
the  city  government  to  pay  for  this  labor  as  liber' 
ally  as  other  kinds  of  labor  is  rewarded ;  and  everj 
owner  of  private  property,  on  which  a  single  tree  is 
growing,  ought  to  co-operate  in  the  work,  by  pro- 
viding for  'the  cleansing  of  the  trees  on  his  own 
premises  at  the  proper  season. 

The  'Sack-bearer,'  your  committee  have  reason 
to  believe,  is,  and  has  been,  quite  as  numerous  and 
destructive  to  the  foliage  of  the  trees  in  the  City 
of  Philadelphia,  as  the  '  Span-worm  ;'  and  there  is 
not  a  doubt  that  a  great  deal  of  the  mischief  per- 
petrated by  the  former  has  been  attributed  to  the 
latter.  From  the  peculiar  habits  of  this  insect  it 
may  bid  defiance  to  the  attacks  of  birds,  or  of  the 
mallet,  or  of  syringing,  or  any  other  similar  process 
for  its  destruction.  It  never  leaves  its  sack,  and 
never  moves  without  carrying  that  appendage  with 
it ,  and  as  soon  as  it  is  disturbed  it  immediately 
draws  itself  within  it,  and  closes  it  so  firmly  that 
no  bird  can  dislodge  it  from  it.  This  insect  may  be 
quietly  working  in  the  laceration  and  defoliation 
of  trees  in  great  numbers,  without  its  presence 
being  suspected,  because  it  is  in  the  habit  of  cover- 
ing its  sack  with  portions  of  leaves  and  stems,  giv- 
ing it  the  appearance  of  the  dried  dangling  leaves 
that  had  been  partially  cut  off  bj"  some  other  in- 
sect. And  yet,  of  all  the  insects  that  may  infest  a 
tree,  there  are  none  so  accessible  as  the  '  Sack- 
bearer,'  if  the  remedy  is  applied  at  the  proper  tinie 
and  in  the  proper  manner.  As  soon,  as  the  trees 
are  divested  of  their  leaves  in  late  autumn,  the.-e 
sacks  may  be  seen  in  great  numbers  attached  to 


g)- 


M 


•vx 


the  branches,  and  thus  the  whole  winter  is  before 
the  operator,  during  the  favorable  weather  of  which 
the  work  may  be  done. 

A  large  number  of  the  spindle-shaped  follicles 
that  may  be  seen  on  the  branches  of  trees  during 
the  winter  season,  are  the  deserted  habitaculi  of 
tlie  male  '  Sack-bearer  ;'  but  a  proportionate  num- 
ber arc  those  of  the  females,  and  these  contain  the 
pupje  of  ih-i  previous  season,  which  are  filled  with 
eggs,  numbering  from  three  to  four  hundred  in 
each.  All  the  operator  has  to  do,  is  to  cut  off  these 
follicles  while  they  can  be  seen,  by  means  of  a  pair 
of  pruning-shears  affixed  to  the  end  of  pole.  They 
should  then  be  carefully  gathered,  and  burnt  or 
scalded.  The  chairman  of  your  committee  has  seen 
this  entirely  successful,  on  a  limited  scale,  in  a 
number  of  instances.  These  experiments  have  been 
sufficient  however  to  illustrate  the  principle ;  and 
to  make  it  entirely  effectual  it  only  requires  the  city 
authorities  to  make  provision  for  this  work  every 
winter,  in  which  private  property  holders  should 
co-operate.  For  a  history  of  the  transformations 
and  general  habits  of  this  insect  the  society  is  re- 
ferred to  the  4th  volume  of  the  Penn'a  Farm 
Journal,  page  272,  where  it  has  been  described  un- 
der the  name  of  Oiketiais  Pensylvanicus.  .The  same 
article  was  republished  in  the  2nd  volume  of  the 
Farmer  and  Gardener,  pages  105  and  others. 

The  chairmain  of  your  committee  has  often  wit- 
nessed with  astonishment  the  injuries  which  many 
of  the  shade  trees  in  Philadelphia  and  elsewhere 
have  sustained  from  these  insects,  without  any  at- 
tempt having  been  made  to  abate  the  evil,  notwith- 
standing the  public  attention  which  had  been  fre- 
quently called  to  the  subject   through   the  press. 

As  to  the  'Bark-louse,'  when  trees  become  vei-y 
extensively  infested  with  it,  there  seems  to  be  no 
other  remedy  but  cutting  them  down  and  burning 
them  ;  and  yet,  where  trees  are  not  suffering  at  the 
same  time  from  other  causes,  they  do  not  seem  to 
sustain  any  very  serious  injury  from  these  insects, 
unless  they  occur  in  unusual  numbers  and  on  small 
trees.  A  small  stiff  brush,  affixed  to  the  end  of  a 
pole,  and  frequently  dipped  into  a  solution  of  whale 
oil  soap,  or  any  similar  substance,  and  then  briskly 
passed  along  the  under  side  of  the  branches,  on 
which  the  cottony  nests  of  these  insects  may  be 
seen,  before  the  trees  are  in  foliage  in  the  spring, 
will  so  far  destroy  them  as  to  prevent  the  remain- 
ing ones  from  inflicting  any  very  serious  injury  du- 
ring the  season  which  immediately  follows. 

Whatever  the  remedies  may  be  that  are  employed 
for  the  destruction  of  noxious  insects,  they  should 
be  simultaneous  and  continuous.  A  gardener  never 


expects  that  a  single  weeding,  at  a  single  time,  will 
destroy  all  the  noxious  or  useless  plants  that  shoot 
up  without  culture  in  his  enclosure ;  but  on  the 
contrary,  he  must  be  constantly  ^attending  to  this 
work  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of  the  season, 
and  through  every  succeeding  season  ;  nor  does  he 
entertain  the  idea  -for  a  moment  that  he  shall  ever 
enjoy  an  immunity  from  noxious  weeds,  independ- 
ent of  his  own  efforts  to  exterminate  them.  It  is 
the  same  in  regard  to  noxious  insects :  they  always 
have  been,  and,  no  doubt,  always  will  be  in  exist 
tence  somewhere.  Restricted  to  their  proper 
spheres,  they  may  be  of  some  use,  if  it  be  true  that 
"  nothing  has  been  created  in  vain."  It  is  their 
redundancy  in  certain  localities  and  on  certain  spe- 
cies of  vegetation  that  constitutes  the  great  evil 
which  is  the  subject  of  complaint.  To  counteract 
this  evil,  permanent  municipal  laws  should  be  en- 
acted for  their  destruction,  as  soon  as  it  becomea 
npparent  that  their  presence  is  injurious.  No 
ephermeral  or  impulsive  legislation  will  answer  the 
purpose,  but  on  the  contrary,  a  special  committee 
of  the  city  government  to  attend  to  this  duty, 
should  be  appointed,  and  a  special  appropriation 
made  to  m'eet  all  necessary  expenses,  just  as  any 
other  committee  is  appointed,  and  any  other  appro- 
priation is  made.  The  rapid  growth  of  Philadel- 
phia, the  increase  of  her  parks  and  public  grounds, 
and  the  high  cultivation  of  the  country  around  her 
— by  which  many  noxious  insects  are  driven  in  upon 
her — seems  to  demand  legislation  of  this  kind. 
When  this  redundancy  of  insects  is  once  overcome, 
and  the  experiment  of  colonizing  insectivorous  birds 
has  been  successful,  they  will,  without  a  doubt, 
maintain  a  healthful  equilibrium  ;  but  should  their 
ntimbers  be  insufficient  for  this  purpose,  and  as 
long  as  such  a  state  of  things  exists,  other  means 
for  the  extermination  of  the  insects  should  be  freely 
and  vigorously  resorted  to. 
RespecfuUy  submitted, 

S.  S.  Rathvon,  Chairman. 


LAYING   DOWN   A   LAWN. 

BY  WALTER  ELDER. 

This  is  an  important  subject,  and  if  properly 
treated,  it  may  be  the  means  of  great  improvement. 
I  would  lay  down  a  lawn  of  a  hundred  acres  with 
the  same  care  as  one  of  a  quarter  of  an  acre ;  as 
manures  are  generally  scarce  and  expensive,  I 
would  do  this  way :  where  the  surface  and  virgin 
subsoils  are  loamy,  trench  sixteen  inches  deep,  open 
a  trench  two  feet  wide  of  a  certain  length,  and  put 
the  soil  along  the  end  of  the  same  length,  to  finish 

-r0. 


^< 


■when  coming  back  with  that  piece  ;  cut  the  soil 
down  with  a  broad-edged  mattock,  break  it  fine  and 
mix  thoroughly ;  throw  it  over  with  shovels  (a 
better  and  more  expeditious  mode  than  digging 
with  spades;,  make  up  slight  inequalities,  and 
gather  out  roots  of  perennial  weeds.  II  stones  were 
few,  and  no  larger  than  a  man's  two  fists,  put  them 
in  the  bottom  of  the  fe-enches ;  if  large,  haul  them 
and  the  weeds  away  at  once,  so  as  not  to  tread 
down  the  soil  after  it  is  trenched ;  have  air-slacked 
lime  under  cover,  and  spread  it  over  the  surface  of 
the  trenched  soil,  say  forty  bushels  per  acre  ;  when 
at  the  end,  open  another  trench  the  same  length 
and  fill  it  up,  and  trench  the  opposite  way.  Drain 
the  lands  where  they  needed  it  before  trenching  ;  if 
done  in  fall,  winter,  or  early  spring,  sow  it  down 
thickly  with  oats,  and  when  it  shows  ears,  plow  it 
under,  (using  the  drag  chain  at  the  plow  to  fold 
the  crop  into  the  furrows,  and  after  lying  a  fort- 
night to  ferment,  sow  it  over  with  super-phosphate 
of  lime,  and  sow  thickly  with  buckwheat ;  barrow 
and  roll  it  down,  and  when  it  comes  up,  sow  it  over 
with  guano.  When  the  buckwheat  shows  bloom, 
plow  it  under,  and  let  it  lie  three  weeks  to  ferment. 
By  this  time  it  will  be  the  first  of  October ;  har- 
row and  roll,  and  stake  out  where  all  the  trees  are 
to  be  planted  ;  dig  all  the  holes,  and  plant  the  ev- 
ergreens at  once — planting  the  deciduous  trees  and 
shrubbery  first  of  November.  The  following  spring 
harrow  along  and  across,  sow  the  grass  seed,  and 
roll  it  firmly  down  ;  when  it  is  an  inch  long,  sow  it 
over  with  super-phosphate  of  lime  or  guano.  Mix 
the  grass  seeds  with  six  times  their  bulk  of  finely 
broken  friable  loam,  and  it  will  sow  more  evenly  ; 
the  seed  should  be  sown  thickly,  as  by  that  means 
the  sod  is  always  greener,  the  grass  more  nutritious' 
and  the  blades  finer.  It  is  almost  universally  a 
fault  to  sow  all  seeds  too  thin.  I  would  not  sow 
clover  with  the  grass,  and  would  sow  only  one  kind 
of  grass.  Some  kinds  of  grasses  thrive  better  upon 
one  kind  of  soil  than  another,  and  this  should  be 
considered  in  making  a  selection.  Seedsmen  are 
generally  good  judges  of  the  kinds  adapted  to  dif- 
ferent soils,  as  they  have  not  only  their  own  opin- 
ion but  those  also  of  their  customers  to  guide  them. 
The  deepening  and  enriching  the  soil  and  freeing 
it  of  weeds  by  summer  plowing,  are  essential  to 
success.  The  most  efiectual  way  of  getting  clear 
of  weeds  is  by  preventing  their  propagation.  As 
all  our  pleasures  and  profits  follow  prudent  outlay, 
so  it  is  with  a  lawn.  I  have  laid  down  lawns  as 
above  directed,  and  cut  them  eight  times,  when  ten 
inches  long,  the  same  season.  Some  may  hesitate 
at  the  idea  of  trenching  a  hundred  acres,  but  is  no 


uncommon  thing  for  it  to  be  done,  nor  is  it  so  ex- 
pensive or  slow  a  process  as  some  may  imagine  : 
money  cannot  be  more  wisely  invested. 

Where  trenching  is  not  allowed,  plow  a  foot  deep, 
the  after-management  to  be  as  above  directed, 
gathering  off  all  roots  of  perennial  weeds  every  time 
the  land  is  plowed  and  harrowed ;  and  as  all  annual 
weeds  are  prevented  from  seeding  by  being  turned 
under,  with  the  manuring  the  garden  crops,  the 
preparation  of  the  soil  will  be  complete.  Upon 
shallow  sandy  soils,  plow  according  to  the  depth  of 
the  soil,  as  prudence  will  direct ;  instead  of  oats, 
sow  strong-growing  red  clover,  and  dress  it  with 
plaster  of  paris  mixed  with  marl,  and  plow  it  under 
when  a  foot  high  ;  sow  the  buckwheat  crop,  and 
dress  the  same  with  marl  and  lime  mixed  (ten  of 
marl  to  one  of  plaster  and  limej ;  roll  more  firmly 
than  heavy  soils,  as  that  will  make  them  more  com- 
pact and  more  retentive  of  moisture. 

The  next  consideration  is,  how  to  keep  the  lawn 
in  good  order.  Proper  shelter  is  the  first  requisite. 
Without  that  other  things  will  have  less  effect.  A 
small  lawn  should  be  enclosed  with  live  hedges  and 
trees  on  the  outer  edges ;  large  lawns  should  be 
wholly  encircled  with  belts  of  trees,  twenty  or  thirty 
feet  wide  and  closely  planted.  The  belts  on  the 
north  and  west  sides  should  be  double  that  width. 
It  is  the  sudden  gusts  of  drying  and  withering 
winds  of  summer,  and  the  furious,  blasting  winds 
of  winter,  that  destroy  our  grasses ;  but  the  trees 
break  their  force  and  renders  them  harmless.  The 
beautiful  green  turf  for  which  England  is  remarka- 
ble, is  owing  to  the  shelter  the  lawns  get  from  the 
trees.  Meteorologist  say  that  our  winds  are  dryer 
and  more  withering  than  those  of  any  other  coun- 
try of  the  same  latitude,  hence  we  have  more  need 
of  shelter.  The  grass  should  be  mown  frequently 
in  hot  moist  weather,  or  the  roots  will  be  destroyed 
by  mildew ;  and  more  readily  so,  if  unfermented  or 
strawy  manures  are  used.  The  mildew  grows  in 
moisture  and  darkness,  and  luxuriates  on  decompo- 
sition :  dry  air  and  sunshine  kill  it. 

The  fertility  of  the  soil  can  only  be  kept  up  by 
top-dressings  of  manure  and  fertilizers,  all  of  which 
should  be  applied  in  fall,  so  that  the  snows  and 
rains  may  wash  their  soluble  ingredients  into  the 
soils,  which  gives  life  to  vegetation  in  spring. 
There  are  several  materials  used  ;  they  should  all 
be  prepared  some  months  before  being  used,  so  as 
to  kill  all  weeds  in  them.  Well-rotted  barn-yard 
manures  are  best.  Throw  them  loosely  into  heaps 
in  spring,  and  turn  them  over  twice  or  thrice  du- 
ring the  summer,  always  turning  the  inside  out- 
ward, to  destroy  all  weeds  and  seeds  by  fermenta- 


=•3 


-— — iK® 


vj^ 


She  (Snrbentr's  glonJMj. 


tion.  Leaf  mould,  heaped  up  with  its  bulk  of  soil 
in  the  woods,  and  ten  of  that  to  one  of  lime  well 
mixed  and  frequently  turned.  Plow  up  a  headland 
of  a  farm  lot,  and  put  lump  lime  along  the  middle, 
then  shovel  up  the  soil  and  break  it  fine  over  the 
lime  in  the  form  of  a  steep  ridge  ;  do  this  in  spring, 
and  if  the  soil  is  moist  the  lime  will  be  slacked  in  a 
fortnight ;  then  turn  it  over,  mix  well ;  every  time 
it  gets  covered  with  weeds  turn  it  over :  one  of  lime 
to  twelve  of  mould,  and  four  of  tan  bark  that  is 
well  rotted,  greatly  increases  the  fertility  of  the 
heaps.  Sawdust,  too,  well-rotted  and  mixed  in 
such  a  heap  is  a  valuable  addition.  Lime  and  plas- 
ter mixed  with  marl  some  months  before  using  and 
frequently  turned  over,  makes  a  valuable  compost 
for  sandy  lantk.  Where  any  of  the  above  are  used, 
the  lawn  should  be  well  scratched  early  in  spring, 
so  as  to  spread  the  top-dressing  more  thoroughly, 
which  may  have  been  lumpy  when  applied.  Stones 
and  other  hard  substances  should  be  gathered  off 
the  lawn,  so  that  the  scythe  or  mower  will  not  be 
injured  ;  and  when  the  land  is  dry  enough,  and  all 
heavy  frosts  are  over,  roll  the  lawn  firmly  down. 
One  of  the  bfst  top-dressings  I  ever  used  on  a  lawn 
was  grains  from  a  brewery,  it  makes  a  luxuriant 
growth,  and  imparts  a  deep,  rich  green  to  the 
grass.  I  have  also  used  well  fernoented  hops  from 
the  brewery  with  good  eifect  :  they  seem  to  kill  all 
the  worms  in  the  soil.  Wood-ashes  are  also  very 
beneficial. 


MR.  ISAAC  PULX.EN'S  ORCHARD-HOUSE, 
HIGHTSTOWN,  N.  J 

BY  AN   EAST  PENN  FRUIT-GROWER. 

The  most  successful  cultivator  of  the  Peach  un- 
der glass,  of  whom  we  have  any  knowledge,  is  Mr. 
Lsaac  PuIIen,  a  veteran  nurseryman  of  Hightstown, 
New  Jersey.  Mr.  Pullen  is,  in  fact,  almost  the 
only  man  who  has  succeeded  in  growing  peaches  in 
this  way,  for  market,  in  a  house  devoted  exclusively 
to  this  object,  with  a  show  of  profit.  We  may  add, 
that  his  fruit  is  of  large  size,  high  color,  and  of  a 
flavor  (under  any  circumstances)  rarely  surpassed. 

For  three  successive  seasons  we  have  paid  a  visit 
each  year  to  this  place,  and  watched  the  manage- 
ment and  progress  of  the  experiment ;  and  we  now 
propose  to  give  a  few  details  of  the  method  pursued. 

The  house  is  100  feet  long  by  14  wide,  a  lean-to, 
with  a  southern  exposure,  protected  somewhat  on 
the  north  by  barns  and  fences.  The  back  of  the 
house  is  formed  of  boards,  fastened  upon  the  in- 
side and  outside  of  upright  posts,  and  the  space  is 
packed  with  some  substance  as  in  the  walls  of  ice- 
houses.    The  roof  is  quite  flat,  and  there  is  the 


most  ample  means  of  ventilation  in  back  wall  and 
in  the  upper  portion  of  the  roof, — these  ventilators 
being  all  opened  and  closed  at  one  motion  by  very 
ingenious  machinery.  The  trees  are  all  in  pots  or 
boxes,  the  latter  being  at  present  rather  preferred. 
The  number  of  pots  was  150. 

The  trees  received  a  little  liquid  manure  late  in 
the  fall,  and  were  left  standing  upright,  with  the 
pots  partly  sunk  in  the  borders.  On  the  30th  of 
December,  1863,  there  being  then  no  artificial  heat 
in  the  house,  the  buds  were  much  injured  by  frosty 
on  some  of  the  trees  the  buds  were  all  killed.  Those 
which  were  retained  set  as  full  a  crop  of  fruit  as 
was  desired, — indeed,  it  required  heavy  thinning, 
and  was  not  finally  thinned  sufficiently. 

Mr.  Pullen  commenced  heating  the  houseon  the 
2d,  of  January,  running  the  tenjperature  from  75° 
to  80°  and  90°  by  day,  and  36°  to  52°  by  night.  On 
one  occasion  the  temperature  sunk,  at  nighty  as  low 
as  32°  without  any  apparent  injury  to  the  trees. 
This  was  on  the  11th  of  February.  The  tempera- 
ture out  of  doors  was  then  8°. 

The  trees  were  watered  very  gradually  (once  in 
three  day^  when  starting,  with  water  about  80°  or 
90°,  and  warm  water  was  also  used  for  syringing, 
which  was  done  quite  moderately  at  first.  After 
the  fruit  was  set,  the  trees  were  watered  once  in 
two  days,  and  syringed  every  day ;  and  finally,  when 
warm  weather  came  on,  the  watering  and  syringing 
was  performed  freely  twice  a  day. 

Air  was  given  as  early  and  as  freely  as  possible, 
in  the  daytime, — but  it  was  not  till  the  7th  of  May 
that  the  ventilators  were  left  open  at  night.  The 
artificial  heat  at  night  was  continued  till  the  24th 
of  April,  consuming  in  the  furnace  eleven  tons  of 
coal,  but  heating  with  the  same  hot-water  pipes  a 
small  grapery. 

The  heat  during  the  day,  even  early  in  the  sea- 
son, was  often  intense  in  the  full  -sunlight;  and  in 
the  month  of  May,  the  leaves  being  evidently 
burnt,  the  glass  was  painted  with  a  thin  coat  of 
lime  wash,  which  had  a  good  eff"ect. 

The  black  or  brown  aphis,  or  plant  Jouse,  which 
attacks  the  leaves  of  the  peach  and  cherry,  was 
very  abundant  and  troublesome.  For  the  removal 
of  this  pest,  smoking  with  tobacco  leaves  and  stems 
was  tried,  with  a  fair  degree  of  success.  No  less 
(ban  five  bushels  of  leaves  raised  on  the  place,  and 
stems  purchased  for  the  purpose,  were  burned  in 
these  operations.  Mr.  Pullen  says  he  has  seen  this 
insect  so  abundant  out  of  dooi-s,  as  to  destroy  the 
buds,  and  leaves,  and  literally  kill  an  entire  acre  of 
nursery  stock.  The  7'cd  spider  was  not  so  trouble- 
some as  the  aphis,  but  still  appeared  to  some  extent. 


F 


€\^  §wckmxs  Hlontljlj. 


The  pots  were  plunged  in  the  border,  and  were 
lifted  once  in  two  weeks,  to  check  the  growth  of 
outside  roots  ;  but  Mr.  Pullen  now  thinks  this  op- 
eration should  be  performed  once  in  seven  or  eight 
days. 

As  soon  as  the  fruit  begins  to  color,  or  shows 
ej'mptoms  of  coloring,  Mr.  Pullen  removes  the  pots 
or  boxes  to  the  open  air,  plunging  and  mulching 
the  pots  as  before.  He  thinks  early  maturity,  high 
color,  and  good  flavor  cannot  so  successfully  be  ob- 
tained under  glass. 

The  first  peach  ripened,  and  fell  from  tlae  tree, 
May  8th.  The  variety  was  the  new  peach  Hales 
Early,  the  earliest  known  peach,  beyond  all  ques- 
tion, in  the  house  or  the  orchard  ;  a  fruit  of  excel- 
lent quality  and  good  size.  The  next  peach  to 
ripen  was  Troth's  Early  Red,  which  fell  from  the 
tree  June  3d.  The  succession  was  as  follows: 
Large  Early  York,  Grosse  Mignonne,  Coolidge's 
Favorite,  Crawford's  Early,  Early  Newington,  Van- 
sant's  Superb,  Beauty  ot  China,  Snow  Peach,  Old 
Mixon's  Free,  Old  Mixon's  Cling,  Harkei's  Seed- 
ling, Crawford's  Late,  Late  Admirable,  Late  Heath 
Cling,  the  last  being  kept  till  Christmas  last  year. 

The  finest  peach  in  point  of  size,  color,  and  fla- 
vor, this  season,  was  Coolidge's  Favorite  ;  the  best 
last  season  was  the  Variegated  Free.  Mr.  Pullen 
thinks,  the  .same  peach  will  not  prove  equally  good 
and  beautiful  every  year.  His  favorite  peaches  are 
Large  Early  York,  Grosse  Mignonne,  Coolidge's 
Favorite,  Crawford's  Early,  Old  Mixon  Free,  and 
Barker's  Seedling  ;  the  last,  he  says,  is  rather  late 
for  market,  but  very  '  nice.' 

Mr.  Pullen,  by  the  aid  of  the  sun's  rays,  and  a 
little  contrivance,  marked  the  names  of 'Lincoln,' 
and  'Johnson,'  'General  Grant,'  'General  Han- 
cock,' etc.,  on  several  fine  specimens  of  fruit,  and 
sent  them  to  the  Sanitary  Fair  at  Philadelphia,  ex- 
citing no  little  curiosity  and  astonishment  in  the 
minds  of  those  who  did  not  know  how  the  thing 
was  done. 

The  names  'Lincoln'  and  'Johnson,'  were  fixed 
upon  two  separate  peaches,  which  grew  on  one 
stem,  and  this  little  gem  of  art  was  sent  to  the  fair 
the  very  day  President  Lincoln  visited  the  exhibi- 
tion, and  was  presented  to  him  by  the  ladies  in  the 
Horticultural  hall.  The  surprise  was  that  it  could 
have  been  done  so  soon  after  the  nomination  at 
Baltimore  ;  but  Mr.  Pullen  informed  us  that  it  re- 
quired only  about  a  week  or  ten  da}'s  to  set  the  let- 
ters very  legibly.  It  is  done,  as  many  of  j'our  read- 
ers probably  know,  by  fastening  a  piece  of  oiled 
silk  around  a  peach  not  yet  colored,  the  desired  let- 
ters being  cut  out  of  the  silk  ;  the  parts  of  the  fruit 


left  uncovered  (including  the  letters^  then  color  a 
brilliant  scarlet,  while  the  covered  parts  remain  a 
pale  green,  or  white, — thus  making  the  letters  look 
as  if  painted  in  carmine  on  a  light  ground-work. 

The  peach  sent  to  the  Sanitary  Fair,  bearing  the 
name  of  '  General  Grant,'  sold  for  $26. 

Mr.  Pullen  sold  the  larger  portion  of  his  peaches 
to  the  confectioners  of  Philadelphia  and  New  York 
at  from  $3  to  $4  per  dozen.  A  good  crop  for  any 
tree  of  ordinary  size,  in  the  orchard-house,  is  two 
dozen,  of  large  size  and  fine  quality,  though  three 
and  four  dozen  may  be  grown,  and  even  more  of 
inferior  quality.  Mr.  Pullen  thinks  the  crop  of  his 
house,  if  sold  at  the  prices  which  he  could  obtain, 
would  easily  produce  $600,  leaving  still  some  fruit 
for  himself  and  friends.  It  is  pretty  evident  that 
it  is  not  a  losing  operation,  though  not  highly  pro- 
fitable, when  all  the  expense  and  labor  is  counted 
up.  Still,  as  we  said  last  year,  it  is  also  evident 
that  the  orchard-house  maybe  made  successful,  and 
that  it  it  would  be  an  elegant  luxury,  and  not  very 
expensive,  on  a  gentleman's  place,—  quite  as  desi- 
rable, in  fact,' as  a  grape  house,  and  more  profitable 
than  a  conservatory. 

There  is  one  thing,  however,  that  must  be  noted. 
Mr.  Pullen' s  orchard-house  is  heated  with  hot  wa- 
ter, and  the  peaches  are  really  'forced.'  Many  of 
the  English  writers  persist  in  calling  this  a  '  peach 
house,'  or  a  'forcing  lionse,'  and  not  an  'orchard 
house,'  as  Mr.  Kivers,  who  originated  Orchard- 
honses,  first  told  us  that  no  heat  was  required,  even 
in  England.  But  Mr.  Bivers  now  claims  that, 
whether  heated  or  not,  a  house  for  growing  a  variety 
of  fruits,  on  trees,  is  an  Orchard-house.  So  be  it. 
We  think  the  argument  good  enough.  Still,  an  or- 
chard-house, without  artificial  heat,  we  fear,  will  be 
of  little  vlilue  in  the  region  of  Philadelphia,  for  it 
has  been  found,  by  experience,  that  fruit  cannot  be 
brought  to  maturity  in  a  cold  house  much  earlier 
(even  if  as  soon)  as  it  can  be  obtained  out-of- 
doors,  in  Delaware  and  Maryland.  The  size,  and 
quality,  under  ordinary  management,  is  also  infe- 
rior. Hence,  when  good  fruit  can  be  had  from  the 
South  before  it  can  be  produced  in  the  orchard- 
house,  it  does  not  argue  much  for  the  value  of  'glass- 
roofed  sheds, '  a;B  Mr.  Bivers  called  his  new  peach 
houses.  The  truth  is,  that  the  day  after  we  left 
Mr.  Pullen's  place,  we  visited  two  large  and  costly 
Orchard-houses,  near  Philadelphia,  which  had  been 
worked  without  artificial  heat.  This  was  about  the 
first  of  July.  Mr.  Pullen  had  then  gathered  find 
sold  nearly  all  his  frftjt.  But  in  the  houses  above 
alluded  to,  not  a  single  peach  had  swelled  to  half 
size,  nor  had  a  single  specimen  showed  signs  of 


coloring.  We  thought^  from  appearances,  that 
good  fruit  would  be  in  market  from  Delaware  long 
before  the  owners  of  those  houses  would  have  the 
pleasure  of  tasting  Orchard-house  peaches. 

Mr.  Pullcn  grew  a  few  Nectarines  and  Plums 
this  season,  quite  as  successfully  as  he  did  the 
peaches,  but  did  not  find  the  apricots  to  bear  the 
confined  air  of  a  heated  house  early  in  the  season. 
The  apricot,  we  believe,  is  not  managed  as  success- 
fully as  other  stone  fruit  in  English  Orchard-houses. 
There  is  but  little  demand  for  Nectarines,  Mr. 
Pullen  says,  among  the  confectioners,  but  they  call 
for  apricots,  as  eagerly  as  for  peaches. 

Mr.  Pullen,  we  think,  may  be  set  down  as  the 
successful  pioneer  of  orchard-house  culture  in 
America,  and  we  feel  that  the  horticultural  com- 
munity are  largely  indebted  to  him  for  his  patient, 
skillful,  and  instructive  labors. 


FLOWEnSNG  OF  THE  NIGHT-BLOOBIING 
CEREUS 

BY  J.  P.    NORRIS,   WESTCHESTER,  PA. 

Any  one  who  has  once  seen  this  beautiful  flower 
in  bloom  will  long  remember  it.  There  is  some- 
thing so  strikingly  odd  in  the  time  of  its  blooming, 
and  in  the  beauty  and  lovely  perfume  of  its  flowers, 
that  it  niakes  a  lasting  impression  on  the  mind  of 
the  beholder. 

We  have  owned  a  plant  of  this  species  for  some 
years  past,  but  have  never^  until  the  present  sea- 
son, enjoyed  its  blooming. 

We  propose  to  describe,  for  the  edification  of 
those  rcadei-s  of  the  Montldy  who  have  yever  had 
the  "good  fortune  to  see  this  plant  in  bloom,  the 
manner,  and  other  particulars  of  its  blooming. 

Without  further  preface,  the  reader  must  imagine 
that  we  are  standing  together  in  the  greenhouse, 
while  the  gardener  points  out  to  us  the  world-re- 
nowned Night-blooming  Cereus.  High  on  j'onder 
shelf,  near  the  glass,  we  perceive  a  peculiar  snake- 
looking  plant,  wound  round  and  round  a  trellis,  so 
.  that  we  might  sujjpose  that  we  were  viewing  some 
new  species  of  snake  of  a  bright  green  color.  We 
can  scarce  forbear  a  smile  when  we  are  told  that 
this  is  the  celebrated  'Night-blooming  Cereus.' 
"What!"  we  exclaim,  "can  ;!/u'v  plant  produce  a 
flower  that  has  set  thousands  in  raptures  of  de- 
light?"    But  truth  is  stranger  than  fiction. 

If  we  look  closely,  we  shall  perceive  a  small 
furzy  lump  growing  out  of  a  branch  of  this  strange 
plant.  Several  others  are  also  noticed  in  various 
parts  of  the  plant.  We  are  told  that  these  are  the 
buds  tluit  will  produce  the  wonderful  flowers.  After 


inspecting  the  various  other  attractions  of  the 
greenhouse  we  leave,  thinking  that  the  'Night- 
blooming  Cereus,'  about  which  we  have  heard  so 
much,  is  a  humbug,  and  does  not  equal  many  of 
the  other  attractions  we  have  been  inspecting.  The 
'  Night- blooming  Cereus'  passes  out  of  our  heads 
to  make  room  for  some  other  thoughts. 

Two  or  three  weeks  hence,  we  think  we  will  pay 
another  visit  to  our  friend's  greenhouse,  to  see  how 
his  '  Night-hlooming  Humbug '  is  getting  along. 
Behold !  a  great  cljange  has  taken  place.  What 
was  before  a  small  lump  of  tow  to  our  eyes,  has 
now  developed  itself  into  a  large  bud,  furzy  ou  the 
stem,  and  of  a  yellowish  shade  near  the  top.  It 
has  grown  very  much  since  our  last  visit.  We  are 
told  it  will  open  in  a  few  days  and  are  cordially  in- 
vited to  come  and  see  it.  We  accept.  The  appointed 
night  arrives.  The  greenhouse  has  been  trans- 
farmed  into  a  rural  palace.  Dozens  of  lights  spar- 
kle among  the  rare  and  costly  plants  and  lanterns 
of  divers  colors  lend  enchantment  to  the  scene. 
We  look  with  expectant  eyes  to  the  place  where 
last  we  saw  our  '  green  snake.'  Behold!  growing 
out  from  the  stem  a  large  flower  of  dazzling  beauty 
appears.  The  outer  leaves  radiate  in  circles  of 
surprising  regularity.  These  are  of  a  beautiful 
shade  of  amber  yellow.  The  centre  is  of  a  pure 
white,  with  delicate  yellow  stamens.  The  yellow 
forms  a  charming  background  on  which  to  display 
the  dazzling  whiteness  of  the  centre.  The  whole 
forms  a  gorgeous  picture,  the  equal  of  which  we 
have  never  had  the  good  fortune  to  behold.  To 
crown  all  its  other  charms,  a  delicate  vanilla-like 
perfume  issues  from  the  flower.  There  is  some- 
thing indescribably  sweet  in  this  perfume,  which  . 
leads  us  to  forget  all  others.  Truly  the  whole  is 
the  most  wonderful,  and  most  beautiful  flower  that 
we  have  ever  seen. 

The  propj-ietor  very  kindly  presents  us  with  one 
of  the  flowers,  which  we  place  in  some  water  at  our 
bedside,  and  fiill  asleep,  to  dream  of  a  palace  com- 
posed of  '  Night-blooming  Cereuses.  When  we 
awake  in  the  morning,  we  turn  to  where  we  placed 
the  flower  the  night  before,  but  in  its  place  is  a 
shrivelled  and  fided  mass  of  leaves!  All  its  beauty 
and  fragrance  are  gone  in  a  single  night !  Ah,  how 
aptly  might  this  be  taken  as  a  type  of  all  human 

pleasures. 

■ ■■■»i 

WILD    FLOWERS. 

BY   THOMAS   GARDNER. 

(Continued  from  page  201. ) 
The  Violet  family  is  the  next  in  our  arrangement 
that  has  any  thing  of  much  interest,  and  these  are 


:==^^ 


.Mg}/^ 


ift^  (Bmitmf%  Panlhlg^ 


237 


well  known.  Most  of  the  European  kinds  are 
sweet-scented.  Ours  have  not  this  advantage,  but 
are  more  showy.  There  are  eighteen  species  among 
our  '  wild  flowers,'  nearly  all  of  interest.  The  pansy 
of  our  gardens  belongs  to  this  family.  Indeed,  it  is 
of  this  genus,  a  true  viola — V.  tricolor.  The  St. 
John's  Worts  contain  a  few  pretty  things,  most  are, 
however,  insignificant  weeds.  Hyper kum pyr ami- 
datum^  or  pyramidal  St.  John's  Wort,  has  large, 
3'ellow  flowers,  and  grows  on  dry  hills,  generally, 
in  the  Middle  States.  There  are  some  of  these 
shrubby,  as  H.  prolificum,  H.  aureum,  and  H. 
Kalmianium^  which,  for  their  beauty,  ai'e  often 
kept  in  gardens. 

The  Pink  family  includes  such  plants  as  Carna- 
tions, Pinks,  and  Sweet  Williams,  which  most  of  us 
know  and  love  so  well.  Most  of  our  wild  kinds  are, 
however,  very  insignificant  weeds.  Some  few  are 
beautiful.  Silene  virgmwa,  for  instance,  has  bright 
scarlet  flowers.  It  grows  in  the  Middle  States,  ex- 
tending southward.  A  white  species,  (S.  stellata), 
with  fringed  white  flowers  and  leaves  in  fours  up 
the  stem,  is  common  everywhere  in  July,  and  is  a 
very  elegant  plant.  With  two  or  three  other  rare 
species,  very  seldom  seen  even  by  botanists,  the 
whole  list  of  beauties  in  the  Pink  Worts  is  ex- 
hausted. 

There  are  a  few  pretty  things  in  the  Purslane 
family.  The  Clayfonia  is  the  best.  This  has  fleshy 
leaves — generally  only  two — long  and  narrow,  and 
lias  a  few  white  pink  veined  flowers,  seemingly 
springing  from  these  leaves.  In  April  and  May 
these  Claytonias  are  abundant  everywhere.  They 
go  by  the  name  of  '  Spring  Beauty.' 

The  Mallow  family  has  a  few  showy  branches. 
The  Althea  or  '  Rose  of  Sharon  '  is  well  known.  In 
the  swamps,  near  large  rivers,  the  surface  is  beau- 
tiful in  August  with  the  yellow  flowers  of  the  Ili- 
hisais  palustriSf  or  American  '  Jute. '  The  Okra 
of  our  gardens  belong  to  this  family,  and  is  the 
Hibiscus  esculentiis.  The  Cotton  is  also  of  the  Mal- 
low tribe,  known  to  botanists  as  Gossypium  her- 
haceum. 

There  are  a  few  pretty  plants  in  the  Geranium 
family ;  only  one,  however,  G.  maculatwn,  would 
attract  much  attention.  This  is  common  in  woods 
in  early  summer.  The  Wood  Sorrels  have  but  one 
pretty  plant.  This  is  the  Oxalis  vtolacca,  and, 
though  an  humble  i))ant,  is  very  pretty  indeed. 

But  the  prettiesit  tribe  of  plants,  to  an  American 
observer,  is  the  Butterfly-flowering,  papilionaceous 
or  leguminous.  Like  the  Cabbage-flowered  fribo  it 
is  very  natural,  and  its  members  are  easily  distin- 
guished from  other  classes.     The  Yellow  Acacia 


is  known  as  'Golden  Prairie'  in  Arkansas,  (^1.  lu- 
tea.)  The  Yellow  Cassia,  a  nearly  allied  plant, 
growing  near  all  northern  river  banks,  is  known 
also  as  Wild  Senna.  The  Yellow  Baptisia  is  known 
everywhere  as  Wild  Indigo.  There  are  also  many 
pretty  peas,  vetches,  saintfoin,  and  clover,  growing 
everywhere.  The  Tcplirosia  virginica  is  particu- 
larly handsome,  and  there  is  scarcely  an  insignifi- 
cant plant  in  the  whole  family. 

The  Hose  family  is  well  known,  but  as  they  are 
mostly  trees  and  shrubs,  they  are  without  the  limits 
we  have  marked  out  for  this  paper.  There  is  one 
very  pretty  herbaceous  plant,  not  to  be  forgotten, 
however.  This,  is  the  Indian  Physic,  ( Gillenia  tri- 
foliata. )  It  is  found  in  rocky  woods  from  New 
England  to  South  Carolina  ;  grows  about  eighteen 
inches  high,  and  bears  a  profusion  of  pinkish-white 
flowers. 

The  Melastoma  tribe  is  the  showiest  of  any  family 
of  plants,  but  they  are  mostly  tropical,  and  to  be 
seen  only  in  our  greenhouses.  The  Rhexias,  or,  as 
our  people  call  them,  '  Meadow  Beauties,'  comprise 
the  only  native  genus  ;  we  have  eight  species,  and 
all  as  pretty  as  their  foreign  congener!?.  ,They  grow 
mostly  in  wet  meadows. 

In  the  family  of  Evening  Primroses  the  (Enothera 
is  well  known.    They  are  nearly  all  yellow  or  white. 

In  the  Saxifrage  family,  the  Mitella  dlphylla  is  a 
delicate  and  very  pretty  plant.  The  flowers  are 
small,  pure  white,  and  fringed  around  the  edges. 
It  grows  abundantly  in  the  woods  of  the  Northern 
and  Middle  States.  Of  the  Saxifrages  proper,  one 
i.s  very  common  early  in  spring,  growing  every- 
where, over  dry  rocks,  and  making  the  whole  sur- 
face white  with  btoom.  This  is  the  <S'.  virginiensis, 
or  Early  Saxifrage. 

The  Umbelliferous  family  is  a  very  numerous 
one.  To  this  the  carrot,  parsnip,  parsley,  and  cel- 
ery belong.  Yet,  in  going  through  our  herbarium, 
we  cannot  note  one  that  we  can  say  is  '  a  pretty 
wild  flower.' 

We  were  near  passing  over  the  Madder- wort 
family,  with  its  'cleavers,'  and  'bedstraws,'  and 
'  madders,' — useful  enough  in  the  arts  and  sciences, 
but  of  little  application  to  our  subject.  But  we 
must  not  forget* the  little  Partridge Bt'rry  [Mitchtlla 
repens).  Its  red  berries  peeping  tbrci'igh  the  t^now, 
with  its  shining  green  leaves  in  winter,  and  very 
sweet  white  flowers  in  spring,  make  it  woll  known. 
Airain,  the  'Bluets,'  '  rnnoconce,'  '  D?.'arf  Pink," 
with,  ))erhap8,  some  other  common  name,  is  one 
of  the  prettiest  ornaments  of  our  spring  meadows. 
This  ia  the  Houstonia  ccerulia  of  botanists. 
C  To  he  continued.  ] 


M 


@^ 


238 


i^h^  gardener's  ^cittl^ 


PHILADELPHIA,  AUGUST,  1864.   • 


l-Jj=-  AU  Communications  for  the  Editor  should  be  addressed, 
••Tmmas  Meeha.v,  Germantown, Philadelphia," and  Business  Let. 
ters  directed  to  "  W.  G.  P.  Brinckloe,  Box      '  Philadelphia." 


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PRACTICAL    PROGRESS, 

In  spite  of  the  many  drawbacks  to  Horticultural 
progress  in  these  unhappy  times,  it  is  interesting 
to  note  that  many  improvements  continue  to  be 
made. 

The  introduction  and  general  employment  of  the 
digging-fork,  and  the  hoe-fork,  in  digging  land  and 
keeping  it  clean,  have  been  worth  considerable  to 
gardeners. 

In  the  matter  of  tree  planting,— once  confined  to 
a  month  in  the  fiill  and  six  weeks  in  the  spring,— it 
is  now  spread  so  evenly  over  the  seasons,  that  much 
more  is  planted,  and  that  much  more  carefully  and 
thoroughly  done  than  ever  before  ;  and  thus  the 
extra  expense  that  always  accompanies  hurry  and 
limited  time,  is  avoided,  not  to  say  the  avoiding  of 
the  many  losses  from  dead  trees,  that  follows  from 
the  same  cause. 

Around  most  of  our  large  towns  the  planting  of 
evergreens  commences  about  1st  of  July,  and  con- 
tinues until  October,  after  which  it  is  continued 
with  more  or  less  risk  till  middle  of  November. 
About  April  1st  to  May  15th,  the  operation  is  again 
in  season,  leaving  only  six  weeks  in  spring,  and 
four  months  in  winter,  when  nothing  of  consequence 
is  done.  This  summer  planting  is,  however,  con- 
fined to  plants  under  .six  feet  high,  and  to  places 
that  are  not  far  distant  from  the  place  ofrt-moval. 
The  great  danger  is  from  the  roots  dryitjg  while 
exposed  to  a  hot  and  drying  air.  Trees  of  sizes  that 
take  a  long  while  in  digging,  are  therefore  expo-sed 
to  this  risk  ;  while  younger  trees  are  lifted  at  once 
to  the  wagon,  and  the  roots  carefully  preserved  by 
shading  while  in  transit,  when,  at  the  place  of  re- 
planting, a  large  tub  of  water  is  kept  near  the  spot, 
and  a  dozen  or  so  of  plants  at  a  time  removed  from 
the  wagon  to  the  tub,  and  then  from  the  tub  to  tlie 
ground,  which  is  pounded  in  about  the  roots  as 
firmly  as  it  is  possible  to  do.  The  success  of  this 
plan  is  astonishing  to  those  who  have  not  tried  it. 


The  roots  seem  to  push  so  immediately  that  evap- 
oration is  at  once  provided  for,  and  the  trees  will 
suffer  little  more  from  drought  than  the  same  trees 
not  transplanted.  The  Hemlock,  Holly,  Arborvitfe, 
Norway  Spruce,  Balm  of  Gilead,  Silver  Fir,  Scotch 
Pine,  and  White  Pine,  are  found  in  practice  to  do 
well.  The  Austrian  Pine,  so  far  as  tried,  is  not  so 
successful, — nor  has  any  attempt  to  box  and  ship 
trees  to  a  distance  done  well.  Still  the  much  that 
can  be  done  is  a  great  gain  over  older  practices. 

This  improvement  in  regard  to  tree  planting  we 
have  before  called  attention  to  in  our  journal ;  but 
there  is  one  little  fact  in  reference  to  the  laying  of 
sod  in  summer,  that  we  do  not  think  has  ever  beea 
referred  to.  Whenever  it  was  necessary  to  lay  sod 
in  summer,  it  was  expected  to  get  very  brown,,  and 
nothing  but  a  continual  use  of  the  water-pot  looked 
for,  if  an  immediate  green  turf  was  desired.  '  Now 
the  plan  is  to  lay  the  sod,  with  no  especial  pains  to 
make  it  fit  so  very  nicely  at  all  the  corners,  or  to 
lay  so  exactly  level  as  a  nice  workman  would  deem 
indispensable  ;  but  over  the  whole,  when  laid,  to 
spread  finely  sifted  soil,  from  one-eighth  to  one- 
fourth  of  an  inch  thick  over  the  whole.  This  is 
raked  smooth  and  level,  and  then  rolled  firmly 
down. 

Every  one  knows  that  if  a  very  grassy  piece  of 
ground  is  hoed  over,  the  destruction  of  the  grass 
depends  on  getting  the  tufts  to  dry  out  by  the  sun. 
If  the  least  soil  gets  over  a  piece,  it  will  push  out 
and  grow  again.  The  same  principle  is  involved 
in  the  r^bove-mentioned  practice  :  a  little  soil  thrown 
over  the  sod  prevents  it  from  drying  for  a  few  days 
until  the  roots  push,  after  which  it  is  safe  against 
the  hottest  weather,  and  ready  to  become  as  green 
as  desired  after  the  first  summer  shower.  This 
plan  is  much  followed  now  by  intelligent  gardeners, 
who  strive  to  understand  their  business  and  keep 
up  with  the  times  ;  and  around  Philadelphia,  is  in 
almost  general  use  during  the  summer  season. 

It  seems  to  us  that  this  plan  would  have  its  ad- 
vantages in  spring  and  autumn  work,  where  very 
largo  jobs  of . "nodding  have  to  be  done.  Tliere  is  much 
cutting  and  fitting  of  sod,  and  much  heavy  beating 
to  be  done  to  make  sodding  in  the  usual  way  look 
nice,— all  of  which  is  avoided  by  this  plan.  The 
only  objection  is  that  it  does  not  look  immediately 
as  nice  as  the  pure  sodding  docs.  In  the  one  ca.^e 
a  fine  green  lawn  appears  at  once  ;  while,  by  the 
covering  process,  six  weeks  or  two  months  will  be 
required  for  the  grass  to  get  evenly  above  the  new 
soil. 


=^^ 


mvsunoottts. 

We  believe  that  Mushrooms  are  not  raised  arti- 
ficially to  any  great  extent  in  this  country.  Every 
one  who  has  tried -to  raise  them  reports  indiflPer- 
ently  of  his  success.  The  few  good  gardeners  who 
do  succeed  in  raising  them,  do  not  have  the  success 
they  had  when  in  Europe.  Occasionally  they  make  a 
'good  hit,'  and  produce  an  enormous  crop, — next 
year  they  utterly  fail.  No  one  seems  to  have  fixed 
on  a  plan  uniibrmly  successful  in  our  climate.  Our 
Horticultural  Societies  generally  have  standing 
premiums  for  them, — and  we  read  in  their  reports 
of  premiums  being  awarded  ;  but  these,  on  exami- 
nation, are  so  commonly  found  to  be  the  accidental 
productions  of  old  hotbeds,  that  nothing  results 
from  the  encouragement  offered. 

We  are  inclined  to  think  their  culture  may  be 
much  simplified  ;  and  that,  with  half  the  care  des- 
cribed in  Horticultural  books,  a  general  full  crop 
may  be  made  tolerably  sure. 

Our  correspondent,  C.  V.  Hagner,  Esq.,  of  Phila- 
delphia, has  a  very  successful  bed  in  operation,  of 
which  we  were  pleasurably  made  aware  by  his 
handsome  donations  of  them  to  the  Philadelphia 
Sanitary  Fair.  On  visiting  Mr.  H. 's  place  we  found 
several  beds  made  according  to  the  most  approved 
rules  of  art, — all  comparatively  worthless, — while 
one  which  he  made  at  hap-hazard  from  the  refuse 
materials  Igft  on  hand,  was  bearing  charmingly. 
From  what  we  saw  at  Mr.  Hagner' s,  we  are  sure 
that  any  one  who  has  a  cool  cellar  may  have  mush- 
rooms all  summer,  without  much  difficult}'. 

First,  we  would  save  the  droppings  of  oat-fed 
horses.  Instead  of  having  them  oast  out  on  the 
manure  pile,  every  morning  have  them  thrown  in 
a  heap  under  a  dry  shed  as  the  stables  are  cleaned. 
When  about  half  a  cart-load  or  so  has  been  secured, 
the  bed  may  be  made.  Choose  a  place  in  the  cel- 
lar that  is  tolerably  cool  on  a  hot  day,  and  not  lia- 
ble to  get  dry  ;  here  enclose  a  space  with  boards, 
on  the  floor,  say  five  or  six  feet  wide,  and  as  long 
as  may  be  desirable,  so  as  to  enclose  a  bed  about 
two  feet  deep.  Then  make  a  bed  with  aJiort  stable 
manure,  that  has  commenced  to  decay,  but  has  not 
decayed  rapidly.  Fill  with  this  nearly  to  the  top 
of  the  boards.  On  this  put  put  about  four  or  six 
inches  deep  of  the  .^aved  droppings,  and  then  beat 
the  whole  firmly  down.  On  this  place  about  six 
inches  apart  the  Mushroom  spawn,  which  may 
either  have  been  saved  from  some  old  hotbed,  or 
procured  from  the  chief  seedsmen  in  the  form  of 
mushroom  bricks.  On  this,  and  over  the  whole 
bed,  place  about  half  an  inch  of  good  loamy  soil, 
and  beat  the  whole  firm  and  smooth, — a  few  days 


after,  water  enough  to  allow  the  water  to  penetrate 
three  or  four  inches,  and  then  cover  with  light  lit- 
ter, and  let  the  whole  be  till  the  Mushrooms  appear. 

Almost  every  cellar  keeps  at  about  60°  to  70° 
during  our  summers,  and  this  regular  temperature, 
so  difficult  to  attain  and  regularly  maintain  in  Eu- 
rope by  Mush  room -growers,  and  which  constitutes 
chiefly  the  art  of  growing  them  there,  being  given 
to  us  without  any  labor  on  our  part,  by  nature, 
ought  to  make  us  the  country  by  excellence  for 
Mushroom  growing. 

We  have  referred  in  these  remarks  principally  to 
cellars  ;  but  any  farmer  or  gardener  who  has  a  cool 
and  not  too  dry  shed,  might  no  doubt  have  his 
mushrooms  as  regularly  as  his  daily  bread. 


GROWING    BULBS. 

In  reference  to  the  advice  given  in  our  monthly 
hints,  not  to  take  up  bulbs  until  the  foliage  is  quite 
ripe,  a  friend  informs  us  that  the  contrary  is  the, 
practice  in  th  bulb  growing  countries  of  Europe. 
He  says  the  practice  with  the  best  bulb  growers, — 
and  that  is  indeed  considered  one  of  the  secrets  of 
their  trade, — is  to  take  up  the  bulbs  as  soon  as  the 
flowers  fade,  and  lay  them  on  their  sides  in  some  va- 
cant place,  and  cover  them  with  a  few  inches  of  soil, 
where  they  are  left  to  ripen.  The  bulbs,  he  says, 
are  much  larger  when  so  treated  than  when  suffer- 
ed to  ripen  where  they  grow,  and  that  all  the  off- 
setts  are  thrown  off,  making  a  clean  round  bulb. 
The  flower,  moreover,  that  is  produced  next  year, 
is  said  to  be  much  finer  than  when  the  root  ripened 
undisturbed. 

Our  friend,  who  is  a  tolerably  successful  bulb 
grower,  has  tried  this  plan  in  this  climate,  and  the 
result  confirms  the  accounts  he  has  received  of  the 
European  mode. 

At  the  present  time,  when  national  considerations 
render  it  so  desirable  that  we  should  be  as  inde- 
pendent of  Europe  as  possible,  we  have  thought  it 
our  duty  to  give  these  ideas  a  prominent  place,  as, 
so  far,  every  attempt  to  raise  Dutch  bulbs  here  any 
thing  near  equal  to  the  imported  ones,  has  .sig- 
nally failed.  There  is  much  in  it  that  is  consistent 
with  what  we  know  of  vegetable  physiolog^y,  and  it 
also  coincides  with  horticultural  practices  in  other 
approved  cases.  It  is  well  known  that  if  we  chock 
a  tree  in  its  growth  somewhat,  before  that  growth 
is  quite  finished  for  the  season,  the  result  is  much 
to  the  favor  of  the  flowering  principle.  In  fxct, 
there  are  many  trees  that  grow  so  strong,  that  no- 
thing but  severe  root  pruning  will  make  them  flower 
at  all.     Tq  let  a  bulb  have  the  benefit  of  all  the 


^(ghl 


l^rS)^ 


240 


ij\t  ©Hrbmtfs  llloittljlg. 


growth  possible,  may  make  it  so  very  vigorous  that 
it  will  send  out  many  strong  offsetts;  but  that  is  not 
what  we  want;  and  if  some  practice  can  be  followed 
that  will  throw  the  strength  of  the  plant  into  the 
flowering  principle  instead  of  the  oifsett  producing 
capacity  of  the  plant,  it  is  a  clear  gain. 

At  any  Tate,  it  is  well  knowa  that  all  home 
raised  bulbs  foil  in  just  this  particular.  The  oflF- 
setts  are  numerous,  and  the  flowers  are  small  and 
few,  until  we  have  come  to  look  upon  it  as  a  fixed 
fact,  that  a  bulb  once  flowered  is  of  no  more  value 
than  an  exploded  cartridge. 

We  trust  our  bulb-growers  will  give  the  subject 
that  attention  it  so  well  merits. 


FLAW   OP   A    PLOWBR-GAUDEW. 

We  give  below  a  plan  of  a  flower-garden,  taken 
by  a  friend  some  twenty-five  years  ago  or  more, 
from  one  on  the  grounds  of  Cqlonel  Vernon  Har- 
eourt,  near  Ryde,  in  the  Isle  of  W^ight,  England. 
Flower-gardening  is  on  a  very  extensive  scale  at 
that  place,  and  he  has  placed  in  our  hands  a  set  of 
beautiful  plans  of  gardens  that  exist  in  the  same 
grounds. 

This  particular  one  is  especially  adapted  tr>  a 
long  and  narrow  strip  of  land,  and  to  be  looked 
down  on  from  an  eminence. 


0.<JOC> 


PEUIT-GKOWSKS'  SOCIETY  OP  EASTEEN 

PBNIMSYLVANIA. 

The  annual  Full  meeting  of  this  society,  we  learn, 
will  be  held  at  Kaston,  on  the  27th,  28th  and  29th 
of  September,  in  connection  with  the  Pennsylvania 
State  Agricultural  Society's  Fair,  held  there  the 
four  last  days  in  the  month. 

The  Fair  will  be  held  in  the  beautiful  park  at 
Easton,  and  the  Fruit- Grower's  Society  will  be  ac- 
commodated with  a  special  tent  for  their  discus- 
sions, and  we  believe  tlie  whole  reception  and 
arrangement  of  the  fruits  for  the  Fair  will  be  given 
into  their  hands. 

Ceres  usually  taxes  Pomona  to  make  her  annual 
festivals  popular ;  but  this  going  of  these  beauties 
hand  in  hand  together  on  the  same  errand  is  a  no- 
vel sight,  that  will  not  fail  to  be  unusually  attractive. 

The  President  of  the  Fruit-Growers'  Society,  Mr. 
Rufu.s  A.  Grider,  is  'up  to  Schnitz,'  as  they  say, 
we  suppose,  in  hi.s  neighborhood.  Anticipating 
the  possibility  of  a  greater  crowd  at  Easton  than 
the  citizens  would  be  di.'^posed  to  accommodate  at  a 
"  reduction  from  their  usual /a*V  rates,'  he  has  ar- 
ranged for  spet-inl  night  trains,  to  run  at  low  pV-ices, 
to  the  neighboring  towns  of  Bethlehem  and  Allen- 
town,  where  the  members  of  the  society  will  be 
received  as  brethren  ought  to  be. 


53="  Communications  for  this  department  must  reach,  the  Editor 
nn  or  tcfore  tlie  10th  of  the  month. 
J:J=T)'e  Editor  cannot  answer  letters  for  this  department  pri- 

Vllti'lv. 


Preserving  Half-hardy  Plants  in  Winter. 
— 7i.  writes : 

"  Can  you  give  in  the  Monthly  a  list  of  plants  in 
ordinary  green  or  hot-house  cultivation,  that  can 
be  kept  through  the  winter,  huried  in  the  girdm  f 
as  cellar  room  entirely  free  from  frost  cannot  always 
be  had.  I  buried  all  my  fuchsias  last  winter  and 
never  lost  a  twig  on  one  of  them.  Cannot  Lantanas, 
Lemon- Verbenas,  Gloxinias,  Achimencs,  Bouvar- 
^rflias,  and  perhaps  (if  kept  dry}  Scarlet  Geraniums, 
be  kept  over  the  winter  in  the  same  way  ?  Any 
information  on  the  subject  would,  in  view  of  the 
high  price  of  fuel,  be  very  acceptable  to  your  read- 
ers. I  buried  my  Fuchsias  in  a  pit  in  the  same 
way  that  vegetables  are  preserved,  putting  a  little 
litter  over  them  and  covering  with  about  two  feet 

of  earth." 

[This  is  a  subject  deserving  of  particular  atten- 
tion, in  which  few  of  us  have  had  much  experi- 


(iv^ 


§h^  (Snrter's  JRonthlg, 


241 


ence  ;  but  on  which  all  may  have  some  idea,  formed 
from  observation  on  some  particular  circumstances. 
To  many,  the  extraordinary  price  of  coal  will  be  a 
severe  trial  of  their  love  for  hot  and  greenhouse 
flowers  the  next  winter,  and  we  shall  be  very  glad 
to  have  any  notes  from  our  correspondents,  before 
offering  any  thing  ot  our  own  on  the  question.]. 


Trees  for  Sandy  Ground. — Noticing,  in 
many  parts  of  New  Jersey,  where  the  soil  was 
evidently  very  sandy,  that  trees  with  long  tap  roots 
apparently  did  better  than  those  the  roots  of  which 
remained  along  the  surface,  we  applied  to  a  very  ob- 
serving correspondent  for  his  views.  It  will  be  seen 
he  refers  it  rather  to  the  character  of  the  subsoil ; 
though  of  course  the  capacity  of  the  roots  to  make 
use  of  that  subsoil  is  something.  The  subject 
should  attract  the  attention  of  those  who  have 
sandy  land : 

"  In  replying  to  your  request  of  June  1st,  I  find 
it'  necessary  to  make  a  few  explanatory  remarks. 
The  Sweet  Chestnuts  you  have  seen  growing  about 
Egg  Harbor  City  in  a  very  healthy  state,  would  not 
in  the  least  be  a  rule  that  the  same  are  well  adap- 
ted to  grow  with  success  in  a  sandy  soil ;  those 
were  planted  only  a  few  years  ago.  Chestnuts  do 
not  grow  wild  in  this  section  of  New  Jersey,  and 
those  you  noticed  had  good  soil  put  to  them.  This 
part  of  our  settlement  is  very  heavy  ground,  say 
from  a  sandy  loam  to  a  stifi"  clay.  The  numerous 
brick  houses  of  this  place  were  built  of  bricks  made 
here.  Where  ever  you  see  many  ground  oak  grow- 
ing, there,  you  may  be  sure,  the  subsoil  is  heavy 
with  gravelly  loam  ;  only  the  top  is  sand,  varying 
from  two  inches  to  five  feet  or  more  in  thickness. 

All  trees  grow  well  with  us  with  the  exception 
of  the  Cherry.  I  have  planted  about  three  dozen  of 
them,  and  have  only  three  left,  and  they  are  in  a 
poor  condition.  I  have  endeavored  in  vain  to  find 
out  the  cause  of  it.  I  planted  them  in  different 
soils  and  localities ;  wild  cherries,  however,  grow 
to  large  trees. 

In  a  sandy  soil  all  trees,  without  exception,  will 
make  many  fibrous  roots.  I  have  had  many  oppor- 
tunities within  the  past  years  to  ascertain  this  fact. 
I  layered,  for  instance,  a  lot  of  Norton's  Virginia 
and  Herbemont  Madeira  vines,  (both  kinds,  are 
hard  to  raise  from  cuttings),  partly  in  sandy  soil 
and  partly  in  a  stiff  potter's  t;lay;  those  raised  in 
the  clay  had  but  a  few  long  roots,  while  those  in 
the  sand  had  a  great  abundance  of  fibrous  roots. 
The  same  is  the  case  with  standard  trees.  I  have 
frequently  seen,  near  the  Mullica  or  Egg  Harbor 
river,  in  old  cultivated  farms  and  gardens,  pear  and  I 


apple  trees  of  great  vigor,  which  were  at  least  from 
GO  to  80  years  old,  and  which,  judging  from  their 
healthy  appearance,  may  live  many  years  yet, 
although  they  stand  in  quite  light  sand  ;  so  much 
so,  that  a  person  not  acquainted  with  the  nature 
of  the  soil,  would  almost  believe  that  in  such  a  spot 
nothing  could  grow. " 


Philological  Criticism.  —  A  correspondent 
thus  remarks : 

"  PManges  seems  to  me  to  be  a  phunny  way  to 
f^pell  flanges.^' 

Phancy  our  pheelings  at  being  phound  in  this 
phunny  phix ! 

However,  we  may  say  in  defence,  that  our  no- 
tion is  that  it  ought  to  p/ilange,  if  it  is  not.  Phil- 
ologists are  not  agreed  as  to  whether  it  is  of  Saxon, 
French,  or  direct  Greek  origin.  If  the  latter,  our 
spelling  is  as  correct  as  'phantasy,'  'pharisee,' 
'pharmacy,'  or  any  of  the  rest.  That  it  is  of 
Greek  origin  we  assume,  because  of  its  analogy  in 
structure  with  other  words  of  Greek  origin,  all  with 
a  certain  degree  of  connected  signification. 

But  we  suppose  we  must  not  enjoy  our  own  no- 
tions of  propriety,  but  bow  to  the  same  authority 
that  makes  us  spell  theatre  'theater,'  colour  'color,' 
honour  '  honor,'  etc.,  and  confess  that  it  should  be 
written  flange  ;  and  if  ever  Webster,  or  any  other 
may,  shall  make  '  filadelSa '  '  phashionable,'  we 
will  bow  to  the  decree  likewise.  It  is'nt  our 
province  to  object. 

The  same  good  friend  sends  also  the  following] 

Sentimental  Criticism.—"  The  writer  is  ever 
indifferent  to  what  motives  maybe  imputed  to  him 
in  his  business  transactions,'  is,  to  me  a  strange 
expression  for  one  who,  I  suppose,  has  a  constant 
and  careful  regard  to  a  high  standard  of  integrity 
in  all  his  transactions. " 

To  which  we  say,  our  kind  criticZ;  has  not  caught 
us  so  squarely  as  he  did  on  the  flange  question.  It 
may  be  passing  strange,  but  still  'tis  true.  We  do 
just  what  we  think  right,  and  the  imputation  of  an 
unworthy  motive  to  us  rarely  excites  more  than  a 
smile.  When  we  approve  of  root-grafted  apples, 
if  people  say  we  do  so  only  because  we  can  find  em- 
ployment for  men  otherwise  idle  in  winter,  they 
are  quite  welcome  to  the  imputation. 


The  Pennsylvania  Tea  agAi^.—K  Philadel- 
phia paper  prints  a  long  communication  from  a 
Delaware  correspondent,  attacking  the  MonMy^  for 
the  assertion  that  good  things  will  work  their  own 
way  into  public  favor  without  their  seeking  so  much 


-r^m 


©h^  ^mimtf^  3Kan% 


protection  and  encouragement  from  the  public 
press ;  and  he  enters  into  a  history  of  coal  in 
Pennsylvania,  showing  how  it  was  opposed,  and 
yet  is  popular.  We  suppose  he  means  that  we  op- 
pose the  'tea,*  (which  we  do  not,  but  only  its 
fraudulent  name),  but  it  will  be  popular  for  all. 
May  be  so ;  but  it  is  only  an  inverse  way  of  proving 
our  own  position.  Good  things  succeed  either  in 
the  absence  of  '  national  protection,'  or  in  spite  of 
unreasonable  opposition.    Either  view  suits  us. 

New  Fern  found  at  the  Sanitary  Fair. — 
C.  P.,  writes:— "I  enclose  a  few  fronds  found 
among  some  moss  and  litter  that  came  with  the 
evergreens  from  the  Alleghany  mountains.  All  my 
botanical  friends  consider  it  new,  and  being  found 
under  such  circumstances  would  it  not  be  well  to 
give  it  a  name  commemorative  of  the  patriotic  oc- 
casion of  its  peculiar  discovery." 

Several  friends  have  referred  this  fern  to  us,  and 
it  made  enough  talk  to  be  of  public  interest  here. 
But  it  proves  to  be  Woodsia  ilvcnsis,  a  fern  rare  in 
most  districts,  but  common  in  the  Alleghanies. 

Cement  Tanks. — A  correspondent  writes  that 
he  saw  some  years  ago,  cement  tanks  in  use  in  New 
Haven,  and  suggests  that  Mr.  Hooker's  claim  will 
lose  force.  We  shall  be  glad  to  have  further  par- 
ticulars. We  are  aware  that  cement  tanks  have 
been  often  used.  One  of  them  is  recently  described 
at  page  74  of  this  volume,  by  Mr.  Cumraings,  of 
Reading,  Mass.  The  novelty  to  us  of  Mr.  Hooker's 
tanks  consists  in  the  manner  of  laying  the  tank  in 
the  ground.  If  this  is  not  an  original  idea,  we  shall 
be  glad  to  know,  as  there  will  be  no  use  in  paying 
Mr.  Hooker  for  what  is  already  common  property. 


EECErviNG  the  Monthly.— jlf  B.,  Rochester, 
N.  Y. — We  have  not  rec  eived  your  magazine  for 
May.  We  do  not  understand  why  it  is  not  sent  to 
lis  ?  Please  send  your  magazine  in  future  in  season 
and  without  fail,  as  it  is  very  inconvenient,  and 
compels  us  to  forego  the  pleasure  obtained  in  its 
perusal. 

[We  give  the  above  as  a  .sample  of  unnecessary 
sharp  notes  the  publisher  sometimes  receives.  Ev- 
ery newspaper  and  magazine  publisher's  mailing 
system  is  of  that  nature,  that  it  is  almost  impossi- 
ble they  should  miss  sending  subscribers  their 
papers.  Therefore,  when  they  fail  to  arrive,  it  is 
thefdtilt  of  the  Post-office ;  all  we  can  do  is  to  sup- 
ply numbers  when  civilly  notified  that  they  are 
missing. 


Names  op  Plants— jD.  S.  M.,  Milton,  0.— 


What  is  the  correct  names  of  the  plants  I  enclose  ; 
one  has  a  long  white  tubular  flower  (I).  The  other 
has  large  blue  bell-shaped  or  ranunculus-shaped 
flowers,  opposite  in  the  axils  of  the  leaves  (2).  The 
first  is  a  greenhouse  plant ;  the  other  a  wildling, 
and  grows  18  inches  high. 

[1.  Gloxinia  tubiflora. 

2.  Dipteracanthus  pallidus.] 

Department  op  Agriculture  Postage.  — 
Hon.  Isaac  Newton  informs  us,  that  by  a  law  re- 
cently passed  by  Congress,  the  full  franking  privi- 
lege has  been  restored  to  this  with  other  Depart- 
ments, by  which  it  will  be  seen  that  no  prepayment 
of  postage  is  required  in  addressing  small  parcels, 
seeds,  cuttings,  etc.,  to  this  department. 


Fruit  in  Richmond,  Ind. — A  correspondent 
says :  "  We  have  a  small  crop  of  apples,  plenty  of 
Gooseberries,  a  light  crop  of  Raspberries,  and  some 
Strawberries.  N^ot  even  a  hloom  of  Pear,  Peach, 
Plum,  Apricot,  Quince  or  Cherry  (either  Heart  or 
Morello.  Grapes  mostly  killed  to  the  ground. 
Peaches,  Quinces,  Blackberries,  etc.,  ditto.  Cur- 
rants no  crop,  as  far  as  I  have  heard,  except  a  few 
bushes  that  were  protected  from  the  cold. ' ' 


Writing  for  the  Gardener's  Monthly. — 
Our  correspondents  are  reminded  that  all  manu- 
scripts sent  to  publishers  are  entitled  to  be  forward- 
ed at  the  rate  of  two  cents  for  four  ounces,  provided 
that  one  corner  of  the  envelope  is  cut  and  left  ojjen 
and  the  word  "manuscript"  is  written  on  the  face 
of  the  envelope.  Authors  availing  themselves  of 
the  provisions  of  this  law,  will  remember,  however, 
that  a  letter  or  note  inclosed  with  the  manuscript, 
will  subject  the  whole  package  to  letter  postage. 


Cement  Tanks. — We  have  two  articles  on  this 
subject,  both  of  much  interest,  but  as  we  shall  no 
doubt  have  others  before  our  next  number  goes  to 
press,  we  hold  them  over. 


How  TO  Lay  Out  a  Garden,  &c.    By  Edward 

Kemp,  Landscape  Gardener,  Birkenhead  Park. 

Third   Edition.     London:  Bradbury  &   Evans. 

1864. 

The  task  of  an  author,  we  are  told,  is  either  to 
teach  what  is  not  known,  or  t©  recommend  known 
truths  by  his  manner  of  illustrating  them.  The 
latter  would  seem  to  have  been  the  ol)ject  that  Mr. 


^^ 


^^ 


®^^  (Smkntxz  llontljlj. 


243 


Kemp  had  in  view  when  he  prepared  the  excellent 
work  now  before  us,  of  whioh  we  hail  with  pleasure 
the  appearance  of  anew  edition  (the  thirdj,  greatly 
enlarged,  and  illustrated  with, numerous  additional 
plans  and  sketches  of  gardens  and  garden  objects. 

When  noticing  this  work  on  a  former  occjision, 
we  expressed  our  belief  that  it  was  one  of  the  best 
books  on  pure  garden  design  in  the  English  lan- 
guage. Our  opinion  remains  unchanged.  There 
may  indeed  be  more  learned  and  classic  works  on 
the  subject  of  landscape  gardening  ;  but  we  doubt 
if  there  is  one  that  contains  so  much  useful  infor- 
mation and  practical  details,  relative  to  the  laying 
out  of  a  garden,  as  are  to  be  found  in  this  unpre- 
tending volume. 

The  first  part  of  the  book,  which  professes  merely 
to  be  Suggestive,  is  devoted  to  a  consideration  of 
the  various  characteristics  most  generally  desirable 
in  a  place  of  residence,  but  which  are  sometimes 
overlooked,  or  not  so  much  attended  to  as  they 
ouglit  to  be.  The  most  important  are  the  selecting 
of  a  site  for  a  house,  and  the  means  of  access  to  it ; 
the  nature  and  appearance  of  the  surrounding  pro- 
perty ;  the  character  of  the  soil ;  the  supply  of 
water ;  the  aspect  most  desirable  for  a  house  and 
garden,  &c.  These  and  several  other  points  are 
fully  discussed,  and  will  be  found  well  deserving 
the  attention  of  every  one  about  to  purchase  an  im- 
provable property,  with  the  view  of  forming  it  into 
a  permanent  residence. 

The  second  part  tells  "what  to  avoid,"  and  shows 
that  negative  rules  are  sometimes  of  importance. 
For  wantof  such  beacons,  it  is  truly  observed,  many 
a  person  who  has  gardened  for  himself  has  irre- 
trievably spoiled  his  place  before  discovering  his 
error.  The  most  prevalent  mistake  is  attempting 
too  much,  of  which  we  have  in  our  time  seen  some 
glaring  examples,  attended  with  the  very  same  re- 
sults as  Mr.  Kemp  has  described.  Under  this  head 
it  is  remarked:  "The  effect  of  a  garden  may  bo 
marred  by  the  formation  of  numerous  flower-bed.^, 
or  groups  of  mixed  shrubs  and  flowers,  on  the  lawn. 
This  is  a  very  common  failing,  and  one  which 
greatly  disfigures  a  place,  especially  as  where  in- 
tended only  for  flowers  such  beds  usually  remain 
vacmt  and  naked  for  several  months  in  the  year. 
Piowor-beds,  too,  when  introduced  in  any  quantity 
«n  a  lawn,  have  an  exceedingly  artificial  appear- 
ance, and  interfere  sadly  with  all  ideas  of  breadth, 
liarmony,  and  repose. 

In  a  small  garden  the  employment  of  rockeries, 
or  other  rustic  objects  in  connection  with  the  house, 
or  in  its  immediate  neighborhood,  is  objectionable; 
and  for  thia  reason:  "Every  house  must  be  re- 


garded as  a  work  of  art,  whatever  may  be  its  class 
or  merit,  and  there  would  consequently  be  a  want 
of  harmony  in  as.sociating  it  with  any  thing  com- 
posed of  or  resembling  the  uncultivated  parts  of 
nature.  However  ingeniously  it  may  be  contrived 
or  executed,  therefore,  a  rockery  near  a  house  must 
be  considered  radically  wrong  ;  and  though  great, 
skill  should  be  used  in  adaptation,  or  a  variety  of 
fortunate  circumstances  eventually  awaken  interest, 
these  can  never  wholly  atone  for  a  fundamental 
error." 

In  this  way  many  errors  that  are  frequently  com- 
mitted are  pointed  out,  in  order  that  they  should 
be  specially  guarded  against.  Among  these  may  be 
noticed  the  adoption  of  too  great  a  mixture  of  styles 
in  gardens.  Unsuitable  ornaments,  such  as  figures, 
bridges,  flag-poles,  groups  of  stones,  &c.,  all  manner 
of  eccentricities,  and  in  fact  every  thing  partaking 
of  the  nature  of  a  sham,  must  be  avoided  by  per- 
sons who  have  any  desire  to  obtain  credit  for  cor- 
rect taste. 

"  What  to  attain,"  embraces  a  wide  field  for  dis- 
cussion, and  forms  the  subject  of  the  third  part  of 
the  book.  Here  we  have  the  general  principles 
laid  down  upon  which  the  art  of  landscape  garden- 
ing mainly  depends  for  being  practised  with  suc- 
cess. We  have  also  the  rules  that  are  applicable 
to  them  fully  explained  and  illustrated,  where  it 
was  considered  necessary  to  do  so,  by  a  variety  of 
neatly  drawn  plans  and  sketches,  which  will  be 
found  well  deserving  of  careful  study  and  attention. 
But  it  must  not  be  supposed  that  the  knowledge 
of  these  rules  will  enable  any  one  to  lay  out  a  gar- 
den according  to  order,  as  it  is  obvious  that  every 
place  will  have  some  peculiarity  belonging  to  it 
which  will  require  a  certain  manner  of  treatment. 
Hence  the  landscape  gardener  must  be  guided  by 
other  circumstances,  as  well  as  rules.  He  must 
know  the  nature  of  the  ground  and  the  appearance 
of  the  surrounding  scenery ;  the  aspect  and  style 
of  the  residence  ;  and  the  wants  and  wishes  of  the 
proprietor.  These  having  been  ascertained,  he  is 
then  enabled  to  display  his  taste  and  i-kill  by  mod- 
ifying .some  one  or  otlicrof  th(!  rules,  and  adapting 
them  in  such  a  maimer  as  to  produce  not  only  the 
best  effect,  but  to  harmonize  with  existing  objects. 

Nature  is  the  groat  school  of  landscape  garden- 
ing, but  Mr.  Kemp  is  not  one  of  those  who  would 
carry  the  principle  of  imitation  of  nature  very  far, 
or  into  minor  matters.  On  this  point  we  subjoin 
the  following  excellent  remarks: — "To  regard  a 
garden  otherwise  than  a  work  of  art,  would  tend  to 
a  radical  perversion  of  Nature.  It  is  and  must  re- 
main that  which  its  proxiuiity  to  the  house  alone 


m 


^^ 


244 


SJ|^  gardener's  ^anlljlj. 


enables  it  to  be.  No  ingenuity  can  convert  it  into 
a  forest  glade  or  a  glen.  Nor  is  such  a  transforma- 
tion to  be  wished  for,  were  it  possible,  any  more 
than  that  a  dwelling  should  be  transmuted  into  a 
hut,  or  a  den,  or  a  cave.  A  garden  is  for  comfort,  and 
convenience,  luxury  and  use,  as  well  as  for  making 
a  beautiful  picture.  It  is  to  express  civilization  and 
care,  and  design  and  refinement.  It  is  for  the 
growth  of  choice  flowers,  and  the  preservation  and 
culture  of  exotic  trees  and  shrubs,  with  novel  and 
interesting  and  curious  habits,  which  could  not  be 
reared  without  the  most  assiduous  guardianship 
and  attention.  In  these  respects  it  is  fundamentally 
different  from  all  natural  scenes. 

"Reflections  such  as  these  will  make  it  plain  that 
they  who  would  imitate  Nature  in  gardens,  must 
do  so  in  another  way  than  by  copying  her  piece- 
meal. They  ought,  indeed,  to  be  imitators,  but  not 
copyists,  transcribing  her  spirit,  and  not  her  indi- 
vidual expression— her  general  countenance  or 
aspect,  and  not  her  particular  features.  An  artist, 
be  he  a  painter  or  a  landscape  gardener,  or  an  ama- 
teur in  either  branch,  should  go  to  Nature  to  study 
principles,  gathering  up  snatches  of  scenery,  and 
storing  them  in  his  memory  or  his  portfolio  for  fu- 
ture adaptation  and  use.  He  should  note  all  that 
pleases  him,  and  endeavor  to  understand  how  and 
why  it  influences  his  mind.  By  thus  filling  his 
brain  with  numberless  beautiful  little  pictures  or 
images,  and  his  intellect  with  the  foundations  and 
sources  of  pleasure  in  his  art,  he  will  come  from 
Nature  doubly  primed  to  give  practical  utterances; 
to  his  imaginings,  aud  prepared  to  embody  in  a 
composition  the  finer  touches  and  more  artistic  and 
spiritual  elements  which  he  has  collected  from  such 
a  variety  of  sources.  It  is  in  this  way  that  the  im- 
itation of  Nature  will  be  but  the  ennobling  of  art; 
the  airy  elegance  and  flying  graces  of  the  one  being 
engrafted  on  the  more  substantial  characteristics 
of  the  other." 

The  preceding  extract  will  enable  our  readers  to 
form  some  idea  of  the  plea.sing  and  attractive  style 
in  which  the  book  is  written.     After  laying  down 
the  principles  upon  which  the  art  of  landscape  gar- 
dening is  based,  Mr.  Kemp  proceeds  to  show  how 
they  are  to  be  Applied,  and  for  this  purpose  he 
gives  a  variety  of  plans  and  details,  from  his  own 
practice,  in  which  he  explains  the  peculiar  features 
of  certain  places  he  had  to  alter  and  improve,  and 
the  manner  in  which  their  incongruities  were  treat- 
j  ed.     His  remarks  on  architectural  gardening,  for 
g  which  the  taste  appears  to  be  gradually  increasing, 
>  ^  are  full  of  good  sense,  and  merit  particular  atten- 
Jf^  I  tion.     Its  proper  sphere  is  stated  to  be  the  imme- 


diate neighborhood  of  the  hou.=;e,  and  as  an  accom- 
paniment to  styles  of  architecture.  Whether  the 
latter  is  a  variety  of  Grecian  or  Italian,  the  garden 
ought  to  be  distinguished  by  symmetry  and  regu- 
larity. It  should  exhibit  a  strict  observance  of  rule, 
and  a  prominent  indication  of  art,  so  as  to  har- 
monize with  the  house  and  other  architectural  ob- 
jects. It  specially  demands  everything  should  be 
good  and  nicely  finished,  that  the  plants  be  of  the 
best  and  most  carefully  selected  kinds,  the  grass 
evenly  laid,  the  figures  and  beds  and  edgings  of 
walks  neatly  and  accurately  cut,  and  all  the  lines, 
whether  of  walks  or  edgings,  extremely  straight  or 
regular. 

We  therefore  cordially  recommend  it  as  being 
indispensable,  not  only  to  the  young  gardener,  but 
to  all  who  take  an  interest  in  gardening,  and  desire 
to  acquire  a  knowledge  of  the  principles  upon  which 
the  beauty  and  attractiveness  of  a  garden  so  much 
depend. — London  Gnr-ileners  Chronicle. 

The  Country  Gentleman.  Published  by  Lu- 
ther Tucker  &  Son,  Albany,  New  York. 

We  note  with  great  pleasure  the  commencement 
of  another  volume  of  this  excellent  weekly  agricul- 
tural magazine.  It  is  conducted  with  a  degree  of 
talent  that  Americans  are  proud  of  In  this  respect 
it  is  equal  to  any  European  journal,  and  superior 
to  most  of  them. 

It  is  in  fact  a  marvel  how  such  a  superior  maga- 
zine can  be  furnished  so  cheaply.  The  London 
Gardeners'  Chrom'de  and  Agriadtural  Gazette 
brings  to  its  publishers  $5  per  year.  The  Cov)dry 
Gentleman  asks  but  $2  50.  Every  American  who 
takes  pride  in  the  superior  agriculture  of  his  coun- 
try, is  justly  proud  of  the  Cnimtry  Gentleman. 


Mountain  Seedling  Gooseberry. — "  I  send 
you  some  of  these  (Shaker^  "  Mountain  Seedling 
Gooseberries."  I  have  been  waiting  for  them  to 
ripen  before  sending,  so  that  the  seed  would  grow. 
Please  try  thy  hand  on  seedlings  from  them,  and 
let  us  know  the  result.  It  has  been  so  dry  with  us 
this  summer  that  they  have  not  had  a  fair  chance 
to  fully  develop  themselves,  as  thc}  would  if  it  had 
been  cold  and  moist.  This  variety  is  a  very  strong 
grower;  it  may  be  trained  •>  or  6  feet  high,  easily 
if  any  one  chooses  to.  I  have  had  it  in  bearing  3 
years,  and  never  saw  any  sign  of  mildew  about  it. 
I  am  much  preposessed  in  its  favor,  and  think  it 
will  take  the  place  of  those  smaller  kinds.     My 


ih^  (Sarda^r's  ^ardh^ 


bushes  are  full  of  fruit  like  the  samiile  I  send. 
J.  Teas  says  the  color  is  the  same  as  'Houghton's.' 
This  is  incorrect,  for  it  is  dailier  colored  either 
green  or  ripe. 

I  also  enclose  a  section  of  a  shoot,  to  show  its 
growth  ;  and  one  or  two  berries  of  Downing' s  Seed- 
ling.—h.  S.  Mote,  West  Milton,  0. 

[The  "Mountain"  and  "Downing's"  were 
neither  of  them  as  large  as  we  have  seen. ,  The 
former,  of  those  sent,  were  nearly  double  the  size 
of  the  latter,  and  of  much  better  flavor  to  our  taste. 

It  is  surprising  that  this  branch  of  Pomology 
does  not  improve  faster.  The  English  Grooseberry, 
it  is  now  decided,  is  no  better  adapted  to  our  cli- 
mate than  the  foreign  grape ;  while  the  Native 
Gooseberry  is  usually  safe  from  mildew.  With 
the  disposition  which  the  American  Gooseberry 
shows  to  improve,  it  ought  to  render  our  desire  for 
English  varieties  an  obsolete  idea.] 


The  Newer  Strawberries  and  Raspber- 
ries.— In  a  private  letter,  a  friend  writes: 

"The  Russell  and  French  have  sustained  them- 
selves well,  and  will  be  extensively  cultivated  in 
our  vicinity.  Raspberries  are  doing  well ;  last  week 
was  the  height  of  the  DooUttle  and  Kirtland, — we 
have  about  500  quarts  at  a  picking.  This  week  is 
the  height  of  the  Fhiladelphia, — we  sent  away  over 
500  quarts  yesterday. 

We  have  plowed  up  nearly  all  of  our  choice  ten- 
der varieties  as  unprofitable  for  field  culture. 
Among  those  destroyed  are  the  Hornet,  FastolfF, 
Hudson  River  Antwerp,  Belle  De  Fontenay,  Allen, 
Gushing,  Col.  Wilder,  Franconia,  Orange,  Vice- 
President,  Ohio  Everbearing,  Catawissa,  Cretan 
Red,  Thunderer,  Bagley's  Perpetual,  R.  M.  Conk- 
lin's  French,  Large-Fruited  Monthly,  and  some 
others  of  le.ss  note.  The  varieties  we  now  have  in 
cultivation,  the  number  of  which  will  be  greatly 
reduced  another  year,  are  Kirtland,  Stoever,  Doo- 
Uttle Black,  Miami  Black,  Old  Purple  Cane  and 
Philadelphia,  with  some  others  on  trial,  such  as 
the  Clark,  Naomi,  Lindslay's  Fastolff  Seedling, 
Downing's  Seedling,  Fillbasket  and  others. 

We  have  a  large  quantity  of  seedlings  fruiting 
this  year  for  the  first  time,  all  grown  from  hardy 
varieties,  some  of  which  promise  well ;  none,  how- 
ever, will  be  retained  that  are  not  perfectly  hardy 
in  the  open  field,  without  protection  of  any  kind 
from  the  winter's  frost  or  summer's  heat. 

Having  expended  several  thousand  dollars  within 
the  last  twenty-five  years  in  experimenting  on 
Raspberries,  I  have  found  but  very  few  that  are 
profitable  for  field  culture ;  and  if  confined  to  two 


kinds,  they  would  be  the  Doollttle  Blach  and  the 
Old  Philadel2Jhia  (which  has  been  about  twenty-six 
years  working  itself  into  public  notice,  and  will  be- 
come the  principal  variety  grown  in  this  vicinity, 
unless  some  other  of  superior  merit  is  yet  discov- 
ered.^ 

It  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  although  large  fields 
are  now  cultivated  with  small  fruits,  yet  it  sells 
higher  in  the  market  than  when  it  was  confined  to 
gardens  and  small  patches,  showing  that  the  de- 
mand increases  faster  than  the  supply,  and  there  is 
no  danger  of  over-stocking  the  market  with  good, 
wholesome  fruit." 


LupiNus  ALBO-cocciNEUS. — Of  the  many  bril- 
liant varieties  of  Lupine  that  have  been  introduced, 
this  is  by  far  the  finest,  and  must  undoubtedly  be 
reckoned  as  an  essential  to  every  annual  garden  ; 
the  blossom  spike  is  6  inches  in  length  ;  color,  rich 
rosy  red  half  way  up  the  spike,  from  thence  to  the 
apex  pure  white  ;  the  general  eS"ect  is  very  striking. 


Abutilon  Regelii.— a  magnificent  variety  of 
this  ornamental  genus,  with  deep,  golden  yellow 
large  bell-shaped  flowers,  exquisitely  veined,  and 
produced  in  great  profusion.  Foliage  very  hand- 
some. 


Acacia  jiyriobotria. — A  free-flowering  varie- 
ty with  elegant  rich  green  leaves  and  deep  primrose 
flowers  in  racGnics. 


Acacia  odoratissima  pendula. — A  elegant 
variety,  with  long  slender  foliage  and  clusters  of 
exceedingly  fragrant  yellow  flowers,  which  are  pro- 
duced in  great  abundance,  and  in  succession  du- 
ring the  year  ;  remarkable  for  its  rapid  growth  and 
graceful  habit. 


An  Agricultural  Mission  to  CniNA.— We 
see  it  announced  that  Commissioner  Newton  has 
appointed  Varnum  D.  Collins — whoever  he  may 
be — agent  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  and 
sent  him  to  China,  charged  with  the  selection  of 
seed  of  new  varieties  of  sorghum,  and  other  pro- 
ducts capable  of  acclimation,  and  the  collection  of 
other  agricultural  information. — Rural  N.- Yorker. 


hortxcultuhal  department  of  the 
sanitary  fair. 

(  Concluded  from  page  2 1 4  J 

Close  by  the  market  you  can  purchase  plants, 
•wax  flowers,  or,  if  you  are  in  search  of  the  substan- 
tials,  they  meet  you  in  the  shape  of  strawberries 
and  cream,  etc.  Mrs.  Dr.  Darrach  is  the  presid- 
ing lady  at  the  stand  for  was  fruit  and  flowers. 
Among  the  vast  number  of  contributors  to  these 
tables,  where  the  revenue  is  very  likely  to  net  a 
very  handsome  amount  for  the  Commission,  are : 
Mrs.  Bowman,  of  Germantown  ;  Mrs.  Henry  Mor- 
ris, Mrs.  Joseph  Lovering,  the  Ladies.'  Aid  Society 
of  Lower  Williston,  Pa.,  (who  send  a  fine  collec- 
tion of  stuffed  birds^,  Mr.  B.  I.  Leedom  furnishes 
fruit  and  vegetables ;  the  House  of  Befuge  contri- 
butes daily  large  quantities  of  cut  flowers  ;  Glen- 
wood  Cemetery  sends  the  same.  Three  days  in  the 
week  Miss  E.  Fisher,  of  Germantown,  sends  her 
contribution  of  cut  flowers,  and  daily  there  is  ex- 
pected of  strawberries  and  flowers  from  the  Agricul- 
tural Department  at  Washington.  Will's  Hospital, 
Blockley  Hospital,  Laurel  Hill  and  Mt.  Vernon 
Cemeteries,  send  liberal  contributions  of  flowers 
and  fruit. 

The  nurserymen  have  been  particularly  active  in 
endeavoring  to  add  to  the  receipts.  Many  of  these 
gentlemen,  not  being  able  conveniently  to  send 
flower  plants,  have  deposited  certificates,  entitling 
the  purchaser  to  select  plants  from  their  stock  to 
the  amount  stated  upon  the  card. 

Among  those  sending  these  'orders  for  nursery 
stock,'  are  AVilliam  Bright,  of  Bising  Sun  ;  Robert 
Otto,  West  Chester ;  T.  F.  Seal,  Chester  County ; 
E.  Allen,  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.  ;  F.  F.  Merceron, 
Catawissa ;  J,  B.  Gray,  West  Chester ;  E.  J. 
Evans,  York ;  H.  M.  Engle,  and  D.  Engle,  Mari- 
etta ;  Haines  &  Hacker,  Cheltenham ;  H.  A. 
Dreer,  Philadelphia;  Meehan  &  Wandell,  Ger- 
mantown ;  D.  Nelson,  Glenwood  Nursery,  and  S. 
Miller  of  Lebanon.  We  must  not  omit  to  mention 
Mr.  J.  A.  Wilson,  resident  engineer  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Bailroad  at  Altoona,  who  sent  two  car 
loads  of  evergreens  to  deck  the  columns  and  other 
portions  of  the  hall.  Mrs.  Dr.  Price,  of  West 
Chester,  also  sent  many  evergreens.  Mr.  John 
Menzies  presented  a  moving  ship,  which  is  inter- 
esting and  valuable. 

Messrs.  Cornelius  &  Baker  furnished,  among 
other  articles,  two  very  curious  and  attractive  or- 
for  the  border  surrounding  the  fountain.  These 
consist  of  a  combination  of  gas  jets  and  warer-lilies. 
The  stem  and  flowers  are  of  iron,  and  the  petals 
are  formed  of  gas  jets,  and  at  night  the  eff"ect  is 


very  beautiful.  The  majority  of  visitors  are  com- 
pletely deceived  in  regard  to  the  mechanism  of 
these  ornaments. 

The  statuary,  which  adds  so  much  to  the  display, 
comes  from  Mr.  S.  A.  Harrison.  Too  much  praise 
cannot  be  awarded  to  all  the  parties  concerned  in  the 
horticultural  display.  Mr.  William  M.  Ogil.sby  £u- 
perintended  the  plumbing  and  gas-fitting,  and  it  is 
surprising  that  in  the  multiplicity  of  forms  and 
devices,  nothing  was  found  defective  on  the 
opening  day.  Mr.  Michael  Mills  had  charge  of  the 
fountains  and  the  water  arrangements,  and  to  his 
skill  in  the  grouping  of  the  plants  in  the  centre  is 
due  much  of  the  grand  effect  of  the  exhibition. 

The  display  of  aquaria  is  very  large  in  this  de- 
p.irtment,  and  deservedly  attracts  attention  from 
the  curious.  In  one  of  these  beautiful  ornaments 
there  is  a  skillful  and  instructive  combination  of 
fire,  water,  air  and  earth.  Near  by  is  a  magnifi- 
cent cachis  case  from  from  the  fine  collection  of 
Mr.  D.  B.  King. 

But  the  most  attractive  feature  of  the  exhibition 
in  the  Horticultural  department  remains  to  be  de- 
scribed. Two  rooms  have  been  fitted  up  for  repre- 
sentations of  the  Frigid  and  Torrid  Zones.  And 
first  of  the  Arctic :  A  ship  lies  locked  in  the 
icy  embrace  of  a  frozen  sea ;  ice-bergs  tower  above 
it ;  stunted  Arctic  vegetation,  consisting  of  a  few 
hardy  and  blast  beaten  pines,  make  the  scene 
more  chilling.  Ice  everywhere ;  near  at  hand, 
piled  up  in  great  mountains  of  crystal  splen- 
dor ;  and,  in  the  far  distance,  across  the  cold  blue 
water,  in  bergs  and  fields  of  snowy  whiteness,  while 
in  the  back-ground,  the  artist's  pencil  has  been 
used  to  give  the  spectator  an  idea  of  the  vast  ex- 
panse of  vacant  space.  Over  all  is  shed  a  pale  blue 
light,  containing  not  a  degree  of  warmth,  and  the 
whole  scene  is  one  of  frozen  beauty.  Professor 
Booth,  who  designed  and  executed  this  exquisite 
picture,  has  reaped  new  honors  by  his  success,  and 
the  assistance  rendered  by  Mr.  Wunderlich  has 
done  much  to  render  the  scene  a  perfect  one. 

Next  to  this  is  the  Torrid  Zone,  the  production 
of  the  skill  and  taste  of  Mr.  Wni.  Southwood.  Mr. 
King's  fine  collection  of  plants  is  here  made  to  do 
duty,  and  the  exhibition  is  a  great  success.  Tropi- 
cal vegetation,  heavy,  rich,  gloomy  and  impenetra- 
ble, is  grouped  before  the  eye. 

From  the  branches  overhead  hang  rich  and  pen- 
dant mosses,  whilst  among  them  is  seen  a  mischiev- 
ous monkey  and  a  brilliant-plumed  parrot.  Many 
birds  of  bright  color  are  in  the  trees ;  a  crane  is 
seen  extending  his  graceful  neck  from  the  foliage, 
and  over  all  hang  the  dark  green  forest  roof     No 


sky  is  visible,  and  the  little  light  which  penetrates 
the  foliage  is  dim  and  uncertain.  Creeping  for  the 
jungle  is  a  Leopard,  ready  to  spring  upon  his  prey. 

Both  these  scenes  are  perfect  in  their  detail,  and 
are  alone  worth  the  price  of  admission  to  the  Hor- 
ticultural Departmont. 

The  ladies  have  taken  a  deep  interest  in  the  ar- 
rangement of  the  Horticultural  exhibition,  and  me 
committee  is  indebted  to  their  taste  and  industry 
for  much  of  the  success  that  has  attended  this 
branch  of  the  Great  Sanitary  Fair,  A  permanent 
record  of  the  names  of  the  ladies  and  gentlemen 
concerned  would  be  but  simple  justice.  We  can 
only  particularize  a  few  of  the  more  prominent : 
Mrs.  J.  Rhea  Barton,  Miss  Percival,  Miss  S.  B. 
Dunlap,  Mrs.  Price,  Mrs.  Parrish,  Mrs.  Dr.  James 
Darrach,  Sirs.  H.  A.  Dreer,  Mrs.  Robert  Buist, 
and  Mrs.  Harmar  have  been  very  active  in  the  good 
work.  Among  the  gentlemen  we  find  Mr.  D.  R. 
King,  Chairman  of  the  Committee ;  Mr.  W.  L. 
Schaffer,  lAIr.  J.  E.  Mitchell,  Chas.  Harmar,  S.  S. 
Price,  R.  W.  Marshall,  J.  C.  Price,  and  Mr.  Wag- 
ner, who  have  given  their  time  to  the  "perfection 
of  the  display.  Messrs.  Jas.  Ritchie,  T.  Meehan, 
Robt.  Kilvington,  Jas.  Eadie,  and  John  Pollock, 
deserve  more  than  a  passing  notice.  These  gen- 
tlemen were  early  enlisted  in  the  movement,  and 
have  devoted  their  whole  attention  to  the  arrange- 
ment of  the  plants,  flowers  and  fruits.  All  have 
the  satisfaction  of  feeling  that  the  department  is 
second  to  none  in  the  Fair  in  point  of  attraction, 
and  as  the  daily  attendance  of  visitors  has  been 
from  40,000  to  50,000  people,  the  pecuniary  suc- 
cess must  be  assumed. 


Good  News  for  Lovers  op  Peaches. — The 
Trenton  Gazette  says  that  the  peach  crop  promises 
to  be  large  this  year — the  largest  ever  raised  in 
New  Jersey.  "  In  Monmouth  and  Ocean  counties 
we  hear  of  no  drawback  to  a  large  yield  so  far.  The 
veteran  producers  of  Monmouth  county  predict  a 
crop  above  the  average.  Benjamin  Reed,  of 
Hightstown,  has  180,000  trees  in  Ocean  county 
that  are  in  bearing,  and  is  preparing  to  send  to 
market  224,000  baskets.  A  friend,  whose  judg- 
ment we  think  is  good,  informs  us  that  tha  fruit 
crop  of  New  Jersey,  south  of  the  Raritan  Bay, 
from  present  appearances  will  be  very  large." 


Large  Plums. — D.  McKenzie  presented  us  a 
few  days  since,  with  a  few  of  the  largest  plums 
raised  on  his  place  in  this  village,  it  has  been  our 
privilege  to  look  upon  in  a  long  time.  One  of  them 
measured  6^  inches  around  one  way,  and  6|  inches 


the  other.  If  any  person  has  larger  or  better,  we 
would  be  most  happy  to  handle  a  few  of  them.— 
Sanilac  Jeffersonian. 


Mode  op  Drying  the  Common  Red  Cur- 
rant.—The  currants  should  be  quite  ripe  when 
gathered,  with  the  stems  attached,  and  washed  or 
rinsed  effectually  and  drained  off.  Then  stem  them 
and  wash  them  thoroughly,  and  to  each  pound  of 
currants  add  a  quarter  of  a  pound  of  good  Havana 
sugar  ;  then  place  them  in  a  preserving  kettle  over 
a  fire  until  they  come  to  a  scald  heat,  when  they 
are  turned  out  into  white  earthen  dishes,  and  ex- 
posed to  the  action  of  the  sun,  until,  by  evapora- 
tion, they  become  hardened  on  the  upper  side. 
Then  they  are  turned  over,  and  there  remain  until 
they  become  so  on  the  other  side,  so  alternate  until 
they  become  a  sort  of  leathery  texture,  when  they 
are  put  away  in  earthen  jars  or  boxes,  until  wanted 
for  use.  Care  must  be  taken  to  keep  them  from 
the  dews  of  night  and  rains  during  the  process  of 
drying;  finally,  the  utmost  cleanliness  should  be 
ob.served  from  first  to  last. 

When  used,  enough  hot  water  is  required  to  dis- 
solve them  to  any  consistency  suitable  for  tarts, 
jelly,  &c.  At  the  same  time  more  sugar  is  required 
to  make  them  quite  palatable,  which  must  of  course 
be  governed  by  taste.  Currants  in  this  way  have 
kej)t  well  with  us  for  three  years,  and  the  presump- 
tion is,  that  they  will  keep  for  a  longer  time,  if  well 
cared  for, — Horticulturist. 


Wild  Fruits  of  California.— This  country 
is  so  barren  of  all  kinds  of  timber,  that  but  a  few 
native  fruits  are  found.  The  Elderberrj'  grows 
along  the  banks  of  our  streams,  and  in  moist 
grounds ;  it  is  quite  tart,  and  makes  good  pies  and 
preserves,  as  well  as  vinegar. 

We  have  one  species  of  the  Gooseberry,  which 
bears  semi-annually  very  profusely;  jet  black  in 
color,  resembling  the  largest-sized  English  Black 
Currants ;  little  tart  in  flavor,  and  tastes  much  like 
the  blue-berry.  They  make  a  very  good  suhstitute 
for  the  common  Red  Currant,  in  cookery. 

On  our  small  creeks,  protected  from  Indian  fires, 
the  common,  small,  wild  grapes  abound,  and  boun- 
tifully. They  make  fine  jellies,  and  are  used  for 
other  purposes,  the  same  as  the  small  Eastern  frost 
grapes.  All  of  the  above  fruits  make  very  good 
domestic  vinegar. 

There  is  another  small  red  berry  that  grows  upon 
the  plains,  on  a  bush  resembling  the  common  cur- 
rant. The  squaws  gather  large  quantities  of  them 
for  food. — S.  W.  Jeweit,  in  Rural  New-Yorker. 


248 


SCto  §m&tmf%  cP0trfhl5. 


LETTER  FROM  MR.  P.  B.  MEAD. 

The  history  of  American  Horticulture  and  the 
Horticulturist  are  so  closely  connected  that  every- 
thing relating  to  this  magazine  possesses  an  interest 
to  our  readers.  We  cheerfully  make  place,  therefore, 
for  the  following  note,  from  the  late  editor.  Had  it 
reached  us  earlier  in  the  month,  we  should  have 
placed  it  in  a  more  appropriate  column  : — 

Mr.  Editor  : — May  I  presume  upon  your  cour- 
tesy to  address  a  few  words  to  my  old  friends,  the 
readers  and  correspondents  of  the  Horticulturist. 
No  inconsiderable  portion  of  my  life  having  been 
given  to  the  Horticultural  public  "  freely  and  with- 
out price,"  it  would  seem  that  something  more  is 
due  to  me  than  the  very  curt  notice  accorded  by 
]Mr.  George  E.  Woodward,  in  the  July  number  of 
the  Horticulturist ;  at  least  something  is  due  from 
me  to  my  old  correspondents.  I  am  under  many 
and  deep  obligations  to  them,  which  I  shall  always 
gratefully  remember.  My  intercourse  with  them 
has  been  exceeding  pleasant,  and  I  should  be  pained 
to  think  that  it  would  end  with  my  retirement  from 
the  editorial  chair  of  the  Horticulturist.  I  cannot 
at  this  moment  remember  an  instance  in  which  I 
have  not  met  with  a  hearty  and  generous  response 
to  any  calls  I  may  have  made  upon  them.  For 
these  things,  and  for  all  our  pleasant  intercourse 
together,  they  have  my  sincere  thanks.  They 
have  now  a  choice  place  in  my  heart,  where  their 
memory  will  ever  be  cherished. 

To  my  old  readers  I  would  also  return  my  thanks 
for  the  many  tokens  of  approbation  I  have  received 
from  them.  Pursuing  my  labors  under  peculiar 
difBculties,  I  have  not  been  unconscious  of  my  short- 
comings, which  have  been  received  with  more  in- 
dulgence than  I  had  a  right  to  expect.  My 
opinions  may  not  have  pleased  all,  but  they  have 
been  faithfully  and  honestly  given. 

To  my  brothers  of  the  press,  too,  I  would  return 
my  thanks  for  the  kindly  notice  and  fair  treatment 
that  I  have  always  received  at  their  hands. 

It  would  seem  that  there  are  already  claimants 
for  a  "share  of  my  editorial  labors.  If  by  this  is 
meant  simply  restraint,  I  have  nothing  to  say. — 
These  labors  may  have  been  great  or  small,  but 
they  are  notwithstanding  mine.  Let  me  state  dis- 
tinctly, that  all  the  "  leaders,"  up  to  and  including 
the  July  number,  all  the  articles  ' '  by  the  editor,  ' ' 
all  the  remarks  appended  to  articles,  and  all  the 
"  Table"  marter,  except  some  business  notices  and 
a  book-notice,  are  every  line  and  word  exclusively 
my  own.  The  name  of  the  Editor  has  never  been 
used  to  cover  matter  not  my  own.  The  articles 
under  the  firm's  name  are  not  mine.     This  state- 


ment will  prevent  misapprehension  for  the  future. 

But  it  may  be  asked  why  I  parted  with  the  maga- 
zine. Chiefly  because,  situated  as  I  was,  I  could 
not  make  it  what  it  ought  to  be,  and  what  I  felt 
able  to  make  it.  Other  reasons,  quite  as  cogent, 
were  not  without  their  influence.  I  need  not  say 
that  I  parted  with  it  regretfully,  for  I  had  learned 
to  love  it. 

My  correspondents  can  address  me  to  my  farm 
at  North  Englewood,  N.  J. ,  or  at  my  place  of  busi- 
ness ill  New  York.  I  shall  always  be  glad  to  hear 
from  them. 

Thanking  you,  Mr.  Editor,  for  your  courtesy,  I 
do  not  say  vale,  but  simply  au  revoir. 

Peter  B.  Mead, 
Ptoom  43  Moffat  Building,  335  Broadway,  N.  Y. 


To  Color  with  Purslane. — A  correspondent 
of  the  American  Agriculturist,  "  M.  G.,"  gives  the 
following  directions  for  coloring  with  the  common 
weed  purslane,  [Portulacca  oleracea.)  Boil  one 
bushel  of  the  green  plant  for  three  hours  in  a  cop- 
per or  brass  vessel.  Strain  out  the  liquor  and  add 
to  it  1  lb.  of  logwood  chips  previously  soaked,  or 
as  much  extract-of  logwood  as  equals  a  pound  of 
the  chips,  and  I  lb.  of  alum.  Wet  3  lbs.  of  the 
goods  to  be  dyed,  place  them  in  the  mixture  and 
expose  to  moderate  heat  for  three  hours ;  while 
simmering,  occasionally  raise  the  goods  out  of  the 
dye  and  expose  to  the  air.  The  resulting  color  will 
be  a  light  bluish  purple. 


Mow  lawns  before  the  dew  is  off  the  grass  unless 
you  have  a  machine,  which  cuts  it  best  when  dry. 


Scientific  Associations. — The  relations  which 
exist  between  the  natural  sciences  are,  perhaps, 
greater  than  at  first  sight  may  appear :  it  is  only 
after  having  made  oneself  somewhat  familiar  with 
more  of  the  separate  branches  of  ph^'sics,  &c., 
that  one  is  able  to  form  an  idea  how  closely  they 
are  related  to  the  more  strictly  called  "natural 
sciences,"  a  chain  of  relationship  connecting  the 
whole,  so  that  it  is  diflScult  to  have  even  a  good 
popular  notion  of  the  one,  without  some  knowledge, 
however  slight,  of  the  other.  As  an  acquaintance 
with  these  subjects  is  considered  necessary  to  every 
man  of  a  liberal  education,  and  as  the  taste  of  the 
public  is  inclining  so  much  in  that  direction  now-a- 
days,  it  may  not  be  uninteresting  to  take  a  short 


glance  at  the  connection  existing  both  individually 
and  collectively,  between  geology,  mineralogy, 
chemistry,  crystalography,  and  biology,  (both  ani- 
mal and  vegetable  (and  in  as  short  and  succinct  a 
style  as  possible  to  impress  on  the  reader  of  any  of 
these  divisions  of  natural  history,  that  he  should 
not,  through  any  inclination  towards  one  particular 
department,  deprive  himself  of  the  pleasure  of  its 
application  to  the  others  ;  and,  since  application  is 
the  whole  use  of  a  practical  science,  that  he  should 
neglect  no  opportunity  of  bringing  his  knowledge 
of  one  branch  to  increase  that  of  the  others. 

Take  that  wide  and  interesting  study,  geology, 
for  instance  :  its  study,  however  useful,  without  its 
great  expounder  palaeontology,  would  be  one  of  the 
tamest  and  most  uninteresting,  and  its  practical 
application  nothing  but  the  work  of  a  digger  or 
delver,  save  for  the  small  light  that  would  be 
thrown  upon  it  by  the  minerals  which  you  might 
meet,  and  which  of  themselves  would  be  of  little 
value  but  for  the  rigid  chemical  andcrystalographic 
laws  to  which  they  are  subject,  and"  palaeontology 
itself  would  be  useless  and  mere  guess-work — you 
might  have  piles  of  fossil  shells,  and  slabs  of  fossil 
reptiles  and  animals  which  would  surpass  those  in 
the  British  Museum,  and  had  you  not  zoology  to 
identify  your  remains,  and  comparative  anatomy  to 
correlate  their  structures,  you  would  be  simply  in 
the  dark  as  regards  the  great  problem  of  geology, 
the  advancement  of  life  on  the  globe. 

The  most  trivial  and  apparently  despicable  cir- 
cumstances relating  to  animal  life  should  not  be 
passed  over  heedlessly  when  you  come  to  apply 
your  mind  to  the  great  problems  which,  will  be  laid 
before  you ;  and  the  very  best  exercises  to  which 
the  young  student  in  geology  can  apply  himself  are 
the  works  of  the  most  eminent  laborer  in  this  field 
of  science — Professor  Owen.  He  will  see  there 
that  the  work  he  has  before  him  is  not  that  which 
a  young  lady  would  adopt  to  pass  away  her  time, 
but  something  like  reality,  which  will  require  the 
whole  of  his  energies,  and  good-will  to  boot.  In- 
ferior, certainly  to  the  remains  of  animal  life,  but 
still  affording  an  immense  amount  of  information 
as  to  the  former  condition  of  the  world,  both  as  to 
climatology  and  structure,  the  beds  of  fossil  plants 
and  trees  require  to  be  studied  with  even  more  at- 
tention, inasmuch  as  there  is  less  known  about 
them,  and  that  little  requires  to  be  well  improved 
before  anything  like  a  definite  classification  of  the 
flora  and  fauna  can  be  arrived  at.  Of  course  this 
•is  the  highest  perfection  of  botany,  and  on  which 
the  most  eminent  naturalists  have  been,  and  are 
engaged.    Thus  a  very  fair  botanical  range  is  to  be 


attained,  and  will  repay  the  trouble  of  gaining  it, 
without  fear  of  limitation  as  to  the  number  and 
description  of  specimens. 

Zoology  and  botany  being  generally  studied  to- 
gether, each  will  contrast  well  with  the  other,  and 
render  the  somewhat  tedious  labor,  an  agreeable 
recreation.  The  other  ally  of  geology  before  men- 
tioned, namely,  mineralogy,  is  only  another  name 
for  applied  chemistry  ;  and  some  of  the  nicest  and 
most  difficult  operations  in  chemical  analysis  must 
be  performed  before  we  can  tell  the  name  of  a 
mineral,  which,  perhaps,  to  all  appearance,  is  the 
same  as  one  of  our  every  day  friends  ;  besides,  the 
subject  of  mineralogy  in  its  present  rather  crude 
state  is  one  which  by  itself  will  be  highly  interest- 
ing, as  in  it  every  one  can  indulge  his  fancy  on  cer- 
tain points  which  are  not  very  definitely  arranged, 
and  in  which  speculations  he  may,  by  attention  and 
study,  both  theoretical  and  practical,  effect  some- 
thing which  may  really  advance  one  of  the  most 
attractive  subjects  in  nature. 

The  grouping  of  the  various  elements  of  minerals 
into  their  proper  formulae  gives  occupation  to  heads 
which  in  point  of  ability  are  second  to  none  ;  while 
not  one  of  those  men  whose  names  will  be  seen  in 
every  book  on  mineralogy  could  tell  the  composi- 
tion of  even  the  simplest  granite  which  we  kick 
along  the  road  were  it  not  for  the  assistance  of  a 
few  agents  and  simple  manipulative  operations. 
Chemistry  is  so  wide  a  subject,  it  would  be  out  of 
our  power  here  even  to  hint  at  even  the  heads  of 
its  many  relations ;  but  from  what  has  been  said 
above,  it  may  be  supposed  that  the  study  of  chem- 
istry is  absolutely  necessary  to  one  who  wishes  to 
have  an  intimate  acquaintance  with  the  crust  of 
the  earth ;  and  the  advantages  to  be  gained  in 
every  day  life  from  an  intimacy  with  chemical  phe- 
nomena can  only  be  appreciated  by  those  who  have 
received  its  benefits. 

Physics,  including  in  its  wide  range  electrical  and 
magnetical  disturbances,  changes  and  appearances, 
wjth  the  theory  of  heat  and  meteorology  in  their 
relations  to  chemistry,  are  most  marked  and  inti- 
mate ;  a  thorough  knowledge  of  either  demanding 
a  fair  knowledge  of  the  other,  some  of  the  .most 
fundamental  principals  in  the  former  being  totally 
inexplicable  without  the  assistance  of  the  latter, 
and  vice  versa. 

From  the  very  short  sketch  above  given  of  a  few 
of  the  relations  of  the  natural  sciences,  it  is  evident 
that  a  subject  so  wide  and  so  respectively  intimate 
in  relations  should  be  pursued  with  a  view  to  the 
ultimate  end — an  equal  knowledge  of  them  all. — 
Irish  Farmer's  Gazette. 


:==^ 


ih^  §nrkntf%  JKonihlj, 


The  Raspberry. — As  Mr.  Appleby  has  recently 
in  this  Journal  so  ably  set  forth  all  the  points  in 
the  culture  of  the  Raspberry,  I  will  only  make  a 
few  remarks  in  addition,  or  rather  in  confirmation 
of  what  he  has  said  on  the  subject,  with  some  prac- 
tical lessons  which  the  last  few  years  have  given  on 
the  matter,  omitting  as  far  as  possible  all  repeti- 
tion of  what  has  been  previously  stated  ;  the  cul- 
ture being  so  generally  well  known,  that  details 
respecting  it  are  hardly  necessary. 

Taking,  therefore,  a  cursory  history  of  this  fruit, 
we  will  see  that  for  many  years  prior  to  1844  very 
little  attention  was  paid  it  in  the  way  of  improving 
the  varieties  then  in  use.  A  red  one  and  a  white 
one  were  almost  all  that  many  gardeners  were  ac- 
quainted with,  and  these  thrust  into  some  obscure 
shady  corner  generally  succeeded  pretty  well ;  but 
about  the  above  time,  a  vast  improvement  was 
made  by  the  introduction  of  the  Fastolif  Raspberry, 
which  for  many  years  was  very  popular,  and  in 
places  where  it  does  well  I  have  no  doubt  remains 
so  yet.  A  large,  well- tasted  fruit  on  a  plant  of 
moderate  growth,  and  remarkable  for  its  bearing 
qualities,  the  Fastolff  Raspberry  remained,  there- 
fore, for  many  years  at  the  top  of  its  class,  until 
others  envious  of  its  distinction  came  forward  to 
dispute  its  position,  and  at  the  present  time  we 
have  a  number  of  aspirants  to  general  fame.  In 
my  own  case,  I  felt  so  satisfied  with  the  Fastolff 
for  several  years,  that  I  did  not  think  another  was 
necessary,  until  the  dry  seasons  of  1857,  1858,  and 
18,59,  told  seriously  against  this  fruit  on  the  dry 
ground  the  stools  were  planted  in  ;  but  the  failure 
or  partial  failure  of  the  crop  was  set  down  to  the 
absence  of  of  rain,  and  other  causes  of  a  like  nature. 
The  following  seasons,  though  diflfering  widely 
from  those  above  referred  to,  did  not  effect  that 
improvement  in  the  character  of  the  Fastolff  Rasp- 
berry that  was  looked  for,  and  the  conclusion  come 
to  was,  that  the  variety  is  "worn-out,"  its  consti- 
tutional debility  unfitting  it  for  any  longer  fulfilling 
the  duties  required  of  it.  Every  allowance  has 
been  made,  new  plantations  formed  on  ground  that 
has  not  been  so  occupied  for  many  years,  but  all  to 
no  purpose,  the  plant  bears  profusely,  and  the  fruit 
is  as  good  as  need  be  wished  for ;  but  the  plant 
scarcely  makes  any  wood,  and  that  often  only  from 
2  feet  to  3  feet  long.  Another  evil,  which  to  some 
may  appear  as  a  benefit,  is  that  many  of  the  shoots 
of  the  current  season  bear  in  August  and  Septem- 
ber, and  some  very  useful  fruit  is  thereby  obtained, 
but  it  impairs  the  shoot's  bearing  in  the  following 
season.  Thus  we  often  have  great  difficulty  in  ob- 
taining canes  for  the  next  year,  and  then  often 


very  short  and  weak,  with,  perhaps,  now  and  then, 
one  of  a  loose,  rampant  growth,  overtopping  every- 
thing else  ;  but  there  are  exceedingly  few  of  these, 
and  the  plantation  has  anything  but  a  promising 
appearance  in  the  autumn. 

Now,  I  believe  this  is  not  the  case  everywhere. 
On  damper  or  more  congenial  soil  the  Raspberry 
flourishes  and  bears  as  well  as  before  ;  but  as  the 
garden  here  is  a  dry  one,  and  just  the  reverse  of 
the  one  on  which  this  fruit  is  found  in  a  wild  state, 
its  constitutional  vigor  may  be  fully  expected  to 
give  way  sooner  than  when  placed  in  a  situation  of 
an  opposite  character,  and  I  can  on^.y  account  for 
the  lack  of  success  in  1860,  1861,  and  1862,  from 
this  cause,  as  there  has  been  no  want  of  moisture 
for  other  things.  I  would,  therefore,  like  to  have 
the  experience  of  other  cultivators  on  this  matter. 
I  know  there  are  many  who  believe  in  consKtutional 
decay  in  fruit  trees,  and  certainly  there  is  no  less  rea- 
son to  expect  it  in  a  Raspberry  than  in  an  Apple, 
Peach,  or  Pear ;  but  I  can  hardly  reconcile  myself 
to  any  other 'cause,  for  the  variety  which  ten  years 
ago  was  healthy,  vigorous  and  all  that  could  be 
wished  for,  now  drags  out  a  wretched  existence, 
bearing  itself  to  death  as  some  compensation  for 
its  unkindly  appearance  ;  but  stools  dying  that  are 
only  three,  or,  perhaps,  four  years  old,  and  the 
shoots  for  the  ensuing  year  hardly  raising  above 
one's  knee,  give  tokens  of  something  amiss,  which 
I  am  at  loss  to  attribute  to  anything  else  than  a 
wearing-out  of  the  variety  in  question,  not,  perhaps, 
on  all  soils,  but  on  the  one  we  are  obliged  to  have 
it  grown  on. — J.  RoBSON,  in  London  Cottage 
Gardener. 


Horse  Shoe  Geraniums.— Put  in  cuttings  in 
August ;  place  in  front  of  a  wall  exposed  to  the 
sun;  give  no  water  for  a  fortnight,  after  which 
water  with  caution  ;  keep  just  free  from  frost  dur- 
ing winter  ;  in  spring,  pot  nice  bushy  plants  in  six- 
inch  pots :  place  out  of  doors  in  summer  ;  pinch 
back  long  shoots,  and  pick  off  blossoms  ;  towards 
autumn  withhold  water,  so  as  to  ripen  the  wood  ; 
when  housed  give  them  the  warmest  end  ;  water 
with  liquid  manure,  and  allow  them  to  flower. 


History  of  the  Coffee  Tree. — There  may 
be  now  seen  in  one  of  the  hothouses  of  the  Museum 
of  Natural  History  in  Paris  a  Coffee  Tree  in  full 
bearing.  At  the  beginning  of  the  last  century, 
under  the  reign  of  Louis  XIV.,  a  plant  of  this 
kind  was  brought  from  Holland,  and  placed  in  the 
royal  garden,  where  it  thrived,  and  several  off- 
shoots were  obtained  from  it.     One  of  them  was 


Tip. 


i^  ($zr&mr'%  JKoniHj. 


251 


confided  to  the  care  of  a  French  naval  officernamed 
Declieux  to  carry  it  to  Martinique.  The  vessel 
became  short  of  water  during  the  vo)'age,  but  De- 
clieux  shared  his  allowance  with  the  plant  and  kept 
it  alive.  On  reaching  the  colony,  the  seed  it  pro- 
duced was  divided  among  a  few  of  the  planters, 
and  it  afterwards  became  generally  cultivated. — 
Such  is  the  origin  of  the  vast  plantations  which 
no\*^  cover  the  West  India  Islands  and  the  warm 
countries  of  the  American  continent.  The  hothouse 
at  the  Museum,  where  this  plant  is  growing,  is 
kept  by  4  stoves,  to  a  heat  of  15°  Heaum.,  which 
is  precisely  the  temperature  of  the  natural  climate. 


How  TO  KEEP  Roots  inside  Vineries. — The 
question  of  how  to  induce  Vines  to  make  as  many 
roots  as  possible  in  the  inside  border,  is  one  of  very 
great  importance  to  those  who  have  to  ripen  Grapes 
— say  in  April,  and  who  at  the  same  time  have  no 
means  of  bottom  heat  from  beneath.  That  Vines 
start  more  kindly  and  mature  their  crops  both 
better  and  more  rapidly  when  the  roots  are  warm 
and  comfortable,  is  a  fact  which  admits  of  no  dis- 
pute. It  is,  therefore,  of  vast  importance  that  all 
the  roots  from  them  should  be  under  the  same 
roof,  secure 'from  wind  and  weather,  and  acted  on 
by  the  same  temperature  as  that  to  which  the  Vines 
are  subject.  As  has  already  been  remarked,  the 
tendency  of  the  roots  is  to  go  outwards  through 
the  arches  into  the  outside  border,  and  every  pre- 
caution and  means  should  be  adopted  to  induce 
them  to  multiply  inside.  There  are  many  Vines 
now  subjected  to  early  forcing  that  have  not  at  first 
had  their  roots  confined  to  the  inside  border,  and  a 
coaxing  system  is  the  only  one  that  can  be  applied 
to  their  case.  There  is  a  vinery  here  which  was 
planted  in  1860,  and  its  present  crop  will  be  the 
third  which  it  has  ripened  in  April.  The  inside 
border,  even  up  to  the  back  wall,  is  one  mass  of 
active  rootlets  close  to  the  surface  of  the  soil,  while 
the  Vines  have  all  along  had  the  run  of  the  out- 
side border  as  well.  There  is  no  bottom  heat  from 
any  appliance  whatever,  either  outside  or  from  be- 
neath the  border.  I  attribute  the  abundance  of 
roots  inside  to  the  annual  application  of  some  light 
open  soil  over  the  surface  of  the  border  close  to 
the  roots,  and  over  all  a  sufficient  depth  of  hard 
wood  leaves  to  keep  up  for  several  months  a  nice 
genial  warmth,  and  more  especially  to  the  leaves 
being  left  on  all  the  summer.  By  this  means  the 
roots  are  enticed  upwards  to  the  top  layers  of  soil, 
and  the  leaves  being  left  on  all  the  summer  there 
is  no  chance  of  the  roots  being  cheeked,  as  might 
otherwise  occur  if  the  leaves  were  removed  when 


the  crop  was  cut.  To  this  plentiful  inside  root-ac- 
tion I  attribute  the  ease  with  which  the  Vines  are 
started.  In  itself  the  vinery  would  by  many  be 
pronounced  totally  unfitted  for  early  forcing,  it  be- 
ing very  flat  and  constructed  after  the  fashion  of 
the  olden  times  with  timbers  fit  for  a  frigate.  Yet 
the  Vines,  though  weak,  owing  to  their  having 
been  early  forced  from  the  very  first  year  they  were 
plaited,  always  show  plenty  of  fruit  that  colors 
well,  which  must  be  attributed  to  the  amount  of 
inside  roots  more  than  to  anything  else.  I  know  of 
nothing  that  will  entice  roots  in  any  direction  re- 
quired more  quickly  than  a'  light,  rich,  open  top- 
dressing,  and  the  application  of  a  bed  of  leaves 
sufficiently  deep  to  moderately  warm  the  dressing, 
and  I  would  recommend  the  plan  to  all  who  are 
desirous  of  inducing  their  Vines  to  make  more 
roots  in  inside  borders.— Zow.    Cottage  Gardener. 


Hydrangea. — These  are  showy  summer-flower- 
ing plants,  and  a  few  may  be  grown  to  asi^ist  in 
dressing  vases,  steps,  or  balconies.  As  these  may, 
if  kept  rather  dry,  be  put  away  under  the  green- 
house stage  in  winter,  in  spring  they  must  be 
brought  forward  and  have  good-sized  pots  and 
plenty  of  liquid  manure.  The  weak  shoots  must 
be  thinned  out,  so  that  the  principal  shoots  on 
which  the  next  year's  flower  is  to  appear  maybe  as 
strong  as  possible.  The  variegated  variety  is  worth 
growing  for  its  foliage;  their  flowers  may  be 
changed  to  blue  by  mixing  iron  filings  and  scales 
from  the  smith's  forge  in  the  soil.  And  very  neat 
flowering  specimens,  only  six  inches  high,  may  be 
had  by  taking  ofi"  the  points  of  the  strongest  shoots 
in  September,  inserting  them  in  three-inch-pots. 
Tie  up  their  heavy  leaves  to  a  small  stick  ;  water 
freely,  so  as  never  to  allow  them  to  flag ;  place 
under  bell  glasses  till  struck.  The  following  season 
they  will  each  produce  a  large  truss  of  flower. 


Trees  of  the  Pacific  Coast.—"  Account  of 
the  Botanical  Collection  made  by  David  Lyall,  M. 
D.,  surgeon  and  naturalist  to  the  North  American 
Boundary  Commission,"  by  Dr.  Lyall.  The  author 
gave  an  account  of  the  general  features  of  the  re- 
gions traversed  and  of  theit  botanical  aspects,  and 
concluded  by  some  notes  on  their  distribution  of 
the  principal  trees  met  with  near  the  49th  degree 
of  latitude,  and  the  elevation  to  which  they  reached 
between  the  Gulf  of  Georgia  and  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains. Pinus  monticola  was  found  to  be  a  common 
tree  in  the  wooded  valleys  lying  between  Colville 
and  the.  Rocky  Mountains.  P.  contorta  was  very 
common  in  various  situations  in  Vancouver's  Island 


252 


%h  (Sarbmer's  llontltls. 


and  on  the  midland  ;  on  the  east  side  of  the  Cas- 
cade J^Iountains  it  formed  the  great  bulk  of  the 
forest  between  the  altitudes  of  4500  and  6500  feet, 
the  size  of  large  trees  being  about  Ij  foot  in  dia- 
meter, and  60  to  70  feet  high  ;  on  the  Rocky 
Mountains  it  was  observed  at  7000  feet  elevation. 
P.  flexilis  was  observed  near  the  eastern  summit  of 
the  Cascade  Mountains,  at  7000  feet  elevation, 
when  it  formed  the  highest  tree  of  the  forest  belt, 
and  was  exposed  to  the  full  force  of  the  storms,  so 
that  it  became  quite  stunted  in  habit,  the  trunk  of 
the  largest  being  about  15  feet  high,  bulging  out  a 
little  at  the  base,  and  then  tapering  rapidly  and 
spreading  at  top  into  a  number  of  thickish  branches ; 
the  seeds  of  this  tree,  which  are  about  as  large  as 
a  pea,  and  are  sweet  and  palatable,  were  said  to 
be  eaten  by  the  Indians.  P.  ponderosa,  which  ex- 
tends from  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Cascade  to  the 
base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  was  found  about 
Colville  to  rival  in  usefulness  the  Douglas  Fir  of 
the  coast,  and  to  be  applied  to  most  of  the  same 
purposes.  Abies  Mertensiana,  the  Hemlock  Spruce 
of  the  axe-man,  was  one  of  the  most  common  trees 
on  the  west  side  of  the  Cascades,  and  was  also  met 
with  but  not  so  commonly  on  the  eastern  side.  A. 
Menziesii  was  plentiful  all  along  the  line  from  the 
Pacific  to  the  Rocky  Mountains,  on  the  Cascade 
Mountains  as  high  as  5500  feet,  and  on  the  Golton 
and  Rocky  ranges  up  to  6000  feet.  The  noble  A. 
Douglassii  was  usually  fnnnd  with  it ;  this  last,  a 
very  giant  in  the  Lower  Fraser  river  district,  be- 
came dwarfish  on  exposed  promontories  and  at 
great  elevations,  and  ceased  to  be  common  at  about 
5000  feet  of  altitude.  A.  amabilis  was  not  Tmcom- 
mon  on  the  Cascade  Mountains  up  to  6000  feet, 
and  on  the  Rocky  and  Galton  ranges  was  found  as 
high  as  7000  feet.  A.  nobilis  (or  perhaps  balsamea) 
was  a  large  tree  on  the  Cascade  Mountains,  the 
wood,  soft  and  easily  cut  by  the  axe,  the  bark 
covered  with  blisters  containing  a  turpentine  or 
balsam-like  fluid.  A  new  Larix,  L.  Lyallii,  occur- 
red on  the  Cascade  Mountains  at  from  6500  to  7000 
feet,  at  about  6000  feet  on  the  Galton  range  and  at 
7000  on  the  Rocky  Mountains.  L.  occidentalis, 
which  was  met  with  frequently  between  the  Cascade 
and  Rocky  Mountains,  was  from  its  splitting  easily 
applied  to  many  of  the  uses  fulfilled  on  the  other 
side  of  the  Cascades  by  the  Thuja  gigantea  (or 
"  Cedar,")  such  as  making  shingles,  rails  for  fences, 
&c.,  the  Thuja,  which  grows  to  a  large  size  and  is 
common  near  the  coast,  becoming  scarce  and 
diminished  in  the  interior.  Juniperus  virginiana 
was  found  occasionally  in  Vancouver's  Island  and 
along  the  boundary  up  to  the  Rocky  Mountains ; 


at  Esquimau  one  was  observed  46  feet  high  and  5 
feet  4  inches  in  circumference  at  6  feet  from  the 
ground.  Quercus  Garryana,  the  only  Oak  seen, 
was  plentiful  at  the  south  east  end  of  Vancouver's 
Island,  but  was  not  found  on  the  mainland  any- 
where along  the  49th  parallel.  In  the  district  of 
the  Lower  Fraser  River,  the  trees  most  commonly 
met  with,  were :  Abies  Douglasii,  several  speci- 
mens of  which  in  the  neighborhood  of  Sumas  were 
nearly  30  feet  in  circumference  at  5  feet  from  the 
ground ;  A.  Menziesii,  25  to  30  feet  in  circum- 
ference, and  at  least  200  feet  high ;  A.  Merten- 
siana common,  and  growing  to  a  height  of  from 
150  to-  200  feet ;  and  Thuja  gigantea,  of  which  one 
measured  261  feet  in  circumference  at  6  feet  from 
the  ground,  and  was  estimated  at  250  feet  high. 
This,  and  the  Douglas  Fir,  were  described  as  the 
most  useful  trees  in  the  coast  districts.  Various 
parts  of  the  "Cedar"  or  Thuja  were  said  to  be' 
used  by  the  Indians;  the  trunk  to  form  their 
canoes,  and  when  split  into  slabs,  which  is  easily 
done,  to  build  their  permanent  huts  or  lodges, 
while  the  stringy  bark  and  integuments  of  the  root 
are  plaited  into  useful  and  ornamental  articles  of 
clothing  and  household  utensils. — Transactions  of 
the  Limbocan  Society. 


Greenhouse  Trop^olums. — Supposing  that 
we  have  four  ordinary-sized  tubers  or  roots  of  tri- 
color or  Jarrattii,  that  we  wish  to  grow  each  tuber 
in  a  separate  pot,  and  are  likewise  desirous  of  in- 
creasing them  whilst  having  as  manj"  flowers  upon 
them  as  they  can  produce,  proceed  as  follows  : 

Take  some  good  fresh  turfy  soil,  with  a  little 
fibry  peat  chopped  pretty  small,  and  a  good  portion 
of  silver  sand,  all  well  mixed  together,  so  as  to  be 
a  nice  fibry  mixture,  such  as  will  not  be  too  close 
or  become  sodden.  Having  the  compost  all  ready, 
the  next  proceeding  is  to  take  four  pots  about  8  or 
9  inches  in  diameter  at  the  top,  to  drain  them  well, 
placing  moss  or  some  similar  material  over  the 
drainage,  and  then  to  fill  the  pot  rather  more  than 
half  full  of  the  compost.  Place  the  roots  into 
this,  having  the  crown  of  the  tuber  all  but  covered, 
so  that  you  can  see  when  it  begins  to  grow.  A 
strong  root  will  often  give  several  shoots  or  growths. 
Let  them  grow  on.  When  they  are  6  or  8  inches 
long  put  in  the  stake  or  wire  trellis  on  which  the 
plant  is  to  grow,  as,  if  delayed  longer,  the  growths 
of  the  plant  might  be  injured  in  putting  in  the 
trellis,  owing  to  their  being  covered  with  soil.  The 
trellis  having  been  put  in,  the  next  proceeding  is 
to  lay  the  young  growth  or  growths  across  the  soil 
in  the  pots,  carefully  covering  them  over  with  the 


same  kind  of  soil ;  and  as  they  grow,  go  on  turn- 
ing tliGin  from  side  to  side  in  the  pot,  gradually 
letting  them  rise  higher  to  the  top  of  the  pot,  and 
of  course  adding  more  soil  each  time.  When  done 
in  this  way,  carefully  bending  them  where  there  is 
a  joint  in  the  slender  stem,  they  will  generally  form 
a  little  bulb  at  every  joint. 

Now  to  give  an  outline  of  how  my  friend  grew 
his  pots  of  Tropasolums.  He  generally  had  his  in 
pots  from  12  to  16  inches  in  diameter,  and  had  the 
compost  much  the  same  as  that  which  I  have  des- 
cribed. Into  the  large  pots  he  often  placed  in- 
verted three-inch  pots  at  the  bottom,  and  filled  in 
an  inch  thick  of  potsherds.  Over  this  he  placed 
some  moss,  and  then  filled  the  pots  three  parts  full 
or  rather  more  before  he  put  in  the  tubers.  Into 
the  largest  pots  he  would  put  six  or  eight  good- 
sized  roots,  just  covering  them  over,  and  placing 
them  in  a  circle  about  an  inch  from  the  top.  After 
they  were  started  and  6  or  8  inches  long,  he  put  in 
the  top  of  a  compactly-grown  Larch  tree,  perhaps 
from,3i  to  ih-  feet  high,  or  the  top  of  a  Holly  tree 
from  which  all  the  leaves  had  been  carefully  re- 
moved, and  as  the  plant  grew  he  covered  them 
over  with  the  same  kind  of  compost,  still  inclining 
them  towards  the  stem  of  the  Larch  tree  on  which 
they  were  to  grow.  He  allowed  them  to  ramble 
all  over  it ,  and  in  the  course  of  time  it  had  the 
appearance  of  a  cone  of  2i  or  3  feet  wide  at  the 
base  and  4  feet  or  more  high  from  the  pot.  Trained 
in  this  way  the  plants  had  a  charming  efiiect  in  a 
conservatory  during  the  spring  months,  and  afforded 
a  nice  contrast  when  placed  beside  some  of  the 
whita  Azaleas  on  the  one  side  and  a  nicely  bloomed 
Rhododendron  on  the  other,  backed  up  with  a 
Camellia,  or  even  when  placed  alone  upon  the  floor 
of  a  conservatory,  where  the  pot  could  be  seen  and 
admired  on  every  side. — Gr.  Dawson,  in  Cottage 
Gardener. 


Influence  of  Light  on  Vegetation. — The 
influence  of  light  upon  the  flowers,  the  leaves,  and 
branches  of  growing  plants  is  so  manifest  that  it 
can  scarcely  have  failed  to  attract  the  attention  of 
the  most  superficial  observer.  The  familiar  instance 
of  plants  standing  in  the  window  of  a  dwelling- 
bouse  being  attracted  towards  the  light,  and,  unless 
frequently  turned  around  so  as  to  expose  every  part 
of  the  plant  to  its  influence,  becoming  one-sided 
and  unsightly,  is  well  known  to  almost  everybodj\ 
Many  flowers  are  peculiarly  sensible  -to. the  effect 
of  light.  The  annual  Sunflower,  Hclianthus  annmis, 
may  be  cited  as  an  example.  Its  stem  is  somewhat 
compressed,  apparently  to    facilitate    the  move- 


"■^SLT 


ments  of  the  flower,  which,  afler  following  the  sun 
all  day,  returns  after  sunset  to  the  east  to  meet  his 
beams  in  the  morning.  It  was  the  opinion  of  Hales 
that  the  heat  of  the  sun  contracted  the  stem  on 
one  side,  and  thus  occasioned  the  flower  to  incline 
that  way ;  but  if  this  were  true,  how  should  the 
flower  return  so  completely  at  night?  But  this 
property  of  flowers  following  the  course  of  the  sun 
is  not  confined  to  flowers  only ;  many  leaves  are  in- 
fluenced in  the  same  way.  A  clover  field  is  a  fami- 
liar instance  of  this  kind.  Composite  flowers,  or 
those  with  radiate  florets,  are  most  sensible  to  the 
influence  of  light,  as  the  Daisy,  the  Sunflower  (al- 
ready mentioned,)  the  Marigold,  and  numerous 
others  belonging  to  different  families,  as  Nympha3a 
alba,  which  opens  and  closes  at  pretty  regular 
periods  of  the  day  ;  also  the  Anagallis  arvensis,  or 
Poorman's  Weather-glass,  which  latter,  however, 
loses  its  sensibility  in  continued  wet  weather.  On 
the  other  hand,  the  leaves  of  leguminous  plants, 
especially*  those  with  pinnated  leaves,  are  more 
sensible  to  the  influence  of  light  than  those  of  any 
other  tribe  of  plants.  Indeed,  in  a  vast  number 
of  cases  it  would  appear  to  be  the  sole  cause  of 
their  expansion ;  for  in  the  absence  of  light  the 
leaves  droop,  and  actually  fold  over  each  other. 


Science  of  Color.— M.  Buffon,  a  good  many 
years  ago,  made  a  very  interesting  discovery  in  the 
science  of  colors,  the  consideration  of  which  can- 
not fail  to  aid  the  flower  gardener  in  the  disposi- 
tion of  the  materials  with  which  he  has  to  deal, 
and  will  at  all  events  make  it  less  likely  that  any 
great  mistake  will  be  committed.  He  discovered 
that  if  a  wafer  is  placed  on  a  white  sheet  of  paper 
and  steadily  gazed  on  for  a  few  seconds  and  the 
eye  then  removed  to  another  part  of  the  paper,  a 
spectrum  of  the  same  size  as  the  wafer  and  of  its 
contrasting  color  is  seen  on  the  paper.  The  spectra 
are,  however,  rendered  more  distinct  when  the 
wafers  are  looked  at  on  a  dark  ground,  and  the  eye 
then  removed  to  a  white  ground. 

This  is  probably  the  simplest  and  surest  way  of 
determining  what  color  will  most  nearly  contrast 
with  another.  This  simple  fact  is  just  the  reason 
why  black  type  is  more  comfortably  and  more  easily 
read  on  a  white  ground  than  would  red  type,  for 
red  would  have  a  contrasting  green  spectrum  float- 
ing before  the  eye  on  the  white  ground.  White 
being  the  contrast  to  black,  the  spectrum  is  preven- 
ted in  such  a  combination.  By  this  simple  process 
any  Oiie  can  find  out  contrasting  colors  when  it  is 
desired  to  plant  according  to  the  law  of  contrast 


Propagating  the  Mistletoe.— The  seed  of 
Mistletoe  will  vegetate  on  the  bare  handle  of  a 
house-brooui  quite  as  readily  as  on  the  bark  of  an 
apple  tree  branch.  If  you  fasten  it  with  a  bit  of 
putty  'on  a  deal-board,  moss,  and  moisten  it  early 
in  the  summer,  it  will  also  vegetate  on  the  board 
or  on  a  bar  of  iron  ;  then  it  dies,  for  the  suckers  at 
the  end  of  the  roots,  as  you  may  call  them,  find 
not  a  proper  place  to  fasten  to. 

The  belief  and  notion  on  this  subject  were  very 
different  from  what  is  stated  at  the  time  referred 
to— five  and  twenty  years  back.  They  amounted 
to  this,  as  far  as  I  recollect :  That  Aristotle  and 
Pliny  among  the  ancients,  and  Dr.  Walker  among 
the  moderns,  considered  that  the  Mistletoe  was 
propagated  by  the  excrements  of  the  birds  which 
had  fed  on  the  berries,  supposing  that  the  heat  of 
the  etomacb  and  the  process  of  digestion  were 
necessary  to  prepare  the  seeds  for  vegetation.  Eay 
first  suggested  the  idea  of  trying  by  experiment 
whether  the  seed  would  vegetate  without  passing 
through  the  body  of  a  bird ;  and  at  his  .suggestion 
Mr.  boody,  an  apothecary,  of  London,  inserted 
with  complete  success  a  seed  of  the  Mistletoe  into 
an  incision  made  in  the  bark  of  a  White  Poplar 
tree  which  grew  in  bis  garden.  This,  Professor 
Martin  observes,  has  been  since  done  by  many 
persons,  both  by  rubbing  the  berries  on  the  smooth 
bark  of  various  trees,  and  by  inserting  them  in  a 
cleft  or  in  a  small  hole  bored  on  purpose,  which 
was  the  mode  adopted  by  Doody,  the  first  person 
who  really  sowed  this  seed.  The  celebrated  Du 
Hamel,  arguing  that  the  seeds  of  the  Mistletoe, 
like  the  seeds  of  other  plants,  would  germinate  any 
where,  provided  they  had  a  suitable  degree  of  mois- 
ture, made  them  sprout,  not  only  on  the  bark  of 
differentkinds  of  living  trees,  but  on  dead  branches, 
on  bricks,  tiles,  stones,  wood,  and  iron,  down  to 
mother  eartli ;  but  though  they  ^rminated  in  such 
eituations,  they  did  not  live  any  time  except  on  the 
bark  of  living  trees.  M.  Du  Trochet  made  seeds 
of  the  Mistletoe  germinate  on  the  two  sides  (if  the 
frame  of  a  window,  and  in  both  cases  the  judicles 
directed  themselves  towards  the  interior  of  the  room, 
as  if  in  quest  of  darkness.  —  CottageGardener. 

History  of  tiie  Dahlia. — The  first  notice  we 
have  of  the  Dahlia  is  given  by  M.  Hernandez  in 
his  history  of  Mexico,  published  in  the  year  1651, 
who  figures  and  describes  two  species  under  the 
name  of  Acocotli,  as  he  informs  us  it  was  called  by 
the  itdiabitants,  which  he  found  growing  spontane- 
ously upon  and  around  the  mountains  of  Qyauh- 
nahuac.    It  is  afterwards  noticed,  in  1787,  by  M. 


Thiery  Menonville,  in  the  history  of  his  journey  to 
Guaxaca,  where  he  was  dispatched  by  the  French 
Government  upon  the  perilous  mission  of  stealing 
the  Cochineal  Insect  from  the  Spaniards.  He  tells 
us,  that  having  entered  one  of  the  gardens  in  the 
vicinity  of  Guaxaca,  and  adjoining  to  a  plantation 
of  Nopals,  upon  which  the  insect  feeds,  he  was 
much  struck  with  its  beautj'.  In  the  autumn  of 
1790  a  plant,  which  had  been  introduced  into  the 
royal  garden  at  Madrid  the  previous  year,  produced 
blooms,  and  was  described  by  Cavanilles,  in  his 
"  Icones  Plantarum,"  published  in  the  early  part 
of  1791.  Upon  this  introduction  of  the  plant  to 
Madrid,  the  Marchioness  of  Bute,  then  tempora- 
rily residing  there,  procured  seeds  or  roots,  and 
immediately  transmitted  them  to  this  country  ;  un- 
fortunately, however,  shortly  after  their  arrival, 
they  were  totally  lost.  About  the  year  1802  the 
celebrated  traveller  and  eminent  botanist,  Baron 
Humboldt,  discovered  it  growing  upon  high  .sandy 
plains,  5000  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  as  des- 
cribed in  the  "Voyage  d'Humboldt  et  Bonpland," 
published  in  1810.  In  1802  Cavanilles  forwarded 
roots  to  Paries,  where,  we  are  informed,  they  were 
planted  in  large  pots  and  placed  in  a  frame,  but 
that  they  did  not  bloom  until  the  end  of  the  autumn 
of  1803.  In  1804  they  were  figured  and  described 
at  length  by  M.  Thouin,  in  the  "  Annales  du 
Museum  d'Histoire  Naturelle. "  In  1810  Professor 
Willdenow  describes  the  Dahlia  in  his  "Species 
Plantarum,"  and  changes  its  name  to  Georgian, 
supposing  that  the  name  Dahlia  had  been  applied 
to  a  totally  different  genus  previously  to  its  adop- 
tion by  Cavanilles  to  the  present  genus,  in  which, 
however,  he  was  doubtless  mistaken,  as  the  genus 
he  alludes  to  is  called  Dalea,  and  was  first  des- 
cribed by  Professor  Thunberg  in  tlie  "  Skrivter  of 
Naturhistorie  Selfskabct,"  published  in  1792, 
whilst  Cavanilles'  Dahlia  was  published  in  1791.. 
But  notwithstanding  this,  on  account  of  its  resem- 
blance to  Dalea,  M.  de  Caudolle  and  .some  other 
eminent  botanists  adopted  Willdenow's  name  of 
Gporgiana;  the  original  name,  however,  had  be- 
come 80  generally  established,  besides  having  the 
priority  of  publication,  that  these  efforts  to  super- 
sede it  failed.  In  May,  1804,  seeds  were  reintro- 
duced from  Madrid  by  Lady  Holland,  which,  under 
the  care  of  M.  Buonaluti,  prospered,  and  during 
the  following  autumn  several  varieties  bloomed  in 
the  gardens  at  Holland  House,  a  purple  one  of 
which  was  figured  in  the  "  Botanist's  Repository." 
From  the.se  kinds  M.  Buonaluti  succeeded,  in  1805, 
in  saving  a  number  of  seeds,  which  were  liberally 
distributed.    The  extension  of  sorts,  however,  in 


this  country  progressed  tardily  until  the  peace  of 
1814,  when  numerous  sorts  were  imported  from 
•France,  Germany  and  Holland,  where  the  propaga- 
tion ot  new  varieties  had  been  more  successfully 
pursued,  especially  by  Count  Lelieur  at  Paris,  M. 
Otto  at  Berlin,  and  M.  van  Eeden  at  Haarlem. 
The  introduction  of  these  kinds  stimulated  several 
intelligent  cultivators  to  more  constant  attention  in 
the  multiplication  of  varieties,  particularly  Mr.  J. 
Wells,  gardener  to  William  Wells,  Esq. ,  of  Red- 
leaf,  near  Tonbridge,  in  Kent,  and  Mr.  David 
Douglas,  gardener  to  Lady  Grantham,  at  Putney 
Hill,  and  the  most  peculiar  success  attended  their 
efforts,  especially  the  former,  who  raised  the  first 
double  dwarf  Dahlia.  Subsequently,  gradually  im- 
proved kinds  were  annually  produced,  until  they 
have  at  length  attained  a  very  perfect  and  unique 
shape.  The  most  decided  advance,  however,  to- 
wards perfection  was  made  in  1832,  by  Mr.  George 
Lynes,  gardener  to Perkins,  Esq.,  of  Spring- 
field, Surrey,  in  raising  that  generally  known,  and 
b}'  all  cultivators  universally  admired  flower,  Sprrag- 
field  Rival.  This  variety  was  purchased  by  Mr. 
Inwnod,  of  Putney  Heath,  for  ten  guineas ;  but 
since  then  the  value  of  a  new  and  superior  flower 
has  most  remarkably  increased  ;  "ifor  the  stock  of 
one  kind  no  less  a  sum  than  £500  was  asked,  and 
200  guineas  refused  for  another.  The  collection  of 
named  difl"erent  kinds,  obtained  from  numerous 
sources,  cultivated  in  the  garden  of  the  London 
Horticultural  Society,  in  1826,  enumerated  but  60 
that  were  then  considered  good  ones,  the  principal 
portion  of  these  being  semi-double  ;  and  yet  since 
that  period  so  rapid  and  immen.se  has  been  the  in- 
crease, that  the  list  of  our  own  varieties  at  this 
time  is  1215,  all  double,  which  we  believe  to  be 
considerably  more  extensive  than  any  other. 


The  Toi,  or  Tahitian  Chestnut,  as  it  has  been 
called  by  voyagers,  (Inocarpiis  eduh's,  Forst.),  is 
one  of  the  common  trees,  and  when  fully  grown  has 
a  most  venerable  aspect  Sixty,  often  eighty  feet 
high,  the  Toi  bears  a  thick  crown  of  oblong  leath- 
ery leaves,  small  white  flowers  emitting  a  delicious 
perfume,  and  kidney-shaped  fruits,  which  contain 
a  kernel,  resembling  Chestnuts  in  taste.  The  ker- 
nel is  either  baked  or  boiled,  and  eaten  without 
further  preparation.  The  stem  is  most  singular. 
When  young  it  is  fluted  like  a  Grecian  column  ; 
when  old  it  has  regular  buttresses  of  projecting 
wood.  The  roots  of  old  trees  appear  above  the 
ground,  somewhat  like  those  of  the  Bald  Cypress 
of  North  America.  Feros,  Orchids,  etc.,  frequently 
take  up  their  abode  on  the  soft  bark. — Seemann, 


"W.JERSEY  FRUIT  GROWERS'  ASSOCIAT'N 

From  the  report  for  the  year  ending,  February 
1,  1864,  recently  received  from  the  Secretarj',  we 
extract  the  following  report  of  the  Chairman  of 
the  Fruit  Committee,  Mr.  Nathan  Leeds,  of  Cin- 
naminson,  New  Jersey.  It  is  a  model  report,  con- 
fining itself  to  a  statement  of  the  progress  and 
condition  of  fruit  culture  in  his  district. 

To  the  President  of  the  West  Jersey  Fruit  Growers' 
Association. 

In  presenting  this,  the  first  Annual  Report  of . 
the  General  Fruit  Committee,  it  is  much  to  be  re- 
gretted that  the  committee  representing  the  town- 
ships of  Evesham,  Delaware  and  Newton,  failed 
to  make  any  report  to  the  chairman,  and  of  course, 
the  statistics  embraced  in  the  general  report,  are 
of  a  much  more  meagre  character  than  if  all  the 
townships  had  been  represented. 

The  reports  from  Burlington,  Chester  and  Cin- 
naminson,  represent  that  there  was  under  cultiva- 
tion, and  producing  crops  the  past  season,  272  acres 
of  Strawberries,  viz.  :  Burlington,  200  ;  Chester, 
47;  Cinnaminson,  35;  yielding  12,596  bushels  of 
frnit,  and  producing  the  sum  of  $45,342  60.  The 
general  average  yield  per  acre,  is  55  bushels,  viz.  : 
Burlington,  40 ;  Chester,  68  and  Cinnaminson,  56. 
The  average  price  obtained  $3  60  per  bushel,  or 
\l\  cents  per  quart,  being  about  50  per  cent, 
greater  than  for  the  last  five  years. 

One  unusual  large  crop  of  Hovey's  Seedling  and 
Lady  Finger,  is  reported  from  Chester  as  having 
produced  from.  146  acres,  8000  quarts,  or  at  the 
rate  of  166  bushels  per  acre. 

The  leading  varieties  cultivated  are,  Wilson's 
Albany,  Lady  Finger,  Hovey's  Seedling,  Iowa  and 
Triomphe  de  Gand. 

When  we  take  into  view  the  very  low  average 
yield  per  acre  of  only  55  bushels,  when  it  is  well 
known  that  200  can  and  has  been  produced,  it 
naturally  suggests  the  idea  that  there  is  some  radi- 
cal error  in  our  mode  of  cultivation.  The  thorough 
preparation  of  the  soil  before  transplanting  is  of 
the  first  importance.  Ground  deeply  plowed  in  the 
fall,  and  liberally  enriched  with  a  well  pnipared 
compost,  appears  to  be  the  best  condition  for  the 
soil  to  be  put  in,  before  transplanting  in  the  spring. 

One  of  the  most  common  en-ors  committed  in 
planting  out  Strawberries  is,  in  not  taking  into  ac- 
count, the  adaptation  of  the  varieties  to  the  particu- 
lar kind  of  soil  upon  which  they  are  to  he  planted. 
For  while  the  Early  Scarlet,  May  Queen,  Iowa, 
Downer's  Prolific  and  some  others,  will  succeed 
quite  well  on  a  light  sandy  soil,  it  is  labor  lost  to 
plant  out  Triomphe  de  Gand,  Scarlet  Magnate, 


-=^^ 


-f^-^ 


Lady  Finger  and  nearly  all  of  the  large  and  finer 
varieties  on  any  but  a  good  strong  loam. 

Another  error  is  in  allowing  the  vines  to  become 
too  thick  on  the  ground.  About  80,000  plants  can 
be  set  on  an  acre,  12  by  5  inches  apart  in  beds  3} 
feet  wide,  with  an  18  inch  alley  between  the  beds  ; 
and  is  confidently  believed,  that  if  this  number  of 
plants  was  systematically  distributed  over  the  beds, 
so  as  to  allow  of  more  thorough  cultivation,  much 
better  results  would  be  produced  than  from  the 
random  system  generally  adopted,  and  where  in 
some  instances  five  or  sis  times  the  above  number 
are  allowed  to  grow. 

It  is  believed  that  if  the  Strawberry  growers  of 
the  Association,  will  take  the  trouble  to  observe 
carefully,  year  after  year,  and  compare  notes  from 
time  to  time,  that  some  decided  improvement  may 
be  made  in  the  cultivation  of  this  crop,  and  more 
satisfactory  results  arrived  at. 

New  varieties  have  multiplied  so  rapidly  in  the 
last  few  years,  that  it  is  much  more  difficult  to  de- 
cide what  to  plant  than  it  was  when  Hovey's 
Seedling  was  almost  universally  esteemed  the  best. 
Out  of  some  300  native  and  foreign  varieties  ad- 
vertised for  sale,  probably  not  more  than  twenty 
of  them  are  worthy  of  any  attention  for  general 
cultivation  for  market.  The  foreign  varieties  have 
proved,  with  very  few  exceptions,  utterly  worthless 
in  this  localitJ^  Among  the  new  ones  lately  intro- 
duced, French's  Seedling  is  attracting  more  atten- 
tion than  almost  any  other,  owing  to  its  extreme 
earliness,  large  size,  fine  appearance  and  general 
good  €(ualities.  The  Russell,  the  Tribune  prize 
berries — Col.  Ellsworth,  IMonitor,  Brooklyn  Scarlet, 
and  the  Agriculturist  are  ail  looked  forward  to  with 
great  expectations. 

Of  the  Raspberry,  there  were  under  cultivation, 
and  producing  crops  40  acres,  viz.  :  Burlington,  25  ; 
Chester,  7  ;  Cinnaminson,  8.  The  yield  per  acre 
on  a  general  average,  about  33  bushels,  and  the 
average  price  obtained  ]  4.1  cents  per  quart,  or  $4. 64 
per  bushel.  The  varieties  cultivated,  are  the  old 
Purple-cane,  the  two  kinds  of  Aliens,  the  Kirtland 
and  the  Black  Raspberry. 

Among  the  new  varieties,  the  Philadelphia  holds 
the  most  prominent  position,  being  perfectly  hardy, 
a  very  strong  grower,  greatly  productive  and  of 
large  size,  not  so  fine  in  appearance  and  quality  as 
the  Allen  and  some  others ;  but  it  bids  fair  to  be 
the  great  market  berry  for  years  to  come.  Nearly 
all  the  foreign  varieties  and  the  descendants  have 
proven  worthless  for  a  market  crop.  None  but  the 
hardy  native  varieties  are  worthy  of  attention  for 
general  cultivation  for  market. 


Of  the  Blackberry  in  the  townships  named, 
there  are  reported  99  acres  in  bearing  the  past  sea- 
son, viz.  :  Burlington,  75;  Chester,  11  and  Cinna-» 
minson,  13  and  yielding  5264  bushels  of  fruit,  or 
an  average  of  about  53  bushels  per  acre,  viz. : 
Burlington,  50 ;  Chester,  68 ;  Cinnaminson,  66. 
The  price  obtained  was  about  10  cents  per  quart  or 
$3.30  per  bushel,  amounting  in  the  aggregate  to 
$17,915  70. 

The  New  Rochelle  and  Dorchester  are  the  only 
kinds  that  have  so  far  been  found  adapted  to  field 
culture.  The  latter  ripening  six  or  eight  daj's  ear- 
lier than  the  other,  is  preferred  on  this  account  by 
some  for  a  market  crop ;  although  not  near  so 
large,  nor  yielding  so  much  per  acre. 

The  aggregate  jdeld  of  the  three  crops  of  Straw- 
berries, Raspberries  and  Blackberries,  amounts  to 
19,482  bushels,  and  produced  the  sum  of  $70,021  78. 

Of  other  fruits,  no  reports  have  been  received. 
The  Apple  crop  appears  to  have  been  almost  an 
entire  fiiilure,  except  some  of  the  early  varieties, 
as  the  Maiden's  Blush,  Sweet  Bough  and  the  Por- 
ter. The  latter  a  new  variety  in  this  vicinity,  is 
spoken  of  very  highly  as  being  very  uniform  in  its 
crops,  by  those  who  have  tested  it. 

Pears  are  beginning  to  be  much  more  cultivated 
than  formerly,  and  in  a  few  years  will  be  tested  as 
to  their  adaptation  to  our  soil  and  locality.  At 
present  but  little  can  be  said  in  regard  to  them, 
being  but  few  orchards  in  bearing.  The  Bartlett, 
Louise  Bonne  de  Jersey  and  Duchess,  appear  to 
do  well  in  most  localities. 

In  the  several  reports  but  one  Peach  orchard  is 
noticed  ;  this  is  in  Cinnaminson,  and  occupies  from 
forty  to  fifty  acres,  and  there  were  marketed  from 
it  the  past  season  about  8000  baskets  of  Peaches, 
at  an  average  price  of  80  cents  per  basket. 

The  conditions  upon  which  Peaches  can  be  pro- 
duced, appear  to  be  the  thorough  destruction  of  the 
borrr,  by  a  close  examination  of  the  trees,  at  least 
twice  a  year. 

The  very  frequent  failure  of  the  Apple  crop  is  a 
subject  that  should  claim  the  att(!ntion  of  all  fruit 
growers  and  agriculturists  in  the  State.  Nearly 
every  farm  has  its  orchard,  and  yet  the  Philadelphia 
market,  and  even  for  our  own  home  supply,  we  are 
mainly  dependent  on  New  York  and  New  England. 
This  naturally  suggests  something  wrong,  either  in 
the  treatment  of  our  orchard,  or  in  the  selection 
of  varieties  planted  out,  not  being  adapted  to  this 
locality.  It  would  be  well  for  the  members  of  the 
Association  to  compare  notes  on  the  different  modes 
of  treating  Apple  orchards,  and  also  the  varieties 
that  have  proved  to  be  the  most  certain  and  regu- 
lar bearers. 


-^BBT" 


r^^^ 


nvi'mlhTf,  ^vWmlkvf,  ^ofang  %*  |iaral  ^{ifairx. 


'^^o:'^':%^S^Si:Sm.}'"°'„,,.   septembeb,   i864. 


VOL.    VI. — NO.  9. 


FS^OWER-GAKBEN   AND   PLEASURE- 
GROUND. 

Attention  should  be  given  at  this  season  to  the 
flower-beds,  by  noting  what  has  done  well  in  your 
locality  as  a-  summer-blooming  plant,  as  no  time 
should  be  lost  in  procuring  a  stock-for  nest  year.— 
The  best  way  to  propagate  all  the  common  kinds 
of  bedding-plants  is  to  take  a  frame  or  hand-glass 
and  set  it  on  a  bed  of  very  sandy  soil  made  in  a 
shady  place  in  the  open  air.  The  sand  should  be 
fine  and  sharp,  and  there  is,  perhaps  nothing  bet- 
ter than  river  sand  for  this  purpose.  The  glass  may 
be  whitewashed  on  the  inside,  so  as  to  afford  addi- 
tional security  against  injury  from  the  sun's  rays. 
Into  this  bed  of  sand  cuttings  of  half-ripened  wood 
of  the  desirable  plants  may  he  set,  and  after  put- 
ting in,  slightly  watered.  Even  very  rare  plants 
often  do  better  this  way  than  when  under  treat- 
ment in  a  regular  propagating-house.  In  making 
cuttings,  it  is  best  to  cut  the  shoot  just  under  a 
bud,— they  root  better,  and  are  not  so  likely  to  rot 
off  and  decay.  A  cutting  of  about  three  eyes  is 
long  enough  for  most  strong-growing  things,  such 
as  Geraniums,  Fuchsias,  &c. 

Small-growing  things,  of  course,  will  take  more  i 
buds  to  the  one  cutting.  From  one  to  three  inches 
is,  however,  long  enough  for  most  cuttings.  They 
should  be  inserted  about  one-third  of  their  way 
under  the  sand,  which  latter  should  be  pressed 
firmly  against  the  row  of  cuttings  with  a  flat  piece 
of  board,— not,  however  hard  enough  to  force  the 
particles  of  sand  into  the  young  and  tender  bark, 
which  is  often  the  first  step  to  decay.  For  a  few 
cuttings,  they  may  be  inserted  witha  dibble  ;  but 


where  many  are  to  be  put  in,  it  saves  time  to  mark 
a  line  on  the  sand  with  a  rule  or  straight  edge,  and 
then  cut  down  a  face  into  the  cut,  say  one  or  two 
inches  deep,  when  the  cuttings  can  be  set  against 
the  face  like  box-edging.  All  amateurs  should 
practice  the  art  of  propagating  plants.  There  is 
nothing  connected  with  gardening  more  interesting. 
We  have  often  given  the  principles  of  successful 
hedging,  the  main  ones  being  to  repress  excessive 
growth  at  the  top  by  repeated  summer  pruning 
and  training  in  a  conical  form,  while  the  side  and 
basal  shoots  should  be  suffered  to  grow  as  much  as 
they  possibly  will,  without  let  or  hindrance,  during 
the  summer  season.  As  soon  as  the  leaves  begin 
to  fall,  these  lowermost  shoots  should  be  brought 
into  shape,  so  as  to  render  the  hedge  perfect. 

We  have  said  a  good  deal  about  ornamental 
hedges  in  past  numbers ;  but  not  perhaps,  as  much 
as  the  subject  deserves.  Not  only  do  they  make 
the  very  best  kind  of  boundary  fences,  and  form  in 
themselves  beautiful  objects,  but  they  have  a  great 
use  in  small  places,  in  breaking  off  long  and  unin- 
teresting scenery,  and,  by  dividing  perhaps  one 
grand  view  into  innumerable  parts,  make  a  small 
place  seem  very  lar^o  indeed. 

Many  kinds  of  bedding-plauts  of  succulent  or  sub- 
fleshy  growth,  can  betaken  up  from  the  flower-beds 
on  the  approach  of  frost,  and  cut  in,  say  one-half, 
and  packed  thickly  in  boxes  of  soil,  and  kept  in  a 
rather  dry  and  cool  cellar  through  the  winter.  Such 
fine  plants  make  a  much  better  show  in  the  beds 
the  next  year  than  plants  of  the  present  season's 
striking.  A  cellar  is  one  of  the  most  useful  ap- 
pendages to  a  garden.  Were  we  to  have  only  one 
choice,  we  should  prefer  a  cellar  to  a  greenhouse 
for  its  general  usefulness. 

As  soon  as  Dutch  bulbs  can  be  obtained,  they 
should  be  at  once  planted.  Of  all  fertilizers,  well- 
rotted  cow-manure  has  been  found  best  for  them, 
and  especially  if  mixed  with  a  portion  of  fine  sand. 
They  should  be  set  about  four  inches  beneath  the 
surface  of  the  ground,  and  a  little  sand  put  about 
the  root  when  being  planted.    A  very  wet  soil  usu 


i 


258 


^^  §nnlmtxB  (Ponthlj. 


ally  rots  the  roots,  and  a  dry  one  detracts  from  the 
size  of  the  blooms.  A  soil  in  which  garden  vege- 
t'Mes  do  well,  is  one  of  the  best  for  these  plants. 

In  many  parts  of  the  Northern  States  the  leaves 
^Yill  have  changed  color  previous  to  the  incoming 
..P  winter,  and  the  planting  of  trees  and  shrubs  will 
commence  as  soon  as  the  first  fall  showers  shall 
have  cooled  the  atmosphere  and  moistened  the  soil. 
Further  south,  where  the  season  will  still  remam 
'  summer'  awhile  longer,  the  soil  may,  at  any  rate, 
be  prepared,  that  all  may  be  in  readiness  when  the 
right  season  does  come.  When  there  is  likely  to  be 
a  great  deal  of  planting  done,  and  only  a  limited 
number  of  hands   employed,  planting  may  com- 
mence early  in  the  month.     What  leaves  remain 
on  should  be  stripped  off,  and   the  main  shoots 
i^hortcned.  They  will  then  do  better  than  if  planted 
\ery  late.     In  fact,  if  planting  cannot  be  finished 
before  the  middle  of  November  in  the  Northern 
and  Middle  States,  it  is  better,  as  a  rule,  deferred 
till  spring.     In  those  States  where  little  frost  oc- 
curs, this  rule  will  not  apply.     The  roots  of  plants 
grow  all  winter,  and  a  plant  set  Out  in  the  fall  has 
this  advantage  over  spring-set  trees,  that  its  roots 
in  spring  are  in  a  position  to  supply  the  tree  at 
once  with  food.     This  is,  indeed,  the  theory  fall 
planters  rely  on ;  but  in  practice  it  is  found  that 
severe  cold  dries  up  the  wood,  and  the  frosts  draw 
out  the  roots,  and  thus  more  than  counterbalance 
any   advantage  from   the   pushing  of  new  roots. 
Very  small  plants  are,  therefote,  best  left  till  spring 
for  their  final  planting.     The  larger  things,   and 
which  we  recommend  planting  in  the  fall,  should 
be  pruned  in  somewhat  at  planting.  The  larger  the 
tree-,  the  greater  in  proportion  should  it  be  cut 
away. 


FRUIT   GAHDEN. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  employments  con- 
nected with  this  department,  next  to  presenting  a 
friend  with  a  fine  fruit,  or  eating  it  yourself,  is  to 
gather  it.  It  requires  some  judgment  to  do  this 
properly.  Most  of  what  we  see  in  market  of  pears 
or  apples  are  gathered  too  soon,  while  the  amateur 
goes  into  the  opposite  extreme  of  leaving  them  on 
too  long.  The  proper  time  to  gather  them  is  when 
they  part  easily  from  the  tree  on  being  gently  raised 
up.  But  fruit-gathering  ought  to  commence  very 
early  in  the  season,  namely,  as  soon  as  insects  have 
evidently  damaged  the  fruit.  An  amateur  should 
go  over  his  apple  and  pears  once  a  week  after  they 
reach  a  respectable  size,  afid  take  off  all  the  unfor- 
tunate specimens,  which  should  be  handed  to  the 
I:,  or  sent  to  market.     This  process  would  have 


■J — 


a  tendency  to  keep  down  the  number  of  insects,  by 
destroying  their  larvse  before  they  reach  their  final 
stage  of  development.  At  this  season  nothing  will 
be  left  on  the  tree  but  perfect  fruit.  They  should, 
of  course,  be  all  carefully  gathered  by  hand,  and 
great  care  taken  to  have  none  of  them  the  least 
bruised.  They  should  then,  if  summer  fruit,  be 
placed  in  a  cool  room,  and  a  cloth  thrown  over  them 
for  a  few  days,  when  those  who  never  ate  an  early 
apple  or  pear  before  so  treated  may  wonder  to  what 
species  of  fruit  it  belongs.  Late  fruit  must,  of 
course,  be  left  on  as  long  as  possible,  so  that  frost 
does  not  injure  them  ;  but  all»  kinds  should  be  oc- 
casionally tried  by  the  lifting  process  we  have  des- 
cribed, and  taken  off  at  the  first  sign  of  maturity 
they  afford. 


VEGETABLE  GARDEN. 

The  main  crop  of  Spinage  should  now  be  sown. 
Properly  cooked,  there  are  few  vegetables  more 
agreeable  to  the  general  taste,  and  few  families 
who  have  gardens  will  wish  to  be  without  it.  It  is 
essential  that  it  have  a  very  well  enriched  soil,  as 
good  large  leaves  constitute  its  perfection  as  a  veg- 
etable. As  soon  as  the  weather  becomes  severe, 
a  light  covering  of  straw  should  be  thrown  over  it. 
A  few  Radishes  may  be  sown  with  the  Spinage  for 
fall  use. 

Turnips  also  may  still  be  sown.  In  fact,  if  the 
soil  be  rich,  a  better  quality  of  root  for  table  use 
will  be  obtained  than  if  sown  earlier. 

Celery  and  Endive  will  still  require  the  attention 
in  blanching  described  in  former  hints. 

Cabbagaand  Cauliflower  are  sown  this  month  for 
spring  use.  The  former  requires  some  care,  as,  if 
it  grow  too  vigorous  before  winter,  it  will  all  run  to 
seed  in  the  spring.  The  best  plan  is  to  make  two 
sowings — one  early  in  the  month,  the  other  at  the 
end.  The  rule  is  to  get  them  only  just  so  strong 
that  they  may  live  over  the  winter  in  safety.  Many 
preserve  them  in  frames;  but  they  should  have 
wooden  sashes  or  shutters  instead  of  glass,  so  as  not 
to  encourage  them  to  grow  much. 

Cauliflower,  on  the  other  hand,  cannot  well  be 
too  forward.  Most  persons  provide  a  pit  of  stone, 
bricks  or  wood,  sunk  five  or  six  feet  below  the  sur- 
face of  the  ground,  into  which  leaves,  manure,  or 
any  waste  vegetable  matter  is  filled.  When  quite 
full,  it  is  suffered  to  heat  a  little,  when  it  will  sink 
somewhat  and  have  more  material  added  to  it; 
about  six  inches  of  good  rich  loam  is  then  placed 
on  it,  and  early  in  November  the  Cauliflower  plan- 
ted out.  The  object  in  refilling  the  leaves  so  often 
is  to  insure  the  plants  remaining  as  near  the  glass 


as  possible,  whicli  is  very  essential  in  the  growth 
of  Cauliflower.  Lettuce  is  treated  in  the  same  way, 
and  seed  should  be  sown  now  to  prepare  for  the 
planting.  The  Cabbage  Lettuce  is  the  kind  usually 
employed. 


HOT  AND  GREENHOUSE. 

In  the  hothouse,  the  Eschynanthus  will  soon  be 
the  chief  ornament  of  this  division.    Their  number 
has  increased  so  that  they  have  become  quite  a  fea- 
ture.    If  the  pots  seem  full  pf  roots,  they  may  still 
have  another  shift.    They  prefer  very  fibrous  peat ; 
or,  if  that  cannot  be'had,  turfy  loam,  mixed  with  a 
portion  of  coarse  moss.     They  will,   however,   do 
pretty  well  in  small  pots.  Achiiuenes  and  Gloxinias, 
as  they  go  out  of  flower,  should  be  kept  dryer  and 
cooler.     Look  well  after  a  good  stock  of  Pentas, 
Costrum  and  Habrothamnus ;  they  will  go  far  to- 
wards keeping  up  the  interest  of  the  department  in 
winter.     Justicias  and  Acanthaceous  plants  gener- 
ally will  probably  require  another  shift  if  fine  spe- 
cimens are  desired.     The  atmosphere,  if  the  house 
be  light,  can  scarcely  be  too   moist  for   them. — 
Pluuibago  rosea  is  one  of  the  most  valuable  stove 
plants  we  know  for  winter- flowering  ;  it  requires  a 
strong  heat.     Clerodendrons,   as  they  go   out  of 
flower,  should  be  kept  in  a  very  airy  situation,  and 
rather  dry,   preparatory   to  being  cut  down   and 
treated  like  a  Pelargonium  for  another  year.  Many 
Begonias  will  be  past  their  best  flowering  stage  ; 
very  little  watering  serves  them  ;  they  are  very  lia- 
ble to  damp  ofl"  by  incaution  in  this  respect.     It  is 
difficult  to  lay  down  rules  for  orchidea;,  so  much 
depending  on  the  circumstances  under  which  they 
are  grown.    Those  who  have  finished  their  growths 
— as  many  Dendrobiums,   Oncidiums,  Catasetums, 
etc. ,  whose  flowers  appear  just  before  new  growth 
— should  have  their  supplies  of  moisture  gradually 
lessened.     The  temperature,  also,  is  better  gradu- 
ally lowered  to  a  few  degrees,  and  they  should  be 
allowed  more  light  than  usual.     The  period  when 
they  arc  about  completing  their  growth  is  the  most 
critical,  as  any  check  at  this  time  spoils  the  pros- 
pect of  much  blossom  for  next  season.  Those  which 
flower  from  the  young  growth,  as  Catleya,  LaSia, 
Broughtonia,  etc.,  will  require  their  moisture  and 
heat  rather  increased  than  otherwise  till  after  their 
flowering.  Vandas  Angrascums,  Saccolabiums,  and 
other  strong-roqting  serial  kinds,  will  require  con- 
stant humidity,  until  it  is  evident,  from  the  points 
of  their  roots,  that  they  desire  to  stop  growing. 
We  are  often  asked  'how  often  orchids  require  to 
be  syringed  ?'     If  the  situation  in  which  they  are 
growing  be  favorable,— that  is,  retains  in  its  atmos- 


phere a  regular  humidity, — they  will  require  very 
little  attention  ;  in  many  cases,  not  requiring  the 
syringe  once  a  week.  Where  this  cannot  be  effected, 
the  syringe  must  be  oftener  applied.  As  a  rule,  I 
think  no  better  one  could  be  offered,  than  to  syringe 
orchids  just  so  much  as  will  barely  keep  moss  at- 
tached to  their  block  and  baskets  green  and  grow- 
ing. The  real  terrestrial  orchids  will  require  no 
moisture  at  all  after  they  have  completed  their 
growths,  until  they  show  signs  of  pushing  again. 
Care  against  checks  in  temperature  and  humidity, 
is  one  of  the  secrets  of  successful  orchid  growing. 
Those  which  are  at  rest  do  well  in  a  temperature 
of  60°  at  the  lowest.  Those  which  are  growing  well 
should  be  kept  at  about  80°. 

In- the  greenhouse,  repairing  and  thorough  clean- 
sing must  not  be  delayed.     Painters  say  this  is  the 
most  advantageous  month  to  paint  wood-work — 
Whenever  the  night  temperature  falls  to  40°,  any 
tender  plants  in  pots  should  be  housed,  without 
waiting  for  'the  first  week  in  October.'     Things 
nearly  hardy,  as  Azalea,  Rhododendron,  Oranges, 
etc. ,  do  best  out  '  to  the  last. '  Any  desirable  plant 
for  forcing,  that  may  be  growing  in  the  open  border, 
if  potted  early  in  the  month,  will  do  very  well  for 
that  purpose. — Weigelia  rosea  does  excellently  this 
way ;  as  also  does  Jasminum  nudiflorum,  Forsythia 
viridissima,  many  Spiraeas  and  Persian  lilacs.  Roses 
and  other  things  intended  to  be  forced  early,  should 
have  as  much  air,  and  be  kept  as  dry  as  possible 
without  injury.    Hyacinths  and  other  bulbs  should 
also  be  potted  as  soon  in  the  month  as  they  are  ob- 
tained ;  the  former  are  best  planted  an  inch  deep. 
The  earlier  bulbs  are  potted  the  finer  they  flower — 
you  may  get  Catalogues  of  any  number  of  kinds  or 
colors  at  the  auction  marts.     If  you  get  ten  per 
cent,  as  represented,  when  they  flower,  you  will  be 
favored.     Jlignonette,    Rodanthe   Manglesii,    and 
similar  ornamental    annuals  essential  for  winter 
blooming  in  well-kept  houses,  should  be  sown  at 
once.      Many  things  for  next  season's  flowering 
must  not  be  forgotten.  The  Pansy,  Calceolaria  and 
Cineraria,  are  in  this  class.     Plants  of  these  that 
have  been  kept  over  the  summer,  will  require  a  re- 
division,  and  kept  in  a  close  frame  for  a  few  days 
afterwards,  till  they  get  re-established.     Propaga- 
tion, of  all  things,  will  still  require  constant  atten- 
tion.    It  should  always  be  an  aim  to  possess  one 
duplicate  plant,  as  a  provision  against  accidents. 
In  many  cases,  young  plants  are  preferable  to  old 
ones ;  so  that  the  old  ones  may  be  destroyed  when 
these  are  obtained. 


260 


SJtje  ^anlenrr's  Sttonijjlj. 


& 


OLD   AMERICAN    HOHTiCULTURISTS. 

BY   M.,     PIIILADELPHIA. 

The  late  Dn.  W.  Darlington  will  ever  he  held 
high  in  the  esteem  of  American  Botanists  and  Hor- 
ticulturists for  his  biographies  and  sketches  of  onr 
first  pioneers,  as  we  may  say,  in  our  pleasant  pur- 
suits. 

On  reading  again,  recently — for  it  is  a  work  we 
never  tire  of  recurring  to  again  and  again — his 
"  Memorials  of  Bartrani  and  3Iarshall,"  it  appeared 
to  me  there  were  many  gaps  in  our  history  that 
were  j'et  unfilled,  and  I  could  not  but  regret  that 
the  Doctor  was  not  still  among  us  ;  or  that  he  had 
not  received  more  materials  from  those  of  us  who 
could  have  collected  them  for  his  highly  polished 
and  cultivated  pen. 

There  is  one  man  in  particular  to  whom  much 
credit  is  due,  but  of  whom  I  have  never  seen  any 
thing  in  print ;  and  this  sketch  is  written  of  him 
rather  to  get  a  fuller  account  from  old  bot- 
anists or  horticulturists  still  living,  than  from  any 
great  value  of  the  few  facts  about  him  I  am  able 
to  communicate. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  named  Kin,  or 
King,  and  was  employed  by  some  German  horti- 
culturists to  come  here  and  collect  seeds  for  them. 
I  have  never  learned  when  he  first  arrived  in  this 
country,  but  from  the  trees  I  have  seen  collected 
by  him,  which  are  now  passing  into  decay,  he  must 
have  been  contemporary  with  William  Bartram  and 
Marshall, — possibly  even  with- John  Bartram.  The 
last  I  can  learn  of  him  is  "that  he  was  seen  in  Ger- 
mantown  in  181  ft,  and  from  that  time  he  seems  to 
have  disappeared. 

All  around  and  through  Germantown  are  many 
trees  collected  by  him.  In  one  place  is  a  very  large 
Virgilia  hitea,  of  which,  as  I  am  writing  this  chap- 
ter on  the  spur  of  the  moment,  I  am  unable  to  give 
the  exact  measurement,  but  which  is  probably  seven 
feet  in  circumference.  In  another  place,  is  a  large 
Magnolia  acinnuutfa,  nine  feet  in  circxunfereiice, 
and  perhaps  eighty  feet  high,  and,  to  my  recollec- 
tion, as  fine  a  specimen  as  its  better  known  com- 
rade in  Marshall  or  the  Bartram  Gardens.  In 
another  part  of  Germantown,  from  the  same  source, 
is  a  Peccan  I^iif,  probj^bly  eighty  feet  high  and  six 
feet  in  circumference.  But  what  is  regarded  as 
about  the  choicest  thing  of  all,  is  a  Mngnoha  mi- 
crojjhjjJJa,  a  noblo  specimen,  wliich  King  is  said  to 
have  brought  in  his  pocket,  wrapjied  in  damp  moss, 


from  North  Carolina.  With  the  exception  of  a  few 
trees  in  some  open  lots  near  Baleigh,  N.  C ,  I  have 
never  seen  trees  in  their  native  places  finer  than 
this  one  is.  In  another  jtart  of  the  town  is  a  mag- 
nificent specimen  of  Aniericnn  Yew,  also  believed 
to  have  been  introduced  by  King.  It  is  probably 
the  finest  specimen  of  the  kind  in  the  world.  This 
species,  as  is  well-known,  never  grows  high,  but 
rather  spreads  horizontally.  In  the  centre  this 
specimen  is  about  five  feet  high,  and  forms  a  circle 
about  thhiij  feet  across.  We  would  give  hundreds 
of  dollars  to  be  the  fortunate  owner  of  such  a  noble 
old  plant.  When  covered  with  its  beautiful  coral 
berries  set  off  by  its  sap  green  leaves,  as  I  once  saw 
it  when  passing,  no  prettier  object  can  be  desired 
in  the  vegetable  kingdom.  We  pass  over  many  of 
these  plants  to  describe  the  man. 

King  was  a  most  remarkable  specimen  of  human- 
ity. Full  six  feet  high,  and  broad  shouldered, 
with  enormous  bones,  but  with  vo  flesh  on  them,  he 
was  literally  the  "  picture  of  death."  He  dressed 
like  an  Indian,  and  he  went  altogether  by  the  cog- 
nomen of  the  '  Wild  man.'  His  habits  were  alto- 
gether wild, — no  doubt  the  result  of  his  many  year's 
explorations  in  the  great  wilds, — and  whenever 
here,  he  was  evidently  not  at  home,  nor  happy  till 
he  went  back  again.  So  far  as  I  can  learn,  he  had 
no  regular  home  in  Philadelphia, — coming  there 
only  to  send  off  his  seeds  and  plants  to  Europe, 
and  then  off  to  the  back  countries  again.  He  made 
the  whole  of  his  journieson  foot,  and  when  it  is  re- 
membered that  we  have  here  the  plants  of  the 
Rocky  mountains,  Kentucky,  North  Carolina,  and 
other  distant  points,  collected  by  his  hands,  some 
idea  may  be  formed  of  the  vast  labors  of  this  devo- 
ted Son  of  Science. 

When  he  came  to  Germantown  he  was  the  guest 
of  a  citizen  named  Kurtz.  Kurtz  was  a  German 
who  emigrated  to  this  country  when  young  from 
his  native  land,  settled  in  Germantown,  and  ulti^ 
mately  owned  considerable  property  there,  which 
supported  him  handsomely,  and  lefl  him  free  to 
follow  his  horticultural  and  botanical  tastes.  His 
garden  was  situated  near  the  main  street,  and  what 
is  now  Chelten  Avenue, — Borer's  store  being  about 
the  center  of  his  garden.  Of  this  garden,  which 
at  that  time  contained  every  rare  tree,  plant  and 
shrub  of  the  hardy  kind  that  could  be  got  together, 
not  a  trace  is  now  left  but  a  huge  English  Ilorse- 
Chestnut,  standing  on  the  sidewalk  of  the  avenue, 
and  which  is,  perhaps,  the  largest  in  the  country. 
The  plants  were  set  in  the  garden,  without  any  ar- 
rangement, wherever  there  was  space  ;  and  though 
the  garden  was  by  no  means  a  large  one,  when  the 


^sr^.r^va 


enormous  number  of  its  plants  was  considered,  so 
thickly  strewn  were  these  floral  treasures,  that  it 
was  with  the  greatest  difficulty  that  the  owner,  who 
spent  the  whole  day  working  among  them,  could 
be  found. 

Kurtz  was  a  peculiar  man.     One  of  his  charac- 
teristics was  to  set  fashion  at  defiance.     What  he 
thought  was  right  he  would  do,  and  he  scorned  to 
be  led  by  public  opinion.     He  was  particularly  no- 
ted for  his  indifference  to  dress,  but  the  scores  of 
friends  who  enjoyed  the  riches  of  his  well-stored 
mind  and  upright  character,  soon  learned  to  forget 
I    the  rugged  exterior  of  the  generous  man.  He  never 
sold  a  plant,  but  gave  freely  of  his  riches  to  all. 
Kurtz  died  in   1816,  and  poor  King  never  came 
about  Germantown  much  after. 
^  There  was,  however,  another  worthy  Son  of  Hor- 
ticulture who   had  a  very  fine   garden,  and  who 
shared  with  Kurtz  his  friendship  for  King  and  his 
seeds.     This  was  another  wealthy  German  named 
Meng.     His  garden  was  near  where  the  railroad 
terminus  in  Germantown  now  is  ;  and  the  immense 
Linden  tree  in  the  street  near  there,  was  certainly 
planted  by  him,  as  possibly  were  many  of  the  other 
large  trees  still  existing  there.    Meng's  garden  was 
much  larger  than  Kurtz's;   and  while  the  latter 
paid  the  most  attention  to  shrubs  and  plants,  the 
former  boasted  of  his  very  fine  lot  of  trees,  which 
at  that  time,  was  inferior  to  very  few  collections  in 
the  country. 

There  is  one  thing  about  Meng's  garden  that  is 
particularly  gratifying.  While  Kurtz's  has  entirely 
di-sappeared,  and  most  of  the  rare  trees  in  most 
other  old  arboretums  in  the  country  are  fast  losing 
their  specimens,  with  no  friendly  hand  to  replace 
them  with  younger  ones  or  add  new  ones,  this  pro- 
]ierty  has  fallen  into  hands  which  know  liow  to  care 
for  them  ;  and  I  am  informed  that  the  present  pro- 
prietor, with  the  love  for  the  original  trees  held  by 
his  predecessors,  still  adds  to  the  list  any  new  or 
rare  tree  he  can  obtain. 

Meng  must  have  died  a  year  or  so  after  Kurtz, 
and  what  became  of  King  after  that  your  corres- 
iioudent  knoweth  not. 


SCIENCE    IN    SPORT. 

BY  J.    STAUFFER,    LANCASTER,    PA. 

(  Continued  from  page  197.) 
After  penning  my  article  in  the  July  number,  as 
I  passed  and  repassed  under  the  arbor  of  the  grape- 
vine, where  I  first  noticed  the  '  Zouaves,'  on  the 
8th  of  June,  I  found  them  occupying  the  same  lath, 
from  whence  I  had  cut  their  empty  egg  cases.     I 


became  interested  to  observe  their  concern  for  the 
vandal-like  removal  of  their  cocoonery ;  but  as  I 
closely  inspected  their  cautious  movements,  spar- 
ring with   their  antennas,  and   reaching  out  like 
boxers  or  fencing  masters,  with  their  long  forelegs, 
or  kicking  out  when  menaced  from  the  rear,  I  soon 
found  that  the  strategic  movements,  parries  and 
reconnoissances  as  feelers,  were  for  the  purpose  of 
one  endeavoring  to  get  the  advantage  of  the  other, 
or  in  self  defence.     It  amused  me  some,  to  notice 
their  cautious  movements,  and  front,  flank  and  rear 
attacks  interchangeably,  as  if  each  was  intent  upon 
getting  the  advantage  of  the  other.     Observing  a 
number  of  dried  spider-like  carcasses,  of  those  whose 
juicy  abdomens  had  given   nourishment  to  their 
more  fortunate  fellows  of  the  same  brood ;  these 
latter  grew  more  portly  at  the  expgnse  of  their 
weaker  brethren— alas  !  do  even  these  insects  man- 
ifest that  depraved  character  of  corrupted  human- 
ity :  where  one  fattens  upon  the  rightful  juices  of 
his  fellow,  simply  because  he  spurns  all  the  laws  of 
justice,   intent   only  on   self-aggrandizement,    and 
void  of  all  principle  of  equity.     Yes,  there  are  reg- 
ular cannibals,  and  kept  together  during  a  period 
of  two  weeks,  not  because  of  their  social  disposi- 
tion, but  for  the  purpose  of  feeding  upon  one  an- 
other;   which  resulted   in  the  fict,  that  the  one 
hundred  became  reduced  to  about  twenty.     After 
shedding  their  skins,  and  somewhat  changing  their 
dress,  they  began  to  disperse  in  quest  of  other  food. 
In  speaking  of  the  squash  bug,  I  inadvertently 
referred  these  insects  to  the  family  Tentatonidaj. 
They  belong,  however,  to  the  family  Eeduvudce. 
These  insects  vary  greatly  in  size  as  well  as  in  gen- 
eral^ appearance,    coloring,    etc.      The    Fnonotus 
novinarius  is,   perhaps  the  largest  species  of  the 
family,  and  differs  greatly  in  its  several  stages. 

The  P.  serratus,  or  the  Wheel-bug,  ("so  named 
in  the  West  Indies,  from  the  singular  prothorax 
circularly  elevated,  and  toothed  like  a  cog-wheel;, 
is  stated  by  Kirby  and  Spence,  on  the  authority  of 
Major  General  Davios,  to  be  able  to  communicate 
a  sharp  electric  shock. 

Whether  our  Prionotus  has  this  property  I  am 
not  prepared  to  say.  I  do  know,  however,  that 
they  can  inflict  a  severe  wound  with  their  curved 
lance,  sheathed  within  the  proboscis,  so  that  I  pre- 
fer handling  them  with  a  pair  of  forceps. 

This  family  (of  Hcteropterfe)  consists  of  numer- 
ous genera  of  t^-restrial  species.  They  have  a  short, 
thick,  naked,  and  curved  rostrum  ;  the  labrum  ex- 
certed ;  the  head  narrowed  behind  into  a  more  or 
less  elongated  neck,  and  furnished  with  two  large 
prominent  eyes  and  two  ocelli ;  the  antenna?  are 


262 


M^  §nr&mtf%  ^cntMj. 


of  moderate  or  considerable  length,  with  the  ter- 
minal joints  slender  ;  the  prothorax  is  often  spined 
as  well  as  more  or  less  completely  divided  into  two 
parts ;  the  legs  are  long,  and  fitted  for  running ; 
the  tarsi  3-jointed  and  simple,  the  basal  joint  being 
very  short ;  the  anterior  tibre,  in  some  species,  are 
terminated  on  the  inside  by  an  oblique  pulvillus  or 
spine,  serving  apparently  to  assist  the  raptorial 
habits  of  the  species,  which  are  more  pre-eminently 
insectivorous  than  any  of  the  other  terrestrial  spe- 
cies. By  these  tokens  they  are  readily  recognized, 
and,  bad  as  they  are,  morally  speaking,  it  seems  to 
take  one  evil  to  keep  another  evil  in  check:  or, 
'one  rogue  to  catch  another;'  hence,  I  presume 
the  reason  we  have  so  many  in  high  places,  and  he 
who  can  succeed  in  over-reaching  his  neighbor 
without  being  subjected  to  legal  action  or  convic- 
tion, is  a  ^  shrricd  gentleman  f  while  the  simple- 
hearted,  honest  man  is  but  a  tool  or  '  old  fogy.' 


IWR.    nOOKSR'S    TANKS, 

T?rom  among  a  lot  of  communications  on  the  sub- 
ject, we  select  the  following  extracts.  The  first  is 
from  Mr.  W.  Saunders,  Washington,  D.  C.  : 

"In  looking  over  the  July  number  of  your 
Monthly,  I  observe  an  article  on  heating  with  water 
in  cement  tanks,  and,  moreover,  that  it  is  patented. 

Now,  I  am  building  a  Propagating-house  here, 
and  intended  to  get  my  bottom  heat  by  using  ce- 
ment tanks.  That  this  intention  was  not  suggested 
by  Mr.  Hooker,  you  will  readilj  understand  when  I 
state  that  you  have  seen  a  glass  structure  under 
my  management,  heated  in  that  way. 

Will  I  be  subject  to  a  'violation  of  a  patent  right' 
if  I  heat  my  house  by  a  mode  that  I  have  seen  in 
operation  about  20'  years  ago  ? 

I  further  can  say,  that  I  had  one  in  operation  in 
New  Haven,  in  1848.  Can  I  not  build  one  now 
without  paying  aright  to  do  so?    What  do  you 

think  about  it." 

We  supposed  Mr.  Hooker's  claim  was  not  so 
much  for  the  tank,  as  for  laying  it  in  the  ground, 
and  have  since  the  following  from  Mr.  Saunders  : 

"  The  house  I  alluded  too  was  heated  with  a  ce- 
ment tank  laid  on  the  ground.  The  tank  was  simply 
a  square  brick  trough,  lined  with  cement,  finished 
in  a  circular  manner  inside,  and  covered  with  slates. 
The  boiler  was  placed  at  one  corner,  in  rear  of  the 
house,  with  short  attachment  pipes  into  the  tank  : 
the  tank  going  all  round.  As  is  psual,  we  had  a 
front  shelf  over  the  tank ;  this  portion  was  enclosed 
so  as  to  return  the  heat ;  on  the  shelf,  (which  was 
first  covered  with  a  couple  thickness  of  mats,  the 
shelf  being  sparred  as  usual),  a  layer  of  white  silver 


sand  was  laid.  Here  we  grew  our  young  Calceola- 
rias, plunging  the  small  pots  about  half  their  depth 
in  the  sand,  which,  of  course,  was  gently  heated. 
The  recollection  of  the  growth  of  those  plants  has 
given  me  great  uneasiness  ever  since  simply  because 
in  all  my  calceolaria  growing  I  have  never  been  able 
to  approach  it.  Here,  then,  was  a  propagating- 
bed,  and  I  have  made  many  a  propagating-bcd 
since  by  enclosing  flues  and  pipes  in  the  same  way. 
At  New  Haven,  when  I  went  first  to  Mr.  Bost- 
wick's  place,  I  found  a  small  Propagating-house 
that  had  been  put  up  by  my  predecessor.  The 
tank  was  made  of  zinc,  and  it  bent  and  bounded, 
and  thumped  and  made  so  much  noise  when  heat- 
ed, and,  withal  did  not  answer  the  purpose.  I 
therefore  made  with  my  own  hands,  a  wooden 
trough,  and  lined  it  with  cement,  to  prevent  leak- 
age, which  answered  well  so  far;  but  the  boiler 
being  a  miserable  trifling  aff"air,  that  would  not 
hold  half  a  peck  of  coals  (it  was  a  cylinder),  I  aban- 
doned the  whole  thing. 

But  I  have  recalled  to  mind  another  suggestion, 
that  I  once  was   about   carrying   into  practice  at 
Baltimore.  As  it  never  was  put  in  execution,  how- 
ever, it  is  hardly  worth  while  to  mention  it.     Mr. 
Winans'  conservatory  was  so  situated  that  pipes  or 
any  other  incumbrance  would  have  interferred  much 
with  the  arrangement.    The  paths  were  winding,— 
very  tortuously  winding ;    and  the  suggestion  of 
putting  pipes  in  a  channel  below  them  could  not  be 
entertained,  on  account  of  expense,  as  a  model  in 
which  to  cast   the  pipes  to  suit  all  the  turnings 
would  have  to  be  made.     T  suggested  to  put  in  a 
cement  trough,  which  could  easily  have  been  made 
to  follow  all  the  windings ;  and,  although  I  had  a 
considerable  portion  of  the  path  excavated,  (which 
excavation  is  still  in  existence,  I  presume),  it  was 
never  carried  out,  as  another  mode  was  adopted. 
But  I  am  very  sure  the  mode  would  have  answered, 
and  would  be  a  capital  way  of  running  hot  water  in 
circuitous  routes. " 
The  next  is  an  inquiry  from  "Fox  Meadow "  : 
"What  is  meant  by  woier  lime?    I  made  the 
inquiry  direct  of  Mr.  Hooker.  The  following  is  the 
reply : 

'Dear  Sir:  Enclosed  please  find  "Directions" 
for  making  my  Tanks. 

The  lime  I  use  is  common  Hydraulic  Lime,— or. 
Water  Lime,  as  we  call  it.  Any  lime  that  will 
make  a  cistern  will  make  a  tank.  You  will  find  the 
plan  a  most  excellent  one,  and  exceedingly  econom- 
ical.       Yours,  Eesp'y.  H.  E.  Hooker.' 

He  calls  it  '  Hydraulic'  Lime ;  and  that  '  any 
lime  that  will  make  a  cistern  will  make  a  tank.'    I 


\^ 


gh 


-— ^^' 


certttinlj'  never  heard  of  any  lime  that  would  make 
a  cistern  /io^water  tight.  Hot  water  tanks  were 
made  this  way  in  England  30  years  ago,  and- aban- 
doned through  no  remedy  being  found  for  this 
oijjection.  Can  you  tell  me  if  Mr.  Hooker's  tank 
is  made  of  lime  mortar  or  of  ordinary  American 
cement?" 

We  do  not  know  any  '  water  lime'  but  the  Rosen- 
dale  cement.  Common  lime,  by  using  lime-water 
for  slacking,  or  by  incorporating  more  or  less  of 
silex  or  of  alumina,  as  the  case  may  be,  may  be 
made  harder  or  softer, — or  by  peculiar  ways  of 
slacking,  as  by  more  or  less  water, — may  be  ren- 
dered of  different  degrees  of  crystallization.  Mr. 
Hooker's  '  instructions '  evidently  calls  for  well 
made  lime  mortar,  and  not  water  lime  or  hydraulic 
cement,  as  his  '  letter '  makes  it. 

The  following  note,  from  Thos.  Ottaway,  Cuy- 
ahoga Falls,  Ohio,  we  give  for  some  good  sugges- 
tions, though  not  very  clearly  expressed.  With 
reference  to  the  Hooker  tanks,  the  writer  also  does 
not  seem  to  understand  that  the  claim  is  more 
in  the  sunk  tanks,  than  in  the  article  they  are 
made  of : 

"I  read  the  Monthly  with  great  pleasure,  and 
was  much  interested  in  Mr.  Hooker's  article,  in 
the  July  number.  I  am  sorry  to  see  him  trying  to 
monopolize  the  use  of  water  lime.  It  is  a  very 
useful  article  in  a  hothouse.  We  used  it  in  Eng- 
■land  to  a  great  extent ;  and  I  have  been  using  it 
here  more  or  less  for  3  years.  Can  he  stop  me  from 
building  my  brick  tanks,  or  lining  benches,  to  make 
them  hold  water? 

The  following  is  my  style  of  building  tanks;  also 
the  best  and  cheapest  mode  of  building  tank  pits 
in  the  end.  First,  I  run  one  4-ineh  pipe  around 
the  house,  pass  it  under  the  walk  into  the  boiler 
again.  Tap  it  in  on  top  for  flow  pipe,  a.nd  tap  it 
on  the  lower  side  for  return  [We  do  not  clearly  un- 
derstand this  sentence. — Ed.  G.  M.J. 

I  build  my  tanks  in  sections,  so  if  one  breaks  I 
can  run  the  house  with  the  others,  which  I  con- 
sider a  great  advantage  in  cold  weather. 

Secondly,  I  run  my  flow  pipe  through  the  water 
in  the  tanks,  aivi  over  the  ends, — the  return  pipe 
passes  back  through  the  house,  along  side  of  the 
walk  to  the  boiler. 

These  two  plans  give  heat  enough  for  a  pit  10  or 
12  feet  wide,  to  grow  tender  plants  in  winter;  and 
by  building  tanks  on  my  plan,  I  always  have  a  con 
stant  circulation  of  air  if  my  house  is  shut  up, 
which  you  do  not  have  if  you  dump  your  tanks  on 
the  ground,  as  represented  by  Mr.  Hooker. 

■"^55 ■ ' 


Thirdly,  In  my  plan  of  building  tanks  with  brick 
or  tile,  with  cement,  I  cover  with  slate,  or  whatever 
I  can  get,  and  seal  them  down  with  cement. 

I  am  no  professional  gardener,  but  I  am  a  dear 
lover  of  good  plants. 

If  you  refer  to  the  "Cottage  Gardener's  Diction- 
ary," (an  English  work),  under  the  head  'Rendal 
Tanks,'  there  you  will  find  Mr.  Hooker's  plan  com- 
plete. He  says  the  heating  is  not  new.  Very  good. 
Nor  yet  is  the  cement  tank ;  both  are  older  than 
Mr.  Hooker  himself;  but  dumping  it  on  the  ground 
is  new  to  me,  and,  in  my  opinion,  spoils  it." 


NOTES    ON    GRAPSS. 


PA. 


BY  A.    HUIDEKOPER,    MEADVILLE, 

open   winter,  with   a   few   days  of  severe 


The  open  wmter,  witn  a 
weather  in  January  and  February,  entirely  destroy- 
ed the  Peach  blossoms  in  Western  Pennsylvania, 
and  somewhat  affected  the  trees ;  but  they  have 
made  a  reasonable  growth  of  new  wood — those  trees 
doing  best  which  were  shortened  in  early  in  the 
season.  Strawberries  suffered  as  badly,  the  vines, 
where  not  covered,  being  drawn  out  of  root.  The 
crop  was  good  in  some  localities,  but  in  general  was 
a  moderate  one.  Pears  and  apples  will  yield  a  light 
crop — much  of  the  latter  fruit  dropping,  owing  to 
the  long  continued  drouth.  Grape  vines,  where 
not  protected,  also  suffered  by  the  winter;  but 
those  who  took  the  trouble  to  lay  their  vines  down, 
are  reapnig  the  reward  of  their  care,  in  a  satisfac- 
tory crop  of  fruit.  On  my  own  grounds,  the  Dela- 
ware, Diana,  York,  Concord,  Hartford  Prolific, 
Clinton,  and  Burton's  Early,  all  are  heavily  laden 
with  fruit,  and  so  far,  entirely  free  from  disease. 

Under  glass,  the  viixjs  were  uncovered  on  the 
7th  of  April,  and  have  been  grown  entirely  without 
fire  heat.  The  utmost  limit  in  the  way  of  ventila- 
tion has  been  given  to  them  :  top  and  side  windows 
being  kept  open  since  the  termination  of  our  June 
frosts,  both  day  and  night.  The  thermometer  has 
ranged  from  45°  by  night  to  95°  by  day ;  and  the 
.fruit  is  looking  fresh  and  healthy,  and  the  vines 
growing  vigorously — the  new  wood  is  already  be- 
ginning to  ripen,  and  the  fruit  appears  to  be  as  far 
advanced  as  it  usually  is  under  greater  heat  and 
confinement. 

Muscat  of  Alexandria  has  fertilized  this  season 
quite  as  well  as  the  Bowood  Muscat,  and  has  done 
it  under  abundance  of  ventilation,  which  is  contra- 
ry to  the  treatment  prescribed  in  the  books. 

A  vine  ot  the  Child's  Grape,  I  noticed,  blossomed 
differently  from  any  of  the  others :  instead  of  for- 
cing off  a  cap,  the  petals  opened  like  a  flower ;  after 


M^  iarda^r's  3!loirfIi% 


a  few  days  the^e  dropped  off,  •when  the  stamens 
became  elongated,  and  the  vine  came  into  bloom. 
If  this  be  a  fixed  habit  of -the  plant,  it  will  be  an 
easy  way  to  identify  it.  Though  this  grape  is  an 
early  one,  the  berries  being  a  good  size  and  the 
first  to  become  transparent  in  the  vinery,  I  feel  dis- 
posed to  reject  it,— the  clusters  being  irregular  and 
not  so  well  formed  as  many  other  varieties  of  equal 
merit. 

In  April  I  planted  some  seeds  of  the  Delaware 
grape  in  a  tub,  iu  leaf  mould  obtained  from  the 
woods.  I  consider  this  the  safest  way  to  have  gen- 
uine plants— earth  from  the  premises  of  any  one 
who  has  been  cultivating  vines  for  years,  piay  very 
readily  contain  seeds  of  other  varieties,  and  mis- 
takes as  to  the  origin  of  a  plant  innocently  occur. 

From  the  above  planting,  I  have  some  three  dozen 
vines,  from  six  inches  to  three  feet  high,  and,  so  far 
as  is  perceptible,  there  has  been  no  departure  in 
the  foliage  of  any  of  them  from  that  of  the  parent 
plant.  I  mention  this,  as  a  different  experience  has 
been  given  by  others. 

The  foliage  of  the  Clinton  grape  so  closely  resem- 
bles that  of  the  York  grape,  (lately  disseminated 
as  the  Franklin  Grape),  that  it  is  probably  a  seed- 
ling of  th;it  variety.  It  resembles  it  in  hardihood, 
habit  of  growth,  etc.,  but  is  inferior  to  it  in  the 
size  and  eating  qualities  of  its  fruit. 

When  the  season  of  maturity  arrives,  I  will  send 
you  some  further  notes  if  desirable.  [Please  do. -Ed.] 


ECGNOSVIIC    HEATING. 

BY  BARTIIOLD   BOHMER,    CLEVELAND,    O. 

Having  read  in  your  June  number  the  article  on 
"Economic  Heating,"  I  take  the  liberty  to  make 
a  few  suggestions  about  it. 

I  am  erecting  a  greenhouse  at  present  myself, 
and  as  fuel  is  very  high,  I  like  to  make  my  heating 
as  economical  as  possible,  and  intend  to  do  it  in  the 
following  way : — Around  my  furnace  I  intend  to 
make  a  4-inch  arch,  so  as  to  leave  a  space  between 
the  arch  and  furnace,  forming  a  hot  air  chamber ; 
making  an  air  flue  on  the  lower  part  of  it,  which 
opens  outside.  From  the  hot  air  chamber  I  make 
a  flue  which  opens  into  the  main  flue ;  by  this 
contrivance  I  think  I  gain  two  ends  :  first,  I  con- 
vert more  cold  air  into  hot  air,  and  get  more  draft 
in  the  flue.  In  addition  to  this,  I  shall  put  some 
4-inch  iron  x)ipes  through  the  furnace,  which  opens 
outside.  The  fire  will  will  heat  the  pipes,  the  cold 
air  will  rush  in  and  come  out  heated  on  the  other 
side.  I  can  attach  some  tin  pipes  to  it,  and  can 
load  the  heated  air  where  I  wish.  Should  the  heat- 


ed air  be  too  dry,  1  think  there  might  easily  a  con- 
trivance be  made  so  as  to  attach  water  to  it  and 
raise  some  vapor. 

My  intention  is  with  the  same  fire  to  convert  the 
most  cold  air  possible  into  hot  air,  and  if  this  is 
done  as  I  suggest,  I  have  gained  my  point.  At  the 
same  time  I  can  always  see  my  flue,  and  if  there  is 
any  defect  easily  repair  it,  which  I  think  is  rather 
difficult  to  do  the  other  way. 

I  should  also  like  to  know  what  is  the  best  mor- 
tar to  build  a  flue  with  ? 

[The  system  of  heating,  called  in  English  works 
the  'Polmaise,'  is  nearly  hke  this  of  our  corres- 
pondent's. The  objection  to  it  was  that  the  gas 
was  liable  to  escape  from  the  furnace  to  the  aiv 
flues,  and  so  injure  the  plants.  Connecting  the  air 
flues,  however,  with  the  smoke  flues,  would  not  be 
so  risky,  and  would,  we  think,  be  an  advantage. 
There  is  always  too  much  hot  air  about  a  furnace, 
and  the  plan  proposed  would  certainly  better  dis- 
tribute it. 

If  the  furnace  be  tightly  built,  an  air  flue  open- 
ing outside  the  furnace,  carried  over  it,  and  con- 
nected with  such  a  chamber,  and  led  on  an  incline 
to  the  other  end  of  the  house, — there  opening  into 
the  house,  would  probably  carry  to  the  cool  end 
much  of  the  surplus  furnace  heat. 

The  best  flue  mortar  is  made  of  lime  slacked  with 
Ume  watir,  and  the  bricks  soaked  in  water  imme- 
diately before  using. — Ed.] 


USES  OF  GRAPEHIES   IN  WINTER. 

BY  WALTER    ELDER,    PHILADELPHIA. 

Some  of  the  glass  structures  whose  foreign  grape 
vines  I  winter  prune,  were  erected  for  greenhouses. 

They  have  strong  back  walls  of  stone  mason 
work,  and  stone  walls  rising  thirty  inches  above 
ground  along  the  fronts  and  ends, — all  the  rest  is 
glass, — with  brick  flues  and  stages  inside.  They 
were  originally  filled  with  choice  collections  of  ex- 
otic plants ;  but  through  neglect  of  employing  com- 
petent gardeners,  many  of  the  plants  died,  and 
grapevines  were  planted  outside  and  trained  inside, 
and  now  fill  the  houses.  Generally  they  are  thrifty 
and  bear  good  crops  annually.  There  are  yet  a 
numerous  collection  of  exotic  plants  kept  in  the 
houses  through  the  winter-;  and  the  past  winter 
they  got  no  artificial  heat,  and  appear  uninjuied. 
And,  although  there  are  shutters  for  the  ends, 
front  windows  and  lower  sashes  on  the  roofs,  they 
were  not  put  on.  One  of  the.se  houses  is  thiity 
miles  north  of  Philadelphia ;  one  is  twenty-four 
miles  northwest ;  and  a  third  is  eighteen  miles  west 


^*' 


of  Philadelphia,  all  standing  upon  high  grounds, 
hut  slightly  sheltered  by  deciduous  and  evergreen 
trees,  as  short  distance  off. 

I  took  a  list  of  the  three  collections  of  plants, 
in  which  were  comprised  the  following,  all  of  which 
appeared  thrifty  and  good  in  order : — Camellia  ja- 
ponica,  Acacias,  Azalea  chinensis,  Aloysia,  Agave, 
Ardisia,  Araucaria,  Erica,  Epacris,  Eugenia,  Fuch- 
sia, Jasminum  Cgrandiflorum  and  revolutum),  La- 
gerstroemia,  Laurestina,  Laurus  nobilis,  Metrosi- 
deros.  Magnolia  (grandiflora  and  Exmouthj;  Ne- 
rium  oleander,  Orange  Lemon,  Pittosporum, 
Plumbago  capensis,  Punica  (Pomegranate),  Rho- 
dodendron Chybrid  varieties  arboreum),  and  of  the 
smaller  plants,  Hydrangea,  Carnation  and  Picotee 
Pinks,  English  Primrose,  Daisy,  Pansy,  Polyan- 
thus, Wallflower,  Gilliflower,  Neirombergia,  Petu- 
nia, Verbena,  &c. 

I  was  told  that  the  thermometer  at  each  place 
■was  thrice  down  to  17°,  and  twice  at  14°  in  the 
mornings.  What  saved  the  plants,  I  think,  was 
the  great  quantity  of  hoar  frost  upon  the  glass, 
"which  kept  the  sunshine  out  of  the  house  through 
the  day. 

Now  as  those  plants  have  stood  the  past  winter 
without  artificial  heat,  and  without  injury,  they 
will  need  but  little  heat  in  other  winters,— ^and  that 
removes  the  great  stumbling-block  which  deters 
many  from  having  such  choice  exotics — the  fear  of 
the  cost  of  fuel  to  save  them  in  winter. 

I  was  not  much  surprised  at  the  result,  for  I  had 
seen  the  Camellia  growing  out  in  the  open  garden 
all  winter,  both  in  England  and  Scotland.  The 
plants  in  the  houses  were  kept  very  dry,  and  only 
watered  and  syringed  in  mild  weather,  after  cold 
spells.  The  dryness  of  the  soil  about  their  roots 
prevented  the  pots  from  bursting  from  frost. 

Such,  then,  is  an  excellent  use  for  which  to  em- 
ploy a  grapery  in  winter. 

Jlany  persons  have  collections  of  half-hardy  ev- 
ergreen trees  and  shrubs,  and  many  of  the  newer 
kinds  growing  in  pots,  who  keep  them  in  the  cold 
graperies  in  winter,  in  order  to  acclimatize  them 
— they  form  a  very  pleasing  winter  garden,  and 
alFord  pleasure  the  entire  year  to  their  possessor. 

Another  class  make  an  orchard-house  of  their 
graperies,  having  many  fruit  trees  in  pots,  which 
they  set  upon  boards  ;  in  the  spring  they  blossom 
and  set  their  fruit,  and  are  in  full  leaf  before  the 
grape-vines  have  leaves  enough  to  shade  them 
overmuch  ;  they  are  then  set  out  on  the  sheltered 
side  of  buildings  or  fences,  and  ripen  their  fruit 
two  months  earlier  than  the  same  kinds  growing  in 
open  ground. 


Those  persons  who  are  fond  of  flowers,  will  find 
their  grapery  a  great  promoter  of  earliness,  as  the 
early  flowering  bulbs  can  be  made  to  bloom  a  month 
or  six  weeks  earlier  than  if  planted  out  of  doors. 

In  localities  where  Boxwood  edgings  are  apt  to 
be  winter-killed,  or  drawn  out  of  the  ground  by 
freezing  and  thawing,  if  they  are  dug  up  in  early 
winter,  with  all  the  earth  that  adheres  to  their 
roots,  and  placed  closely  together  in  graperies,  they 
can  be  replanted  in  April.  Tea  Hoses  may  be  dug 
up  and  potted,  and  by  keeping  them  partially  dry 
during  very  cold  weather,  they  keep  well  in  the 
grapery,  and  in  May  set  out-doors  in  sheltered 
spots  until^  June,  when  they  are  turned  out  of  the 
pots,  and  planted  in  beds  or  borders. 

Those  who  like  something  to  eat  better  than 
something  to  look  at,  can  keep  x>oidtri/,  and  get 
fresh  eggs  and  tender  chickens  all  winter.  The  late 
Greneral  Armstrong,  of  Redhook,  N.  Y.,  for  a  dis- 
ease which  he  contracted  during  the  wars,  was  or- 
dered by  his  physicians  to  take  a  fresh  egg  dropped 
in  a  half  a  gill  of  good  brandy  every  morning  for 
his  stomach,  and  a  tender  chicken  stewed  for  dinner. 
To  have  these  in  winter,  he  had  erected  a  glass- roof- 
ed house  a  hundred  feet  long,  with  three  apart- 
ments for  keeping  hens  laying  and  hatching  in  all 
winter ;  and  it  is  said  that  his  life  was  prolonged 
fifteen  years  by  so  doing.  Hens  wintered  in  grape- 
ries would  lay  and  hatch  all  the  time,  and  make 
the  very  best  kind  of  manure  for  inside  borders. 


NOTES    ON    HARDY    CONIFEU^. 
BY  E.    MANNING,   HARRISBUKG,    O. 

In  looking  over  the  July  number  of  the  Monthly 
I  was  much  interested  with  the  "  Notes  on  Hardy 
Coniferse,"  by  Orchis,  and  feel  inclined  to  give  my 
experience,  at  this  locality,  as  regards  hardiness  as 
far  as  tested. 

All  the  commoner  Pines  have  stood  the  winter 
well,  but  Pinus  Sahiniana,  which  has  stood  out 
four  years,  growth  very  thrifty  and  beautiful,  never 
injured  till  the  past  winter — killed  outright.  P. 
Lamhertiana  badly  injured  ;  may  possibly  recover. 
P.  Ccmhra  entirely  hardy.  P.  exceJsa  Cor  which  I 
received  from  a  New  York  nursery  under  that 
name}  out  five  years,  entirely  .hardj'. 

Several  others,  such  as  Nivea,  Pyvenaca^  Mons- 
eliensis,  31ug1io rotundata — all  very  fine;  untested. 

Of  the.  Fir  tribe,  Picea  Wehhiana  killed ;  pec- 
tinata  slightl.y  injured  ;  2^'>isapo,  out  five  years,  very 
beautiful  and  distinct,  slightly  injured  and  some- 
what browned  ;  nohilis  is  slightly  injured  ;  JVurd- 
mannidna,  Parsomana,  pichta,  lasiocrirpa^  all  un- 
der trial,  and  very  beautiful  and  distinct. 


ih^  (Sard^ner's  PoirfMg. 


Abies  cmrulescens,  hardy ;  archangelica,  very 
beautiful  and  distinct ;  Morinda,  IJenziesii,  and 
Doitffhssi,  all  under  trial.  I  agree  with  Orchis 
that  A.  canadensis  is  very  fine,  but  Parsoniana  is 
even  much  finer,  somewhat  darker,  much  more 
dense,  with  broader  leaves,  much  more  regular,  of 
the  same  drooping  habit — a  superb  tree.  A.  can- 
adensis microjoiiyna  is  quite  distinct  from  either  of 
the  others,  much  more  drooping,  of  a  lighter  green 
color,  of  shorter  and  finer  leaves,  of  much  longer 
branches,  very  graceful ;  has  only  to  be  seen  to  be 
admired. 

Taxus  clegantissima,  Dovastoni,  chesJiuntensis, 
and  hiberaica,  are  all  beautiful  varieties  of  the  Yew ; 
their  hardiness  is  yet  untested,  being  only  planted 
out  last  spring. 

Cupressus  Lawsoniana  and  ericoides  are  both 
perfectly  hardy  ;  elegans  and  McNabiana  are  on 
trial ;  both  very  fine. 

Thujopsis  boreulis,  very  fine,  but  untested. 
Juniperus  chinensis,  hardy  and  very  fine,  holds 
its  color  well  all  winter ;  glauca  is  a  very  superb 
plant,  and  very  distinct ;  has  only  to  be  seen  to  be 
admired ;  the  finest  Juniper  I  have  ever  seen — on 
trial. 

Ilahbnia  japonica,  truly  splendid,  has  stood  12° 
below  zero  without  injury  or  the  color  the  least 
changed — killed  last  winter  to  the  ground ,  aqui- 
folia,  killed  near  to  the  ground ;  ascicidaris,  un- 
tested ;  elegans,  very  fine — untested. 

Rhododendron  roseum  superbum,  very  fine,  of 
rapid  growth — on  trial. 

Olea  ilicifolia,  and  Il'CX  laurifoUa,  both  very 
beautiful  but  untested. 

Cephahtaxus  Fortnnii,  very  fine — untested. 
Podocarpus  andina,  taxifolia,  and  japonica,  all 
very  fine — untested. 

Retinospnra  variegata,  and  ericoides,  both  very 
beautiful — on  trial. 

Thujopsis  dolahatn,  and  variegata,  are  on  trial, 
plants  small,  very  distinct,  and  superb  if  hardy — 
a  great  acquisition. 

Torreya  taxifvUa,  and  Myrkticha,  both  very  fine 
especially  the  last— only  on  trial. 

The  following  is  also  my  experience  with  some 
of  the  more  choice  deciduous  trees : 

Magnolia  macrophylla,  killed  to  the  ground ; 
conspicua,  slightly  injured  ;  tripctala,  and  acumin- 
ata, uninjured. 

Salisburiaadiantifolia,  uninjured;  laciniafa  via- 
crophylla,  killed  to  near  the  ground ;  variegata, 
untested. 

Taxodimn  distichium,  fatally  injured. 
Shepherdia,  male  and  female,  perfectly  hardy. 


jEsculus  rubicunda,  killed  to  the  ground. 

Glyp)tostrobus  sinensis  pendula,  very  slightly  in- 
jured. A  perfect  gem  of  beauty,  ought  to  be  in 
every  collection — the  most  distinct  of  all  trees. 

Petula  laciniata  pendula,  perfectly  hardy  and 
very  beautiful. 

Stuartia  pentagynia,  uninjured  very  fine  and 
distinct. 

Clerodendron  Kempfoeri,  very  beautiful  uninjured. 

Fraxinus  acubcefolia  and  aurea pendida,  uninjur- 
ed.    The  later  a  very  graceful  and  beautiful  tree. 

Aralia  sp>inosa  angelica,  killed. 

Althea  frutex,  crimson-shaded,  shaded,  and  dou- 
ble-purple— uninjured. 

All  the  Remontant  Roses,  including  sixteen  va- 
rieties, all  killed  to  near  the  ground,  besides  many 
other  plants  of  less  note. 


PATENTS    IN    HORTZGULTURE. 

BY  FOX  MEADOW 

Some  individuals  have  spent  months  and  years 
in  study  and  labor,  to  work  out  some  practical  im- 
provement to  man's  general  benefit ;  and,  as  the 
majority  of  men  cannot  afi"ord  to  give  their  time 
and  labor  to  the  world  gratuitously,  it  is  right  that 
such  should  be  paid  for ;  and  it  is  also  right  that 
inducements  should  be  held  out  to  new  and  good 
practical  inventions.  To  all  patents  granted  on  the 
above  grounds,  we  say.  Amen. 

To-day  the  horticultural  world  is  called  to  a  start- 
ling new  invention,  of  the  remarkably  cheap  Tank 
system  for  heating  horticultural  structures,  by  Mr. 
H.  E.  Hooker,  of  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

A  cheap  hot-water  apparatus  is  required  by  all 
who  love  horticulture,  and  when  the  news  came  of 
a  new  mode  of  fdrming  a  cheap  and  reliable  hot- 
water  apparatus, — why,  Mr.  Editor,  our  very  heart 
leaped  with  joy  !  After  joy  came  restlessness,  and 
a  desire  to  know  what  this  cheap  and  efficient  pa- 
tent apparatus  consisted  of,  and  for  what  the  Patent 
Ofiice  granted  its  diploma. 

And  here,  let  us  ask  this  question,  and  let  every 
reader  of  your  journal  ask,  "  What  are  the  merits 
of  Mr.  Hooker's  tank,  that  a  patent  should  be 
granted,  restricting  the  general  progress  of  horti- 
culture?" Did.  the  Patent  Office  at  Washington 
ever  hear  that  warm  water  was  made  to  circulate 
through  any  medium  we  please,  simply  t  hrough 
difference  in  its  specific  gravity  ?  If  they  did  not, 
then  they  had  better  call  in  William  Saunders,  who 
is  so  close  at  their  elbows,  and  he  will  inform  them. 
Does  Mr.  Hooker  claim  that  he  is  the  first  man 
who  ever  made  a  common  hydraulic  cement  tank 


\1^ 


i^ 


Sfft^  ®Hria^r'B  JRrnrfM^* 


through  which  to  circulate  hot  water  ?  If  he  does, 
then  he  never  could  have  been  outside  of  Koches- 
ter  !  In,  and  for  what,  then,  is  this  pjitent  grant- 
ed? Is  it  because  the  bottom  of  his  tanks  are 
made  flat  and  the  sides  inclining?  Perhaps  it  is 
because  the  tanks  are  sunk  in  the  ground,  for  the 
earth  to  absorb  its  little  heat ;  or  that  the  sides  are 
supported  with  strips  of  boards,  to  hold  the  cement 
till  set ;  or  that  the  top  of  this  tank  is  covered  with 
hoards,  and  then  plastered  over  with  cement  ?  The 
patent  must  certainly  be  granted  for  some  one  of 
these  novel  contrivances.  If  so,  Mr.  Editor,  we 
certainly  cannot  see  why  the  Patent  Office  should 
not  grant  either  you  or  I  a  patent  for  the  manner 
by  which  we  part  our  hair ! 

To  be  serious  in  this  matter,  we  say  it  is  an  in- 
sult to  horticulture  at  the  present  day  for  Mr. 
Hooker  to  so  deliberately  set  down  and  tell  horti- 
culturists how  water  can  be  made  to  circulate 
through  a  common  cement  tank  ;  and  further,  it  is 
imposing  upon  our  commonest  intelligence  to  tell 
us  that  cement  will  stand  hot  water  without  crack- 
ing. That  "  hot  water  has  no  more  effisct  [on  ce- 
ment] than  cold,"  is  a  grand  mistake,  for  there  are 
thousands  of  witnesses  at  the  present  day  that  know 
full  well  that  there  is  no  hydraulic  cement  that  will 
stand  hot  water  without  cracking.  The  harder  a 
cement  will  set,  the  more  liahJe  and  sure  it  is  to 
crach  and  split ;  and,  owing  to  the  fact  that  it  can- 
not expand,  like  iron  and  many  other  metals  when 
heat  is  applied  to  it.  Heat  applied  to  stone  will 
split  it  to  pieces,  as  is  well  known  to  the  most  of  us. 

The  principal  point,  perhaps,  to  be  considered  in 
relation  to  this  patent  tank,  is  the  radiating  power 
of  the  material  through  which  the  hot  water  is 
made  to  pass ;  and,  consequently  its  ability  or  in- 
ability to  radiate  a  sufficiency  of  heat  from  a  given 
surface,  to  maintain  a  required  temperature  under 
a  glass  surface,  which  is  a  very  rapid  medium 
through  which  zero  condenses  this  radiated  heat. 
Now  as  regards  cement,  if  hot  water  be  made  to 
pass  through  it :  the  cement  will  become  much 
hotter  than  would  bricks  with  water  circulating  at 
the  same  temperature.  This  is  proven  by  placing 
a  thermometer  on  both  materials ;  but  if  we  should 
raise  the  thermometer  twelve  inches  above  the  sur- 
face of  these  materials  in  question,  we  shall  find 
the  thermometer  over  the  bricks  at  a  much  higher 
temperature  than  that  indicated  over  the  cement. 
The  cause  of  this  is  that  the  brick  is  more 
porous  than  the  cement,  and  consequently  allows 
its  heat  to  pass  through  it,  or  to  be  absorbed  from 
it  by  a  colder  atmosphere.  Again,  it  should  be 
borne  in  mind,  that  when  we  come  to  ca,se  this  ce- 


ment with  boards,  we  introduce  almost  a  non-con- 
ductor of  heat,  and  a  shocking  bad  radiator.  If  it 
were  possible,  in  this  case  of  Mr.  Hooker's  tanks, 
to  throw  them  through  a  current  of  hot  air  instead 
of  hot  water,  it  would  be  found  a  useless  apparatus, 
even  if  the  hot  air  was  at  a  much  higher  tem.pera- 
ture  than  the  water.  We  introduce  this  remark  to 
show  the  comparatively  non-radiating  power  of  his 
so-called  apparatus ;  but  owing  to  the  amount  of 
hot  steam  that  these  hoard  covers  of  this  tank  ab- 
sorbs and  becomes  transmitted  to  the  cement  plas- 
tering of  the  surface,  some  portion  of  the  heat  is 
radiated  in  the  atmosphere  of  the  house.  But  this 
is  nothing  but  a  secondary  heat,  composed  of  air 
instead  of  steam,  through  being  absorbed,  and 
dried  on  a  second  surface,  which  is  the  cement. 

A  tank  of  this  description  unquestionahhj  will  re- 
tain heat  for  a  long  time,  and  we  believe  Mr. 
Hooker  speaks  truthfully  when  he  says,  that  in 
their  Propagating-house  the  water  is  made  to  cir- 
culate 300  feet  before  reaching  the  boiler,  usually 
with  a  loss  of  its  temperature  of  about  20°.  This 
is  the  trouble :  the  heat  is  not  thrown  oiF  quick 
enough.  If  there  is  only  a  reduction  in  the  tem- 
perature of  the  water,  after  circulating  300  feet,  of 
20°,  what  proportion  of  that  20°  gets  to  the  atmos- 
phere of  the  house,  considering  the  bad  absorbing 
and  radiating  material  in  which  it  is  confined? 
This  house  Mr.  Hooker  speaks  of  is  75  feet  long, 
and  thoroughly  heated  with  that  portion  of  the  20° 
of  reduced  heat  that  can  make  its  way  through 
inch  boards  and  cement  plastering !  Had  he 
given  some  data,  on  which  wishful  horticulturista 
could  build  their  hopes,  other  than  common  state- 
ments, we  could  then  have  analyzed  the  power  of 
his  heating  apparatus  somewhat  better.  Had  he 
stated  hoio  long  it  took  the  water  in  question  to 
travel  that  300  feet, — the  temperature  of  the  water 
when  first  entering  the  tank,  and  its  temperature 
at  the  return  to  the  boiler,  with  the  amount  of 
heat  radiated  at  2  or  3  inches  above  the  surface  of 
the  tank, — together  with  the  number  of  gallons  the 
tank  and  boiler  held,  and  the  number  of  square 
feet  of  condensing  power  the  house  contains,  and 
which  is  brought  to  act  against  the  radiating  power 
of  his  Patent  Apparatus. — the  readers  of  the 
Gardmier's  Monthly  could  then  have  figured  out 
the  exact  efficiency  of  this  old  ivorn-threadhare 
apparatus. 

Walker,  the  celebrated  Cucumber-grower  of 
Eng-land,  had  some  IS  years  ago,  to  our  knowledge, 
some  two  acres  of  ground  covered  with  the  common 
frame  for  cucumber  growing.  Two  or  three  boilers 
stood  in  the  centre  of  this  ground  and  below  the 


268 


Sfh^  @aMaw'»  (Ponlfilg. 


level  of  these  frames.  The  whole  formed  a  square, 
and  all  the  frames  were  heated  by  a  hot- water  tank, 
formed  with  clay,  and  through  which  the  water 
circulated.  These  clay  troughs  were  formed  by 
first  digging  out  the  desired  size  in  the  hard  ground 
below  the  level  of  the  bed  or  compost  in  which  the 
plants  were  to  be  grown,  and  then  a  good  stiff  clay 
was  well  worked  Cas  in  the  case  of  brick  making), 
and  the  excavations  lined  with  it  three  inches  thick. 
Common  boards  were  laid  over  them,  and  their 
joints  plastered  with  mortar.  The  tanks  in  some 
of  these  -frames  were  made  in  the  first  instance  by 
merely  plastering  Roman  cement  on  the  ground  ; 
but  it  was  found  that,  for  the  plirpose  required, 
the  clay  answered  a  better  purpose,  as  it  did  not 
crack,  and  only  cost  the  labor  of  putting  it  in. 

In  the  vicinity  of  the  City  of  New  York,  and 
within  the  past  eighteen  months,  there  has  been 
many  a  cement  tank  put  up  :  but  the  experience 
to-day  of  those  who  use  them  is,  that  it  would  have 
been  much  cheaper  to  have  used  cast  iron.  We 
built  one  ourselves  last  fall,  and  used  imported 
Portland  cement,  at  it  $9  the  barrel ;  and  now  stands 
split  along  the  bottom:  not  merely  the  cement 
cracked,  but  bricks  placed  on  the  ground,  and  on 
which  rests  the  cement,  are  cracked  in  two. 

We  think  Mr.  Hooker  should  have  taken  out  a 
patent  for  his  house  building,  as  there  are  some 
points  in  it  of  timber  saving  worthy  of  note  ;  and 
if  he  had  introduced  durable  posts  for  the  house  to 
rest  on  (either  locust  or  red  cedar),  it  would  not 
tumble  down  in  two  or  three  years  after  being  built. 
Jlr.  Hooker  will  find  it  a  difficult  task  to  construct 
a  tank  of  any  material  or  form  that  has  not  been 
used  years  a*o. 

We  say  to  your  readers,  that  a  tank  well  made 
of  good  pine,  is  good  and  cheap  ;  and  the  next  best 
thing  is  cast  iron.  We  have  already  stretched  our 
bounds,  Mr.  Editor,  but  we  have  some  more  to  say 
at  another  time,  and  will  close  now  by  saying  to 
your  readers — Look  before  you  Leap. 

[The  above  was  received  too  late  to  be  comprised 
in  the  article  on  this  subject,  and  we  cheerfully  give 
it  a  prominent  place.  We  withhold  our  own  views 
for  the  present,  as  we  wish  to  encourage  as  much 
discussion  of  the  question  as  our  correspondents  feel 
disposed  to  give  it. — Ed.] 


WILD    FLOWERS. 

BY  THOMAS  GARDNER, 
C  Continued  from  page  237. ) 
The  next  family  to  be  noticed  is  the  composite. 
This  has,  by  far,  the  largest  list  of  flowering  plants 


of  any  in  the  Union,  but  they  all  have  a  great 
sameness.  The  Dandelion,  Thistle,  Aster,  Golden 
Rod,  or  Sunflower,  will  give  a  good  idea  of  the 
general  character  of  this  family.  They  are  most 
common  in  the  fall,  and  are  usually  yellow  or  white; 
occasionally  blue,  pink,  or  purple.  There  are  very 
few  of  the  beautiful  varieties  that  are  scarce,  and 
as  they  are  so  showy  and  common  as  to  attract  gen- 
eral attention,  we  need  not  particularly  point  them 
out  here. 

In  the  order  of  Lobelias  are  several  pretty  vari- 
eties. The  Cardinal  ^Xoyfev,  Lobelia  car dinalis), 
a  scarlet  flower,  growing  in  swamps  and  blooming 
late  in  the  fall,  may  be  considered,  perhaps,  the 
most  showy  of  our  wild  flowers.  A  blue  one  (L. 
siphylitka)  grows  with  it  and  is  also  beautiful. 
Then  there  are  a  few  smaller  flowering  kinds,  and 
blooming  earlier ;  L.  spicata,  for  instance,  that  all 
will  think  pretty. 

In  Alpine  countries  the  Bell  flowers  are  numer- 
ous and  showy.  America  has  few  of  them.  Two, 
Campanula  Americana  and  C.  rotundifolia,  are 
the  prettiest  we  have.  These  are  confined  to  the 
northern  States. 

The  Primrose  family  is  also  a  family  having  nu- 
merous handsome  representatives  in  some  countries. 
But  we  have  but  one  that  it  is  worth  while  saying 
much  about,  and  that  is  the  American  cowslip 
{Dodecathon  media).  This  is  a  native  of  the  West- 
ern States,  and  is  a  beautiful  plant  indeed. 

We  have  now  come  to  another  order  of  plants 
that  is  very  extensive,  and  contains  a  greater  vari- 
ety and  more  distinct  types  of  beauty  than  any 
other  American  order.  This  is  the  Figworts  ( Scro- 
pliularias).  There  are  about  thirty  American 
genera^  and  in  nearly  every  genus  there  are  some 
handsome  plants.  To  give  an  idea  of  what 
plants  compose  this  order,  the  Snap  Dragon 
may  be  named,  the  Mimulus  or  Monkey  flower,  the 
Foxglove,  and  the  Mullein.  The  Mullein  (  Verdas- 
cum)  has  one  very  pretty  species,  the  Moth  Mul- 
lein or  V.  Blattaria.  There  are  white,  purple, 
and  yellow  varieties.  Probably  it  is  not  truly  indi- 
genous,  but  originally  introduced  from  Europe. 

Another  introduced  plant,  and  very  common,  is 
the  Yellow  Toad-flax,  (Linaria  vrdgaris),  one  of 
the  prettiest,  as  well  as  one  of  the  most  trouble- 
some weeds  to  the  farmer, 

The  Turtle-head  (  Chelone)  is  a  very  pretty  wild 
flower,  growing  along  streams.  One  of  them,  with 
white  flowers,  shaped  like  the  back  of  a  tortoise, 
(C.  glabra)^  is  common  in  the  Northern  States, 
and  the  other  with  purple  flowers,  (C  Lyonii),  is 
a  southern  plant. 


#^ 


The  Fentstemon,  or  'Bearded  Tongue,'  isanotlser 
pretty  tribe,  extending  from  Canada  to  Brazil.  The 
most  common  northern  one  is  P.  puhescena^  a  lilac 
and  white  flower,  and  very  pretty.  P.  flissectum, 
■with  curiously  cut  leaves,  grows  in  North  Carolina. 
One  of  the  prettiest  is  P.  r/randi/forus,  growing 
principally  west  towards  the  Rocky  mountains.  P. 
digitalis  is  an  Ohio  plant,  v/ith  an  abundance  of 
fine  's^ite  flowers. 

Of  the  'Monke.y-flowers,'  a  pretty  blue  species, 
growing  on  stems  two  feet  high,  grows  in  most  wet 
places  in  the  Union,  flowering  in  tlie  fill — this  is 
M.  ringens.  The  well-known  Musk  plant  is  a  Mi- 
mulus,  but  comes  from  the  Pacific  coast. 

The  Veronica  is  a  very  pretty  genus.  There  are 
Bome  fourteen  wild  kinds,  but  mostly  introduced 
from  Europe.  Three  of  the  real  Americans  are 
worth  knowing.  V.  Virginica,  a  popular  medical 
plant,  known  as  '  Culver's  Physic'  This  has  close 
spikes  of  bluish-white  flowers,  and  grows  up  nearly 
two  feet.  It  has  not  the  usual  '  Speedwell '  look 
of  the  other  Veronicas.  V.  spicata,  the  '  Blue- 
spiked  Speedwell,'  and  V.  gentianoidcs,  the  'Gen- 
tian-leaved Speedwell,'  are  very  pretty,  low-grow- 
ing kinds,   with  blue  flowers. 

We  have  no  true  Floxgoves  indigenous,  but 
Gcrardia  is  a  good  substitute.  Our  people  call 
these  plants  'Yellow  Foxglove.'  Most  of  them 
are  yellow.  G.  flavn.,  quercifolin,  and  pcdicniaria, 
grow  all  over  the  Union  ;  G.  pectinata,  and  intc- 
grifoJia  are  scarce.  They  have  large  yellow  flowers. 
Another  section  of  Gerardia  are  of  low  growth  and 
mostly  purple  flowers.  The  G.  piapurea  covers 
whole  fields  in  the  fall  with  its  pretty  purple  flow- 
ers. There  are  eight  or  ten  others,  nearly  allied, 
and  nearly  as  pretty,  scattered  over  the  Union. 

The  '  Painted  Cup,'  well  known  to  children  for 
its  bright  flowers,  growing  in  wet  swamps  and  flow- 
ering in  June,  is  the  Castilhja  coccinea.  We  said 
flowers,  but  in  reality  it  is  the  painted  bracts  or 
leaves  surrounding  the  flower  which  are  so  prettily 
colored.  One  species,  smaller  than  this,  grows  at 
the  West ;  and  another,  prettier,  but  yet  smaller, 
is  a  northern  Alpine  plant. 

The  '  Louseworts '  ( Pedicidaris)  are  pretty. 
There  are  but  two,  P.  Canadensis  and  lanceolata, 
common  on  most  waste  ground. 

The  Labiate  or  Lipped-flowered  plants  are  as 
numerous  as  the  Figworts,  but  do  not  present  so 
great  a  variety  in  form  and  color.  Blue  is  the  pre- 
vailing tint.  They  are  easily  distinguished  from 
Figworts,  which  they  much  resemble  at  times,  by 
their  having  always  four  naked  seeds  in  their  seed 
/^    vessels,  while  Figworts  have  many  small  seeds  in 


an  enclosing  capsule.  The  Sage,  Lavender,  Penny- 
royal, and  most  of  these  square-stemmed,  aromatic 
lierbs  will  give  a  good  idea  of  all  the  plants  of  this 
order. 

'^he  'Blue  Curls,'  (Trichostemma  diclotoma), 
growing  about  six  inches  high,  abounds  in  most 
grain  fields,  blooming  in  August. 

Ceranthera  linearifolia,  is  a  pretty  southern  plant. 

Of  Salvias,  or  Sages,  S.  aznrea,  blue,  and  ^S*. 
coca'nea  are  two  handsome  southern  kinds,  and  aS'. 
h/rata,  a  blue  one,  is  common  North,  and  worth 
noticing. 

The  'Mountain  Mints,'  or  'Bergamots,'  (Mm- 
arda),  are  all  pretty  M.  didymi,  with  scarlet 
flowers,  is  a  very  fine  variety. 

The  Scuttellnria,  or  '  Skull  Caps,'  so  called  from 
a  Httle  cap-like  covering  falling  over  the  naked  seed 
after  flowering,  are  all  more  or  less  handsome. 
There  are  also  eleven  wild  species. 

Macbridea  pulchra  is  a  pretty  swamp  plant  of 
Georgia. 

Synandra  grandiflora  is  a  beautiful  plant  of 
Ohio. 

Physostegia  Virginiana,  or  dracocephalnm,  is 
one  of  the  prettiest  of  wild  flowers.  The  flowers 
stay  where  they  are  turned,  as  if  hung  on  a  swivek 

There  are  some  handsome  varieties  among 
Stachys,  but  they  are  mostly  coarse. 

Among  the  '  Borageworts '  are  some  genera  of 
pretty  flowering  kinds.  This  family  of  plants  is 
easily  distinguished  by  its  spikes  of  flowers  being 
coiled  backwards.  The  Heliotrope  and  Forget-me- 
not  will  give  the  idea. 

Only  one  genus  of  American  plants  is  handsome 
—Mertensia,  or  the  'Lungwort.'  There  are  three 
species — M.  Virginica,  maritima,  and  XKinicidata 
— growing  mostly  in  the  Northern  States. 

The  family  of  '  Water  Leafworts'  {HydropJiyUa- 
cea),  is  altogether  a  pretty  one. 

The  NemopJiila,  Cosmantlivs,  Ilydroha,  and 
Phacelia,  of  our  gardens,  are  all  our  'wild  flowers;' 
and  the  true  Hydrophyllums — H.  Virgimcum,  con- 
adense,  and  macrophyllam — deserve  to  be  highly 
prized. 

The  PJJox  family  ( Polcmoniacea)  ha?  been  be- 
fore alluded  to.  Besides  the  true  Phloxes,  the 
'Greek  Valerian'  {Polemonium  reptans),  with 
blue  flowers,  is  one  of  the  prettiest  spring  orna- 
ments of  our  stream  banks. 

The  Conrolvidns  family  is  so  well  known  as 
'Morning  Glory,' that  nothing  more  need  bo  said 
than  that  those  seeking  pretty  wild  flowers  will  be 
sure  not  to  overlook  them. 

C  To  be  continued.  ] 


■^'1 


^(^^<rl_-.^ei 


._£2SU -J, 


41 


270 


®h4  (gardaii^r'B  Jlontftk 


PHILADELPHIA,  SEPTEMBER,  1864. 

23°"  All  Communications  for  the  Editor  should  be  addressed, 
"Thomas  Meehan,  Germantown, Philadelphia," and  Business  Let. 
ters  directed  to  "W.  G.  P.  Brinckloe,  Box        Philadelphia." 


For  Terms  of  Subscription  see  second  page  cover. 
Fur  Terms  of  Advertising  see  page  33. 
Volumes  1,  2,  3,  4  and  5,  furnished  for  $1  50  each. 

HORTICULTURE    JUST    NOW. 

On  several  occasions,  since  the  outbreak  of  the 
rebellion,  we  have  referred  to  the  singular  strength 
of  the  passion  for  gardening  which  our  people  have 
shown  through  all  the  sad  troubles  of  the  past. 
Horticultural  exhibitions  have  been  well  supported 
— nurserj-men  and  florists  have  done  a  fair  average 
business — and  Horticultural  journals  have  kept  well 
afloat  on  the  sea  of  misfortunes  over  which  they 
have  had  to  sail — while  Agricultural  journals  have 
many  of  them  gone  to  the  bottom,  and  others  so 
weather  beaten'  that  they  can  scarcely  hold  together 
for  a  much  longer  cruise. 

The  fact  is  the  love  of  gardening  is  deeper  seated 
in  the  souls  of  our  countrymen  than  would  at 
first  appear.  There  are  a  few  instances  where  fine 
places  are  kept  up  from  mere  love  of  show — where 
every  vegetable  that  can  be  squeezed  out  of  the 
kitchen,  and  every  fruit  that  can  be  raised  in  the 
garden  or  orchard-house,  is  sent  to  market,  to  help 
pay  the  expenses  of  misplaced  pride, — and  there 
are  others  where  the  first  fruits  and  vegetables  and 
flowers  are  thought  '  too  dear  to  use,'  and  the  long- 
ing eyes  and  '  watering  mouths '  of  the  dear  chil- 
dren are  kept  waiting  for  windfalls,  or  the  refuse 
that  are  too  cheap  for  market,  or  would  bring  in 
little  towards  the  '  support  of  the  establishment.' 
But  these  are  rare  instances,  and  more  than  balan- 
ced by  frequent  cases  where  the  love  of  gardening 
has  the, genuine  ring.  To  one  who,  in  consequence 
of  unforeseen  misfortunes,recently  failed  in  business, 
we  remarked  that  his  fine  crop  of  early  nectarines 
and  grapes  would  at  any  rate  bring  him  in  a  reve- 
nue, he  replied — "  I  have  raised  them  and  watched 
thorn  like  children,  and  they  were  like  children  to 
me.  My  family  and  my  friends  have  always  shared 
them.  I  shall  work  for  my  creditors  without  re- 
compense till  their  claims  'are  fully  paid, — if  they 
want  my  fruits  and  flowers  in  addition,  they  can 
have  them  ;  but  if  they  are  left  to  me,  they  will 
give  pleasure  to  my  family  and  friends,  or  comfort 


the  sick  and  afflicted,  as  they  have  heretofore  done. 
I  have  my  own  business  to  follow  ;  I  cannot  make 
a  business  of  them."  Never  to  despair  of  the  Re- 
public might  have  been  a  virtue  in  the  old  Romans, 
with  far  less  reason  than  we  should  have  were  we 
to  despair  of  gardening  amid  such  experiences  as 
these. 

Yet,  deep  seated  as  we  know  the  love  of  garden- 
ing to  be,  we  can  scarcely  expect  the  yearly%ll  ex- 
hibitions to  prove  as  successful  as  they  have  here- 
tofore been  ;  but  we  have  no  doubt  that  the  strongest 
efforts  will  be  made  to  render  them  as  interesting 
as  possible.  Our  lines  have  been  thinned  by  the 
war  and  by  misfortune,  but  the  veteran  horticultu- 
rists will  close  up  the  scattered  ranks,  and  make 
another  charge  for  the  grand  flag  of  gardening  as 
heroically  as  they  have  done  in  the  glorious  cam- 
paigns past.  We  shall  not  forget  them  when  the 
day  of  trial  comes.  Easton,  Cleveland,  and  other 
prominent  points  of  attack  will  find  us  ready  for  the 
latest  reports  from  the  seat  of  war ;  and  in  the 
grand  seige  of  Rochester,  we  expect  to  be  on  hand 
to  chronicle  the  victories  of  Field  Marshall  Wilder, 
and  of  the  numerous  ofiicers  and  privates  under  his 
splendid  command. 

And  let  them  not  forget  us, — we  of  the  Garden- 
er-''s  Montlily.  Our  position  has  been  strongly  and 
fearfully  undermined  by  the  enemy  ;  but  we  have 
countermined  and  stand  our  ground.  In  the  shape 
of  high  prices,  the  enemy  has  attacked  us  in  front, 
flank  and  rear — but  has  been  uniformly  repulsed. 
We  have  had  occasional  reinforcements  of  new  sub- 
scribers, and, on  one  or  two  occasions,  had  more  taxes 
paid  us  in  the  shape  of  a  slight  raise  in  subscrip- 
tion price.  We  happen  to  know, — for  we  have 
several  '  little  birds'  that  keep  our  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury  well  posted  on  the  feelings  of  our-  people, 
— that  if  our  '  taxes'  were  to  amount  to  ten  dollars 
a  head  per  annum,  the  burden  would  on  the  whole 
be  cheerfully  borne  for  the  love  they  bear  to  their 
dear  old  Monthhj.  But  the  peculiarity  of  our  army 
is  that  each  private  furnishes  most  of  his  own  pay 
and  rations,  so  that  the  expenses  of  our  govern- 
ment is  easily  borne  by  numbers  alone.  All  wo 
want,  then,  is  'reinforcements.'  We  shall  make 
no  draft,  as  suhstitutcs  do  not  answer  our  purpose. 
It  must  be  done  entirely  by  volunteeringj  and  by 
willing  recruits. 

Will  not  our  friends,  at  the  coming  fairs  and  fes- 
tivals.do  their  best  to  help  us  in  making  our  paper 
known  ?  We  are  not  as  particular  as  some  other 
governors.  They  accept  men  only  in  regiments,  or 
companies  at  best, — we  take  subscribers  in  the 
smallest  squads,  and  whole  brigades  would  of  course 


^1^ 


ti^e  (Sarbi^M's  Stantljlj- 


please  us  immensely,  and  we  are  highly  pleased  by 
even  a  solitary  addition  to  our  subscription  roll. 


COLD    GRAPERIES. 

We  were  recently  emphatically  reminded,  by  a 
splendid  show  of  lovely  gi'apes  in  the  vinery  of  Mr. 
Jeiferis,  an  amateur  at  West  Chester,  Pa.,  how 
great  the  reward  in  pleasure  and  profit,  is  a  small 
grapery  to  those  who  have  them. 

Here  was  a  house  100  feet  long  by  about  18  feet 
wide,  built  strong  but  roughly,  of  rough  posts  with 
a  single  course  of  rough  boarding.  There  appeared 
no  attempt  to  level  the  ground,  but  the  natural 
grade  had  been  taken,  the  natural  soil  apparently 
■well  subsoiled  and  enriched,  and  thus  both  house 
and  border  effectually  made.  The  vines  appeared 
to  be  five  years  old,  and  we  counted  the  number  of 
grapes  on  a  single  average  cane,  and  multiplied,  by 
the  number  of  canes,  giving  as  arresult  900  bunches 
of  very  fine  grapes,  just  beginning  to  change  color. 
We  had  not  the  pleasure  of  seeing  the  proprietor, 
but  were  told  by  a  friend  that  the  original  cost  was 
about  $250,  and  the  daily  attendance,  what  Dr. 
Thomas  would  say,  little  more  than  "  the  time 
most  people  spend  in  smoking  their  after  dinner 
cigar."  We  have  seen  much  better  managed 
grapes  than  these,  and  much  better  crops  under 
the  hands  of  a  professional  grape-grower  ;  but  refer 
to  this  one  instance  as  a  fair  average  of  what  any 
many  can  do,  and  as  a  living  text  for  what  we  have 
now  to  say. 

Abercrombie — the  great  Horticultural  writer  of 
the  past  age — thought  every  man  might  be  his  own 
gardener  ;  but  at  least  he  might  be  his, own  grape- 
grower.  In  some  of  the  branches  of  gardening, 
very  great  skill  is  required  to  get  more  than  the 
shadow  of  success, — but  in  grape-growing, — thanks 
to  the  exertions  of  first-class  gardeners,  whose 
communications  have  so  often  enriched  the  pages 
of  the  Gardener  s  MontMy, — grape  growing  under 
glass  has  been  so  simplified,  as  to  become  one  of 
the  easiest  departments  of  gardening.  He  that 
runs  may  read  its  lessons, — and  a  very  little  judg- 
ment and  experience  make  him  an  adept. 

A  new  beginner  in  grape  growing  must,  however, 
'  keep  cool :'  as  in  all  divisions  of  the  sons  of  men 
the  newest  converts  are  the  most  unreasonable 
zealots, — he  will  find  among  grape-growers  those 
who  give  him  the  most  trouble  are  they  who  have 
had  the  least  experience.  In  oneof  our  last  year's 
volumes,  our  correspondent  '  Phineas  Chewce ' — 
vinous  juice,  we  presume,  changed  to  vinegar — 
happily  hits  off  this  peculiarity  of  the  neophyte, 


by  supposing  him  to  recommend  not  only  planting 
a  cat  at  the  roots  of  the  grapes  he  would  have 
muskcat ;  but  it  must  also  be  planted  with  its  "  tail 
to  the  north  pole. ' '  The  house  must  be  of  such  a 
shape,  such  a  size,  such  an  angle,  and  such  an  as- 
pect. None  other  will  do  at  all.  The  plants  must 
be  set  so,  trained  so,  pinched  so,  and  pruned  so, — 
and  so  and  so  must  be  the  hourly  attention,  daily 
practice,  and  yearly  rule.  The  crop  of  your  cold 
vinery  will  give  you  the  'cold  shoulder,'  unless  you 
heat  it ;  and  it  will  put  on  airs,  unless  you  air  it 
every  day.     So  the  story  goes. 

"The  first  thing  hi  does  when  hi  goes  hinto  my 
vinery  hof  ha  hevening,"  once  said  a  good  gard- 
ener to  us,  "hi  pulls  hofF  my  hair."  But  "I 
should  pull  off  my  hair  if  I  did,"  replies  an  equally 
good  one  ;  "  I  lower  my  sash,  or  open  my  ventila- 
tors in  April,  and  let  the  air  stay  on  all  the  year." 

It  is  the  fault  of  novices  that  they  cannot  distin- 
guish between  essentials  and  non-essentials.  All 
these  minute  matters  are  well  enough  if  j'ou  want 
superior  grapes;  but  good  grapes  and  plenty  of 
them  can  be  had  easily  and  cheap, — and  no  matter 
how  small  a  garden  lot  may  be,  one  of  the  first 
improvements,  after  laying  out  the  garden  proper 
we  should  recommend  to  be  a  cold  grapery. 


mm%. 


O^Commnni cations  for  this  department  must  reack  the  Editor 
on  or  before  the  10th  of  the  month. 

jL3=The  Editor  cannot  answer  letters  for  thia  department  pri- 
vately. 


Strawberries  in  England—"  An  Engh'xh 
Gardener,"  Brooldyn,  K  Z— In  recent  number  of 
the  New  York  Tribune,  I  find  the  following  re- 
marks on  English  strawberries : 

"  We  sometimes  hear  people  extol  the  strawber- 
ries of  England  and  other  parts  of  Europe,  but 
such  persons  are  only  superficial  observers — by  high 
culture,  and  removing  most  of  the  fruit,  the  En- 
glish get  a  few  very  large  beautiful  berries,  at  great 
cost.  Very  few  tables  in  England  are  supplied  with 
other  than  the  wild  berries.  More  strawberries  are 
sold  in  New  York  in  one  day  of  the  strawberry 
season  than  treble  the  whole  season's  supply  of 
London. 

The  chief  cause  of  the  scarcity  of  strawberries 
in  England  lies  in  the'fiict  that  the  English  people 
ignore  the  sexual  character  of  this  plant,  and  tliink- 
ing  to  improve  on  nature,  studiously  eradicate  all 
the  staminate  or  male  vines,  so  needful  to  the  fruc- 


*^. 


272 


Silj^  §mi\tmxB  (Plffitthlj. 


tification  of  many  sorts.  For  sixty  years  they  have 
thus  been  warring  against  nature.  It  is  also  a  note- 
worthy fact,  that  all  the  large  sorts  now  growing  in 
Europe  are  seedlings  of  American  varieties." 

Now,  I  lived  as  gardener  in  some  of  the  best 
establishments  in  England  and  Scotland  28  years, 
and  never  heard  of  these  "few  large  berries  at 
great  cost,"  or  "  tables  supplied  with  wild  berries," 
or  "male  vines"  being  an  "improvement  on  na- 
ture." I  have  been  but  4  years  in  the  United 
States,  and  do  not  see  much  difference  in  these 
things  between  this  country  and  my  own,  but  I 
thought  probably  you  might  be  able  to  throw  some 
light  on  the  subject,  so  have  taken  the  liberty  of 
calling  your  attention  to  the  extract. 

[If  our  "English  Gardener"  had  lived  more 
than  "4  years"  in  this  country,  he  would  have 
"  heard  enough"  about  this  matter  to  last  him  for 
a  life  time.  The  late  JNIr.  Longworth  started  a 
theory  that  pistillates  were  naturally  more  produc- 
tive than  hermaphrodites,  by  having  a  few  stami- 
nates  to  "fertilize.  The  English  climate  does  not 
favor  the  abundant  production  of  pistillates  from 
seed  as  this  climate  does,  hence  Englishmen  had  no 
opportunity  to  test  Longworth's  theory,  and  are  well 
known  disbelievers  in  any  thing  however  reasonable 
that  does  not  originate,  or  can  be  te.-^ted  at-  least, 
by  themselves.  Hence  they  were  roundly  abused 
by  a  certain  class  among  us  for  their  "narrow 
minded  obstinacy,"  which  is  kept  up  to  this  day, 
in  spite  of  the  fact  that  the  introduction  of  Albany, 
Downer,  and  other  productive  hermaphrodites  has 
entirely  exploded  the  pistillate  doctrine  of  peculiar 
productiveness, — so  much  so,  that  few  will  touch  a 
pistillate  now  "  any  more  than  the  English." 

We  do  raise  considerably  more  strawberries  than 
Europeans,  as  we  do  of  most  other  fruits, — not  be- 
cau^-e  they  are  less  expensive  to  raise,  but  because 
the  more  equal  distribution  of  wealth  here  makes 
more  buyers  ;  and  because  our  people  are  more 
generally  a  fruit  eating  people,  and  are  yearly  be- 
coming still  more  so.  The  English  are  a  meat 
loving  race  ;  from  roast  beef  down  to  '  fat  pork ;' 
and  fruits  are  taken  '  by  way  of  dessert,'  like  an 
after  dinner  cigar, — with  us  they  form  no  mean 
part  of  the  meal  in  most  instances. 


Spir.'ea  aurea— Black  Spruce — W.  A.  G., 
Rochester,  iV.  Y. —  Will  you  please  inform  me 
through  your  3Ionthly,  where  Spiraea  aurea  first 
orighuited;  and  if  there  is  any  difference  between 
the  Red,  White  and  Black  Spruce?  If  there  is 
any,  how  can  they  be  distinguished  ? 

[Sijirasa   aurea  is  a  variety  with   lemon-yellow 


leaves,  obtained  in  Germany  from  seed  of  the 
American  Spir?ea  opulifolia. 

There  is  no  specific  diff"erence  between  the  Red 
and  Black  Spruce.  The  Red  [Abies  ruhra)  was  so 
named  by  Lambert,  from  some  unusually  large 
cones  of  the  A.  nigra,  or  Black  Spruce,  that  had 
been  sent  from  America  to  Europe. 

The  White  Spruce  (Ahics  alba)  is  a  very  distinct 
species  from  the  Black.  It  is  distinguished  from 
the  latter  botanically  by  its  long  cylindric  cones, 
while  those  of  the  Black  are  shorter  and  broader. 
Popularly,  it  is  readily  distinguished  from  the 
Black  by  the  bluish-gray  color  of  the  leaves,  while 
the  Black  is  of  a  reddish-green. 

In  this  latitude,  the  White  is  a  very  desirable 
and  much  valued  ornamental  evergreen ;  but  the 
Black  is  like  the  Balsam  Fir,  in  ill  favor.  ] 


Insects— G^.  C.  B.,  Mount  HoUy,  N.  J.— There 
were  no  caterpillars  on  your  vine  leaves.  They 
had  '  dried  up,'  and  left  only  minute  dots  for  skins. 
Any  kind  of  small  caterpillar  will  produce  the 
effect  on  grape  leaves,  as  those  sent ;  and  we  judge 
it  is  a  kind  not  peculiar  to  the  grape  vine,  but  one 
of  those  that  eat  the  first  kind  of  leaf  they  come 
to,  as  another  larger  species  does  apple,  pear,  etc 

We  have  no  doubt  that  watching  for  their  first 
apearance,  and  picking  them  off  before  they  do 
much  injury,  will  not  be  a  very  hard  way  to  keep 
them  down.  They  are  mere  raiders, — a  sample  of 
living  thing  that  only  does  much  damage  when 
'let  alone.' 


White  Grapes. — "  Vitis''  enquires:  "I  had 
a  very  small  bunch  on  a  young  Maxatawney  vine 
last  year,  which  I  obtained  from  a  reliable  source, 
and  assume  to  be  correct ;  but  it  was  of  a  greenish- 
brown  ^color.  Have  I  got  it  correct?  or  is  it  cor- 
rect to  call  it  a  2chite  grape?" 

[We  suppose  probably  'the  vine  is  correct.  As 
to  calling  it  a  white  grape,  strictlj'  speaking  there 
is  no  such  thing,  all  of  them  being  '  greenish.'  The 
term  is  used  to  characterize  absence  of  color,  which 
white  is  defined  to  be.  The  'brownish'  tint  referred 
to  in  the  Maxatawney,  is  derived  rather  from  the 
sun.  There  are  plenty  of  fully  ripe  bunches  that 
have  no  brown  tinge.] 


Florists'  Contributions  to  the  Sanitary 
Fair. — By  some  oversight,  the  contributions  of 
Mr.  Robert  Scott,  the  Florist,  of  Philadel])hia,  has 
been  overlooked  in  every  published  report.  This 
accident  is  unfortunate,  as  Mr.  Scott  did  as  much 
as  many  whose  names  are  duly  credited.     He  is 


one  of  our  most  successful  and  respected  business 
men  among  the  rising  race  of  Florists,  and  it  gives 
us  much  pleasure,  though  at  this  late  day,  to  do 
him  justice. 


Raspberries— iW.  R.,  ShcEyviUe,  Ind.—'PhasG 
give  in  your  next  number  directions  for  raising  the 
finer  varieties  of  raspberries.  My  Brinckle's  Or- 
ange come  up  very  thick,  and  form  a  great  number 
of  berries,  but  they  are  so  small  that  they  are 
worthless.  The  Antwerp  varieties  are  very  small, 
and  almost  worthless.  Allen's  Prolific,  Hornet, 
Pilate,  Franconia  and  others,  seem  to  grow  luxu- 
riantly, but  are  winter-killed  or  too  thick  on  the 
ground,  or  some  fatality  always  attend  them. 

[From  your  description,  we  should  judge  the 
trov.ble  with  your  raspberries  to  be  that  the  canes 


are  partially  injured  by  the  winter.  The  wood  is 
not  entirely  killed  ;  some  sap  can  flow  through  the 
canes,  and  they  push  into  leaves  and  flowers ;  but 
the  fruit  will  be  small  and  inferior  in  flavor  to  vig- 
orous plants. 

Your  best  course  will  be  to  keep  out  suckers 
pretty  well  through  summer,  suff"ering  only  those 
to  grow  you  want  to  save  for  next  summer's  bear- 
ing ;  this  will  give  you  strong  well-ripened  canes. 
Then,  after  the  frost  has  destroyed  the  leaves^  bend 
down  the  canes  and  cover  with  earth.  This  is  ex- 
peditiously done  by  using  a  peg  to  keep  down  the 
canes,  covering  them  with  earth,  then  drawing  out 
the  peg,  pegging  down  others  over  the  last,  and  so 
on  till  the  whole  are  done.  The  following  cut,  here- 
tofore given  in  the  Monthly^  will  explain : 


"When  the  canes  are  lifted  in  the  spring,  cut 
away  about  one-third  of  them.  By  this  treatment 
we  think  you  will  be  more  successful  than  you  have 

been.l 


Atlantic  Monthly  eor  July.— This  number 
is  of  more  than  usual  interest.  "  Wet-weather 
"Work  "  has  now  reached  the  7th  chapter,  and  con- 
tinues to  give  the  history  of  Agricultural  and  Hor- 
ticultural writers  of  the  past  century,  in  the  pleas- 
ant gossipy  style  for  which  the  author  of  these 
papers  is  particularly  distinguished.  The  present 
chapter  gives  sketches  of  Arthur  Young;  William 
Ellis,  who  thinks  the  "  Practice  of  drinking  Pippin 
Liquor  and  Cyder,"  conducive  to  very  long  lives; 
Robert  Bakewell,  the  Sheep  breeder ;  Cowper,  the 
beloved  of  nature,  but  the  miserable  man  ;  Gilbert 
White,  author  of  the*  "  Natural  History  of  Sel- 
borne  ;  Rev.  John  Truster,  an  Agricultural  writer 


of  whom  few  of  us  have  heard,  and  whose  statistics 
the  writer  compares  to  the  statistics  of  our  Agricul- 
tural Department,  which  recently  assured  the 
country  that,  in  the  event  of  a  certain  tax  being 
levied  on  Tobacco,  "  the  grower  would  find,  at  the 
end  of  the  year,  two  hundred  and  ten  per  cent,  of 
his  crops  unsold ;"  Sir  John  Sinclair,  the  great 
Scotch  land  owner,  and  celebrated  agiiculturist ; 
Richard  Parkinson,  author  of  "  The  Experienced 
Farmer,"  who,  after  emigrating  to  America,  be- 
came disgusted  with  the  '  poverty  of  the  soil,'  and 
returned  to  the  land  of  Britain,  rejoicing  that  he 
was  back  in  a  country  where  he  ''was  not  forced  to 
rise  and  milk  the  cows  in  the  morning,  while  the 
servants  lied  in  bed;"  Robert  Brown,  editor  for 
fifteen  years  of  the  Edinhiirg  Farmer  s  Magazine; 
Sir  Uvedale  Price,  the  well-known  writer  on  the 
picturesque  in  Landscape  Gardening,  and  the  great 
opponent  of  Brown,  principally,  our  author  thinks, 
from  a  dislike  to  see  a  mere  plebian  become  so 
popular, — Sir  Price  being  a  man  of  such  narrow 
aristocratical  tendencies,  that  democracy  had 


i^I 


come  quite  a  bugbear  to  him  ;  Richard  Knight — 
brother  of  the  great  Andrew,  and  a  much  smaller 
man  in  mental  calibre,  though  a  pretentious  au- 
thor ;  William  Speechly,  the  patriarch  of  English 
grape  growing ;  and  slighter  sketches  of  Burns, 
Bloomfield,  and  others. 

But  the  peculiar  interest  of  the  present  number 
is  the  "  Glorying  in  the  Goad,"  by,  we  believe, 
Donald  G.  jNIitchell.  This  is  directed  especially  to 
cultivators  of  the  soil,  and  is  a  well  written  essay 
on  the  present  condition  of  agriculture,  in  which 
the  cultivator  is  cleverly  illustrated,  both  as  sinned 
against  and  sinning. 

There  is  not  a  more  generally  admitted  fact  than 
that  an  intelligent  farmer's  son,  usually  disdains 
his  father's  pursuit,  and  rushes  to  other  avocations 
to  try  his  chances  in  life.  You  may  tell  him  that 
ninety-five  per  cent,  of  those  who  go  into  commer- 
cial life  fail,  and  point  out  to  him  that  no  farmer 
ever  comes  to  want.  You  may  also  endeavor  to 
excite  his  admiration  of  the  charms  of  nature,  and 
of  the  honorable  position  of  agriculture  in  the  his- 
tory of  a  community.  All  this  and  all  that  has 
been  said  by  agricultural  writei-s,  down  to  the  au- 
thor of  this  present  tract,  does  not  satisfy  young 
human  nature  of  an  aspiring  turn  of  mind.  It 
yearns  for  difficulties  to  be  overcome,  and"  great 
prizes  in  the  prospective.  It  will  take  its  5  per 
cent,  chance  of  success  in  a  great  enterprize,  rather 
than  its  95  per  cent,  in  one  of  a  plodding  compe- 
tency. It  sees  in  commerce  its  millionaires ;  but 
it  never  does  in  agriculture.  On  the  c'ontrary,  it 
does  see,  as  the  author  of  "Glor.ying  in  the  Goad  " 
himself  says,  the  great  agriculturist,  whole  writings 
made  you  think  there  was  a  fortune  in  farming, 
supporting  his  family  by  writing  for  the  Countri/ 
Gentleman^  at  five  dollars  a  page  ;"  or,  perhaps, 
as  in  a  very  recent  case  the  author  of  "  Ten  Acres 
Enough,"  buying  a  much  larger  farm,  after  finding 
ten  acres  too  little. 

We  do  not  believe  that  this  indifi'erence  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits  arises  from  the  farmers  being 
ignorant  of  their  business.  Chemistry,  botany, 
geology,  and  physics  generally,  will  undoubtedly 
assist  them  both  to  make  farming  profitable,  and 
at  the  same  time  interesting  ;  but  the  same  is  true, 
in  a  greater  or  less  degree,  of  all  other  professions. 
We  recently  heard  of  an  instance  where  a  distin- 
guished Philadelphia  lawyer  nearly  lost  the  case 
of  a  client,  through  not  knowing  how  celery  grow. 
I  He  thought  it  was  planted  out,  and  was  cut  yearly 
like  Rhubarb, — that  when  you  once  set  out  a  bed 
you  always  had  it ;  cut  it  off,  it  grew  again,  and  no 
further  itroiible.     Farmers  are  no  worse  educated, 


as  a  class,  in  what  they  ought  to  Jcnow,  than  any 
other  one.  In  every  profession  ninety-five  per 
cent,  are,  in  this  sense,  ignoramuses  ;  and  the  other 
five  per  cent,  are  not  the  ones  who  make  fortunes. 

It  is  not,  in  fact,  the  man  who  understands  his 
business  well  who  usually  makes  a  fortune  ;  but  it 
is  rather  the  one  who  knows  how  to  judiciously 
employ  capital. 

It  is  our  opinion  that  this  is  the  great  incubus 
on  agriculture.  Few  have  anj'^  more  capital  than 
their  own  labor,  and  those  who  have  more  waste 
it.  The  vast  proportion  of  farmers  and  fruit-grow- 
ers would  be  vastly  better  off  with  only  half  their 
present  land, — or  holding  what  they  have,  employ 
double  their  present  amount  of  capital.  The  man 
who  makes  a  fortune  in  commerce,  does  so  by  em- 
ploying a  large  quantity  of  hands.  Directly  he  may 
not  employ  any  :  he  may  sit  in  his  office,  and  sell  on 
commission  ;  but  the  goods  he  sells,  take  scores  to 
manufacture,  and  his  profits  are  a  small  percentage 
shaved  off"  of  each  hand.  There  is  no  way  to  make 
large  profits  but  in  .this  concentration  of  labor 
through  one  channel,  or  by  being  in  some  way  con- 
nected with  the  concentrating  point. 

Considering  that  the  farmer  employs  but  liini- 
self,  and  a  few  horses,  with  perhaps  one  or  two 
other  hands,  in  the  shape  of  wheelwrights,  black- 
smiths, bagmakers,  and  so  on,  he  makes  about  the 
same  living  as  a  well  to  do  mechanic  ;  and  the  best 
education  will  enable  him  to  do  little  more. 

It  is  not  particularly  the  attractions  of  city  life 
that  draw  our  young  agriculturists  away  from  pas- 
toral pursuits,  for  many  of  them  travel  far  from 
civilization — shivering  away  their,  agued  lives  in 
distant  western  wilds,  in  preference  to  staying 
among  all  the  urban  pleasures  we  may  suppose  en- 
tice them  from  us.  They  follow  ambition,  and  go 
in  search  of  something  to  conquer  and  worth  con- 
quering. 

That  the  farmer  and  fruit-grower  live  well  con- 
sidering the  little  capital  they  employ,  is,  to  our 
mind  a  better  argument  than  any  appeal  to  .the 
pleasure,  importance,  or  honorable  pursuits  of  ag- 
riculture,— and  the  pointing  out  to  the  young  man 
how  he  can  get  capital,  and  employlt  in  the  soil 
with  speedy  and  good  returns,  will  lead  him  to  the 
land,  we  believe,  more  earnestly  than  the  best  writ- 
ten exhortations  to  get  learning,  to  get  knowledge, 
or  to  get  understanding. 

Two  or  three  Girards,  'Astors,  or  Vanderbilts, 
among  farmers,  would  do  more  for  the  cause,  in  a 
few  years,  than  the  best  managed  Bureau  of  Agri- 
culture would  do  in  a  life  time. 
-  But  we  are  losing  sight  of  the  Atlantic.  Let  us 
say,  that  no  magazine  that  comes  to  our  table  bet- 
ter merits  universal  support. 


:=:^^ 


>Vi- 


►(^, 


n» 


S;^  ©ari^n^r's  cP^Jntltlg; 


275 


|}fIo  or  lisFP  fhuK 


Ada  aurantiaca. — This  remarkable  New  Gren- 
ada orchid  has  flowered  for  the  first  time  in  Eng- 
land, in  Mr.  Bateman's  collection  at  Knypersley, 
to  which  it  was  sent  by  M.  Linden.  The  foliage  is 
prettily  mottled,  and  the  general  habit  somewhat 
resembles  that  of  of  Warrea  tricolor  Cthe  old  Max- 
illaria  Warreana  of  '  Loddiges'  Botanical  Cabinet'), 
a  variety  of  which  was  itself  once  most  unexpect- 
edly found  by  Mr.  Purdie  in  the  same  parts  of  New 
Grenada  from  which  the  Ada  comes.  The  flower- 
stems  rise  from  among  the  young  leaves,  are  a  foot 
or  more  high,  and  bear  at  their  extremity  a  closely 
JiiTanged  raceme  of  apricot-colored  flowers,  of  which 
the  sepals  and  petals  somewhat  resemble  those  of 
Lfelia  cinnabarina,  but  they  do  not  expand,  and 
therefore  quite  conceal  in  their  embrace  the  minute 
lip.  In  spite  of  this  drawback,  the  plant  is  decid- 
edly ornamental,  and  will  no  doubt  become  much 
more  so  when  it  has  gained  strength  enough  to 
yield  flowers  in  greater  profusion.  It  is  of  easy 
cultivation,  and  was  grown,  Mr.  Bateman  informs 
us,  during  the  summer  in  the  Odontoglossum 
house  at  Knypersley,  but  on  showing  flower  was 
removed  to  a  warmer  berth.  At  present  the  plant 
is  exceedingly  rare,  but  doubtless  some  of  the  many 
collectors  now  orchid-hunting  in  New  Grenada  will 
be  able  to  send  home  a  fresh  supply. — Chronicle. 

L'  Illustration  Ilorf.i'cole  contains  representations, 
with  descriptions,  of  the  following  new  and  rare 
plants : 

Phrynium  Van-den-Heckei  (Afaranfa  Van- 
den- Jleckei). — Ever  since  the  taste  of  amateurs  has 
been  turned  towards  those  plants  which  naturally 
possess  beautiful  marking  upon  their  foliage,  there 
has  been  a  constant  importation  from  tropical  coun- 
tries of  beautiful  novelties  of  this  kind,  admirably 
adapted  for  the  ornamentation  of  the  stove  or 
greenhouse.  Among  the  host  of  su,bjects  introdu- 
ced, having  their  leaves  ornamented  with  markings 
of  rich  and  varied  colors,  there  arc  few  more  worthy 
the  admiration  of  the  horticulturist  than  those  we 
now  introduce  to  our  readers.  We  are  indebted  for 
the  introduction  of  this  plant  to  the  exertions  of 
]\I.  Baraquin,  collector  to  the  establishnjent  of  M. 
VerschafTelt,  who  discovered  it  in  Brazil,  and  who 
is  already  favorably  known  in  the  botanical  world 
by  the  numerous  beautiful  Caladiums  he  has  intro- 
duced. It  is  an  herbaceous  plant,  with  radical 
leaves  borne  upon  very  long  petioles,  cylindrical  at 
the  upper  part,  and  of  a  reddish-brown  color.    The 


leaves  are  a  metallic  green  upon  the  upper  surface, 
disposed  in  bands  of  light  and  dark  color ;  along 
the  median  vein,  and  round  the  leaf  about  a  quar- 
ter of  an  inch  from  the  edge,  is  a  broad  silvery 
white  band  of  irregular  outline.  This  has  the  effect 
of  lighting  up  the  whole  leaf,  and  giving  it  an  ex- 
ceedingly cheerful  appearance.  The  under  surface 
of  the  leaf  is  reddish-brown. 

Tacsonia  Van  Yolxemii.— This  remarkable 
and  distinct  species  of  Tacsonia  came  originally 
from  the  high  regions  of  the  province  of  Antioquia, 
in  New  Grenada,  where  the  inhabitants  cultivate 
it  in  their  gardens  under  the  name  of  Courouba  {?). 
It  was  at  Bogota,  in  the  garden  of  the  director  of 
the  Foundling  Hospital,  and  it  was  observed  by 
M.  Van  Volxem,  by  whose  means  it  was  introduced 
into  Europe  in  1858.  It  is  entirely  glabrous  ;  the 
leaves  are  deeply  and  unequally  tri-lobed,  of  a  clear 
green,  and  finely  reticulated  with  red  on  the  lower 
surface  ;  the  middle  lobe  is  longer  than  the  lateral 
ones ;  the  flowers  are  solitary,  pendant,  and  carried 
upon  long  thin  stalks,  and  the  reader  may  judge 
for  himself  of  the  beauty  of  such  a  disposition.  It 
has  not  yet  been  flowered  in  Europe,  but  the  fig- 
ures taken  from  specimens  sent  from  New  Grenada 
show  them  to  be  very  large  and  handsome. 

Camellia  Fanny  Sanchioli. — This  charming 
white  Camellia  has  been  produced  in  Italy,  from 
whence  it  has  been  received  by  the  establishment 
OS  M.  Verschaff"elt.  The  flowers  are  of  the  purest 
white,  slightly  tinged  with  rose  in  the  centre,  while 
some  pretty  rose  spots  are  visible  here  and  there. 
The  petals  are  large,  round,  bi-lobed  at  the  sum- 
mit, and  are  placed  with  the  most  perfect  regular- 
ity. The  plant  is  of  excellent  habit,  the  foliage 
ample  and  of  a  fine  green,  and  the  flowers  are  pro- 
duced in  abundance. 


Dendrobium  Fytchianum  (Colonel  Fytclis 
Dendrohinm),  Bateman. — This  charming  Dendro- 
bium was  received  last  year  by  Messrs.  Hugh  Low 
&  Co.,  from  Moulmein,  whence  it  was  sent  to  them 
by  their  invaluable  correspondent  jMr.  Parish.  At 
the  time  of  its  discovery  Mr.  Parish  was  accompan- 
ied by  Colonel  Fytch,  who  observed  the  plant  on 
the  branches  of  an  old  tree  overhanging  the  river 
up  which  they  were  proceeding  ;  and  as  it  is  per- 
fectly new  to  science,  it  may  with  much  propriety 
bear  the  name  of  the  gallant  offi.'er  who  was  the 
first  to  notice  it. 

The  flowers  of  D.  Fytchianum  are  through- 
out of  the  most  dazzling  whiteness,  except  that  the 
small  lateral  lobes  of  the  lip  are  tinged  with  crim- 
son.    They  are  scentless  and  borne  in  graceful  race- 


r<$>^ 


^ 


278 


ilje  iardcira's  Poniljli. 


I? 


mes  a  span  long,  proceeding  from  the  extremit}' 
of  the  upright  stems  ;  and  latter  being  about  a  foot 
long  and  of  the  thickness  of  a  goose  quill. 

The  slender  linear  leaves  unfortunately  fxll  off 
before  the  flowers,  which  are  about  an  inch  across, 
have  had  time  to  eKpa.nd.~G a rd.  Chronicle. 


The  following  New  Plants  have  been  received 
from  Messrs.  Fisher,  Holmes  &  Co.,  Sheffield, 
which  we  think  of  sufficient  merit  to  deserve  espe- 
cial notice : 

The  first  is  an  Abies  of  such  singular!}'  dwarf  ha- 
bit that  it  might  almost  be  compared  with  a  Heath; 
leaves  verj' dark  green,  with  a  white  streak  beneath, 
rough  at  the  edge,  and  no  bigger  than  those  of 
Menziesii  polifolia.  It  is  no  doubt  some  sort  of 
Abies  canadensis,  and  may  possibly  be  included  in 
some  catalogues  under  the  name  of  Abies  canaden- 
sis nana,  but  the  leaves  are  much  smaller  than  in 
the  plants  which  we  have  seen  bearing  that  name. 
We  propose  to  call  it 

Abiks  canadensis  MiCROPnTLLA.  —  Messrs. 
Fisher  &  Co.  raised  it  from  seed  imported  from 
Canada,  and  they  have  found  it  much  more  hardy 
than  canadensis  itself,  it  not  having  suffered  in  the 
severe  winter  two  years  who  when  so  many  Conifers 
were  injured. 

We  have  also  received  five  very  nice  varieties  of 
the  common  Yew.,  seedlings  raised  at  Hand.sworth, 
viz.  :  1.  A  variegated  Irish  specimen  ;  2.  what 
they  call  there  pyramidah's  variegata ;  -3.  a  '  berry 
bearing'  tmrieyota  ;  4.  a  slender  green  variety; 
and  5.  a  very  distinct  sort  with  the  habit  of  an 
Epacris. 

But  far  more  important  than  any  of  the  above, 
is  a  very  hardy  hybrid  Berheris  between  Darwinii 
and  empetrifolia .,  which  promises  to  be  one  of  the 
best  evergreen  shrubs  in  cultivation.     We  call  it 

B.  STELOPHYLLA,— The  branches  are  hairy  ;  the 
spines  3-parted  ;  the  leaves  very  dark  green,  about 
J  inch  long,  pale  beneath,  tipped  with  a  short 
spine,  and  rolled  backward  at  the  edge,  so  as  not 
to  appear  flat,  but  to  look  almost  cylindrical.  The 
flowers  are  of  the  same  charming  apricot  color  as 
that  which  renders  Darwiidi  so  ornamental,  but 
they  are  are  smaller.  We  are  informed  that  in  the 
autumn  the  branches  are  "completely  covered  with 
berries  of  large  size,"'  and  that  the  plant  "will 
grow  in  any  exposed  situation  without  injury,  and 
as  it  strikes  readily  from  cuttings  is  likely  to  make 
capital  cover  for  game."  We  shall  be  much  mis- 
taken if  the  variety  does  not  become  a  universal 
favorite.     Of  course  it  cannot  be' allowed  to  bear 


the   barbarous   name   of  Ilandsvjorthcnsis,    under 
which  it  has  been  exhibited. — Gard.  Chronicle. 


P.epp  fmiK 


Apple  from  Woodbury,  N.  J. — I  send  you 
specimens  of  a  seedling  apple,  discovei'ed  on  a  pro- 
perty lately  purchased. 

They  are  fair  specimens  as  they  were  gathered, 
but  not  by  any  means  the  finest,  as  I  had  some 
that  measured  full  12  inches  in  circumference.  Not 
being  aware  of  the  fact  of  their  being  a  seedling,  I 
took  no  pains  to  preserve  them  ;  and  it  was  only 
when  very  few  were  left,  that  I  learned  the  history 
of  the  tree. 

The  fruit,  I  think  you  will  agree  with  me  is  of  a 
rather  remarkable  character  ;  ripening,  as  it  does, 
in  the  latter  part  of  July  and  first  of  August,  of 
unusual  size,  and  handsome  appearance,  and  pos- 
sessing qualities  for  cooking  unsurpassed  by  any 
apple  I  ever  saw,  not  excepting  the  Maiden  Blush, 
which  it  precedes  at  least  three  weeks.  Its  pleas- 
ant taste,  its  crispness  and  melting  character,  make 
it  especially  desirable  for  culinary  purposes.  I 
should  be  glad  to  have  your  opinion  on  it. — John 
Starr. 

[This  a))ple  is  very  much  like  Summer  Hagloe.  The 
stalk  is  not  so  thick  ;  the  calyx  is  smaller,  and  the 
basin  broader  and  plaited,  and  the  flavor  is  proba- 
bly a  little  more  acid.  Whether,  however,  it  is  on 
the  whole  superior  to  that  excellent  variety,  we 
could  not  say  without  a  more  careful  comparison 
than  we  have  now  the  0])portunity  of  making.  ] 


Rogers'  No.  19  Grape. — Our  readers  will  re- 
member that  at  the  Great  Exhibition  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Horticultural  Society,  held  in  the  Academy 
of  Mu.^ic,  last  Fall  in  Philadelphia,  the  premium 
for  the  best  new  grape  was  awarded  Rogers'  No.  19. 

From  one  of  the  bunches  exhibited,  our  good 
friend,  J.  S.  Lippincott,  Esq.,  of  Haddonfield,  N. 
J.,  made  the  drawing  from  which  the  present  en- 
graving was  made,  and  we  are  enabled  to  say  it  is 
an  exact  likeness  of  this  beautiful  and  superior 
variety. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  Mr.  Rogers  did  not 
name  his  grapes  instead  of  numbering  them,  as  we 
regard  the  chance  of  getting  the  kinds  confused  is 
greater  by  numbers  than  with  names. 

It  is  an  advantage  in  such  cases,  however  to  have 
the  particular  attention  of  some  one  respectable 
firm  directed  more  especially  to  one  kind-     Last 


■y 


%]\^  §iiximtf%  (P:ont!jIjr, 


277 


^C^ 


I 


278 


®ljt[  §m(imxB  JHotttHg. 


year  wc  had  occasion  to  refer  to  Messrs.  Lindley  & 
Hinks,  as  particularly  engaged  on  one  variety.  By 
our  advertising  columns,  we  notice  that  Messrs. 
Perry  &  Son,  of  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  have  taken  up 
this  one,  and  have  .'secured  the  stock  of  eyes  from 
the  original  vine. 

These  gentlemen  are  well  known  from  having 
done  so  much  to  make  the  Delaware  and  Concord 
popular, — and  we  have  doubt  No.  19  will  lose  none 
of  its  good  character  by  going  through  their  enter- 
prising hands. 


A  Country  Seat  on  the  Hudson. — One  of 
the  finest  country  seats  in  the  United  States  is  that 
of  Mr.  Winthrop  Sargent,  of  Fishkill,  in  that  beau- 
tiful mountain  region,  just  where  the  Hudson  en- 
ters the  Highlands.  Out  of  twenty-two  acres  Mr. 
Sargent  has  created  a  sort  of  terrestrial  paradise, 
planted  with  all  manner  of  pleasant  trees  both  for 
fruit  and  ornament.  It  is  most  especially  an  arbor- 
etum of  evergreens.  Nearly  all  that  will  bear  our 
climate,  and  many  of  those  which  require  the  shel- 
ter of  the  conservatory,  are  here  brought  together, 
representing  every  belt  of  latitude  in  the  four  quar- 
ters of  the  globe,  whether  north  oi*  south  of  the 
equator.  Hero  are  plantations  of  the  Rhododen- 
dron, in  its  various  beautiful  varieties,  with  flowers 
of  its  various  shades  of  color,  equal  in  luxuriance 
to  any  in  I^nuland,  where  that  plant  is  a  favorite, 
and  when;  it  flourishes  with  great  vigor.  Here 
many  plants,  which  do  not  do  well,  bear  the  alter- 
nations of  frost  and  sunshine  which  belong  to  our 
climate,  lurk  in  the  shade  of  tall  cedars,  and  defy 
the  severity  of  our  winters.  Among  these  is  the 
Deodar  Cedar  and  the  European  Holly,  both  of 
which  are  subject,  when  in  situations  exposed  to 
the  sun,  to  be  nipped  by  the  winter  weather. 

Mr.  Sargent,  in  acclimating  the  evergreens  of 
the  Old  World,  has  found,  that  one  of  the  hollies 
from  that  quarter,  nantiely,  the  Ilex  laurifoh'a,  or 
Laurel-leaved  Holly,  a  very  beautiful  species,  with 
smooth,  glossy  foliage,  endures  our  winter  unhurt 
and  undisfigured  by  extreme  cold  followed  by  w^rm 
sunshine.     This  is  a  valuable  discovery. 

One  of  the  most  remarkable  characteristics  of 
the  place,  liowever,  is  the  art  with  which  the 
grounds  are  laid  out.  Standing  on  the  lawn,  one 
might  suppose  that  the  estate  was  of  almost  bound- 
less extent.  By  judicious  planting  he  keeps  out  of 
sight  the  neighboring  country  seats,  and  only  opens 


vistas  which  lead  the  eye  to  grand  objects  and  vast 
distances. 

Through  some  of  them  you  have  broad  views  of 
the  great  Hudson,  gleaming  with  sunshine,  sails, 
and  bright  clouds.  One  gives  5'ou  a  view  of  the 
city  of  Newburg,  seated  on  the  declivities  of  the 
opposite  shore.  Looking  in  other  directions  you 
have  a  sight  of  extensive  meadows  and  pastures 
reaching  to  the  foot  of  the  mountains  which  form 
the  northern  part  of  tlie  Highlands.  Other  views 
show  distant  forests,  in  a  landscape  apparently  un- 
broken by  either  fences  or  roads. 

The  lawn  is  kept  shorn  as  smooth  as  an  English 
bowling  green  by  Swift's  machine,  which  from  time 
to  time  is  passing  over  it,  cutting  off  the  short  grass 
and  leaving  it  on  the  ground  as  atop-dressing. — N'. 
Y.  Evening  Post. 


The  Delaware,  the  hardest  of  all  varieties  to 
propagate  in  the  open  air,  we  have  succeeded  in 
growing  admirably,  the  single  eyes,  set  horizontally 
in  May,  in  a  cold,  clayey  soil  half  an  inch  below  the 
surface,  and  covered  an.  inch  above  the  soil  with 
We  are  not  prepared  to  give  full  publicity 


to  our  process,  tilt  tried  another  season  ;  sufiice  it 
to  say,  at  present,  that  we  can  show  250  Delaware 
vines,  thus  propagated,  growing  finely,  with  good 
roots,  in  a  row  .30  feet  long,  and  8  inches  wide. 

This  method  of  propagating  grape  vines  from 
single  eyes  in  the  open  air,  appears  to  have  been 
considered  by  horticulturists  as  impossible,  as  the 
Gardener's  Monthly  lately  alluded  to  it  as  a  discov- 
ery in  France  !  We  have  pi'opagated  vines  in  this 
way  for  ten  or  more  years.  Where  water  is  easy 
to  procure,  we  should  not  cover  the  eyes  over  one 
inch  deep  with  soil,  when  nothing  is  placed  over 
that. — Rural  American. 


Volatile  Soap  for  Removing  Paint,  Grease 
Spots,  etc.— Four  table-spoonfuls  of  Spirits  of 
Hartshorn,  four  table-spoonfuls  of  Alcohol,  and  a 
table-spoonful  of  salt.  Shake  the  whole  well  to- 
gether in  a  bottle,  and  apply  with  a  sponge  or  brush. 
— Scientijic  American. 


Garden  of  L.  B.  Gavit,  Lyons,  N.  Y.— An 

intelligent   friend,   to  whom  we  are  indebted   for 
many  favors,  has  furnished  us  the  following  : 

"  I  recently  spent  a  short  time  in  Lyons,  in 
Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y.,  and  among  other  oljeets  of 
interest,  visited  the  well-kept  grounds  of  L.  B. 
Gavit  of  that  place — a  brief  description  of  which 
will  be  interesting  to  your  readers,  as  showing  how 
much  may  be  done  by  a  person  interested  in  the 


-«Kg^ 


^ 


^t  (Bmkmx^  Pontljlg. 


279 


cultivation  of  a  garden,  who  is  closely  occupied  du- 
ring the  day  in  an  extensive  business. 

Mr.  Gavifc  moved  upon  his  present  place  about 
ten  years  ago,  and  nearly  everything  has  been  placed 
upon  it  since  by  hiui. 

His  grounds  consist  of  about  an  acre,  all  in  the 
highest  state  of  cultivation — mostly  occupied  by 
trees,  berries,  shrubbery,  and  flowers.  He  culti- 
vates about  two  hundred  varieties  of  annuals, 
raised  in  a  hot-bed  and  transplanted  into  the 
grounds,  and  which,  in  the  early  part  of  June  were 
remarkably  stocky  and  large.  Indeed,  in  every 
thing  he  seems  particularly  ^ lucky.'  His  roses,  of 
'  which  he  has  a  very  large  quantity,  are  almost  en- 
tirely free  from  slugs  or  aphis.  He  throws  upon 
their  foliage  from  a  hydropult,  a  solution  of  whale 
oil  soap  and  water.  He  finds  the  hydropult  a  very 
good  arrangement  for  this  purpose,  as  he  can  insert 
it  under  the  foliage,  and  so  effectually  drive  off  the 
Tcruiin  with  which  they  are  infested.  His  currantS' 
and  gooseberries  are  kept  free  from  the  worm, 
-which  is  so  destructive  almost  everywhere  else,  by 
the  use  of  fresh  slacked  lime  dusted  upon  their 
foliage. 

Upon  neat  trellis  and  stakes,  are  nearly  all  the 
new  and  valuable  grapes,  most  of  them  in  fine  bear- 
ing condition — all  judiciously  pruned. 

I  was  much  struck  by  the  appearance  of  two  spe- 
cimens of  English  Ivy  growing  in  front  of  his 
house,  and  winding  around  in  a  huge  wreath  tree 
the  columns  of  his  verandah,  and  coming  together 
at  the  top  in  the  form  of  an  arbor.  A  remarkably 
fine  Aristolochia  or  Dutchman's-pipe,  shades  a  ver- 
andah extending  across  the  end  of  his  house,  and 
is  growing  upon  wires  to  the  very  top  of  the  house. 
I  have  never  seen  so  fine  a  specimen.  Tftis,  with 
the  Ivy,  Prairie  roses,  grape  vines,  raspberries,  etc. . 
he  always  lays  down  and  very  slightly  covers  in  the 
fall — so  in  spring  they  look  fresh,  and  are  sound 
their  whole  length. — Country  Gentleman. 


Our  Proper  Name.— We  receive  letters  and 
papers  often  addressed  to  all  sorts  of  titles,  which 
the  Post-office,  with  uncommon  good  sense,  sup- 
poses to  be  intended  for  us.  It  is  not  often  that 
we  get  mistaken  for  the  'other  brother'  by  our  con- 
temporaries ;  but  it  does  sometimes  happen,  as  the 
following  shows,  from  the  Iowa  Homestead  : 

'"The  Gnrdener''  s  Chronideh&s  hit  upon  a  happy 
way  01  marking  trees,  by  cutting  the  name  in  the 
balk.     A  decent  scratch  is  sufficient  to  last." 

^Ye  are  not  sensitive  about  every  little  scrap 
of  credit  being  awarded  to  us ;  but,  as  our  friend 


aimed  to  do  justice,  we  are  doing  but  a  friendly 
turn  in  aiding  him  to  hit  the  mark. 


Glorying  in  the  Goad. — In  our  notice  of  the 
Atlantic  Monthly^  since  electrotyped,  we  inadver- 
tently supposed  this  chapter  to  be  written  by  Don- 
ald K.  Mitchell,  and  the  "  Wet- weather  Work" 
by  Gail  Hamilton.  Gail  Hamilton  was  intended 
to  be  honored  with  imputation  of  writing  the  for- 
mer, as  it  is  well  known  that  '  Wet-weather  Work' 
is  from  the  pen  of  Mr.  Mitchell. 


yorFigH  InfpIKgpnrF. 


A  Wedding  Bouquet. — In  the  papers  that  re- 
cently appeared  in  this  journal  on  arranging  flowers, 
there  was  a  striking  omission,  and  one  the  more 
inexcusable,  because,  in  point  of  fact,  the  writer 
had  seen  and  dissected  some  very  first-rate  speci- 
mens of  a  wedding  bouquet.  This  postcript,  then, 
comes  to  supply  that  grave  neglect,  and  I  hope  no 
lady  reader  will  be  wicked  enough  to  call  it  the 
most  important  part  of  these  little  hints. 

As  a  general  rule,  in  a  bride's  bouquet,  as  well 
as  in  the  general  arrangement  of  wedding  flowers, 
white  is  certainly  the  color  to  predominate.  It  is, 
however,  far  more  difficult  to  arrange  white  flow- 
ers well  than  to  do  those  which  give  the  help  of 
color,  and  .some  of  the  difficulties  are  even  difficult 
to  describe  ;  though,  as  I  have  myself  made  up  a 
great  many  of  these  white  designs,  I  will  do  my 
best  to  describe  the  principal  things  that  are  essen- 
tial in  them. 

Every  one  knows  that  there  are  shades  of  white, 
we  may  call  them  three — the  yellow,  blue,  and 
pink  tinge ;  and  there  is,  also,  the  perfectly  snow 
white,  which  is  of  all  the  loveliest. 

The  grand  thing  is  to  get  plenty  of  this  snow 
white,  and  then  to  add  whichever  one  of  the  other 
colors  may  be  preferred.  The  pink  tinge,  if  not 
more  than  that  of  a  blush  rose,  is  much  the  most 
effective  ;  but  it  must  not  be  allowed  to  be  deeper 
than  the  rosy  tint  of  a  pale  pink  shell. 

I  do  not  think  any  other  color  is  really  good  for 
bridal  flowers.  Other  colors  require  a  more  foncd 
shade ;  and  even  the  beautiful  blue  quite  alone 
with  white,  would  look  rather  poor.  The  only  way 
I  think,  at  least,  in  which  it  comes  in  well,  is  as  a 
fringe  of  blue  encroaching  here  and  there  on  the 
perfect  white,  and  running  all  around  it  in  little 
sprays  of  blue.  I  once  saw  a  very  pretty  white 
bouquet  thus  edged  round  with  blue.     I  am  not 


certain  now  what  the  flowers  were,  but  they  had 
exactly  the  effect  of  pale  N'eniophilas,  or  Forget- 
me-not  ;  and  I  think  the  latter  would  be,  at  least, 
hen  trovato.  These  blue  flowers  peeped  out  like 
little  stars  amidst  a  shower  of  the  lightest  Ferns. 

The  mention  of  the  Ferns  brings  to  mind  one  of 
the  greatest  objects  in  introducing  color.  Unless 
this  is  done  the  green  itself  is  hard  to  keep  suJS- 
ciently  in  the  background.  My  readers  will  see  at 
once  that  an  ordinary  bouquet  deprived  of  its  gayer 
flowers  would  be  at  once  green  and  white,  and  this 
we  have  to  guard  against.  At  the  same  time,  to 
have  green  is  essential — no  bouquet  can  do  without 
it ;  and,  I  think,  the  way  of  best  avoiding  this  se- 
rious objection,  is  to  have  flowers  to  which  green 
belongs  so  naturally  that  they  can  scarcely  be  de- 
prived of  it.  White  Clematis,  Snowdrops,  Bank- 
sian  Roses,  Flowering  Myrtle,  strike  me  at  once  to 
mention  as  amongst  this  number  ;  and  even  here  T 
prefer  naming  the  common  flowers — unsurpassable, 
indeed,  in  loveliness,  but  such  as  all  must  know. 
All  flowers  almost,  however,  have  some  green  of 
their  own,  which  cannot  be  unconnected  mentally 
from  the  flowers  when  they  are  seen  together. 

The  white  Rose,  for  instance,  with  the  spray 
peeping  up  beside  it ;  the  white  Camellia,  with  its 
large  shiny  leaf;  the  Lily  of  the  Valley,  with  its 
snow  bells  lying  in  their  cool  sheath,  if  we  want 
green — and  we  must  have  green — it  must  be  brought 
in  thus. 

Perhaps  this  is  one  reason  why  it  is  often  well  to 
make  up  such  bouquets  piece  by*piece  on  the  small- 
est and  lightest  sticks,  adding  to  each  flower  its 
peculiar  green,  and  then  grouping  them  together, 
with  filling  up  of  Clematis,  or  of  white  Heath,  or 
of  something  similar.  White  Jasmine  is  not 
among  the  most  desirable,  as  the  flowers  drop  so 
readily.  A  ground  of  Lilies  of  the  Valley  would, 
I  think,  look  extremely  lovely.  White  Violets 
would  do  tolerably,  though  a  little  too  broken. 
White  Lilac  does  very  well ;  and  double  Chinese 
Primroses  are  only  so  far  objectionable  that  they 
are  a  little  stiff",  and  perhaps  somewhat  solid.  I 
have  seen  white  Azaleas,  also,  answer  very  beauti- 
fully. Perhaps  Camellias,  Azaleas,  Lilies,  and 
Orange  blossom  are  of  all  the  very  best  things  to 
have  ;  but  it  does  not  do  to  use  Azaleas  for  the 
fil!ing-up,  or  ground,  unless  they  are  smaller  than 
the  principal  flowei's  used. 

I  will  now  proceed  to  give  three  or  four  separate 
designs,  which  may  be  done  very  shortly,  taking 
for  granted  the  explanations  above. 

]st.  A  perfectly  white  design.  Centre  Camellia, 
Azaleas  gathered  round  it ;  but,  yet  put  in  lightly, 


and  without  trying  to  force  a  quite  level  surface, 
which  is  nearly  impossible,  and  quite  undesirable. 
Five  more  Camellias  at  intervals,  mixed  again  with 
a  few  of  the  largest  Azaleas  standing  lightly.  A 
few  Orange  flowers  may  be  interspersed,  and  then 
Lilies  of  the  Valley,  or  white  Heath,  or  Clematis. 
If  the  former,  a  few  leaves  of  their  own  may  bo 
used,  but  they  should  be  of  the  youngest  and  palest 
kind,  belonging  to  roots  which  have  not  flowered, 
and  should  only  just  show  their  heads  between  the 
Lilies  and  their  frame  or  case.  If  Clematis  or 
Heath  is  used,  the  Orange  flowers  and  some  Lilies 
may  be  mingled  with  it ;  but  in  these  snow  white 
groups  a  very  little  green  tells  quite  sufficiently, 
and  no  separate  foliage  need  be  used  at  all.  The 
small  pale  green  fronds  of  the  Maiden-hair  could 
hardly,  however,  fail  to  add  some  grace  and  light- 
ness whatever  may  be  the  centre. 

In  arranging  all  these  flowers  it  is  very  essential 
'not  to  cut  off  the  leaves  a  little  below  the  flower  as 
as  far  as  they  are  good  ;  they  tend  to  keep  the  ar- 
rangement lighter,  and  also  to  obviate  the  appear- 
ance of  unnaturalness  in  removing  green. 

2nd.  White  edged  with  blue.  In  this  arrange- 
ment a  little  more  green  is  to  be  admitted  in  the 
central  part ;  it  also,  will  bear  somewhat  heavier 
flowers,  such  as  the  Double  Primrose  ;  and  Bank- 
sian  Roses  look  very  well  in  this  case.  They  ought, 
however,  to  be  mingled  with  larger  flowers — Roses 
or  Camellias.  The  half-opened  Grardenias  and  the 
delightful  thick-petalled  Stephanotis  are  amongst 
the  most  charming  flowers  that  can  be  employed, 
either  in  this  or  any  other  case. 

The  last  line  should  be  of  small  broken  sprays 
mingling  with  blue.  Lobelia,  Forget-me-not,  small 
Campaffula,  and  prettiest  almost  of  all,  blue  Hare- 
bells, may  make  this  border,  and  break  into  a  wa- 
ving fringe  of  Fern.  Where  Fern  is  used  the 
beautiful  little  Harebells  seem  to  be  quite  at  home, 
shaded  by  it  and  peeping  out  from  among  it. 

For  a  blush  bouquet,  the  smaller  flowers  should 
be  quite  white,  and  only  a  few  half  open  Roses 
tinted  ;  or  the  flowers  should  be  white  with  a  very 
delicate  mixture  of  the  palest  pink-tinged  Rose^ 
buds.  The  Multiflora  Roses  are  among  the  very 
best  to  use  in  this  way,  their  long  tapering  buds 
having  such  a  waxen  look. 

Many  Camellias  and  Azaleas  have  the  faint  stripe 
or  shade  of  rose  I  speak  of.  In  these  cases,  of 
course,  care  must  be  taken  to  have  a  sufficiency  of 
real  snowy  white,  and  so  to  arrange  it  as  to  make 
it  harmonious. 

In  any  case  where  flowering  Myrtle  is  used,  it 
should  be  continued,  or  at  least  repeated  several 


m 


C^4  §mk\uxB  Slairfljlg. 


281 


times.  It  is,  however,  rather  too  dark  a  green  for 
a  quite  white  bouquet,  though,  sometimes,  the  fresh 
shoots  do  well  to  mount  other  flowers  upon. — E.  A. 
M.,  in  Cottage  Gardener. 


Mummy  Wheat. — The  Prcsse  Scientifique  de^ 
Deux  Mondes  contains  a  description  of  a  series  of 
experiments  made  in  Egypt  by  Figari-Bey  on  the 
wheat  found  in  the  ancient  sepulchres  of  that  coun- 
try. A  long  disi^ute  occurred  a  few  years  ago,  as 
to  what  truth  their  might  be  in  the  popular  belief, 
according  to  which  this  ancient  wheat  will  not  only 
germinate  after  the  lapse  of  three  thousand  years, 
but  produce  ears  of  extraordinary  size  and  beauty. 
The  question  is  undecided  ;  but  Figari-Bey' s  paper, 
addressed  to  the  Egyptian  Institute  at  Alexandria, 
contains  some  facts  which  appear  much  in  favor  of 
a  negative  solution.  One  kind  of  wheat  which  Fi- 
gari-Bey employed  for  his  experiments  had  been 
found  in  Upper  Egypt,  at  the  bottom  of  a  tomb  at 
Medinet-Aboo,  by  M.  Schnepp,  Secretary  to  the 
Egyptian  Institute.  There  were  two  varieties  of 
it,  both  pertaining  to  those  still  cultivated  in  Egypt. 
The  form  of  the  grains  had  not  changed  ;  but  their 
color,  both  without  and  within,  had  become  red- 
dish, as  if  they  had  been  exposed  to  smoke.  The 
specific  weight  was  also  the  same,  viz.  ':  twenty-five 
grains  to  a  gramme.  On  being  ground  they  yield 
a  good  deal  of  flour,  but  are  harder  than  common 
this  time,  Figari-Bey  obtained  similar  negative 
results  from  grains  of  wheat  found  in  other  sepul- 
chres, and  also  on  barley  proceeding  from  the  same 
source  ;  so  that  there  is  every  reason  to  believe  that 
the  ears  hitherto  ostensibly  obtained  from  mummy 
wTieat  proceed  from  grain  accidentally  contained  in 
the  mold  into  which  the  former  was  sown. — *S'.  Am. 


The  Bedding  at  Kew  Gardens.— The  prin- 
cipal bedding  display  is  on  the  main  walk,  on  either 
side  of  which  is  a  succession  of  circular  and  oblong 
beds  well  filled,  and  generally  well  contrasted,  but 
the  planting  is  of  a  less  ambitious  nature  than  at 
Sydenham,  where  perfection  of  the  art  is  attempt- 
ed, regardless  of  cost  or  trouble.  Taking  the  beds 
on  the  main  walk  at  Kew  in  regular  order  from  the 
entrance,  proceeding  towards  the  old  palm  house, 
we  have  pairs  of  beds  all  through — that  is,  the  cir- 
cle or  oblong  on  one  side  has  its  match  on  the  other, 
so  if  we  describe  them  as  they  ai-e  arranged  on  one 
side  of  the  path,  the  description  of  each  bed  will 
be  applicable  to  the  counterpart  bed  on  the  other 
side.  No.  1  is  a  circle  of  Brilliant,  edged  with  va- 
riegated Alyssum,  a  very  lively  style  of  planting, 
and  Brilliant  is  one  mass  of  flowers ;  2  is  an  oblong 


of  Purpb  King  Verbena  and  Calceolaria  aurcaflor- 
ibunda ;  3  is  a  circle  the  same  as  1 ;  4  an  obloTig, 
with  Purple  King  Verbena  along  the  centre,  on 
each  side  of  it  Tropaaoluni  elegans,  and  edging  all 
round  of  Cerastium  tomentosum  ;  5  is  a  circle  of 
Alyssum,  edged  with  blue  Lobelia ;  6  an  oblong, 
with  a  solid  coloring  of  scarlet  and  grey  edging,  the 
main  block  being  Punch  Geranium,  and  the  edging 
Stachys  lanatum ;  7  is  the  same  as  5  ;  8  is  a  large 
bed  of  Roses,  the  centre  row  half  standards,  the 
rest  dwarfs,  and  mostly  good  hybrid  perpetuals, 
such  as  Louise  Peyronny.  Mrs.  Elliott,  General 
Jacqueminot,  Geant  des  Battailles,  Madame  Vidot, 
Caroline  de  Sansal,  Duchess  of  Sutherland,  Great 
Western,  Souvenir  de  la  Reine  d'Angleterre,  etc.  ; 
9  a  circle  of  Tropaeolum  elegans,  and  Purple  King 
Verbena ;  10  a  fine  long  bed  with  three  rows  of 
Ageratum  in  the  centre,  next  on  each  side  two  rows 
of  Cerise  unique,  and  edging  of  Flower  of  the  Bay ; 
11  the  same  as  9;  12  another  fine  long  bed,  with 
centre  of  Calceolaria  amplexicaulis,  next  two  rows 
of  Perilla,  edging  of  Cineraria  maritima — this  ar- 
rangement brings  out  the  fine  tone  of  Perilla  to 
perfection,  and  makes  a  very  efi"ective  combination  ; 
13  is  one  of  the  best  of  the  circles — the  centre  is 
variegated  Alyssum,  a  glittering  mass  of  silvery 
leaves  and  snowy  flowers,  round  this  Gazania  splen- 
dens,  planted  thick,  margin  of  blue  Lobelia  ;  14  is 
an  oblong  of  Lord  Eaglan  Verbena  (or  one  much 
like  it),  edged  with  Cerastium  ;  15  is  the  same  as 
13;  16  Roses  only.  Here  we  encounter  the  first 
cross  walk,  and  as  we  turn  either  way,  the  planting 
is  very  pretty.  The  four  corner  beds,  which  we 
will  call  17,  are  all  in  Punch  and  Stachys  lanata , 
and  the  long  beds  which  lead  the  way  right  and 
left,  consist  of  Flower  of  the  Day,  Brilliant,  and 
Purple  King.  Again,  across  the  walk,  to  continue 
the  line  of  the  main  promenade,  we  come  to  IS, 
Roses,  as  in  16,  and  to  match  ;  then  19,  a  circle, 
with  centre  of  Alyssum,  broad  band  of  Gazania  and 
margin  of  blue  Lobelia ;  20  an  oblong,  has  Lord 
Raglan  Verbena  and  Cerastium  edging ;  21  the 
same  as  19;  22  is  a  fine  oblong  bed,  the  centre 
Atriplex  hortensis  rubra,  Perilla,  and  Cineraria 
maritima ;  23  a  circle  of  Tropaaolum  elegans  and 
Purple  King  Verbena;  24  Ageratum,  Cerise 
unique,  and  the  Flower  of  the  Day ;  25  as  23 ;  26 
Roses ;  27  Alyssum  and  Lobelia  ;  28  Punch  and 
Gnaphalium  lanatum  ;  29  Alyssum  and  Lobelia ; 
20  a  fine  long  bed,  with  Purple  King  centre,  broa  I 
line  on  each  side  of  Tropaeolum  elegans,  edging  of 
Cerastium ;  31  Brilliant,  edged  with  variegato  1 
Alyssum ;  32  Calceolaria  aurea  iioribunda,  ed 
with   Purple  King  Verbena ;  33   the  same  as 


€\t  §nn\tmxs  SHontblg, 


Here  terminates  the  grand  promenade  walk,  and 
from  this  point  there  is  on  every  hand  a  glorious 
prospect  of  water,  grass,  trees,  glass,  flowers — "  all 
that  can  charm  the  ej'e  and  feed  the  mind  that  has 
a  care  for  beauty." — Gardener's  Weekly  Mag. 


Growth  of  Trees  on  Frazer  River. — How- 
ever much  there  may  be  known  about  the  large 
size  of  trees  on  our  I'acific  coast,  the  public  does 
not  tire  of  hearing  more.  Specimens  of  Abies 
Douglassii  have  been  met  with  on  that  river  meas- 
uring 12  feet  in  circumference  at  about  5  feet  from 
the  ground.  One  tree,  found  thrown  down  on  the 
ground,  measured  87  feet,  and  was  not  the  tallest 
of  the  group. 

Next  in  size  are  Abies  Menziesii  and  Mer tensi- 
ve r^^^ 


ana.    They  often  rise  25  to  30  feet  from  the  ground 
before  branching  out. 

Next  comes  Thuja  gigantea,  followed  by  Pinus 
contorta,  and  by  Acer  macrophyllum  and  circina- 
tum. — Jour,  of  Linnean  Society. 


Cyclamen  Culture. — We  recommend  seedlings 
of  Cyclamen  persicum  to  be  allowed  to  grow  as 
long  as  they  will  without  receiving  any  extra  stim- 
ulant in  the  shape  of  more  heat.  Give  them  water 
so  long  as  they  continue  to  grow,  keeping  them  on 
the  shelf  of  your  greenhouse  ;  but  when  new  leaves 
cease  coming  from  the  crown,  the  plants  assuming 
a  stand-still  aspect,  turn  the  pots  on  their  sides  to 
make  sure  of  their  not  being  watered.  Keep  in 
the  full  sun  until  all  the  leaves  are  off,  when  they 


I  r  -     (    \  ''' 


Et5?M 


[cyclamen  atkinsl] 


may  be  placed  close  together  on  a  shelf  in  a  cool 
part  of  the  greenhouse.  We  do  not  advocate  shak- 
ing them  out  of  the  soil  and  storing  the  bulbs  in 
sand,  certain  as  we  are  that  it  has  tendency  to 
weaken  the  bulbs.  We  should  not  be  surprised  if 
the  seedlings  continued  to  grow  on  through  the 
winter  until  the  begijining  of  May  next  year,  when 
you  must  gradually  withhold  water  and  have  the 
bulbs  thoroughly  ripe  by  the  beginning  of  June, 
the  pots  then  to  be  set  aside  in  a  cool  place  without 
water  until  the  end  of  August. 

At  that  time  pot  the  plants  singly,  choosing  pots 
about  twice  the  diameter  of  the  bulbs.  Drain  well ; 
at  least  one-third  of  the  pot  should  be  filled  with 


broken  pots  or  sifted  ashes,  covered  with  a  thin 
layer  of  sphagnum  moss  or  cocoa-nut  fibre.  Use  a 
compost  formed  of  equal  parts  of  turfy  sandy  loam 
and  leaf  mould,  with  a  sprinkling  of  silver  sand. 

The  bottom  of  the  bulb  should  do  little  more 
than  rest  on  the  soil,  and  not  be  buried  beneath  it ; 
but  the  crown  of  the  bulb  ought  to  be  level  with 
the  rim  of  the  pot,  its  bottom  just  within  the  soil, 
which  leaves  room  for  watering.  Abater  sparingly 
until  the  growth  commences,  and  as  it  increases 
give  more  water.  Place  in  a  light  and  airy  situa- 
tion, for  if  kept  in  a  close,  damp,  or  dark  place, 
they  will  never  flower. 

In  after-seasons,  when  the  plants  die  down,  turn 


'^ 


-^^^^ 


IZ^f^ 


ih^  (SardOTr'2  PonlMj. 


283 


them  into  the  open  border  of  the  garden,  allowing 
them  to  remain  until  the  nights  begin  to  be  chilly, 
toward  the  end  of  September,  when  leaves  very 
often  are  appearing  and  flowers  rising.  Pot  forth- 
with, place  on  a  shelf  in  the  greenhouse,  and  you 
will  have  Cyclamen  persicum  in  bloom  all  winter. 
Yours,  however,  may  be  the  evergreen  variety,  by 
no  means  so  rare  as  is  repi-esented,  and  if  so,  you 
will  pot  in  August  of  each  year,  and  have  flowers 
all  the  year  round ;  but  if  evergreen  they  need  a 
rest,  and  that  is  done  by  giving  less  water  from 
June  until  September. — Cottage  Gardener. 

Seakale,  as  grown  here,  makes  a  useful  rotation 
crop.  It  is  taken  up  in  autumn  and  put  away  into 
any  spare  corner,  covered  with  litter  to  keep  frost 
from  it.  For  forcing,  a  brick  pit  is  filled  with  leaves 
about  the  first  week  in  November ;  the  roots  are 
taken  from  their  store,  placed  above  the  leaves,  and 
covered  with  about  9  inches  in  depth  of  mould ; 
fresh  lots  are  introduced  into  the  pits  at  intervals 
of  about  a  fortnight  all  through  the  winter,  and 
covered  with  short  clean  straw  and  wooden  shut- 
ters. For  new  plantations,  pieces  of  the  roots  cut 
into  lengths  of  some  4  or  5  inches  are  buried  among 
coal  ashes ;  and  the  first  week  in  April,  when  be- 
ginning to  sprout,  they  are  planted  in  well  trenched 
ground,  in  rows  2  feet  apart,  and  18  inches  asunder 
in  the  row.  Spinach  and  Lettuces  are  planted  as 
intermediate  crops,  and  are  off"  the  gi'ound  before 
the  Seakale  wants  the  room  they  occupy. — Gard. 
Chronicle. 


Degeneracy  of  Fruits. — In  a  paper  on  the  va- 
.riability  of  the  Pear,  by  M.  Decaisne,  given  in  the 
'Annales  des  Sciences  Naturelles,'  the  author 
maintains  that  there  is  no  evidence  of  the  degener- 
ation of  our  fruit  trees  in  consequence  of  the  con- 
tinual propagation  by  grafting.  The  facts  stated 
by  those  who  contend  for  degeneration  may  be  ex- 
plained in  various  ways — such  as  climates  or  soils 
unsuited  for  the  particular  wants  of  the  varieties, 
bad  culture,  or  improper  grafting.  Our  ancient 
Pears,  so  justly  esteemed  for  a  century  or  two,  are 
still  the  same  as  they  were  at  first.  The  Crassane, 
St.  Germain,  Doyenne,  Chaumontel,  Bon  Chre- 
tien, etc.,  have  lost  none  of  their  qualities.  If  they 
are  neglected,  it  is  only  because  cultivators  are 
looking  after  novelties.  M.  Decaisne  also  maintains 
that  it  is  not  true  that  the  seeds  of  good  varieties 
of  fruit,  when  sown  in  ordinary  soil,  have  a  tendency 
to  go  back  to  a  wild  state  and  produce  crab  fruit. 

Podophyllum  peltatum,  or  May  Apple,  be- 
longs to  the  natural  order  order  Ranunculacese.    It 


is  only  found  in  a  wild  state,  in  the  States  of  North 
America,  where  it  is  widely  spread,  extending  from 
New  England  to  Georgia.  The  plant  may  be  also 
commonly  seen  in  the  botanic  gardens  of  this  and 
some  other  countries  of  Europe.  Podophyllum 
root  or  rhizome  occurs  in  pieces  of  variable  length, 
and  from  two  to  four  lines  thick,  averaging  about 
that  of  a  common  goose  quill.  At  intervals,  when 
not  too  much  broken  up,  it  presents  large  ir- 
regular, more  or  less  flattened  tuberosities,  from 
the  lower  surface  of  which  brownish-colored  root- 
lets arise,  or,  when  these  are  detached,  their  former 
position  is  marked  by  whitish,  more  or  less  pro- 
jecting scars.  The  pieces  are  either  nearly  smooth 
or  much  wrinkled  longitudinally,  of  a  reddish- 
blackish  or  yellowish-brown  color  externally,  and 
internally  whitish  or  yellowish.  They  break  with  a 
short  close  fracture  ;  have  a  sweetish  and  frequently 
somewhat  narcotic  odor,  and  a  nauseous,  slightly 
acrid,  bitter,  and  feebly  narcotic  taste.  Podophyl- 
lum has  been  frequently  analyzed,  and  with  some- 
what conflicting  results.  The  most  important  con- 
stituents, however,  are  two  resinous  principles,  one 
of  which,  according  to  Lewis,  is  soluble  in  alcohol 
and  insoluble  in  ether,  and  the  other,  constituting 
four-fifths  of  the  whole,  is  soluble  in  both  alcohol 
and  ether.  There  is  some  diff'erence  of  opinion  in 
North  America  as  to  the  relative  purgative  prop- 
erties. The  experiments  of  Mr.  Harvey  Allen  led 
him  to  regard  the  resin,  which  was  soluble  in  both 
alcohol  and  ether,  as  alone  possessed  of  any  active 
purgative  properties.  In  the  British  Pharmaco- 
poeia the  resin  obtained  from  Podophyllum  by  means 
of  rectified  spirit,  is  ofiicinal ;  hence,  if  the  pres- 
ence of  two  resinous  principles  be  confirmed  of 
diff"erent  degrees  of  activity,  our  Pharmacopoeia 
preparations  will  contain  them  both,  as  they  are 
both  soluble  in  alcohol.  Podophyllum  resin  is  de- 
scribed in  the  British  Pharmacopceia  to  be  "almost 
entirely  soluble  in  pure  ether,"  but  we  do  not  find 
the  ofiicinal  resin  as  soluble  as  there  stated.  Be- 
sides these  resinous  principles,  the  alkaloid  herbe- 
rine,  together  with  saponin  and  another  alkaloid, 
have  been  recently  discovered  by  ]Mayer  in  Podo- 
phyllum. In  America,  Podophyllum  rhizome  and 
its  preparations,  and  more  especially  that  of  the 
re.sin  under  the  name  of  Podophyllin,  have  long 
established  their  reputation  as  active  and  certain 
cathartics.  Podophyllin  has  also  been  very  exten- 
sively employed  for  some  years  in  this  (?buntry,  and 
in  other  parts  of  the  world,  and  is  now,  by  almost 
universal  testimony,  regarded  as  a  most  valuable 
cathartic  and  cholagogue.  In  manj'  cases  it  is  ap- 
plicable with  perfect  safety  where  mercury  has  been 


hitherto  indicated  and  alone  used.  The  griping 
effects  which  are  frequently  experienced  by  its  use 
may  be  readily  prevented  by  combining  it  with 
small  doses  of  extract  of  henbane.  The  dose  of 
Podophyllum  resin  of  the  British  Pharmacopoeia 
is  from  a  quarter  to  a  half  a  grain,  or  even  in  some 
cases  a  grain.  There  can  be  no  doubt  but  that 
Podophyllum  is  a  very  valuable  addition  to  our 
British  Pharmacopoeia ;  indeed,  we  have  no  hesi- 
tation in  stating  that  it  is  by  far  the  most  impor- 
tant new  reuiedial  agent  introduced  into  that  vol- 
ume.— Prof.  Bentley,  in  Pharmaceutical  Jour. 


Exhalations  op  Plants.— M.  Cloez  and  M. 
Gratiolet  found  that  the  gas  exhaled  from  aquatic 
plants,  exposed  to  light  in  ordinary  water,  slightly 
impregnated  with  carbonic  acid,  contains  besides 
oxygen,  a' notable  quantity  of  nitrogen.  M.  Cloez 
also  states  that  the  colored  parts  of  plants  do  not 
decompose  carbonic  acid. 


Bedding  Geraniums. — Mr.  Salter's  houses  are 
gay  with  most  beautiful  examples  of  Pelargoniums 
of  the  Nosegay  section,  one  of  the  handsomest  of 
the  many  groups  into  which  this  genus  is  divided. 
Among  them  the  following  are  well  worth  atten- 
tion, viz.  :  Improved  Titian,  rosy  salmon  ;  Wood- 
wardii,  similar  in  color,  but  perhaps  a  shade  dark- 
er ;  Amelia  Griseau  and  Mr.  Lierval,  white  flushed 
with  salmon,  the  one  differing  a  little  from  the 
other  in  amount  of  color,  but  both  handsome ; 
Germania,  clear  salmon  red ;  both  French  and 
English  varieties  of  Merrimac,  the  first  rosy  crim- 
son with  a  fine  truss  of  bloom  :  the  lasc  equally 
good,  but  a  little  different  in  shade  of  color.  In 
addition  to  these  there  are  also  Prince  Christian, 
rosy  pink  ;  Flora,  delicate  peach  ;  Comet,  a  vivid 
scarlet  with  a  white  eye ;  Lady  Blanche,  white ; 
St.  Fiacre,  salmon  ;  Helen  Lindsay,  rose  and  white, 
a  fine  kind- for  bedding  purposes  ;  Eugene  Mezard, 
white,  deeply  flushed  with  salmon  ;  Cybister,  scar- 
let ;  Lord  Palmerston,  crimson ;  Spread  Eagle, 
glowing  orange  scarlet,  a  dwarf  neat  sort ;  Mdlle. 
Sidonie,  rosy  lilac ;  Model,  deep  rose ;  Imperial 
Ci'imson ;  and  Madame  Pauline  Gaspard,  rose. 
Thet<e  are  all  excellent  varieties,  worthy  of  being 
added  to  any  collection,  each  head  of  showy  blos- 
soms being  quite  a  bouquet  in  itself — G.  Chronicle. 


H 


The  B«autt  of  Nature. — Beauty  is  not  an 
accident  of  things,  it  pertains  to  their  essence ;  it 
pervades  the  wide  range  of  creation  ;  and,  where- 
ever  it  is  impaired  or  banished,  we  have  in  this 
fact  the  proof  of  the  moral  disorder  which  disturbs 


the  world.  Among  all  the  devices  of  creation  there 
is  not  one  more  wonderful  than  the  profuseness 
with  which  the  mighty  Maker  has  been  pleased  to 
shed  over  the  works  of  his  hands  an  endless  and 
boundless  beauty. 

And  to  this  constitution  of  things  outward,  the 
constitution  and  mind  of  men,  deranged  although 
they  be,  still  answer  from  within.  Down  to  the 
humblest  condition  of  life,  down  to  the  lowest  and 
most  backward  grade  of  civilization,  the  nature  of 
man  craves,  and  seems  as  it  were  ever  to  cry  aloud 
for  something,  some  sign  or  token  at  least  of  what 
is  beautiful,  in  some  of  the  many  spheres  of  mind 
or  sense.  This  it  is  that  makes  the  Spitalfields 
weaver,  amidst  the  murky  streets  of  London,  train 
canaries  and  bullfinches  to  sing  to  him  at  his  work  ; 
that  fills  with  flower  pots  the  windows  of  the  poor; 
that  prompts,  in  the  humbler  classes  of  women,  a 
desire  for  some  little  personal  ornament,  certainly 
not  without  its  dangers,  ("for  what  sort  of  indul- 
gence can  ever  be  without  them?)  yet  sometimes, 
perhaps,  too  sternly  repressed  from  the  high  and 
luxurious  places  of  society.  But  indeed  we  trace 
the  operation  of  this  i^rinciple  yet  more  conspicu- 
ously in  a  loftier  region  :  in  that  instinct  of  natural 
and  Christian  piety,  which  taught  the  early  masters 
of  the  Fine  Arts  to  clothe,  not  only  the  most  ven- 
erable characters  associated  with  the  objects  and 
history  of  our  Faith,  but  especially  the  idea  of  the 
sacred  person  of  our  Lord,  in  the  noblest  forms  of 
beauty  that  their  minds  could  conceive  or  their 
hands  could  execute. 

It  is,  in  short,  difficult  for  human  beings  to  har- 
den themselves  at  all  points  against  theimpres.sions 
and  the  charms  of  beauty.  Every  form  of  life  that 
can  be  called  in  any  sense  natural,  will  admit  them. 
If  we  look  for  an  exception,  we  shall  perhaps  come 
nearest  to  finding  one  in  a  quarter  where  it  would 
not  at  first  be  expected.  I  know  not  whether  there 
is  any  one  among  the  many  species  of  human  aber- 
ration that  renders  a  man  so  entirely  callous,  as  the 
lust  of  gain  in  its  extreme  degrees.  That  passion, 
while  it  has  full  dominion,  excludes  every  other  ;  it 
shuts  out  even  what  might  be  called  redeeming  in- 
firmities ;  it  blinds  men  to  the  sense  of  Beauty,  as 
much  as  to  the  perception  of  justice  and  right ; 
cases  might  even  be  named  of  countries,  where 
greediness  for  money  holds  the  highest  sway,  and 
where  unmitigated  ugliness  is  the  principal  charac- 
teristic of  industrial  products.  On  the  other  hand 
I  do  not  believe  it  is  extravagant  to  say  that  the 
pursuit  of  the  element  »f  Beauty,  in  the  business 
of  production,  will  be  found  to  act  with  a  genial 
chastening  and  refining  influence  on  the  commercial 


Wiit[  (Sh'^ximtx\  ^ontMg, 


285 


spirit ;  tliat  up  to  a  certain  point  it  is  in  the  nature 
of  a  preservative  against  some  of  the  moral  dangers 
that  b(3>et  trading  and  manufacturing  enterprise ; 
and  that  we  are  justified  in  regarding  it  not  inerely 
as  an  economical  benefit — not  merely  as  that  which 
contvihutes  to  our  works  an  e!ement  of  value,  not 
merely  as  that  which  supplies  a  particular  faculty 
of  hranan  nature  with  the  proper  food,  but  as  a  lib- 
eralizing and  civilizing  power,  and  an  instrument 
in  its  own  sphere  of  moral  and  social  improvement. 
—  Gladstone. 


Fertilizing  Power  of  Pollen. — M.  Belhomme 
states  that  the  pollen  of  monocotyledons  preserves 
its  properties  for  a  much  longer  period  of  time  than 
that  of  the  dicot3'ledons.  He  experimented  upon 
the  following  natura,!  orders :  Leguminosse,  Rosa- 
ceoe,  Myrtacene,  UmbelliferiTe,  Cacteas,  Cruciferoe, 
Malvacea;,  Solanaceae  and  Boraginacei^  of  the  lat- 
ter group,  and  he  found  the  pollen  as  fertile  at  the 
end  of  three  years  as  it  was  at  first.  His  experi- 
ments on  Monocotyledons  were  made  upon  the  Li- 
liacct'e  and  Amaryllidacese,  the  pollen  grains  of 
which  retained  their  fertility  for  a  period  of  six 
years.  Fertile  and  barren  pollen  may  be  readily 
distinguished.  If  the  grains  have  lost  ther  fecun- 
dating property,  they  feel  like  dry,  powder  when 
placed  upon  the  palm  of  the  hand ;  if,  however, 
they  still  possess  it,  they  adhere  to  the  hand,  and 
seem  as  though  they  had  been  slightly  moistened. 
—  Gard.  Chronicle. 


November  Blooming  Roses.  —  One  great 
charm  attached  to  the  Rose,  is  the  length  of  time 
in  which  it  may  be  had  in  bloom  in  the  open  gar- 
den, without  protection  of  any  kind.  I  have  this 
day  (Nov.  IS),  gathered  a  bouquet  of  these  charm- 
ing flows  sufficiently  numerous  to  fill  a  large  vase, 
and  of  a  quality  good  enough  to  grace  a  drawing- 
room,  or  I  might  almost  say,  fit  for  setting  up  in 
an  exhibition  stand.  Although  we  have  lately  ex- 
perienced violent  gales  of  wind  and  heavy  storms, 
many  of  the  blooms  have  not  a  damaged  petal, 
while  the  glowing  color  of  some  varieties  is  exqui- 
site. The  few  last  warm  days  have  contributed  to 
this  result. 

It  is  my  intention  to  give  a  short,  but,  I  trust, 
a  useful  list  of  varieties  which  can  depended  on 
for  late  autumn  or  winter  blooming,  and  I  shall 
place  them  in  their  order  of  merit,  viz.  : 

General  Jacq^ieminot.  This  brilliant  variety  de- 
cidedly claims  the  foremost  place  ;  not  only  are 
blooms  and  buds  on  every  plant,  but  the  flowers 
not  being  so  full  as  in  many  kinds,  open  much  more 


fieely,  and  have  all  the  high  coloring  we  expect  to 
find  early  on  a  summer's  morning. 

Louise  Odier  is  another  charming  rose,  the  color 
soft  pink,  the  form  good. 

Senateur  Vaisse  is  an  excellent  late  bloomer ;  the 
color  deeper  than  in  the  summer,  but  the  buds 
being  fuller  of  petals  do  not  expand  so  freely  as  the 
General. 

Madame  Charles  Wood  is  another  acquisition  ; 
the  plants  with  me  have  more  blooms  and  buds  on 
than  they  can  well  support.  Color  deeper  than 
earlier  in  the  soason  ;  the  blooms  open  freely. 

Madame  Knorr  is  a  pleasing  rose,  being  small 
and  pretty,  but  the  color  rather  washy. 

Madame  Louise  Carique  is  a  variety  which  is 
very  beautiful ;  the  blooms  open  freely,  and  are 
distinct  in  color  from  any  other  rose,  the  petals 
being  crimson  and  shaded  with  deep  violet.  This 
rose  is  by  no  means  a  favorite,  either  for  exhibition 
or  decorative  purposes  in  the  summer,  but  it  is  well 
worth  growing,  if  only  for  its  beauty  in  the  fall. 

3Iadame  Ckmence  Joigneaux  is  a  fine  bold  rose- 
colored  variety,  but  too  full  to  open  freely  unless 
the  weather  be  dry. 

Gloire  de  Dijon  must  not  be  forgotten,  as  its  fine 
blooming  qualities  and  its  chaste  color  render  it  a 
decided  acquisition ;  the  winds  and  rains  at  this 
period  of  the  year  are  apt  to  destroy  its  beauty. 

La  Reine  is  not  so  free  as  some  others,  yet  hero 
and  there  a  grand  bloom  can  be  found. 

Monsieur  de  Montigny  is  another  of  the  La  Reine 
class,  but  deeper  in  color  and  very  showy. 

Victor  Verdier  is  a  pleasing  bright  pink,  and 
opens  very  freely  if  the  weather  is  not  wet. 

Maria  Portemer  is  a  neat  dark  rose,  and  very 
free  ;  the  outer  petals  are  apt  to  decay  before  the 
flower  opens. 

Noemi  is  very  free,  the  flowers  light  pink,  but 
small ;  it  has  the  same  fault  as  Maria  Portemer. 

La  Fontaine  is  a  showy  rose  ;  opens  well,  and 
keeps  its  color. 

Triomphe  des  Beaux  Arts  is  a  free  blooming 
kind,  very  dark,  semi-double,  but  pretty,  chiefly  on 
account  of  its  color. 

Madame  Schmidt  is  a  fine  chaste  rose-colored 
flower,  not  very  free,  but  distinct  and  beautiful. 

Sojivenir  de  la  Reine  d Angleterre  is  another 
large  showy  rose,  and  opens  well,  color  pale  pink. 

Duchcsse  fZ'  Orleans  produces  occasionally  fine 
blooms  of  a  pale  flesh  color,  which  are  exceedingly 
delicate  at  this  season. 

Souvenir  de  la  Malmaison  is  also  of  a  beautiful 
color,  but  the  outer  petals  often  decay  before  the 
blooms  expand. 


I 


;s — 


- JU 


$w. 


W\ 


286 


CIju  ®ardn«r*s  dllcnthlj. 


Blanche  de  SoJvcrville  is  distinct  from  all  others  ; 
the  blooms  are  small,  of  a  creamy  white ;  opens 
well ;  not  very  double. 

Salet  {Moss)  is  the  only  Moss  that  opens  freely, 
and  is  therefore  desirable,  although  of  a  poor  color. 

Bouquet  de  Flore  is  a  pretty  cupped  rose,  deep 
pink,  small. 

Jules  Margottm  is  a  free  bloomer,  of  a  pleasing 
color,  but  the  wind  appears  to  damage  the  blooms 
much,  giving  them  a  very  ragged  appearance. 

It  will  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  colors  here 
given  are  as  produced  now,  and  that  the  varieties 
enumerated  are  those  that  were  in  bloom  on  the 
18th  day  of  last  November. 

Many  other  kinds  could  be  mentioned  that  are 
beautiful  in  the  months  of  September  and  October, 
but  which  will  not  come  into  the  list  of  November 
Roses. — Gardeners^  Chronicle. 


Poisoning  by  Buttercups. — An  inquest  was 
recently  held  at  the  Bull  Hotel,  Dartford,  before 
Mr.  C.  J.  Carttar,  coroner,  on  the  body  of  a  child 
named -Sarah  Elizabeth  Heron,  aged  six  years.  It 
appeared  by  the  evidence  of  the  mother  and  father 
of  the  child,  that  some  time  before  the  death,  the 
deceased  had  complained  of  feeling  very  unwell, 
and  in  great  pain  about  the  body  and  legs.  The 
mother  afterwards  discovered  that  the  deceased  had 
been  eating  Buttercups  from  a  field  close  by,  and 
sent  for  a  powder  from  a  chemist's  ;  but  as  the  de- 
ceased vomited  a  great  deal,  and  presented  every 
appearance  of  having  been  poisoned,  the  parish 
surgeon  was  sent  for,  but  that  gentleman  did  not 
arrive  at  the  house  till  the  child  was  dead.  Kpost 
mortem  examination  had  been  made,  which  proved 
the  decea.'-ed  had  been  poisoned  by  eating  Butter- 
cups ;  and  the  jury  returned  a  verdict  to  that  effect. 

— English  Paper. 


Roses  at  the  London  Horticultural  So- 
ciety's Exhibition. — New  Roses  were  shown  in 
plenty,  and  the  competition  was  wisely  extended  to 
varieties  of  1861  and  18G2,  so  that  there  was  oppor- 
tunity afforded  for  bringing  together  all  the  best  of 
the  many  novelties  recently  introduced,  for  com- 
parison side  by  side  among  themselves,  and  with 
the  best  of  the  established  varieties  in  other  classes. 
We  wrote  down  on  the  spot  .a  description  of  each 
of  the  new  roses  as  shown,  and  we  shall  give  these 
descriptions  as  we  made  them.  Messrs.  Paul  & 
Son,  of  Cheshunt,  took  first  prize  in  this  class,  with 
the  following  : — Pourpre  d'  Orleans,  velvety  purple 
shading  off  to  pucy  crimson,  cupped,  full,  medium 
size ;  Madame  C.    Wood,  purplish  red,  not  very 


different  from  the  last,  but  larger,  petals  large  and 
thick,  the  reverse  of  the  petals  whitish,  a  fine  rose; 
Alphonse  Damaizin.  in  the  way  of  Eugene  Appert, 
lively  scarlety  crimson,  a  very  striking  ro.se,  and 
first  rate  in  character ;  Souvenir  de  Compte  Cavour 
(Moreau),  there  are  two  new  roses  of  this  name, 
and  both  were  in  this  stand,  this  is  like  Colonel  de 
Rougemont  in  form,  and  is  rather  coarse,  with  a 
bad  centre,  color  lake  shading  to  lilac  rose — CMar- 
gottinj,  deep  purplish  crimson  shading  to  nearly 
black,  very  full  and  large,  and  in  many  points  like 
Lord  Clyde,  a  good  rose  ;  Maurice  Pernardin,  deep 
lake  (not  vermilion,  as  described  in  the  catalogues), 
large,  full,  imbricated,  a  lovely  rose,  and  indispen- 
sable ;  Beauty  of  Waltham,  rosy  crimson,  a  shade 
paler  than  we  have  been  accustomed  to  see  it,  per- 
haps owing  to  its  having  been  too  much  shaded, 
nicely  cupped,  good  substance,  a  first  class  rose : 
Alha  rosea,  a  poor  creamy  white  Tea,  with  a  tinge 
of  rose  in  the  centre,  a  seedling  of  Devoniensis,  and 
as  shown  on  this  occasion  worthless ;  Madame 
Clemence  Jolgneaux,  large,  rich  rose,  fine  ;  Rich- 
ard Smith,  dee'p  crimson  shaded  with  violet,  the 
same  color  as  Margottin's  Souvenir  de  Comte  Ca- 
vour, but  smaller,  and  otherwise  not  so  good  ; 
Mareschd  Vcdliant,  glowing  crimson  lake,  small, 
full,  very  compact,  and  in  every  sense  a  lovely  rose; 
Madame  Helye,  lilac  rose,  cupped,  mediuin  size, 
fine  ;  Triomphe  deCaen,  centre  scarlet-crimson,  out- 
side petals  purplish  crimson,  small,  neat,  cupped, 
good  ;  Jean  Goujon,  clear  red,  exquisitely  formed, 
— this  flower  was  full  out,  and  had- as  good  a  centre 
as  any  rose  in  cultivation  ;  Le  Rhone,  rich  magenta 
crimson  (not  vermilion,  as  described  in  the  cata- 
logues), exquisitely  formed,  a  brilliant  vaiiety  for 
•exhibition,  and  free  enough  for  clumps  and  beds  ; 
Vnlcain,  deep  purple,  shading  to  black,  medium 
size,  better  than  Reine  des  Violettes ;  Professor 
Koch,  a  light  cujiped  globular  flower,  color  rosy 
cerise,  shaded  with  crimson  ;  Olivier  Ddhomme, 
purplish  red,  like  Bourbon  Souchet,  charming  fo- 
liage ;  Gloire  de  Chatillon,  not  in  any  way,  so  far 
as  we  could  judge,  to  be  distinguished  from  Mar- 
gottin'.s  Souvenir  de  Comte  Cavour  ;  Rohert  For- 
tune, lilac  rose,  loose,  confused  centre,  sweet  scent, 
quite  second  rate ;  President  Uneohi,  a  curious 
mixture  of  lake  and  lilac  crimson,  good  to  the  very 
core,  imbricated,  outer  petals  reflcxing,  in  the  way 
of  Lord  Raglan,  and  equally  desirable  ;  Tjord  Clyde, 
better  than  it  has  ever  been  shown  before,  though 
we  always  had  to  report  well  of  it — let  the  rosarian 
imagine  aGrcncral  Jacqueminot  made  to  order,  and 
he  will  have  an  idea  of  the  color  and  quality  of 
Lord  Clyde;  Duchesse  d' Alencon,  pure  rose,  im- 


"asr 


:=:^' 


mense  shell-like  petals  very  large,  a  gem  among 
roses ,  Peter  Lawsoii^  brilliant  red,  like  Triomphe 
de  Caen ;  Prince  Camille  de  Rohan,  deep  maroon 
crimson,  rich  and  velvety,  superb ;  Madame  Cail- 
lat,  satiny  rose,  nicely  cupped,  medium  size,  not 
over  full,  second  rate  ;  Eticnne  Lecrosnier,  ama- 
ranth shaded  with  slate,  in  the  way  of  Triomphe 
de  Caen,  very  small, "but  superb  in  form  and  sub- 
stance, and  very  distinct ;  Monte  CJmsto,  brilliant 
purplish  crimson  dashed  with  scarlet,  very  large, 
and  good  centre ;  Twenne,  bright  lilac  rose  quar- 
tered, not  very  elegant ;  Souvenir  de  M.  Rousseau 
color  a  mixture  of  lake  and  lilac — the  bloom  in  this 
stand  looked  as  if  its  life  had  been  shaken  out  of 
it ;  we  have  never  yet  seen  this  variety  in  such  a 
state  that  we  could  heartily  recommend  it ;  Fran- 
cis Lovat,  light  purplish  crimson,  shading  fo  bluish 
red,  cupped  good  ;  Archer eqiie*de  Paris,  very  rich 
and  dark  purple,  with  a  gleam  of  lake  on  the  pur- 
ple ground,  small  but  good ;  Paul  Feval,  bright 
lilac  rose,  large,  full ;  Louise  Darzins,  pure  white, 
medium  size,  good  ;  Wilhehn  Pfitzer,  brilliant  red, 
large  and  full ;  Glotre  de  Bordeaiwi.,  silvery  white, 
under  side  of  petals  rose  color,  large  and  full,  and 
good  substance — this  is  a  seedling  of  Gloire  de  Di- 
jon, and  has  a  proper  Tea  character. — Flor.   Cab. 


African  Fruits.— Of  African  edible  fruits  and 
seeds,  one  could  almost  go  on  to  infinity,  for  there 
are  few  indigenous  that  are  not  eaten  by  the  natives 
in  some  form  or  another.  The  Blood  Plum  of 
Sierre  Leone  {Hmmatostaphis  JBarteri),  has  a  pleas- 
ant subacid  flavor  when  ripe  ;  in  size  and  form  it  is 
similar  to  a  grape,  but  somewhat  larger.  Another 
fruit  of  the  same  shape  and  form,  but  smaller,  and 
with  less  pulp,  is  considered  a  favorite  fruit  on  the 
Niger;  it  is  a  species  of  Vitex.  The  fruit  of  Sar- 
cocephalus  esculentus,  called  in  Sierre  Leone  Na- 
tive Peach,  is  when  full  grown,  about  the  size  of  a 
large  apple  ;  it  is  of  a  pulpy  nature  ;  the  outside  is 
rough  and  uneven,  and  bears  some  resemblance  to 
a  Custard  Apple  [Anona).  The  pulp  of  the 
Baobab  [Adamsonia  digitata),  has  a  very  pleasant 
and  agreeable  subacid  flavor,  and  is  much  esteemed 
by  the  natives  in  making  a  kind  of  sherbet  or  cool- 
ing drink.  Petarium  senegalense,  called  Duttock 
on  the  Gambia,  where  it  grows  to  an  immense  tree, 
produces  a  fruit,  the  pulp  of  which  is  eaten,  as 
well  as  the  kernel  or  seed.  In  size  and  shape  it  is 
like  a  large  Chestnut ;  the  outer  skin  is  of  a  dark 
dull  brown.  The  small  pod  of  Codarium  acutifolium 
is  remarkable  for  its  velvet  appearance  ;  hence  it  is 
sometimes  called  Velvet  Tamarind,  and  is  also 
known  as  Black  Tamarinds.     The  pulp  enveloping 


the  seed  has  quite  the  flavor  of  East  Indian  Tama- 
rinds, and  is  valued  by  the  natives  of  Sierre  Leone 
on  that  account.  The  Ochro  (Ahehnoschus  esculen- 
tus), is  common  on  the  Niger,  and  is  used  on  ac- 
count of  its  mucilaginous  properties  in  various  ways 
in  the  preparation  of  native  dishes.  The  seeds  of 
a  species  of  Triculia  are  also  eaten  in  this  part  of 
Africa ;  the  fruit  is  very  similar  to  the.  Bread-fruit, 
to  which  it  is  closely  allied.  Its  size  is  about  that 
of  a  child's  head ;  the  seeds  are  small  and  hard; 
the  native  name  is  Akna.  The  fruits  of  Habzelia 
sethiopica  are  used  as  pepper,  and  are  sold  in  the 
markets  at  Nupe  as  well  as  at  Bahia.  The  seeds 
of  Monodora  grandiflora,  tenuifolia,  and  brevipes, 
are  all  more  or  less  aromatic,  and  would  seem  to 
be  well  adapted,  if  shipped  in  any  quantity,  for  a 
useful  condiment  in  this  country.  Many  of  the 
Anonacese  ha.ve  the  same  decided  fragrance,  but 
none  so  powerful  as  in  this  genus.  The  fruits  are 
very  large  and  round  ;  those  of  M.  grandiflora  quite 
the  size  of  a  large  cannon  ball,  the  other  species 
somewhat  smaller.  The  seeds  are  about  the  size 
of  a  common  Scarlet  Runner  Bean,  and  are  very 
thickly  embedded  in  the  pulp,  which  fills  up  the  in- 
terior of  the  fruit.  The  fruits  of  the  Wild  Mango, 
probably  a  species  of  Spondias,  are  eaten  on  the 
Niger,  and  on  the  Zambesi  the  kernels,  of  a  species 
of  Sclerocarya.  The  stones  of  this  fruit,  however, 
are  very  hard  and  difficult  to  crack ;  these  kernels 
appear  to  contain  a  quantity  of  oil,  and  perhaps 
might  be  turned  to  account  in  that  way.  The  fruit 
of  Malpighia  saccharina,  called  in  Sierre  Leone  the 
Sugar  Plum,  in  shape  and  size  resembles  the  Dam- 
son. It  has  a  sweet  and  agreeable  flavor,  and  is  in 
perfection  in  the  months  of  February  and  March, 
when  it  is  to  be  seen  in  large  quantities  in  the  mar- 
ket of  Freetown.  The  tree  producing  it  is  lofty 
and  majestic  in  appearance,  attaining  a  height  of 
80  ^eet.  The  large  seeds  of  Pentaclethra  macro- 
phylla,  known  in  the  Eboe  country  as  Opachalo, 
and  in  Gaboon  as  Owala,  are  collected  at  the  sea- 
sons of  their  falling,  and  eaten  as  food ;  they  also 
yield  a  clear  limpid  oil.  The  young  germinating 
shoots  of  Borassus-ffithiopum  are  eaten  by  the  na- 
tives both  of  East  and  West  Africa ;  for  this  pur- 
pose they  are  taken  up  soon  after  the  seed  has 
vegetated,  and  are  then  boiled  in  a  similar  manner 
as  we  cook  Cabbages  or  some  such  vegetable.  The 
large  seeds  of  Cj^cas  circinalis,  from  which  the  na- 
tives of  Ceylon  and  Western  India  prepare  a  kind 
of  Sago,  are  valued  as  an  article  of  food  in  some 
parts  of  the  Zambesi.  The  existence  of  a  species 
of  Cycas  was  discovered  in  Western  Africa  by  the 
botanist  of  the  Second  Niger  Expedition,  as  well  as 


i 


*M 


288 


ili4  hardliner's  <PontMg. 


bi'  (xustav  Mann,  both  of  whom  found  that  the 
natives  applied  the  seeds  as  an  article  of  food.  Of 
the  Dika  or  Udika  bread,  a  specimen  of  which  ar- 
rived in  this  country  some  three  or  four  years 
since,  and  was  then  supposed  to  be  procured  from 
the  seeds  of  Mangifera  gaboniensis,  it  will  be  suffi- 
cient to  say  that  upon  further  researches  it  is  proved 
to  be  from,  no  Mango,  but  from  the  seeds  of  Ir- 
vingia  Barteri.  The  fruit  is  similar  in  form  and 
size  to  that  of  the  Mango,  but  the  seeds,  which 
contain  a  large  amount  of  oil,  are  separated  from 
the  fruits  and  beaten  in  a  trough  till  they  attain  a 
a  partially  fluid  state.  This  is  then  put  into  bas- 
kets of  Musa  leaves,  and  exposed  to  the  sun,  when 
a  white  tallow  collects  on  the  surface,  which  is 
poured  off,  and  the  Dika  allowed  to  cool  in  the 
shade.  The  natives  esteem  it  very  highly  in  the 
various  preparations  of  their  food,  .but  more  espe- 
cially in  cooking  fish.  It  has,  however,  a  strong, 
rank,  and  highly  disagreeable  taste.  The  fruit  of 
a  species  of  Parinarium,  known  on  the  Zambesi  as 
Mobola,  is  valued  on  account  of  the  very  sweet 
pulp  which  surrounds  the  seeds.  The  Gero  corn 
{PeinciUaria  spt'cata,  is  in  common  use  for  house- 
hold purposes  on  the  Niger  and  Gambia.  The 
seeds  of  Sorghum  vulgare  are  also  extensively  used 
for  preparing  as  malt. — Jackson,  in  Technologist. 


The  Wild  Heath  op  Europe  (Calluna  vul- 
garis), which  was  recently  discovered  to  be 
truly  indigenous  in  the  United  States,  has  also 
been  proved  to  be  a  native  of  Newfoundland. 


Large  Grower  op  Roses.  H.  Lane  &  Son's 
grounds  devoted  to  Roses,  near  Berkhamstead; 
England,  comprise  7  acres. 


Gather  fruit  in  dry  weather  and  with  the  sun 
shining,  and  place  them  as  carefully  in  the  basket 
as  if  they  were  glass.  The  smallest  bruise  com- 
mences a  decay. 


FRTJIT-GEOWERS'  SOCIETY  OF  EASTERN 
PENNSYLVANIA 

The  Annual  Meeting  will  be  held  at  Easton,  at 
the  time  and  on  the  grounds  of  the  State  Agricul- 
tural Society,  the  27th,  28th  and  29th  days  of  Sep- 
tember. William  Hacker,  Secretary. 


PENN'A.  HORTICULTURAL    SOCIETY. 

monthly  display, -JUNE   14,    1864. 

Best  Basket  Cut  Flowers,  F.  O'Keefe,  gardener 
to  Jo.seph  Harrison,  Esq. 

Best  Hand  Bouquet,  Edwin  Satterthwait. 

Best  Hanging  Basket,  F.  O'Keefe. 

Best  12  Roses,  Hybrid  Perpetual,  (no  names), 
Edwin  Satterthwait.  Best  12  of  any  other  class,  to 
the  same. 

Best  6  Fuchsias,  D.  McQueen,  gardener  to  J. 
Longstreth,  Esq. 

Best  Foreign  Grapes,  3  bunches,  John  Landers, 
gardener  to  Dr.  Geo.  P.  Norris.  They  were  White 
Frontignan,  of  very  superior  excellence. 

Best  1  quart  of  Strawberries,  W.  Parry.  Rus- 
sell's Prolific. 

Best  Collection  of  Strawberries,  E.  Satterthwait. 
(No  list^.  Special  premium  to  E.  Satterthwait, 
for  Lady  Finger  Strawberry  of  unusually  large  size 
and  great  beauty. 

A  Seedling  Raspberry,  by  W.  Parry,  was  favor- 
ably noticed  by  the  Committee. 

MONTHLY  DISPLAY,   JTILY  12. 

Best  Basket  of  Cut  Flowers,  F.  O'Keefe,  gar- 
dener to  Joseph  Harrison,  Esq. 

Best  Hand  Bouquets  to  Jas.  Eadie,  gardener  to 
Dr.  Rush. 

Best  Hanging  Basket,  F.  O'Keefe. 

Best  Collection  of  Carnations  (seedlings,  num- 
beredj,  Meehan  &  Wandell. 

Special  premium  to  Meehan  &  Wandell,  for  a 
Collection  of  33  named  Verbenas.  Also  a  Special 
premium,  to  the  same,  for  40  varieties  of  the 
Horse-shoe  or  bedding  Geranium. 

A  Special  premium  to  Allen  Barr,  for  a  beauti- 
Collection  of  Double  Zinnias,  and  varieties  of 
Zouave  Petunias. 

The  best  Raspberries,  after  a  hard  contest  was 
awarded  to  A.  L.  Felten,  for  Hornet,  its  size, 
beauty  and  color,  going  far  in  a  table  competition. 

Best  Currants,  to  A.  L.  Felten.  The  Cherry 
variety — size  and  beauty  telling  here  also. 

Best  Gooseberries,  to  Geo.  Newman.  For  an 
English  variety,  called  Belle  of  Canterbury. 

John  Landers  had  a  Special  premium  awarded 
for  fine  Muscat  Grapes. 

A.  L.  Felten  had  three  premiums  awarded  for 
Tomatoes,  White  Sprout  Potatoes,  and  a  Collec- 
tion of  Vegetables. 


DEVOTED     TO 


sopHrufhrp,  ^rferireltuFF,  J^elaHg  %  PLurel  ^fkirs* 


TTIOMAS     M:5EHAW,    Fbttor. 
V/.  G.  P.  BRINCKLOE,  PuBLjsHEB. 


OCTOBER.     1864. 


VOL,  vi.---isro.io. 


FLOWER-GARDEN  AND  PLEASURE- 
GROUND. 

In  all  our  operations,  saving  lahor  sTiould  be  our 
first  consideration, — not  that  kind  of  labor-saving 
which  half  does  an  operation  ;  but  which  will  pro- 
duce an  equal  result  at  a  less  cost.  The  introduction 
of  grasses  that  will  always  remain  green,  and  yet 
grow  so  slow  as  to  require  little  mowing,  is  one  of 
the  new  features  in  this  line.  Experiments  are 
want»d  with  many  kinds  of  native  plants  that  are 
to  be  found  in  most  localities.  Of  course,  all  those 
who  propose  new  improvements  or  try  novel  exper- 
iments will  be  laughed  at  and  pointed  out  as  'hum- 
bugs;' but  that  should  not  deter  any  one  from 
following  the  path  of  progress. 

All  operations  connected  with  ground-work  are 
now  being  pushed  forward  rapidly, — grading,  road- 
making,  lawn-making,  and  so  on.  So  much  has 
been  said  of  lawn-making  in  our  past  issues,  that 
little  remains  to  be  said  here.  One  of  the  best 
improvements  in  sodding  a  lawn  is  not  to  lay  the 
pieces  of  sod  close  to  each  other.  Pieces  can  be  cut 
into  any  size  or  shape  and  laid  down  several  inches 
from  each  other,  the  soil  being  loosely  thrown  aside 
by  the  trowel  to  make  the  surface  of  the  sod  and 
the  surrounding  soil  be  nearly  level.  On  a  large 
scale,  a  wide  drdl  which  any  ingenious  laborer  could 
construct,  or  even  a  shallow  furrow  with  a  plow,  as 
in  '  marking  out '  for  a  corn-crop,  might  be  employ- 
ed, and  the  pieces  of  sod,  about  six  inches  square, 
set  in  four  or  six  inches  apart.  A  bush-harrow 
afterwards  drawn  over  the  lot,  levels  the  loose  soil 
in  the  spaces  between  the  sods,  and  the  roller  after- 
wards passed  over  the  whole  makes  a  good,  firm, 


plane  job.  When  the  grass  commences  to  grow  in 
the  spring,  it  soon  spreads  into  the  unoccupied 
spaces ;  and  before  midsummer,  the  whole  becomes 
one  uniform  sheet  of  grass.  This  method,  which 
may  be  called  sodding  by  inoculation,  saves  just 
one  half  the  cost  of  sodding  by  the  usual  mode,  and 
is  very  near  as  good,  in  fact,  quite  as  good,  after  a 
few  months  of  time,  and  costs  very  little  more  than 
seeding-down,  which,  except  under  the  manage- 
ment of  one  who  thoroughly  understands  his  sub- 
ject, is  one  of  the  most  unsatisfactory  of  all  regular 
modes.  Where  seeding-down  is  to  be  the  mode, 
now  is  the  time  to  see  about  it. 

The  greatest  difficulty  we  have  to  contend  against 
in  making  good  lawns,  is  the  coarse,  rank  weeds 
with  which  most  parts  of  our  country  abound  ;  and 
no  effort  that  can  be  made  to  guard  against  their 
introduction,  or  to  provide  for  their  eradication  at 
the  outset,  will  be  ill  spent.  It  is  often  an  easy 
matter  at  first ;  but  after  they  have  once  been  suf- 
fered to  establish  themselves,  it  is  often  better  to 
dig  or  plow  up  the  whole  surface  and  lay  it  down 
anew.  Sometimes  much  may  be  accomplished  in 
old  lawns  by  digging  out  the  weeds  with  a  trowel 
or  spade,  filling  up  the  holes  with  soil,  into  which 
the  grass  will  soon  run  and  obliterate  the  traces  of 
the  work.  We  saw  a  lawn  of  quite  considerable  ex- 
tent last  spring  treated  in  this  way,  that,  by  the 
use  of  annual  top-dressings  of  stable  manure  had 
been  nearly  ruined  by  the  profuse  introduction  of 
orchard- grass,  but  which  was  renewed  to  its  former 
beauty  by  the  employment  of  a  man  three  days  in 
this  way. 

Where  a  choice  can  be  had  of  a  kind  of  grass  for 
a  lawn,  in  our  opinion  the  perennial  Rye  grass 
(Loh'um  perenne),  is  the  best  for  general  purposes. 
Its  shining  green  leaves,  playing  in  the  spring  suns, 
give  a  very  cheerful  effect  to  lawn  scenery.  Its  only 
drawback  is  that  it  will  not  bear  very  close  mowing 
in  hot  weather  if  once  allowed  to  grow  long.  Ken- 
tucky Blue  grass  (Poapratensis),  the  Green  grass 
of  Pennsylvania,  also  makes  a  fine  lawn. 


290 


WM  §Mtmfs  JKonthlj* 


The  first  two  weeks  in  October  will  be  the  great 
tree-planting  month  of  the  fall  season  ;  and,  as  we 
have  stated,  the  operation  cannot  be  proceeded 
with  too  rapidly.  In  this  region,  at  least,  after  the 
end  of  this  month,  every  day's  delay  increases  the 
risk  of  loss  by  the  severity  of  winter ;  and,  after 
that,  we  wou-ld  not  care  to  plant  evergreens, 
unless  they  were  comparatively  small,  and  the  ope- 
ration conducted  with  great  care.  Occasionally 
great  success  follows  later  planting,— owing  more  to 
good  luck  than  sound  judgment.  Where  planting 
is,  of  necessity,  delayed,  the  risk  is  made  less  by 
pruning.  The  later  a  tree  is  planted,  and  the  more 
exposed  the  situation, the  more  in  proportion  should 
it  be  pruned.  It  has  become  a  pretty  well  settled 
axiom  in  American  gardening,  that  the  way  frost 
acts  in  destroying  fall-planted  trees  is  by  excessive 
evaporation,  by  which  the  moisture  is  dried  out  of 
them ;  and  this  is  to  be  obviated  by  shelter  from 
cold  winds,  protection  from  the  sun's  rays,  pruning, 
and  other  ways,  which  will  suggest  themselves  to 
the  reader  according  to  his  peculiar  circumstances. 

Many  kinds  of  hardy  annuals  flower  much  better 
next  spring,  when  sown  at  this  season  of  the  year. 
A  warm,  rich  border  should  be  chosen,  and  the 
seed  put  in  at  once.  Early  in  spring  they  must  be 
transplanted  to  the  desired  position  in  the  flower- 
border. 

Few  things  are  more  valued  in  winter  than  a 
bunch  of  Sweet  Violets.  A  few  may  now  be  pot- 
ted, and  they  will  floweir  in  the  window  toward 
spring ;  or  small  bed  of  them  may  be  made  in  a 
frame,  which  should  be  protected  by  a  mat  from 
severe  frost.  To  have  Pansies  flower  early  and  pro- 
fusely in  spring,  they  may  be  planted  out  in  a  frame, 
as  recommended  for  the  Violet. 

Herbaceous  hardy  border-flowers  are  often  pro- 
pagated in  the  fall,  by  dividing  the  roots  ;  but,  un- 
less it  is  convenient  to  protect  the  newlj'-made 
plants  through  the  winter,  it  is  better  to  defer  this 
till  spring,  as  the  frost  draws  out  of  the  ground  and 
destroys  many.  Where  it  is  now  resorted  to,  a  thick 
mulching  of  leaves  or  litter  should  be  placed  over 
the  young  stock  when  transplanted. 

Chrysanthemums  now  in  flower  should  have  their 
names  and  colors  rectified,  against  the  time  when 
in  spring  they  may  have  to  be  replanted,  when  they 
can  be  re-arranged  with  accuracy  and  satisfaction, 
according  to  the  owner's  taste. 

Hyacinths,  Tulips,  Crocuses,  and  hardy  Dutch 
bulbs  generally,  must  have  immediate  attention. 
Crocuses  and  Snowdrops  are  often  planted  out  in 
the  grass  on  the  lawn  ;  the  former  is  not  very  ob- 


jectionable, as  the  leaves  have  so  close  a  grass-like 
appearance ;  but  the  last  should  never  be  so  em- 
ployed, their  foliage  giving,  the  whole  summer  af- 
terwards, a  very  coarse  and  weedy  appearance  to 
the  lawn. 

Hyacinths  and  Tulips  may  be  set  out  in  the  beds 
devoted  to  summer-flowering  bedding-plants,  as 
they  will,  in  a  great  measure,  be  out  of  flower  be- 
fore the  bedding-time  comes  around,  when  they  can 
be  either  taken  up  and  transplanted  to  an  out-of- 
the-way  place  to  ripen,  or  the  bedding-plants  can 
be  set  in  between  where  the  bulbs  grow,  without 
either  much  interfering  with  the  success  of  the 
other. 

As  a  manure  for  these  bulbs,  nothing  has  yet  been 
found  superior  to  well-decayed  sandy,  ccw-manure; 
but  where  this  is  not  conveniently  at  hand,  well-de- 
composed surface-soil  from  a  wood  will  do  as  well. 

Dahlias,  Gladiolus,  Tuberoses,  and  other  plants 
that  require  winter  protection  for  their  roots  in  cel- 
lars, should  be  taken  up  at  once  on  their  leaves  get- 
ting injured  by  the  first  white  frosts.  The  two  latter 
should  be  pretty  well  dried  before  storing  away,  or 
they  may  rot.     Dahlias  may  be  put  away  at  once. 


GREENHOUSE. 


If  there  be  any  tender  plants  yet  growing  yi  the 
open  border,  that  it  is  desirable  to  re-pot  and  keep 
in  good  order  through  the  winter,  no  time  should 
be  lost  in  taking  them  up.  Such  plants  are  fre- 
quently lost  or  injured  by  bad  after-treatment.  Some 
few  of  the  leaves  should  be  taken  oif  at  the  time  of 
lifting,  and  also  some  of  the  more  delicate  and 
weaker  shoots.  The  object  is  to  preserve  every  leaf 
and  shoot  entire  that  can  be  kept  without  wilting. 
After  some  have  been  taken  off",  if  afterwards  it 
appears  that  some  are  yet  likely  to  wither,  keep 
taking  off"  till  the  proper  balance  has  been  arrived 
at.  It  is  a  good  practice,  with  the  aforesaid  object 
in  view,  to  set  the  plants  for  a  few  days  after  pot- 
ting in  a  cool  and  humid  shed. 

There  are  but  few  things  in  the  greenhouse  that 
will  require  special  treatment  at  this  time.  Ca- 
mellias and  Azaleas,  as  they  cease  to  grow,  will  re- 
quire less  water :  but  it  is  now  so  well  known  that 
moisture  is  favorable  to  growth,  and  comparative 
dryness  favorable  to  flowering,  that  we  need  do  no 
more  than  refer  to  the  fact. 

To  watch  for  the  first  appearance  of  insects  of -all 
kinds,  is  one  of  the  chief  points  of  immediate  in- 
terest in  plant  culture.    If  they  once  become  nu- 


-OB 


S^^  §mk\nx\  glffir 


nierous,  it  is  often  better  to  throw  away  a j>lant  en- 
tirely than  doctor  it  after  the  old  methods. 

Bulbs  for  flowering  in  pots  should  be  planted  at 
once.  Four  or  five-inch  pots  are  suitable.  One 
Hyacinth  and  about  three  Tulips  are  sufficient  for 
each.  After  potting,  plunge  the  pots  over  their 
rims  in  sand  under  the  greenhouse  stage,  letting 
them  remain  there  until  the  pots  have  become  well 
filled  with  roots,  before  bringing  them  on  to  the 
shelves  to  force. 

Many  kinds  of  annuals  also  come  well  into  play ; 
among  other  things,  Phlox  Drummondii,  Sweet 
Alyssum,  CoUinsia  bicolor,  Schizanthuses,  Mign- 
onette, and  Nemophila  are  essential. 

For  winter-flowering,  it  is  a  good  idea  to  keep  an 
eye  to  those  things  which  are  near  their  natural 
season  of  blooming,  instead  of  the  more  hazardous 
one  of  forcing  thing  on  what  ought  not  naturally  to 
bloom  for  months  afterwards.  We  have  the  natural 
system  pretty  well  recognized  as  the  correct  princi- 
ple in  landscape  gardening,  and  it  might  as  well  be 
introduced  into  this  department  also.  Roses,  of 
course,  cannot  be  dispensed  with ;  but  even  here 
the  free  blooming  Tea  and  China  Roses  are  infinite- 
ly preferable  to  the  Mosses  and  Perpetuals  often 
attempted.  Roses  intended  for  blooming,  may  be 
pruned  in  about  one-third  of  their  strong  shoots, 
and  have  their  weaker  ones  cut  out.  As  soon  as 
the  buds  show  an  inclination  to  burst,  the  plants 
may  be  repotted  in  a  rich  loamy  soil,  in  well-drained 
pots.  Oxalises  make  beautiful  objects  in  the  early 
spring,  if  potted  now.  A  rich  sandy  Soil  suits  them 
well.  Three  or  four  bulbs  are  enough  for  one  pot. 
They  do  not  do  well  too  thick  together.  0.  Boweii, 
0.  flava,  and  0.  versicolor,  are  well-known  and 
popular  species. 

Where  many  flowers  are  desired  for  bouquets  in 
winter,  a  good  stock  of  such  as  flower  easily  should 
be  provided,  especially  of  white  flowering  kinds, 
without  a  good  sprinkling  of  which  a  bouquet  has 
but  a  very  common-place  look.  Deutzia  gracilis 
and  D.  scabra,  Philadelphuses,  and  Tamarix  are 
very  good  hardy  plants  to  pot  for  winter-flowering. 
Tholberis  sempervirens  is  also  a  splendid  white  to 
force  for  its  white  flowers.  Lopezia  rosea  is  nearly 
indispensable  for  giving  a  light,  airy  gracefulness  to 
a  bouquet ;  and  Camellias  and  Azaleas  cannot  pos- 
sibly be  done  without. 

All  succulents  may  be  kept  in  the  dryest  part  of 
the  house,  and  get  little  water  through  the  winter. 

The  flat-leaved  or  Epiphyllum  section  is  an  ex- 
ception. E.  truncatum  blooms  through  the  latter 
part  of  the  winter,  and  so  must  be  kept  growing. 


291 


FRUIT    GARDEN. 

Sometimes  fruit  trees  are  unproductive  from  other 
causes  than  poverty  of  the  soil,  or  neglect  of  the 
orchardist.  They  often  grow  too  luxuriantly  to  bear 
well.  In  this  case  root-pruning  is  very  efi"ectual, 
and  is  performed  by  digging  a  circle  around  the 
tree,  with  the  circle  made  close  to  the  trunk  of  the 
tree.  A  fifteen  j'ear  old  tree,  for  instance,  may  be 
encircled  at  five  feet  from  the  trunk.  No  rule  can 
be  laid  down  for  this  :  judgment  must  be  exercised 
If  cut  too  close,  the  tree  may  be  stunted  for  j'ears, 
and  if  too  far,  it  will  not  be  effective.  The  aim 
should  be  to  reduce  the  roots  about  one-third. 

Established  orchards,  on  thin  or  impoverished 
soil  may  be  renovated  in  the  following  manner :  If 
a  tree  has  been  planted  say  fifteen  years,  and  at- 
tained the  size  we  might  expect  in  that  time, — get, 
say  ten  feet  from  the  trunk,  and  dig  a  circle  two 
feet  deep  all  around  it,  and  fill  in  with  a  good  com- 
post ;  the  efi'cct  the  next  season  will  be  quite  marked. 
If  the  tree  is  older  or  younger,  the  distance  to  start 
with  the  circle  from  the  trunk  will  of  course  be  pro- 
portionate. A  top-dressing  will  also  be  of  great 
assistance,  as  well  as  a  vigorous  pruning  out  of  all 
weak  or  stunted  branches.  !Moss  and  old  bark 
should  be  also  scraped  ofi",  and  if  the  trunk  and 
main  branches  can  be  washed  with  a  mixture  of 
sulphur  and  soft  soap,  much  advantage  will  follow. 
Old  decayed  bark  on  fruit  trees  is  always  a  sign  of 
a  want  of  vigor.  When  a  tree  is  growing  thriftily 
it  cracks  this  old  bark  so  freely,  as  to  make  it  easily 
fall  off;  but  when  the  tree  is  weak  and  enfeebled, 
the  bark  often  becomes  indurated  before  it  has  got 
cracked,  and  in  this  state  the  tree  becomes  what 
gardeners  call  'hide  bound,"  and  artificial  means 
must  be  afibrded  to  aid  the  tree  to  recover.  In  the 
cherry  and  plum  trees  this  is  easily  done,  by  making 
longitudinal  incisions  through  the  bark  with  a  sharp 
knife.  In  the  peach  and  apricot  also,  this  process 
has  been  employed  with  advantage,  in  spite  of  the 
learned  theories  which  have  atteinpted  to  show  up 

the  absurdity  of  the  practice. 

<•■•» — ■ — - 

VEGETABLE  GARDEN. 

Roots  of  most  kinds,  such  as  Carrots,  Beets,  etc. , 
should  be  taken  up  before  the  frost  is  severe.  They 
all  keep  best  packed  in  the  sand  in  the  open  air,  but 
it  is  too  inconvenient  to  get  at  them  in  winter : 
hence  cellars  are  employed  to  preserve  them  in. 
Cellars  for  this  purpose  should  be  cool,  say  with  a 
temperature  of  about  45°,  and  not  at  all  dry.  It  is 
not  meant  that  it  should  be  damp,  as  the  roots  will 
become  rotten,  but  it  must  be  moist  enough  to  pre- 
vent shrivelling. 


292 


t  barter's  cPtontljIg. 


Cabbages  can  be  preserved  in  such  a  cellar,  though 
most  prefer  them  in  the  open  air.  One  way  is  to 
pack  them  closely  together  with  their  roots  upper- 
most, and  then  cover  them  with  soil,  on  which 
straw  or  litter  is  thrown  to  keep  them  from  freezing. 
By  being  packed  this  way,  the  water  cannot  get 
into  the  hearts,  which  is  one  of  the  chief  causes  of 
their  rotting.  Where  plenty  of  boards  can  be  had, 
they  may  be  packed  with  their  heads  uppermost, 
and  the  rain  kept  off  by  the  material. 

Broccoli  and  Endive  may  be  taken  up  with  balls 
of  earth,  and  set  in  cool  cellars  closely  together,  and 
they  will  grow  suflSciently — the  former  to  produce 
good  heads,  and  the  latter  to  blanch  beautifully  all 
through  the  winter. 

Asparagus  beds  should  be  cleaned,  by  having  the 
old  stems  cut  off  and  the  soils  from  the  alley  ways 
dug  out  and  thrown  over  the  beds.  It  keeps  the 
frost  from  the  roots,  and  thus  permits  them  to  grow 
and  lay  up  matter  all  winter  for  next  spring's 
growth.  Very  early  in  spring  the  soil  should  be  raked 
back  into  the  alleys,  so  as  to  leave  the  roots  but  a 
few  inches  under  the  soil,  as  the  nearer  they  are 
to  the  sun's  rays,  the  earlier  will  the  crop  be. 

Celery  must  have  continued  attention  to  blanch- 
ing as  it  grows,  care  being  exercised  to  prevent  the 
soil  from  entering  the  heart.  Where  very  fine  re- 
su^s  are  desired,  the  plants  should  be  protected 
from  early  severe  frosts,  so  as  to  enable  the  plants 
to  grow,  without  injury  as  long  as  possible. 

Lettuces  sown  last  month  will  now  be  large  enough 
to  set  out  for  permanent  growth.  A  common  hot- 
bed frame,  set  on  a  bed  of  leaves  or  spent  stable- 
manure,  will  enable  one  to  enjoy  delicious  salad  all 
through  the  latter  part  of  winter,  where  sufficient 
protection  against  severe  frosts  can  be  secured.  In 
these  hints  it  is  more  of  an  object  to  preserve  them 
through  the  winter  for  the  purpose  of  setting  out 
in  the  open  air  in  spring.  In  the  warmer  States 
this  can  be  readily  effected  by  their  being  set  out  in 
the  open  air  in  a  sheltered  place.  Here  in  Penn- 
sylvania they  often  do  very  well  by  having  the 
ground  thrown  into  ridges  about  six  inches  deep, 
running  east  and  west,  and  the  plants  set  out  on 
the  northern  sides.  They  have  a  little  straw  thrown 
over  them  in  severe  weather,  and  get  through  the 
winter  admirably,  heading  early  in  spring.  The 
Early  York  Cabbage  is  extensively  grown  the  same 
way.  Where  the  •limate  is  too  severe  to  allow  of 
this,  they  must  be  put  under  cover  of  shutters,  as 
has  been  before  described  in  our  Hints. 


(JomiHuniredons* 


PROPAGATION    OF    GLADIOLUS. 

BY   E.    S.    R.,  JR.,    BOSTON,    MASS. 

All  growers  of  this  beautiful  plant  have  doubtless 
experienced  difficulty  in  increasing  the  stock  of  five 
varieties.  Imported  bulbs  are  weak,  and  if  they 
produce  one  or  two  good  bulbs  the  first  season,  we 
are  fully  satisfied.  The  attention  of  gardeners  and 
amateurs  who  wish  a  large  supply,  has  been  latterly 
directed  to  increase  by  means  of  the  seed  bulbs, 
which  in  all  varieties  are  plentifully  produced 
around  the  roots  of  the  parent  plant. 

These  bulblets  are  hard  and  covered  with  a  thick 
black  scale,  and  want  the  external  appearance  of 
true  bulbs.  The  common  practice  has  been  to  sow 
these  in  pots  or  frames,  either  in  fall  or  spring,  but 
the  result  has  generally  been  unsatisfactory,  the 
greater  part  not  germinating,  and  being  at  the  end 
of  six  months  as  hard  and  apparently  lifeless  as 
when  first  planted.  A  mere  accident  has  shown 
how  this  difficulty  may  be  overcome. 

In  the  autumn  of  1862  I  saved  all  the  bulblets 
from  a  choice  collection  of  Gladiolus,  bagging  each 
variety  by  itself,  and  put  the  whole  away  in  a  cup- 
board in  my  library,  intending  to  plant  them  in  the 
spring  of  1863.  By  some  chance  they  were  over- 
looked, and  not  found  till  late  in  May  of  the  pres- 
ent year.  I  at  once  pronounced  them  worthless, 
(for  the  cuplboard  was  very  dry,  the  flue  of  the  fur- 
nace running  behind  it^,as  the  bulblets  were  so  dry 
that  on  being  shaken  they  rattled  like  shot.  A 
young  friend  standing  near  who  had  just  started  a 
boy's  garden,  asked  me  for  them  ;  and  ofcour.se  I 
gave  them  to  him,  first  however  telling  him  not 
one  would  ever  germinate.  He  sowed  them  in 
drills  like  peas,  in  a  light  rich  soil.  To  our  great 
surprise,  in  ten  days  they  came  up  as  thick  as  grass, 
grew  with  astonishing  vigor,  and  are  now  (August) 
larger  than  my  seedlings  of  1862,  and  will  all  form 
flowering  bulbs  for  1865. 

As  a  contrast  to  this  I  may  say,  that  out  of  some 
large  beds  of  bulblets  last  year  0863),  sown  in  the 
open  air  this  spring,  in  a  precisely  similar  soil  and 
location,  owing  to  the  continued  drought  I  have 
not  a  dozen  plants  up. 

I  give  you  these  facts,  trusting  they  may  lead  to 
the  universal  propagation  of  the  fine  varieties  of 
this  splendid  flower. 


'^ 


WM  (^mimtr\  cPoirfhIj. 


293 


MISCELLANEOUS    SKETCHES. 

BY   ORCHIS. 

TAXITS  ABPBESSA—KmGiiT. 

No  class  of  plants  for  ornamental  purposes  is 
so  greatly  needed  in  this  countrj',  as  that  denomi- 
nated 'Evergreen  Shrubs,'  and  there  are  a  number 
of  the  more  recent  introductions  that  have  been 
sufficiently  tested  to  recommend  for  this  purpose, 
but  which  are  evidently  overlooked.  In  France 
and  England,  this  department  of  plants  forms  one 
of  the  most  interesting  and  beautiful  features  in 
their  cultivated  grounds  ;  and  the  extensive  groups 
of  Laurels,  Bays,  etc.,  invariably  excite  the  admi- 
ration of  Americans  when  visiting  their  collections. 

A  severe  changeable  climate  may  in  a  great  mea- 
sure be  offered  as  an  extenuation  of  our  fault,  for 
not  devoting  more  attention  to  these  charming  at- 
tractions ;  but  nevertheless  there  are  a  great  num- 
ber that  can  be  cultivated  satisfactorily  here  with 
little  or  no  risk  to  the  owner. 

In  the  entire  list  of  available  plants  for  this  pur- 
pose, we  know  of  none  that  will  take  precedence 
over  the  subject  of  this  sketch ;  having  grown  it 
for  several  j'cars  in  a  great  varietj'  of  soils  and  situ- 
ations, and  with  every  opportunity  to  test  it  thor- 
oughlj',  we  now  recommend  it  to  the  attention  of 
planters,  with  feelings  t)f  the  greatest  pleasure, 
havijig  full  confidence  in  its  future  usefulness. 

It  is  a  native  of  Japan,  in  the  mountainous  dis- 
tricts, and  growing  generally  to  the  height  of  two 
01*  three  feet,  but  in  cultivation  with  us  it  even 
exceeds  that  height.  Two  specimens  in  our  collec- 
tion measure  respectively  3  and  4  feet  high,  each 
being  5  feet  in  diameter.  These  i)lants  have  been 
sulijected  to  the  vicissitudes  of  eight  on  ten  winters 
without  protection,  and  are  now  perfect  mod'els  of 
beauty.  The  branches  are  very  numerous  and  dif- 
fusely spreading,  thickly  furnished  with  many  small 
branchlets,  that  are  frequently  found  in  clusters  at 
the  ends  of  the  branches. 

The  leaves  are  flat,  decurrent,  quite  coriaceous, 
mucronato,  oblong,  occasionally  acute,  and  irregu- 
larly distichous. 

The  fruit  consists'of  a  large  oval,  nut-like  seed, 
erect  in  the  broad,  shallow  basin  of  its  fleshy,  cup- 
like disk.  In  this  latter  characteristic  it  diff"ers 
from  the  remainder  of  the  family.  In  the  other 
species  and  varieties,  the  seed  is  generally  very 
much  sunken,  and  the  pulpy  covering  is  quite  thick 
and  bright  red  or  scarlet  in  color.  In  the  T.  ad- 
pressa  this  fleshy  disk  is  of  a  light  salmon  color, 
much  thinner  than  the  others,  very  mucilaginous, 
and  slightly  bitter  to  the  taste. 

The  apex  of  the  seed  in  this  species  is  quite  pro- 


minent, and  generally  on  a  level  with  the  apex  of 
the  disk — a  very  distinctive  feature. 

As  much  confusion  has  arisen  in  the  nomencla- 
ture of  this  plant,  we  have  been  thus  particular  in 
describing  its  peculiarities,  for  the  purpose  of 
aiding  it  to  assume  its  true  position. 

The  Taxus  adpressa  was  first  introduced  into 
England,  we  believe,  by  Siebold,  under  the  name 
of  Cephalotaxus  tarcUoa,  and  subsequently  described 
by  other  writers  as  0.  adpressa  and  C.  hrevffolia, 
foreign  authorities  and  nurserymen  frequently  to 
this  day  retaining  these  names.  Carriere  placed  it 
originally  as  a  variety  of  Taxus  haccata.  Lawson 
claims  it  as  a  species,  with  the  name  of  T.  tardiva ; 
and  Knight  formerly  called  it  P.  sinensis  tardiva. 
But  from  all  absence  of  information  in  regard  to 
the  fruit,  we  are  led  into  the  belief  that  none  of 
these  authors  were  acquainted  with  this  main  dis- 
tinctive criterion. 

(xordon,  in  his  recent  work  "The  Pinetum," 
says:  "  Fruit,  said  to  be  like  that  of  the  common 
Yew,  but  smaller;"  thus  making  a  sad  and  un- 
warranted blunder. 

Carriere,  in  the  Revue  Horticole,  thus  alludes  to 
its  generic  claims,  but  is  evidently  ignorant  of  its 
specific  distinction,  viz.:  "Fructification  is  un- 
doubtedly the  most  important  of  all  characters  in 
establishing  the  generic  differences  of  plants,  and 
that  which  leads  to  a  most  exact  and  critical  classi- 
fication." 

The  T.  adpressa  is  a  manifest  proof  of  the  truth 
of  this  remark.  Considered  by  some  as  belonging 
to  the  genus  Cephalotaxus^  and  by  others  as  a 
Taxits,  it,  in  this  way,  wandered  between  two 
genera,  although  intelligent  horticulturists  had 
practically  recognized  its  relations  with  the  com- 
mon Yew,  of  which,  perhaps,  it  is  only  a  peculiar 
form.  This  degree  of  affinity  or  j^arentage  had 
been  developed  by  engrafting.  In  fact,  when  the 
Cephalotaxus  is  engrafted  on  the  Taxiis,  it  either 
does  not  take,  or  if  it  does,  languishes,  and  lives 
but  a  short  time.  But  if  tliis  pretended  Cephalo- 
taxus is  inserted  in  a  Yew,  it  takes  readily,  and  may 
flourish  for  year.s.  This  mark  of  organic  affinity 
refers  it  most  evidently  to  the  Taxus.  The  Cephd- 
otaxus  adpressa  of  our  nurseries  should,  therefore, 
most  certainly  bear  the  name  of  Taxus.''' 

Having  had  ample  opportunity  to  examine  this 
plant  in  all  its  various  stages  of  inflorescence  and 
fructification,  we  feel  perfectly  satisfied  in  placing 
it  as  a  true  species ;  and  as  we  have  proved  its 
hardiness,  and  believe  it  to  be  a  first-class  ornamen- 
tal shrub,  can  confidently  recommend  it  to  all  our 
planters. 


'B^ 


294^ 


Wx^  §m&mtf%  (PontMj* 


ORANGES    IN    THE    UNITED    STATES. 

BY  H.    T.    WILLIAMS,    BROOKLYN,    N.    Y. 

To  many  of  the  readers  of  this  Biagazine,  a  few 
words  upon  such  an  unusual  subject  as  the  above, 
may  prove  the  agreeable  means  by  which  a  half 
hour  may  be  pleasantly  whiled  away.  To  some  of 
us,  accustomed  from  childhood  to  look  upon  these 
golden  colored  fruits  as  coming  from  a  far  distant 
land,  even  from  across  the  ocean,  the  announce- 
ment may  be  a  surprise  that  in  our  own  land,  and 
in  fields  far  nearer  than  any  other  portion  of  the 
globe,  there  grow  Oranges  whose  delicious  flavor 
and  fine  size  have  been  in  but  few  cases  ever  sur- 
passed. To  those,  however,  who  are  welt  versed 
in  the  horticultural  history  of  the  Southern  States 
of  this  country,  there  will  be  no  surprise,  and  these 
lines  will  be  but  an  interesting  recapitulation  of  the 
knowledge  previously  gained. 

The  Orange  was  once  an  object  of  culture,  and 
for  a  long  time,  in  Carolina  and  Georgia,  and  in 
1762,  it  will  be  seen  by  the  London  "Annual  Re- 
gister" for  that  year,  there  were  shipped /our  bar- 
rels of  this  fruit  from  Charleston  to  England.  And 
mention  is  even  made  of  it  down  to  as  late  a  date 
as  1830  or  1840.  Mrs.  Frances  Kemble,  in  her 
"Journal  onaGreorgian  Plantation,"  speaks  of  the 
island  on  which  she  lived,  which  was  once  entirely 
surrounded  with  a  double  row  of  Orange  trees,  all  as 
large  as  the  noblest  apple  trees.  Basil  Hall  arrived 
there  in  the  course  of  his  travels,  in  the  season  of 
superabundant  blossom,  and  declared  it  the  noblest 
sight  he  had  ever  beheld  :  "it  was  far  more  worth 
crossing  the  Atlantic  to  see  than  the  far  famed 
Niagara,"  One  of  these  trees  bore  the  incredible 
number  of  8542  Oranges.  Of  these  noble  trees,  at 
the  time  of  her  residence,  nothing  was  left  but  their 
unsightly  stumps.  Even  now,  scattered  here  and 
there  throughout  those  States,  cultivated  in  private 
gardens,  and  sheltered  from  frosts  and  cold  sweep- 
ing winds  from  the  north,  there  exists  trees  in  good 
health  and  preservation.  But  they  are  only  few. 

Oranges  did  once  live  and  grow  in  the  states  of 
Mississippi  and  Alabama,  however  only  along  the 
sea  coast ;  butat  last  the  exceedingly  sharp  stormy 
winds,  and  rapid  change  of  temperature  completely 
prevented  their  acclimation  there.  But  the  case 
has  been  somewhat  different  in  Louisiana.  Those 
of  us  who  have  been  accustomed  to  peruse  the  re- 
cords of  travellers  in  that  State,  will  find  scattered 
here  and  there  throughout  their  pages,  descriptions 
of  beautiful  Orange  trees  and  groves,  and  in  all  our 
histories  mention  has  been  made  as  far  back  as  the 
first  25  or  50  years  of  its  settlement.  Living  as  it 
does  a  precarious  life  in  a  climate,  which  north  of 


New  Orleans  is  ever  changeful,  yet  it  lives,  and 
though  smitten  now  and  then  to  the  ground  by  a 
merciless  frost,  it  again  sprouts,  and  grows  up  again 
with  exuberant  shoots.  South  of  New  Orleans, 
however,  it  lives  and  thrives  all  the  year  round, 
suffering  but  little  from  frost  or  other  causes.  A 
gentleman,  in  1853,  writing  to  the  Commissioner 
of  Agriculture,  states  that  in  La  Fourche  District, 
Louisiana,  "Oranges  are  cultivated,  and  300  to  400 
bushels  are  produced  to  the  acre. "  This  account 
does  not  seem  strange  to  us,  when  we  have  read 
from  army  correspondents  mention  made  of  the 
banana  and  other  tropical  and  semi-tropical  plants 
growing  on  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi,  between 
New  Orleans  and  its  mouth. 

Westward  we  will  go  a  little  farther — to  Texas, 
and  show  our  testimony  : 

"  The  Orange  flourishes  in  high  perfection  in 
Galveston  Bay,  at  New  Washington.  Mention  is 
also  made  of  Orange  trees  in  the  garden  of  a  pro- 
minent citizen  of  that  place,  as  being  loaded  with 
large  fruit  of  delicious  flavor.  This  grove  stands  on 
an  elevated  bluff",  exposed  to  the  North  wind  with- 
out the  smallest  protection  ;  yet  it  was  uninjured 
during  very  severe  weather,  which  was  even  colder 
than  that  which  occurred  in  the  memorable  year 
of  1837-38.  New  Washington  is  at  the  mouth  of 
the  San  Jacinto,  and  is  nearly  in  lat.  29°  30^ 

Nearly  all  the  histories  of  this  State  speak  of  the 
growth  of  the  Orange  in  various  parts,  and  in  some 
places  flourishing  in  perfection ;  but,  according  to 
Yoakum,  "  the  Meteorological  Record  shows  that 
the  whole  country  is  subject  too  often  to  cold  winds 
and  frosts,  for  the  fruit  to  be  relied  upon  to  any 
certainty."  This  statement  is  verified  by  travellers 
and  other  reports,  which  show  (hat  the  cold 
'  Northers'  which  invariably  prevail  in  that  coun- 
try, will  prevent  any  fruit  tree  from  living  and 
flourishing  to  any  advanced  age  without  injury. 

But  even  this  is  not  the  most  western  point  of  its 
growth,  for  we  have  full  accounts  of  its  growth  in 
California — flourishing  there  by  the  side  of  the  vine 
and  pear  tree,  and  yielding  in  a  most  prolific  abun- 
dance. Its  culture,  however,  even  there,  in  a  con- 
genial climate,  is  not  extended,  and  is  not  consid- 
ered of  equal. profit  with  that  of  a  vineyard  of  the 
same  extent. 

There  is  one  State  to  which  all  these  unfavorable 
remarks,  before  spoken  of,  will  not  apply — the 
State,  or  rather  the  peninsula,  of  E.  Florida. 
Here  the  Orange  finds  its  proper  congenial  climate, 
flourishing  to  its  fullest  extent,  fearing  nothing 
from  frosts  or  cold  winds.  It  is  proper,  however, 
to  state  that  these  remarks  apply  only  to  that  sec- 


tion  below  the  29°  of  latitude  ;  above  that  degree 
the  tree  will  not  succeed.  I  propose  here  to  state 
the  nature  and  characteristics  of  this  tree  in  this 
state,  as  set  forth  in  various  extracts,  written  by 
prominent  or  trustworthy  persons,  and  which  will 
place  the  matter  in  its  fullest  light  before  public. 

The  Citrus  aurantium  or  Golden-fruited  Orange 
tree,  under  favorable  circumstances,  attains  a  height 
of  25  to  30  feet,  its  usual  height  however  being 
from  15  to  20  feet,  and  is  graceful  in  all  its  parts. 
The  trunk  is  upright,  and  branches  into  a  regular 
or  symmetrical  head.  The  leaves  are  moderately 
large,  beautifully  shaped,  of  a  fine  healthy  green, 
and  shining  on  the  upper  sides,  while  the  under 
sides  have  a  slight  appearance.of  down.  The  flow- 
ers occur  in  little  clusters  on  the  sides  of  the  branches 
are  pleasing  in  their  form,  of  a  delicate  white  in 
the  sweet  Oranges,  and  in  the  more  acid  varieties 
slightly  tinged  with  pink.  In  some  plants  they 
have  a  more  powerful  odor,  and  are  for  the  moment 
more  rich,  but  in  the  Orange  grove  there  is  a  fra- 
grance in  the  aroma  which  never  satiates  or  offends; 
and  as  the  tree  is  at  one  and  the  same  time  in  all 
stages  of  its  bearing,  in  flower,  in  fruit  just  set,  and 
in  golden  fruit  inviting  the  hand  to  pull  and  the 
palate  to  taste,  it  is  hardly  possible  to  conceive  or 
imagine  any  thing  more  delightful.  The  glorious 
beauty  of  such  a  scene  is  described  by  the  "Natu- 
ralist in  Bermuda"  with  these  pleasurable  emo- 
tions : 

"Delicious  beyond  description  is  the  perfume 
emitted  from  the  expanded  blossoms  of  these  bear- 
ing trees,  and  more  particularly  of  a  calm  evening, 
after  a  copious  fall  of  rain,  when  the  sun  is  re-ap- 
pearing in  subdued  brightness  and  splendor,  gilds 
each  cedar-crowned  hill  and  lowly  cot  with  its  fall- 
ing beams,  the  powerful  scent  of  the  citron  tribe 
mingled  with  that  of  the  cedar,  is  exhaled  in  such 
copious  quantity,  as  forcibly  to  impress  the  imagi- 
native with  a  realization  of  those  fairy  lands  of 
ancient  fable,  when  gorgeous  palaces,  inhabited  by 
rich  and  happy  princes,  were  fanned  each  live-long 
day  by  balmy  breezes,  heavily  laden  with  the  odor- 
ous incense." 

These  sentiments  are  still  further  echoed  by 
Trumbull,  who  says : 

"  Of  all  the  new  enjoyments  of  which  the  knowl- 
edge is  acquired  by  a  visit  to  the  inter-tropical  re- 
gions, those  that  reach  us  through  a  sense,  which 
in  the  old  world  is  productive  of  as  many  painful 
as  pleasurable  emotions,  are,  in  my  opinion,  the 
most  exquisite. 

Without  leaving  Europe,  a  traveller  may  learn 
how  dclightfal  it  is  to  take  his  early  walk  in  an 


Orange  grove,  during  the  season  when  the  trees 
are  in  bloom.  The  gardens  of  the  Tuileries  may 
give  him  a  faint  idea  of  it,  just  before  the  ancient 
denizens  of  the  Ora/ig'me  have  been  despoiled  of 
their  crop  of  blossoms,  that  the  distiller  may  con- 
vert them  into  Orange-flower  water.  But  the  fra- 
grance of  the  Tuileries  is  as  inferior  to  that  of 
the  Moorish  gardens  of  the  Alcazar  at  Seville,  as 
these  last,  with  all  the  care  bestowed  on  them,  are 
excelled  by  some  neglected  Orange  grove  in  Cuba 
or  St.  Domingo." 

Nor  is  the  rich  fragrance  of  the  Orange  grove  to 
be  celebrated  in  the  sentiments  of  prose  writers 
alone,  but  is  referred  toby  the  Poets.  Cowper  thus 
says  of 

"  The  golden  boast 
Of  Portugal  and  Western  India,  there 
The  ruddier  Orange,  and  the  paler  Lime, 
Peep  through  their  polished  foliage  at  the  storm, 
And  seem  to  smile  at  what  they  need  not  fear." 

Grrainger,  a  poetic  writer  of  the  West  Indies, 
among  his  numerous  references,  speaks  of  the 
places  where 

"  the  Lemon,  Orange,  and  the  Lime, 
Amid  their  verdant  umbrage,  countless  glow 
VPith  fragrant  fruit  of  vegetable  gold." 

And  in  the  many  lines  which  are  filled  with 
homely  advice  to  the  planter  of  his  native  isle,  he 
encourages  the  cultivation  of  this  fruit  in  the  fol. 
lowing  words : 

"With  Limes,  with  Lemons,  let  thy  fences  glow, 
Grateful  to  sense,  now  children  of  this  clime. 
And  here  and  there  let  Oranges  erect 
Their  shapely  beauties,  and  perfume  the  sky." 

And  again,  in  another  part,  he  repeats  the  same 
advice,  telling  his  readers  to  fence  around  their 
tracts : 

"  with  hedges,  or  of  Limes, 
Or  busy  Citrons,  or  the  shapely  tree  [Orange] 
That  glows  at  once  with  aromatic  blooms 
And  golden  fruit  mature." 

The  fragrant  blossoms  are  made  the  emblem  of 
chastity,  from  the  purity  of  their  white  petals.  One 
of  the  principal  beauties  of  the  Orange  tribe  con- 
sists, as  above  expressed,  in  its  bearing  fruit  and 
flowers  at  the  same  time,  as  is  beautifully  noticed 
by  Pope : 

"  Here  Orange  trees  with  blossoms  and  pendants  shine, 
And  vernal  honors  to  their  autnmn  join,- 
Exceed  their  promise  in  the  ripened  store, 
Yet  in. the  rising  blossoms  promise  more." 

An  Orange  tree,  with  fruit  and  flowers,  has  been 
chosen  as  the  emblem  to  express  Generosity,  and 
therefore  like  that  noble  feeling,  continually  tend- 
ing to  the  communication  of  benefit?. 

The  Orange  is  found  to  flourish  best  in  a  warm 
fertile  soil,  composed  of  a  moderately  rich  loam,  or 


C|4  ^ardmr's  ^anthlj. 


partial  sand  and  clay,  not  too  dry,  and  sheltered 
fiom  chilly  or  parching  winds.  But  it  is  cultivated 
in  varied  soils,  and  will  flourish  in  any  country  with 
a  mean  annual  temperature  of  C2°  to  84°  F. 

That  temperature  and  soil  it  finds  to  its  finest 
extent  in  Florida.  St.  Augustine  has  been  the  fa- 
mous spot  from  which  the  Oranges  of  Florida  have 
obtained  their  reputation ;  the  reason  for  this  is 
stated  to  be  as  follows,  by  Romans  : 

"  The  St.  Augustine  Oranges  are  superior,  both 
in  size  and  quality  to  those  of  Cuba  or  the  Medit- 
terranean.  They  resemble  those  of  Havana  in  fla- 
vor, but  are  much  larger,  and  bring  20  to  30  per 
cent,  more  in  the  New  York  and  Bd^ton  markets." 

St.  Augustine  being  the  principal  shipping  port, 
nearly  all  the  Oranges  from  the  interior  were 
brought  thither  and  from  thence  were  transported 
to  the  North. 

From  the  accounts  of  the  earliest,  and  even  the 
latest  travellers  in  that  region,  we  find  that  in  all 
parts  of  Florida  below  29°  of  latitude,  the  St.  Johns 
River  is  lined  with  these  wild  Orange  groves, 
spreading  in  every  direction,  far,  far  back  into  the 
interior  ;  found  principally  in  the  hummocks. 

Wherever  the  Orange  grows  it  is  an  evidence  of 
good  land.  In  some  parts  it  has  been  so  abundant 
that  the  planters  living  near  always  collect  the  fruit, 
and  by  means  of  a  horse  will  press  out.  the  juice, 
and  then  sell  it  to  the  barkeepers,  or  send  off"  to 
diff'erent  markets,  where  it  is  used  for  cooling 
drinks  :  and  to  this  day,  even  in  the  reports  of  our 
army  correspondents,  mention  is  made  of  the  lux- 
uriant groves  on  the  St.  John's  and  around  Pilatka. 

J.  L.  Williams,  the  historian  of  Florida,  men- 
tions many  places  where  the  Orange  grows,  and 
speaks  more  particularly  of  St.  Augustine,  to  which 
subsequent  reference  will  be  made.  Marion  and 
Alachua  and  other  interior  counties  are  described 
as  abounding  with  him.  Pilhuena  island,  in  Lake 
Ware,  is  described  as  a  rich  and  romantic  spot ;  its 
luxuriant  Orange  groves  are  said  formerly  to  have 
overshadowed  a  red  sprig  of  royalty,  who  appears 
at  least  to  have  possessed  some  taste  in  rural  sce- 
nery. Mention  is  also  made  of  the  several  islands 
or  Keys,  which  contain  many  fine  trees.  A  settler, 
writing  to  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  from 
Tampa  Bay,  mentions  its  growth  there,  and  says  : 

"  On  the  hummock  lands  we  can  realize  from  300 
to  400  barrels  of  Oranges,  Lemons,  or  Olives  to  the 
acre.  Pine  lands,  with  proper  attention,  can  be 
made  to  produce  200  barrels  per  acre. 

An  average  sized  adult  Orange  tree  will  produce 
1200  to  2000  fruit,  although  many  large  trees  will 
produce  4  to  6000.     One-sixth  are  unfit  for  expor- 


tation, the  rest  good.  Of  the  smaller  sizes,  it  re- 
quires about  300  fruits  to  fill  a  barrel ;  but  of  the 
largest  ones  only  100  are  necessary. 

Another  settler,  at  Miama,  writes  to  DeBow's 
Review,  and  states : 

"  The  Lime  is  now  an  abundant  crop,  and  ship- 
ments of  them  to  Charleston  and  Savannah  have 
netted  $20  per  barrel.  The  product  per  acre  may 
be  estimated  at  30  barrels.  Preserves  made  from 
the  Citron,  Lime  and  Guava,  are  always  in  demand 
and  may  be  prepared  for  market  extensively." 

Still  another,  in  the  vicinity  of  St.  Augustine, 
writes,  in  a  letter  to  a  prominent  editor  : 

"They  are  commonly  planted  by  cuttings  and 
layers,  and  in  seven  years  after  planting  arrive  to 
good  bearing.  Each  tree,  a  few  years  after,  upon 
an  average,  bears  from  12,000  to  16,000  Oranges, 
and  some  have  been  known  to  bear  26,000.  The 
Orange  grows  spontaneously  near  New  Smyrna,  in 
E.  Florida,  on  FLsh's  Island,  is  the  most  celebrated 
Orange  grove  in  the  world  ;  some  trees  still  remain 
that  are  30  feet  in  height. ' ' 

All  these  accounts  show  the  prolific  abundance 
of  the  fruit,  as  also  the  intense  interest  each  inhab- 
itant feels  in  the  cultivation  of  this  favorite  tree. 
The  Orange  is  to  thei^  of  the  same  nature  as  the 
grape  and  peach  and  apple  are  to  us ;  the  olive  to 
France  and  Spain  ;  the  date  to  N.  Africa ;  the 
cocoanut  to  E.  Indies ;  and  the  banana  to  the  West 
Indies,  an  ever  plentiful  harvest  of  never  failing 
fruit. 

(To  he  continued.^ 


BOW   TO   FILL   A   VASE. 

BY   ZETA    PSr. 

How  few  people  know  how  to  fill  a  garden  vase 
so  as  to  look  well  1  It  is  a  sad  fact,  that  three- 
fourths  of  the  vases  that  we  see  are  filled  with  so 
little  taste  that  the  whole  efi'ect  is  ruined. 

Having  seen  various  vases  well  filled,  we  propose 
to  describe  the  modus  operandi  for  the  benefit  of 
the  readers  of  the  Monthly. 

First,  then,  the  vase.  It  should  be  made  of 
terra  cotta,  if  we  would  be  humble  ;  of  marble  if 
we  would  be  grand.  Of  course  the  latter  is  much 
preferable,  if  we  can  afford  it ;  but,  if  not,  terra 
cotta,  painted  white,  makes  a  very  good  substitute. 
Do  not  have  iron  vases — they  are  certain  to  kill  the 
plants,  from  the  iron  becoming  heated  and  warm- 
ing the  earth  to  such  a  degree  that  the  plants  die. 
We  know  of  some  friends  of  ours,  who,  being  un- 
fortunate enough  to  have  purchased  iron  vases,  in- 
vented a  very  good  plan  to  overcome  the  difficulty 


resulting  from  them.  They  took  a  small  nail-kcig 
and  placed  it  inside  of  the  vase — leaving  previously 
bored  several  auger-holes  in  the  bottom  for  drain- 
age. But,  with  terra  cotta  ones,  or  what  is  pret- 
tier, vases  made  out  of  rustic  work,  this  is  unneces- 
sarj. 

Well,  supposing  we  have  the  vases  to  suit  our 
taste,  the  next  matter  to  be  attended  to,  is  the 
mould  with  which  to  fill  them.  We  have  found 
that  mould,  such  as  is  used  for  potting  in  a  green- 
house, answers  admirably.  The  soil  must  be  rich, 
however,  as  the  roots  of  the  plants  are  very  much 
crowded  together  in  a  vase,  and  require  a  great 
deal  of  nourishment.  The  method  of  putting  the 
soil  in  the  vase  is  as  follows  :  Place  good  ''erodes  ' 
(as  the  gardeners  call  them)  over  the  holes  in  the 
bottom  of  the  vase,  and  fill  in  about  two-thirds  of 
the  depth  of  the  inside  of  the  vase  with  the  soil, 
referred  to  above,  pressing  it  quite  firmly. 

Now  we  are  ready  for  our  plants.  What  shall 
we  put  in  it?  We  will  try  to  answer  this  question. 
Select  for  the  centre  some  upright  growing  plant — 
we  have  found  Fuchsias,  Scarlet  Geraniums  and 
Rose  Geraniums  to  answer  admirably,  provided 
that  they  are  kept  pruned  severely  to  muke 
them  grow  bushy.  We  have  seen  Roses  used  as 
center  plants,  but  they  do  not  answer,  as  their  roots 
require  more  room  than  can  be  afi"orded  then)  in  a 
vase.  Having  placed  one  of  the  above-nanu^d 
plants  in  the  center,  we  must  find  somethin;?-  of 
a  creeping  nature  for  the  sides,  to  hang  down  o\  or 
them,  and  give  to  the  vase  a  graceful  look.  F.r 
this  purpose  the  two  kinds  of  Tradescantii  (  7. 
discolor  and  viridis)  answers  admirably.  Bhic  Lo- 
belia, Boston  and  Kenilworth  Ivy,  Sweet  Alyssuni 
and  P.  Periwinkle  may  bo  used  with  the  Tradcs- 
cantia,  with  good  effect. 

We  have  seen  a  beautiful  vase,  with  nothing  in 
it  but  Periwinkle.  The  effect  was  charming,  but  it 
would  not  do  for  a  sunny  situation,  as  Periwinkle 
thrives  best  in  the  shade. 


EVERaKEEN    TREES   AND   SHRUBBEF.Y. 
BY   WALTER   ELDER,    PHILADELPHIA. 

Throughout  my  circuit,  which  is  a  wide  one,  I 
observe  every  year  that  a  great  deal  of  the  landed 
property  changes  hands.  Sturdy  farmers,  who  can 
see  no  beauty  and  can  find  no  pleasure  in  any  thing 
but  over-cropping  their  lands  to  coin  money,  are 
selling  out  for  high  prices,  and  moving  to  the  new 
and  cheap  lands  in  the  far  West ;  and  a  better  c'ahs 
of  people  are  settling  in  their  places,  who  can  ap- 
preciate the  useful  and  beautiful  combined.    Many 


take  the  3Ionthli/,  and  have  already  begun  to  im- 
prove, by  making  walks,  and  planting  trees  and 
shrubs,  as  well  as  flowers.  I  am  frequently  asked 
to  furnish  lists  of  choice  trees  and  shrubs,  suitable 
for  their  wants  ;  so,  as  those  who  read  the  Monthly 
and  need  such  information  may  have  them  always 
beside  them  for  reference,  I  have  concluded  to  send 
j'ou  lists.  I  hope  none  of  your  experienced  readers 
will  think  them  meagre,  as  they  are  intended 
mainly  for  new  beginners. 

I  will  begin  with.  Ecergrcens,  as  they  are  trans- 
planted earlier  in  falh  Shrubbery  will  follow,  and 
next  flower-vines  and  creepers — then  Decidous  trees 
and  finish  ofi"  with  Herbaceous  plants  and  flovs^ers. 

In  embellishing  pleasure  grounds  with  trees, 
shrubs  and  herbaceous  flowers,  evergreen  trees 
and  shrubs  should  form  a  prominent  feature.  For, 
without  them,  the  best  laid  off  grounds  would  be 
like  barren  wastes  during  winter ;  indeed,  the 
whole  world  would  look  desolate  one-half  of  the 
year  without  evergreen  trees  and  shrubs.  They  are 
one  of  the  greatest  blessings  that  the  Creator  has 
bestowed  upon  the  earth. 

A  judicious  selection  of  varieties  to  suit  the  va- 
rious soils  and  aspects,  with  proper  arrangements, 
so  as  to  give  a  characteristic  beauty  and  harmony 
to  the  whole  grounds,  constitutes  one  of  the  Land- 
scape Gardener's  highest  attainments.  Some  look 
most  noble  in  the  distance  ;  others  look  best  but  a 
short  way  ofi",  and  the  beauties  of  others  are  only 
seen  at  close  view.  Groups  and  groves  may  be 
peeded  for  shelter,  and  to  shut  out  unsightly  ob- 
jects. Nothing  is  so  effective  for  such  purposes  as 
evergreen  trees  and  shrubs  ;  and  nothing  can  give 
a  place  such  a  lively  appearance  in  winter.  The  gi- 
gantic P'me,  standing  erect  in  his  majestic  gran- 
deur ;  the  glittering  Sdver  Fir,  of  lofty  stature  and 
symmetrical  form  ;  the  Nonoay  Fir,  of  grand  pro- 
portions, rising  in  graceful  folds  from  its  base  to 
summit ;  the  noble  Hemlock  Spruce,  with  its  beau- 
tiful green  and  compact  form  ;  the  Balsam  Fir; 
the  graceful  Cedrus  deodara,  with  its  pale  foliage  ; 
the  American  Arhorviire  and  Evergreen  G i /press ; 
those  tall  and  slim  Jnnipo's  ;  the  large  Holly  ;  the 
Auracaria  imhricata,  with  its  singular  structure  ; 
the  green  Tree  Box  and  Yews,  which  contrast  so 
well  with  all  the  Arborvitaes ;  and  the  variegated 
Holly  and  Box  Tree,  are  all  a'^  propriate  subjects 
for  the  Landscape  Gardener's  art. 

All  of  the  above  are  perfectly  hardj',  and  easy  of 
culture,  and  will  flourish  upon  a  great  variety  of 
soils  if  properly  transplanted.  Their  cost  is  smalL 
A  large  number  can  be  grown  upon  small  grounds, 
by  keeping  them  at  moderate  sizes  by  clipping. 


Che  (Sarbentr's  SlantMg, 


We  saw  in  one  of  the  nurseries,  lately,  Norwfiy 
Fir  trees  seven  feet  tall,  with  the  lower  branches 
spreading  ten  feet  in  diameter,  and  so  massy  that 
the  foliage  only  was  seen. 

Evergreen  hedges  are  the  most  beautiful  enclo- 
sures for  pleasure  grounds.  September  and  Octo- 
ber, and  April  and  May  are  the  best  months  to 
transplant  all  kinds  of  Evergreens. 


A    PEW    NEW    BEDDING    PLANTS. 

BY  P. 
Every  year  I  purchase  what  promise  to  be  some 
of  the  best  newer  annuals  and  bedding-plants,  and 
am  often  disappointed  in  adding  improvements, 
though  occasionally  I  find  much  of  interest.  As 
the  experience  of  others  often  assists  those  who 
follow  after,  I  have  made  a  few  notes  for  the 
Montlily  of  mine. 

The  best  plant  of  the  season,  among  leaf  plants, 
I  think  is 

Coleus  Verscliaffcltii  This  is  something  in  the 
way  of  the  old  Perilla  Nankiniensis  in  color,  but  a 
much  more  delicate  and  pleasiiig. incline.  It  does 
not  begin  to  grow  much  till  midsummer  out  of 
doors,  and  the  color  is  not  near  as  delicate  before 
it  grows.  I  set  out  half  a  dozen  plants  into  one 
small  bed,  about  one  foot  apart ;  but  they  would 
have  been  much  better  if  set  6  or  9  inches  apart, 
on  account  of  their  not  growing  till  so  late,  the  sur- 
face of  the  ground  is  left  exposed  too  long.  In  my 
idea,  one  of  the  chief  points  of  good  flower- garden- 
ing in  our  climate  is  to  get  the  surface  soon  covered 
with  foliage. 

Another  very  pretty  leaf  plant  is  one  I  got  from 
Philadelphia  a  few  years  ago,  under  the  name  of 

Amnranthns  tricolor.  I  made  a  border  around  a 
small  bed  last  spring,  and  was  at  first  much  disap- 
pointed. The  plant  did  not  grow  more  than  six 
inches  high,  and  so  made  a  pretty  bordering ;  but 
there  was  more  of  the  beautiful  orange  and  pink 
tinge  than  the  plant  has  on  when  in  the  greenhouse 
all  winter.  Early  in  August,  however,  the  beauti- 
ful colors  begun  to  appear,  and  at  the  present  time, 
September  1st,  it  is  one  of  the  prettiest  things  in 
my  beds.  It  makes  a  glorious  show  in  a  vase. 
Another  admirable  variegated  plant  is 
Vinca  major  variegata,  for  a  vase  or  garden  bor- 
dering it  cannot  be  excelled. 

Seditin  cnrnexmi   varieffntum,   so  far  as    I  can 

judge  from  one  plant,  obtained  from  your  advertiser 

Mr.  Peter  Henderson,  last  spring,  promises  to  make 

a  valuable  addition  to  my  bedding  plants, 

I  have  tried  over  and  over  again  to  make  some- 


thing of  the  beautiful  Variegated  Geraniums^  often 
referred  to  in  your  interesting  extracts  from  foreign 
journals,  but  I  cannot  get  them  to  grow  enough  in 
the  sun  to  be  very  efl'ective  for  me. 

In  the  way  of  annuals,  the  one  that  pleases  me 
most  is  the  ^ 

Nycterenia  violacea.  This  is  as  pretty  a  blue  as 
the  Eutoca  viscida,  or  Whitlavia  grandiflora,  and 
seems  to  stand  our  summer  suns  much  better.  It  is 
now  in  full  bloom,  after  flowering  all  summer.  Its 
thorny  capsules  are  however  most  atrocious — worse 
than  the  Burr  grass  (Cenchrus),  so  common  in  the 
wild  sands  of  New  Jersey. 

Macliaranthera  tenacitcefolia  is  another  pretty 
annual  with  flowers  like  a  Cineraria,  and  finely  cut 
leaves  is  pretty,  and  seems  to  grow  well.  The  color 
is  pale  lilac  blue. 

Feeien  angustifolia  is  a  neat  dwarf  annual  with 
golden  yellow  flowers,  covering  the  whole  plant 
which  looks  like  a  golden  ball  set  on  the  ground. 

Palafoxia  Hoolieriana  has  larger  and  brighter 
purple  flowers  than  the  older  P.  texana,  and  will 
be  a  popular  border  flower. 

Lobelia  Faxtontana,  recommended  last  year  in 
the  Monthly,  does  honor  to  the  recommendation.  It 
is  a  dwarf  white  variety,  with  flowers  as  large  as  L. 
marmorata.  My  plants,  however,  gave  over  flow- 
ering about  middle  of  August.  This  may  be  acci- 
dental, but  I  should  like  it  better  if  not  liable  to 
such  accidents. 

Anoda  WrigJitii,  TJiunhergia  Barkerii,  Thyrsa- 
canthus  coluhrinus,  Ilelipterum  Sandfordii,  H.  an- 
themoides,  AmpliicarphoB  intermedia,  and  some 
others,  gave  me  no  satisfaction  whatever. 

The  first  flowers  of  CEnothera  Lamarlciana, 
pleased  all  my  friends,  and  we  thought  it  a  great 
treasure ;  but  the  succeeding  flowers  got  smaller, 
and  the  plant  then  had  such  a  weedy  look,  that  we 
do  not  consider  it  a  great  acquisition. 


LILIUM    AURATDM. 
BY  J.  W.  WOODS,  WASHINGTON  HEIGHTS,  N.  Y. 

Have  you  seen  the  new  Japan  Lily  yet  [Lilium 
auratum).  I  have  a  plant  of  it  in  flower  now,  one 
of  a  few  bulbs  obtained  from  Mr.  Hogg  in  J? pan, 
a  short  time  ago  ;  and,  without  exaggeration,  must 
say  it  is  magnificent. 

The  plant  is  about  20  inches  in  height,  leaves 
linear  lanceolate,  half  an  inch  broad,  and  three  in- 
ches long  ;  corolla  broadly  bell-shape  ;  three  inner 
petals  seven  inches  in  length  by  three  and  a  quarter 
in  width ;  outer  petals  the  same  length  but  nar- 
rower, and  spotted  all  over  with  a  crimson  red  or 


—^cr 


=^^ 


brown  ;  about  two  inches  of  the  apex  of  the  petals 
reflexed  ;  stamens  and  pistillium  prominent  exer- 
ted ;  anthers  one  inch  long,  covered  thickly  with 
the  bright  cinnamon  pollen.  Up  the  center  of  each 
petal  runs  a  broad  stripe  of  clear  bright  lemon 
color.  Added  to  this  it  is  delightfully  fragrant — 
something  hke  a  mixture  of  Tuberoses,  Orange 
blossoms  and  Cape  Jessamines  all  mixed  up  togeth- 
er;  and  though  (of  course^  1  have  not  yet  proved 
it,  yet  there  is  not  the  least  doubt  but  what  it  is 
perfectly  hardy,  as  every  thing  1  have  received 
from  the  same  locality  has  proved  as  hardy  as  our 
native  plants  here. 

[W'e  shall  be  very  glad  to  have  notes  from  our 
correspondent  of  his  Japan  plants  as  they  flower. — 
Ed.]  , 

LETTER    PROM    JAPAN. 
BY  THOMAS    HOGG. 

I  have  recently  received  a  very  interesting  letter 
from  our  common  friend,  Thomas  Hogg,  now  tra- 
velling in  Japan,  as  you  no  doubt  are  aware.  There 
is  so  much  in  this  letter  that  is  interesting  and  val- 
uable to  the  horticultural  community  at  large,  that 
I  should  be  selfish  and  unjust  in  withholding  it 
from  the  public.  I  therefore  send  it  to  you  for 
publication,  entertaining  no  doubt  that  your  read- 
ers will  feel  thankful  for  it. 

You  will  observe  that  he  speaks  of  seeing  a  stri- 
ped-leaved variety  of  our  Indian  Corn.  There 
seems  to  be  a  certain  kind  of  '  predisposition '  in 
Indian  Corn  to  become  striped.  It  is  no  uncom- 
mon thing,  as  you  are  doubtless  aware,  for  a  stalk 
'  here  and  there'  to  come  striped,  or  entirely  white; 
but  the  '  sport '  never  seems  to  set.  The  variega- 
tion works  out,  and  the  white  stalks  either  die,  or 
live  an  unproductive  life.  There  would  seem,  how- 
ever, to  be  something  in  the  soil  or  climate  of 
Japan,  Cor  the  skill  of  its  gardeners),  that  not  only 
produces  variegation,  but  sets  it  permanently. 
Since  examining  the  many  rare  and  beautiful  jjlants 
sent  home  by  Mr.  Hogg,  this  subject  has  occupied 
much  of  my  thought.  If  I  should  reach  any  new 
or  satisfactory  conclusions,  I  will  let  you  know. 

In  regard  to  *  variegated  vegetables,'  we  already 
have  a  beginning  in  BeetS,  and  an  occasional  Car- 
rot ;  but  the  finest  thing  in  this  way  that  I  have 
yet  seen,  is  a  beautifully  striped  Leek,  raised  by  my 
learned  friend,  Dr.  Siedhof.  If  he  could  only  suc- 
ceed in  propagating  it,  it  would  make  a  handsome 
ornament  for  the  flower  border.  But  I  must  close 
this  rambling  letter,  for  want  of  time  to  say  more. 
Yours,  very  truly^  Peter  B.  Mead. 

[Mr.  Mead  touches  on  a  very  interesting  topic — 


the  preservation  of  the  variegated  character  through 
seeds.  We  have  do  doubt  it  will  someday  be  ac- 
complished. A  raiser  of  varijsgated-leaved  seed- 
ling Geraniums  tells  us  one-third  of  the  seedlings 
maintain  their  character. 

Mr.  Hogg's  letter  is  a  particularly  interesting 
one,  and  our  readers  will  unite  with  us  in  thanking 
Mr.  Mead  for  communicating  it. — Ed.] 

Kanasawa,  June  21st,  1S61. 

Peter  B.  Mead,  Esq.— Dear  Sir:  So  much 
has  been  written  by  others  about  the  natural  pro- 
ducts of  Japan,  that  little  remains  to  be  said,  hav- 
ing reference  entirely  to  the  limited  range  foreigners 
are  permitted  access  to.  Mr.  Fortune's  book  being 
especially  devoted  to  such  subjects,  is,  of  course, 
the  most  complete.  Hodgson,  in  an  appendix  to 
his  book,  has  a  catalogue  of  native  plants  which  I 
have  not  had  an  opportunity  of  examining.  Mr. 
Veitch  contributes  to  Mr.  Alcock's  work  valuable 
notes  on  the  plants  of  Japan  and  its  agriculture. 
He  has,  however,  fallen  into  some  few  errors,  which 
it  may  be  as  well  to  correct. 

Among  the  plants  enumerated  as  growing  wild, 
are  Nerium  oleander,  Vinca  rosea,  Balsaraina  hor- 
tensis,  Celosia  cristata,  and  others,  which  are  un- 
doubtedly all  introduced;  certainly  they  are  not 
found  growing  in  a  wild  state  in  this  neighborhood. 
In  another  place  he  speaks  of  wild  strawberries, 
probably  referring  to  a  Poteniilla  bearing  a  profu- 
sion of  tasteless  fruit,  very  much  resembling  a  small 
strawberrj'. 

In  my  last  I  gave  the  names  of  some  Qxotic 
plants  cultivated  by  the  native  gardeners.  To 
these  are  to  be  added  the  Chinese  Hibiscus,  Pom- 
egranate, Echinocactus  Eyriesii,  and  Epiphyllum, 
Justicia  carnea  miyor,  a  Quisqualis,  Myrtus  tomen- 
tosus,  Tecoraa  jasminoides.  Sago  Palm,  Oxalis 
Bowii,  Ardisia  crenulata,  and  another  species  of 
which  there  a  dozen  varieties,  with  variegated  and 
curled  foliage,  with  red  and  white  fruit.  They  are 
entirely  unique,  and,  indeed,  I  have  seen  no  more 
valuable  acquisitions  in  variegated  plants, or  any  pos- 
sessing greater  interest  than  these  as  most  boautiful 
additions  to  the  already  numerous  list  of  hothouse 
plants  of  that  character.  These  exotics  could  only 
have  been  received  from  the  Dutch  and  Portugese 
in  early  times ;  and,  considering  the  limited  inter- 
course allowed  with  foreigners,  they  are  evidence 
that  the  florists  of  Japan  are  not  without  enterprise 
in  their  business,  and  ready  to  avail  themselves  of 
every  opportunity  of  adding  rare  and  beautiful 
plants  to  their  collections. 

I  was  surprised  one  day,  on  showing  a  prominent 
Japanese  merchant  a  representation  in  stone  of 


M^  §mAmtr's  (PontMg* 


some  foreign  Pears,  to  see  that  he  recognized  the 
fruit,  anci  to  hear  from  him  that  a  few  trees  were 
growing  in  the  garden  of  a  doctor  at  Miaco.  I  felt 
inclined  to  doubt  his  statement,  thinking  he  was 
confounding  them  with  the  native  varieties.  He 
had,  however,  another  name  for  them,  and  insisted 
on  the  correctness  of  his  knowledge  ;  also  stating 
that  the  M.D.  used  the  fruit  for  a  medicine;  an 
excellent  way  of  disposing  of  his  crop  at  remunera- 
tive prices.  If  they  are  foreign  pears,  it  is  singular 
they  have  not  been  distributed. 

One  cannot  help  feeling  a  regret,  aside  from  com- 
mercial interests,  of  the  mutual  consents  given  by 
other  governments,  to  the  closing,  for  the  present, 
of  Kioto,  the  port  of  Osaca,  near  Miaco.  That 
city  is  the  Paris  of  Japan,  wherein  is  collected  all 
that  is  rare  and  beautiful.  As  many  as  are  the 
floral  treasures  obtained  here,  I  have  not  the  slight- 
est doubt  many  more  could  be  added  to  the  num- 
ber, if  we  were  allowed  to  explore  the  gardens 
there. 

Not  the  least  beautiful  of  Japanese  plants  is  the 
Iris,  of  which  many  varieties  are  cultivated,  from 
the  purest  white  to  the  darkest  blue,  with  all  man- 
ner of  intermediate  shades  and  pencillings.  I  shall 
have  a  collection  to  send  home  the  coming  autumn  ; 
and  if  they  survive  and  bloom,  when  you  see  them 
you  will  agree  with  me  in  saying  their  merits  de- 
serve that  they  should  be  classed  as  a  '  florists' 
flower. ' 

An  addition  to  the  conservatory  will  be  Magnolia 
parviflora,  a  species  after  the  style  of  M.  pumila, 
only*  of  a  more  robust  growth,  with  pure  white 
flowers  of  a  delicious  fragrance. 

The  Maple,  in  all  its  variety  of  variegated  and 
dissected  leaves,  will  prove  to  be  among  our  finest 
acquisitions  of  ornamental  hardy  trees.  The  gol- 
den-leaved Pines  are  also  to  be  included  in  the  list 
of  decided  novelties.  I  fear  the  diflSculty  of  trans- 
porting them  safely  so  great  a  distance  will  prevent 
their  introduction  for  some  time,  or  until  some 
.  some,  one  can  some  personal  attention  to  them  on 
the  voyage. 

I  flattered  myself  this  spring  that  I  had  obtained 
from  Yedo  a  collection  of  twenty  varieties  of  Tree 
Paeonies,  having  given  a  dealer  here  directions  to 
obtain  that  number  of  the  most  distinct  and  best 
from  out  40  or  50  he  said  were  cultivated.  I  be- 
lieve he  performed  his  part  to  the  best  of  his 
knowledge  ;  but,  unfortunately,  he  had  to  purchase 
them  in  bud,  and  when  they  bloomed  I  found  only 
six  or  eight  sorts.  These,  however,  although  not 
what  I  expected,  will  prove  valuable  as  a  source 
from  which  new  sorts  may  be  obtained  by  hybridi- 
zation. 


A  fine  addition  to  the  greenhouse  is  an  orchid 
very  similar  to,  if  not  a  species  of,  P.letia,  in  growth 
like  the  old  B.  Tankervillas,  (I  forget  the  more 
modern  namej  [Phaius. — Ed.],  only  more  beautiful 
than  that  old  favorite. 

In  passing  the  other  day  a  small  garden  in  an 
obscure  situation,  I  saw  growing  a  row  of  young 
plants  of  Indian  Corn,  with  leaves  distinctly  striped 
with  white.  Of  course  I  made  a  note  of  it,  to  pro- 
cure seeds  at  the  proper  season.  Who  knows  but 
what,  after  a  while,  the  vegetable  gardener  may 
invite  you  to  look  at  his  gold-blotched  Cabbages, 
his  tri-colored  Lettuce,  silver-margined  Squashes, 
or  striped  Cucumbers? 

The  past  winter  has  been  exceedingly  dry,  and 
somewhat  colder  than  usual.  The  spring,  too,  has 
been  more  backward,  but  seasonable  rains  came  on 
in  time  for  the  wheat  and  barley  crops.  Tb.e  har- 
vesting of  the  last  is  nearly  over,  and  that  of  the 
wheat  will  soon  commence.  Farmers  are  now  also 
busy  transplanting  rice  from  the  seed  beds  to  the 
poddy  fields.  This  work,  although  not  laborious, 
would,  to  those  not  accustomed  to  it,  be  exceedingly 
unpleasant,  as  those  who  perform  it  have  to  wade 
all  day  long  knee  deep  in  water.  It  is  chiefly  done 
by  women  and  boys,  the  men  performing  the  (se- 
verer labor  of  preparing  the  fields  for  the  reception 
of  the  plant.  Mr.  Veitch  says  the  transplanting  is 
done  in  April.  He  probably  refers  to  sowing  the 
seed  in  nursery  beds. 

Immediately  after  the  grain  crops  are  harvested, 
no  time  is  lost  in  sowing  Cotton,  Scsanjum,  Buck- 
wheat, and  Sweet  Potatoes.  Their  system  of  liquid 
manuring  enables  them  to  plant  at  once,  without 
any  further  preparation  of  the  soil  than  simply 
opening  the  drills  for  the  reception  of  the  seed. 
They  practice  sowing  seed  very  thicklj — I  should 
think  twice  as  much  as  is  necessary,  the  surplus 
being  just  so  much  grain  lost.  Millet  and  Maize 
are  both  transplanted,  but  neither  to  the  extent  to 
entitle  them  to  the  name  of  a  field  crop.  Potatoes 
are  in  blossom,  and  are  now  looking  finely.  The 
late  rains  will  aid  them  very  much  in  producing  a 
large  crop,  which  will  be  wanted  to  help  feed  the 
small  army  of  foreign  soldiers  now  gathering  here 
for  the  purpose  of  reconciling  the  Japanese  gov- 
ernment to  the  inevitable  change  that  must  take 
place  in  their  policy  towards  other  nations,  or,  in 
other  words,  bayonet  reconciliation.  Not  the  least 
consideration  with  my.self  is,  that  in  the  end  freer 
access  will  be  permitted  to  other  portion  of  the 
country.  I  am,  Yours,  &c.  T.  H. 


ij\^t  ^mkwtxri  IHoutljIg^ 


801 


WILD    FLOWERS. 

BY  THOMAS   GARDNER, 

1  Continued  from  page  269.] 
The  Solanum  family  includes  the  Jamestown 
weed  [Stramonium],  pretty  enough  if  it  were  not 
so  very  common.  The  potato,  egg-plant,  ground- 
cherry,  capsicum,  pepper,  tobacco,  and  other  well 
known  things,  all  belong  to  this  family',  so  that  it  is 
at  least  useful,  if  not  as  ornamental  as  others.  The 
Gentian  family  has  many  very  pretty  representa- 
tives. The  Sahhatia  and  Eruthroea^  or  American 
Centaureas,  fifteen  species  at  least,  are  all  pretty  ; 
the  true  Grentians,  mostly  blooming  just  before 
frost  with  various  shades  of  blue,  and  are  pretty 
also. 

The  Milkweed  family  ( Asclepiadacece)  is  a  class 
of  plants  remarkable  for  the  peculiarity  of  the 
structure  as  well  as  the  beauty  of  the  flowers  of 
most  of  them.  The  common  Milkweed  or  wild  cot- 
ton is  well  known  by  the  cottony  down  that  envel- 
opes the  seed,  as  in  the  true  cotton.  It  wants, 
however,  the  barbulate  property  which  gives  the 
cofiering  power  to  the  true  cotton,  and  is  therefore 
useless  for  any  similar  economic  purpose.  The 
most  common  kind  is  the  Asdepias  cornuti.  The 
handsomest  kind  is  the  'Butterfly  Weed,'  (A.  tu- 
herosa).  This  has  bright,  orange-colored  flowers 
that  are  universally  admired.  A.  variegata  is  a 
beautiful  white,  with  rather  large  flowers,  and  a  less 
coarse  growth  than  some  of  the  others.  A.  nivea  is 
still  prettier,  but  is  rather  rare,  even  south,  where 
it  seems  most  at  home.  Of  the  purple  varieties, 
A.  purpxirasccns  is  the  purple  Milkweed,  so  showy 
in  almost  every  piece  of  uncultivated,  wet  ground 
in  the  fall.  The  A.  rubra  grows  in  very  wet  bogs, 
and  is  also  a  pretty  purple.  The  A.  Micliauxii  is 
a  Georgia  species,  not  very  pretty,  but  very  fra- 
grant. These  are  the  best,  but  all  the  IVIilkweeds, 
about  twenty  species,  are  more  or  less  attractive. 

We  now  come  to  a  part  of  the  herbarium  which 
embraces  plants  that  are  mostly  trees  and  shrubs, 
such  as  oaks,  willows,  poplars,  that  are  not  within 
our  scope  just  now  ;  or  docks,  sorrels,  or  spinages, 
that  have  no  beauty  or  interest  to  our  subject,  until 
we  reach  the  curious  Orchid  family.  This  consists 
of  those  curious  flowers  that  often  look  more  like 
butterflies,  bees,  or  other  insects,  than  real  living 
flowers.  They  are  so  uncertain  in  their  appearance, 
and  seem  to  have  so  little  affection  for  the  cultiva- 
tor of  the  soil,  that  we  know  of  few  so  well  known 
that  we  can  refer  to  one  and  say  this  may  be  taken 
as  the  type  of  the  family.  Perhaps  the  ^Ladies' 
Tresses '   is  the  most  common  kind.     This  is  the 

^g>     '- . 


white-flowered  plant,  common  in  meadows  in  the 
fall,  that  has  its  flowers  arranged,  like  the  thread 
of  an  auger,  spirally  along  its  dark  green  etem. 
Botanists  call  it  Spiranthes  tortitns.  It  may  give 
some  kind  of  an  idea  of  what  an  orchid  is  like,  but 
affords  none  of  the  rare  beauty  possessed  by  most 
kinds.  The  'Ladies'  Slipper,'  or  Cypripedium,  is 
perhaps  the  handsomest  genus  of  orchideoc,  but 
they  are  rather  scarce.  There  are  about  fifty  spe- 
cies, natives  of  the  Union,  any  one  of  which  will 
attract  the  attention  of  the  student  in  search  of 
beautiful  wild-flowers.  Of  the  bulbous-rooted 
plants,  or  plants  of  allied  sections,  we  have  many 
very  pretty  ones.  In  the  Amaryllis  family  is  the 
Atamasco  lily  of  North  Carolina,  bearing  pretty, 
rosy  purple  cups.  The  Star  grass  (JJ>/poxis),  has 
yellow,  star-like  flowers,  and  is  common  in  northern 
woods  early  in  spring.  Of  the  Iris,  or  Flower-dc- 
Luce  family,  we  have  to  name  several  interesting 
kinds.  The  Ii-is  Virgim'ca,  is  quite  as  pretty  as  the 
Persian  Iris,  of  which  thousands  are  annually  im- 
ported from  abroad.  It  is  of  a  beautiful  blue.  The 
most  common  blue  Flag,  however,  is  the  I.  versi- 
color; this  is  a  coarser  and  more  water-loving  plant 
than  the  Virginian.  Another  very  pretty  one  is 
the  Six-angled  Iris  of  Georgia,  of  which  we  see 
blue,  yellow,  and  white  varieties.  The  '  Copper 
Iris'  {I.  ciiprea)  is  also  a  Georgian,  and  one  of  the 
best  of  the  family.  There  are  also  two  small  grow- 
ing kinds,  but  quite  attractive — one,  /.  crisfata, 
grows  in  pine  barrens  in  North  Carolina  ;  and  the 
other,  J.  vernata,  flowers  very  early,  and  is  a  beau- 
tiful object  on  the  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  hills. 
The  '  Blue  Eye,'  or  Bermuda  grass  (Sisi/rinchiimi) 
is  a  very  common  plant  in  every  damp  meadow ;  an 
allied,  but  much  prettier,  thing  is  the  Ncmastylis 
gemmijlora  of  Missouri  and  the  west,  with  flowers 
four  times  the  size,  but  as  dark  a  blue  as  the  com- 
mon Bermuda  grass. 

\_To  he  continued.^ 


Never  crowd  your  plants  in  or  out  of  doors. 
Half  the  plants  under  glass  are  spoiled  by  this 
alone,  and  three  parts  of  the  nursery  stock  is  ugly 
from  that  cause  also. 

Never  allow  the  surface  of  the  soil  in  a  pot  or  in 
the  ground  to  be  long  without  stirring,  unless  it 
be  naturally  very  open,  as  is  the  case  with  peat 
earth. 

Keep  all  kinds  of  plants  under  glass  as  close  as 
possible  to  the  light :  there  is  no  exception,  unless 
it  be  some  orchidaceous  plants. 


C|t  §Mtim's  3llflntl)l!). 


PHILADELPHIA,  OCTOBEE,  1864. 


£3^  All  Cominunieatious  for  the  Editor  should  l^e  acldr«sM'.i. 
"Thomas  Meehan,  Gonniiutown, Philadelphia,'" and  Bnsiness  Let- 
ters directed  to  "W.  G.  P.  Bkinckloe,  Box         Philadelphia." 


For  Terms  of  Subscription  see  second  page  cover. 
For  Terms  of  Advertising  see  page  33. 
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IKI^SVEDUAE-     I?EAUTY    OP     THESS,    AND 
3GFFSCTS  OF  mAB^lNQ  IN  LANDSCAPE 

GAuuBmima. 

There  are  two  classes  among  tree  planters  whose 
views  are  so  antagonistic  that  it  is  not  easy  for  an 
intelligent  Landscape  Gardener  to  satisfy  both. 

The  one  delights  in  the  individual  tree.  Its 
gracefulness  or  elegance  ;  its  grandeur  or  magnifi- 
cence ;  its  beauty  of  form  or  foliage  ;  the  fragrance 
or  richness  of  its  flowers  ;  constitute  the  one  great 
idea  with  him.  All  other  beauties  are  subordinate 
to  this.  Give  him  a  perfect  sijecimen  of  a  beauti- 
ful tree,  and  his  horticultural  soul  desires  no  other 
heaven. 

The  other  class  sees  things  through  an  artistic 
eye.  It  wants  order  and  harmony, — abhors  an- 
gles and  sharp  points, — revels  in  delicacies  of  light 
and  sliade, — feels  the  contrasts  of  colors,  and  the 
regular  gradation  of  tints,  and  finds  greater  pleas- 
ure in  them  than  in  any  other  features  of  the  best 
kept  gardens. 

There  is  the  same  distinction  between  these  two 
classes  as  there  is  between  nature  and  art.  If  "art 
is  but  nature  better  understood,"  so  the  tree  lover 
is  the  first  rudiment  of  the  perfect  Landscape 
Gardener.  He  is  the  chrysalis  from  which  someday 
is  to  emerge  the  butterfly, — astonishing  itself  by  its 
new  born  beauty. 

As  no  entomologist  would  consider  his  knowledge 
ended  with  the  study  of  the  insect  in  the  imago 
state  ;  so  neither  should  the  Landscape  Gardener, 
in  his  search  for  first  principles,  ignore  the  claims 
of  both  classes  of  planters  in  their  race  for  the 
beautiful.  Very  often  both  may  be  satisfied. 
Grounds  may  be  so  laid  out  as  to  have  something 
the  character  of  *n  arboretum,  and  yet  in  its  main 
features  do  no  injustice  to  the  higher  eflforts  of  the 
Landscape  artist. 

In  small  places,  the  individual  beauty  of  trees 
will  always  be  the  chief  attraction.  The  first  care 
in  them  should  therefore  be  to  provide  a  few  very 


handsome  specimens  as  striking  objects  of  beauty. 
The  artistic  efforts  will  exert  themselves  on  the  ju- 
dicious arrangement  of  shrubbery  ;  divisions  and 
subdivisions  of  the  grounds  by  hedges ;  and  in  the 
introduction  of  walks,  and  locating  seats,  fountains, 
statuary  X)r  vases. 

In  larger  places,  trees  may  be  massed  together 
with  great  skill.  No  single  tree  would  ever  give 
the  noble  effect  of  a  large  mass  in  park  scenery. 
The  lover  of  the  beautiful  single  tree  may  protest 
against  the  barbarity  of  the  thing  ;  but  specimens 
must  be  thickly  crowded  together  to  make  it  look 
ever  as  you  want  it,  even  were  the  most  Methusa- 
listic  life  allowed. 

But  our  chief  point  is  to  call  the  attention  of 
Landscape  Gardeners  to  the  importance  of  varjang 
their  styles  to  suit  the  various  grades  of  garden- 
admirers.  Their  great  fault  is  too  great  an  uni- 
formity of  style.  As  one  rides  through  the  country, 
wherever  we  may  go,  we  can  tell  at  a  glance  what 
Landscape  Gardener  has  journeyed  that  way  before. 
This  is  the  work  of  D.,  that  of  S-,  the  other  of  M. 
Paley  never  adduced  more  clearly  to  his  own  s.atis- 
faction  from  his  watch  argument,  the  designer  from 
the  design,  than  one  can  from  these  gardens  the 
hands  who  were  their  framers. '  The  same  style 
pervades  their  whole  works.  When  we  have  seen 
one  place,  we  have  seen  all  they  can  do, — whatever 
else  we  may  see  is  but  a  slight  modification  of  gar- 
dens already  seen. 

There  is  no  question  but  that  on  him  whose 
heart  is  attracted  by  individual  specimens  of  beau-, 
ty,  straight  walks  and  lines  in  a  garden  have  a  more 
telling  effect  than  the  opposite  or  curved  style  of 
gardening.  It  is,  indeed,  very  hard  to  make  a  gar- 
den in  the  highest  style  of  art  without  straight 
lines.  The  straight  lines  seems  to  us  the  boundary 
between  nature  and  art ;  and  it  is  only  by  a  judicious 
employment  of  both,  that  the  true  garden  artist  is 
made.  When  properly  arranged,  by  massing,  and 
curving,  and  anticipating  shadows,  one  can  make  a 
place  look  much  larger  than  it  really  is,  and  obtain 
some  inagnificent  efiects  ;  but  it  is  not  wise  to  sac- 
rifice every  other  garden  enjoyment  to  obtain  these 
.advantages,  however  in  themselves  desirable  they 
may  be. 

Just  as  in  the  modern  style  of  massing  bedding 
plants  together,  for  the  mere  sake  of  the  gaudy 
effect  they  produce,  the  result  is  the  abandonment 
of  the  cultivation  of  the  hundreds  of  beautiful  hardy 
herbaceous,  plants  that  were  formerly  grown,  and 
the  consequent  loss  of  innumerable  sources  of  indi- 
vidual gi-atification, — so  has  the  massing  style  of 
planting  interferred  with  the  gratifications  of  the 


OCL 


%\t  ^mkntx\  Pffntfjig. 


lover  of  fine  trees  and  shrubs.  There  is  no  reason 
why  it  should  be  so.  The  Landscape  Gardener  has 
hut  to  relax  a  little  of  the  principles  of  his  school, 
and  by  adopting  an  eclectic  philosophy,  that  takes 
up  a  good  idea  for  imitation  wherever  he  finds  it,  he 
can  find  room  in  his  designs  for  all. 

The  few  connoisseurs  in  the  several  styles  will 
not  be  so  well  pleased  by  the  mixture  of  lines  ;  but 
we  are  sure  the  popular  verdict  would  be  in  favor 
of  such  gardens,  and  certainly  the  sources  of  in- 
tei«st  to  the  proprietor  would  be  much  greater 
than  they  now  are. 

The  only  objection  we  see,  is  that  a  man  to  de- 
sign such  a  garden  would  have  to  be  well  acquainted 
with  trees  and  shrubs,  and  their  efi"ects  in  different 
positions  and  situations.  The  occupation  of  the 
mere  picture  painter,  with  his  pretensions  to  the 
profession  of  Landscape  Gardener,  would  most 
certainly  be  '  gone  ;'  but  we  do  not  know  that  the 
best  interests  of  the  art  would  suffer  much  thereby. 


PLAN   OF   A   FLOWER   GARDEN. 

In  a  recent  number  we  gave  a  plan  of  a  flower 
garden,  taken  from  the  grounds  of  Colonel  Vernon 
Harcourfe,  at  Eyde,  in  the  Isle  of  Wight,  England, 
with  the  jjromise  of  more  firom  the  same  source  at 
some  future  time.  We  now  give  another  very  pretty 
design  which  was  also  taken  twenty  years  ago  from 
the  same  place : 

The  following  description  he  hands  us  with  his 
sketch : 


The  beds  altogether  form  a  circle  forty  feet  in 
diameter,  and  is  ruised  so  as  to  be  about  eighteen 
inches  higher  in  the  centre  than  at  the  circumfer- 
ence. The  central  circular  bed  is  principally  occu- 
pied by  an  ornamental  base,  on  which  stands  a  sun 
dial.    The  centers  of  the  six  beds  are  also  raised  a 


little,  and  taper  off  on  each  side  to  the  walks  which 
are  quite  narrow, — not  over  two  feet  wide.  An 
edging  is  formed  by  blue  slate,  neatly  fitted  and 
projecting  about  one  inch  above  the  soil  in  the  beds 
and  the  surface  of  the  walks.  The  walks  themselves 
were  paved  with  cobble  stones,  about  the  size  of 
hen's  eggs.  The  flowers  noted  as  growing  in  the 
beds  at  that  time  were  Verhena  -incisa,  pink  ;  V. 
sidphu7-ea,  yellow ;  V.  Tweediana,  scarlet ;  V.  teu- 
croides,  white, — about  all  the  Verbenas  they  had 
at  that  day ;  AnagaUis  Philipsu,  blue ;  and  iVeiV- 
emhergia  intermedia,  pink  like  a  Petunia. 

This  must  have  been  about  the  time  of  the  first 
introduction  of  the  system  of  growing  plants  in 
masses  for  effect ;  and  no  doubt  the  arrangement 
must  have  been  something  of  a  curiosity  in  its  way. 


APPLE  ORCHARDS  m    NEGLECTED 
GROUNDS. 

One  of  our  contemporaries,  which,  from  its  fre- 
quent reference  to  trees  in  "neglected  grounds," 
we  judge  prides  itself  on  its  advocacy  of  keeping 
the  surface  of  apple  orchards  continually  stirred,  in 
opposition  to  the  views  of  the  Gardener's  Monthly, 
concludes  a  recent  article  thus  : 

"There  is  no  doubt  that  if  the  grass  in  an  orchard 
were  kept  closely  grazed,  with  an  occasional  top- 
dressing  of  manure  applied  in  autumn,  and  a  sow- 
ing of  lime  or  ashes  at  the  rate  of  fifty  bushels  or 
more  per  acre,  it  would  have  an  excellent  effect, 
and  in  some  measure  compensate  for  the  want  of  a 
pulverized  surface.  Fertile  portions  of  the  West 
may  grow  orchards  to  the  best  advantage  in  this 
way.  Cultivators  must  modify  their  treatment 
with  circumstances ;  if,  for  example,  (as  we  stated 
on  a  former  occasion),  the  annual  shoots  are  not  a 
foot  in  length,  the  owner  may  be  sure  that  the 
trees  need  higher  culture.  If^  on  the  other  hand, 
the  growth  exceeds  a  foot  and  a  half  or  two  feet  in 
a  bearing  orchard,  we  may  be  satisfied  with  its 
vigor,  and  take  no  farther  pains  to  increase  it  as 
long  as  this  state  of  vigor  continues." 

This  is  precisely  the  position  we  assume,  and  in 
as  nearly  our  own  language  as  one  blackberry  is 
like  unto  another  one.  All  the  difference  we  can 
see  is  that  our  friend  limits  his  views  of  the  "  best 
advantage"  of  the  system  to  the  "  ff  rtilo  portions 
of  the  west,"  while  we  recommend  it  for  fertile  soils 
any  where.  If  the  soil  be  naturally  poor  we  should 
make  it  fertile.  It  i3*5ust  as  easy  to  make  a  tree 
grow  as  we  want  it  by  top-dressing  as  by  any  other 
way;  and  we  believe  more  healthy,  and  with  a 
greater  profit  to  the  orchardist  than  by  any  other 
mode  of  treatment  whatever. 


304 


Slh^  (I^Mtmf^  Iflonthlg. 


The  attempt  to  fasten  on  those  who  oppose 
continued  plowing,  the  idea  that  they  are  in  fa- 
vor of  "  neglected  orchards,  or  in  grass,"  as  if  the 
two  terms  were  mere  synonyms;  or  as  if  there  were 
no  particular  mode  of  growing  '  grass '  in  orchards 
recommended  but  the  common  '  skinning'  culture 
so  common  with  farmers,  is  ungenerous. 

An  orchard  can  be  ruined  by  grass,  just  as  readily 
as  by  injudicious  stirring;  while  it  is  easy  enough 
to  point  to  very  successful  instances  of  cleanly  cul- 
tivated grounds.  There  need  be  no  difference  of 
opinion  on  this  point.  The  argument  is  whether  a 
well  managed  (not  a  neglected^  orchard  in  grass  is 
not  more  profitable,  either  immediately  or  through 
a  long  term,  than  a  well  managed  one  under  culti- 
vated crops,  or  any  other  style  of  clean  surface  ? 

We  are  always  ready  for  this  question,  as  it  is  an 
important  one  to  intelligent  orchardists.  Whether 
it  is  worth  while  to  grow  trees  "in  neglected  ground, 
or  in  grass,"  simply  and  without  modification,  need 
only  be  discussed  where  the  Gardener's  Monthly 
does  not  circulate. 


mxin. 


53^ Communications  for  this  department  must  reach  the  Editor 
on  or  before  the  10th  of  the  month. 

Jr3"Tbe  Editor  cannot  answer  letters  for  this  department  pri- 
vately. 


Manuring  Strawberries— /S'.,  Princeton,  N^.J. 
— "  I  find  a  great  difference  existing  between  prac- 
tical men  in  reference  to  manuring  strawberries. 
Some  advocating  the  advantage,  others  opposing  it 
as  hurtful.     What  is  your  opinion  ?" 

[Both  are  right  under  certain  conditions.  There 
is  no  rule  that  will  apply  to  all  circumstances.  In 
cultivating  the  strawberry  the  object  is  an  abun- 
dance of  fine  fruit.  Without  moderately  healthy 
and  vigorous  foliage,  there  will  be  little  superior 
fruit ;  and  yet  leaf  growth  can  be  so  stimulated  as 
to  ruin  the  fruit  crop ;  just  as  overbearing  will  on 
the  other  hand  often  injure  the  leaf  producing  ca- 
pacity, and  thus  weaken  or  even  kill  the  plant.  If 
you  have  a  variety  that  naturally  produces  vigor- 
ous foliage,  at  the  expense  of  the  fruit,  leaf  pro- 
ducing manures  (nitrogenous)  make  the  matter 
worse.  Heavy  bearing  kinds  take  more  of  this  kind 
of  manure.  Fertilizers  of*  a  more  mineral  charac- 
ter help  the  fruit-producing  principle,  when  that 
requires  encouragement.  You  see  the  difiiculty  of 
laying  down  a  rule ;  but  the  trouble  does  not  end 
here.    Besides  the  nature  of  the  soil  itself,  learned 


Agriculturists  themselves  find  they  have  yet  all  to 
learn  in  the  application  of  manures. 

It  is  really  astonishing,  concludes  Liebig,  in  a 
recent  paper,  that  men  of  experience  can  be  made 
to  believe  that  because  a  manure  has  produced  on 
certain  land  a  high  return,  it  should  produce  an 
equal  effect,  or  possess  an  equal  value,  on  all  other 
lands ;  for  if  the  efficacy  of  a  manure,  A,  be  be- 
lieved to  depend  on  the  presence  and  quantity  of 
the  manures  B,  C,  D,  etc.,  it  m*ist  for  such  a  re- 
sult to  follow,  be  assumed  that  all  the  land 'in  a 
country  contains  the  same  quantity  of  B,  C,  D,  etc., 
whereas  it  is  indisputable  that  there  are  scarcely 
two  fields  of  the  same  country,  often  not  two  fields 
on  the  same  estate,  which  possess  the  same  identi- 
cal geological,  chemical,  or  mechanical  character, 
and  consequently  the  quantity  of  the  manures  B, 
C,  D,  must  vary  in  each  instance.  It  must  be 
plain,  therefore,  that  a  given  'quantity  of  manure 
A,  be  it  ammonia,  phosphoric  acid,  or  potash, 
must  necessarily  have  quite  a  different  operation 
in  proportion  as  the  land  may  be  differently  con- 
stitute]. Even  stable  dung,  which  contains  all  the 
nutridve  elements  in  conjunction,  produces  differ- 
ent effocts  when  applied  in  the  same  quantity  to 
different  fields."  Thus  it  follows  "  as  a  corollary, 
from  I  he  law  of  equality  of  nutritive  value  belong- 
ing to  the  constituents  of  food,  that  the  elements 
whicli  are  either  wanting  in  the  soil,  or  are  con- 
tained in  it  in  insufficient  quantity,  are  those  which 
will  jpiiive  of  preponderating  value  in  the  manures 
appliovi." 

All  we  can  advise  is  to  find  from  practical  ob- 
servati'Mi  in  your  own  neighborhood,  what  variety 
of  strawberry  is  best  adapted  to  your  soil, — dig  the 
soil  deeply  (18  inches)  and  plant.  If  the  straw- 
berry plants  do  not  grow  well,  then  top  dress  the 
next  season  with  well-decayed  stable  manure.  If 
the  soil  is  naturally  poor,  so  that  no  vegetation  is 
vigorous  in  it,  there  will  probably  be  an  advantage 
in  manuring  at  the  start, — otherwise  not. 


Grape  Marjialade — '  Vitis,''  Leominster,  Mass. 
— "  Can  you  give  me  a  recipe  for  making  marmal- 
ade from  grapes?  If  you  cannot,  will  not  your 
correspondent  Mr.  Oliver  Taylor,  furnish  one  for 
making  such  as  he  mentions  in  his  article  in  the 
February  number  of  the  3Iontldy  f^ 

[Grape  marmalade  is  made  by  skinning  and 
stoning  the  grapes,  and  boiling  the  pulp  over  a  slow 
fire,  occasionally  stirring  it,  until  it  has  arrived  at 
the  consistency  desired.  We  are  unable  to  give  our 
correspondent  a  more  exact  recipe,  and  should  be 
obliged  by  our  friend  Oliver  Taylor,  or  other  friends 


^\t  §m\mtn  dHontblg. 


305 


giving  us  one. 

We  should  be  particularly  glad  to  hear  from  Oli- 
ver Taylor, — strict  non-combatant  as  he  is,  -we  are 
afraid  the  war  in  his  home  in  the  Loudon  Valley, 
of  Virginia,  has  been  too  much  for  him.  Several 
letters  we  have  sent  him  the  past  year  being  yet 
unanswefed,  we  fear  it  is  out  of  his  power  for  a  lit- 
tle while  longer  to  write  to  us.] 


Annoyances  of  Correspondents. — There  is 
no  position  that  we  assume  in  life  entirely  free  from 
annoyances.  If  our  moral  nature  is  so  warped  as  to 
lead  us  oppose  the  best  interests  of  society,  trouble 
meets  us  at  every  step, — and  when  higher  and 
purer  motives  induce  us  to  work  for  the  good  of 
others,  we  find  severe  temptations  beset  us  to  make 
us  abandon  our  goodly  work.  It  requires  the  cour- 
age of  a  brute  to  persevere  when  the  whole  moral 
sense  of  the  community  opposes ;  but  the  man  of 
a  high  order  of  sentiment  falls  back  on  his  own  de- 
termination to  work  on  the  more  as  his  intentions 
are  suspected  and  his  motives  misconstrued. 

These  were  our  reflections  as  we  read  the  follow- 
ing note  addressed  to  our  respected  correspondent 
J.  P.  Norris,  of  West  Chester,  who  sends  it  to  us 
for  preservation  as  among  the  "  curiosties  of  liter- 
ture : " 

Hamilton,  C.  W.,  Sept.  7th,  1864. 

J.  P.  NoERls,  Esq. — Dear  Sir:  I  enclose  you 
One  Dollar  for  a  plant,  of  I  see  you  advertise  in 
the  Gardener' s  Month?)/  for  August. 

One  plant  of  the  Night-blooming  Cereus.  Send 
it  by  mail  to  my  address." 

We  suppress  the  writer's  name,  as  we  are  quite 
sure  he  must  have  written  thoughtlessly,  or  with 
some  mistaken  recollection  of  what  he  had  read 
when  he  wrote. 

Mr.  J.  P.  Norris  is  a  highly  educated  and  intel- 
ligent gentleman,  one  of  our  most  valued  corres- 
pondents,— one  who  enjoys  his  otiinn  cum  dignitate^ 
in  the  rational  pursuits  of  country  life, — who  has 
nothing  to  sell,  and  who  would  scorn  moreover  to 
advertise  his  wares  in  so  mean  a  way  if  he  had  any 
thing  to  sell. 

We  cannot  imagine  what  there  is  in  the  article 
to  suggest  such  an  idea,  and  this  it  is  which  leads 
us  to  the  charitable  conclusion  that  the  letter  was 
written  under  some  mistaken  recollection. 

On  entering  on  our  own  literary  career,  one  of 
first  ventures  was  an  essay  on  "  Anonymous  Wri- 
ting," and  we  have  applauded  those  editors  who 
would  insert  nothing  but  what  had  the  writer's 
name  and  address  in  full ;  but  for  some  years  past 
we  have  modified  our  views,  from  experience  that 


it  cut  off  from  the  public  the  aid  of  some  of  our 
best  writers,  whose  sensitive  and  gentle  natures  un- 
fit them  for  battling  with  an  uncharitable  world. 
As  a  guarantee  to  our  readers,  we  have  trusted 
rather  to  our  own  acumen  in  detecting  '  snakes ' 
concealed  under  communications;  or  in  dulling  the 
edge  of  '  axes  '  some  people  would  rather  have  us 
grind,  than  to  the  names  of  the  writers  ;  and  when 
we  express  our  conviction  that  no  magazine  was, 
ever  favored  with  so  large  a  body  of  disinterested 
articles  of  so  valuable  a  character,  as  those  we  have 
published  in  our  short  six  year's  existence,  we  need 
scarcely  add,  also,  that  we  are  well  satisfied  with 
our  own  rule  in  the  matter. 

The  writer's  name  to  an  article,  however,  is  al- 
ways an  additional  guarantee  to  its  value, — and  it 
is  to  be  regretted  that  thoughtless  individuals 
should  act  so  as  to  render  the  anonymous  system  in 
any  degree  commendable. 


Pronunciation  of  Gladiolus.— A  correspon- 
dent writes : 

"  Why  not  call  attention  to  the  universal  error 
in  the  pronunciation  of  the  word  Gladiolus.  All 
say  Gladiolus ;  of  course  it  should  be  Gladiolus. 
It  is  a  diminutive  from  the  Latin  Gladius,  a  sword. 
All  diminutives  in  "  olus,"  with  a  few  exceptions, 
shorten  the  penult — vide  Latin  Grammar.  The 
true  pronunciation,  when  one  becomes  accustomed 
to  it,  is  far  more  euphonious." 

[There  has  been  a  prolonged  discussion  in  the 
English  journals  regarding  the  proper  pronuncia- 
tion of  this  word.  Our  correspondent  gives  the 
correct  classical  pronunciation ;  but  is  an  open 
question  for  all,  whether,  when  we  adopt  another 
word,  as  a  word  of  our  own  language,  we  may  not 
vary  its  pronunciation  to  suit  the  genius  of  the  lan- 
guage into  which  it  is  received. 

These  changes  are  being  continually  made.  For 
instance,  a  Frenchman  with  a  name  of  half  a  score 
of  vowels  pronounces  it  as  if  of  one  or  two  syllables. 
A  Botanist,  naming  a  plant  to  his  honor,  latinizes 
his  name,  and  makes  it  botanical.  It  ceases  at  once 
its  French  style  of  pronunciation.  It  follows  the 
Latin  rule,  and  every  vowel  is  sounded. 

'  Monsieur'  may  settle  in  the  midst  of  the  En- 
glish language,  but,  in  spite  of  his  rules,  he  comes 
down  in  time  to  plain  Mister ;  his  Paree  becomes 
Paris ;  and  his  neighbors  '  gone'  (Gand)  simply 
Ghent.  When  we  say  'The  Gladiolus,'  we  speak 
of  a  tribe  of  plants  as  with  an  English  name.  It 
has  no  other  common  name  but  that.  We  render 
it  in  the  plural  in  the  regular  English  way,  '  Glad- 
ioluses,'   No  one  uses  it  in  its  scientific  sense,  and 


®h4  §Mmtfz  Jttonthlg. 


asks  you  to  see  his  '  Gladioli. '  Gladiolus  is  as  our 
correspondent  saj's,  charming  enough  ;  but  can  we 
say  the  same  of  Gladioluses?  and  to  say  Gladioli 
for  plain  English,  would,  we  fear,  be  considered  an 
unpardonable  aflfectation. 

In  fine,  were  we  delivering  a  Latin  oration,  we 
should  unhesitatingly  adopt  Gladiolus ;  but  in  every 
day  English,  as  the  pronunciation  as  changed  has 
become  universally  adopted,  we  fear  we  should  of- 
fend classic  rules,  and  say  Gladiolus — as  if  written 
and  pronounced  Gladdy-olus.  ] 


Dimorphism— F.  K  P.,  Bloomington,  III— 
"The  enclosed  were  plucked  from  JNative  Seed- 
ling plants  here,  by  myself  To  what  genus  would 
you  refer  that  plant.  Some  say  Thuja  and  some 
Juniperus.  Hope  to  hear  through  the  Monthly. ^^ 
[The  specimen  sent  belongs  to' Tlivja  occidentalis. 
Juniperus,  however,  in  common  with  all  Conifera3, 
are  subject  to  this  dimorphism,  or  double  form  of 
foliation.  The  law  governing  each  kind  of  form  is 
not  understood,  and  might  be  made  the  subject  of 
interesting  study.  Usually — especially  in  Thuja, 
Juniperus,  and  Thujiopsis,  the  two  forms  of  foliage 
seem  connected  with  the  seedling  state.  Jrmijjerus 
chineims,  particularly,  preserving  the  double  form 
for  some  years  after  the  germination  of  the  seed. 
As  growing  seedlings  are  generally  supposed  to  be 
more  vigorous  than  when  older,  it  might  be  con- 
nected in  some  way  with  vigor  ;  but  this  theory  is 
refuted  by  the  fact  that  cuttings  of  Thujiopsis  bo- 
realis  produce  the  two  forms  of  growth,  almost  as 
freely  as  seedlings.  Thuja  or  Biota  pmduhi  is  a 
seedling  of  the  Chinese  Arborvitas,  and  is  an  in- 
stance where  the  least  frequent  state  of  dimorphi.-^m 
has  maintained  itself  exclusively  in  the  plant.] 


The  Currant  Worm— jI/.  B.  ^.— This  pest 
of  the  Western  States  must  not  be  confounded  with 
the  Currant  borer,  which  is  an  Hemipterous  insect, 
and  entirely  harmless  to  the  leaves  of  the  plant,  so 
far  as  we  know.  We  are  not  sure  of  which  evil  you 
complain.  If  of  the  former,  slacked  lime  sifted  oyer 
them  when  infecting  the  leaves  is  the  best  thing  to 
be  done.  If  the  latter,  examine  the  shoots  in  early 
winter,  and  any  that  are  punctured  Cwhich  indi- 
cates larvae  within),  cut  off  the  shoots  and  burn 
them.  Every  one  seems  to  write  much  of  the  borer, 
but  to  our  mind  it  is  much  more  destructive  to 
ones  hopes  of  a  good  crop  than  the  leaf  worm  or 
caterpillar. 


Honey  Locust  as  a  Hedge  Plant— i?.   S., 
Rockford^  III. — "I  have  some  idea  of  planting  a 


hedge  of  this  in  the  absence  of  Osage  Orange,  this 
fall,  but  am  told  it  is  failure  ;  please  give  me  your 
opinion  through  the  Monthly. ^^ 

[It  is  one  of  the  best  of  hedge  plants.  It  is  very 
thorny,  grows  rapidly,  and  when  judiciously  pruned 
in  June  and  September,  as  Osage  Orange,  and  all 
tree-growing  hedge  plants  must  be,  it  j^  as  close 
and  compact  a  hedge  as  need  be. 

When  properly  kept  under  by  pruning,  the  roots 
do  not  extend  far,  as  the  roots  of  trees  extend  only 
"  proportionately  to  their  branches." 

It  has  in  fact  one  advantage  over  Osage  Orange  : 
it  will  grow  and  do  well  where  that  plant  will  starve. 


Grape-vines  Mildewing— "Zoh^'  Island  Suh- 
scriber." — "  It  has  been  asserted  that  the  Concord 
will  not  mildew  ;  mine  mildewed  this  year  as  badly 
as  any.  How  is  this  elsewhere  ;  or  is  my  position 
unfortunate?" 

[There  is  no  reason  that  we  know  why  it  is  im- 
possible any  grape  should  mildew.  This  has  been 
peculiarly  an  unfavorable  grape  season.  We  have 
not  seen  any  kind  escape.  We  however  give  the 
Concord  this  credit,  that  while  most  kinds  have 
suffered  dreadfully  by  mildew,  the  Concord,  though 
equally  attacked,  suffered  less  by  a  long  way  than 
most  otherti.  Indeed,  with  the  exception  of  Tay- 
lor's BuUit,  Clinton  and  Concord,  all  suffered  ma- 
terially.] 

Borders  for  Cold  Graperies — 31,  Cata- 
wissa,  Pa. — If  your  land  is  '  high  and  dry,'  drains 
will  not  be  necessary,  for  your  border  need  not 
be  an  expensive  one  before  erecting  a  grapery, — say 
one-fourth  washed  or  turnpike  sand,  three-fourths 
two  or  three  inches  thick  of  the  surface  of  an  old 
pasture,  and  about  one-fourth  in  proportion  of  the 
other  two  ingredients  together,  filled  into  a  space 
of  ground  about  fifteen  feet  wide  in  front  of  your 
grapery,  and  about  18  inches  thick — on  the  old 
surface  for  that  matter,  will  grow  very  good  grapes. 


The  Marsh  Mallow. — It  is  difficult  to  account 
for  the  origin  of  names.  How  the  '  Marsh  Mal- 
low, that  never  grows  in  marshes,'  came  by  the 
name,  it  is  not  easy  to  decide.  Son)e  of  the  species 
are  famous  all  over  the  world  for  benificent  purpo- 
ses, and  hence  the  popular  mind  as  usual  connects 
it  in  its  popular  name  with  the  Author  of  all  good. 
The  Spaniards,  for  instance,  call  one  species  Bencas 
de  Deos,  'Gift  of  God,' — and  another  one  is  called 
by  the  Turks  Masallah,  'God's  plant,'  and  this 
latter  is  perhaps  the  real  origin  of  Marsh  Mallow, 
and  not  that  the  plant  should  grow  in  marshes. 


^^ 


Wx^  (Sardeiwr's  JIlloirfMj. 


Cement  Tanks — Fox  Meadoio. — We  had  closed 
up  our  column  of  "contributions"  before  starting 
for  Rochester,  and  on  our  return  found  a  highly  in- 
teresting letter  from  our  correspondent  on  this 
topic.  Too  late  for  our  proper  division,  and  as  the 
subject  is  of  immediate  interest  to  our  readers,  we 
condense  the  article  for  a  small  space  still  at  our 
disposal  in  this  department. 

In  reply  to  an  enquiry,  Mr.  Hooker  informs  our 
correspondent  that  his  tank  is  made  of  what  is 
known  in  Rochester  as  '  water  lime,'  which,  as  we 
recently  found,  is  a  variety  of  what  is  known  in  the 
rest  of  the  Union  as  Rosendale  cement,  brown  ce- 
ment, and  so  on  ;  distinguished  from  common  mor- 
tar lime  by  its  brown  color. 

"Fox  Meadow"  replies  to  Mr.  Hooker,  he  un- 
derstood the  patent  to  be  for  a  new  hot-water-proof 
cement ;  but  as  it  is  for  merely  combining  boards 
and  cement  together  to  make  a  tank,  he  protests 
against  the  claim  of  Mr.  Hooker's  right  exclusively 
to  use  them,  and  at  the  same  time  insists  that  they 
^  are  worthlesss,  through  certainty  to  crack,  and  un- 
able to  heat  a  house  if  sunk  in  the  ground,  if  they 
remained  perfect. 

In  the  contribution  to  the  Gardener's  Montlily, 
accompanying  the  above  papers,  "Fox  Meadow" 
shows  Mr.  H.'s  claim  to  a  patent  to  be  null  and 
void,  asserting  that  tanks  of  board,  zinc,  bricks, 
and  many  other  materials,  lined  with  cement  of 
every  character,  and  sunk  in,  placed  on,  and  sup- 
ported above  the  soil,  have  often  been  tried  in  every 
conceivable  way  by  others.  He  refers  to  the  am- 
biguity resulting  from  Mr.  Hooker's  indifferent 
use  of  the  terms  'mortar,'  'good  mortar,'  'cement,' 
'water  lime,'  'hydraulic  cement,'  etc.,  as  likely  to 
lead  people  astray  ;  and  suggests  that  Mr.  Hooker 
might  furnish  the  good  lime  to  the  constructors, 
and  then  warrant  the  tanks  with  water  at  200°, 
which  he  thinks  would  be  satisfactory.  We  give 
entire  the  concluding  part  of  our  friend's  commu- 
nication : 

"  Perhaps  Mr.  Hooker  has  not  kept  a  record  of 
the  highest  temperature  he  obtained  in  the  water 
of  this  tank,  worked  by  a  $45  boiler, — one  of  the 
smallest  made  by  Weathered  &  Cherevoy  of  N.  Y. 

Mr.  Hooker's  tank,  as  far  as  we  are  able  to  learn, 
is  from  4  to  6  inches  deep,  and  3  feet  9  inches  wide, 
and  averaging  about  150  feet  in  length.  This  will 
contain  some  900  gallons  of  water.  The  next  ques- 
tion that  presents  itself  is.  To  what  temperature 
this  small  $45  boiler  in  question  can  possibly  heat 
this  quantity  of  water?  We  will  answer  this  by 
stating  a  fact  in  our  every  day  experience.  A  ]  00 
feet  of  4  inch  calibre  cast-iron  pipe  contains  about 


50  gallons  of  water  ;  we  have  in  two  houses  some- 
thing over  GOO  feet  of  pipe  in  each ;  consequently, 
the  pipes  in  each  of  these  houses  contain  about 
300  gallons  of  water.  Now  I  have  the  largest  boilers 
made  in  New  York,  (and  I  believe  the  best)  placed 
to  work  each  house  separately  ;  but  when  Zero 
comes,  and  with  him  the  driving  howling  storms 
of  winter,  we  find  we  have  enough  to  do  to  main- 
tain 190°  in  the  water— the  security  for  70°  or  75° 
around  our  tender  grapes.  I  wonder  how  wooden 
boxes  filled  with  water  would  suit,  running  through 
the  houses  instead  of  cast-iron  pipes?" 


Popular  Names  op  British   Plants.     By  R. 

C.  A.  Prior,  M.D.     WilHams  &  Norgate,  1863, 

8vo.,  Pp.  250. 

It  is  curious  to  observe,  how  the  information  de- 
rived from  one  department  of  human  learning  dove- 
tails into  that  which  another  supplies,  till  the  two 
in  conjunction  put  us  on  a  vantage  ground,  from 
which  light  may  be  thrown  upon  some  perfectly  new, 
and  perhaps  difficult  branch  of  study.  These 
thoughts  are  suggested  by  the  very  interesting 
work  before  us,  in  which  the  author  brings  his  am- 
ple store  of  botanical  knowledge  and  the  results  of 
deep  research  into  the  northern  and  other  lan- 
guages, to  bear,  not  merely  on  botany  and  philology, 
as  one  would  expect,  but  actually  tries  toelucidate 
by  their  means,  curious  and  difficult  questions,  such 
as  the  early  civilization  of  our  forefathers,  and  the 
route  which  they  must  have  followed,  in  travelling 
from  the  East. 

We  are  all  familiar  with  the  fact,  that  the  names 
of  the  animals  tended  and  fed  by  our  Saxon  ances- 
tors in  England,  the  ox,  calf,  sheep,  etc.,  are  known 
to  this  day  by  their  Saxon  designations,  while  the 
flesh  of  the  same  animals,  considered  in  its  quality 
of  food,  under  which  character  only  the  Norman 
conquerors  cared  to  know  it,  still  goes  by  the 
French  or  Norman  names  of  beef,  veal,  and  mutton. 
This  single  fact  would  prove  a  Norman  conquest, 
even  if  there  were  no  existing  document  whatever 
giving  an  account  of  it.  Dr.  Prior's  mode  of  rea- 
soning is  something  of  this  kind,  and  we  take  the 
word  Apple  as  a  good  example. 

"  In  all  the  Celtic  and  Sclavonian  languages  the 
word  is,  with  allowance  for  dialect,  the  same.  This 
similarity,  or  we  may  say  identity,  of  name,  among 
alien  nations  would  lead  us  to  believe  that  it  was 
brought  with  the  tree  from  some  one  country,  and 


ih^  (Sarteer's  <pantMg, 


that  no  doubt  an  Eastern  one  ;  and  that  the  garden 
Apple  is  not,  as  it  is  often  supposed  to  be,  merely 
an  improved  Crab,  but  rather  the  Crab  a  degener- 
ate apple.  This  apparently  is  the  only  fruit  with 
which  our  ancestors  were  acquainted  before  they 
came  into  Europe  ;  for,  with  the  exception  of  a  few 
wild  berries  and  the  Hazel-nut,  it  is  the  only  one 
for  which  we  have  a  name  that  is  not  derived  from 
the  Latin  or  French.  It  seems  to  have  accompanied 
them  on  a  northern  route  from  the  western  spur  of 
the  Himalayan  mountains,  a  district  extending 
through  Ancient  Bactria,  Northern  Persia,  and 
Asia  Minor,  to  the  Caucasus,  and  one  from  which 
we  have  obtained,  through  the  Mediterranean 
countries,  and  within  the  historical  period,  the 
Peach,  Apricot,  Plum,  Damson,  Cherry,  Filbert, 
Vine,  and  Walnut,  and  probably  some  of  the  cereal 
grains ;  a  district  in  which  there  is  jeason  to  think 
that  our  portion  of  the  human  race  first  attained  to 
civilization,  and  whence  it  spread,  with  its  domes- 
tic animals  and  plants,  to  the  south-east  and  north- 
west. The  meaning  of  the  word  is  unknown,  but 
as  ap  is,  in  Zend  and  Sanskrit,  'water,'  andp'Aa?a 
'fruit,'  we  might  be  tempted  to  believe  that  it 
originally  meant  'water-fruit,'  or  'juice-fruit,'  with 
which  the  Latin  jpomMW,  frompo,  to  drink,  exactly 
tallies.  The  remarkable  coincidences  of  name,  to 
which  allusion  has  been  made,  are  due  to  the  inti- 
mated connection  with  each  other  of  all  the  Ind- 
European  nations  and  their  languages,  from  their 
having  grown  up  in  the  same  nursery  together  in 
Upper  Asia,  and  dispersed  subsequently  to  their 
becoming  acquainted  with  this  fruit,  and  not  to  a 
THutual  borrowing  of  it  since  their  settlement  in 
Europe." 

Again,  Dr.  Prior  proves  that  the  tribes  which 
descended  upon  Britain,  had  entered  Europe,  not 
as  a  set  of  savages,  wandering  pastoral  tribes,  or 
mere  pirates  and  warriors,  but  as  colonists,  who, 
though  rude  in  dress -and  manners,  yet  in  essential 
points  were  already  a  civilized  people.  Further, 
they  must  have  come  from  a  colder  country,  for, 
while  the  names  of  their  trees  comprehend  the 
Oak,  Beech,  Birch,  Hawthorn,  and  Sloe,  trees  that 
extend  far  into  Asia,  they  do  not  comprise  the 
Elm,  Chestnut,  Maple,  Walnut,  Sycamore,  Holly, 
or  any  evergreen  except  some  of  the  Fir  tribe,  or 
Plum,  Pear,  Peach  and  Cherry,  or  any  other  fruit 
tree  except  Apple.  The  fact  of  their  adopting  La- 
tin names  for  all  these  trees,  shows  at  once  that 
when  first  they  came  in  contact  with  the  Roman 
provincials  on  the  Lower  Rhine,  they  were  foreign- 
ers, newly  arrived  as  colonists  or  conquerors,  from 
a  country  where  these  trees  were  unknown.    In 


fact,  they  came  from  their  home  in  the  East  with 
a  knowledge  of  letters,  and  the  useful  metals,  and 
with  nearly  all  the  domestic  animals ;  cultivated 
Oats,  Barley,  Wheat,  Rye  and  Beans;  built  houses 
of  timber  and  thatched  them,  and  actually  hedged 
their  fields  and  fenced  their  gardens. 

The  romantic  reader  will  be  sorry  to  find  that 
'  our  Sweet  Alisons  and  Herb  Trueloves,  our 
Hearteases,  Sweet  Cicelies,  and  Sweet  Williams 
resolve  themselves  into  sadly  matter-of-fact  terms, 
which  arose  from  causes  very  different  from  the 
pretty  thoughts  with  which  they  are  now  associated, 
and  sometimes,  as  in  the  case  of  the  Forget-me-not, 
were  suggestive  of  very  disagreeable  qualities. 
Many  we  shall  find  to  have  been  given  them  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  so-called  doctrine  of  signatures. 
This  was  a  system  for  discovering  the  medicinal 
uses  of  a  plant  from  something  in  its  external  ap- 
pearance, that  resembled  the  disease  it  would  cure; 
and  proceeded  upon  the  belief  that  God  had  in  this 
manner  indicated  its  especial  virtues.  Thus  the 
hard  stony  seeds  of  the  Gromwell  must  be  good  for 
gravel,  and  the  knotty  tubers  of  Scrophularia  for 
scrofulous  glands ;  while  the  scaly  pappus  of  Sca- 
bious showed  it  to  be  a  specific  in  leprous  diseases. " 

Besides  the  etymology  of  the  names,  taken  by 
themselves,  Dr.  Prior  says  the  question  is  ever 
arising,  why  they  should  have  been  affixed  to  cer- 
tain plants.  Here  the  fanciful  notions  of  writers 
must  generally  be  accepted  with  reserve.  Synonyms 
in  foreign  languages,  though  useful,  are  not  very 
trustworthy ;  for  authors,  mistaking  the  sense  of 
some  unusual  or  obsolete  word,  often  mistranslate 
it  into  another  ;  so  that  it  is  quite  impossible  to  re- 
concile what  is  said  of  certain  plants  by  Greek  and 
Latin  writers.  At  home  we  find  the  Scotchman's 
'Bluebell,'  which  he  celebrates  in  song,  a  totally 
different  flower  from  the  English  Bluebell.  This 
vague  way  of  applying  the  same  name  to  very  dif- 
ferent plants  causes  endless  confusion.  Who  would 
dream  that  the  Privet  has  obtained  a  name  indica- 
tive of  early  spring,  from  having  been  confused 
under  '  Ligustrum'  with  the  Primrose?  or  that  the 
Primrose  has  borrowed  its  name  from  the  Daisy? 

Under  the  word  Beech  we  learn  that  in  northern 
languages  the  word  book  and  Beech-tree  are  iden- 
tical, except  in  gender.  Thence,  by  comparison 
with  the  Sanskrit,  we  deduce  that  the  introduction 
of  alphabetic  signs  from  the  East  was  by  a  northern 
route,  and  not  from  the  Miditerranean.  For  had 
we  learnt  them  from  Greeks  or  Romans,  we  should 
have  adopted  their  names  for  book  and  writing 
materials.  The  Greeks  take  their  Bihlos  from  the 
name  of  an  Egyptian  plant,  showing  that  book 


Sth^  (Sarden^r'a  (Plonthlj, 


wrfting  was  a  foreign  art,  and  that  they  had  left 
the  parent  stock  before  its  invention.  The  Ger- 
mans still  retain  the  word  huch-stah  (beech-stave) 
in  the  sense  of  a  letter  of  the  alphabet,  the  tree 
and  its  wood  having  taken  their  name  and  use  in 
writing  from  northern  nations.  —  Gard.  Chronicle. 


All-summer  Apple. — "  1  send  you  a  couple  of 
apples,  of  a  variety  not  so  well  known  as  I  think  it 
sliould  be,  introduced  a  few  years  since  by  Casper 
lliller,  of  Conestoga  Centre,  Lancaster  Co,,  Pa. 
He  named  it  CAU-summer)  from  the  fact  of  its 
being  in  use  from  the  20th  of  June  till  September. 
A  handsome  grower,  regular  bearer,  not  failing 
here  in  five  years,  of  its  quality  and  appearance  you 
can  judge.  These  are  average  specimens  that  I 
send.  The  trees  commence  bearing  in  the  nursery. 
I  have  counted  seven  apples  on  a  four  year  old 
tree,  which  was  growing  as  thriftily  as  the  ot]iers 
around  it  that  had  none  on.  To  save  others  trouble 
I  will  state  that  I  have  no  trees  for  sale. — S.  Mil- 
ler, J.rau,  Lebanon  Co..,  Pa. 

[x\s  the  apple  is  a  very  distinct  variety,  we  have 
made  the  following  outline  of  the  smallest  sent  by 
Mr.  Miller,  of  which  we  have  taken  the  description 
annexed : 


Fruit  small  to  medium,  nearly  round ;  skin 
greenish  white,  very  clear,  pale  blush  tinge  on  the 
.sunny  side;  stalk  half  an  inch  long,  deeply  iinbed- 
ed  ;  calyx  small,  closed,  set  in  u  deep  regular  basin  ; 
flesh  very  white,  delicate,  crisp,  juicy,  with  a  pleas- 
ant vinous  but  not  high  flavor.  Season  from  June 
to  September. 


Mead's  Seedling  Strawberry. — This  is  one 
f  SL'veral  seedlings  rai.sed  by  Mr.    P.  B.    Mead, 


some  years  ago.  It  is  of  large  size,  berries  six  and 
seven  inches  in  circumference  being  not  uncommon 
with  good  culture.  It  is  conical  in  shape,  with  a 
white,  juicj,  sweet  flesh,  and  a  decided  pineapple 
flavor.  It  is  perfumed.  The  color  is  a  peculiar 
brilliant  scarlet.  The  surface  is  glossy  and  polished 
like  a  mirror.  It  will  not  bear  a  crop  like  the  Ilus- 
sell,  Wilson,  and  some  others ;  but  it  is  productive 
variety.  Its  sexual  character  is  nearly  pistillate. 
It  is  a  hybrid,  being  a  cross  between  the  Pine  and 
the  Scarlet. 


Rogers'  No.  15  Grape. — We  have  permission 
to  publish  the  following,  which,  as  every  thing  re- 
lating to  grapes  has  a  peculiar  interest  just  now, 
will  be  acceptable  to  our  readers : 

Messrs.  Wilder  &  Baker— Gents:  One  of 
the  Rogers'  Hybrid  Grapes,  which  I  purchased  of 
you  in  the  spring  of  1 864,  has  fruited  a  few  bunches 
this  season — now  ripening.  It  is  No.  15.  It  is  the 
finest  grape  I  have  tasted  this  season — better  be- 
cause larger  and  more  productive,  and  equal  in 
quality  to  the  Delaware. 

I  have  also  a  No.  4,  of  three  year's  growth,  in 
pretty  full  bearing,  and  that  is  a  better  grape  than 
any  others  except  Delaware.  My  vines  were  cov- 
ered a  little  with  straw  last  winter,  and  I  did  not 
lose  one. 

I  shall  take  up  a  quantity  of  Isabellas  and  Ca- 
tawbas — Concords  and  Clintons — to  make  room  for 
the  hybrids  this  fall  and  next  spring.  All  the 
vines  which  I  had  of  you  have  made  good  growth 
except  two,  and  these  not  well  ,set. 

Catawbas  in  our  vineyard  have  rotted  (Black 
Rot),  but  not  so  as  to  injure  the  crop  generally. 

We  shall  make  a  good  deal  of  wine  this  season  in 
this  vicinity.  No.  4  is  very  vinous.  Why  will  it 
not  make  wine?  How  much  saccharine  has  it? — 
E.  G.  Johnson,  Peoria,  PI. 

New  Hothouse  Grape: —  Hbvey^s  Magazine 
notices  a  new  grape,  produced  by  M.  H.  Simpson, 
of  Saxonville,  as  follows  : 

"The  new  grape,  which  we  now  briefly  notice, 
but  which  we  hope  to  offer  a  more  complete  ac- 
count of  by  Mr.  Simpson  himself,  was  exhibited 
last  year  before  the  Fruit  Committee  of  the  Mas- 
sachusett's  Horticultural  Society,  and  commended 
for  the  peculiarity  of  being  free  from  seeds.  By 
the  kindness  of  Mr.  Simpson,  we  have  now  before 
us  a  beautiful  cluster  of  this  new  grape,  and  a  full 
taste  of  it  increases  our  appreciation  of  its  excel- 
lence. The  bunch  is  not  large,  and  the  berry  only 
of  medium  size ;  but  the  cluster  is  full  and  even. 


■"SKT 


310 


C^4  ®arfmr*s  ^oittWj. 


and  the  berries  uniform  in  appearance,  not  unevenly 
sized,  as  they  are  in  grapes  which  do  not  set,  and 
which  do  not  swell  up  only  such  berries  as  have 
seeds.  The  color  is  jet  black,  with  a  fine  bloom, 
and  the  flavor  sprightly,  rich  and  delicious.  As  a 
show  grape  it  will  not,  of  course,  hold  a  high  place, 
but  for  quality;  and  especially  for  the  use  of  inva- 
lids, the  absence  of  seeds  renders  it  highly  valuble. 
The  skin  is  thin,  and  every  thing  can  be  eaten. 
Amateurs  of  the  grape,  who  do  not  care  for  show, 
will,  we  think,  deem  Mr.  Simpson's  grape  a  fine 
addition  to  their  collections." 


New  Foreign  Strawberries. —  The  Roynl 
Hauiboxs. — Through  the  kindness  of  the  Rev.  W. 
F.  Radclyffe,  of  Rushton,  we  have  received  a  bas- 
ket of  the  fruit  of  '  River's  Royal  Hautbois,'  which, 
notwithstanding  the  distance  travelled,  came  in  ex- 
cellent condition.  This  is  by  far  the  best  variety 
of  the  Hautbois  we  have  ever  seen.  It  is  the  lar- 
gest in  size  and  the  most  abundant  bearer,  and  the 
flavor  is  superior  to  any  other  of  the  Hautbois. 
The  color,  like  that  of  all  other  varieties,  is  partly 
purplish  rose  and  partly  pale  yellowish  ;  and  the 
flavor,  as  a  friend  remarked,  was  "like  Strawber- 
ries and  cream." 

Mr.  De  Jonghe,  of  Brussels,  has  sent  us  speci- 
mens of  two  new  Strawberries,  which  we  think  will 
prove  useful  additions  to  those  already  in  cultiva- 
tion, if  it  were  for  no  other  property  than  that  of 
bearing  a  long  journey  without  injury.  In  both  of 
these  the  flesh  is  so  firm  and  solid  that  the  condi- 
tion in  which  we  received  them  was  most  excellent, 
and  the  flavor  was  not  in  the  least  destroyed  : 

Bijou. — This  is  evidently  of  the  same  race  as  that 
other  excellent  variety  raised  by  Mr.  De  Jonghe 
called  La  Constante.  The  stalks  of  the  leaves  and 
fruit  are  short  and  stout,  clothed  with  spreading 
hairs.  The  blade  of  .the  leaves  is  of  a  glaucous 
green  beneath,  and  a  clear  shining  dark  green 
above.  Flowers  small.  Fruit  not  so  large  as  La 
Constante,  from  which  it  was  raised,  ovate  or  coni- 
cal, regularly  formed,  and  having  large  seeds,  which 
are  level  with  or  rather  prominent  on  the  surface. 
The  skin  is  of  a  clear,  varnished  cherry-red,  well 
colored  all  over  the  surface.  Flesh  firm  and  solid, 
white  throughout,  juicy,  rich,  and  with  a  sprightly 
flavor. 

This  seems  a  very  hardy  variety,  judging  from 
the  leaves  and  fruit  that  were  received. 

Souvenir. — This  is  apparently  of  more  luxuriant 
growth  than  Bijou  and  Constante,  but  it  has  all  the 
appearance  of  belonging  to  the  same  hardy  race. 


It  is  an  immense  bearer,  and  produces  masses  of 
noble  fruit.  The  stalks  of  the  leaves  and  fruit  are 
clothed  with  spreading  hairs  ;  the  leaves  are  broad, 
roundish,  and  deeply  dentate,  of  a  dark  and  some- 
what shining  green  above. 

The  fruit  is  large,  sometimes  very  large,  varying 
from  rounded  ovate  to  long  conical,  and  in  some 
instances  it  is  irregular  and  corrugated  in  shape. 
Seeds  large  and  even  with  the  surface.  Skin  of  a 
uniform  shining  cherry-red  color.  Flesh  white, 
firm,  and  solid,  juicy,  richly  flavored,  and  with  a 
fine  pineapple  aroma. 

This  is  a  very  excellent  Strawberry,  and,  in  our 
opinion,  surpasses  all  the  other  varieties  raised  by 
Mr.  De  Jonghe. — London  Cottage  Gardener. 


JIM  or  p.erp  plflnh* 


New  Bedding  Geraniums.— Mr.  Wm.  Paul 
exhibited  several  seedling  Scarlet  Pelargoniums  of 
the  Nosegay  section,  these  seedlings  being  results 
of  the  perseverance  of  the  late  indefatigable  and 
enthusiastic  florist,  Mr.  D.  Beaton.  There  is  deci- 
ded novelty  in  their  color  and  style  which  will  ren- 
der them  indispensable  in  every  collection.  They 
are  but  the  fruits  of  careful  hybridizing,  and  we 
may  reasonbly  expect  further  progress.  Some  of 
these  seedlings  have  much  broader  petals  than  the 
usual  Nosegay  section,  such  as  Stella,  Merrimac, 
etc.  ,  but  that  by  no  means  gives  a  coarseness  to 
the  truss,  although  it  would  almost  constitute  an 
intermediate  position  between  the  broad-petalled 
section  and  the  Nosegays : 

Amy  Hogg — Light  rosy  purple,  very  large,  fine 
truss  standing  well  above  the  foliage,  AYhich  is 
slightly  zonate.  This  variety  is  quite  new  and  dis- 
tinct in  color  ;  as  a  bedding  plant  it  will  be  invalu- 
able ;  it  was  the  admiration  of  all  who  saw  it — first 
class  certificate. 

Rebecca — Rosy  scarlet,  broad  petals,  fine  truss, 
distinct  and  new  in  color  ;  a  most  useful  variety  for 
bedding  purposes — first  class  certificate. 

Beauty  of  TFaWiam— Darker  shade  of  color,  fine 
flower,  medium  truss — second  class  certificate. 

Ghioivorm— Quite  a  novelty,  with  bright  scarlet 
upper  petals,  the  lower  deep  carmine.  The  trusses 
of  this  seedling  were  thin.  If  this  plant  can  be 
grown  stronger  it  will  not  be  surpassed  by  any  other 
Nosegay. 

Beaton  s  Indian  Yelloxo— This,  again,  though 
quite  novel  in  color,  in  its  present  state  did  not  pro- 
duce  sufiiciently  large  and  compact  trusses,  the 


^Xl. 


^t  (Sarbenefs  Haittfjls. 


311 


essential  qualification  of  this  section  of  Pelargoni- 
mns. 

Orange  Nosegay — Had  the  same  deficiency  as 
the  last  two. 

Some  of  these  seedlings  will  doubtless  be  exhi- 
bited again,  when  they  may  present  an  improved 
appearance. — Report  of  London  Horticultural  So- 
cietys  Exlnhition. 


BoussiNGAULTTA  GRACILIS.  —  A  new  species 
from  Brazil,  described  by  BIr.  Miers,  who  remarks : 

"The  genus  Boussingaultia  was  founded  in  1825 
by  Kunth,  on  a  plant  from  the  Ecuador  region, 
which  was  then  described  and  figured  by  him  ;  he 
placed  it  in  Chenopodese,  pointed  out  its  affiinity 
to  Basella  and  Anredera.  Subsequently  the  family 
of  the  Basellaceas  was  established  by  Moquin  Tan- 
don,  who  placed  Boussingaultia  there,  in  his  sub- 
order Anredereas,  according  at  the  same  time  two 
other  species  from  Mexico.  All  the  plants  of  this 
family,  comprised  under  six  genera,  belong  to  the 
New  World,  except  those  of  the  genus  Basella, 
which  is  Asiatic.  The  discovery  of  a  new  species 
of  Boussingaultia  from  Brazil  is  therefore  interest- 
ing, for  all  the  plants  above  mentioned  are  confined 
to  the  western  side  of  the  American  continent.  It 
is  true  that  Tweedie  sent  a  plant  from  Buenos 
Ayres,  supposed  to  be  cultivated,  and  which  was 
referred  to  Kunth' s  type  of  the  genus  ;  but  it  was 
probably  the  plant  now  about  to  be  described, 
which  forms  a  fourth  species  of  the  genus."  This 
new  Boussingaultia  bears  long,  very  slender,  and 
dense-flowered  racemes,  and  was  gathei'ed  by  Mr. 
Weir  in  the  province  of  S.  Paulo. 

[Tbe  description  is  very  much  like  our  Madiera- 
vine  {B.  haselhides),  which  we  think  is  not  known 
in  England.— Ed.  G.  M.] 


Double-flowered  Potentillas. — Raised  by 
M.  Lemoine,  of  Nanc}',  who  has  earned  great  rep- 
utation in  the  production  of  these  flowers.  Tlrey 
consist  of:  Dr.  Andry,  with  enormous  flowers  of 
a  deep  orange  with  scarlet  veins ;  Louis  Van 
Hoxitte,  very  .  large  velvety  crimson-scarlet ;  M. 
Naiidin,  dwarf,  with  large  crimson  )-ed  flowers  ;  M, 
Eouillard,  large  transparent  vermilion ;  V.  Le- 
moine with  enormous  incurved  convex  flowers,  gar- 
net colored  shaded  with  vermilion,  and  bordered 
with  yellow  ;  William  Rollinfson,  with  large  flowers 
of  Indian  yellow,  bordered  and  shaded  with  very 
lively  reddish  orange. 

BouVARDiA  LEIANTHA. — From  M.  Lemoine  of 
Nancy.  Grandis,  carmine  orange,  with  flowers  three 

■i>    '" ^ 


times  larger  than  the  type ;  floribunda,  with  very 
abundant  flowers  in  magnificent  panicles,  and  lar- 
ger than  in  other  hybrids,  of  a  cochineal  rose  during 
summer,  and  carmine  orange  in  autumn  ;  splcndida, 
with  the  habit  of  the  variety  called  Hogarth,  and 
the  fine  color  of  leiantha  itself — L' Hort.  Francais. 


Cle>iatis  Fortunii  AND  Standishii. — These, 
perhaps,  are  the  most  magnificent  of  all  Mr.  Fox*- 
tune's  contributions  from  Japan. 


Weigela  hortensis  nivea  is  a  name  given  by 
M.  Yon  Siebold  to  a  fine  ornamental  Japanese 
shrub,  which  he  has  introduoed  to  the  gardens  of 
Europe.  It  is  a  plant  of  vigorous  habit,  and  is  de- 
scribed as  having  the  leaves  large  and  strongly 
veined,  and  the  flowers  very  large,  of  a  pure  snowy 
white,  retaining  their  purity  during  the  whole  time 
of  flowering.  Both  this,  and  Mr.  Fortune's  white 
Weigela,  will  be  valuable  for  the  purpose  of  con- 
trasting with  the  deeper-colored  kinds  already  com- 
mon in  gardens. — Gard.  Chronicle. 


Arundo  conspicua. — A  worthy  rival  of  the 
Pampas  (xrass,  flowering  very  freely  three  months 
earlier  in  the  season  than  that  old  favorite. 


A  New  Variety  op  Athyrium  Filix-pcemi- 
NA. — This  remarkably  beautiful  variety  of  the  com- 
mon Lady  Fern  had  been  collected  by  Mr.  James 
Cosh,  in  1862,  by  a  roadside  in  Stirlingshire.  In 
the  spring  of  last  j^ear  Mr.  Sadler  had  sown  spores 
taken  from  the  plant,  some  of  which  had  germina- 
ted, but  as  yet  exhibited  none  of  the  peculiarities 
of  their  parent.  A  specimen  had  been  transmitted 
to  Mr.  Moore,  of  the  Chelsea  Botanic  Garden,  who 
pronounced  it  an  undescribed  variety  ;  and  as  the 
Queen  among  Lady  Ferns,  recommended  that  it 
should  be  called  Vicotrice,.  The  fronds  are  from 
ten  to  eighteen  inches  in  length,  and  crested  at  the 
apex.  The  pinnte  are  also  crested,  but  instead  of 
being  single,  as  in  most  other  varieties,  they  leave 
the  rachis  in  pairs,  and  at  such  an  angle  that  each 
alternate  pair  overlap  each  other,  so  as  to  give  a 
beautiful  plaited  appearance  to  the  whole  frond. — 
Gard.  Chronicle. 


Primula  cortusoides.— This  old  favorite  is 
likely  to  originate  a  race  of  very  popular  hardy  bor- 
der spring  flowers.  The  large  flowered  and  high 
colored  varieties  introduced  from  Japan  by  Mr. 
Veitch,  of  which  that  called  amcena  is  the  best, 
show  every  disposition  to  break  away  both  in  re- 
spect to  color  and  form,  and  we  shall  not  be  sur- 


%h  (Sarbmr's  llantMj. 


prised  to  see  some  very  beautiful  things  produced 
auiODg  the  seedlings. — Cottage  Gardener. 


TJrceolina  AUREA.— This  most  charming  bulb 
has  been  sent  by  Mr.  Pearce  from  Peru,  and  has 
been  lately  flowering  in  the  nursery  of  Messrs. 
Veitch.  It  forms  two  broad  oval  leaves,  and  a  ta- 
pering scape  a  foot  or  so  high,  on  the  top  of  which 
appears  an  umbel  composed  of  gracefully  nodding 
flowers.  These  are  the  purest  yellow,  with  the  tips 
only  green,  ovate,  triangular,  3-celled,  with  14 
ovules  arranged  in  two  rows  in  each  cell.  The  gen- 
eral manner  of  growth  when  in  flower  is  that  of  a 
Phycela,  or  some  such  plant.  If  it  should  prove 
obedient  to  cultivation,  which  we  do  not  doubt,  it 
will  be  a  perfect  gem  in  a  conservatory. 

We  retain  the  excellent  name  of  Urceolina,  even 
although  also  emploj'ed  in  Zoology,  in  preference  to 
Collania,  a  queer  travesty  of  the  name  of  an  Ital- 
ian Botanist. —  Gard.  Chronicle. 


New  Roses.— At  a  recent  Exhibition  of  the 
London  Horticultural  Society,  Mr.  W.  Paul  exhi- 
bited four  seedling  roses : 

Glohosa  CHybrid  Perpetual), a  globular,  compact, 
crimson  red  flower. 

Dr.  Lindlcy,  a  shaded  dark  flower  of  very  pro- 
mising qualities. 

Princess  of  Wales  and  Eobusta,  both  of  which 
were  much  admired. 


^oiHFsfir  InWIigporp. 

The  Mammoth  Pear  Tree.— I  wish  to  correct 
a  mistake  in  Downing's  "  Fruit  and  Fruit  Trees  of 
America,"  page  318  old  edition,  408  new  edition, 
copied  from  an  article  of  H.  W.  Beecher,  in  Ho- 
vey's  Magazine— also  by  Dr.  Warder,  in  Commis- 
sion of  Agriculture's  Report,  for  1861— viz.  : 

"  Many  fabulous  stories  are  told  of  theBenefield 
Pear  (the  name  it  has  been  known  by  for  many 
years^  tree  in  Knox  county,  Ind.  Downing  says : 
'  One  of  the  most  remarkable  Pear  trees  in  this 
country  is  growing  in  Illinois,  about  ten  miles  north 
of  Vincennes,  (Ind. )  The  girth  of  its  trunk  one 
foot  above  ground,  is  ten  feet,  and  at  nine  feet  from 
ground,  six  and  a  half  feet.'  Dr.  Warder  refers  to 
it  in  about  the  same  language. 

As  these  reports  are  incorrect,  I  will  give  one  as 
correct  as  can  be  had,  for  I  have  visited  the  tree 
twice,  measured  it  myself,  and  got  information  con- 
cerning it  of  Mrs.  Wiley,  who  was  a  member  of 

"^■D — ■ ' 


Mrs,  Oxletrees'  family,  the  latter  lady  being  yet 
living  about  three  hundred  yards  from  the  tree. 

Any  person  wishing  to  see  the  tree,  will  find  it 
about  one  half  mile  east  of  Vinceunes  station  on 
the  railroad  running  from  Terre  Haute  to  Lafayette. 

The  tree  is  about  eighty  years  old,  having  been 
set  by  Mrs.  Oxletree  after  using  it  as  a  riding 
switch  in  a  ride  from  Vinceunes.  She  stuck  it  in 
the  ground  in  the  corner  of  the  lot,  and  from  it  has 
grown  this  enormous  tree.  As  I  measured  it,  I 
found  it  to  be  11  feet  10  inches  in  circumference 
14  inches  above  the  ground.  Trunk  only  5  feet. 
Height  about  65  feet.  Area  of  top  94  feet  in  cir- 
cumference. The  tree  beai-s  a  heavy  crop  every 
other  year — the  intervening  year  about  half  a  crop. 

It  stands  in  an  open  field  on  a  north  elevation. 
The  soil  is  a  light  clay  mixed  with  sand.  Mrs. 
W.  told  me  that  over  one  hundred  and  thirty 
bushels  of  fruit  had  been  measured  from  it  in  a 
single  season.  The  tree  came  into  bearing  the  fifth- 
teenth  year,  but  with  me  the  grafts  have  fruited  in 
five  years.  Like  the  Dix  pear  it  is  almost  thorn- 
less.  It  is  remarkable  that  no  blight  of  any  kind 
touches  it — neither  does  it  sprout  from  the  root. 

The  roots  are  exposed  above  the  surface  of  the 
ground  like  the  Beech.  It  has  been  on  the  decline 
about  ten  years,  and  seemingly  cannot  last  more 
than  ten  more  ;  but  with  care  might  have  lived  25 
years  longer,  I  would  sooner  part  with  the  Bart- 
lett  than  with  this  variety.  The  fruit  is  of  the  me- 
dium quality.  It  is  undoubtedly  a  French  variety. 
Every  man  should  have  trees  of  this  variety. — B. 
Sweet,  in  Frairie  Farmer. 


Substitute  for  Coal. — A  letter  from  Newbu- 
ryport,  saj's : — "The  people  are  cutting  large 
quantities  of  peat,  the  recent  dry  season  being  very 
favorable  for  its  cutting.  A  great  deal  has  been 
haulded  off"  to  dry,  thus  clearly  showing  that  one 
class  are  free  from  the  high  price  of  coal  and  wood. 
There  is  plenty  of  peat  to  be  had  on  the  meadows." 


The  Old  Elm  at  Pittsfield. — The  old  Elm 
at  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  loved  and  admired  by  every 
son  of  Berkshire,  ever  since  the  settlement  of  Pitts- 
field, has  at  lust  been  removed.  It  was  one  of  the 
noted  trees  of  the  country,  and  attracted  much  at- 
tention from  every  stranger  who  visited  the  town 
from  its  stately  form  and  venerable  age.  It  has,  at 
last,  yielded  to  time  and  the  elements.  The  re- 
turning visitor,  says  the  Eagle,  "will  miss  its  tall, 
gray,  shattered  trunk,  and  its  single  green  bough, 
waving  like  a  banner  high  above  all  else.  The  town 
clung  to  the  old  tree  as  long  as  it  could  believe  it 


C^^  iarbmer^s  Pcnt^Ij, 


safe  ;  indeed,  we  must  confess  that  our  love  for  It 
had  warped  our  judgment,  and  that  its  condition 
after  its  fall  shows  that  it  has  long  been  dangerous 
to  passers  under  it.  It  was  found,  by  Mr.  W.  M. 
Root,  who  counted  its  annual  rings  by  the  aid  of  a 
magnifying  glass,  that  they  indicated  an  age  of  340 
years,  which  is  doubtless  not  far  from  correct.  The 
height  of  the  trunk  to  the  first  limb  was  68  feet. 
The  total  height  in  the  best  days  of  the  tree  was 
128  feet,  and  the  circumference  of  the  butt  was  28 
feet. 


Vinegar  and  Olive  Oil. — A  great  part  of  the 
vinegar  consumed  in  Paris  is  produced  by  the  dis- 
tillation of  vine-stalks.  It  is  much  stronger  than 
vinegar  produced  from  the  distillation  of  wine,  and 
it  is  consequently  reduced  by  the  addition  of  water 
previous  to  being  offered  for  sale.  The  neigh  Dor- 
hood  of  Orleans  produces  the  greatest  quantity  of 
white  wine  vinegar  sold  in  Paris.  A  great  propor- 
tion of  what  is  sold  for  olive  oil  is  either  poppy  oil 
or  beech  oil  flavored  with  olive  oil.  Unadulterated 
olive  oil,  which  is  scarce  and  dear  in  Paris,  comes 
from  Provence  ("where  the  production  is  constantly 
diminishing},  from  Genoa,  and  the  island  of  Can- 
dia.  Algeria  now  supplies  a  large  quantity  of  olive 
oil.  Rape  oil  is  produced  chiefly  in  the  departments 
of  the  Nord,  the  Pas  de  Calais,  and  Calvados, 
where  the  cultivation  of  the  plant  is  a  great  source 
of  wealth.  It  is  used  for  the  lamp,  for  painting, 
and  in  various  manufactures.  Fish  oil,  brought  to 
France  by  the  boats  engaged  in  the  northern  fishe- 
ry, is  chiefly  employed  in  dressing  leather. — Scien- 
tific American. 


Fine  GtArdens  near  Chicago.— Since  our  last 
visit  to  H.  M.  Thompson's  fine  place  at  Lake  Fo- 
rest, he  has  added  very  materially  to  its  embellish- 
ment. The  Conservatory  has  been  remodelled  and 
handsomely  fitted  up  every  way  ;  in  it  were  the  re- 
mains of  what  has  been  the  finest  show  of  Azaleas 
in  the  West.  Besides  this,  Mr.  T.  has  built  quite 
a  range  of  houses.  In  one  is  a  beautiful  lot  of  hot- 
house plants,  all  in  the  highest  style  of  keeping. 
Conspicuous,  and  right  in  the  centre,  is  a  glorious 
example  of  the  Palm,  Livingstonia  Bourhonica^ 
from  the  Isle  of  Bourbon.  To  those  who  never  saw 
these  fine  trojiical  plants,  the  example  would  give 
a  good  idea  of  what  they  are.  Its  leaves  extend 
over  a  diameter  of  at  least  15  feet.  It  forms  an  ad- 
mirable centre  around  which  are  arranged  a  choice 
and  rare  collection  of  tropical  plants  from  various 
parts  of  the  globe.  _  A  few  in  flower ;  but  the  great 
beauty  consists  in  the  diversity  of  foliage,  being 


composed  of  those  of  the  largest  to  the  most  tiny: 
as,  for  instance,  the  Palm  and  the  Selaginella  denffo^ 
a  gem  of  a  little  thing.  By  the  bye,  here  is  a  very 
good  collection  of  ferns  and  mosses,  that  add  much 
to  the  general  eflfect ;  his  Tree  Ferns  from  Australia 
and  New  Holland  being  very  grand. 

We  have  quite  a  list  of  novelties  noted,  but  fear 
their  high  sounding  names  would  not  suSiciently 
interest  the  general  reader  to  warrant  their  inser- 
tion. Those  who  would  like  to  see  what  money  can 
do  in  gardening,  had  better  take  a  trip  to  this  place. 
We  understand  Mr.  T.  purchased  of  a  prominent 
florist  east,  nearly  a  thousand  dollars  worth  of  plants 
Right  glad  are  we  to  see  them  among  us,  and  ten- 
der our  thanks  to  Mr.  Thompson  for  his  spirited 
liberality,  and  hope  the  example  will  be  followed 
by  others  of  the  western  merchant  princes.  The 
conservatory,  a  hothouse,  and  what  was  designed 
for  a  greenhouse,  are  heated  by  Weathered  &  Cher- 
evoy's  hot  water  apparatus,  without  regard  to  ex- 
pense. 

The  past  winter  has  been  very  severe  on  many 
of  the  choice  trees  planted  outside  and  the  vines  in 
the  greenhouse,  through  insufl&cient  covering,  and 
on  the  Pears  and  other  fruits.  We  noticed  peaches 
from  the  orchard  house  a  large  as  hickory  nuts ; 
and  ripe  strawberries  had  been  picked  while  worth 
$2,50  per  quart  in  Chicago. 

Mr.  Frank  Calvert  is  still  the  gardener  here,  and 
need  not  be  ashamed  of  his  works. 

Next  lot  adjoining  Mr.  T.,  D.  R.  Holt,  Esq.,  has 
a  very  pretty  home  ;  not  so  elaborate  though  tastily 
kept. 

C.  U.  Stobe.  This  gentleman,  formerly  from 
Baltimore,  now  a  florist  of  this  city,  is  pushing 
ahead,  and  has  a  large  quantity  of  Roses  of  choice 
kinds.  His  place  is  rather  too  near  the  famed 
Bridgeport  to  be  pleasing,  but  he  has  a  strong  good 
soil  for  growing  perpetual  roses,  seemingly  a  spe- 
ciality with  him.  His  grounds  are  on  Stewart  Av- 
enue, a  little  south  of  the  Archer  Road. — E.  San- 
ders, in  Prairie  Farmer. 


Crystallized'  Fruit. — Beat  the  white  of  an 
egg  to  a  froth  ;  dip  your  fruit  in  it ;  then  roll  it  in 
white  sifted  sugar  candy ;  when  quite  dry,  place 
the  fruit  in  a  stove,  to  be  very  slowly  dried.  Or, 
you  may  dry  your  fruit  first,  then  dip  it  in  white 
of  an  egg  and  then  dust  it  with  white  sugar,  or  su- 
gar candy,  finally  drying  it  off. 


Wood  for  Railroad  Fuel. — Ohio  was  a 
densely  wooded  country,  and  most  of  our  railroads, 
in  consequence  of  seeking  the  lowest  grade,  passed 


ij^0 


-OBi 


^\t  §mkmx'B  JKont|l5» 


through  wooded  districts  :  yet,  on  our  main  lines, 
the  wood  is  disappearing  at  a  rate  which  will  soon 
put  it  out  of  the  power  of  the  railroad  companies 
to  command  wood  under  a  very  high  price.  In  for- 
mer articles  on  this  subject,  we  showed  that  the 
railroads  of  Ohio  consumed  (12,000)  twelve  thousand 
acres  of  wood  per  annum-  At  this  rate  it  is  very 
evident  wood  cannot  be  consumed  by  railroads  very 
long  at  any  moderate  rate. — Railroad  Record. 


Hybridization  of  Fruits.— An  ancient  friend 
of  Gil  Bias  laments  that  the  Peaches,  which,  in  his 
boyhood,  were  as  big  as  Pumpking,  diminished 
sadly  in  size  in  his  old  age.  Most  of  us  have  felt 
as  he  did  with  regard  to  the  fruits  of  boyhood.  By 
careful  crossing,  Bakewell  improved  the  ragged, 
bony  sheep  of  his  youth  into  the  full-fleeced  fleshy 
sheep  of  the  present  day ;  and  there  is  no  reason 
why  the  present  race  of  fruits  should  not  by  the 
means  he  employed,  be  improved  into  a  race  nearly 
as  big  as  the  youthful  Pumpkins  of  Gil  Bias'  friend. 

The  introduction  of  orchard  houses  has  removed 
the  obstacles  which  have  hitherto  existed  ;  the  un- 
certainty of  out-door  cultivation  has  been  too  dis- 
heartening to  the  English  fruit-grower,  and  our 
fruit  gardens,  with  few  exceptions,  owe  the  intro- 
duction of  improved  varieties  to  foreign  cultivators, 
who  appear  to  have  depended  more  upon  chance 
than  any  skillfully  arranged  system;  their  efibrts 
have  however  given  very  satisfactory  results, 

The  Acton  Scot  Peach,  a  hybrid  obtained  by 
crossing  the  Early  Nutmeg  and  Royal  George 
Peach,  raised  by  Knight,  and  more  recently  the 
Victoria  and  Prince  of  Wales  Pears,  raised  by  Mr. 
Huyshe,  from  the  Marie  Louise  and  Gansel's  Ber- 
gamot,  show  that  there  is  no  lack  of  success  in 
England,  where  skillful  hands  and  heads  are  at 
work ;  these  efforts  have  however  been  isolated, 
and  it  is  during  the  years  to  come  that  the  most 
important  results  may  be  expected  from  this  inter- 
esting branch  of  horticulture. 

In  a  well  stocked  and  well  cultivated  orchard 
house,  all  the  materials  for  the  raising  of  seedlings 
exist,  and  as  Peaches  hold  the  first  rank  among  re- 
fined fruit,  I  will  begin  with  them.  The  earliest 
Peach  known  is  the  White  Nutmeg,  but  valuable 
on  that  account  only,  the  fruit  being  small  and  in- 
ferior ;  it  should  be  improved  by  crossing  with 
Grosse  Mignonne,  NDblesse,  or  Royal  George;  and 
to  obtain  size,  with  the  Pavie  de  Pomponne  or 


Catharine  ;  probably  the  produce  of  the  first  gene- 
ration will  be  a  disappointment,  but  patience  is  a 
most  needful  virtue  in  every  thing  connected  with 
pomology,  and  the  third  or  fourth  genei'ation  may 
repair  the  defects  of  the  first.  Following  the  White 
Nutmeg  we  have  the  Red  Nutmeg  and  Petite 
Mignonne,  the  latter  a  most  delicious  peach,  but 
now  too  small ;  it  has  a  great  tendency  to  repro- 
duce itself^  but,  fertilized  with  the  large  varieties 
already  named,  a  very  valuable  early  fruit  may  be 
hoped  for. 

The  Early  Anne,  Early  York,  and  Acton  Scot  are 
all  excellent  early  peaches,  but  too  small.  The 
Early  York  reproduces  itself  from  seed  with  little 
variation,  and  is  likely,  with  careful  crossing,  to 
give  the  best  results ;  it  should  be  allied  to  the  lar- 
gest known  varieties,  irrespective  of  season  of 
maturity. 

The  Shanghai  Peach  promises  to  be  a  valuable 
hybridizer ;  it  is  very  large,  very  hardy  and  very 
productive,  the  flesh  particularly  firm  and  solid, 
withal  a  good  melting  peach  ;  a  good  market  fruit 
ought  to  be  raised  from  this  variety. 

It  seems  like  gilding  fine  gold  to  improve  the 
flavor  of  the  Noblesse,  but  if  crossed  with  the  Stan- 
wick  Nectarine,  this  result  is  possible.  To  obtain 
size,  combined  with  flavor,  the  Grosse  Mignonne, 
Noblesse,  Galande,  and  Royal  George  should  be 
crossed  with  the  large  Clingstone  Peaches.  Some 
of  the  Pavies  in  the  South  of  France  are  enormous, 
and  as  a  melting  peach  will  produce  a  Pavie  from 
seed,  and  a  Pavie  a  melting  peach,  some  good  hy- 
brids may  be  obtained. 

To  prolong  the  Peach  season,  the  late  American 
varieties  will  be  valuable ;  some  of  these  will  hang 
on  the  trees  till  November,  and  present  an  impos- 
ing exterior  on  the  dessert  table ;  they  will  not, 
however,  bear  the  test  of  'degustation.'  They 
should  be  crossed  with  the  Grosse  Mignonne,  No- 
blesse, and  the  Walburton  Admirable. 

The  Desse  and  Boudin  may  be  improved  by  an 
alliance  with  Stanwick  Nectarine  and  Noblesse 
Peach. 

Dr.  Lindley,  when  the  Stanwick  Nectarine  was 
introduced,  pointed  out  its  great  value  as  a  hybrid- 
izer. Crossed  with  the  Pitmaston  Orange,  the  El- 
ruge,  and  the  very  precocious  Fairchild's  Early 
Nectarine,  some  fine  varieties  may  probably  be 
obtained. 

A  race  of  late  Nectarines  originating  from  the 
Peterborough  a  late  melting  sort  has  been  raised 
here ;  though  large  and  handsome  its  flesh  is  too 
tough.  Crossed  with  melting  peaches  and  Stanwick 
Nectarine,  the  season  of  good  Nectarines,    fully 


"^HJ- 


ij\t  6ar4tner*s  (P;0ntblg» 


equal  in  quality  to  the  earlier  kinds,  may  be  pro- 
longed until  November  ;  the  very  large  Newington 
Nectarine  will  ijrobably  prove  the  parent  of  some 
fine  melting  varieties  if  allied  to  the  freestone  sorts. 

In  the  orchard  house  here  are  now  110  seedling 
Peaches  and  Nectarines,  nearly  all  bearing  fruit 
with  the  help  of  glass  and  pot  culture  ;  this  satis- 
factory result  has  been  obtained  in  the  short  space 
of  from  three  to  five  years. 

I  had  the  good  fortune  two  years  since,  when 
attending  the  Fruit  Congress  at  Namur,  to  be  in- 
troduced to  M.  Gregoire-Nelis.  This  gentleman 
has  earned  a  just  reputation  for  the  excellence  of 
his  seedling  Pears;  he  was  good  natured  enough 
to  give  me  a  history  of  his  efforts,  but  he  did  not 
say  that  he  had  hybridized  any  varieties,  his  sys 
tem  consisting  in  the  selection  of  the  largest  pips 
from  the  finest  and  best  flavored  fruits.  If  by  this 
simple  method  so  many  good  and  diverse  varieties 
have  been  obtained,  a  careful  and  systematic  hy- 
bridization should  give  vastly  superior  results. 

The  Doyenne  d'Etes  is  the  earliest  of  all  Pears  ; 
small,  with  an  agreeable  but  not  superior  flavor  ;  it 
is  an  abundant  bearer  and  should  be  crossed  with 
either  Jargonelle,  Beurre  Giffart,  Bon  Chretien 
(Williams)  Beurre  Superfin,  or  Louise  Bonne  d' 
Avrenches,  all  possessing  qualities  in  which  it  is 
deficient.  The  old  fashioned  Lammas,  Green 
Chisel,  and  Citron  des  Carmes  will  probably  be  the 
parents  of  fine  early  Pears,  crossed  with  larger  and 
finer  varieties.  The  Jargonelle  and  Beurre  Giffart, 
fertilized  with  their  hardier  cousins,  may  produce 
seedlings  hardy  enough  for  the  North  of  England, 
without  the  protection  of  a  wall. 

The  enormous  size  of  the  Uvedale's  St.  Germain 
renders  it  a  most  important  parent ;  crossed  with 
Beurre  Superfin,  Jargonelle,  or  Marie  Louise,  the 
produce  may  possibly  possess  the  delicate  flavor  of 
the  latter,  combined  with  the  enormous  size  of  the 
former,  a  result  most  devoutly  to  be  desired,  as  our 
Pears  may  then  at  all  events  be  as  big  as  Pump- 
kins. 

The  best  of  our  winter  pears,  Winter  Nelis  and 
Josephine  de  Malines,  are  too  small ;  hybridized 
with  either  Beurre  Dial,  Triomphe  de  Jodoigne, 
Duchesse  d'Angouleme,  or  Easter  Beurre,  a  great- 
ly improved  progeny  may  result.  During  February 
we  have  the  delicious  Berganiotte  d'Esperen  ;  this 
is  too  small,  and  should  be  crossed  with  Gansel's 
Bergamot,  Beurre  Ranee  or  Easter  Beurre ;  in 
March  and  April  the  two  last  are  large  enough,  but 
their  flavor  is  not  super-excellent.  TRe  recent  in- 
troduction of  Madame  Millet  has  provided  an  ex- 
cellent pear  for  May,  and  Bezi  Mai  and  Morel  will 


last  till  June,  but  though  they  look  well  on  the 
dessert  table,  they  must  not  be  tried  by  any  other 
organ  than  that  of  sight ;  crossed  with  the  high- 
flavored  pears  they  will  probably  prove  the  parents 
of  late  varieties  equal  to  Beurre  Superfin,  a  very 
high  standard. 

There  is  a  tendency  in  some  pears  to  reproduce 
their  race.  The  Beurre  d' Aremberg  is  remarkable 
for  this  quality  ;  the  seedlings  of  this  variety  raised 
here  differ  from  the  parent  only  in  the  season  of 
maturity.  The  excellent  characteristics  of  the  Passe 
Colmar  are  inherited  by  its  descendants,  and  this 
quality  will  prove  an  important  guide  to  the  hy- 
bridizer. Before  closing  my  notes  on  pears  I  may. 
mention  that  Beurre  Clairgeau  and  King  Edward's, 
from  their  size  and  beauty,  are  undeniable  ;  but 
they  want  flavor,  and  should  be  crossed  with  those 
of  better  quality. 

If  you  will  allow  me,  I  will  at  some  future  time 
offer  you  some  remarks  on  Blums,  Apples,  and 
other  fruits.  In  the  present  race  for  improvement 
in  all  things,  it  would  be  a  sad  pity  that  Pomology 
should  lag.  I  may  here  remark  that  pot  cultiva- 
tion under  glass  is  indispensable  ;  out  of  doors  the 
experimentalist  would  generally  reap  nothing  but 
disappointment.  To  carry  out  hybridizing  success- 
fully, many  varieties  of  fruit  must  be  collected  ;  and 
as  not  more  than  three  or  four  fruit  on  a  plant  will 
be  needed,  a  moderate-sized  pot  may  be  used.  The 
names  of  the  parents  from  which  seedlings  are 
raised  should  be  preserved,  and  the  most  minute 
attention  given  to  all  particulars  connected  with 
the  races  of  seedlings,  as  the  results  are  necessarily 
very  slowly  developed,  and  probably,  to  produce 
very  marked  progress,  some  generations  of  fruit 
must  pass. — T.  Francis  Rivers,  Sawbridgeworth, 
Herts,  in  London  Gardener's  Chronicle. 


Destroying  the  Red  Spider. —  The  mixture 
used  for  the  destruction  of  the  red  spider  (and  no- 
ticed by  you  in  a  former  number),  is  not  made  from 
gum,  but  sago  flour — a  much  cheaper  mixture  than 
gum,  as  it  ccjfts  in  Liverpool  only  about  10.5.  per 
cwt.  Potato  starch  will  do  equally  well,  if  sago 
flour  is  not  obtainable.  My  starch  was  made  in  the 
following  manner :  2  lbs.  of  sago  flour  were  made 
into  a  thin  paste,  thickening  it  in  the  same  way  as 
the  laundry-maids  do  when  making  starch.  This 
paste  was  then  poured  into  three  gallons  of  boiling 
water,  and  the  mixture  well  stirred  up  until  it  came 
to  boiling  again,  it  was  then  mixed  with  six  gallons 
of  cold  water,  and  applied  to  the  trees  immediately 
by  a  syringe  having  a  jointed  nozzle.  ThirVy  tiees 
in  my  orchard  house  were  syringed  with  the  effect 


-£Bk 


316 


Sfh^  §Mtmf&  Jl0itthl5» 


shown  on  the  leaf  sent  to  the  officeof  your  journal. 
It  cannot  be  used  too  soon  after  being  made. 
The  cold  water  with  which  it  is  mixed  reduces  the 
temperature  to  something  like  100°  R,  which  is 
quite  safe,  but  if  allowed  to  get  cold  it  has  not  the 
same  fluidity  as  at  first.  —  Cottage  Gardener. 


Portable  Greenhouses. — Everyone,  especially 


nurserymen  and  florists,  have  at  times  houses  they 
would  like  to  remove  ;  and  the  only  objection  to 
the  popular  fixed  roof  plan,  is  that  they  cannot  be 
taken  down  without  being  entirely  taken  to  pieces. 
The  following  sketch  from  the  late  Donald  Beaton, 
in  the  London  Cottage  Gardener,  seems  to  meet 
this  want  well.  He  says  it  has  been  some  years 
erected  and  answers  well ; 


""-^S^o 


JIG.  1  iho  dotted  lines  (a  A  A)  show  the  framing,  which  would  be  covered  with  prepared  boarding. 
The  building  would  be  fitted  together  at  B  B  B,  with  screws,  or  keys,  so  as  to  be  easily  put  together  or 
taken  asunder. 


^    c 


LrtOUlVD    LINE 


Fig.  2. — Section  of  Portable  Greenhouse,  without  rafters,  on  the  Truss  Principle. 


Fig.  3— Trussed  Eidge. 


Fig.  4 — Details,  showing  application  of  Truss 


^^^=^- 


i;h([  ©ardtntr'a  JKotttMg. 


,-  A  A  are  loose  brick  footings,  laid  on  the  surface 
of  the  ground. 

BB  are  oak,  or  pitch  pine  sill  plates,  in  one 
length. 

c  and  D  are  light  sills  and  eaves'  plates,  in  one 
length,  having  the  uprights  halved  at  c. 

X  X  is  ridge  in  two  thicknesses,  of  9  inches  by  H 
inch  each,  with  a  flat  iron  truss  If  inch  by  h  inch, 
bolted  between  to  make  it  self  supporting. 

FF  are  ventilating  flap  lights. 

G  G  are  fixed  lights. 

n  A  are  iron  trusses,  to  support  the  roof,  instead 
of  rafters. 

I  and  K  the  detail  of  ends  of  lights,  showing  the 
application  of  truss  rods. 

L  is  the  top  of  lights. 

M  bottom  end  of  lights.  For  a  roof  with  lights 
20  feet  long,  the  trusses  would  do,  if  made  with 
J-inch  round  rod  iron  of  s.  c.  quality. 


Cricket  and  Horticulure. — The  fancies  and 
tastes  of  man  are  various,  and  occasionally  singular 
and  eccentric.  Every  age  has  its  hobby  of  some 
sort,  which  varies  with  our  years  as  we  pass  from 
youth  to  manhood,  and  from  manhood  to  old  age  ; 
and  those  hobbies  or  recreations — call  them  what 
you  will — are  the  pleasantest  and  best  which  leave 
no  painful  recollections  behind  them.  Cricket  and 
gardening  are  both  highly  conducive  to  health,  and 
the  man  who  is  fond  of  one  seems  to  take  delight 
in  the  other.  Many  of  the  gentlemen  connected 
with  the  large  horticultural  firms  are  enthusiasts  in 
cricket ;  they  see  that  "  all  work  and  no  play  makes 
Jack  a  dull  boy,"  and  the  style  of  play,  when  gar- 
deners engage  in  it,  may  be  called  "philosophy  in 
sport,"  for  more  earnest  and  philosophical  cricket- 
ers than  the  gardeners  it  would  be  hard  to  find. 
Among  the  firms  most  noted  for  cricket,  I  believe 
I  may  name  Messrs.  Carter  &  Co. ,  A.  Henderson 
&  Co.,  and  Mr.  C.  Turner.  On  the  14th  inst.,  a 
match  was  played  between  eleven  of  Messrs.  A. 
Henderson  &  Co. ,  Pineapple  Nurseries,  and  Messrs. 
Carter  &  Co.,  in  the  beautiful  grounds  of  A.  Ni- 
colls.  Esq:,  Oaklands  Park,  Kilburn.  The  game 
■  excited  great  interest  among  the  gardening  com- 
munity, for  they  came  from  far  and  near  to  see  the 
play,  and  were  delighted  with  the  spirit  and  skill 
exhibited  by  the  combatants.  The  Hendersonians 
came  off  victorious. — English  Paper. 


Orchard  Houses. — Having  read  so  much  about 
the  difficulty  of  growing  Apricots  in  houses,  ima- 
gine ray  surprise  at  seeing,  at  Mr.  River's,  scores 
of^large  trees  literally  covered  with  Apricots — and 


such  Apricots!  bright  golden  fruit,  no  Oranges 
could  be  more  beautiful,  and  as  to  the  taste,  my 
mouth  waters  at  the  recollections ;  I  had  no  idea 
they  could  be  so  improved.  Some  of  the  Peach 
trees  at  Chilwell  are  most  beautiful,  perfect  cones, 
7  or  8  feet  in  height,  with  leaves  longer  than  my 
hand. 

One  thing  struck  me  much  at  both  places — there 
was  plenty  of  fruit,  luxuriant  foliage,  and  hardly  a 
trace  of  red  spider  to  be  seen,  the  trees  being  of 
large  size,  many  of  them  seven  to  ten  years  in  pots. 
There  does  not  appear  to  be  any  great  difference  in 
their  management  at  the  two  places  ;  Mr.  Pearson 
has  built  very  handsome  houses,  those  of  Mr.  Ri- 
vers are  of  a  cheaper  description,  but  the  trees  are 
all  that  could  be  wished.  It  appears  to  me  that 
care  in  watering,  and  liberal  feeding,  are  the  great 
secrets  of  success.  The  under  side  of  the  foliage 
was  syringed  twice  a  day,  the  soil,  when  requiring 
water,  being  well  soaked  to  the  bottom  of  the  pots. 
Each  pot  was  covered  with  a  couple  of  inches  with 
a  mixture  of  horse-droppings  and  malt  dust,  this 
Mr.  Pearson  called  Mr.  River's  mixture,  and  he 
said  it  was  superior  to  the  manure  water  he  recom- 
mends in  his  own  book  ;  and,  from  what  I  saw,  I 
have  no  doubt  of  its  value — it  never  stops  the  wa- 
ter, the  dark  foliage  of  the  trees  shows  how  it  is 
enjoyed  by  Peaches,  and  wherever  it  has  been  ap- 
plied to  Vines  strong  white  roots  have  run  through 
it  in  all  directions. 

Last,  not  least,  much  was  said  about  stopping 
the  shoots.  Up  to  the  end  of  July  every  shoot, 
particularly  on  the  upper  part  of  the  trees,  was 
stopped,  so  that  the  trees  are  full  of  short  stiff 
branches.  This  I  feel  sure  is  the  main  point  in 
Apricot  culture,  as  the  crop  appeared  in  exact  pro- 
portion to  the  sturdy  nature  of  the  shoots ;  long 
thin  branches  either  drop  their  fruit  or  it  is  small 
and  poor. 

Those  who  visit  these  establishments  will  see  by 
the  large  number  of  trees  cultivated  for  sale,  that 
the  orchard  house  is  not  looked  upon  as  a  mere 
fashion  of  the  day  ;  my  own  impression  is  that  it  is 
only  in  its  infancy. — Cottage  Gardener. 


Good  Annuals  at  Carter's  Seed  Farm. — 
Nemesta  compacta  is  one  of  the  prettiest  of  all  an- 
nuals for  small  beds,  and  for  pot  culture  it  is  ex- 
tremely suitable,  forming  as  it  does  compact  tufts 
of  clear  blue  white-lipped  blossoms.  It  has  also 
the  good  quality  of  remaining  in  beauty  for  many 
weeks  in  succession. 

Of  the  Cuban  Datura  ceratocaula  there  is  a  large 
bed,  which,  when  seen  after  sunset,  is  a  truly  glo- 


-^KT 


(Sarden^r's  Monfhk 


rious  sight,  covered  as  it  is  with  multitudes  of  great 
white  blossoms  each  six  inches  in  diameter,  and  so 
sweet-scented  as  to  fill  the  air  in  their  neighborhood 
with  a  delicious  fragrance.  On  this  account  alone 
this  Datura  is  well  worth  cultivating  ;  but  the  pe- 
culiar time  at  which  the  blooms  open  also  gives  it 
additional  interest. 

IJnum  grandiflorwn  is  at  all  times  one  of  the 
most  attractive  of  annuals,  its  brilliant  crimson 
blossoms  being  conspicuous  even  at  a  considerable 
distance.  No  difficulty  is  here  experienced,  as  with 
some,  in  getting  the  seeds  to  germinate,  and  the 
young  plants  raised  on  slight  bottom  heat  and  trans- 
planted grow  as  freely  and  blossom  even  more  pro- 
fusely than  Phlox  Drummondii  Of  the  last  there 
are  also  good  beds. 

Xeranthemums  of  different  kinds  are  very  gay, 
especially  a  new  double  purple,  which  is  a  great 
improvement  on  the  old  kind  ;  their  blooms  being 
hard  and  dry,  like  those  of  Helichrysums,  render 
them  also  very  suitable  for  cutting  for  winter 
bouquets. 

Annuals  of  other  kinds  are  likewise  plentiful,  and 
grown  in  large  quantities.  Nearly  ten  acres  are 
devoted  to  Mignonette  alone,  and  the  fragrance 
arising  from  it  is  delightful.  Nor  is  there  any  lack 
of  novelties  this  season  ;  but  these  we  pas  by  until 
their  real  mei-its  have  been  more  correctly  deter- 
mined by  further  trial.  —  Gard.  ChronlcU. 


positively  cost  10,895,232f  and  a  glass,  or  eighth 
part  of  a  bottle,  about  l,3Gl,904f  The  Rosenwein 
and  Apostle  wine  are  never  sold  but  to  citizens  of 
Bremen.  The  burgomasters  alone  have  permission 
to  draw  off  a  few  bottles,  and  to  send  them  as  pre- 
i  sents  to  sovereigns.  A  citizen  of  Bremen  may,  in 
case  of  serious  illness,  procure  a  bottle  at  20f ,  on 
his  obtaining  the  certificate  of  his  doctor  and  the 
consent  of  the  municipal  council.  A  poor  inhabi- 
tant of  Bremen  may  also  obtain  a  bottle  gratis,  after 
having  fulfilled  certain  formalities.'  A  citizen  has 
also  the  right  of  demanding  a  bottle  when  he  re- 
ceives any  celebrated  personage  at  his  house  as  a 
guest.  A  bottle  of  Rosenwein  was  always  sent  by 
the  city  of  Bremen  to  Goethe  on  his/eie  day." 


The  Bremen  Wine-Cellar. —  The  following 
account  is  now  going  the  round  of  the  German 
press: — "The  municipal  wine  vault  of  Bremen  is 
the  most  celebrated  in  all  Germany.  One  section, 
called  the  Rose,  from  the  bronze  bas-relief  of  roses 
over  it,  contains  the  famous  Rosenwein,  which  is 
now  two  centui'ies  and  a  half  old.  There,  six  large 
casks  of  Rhine  wine,  Johannisberg,  and  as  many 
of  Ilocheimer,  were  placed  in  1624.  In  the  adja- 
cent parts  of  the  same  division  of  the  cellar,  are 
twelve  large  casks  bearing  the  names  of  the  Apos- 
tles, and  containing  wines  not  less  precious,  but  not 
so  aged  by  a  few  years  ;  the  wine  bearing  the  name 
of  Judas  is  considered  the  best.  The  other  parts 
of  the  cellar  are  occupied  with  wines  of  a  subse- 
quent growth.  By  degrees,  as  a  few  bottles  of  Ro- 
senwein are  drawn  off,  the  cases  are  filled  up  with 
Apostle  wine,  and  that  with  some  sort  still  younger, 
and  so  on,  in  such  a  manner  that  the  different  casks 
are  always  kept  very  nearly  full.  A  single  bottle 
of  Rosenwein  now  represents  an  immense  value.  A 
cask  of  wine  containing  1,000  bottles  cost,  in  1624, 
l,200f  Calculating  that  suni.  at  compound  inter- 
est, with  the  expense  of  cellarage,  a  bottle  would 

«J  —'■         


Ornamental  Grasses. — Erianflms  Ravennce. 
— If  any  thing  rather  less  noble,  but  more  graceful 
than  the  Pampas  Grass.  It  grows  6  feet  high,  and 
in  habit  and  general  appearance  seems  to  be  rela- 
ted to  the  preceding.  The  plumes  are  composed 
of  silvery  inflorescence,  having  a  light  elegant  ap- 
pearance. On  a  lawn,  amid  masses  of  bedding 
plants,  it  will  form  an  object  which  will  be  justly 
admired  for  its  gracefulness  and  beauty. 

Phalaris  phmgmites  (Striped  Ribbon  Grass, 
Ladies'  Traces,  Gardeners'  Garters,  etc. )  — 
This  is  a  very  common  and  a  very  fine  grass.  A 
clump  of  it  growing  from  3  to  5  feet  high  on  lawns 
is  no  despicable  object,  and  in  patches  in  borders  it 
has  a  fine  effect.  It  also  forms  a  splendid  back  row 
to  a  wide  ribbon  border,  and  is  charming  as  an  edg- 
ing to  large  beds,  such  as  those  containing  Dahlias 
and  Hollyhocks.  A  deep  rich  soil  is  necessary  in 
order  that  it  may  attain  its  full  growth  when  planted 
in  groups ;  but  it  will  grow  almost  anywhere,  and 
for  this  reason  does  not  receive  that  attention  it  so 
justly  merits. 

Btimhusa  gracilis. — A  slender  and  most  graceful 
tree-like  grass.  The  stalks  are  erect,  their  extremi- 
ties arching  gracefully  ;  and  the  bright  grass- green 
leaves  drooping  and  lashing  the  breeze,  it  is  a 
charming  object  on  a  lawn,  in  arboretums,  and 
wherever  grace  and  elegance  are  desired.  Though 
hardy  in  many  situations,  with  me  in  Yorkshire  it 
was  cut  down  to  the  ground  with  20°  of  frost,  and 
completely  destroyed  by  the  severe  frost  of  Decem- 
ber 25th,  18G0,  when  the  thermometer  was  at  3° 
below  zero.  In  warm  sheltered  situations  it  resists 
frost  well,  and  though  occasionally  cut  down  to  the 
ground  in  winter,  new  shoots  rise  from  'the  stool, 
and  attain  a  height  of  from  4  to  6  feet.  It  is  very 
handsome  and  distinct. 

Anmdo  donax. — As  a  noble  omamental-foliaged 


S;h4  (gardaer's  <Ponl^Ij, 


plant,  this  is  unrivalled  in  its  way.  It  attains  a 
height  of  from  8  to  10  feet,  and  has  long  graceful 
leaves,  which  renders  it  especially  suitable  for  lawns, 
herbaceous  borders,  and  arboretunis.  It  is  also 
especially  adapted  for  planting  on  the  margins  of 
lakes,  pools,  and  on  islands,  as  it  delights  in  moist 
soil.  It  should  therefore  be  well  supplied  with  wa- 
ter in  summer  when  planted  in  light  soils. 

Arundo  donax  variegata. — Similar  to  the  above, 
but  with  long,  broad,  elegantly  decurved  leaves,  2 
or  3  inches  broad,  and  from  2  to  3  feet  in  length, 
marked  with  broad  silvery  stripes  their  whole 
length.  As  a  specimen  on  a  lawn,  amid  bedding 
plants,  or  masses  of  green  foliage,  it  forms  a  stately 
and  picturesque  object.  In  borders  it  stands  out  in 
bold  relief  among  plants  of  more  humble  growth  ; 
and  planted  near  lakes  it  forms  a  highly  ornamen- 
tal feature,  whether  examined  close  at  hand  or  seen 
at  a  distance.  As  a  centre  bed  or  neuter  it  is  unique, 
beautiful,  and  tropical  in  appearance.  It  is  unri- 
valled as  a  decorative  plant  when  treated  as  an  ex- 
otic in  the  conservatory.  It  delights  in  rich  deep 
moist  soils,  and  not  being  so  hardy  as  the  species, 
it  requires  slight  protection  in  winter  in  cold,  low, 
and  very  elevated  situations.  Height  from  6  to  10 
feet. 


PEIfFA.  HORTICULTURAL   SOCIETY. 

MONTHLY   DISPLAY,    AUGUST  9,    1864. 

Committee  on  Plants  and  Flowers  awarded  the 
premium  for  the  best  Floral  design,  and  for  the 
best  Basket  of  Cut  Flowers,  to  F.  O'Keefe,  gar- 
dener to  Joseph  Harrison,  Esq. 

The  best  Hanging  Basket  and  best  Bouquet,  to 
Donald  McQueen,  gardener  to  J.  Longstreth,  Esq. 

Best  six  specimens  of  Gladiolus,  to  George  W. 
Earle,  Esq.  These  were  :  Don  Juan,  Pegasse,  Vi- 
comtesse  de  Belleville,  Imperatrice,  Cardinal,  Cle- 
mence. 

Best  collection  of  Gladiolus,  H,  A.  Dreer,  Esq. 
This  was  a  very  fine  collection,  embracing  thirty- 
five  named  varieties. 

R.  Buist,  Sr.,  and  Meehan  &.Wandell  also  .had 
collections  of  Gladiolus, 

Best  Herbaceous  Phlox,  to  Meehan  &  Wandell. 
They  were  :  Louis  Van  Houtte,  Comtesse  de  Louri- 
coult.  Rosy  Queen,  the  old  white  Decussata,  and 
two  seedlings. 

"  The  Committee  were  highly  pleased  to  observe 
a  fine  display  of  choice  Zinnias,  a  cross  between  Z. 


grandiflora  coccinea,  and  Double  Purple,  very  de- 
sirable acquisitions  in  garden  culture  for  which 
they  award  a  special  premium  of  $2. ' ' 

Fruit  Committee  awarded  the  premiums  for  the 
best  quart  of  Blackberries  to  the  New  Rochelle  of 
Mr.  A.  L.  Felten ;  and  a  special  premium  of  $2  to 
S.  W.  Noble,  for  a  fine  collection  of  Summer  Pears 
and  Apples  as  follows :  Pears — a  seedling,  Wash- 
ington, Summer  Frank  Real,  Doyenne  d'Ete, 
Dearborn's  Seedling,  Bloodgood,  Manning's  Eliza- 
beth, Julienne  ;  Apples — Hawley,  Nash,  Red  As- 
trachan,  Cornell's  Fancy,  Gravenstein,.  Jenkins, 
Early  Strawberry,  Townsend,  Summer  Hagloe. 

A  special  premium  of  $1  to  Allen  Barr,  gardener 
Francis  C.  Yarnall,  Esq.,  for  a  superior  bunch  of 
Black  Hamburgh  Grapes.  $1  to  R.  Robinson 
Scott,  gardener  to  John  Kennedy,  Esq.,  for  2  very 
superior  bunch  of  Decan's  Superb  grape  ;  and  hon- 
orably mentioned    some  superior  grapes   by  D. 

McQueen. 

««■>»  

NATIOJfAL  POMOLOGICAL  SOCIETY. 

BIENNIAL  MEETING,    ROCHESTER,  SEPT,    15,   1864. 

Dear  Friend  Monthly  :  You  are  anxious  to 
finish  up  your  forms  and  go  to  press,  and  yet  you 
want  to  know  something  of  Rochester  and  the 
doings  of  the  Great  Convention,  before  another 
month  is  gone  ;  so,  instead  of  ray  ufual  position  in 
your  easy  chair,  imagining  myself  an  integral  part 
of  you,  I  sit  myself  in  Dewey's  accommodating 
seat,  drop  the  editorial  '  we  '  and  for  the  nonce  be- 
come one  of  your  special  correspondents. 

Travelling  by  way  of  the  Pennsylvania  Central 
to  Harrisburg,  and  thence  by  the  way  of  the  North- 
ern Central, — as  beautiful  and  direct  a  route  as  one 
could  wish  to  find, — we  found  ourselves  in  the  great 
Nursery  City  on  the  morning  of  the  Convention, 
and  in  the  Hall  just  as  it  was  about  to  organize. 
Though  unusual  so  early  in  the  session  to  see  so 
many  present,  there  were  over  one  hundred  mem- 
bers to  begin  with,  which  during  the  three  days 
augmented  to  near  three  hundred,  affording  near 
two  hundred  for  an  average  attendance,  just  as  the 
subjects,  or  the  personal  convenience  of  the  mem- 
bers, admitted.  We  met  friends  from  nearly  every 
State,  and  Canada,  your  own  State  being  very  Well 
represented  in  numbers  among  the  rest. 

The  press,  too,  had  its  representatives,  in  Dr. 
Beadle,  of  the  Canada  Farmer ;  Mr.  INIuir,  of  the 
Valley  Farmer,  of  St.  Louis  ;  Mr.  Brairdon,  of  the 
Rural  New- Yorker  ;  Dr.  Thurber  of  the  Avierican 
Agriculturist ;  J.  J.,  Thomas,  of  the  Cmtnfrj/  Gen- 
tleman, and  P.  B.  Mead;  recently  of  Horticulturist. 


M^  §m&mtf%  Jtanthlj. 


The  nurserymen  of  Rochester  did  not  seem  to  us 
to  take  the  interest  in  the  Convention  we  expected, 
or  else  their  number  has  been  greatly  over-enumer- 
ated, or  we  were  particularly  unfortunate  in  meet- 
ing them  therQ.  We  met  but  half  a  dozen  in  all  in 
the  room,  and  on  Mr.  Barry  and  Mr.  H.  E.  Hook- 
er, fell  the  duty  principally  of  taking  part  in  the 
debates  before  the  convention. 

The  President,  Marshall  P.  Wilder,  who  has  so 
ably  governed  the  society  for  some  years  past,  has 
been  suffering  from  severe  illness  for  a  long  time 
past,  and  was  unable  to  be  present.  His  friends 
represented  that  it  was  his  urgent  wish  not  to  be 
renominated,  and  Mr.  Barry  was  named  with  con- 
siderable applause  as  a  worthy  successor, — but  in 
view  of  Mr,  Wilder's  eminent  services  and  peculiar 
fitness  for  the  "position,  it  was  hoped  he  would  not 
positively  decline,  and  he  was  unanimously  re-elect- 
ed, without  any  other  name  being  placed  iu  nomi- 
nation. 

Before  Vice-Presidents — one  from  every  State — 
were  nominated,  there  was  considerable  discussion  on 
the  propriety  of  including  names  from  those  States 
which,  from  the  force  of  circumstances,  were  una- 
ble to  communicate  with  us.  They  were  no  longer 
members  who  had  not  paid  their  annual  dues, — 
though  perhaps  no  fault  of  theirs, — there  was  no 
way  to  notify  them  of  their  election,  nor  could  they 
serve  the  society  in  any  way  if  chosen, — an^  many 
names  that  would  probably  be  offered  would  per- 
haps have  their  owners'  dead  and  in  their  graves. 

On  the  other  hand,  it  was  the  general  wish  of 
the  members  that  the  society  should  strain  a  point  to 
maintain  its  national  character, — that  the  rebellion 
would  soon  be  over  and  the  Union  re-established, 
and  that  then  it  would  be  a  nice  thing  to  say  to 
those  so  long  lost  to  us,  "  Pomology  knows  no  sec- 
tions, nationalities,  races  or  politics, — here  are  your 
seats  which  we  have  kept  warm  for  you."  A  com- 
promise between  sound  parliamentary  rules,  and 
the  feeling  of  good  fellowship,  was  at  last  effected 
by  allowing  the  names  of  life  members,  wherever 
they  resided,  to  go  into  nomination.  Of  those 
elected  in  this  way  from  Southern  States,  two  of 
your  old  correspondents,  dear  Monthly^  were  elect- 
ed :  Colonel  Frierson,  of  Columbia,  Tennessee,  and 
Richard  Peters,  of  Atlanta,  Georgia. 

Of  the  discussions  we  have  no  space  to  say  much 
in  this  letter,  and  we  shall  be  better  prepared  to 
say  more  next  month,  when  the  report  taken  for 
the  society  by  Mr.  Bragdon,  who  was  unremitting 
in  attention  to  his  arduous  duties,  shall  appear,  as 
we  suppose  an  abstract  soon  will,  in  the  excellent 
weekly  paper  to  which  he  is  attached. 


We  would  like  to  add  a  few  lines  on  Rochester 
itself,  and  its  nurseries, — but  with  so  much  to  see 
and  hear,  and  so  little  time  to  accomplish  it  in.  it 
would  be  injustice  to  those  we  did  not  see  to  say 
much  of  those  we  did.  Ellwanger  &  Barry's  nursery, 
is  however  conceded  to  be  at  the  top  of  the  list,  and 
certainly  it  deserves  all  praise  ;  and  to  Mr.  Barry 
we  are  particularly  indebted  for  very  kind  attention. 
Our  jolly  friend  Ellwanger  could  not  repress  his 
"astonishment  that  the  Editor  of  the  leading  Hor- 
ticultural journal  had  never  visited  Rochester  be- 
fore ;"  but  as  we  never  started  to  make  our  jour- 
nal a  leading  one, — that  honor  being  due  to  our 
correspondents,  and  large  circle  of  partial  readers, 
— we  do  not  see  that  we  are  much  to  blame.  Here 
I  may  also  say  that  the  large  lot  of  numbers  your 
publisher  sent  as  specimens  for  distribution  through 
the  fair,  your  agent  Dewey  says  would  be  quite 
thrown  away.  He  is  tired,  he  remarked,  offering  it 
to  gardeners,  nurserymen  and  fruit-growers.  The 
answer  invariably  is,  '  'We  take  it  already. ' '  Instead 
of  distributing  them  in  the  Convection,  he  proposes 
to  save  them  for  the  State  Fair,  where,  he  thinks, 
he  will  be  able  to  find  more  heathens,  to  whom  a 
little  horticultural  light  will  be  both  a  mercy  and  a 
blessing. 

Dewey  is  the  prince  of  accommodators  to  us  stran- 
gers here.  His  Horticultural  Book  Store,  and 
Fruit  Picture  Gallery,  is  rather  a  sort  of  literary 
tahle  d'hote  just  now.  At  one  desk  is  your  humble 
correspondent,  at  another  Parsons  of  Flushing,  and 
all  around,  others  "  too  numerous  to  mention." 

H.  E.  Hooker  &  Co. 'a  establishment,  fine  as  it 
is,  had  additional  inducements  for  a  prolonged  tar- 
rying, by  his  Cement  tanks.  Our  opinion  is  that 
for  bottom  heat  they  are  a  complete  success  ;  and, 
as  we  have  never  known  them  to  be  considered 
completely  successful  before,  of  course  there  must 
be  "  something  in  it"  of  which  we  shall  say  more 
in  our  next. 

Of  Rochester  itself,  with  its  15,000  acres  of  nur- 
sery trees, — its  magnificent  soil  and  climate, — its 
glorious  Mountain  Ashes  and  Horse  Chestnuts, — 
its  diffused  horticultural  taste,  for  even  the  car  dri- 
vers are  adepts  in  pomology,  and  the  very  boys  can 
'  talk'  grapes— its  Plums  and  its  Pears — not  forget- 
ting in  the  meantime  its  fire-blights  and  its  Canada 
thistles,  are  among  the  matters  of  which  I  will  not 
tell  you  now,  but  which,  bit  by  bit,  as  occasion 
offers,  will  come  out  for  your  benefit,  and  the 
benefit  of  all  who  read  you. 

The  next  session  will  be  held  at  St.  Louis, 

Now,  as  ever,  dear  Monthly,  extremely  yours, 

M. 


^B^ 


f^  O'*^^  ^'''^^BJI 


>\ 


DEVOTED     TO 


loFfirelhrF,  M^i 


mr%. 


THOMAS     MEBHAW,    Editor. 
W.  G'.  P.  BSISrCKLOE,  Publisher. 


NOVIMBEB.     1864. 


VOL.    VI. — NO.  11. 


GROUND. 


FLEASURB- 


Most  of  the  tender  plants  that  we  desire  to  pre- 
serve o^Xir  the  season,  have  now  been  lifted  from 
the  borders,  and  removed  to  winter  quarters, — and 
in  a  few  weeks  the  beds  will  present  a  rough  and 
forsaken  appearance.  It  is  too  often  the  practice  to 
leave  the  borders  just  in  this  neglected  condition 
till  spring-time  returns.  But  the  person  of  true 
taste  finishes  up  the  beds,  and  makes  all  tidy.  In 
the  absence  of  summer  flowers,  even  order  pleases. 

As  soon  as  the  first  white  frost  has  blackened 
dahlia  leaves,  the  stems  should  be  cut  back  to  a  few 
inches  of  the  ground,  the  label  securely  fastened, 
and  the  root  placed  away  in  a  cool  place  secure  fron) 
frost  till  next  i^Iarch,when  it  should  be  "sprouted," 
divided  and  again  set  out.  Madeira  vines,  tigridias, 
gladiolus,  tuberoses,  &c. ,  require  the  same  atten- 
tion. 

As  soon  as  the  ground  gets  caked  with  the  first 

real  frost,  herbaceous  plants  should  be  protected. 

Though  hardy,  they  well  repay  this  extra  care, — 

mostly  natives  of  woods  or  grassy  places  in  their 

native  State,  they  expect  a  covering  of  leaves  or 

dry  grass.    We  find  dry  leaves  the  best  material  for 

the  purpose,  a  few  inches  is  a  sufficient  depth, — a 

little  soil  being  thrown  on  to  prevent  the  leaves 

blowing  away.     Where    such    material  is  not  at 

hand,  the  common  garden  soil  may  be  drawn  over 

them,  as  before  recommended  in  these  pages. 
— — = *••«• . 

FRUIT    GARDEN. 

Except  in  the  more  northern  portions  of  the  con- 
tinent, a  southern  aspect  is  the  worst  possible  for 


all  kinds  of  fruits,  except  where  the  one  idea  of 
earliness  is  all  important. 

So  much  has  been  said  in  this  journal  on  tbe 
proper  preparation  of  the  soil  for  orchards,  that  it 
need  not  now  be  repeated.  We  would  only  say, 
that  a  light  dryish  soil  is  the  best  to  choose  for  the 
Peach.  The  Pear  does  best  on  a  strong  loamy  soil. 
Plums  much  the  same  as  the  last.  The  Apple 
prefers  a  heavy  loam,  if  on  limestone  so  much  the 
better.  The  Cherry  does  well  in  soils  adapted  to 
the  Peach. 

Apples,  Quinces  and  Plums,  should  be  examined 
before  frost  sets  in,  and  if  any  borers  have  effected 
a  lodgment — a  jack-knife  and  strong  piece  of  wire 
are  all  the  implements  necessary;  a  man  will  go 
over  several  hundred  trees  a-day.  It  is  a  cheap 
way  of  preserving  trees.  If  many  of  the  remedies 
proposed  by  correspondents  in  our  paper,  have 
been  tried  and  found  effectual,  such  as  tobacco 
stems,  &G.,  there  will  be  few  borers  to  deal  with  in 
the  examination. 

Probably  most  of  our  fruits  do  best  in  partial 
shade.  The  gooseberry  and  currant  certainly  do. 
The  former  must  have  shade  ;  and  if  on  the  moist 
northern  aspect  of  a  wall,  so  much  the  better.  The 
Raspberry  prefers  a  rather  moist  soil,  and  partial 
shade. 

All  Raspberries  are  hardy  where  their  canes 
ripen  well ;  where  the  shoots  appear  not  to  have 
matured  well  they  will  have  to  be  protected  in 
winter  by  bending  them  down  and  covering  with 
soil.  Some  tie  them  up  to  stakes  and  cover  with 
rye  straw,  corn  stalks  or  cedar  branches.  In  soils 
where  small  plants  are  liable  to  heave  out  in  winter, 
strawberries  will  need  covering, — where  this  does 
not  take  place,  they  need  no  protection. 

In  cultivating  raspberries  on  a  large  scale  they 
do  best  in  hills,  as  the  cultivator  keeps  them  from 
crowding  each  other  so  much.  For  garden  culture 
they  are  better  in  rows,  the  suckers  to  be  kept 
hoed  out  occasionally  as  they  grow ;  enough  only 
being  left  that  will  be  required  for  fruiting  next 
year.     Where  canes  are  required  for  new  planta- 


~7? 


'^1^ 


,JSXL. 


H 


322 


Wi\\  ^Hricnur's  dHontlilg. 


tions,  of  course  a  portion  of  the  crop  must  be 
.sacrificed  to  the  suckers. 

The  Grrape  prefers  a  deep  warm  soil,  but  one 
that  is  not  dry, — such  as  most  limestone  soils  are 
after  being  trenched  and  drained.  A  partially 
shaded  aspect  i  salso  preferable.  Mildews  and  many 
diseases  come  from  the  drying  influence  of  a  full 
exposure  to  a  July  or  August  sun. 

In  choosing  plants,  select  those  that  have  been 
budded  close  to  the  ground,  as  when  they  are  re- 
planted the  stocks  should  be  buried  an  inch  below 
the  pear  scion,  which  prevents  the  attacks  of  the 
quince  borer.  If  a  long  stem  has  to  be  buried,  the 
usual  consequences  of  deep  planting  result,  and  do 
as  much  injury  as  the  quince  borer.  Also  in 
choosing,  select,  if  possible,  plants  that  have  been 
raised  from  cuttings ;  for  layered  stocks  have  al- 
most always  a  long  deep  tap  looking  root,  on  which 
dwarf  pears  do  not  do  well.  If  we  have  to  use 
such  dwarf  pear  trees,  better  shorten  some  of  this 
long  trunk  root  before  planting.  Never  plant  what 
appears  to  be  the  stem  of  a  tree  far  beneath  the 
surface,  under  any  circumstances,  for  disease  will 
be  most  probably  an  ultimate  consequence. 


VEGETABLE  GARDEN. 

It  is  little  use  to  attempt  to  grow  vegetables 
well,  unless  the  soil  is  so  treated.  They  may  be 
and  are  grown  on  thin  soils,  not  only  at  a  great  ex- 
pense for  manure,  and  at  a  great  risk  of  dying  out 
in  a  dry  season,  and  of  having  the  roofs  rotted  out 
in  a  wet  one.  In  those  parts  where  the  frost  lias 
not  yet  been  severe  enough  to  injure  the  celery 
crop,  it  may  have  another  earthing  up.  Care  must 
be  exercised  in  the  operation  not  to  let  the  earth 
get  into  the  hearts  of  the  plants,  or  they  will  be 
liable  to  rot.  Where  the  plant  has  evidently 
finished  its  growth  for  the  season,  measures  should 
be  taken  to  preserve  it  through  the  winter.  For 
family  use,  it  is  probably  as  well  to  let  it  stay  where 
it  is  growing,  covering  the  soil  with  leaves,  litter  or 
manure,  to  keep  out  the  frost,  so  that  it  can  be 
taken  up  as  wanted.  Whore  large  quantities  are 
frequently  required,  it  is  better  to  take  it  up  and 
put  it  in  a  smaller  compass,  still  protecting  it  in 
any  way  that  may  be  readily  accessible.  It  always 
keeps  best  in  the  natural  soil,  where  it  is  cool  and 
moist  and  free  from  frost,  and  whatever  mode  of 
protection  is  resorted  to,  these  facts  should  be  kept 
in  view.  Beets,  turnips,  and  other  root-crops,  will 
also  require  protection.  They  are  best  divested  of 
their  foliage  and  packed  in  layers  of  sand  in  a  cool 
cellar.     Parsnips  are  best  lefl  in  the  soil  as  long  as 


possible.  If  any  are  wanted  for  late  spring  use, 
they  may  be  left  out  to  freeze  in  the  soil,  and'  will 
be  much  improved  thereby.  Cabbage  is  preserved 
in  a  variety  of  ways.  If  a  few  dozen  only,  they 
may  be  hung  up  by  the  roots  in  a  cool  cellar,  or 
buried  in  the  soil,  heads  downward,  to  keep  out 
the  rain,  or  laid  on  their  sides  as  thickly  as  they 
can  be  placed,  nearly  covered  with  soil,  and  then 
completely  covered  with  corn-stalks,  litter,  or  any 
protecting  material.  The  main  object  in  protecting 
all  these  kinds  of  vegetables  is  to  prevent  their 
growth  by  keeping  tliem  as  cool  as  possible,  and  to 
prevent  shrivelling  by  keeping  them  moist.  Cab- 
bage plants,  lettuce,  and  spinach  sown  last  Septem- 
ber, will  require  a  slight  protection.  This  is  usu- 
ally done  by  scattering  straw  loosely  over.  The 
intention  is  principally  to  check  the  frequent 
thawings,  which  draw  the  plants  out  of  the 
ground. 

In  making  new  vegetable  gardens,  a  sauth-east 
aspect  should  be  chosen,  as  far  as  practicable. 
Earliness  in  the  crops  is  a  very  grejit  desideratum, 
and  such  an  aspect  favors  this  point  materially.  Too 
great  a  slope  is  objectionable,  as  inducing  too  great 
a  run  of  water  in  heavy  rains.  The  plots  for  the 
crops  should  be  laid  ofl[in  squares  or  parallelograms, 
for  convenience  in  digging,  and  the  edges  of  the 
walks  set  with  box  edging.  If  water  can  be  intro- 
duced, it  is  a  great  convenience. 

Sometimes  broccoli  does  not  head  before  there  is 
danger  of  frosts,  especially  if  growing  vigorouslJ^ 
If  taken  up  with  small  balls  of  earth,  and  set  in  a 
damp  cellar,  they  will  still  perfect  themselves. 

Asparagus  beds,  after  the  tops  have  been  cleared 
off,  are  better  covered  with  litter  or  stable  manure. 
The  plants  shoot  easier  for  it  next  season. 

When  the  ground  becomes  frozen,  or  no  other 
work  offers,  preparation  can  always  be  made  for 
advancing  prospective  work  when  it  arrives.  Bean- 
poles may  be  made;  and  if  the  ends  are  charred, 
and  then  dipped  in  coal-tar,  the  commonest 
material  will  be  rendered  nearly  equal  to  the  best 
cedar. 


li^* 


ORANGES   IN   THE    UNITED   STATES. 
BY  H.    T.    WILLIAMS,    BROOKLYN,    N.   Y. 
I  Concluded  from  page  296.] 
I  now  take  pleasure  in  offering  the  following  ex- 
tracts, more  completely  illustrating  my  ideas,  and 
giving  in  a  pleasant  manner,   matters  of  great 
interest. 


•V5t 


The  first  is  from  the  able  pen  of  D.  J.  Browne. 

"In  E.  Florida,  the  Orange  grows  spontaneously 
in  the  neighborhood  of  New  Smyrna.  In  noticing 
that  town  in  1791,  Bartram  observes;  "I  was 
there  about  ten  years  ago,  when  the  surveyor  run 
the  lines  of  the -Colony,  Avlien  there  was  neither 
habitation  nor  cleared  field.  It  was  then  a  famous 
Orange  Grrove,  the  upper  or  South  promontory  of 
a  ridge  nearly  half  a  niile  wide,  and  stretching 
North  about  forty  miles.  x\ll  this  was  one  entire 
Orange  Grove^  with  Live  Oaks,  ^Magnolias,  Palms, 
lied  Bays  and  others."  He  also  makes  frequent 
mention  of  extensive  groves  of  Wild  Oranges  in 
Florida,  as  far  North  as  latitude  28°.  Dr.  Bald- 
win, in  1817,  in  speaking  of  Fish's  island  says : — 
"  Here  are  the  remains  of  perhaps  the  most  cele- 
brated Orange  Grove  in  the  world.  Some  trees 
still  remain  that  are  30  feet  in  height,  and  still 
retain  a  portion  of  their  golden  fruit."  In  the 
same  year  in  describing  the  beauties  of  the  St. 
John's  he  says:  "You  may  eat  Oranges  from 
morning  till  night  at  every  plantation  along  the 
shores,  while  the  wild  trees  bending  with  their 
golden  fruit  over  the  water,  preseht  an  enchanting 
appearance."  These  trees  were  not  regarded  as 
originally  natives  of  the  new  world,  but  were  intro- 
duced by  the  Spaniards  at  the  time  they  settled 
Florida,  or  by  a  colony  of  Greeks  and  Minarcaus, 
who  founded  New  Smyrna,  in  1769,  while  that 
country  was  in  the  possession  of  the  English.  Au- 
dubon, as  late  as  1832,  observes.  "Whatever  its 
original  country  may  be  supposed  to  be,  the  Wild 
Orange  is  to  all  appearances  indigenous  in  many 
parts  of  Florida,  not  only  in  the  neighborhood  of 
plantations,  but  in  the  wildest  portions  of  that  wild 
co^mtry,  where  there  exist  groves  miles  in  length." 
This  wild  fruit  is  known  in  Florida  by  the  name  of 
the  hittersweet  Orange,  which  does  not  difter  mate- 
rially from  the  Seville  Orange,  and  probably  origi- 
nated from  that  variety.  The  occurrence  of  these 
trees  wherever  they  grow  is  indicative  of  good 
land. 

For  many  years  past,  ( 1 846)  no  small  degree  of 
attention  has  been  paid  to  the  culture  of  the 
common  edible  Oranges  at  St.  Augustine,  and  on 
the  river  St.  Johns.  The  number  of  trees  owned 
by  diff'erent  individuals  prior  to  1835,  varied  from 
1000  to  1500.  Perhaps  no  person  in  Florida  had 
more  than  the  latter  number  in  full  bearing  con- 
dition. At  the  time  of  the  great  frost,  which 
occurred  on  the  ninth  of  February  of  that  year, 
there  were  many  trees  then  to  be  found  in  St.  Au- 
gustine which  exceeded  forty  feet  in  height,  with 
trunks  from  20  to  27  inches  in  diameter,  and  which 

«D      —— 


probably  were  more  than  a  century  old.  But  there 
are  many  persons  in  that  vicinity,  at  the  present 
time,  who  are  extensively  engaged  in  the  business. 
The  late  Mr.  Klngsley  left  upwards  of  6000  bearing 
trees  in  1843,  all  of  which  are  on  the  St.  Johns. 
In  addition  to  these,  there  are  also  on  the  same 
river,  more  than  one  hundred  Orange  Groves, 
which  it  is  estimated  contain  20,000  trees.  At  St. 
Augustine,  it  is  said,  there  are  at  least  30,000 
standard  trees,  4000  of  which  are  owned  by  IMr. 
J.  Douglass,  about  the  same  number  by  V.  Sanchy, 
and  bj'.  Mr.  J.  Brisdale  and  the  lady  of  the  late  Dr. 
Anderson,  1500  each.  Notwithstanding  the  in- 
juries which  the  trees  have  sufi"ered  by  the  depre- 
dations of  insects  for  a  few  years,  as  well  as  by  the 
discouragement  caused  by  the  frost,  it  may  be  ob- 
served that  there  are  more  standard  trees  planted 
in  Florida  at  the  present  time,  than  there  ever 
were  at  any  former  period.  Previous  to  1835,  St. 
Augustine  produced  annually  from  2,000,000  to 
2,500.000  Oranges,  which  were  equal  in  bulk  to 
about  15,000  barrels.  They  were  shipped  to  Char- 
leston, Baltimore,  New  York,  Boston,  &c.,  and 
usually  brought  from  $1  to  $3  per  hundred,  or 
about  $3  per  barrel,  producing  in  the  aggregate  a 
little  short  of  $50,000  per  annum.  During  the 
Orange  season  the  port  of  St.  Augustine  formerly 
presented  quite  a  commercial  aspect,  there  being 
frequently  fi-om  15  to  20  vessels  at  a  time  loading 
with  fruit.  A  person  who  was  the  owner  of  100 
standard  trees,  could  safely  rely  on  a  yearly  income 
arising  therefrom  of  2000  dollars,  sometimes  3000 
and  even  4000.  In  1829,  Mr.  A.  Alvarez  gathered 
from  a  single  tree 6,500  Oranges,  audit  is  said  that 
there  was  a  tree  on  the  St.  Johns  which  bore 
10,000  fruits  in  one  year,  but  ordinarily  each  tree 
produces  2000  fruits. " 

The  great  frost  of  1835,  referred  to  above,  is 
more  fully  explained  in  the  next  letter,  which  is 
from  the  pen  of  Mr.  De  Bow  himself.  It  is  proper 
to  state  that  such  frosts  are  unusual  and  do  not 
occur  once  in  10  or  12  or  even  20  years,  but  even 
then  not  reaching  down  to  the  28°,  or  hardly  ever 
below  St.  Augustine. 

"The  Orange  of  Florida  is  very  large  and  fine 
flavored,  and  commands  the  finest  price  of  any  in 
the  market,  having  been  sold  in  the  grove  as  high 
as  $10  per  1000 ;  It  has  been  remarked  that  the 
fruits  of  the  tropics  generally  grow  to  the  greatest 
perfection  near  its  verge,  this  is  certainly  true  in 
regard  to  the  Orange  and  banana,  which,  in  the 
northernmost  Bahama  islands,  are  much  superior 
to  those  of  Cuba,  St.  Domingo  and  localities  still 
nearer  the    Equator.     From   the    shores    of   the 


^^ 


324 


®^  iardm^r's  PmrfMj. 


41 


Atlantic  to  the  Mississippi,  the  great  frost  of  1835 
completely  ruined  the  Orange  groves;  the  effect 
was  probably  nowhere  so  severely  felt  as  in  Florida, 
where  they  furnished  the  staple  crop  of  the  country. 
The  effect  upon  the  City  of  St.  Augustine,  which 
was  one  vast  Orange  bower,  is  thus  described  by 
Williams. 

"All  kinds  of  fruit  trees  were  killed  to  the 
ground,  and  many  of  these  never  started  again 
from  the  roots,  the  wild  groves  suffered  equally 
with  the  cultivated  ones,  the  Orange  had  become 
the  staple  of  our  commerce,  several  millions,  being 
annually  exported.  Numerous  groves  had  just  been 
planted,  and  extensive  nurseries  could  scarcely 
supply  the  demand  for  young  trees ;  some  of  the 
groves  the  previous  autumn  had  brought  to  their 
owners,  one,  two  and  three  thousand  dollars,  and 
the  increasing  demand  for  the  fruit  opened  prospects 
of  mines,  of  wealth  to  the  inhabitants. 

"  Theu  came  a  frost,  a  chilling  frost." 

Some  of  the  Orange  groves  estimated  to  be  worth 
10,000,  were  at  once  rendered  worthless  ;  a  portion 
of  the  population  of  St.  Augustine,  who  had  be- 
come accustomed  to  look  to  their  Orange  groves  for 
the  purchase  of  luxuries  and  necessities,  were  left 
suddenly  without  resource.  The  town  of  St.  Au- 
gustine, that  heretofore  appeared  like  a  rustic  vil- 
lage, its  white  houses  peeping  from  the  clu.stering 
boughs  and  golden  fruit  of  its  favorite  tree,  beneath 
whose  shade  the  foreign  invalid  cooled  his  fevered 
limbs,  and  imbibed  health  from  the  forest  tree,  how 
is  she  fallen !  Dry,  unsightly  poles,  with  rugged 
bark,  stick  up  around  her  dwelling,  and  where  the 
mocking  bird  delighted  to  build  her  nest  and  tune 
her  lovely  song,  owls  now  hoot  at  night,  and  sterile 
winds  whistle  through  the  leafless  branches.  Never 
was  a  place  more  desolate." 

Years  passed  on,  a  new  growth  had,  in  a  measure 
redeemed  this  desolation,  when  a  new  calamity  was 
experienced,  not  as  sudden,  but  eventually  as  des- 
tructive as  the  frost.  This  was  the  visitation  of  the 
"  insect,"  against  whose  ravages,  nothing  was  found 
to  avail.  Grove  after  grove  became  blighted,  yet 
as  some  localities  were  spared  for  several  years,  it 
was  hoped  the  destruction  would  not  be  universal. 
The  insect  first  made  his  appearance  at  Mandarin, 
a  flourishing  village  upon  the  banks  of  the  St.  Johns. 
It  was  thought  by  some  to  have  been  imported  on 
a  couple  of  trees  brought  from  China  and  planted 
here.  Its  true  origin  however  is  as  little  known  as 
its  true  remedj'.  Like  the  weevil  in  the  northern 
and  southern  wheat  fields  nothing  can  stay  its  pro- 
gress until  it  has  run  its  appointed  cycle,  and  will 
probably   disappear  as  mysteriously  as    it    came. 


Twice  during  the  last  hundred  years  has  the  Orange 
in  the  Mediterranean  and  Southern  Europe  been 
similarly  attacked,  and  the  hope  that  here  as  in 
Europe,  the  insect  will  pass  away  still  continues  to 
cheer  the  Florida  Orange  grower,  and  he  awaits  the 
happy  moment  to  renew  his  operations  with  in- 
creased vigor.  Had  it  not  been  for  this  calamity, 
the  beautiful  banks  of  the  St.  Johns  now  mostly  a 
wilderness,  would,  probably  by  this  time  have  been 
studded  with  villas  and  fringed  with  Orange  groves, 
and  thus  they  will  be  when  the  Orange  can  again 
be  successfully  cultivated,  with  the  extraordinary 
facilities  for  a  market  which  Florida  will  soon  pos- 
sess, there  can  be  little  danger  of  the  supply  exceed- 
ing the  demand. 

An  Orange  grove  of  common  sized  trees  will  pro- 
duce from  500  to  2500  Oranges  per  tree,  worth  $5 
to  $25  per  tree ;  100  trees  pr  more  can  be  planted 
upon  an  acre  ;  very  little  labor  is  required  to  keep 
a  grove  in  condition.  The  sour  Orange  which 
grows  spontaneously  all  over  the  peninsula,  may  be 
budded  with  the  sweet  Orange,  and  will  bear  in  3 
years.  In  many  places  the  banks  of  lakes  and 
streams  are  lined  with  wild  groves  of  Orange. 
Some  of  them  great  in  extent.  On  the  upper 
waters  of  the  St.  Johns  and  also  on  the  Atlantic 
coast  near  the  Smyrna,  fine  Oranges  are  now  pro- 
duced, those  from  the  groves  of  Mr.  Shelden  and 
Mr.  Speer  being  of  peculiarly  large  size  and  deli- 
cious flavor. 

Lemons  and  limes  grow  very  thickly  in  Florida, 
and  are  abundant  in  a  wild  state.  The  Sicily  lemon 
transplanted  in  Florida,  is  much  improved  from  the 
original.  The  writer  of  this  has  seen  a  specimen 
which  measured  11  inches  in  circumference." 

The  different  statements  of  the  productiveness  of 
the  Orange  tree  (some  saying  500,  others  2000,  and 
others  12,000,)  can  be  reconciled  only  in  this  man- 
ner, by  saying,  that  in  the  first  year  or  two  of  bear- 
ing, the  first  statement  is  right,  the  production 
varying  from  500  to  1000  per  tree.  J.  L.  Williams 
estimates  the  number  of  trees  per  acre  at  100,  which, 
at  500  per  tree,  and  a  price  of  $7.50  per  thousand, 
would  realize  $375  per  acre.  This  statement  can  be 
adopted  for  the  first  year  or  two  of  the  bearing  of 
the  tree  ;  in  the  three  or  four  subsequent  years,  the 
production  will  average  2000  per  tree  ;  in  the  10th 
year,  if  the  tree  is  grafted,  or  the  15th  if  grown 
from  cuttings,  a  larger  estimate  may  be  made,  and 
even  5000  or  6000  may  not  seem  unusual.  The 
insect  mentioned  in  the  foregoing  extract,  is  referred 
to  in  this  our  next  one,  as  having  almost  entirely 
disappeared.  This  concluding  statement  was  written 
to  De  Bow's  Review,  some  ten  years  later,  by  a 


--.  "%<^; 


C^e  hardener's  JWanlblg, 


- — *^^ 


825 


physician  settled  in  Manatee,  a  few  miles  South  ot 
Tampa,  he  speaks  in  terms  of  extravagant  praise  of 
the  climate  and  soil,  and  especially  of  the  cultiva- 
tion of  the  Orange  as  follows  : 

"The  great  advantages  to  be  derived  from  the 
cultivation  of  the  Orange,  lemon  and  lime  in  Flori- 
da, is  a  subject  little  known  or  a))preciated  out  or 
the  State.  "  The  insect,"  which  for  8  years  has  de- 
solated the  beautiful  groves  of  those  fruit  which 
adorn  the  banks  of  the  St.  Johns,  is  rapidly  disap- 
pearing, and  the  trees  are  assuming  once  more  their 
healthy  vigor,  and  beautiful  verdure.  The  crop  of 
fruit  this  year,  (1851 )  I  understand  promises  to  be 
a  fine  and  abundant  one. 

There  is  no  culture  in  the  world  by  which  the 
foundation  of  an  independent  income  can  be  laid, 
at  the  expense  of  so  small  an  outlay,  as  the  culture 
of  the  Orange  and  lemon  in  Florida.  The  method 
of  establishing  groves  by  transplanting  the  sour 
Orange  trees  from  the  hummocks  where  they 
abound  in  the  wild  state,  and  which  has  been  in 
successful  practice  for  several  years,  is  of  great  im- 
portance ;  in  the  first  place,  because  it  docs  away 
with  the  difficulty  of  procuring  sweet  trees;  and  in 
the  second  place,  because  the  sour  trees  planted 
and  budded  will  bear  much  sooner  than  sweet  trees 
from  a  nursery.  The  sour  tree  may  be  dug  up  care- 
fully in  the  hummocks  at  any  time  from  October  to 
June.  They  should  be  topp/cd  about  4  feet  from 
the  ground  and  carefully  planted  and  watered.  In 
about  three  months,  shoots  large  enough  to  be 
budded  will  grow  out.  The  buds  are  taken  from 
sweet  trees  and  carefully  inserted  into  the  young 
shoots,  just  as  peach  trees  are  budded  at  the  North. 
It  is  common  for  trees  to  bear  the  sweet  Orange  in 
18  mon'hs  from  the  budding.  Tf  the  sour  trees  are 
selected  from  the  hummocks  of  good  size,  (and  they 
can  be  found  of  all  sizes,)  in  three  years  they  will 
be  competent  to  bear  1000  Oranges  ea^h,  and  will 
go  on  every  year  increasing  in  size  and  production. 

This  culture  is  well  adapted  to  persons  of  small 
capital,  whose  health  requires  a  residence  in  Flori- 
da. A  suitable  }iiece  of  land  is  easily  obtained,  on 
which  provision  can  be  raised,  and  an  extensive 
grove  established  at  a  very  moderate  expense  ;  but 
to  farmers  and  planters  this  culture  presents  its  ad- 
vantages over  those  of  any  other  Southern  State, 
for,  without  interfering  at  all  with  their  agricultural 
operations,  they  can  gradually  and  without  the  out- 
lay of  a  dollar,  plant  an  Orange  grove,  that  may 
ultimately  yield  more  than  all  the  other  pro- 
ductions. 

The  longevity  of  the  Orange  tree  is  another  thing 
which  invest^  it  with  a  more  permanent  character 


than  common  fruit  trees.  It  lives  and  flourishes  to 
a  ver}'  advanced  age.  There  are  Orange  trees  now 
living  in  the  city  of  Home  that  are  known  to  be 
more  than  300  years  old,  so  that  an  Orange  grove 
when  once  established,  will  not  only  last  a  man's 
lifetime,  but  become  a  valuable  inheritance  for  his 
children." 

Such  are  the  f:\cts,  such  are  the  inducements 
offered,  for  the  cultivation  of  the  Orange  in  that 
State.  It  is  stated  that,  according  to  official  esti- 
mate, in  the  j'ear  1860  there  were  imported  into  the 
United  States,  through  the  New  York  Custom 
House  alone,  no  less  than  2,.')00,000  dollars  worth 
of  foreign  green  fruits,  the  largest  part  of  which  are 
new  Oranges  and  lemons.  Congress  in  its  last  ses- 
sion imposed  a  duty  of  25  per  cent,  payable  in  gold, 
on  such  importations  ;  increase  that  duty  according 
to  present  premium  rates,  and  we  have  the  enor- 
mous duty  of  60  per  cent. ,  what  the  results  will  be, 
are  evident,  viz.  :  a  decreased  demand  for  such 
foreign  fruits,  and  an  immense  encouragement  to 
the  development  of  this  branch  of  horticulture  in 
the  Southern  States.  With  the  reclamation  of  the 
State  of  Florida  to  the  Union,  there  will  come  op- 
portunities and  inducements  to  settlers  and  emi- 
grants to  enter  into  such  culture  ;  with  the  settle- 
rnent  of  the  country  will  come  prosperity  and 
wealth,  and  undoubtedly  this  happy  state  of  circum- 
stances will  be  owing  in  a  good  degree,  to  the  cul- 
tivation of  these  most  excellent  fruits.  And  we 
may  well  hope  that  ere  long  this  land,  so  blessed 
above  all  the  rest  of  the  Union,  with  skies  ever 
bright,  invigorating  air,  warm  mild  weather,  and 
pleasant  breezes,  and  a  soil  which,  by  the  influence 
of  the  genial  healthful  cliuiate,  is  capable  of  vast 
production,  will  be  famed  for  its  Orange  groves  and 
contented  people,  far  above  Sicily,  the  Azores,  or 
Cuba. 


HOT  WATSR  TAKTSS. 
BY  PETER  HENDERSON,  JERSEY  CITY. 

Mr.  Editor: — Interested  mucli  in  this  impor- 
tant discussion,  I  cannot  refrain  from  giving  the  ex- 
perience I  have  had,  and  which  I  am  again  passing 
through,  in  constructing  Tanks  for  my  new  propa- 
gating houses.  Before  doing  so  I  endeavored  to 
get  all  the  information  I  could  from  the  most  expe- 
rienced men  in  the  country  of  the  relative  merits  of 
cement  and  wood,  but  found  that  a  large  majority 
were  opposed  to  cement,  from  the  fact  of  their  re- 
peated failures,  which  however,  I  believe  to  have 
been  only  from  faulty  construction  ;  for  notwith- 
standing my  friend,  "Fox  Meadow's"  overconfi- 
dent assertion,  that  cement  will  not  stand  hot  water, 


:==^^^ 


®It^  ^Hrd^ntr's  cPantMg* 


I  tlilnlc  I  can  convince  him  to  the  contrary  if  lie 
will  pay  me  a  visit,  as  there  is  one  which  has  been 
in  successful  operation  for  ^/ir(?c?/mrs,within  a  couple 
of  .hundred  yards  of  where  I  now  write,  without  a 
flaw  or  crack  in  it ;  it  is  constructed  of  brick  and 
cement,  and  "dumped  on  the  ground,"  as  one  of 
your  correspondents  expresses  it. 

So  you  see  that  that  part  of  the  patent  Is  also 
struck  away  from  Mr.  Hooker. 

But  want  of  time  and  want  of  confidence  in  being 
able  to  get  cement  Tanks  properly  constructed  on 
the  large  scale  I  required,  induced  me  to  adopt 
again  those  formed  of  pine  plank,  knowing  that 
these  would  last,  at  least  a  dozen  years  when  pro- 
perly planted  when  first  put  up. 

The  understructure  of  my  Tanks  is  3x4  Chestnut 
joists  painted  with  gas  tar,  (as  a  preservative,)  and 
correctly  leveled  on  brick  work,  of  the  width  and 
length  required  ;  on  these  are  nailed  \\  inch  tongued 
and  grooved  plank,  of  only  4  or  5  inches  in  width, 
all  joints  being  well  painted  with  white  lead  ;  nar- 
row plank  is  much  better  than  wide,  as  they  suffer 
less  by  expansion.  After  the  tanks  are  made,  if 
not  entirely  water-tight,  any  little  breakage  will  be 
quickly  stopped  by  shaking  a  litter  dry  cement  on 
the  water  at  such  places  where  the  leaks  are,  the 
suction  carrying  down  the  particles  of  cement  to  the 
crevice,  and  the  leak  is  quickly  and  effectually 
stopped. 

The  same  practice  was  adopted  on  a  grand  scale 
in  the  building  of  the  tunnel  under  the  Thames  at 
London,  finding  a  dangerous  1)roak  in  several  places 
that  at  first  seemed  unsurmountable,  the  happy  idea 
occurred  of  filling  the  leak  from  above,  accordingly, 
thousands  of  tons  of  cement  was  lowered  to  the 
bottom  of  the  Thames,  over  the  leaky  portions  of 
the  tunnel,  the  suction  carrying  it  directly  to  where 
it  was  wanted,  this  great  work  was  successfully 
accomplished. 

I  think  it  unfortunate  for  Mr.  Hooker  that  he 
troubled  the  wise  heads  at  Washington  with  the 
invention  ;  had  he  given  it  to  the  readers  of  the 
MonfJiIy  gratis,  or  rather  in  exchange  for  the  vast 
amount  of  information  he  might  have  glean^sl 
from  your  columns  during  the  past  six  years,  it 
might  not  have  been  so  criticallj^  discussed,  but 
when  we  are  asked  to  pay  for  knowledge  then  we 
begin  to  question  the  ability  of  the  instruction. 

The  only  novelty  I  see  in  Mr.  Hooker's  plan  is  in 
cementing  over  the  boards  covering  the  Tank,  but 
whether  it  has  merit  is  not  yet  sufficiently  tested  ; 
it  cannot  be  as  good  as  a  covering  of  flagging  or  slate, 
though  it  may  be  somewhat  cheaper. 


TAI.SS   IN   A    GARDEN. 

BY    L. 

"  Men  must  ho  t.iuglit  as  though  you  taught  them  not, 
And  things  unknown,  proposej  as  things  forgot." 

No.  1 — Scene,  a  Summer-liouse. 

John  L.  K. — A  youth  of  lively  parts,  with  his 
Virgil  spread  before  him,  over  which  he  labors  to 
construe  the  text  so  happily  descriptive  of  rural 
affairs  in  the  old  Roman  days — the  Georgics — and 
reading,  "  Felix  qui  potuit  rerum  cognoscere  cau- 
sas,"  raises  his  eyes  and  exclaims,  'that  is  fine 
sentiment  for  one  of  inquiring  mind;  Uncle,  I  think 
that  is  one  of  your  favorite  mottoes;  I  have  heard 
you  quote  it  many  times,  and  if  I  construe  it  rightly, 
it  means,  "  It  is  a  good  thing  to  know  the  reason 
why?" 

Uncle  J. — But  that  is  not  a  literal  translation, 
neither  is  it  choice  English,  in  which  you  should 
ever  aim  to  couch  your  phrases,  while  transferring 
ideas  from  a  foreign  language  to  your  own.  Happy 
is  he  who  could  know  the  causes  of  things,  is  close- 
ly literal,  too  literal" to  be  pleasing;  Dryden  does 
better  when  he  more  freely  converts  the  line  into 

"  Iliipiiy  the  man,  tvIio  studying  nature's  laws, 
Through  known  effects  can  trace  the  secret  cause." 

But  read  on, 
John  L.  K. — Fortunatus  est  ille  Dcos  qui  novit 

agrestes, 
Panaque,    Sylvanumque    senem,    Nymphasque 
sorores 1 

"  Blest,  too,  who  knows  each  god  that  guards  the  swain, 
Pan,  old  Sylvanus,  and  the  Dryad  tr.^iin  ;" 

As  translated  by  Sotheby,  literally  and  hand- 
somely. 

Those  lines  seem  to  me  to  be  more  poetical  than 
philosophical,  and  I  think  Virgil  could  not  have 
known  the  causes  of  things,  or  he  wou4d  not  have 
been  content  to  let  Pan  and  old  Sylvanus  and  the 
sylvan  nymphs  represent  rural  life,  which  we  are 
taught  requires  a  knowledge  of  science  to  as  great 
a  degree  as  docs  any  art  of  city  life. 

Uncle  J. — My  dear  boy,  your  remarks  are  very 
good  for  one  of  your  age  ;  but  you  must  be  informed 
that  what  w^e  term  science,  which  is  understood  to 
mean  accurate  knowledge  of  the  laws  of  nature  as 
regulating  the  interchange  or  mutual  influences  of 
material  objects,  was  utterly  without  existence  in 
the  Augustine  days  of  Roman  literature^  Poetical 
images  supplied  the  place  of  definite  knowleflge, 
and  often  very  happily.  The  sjdvan  deities  thus 
represented  the  influences  favorable  to  the  growth 
and  maturing  of  plants ;  while  Pan  was  esteemed 
the  god  of  shepherds,  huntsmen,  etc.  ;  and  the  sis- 
ter nymphs  were  believed  to  inbabit  every  place. 
and  to  preside  over  the  mountains,  the  woods,  the 


"^sr 


.W.'' 


-V<^i 


meadows,  streams  and  fields.  The  beautiful  lan- 
guage of  Virgil  is  therefore  but  illustrative  of  a 
happy  mode  of  covering  ignorance  by  '  words  with- 
out knowledge.' 

John  L.  K. — Do  you  believe  we  have  gained 
much  by  substituting  the  harsh  language  of  science 
for  these  beautiful  images  which  throw  a  halo, 
around  the  otherwise  rude  and  repulsive;  and  charm 
where  the  hard  terms  of  accurate  knowledge  would 
but  deter  and  sadden? 

Uncle  J. — My  sentimental  youngling,  life  is  not 
poetry,  though  it  may  be  poetical.  Truth  may  be,  in 
her  common  garb,  forbidding  to  the  uninitiated  into 
her  mysteries  ;  the  young  may  find  more  joy  in  the 
frolic  days  of  sentiment,  but  added  years  will  bring 
to  the  well  regulated  mind  a  love  for  truth  for  her 
own  sake,  and  her  enamored  votary  will  worship  at 
her  altar,  deeming  her  the  only  beautiful,  and  her 
voice  more  charming  than  that  of  any  siren  'charm 
she  ever  so  wisely.'  Hear  the  glorious  poet  Milton, 
who,  dearly  as  he  loved  the  beautiful  images  which 
'imagination  bodies  forth,'  and  high  as  his  harp 
was  tuned  to  sing  of  heavenly  themes,  exclaims: 

"  IIow  cliai'mmg  is  divine  Pliilosophy  I 
Not  harsh,  and  crabbed,  as  dull  fools  suppose, 
But  musical  as  is  Apollo's  lute, 
And  a  perpetual  feast  of  nectared  sweets 
Where  no  cnide  surfeit  reigus." 

John  L.  K. — That  is  a  fine  passage,  where  did 
j^ou  find  it, — in  Paradise  Lost?  I  did  not  know 
the  poets  had  ever  praised  Philosophy.  I  supposed 
they  were  dreamers,  who  knew  nothing  about  prac- 
tical life,  but  passed  their  time  in  sjiinning  rhymes 
which  our  business  men  consider  stufi"and  nonsense. 

Uncle  J. — There  have  been  poets,  so-called, 
who  had  been  better  employed  in  spinning  oakum, 
than  the  rhj^mes  they  have  left  us.  But,  perhaps, 
they  have  served  their  daj^  and  generation,  as  re- 
cords of  misapplied  genius,  if  they  ever  possessed 
that  very  much  abused  quality  of  mind.  But  in 
calling  poets  dreamers,  my  dear  boy,  you  do  not 
separate  them  from  the  category  into  which  the 
mass  of  mankind  unhappily  falls  in  the  esteem  of 
many  beside  the  practical  poet  who  proposed  to 

"sum  up  half  luaukiud, 
Aad  add  two-thirds  of  the  remainins  h^lf. 
And  find  the  total  of  tbeir  hopes  and  fears 
Dreams — empty  dreams  !" 

John  L.  K. — There  you  have  a  question  in  a- 
rithmetic.  Is  that  passage  found  in  any  poet  ? 

I  calculated  that  -five-sixths  of  mankind  were 
dreamers,  very  nearly  the  whole  party,  poets,  men 
of  science,  and  men  of  business  ! 

Uncle  J.-rrYes,  you  may  find  that  passage  in 
Cowper's  Task,  and  it  is  a  happily  worded  excla- 
mation of  the  poet,  when  considering  the  unsub- 


stantial nature  of  human  pursuits,  and  the  empti- 
ness of  every  bubble  for  which  we  toil  and  strive 
and  wear  out  body  and  mind,  and  I  fear  often 
sacrifice  our  immortal  sxiuls.  This  poet  was  surely 
as  soundly  practical,  when  he  took  this  view  of  the 
toilings  of  humanity,  as  he  who  reviewing  lile, 
exclaimed : 

"  AVhy  all  this  toil  for  triumphs  of  an  hour ! 
Wliat  though  we  wade  in  wealth  or  soar  in  fame, 
Earth's  highest  station  ends  in  "liere  he  lief!' 
And  "  Dust  to  dust,"  concludes  her  noblest  soug." 

My  dear  boy,  poetry  is  not  prose  run  mad,  as  has 
been  said  of  some  dull  passages  in  Wordsworth,  nor 
is  it  the  ravings  of  wild  genius, — the  untamed  Pe- 
gasus that  refuses  to  be  yoked  to  the  plow  of  useful 
labor.  "  Poetry  is  the  highest  type  of  expression  at 
which  a  writer's  fancy  can  aim.  It  is  the  form  of 
language  in  which  alone  the  most  beautiful  thought;^ 
and  poetical  sentiments  can  be  exquisitely  express- 
ed." And  though  among  common  untrained 
minds,  who  deem  themselves  practical,  there  may 
be  many  who  repudiate  the  poetical,  many  of  those 

"  Churls,  who  deem  it  heresy  to  thinli, 
Who  heed  no  music  but  the  dollar's  chiuk, 
Who  laugh  to  scorn  the  wisdom  of  the  schools, 
And  deem  the  first  of  poets  first  of  fools." 

be  assured,  my  dear  boy,  such  are  of  the  clan  des- 
cribed by  Dante  as 

"The  miserables,  who  never  truly  lived." 

But  let  US  not  forget  our  text,  which  you  will 
remember  was  a  line  of  your  Virgil.  Have  you 
closed  the  book?  let  us  see — he  placed  his  happy 
man'^long  with  Pan,  that  old  fellow  half  man  and 
half  goat,  whether  to  represent  his  avocations  or  the 
beastly  tendencies  of  corrupt  human  nature ;  and 
that  other  old  sot  and  demigod,  the  foster  father 
and  companion  of  Bacchus,  who  lived  in  Arcadia, 
and  was  every  day  drunk.  I  never  met  with  old 
Pan  but  once,  long  as  I  have  lived  in  the  country, 
and  that  was  when  wandering  through  the  woods  of 
tiSIewstead  Abbey,  Lord  Byron's  early  home,  I  came 
across  two  black  leaden  creatures,  half  man  half 
goat,  horribly  repulsive,  and  which,  from  their  in- 
fernal leer  and  beastly  deformities,  well  deserved 
the  appellation  given  them  by  the  country  people 
around,  of  the  "old  lord's  devils."  I  thought  it 
would  have  been  well  for  him,  as  well  a.s  for  the 
young  lord,  had  they  never  been  possessed  of  any 
others.  Bead  on,  or  rather  read  Dryden's  transla- 
tion, and  you  will  find  that  he  has  not  given  his 
country  gentleman  over  to  the  companionship  of  a 
drunken  crew,  but  has  very  much  softened  down 
the  original,  making  him  a  good  sober  citizen,  as 
he  should  be,  who  merely 

"  decks  the  bowers 
Of  sylvans,  and  adores  the  rural  powers." 


Well,  we'll  hope  Virgil  meant  just  so,  but  Pan 
■was  surely  a  very  low  fellow,  and  Silernus,  though 
he  wore  a  human  form,  was  entirely  a  beast,  as  is 
proved  by  his  penchant  for  the  intoxicating  cup, 
and  daily  revelry.     Read  further 

"  Hapjiy  be 
Whose  mind  nnmoved,  the  lirilies  of  courts  can  seo 
Their  glitteriug  Ijaits  and  purple  slavery ; 
*  *  »  *  *  *  ■ 

From  his  loved  home  no  lucre  him  can  draw; 
The  Senate's  mad  decrees  he  never  saw, 
Nor  heard  at  brawling  bars  corrupted  law." 

He  is  not  to  be  found  among  these 

"  Patriot  fools  that  to  popular  praise  aspire, 
Or  public  speeches,  which  worse  fools  admire." 

John  L.  K. — That  is  rather  hard  on  the  politi- 
cians who  are  so  anxious  to  save  the  country. 

Uncle  J. — Not  a  whit  too  hard.  You  need  not 
go  farther  than  to  one  or  more  of  the  recent  con- 
ventions to  find  an  illustration  of  the  fact,  that  the 
breed  is  not  dead,  and  that  it  has  retained  its  pecu- 
liarities from  ancient  times,  unimpaired.  A  fair 
case  for  Darwin,  who,  I  fear,  would  not  be  able  to 
show  that  the  species  has  in  the  least  changed  from 
its  "primordial  type,"  though  we  all  know  "the 
struggle  for  esi.'tence,"  of  these  place-hunting  re-- 
probates  has  been  "perfectly  awful"  since  the 
world  began,  and  that  the  "principle  of  natural 
selection  "  is  as  natural  as  possible  to  such  as  are 
urged  by  the  common  purpose  of  official  spoil  and 
private  gain  regardless  of  the  demands  of  right  and 
justice,  of  the  fate  of  the  nation  and  the  interests 
of  coming  generations.  And  they  have  maintained 
their  ground,  unfortunately,  as  such  Darwinian 
proteges  should  do,  and  like  the  vile  dock  or  hog- 
weed  of  Waste  Commons,  have  usurped  the  places 
of  useful  herbs  and  spread  and  reign  a  rank  and 
stinking  nuisance  in  the  nose  of  decent  and  virtu- 
ous plants. 

John  L.  K. — Why  Uncle,  your  tirade  is  like  the 
Irishman's  letter  which  was  to  be  as  bad  as  possible 
at  the  beginning,  and  worse  and  worse  all  the  way 
down. 

Uncle  J. — John,  you  have  not  applied  the  pro- 
per epithet  to  my  remarks.  A  tirade  is  an  abu- 
sive speech.  And  as  you  are  open  to  conviction, 
and  desire  to  be  instructed,  let  me  show  you  that 
you  have  not  used  the  proper  term,  because  my  re- 
marks are  not  abusive.  To  abuse  is  to  use  impro- 
perly. Is  to  tell  a  man  the  truth  about  himself  in 
an  open  manly  manner  abusive  ?  Is  it  not  rather  a 
kindness?  The  old  saw,  "our  best  friends  are 
those  who  tell  us  of  our  faults,"  and  do  oyr  friends 
then  abuse  us  by  so  doing?  Certainly  not,  says  the 
common  consent  of  mankind,  which  h;is  subscribed 
to  the  truth  of  this  proverb,  which,  like  all  of  its 


tK 


class,  as  well  said  by  Lord  John  Russell,  is  "  the 
wit  of  one  and  the  wisdom  of  many."  Away  with 
politicians,  but  give  us  in  their  place  statesmen, 
yes, 

"  Men,  high  minded  men, 
With  powers  as  far  above  dull  brutes  endued, 

In  forest,  brake  or  den, 
As  beasts  excel  cold  rocks  and  brambles  rude ; 

Jlen  who  their  duties  know, 
But  know  their  rights,  and  knowing,  dare  maintain; 

Prevent  the  long  aimed  blow. 
And  crush  the  tyrant  wliile  they  rend  the  chain, 

These  constitute  a  state; 
And  sovereign  law,  that  states  collective  will, 

O'er  thrones  and  globes  elate, 
Sits  Empress,  crowning  good,  repressing  111." 

John  L.  K. — And  where  did  you  find  that 
flight?  It  is  high-sounding,  grand  and  good ;  that 
has  the  true  democratic  ring,  not  the  sham  preten- 
tious counterfeit  so  current,  that  blows  the  trumpet 
of  "  liberty  and  equality,"  while  it  aims  to  use  the 
shoulders  of  the  deluded  simpletons,  whereon  to 
mount  to  office  and  the  freedom  of  the  public 
purse  1 

Uncle  J. — My  dear  Nephew,  are  you  not  be- 
coming abusive?  You  would  certain!}'  be  so,  were 
not  your  remarks  so  admirably  appropriate.  The 
lines  whose  authorship  you  desire  to  know,  were 
written  by  Alceeus,  a  Grreek  poet,  who  lived  620 
years  before  Christ,  in  the  time  of  Sappho,  and  you 
see  he  had  a  very  clear  idea  of  what  men  should  be, 
when  he  sung,  as  translated  by  Sir  William  Jones, 

"  What  constitute  a  state  1 
N  it  high  raited  battlements  or  labored  mound. 

Thick  walled  or  moated  gate, 
Not  cities  fair,  with  spires  and  turrets  crowned  ; 

No — men  high  minded  men,  &c." 

As  we  have  already  quoted. 

John  L.  K. — After  that  I  shall  think  better  of 
the  ancients, — of  the  poets  at  any  rate,  who  appear 
to  have  paid  just  tributes  to  virtue  and  manliness, 
though  they  may  not  have  been  patterns  them- 
selves. The  love  of  rural  hfe  and  homely  duties, 
and  sober  virtues,  appear  thus  in  the  old  Greek  and 
Roman  at  a  very  early  time.  This  must  have  been 
in  the  golden  days  when  Saturn  reigned.  Are  there 
any  older  poets  who  have  sung  of  rustic  joys,  and 
how  far  up  the  stream  of  time  can  we  trace  the 
springs  of  wisdom  as  shown  by  love  of  country 
life? 

Uncle  J. — Yes,  in  Hesiod,  who  is  by  many  con- 
sidered older  than  Homer,  and  who  lived  according 
to  one  authority,  the  Aurundelian  marble,  nearly 
1000  years  before  Clirist,  or  2.50  years  before  the 
founding  of  Rome.  Hesiod  has  written  in  a  man- 
ner that  extorts  the  praises  of  every  lover  of  truth 
and  virtue.    Hear  him  : 


(^ 


_c^ 


ih^  @ard^ni!r's  Jlairfhlj. 


329 


"  Fools  not  to  know  that  better  for  the  soul, 
An  honest  half  than  an  ill-gotten  whole, 
How  richer  he  who  dines  on  herbs  with  health 
Of  mind,  than  knaves  with  all  their  wine  and  wealth." 

John  L.  K. — I  would  like  to  read  more  of  old 
Hesiod, — have  you  a  copy  or  a  translation? 

Uncle  J. — You  must  not  give  up  your  Greek  as 
I  hear  you  threaten,  if  you  wish  to  enjoy  Hesiod  or 
Homer,  for  they  wrote  in  Greek,  a  language  trans- 
cending in  beauty  and  power  any  modern  tongue. 
Several  passages  from  Hesiod  have  been  done  into 
English:  that  above  quoted  is  by  Consul  Peter,  and 
may  be  found  in  the  Poets  and  Poetry  of  the  An- 
cients,— they  are  well  worth  reading.  Hero  is  an 
oldiElzevir  copy  of  Hesiod,  which  I  highly  value, 
and  though  it  is  more  than  two  hundred  years  old, 
it  is  as  beautifully  printed  as  a  modern  classic. 
These  Elzevirs  are  much  prized  l)y  book  collectors. 
This  belonged  to  your  great-grandfather,  who  was 
a  scholar,  and  who  has  left  his  mark  upon  its  pages 
in  a  way  that  proves  he  studied,  read  and  re-read 
the  classics  as  few  boys  of  our  day  care  to  do.  The 
consequence  was  he  knew  the  Greek — found  it  a 
delight — as  does  a  learned  Doctor  and  friend  of 
mine,  who  enters  into  the  spirit  of  the  old  poets, 
revelling  in  their  beauties  with  a  zest  that  affords 
him  the  highest  and  the  purest  pleasure  which 
never  clo3^s. 

John  L.  K. — I  am  afraid  such  admirers  of  the 
Greek  poets,  with  alLtheir  praise  of  rural  life, 
would  not  make  very  good  farmers. 
Uncle  J. — My  thoughtful  nephew,  there  is  no  na- 
tural antipathy  between  learning  and  industry, — be- 
tween the  love  of  the  ideal  and  the  interest  in  the 
real,  or  there  ought  not  to  be.  'They  should  rather 
act  in  harmony,  each  illustrating  and  adorning  the 
other.  You  need  not  suppose  that  because  you 
can  read  the  latin  of  Virgil's  Georgics,  descriptive 
of  Roman  farming,  that  you  will  not  make  a  fai-- 
mer,  v/hich  I  know  you  have  sometimes  proposed 
to  yourself  Learning  and  science  are  more  antag- 
onistic to  di-y-goods  dealing  and  selling  tape  by  the 
yard,  than  they  are  to  farming  ;  for  these  belittling 
pursuits,  which  dwarf  and  narrow  the  mind  of  their 
votaries,  seem  to  be  better  performed  without  any 
culture,  while  farming  demands  for  its  wise  con- 
duct enlargement  of  mind  and  varied  knowledge. 
The  argument  now  used  by  those  who  are  opposed 
to  educating  farmers  up  to  the  times,  is  precisely 
the  same  advanced  by  their  fathers  a  century  or 
more  ago  :  that  it  is  not  politic  that  the  working 
classes  should  be  taught  to  read  and  write,  for  they 
would  thereby  become  dissatisfied  with  their  posi- 
tion, and  refuse  to  labor !  How  absurd  does  such 
an  argument  appear  to  us  now  !     Yet  it  is  not  a 


whit  more  absurd  than  that  now  used  to  discourage 
farmers  from  educating  their  sons,  that  they  may 
by  the  better  knowledge  of  the  principles  of  their 
profession,  become  fitted  to  u.se  the  tools  of  labor 
more  deftly, — apply  their  practical  wisdom  more 
wisely,  and  become  men  in  a  profession  in  which 
their  fathers  were  but  children. 

That  is  a  low  conception  of  the  value  of  educa- 
tion that  considers  it  only  in  the  light  of  a  training 
for  what  is  called  success  in  life, — which  regards  it 
only  with  reference  to  the  facilities  it  may  supply 
for  the  accumulation  of  property.  If,  as  has  been 
assserted  by  one  of  superior  and  enlightened  intel- 
lect, "  that  existence  is  surely  contemptible  which 
regards  only  the  preserveration  of  a  body  made  to 
perish,"  that  philosophy  of  education  which  has 
no  higher  motive  than  material  good, —which  looks 
not  to  the  elevation  of  the  mind,  and  aims  not  to 
develope  and  perfect  everj^  faculty  of  the  head  and 
heart,  is  surely  equally  contemptible. 

My  dear  boy,  the  earth  is  cooling,  and  the  dew 
is  falling,  or  as  he  who  knows  the  reasons  of  things 
should  say, — the  invisible  vapor  is  condensing  into 
dew, — let  us  go  into  the  house  ;  continue  as  you 
have  begun,  cultivate  your  understanding,  enlarge 
your  conceptions  of  nature  by  the  study  of  the  nat- 
ural sciences,  correct  and  elevate  your  taste  by 
familiarty  witli  the  best  models  in  literature,  and 
when  you  shall,  by  a  course  of  training  on  the  farm, 
have  acquired  that  manual  skill,  and  knowledge  of 
rural  economy  which  are  equally  necessary  to  suc- 
cess, you  will  not  have  reason  to  regret  that  j'ou 
ever  studied  Virgil,  but  will  daily  realize  the  truth 
of  that  verse  you  were  construing, 

Felix,  qui  potuit  verura  cognoscere  causas ! 


BEPLy    TO    "FOX   mSABOW." 
BY   H.    E,    HOOKER,    ROCHESTER,    N.    Y. 

Permit  me  to  use  a  little  space  in  your  magazine 
to  reply  to  the  strictures  of  "Fox  Meadow." 

I  fully  concur  in  his  first  paragraph,  and  hope  I 
shall  never  be  found  speculating  in  worthless  inven- 
tions, nor  claiuiing  as  new  what  others  know  to  be 
old.  I  heartily  despise  shams  and  false  pretences, 
and  would  be  entirelj^  unwilling  to  receive  a  dollar 
from  a  man  to  whom  I  had  not  given  a  full  consid- 
eration. 

One  of  the  strongest  desires  I  have  is  for  the 
progress  of  Horticulture,  all  my  business  life  has 
been  spent  in  that  direction,  and  I  believe  I  stand 
in  the  same  relation  to  it  in  the  introduction  of 
these  cheap  and  simple  tanks,  that  the  patentee  of 
an  improved  mower  does  to  Agriculture  :  he  may 


receive  an  individual  benefit,  but  he  advances  Ag- 
riculture, and  gives  more  than  he  receives.  If  I 
could  not  receive  some  remuneration  for  allowing 
the  public  to  use  ipy  invention,  I  should  have  kept 
it  to  myself  as  something  giving  me  a  superiority 
over  my  fellow  nurserymen  and  gardeners,  and 
reaped  my  reward  for  thought,  expense  and  exper- 
iment in  another  way. 

I  have  never  by  word  or  deed  claimed  as  new  the 
procuring  of  a  current  of  hot  water  through  differ- 
ence in  specific  gravity,  nor  the  use  of  Hydraulic 
cement,  as  a  new  material  for  the  purpose  of  ma- 
king cisterns  or  tanks  for  water,  hot  or  cold  ;  but 
distinctly  disclaimed  both. 

My  patent  is  for  my  method  of  constructing  and 
applying  these  old  materials  and  principles,  in  a 
manner  both  new  and  useful :  this  is  the  basis  of 
many  patents  against  which  no  cavil  is  raised.  I 
have  yet  to  see  or  hear  from  the  first  man  who  as- 
serts that  he  has  made  tanks  in  the  manner  des- 
cribed by  myself. 

In  regard  to  whether  Hydraulic  Cement  or  Wa- 
ter Lime,  as  some  call  it,  will  stand  liot  water,  I 
assert,  that  constructed  in  the  manner  of  my  Pa- 
tent Tanks,  it  will,  perfectly;  and  offer  my  own 
working  houses,  now  two  years  in  use,  and  upon 
which  not  one  cent's  worth  of  time  or  material  has 
ever  been  spent  in  repairs  since  they  were  first  set 
in  operation,  as  proof  positive  and  indisputable 
upon  this  point ;  and,  moreover,  corroborated  by 
the  experience  of  other  writers  in  your  magazine, 
and  by  other  parties  using  my  tanks. 

I  have  never  asserted  that  Water  Lime  would 
not  crack  when  plastered  upon  brick  or  stone,  and 
exposed  to  currents  of  hot  and  cold  water — for  I 
fear  it  would,  sooner  or  later ;  nor  that  it  would 
not  crack  and  peel  off  from  a  board,  box  or  tank, — 
for  I  believe  it  would  be  ruptured  by  the  shrinking 
or  swelling  of  the  wood  work. 

My  tanks  are  so  made  as  to  be  entirely  free  to 
contract  or  expand,  inde})endent  of  either  wood  or 
stone  work  :  this  is  one  of  the  decided  advantages 
of  my  invention. 

In  regard  to  the  power  of  these  tanks  to  heat 
houses,  let  me  say  that  if  the  heat  is  generated  in 
the  boiler  and  passed  into  the  tanks  it  will  be  given 
off  in  the  house.  On  first  starting  it  will  not  heat 
up  as  quickly  as  cast  iron,  but  it  will  not  cool  as 
<juickly  as  cast  iron,  and  the  same  amount  of  coal 
will  do  as  much  heating  through  cement  tanks  as  it 
will  through  iron.  The  same  remark  will  apply  to 
wooden  tanks,  which  I  have  used  and  seen  others 
use,  wholly  to  heat  a  house  without  either  flue  or 
iron  pipe. 


"Fox  Meadow"  sees  some  advantages  in  the 
houses  I  have  described,  for  which  I  feel  compli- 
mented. I  think  if  he  had  been  thorough  in  the 
use  of  his  last  maxim,  and  '  looked  '  well  into  the 
working  of  the  tanks,  he  would  not  have  '  leaped ' 
into  so  vigorous  a  condemnation  of  them. 

[The  above  note  from  Mr.  Hooker  was  received 
before  our  last  came  fium  the  press.  He  had  not, 
therefore,  seen  "Fox  Meadow's"  last  paper;  but 
it  nevertheless  anticipates  pretty  much  the  latter' s 
remarks,  and  is  therefore  appropriate. — Ed.] 


PKEVEMTIVB    GP    C/iNIiES-WOHM. 
BY  J.    W.    MANNING,    READING,    MASS, 

Canker-worm  grubs  can  "be  effectually  prevented 
from  ascending  the  trees  by  placing  finely  sifted 
coal  ashes  about  the  base  of  the  trees,  saj  six  to 
twelve  inches  at  the  steepest  angle  they  can  be 
made  to  remain.  The  grubs  lose  foothold  in  the 
loose  ashes  and  roll  back  to  the  bottom,  and  thus 
exhaust  themselves ;  they,  also,  when  in  large 
numbers,  cling  together,  and  cannot  extricate  them- 
selves, and  are  easily  destroyed-  This  mode  was 
first  successfully  practiced  in  this  town,  by  Mr.  W. 
T.  Hartshorn,  about  four  years  ago.  It  was  a  per- 
fect success  ;  no  Canker-worm  having  been  seen  in 
the  orchard  since.  I  have  frequently  passed  the 
trees,  and  noted  the  healthy  foliage  as  compared 
with  neighboring  trees,  not  treated  thus. 

Brush  over  the  surface  of  the  ashes  frequently  to 
prevent  their  becoming  compact ;  if  soaked  with 
rain,  renew  the  surface  with  dry  ashes.  Begin  to 
apply  ashes  as  soon  as  Oct.  25th,  or  at  least  early 
in  November,  and  attend  to  it  when  the  grubs  run 
until  spring. 

Coal  ashes,  so  often  a  nuisance,  are  in  this  way 
made  useful  (other  dry  mealy  substitutes  may  be 
used).  In  spite  of  the  usual  remedies  to  prevent 
the  ascent  of  the  grub  in  former  years,  the  worms 
injured  the  trees  until  coal  ashes  banished  them. 
Try  it  and  report  result. 


OHNACaEFJTAL   DECIDUOUS    THEES, 

BY   WALTER   ELDER,    PHILADELPHIA. 

However  uncomely  the  grades  of  grounds.may  be, 
all  deformities  are  hid  or  converted  into  beauties 
by  the  proper  distribution  of  growing  trees,  shrub- 
bery, and  flowers  over  them. 

Beginners  in  rural  improvements  call  for  orna- 
mental trees  (!)  not  knowing  that  nearly  all  kinds 
of  trees  when  well  grown  are  ornamental.  A  selec- 
tion may  safely  be  made  from  the  following  genera 

_— — ~ — — ir(®j^ 


with  their  various  species :  Ash,  Beech,  Birch, 
Buttoii-ball,  Chestnut,  Cherry,  Cypress,  Elm, 
Hickory,  Larch,  Linden,  Locust,  Horse-Chestnut, 
iMao;nolia,  3Iaple,  Mulberry,  Kentucky  Coffee-tree, 
Oak,  Poplar,  Plane-tree,  Sycamore,  Walnut,  Wil- 
low and  the  various  weeping  trees.  The  various 
habits  of  growth  ;  sizes  and  colors  of  foliage  ;  the 
times  of  blooming  and  the  height  the  trees  attain 
at  maturity,  are  all  known  to  the  skillful  Landscape 
Gardener;  and  in  his  arrangements,  they  are 
blended  into  pleasing  combinations  with  discrimi- 
nate judgment  and  care.  It  is  that  which  gives 
grace  and  elegance  to  the  scenery.  Nothing  in  the 
vegetable  kingdom  looks  so  noble  and  grand,  as 
well  grown  ti-ees,  judiciously  arranged.  Even  the 
house  and  out-building's,  whatever  may  be  their 
style  of  architecture,  look  richer  and  more  elegant 
when  partially  shaded  among  trees. 

The  counsel  of  the  Lan(^scape  Gardener  may 
save  the  half  of  expenses,  and  the  remodelling  of 
the  whole  in  a  few  years. 

In  purchasing  trees  in  nurseries,  make  a  positive 
bargain  to  have  the  roots  sent  along  with  stems  and 
branches ;  instead  of  getting  them  cheap,  rather 
give  a  dime  or  two  more  for  each  tree  to  have  them 
carefully  dug  up,  packed,  and  transported.  It  will 
be  a  gain  in  the\end,  and  keep  off  some  disappoint- 
ments, and  success  will  crown  the  labors. 

October  and  November,  and  March  and  April 
are  the  best  months  to  ti'ansplant  all  kinds  of  de- 
ciduous trees. 


KYBSHNATICN   CF    IMSECTS,    AND    ETS 

KSLATir'^S  TO  HOBTICULTUHS, 
BY   PROFESSOR  S,   S.  RATIIVON,  LANCASTER,   PA. 

Read  before  Pennsylvania  Hort.  Society,  Sepf.6,'64:. 

According  to  the  common  Dictionary  interpreta- 
tion of  the  term  hybernation  or  hibernation,  it 
means  the  passage  of  animals  in  close  or  secluded 
winter  quarters ;, but  in  a  scientiSc  sense,  it  also 
means  the  suspension  of  the  animal  functions,  so 
far  as  to  enable  the  animal  to  do  without  food,  and 
yet,  although  in  a  torpid  condition,  to  retain  all 
the  animal  faculties ;  only  requiring  an  increase  of 
temperature  to  restore  them  to  their  original 
vitality. 

The  hybernation  of  insects,  however,  in  its  rela- 
tions to  the  subject  of  horticulture,  may  properly 
include,  not  only  the  Imago  and  the  Pupa  states 
of  the.se  animals,  but  also  the  larva  and  the  ova 
states  ;  because  it  is  in  one  of  these  four  conditions 
that  the  races  of  these  animals  are  from  season  to 
season  perpetuated  or  continued,  and  therefore  in 
this  fourfold  condition,  these  enemies  of  vegetation 
and  of  mankind  must  be  regarded  and  discussed. 


It  is  in  the  ova  or  Q.gg  state  that  the  insect  may 
be  more  numerously  and  more  certainly  transmitted 
from  one  season  to  another,  for,  in  this  state  the 
provision  miide  by  the  parent  for  the  continuance 
of  its  species  is  the  most  ample,  and  the  least  liable 
to  injury  from  incidental  and  external  causes.  The 
egg-germs  of  most  insects  seem  to  be  so  well  secured, 
that  no  degree  of  cold  or  wet  can  have  much  effect 
upon  them,  while  they  continue  in  such  localities 
as  parental  instinct  may  have  placed  them  ;  and  if 
they  are  inadvertently  injured  or  destroyed,  it  is 
because  they  may  have  been  subjected  to  conditions 
out  of  the  ordinary  course  of  nature,  and  such  as 
no  degree  of  animal  instinct  could  have  provided 
against.  It  should  be  the  business  of  the  horticul- 
turist to  search  for  these  eggs  at  every  favorable 
opportunity  during  the  eiltire  winter,  and  when 
they  are  discovered,  they  should  be  immediately 
destroyed.  It  will  not  be  sufficient  to  detach  them 
from  their  original  locality  and  cast  them  upon  the 
ground,  for,  although  the  .dangers  and  the  expo- 
sures to  which  they  are  liable  there  may  so  far 
damage  them  as  to  prevent  their  incubation  at  the 
proper  time,  yet,  it  is  by  no  means  certain  that  this 
desirable  result  will  be  attained. 

The  eggs  of  the  "  Sack-bearer,"  [Thyridoxterix 
ephema^riformis),  which  is  so  common  upon,  the 
fruit  and  shade  trees,  in  and  about  the  city  of  Phil- 
adelphia, are  secured  in  the  female  sac  or  follicle 
of  the  previous  season,  and  these  are  secured  to  the 
small  branches  of  the  trees,  where  they  hang  all 
winter  exposed  to  every  variation  of  temperature, 
from  the  torrid  to  the  frigid,  without  sustaining 
any  injury  from  this  cause..  No  matter  how  wet 
the  season  may  be,  or  how  much  ice  or  snow  may 
accumulate  around  these  follicles,  or  how  long  it 
may  continue,  for  their  walls  are  so  impervious  to 
moisture,  as  to  render  them  perfectly  dry  inside  ; 
moreover,  the  eggs  are  further  provided  for  by 
being  carefully  paoked  up  in  flossy  down,  within  the 
pupa  case  of  the  provident  parent  female.  A  knowl- 
edge of  this  fact,  and  also  the  ease  with  which  these 
follicles  may  be  seen  after  the  trees  have  shed 
their  leaves,  and  their  accessibility  by  only  ordinary 
means,  ought  to  dictate  to  every  horticulturist  im- 
mediately what  should  be  done. 

The  eggs  of  the  "  Tussock  moth,"  or  "  Vaporer 
moth,"  (  Orgyia  leucostigma),  instead  of  being  se- 
cured within  the  rude  cocoon  constructed  by  the 
female,  are  deposited  upon  the  outside,  and  are 
covered  over  with  a  frothy  glutinous  substance, 
which  furnishes  them  sufficient  protection  to  con- 
tinue, or  retain  their  vitality  during  the  coldest 
winter.     These  rude  cocoons,    thus  covered  over 


-OBi 


®fi4  §m&mtr'B  JJloniMj. 


•with  eggs,  may  be  seen  during  the  winter  adhering 
to  the  undersides  of  fence  rails,  branches  of  trees, 
or  in  any  nook  or  corner  whore  they  are  sufficiently 
out  of  the  way  not  to  be  liable  to  disturbance.  If 
there  are  old  outhouses,  or  covered  alleys,  near  the 
trees  upon  which  the  larva  has  matured  itself, 
many  of  these  cocoons  will  be  found  during  the 
after  part  of  the  summer  and  the  winter  in  such 
situations.  Under  favorable  circumstances,  three 
broods  of  these  insects  are  produced  in  a  single 
season  ;  but  two  broods  are  quite  common.  In  the 
moth  state,  the  insects  are  rarely  seen  :  the  females 
being  wingless,  fall  down  and  perish  as  soon  as  the 
eggs  are  deposited,  and  the  proportion  of  males  are 
as  one  to  fifty,  and  sometimes  even  a  hundred  or 
more,  and  still  more  rarely  seen. 

Generally  speaking,  those  insects  whose  trans- 
formations are  'incomplete,'  i  e.,  that  have  not  a 
proper,  or  inactive  p!/j)a  period,  and  that  do  not 
hybernate  in  the  mingo  state,  invariably  deposit 
their  eggs  in  autumn,  and  their  species  are  contin- 
ued by  the  hybernation  of  the  ova.  Tliis  is  espe- 
cially the  case  with  some  species  of  Ilemiptera,  and 
the  larger  portion  of  the  Orthoptera.  The  latter 
order  includes  the  Mantes,  Spectres,  Roaches,  Ear- 
wigs, Crickets,  Grasshoppers  and  Locusts.  Some 
of  these  deposit  their  eggs  upon  small  twigs,  as  in 
the  case  of  some  of  the  grasshoppers,  but  a  larger 
number  of  thera  deposit  them  in  small  cavities 
firmed  in  the  earth,  as  the  crickets  and  locusts. 
Perhaps  I  ought  to  mention  here  that  I  use  the 
term  '  locust '  in  its  most  universal  sense,  but  not 
in  its  most  popular  sense  in  the  United  States.  I 
simply  mean  a  certain  family  of  those  insects  usu- 
ally cnlled  'grasshoppers,'  without  discrimination, 
and  not  the  cicada,  another  insect  of  the  same  com- 
mon name,  one  species  of  which  appears  every  sev- 
enteen years  in  great  numbers. 

These  eggs  are  capable  of  bearing  a  very  low  de- 
gree of  cold  without  injury,  and  as  those  that  are 
deposited  in  the  ground  are  not  more  than  an  inch 
or  two  beneath  the  surface,  they  are  exposed  to  all 
the  rains  and  snows,  and  alternate  freezings  and 
thawings  of  the  most  rigid  winter ;  and,  judging 
from  the  vast  numbers  of  these  insects  that  make 
their  appearance  every  summer,  we  may  infer  that 
their  eggs  have  sustained  but  little  injury  during 
the  advent  of  winter.  It  is  not  so  easy  a  matter 
for  persons  who  are  advanced  in  life  to  discover 
these  eggs  without  bringing  the  organs  of  vision  too 
near  the  ground  to  make  the  position  an  agreeable 
one  to  continue  long  in,  but  children  are  capable 
of  becoming  quite  expert  in  their  discovery.  It  is 
common  on  some  parts  of  the  continent  of  Europe, 


especially  in  France,  to  oflFer  a  small  reward  to  chil- 
dren for  their  collection,  and  thus  many  of  them 
are  destroyed.  The  importance  of  such  a  measure 
may  become  apparent,  when  we  consider  the  de- 
struction of  vegetation  by  these  locusts  in  Africa, 
in  South  and  Central  America,  in  Mexico,  and  also 
in  some  of  the  territory  now  belonging  to  the  Uni- 
ted States.  The  eggs  of  the  '  Katy-did,'  and  some 
allied  species,  are  usually  found  to  the  number  of 
from  twenty  to  forty  in  two  uniform  rows,  on  small 
twigs  of  shrubbery  or  trees.  These  eggs  are  of  an 
ashen  color,  and  are  about  the  size  and  shape  of  a 
flax  seed,  and  are  found  diagonally  side  by  side, 
forming  a  sort  of  plume. 

There  are  several  species  of  moths  that  girdle 
the  smaller  branches  of  trees  with  a  band  of  their 
eggs,  where  they  remain  perfectly  secure  during 
the  coldest  winter.  These  eggs  are  cemented  to- 
gether laterally,  so  that  they  all  stand  upon  their 
ends,  and  an  assemblage  of  them  forms  a  sort  of  a 
miniature  muff  or  cylinder,  the  small  branch  on 
which  they  are,  passing  through  the  hollow  centre. 
This  kind  of  egg  arrangement  is  peculiar  to  several 
species  of  GastropacJia  or  "Tree- lackey  moths," 
but  there  are  other  species  that  deposit  their  eggs 
in  a  similar  manner.  When  the  trees  in  winter  are 
without  foliage,  the.se  eggs  are  almost  as  visible  as 
the  eggs  of  the  two  first  first  insects  that  I  have 
alluded  to,  and  are  quite  as  easily  destroyed.  The 
pruning-shears  for  these  ought  to  be  brought  into 
requisition,  and  the  eggs  gathered  and  burned,  be- 
cause in  every  one  of  thera  may  be  a  hybernating 
embryo,  that  at  the  proper  season  will  come  forth 
a  greedy  destroyer. 

The  various  species  of  Coccus,  or  "  Scale  insects," 
deposit  their  eggs  in  groups  on  the  bark  of  the  ten- 
der branches  of  trees,  and  cover  them  with  a  pro- 
tecting shield.  These  eggs  are  not  so  visible,  nor 
yet  so  accessible  as  the  eggs  of  the  other  insects 
named,  and  when  they  occur  in  large  and  depleting 
numbers,  their  presence  amounts  to  a  calamity,  be- 
cause when  the  trees  are  once  in  foliage  or  bloom, 
there  is  no  way  approaching  them  without  also  se- 
riously damaging  the  crop  of  fruit,  and  the  tree  itself 
The  eggs,  however,  of  the  Coccus  aceris,  that  are 
found  in  such  great  abundance  along  the  under 
sides  of  the  branches  of  the  Silver  Maple  and  the 
Linden  trees,  are  very  observable,  and  may  be  de- 
stroyed in  early  spring  without  damage  to  the  trees. 
The  foregoing  are  a  few  of  such  species  of  insects 
as  deposit  their  eggs  in  autumn,  and  provide  for 
their  preservation  during  an  intervening  inclement 
season  ;  but  these  few  may  serve  to  illustrate  an 
important  principle  in  ;uiin)al  economj',  and  also 


^<a>T 


Clift  ©ardmr'H  (P^ontfjlj. 


333 


the  necessity  of  paying  as  much  attention  to  this 
matter  as  its  influence  upon  horticultural  interests 
may  demand. 

There  are  various  other  modes  of  insect  perpetu- 
ation in  a  hybernating  state,  but  as  the  egg  seeems 
to  be  the  first  visible  condition  in  which  these  ani- 
mals are  found,  the  destruction  of  a  single  egg  may 
involve  the  fate  of  a  thousand.  Nothing  but  con- 
tinuous and  searching  vigilance  can  arrest  the  de- 
structive multiplication  of  insects,  and  keep  them 
within  safe  bounds. 

A  large  number  of  insects  hybernate  in  the  lana 
state,  indeed,  a  larger  number  than  we  are  aware 
of  The  whole  destructive  brood,  that  in  the  spring 
of  the  year  cuts  off  the  young  corn  and  garden  veg- 
etables in  general,  are  of  this  kind,  and  are  known 
under  the  comprehensive  and  familiar  term  of  "Cut 
Worms."  These  insects  are  widely  diffused,  for, 
not  only  are  our  gardens  all  over  the  country  infes- 
ted with  tbem,  but  also  the  fields  of  whole  farms 
everywhere,  and  especially  those  that  had  the  previ- 
ous year  been  in  clover.  They  are  a  stealthy  enemy, 
for  even  in  summer  their  habit  is  to  lay  concealed 
under  the  ground  during  the  light  of  day,  and  to 
come  forth  on  their  destructive  mission  during  the 
darkness  of  night.  Some  thing  like  those  carnivor- 
ous quadrupeds  that  destroy  other  animals  only  for 
the  purpose  of  sucking  their  blood,  and  then,  leav- 
ing the  carcase  lay,  go  in  search  of  a  new  victim, — so 
the  "  Cut- worm  "  seems  to  cut  off  one  plant  after 
another,  without  feeding  upon  any  more  of  it  than 
is  necessary  to  effect  its  destruction.  The  moths 
of  these  insects  come  forth  from  the  p^(2)a  state  in 
the  months  of  July  and  August,  when  they  lay 
their  eggs  upon  such  succulent  vegetation  as  may 
there  be  found  ;  but  oftener  they  are  deposited  on 
the  bare  ground,  and  the  young  larva  feed  upon 
any  thing  they  can  catch  until  the  cold  weather  sets 
in,  at  which  time  they  are  about  half,  or  three- 
quarters  grown,  when  they  creep  into  the  ground, 
and  pass  the  winter  in  a  state  of  torpidity  :  all  the 
functions  being  in  a  state  of  suspension,  but  if  at 
any  time  there  should  be  two  or  three  days  in  suc- 
cession that  are  uiuisually  warm,  even  in  winter, 
they  will  be  found  working  their  way  towards  the 
surface.  Most  of  these  "  Cut- worms  "  belong  to 
the  genera  Noctua,  Agrolis,  Fusia,  etc.,  and  the 
winged  insects,  of  various  shades  of  mottled  and 
gray,  may  be  found  flitting  about  lights,  during  the 
warm-  evenings  of  July  and  August.  The  Cut- 
worms, however,  cannot  bear  the  same  degree  of 
cold  as  some  other  hybernating  larvse  can,  and 
therefore  many  of  them  are  destroyed  by  late  au- 
tumn and  early  spring  plowing,  especially  if  a  sud- 


den change  of  cold  weather  takes  place  after  they 
are  exposed.  Alternations  of  freezing  and  thawing, 
when  its  influence  can  reach  the  Cut-worm,  destroys 
niany  of  them  ;  and  this  is  also  the  case  where  they 
may  be  exposed  to  alternations  of  wet  and  dry,  es- 
pecially if  the  temperature  is  low  and  cold. 

There  is  a  group  or  family  of  insect  larvce  that 
do  not  go  into  the  ground  to  effect  their  pupal 
transformations,  which  are  usually  recognized  un- 
der the  common  name  of  "Caterpillars."  being 
more  or  less  covered  with  stfaight  stiff  hair.s.  Un- 
like the  Cut-worms,  the  individuals  belonging  to 
this  group  feed  during  the  day  as  well  as  in  the 
night,  and  may  be  found  on  the  foliage  of  various 
kinds  of  plants,  shrubbery  and  trees.  The  larger 
number  of  the  moths  bred  from  this  group  are 
white  and  mottled,  and  are  commonly  called  "Mil- 
lers," or  "Ghosts."  The  belong  to  Arctia  spUoso- 
ma,  and  allied  genera,  and  are  of  various  sizes,  ex- 
panding from  one  to  two  inches.  They  do  not 
usually,  nor  all  of  them,  pass  the  winter  m  a  hyber- 
nating larval  state ;  but  as  they  seem  to  be  more 
promiscuous  in  their  periods  of  transformation,  and 
bring  forth  a  larger  number  of  broods  in  the  same 
season,  many  of  them  are  therefore  overtaken  in 
the  autumn  before  they  have  completed  their  lar- 
val development.  They  may  thus  be  found  half 
grown,  and  in  the  various  stages  between  that  and 
mature  larva,  secreted  in  various  nooks  and  corners, 
where  sufficient  shelter  may  be  found  to  secure  them 
from  violence  or  injurious  exposure,  but  not  neces- 
sarily from  the  cold,  as  in  the  case  of  the  Cut- 
worms. Thes^  larva  are  capable  of  enduring  an 
astonishing  degree  of  cold,  and  alternate  freezings 
and  thawings,  with  apparent  impunity.  I  have  on 
several  occa.?ions  cut  them  out  of  ice,  where  they 
had  been  by  some  accident  suddenly  immersed  just 
before  the  water  become  congealed,  and  where  I 
had  seen  them  frozen  in  a  week  or  ten  days  before 
I  removed  them  from  their  icy  prison,  and  on 
bringing  them  into  a  warm  room,  within  an  hour 
or  two  they  were  restored  to  the  same  life  and  ac- 
tivity in  which  we  are  accustomed  to  find  them  in 
midsummer.  And  not  only  this,  but  I  have  kept 
them  in  my  room  for  a  week  or  more  in  this  con- 
dition, in  the  morning  finding  them  inactive,  tor- 
pid, or  frozen  stiff  as  icicles,  but  reviving  again  as 
soon  as  the  proper  temperature  had  been  restored, 
by  the  kindling  of  a  fire.  But  frequent  and  long- 
continued  fastings  in  a  full  vital  state,  has  finally 
destroyed  life  in  them  altogether ;  but  1  am  con- 
vinced, that  where  their  torpid  or  hybernating  state 
is  not  too  frequently  interrupted,  no  degree  of  cold 
usual  to  this  latitude,  would  have  much  effect  upon 
them. 


A  few  of  the  belated  Lepidopterous  larva  may 
be  found  every  spring  cropping  off  the  early  vege- 
tation, and  then,  having  completed  their  larval 
periods,  that  had  thus  been  prolonged,  they  are 
transformed  into  ptipa,  and  in  due  season,  come 
forth  a  'moth,'  and  found  a  new  colony  about  the 
time  vegetation  has  acquired  the  necessary  vigor  to 
support  them.  Of  course,  the  horticulturist  can 
have  no  doubt  what  course  he  ought  to  pursue 
when  any  of  these  larva,  even  if  but  a  single  one, 
fall  into  his  hands  at  any  season  of  the  j'ear.  And 
not  only  in  regard  to  those  I  have  above  alluded  to, 
but  also  in-  regard  to  the  large  number  of  those 
usually  denominated  "Grub-worms,"  found  h3'ber- 
nating  in  the  ground ;  and  also  the  "Borers,"  or 
"  Wood-worms,"  found  in  trees  and  decaying  tim- 
bers. Some  of  these  Wood-worms  require  three  or 
four  years  to  complete  their  larval  period,  and 
hence  these  must  pass  three  or  four  hybernating 
seasons.  A  few  of  these  are  Lepidopterous  insectsj 
but  the  larger  portion  of  the  Borers  are  Coleopte- 
rous, commonly  called  "Beetles."  Those  large 
white  Grulj-ioorms,  found  in  the  earth,  are  the 
larva  of  various  species  of  Lameh'corm'a,  a  family 
belonging  to  the  order  Coleoptera,  and  these  are 
sometimes  very  destructive  to  the  roots  of  vegeta- 
tion ;  and. some  a.lmost  fabulous  accounts  have  been 
given  of  their  great  numbers,  and  the  magnitude 
of  their  damages,  by  English  Entomologists.  What 
they  have  be$n  capable  of  doing  in  England,  they 
may  also  do  here,  when  their  numbers  are  allowed 
to  increase  in  this  country  as  they  have  in  Britain, 
and  on  the  continent  of  Europe. 

Various  species  of  Orfhoptrra,  especially  those 
belonging  to  the  families  Achrfadrr  and.  LocustiJ(T, 
the  "Crickets"  and  "Grasshoppers,"  may  be 
found  hj'bernating  in  states  of  development  corres- 
ponding to  the  larval  period  of  those  orders  in  which 
the  transformations  are  said  to  be  "complete." 
Like  the  Caterpillars,  these  may  only  be  those  in- 
dividuals that  have  been  arrested  in  their  develop- 
ment in  the  preceding  autumn.  Whatever  their 
economies  may  be  in  this  respect,  it  is  certain  that 
many  of  them  survive  the  severest  winters,  and  are 
found  about  half  grown,  as  early  as  the  first  of 
March,  in  an  active  state,  when  the  weather  per- 
mits it.  This  is  quite  common  with  the  genus 
Tdrix,  which  includes  a  group  of  the  smaller  spe- 
cies belonging  to  the  family  Locnstidce  of  the  order 
Orthop)tera. 

iTo  he  continued.^ 


HOW   TO   PILL    A   HANGING  BASSET. 

BY   ZKTA    PS  I. 

In  a  former  number  of  the  Monthly  we  described 
"  How  to  fill  a  Vase,"  and  it  is  now  our  intention 
to  describe  "  How  to  fill  a  Hanging  Basket." 

Hanging  baskets  are  usually  made  of  wire  ;  many 
however  are  made  of  terra-cotta,  earthenware  and 
rustic  work.  Of  all  mentioned,  perhaps  the  latter 
is  the  most  tasteful  and  the  most  beautiful. 

If  the  basket  be  made  of  wire,  we  must  procure 
gome  moss  with  which  to  line  it,  to  prevent  the 
earth  from  falling  out.  The  best  moss  is  that  which 
is  to  be  found  growing  in  the  woods  by  the  sides  of 
small  streams  and  in  other  like  damp  places.  In 
selecting  it,  preference  should  be  given  to  that  of  a 
bright  green  color,  and  that  which  has  not  grown 
too  tall.  Well,  having  selected  our  moss,  our  next 
step  must  be  that  of  placing  it  in  the  basket.  This 
is  easily  done,  and  requires  no  directions  other  than 
that  in  placing  it.  be  careful  to  arrange  it  so  that 
it  presents  an  entirely  green  !?tirface  on  the  outside. 
Do  not  try  to  shavo  off  too  much  of  the  earth  on 
the  inside,  but  allow  it  to  remain  fully  an  inch  thick. 

The  next  question  to  be  considered  is  the  soil. 
We  have  found  that  three-fourths  potting  soil, 
(such  as  is  usually  employed  in  greenhouses),  and 
one-fourth  sand,  answers  admirably.  Fill  the  bas- 
ket half  full  of  the  above  mixture,  and  then  select 
your  plants.  "  Select  your  plants !"  we  hear  some 
one  exclaim,  "that  is  easier  said  than  done!" 
Quite  true ;  but  we  propose  to  assist  the  novice  in 
his  attempt.  Of  course  there  is,  and  always  will 
be,  various  opinions  as  to  what  plants  look  well  in 
a  Hanging  basket.  And  here  we  wish  to  be  under- 
stood, that  we  are  simply  giving  our  opinion,  hop- 
ing that  if  any  differ  from  us  ("and  doubtless  many 
will)  they  will  give  their  opinions  on  the  subject 
in  the  columns  of  the  Monthly. 

We  think  that  to  look  well,  a  Hanging  basket 
should  not  have  any  thing  in  it  that  will  stand  up 
too  high,  or  which,  by  growing,  may  be  out  of  all 
proportion  to  the  size  of  the  basket.  We  refer  to 
such  plants  as  Fish  and  Rose  Geraniums,  Roses, 
Fuchsias,  etc.  In  our  opinion.  Ferns  form  most 
appropriate  centers ;  around  the  edges  Tradescan- 
tia,  Periwinkle  and  Lobelias  may  be  used  to  ad- 
vantage. If  the  basket  be  suspended  with  a  wire 
or  chain  of  considerable  length,  nothing  looks  more 
charming  than  to  see  a  climber  such  as  Maurandia 
or  Thunbergia,  running  up  the  wire.  The  beauti- 
ful Cissus  discolor  is  exquisite  in  this  position. 
Try  it. 

In  speaking  of  "  How  to  fill  a  Hanging  basket," 
above,  we  have  referred  to  those  to  hang  in  the  open 


ffi|f[  ^arhntr's  ||Ionf!jIn. 


S3o 


air  nnrler  piazzas,  but  when  it  is  designed  that  it 
should  hang  in  a  hothouse,  orchids  may  be  em- 
ployed with  great  effect. 


WIL9    FLOWERS. 


BY  THOAIAS   GARDNER. 

I  Concluded  from  poge  301.] 
The  Lily  family  is  one  of  renowned  beauty,  and 
America  has  as  pretty  representatives  as  any  coun- 
try in  the  world,  though  the  Japan  species  seem  to 
have  more  fragrance  and  greater  size.  We  have 
four  true  lilies,  [Liliums) — L.  Canadense  grows  in 
wet  places  all  over  the  Union  ;  L  SKperbnni  is 
common  north,  but  does  not  extend  far  below  Ma- 
son and  Dixon's  line ;  the  L.  Philnddphicvm  ex- 
tends north  to  Canada,  while  the  L.  Cateshd,  a 
very  beautiful  plant,  is  the  only  one  common  south. 
-The  "Dog-tooth  Violet,"  [Enjthronium),  with 
yellow  drooping  flowers,  and  spoon-shaped  leaves, 
so  common  in  damp  woods  and  meadows  in  spring, 
belongs  also  to  the  lily  family.  There  is  a  white 
variety,  but  quite  uncommon.  The  Quamash,  or 
Western  Squill,  ( Camassia  escnJenta),  with  large, 
onion-like  roots,  is  a  pretty  flowering  Western 
plant.  The  "Star  of  Bethlehem,"  (  Ornifhogahmi), 
whitens  every  spring  meadow.  A  j'cllow  species, 
(  0.  croceum),  is  a  native  of  Georgia. 

We  have  now  passed  in  review  about  all  the 
handsome  wild  flowers  of  the  United  States.  The 
object  has  been  to  call  attention  to  them,  and  to 
say  just  so  much  about  them  as  would  direct  tow- 
ards them  that  spirit  of  inquiry  that  may  lead  to  a 
better  acquaintance.  To  point  out  each  with  pre 
cision,  so  that  any  one  could  be  identified  by  the 
description  above,  would  have  necessitated  the  em- 
ployment of  technical 'terms,  which  it  has  been  our 
study  to  avoid.  It  is  our  wisb  to  see  our  pretty 
wild  flowers  popular,  and  this  could  be  done  only 
by  treating  an  account  of  them  in  a  popular  manner. 
Works  on  American  wild  plants,  of  course,  include 
all  wild  species,  and  the  majority  of  these  interest 
only  the  purely  scientific  student.  Our  work  has 
been  to  separate  the  wheat  from  the  chafl",  for  the 
benefit  of  those  who  desire  only  the  grain  of  beauty. 
To  the  ladies  of  the  United  States,  particularly,  we 
commend  our  task.  On  them,  more  than  on  the 
sterner  sex,  devolves  all  those  little  arts  that  ren- 
der a  tasteful  home  loveable  and  lovely.  Plants 
and  flowers  enter  largely  into  these  delicate  arrange- 
ments; and  if  our  chapter  shall,  in  any  degree,  aid 
in  selecting  for  our  wild  plants  the  posts  of  honor 
awarded  hitherto  to  foreign  introductions,  certainly 

~,«3 

^ . ., 


no  handsomer  than  they,  we  shall  feel   like  the 
poet,  who 

"  Having  garlanded  his  native  flowers, 
Cast  the  wreath  at  Beauty's  feet, 
Who  smiled — and  that  was  his  reward." 

[The  .series  of  articles  on  "Wild  Flowers"  we 
have  given  in  our  past  seven  numbers,  are  taken 
from  the  first  volume  of  "Report on  Agriculture," 
of  Commissioner  Newton.  The  writer  of  the  ar- 
ticle, Mr.  Thomas  Gardner,  has  been  a  frequent 
contributor  under  what  we  suppose  the  learned 
ones  call  &  710771  de  plu77ie,  or  some  other  'nom,' 
ever  since  the  commencement  of  our  journal,  to  its 
pages,  and  we  are  pleased  to  say  will  continue  to 
do  so  as  occasion  ofi'ers.  Mr.  Gardner  may  have 
omitted  a  few  good  things  from  his  list.  We  think 
he  has.  We  should  be  pleased  to  have  additions. 
It  will  be  on\3  of  the  best  references  as  to  what 
pretty  wild  flowers  to  look  up  for  cultivation  we 
know  of — Ed.] 


PEACHSS. 

■BY  JOEL  A.    SPERRY,    N^T  Yp»K. 

I  have  tried  an  experiment  with  Peacli  trees  for 
frbo  iant  two  seasons,  and  if  the  idea  is  good  for 
any  thing,  I  will  give  it  to  you,  that  your  readers 
may  have  the  benefit  of  it. 

.  In  the  spring  of  1863, 1  had  in  my  garden  two  or 
three  Peach  trees  that  had  the  yellows  very  bad, 
so  much  so,  that  I  considered  them  dead.  I 
poured  one  gallon  of  boiling  hot  water  on  to  each 
of  them,  and  let  it  run  down  the  trunk  of  the  trees. 
The  result  was  surprising  to  me.  Instead  of  that 
deathly  look,  in  the  course  of  two  or  three  weeks 
there  appeared  a  new  growth  of  leaves,  fresh  and 
green,  and  this  season  they  all  have  had  Peaches 
on  them.  I  tried  the  same  remedy  on  one  this 
spring,  and  with  tbe  same  result,  so  far  as  the 
growth  is  concerned. 


Never  put  the  most  common  plant  in  a  dirty  pot. 

Never  fill  a  pot  so  full  of  soil  but  that  it  may 
hold  water  enough  to  go*  through  ;  every  pot 
should  have  half  an  inch  of  vacancy  above  the 
compost. 

Never  tie  up  lettuces  or  endive,  or  earth  up 
celery  except  when  perfectly  dry.  They  are  sure 
to  spoil  if  you  do. 

Plunge  even  hardy  plants  that  are  potted.  A 
frost  which  could  never  reach  the  roots  below  the 
.surface  may  destroy  all  the  fibres  if  the  pot  be  ex- 
posed. 

■     my 


%ht  diarbmr's  P^onthlj. 


PHILADELPHIA,  NOVEMBEE,  1864. 


53=  AU  Communications  for  the  Editor  should  be  addressed, 
"  TnoMAS  Meehan,  Gormantown,  Philadelphia," and  Business  Let. 
ters  directed  to  "W.  G.  P.  Bkinckloe,  Box         Philadelphia." 


For  Terms  of  Subscription  see  second  page  cover. 

For  Terms  of  Advertising  see  page  33. 

Volumes  1,  2,  3,  4  and  5,  furnished  for  $1  50  each. 


'HOOKSH'S  C3SS5EBJT  TANKS. 

We  promised  after  some  of  our  correspondents 
had  discussed  this  subject,  to  offer  some  views  of 
our  own.  In  our  two  past  numbers  much  has  been 
said,  and  which  may  be  reduced  to  the  following 
points: — It  is  objected  that. 

1st.  The  idea  is  not  original  with  Mr.  Hooker, 
and  he  can  therefore  lay  no  claim  to  its  exclusive 
use. 

2d.  If  it  were  original,  it  is  such  a  slight  modifi- 
cation at  best  of  an  old  idea,  that  in  return  for  the 
free  interchange  of  opinion  so  common  among  hor- 
ticulturists, it  should  have  been  given  free  in  return. 

3d.  The  Tanks  are  worthless  as  water  conducting 
materials,  as  they  will  leak  without  fail. 

4th.  They  are  unfit  to  heat  horticultural  buildings 
as  the  earth  on  which  they  rest  and  the  materials 
surrounding  them  will  absorb  much  heat  that  would 
go  into  the  atmosphere  by  other  modes  of  heating. 

With  regard  to  No.  1 ,  it  is  a  fact  that  Cement 
Tanks  are  not  original  with  Mr.  Hooker  ;  but  they 
have  never  become  popular ;  and  the  reason  evi- 
dently is,  that  no  plan  of  construction  has  ever  been 
used  that  has  resulted  in  permanent  satisfaction. 
Very  few  persons  have  ever  abandoned  a  well  ar- 
ranged iron  hot- water  apparatus,  whether  on  the 
tank  or  pipe  system,  because  it  succeeds  very  well ; 
but  from  all  that  appears  on  the  record,  every  at- 
tempt with  Cement  Tanks,  however  promising  at 
first,  has  been  eventually  abandoned  for  something 
better.  The  presumption  is  that  every  Tank  here 
tofore  u.sed,  proved  ultimately  a  failure.  If,  there- 
fore, Mr.  Hooker  succeeds  in  making  Cement  Tanks 
that  no  one  would  willingly  abandon;  the  inference 
is  fair,  that  he  has  invented  something  new,  and  is 
entitled  to  claim  what  the  law  allows. 

With  regard  to  the  propriety  of  asserting  that 
claim  we  cannot  have  much  to  say.  It  is  so  like 
patenting  an  iclea,  that  parties  accustomed  to  free 
interchange  of  opinion  will  feel  somewhat  sore  at  the 
unusual  circumstance.     If  it  were  a  boiler,  or  a 


spade,  or  a  pruning  knife,  that  could  be  formed  on 
a  certain  plan,  and  then  made  an  article  of  mer- 
chandize and  delivered  over  ready  made  to  the 
buyer  without  further  trouble  to  him,  as  almost  all 
other  patented  articles  are,  there  would  be  no  ob- 
jection; .but  in  this  case,  after  getting  the  idea,  the 
buyer  has  to  construct  the  thing  himself,  which 
might  fail  in  some  particular, and  then,  if  Mr.  H's  is 
a  success,  and  the  imitation  not,  it  could  not  be  of 
course  the  Hooker  Tank,  and  the  buyer  ought  not 
to  have  paid.  On  the  other  hand  one  might  use  it 
without  buying  the  right — he  might  use  Cement 
thatwasnot  Hooker's  Cement;  boards  that  were  not 
Hooker's  boards;  or  some  little  thing  or  other  that 
some  clever  lawyer  would  show  made  the  thing  dif- 
ferent from  Hooker's  Tank,  and  Mr.  H.  would  have 
difficulty  in  recovering.  The  "blood"  would  come 
with  the  "flesh,"  and  it  would  be  a  hard  thing  to  get 
it  pure  as  nominated  in  the  "bond."  It  would  need 
•a  second  Daniel  to  come  to  judgment.  We  would 
rather  sit  on  Sancho  Panza's  problem  than  on  it. 
"  In  a  certain  town  is  a  bridge,  and  at  the  end  a 
gallows — whoever  goes  over  the  bridge,  and  says 
truly  where  he  is  going  is  unharmed — he  who  lies 
is  hung  on  the  gallows.  A  traveller,  when  asked, 
said  "he  was  going  to  be  hung  on  that  gallowi?." 
If  we  let  him  pass  he  lied,  and  ought  to  be  hung, — 
if  we  hang  him,  he  told  the  truth,  and  we  had  no 
right  to  his  life."  Supposing  Mr.  Hooker  has  some 
claim,  we  fear  he  will  have  a  thorny  path  to  walk  on. 

y\'hatevcr  others  may  have  been  Mr.  Hooker's 
Tanks  are  not  worthless,  so  fiir  as  we  could  judge 
on  inspection.  They  answer  admirably-  The  pro- 
pagating house  was  everything  to  be  desired.  There 
were  no  more  signs  of  crack  than  we  see  in  a  por- 
celain-glazed preserving  kettle, — enough  of  rchu'ng 
to  make  the  surface  look  picturesque,  but  not  enough 
to  let  any  water  through.  The  water  was  jiretty 
hot  too.  We  dipped  our  finger  hastily  into  the  flow 
channel,  but  had  to  take  it  out  quicker  than  it  went 
in.  A  pretty  good  judge  of  temperature,  without 
actual  instrumental  accuracy,  we  should  say  it  was 
about  180°,  in  winter  it  must  be  warmer — the  return 
water  we  could  barely  bear  our  finger  in,  and  we 
should  call  it  1 30°.  That  the  (.ement  does  not  crack, 
we  attribute  to  the  fact  that  the  boards  supporting 
it  are  sunk  in  the  ground,  and  thus  are  kept  regu- 
larly moist  on  all  sides,  which  prevents  warping, 
and  consequently  cracking  from  that  cause, — and 
regularly  warm  on  all  sides,  by  which  the  interior 
expands  regularly  with  the  exterior,  and  so  cannot 
crack  from  that  cause  either — and  these  two  causes 
of  cracking  away,  there  is  none  other  left. 

But  here  comes  objection  four.     "  Sinking  j'our 


-—^^T^^. 


Cfj^  (garkiitr's  lIontljiB. 


337 


Tanks  in  the  ground,  to  save  cracking,  you  lose  all 
the  surface  heat.  Steering  from  Scylla  you  split  on 
Charybdis.  How  can  you  heat  a  house  in  this  way?' ' 
There-  is  force  in  this  objection.  Though  Mr. 
Hooker  has  a  cucumber  house  heated  in  this  man- 
ner, with  no  other  source  of  surface  heat,  from 
which  he  has  had  a  magnificent  crop  of  cucumbers 
in  full  bearing  since  February  last,  we  do  not  think 
it  could  be  done  in  this  way  as  a  general  thing. 
Where  bottom  heat  is  desired  it  is  admirable,  and 
if  some  plan  of  getting  surface  heat  independent  of 
it,  but  together,  it  would  be  perfection. 

It  is  decidedly  our  opinion  that  it  is  because  Mr. 
Hooker's  Tanks  are  under  ground  they  answer  so 
well,  and  we  now  pi'oceed  to  give  what  we  consider 
an  improvement,  -which  any  one  may  adopt. 

The  writer  once  built  a  Tank  which  for  cheapness 
could  not  be  surpassed.  It  was  formed  of  inch  white 
pine  boards,  and  was  forty  feet  long  and  three  feet 
wide — the  water  thus  circulating  eighty  feet.  The 
Tank  was  built  on  pillars  and  cross  pieces  about 
three  feet  apart.  The  edges  of  the  boards  were 
planed  "true"  by  a  good  carpenter  and  were  set 
together,  nailed  well,  but  not  tongued  or  grooved. 
The  end  edges  of  the  boards  were,  however,  tongued 
and  grooved  by  hoop  iron — the  iron  forming  the 
the  tongue,  and  the  saw  the  groove.  Boards  and 
carpenter  work  together  cost  hnt  fifteen  dollars.  It 
was  in  operation  as  a  hot  water  Tank  for  propaga- 
ting five  years.  The  fault  was  it  would  leak  a  little, 
— the  air  of  the  house  being  dryer  than  the  air  inside 
the  Tank,  the  outside  at  the  seams  shrunk,  and 
though  the  water  inside  kept  the  thing  nearly  tight 
there,  just  enough  dropping  would  come  through  to 
be  annoying,  though  not  enough  to  interfere  with 
the  successful  working  of  the  plan. 

Now  if  such  a  Tank  were  sunk  in  the  ground  in- 
stead of  over  it, — with  moist  material  on  the  out- 
side to  prevent  warping  as  the  dry  air  did,  such  a 
Tank  would  be  the  very  thing.  If  a  few  drops  of 
water  came  through  they  would  be  absorbed  by  the 
material,  and  no  one  be  the  wiser  by  the  loss.  No 
Cement  would  be  required,  and  there  would  be  less 
material  for  the  heat  to  pass  through  before  you 
get  it  where  you  want  it. 

We  have  an  idea  that  the  Gardener's  Monthly 
plan  will  be  found  as  cheap  as  Mr.  Hooker's, 
and  as  the  subscribers  to  the  Gardener  s  Monthly 
will  have  it  free,  and  other  people  "  two  dollars  per 
year  paid  in  advance,"  the  gordian  knot  sort  of 
trouble  about  the  patent  right  we  have  before  re- 
ferred to,  our  readers  need  not  puzzle  themselves 
about  untying. 


NEV/  SEEDLINGS. 

It  is  the  duty  of  such  a  magazine  as  ours,  to 
guard  its  readers  against  being  led  away  by  the  par- 
donable enthusiasm  which  raisers  of  new  fruits 
throw  around  their  seedling  pets.  To  their  eyes 
they  are  glorious  visions  of  beauty;  but  to  the  more 
philosophical  and  matter  of  fact  public,  they  often 
prove  mere  fog  banks  in  which  to  loose  their  tem- 
pers and  their  cash. 

Let  us  look  around  at  the  numerous  New  Seed- 
ling Fruits  that  h.avc  been  introduced  during  the 
past  quarter  of  a  century,  and  ask  how  many  have 
stood  the  test  of  time  ?  In  many  cases  the  oldest 
are  still  the  best;  and  the  new  ideas,  which,  in  the 
estimation  of  many  well  qualified  to  judge,  were  to 
displace  everything  that  dared  compete  with  them, 
have  themselves  sunk  into  utter  oblivion. 

The  greatest  danger  to  the  public  comes  from  all 
opinions  advanced  on  the  merit  of  a  variety,  being 
founded  on  the  fruit  alone.  A  bunch  of  grapes 
perhaps  is  sent  to  the  Editor  of  some  popular  mag- 
azine. He  pronounces  it  the  best  of  so^^e  seventy 
kinds  he  has  tasted  that  season,  and  takes  the  bunch 
to  a  meeting  of  distinguished  fruit  growers,  all  of 
whom  agree  with  him  as  to  the  superior  excellence 
of  the  fruit  tasted.  But  nothing  more  is  ever  heard 
of  the  grape's  superiority  afterwards.  In  the  case 
referred  to,  we  have  never  tasted  a  Cuyahoga  berry 
that  was  anything  near  the  excellence  of  the  ones 
originally  sent  us. 

Almost  everything  else,  now  retired,  which  were 
once  popular,  have  started  in  the  same  way.  The 
Clara  grape  is  a  familiar  illustration  ;  when  pre- 
sented before  the  Pennsylvania  Horticultural 
Society,  its  fruit  committee,  then  composed  of  some 
of  the  leading  pomological  characters  of  the  Union, 
bestowed  a  very  heavy  and  unusual  premium  to 
mark  their  sense  of  its  extreme  value.  But  who 
values  the  Clara  grape  now  ? 

It  should  not  be  forgotten  that  raisers  of  Seed- 
ling Fruits  when  once  the  fancied  excellence  of  their 
bantlings  has  become  a  conviction  in  their  minds, 
take  extra  pains  with  them,  and  that  these  advan- 
tages result  naturally  in  producing  some  really  fine 
specimens.  These  are  sent  to  the  press  and  public 
exhibitions — wrote  about,  talked  about,  and  intro- 
duced in  every  way  conceivable,  until  as  the  face- 
tious Dr.  Ezra  Michener  would  say,  the  whole  com- 
munity gets  a  fungus  on  the  brain,  which  ultimate- 
ly turns  to  marked  disgust. 

The  newest  exemplification  of  this  state  of  affairs 
is  in  the  lona  and  Israella  grapes.  The  way  in 
which  they  are  brought  before  the  public  has  a 
very  taking  air, — and  while  we  have  no  doubt  the 


1%)^ 


T^ 


^flBIC 


^38 


Slfje  #ar(kntr's  (P^ont|If 


jmrties  who  are  "  engineering  the  thing  through" 
in  can  well  enough,  it  is  well  for  our  reader^  to  pro- 
fit by  the  teachings  of  the  past.  The  fruits  of  both 
were  on  exhibition  at  Rochester,  and  were  evident- 
ly very  good  grapes.  The  dark  one,  Israella,  was 
not  very  superior  in  flavor,  but  was  recommended 
for  its  earliness — we  should  place  it  in  the  same 
class  as  to  general  merits  with  Logan,  to  which  it 
may  perhaps  prove  superior  in  some  respects.  The 
lona  was  of  a  dark  Catawba  color,  berries  not  so 
large  as  a  perfect  Catawba,  and  the  flavor  of  the 
Catawba  class,  but  not  equal  to  a  Catawba  well 
ripened.  "But  it  ripens  so  early  and  grows  so  well, 
is  so  healthy  and  free  from  mildews ;  and,  what  of 
all  these  can  the  Catawba  do  ?' '  This  is  all  very  well. 
The  Catawba  was  not  once  so  lowly  estimated  as 
now — when  these  newer  arrivals  get  abroad  and  find 
their  level  of  cultivation,  will  they  meet  a  better 
fate?  What  is  there  in  them  that  societies  and 
newspapers  and  leading  men,  should  go  out  of  their 
way,  and  laud  these  things  so  particularly  and 
above  all  ? 

At  the  National  Meeting  at  Rochester,  there  was 
a  committee  appointed  to  examine  all  the  fruits^on 
exhibition.  Some  how  or  another,  another  com- 
mittee got  appointed  subsequently  to  examine  the 
Seedling  fruits.  They  bestowed  especial  attention 
on  the  grapes  in  their  report.  This  Seedling  was 
said  to  be  this,  and  said  to  be  that, — another  was 
also  referred  to  in  this  say  so  strain,  so  it  went  on 
culminating  in  a  notice  of  lona  and  Israella,  when 
the  ipse  dixit  was  dropped,  and  the  grapes  be- 
praised  in  the  mo&t  positive  terms.  Some  innocent 
member,  supposing  that  probably  these  grapes 
might  have  some  faults,  called  upon  Dr.  Grant  to 
come  forward  and  tell  the  meeting  all  he  knew 
about  them.  He  knew  no  fault — rather  he  knew 
them  to  possess  some  very  remarkable  properties. 
"Is  it  a  good  keeper?"  inquired  one  particu- 
larly anxious  for  information.  "It  will  keep  as 
long  as  you  like !  "  was  the  doctor's  opinion  of  this 
very  accommodating  variety. 

To  the  credit  of  the  society  there  was  some  in- 
quiry by  the  committee  how  it  got  to  be  appointed 
over  the  one  called  to  examine  all  the  reports, — we 
did  not  hear  the  explanation,  but  when  application 
was  made  by  the  committee  for  permission  to  re- 
write their  notes, — said  application  was  refused. 

We  suppose  the  action  of  the  Society  was  not 
considered  sufficiently  endorsive  of  these  Seedlings, 
so  a  master  piece  was  attempted  at  the  New  York 
American  Institute  Exhibition.  A  few  days  before 
the  time  appointed  for  meeting,  Mr.  Horace  Greely 
was  induced  to  offer  $100  for  the  best  American 


Seedling  Grapes.  There  was  no  time  to  let  those 
who  might  compete  against  the  lona  know  of  the 
offer.  No  monthly— probably  no  one  weekly  agri- 
cultural paper  could  get  the  offer  before  its  readers 
in  time.  Indeed  in  the  very  Weekly  Tribune  in 
which  we  read  the  offer,  there  were  strong  indica- 
tions that  it  was  hoped  and  expected  the  lona  was 
to  be  the  prize  grape  ;  a  sort  of  jjrophetic  anticipa- 
tion of  what  appeared  in  a  subsequent  issue,  that 
now  that  the  premium  had  been  awarded  the  lona, 
now  Dr.  Grant  would  have  to  supply  an  immense 
stock  for  the  enormous  demand  he  was  now  sure  to 
have  for  it.  This  is  so  fixr  in  the  history  as  the  time 
of  writing  this  will  allow.  Before  the  press  closes 
over  the  manuscript,  we  have  no  doubt  we  might 
find  in  the  Tribune  or  somewhere  else,  a  repetition 
of  the  great  Delawarc-house-blowing-down-destruc- 
tion-plan  of  advertising,  and  the  pleasing  announce- 
ment made  gratis,  that  an  "immense  stock  is  for- 
tunately on  hand." 

Be  this  as  it  may,  our  friend  Greely  may  have 
the  consolation  of  feeling  that  his  $100  is  gone  to  a 
grape,  which,  as  shown  by  some  fine  specimens  at 
Easton,  a  well  ripened  Catawba  would  beat  on  the 
simple  quality  of  flavor  alone,  and  the  proprietors 
of  the  grape  have  the  right  to  profit  all  they  can  by 
their  business  enterprise. 

Our  duty  to  the  public  is  to  guard  them  against 
placing  too  much  value  on  these  reports  of  societies 
or  newspapers,  or  heavy  premiums  awarded.  They 
are  often  gained  by  pressure,  or  are  the  result  of 
nicely  laid  i)lans, — and  besides  there  are  many 
qualities  of  high  value  which  an  Editor  or  premium 
committee  cannot  reach.  Some  grapes  have  con- 
stitutions peculiarly  affected  by  circumstances  in 
their  growth, — and  this  will  give  a  very  variable 
character  to  the  fruit, — a  healthy  and  vigorous 
vine,  is  of  this  much  value  that  its  fruit  will  be  of 
uniform  character  all  through.  Bearing  these 
things  in  mind,  our  readers  will  know  how  far  to 
appreciate  approving  notices,  and  be  able  to  act 
understandingly  when  proposing  to  add  novelties  to 
their  lists. 


53"Coinmunicationa  for  this  department  must  reach  the  Editor 
on  or  before  the  10th  of  the  month. 

Ji^^The  Editor  cannot  auBwer  lett<!rg  for  this  department  pri- 
yately. 


Kin  the  Botanist. — A  friend  informs  us  that 
this  was  his  correct  name,  not  King.  Also,  that 
he  was  alive  about  1826,  as  Mr.  Nuttall  made  some 


.^asi.. 


Clje  @anlciier*s  (Pl0ntl)lij» 


339 


exchanges  of  speciuiens  ■with  him  in  tliat  year. 
What  ultimately  became  of  him  and  his  fine  herba- 
rium-of  American  plants,  no  one  seems  to  know. 


Grapes  at  Rochester — J.  W.  IF.,  Yfasldng- 
tnn  Ileights,  N.  Y. — "I  perceive  you  have  been 
to  Rochester,  attending  the  Poraological  Conven- 
tion. I  suppose  you  will  refer  to  it  again  in  your 
next  issue.  Did  you  notice  the  Yeddo  Grape 
there?  (1)  Buchanan  told  me  he  saw  it  there.  If 
you  did,  let  us  have  your  opinion  of  it  in  the  next 
Montldy.  Buchanan  gave  me  his  opinion  ;  I  want 
to  hear  youi-s — then  I  shall  come  to  a  tolerably  cor- 
rect conclusion  about  it. (Ij 

My  impression  is  that  Allen  s  ITyhrkl  is  going  to 
be  one  of  the  best  of  the  new  hardy  grapes,  (2)  and 
Concord  the  next  (3J,  not  as  regards  delicacy  of 
flavor,  but  its  vigorous  growth  and  productiveness, 
will  more  than  make  up  for  its  lack  of  flavor — but 
enough  ;  if  I  do  not  stop,  you  will  think  I  am  wri- 
ting an  essay  for  the  magazine  (4)." 

[1.  Our  impression  of  the  Yeddo  Grape  was  fa- 
vorable. It  appeared  to  be  late ;  but  Mr.  Saun- 
ders informs  us  that  the  vine  was  still  growing 
rampantly, — had  in  fact  grown  already  25  feet  this 
3'ear,  if  we  remember  rightly, — and  we  all  know 
that  a  bunch  of  grapes  from  a  shoot  that  keeps 
growing  late  does  not  ripen  early.  It  is  too  soon 
to  speak  decidedly  of  its  merits. 

2.  The  Golden  Chasselas  was  for  many  years  a  very 
hardy  foreign  grape.  Allen's  grape  is  probably  a 
true  hybrid  ;  but  in  so  small  a  degree  is  it  crossed 
with  the  native  grape,  that  we  fear  it  will  be  ulti- 
mately no  hardier  than  the  Golden  Chasselas  is  now. 

3-  We  have  so  far  seen  no  grape  that  in  the  sum 
total  of  good  characters  equals  the  Concord. 

4.  By  reference  to  our  long  list  of  sins  against 
Editors,  we  have  not  found  any  crime  of  this  kind 
charged  against  our  correspondent ;  but  several 
good  things  placed  to  his  credit  on  the  top  of  a  long 
page,  with  plenty  of  room  at  the  bottom  for  future 
entries.] 


Correspondents— Jersey  City,  Oct.  \?Jh,  1864. 

Thomas  Meehan— Dear  Sir:  Will  you  allow 
me  space  in  your  columns  to  call  attention  to  a  dif- 
ficulty, that  most  of  us  in  business  experience,  in 
receiving  orders  with  money  enclosures,  every  now 
and  then,  without  either  name  or  address.  It  is  a 
very  unpleasant  business  for  all  concerned.  Stran- 
gers, of  course,  thinking  that  the  party  to  whom 
they  have  sent  their  money  must  have  appropriated 
it,  without  sending  the  goods. 

Although  I  have  at  various  times,  received  orders 


in  that  way,  the  absent-minded  gentlemen  have  al- 
ways at  length  made  inquiry  why  their  orders  had 
been  neglected ! 

But  during  the  last  month,  I  have  had  two — one 

from  ?,  Kentucky,  with  the  post  mark  so 

blurred  that  I  could  make  out  nothing  more,  en- 
closing an  order  and  Five  Dollars.  The  other 
from  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  enclosing  Thirty  Dollars, 
with  an  order,  but  also  nameless  ! 

No  doubt  both  these  parties  must  think  that 
their  orders  are  very  slow  in  being  filled,  or — some- 
thing worse.  I  trust  that  this  may  meet  the  eye 
of  some  of  our  anonymous  patrons,  so  that  they 
may  know  who  is  to  blame. 

Yours,  truly,  Peter  Henderson, 

[Every  business  man  is  troubled  this  way  at 
times.  It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  more  care 
is  not  exercised.  It  is  usually  the  result  of  haste. 
The  writer  received  recently  a  heavy  draft  in  an 
unsealed  envelope,  just  as  if  the  sender  had  mailed 
a  circvilar.  Another  order,  with  a  draft  on  Boston, 
simply  dated  from  "Young  America," — a  place  we 
had  never  heard  of.  Singularly  enough,  no  State 
or  other  place  named  on  the  draft  either,  and  we 
had  to  write  to  the  Boston  house  for  the  locale  of 
their  correspondents,  in  order  to  help  us  to  find  out 
our  own.  We  have  money  now  credited  on  our 
books  for  some  years,  to  parties  we  don't  know 
where,'  who  no  doubt  look  on  us  as  swindlers,  and 
who  are  '  satisfied  '  with  their  '  first  and  last  expe- 
rience with  them  fellows.'  We  suppose  these 
things  will  be  until  the  millenium  comes.] 


The  Greely  Grape  Prize. —  Since  our  re- 
marks in  another  column  were  written,  the  follow- 
ing has  appeared  in  the  New- York  Tribune: 

' '  Fruit  Culture— Grapes.— It  will  be  recollect- 
ed that  the  Editor  of  The  Tribune  recently  offered 
three  premiums  of  $100  each  for  the  Apple,  Pear 
and  Grape,  respectively,  best  adapted  to  universa' 
cultivation  throughout  the  Middle  and  Northen. 
States  of  the  Union — these  premiums  to  be  award- 
ed, at  their  own  discretion  as  to  time  and  manner, 
by  the  Fruit  Department  of  the  American  Insti- 
tute. That  Committee  took  the  whole  matter  intn 
consideration  at  the  late  Institute  Fair,  and  decide*  i 
— as  we  had  already  heard,  and  as  is  confirmed  by 
the  following  letter — to  award  the  premium  for  the 
best  Grape  to  Dr.  C.  W.  Grant,  for  his  "  lona,"— 
a  new  Grape,  but  already  favorably  known  to  emi- 
nent fruit-growers.  We  believe  that  the  shortness 
of  the  preliminary  notice  precluded  awards  to  any 
Pear  or  Apple.  Dr.  Grant  has  decided  not  to  ar 
cept  the  premium  awarded  to  his  Grape,  but,  do- 


^v. 


dining  it,  to  ask  the  Committee  to  ro-opcn  the 
competition,  and  give  such  further  time  that  no 
question  may  remain  as  to  the  fullness  of  the  scru- 
tiny, whatever  may  or  shall  be  said  as  to  the  justice 
of  the  ultimate  award.    Here  is  Dr.  Grant's  letter: 

Copy.]  lONA,  Oct.  6t7i.,  1864. 

To  the  Committee  on  Grapes.,  American  Institute  : 

Gentlemen :  I  have  just  received  a  copy  of  the 
award  of  the  "  Greely  Prize,"  made  by  yourselves, 
and  am  naturally  very  much  gratified  to  learn  that 
the  lona  received  it.  The  terms  in  which  you 
speak  of  it  assure  me  that  your  judgment  is  in  full 
harmony  with  the  opinion  that  I  have  always  en- 
tertained as  to  its  merits.  It  may  appear,  however, 
that  sufficient  time,  had  not  been  given  to  enable 
all  who  might  have  desired  to  bring  their  grapes 
for  competition.  I  would,  therefore,  ask  to  refer 
the  matter  back  to  the  Committe,  declining  to  re- 
ceive the  premium  for  the  present,  to  give  full 
opportunity  for  all  who  may  desire  to  present  their 
grapes  and  vines  for  examination,  either  during  the 
present  season  or  the  next  year. 

The  statement  in  your  award  concerning  the 
grapes  before  the  pviblic,  seem  almost  to  render  the 
course  which  I  feel  constrained  to  take  improper. 
I  must,  therefore,  beg  to  assure  the  Committee 
that  my  action  is  not  taken  from  any  want  of  re- 
spect, but  on  the  contrary,  from  the  highest  regard 
for  their  knowledge  and  judgment.  The  impor- 
tance of  the  case  to  the  public  will,  I  hope,  justify 
me  in  giving  this  additional  labor  to  the  Committee. 
Very  respectfully,  C.  W.  Grant. 

The  Editor  of  7he  Tribune  respectfully  asks  all 
who  have  further  suggestions  to  make  on  this  sub- 
ject to  address  them  to  Peter  B.  Mead,  .335  Broad- 
way, New  York,  of  the  Fruit  Department,  or  Com- 
mitte of  the  Institute  aforesaid.  He,  the  Editor,  is 
not  now  at  .liberty  to  vary  the  terms  of  his  offer  ; 
his  obligation  in  the  premises  is  limited  to  the  pay- 
ment of  the  money  on  the  award  of  the  Committee, 
which  is  composed  of  practical  men,  who  will  doubt- 
less take  pleasure  in  rendering  this  humble  contri 
bution  to  improvement  in  Fruit-growing  as  useful 
as  may  bo." 

From  this  it  appears  Mr.  Greely  left  the  '  time 
and  manner '  of  the  award  to  the  Institute  Club. 
They  fixed  it  so  that  very  few  but  their  fellow  mem- 
ber, Dr.  Grant,  could  know  much  of  it.  How  the 
Committee-  came  to  know  that  the  lona,  which  is 
in  the  hands  of  few  "  throughout  the  Northern 
and  Middle  States,"  except  steam  propagators,  was 
'best  adapted"  of  all  in  cultivation  for  those  re- 
gions, is  more  than  we  can  tell.     Even  Dr.  Grant, 


with  his  well  known  admirable  shrewdness,  declin- 
ed "  most  respectfully"  the  proffered  honor. 

We  have  no  doubt  the  intentions  of  the  gentle- 
men composing  the  Committee  of  the  Club,  were 
well  meaning  enough, — but  after  such  an  unfortu- 
nate mistake,  the  public  will  have  no  faith  in  the 
award  they  may  hereafter  make,  supposing  that 
the  competition  is  re-opened  next  year, — and  as 
suggestions  are  in  order,  we  would  propose  that 
the  decision  be  lefb  to  gentlemen  outside  of  the 
club,  in  whose  judgment  they  themselves  would 
have  confidence,  as  well  as  the  community.  To 
continue  the  suggestion,  we  would  name  Dr.  War- 
der, J.  J.  Thomas,  and  P.  Barry. 


Red,  White  and  Black  Spruce — R.  D., 
Wauke()an,  111. — "  I  send  you  by  mail  three  bran- 
ches of  apparently  distinct  varieties  of  native 
Spruces : 

No.  1.  we  call  Black  Spruce,  bearing  a  long,  slen- 
der green  cone  Csample  enclosed). 

No.  2,  we  call  White  Spruce,  bearing  a  short 
purple  cone. 

•No.  3,  we  call  Red  Spruce,  it  also  bears  a  short 
purple  cone,  very  .similar  but  rather  smaller  than 
No.  2.  No.  3  is  easily  distinguished  from  the  oth- 
ers by  its  dark  red  buds,  and  being  of  a  different 
green  from  either  of  the  others.  It  also  commences 
new  growth  in  spring  much  later  than  either  of 
the  others. 

No.  1  is  from  an  Island  in  Lake  Michigan.  No. 
2  is  from  Western  New  York,  and  No.  3  from 
North-eastern  New  York. 

I  see  by  the  last  MontJ'ly  that  you  only  admit  of 
two  .varieties,  claiming  the  Red  and  Black  to  be 
identical,  while  our  Red  and  Black  bear  cones  quite 
dissimilar.  The  cones  of  our  White  and  Red  re- 
semble each  other,  but  the  buds  and  foliage  are 
very  different.  , 

Several  of  your  Western  subscribers,  including 
Mr.  Phoenix  and  myself,  request  your  opinion  on 
the  above." 

[No.  1  is  the  White  Spruce.  No.  2,  the  glaucous 
variety  of  the  Black  Spruce.  No.  3,  the  dark- 
leaved  variety  of  the  Black  Spruce. 

Some  botanists  think  there  really  is  but  one  spe- 
cies in  all  these  Spruces, — that  any  one  of  them 
may  be  produced  from  the  other  by  seed.  These 
specimens  of  Mr.  Douglass'  tend  to  confirm  this 
view,  for  specimens  1  and  2  are  identical  in  every 
thing  but  the  cones,  which  is  the  only  character 
that  identifies  it  with  the  Black  Spruce  species.] 


Cocoa-nut  Refuse. — This  material  is  highly 


•\mmr 


spoken  of  in  the  English  papers,  as  a  material  for 
packing.  The  favor  of  a  package  of  the  Mead's 
Seedling  Strawberry,  from  Mr.  Peter  B.  Mead, 
just  received,  packed  in  it,  shows  the  English  to 
have  said  no  more  than  it  merits. 


Name  of  Plant — P.  B.  R.,  Burlington,  Iowa. 
—  "What  is  the  name  of  the  tree  to  which  the  en- 
closed leaf  belongs?  I  do  not  know  that  it  is  na- 
tive of  this  region,  as  I  know  of  only  one  small 
specimen,  and  that  was  raised  from  seed  sent  from 
Tennessee.  It  resembles  Kentucky  Coffee-tree,  but 
is  not  it." 

[It  is  the  Melia  Azederach,  a  native  of  the  East 
Indies,  but  nearly  naturalized  in  our  Southern 
States,  where  it  has  long  been  employed  as  a  street 
tree. 

If  we  remember  rightly,  the  streets  of  Peters- 
burg, Virginia,  have  nearly  all  of  this  kind  for 
shade  trees. 

Junipers — A.  B. — "  Is  there  any  way  in  which 
a  Juniper  could  be  made  to  keep  its  branches  to- 
gether without  constant  tying.  I  have  one  which, 
for  its  associations,  I  highly  value  ;  but  it  has  so 
ragged  an  appearance  that  it  a  continual  eye  sore." 
— [Select  a  strong  and  leading  shoot,  to  remain  and 
form  a  central  trunk  for  the  tree  ;  then  cut  back 
all  the  other  shoots  to  within  a  few  inches  of  where 
they  start  from,— and  in_  future  never  allow  any 
shoots  to  grow  that  may  con) pete  in  vigor  with  the 
leading  one.  Young  Junipers  should  be  treated 
thus  from  the  start. 


Young  Apples  in  Old  Orchards— i^.  L.  S. 
— "Will  it  do  to  set  out  young  apple  trees  in  the 
place  where  old  ones  have  gone  to  decay.  I  have 
an  orchard  in  which  perhajis  one-fourth  of  the  trees 
are  gone.  Would  like  to  fill  their  places  with  new 
ones,  if  they  will  prosper  thus?" 

[It  is  not  according  to  sound  doctrine  to  do  so  ; 
but  we  have  known  some  to  succeed  very  well.  A 
little  lime  should  be  mixed  in  with  the  old  soil  be- 
fore planting,  and  a  small  quantity  of  salt  would 
also  most  probably  have  a  beneficial  eifect.] 


Flowering  of  the  Sweet  Potato— P.  B.  R. 
— "Does  the  Sweet  Potato  ever  flower  in  cultiva- 
tion? I  have  been  raising  them  in  my  garden  for 
ten  years,  and  have  never  seen  a  blossom." 

[Our  summers  are  not  long  enough.  Grow  one 
in  a  large  tub,  and  k^ep  it  growing  in  a  hothouse 
through  the  fall,  il  would  probably  flower  about 
Christmas.] 


Seedling  Grape — J.  S.,  Pnncipio,  Cecil  Co., 
Md. — The  grapes  sent,  found  growing  wild  in  a 
wood,  were  very  good  for  wild  grapes,  but  not 
equal  in  quality  to  others  in  cultivation  like  them ; 
that,  unless  it  has  some  very  marked  peculiarities 
of  growth  or  earliness  that  would  render  it  desira- 
ble, we  could  not  advise  its  propagation. 

Pruning  Grape-vines — J.  S.,  Cuicinnati,  0. 
— "  I  am  almost  bewildered  by  the  various  opin- 
ions advanced  as  to  the  best  mode  of  pruning  the 
hardy  grai^e,  and  should  be  glad  of  your  opinion. 
What .  I  want  to  know  principally  is,  how  long  to 
trim  the  canes.  Some  cut  them  down  to  four  feet, 
others  think  sis  better.     What  do  you  say  ?' ' 

[Rot  and  mildaw,  and  other  troubles  usually  go 
Avith  extra  strong  shoots.  How  to  prune  will  de 
pend  much  on  your  locality ;  for  j'ou  know  the 
more  severely  you  winter  prune,  the  .stronger  your 
vines  grow.  If  your  locality  is  very  favorable  to 
the  vine,  you  can  prune  more  closely  and  get  extra 
fine  fruit.  If  there  be  a  tendency  to  trouble,  prune 
longer.  Better  have  the  fruit  not  quite  so  fine,  and 
have  it  healthy.] 


Everbearing  Raspberries — J.  F.  <S^.^Which 
is  the  best  fall  or  Everbearing  Raspberry  for  gene- 
ral cultivation  ? 

[Taking  everything  into  consideration,  we  should 
name  Catawissa.  It  is  however  rather  fall-bearing 
than  everbearing.] 


Grapes  for  a  Cold  Vinery — A  Suhscriher, 
Baltimore,  ilM^-"Would  respectfully  request  from 
your  knowledge  and  experience  a  list  of  one  dozen 
Grapes  for  a  greenhouse,  containing  a  furnace,  in 
which  a  fire  is  only  kindled  when  there  is  a  likeli- 
hood of  freezing  weather.  Of  the  twelve  vines  it  is 
decided  that  three  or  four  should  be  Black  Ham- 
burg. Will  you  please  name  the  other  eight  or 
nine  most  desirable  and  eligible  for  the  purpose  ? 
Have  the  new  varieties.  Golden  Hamburg,  Bowood 
and  Hamburg  Muscats,  succeeded  well  in  such 
houses  as  the  above?" 

[Golden  Hamburg  does  well  in  a  cold  vinery. 
We  would  have  2  of  them,  2  Grizzly  Frontignan,  1 
White  Frontignan,  1  Royal  Muscadine,  1  Lady 
Downe's  Seedling,  1  Black  Prince,  4  Black  Ham- 
burg. ] 

Flowering  of  English  Ivy — P.  B.  R. — Does 
English  Ivy  ever  bloom  in  this  country  ?  and  what 
is  its  flower  like? 

Xlt  does  not  flower  till  it  has  reached  the  top  of 


■^ 


342 


g\^t  §mk\\tn  Paittljlg. 


the  wall  or  treo.  Then  the  flowers  coine  out  from 
the  side  branches.  They  are  small,  and  green,  in 
clusters,  followed  by  berries  as  large  as  peas,  which 
become  black  by  October.] 

Hybrid  Perpetual  Roses—/.  F.  ♦S'.— Will 
you  please  give  a  list  of  twenty  or  thirty  of  the  best 
(both  old  and  newj  Hybrid  Perpetual  Roses?      _ 


[Lion  of  Combats, 
Prince  Albert, 
Youland  of  Arragon, 
Baron  Prevost, 
General  Washington, 
Madam  Boll, 
General  Jacqueminot 
Jules  Margottin, 
General  Simpson, 
Imperatrice  Eugenie, 
John  Hopper, 


Caroline  de  Sansal, 
Beauty  of  Waltham, 
Comtesse  Cecile  de  Cha- 

brilliant, 
Geant  des  Battailles, 
Alexandrine  Bachmeteff, 
La  Reine, 
Madam  Rivers, 
Pius  IX., 
Senateur  Vaissc, 
Paxton, 


L' Enfant  du  Mont  Car-  Souv.  de  Levesou  Gower, 


Victor  Verdier, 
Madam  Laffay, 
Sydoiiie, 

Madame  Campbell  d'Islay, 
("this  is  sometimes  called 
Triomphe  de  Valenciennes).] 


mel, 
Louis  Buonaparte 
Madam  Masson, 
Crystal  Palace, 


Extending  the  Gardener's  Monthly— P. 
B.  R.,  Burlington,  Iowa.— ''I  am  trying  to  ex- 
tend the  circulation  of  the  3JohthIy,  and  hope  to 
send  the  Publisher  a  few  new  names  before  New 
Years.  Long  life  to  the  Gardener  s  llontJiIy  and 
its  Editor.     "  May  your  shadow  never  be  less." 

[We  are  much  obliged  for  your  good  wishes,  and 
still  better  kind  efforts.  It  is  to  the  interest  of  all 
our  subscribers  to  do  all  they  can  to  increase  our 
circulation.  The  greater  the  circle  of  our  readers, 
the  more  varied  are  the  contributions,  and  the 
more  we  all  learn  of  what  is  going  on.  Nurserymen, 
particularly,  have  a  special  interest  in  making  the 
work  known.  Those  who  advertise,  increase  the 
field  of  their  operations  profitably;  while  those 
who  do  not  advertise,  by  seeing  advertisements 
from  all  parts  of  the  country,  are  posted  as  to  what 
stocks  are  in  the  country.  When  prices  are  low, 
they  may  judge  there  is  an  overstock  ;  when  high, 
they  increase  their  own  propagations, — while  in 
the  increase  of  horticultural  taste,  all  classes  of 
nurserymen  and  florists  find  their  good  account. 
We  hope  all  our  readers  feel  as  does  P.  B.  R.] 


of  Assembly,  to  represent  the  Montgomery  district. 
Mr.  S.  is  an  enthusiast  in  liorticulturc,  and  we  are 
sure  will  neglect  no  opportunity  of  advancing  the 
interests  of  Horticulture  in  its  influence  on  the  na- 
tional prosjiei'ity  in  tlie  State  Capital. 

Note  on  the  Pronunciation  of  Gladiolus. 
By  Dr.  Asa  (Uray. — Referring  to  your  correspond- 
ent's note  on  the  "Pronunciation  of  the  Gladiolus," 
and  your  comment,  that  although  the  Latin  pro- 
nunciation is  certainly  Gladiolus,  yet,  viewing  it 
as  a  naturalized  English  word,  you  would  say 
Gladiolus,  "  to  suit  the  genius  of  the  language, 
into  which  it  is  received;"  1  would  suggest  that 
the  genius  of  the  English  language  would  be  for 
Gladliijus,  throwing  the  accent  back ;  and  I  fancy 
that  the  common  usage  grew  up  somehow  on  the 
idea  that  it  was  the  right  pronunciation  of  the  La- 
tin word,  being  indeed  more  in  accordance  with 
Latin  than  with  English  analogy;  so,  if  we  would 
follow  the  latter,  we  should  keep  the  classical  pro- 
nunciation of  Gladi-olus  inviolate — not  invUoate. 

[Dr.  Gray  makes  a  good  point,  so  far  as  that 
portion  of  our  argument  having  reference  to  the 
analogy  of  pronuciation  is  concerned.  As  no  other 
objection  is  made,  we  infer  that  the  balance  of  the 
position  taken  is  correct ;  namely,  that  when  we 
adopt  a  word  as  an  English  word,  we  do  not  violate 
any  rule  of  lingual  i)ropriety  by  altering  the  pro- 
nunciation. We  are  pleased  to  find  that  Dr.  Gray 
himself  confirms  this  view.  On  page  4  of  his 
"  Manual  of  Botany,"  he  gives  the  Latin  pronun- 
ciation Anemone,  which  is  correct  as  Pliny  would  . 
pronounce  it, — but  he  gives  as  the  correct  English, 
Anemone,  as  we  all  call  it.  We  might  with  as 
much  justice,  call  on  horticulturists  to  say  Anny- 
mony,  as  Glad-ee-olus, — both  right  by  Latin  rules; 
but  both  wrong  by  English  practice,  which  gives 
law  to  the  English  language. 


Horticulture  in  the  Pennsylvania  Leg- 
islature.— Our  correspondent,  Mr.  Edwin  Satter- 
thwait,  has  been  elected  to  the  Pennsylvania  House  '  devoted  to  this  subject. 


The  Miniature  Fruit  Garden  ;  or,  the  Culture 
of  I^/ramidal  and  Bush  F)-uit  Trees;  with  in- 
structions for  Root  Fr lining,  &c..  By  Tboma ,; 
Rivers.  Twelfth  Edition.  London :  Longmans. 
Pp.  125.     1864. 

We  are  reminded  of  the  revolution  wrought  in 
our  Fruit  Gardens  by  the  introduction  of  Pyrami- 
dal and  Bush  trees,  and  of  the  share  which  Mr. 
Rivers  has  had  in  bringing  it  about,  by  the  appear- 
ance of  a  twelfth  edition  of  his  capital  little  book 
The  readers  of  the  pre- 


JBft. 


Sfh^  ^anl^n^r'H  ^ortfilg* 


343 


vious  aleven  editions  must  of  neces£ity,comprise  a 
goodly  company  of  cultivators,  and  of  these  it  is  a 
fair  pi-esuraption  that  many  have  become  converts 
to  the  practice. 

If  it  be  true,  as  doubtless  it  is,  that  for  the  bulk 
of  our  hardy  fruit  produce  we  must  rely  on  our  old- 
fashioned  orchards,  judiciously  managed  after  the 
principles  which  Mr.  Cox  is  so  .well  explaining  in 
our  columns,  it  is  unquestionable,  on  the  other 
hand,  that  many  of  our  choicer  fruits  may  be  satis- 
factorily grown  in  the  miniature  fruit  garden,  as 
Mr.  Rivers  calls  it,  with  such  aid  as  is  to  be  derived 
from  Quince  and  other  dwarfing  stocks,  and  from 
the  practice  of  root-pruning,  biennial  removal,  and 
the  summer  pinching  system  of  pruning  applied  to 
the  formation  of  cordon,  of  pyramid,  and  of  bush- 
formed  trees. 

This  method  of  culture  is  eminently  adapted  for 
amateur  gardeners  who  take  a  personal  interest  in 
the  management  of  their  own  trees.  Root-pruning 
and  biennial  removal  are  most  essential  features  of 
it,  and  from  the  moderate  size  of  the  trees  cannot 
be  regarded  as  obstacles  in  the  way  of  carrying  it 
out.  Their  purport  is  to  make  and  keep  the  trees 
healthy  and  fruitful  by  ensuring  that  their  roots 
shall  be  kept  near  the  surface  within  the  influence 
of  the  sun  and  air.  The  ground  over  the  roots  of 
garden  trees  is  too  commonly  dug  once  or  twice  a 
year  and  cropped,  so  that  every  surface  fibre  is  de- 
stroyed, and  the  larger  roots  are  driven  downwards, 
with  the  certain  result  of  imbibing  crude  watery 
sap,  and  developing  a  too  surely  fatal  luxuriance — 
fatal  because  the  wood  scarcely  ever  ripens  as  it 
should  do. 

Perhaps  of  all  hardy  fruits  the  Pear  is  that  which 
can  be  most  profitably  submitted  to  this  discipline. 

Indeed,  worked  on  the  Quince,  and  prepared  by 
one  or  two  removals,  pyramidal  Pears  become  a 
perfect  mass  of  fibres,  and  the  stem  and  branchc. 
literally  clothed  with  blossom  buds.  Summer 
pinching,  however,  it  is  to  be  always  remembered, 
is  a  most  important  element  in  the  manageipent  of 
such  trees ;  and  so  are  winter  transplanting  and 
root-pruning,  which,  if  not  done  annually,  should 
at  least  be  practiced  every  two  years,  early  in  No- 
vember. 

The  French  gardeners,  Mr.  Rivers  tells  us,  have 
a  curious  yet  interesting  way  of  training  Pear  trees 
on  Quince  stock,  which  they  call  training  enfuseau, 
or  distaif  training,  the  most  simple  of  all  modes. 
A  young  tree;  one  year  old  from  the  bud,  is  planted, 
and  every  side  shoot,  as  soon  as  it  has  made  four 
leaves,  has  its  top  pinched  off,  leaving  three.  This 
is  the  first  pinching,  early  in  June.    These  pinched 


shoots  all  put  forth  young  shoots  which  must  be 
pinched  to  one  leaf,  and  so  on  with  all  the  young 
shoots  during  the  sum- 
mer. The  leading  shoot 
is  topped  when  it  has 
reached  12  inches  in 
length,  and  as  soon  as 
two  or  three  shoots 
break  out  from  it,  all 
but  the  leaders  are  pin- 
ched in,  in  the  way  al- 
ready described.  This 
process  is  repeated  eve- 
ry season,  and  a  very 
complete  distaff'-like  tree 
is  the  result.  This, 
wl^ich  is  the  cordon  sys- 
tem applied  to  single- 
stemmed  trees,  is  much 
to  be  recommended  for 
small  gardens,  where  it 
is  desired  to  accommo- 
date a  considerable  col- 
lection. 

What  the  Quince 
stock  is  to  the  Pear,  the 
Paradise  stock  is  to  the 
Apple,  and  the  Mahaleb 
to  th3  Cherry.  On  the 
Paradise  stock  Apples 
form  pyramids  of  great 
beauty  and  utility.  This 
stock,  like  the  Quince, 
lias  a  strong  tendency  to 
emit  roots  near  the  sur- 
face, and  is  therefore 
just  suited  for  the  prac- 
^  ,:;S,  tice  of  frequent   trans- 

'^^=a?4r-^;-?f::=c-^=^-^"~      plantation.      The   soi'ts 

of  xipples  should  be  discriminated,  those  of  close 
compact  habit  being  suitable  for  pyramids,  while 
those  of  horizontal  crooked  growth  must  be  treated 
as  bush  trees.  The  pinching  in,  which  is  the  same 
in  either  case,  may  be  practiced  with  Apples  as 
with  Pears,  and  the  results  are  equally  successful. 
The  Apple,  too,  may  be  profitably  grown  in  the 
form  of  single  horizontal  cordons,  as  an  edging  to 
kitchen  garden  borders.  The  modus  operandi  is 
this  : — take  a  tree  worked  on  the  Paradise  or  Dou- 
ein  stock,  and,  having  a  single  shoot ;  plant  it  in  a 
sloping  position,  and  train  the  shoot,  at  about  10 
or  12  inches  from  the  ground,  along  a  wire  support- 
ed by  oak  posts,  standing  one  foot  above  the  surface 


rj 


-^^) 


^^^ 


344 


Silj4  §m\mxs  ^mMi 


and  30  or  40  j^aixls  apart,  tlie  wire  being  passed 
through  an  eye  at  the  top  of  iron  pins  placed  at  in- 
tervals of  sis  feet.  Plant  the  trees  six  feet  apart, 
train  tlieni  along  the  wire,  and  when  they  meet 
graft  them  into  each  other  so  as  to  form  a  continu- 
ous cordon.  Every  side  shoot  of  these  cordons  is 
to  be  pinched  in  to  three  leaves  all  the  summer; 
and  the  fruit,  from  being  near  the  earth,  and  thus 
profiting  largely  by  radiation,  will  be  of  very  supe- 
rior quality.  Vertical  cordon  training  may  also  be 
successfully  adopted,  both  with  Apple  and  Pear 
trees.  It  is,  however,  found  with  respect  to  all 
cordon  trained  trees,  that  root-pruning  or  removal 
is  seldom  required,  the  vital  force  of  the  plant  being 
in  mo&t  cases  sufficiently  reduced  by  the  continuous 
pinching  of  the  young  shoots.  All  vertical  cordon 
trees,  too,  should  be  supported  by  slight  iron  rods 
standing  sis  feet  above  ground,  and  inserted  10  or 
12  inches  into  the  soil. 

In  respect  to  Plums,  no  stock  has  been  found 
quite  analogous  in  its  effect  on  these  trees,  to  that 
of  the  Quince  and  Paradise  stocks  on  the  Pear  and 
Apiile  respectively ;  but  it  has  been  found  that 
trees  worked  on  the  Plum  stock  are  readily  dwarfed 
bj'the  system  of  annual  or  biennial  transplantation. 

The  most  charming  of  all  pyramid  fruit  trees, 
however,  are  found  in  the  varieties  of  Duke  and 
Morello  Cherry  worked  on  the  Mahaleb  stock. 
These,  by  following  out  the  summer  pinching  and 
winter  transplanting  as  with  Pears  and  Plums,  be- 
come, to  use  Mr.  llivers'  words,  "  in  two  or  three 
years  the  most  delightful  fruit' trees  ever  seen,  for 
in  spring  they  are  perfect  nosegays  of  flowers,  and 
in  summer  clusters  of  fruit — ^if  spared  by  spring 
fro^ts."  /Vs  vertical  cordons,  too,  nothing  can  be 
more  charming  than  these  kinds  of  Cherries. 

As  to  frequency  of  removal,  Mr.  llivers  lays 
down  the  following  data: — If  the  soil  be  vei-y  rich, 
so  as  to  induce  the  trees  to  make  shoots  of  18  inches 
long  in  one  season,  they  may  be  transplanted  annu- 
ally till  this  rate  of  growth  is  checked.  If  they 
only  make  a  growth  of  6  or  8  inches,  they  may  bp 
transplanted  biennially.  If  the  soil  is  such  that  the 
trees  grow  but  very  slowly,  root-pruning  is  more 
advantageous  than  removal,  as  they  sustain  less 
check  than  by  the  latter  operation. 

Double  grafting  is  another  secret  of  success  with 
respect  to  Pears ;  and  this  is  the  history  which  Mr. 
Rivers  gives  of  it: — "I  observed,"  he  remarks, 
"  when  budding  and  grafting  Pears  on  Quince,  that 
some  varieties  did  not  grow  freely  on  it,  especially 
Gan.-el's  Bergamot,  Knight's  Monarch,  and  others. 
I  found  that  the  Beurre  d'Amanlis  formed  a  most 
perfect  union  with  the  stock,  and  seemed  most  en- 


during, for  I  had  seen  trees  in  France  at  least  50 
years  old.  I  therefore  fixed  on  this  sort  for  exper- 
iment, and  had  tlirilty  trees  two  years  old  from  the 
bud,  grafted  M'ith  Gansel's  Bergamot.  These  grafts 
flourished,  and  became  so  prolific  that  when  three 
or  four  years  old  they  bore  from  three  to  four  doz- 
ens of  fruit.  There  are  many  Pears  of  the  finest 
quality  but  of  a  delicate  and  unfertile  habit,  that 
may  be  nmch  improved  by  double  grafting.  With 
Apples  the  plan  is  of  less  importance,  the  Paradise 
stock  securing  perfect  health  and  fertility  in  most 
soils." — London  Gdi'deners  Clironide. 


M  mh  P.gFF  Friiife 


Boger's  No.  4  GtRAPe. — I  am  pleased  to  see 
the  Roger's  Hybrid  No.  19  figured  in  the  Monthly  ; 
have  no  comment  to  make  upon  it,  but  will  send 
you  a  bunch  of  No.  4,  which  I  deem  a  grape  worth 
cultivating. 

Its  size  and  beauty  is  equalled  by  its  vigor,  har- 
diness and  productiveness  ;  and  of  its  quality  you 
can  judge  by  tasting.  This  No.  4  ripens  with  the 
Concord. 

The  figure  in  some  Horticultural  journals  of  this 
grape,  is  a  caricature  on  it  as  grown  here.  I  may 
be  too  sanguine,  but  I  really  think  it  will  displace 
.our  favorite.  Concord,  when  it  becomes  dissemina- 
ted. The  bunch  I  send  you  was  grown  by  our  de- 
voted Pomological  Pioneer,  J.  B.  Garber,  of  Col- 
umbia. My  vines  were  robbed  of  their  fruit  by 
insects  and  human  depredators.  Were  I  to  give  a 
list  of  6  of  the  Eoger's  Hj'brids,  I  would  name 
Nos.  1,  3,  4,  15,  10,  and  34.— Samuel  Miller, 
Aeon,  Lebanon  Co.,  Pa. 

[This  was  so  handsome  a  bunch,  we  could  not 
resist  the  temptation  of  engraving  it.  That  "  Fox 
grape,'  we  are  sure,  ought  to  be  proud  of  it  pro- 
geny!—Ed.] 


The  Diana  Hamburg  and  White  Musk 
Grapes. — We  send  you  two  bunches  of  our  cross- 
bred seedling  grapes,  the  '  Diana  Hamburg  '  and 
the  'White  Musk.' 

This  bunch  of  the  Diana  Hamburg  is  an  inferior 
one,  you  perceive,  compared  with  those  of  this 
variety  exhibited  at  the  National  Pomological  Con- 
vention. We  are  unable  to  send  you  a  larger  bunch, 
owing  to  the  grapes  being  stolen  by  some  contemp- 
tible thief,  who,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  may  yet  receive 
his  just  deserts.  There  were  clusters  on  the  vine 
three  times  as  large  as  the  one  we  send  you  ;  the 


■M 


ih^  barter's  Pmrihlg. 


345 


/■ 


e 


ROGER'S  HYBRID,  No.  15 


■s^^f^ 


'J" 


^M. 


346 


M^  §mk\ufs  ^ontMg* 


41 


berries  were  also  mucli  larger  than  those  composing 
this  bunch.  The  vine  seems  to  be  a  slow  grower, 
but  makes  firm,  short-jointed  wood,  with  leaves  the 
same  thickness  as  the  Delaware,  slightlj'  downy 
underneath.  We  think  the  vine  is  perfectly  hardy, 
and  shall  test  it  this  winter  by  leaving  it  exposed 
on  the  trellis,  after  trimming  off  all  the  Vi'ood  wc 
intend  to  propagate. 

The  White  Musk  is  probably  a  cross  between  the 
Isabella  and  Chasselas  Musque.  We  thought  be- 
fore the  vine  fruited,  that  it  was  a  cross  between 
the  Isabella  and  Black  Hamburg,  as  that  was  what 
we  intended  to  produce ;  but  as  the  fruit  is  white, 
and  of  a,  foreign  musk  flavor,  there  must  have  been 
some  mistake  in  procuring  the  pollen. 

The  White  Musk  cluster  has  had  some  berries 
picked  from  it ;  it  was  the  largest  on  the  vine. 

The  Diana  Hamburg  and  White  Musk  vinos  are 
both  four  (4)  years  old,  and  this  is  the  first  season 
they  have  produced  fruit. 

There  was  one  bunch  on  the  Diana  Hamburg 
that  was  about  7  inches  long,  heavily  and  regularly 
shouldered,  this  was  exhibited  at  the  State  Fair 
where  it  excited  considerable  attention,  but  was  not 
fully  ripe  at  that  time.  Its  season  of  ripening  is 
about  the  same  as  that  of  the  Diana.  Hope  the 
flavor  of  these  grapes  may  please  you. —  Moore 
Brothers,  liocJiester,  N.   Y. 

[It  is  remarkable  that  there  should  be  any  doubts 
about  the  fact  of  true  hybrids  being  obtained  be-, 
tween  the  native  species  of  grapes  and  the  foreign 
one.  We  understood  Mr.  Barry  and  Mr.  Hovey 
both  to  take  this  position  with  regard  to  Roger's 
hybrids, — though  we  think  the  latter  gentleman 
modified  his  views  when  speaking  of  Allen's  Hy- 
•brid.  We  see  nothing  impossible  in  the  matter, — 
nor  do  we  see  how  so  many  gentlemen  should  be 
mistaken  in  regard  to  the  results  of  their  experi- 
ments or  the  kinds  they  raised  their  seedlings  from. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  inference  is  just,  that  with- 
out hybridization,  it  is  unlikely  that  so  many  supe- 
rior kinds  could  be  raised  from  compartively  worth- 
less ones,  by  chance  alone. 

In  this  case,  we  have  amused  ourselves  by  asking 
friends,  as  they  dropped  into  our  office,  "  to  open 
their  mouth  and  shut  their  eyes,"  and  they  have 
invariably  thought  that  they  had  a  '  Black  Ham- 
burg.'  Could  a  mere  seedling  of  Diana,  independ- 
ent of  hybridization,  so  deceive  thein  ?  We  think 
not. 

With  regard  to  the  grapes  themselves,  we  must 
say  the  flavor  is  exquisite.  They  have  not  quite 
lost  their  native  caste  ;  but  it  is  so  blended  with 
the  rich  sweetness  of  the  foreign,  as  to  impart  a 


yr 


piquancy  which,  to  our  taste,  renders  them  more 
agreeable  than  a  Black  Hamburg,  What  we  would 
like  now  to  be  assured  of  is,  whether  it  will  retain 
this  good  character  as  a  general  thing, — whether  it 
will  grow  and  do  well  under  any  ordinary  circum- 
stances as  the  Concord  will ;  if  it  will  do  all  these, 
our  opinion  is  that  nine-tenths  of  the  grapes  in  cul- 
tivation may  be  better  substituted  by  these  of 
Messrs.  Moore. 


The  New  "Missourian  Apple."— It  is  a 
Kansas  seedling,  and  is  thus  described  by  Mr.  J. 
H.  Tice,  in  the  "'Transactions  of  the  St.  Louis 
Horticultural  Society:" 

"  Apple  quite  large,  round,  color  a  beautiful  j'el- 
low  ground  striped  with  bright  red.  Somewhat 
resembling  the  Willowtwig,  having  a  remarkable 
hollow  core  like  the  Ortley,  the  hollow  more  open 
and  concentric  with  the  surface.  Quality  good, 
subacid  with.a  brisk  vinous  and  fresh  flavor." 


Duchess  of  Buccleuch  Grape.— Mr.  Thom- 
son, gardener  to  his  grace  the  Duke  oi  Buccleuch, 
Dalkeith,  sent  not  for  competition,  two  bunches, 
from  plants  grown  in  pots  of  his  seedling  grape 
Duchess  of  Buccleucli.  The  bunches  sent  were  12 
inches  long,  and  each  weighed  2|  lbs.  They  were 
not  quite  ripe,  but  evidently  have  a  strong  Frontig- 
nan  aroma  when  quite  ripe,  and  are  of  a  pale  am- 
ber color.  We  understand  that  it  grows  much  lar- 
ger when  planted  out,  and  is  very  ft-ee  and  hardy. 
It  looks  like  a  valuable  grape.  The  judges  awarded 
a  Certificate  of  Merit.  —  Gard.  G hronicle  s  Report 
of  Ilortiadtural  Society. 


New  Foreign  Grape  by  Mr.  Paul.— We 
have  not  j'et  got  to  the  end  of  the  New  Grapes,  for 
which,  in  the  form  of  seedlings  or  foundlings,  the 
last  few  years  have  been  remarkable.  Onlj''  the 
other  day,  at  South  Kensington,  Mr.  William  Paul 
exhibited  one  which,  so  far  as  can  be  judged  from 
cut  fruit,  promises  to  take  the  highest  rank  of 
merit.  It  has  the  Hamburg  character  of  bunch 
and  of  berry,  and  something  of  the  Hamburg  flavor, 
but  with  this  is  combined  most  distinctly  that  of 
the  Frontignans.  It  is  described  as  a  cross  between 
the  Hamburg  and  Frontignan,  and  this  its  pecu- 
liar flavor  seems  to  confirm.  The  only  drawback  to 
this  new  grape  is  its  color,  which  is  of  a  rather  red- 
dish grizzly  hue  ;  but  we  suppose  that  after  all  the 
test -of  a  grape  lies  in  its  flavor.  Its  large  rich  suc- 
culent berries  will  place  it  on  a  par  with  the  Muscat 
Champion,  or,  as  it  was  formerly  called,  the  Cham- 
pion Hamburg  Muscat,  which  indeed  it  somewhat 


<T»i  ■ 


%\t  §mi\mtxs  (Plontbls. 


347 


resembles  in  its  outvTard  aspect.  We  believe  tbis, 
like  the  variety  just  mentioned,  originates  in  the 
north.  —  Gardener  s  Chronicle. 


'P 


Double  Pansy  "Good  Gracious. —We  have 
received  from  Mr.  Peter  Henderson  flowers  of  this 
beautiful  plant,  which,  with  the  annexed  cut,  we 
have  before  noticed  in  our  journal.  Though  it  has 
been  flowering  all  summer,  the  blossoms  sent  were 
quite  as  largo  as  the  cut.  It  will,  we  are  sure,  have 
a  popular  run. 


Clematis  JACKMANNI.—This  very  beautiful 
hardy  climber  "originated  at  the  Woking  nursery 
of  Messrs.  C.  Jackman  &  Son,  and  is,  we  believe, 
due  to  a  happy  idea'which  crossed  the  mind  of  Mr. 
G.  Jackman,  jr.,  which  was  to  the  effect  that  some 
of  the  blood  of  C.  lanuginosa  thrown  into  the  large- 
flowered  hardy  species  and  varieties  of  this  genus, 
would  result  in  the  production  of  something  good. 
The  result  has  fully  justified  Mr.  Jackman's  anti- 
cipations ;  for  the  seed  thus  obtained  has  jaelded  a 
large  batch  of  magnificent  seedlings,  with  flowers 
of  all  shades  of  purple,  varying  towards  lilac  on  the 
one  hand,  and  a  reddish  plum  or  maroon  color  on 
the  other.  One  of  the  most  marked  of  the  whole 
series,  so  far  as  they  have  yet  been  proved,  is  C. 
Jackmanni. 

"The  mother  parent  of  this  batch  of  seedlings 
was  C.  lanuginosa.  This  was  crossed  with  C  viti- 
cella  Henderson!  and  C.  viticella  atro-rubens,  from 


which  latter,  no  doubt,  has  been  derived  a  rich  red- 
dish plum  tint,  which  is  found  in  many  of  the  seed- 
lings, and  of  which  C.  rubro-violacea  is  a  beautiful 
example,  scarcely,  if  at  all,  inferior  to,  and  perfectly 
distinct  from,  C.  Jackmanni.  The  seedlings  flow- 
ered for  the  first  time  in  1862,  and  both  the  varie- 
ties we  have  mentioned,  selected  from  amongst 
them,  were  shown  in  August,  1863,  at  a  meeting 
of  the  Floral  Committee,  and  were  both  awarded 
first-class  certificates.  The  seedlings  are  all  re- 
markable, for  a  lustrous  richness  of  color,  which 
greatly  enhances  their  beauty. 

"  C*  Jackmanni  has  ovate  leaflets  of  moderate 
size,  and  slightly  hairy.  The  flowers,  which  open 
flat,  are  4  or  sometimes  5  inches  across,  and  have  a 
variable  number  of  from  four  to  six  sepals,  of  a 
roundish-obovate  form,  terminating  in  a  little  point; 
downy  behind,  and  on  the  face  of  an  intense  violet 
purple,  the  color  being  remarkable  for  its  rich  vel- 
vety appearance.  The  back  of  the  sepals  is  marked 
by  three  ribs,  which  show  like  three  slight  furrows 
in  front,  the  rest  of  the  surface  being  veiny  and 
somewhat  rugose. 

"  C.  rubro-violacea,  to  which,  allusion  has  been 
made,  has  the  flowers  of  a  rich  reddish-tinted  vio- 
let, and,  when  fresh  opened,  is  almost  maroon-col- 
ored, and  very  reniarkable  for  its  velvety  surface. 

"Being  perfectly  hardy,  of  free  habit,  and  flow- 
ering abundantly  during  the  summer  months,  these 
new  hj'brid  Clematises  of  the  Jackmans'  are  well 
worth  a  place  wherever  hardy-flowering  climbers 
are  cared  for.  We  believe  the  two  sorts  to  which 
we  have  alluded  are  to  be  sent  out  during  the.  pre- 
sent autumn."' — Florist  and  PomoJogist. 


The  September  Botanical  Magazine  contains 
figures  of  the  following  plants : 

Macleania  pulchra,  a  handsome  glabrous 
evergreen  shrub,  said  to  be  a  native  of  New  Grena- 
da, and  cultivated  under  the  name  of  Thibaudia 
floribunda,  ^ith  which  it  does  not  agree.  It  has 
elongated  pendant  branches,  and  glossy  elliptical  or 
oblong  leaves,  from  whose  axils  proceed  the  aggre- 
gated pendant  flowers,  which  are  large  and  very 
handsome, tubular, bright  scarlet  tipped  with  yellow. 

Cypripedium.  caricinum,  the  pretty  Peruvian 
Lady's  Slipper,  which  has  been  exhibited  during 
the  summer  by  Mr.  Veitch,  under  the  provisional 
name  of  Pearcii,  applied  to  it  by  Mr.  Bateman.  It 
however  proves  to  be  a  plant  previously  described, 
from  Bolivian  specimens,  under  the  name  of  cari- 
cinum. "  Dr,  Lindley's  specific  name  happily  de- 
signates the  grassy  or  Sedge-like  appearance  of  the 
plant,  which  in  this  respect,  as  well  as  in  its  long 


848 


^t  §nxi\mtx'B  <Poni(j% 


creeping  rhizome,  is  entirely  unlike  any  other  Cy- 
pripedium  with  which  we  are  at  present  acquainted. 
It  would  be  a  Selenipediuni  if  Prof.  Reichenbach's 
genus  of  that  name  were  accepted ;  but  I  quite 
agree  with  Dr.  Lindley,  that  no  sufficient  case  has 
yet  been  made  for  any  such  separation  of  the  South 
American  species  from  the  rest  of  the  Cypripedia." 
It  seems  probable  that  the  plant  will  prefer  cool 
treatment,  and  on  account  of  its  running  rhizomes, 
it  should  have  plenty  of  space.  The  leaves  are  nar- 
row, leathery,  and  acute ;  the  flowers,  several  on  a 
scape,  are  pale  yellowLsh  green,  the  petals  narrow, 
twi.sted,  and  deflcxed,  the  orifice  of  the  lip  bordered 
by  dark  brown  spots,  and  the  sterile  stamen  fringed 
with  dark  hairs  like  a  pair  of  moustaches. 

Genetyllis  fimbriata. — Avery  elegant  green- 
house shrub,  with  small  obtusely  elliptic  decussate 
leaves,  and  teruiinal  drooping  flower-heads  sui'- 
rounded  by  a  large  bell-shaped  involucre,  which  is 
■of  a  lively  rose-color,  and  fringed  with  short  hairs. 
It  is  a  South-west  Australian  plant,  introduced  by 
Mr.  Veitch.  "It  will  be  observed  that  it  is  not 
the  flowers  which  constitute  the  beauty  of  this 
plant,  for  they  are  small  and  insignificant,  but  the 
colored  involucral  scales,  resembling  a  large  droop- 
ing bell-shaped  flowei*." 


Grapes — How  many  pounds  can  be  produ- 
ced UPON  an  acre. — One  of  our  correspondents 
is  alarmed  at  the  statement  recently  made  by  Wm. 
S.  Carpenter,-  about  what  it  was  possible  to  make 
an  acre  of  grape-vines  produce.  The  writer  says 
that  he  has  "  figured  up  the  yield  at  ten  tons  per 
acre,  which,  at  15c.  per  lb.,  makes  $3000,"  and  he 
wants  to  know  if  such  statements  are  not  of  the 
character  of  "a  shot  with  a  long  bow."  He  thinks 
that  the  trustworthiness  of  the  reports  of  the  Far- 
mers' Club  will  be  injured  by  such  statements.  Let 
us  see.  There  are  43,500  superficial  feet  in  an  acre. 
A  vine  trained  to  a  single  stake  can  be  grown  upon 
four  feet  of  ground  :  say  10,000  vines  per  acre.  At 
only  two  pounds  per  vine,  the  yield  would  be  ten 
tons.  Or,  if  the  vines  are  planted  at  twice  the 
above  distance  apart,  or  four  feet  each  way,  which 
is  much  more  than  is  necessary,  there  would  be  2,- 
722  per  acre.  At  7|  lbs.  per  vine  we  should  have 
20,415  lbs.  Grape-vines  vines  trained  to  single 
stakes  will  grow  as  closely  as  hills  of  Indian  corn  : 
.«ay  three  feet  apart  each  way,  and  we  have  4,840 
vines.     It  is  not  "  slvooting  with  a  very  long  bow  " 


to  estimate  an  average  yield  of  5  lbs.  per  vine,  after 
the  vineyard  has  attained  its  maturity,  if  it  is  well, 
cared  for.  The  members  of  this  Club  know  vines 
standing  thus  near  together,  which  averaged  more 
than  this  the  present  year.  But  suppose  upon  such 
close  planting  as  three  feet  apart  we  only  estimate 
a  yield  of  2  lbs.  per  vine,  and  we  shall  have  9,680 
lbs.  upon  an  acre,  and  that,  at  only  10c.  per  lb., 
would  give  a  better  result  than  can  be  obtained 
from  a  crop  of  any  kind  of  grain,  deducting  the  ex- 
penses of  each.  Is  the  gentleman  satisfied  that 
Mr.  Carpenter  did  not  over  estimate  the  quantity 
of  grapes  possible  to  be  be  produced  upon  an  acre? 
— New-Yurk  TrlLiuie. 

The  Purpl-e-came  Raspberry' has  proved  too 
soft  to  send  a  long  distance  to  market  with  certain- 
ty. It  will  sour  in  twenty-four  hours,  if  boxed  up 
close,  should  the  weather  prove  hot.  When  it  can 
reach  the  consumer  in  that  time  it  will  give  good 
satisfaction. — Exchange. 

[Is  this  general  experience  ? — Ed.  G.  J/-] 


Storing  Celery. — We  pursue  two  modes,  and 
find  both  to  answer  completely.  The  first  is  to  re- 
move the  celery  to  high  and  dry  ground,  dig  a 
trench  spade  deep,  stand  up  a  row  of  plants,  then 
three  inches  of  soil,  then  another  row,  and  so  on 
until  about  half  a  dozen  rows  &!•&  finished,  then 
commence  another  bed,  and  so  on.  The  soil  should 
be  packed  in  firmly,  aaid  banked  up,  so  that,  the 
tops  of  the  celery  are  just  covered,  then  spank  off 
roof  fashion  to  turn  the  rain.  Over  this  two  wide 
boards,  nailed  together,  should  be  placed  as  a  secu- 
rity against  moisture — For  .rememhe7\  it  is  water,, 
not  frosty  as  some  say,  that  rots  celery.  Frost  adds 
to  its  tenderness. 

Another  plan  is  to  sink  barrels  injto  the  earth,  so 
that  the  tops  are  two  or  three  inches'below  the  sur- 
face ;  stand  them  compactly  full  of  celery,  put  close 
or  tight  covers  upon  them,  and  then  a  couple  of 
inches  of  soil.  By  this  mode,  somewhat  more  trou- 
blesome than  the  other,  ours  kept  well  for  the  last 
two  or  three  years,  until  all  was  consumed,  which 
was  late  in  spring. — Germantown  Telegraph. 


Sugar  from  the  Butternut.— At  the  meet- 
ing of  the  Farmers'  Clubof  the  American  Institute, 
New  York,  held  April  19,  among  the  subjects  of 
discussion,  we  notice  "  Sugar  from  the  Butternut- 
tree."  The  President,  while  discussing  the  matter 
of  Maple  sugar  and  its  production,  remarked,  that 
as  much  sugar  could  be  made  from  the  Butternut- 
tree  as  from  the  Sugar  Maple,  and  gave  it  as  his 


1^^ 


7/T 


jC__-«SD__«r- 


m 


S;|^  §^x\mtx%  P0rttljlj. 


849 


opinion,  that  the  flavor  of  the  former  was  prefer- 
able. 


.Blioht  in  Trees. — During  the  present  season 
a  similar  malady  to  the  fire  blight  appears  to  have 
attacked  evergreens.  We  observed  it  first  in  the 
Balsam  Fir,  M'here  shoots  onlj'  three  or  four  inches 
long  became  affocted  during  the  excessive  heat  and 
drouth  of  the  past  summer.  Specimens  of  some  of 
the  pines  were  sent  us  by  S.  Rhoades,  Esq.,  of 
West  Philadelphia,  showing  a  similar  result,  the 
tip  shoots  being  dead  and  the  leaves  a  rusty  brown. 
A  fine  specimen  of  the  Pinus  excelsa  on  our  own 
grounds  has  mostly  perished,  the  lower  branches 
only  remaining  fresh  ;  but  the  leaves  have  not  been 
discolored  as  in  the  other  instances,  and  it  may  not 
be  precisely  the  same  difficulty.  Among  several 
thousand  pear  trees  growing  within  a  short  dis- 
tance, not  a  single  case  of  genuine  fire  blight  has 
occurred  this  same  season ;  although  a  few  have 
perished  by  that  peculiar  disease  of  the  roots  which 
has  been  observed  of  late  years.  But,  in  the  latter 
case,  the  leaves,  instead  of  turning  suddenly  black, 
T>s  in  the  genuine  blight,  have  only  withered  and 
become  light-brown,  evidently  in  consequence  of 
the  mere  lack  of  nourishment,  the  supply  of  which 
could  not  be  obtained  through  the  dead  roots. 

It  is  obvious  that  these  appearances  are  more 
apt  to  be  openly  developed,  (if  not  caused),  during 
very  hot  weather,  a  system  of  training  should  be 
adopted  that  shall  distribute  foliage  evenly  through 
the  head  and  prevent  the  sun  from  striking  severely 
on  any  exposed  portion.  Succulent  growth,  it  is 
well  known,  renders  the  tree  more  liable ;  and 
hence,  on  a  good,  dry  soil  of  medium  fertility,  that 
shall  prevent  an  excessive  growth,  but  favor  a 
healthy  ripening  of  the  wood  of  the  shoots,  the 
trees  will  be  more  likely  to  escape. — C.  Gentleman. 


A  Winter  Garden. — A  company  in  London 
has  bought  one  hundred  and  forty  acres  a  few  miles 
from  the  city,  and  propose  to  enclose  it  with  glass, 
making  a  climate  like  that  of  Madeira,  with  the 
fruits  and  foliage  to  be  found  in  that  isle.  A  hotel 
and  residences  are  to  be  built,  and  great  prices  will 
be  charged  for  a  chance  to  liv%under  glass. 


Fruits  at  the  New  York  State  Fair. — The 
show  of  Grapes  was  better  than  at  any  former  year, 
and  among  the  contributors  the  name  of  C.  F. 
Brehm,  of  Waterloo,  who  brought  an  admirable  col- 
lection of  native  sorts,  is  worthy  of  mention.  In 
addition  to  the  more  common  native  sorts,  as  the 
Delaware,  Diana,  Concord,  CrevelHng,  etc.,  which 


were  finely  grown,  he  showed  beautiful  specimens 
of  the  lona  and  Israella.  Several  of  the  newer 
sorts  among  the  different  collections  were  examined 
with  a  great  deal  of  interest  by  the  fruit  growers 
present — especially  the  Adirondac,  Israella  and 
lona.  These  three  sorts,  and  the  CrevelHng,  were 
found  nearly  equal  as  to  the  degree  of  high  quality, 
the  Adirondac  and  Israella  much  resembling  each 
other  externally,  and  possessing  considerable  simi- 
larity in  character,  and  they  are  probably  not  greatly 
apart  in  the  season  of  ripening.  The  complete  ma- 
turity of  the  Adirondac  exhibited  showed  the  high 
character  of  this  excellent  sort,  greatly  to  the  satis- 
faction of  many  tasters,  and  the  fact  that  it  has 
been  fruited  in  difi'erent  places  from  northern  Ver- 
mont to  Baltimore,  and  succeeded  in  each,  is,  so 
far,  greatly  in  its  favor.  A  new  hybrid  from  Moore 
Bros.,  of  Rochester,  between  the  Diana  and  Ham- 
burg, was  found  to  be  of  excellent  quaHty,  but  has 
too  much  of  the  exotic  character,  it  is  feared,  for 
general  value.  Another  hybrid,  a  cross  between 
the  Diana  and  Delaware,  was  exhibited,  said  to  be 
a  productive  and  strong  growing  sort,  and  the  qual- 
ity, from  an  imperfect  trial,  appeared  to  be  good. 
It  must,  of  course,  require  years  to  be  properly 
proved.  It  was  exhibited  by  A.  J.  Caywood,  of 
Ulster  county,  Bronson,  Graves  &  Selover,  of 
Geneva,  presented  an  admirable  collection  of  exotic 
and  some  native  sorts. — Country  Gentleman. 


Storing  Fruits. — To  gather  fruit  at  the  right 
time,  to  preserve  it  in  good  order,  and  to  ripen  it 
properly,  is  an  art  in  itself,  and  one  for  which  con- 
siderable accommodation  and  convenience  are  in- 
dispensably necessary  ;  and  yet,  strange  to  say,  but 
no  more  strange  than  true,  a  structure  propei-ly 
adapted  for  the  keeping  of  fruit  is  only  occasionally 
to  be  met  with.  In  many  places  we  find  the  most 
wretched  make  shift  for  keeping  fruit — a  shed,  cel- 
lar, or  loft — the  very  opposite  of  those  principles 
upon  which  a  fruit-room  should  be  built.  In  build- 
ing a  fruit-room,  the  principal  points  to  he  secured 
are  a  low  uniform  temperature,  dryness,  darkness, 
and  means  for  thorough  ventilation  when  required. 
The  interior  fittings  should  consist  of  boarded 
shelves  and  drawers.  The  boards  for  the  shelves 
should  be  planed  smoothly,  and  should  be  fitted 
close  together.  In  most  places  it  is  usual  to  have 
the  shelves  made  of  narrow  laths,  with  openings  of 
an  inch  or  more  between,  than  which  nothing  can 


^J 


:=^^' 


850 


%h  ^mkntx'%  ||tairfhlj» 


be  worse,  as  all  the  finer  or  tender-skinned  Pears 
get  marked  by  the  sharp  edges  of  the  laths,  and  in 
consequence  never  look  -well  when  dished  up.  All 
fruit  intended  for  keeping  should  be  most  carefully 
hand-picked.  This  is  one  of  the  most  important 
points  to  be  attended  to,  as  the  slightest  bruise  or 
injury  is  fatal  to  their  keeping  ;  and  yet  it  is  a  too 
common  practice,  even  when  hand  picked,  to  throw 
the  fruit  roughly  into  a  basket,  thereby  seriously 
damaging  a  great  portion  of  it.  This  is  not  per- 
ceived at  the  time,  but  after  the  fruit  has  been  a 
short  time  in  the  fruit-room,  the  spawn  of  Fungi 
*  soon  establishes  itself  on  those  parts  of  the  fruit 
which  were  injured  ;  decay  takes  place  long  before 
people  are  aware  of  it,  and  when  discovered,  they 
are  astonished,  and  say  fruit  keeps  badly,  not  think- 
ing that  they  themselves  are  to  blame.  Fruit  should 
always  be  handled  with  the  greatest  care  and  gen- 
tleness, and  not  thrown  roughly  from  one  basket 
into  another,  and  then  on  to  the  fruit-room  shelves. 
Some  people  make  it  a  rule  to  gather,  the  fruit  at  a 
stated  time  every  year.  This  is  a  great  mistake,  as 
it  is  ready  two  or  three  weeks  sooner  some  seasons 
than  others.  All  fruit  intended  for  immediate  use, 
or  that  is  fit  soon  after  gathering,  should  remain  on 
the  trees  until  nearly  ripe  ;  but  all  fruit  intended 
for  late  keeping  should  be  gathered  before  ripening 
proceeds  too  far,  as  when  fruit  once  arrives  at  the 
proper  state  of  ripening,  it  begins  to  lose  its  quality, 
and  ere  long  it  will  begin  to  decay  naturally.  Every 
sort  should  be  gathered  separately,  and  all  the 
small,  spotted,  or  shrivelled  ones  should  be  put 
aside  ;  then  the  finer  ones  should  be  laid  carefully 
on  the  shelves  in  single  layers,  if  there  be  sufficient 
space  for  all  the  fruit ;  but,  if  not,  the  commoner 
sorts  may  at  first  be  laid  two  or  three  or  more  lay- 
ers deep,  and  as  the  earlier  sorts  are  used,  they  can 
then  be  laid  thinner.  After  the  fruit  is  got  into 
the  fruit-room  no  light  should  be  admitted,  as  it 
would  cause  the  fruit  to  lose  weight,  and  would  ac- 
celerate maturity.  Air  should  be  admitted  night 
and  day  until  about  the  1st  of  November;  by  that 
time  the  sweating  of  the  fruit  will  to  a  great  extent 
be  over,  and  the  house  can  be  closed.  The  choicer 
kinds  of  Pears  and  Apples,  after  sweating,  should 
be  put,  when  quite  dry,  very  carefully  into  the 
drawers,  All  the  sorts  should  be  properly  labelled 
with  the  date  when  gathered,  and  the  time  they 
generally  ripen  at.  The  whole  of  the  fruit  should 
be  carefully  looked  over  every  other  day,  and  every 
fruit,  the  moment  the  slightest  spot  or  sign  of  de- 
cay is  perceived,  should  be  removed,  as,  if  allowed 
to  remain  to  decay,  the  spawn  of  the  fungus  will 
spread  in  all  directions,  and  settle  on  every  one  that 


"^KT 


has  the  smallest  speck  of  injury.  During  the  whole 
of  the  winter  months  ventilation  should  only  be  had 
recourse  to  when  absolutely  necessary  to  carry  off 
the  exhalations  or  impurities  that  -may  be  in  the 
atmosphere.  A  uniform,  steady,  low  temperature, 
with  a  dry  atmosphere,  should  at  all  times  be  main- 
tained, and  the  fruit  should  be  handled  or  touched 
as  little  as  possible.  By  attending  carefully  to  these 
matters,  I  have  never  experienced  the  least  diffi- 
culty in  keeping  Pears  and  Apples  a  long  time  in 
the  best  possible  condition.  Gathering  the  fruit 
carefully  at  the  proper  time  ;  handling  it  as  little 
as  possible  and  with  gentleness ;  keeping  the  at- 
mosphere dry,  and  maintaining  a  low,  stjcady,  uni- 
form temperature  of  about  from  40"  to  45°  ;  looking 
over  the  fruit  frequently  and  picking  out  any  that 
show  the  slightest  symptoms  of  decay  the  moment 
it  is  perceived; — these  are  the  great  points  to  be 
attended  to,  and  when  properly  attended  to  they 
never  fail  to  give  the  most  satisfactory  results. — M. 
Saul,  in  Floj-ist  and  Pomologist. 

PENN'A.  HOETICULTURAL   SOCIETY. 

MONTHLY   DLSPLAY,    SEPTEMBER   20. 

The  Society  held  no  annual  exhibition  this  year; 
but  the  usual  monthly  display  was  very  fine,  and 
made  ample  amends  for  its  omission  under  all  cir- 
circumstances  : 

The  Committee  on  Plants  and  Flowers  awarded 
the  following  premiums : 

For  best  Table  Design,  to  F.  O'Keefe,  gardener 
to  Joseph  Harrison,  Esq. 

For  best  Basket  of  Cut  Flowers,  to  P.  Mackenzie 
&  Son. 

For  Second  best  Basket  of  Cut  Flowers,  to  F. 
O'Keefe. 

For  best  pair  Hand  Bouquets,  to  D.  McQueen. 

For  best  Hanging  Baske.t  of  Plants,  to  F.  O'Keefe. 

For  best  Aneocctochilus,  6  pots,  to  same. 

For  best  20  varieties  Dahlias,  to  Robert  Buist. 

For  best  10        Do.       do.,     to  D.  McQueen. 

For  best  12  Variegated-leaf  Plants,  toE.  K  Hib- 
bert,  gardener  to  Fairman  Rogers,  Esq. 

For  best  1 2  Ferns,  to  same. 

For  best20var.  of  Roses,  cut  flowers,  toR.  Scott. 

The  following  Special  prem.  were  also  awarded  : 

For  Collection  of  Plants,  $2,  to  E.  R.  Hibbert. 

For  specimen  of  Pampas  Grass,  $2,  to  same. 

For  an  Oncidium  papilio,  in  bloom ;  also  speci- 
men Platycerum  grande,  $1,  to  J,  A.  Boyd,  gar- 
dener to  D.  R.  King, 

For  specimen  Hanging  Basket  of  Plants,  $1,  to 
Chas.  P.  Hayes. 

For  Collection  of  6  Fuchsias,  $2  to  D.  McQueen. 


1:^!^: 


k- 


For  Collection  of  Gladiolus,  $1,  toD.  Ferguifson. 

For  Sonerilla  margaratacea  superba.  2  large  pots, 
$2,  to  F.  O'Keefe. 

For  Collection  of  12  Lycopodiums,  $2,  to  same. 

Was  exhibited  for  the  first  time  a  beautiful  spe- 
cimen of  "Anoectochilus  Betlon,"  $2,  to  same. 

The  Committee  also  are  pleased  to  notice  a  fine 
collection  of  A'^erbenas,  from  J.  W.  Stewart;  a  fine 
assortment  of  Seedling  Dahlias,  from  Cr.  Schmitz  ; 
a  fine  collection  of  Cut  Balsams,  from  D.  McQueen, 
and  a  beautiful  assortment  of  Double  Dahlias,  from 
Ft.  Buist. 

The  Committee  on  Fruits  avrardcd  the  following 
premiums : 

For  best  Grapes,  light-colored,  grown  under  glass? 
3  bunches,  to  Johns  Hopkins,  of  Baltimore. 

For  best  Grapes,  dark-colored,  grown  under 
glass,  3  bunches,  to  R.  Kilvington. 

For  best  Native  Grapes,  12  varieties,  1  bunch 
each,  to  Peter  Raabe. 

For  best  Native  Grapes,  6  varieties,  2  bunches 
each,  to  J.  McLauchlin,  gardener  to  I.  B.  Baxter, 

For  best  Peaches,  one  peek  to  T.  T.  Mather. 

For  best  Pears,  12  varieties,  3  specimens  each,  to 
J.  McLauchlin. 

For  best  Pears,  6  varieties,  3  specimens  each,  to 
Wm.    Parry. 

They  Committee  also  recommended  the  following 
special  premiums  : 

For  2  bunches  fine  Black  Damascus  Grapes,  $1, 
to  Johns  Hopkins,  of  Baltimore. 

For  a  fine  Collection  of  Native  Grapes,  $2,  to  T. 
T.  Mather. 

For  fine  Peaches,  $1,  to  J.  McLauchlin. 

For  fine  Butter  Pears,  $2,  to  Mrs.  Liggett. 

For  Collections  of  Apples,  $1  each,  to  Wm. 
Parry  and  S.  W.  Noble, 

For  fine  Isabella  Grapes,  |1,  to  A.  L.  Felton. 

They  also  notice  fine  Duchess  Pears  and  Quinces, 
from  P.  Mackenzie  &  Son ;  fine  Bartlett  Pears, 
Native  Grapes  and  Peaches,  from  L.  Chamberlain; 
fine  Grapes  and  Kane  Apples,  exhibited  by  Chas. 
P.  Hayes ;  and  also  notice  favorably  the  Bartrara 
Pear,  exhibited  for  the  third  season,  by  Charles 
Harmar. 

The  Committee  on  Vegetables  awarded  the  fol- 
lowing premiums : 

For  best  Collection,  to  A.  L.  Felton. 

For  best  Collection,  by  an  amateur,  to  William 
Howard,  gardener  to  Girard  College. 

They  also  award  the  following  special  premiums  : 

For  fine  Celery,  $1,  to  William  Howard. 


^sr 


For  extra  display  of  fine  Vegetables, 
L.  Felton. 


I,  to  A. 


FETJIT-GHOWERS'  SOCIETY  OF  EASTERN 

PEHHSYLVAHIA 

The  semi-annual  meeting  of  this  society  was  held 
at  Easton,  on  the  last  three  days  of  September,  in 
concert  with  the  Pennsylvania  State  Fair.  There 
was  a  good  attendance  of  members  present  at  the 
Fair ;  but  the  different  calls  on  the  attention  of 
members  rendered  it  difficult  keeping  them  together 
for  the  sole  purposes  of  the  Fruit-growers  Society ; 
and  we  should  judge  the  experiment  of  killing  two 
birds  with  one  stone,  results  in  bagging  rather  small 
game. 

Still  everything  passed  pfi"  very  usefully  and  plea- 
santly, and  the  members  generally  felt  themselves 
very  well  repaid  for  their  time  and  travel. 

The  route  to  Bethlehem  from  Philadelphia  is 
over  the  North  Pennsylvania  Railroad,  and  is  a 
very  interesting  one.  Though  very  beautiful,  it  is 
not  '  so  very  romantic '  as  to  loe  unfit  for  agricultu- 
ral purposes,  as  is  so  much  of  the  beautiful  por- 
tions of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania.  But  the  agri- 
cultural character  of  the  country  is  very  much  be- 
hind the  age  to  the  eye  of  the  traveller.  Very  few 
young  orchards,  and  the  old  ones  planted  in  the 
time  of  General  Jackson,  fast  going  into  decay.  It 
is  only  a  few  years  back  since  the  country  was 
opened  up  to  modern  improvement  by  the  North 
Pennsylvania  railroad  going  through  the  section, — 
and  the  changes  made  since  that  time  are  already 
perceptible.  It  is  said  that  few  if  any  of  the  in- 
habitants will  vote  for  '  old  Hickory '  this  fall,  un- 
der the  impression  he  is  still  living  ;  and  the  tree 
agents  report  that  they  are  having  a  '  lively  time  ' 
among  them  in  the  way  of  tree  orders  for  next 
spring.  Along  the  line  of  the  road  nurseries  are 
springing  up.  Leaving  Philadelphia,  we  first  pass 
near  the  nursery  of  Wm.  Bright,  then  follows 
Haines  &  Hacker,  at  Cheltenham ;  Meehan  & 
Wandell,  at  Wissahiccon  ;  Alan  W.  Corson,  at 
Plymouth ;  J.  G.  Youngkcn,  at  Richlandtown ; 
C.B.  Ott,  Pleasant  Valley;  E.  Ellsworth,  Allen- 
town  ;  W.  Johnston,  Easton,  and  C.  Davis,  Phil- 
lipsburg,  N.  J., — all  at  or  near  stations  along  the 
route  to  the  meeting.  These  gentlemen  will  no 
doubt  soon  make  this  rich  old  desert  (a  sort  of  par- 
adox) 'blossom  like  a  rose,'  and  to  this  task  we 
leave  them. 

The  Grapes  and  Pears  before  the  meeting  were 
numerous  and  fine.     Grapes  that  we  think  worth- 


352 


Che  €ixrkmx*s  P^airihlj. 


less  seemed  hero  at  the  top  of  the  list, — while 
others  we  thought  good  cut  but  a  sorrj-  figure,  and 
were  intrinsically  as  poor.  Some  Taylor's  Bullitt, 
which  with  us  produce  but  a  half  dozen  berries, 
were  here  exhibited  in  bunches  as  large  as  we  have 
seen  many  Delawares — not  quite  ripe,  howevei* — it 
seems  to  be  generally  rather  late.  Cassady  seems 
popular,  judging  by  its  frequent  exhibition.  To 
many  tastes  the  musky  odor  is  not  disagreeable.  _ 
Fanciers  say  they  get  used  to  the  strong  taste  until 
they  absolutely  like  it, — just  as  some  get  used  to  to- 
bacco and  other  curious  things.  They  say  after 
getting  accustomed  to  Delaware,  Catawba,  and  such 
like  delicious  natives,  they  spit  out  Black  Hamburg 
as  so  much  poison,  and  will  almost  scramble  for  a 
Concord,  or  even  a  Northern  Muscadine,  and 
scarcely  look  in  the  struggle  at  a  hothouse  Muscat, 
however  fine.  Roger's  Hybrids,  as  presented  by 
one  person,  were  almost  unanimously  pronounced 
very  inferior,  and  an  unfavorable  impression  of  the 
whole  race  would  have  prevailed  had  not  members 
eaten  them  so  much  better  elsewhere.  The  Maxa- 
tawney,  from  the  same  locality,  was  miserable  eat- 
ing, while  some  Catawbas,  Concords,  and  Hartford 
Prolifics,  fi:om  Pittsburg,  came  as  near  the  perfec- 
tion of  native  grape  eating  as  we  expect  to  experi- 
ence for  some  time  to  come.  We  were  more  than 
ever  convinced  that  the  characters  achieved  by 
seedling  fruits,  through  the  exhibition  of  a  few 
specimens  of  them  here  and  there,  amount  to  very 
little.  An  unfavorable  decision  need  not  ruin  a 
fruit's  good  name, — nor  should  the  gainingof  a  $20 
or  even  $100  premium  be  considered  as  enough  to 
elevate  a  variety  to  the  highest  pinnacle  of  Pomo- 
logical  glory.  . 

The  discussions  were  so  broken  and  irregular, 
from  causes  we  have  referred  to,  that  we  cannot 
give  them  in  as  regular  oi'der  as  thej'  occurred. 
The  President's  (Rufus  A.  Grider)  address,  was  a 
happy  and  instructive  effort.  Labor,  he  said,  was 
only  a  curse  when  unintelligently  performed.  When 
the  scientific  mind  was  brought  to  bear  on  the  prac- 
tical results  of  labor  in  fruit  culture,  labor  became 
one  of  the  pleasures  of  life.  Knowledge  was  said 
to  be  power ;  but  success  was  one  of  the  best  tests 
of  the  value  of  such  power.  Sound  judgment  was 
very  rare, — whether  the  judgment  made  on  practi- 
cal results  was  sound  or  not  could  be  usually  tested 
by  experience. 

Horticulture  elevated  the  mental  and  moral  na- 
ture of  man  more  than  any  other  pursuit  with  all 
feeling  continued  thankfulness  to  the  giver  of  all 
good  for  the  abundant  gratifications  enjoyed. 

He  then  alluded  to  the  pleasures  of  society  which 


the  love  of  horticulture  brought  about  in  kindred 
spirits, — of  the  value  of  fruits  for  the  general  health 
of  man  ;  and  the  importance  of  fruit-growing  in  a 
national  and  commercial  point  of  view, — and  con- 
cluded by  giving  as  his  opinion  that  the  introduc- 
tion of  pure  native  wines  would  banish  bad  liquors 
from  general  use,  amd  thus  help  the  physical  and 
moral  condition  of  the  community. 

The  Report  of  the_  General  Fruit  Committee 
was  read,  showing  what  fruits  were  at  present  pop- 
ular through  Eastern  Pennsylvania.  So  many  re- 
ports were  in  fivor  of  the  old  Early  Scarlet  straw- 
berry, that  the  society  feared  the  adoption  of  the 
report  would  be  an  endorsement  that  there  were 
no  better  fruits  than  those  named,  and  in  this  in- 
stance voted  almost  unanimously  to  reijlace  the 
Early  Scarlet  by  the  French's  Seedling. 

An  interesting  essay  on  the  influence  of  fungi  on 
vegetation,  by  Dr.  Ezra  Michener,  the  celebrated 
mycologist,  was  read,  which  we  will  give  in  full  in 
a  future  number. 

In  the  discussion  on  the  destruction  of  insects, 
the  thrip  on  the  grape-vine  received  especial  atten- 
tion. It  was  the  experience  of  several  members 
that  the  plan  Mr.  Grider  gave  to.the  society  in  for- 
mer years,  was  very  successful.  Torches  were  car- 
ried near  the  affected  grape-vines  in  the  night ;  an 
assistant  shook  the  vines,  and  they  all  flew  into  the 
torch  and  were  destroyed. 

On  preserving  grapes  for  winter'use,  many  mem- 
bers spoke  of  the  plan  of  burying  them,  mixed  with 
a  few  dry  leaves,  in  boxes  in  the  ground,  beyond 
the  reach  of  frost,  as  quite  successful. 

In  the  discussion  on  Strawberries,  Lennig's 
White  was  mentioned  as  the  type  of  good  flavored 
strawberries,  with  some  faults.  Mr.  Knox  thought 
the  Bicton  Pine  had  all  the  merits  of  the  Lennig's 
White,  with  some  additional  advantages.  The 
Buffalo  Seedling  strawberry  was  considerably  dis- 
cussed,— the  general  opinion  being  that  it  was  the 
same  thing  as  Russell's  Prolific. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  on  Nomenclature, 
which  was  referred  to  the  National  Po!iiologioal 
Society,  for  their  action  was  called  up.  The  Dele- 
gation to  Rochester  reported  that  theyjiad  per- 
formed their  duty  in  presenting  it  to  the  proper 
ofiicers  of  the  society  ;  but  whether  it  was  laid  on 
the  table,  or  under  the  table,  the  delegation  could 
not  say,  as  every  effort  on  their  part  to  get  it  called 
up  for  action  on  the  part  of  the  National  Conven- 
tion utterly  failed.  Much  disappointment  was  ex- 
pressed by  many  members  ;  and  it  was  resolved  to 
act  independently  of  the  National  Society,  since  its 
co-operation  was  practically  withheld. 


;i 


^^, 


Drawn  ,»t  ^t'lonf  F.xpifssJy    fi'i    IJir     Onrtienei^i      U.-nrhlv 

Lit/,,  iy   /    ,V  iimj,ntJi-0.i     J-       ^„l^^       •■      rt.UJ,* 


DEVOTED     TQ 


T,  Jpoie 


flairs* 


THOMAS     MEEHAW,     Editor. 
"W.  G.  P.  BRINCKLOE,  Publisher. 


DECEMBER.     1864. 


VOL.  VI.--M-0. 12. 


FLOWEH-eAHDEF^  AND  FLEASURE- 
GHOUND. 

As  the  year  1864  is  about  closing  on  the  garden- 
er, it  is  pleasant  to  reflect  that  the  future  will  pro- 
bably be  brighter  than  the  past.  War's  alarms  are 
opposed  to  successful  gardening.  Even  to  the  parts 
of  the  Union  most  secure  from  war's  irruptions, 
the  gardener  has  staid  his  spade  and  his  pruning- 
knife  to  read  and  study  the  latest  news  from  the 
front ;  and  many  a  crop  has  been  delayed  and  ren- 
dered inferior  in  quantity  and  quality,  because  the 
husbandman  was  not  up  to  time  at  the  start. 

Almost  all — perhaps  all  evils  have  some  good. 
In  Horticulture  as  in  Agriculture,  one  benefit  of 
the  past  tempest  is,  that  attention  has  been  called 
to  labor-saving  machines  and  implements.  Gar- 
deners generally  do  not  feel  that  they  have  the 
same  interest  in  this  subject  as  the  farmer  or  mar- 
ket-gardener has, — but  this  is  wrong. 

A  very  large  portion  of  the  wealthy  community 
are  deterred  from  doing  much  at  gardening,  from 
a  prevalent  idea  that  it  is  very  expensive.  The 
gardener  is  apt  to  think  as  gardening  is  for  pleas- 
ure, while  farming  is  for  profit,  there  is  not  the 
same  necessity  for  consulting  labor-saving  ideas  ; 
but  when  it  is  clear  that  the  more  \^e  cheapen  ne- 
cessary expenses,  the  larger  the  establishments  can 
be  made,  it  is  clearly  the  interest  of  the  gardener, 
as  of  the  farmer,  that  the  smallest  means  to  the 
greatest  ends,  should  be  well  studied  by  him. 

One  of  the  heaviest  expenses  is  usually  the  care 
of  a  large  lawn ;  but  the  horse  lawn  mower  saves 
a  great  amount  of  manual  labor.  It  should  be  used 
about  every  ten  days,  and  the  grass  suffered  to  de- 


cay where  it  falls,  as  practiced  by  Mr.  Sargent. 
Many  are  deterred  from  using  it  by  fear  that  much 
expense  has  to  be  endured  in  making  a  large  lawn 
perfectly  smooth,  so  that  the  machine  can  work. 
But  it  need  not  be  broken  up.  Fine  soil  hauled  on 
through  the  winter  or  early  spring,  and  spread  over 
the  surface,  so  as  to  fill  up  the  inequalities,  and 
then  heavily  rolled  in  spring,  will  do  as  well.  A 
little  grass  seed  maybe  thrown  over  before  rolling ; 
but  even  this  is  unnecessary,  as  the  natural  grass 
will  soon  come  through.  Unless  the  surfivce  soil  is 
very  shallow, — so  much  so  as  to  dry  out  in  sum- 
mer time, — many  lawns  may  be  better  made  by  this 
simple  process  than  by  breaking  it  up.  As  it  is, 
the  tough  sod  has  crowded  out  the  annual  weeds  ; 
but  when  we  break  up  old  ground,  the  seeds  of 
Ragweed,  and  other  pernicious  plants,  germinate 
in  the  new  ground,  and  give  no  end  of  trouble  be- 
fore a  good  lawn  is  obtained.  The  surface  soil  of  a 
lawn,  however,  should  be  deep,  or  it  will  soon  dry 
out  in  summer,  and  the  lawn  loose  that  fresh  green 
which  is  the  most  desirable  in  the  dryest  times. 

A  gr6at  many  little  things  of  this  character  can 
be  studied  out  at  this  season  of  the  year.  Where 
there  is  nothing  to  add  to  a  place,  a  few  of  the  de- 
corative portions  of  ones  grounds  may  be  slightly 
altered.  Though  one  of  the  charms  of  a  garden  is 
the  incessant  variety  caused  by  the  growing  changes 
of  form  and  outline  in  the  shrubs  and  trees,  this 
may  be  often  added  to  at  a  trifling  expense  by  other 
changes. 

It  does  not,  in  very  many  cases,  require  much 
time  or  money  so  to  alter  the  appearance  of  a  place 
as  to  make  it  bear  a  very  different  look  to  whot  it 
did  in  the  past  year.  A  new  clump  of  cheap  shrub- 
bery may  be  planted,  or  an  old  one  taken  away  to 
admit  a  new  view  that  may  have  grown  up  since 
the  original  planting.  A  strip  of  grass  may  be  laid 
down  on  what  was  once  bare  gravel.  Here  a  small 
rockery  may  be  put  together ;  there  a  nest'of  roots 
thrown  up,  and  ferns  and  trailing  plants  freely  in- 
terspersed between  them.  In  this  corner  you  may 
place  a  stump,   and  entice  ivy  or  some  climbing 


■M€) 


i 


854 


^t  (Bmkntx^  IlIaiitHg. 


vines  to  grow  over  it — a  rustic  arbor  lEay  be  formed 
in  some  inviting  nook,  and  in  another  shade-enti- 
cing spot,  a  rustic  chair  or  bench  be  fixed.  Even 
the  outlines  of  the  flower-beds  may  be  changed,  or 
of  the  walks  themselves,  or  evei^the  contour  of  the 
surface  in  some  instances,  and  all,  in  many  cases, 
at  the  expense  of  a  very  small  expenditure  of 
time  and  money. 

In  all  these  undertakings,  money,  time,  and  vex- 
ation will  be  saved  by  consulting  with  men  who 
make  it  their  business  to  study  such  matters.  Ev- 
ery one  can,  of  course,  design  and  lay  out  his  own 
garden,  just  as  well  as  he  could  make  his  own  coat, 
or  design  the  pattern  of  his  own  chandelier ;  but 
he  will  find  in  the  end  that  his  landscape  gardener, 
his  tailor,  or  his  manufacturer  of  lamps,  would  have 
done  the  work  much  more  satisfactorily  for  him. 
Many  suffer  from  ill-fitting  garments,  and  badly 
designed  gardens,  through  employing  botches  and 
ignorant  pretenders ;  but  the  man  who  has  not 
tact  enough  to  discriminate  in  this  respect,  deserves 
to  suffer. 

VINERIES. 

At  this  season  of  the  year,  one  of  the  most  usual 
subjects  of  attention  with  many  parties  is  the  pre- 
paration of  a  vine  border. 

As  to  the  width  of  the  borders,  we  have  always 
thought  sixteen  feet  ample,  and  in  cases  where 
space  was  an  object,  we  should  be  satisfied  with 
much  less  ;  as,  where  the  roots  can  be  healthily 
maintained,  good  food  can  alwaj's  be  supplied.  In- 
deed, ideas  are  fast  changing  in  this  respect.  We 
well  remember  the  time  when  it  was  universal  to 
throw  away  a  pot  vine  after  the  fruit  had  been  cut; 
but  now,  modern  practice  will  produce  good  grapes 
several  years  in  succession,  from  vines  in  the  same 
pots. 

Where  it  can  be  effected,  it  is  better  to  have  the 
vine  border  run  under  the  grapery  as  well  as  along 
on  the  front. 

Where  the  soil  lies  naturally  low,  it  is  often  judi- 
ciously the  practice  to  elevate  the  border  consider- 
ably above  the  surrounding  surface,  which  effect.s 
much  the  same  purpose  as  deep  draining  accom- 
plishes so  successfully. 

Keeping  in  view,  therefore,  that  the  first  esssen- 
tial  of  successful  grape  culture,  is  the  production 
of  an  abundance  of  roots,  and  their  healthy  preser- 
vation afterwards,  the  first  great  principles  of  sub- 
soiling  and  draining  must  be  sedulously  att/^nded 
to.  If  the  subsoil  is  retentive,  a  drain,  at-  least 
three  feet  in  depth  should  be  made  all  around  the 
proposed  border^  and  should  be  led  with  a  good  fall 


into  the  nearest  outlet.  A  good  warm  subsoil  is 
very  important  in  grape  culture,  and  draining  is  one' 
of  the  best  ways  of  securing  it,  as  when  the  rain 
can  readily  penetrate  through  into  the  subsoil,  the 
warmth  at  the  surface  in  the  spring  is  carried  rap- 
idly down  into  the  soil,  and  is  very  advantageous  at 
that  growing  season.  Too  mu^h  attention  can 
scarcely  be  given  to  this  matter.  The  drains  may 
in  part  be  constructed  of  bones,  which  will  serve 
the  double  purpose  of  affording  nutriment,  and 
warming  the  soil  at  the  same  time. 

It  was  once  supposed  that,  as  the  vine  is  well 
known  to  be  a  gross  feeder,  the  border  at  its  for- 
mation could  not  well  be  too  rich,  and  consequently 
when  such  an  arrangement  was  in  progress,  all  the 
dead  horses,  dogs,  and  animals  that  could  be  found 
for  twenty  miles  round,  brought  very  high  premi- 
ums. But  the  practice  has  fallen  into  disrepute  ; 
not  because  it  does  not  possess  some  merits,  but 
because,  like  many  other  good  things,  it  has  been 
overdone. 

As  to  soil,  where  choice  can  be  had,  we  think 
there  is  nothing  preferable  to  the  surface  of  a  pas- 
ture field,  taken  off,  say  two  or  three  inches  deep,* 
and  to  have  with  every  three  loads  of  it,  one  load 
of  stable  manure,  throughly  decomposed — say  two 
j-ear'sold  hotbed  manure  incorporated  with  it.  Any 
richer  materials  that  may  be  at  hand  may  be  depos- 
ited at  the  outside  of  the  borders.  When  the  vines 
get  older,  and  the  roots  strong  and  hungry,  they 
will  then  find,  and  not  despise  whatever  delicious 
morsels  may  thus  be  in  store  for  them. 

Very  much  of  the  success  of  your  vine  border 
will  depend  on  the  vines  themselves  :  a  statement 
which  will  appear  paradoxical  to  many  ;  but  it  is  a 
ftxct,  that  so  long  as  the  plant  remains  healthy,  and 
the  roots  push  actively  and  vigorously,  the  soil  of  a 
grape  border  can  scarcely  be  too  rich,  and  it  is  only 
when,  from  whatever  cause  the  vine  becomes  un- 
healthy, and  the  roots  diseased,  that  a  highly  nu- 
tritious border  adds  to  the  injury  and  makes  the 
matter  worse.  Hence,  the  danger  of  too  rich  a 
border  in  the  hands  of  the  inexperienced,  and  the 
and  the  value  of  caution  on  the  part  of  all  in  mak- 
ing a  new  experiment. 

With  regard  to  pruning  the  vine,  it  must  not  be 
forgotten,  that  what  is  done  at  this  season  is  with 
the  object  of  making  the  plant  push  with  greater 
vigor  next  season  ;  looking  forward  also  to  the  fu- 
ture sliape  and  form  that  such  pruning  will  cause 
the  vine  to  assume. 

Many  prefer  to  have  always  a  good  succession  of 
young  canes,  as  beaiing  wood.  The  old  wood  is  cut 
away  every  year  entirely  to  a  new  cane  which  haa 


i^^ 


ih4  #ariien^r^2  JloitlMg. 


355 


been  carefully  trained  up  from  the  base  during  the 
summer,  is  now  made  to  replace  the  old  shoot ;  but 
this  kind  of  pruning  has  to  be  attended  to  in  tlie 
summer  season  more  particularly,  and  need  not  be 
further  referred  to  at  this  time,  except  to  see  that 
the  cane  is  shortened  down  somewhat,  according  to 
its  strength  ;  usually  being  suffered  to  occupy  about 
two- thirds  of  the  rafter. 

Those  who  prefer  very  large  bunches,  and  who 
dislike  to  have  their  vineries  crowded  with  '  wood ' 
during  the  summer,  usually  train  up  a  single  cane 
to  the  rafter,  which  is  ever  after  retained  perma- 
nently there ;  and  the  side  shoots,  which  spring 
out  yearly,  and  bear  fruit,  are  a^mually  shortened  in 
to  one  eye  at  this  season,  and  push  again,  and  again 
bear  the  next. 

There  are  many  modifications  of  these  two  sys- 
tems of  training  and  pruning,  all  with  various  ad- 
vantages, and  with  their  several  champions,  which 
those  who  aim  at  perfection  would  do  well  to  study, 
and  to  which  there  are  several  interesting  volumes 
specially  devoted. 


PLANT    HOUSES. 

Since  the  introduction  of  so  many  plants  inter- 
esting for  their  forms  or  color  of  their  foliage,  the 
plant  house  is  quite  another  affair  to  the  idea  our 
foreflithers  had  of  it.  The  CoJexis  Vcrschaffeltii, 
one  of  the  introductions  of  the  few  past  years,  is 
now  in  '  every  hand.'  Begonias  in  great  variety, 
Tradescantias,  Tillandsias,  Marantas,  Caladiums, 
Amaranthus,  Cissus,  with  some  ferns  with  colored 
foliage,  afford  a  good  field  for  choice.  These  plants 
want  the  warmest  part  of  the  plan.t  house— in  fact, 
do  not  keep  well  over  the  winter,  where  the  tem- 
perature falls  below  60°  or  55°.  In  almost  all  green- 
houses, however,  it  will  add  much  to  keep  the  tem- 
perature about  that,  as  it  insures  a  continuous  flow- 
ering of  many  things  through  the  season ;  and 
makes  something  more  of  them  than  mere  storehou- 
ses for  housing  over  summer  bedding  plants. 

Pdargoniums  become  'drawn,'  spindly,  and 
worthless,  if  they  are  not  allowed  to  occupy  the 
lightest  and  most  airy  part  of  the  house.  If  fine 
specimens  are  desired,  the  shoots  should  now  be 
tied  down  to  the  surface  of  the  pots  and  pinched 
off  so  as  to  induce  them  to  shoot  freely;  but  a  too 
frequent  use  of  the  '  finger  and  thumb  '  is  bad,— 
nothing  renders  a  Pelargonium  wenker;  rather  en- 
courage them  to  grow  busliy,  by  the  free  use  of 
light,  air,  and  manure-water. 

A  good  supply  of  young  Fuchsias  should  be 
coming  on  now— repot  as  their  roots  fill  each  pot, 


let  them  not  want  for  moisture  or  light ;  do  not 
pinch  off  their  tops,  but  let  them  grow  rapidly. 
The  temperature  in  which  they  are  grown  should 
not  exceed  55°.  A  turfy  loam,  moderately  enriched 
with  well-decayed  manure,  and  well  drained  with 
charcoal,  suits  them  admirably. 

The  MiinuJus  is  receiving  more  attention  than  it 
has  been.  Where  they  are  grown,  they  are  much 
improved  by  having  pans  of  water  kept  under  their 
pots. 

Epiphyllums,  as  they  continue  to  flower,  will  re- 
quire the  warmest  part  of  the  house,  and  a  fair 
supply  of  moisture. 

The  most  interesting  tribe  of  plants  at  this  season 
of  the  year  is  undoubtedly  the  Camellia.  The 
buds  frequently  drop  off  before  flowering;  this 
may  spring  from  three  causes — fi-om  the  plants 
being  kept  too  dry,  or  from  the  drainage  being  bad, 
whereby  the  soil  becomes  sodden,  or  from  the  house 
being  kept  too  warm  by  insufficient  ventilation.  As 
the  leaf-buds  burst,  the  plants  are  benefited  by  oc- 
casional syringings  ;  and,  indeed,  an  increased  sup- 
ply of  water  altogether,  in  order  to  accommodate 
the  demands  of  the  young  growth. 

Cinerarias  will  soon  be  the  chief  attraction ;  the 
least  frost  kills  them,  yet  they  will  not  da  well  if 
kept  in  a  high  temperature.  They  love  moisture, 
yet  are  very  impatient  of  damp.  No  plant  is  more 
improved  by  the  use  of  charcoal  in  potting  than 
this. 

The  Calceolaria  will  require  the  same  conditions 
as  the  Cineraria. 

Hyacintlis  that  have  been  out  of  doors,  or  in  any 
re.serve  place  for  protection,  may  be  brought  in  a 
few  weeks  before  wanted  ;  they  should  not  have 
much  heat,  light  or  moisture  for  a  few  days,  and 
then  only  gradually. 

Carnations  and  Pinks  are  much  admired  when 
grown  in  pots  and  flowered  there  early ;  they  do 
not  flower  well  if  much  warmth  be  given,  but  the 
usual  temperature  of  the  greenhouse  will  bring  them 
forward  a  month  before  they  can  be  had  out  of 
doors  ;  whenever  the  rodts  make  their  appearance 
through  the  bottom  of  the  pots,  they  should  be 
shifted  nito  a  .'^izc  larger.  They  require  very  little 
water  and  love  the  light,  and  whatever  manures 
are  used  to  enrich  the  soil  should  be  thoroughly 
rotten.  The  Pansy,  on  the  other  hand,  delights  in 
half  rotten,  strawy  manure  and  turfy  loam.  If  a 
quantity  of  seedlings  have  been  raised  in  the  fall, 
they  will  require  potting  this  month  ;  they  do  not 
flower  well  here  when  the  weather  becomes  warm  ; 
but  when  grown  in  pots^  and  forwarded  slightly  b}- 
the  aid  of  a  cool  frame,  they  do  very  well. 


^@>^^      - 


-CB& 


ij\^  barter's  (Plonlhlg. 


Cacti,  and  succulent  plants  generally  will  scarcely 
require  water  at  all,  unless  in  very  dry  situations, 
and  then  receive  but  a  slight  sprinkling  with  a  syr- 
inge. The  rule,  '  when  you  water  a  plant  at  all,  let 
it  soak  right  through,"  does  not,  by  any  means, 
hold  good  with  these  plants,  if  there  be  not  some 
other  good  exceptions. 

Oranges  and  Lemons  vi'iW  require  the  coolest  part 
of  the  house,  and  to  receive  no  more  water  than 
will  just  keep  them  fresh. 


QmiHuniritions* 


LETTER   TUOm   VIRGINIA, 

BY  OLIVER  TAYLOR,  OP  LOUDON  COUNTY. 

Dear  Monthly  :  I  see  by  your  last  issue,  that 
I  have  received,  that  some  concern  is  manifested  as 
to  what  has  become  of  the  non-resistant  Horticul- 
turist of  this  part  of  Dixie  (as  some  would  call  itj. 
Let.  those  who  care  for  me,  or  for  the  cause  of 
Horticulture,  know  that  I  am  still  at  my  old  home, 
and  as  deeply  interested  as  ever  in  the  sublime  art 
of  producing  those  truly  beautiful  and  delicious 
products  that  should  claim  a  deeper  hold  on  the 
affections  of  our  people  than  they  do  ;  yes,  even  to 
the  casting  out  of  all  the  vile  lust  after  the  flesh 
diet  that  is  so  fraught  with  disease  and  premature 
decay  ;  for  be  it  known,  I  am  a  thorough  vegeta- 
rian of  the  strictest  school,  and  therefore  love  all 
the  fruits  and  vegetables  with  my  entire  nature. 

We  have  had  a  very  dry  summer  here,  with  some 
rain  the  early  part  of  the  autumn,  but  not  enough 
to  wet  the  ground  sufficient  to  dig  trees  yet.  As  it 
was  so  dry  all  summer,  I  surely  thought  the  apples 
would  be  small  and  imperfect,  but  such  was  not  the 
case,  for  in  this  and  the  valley  next  us,  so  far  as  I 
can  learn,  the  apple  crop  is  very  fair,  indeed  I  have 
never  seen  such  good  apples  here  as  there  is  this 
year  ;  and  I  think  one  cause  of  their  being  so  fine 
is  the  abundance  of  small  birds  that  have  increased 
since  the  sportsmen  have  gone  to  the  war.  I  used 
to  think  it  was  a  good  practice  to  have  hogs  run  in 
an  orchard  to  eat  up  the  fallen  fruit;  but  I  now  be- 
lieve the  destruction  the  hogs  cause  to  the  small 
birds  is  of  more  injuiy  than  the  benefit  resulting 
from  their  eating  the  fullon  fruit. 

Our  hot  dry  summer  has  so  ripened  the  winter 
fruit  that  it  will  not  keep  long.  The  first  frost  we 
had  this  fall  was  a  freeze  on  the  9th  of  this  month, 
so  severe  as  to  freeze  the  grapes  solid  on  the  vines, 
iiiid  even  kill  the  box  edging  and  cabbage  leaves 
(piite  dead,  so  that  they  turned  white  in  a  few  days. 
The  like  I  never  knew  before. 


I  see  many  persons  speak  well  of  the  Soger's 
Hybrid  grapes,  and  as  I  had  nearly  the  first  lot  of 
them  that  was  sent  out,  and  the  first  that  came  so 
far  south,  I  feel  as  if  I  ought  to  say  how  they  do 
here ;  and  to  be  candid,  I  must  say  that  I  ara 
somewhat  disappointed  in  one  particular.  Not  a 
single  fault  have  I  to  find  with  many  of  them  as  to 
their  quality  as  ripened  ki  our  hot  sun,  they  are 
good  enough  for  any  one  to  eat ;  nor  do  the  vines 
suffer  in  the  least  from  our  winters,  but  they  do 
fail  to  hold  their  leaves  and  fruit  as  we  desire  them: 
for  out  of  30  varieties,  not  one  of  them  was  perfect 
in  both  particulars  this  season,  though  every  varie- 
ty managed  to  make  a  part  of  a  crop.  Probably 
with  different  treatment  they  might  do  better  other 
years.  The  Ontario  held  its  leaves  and  fruit  to 
perfection  ;  and  such  bunches,  ripening  just  at  the 
time  of  the  freeze  :  but  oh,  if  they  only  had  the 
good  taste  of  Roger's  No.  4,  34,  33,  or  14!  It  is 
simply  a  big  juicy  grape,  with  but  little  aroma  or 
sugar  in  it.  The  Delaware,  Clinton,  Purple  Fa- 
vorite, Lenoir,  Franklin,  and  Taylor,  are  all  the 
varieties  that  seem  to  defy  our  summer  changes 
about  the  time  the  grapes  are  half  grown. 

The  letter  of  a  querist  to  me,  for  a  recipe  to  make 
Grape  Marmalade,  was  not  sent  to  the  proper  office, 
so  I  did  not  get  it  in  due  time,  but  I  will  give  it  here 
for  his  benefit : — Cook  the  grapes  until  the  skins 
and  seeds  can  be  easily  taken  out  by  mashing  the 
pulp  through  a  seive,  and  then  mix  from  one-third 
to  one-half  cooked  and  mashed  apples,  to  make  it 
as  thick  as  is  desired,  and  then  heat  them  together 
and  put  up  air  tight,  cooking  of  course  until  no 
more  froth  will  rise  on  the  surface  when  it  is  boil- 
ing. If  the  grapes  are  not  sweet,  nor  the  apples 
either,  they  will  need  some  sugar  to  suit  most  tastes. 
If  the  Clinton  grape,  well  ripened,  is  used  with  the 
Paradise  apple,  no  one  with  any  thing  like  a  natu- 
ral taste  will  wish  sugar  in  it. 

We  were  too  tightly  blockaded  about  the  time 
of  the  Pomological  Congress  to  send,  or  we  would 
gladly  have  done  our  part.  Do  tell  us  all  about  it, 
and  put  us  in  the  way  to  get  the  proceedings  i-Q  full. 


H¥BSRNATION    OP    INSECTS,    AND    ITS 
RELATIONS  TO  HORTICULTURE, 

BY  professor  s.  s.  rathvon,  lancasthr,  pa. 
Read  before  Pennsylvania  Hort.  Society,  Sept.6,'6i. 
1  Concluded  from  page  334.] 
Perhaps  a  still  larger  portion  of  the  insect  world 
hjbernate  in  the  pupa  state,  especially  those  spe- 
cies that  produce  but  a  single  brood  during  the 
year.  These,  as  soon  as  they  have  completed  their 
larval  periods,  invariably  either  spin  themselves  in 


Sfh^  (Sard^M'a  ^onihlj* 


357 


a  cocoon,  or  burrow  into  the  ground  and  form  a 
sort  of  earthy  cavity,  corresponding  to  a  cocoon, 
and  undergo.their  pupal  transformations  therein, 
where  they,  for  the  most  part,  remain  entirely  tor- 
pid until  the  return  of  the  warm  season,  when  they 
become  active  again,  and  in  due  time  make  their 
appearance  in  a  perfect  state.  It  is  very  rarely  that 
the  larva  of  any  of  these  insects  are  found  after  the 
decay  of  the  vegetation  ujion  which  they  are  accus- 
tomed to  feed ;  and  if  any  of  them  should  happen 
to  be  retarded  in  their  larval  development  beyond 
the  usual  season,  they  are  sure  to  perish  before 
they  can  effect  their  pupal  change.  Exceptions 
may  be  made  in  favor  of  those  that  bore  into  wood, 
and  that  often  require  from  two  to  five  years  to 
complete  their  larval  development ;  but  these  are 
never  found,  out  of  the  wood,  and  pass  several  hy- 
bernating  seasons,  as  before  alluded  to,  in  speaking 
of  hybernating  larvce. 

These  cocoons  in  various  forms,  from  the  most 
perfect  to  the  most  simple  construction,  and  from 
the  finest  and  most  delicate  fibre  to  the  coarsest 
shaggiest  hair  that  covers  their  bodies,  may  be 
found  in  various  situations,  and  are  plainly  visible 
during  the  winter  season,  when  vegetation  is  de- 
nuded of  its  foliage.  On  the  trunks  and  branches 
of  trees  and  shrubbery  :  on  the  undersides  of  fence- 
rails,  or  in  cavities,  post-holes  and  under  the  bark 
of  old  rails  or  trees  ;  in  old  outhouses  and  unfinished 
attics,  and  in  short,  any  locality,  in  the  nooks  and 
corners  of  which  the  least  protection  is  afforded, 
these  cocoons  may  be  found,  each  one  containing 
the  pupa  of  some  male  or  female  destructive  species 
of  Lepidoptera.  Bear  distinctly  in  remembrance 
that  all  Lepidopterous  insects  (moths  and  butter- 
flies^ are  destructive  in  the  larva  state  ;  with  but 
few  exceptions,  all  feeding  upon  some  kind  of  veg- 
etation. The  pupae  of  butterflies  are  never  found 
in  a  cocoon  ;  but  the  naked  chrysalis,  in  similar 
situations  to  those  before  mentioned,  may  be  seen 
suspended,  either  vertically  or  at  various  angles 
daring  the  winter,  and  no  amount  of  frost  or  cold 
and  rain  seems  to  have  any  effect  upon  them,  for, 
as  soon  as  the  warm  weather  approaches,  these 
pupa  cells  are  found  deserted,  and  their  winter  in- 
mates in  beautifully  improved  forms  and  colors, 
are  gaily  flitting  from  flower  to  flower,  imbibing' 
nectar,  and  laying  the  foundations  of  new  destruc- 
tive broods. 

Of  those  species  that  go  into  the  ground  to  pass 
their  pupal  period,  many  are  exposed  to  viewthrough 
winter  digging  and  plowing,  and  from  various  other 
incidental  causes ;  but  of  those  that  live  exclusively 
in  wood,  few  are  seen  in  their  pupa  states,  and  for 


this  reason  their  destruction  is  more  difiicult  than 
others.  Still,  there  are  numbers  of  them  that  may 
be  inet  with  in  cutting  up  old  wood,  splitting  rails, 
and  turning  old  logs.  In  all  those  accessible  situa- 
tions in  which  the  pupa  are  found,  there  is  but  one 
suggestion  to  be  made  to  the  farmer,  the  gardener, 
and  the  fruit-grower,  and  that  is,  to  destroy  every 
pupa  they  can  lay  their  hands  on,  by  any  means 
within  their  reach,  and  not  to  let  a  single  one 
knowingly  escape.  This  is  the  only  safe  course, 
and  if  more  attention  was  paid  to  the  destruction 
of  the  ova  the  larva  and  the  pupa,  states  of  total 
or  partial  inactivity, — there  would  be  less  to  do  in 
warding  off  the  injurious  attacks  of  the  imago, 
when  they  deposit  their  eggs  and  provide  for  the 
perpetuation  of  their  species,  because,  these,  being 
endowed  with  all  the  capacities  of  instinct,  strategy 
and  escape  tiiat  they  ever  attain,  they  also  possess 
the  greater  facilities  for  eluding  the  vigilance  of 
their  own  enemies. 

Too  much  must  not  be  lefl  to  the  operations  of 
either  artificial  or  natural  remedies  for  the  destruc- 
tion of  noxious  insects  in  any  of  their  states  ;  and 
the  sooner  horticulturists  and  gardeners  realize  that 
the  greatest  amount  of  success  in  this  respect, — or 
that  the  most  efl'cetive  remedy  consists  in  their  own 
vigilance,  and  their  own  persevering  manual  efforts, 
the  sooner  a  most  important  work  in  this  behalf 
will  be  accomplished. 

Entomologists,  in  their  occasional  excursions  into 
the  country  during  the  winter  season,  in  search  of 
cocoohs  and  pupse,  seldom  fail  in  gathering  a  goodly 
harvest  of  them.  This  same  vigilance,  as  a  jjart  of 
the  fixed  business  of  agriculture,  horticulture  and 
gardening,  during  such  seasons  of  the  year  in  which 
labor  of  other  kinds  is  not  pressing,  would  amply 
reward  all  the  time  bestowed  upon  it,  and  might 
be  performed  '  between  times, '  by  women,  youth 
and  children. 

I  now  come  to  consider  the  hybernation  of  insects 
in  their  perfect  or  imago  states,  and  to  which  con- 
dition the  term  liyhernation  most  properly  belongs. 
More  of  these  mature  insects  survive  the  winter  than 
we  in  our  limited  philosophy  have  ever  dreamed 
of  True  some,  indeed  many  of  these  hybernating 
survivors  are  harmless,  or  belong  decidedly  to  the 
list  of  our  insect  friends ;  but  the  larger  number 
perhaps,  are  more  or  less  noxious.  Among  the 
Coleoptera,  I  have  reason  to  believe,  that  thousands, 
yea,  tens  of  thousands,  and  perhaps  millions  of 
those  little  striped  beetles,  commonly  called  the 
"Cucumber  bug,"  [Dlahrotica  vlttata),  survive 
the, winter  in  a  state  of  hybernation.  I  have  often 
found  this  insect  in  large  numbers  late  in  autumn. 


and  on  one  particular  occasion,  on  a  verywarm  day 
in  the  month  of  November,  I  found  a  plant  that 
had  escaped  the  frosts,  in  a  protected  place,  liter- 
ally covered  with  them,  and  nearly  every  leaf  upon 
it  destroyed.  Now  this  insect  usually  attacks  and 
destroys  the  young  cucumber,  squash,  pumpkin, 
and  melon  vines  early  in  the  season ;  and  after  the 
middle  of  June,  not  many  of  them  are  seen  at  one 
place.  After  this  period  they  deposit  their  eggs 
and  then  die,  and  the  young  brood  is  hatched  there- 
from, pass  their  larval  and  pupal  periods  during 
the  summer,  in  situations  not  so  fully  exposed  to 
view  as  the  operations  of  the  mature  insect.  In- 
deed, the  economy  of  this  insect  in  all  its  stages  of 
development,  is  not  yet  fully  manifest.  Some  ob- 
servers assert  that  the  eggs  are  deposited  in  the 
ground,  and  that  the  young  grubs  feed  upon  the 
roots  of  succulent  vegetation  ;  and  some  that  they 
are  deposited  on  the  vegetation  upon  whicli  the 
mature  insects  feed.  This  latter  theory  is  more  in 
accordance  with  my  own  experience,  in  regard  to 
the  the  "Galerucans"  in  general,  which  includes 
several  other  genera  to  which  this  is  nearly  allied. 
But  I  am  at  present  more  particularly  discussing 
the  subject  of  their  hybernation,  which  may  in  some 
measure  account  for  their  sudden  appearance  in  the 
spring,  when  the  j'^oung  melon  and  cucumber  plants 
are  just  above  the  ground.  The  plant,  on  the  spe- 
cial occasion  to  which  I  have  above  alluded,  was 
growing  beside  a  large  stump,  in  a  field  fully  a  mile 
from  any  vegetable  garden  ;  and  under  the  bark 
of  this  stump,  on  its  southern  or  sunny  side, "I  also 
found  hundreds  of  these  insects.  A  few  of  these 
insects,  with  their  relatives,  the  spotted  "Cucum- 
ber-bugs," (Diahrotica  Yl-punc.tatn),  may  be  found 
upon  vegetation  all  summer;  but  it  is  only  during 
the  winter  season,  and  in  the  spring  of  the  year, 
that  they  are  found  congregated  in  such  large  num- 
bers as  we  sometimes  see  them.  There  are  also 
various  species  of  the  genus  Haltica^  (small  leaping 
beetles),  and  assimilating  genera,  to  which  the  cu- 
cumber beetles  are  also  allied,  including  the  some- 
what notorious  "Turnip-flea,"  (not  Turnip-fl}^, 
that  are  usually  found  on  the  same  kinds  of  vege- 
tation, and  in  winter  in  a  hybernating  state,  in  like 
situations  and  circumstances.  All  these,  together 
with  various  species  of  Coccinella  and  Hipodamia, 
commonly  called  "Lady-birds,"  I  have  found  in 
great  numbers  from  October  to  April,  in  a  hyber- 
nating condition,  beneath  the  bark  of  old  trees, 
timbers,  rails,  and  in  clefts,  and  also  under  stones 
and  logs,  and  other  phices  affording  protection 
against  the  influence  of  rains  and  snows.  Such 
nooks  and  corners  as  these  afford  safe  hiding  places 


^KT 


for  many  noxious  hybernating  insects ;  and  there 
is- a  grave  question,  whether  the  agriculturist,  the 
horticulturist,  and  the  gardener,  ought  not  to  direct 
a  part  of  the  effective  energies  and  means  under 
his  control,  to  explorations  of  such  places  during 
certain  seasons  of  the  year,  and  to  the  capture  and 
destruction  of  all  such  winter  stragglers  as  he  does 
not  positively  know  to  bo  insect  frii^nds.  The  vigi- 
lance of  children  might  be  directed  in  that  chaimel 
of  research,  and  there  is  not  a  doubt  that  in  the 
end  it  would  bring  its  reward.  While  insects  are 
in  a  torpid  condition  during  autumn,  winter  and 
spring,  they  are  easily  captured  and  destroyed* 
Crushing  insects  in  a  torpid  condition  is  the  most 
effectual  way  of  destroying  them.  We  do  not  al- 
ways accomplish  this  by  merely  throwing  them  into 
water,  unless  it  is  '  boiling  hot.'  It  is  said  that  the 
attention  of  Rev.  Wm.  Kirby,  a  distinguished  En- 
glish entomologist,  was  first  directed  to  the  econo- 
mies of  insects  from  the  fact  of  his  haying  immersed 
a  species  of  Coccinella  in  alcohol  for  twelve  hours, 
and  then,  on  exposing  it  to  the  sun,  it  revived  again 
and  flew  away. 

To  prevent  Cucumber  beetles  and  Turnip  fleas 
from  destroying  young  plants,  English  gardeners 
recommend  a  strong  decoction  of  wormwood,  or 
pulverized  chalk,  or  road  dust,  strewn  on  the  leaves 
when  they  are  wet  with  dew  or  rain,  as  unfiiiling 
remedies, — simple  enough  to  elicit  a  trial. 

Some  species  of  the  Carabidce,  a  large  family  of 
Coleopterous  insects,  are  also  found  during  autumn, 
winter  and  spring,  in  a  hybernating  statp,  not  in 
very  great  numbers,  however — perhaps  only  isola- 
ted females  for  the  most  part,  intent  upon  the  con- 
tinuation of  their  immediate  families  in  a  succeeding 
season.  As  these  insects  are  nearly  all  carnivorous 
and  prey  upon  other  insects  and  insect  larva,  it  is 
not  necessary  to  give  them  any  thing  more  than  a 
passing  allusion,  and  to  suggest  to  all  cultivators  of 
the  soil  the  necessity  of  making  themselves  acquain- 
ted with  the  forms  and  economies  of  insects,  in  or- 
der that  they  may  be  enabled  to  distinguish  between 
the  beneficial  and  the  hurtful,  when  they  chance 
to  see  them, 

A  large  number  of  the  C^ircidionidoc  are  also  hy- 
bernating insects,  and  I  have  on  various  occasions 
.found  many  of  them  during  the  winter  months, 
under  stones,  and  timbers,  but  more  particularly 
under  the  bark  of  dead  trees,  from  early  autumn  to 
late  spring.  Some  of  these,  in  the  larva  state,  are 
known  to  prey  on  wood,  but  many  arc  found  in  such 
situations,  that  are  known  to  be  destructive  to  grain, 
fruit,  and  nuts,  including  the  famous  "  Plum-wee- 
vil." One  of  our  very  largest  species  in  the  North- 


M€^? 


SIi^  iarden^r'B  p;0nt^lj. 


859 


u 


ern  States,  Itliicerus  airculionides,  a  grayish  insect 
of  about  three-quarters  of  an  inch  in  length,  hyber- 
nates,  and  in  the  spring  makes  it  appearance  about 
the  time  the  apple  and  peach  buds  are  beginning 
to  swell.  These  buds  then  become  the  food  of  these 
insects ;  and  in  some  localities  they  have  been 
known  to  be  very  injurious  to  the  trees,  especially 
in  the  States  of  Ohio,  Indiana  and  Illinois.  This 
insect  has  been  detected  in  committing  the  same 
depredations  in  the  county  of  Lancaster,  in  this 
State. 

The  genus  Splienoplioms  includes  a  large  num- 
ber of  species  (some  sixty  or  seventy^  that  have 
already  been  described,  and  the  greater  portion  of 
these,  perhaps  all  of  them,  may  be  found  in  a  hy- 
bernating  state  during  the  winter. 

My  observations  upon  the  notorious  "Curculio," 
( ConofrocJieJxs  ncm(pJiar)  have  led  me  to  the  con- 
clusion that  it  passes  the  entire  winter  in  a  state 
of  hybernation,  and  that  there  is  more  than  one 
brood  produced  in  a  year.  For  instance,  the  larva 
or  worms  that  are  found  in  ripe  cherries  and  plums 
of  various  kinds,  in  the  months  of  July,  August, 
and  the  beginning  of  September,  are  of  a  different 
brood  from  those  we  find  in  the  same  fruit  in  May, 
and  the  early  part  of  June.  Under  my  own  obser- 
vation, the  Curculio  has  left  the  plum  fruit  and 
gone  into  the  ground  as  early  as  the  10th  of  June, 
and  before  the  1st  of  July  the  jierfect  insect  came 
forth  from  the  pupa — ju«t  in  time  to  deposit  its 
eggs  in  the  ripe  cherries,  and  a  little  later,  also  in 
the  plums  and  apples.  Now,  it  cannot  be  supposed 
that  these  insects  would  lie  in  the  earth  during  all 
the  hot  summer,  or  from  the  10th  of  June  in  one 
year  until  the  month  of  May  in  the  next,  and  then 
only  come  forth  to  deposit  their  esg^  in  the  young 
plums,  cherries  and  apples.  The  second  brood  is 
not  as  injurious  as  the  first  brood,  simply 
because  they  have  a  wider  field  of  operation 
— the  fruit  is  more  advanced  ;  the  small  fruits,  such 
as  cherries,  may  bo  gathered  before  they  can  be 
attacked  ;  and  also  because  there  are  other  sub- 
stances that  afford  sustenance  to  the  larva  of  the 
"Curculio," — the  soft  and  spongy  excrescences  or 
"  knots,"  so  abundant  on  some  fruit  trees,  for  in- 
stance. It  is  this  second  brood,  without  a  doubt, 
that  survives  the  winter  in  a  hybernating  state, 
most  likely  in  the  earth,  where  they  undergo 
their  pupal  change.  Two  or  three  very  warm  days 
in  succession  in  the  winter  would  naturally  reani- 
mate them  and  bring  them  out,  and  then,  on  a 
sudden  change  of  temperature,  again  the}'  would 
resume  their  torpid  condition  under  the  loose  bark 
and  stones,  or  anyi  other  place  that  could  be  appro- 


priated for  the  purpose  of  secretion  and  protection. 

Some  of  the  Lamelicornia,  a  family  of  Coleop- 
tera  to  which  the  "dung  beetles,"  and  the  spotted 
"grape  beetle"  belong,  are  also  hybernating  in- 
sects, especially  the  genera  Aphodius  and  Geotrupes. 
Millions  of  the  former  may  be  found  in  the  excre- 
ments of  cattle  throughout  entire  fields  ;  and  when 
the  weather  becomes  extremely  cold  thej' descend  a 
little  distance  into  the  earth,  but  come  up  again 
when  the  temperature  becomes  warmer,  and  occupy 
their  favorite  substance  in  nature,  upon  which  they 
feed.  In  only  ordinarily  cold  weather,  they  do  not 
go  into  the  ground  ;  and  during  such  times  I  have 
found  them  in  all  of  the  winter  months.  They  are 
about  the  first  Coleopterous  insects  that  come  forth 
from  their  hybernating  state  in  spring,  and  during 
warm  days  in  the  months  of  February  and  IMarch 
I  have  seen  the  air  full  of  them.  There  is  notliiug 
however,  connected  with  the  economy  of  these  in- 
sects that  need  neccessarily  excite  the  special  ajipro- 
hension  of  the  cultivator  ,  for  the  best  experience 
seems  to  have  demonstrated  that  they,  and  many 
of  their  cogeners,  are  rather  beneficial  than  hurtful 
to  his  labors,  whatever  may  be  the  character  of 
other  genera  and  species,  belonging  to  the  same 
great  family. 

Of  the  Hemipterous  insects,  which  includes  many 
very  noxious  suctorial  kinds,  there  are  a  large  num- 
ber of  species  that  pass  the  winter  in  a  state  of  hy- 
bernation. Some  of  these  Ilemiptera  are  preda- 
ceous,  and  feed  upon  other  insects  ;  but  it  is  rather 
remarkable  that  few  or  none  of  these  are  hyberna- 
ting insects,  and  therefore  the  cultivator  commits 
no  error  in  destroying  all  he  may  come  in  contact 
with  at  any  season  of  the  year.  It  may  be  useful 
here  to  attend  in  a  special  manner  to  an  individual 
belonging  to  this  Order,  that  is  well  known  to  the 
vegetable  gardener,  and  is  one  of  the  worst  enemies 
to  the  squash  and  melon  vines  that  he  has  to  con- 
tend withj^I  mean  the  "  Squash  bug,"  or  Coreus 
fristis  of  naturali.'^ts.  Nearly  all  insects  have  one  or 
more  enemies  that  prey  upon  them  in  some  manner, 
but  this  particular  species  is  so  offensive  and  so 
loathsome,  that  no  other  animal  will  approach  it 
for  the  purpose  of  feeding  upon  it.  I  have  found 
this  insect  during  every  winter  month,  as  well  as  in 
early  spring  and  late  autumn,  hidden  in  all  kinds 
of  nooks  and  corners  that  sheltered  it  from  rain 
and  moisture.  It  can  stand  any  amount  of  cold  or 
hot  weather,  provided  it  is  dry,  but  cannot  stand 
the  exposure  to  wetness  or  moisture,  especially  not 
in  the  winter.  I  entertain  such  a  strong  aversion 
to  this  insect,  founded  upon  early  recollections  of 
its  pestilential  character,  that  I  have  been  long  ac- 


'•? 


^t  §mkim's  JRontllj. 


customed  to  destroy  it,  whenever  or  wherever  I 
may  find  it ;  and  although  I  am  far  from  taking 
any  delight  in  cruelty,  yet  candor  compels  me  to 
confess  that  I  feel  a  certain  degree  of  pleasure  when 
1  know  that  I  have  made  the  number  of  them  even 
one  less  in  the  world.  It  would,  I  think,  pay  the 
gardener  if  he  were  to  institute  a  careful  and  thor- 
ougk  search  for  these  insects  during  the  warm  days 
that  we  sometimes  have  in  December,  January, 
February  and  March  ;  for,  if  two  or  three  such  days 
occur  in  succession,  it  is  sure  to  revive  these  insectSj 
and  cause  them  to  crawl  out  of  their  hiding  places, 
in  order  to  bask  in  the  warm  sun.  These  hyberna- 
ting  winter  survivors  among  the  "Squash-bugs" 
are  nearly  all  females,  maturing  a  matrix  full  of 
eggs,  which  they  intend  to  deposit  on  the  underside 
of  the  pumpkin  or  squash  leaf,  as  soon  as  it  is  large 
enough  to  sustain  its  brood.  But  it  is  not  content 
with  this,  for  when  there  has  also  been  a  male  sur- 
vivor, there  will  be  a  series  of  reimpregnations  and 
redeposits  of  eggs,  until  succeeding  broods  have 
reached  the  adult  state,  and  are  in  a  condition  to 
continue  the  work  begun  by  these  winter  survivors. 
The  "Squash-bug"  is  the  typical  representative 
of  a  large  family  ( Pentafomadce)  of  Hemiptei'ous 
insects,  all  of  which  are  injurious  in  a  greater  or 
less  degree  to  vegetation,  and  nearly  all  of  which 
may  be  found  in  a  hybernating  state  during  the 
winter  season.  But  the  sub-family,  Coreidce,  of 
which  the  Squash-bug  is  the  immediate  type,  con- 
tains a  greater  number  of  destructive  species  than 
any  other  group  or  family  in  the  whole  order,  and 
they  also  produce  and  reproduce  larger  broods. 
The  genus  Capsus  includes  many  small  destructive 
species,  one  in  particular  [Capsus  (Phytocorus) 
lincolaris)  which  is  very  injurious  to  young  trees  in 
nurseries  early  in  the  spring,  before  ordinarj'  vege- 
tation has  been  much  advanced.  When  the  buds 
of  young  fruit  trees  begin  to  swell  in  the  month  of 
April,  and  sometimes  in  March,  I  have  known 
these  insects  to  emerge  from  their  winter  quarters, 
where  they  had  been  for  months  in  a  torpid  condi- 
tion, in  millions;  and  on  one  occasion,  within  the 
space  of  ten  days,  they  destroyed  nearly  the  one- 
half  of  the  young  pear,  apple,  plum,  and  cherry 
trees  in  a  pretty  large  nursery  ;  but  they  seemed  to 
be  partial  to  the  pear.  These  insects  are  suctorial, 
and  do  not  destroy  the  buds  of  trees  in  the  same 
manner  as  the  large  species  of  Ctirculio,  to  which  I 
have  alluded  in  another  place  in  this  essay.  That 
insect  is  mandibidjted,  and  gnaws  away  the  bud, 
which  it  appropriates  by  mastication  ;  but  the  lit- 
tle insects  now  immediately  under  consideration  are 
'■riftfeJIated,  and  only  suck  out  the  sap  or  juices  of 


the  bud,  but  eflFectually  destroy  its  vitality,— a  bud 
attacked  by  these  insects  rarely  ever  recovers,  but 
those  attacked  by  the  curculio  often  do.  The  Cap- 
sus makes  one  perforation  after  another  with  its 
sharp  proboscis,  sucking  out  the  juices  of  each,  until 
it  leaves  the  bud  as  porous  as  a  sponge  and  entirely 
destroyed.  This  is  the  same  insect  to  which  has 
been  attributed  the  causes  of  the  Potato-rot,  by  a 
gentleman  in  the  State  of  New  York.  Nothing,  it 
appears  to  me,  can  be  farther  from  the  truth,  for 
the  economies  of  these  insects  are  such  as  to  render 
the  thing  impossible,  in  the  manner  that  Mr.  Hen- 
derson describes.  I  think  I  have  answered  his  ar- 
guments effectually  on  this  subject  in  the  Vol.  I., 
p.  5,  Farmer  and  Gardener.  Still,  as  I  do  not 
profess  a  monopoly  of  the  knowledge  on  this  sub- 
ject, there  is  plenty  of  room  for  investigation,  and 
I  am  widely  open  to  rational  conviction. 

It  is  rather  remarkable  that  thehj'bernating 
predaceous  species  belonging  to  the  order  Hemiptera 
should  be  so  few  in  number.  Most  of  these  insects 
deposit  their  eggs  on  different  objects  in  the  au- 
tumn, where  they  remain  all  winter,  and  are  hatched 
by  the  warm  sun  of  early  summer.  The  economy 
of  one  particular  species  of  this  group  is  so  remark- 
able, that  I  cannot  refrain  from  mentioning  it  here, 
although  it  may  seem  to  be  foreign  to  the  general 
tenor  of  this  essay.  I  allude  to  a  large  and  tolera- 
bly well  known  species,  the  Prionotus  novenarius, 
formerly  included  in  the  genus  Reduvius.  This  in- 
sect is  purely  carnivorous  in  its  habits,  feeding  upon 
various  other  species  of  insects,  and  on  that  account 
ought  to  be  protected  rather  than  injured.  The 
mature  insects  are  always  found  solitary  or  in  pairs, 
and  for  a  long  time  I  was  puzzled  to  know  how  the 
young  insect  was  provided  for,  or  whether  it  might 
not  be  herbivorous  in  its  infant  or  immature  state. 
After  a  series  of  observations,  some  of  them  made 
in  my  own  room  whilst  the  insects  were  confined, 
and  others,  made  out  in  the  open  air,  whilst  the 
insects  were  at  liberty,  enables  me  to  come  to  the 
following,  conclusion  : — The  female  Prionotus  de- 
posits her  eggs  during  the  month  of  September, 
sometimes  as  late  as  the  first  of  October,  usually  on 
the  lower  sides  of  rails,  limbs  or  beams,  where  they 
remain  until  the  end  of  May,  or  beginning  of  June, 
in  the  following  year"  In  a  warm  room,  on  one 
occasion,  the  young  were  brought  forth  prematurely 
during  of  March ;  and  on  this  occasion  I  was  ena- 
bled, from  personal  observation,  to  confirm  my ' 
theory  in  reference  to  them.  About  one  hundred 
were  thus  brought  out,  and  immediately  the  stron- 
ger commenced  a  cannibalizing  war  upon  the 
weaker.     On  every  visit  to  them  I  found  one  or 


©h^  (Sard^n^r'H  JKontMg. 


more  of  the  weaker  ones  spitted  by  the  stronger, 
who  seemed  to  be  enjoying  their  repast  with  the 
greatest  satisfaction.  There  appeared  still  room 
for  doubt  in  the  minds  of  some,  owing  to  the  fact 
that  my  insects  were  confined,  without  having  ac- 
cess to  any  other  kind  of  food  ;  but  my  theory  has 
been  amply  corroborated  by  the  same  thing  taking 
place  in  the  garden  of  Mr.  J.  Stauifer,  of  this  city, 
where  they  have  bfeen  visited  daily.  Mr.  S.  counted 
one  hundred  and  twenty  of  the  young  insects  in 
this  brood,  when  they  first  evolved  from  the  egg 
state  ;  and,  at  our  last  visit,  the  number  was  redu- 
ced to  less  than  fifty,  and  if  we  had  not  witnessed 
the  operation,  we  might  have  supposed  the  dead 
carcases  lying  beneath  the  colony  of  living  ones, 
were  only  their  cast  ofi"  skins  after  moulting.  These 
insects,  then,  are  gregarious  until  they  are  half 
grown,  and  feed  during  their  infant  and  juvenile 
states  upon  their  own  kind.  Thus,  until  they  ac- 
quire the  necessary  strength  and  strategy  to  capture 
their  prey  fi'om  among  other  insects,  they  unsus- 
pectingly, but  as  a  matter  of  course,  and  also  very 
playfully  and  seemingly  innocently,  seize  one  of 
their  brethren  at  the  first  opportunity,  and  make  a 
repast  of  him  ;  and  he,  appearing  to  acquiesce  in 
this  extraordinary  domestic  arrangement  for  the 
welfare  of  the  family,  makes  no  effort  to  escape  or 
ward  of  the  blow  aimed  at  his  life,  but  yields  with- 
out a  struggle  to  his  fate.  If  it  were  not  for  some 
such  domestic  arrangement  as  this,  it  would  be 
difiicult  to  perceive  how  the  large  family,  during 
the  infancy  of  its  members,  could  be  sustained,  for 
they  are  apparently  too  slow,  feeble  and  awkward 
to  capture  any  thing  else  than  one  of  their  own 
awkward  kind.  For  this  purpose  they  do  not  wan- 
der away  from  the  spot  that  gave  them  birth  until 
they  have  acquired  sufficient  size  and  strength  to 
provide  for  themselves,  but  remain  in  a  group,  and 
are  constantly  engaged  in  eflforts  to  entrap  each 
other,  and  their  manoeuvering  for  this  purpose  is 
sometimes  absolutely  comic. 

After  this,  I  hope  pardonable,  digression,  I  re- 
sume the  thread  of  my  discourse  upon  the  subject 
of  insect  hybernation.  A  large  number  of  the  Hy- 
menopterous  insects  are  of  this  character,  a  well- 
known  example  of  which  is  the  common  honey-bee. 
Others,  both  solitary  and  gregarious,  and  known 
under  the  common  names  of  "tailor-bees,"  "ma- 
son-bees," "carpenter-bees,"  "mud- wasps,"  "hor- 
nets," "yellow -jackets,"  "wasps,"  &c.,  all  pass 
the  winter  in  a  complete  state  of  hybernation,  and 
the  new  colonies  that  are  founded  in  the  following 
spring  are  perhaps  the  work,  in  the  beginning,  of  a 
single  female  survivor.     But  as  there  are  few  of 


these  insects  that  do  much  damage  to  vegetation, 
and  a  large  number  of  them  are  classed  among  our 
insect  friends,  it  is  hardly  necessary  to  give  them 
any  thing  more  than  this  passing  notice. 

Perhaps  there  is  no  order  of  insects  that  contain 
so  many  parasitic  species  as  that  of  the  Hymeiiop- 
tera ;  and  these  parasites  are  the  great  balancers 
of  the  insect  realm,  where  their  action  is  not  inter- 
fered with  by  human  counteractions  ;  for,  not  only 
many  other  insects,  but  also  their  eggs  or  embryos, 
have  one  or  more  kinds  of  these  parasites,  which 
prey  upon  them.  Many  of  these  parasitic  insects 
hybernate  during  the  winter  in  the  perfect  state, 
but  more  of  them  perhaps  as  larva  and  pupa  in  the 
bodies  of  other  insects.  Those  that  are  parasitic 
upon  the  bodies  of  Lepidoptera  must  for  the  most 
part  hybernate,  as  I  have  found  them  in  the  mid- 
dle of  winter;  and  there  seems  no  other  way  of  ac- 
counting for  the  continuance  of  their  species.  True, 
there  are  large  species  belonging  to  the  genus  Iro- 
giis  that  are  parasitic  on  the  bodies  of  the  larva  of 
JPapilio,  that  hybernate,  as  a  larva  or  pupa,  within 
the  pupa  of  the  latter  insect ;  but  those  that  are 
parasitic  upon  the  larva  of  Sphingidce  would  be 
utterly  destroyed  if  they  did  not  hybernate  in  the 
perfect  state.  The  relations  of  these  insects  to  the 
vegetable  world,  and  to  the  interests  of  horticultu- 
rists, are  just  as  important  as  if  they  were  their 
enemies,  for  until  the  balances  or  counterchecks 
within  the  economies  of  nature  themselves  are  per- 
fectly understood  and  appreciated,  there  always  will 
be  an  overestimation,  and  an  unnecessary  amount 
of  anxiety,  in  regard  to  insect  depredations. 

I  have  not  attempted  in  this  essay  to  enumerate 
the  different  species  of  hybernating  insects,  nor  to 
give  their  generic  or  specific  characters,  but  only  to 
mention  a  few  common  species  in  the  most  promi- 
nent orders,  as  an  illustration  of  this  and  other  ar- 
rangements in  the  insect  world,  for  the  continuance 
of  their  kind.  Hundreds,  yea  thousands  of  them, 
pass  the  winter  season  iif  mud  or  in  water ;  but  the 
habits  of  these  are  not  directly  connected  with  the 
interests  of  horticulture,  although  indirectly  some 
of  them  are,  and  conspicuous  among  these  are  the 
Dragon-flies,  who  destroy  an  immense  number  of 
moths,  butterflies,  and  other  progenitors  of  noxious 
insect  larvse.  Nor  have  I  attempted  to  suggest  any 
certain  remedy  for  the  extermination  of  insects, 
other  than  that  which  consists  in  a  simultaneous 
and  continuous  ,manual  effort  on  the  part  of  all 
farmers,  gardeners  and  fruit-growers.  It  is  not 
necessary,  perhaps,  that  even  all  noxious  insects 
should  be  destroyed  in  order  to  secure  the  interests 
of  the  cultivatpr,  but  only  that  a  preponderance  of 


:=^ 


Slhe  (Snrbmr'iS  SlontMj. 


them  should  be  prevented.  In  conclusion,  allow 
me  to  remark  that  all  that  is  necexsary  to  be  done, 
can  be  done,  if  a  will  is  found  to  do  it.  If  certain 
measures  will  keep  ten  feet  square  clean  of  insects, 
the  same  means  multiplied  will  be  as  effectual  in 
ten  acres  or  any  larger  amount. 


H 


INDISCHSSTION    IN    FOT    CULTURE. 

BY   CHRONICLER. 

Within  the  past  eighteen  months,  we  have  wit- 
nessed the  pernicious  effects  of  two  cases  of  indis- 
creet manuring  in  pot  culture.  In  one  case,  a  hun- 
dred foreign  grape-vines,  worth  two  dollars  each, 
were  repotted  into  larger  pots.  After  taking  them 
out  of  the  pots  the  exhausted  soil  was  removed 
from  their  roots,  which  greatly  lessened  the  balls. 
In  the  large  pots  an  inch  and  a  half  of  compost  was 
put  in  the  bottom,  and  four  inches  of  slaughter- 
house offal  cut  fine  was  put  above  it,  and  that  was 
covered  with  two  inches  of  compost,  and  the  plants 
set  on  top.  Compost  was  then  filled  in  and  pressed 
down,  leaving  an  inch  on  top  to  hold  water ;  the 
whole  was  then  plunged  in  the  inside  border  of  a 
large  grapery.  This  was  all  done  in  December ;  and 
after  the  grapery  was  heated  with  fire  in  March, 
these  vines  started  into  growth  at  the  same  time 
as  the  trained  vines,  but  when  the  leaves  were  half 
out  they  all  turned  brown  and  withered  up.  A 
month  after  that,  our  opinion  was  asked.  The  an- 
swer was,  that  our  predictions  of  last  December, 
that  the  decomposition  of  the  animal  matter  would 
destroy  the  roots  and  kill  the  vines,  had  been  veri- 
fied. One  pot  was  taken  up  and  emptied :  the 
offal  was  a  complete  jelly,  and  mixed  with  the  com- 
post run  out  like  soft  soap,  filling  the  whole  place 
with  a  stench.  The  others  were  then  emptied  out, 
and  the  roots  were  found  to  be  severely  charred 
and  as  brittle  as  sorched  reed  ;  and  the  stems  were 
black  in  the  heart  for  a  foot  high.  The  whole  of 
the  injured  parts  were  cut?  off,  the  cuttings  planted 
in  good  compost,  and  all  were  again  plunged  into 
the  border.  Many  of  the  cuttings  grew,  but  none 
of  them  were  near  so  large  in  the  fall  as  other  cut- 
tings planted  the  M\  before.  It  may  be  proper  to 
state,  that  the  man  who  did  the  te-potting  was  not 
a  gardener,  but  did  as  he  was  commanded  :  his 
employer  attached  no  blame  to  him. 

lu  another  instance,  an  Orange  and  a  Lemon 
tree,  large  plants,  were  shifted  into  larger  tubs. 
When  the  tubs  were  more  than  half  full,  four  gal- 
lons of  blood  from  a  slaughter-house  was  put  in 
each  tub,  and  four  inches  of  compost  above  it,  leav- 
ing two  inches  on  top  for  holding  water.     They 


were  then  set  under  a  grape-vine,  at  the  end  of 
June,  during  very  hot  weather.  In  a  fortnight  the 
stench  became  so  disagreeable  that  the  trees  had  to 
be  moved  a  distance  from  the  hou.se,  and  was  put 
under  the  shade  of  a  tree.  In  two  weeks  after  that 
the  leaves  and  young  shoots  were  withered  and 
dry.  We  were  sent  for  to  doctor  the  patients ;  and 
upon  learning  all  the  circumstances,  we  condemned 
the  use  of  blood.  The  tubs  were  emptied,  and  both' 
them  and  the  root  balls  of  the  trees  were  scrubbed 
with  broom  and  water,  and  left  exposed  four 
hours  for  the  effluvia  to  escape.  The  trees  were 
then  planted  in  the  tubs  with  well  prepared  com- 
post, a  year  old ;  were  then  heavily  watered,  and  the 
stems  and  branches  were  moistened  with  water  by 
syringing  them  evenings  and  mornings,  so  as  to 
soften  the  bark  and  assist  the  trees  to  push  out  new 
buds  more  readily.  At  the  end  of  another  fort- 
night we  found  their  collars  covered  with  small 
fungii,  such  as  is  seen  on  decaying  wood ;  in  scrap- 
ing them  off,  the  bark  parted  from  the  wood  as 
freely  as  that  of  boiled  willows :  vegetation  was 
gone.  It  is  two  months  since,  and  the  trees  still 
stand  in  the  tubs  dead.  The  operator  in  this  case 
was  a  gardener,  and  although  he  remonstrated 
against  the  use  of  blood,  when  it  was  brought  to 
him,  he  was  tartly  ordered  to  do  as  he  was  told ; 
but  when  the  effects  of  the  folly  were  seen,  the 
poor  gardener  was  censured. 


A    VISIT    TO    MR.    HENDERSON'S    NSW 
HOUSES. 

BY  PETER  B.    MEAD. 

Having  learned  that  Mr.  Peter  Henderson's 
new  houses  were  now  in  working  order,  I  deter- 
mined to  visit  them  at  the  first  leisure  moment. 
This  I  have  now  done  ;  and  I  think  a  brief  descrip- 
tion of  what  I  saw  will  interest  many  of  your  read- 
ers, especially  those  engaged  in  the  propagation  of 
plants. 

It  is  well  known  that  for  many  years  Mr.  Hen- 
derson occupied  a  piece  of  low  but  fertile  ground 
in  Jersey  City ;  but  one  morning  he  woke  up  and 
found  a  'City  Street'  making  a  'raid'  right  through 
the  middle  of  his  grounds,  and  threatening  the  de- 
molition of  all  hisjhouses.  'City  Streets'  generally 
do  things  'regardless  of  consequences. '  Perceiving 
the  folly  of  resistance,  Mr.  Henderson  wisely  con- 
cluded to  retreat,  and  fortify  himself  in  a  position 
more  secttre  from  the  invasions  of  a  foe  who  has  so 
little  regard  for  the  beautiful  in  nature,  or  the  sta- 
bility of  horticultural  improvement ;  and  here  we 
found   him,  already  firmly  intrenched  in  his  new 


®^^  §mkmxs  Pont^Ij. 


■J^n^ 


863 


position,  with  a  line  of  fortifications  that  bid  defi- 
ance for  ages  to  come. 

The  new  grounds  of  Mr.  Henderson  are  located 
in  Vreeland  Street,  South  Bergen,  and  command 
an  extensive  view  of  New  York  Bay  and  the  Nar- 
rows. Tlie  place  may  be  reached  in  less  than  half 
an  hour  by  the  horse  cars  from  Jersey  City  ferry. 

A  plan  of  Mr.  Henderson's  houses  having  ah-eady 
been  given  in  the  Monthly,  much  detail  will  not  be 
needed.  ]My  chief  object  is  to  call  attention  to 
them  as  substantial  and  economical  houses  for  nur- 
sery purposes.  The  range  is  quite  extensive.  One 
of  the  first  features  that  catch  the  eye  on  ap- 
proaching the  place  is  a  brick  building  250  feet 
long,  built  in  the  most  substantial  manner.  On 
going  within,  we  find  provision  made  for  horses 
and  wagons,  packing,  boiler  pits,  office,  &c. ,  each 
in  its  proper  place,  and  all  conveniently  arranged. 
This  building  runs  east  and  west.  On  its  south 
side,  and  at  right  angles  with  it,  the  plant-houses 
are  built,  each  one  opening  into  this  main  building, 
which,  while  it  subserves  the  purposes  above- 
named,  also  affords  a  thorough  shelter  for  the 
plant-houses  and  adjacent  grounds.  The  plant- 
houses  are  14  in  number,  and  100  feet  long,  and 
from  11  to  18  feet  wide.  They  are  built  upon  the 
'  ridge  and  furrow  '  principle,  and  stand  in  groups 
of  three,  except  the  propagating-houses,  which 
stand  detached,  and  occupy  the  center.  The  '  ridge 
and  furrow'  principle  presents  many  points  of  econ- 
omy, which  will  readily  suggest  themselves.  The 
roofs  are  low  and  fiat,  as  they  should  be.  Being 
narrow,  a  single  sash  reaches  from  ridge  to  furrow, 
and  ventilation  can  be  commanded  to  any  amount. 
The  water  from  the  roofs  is  conveyed  to  three  ca- 
pacious cisterns,  in  addition  to  which  there  are  three 
wells,  insuring  a  good  supply  of  water  at  all  times. 

The  labor  of  watering  the  plants,  which,  Mr. 
Henderson  informed  me,  occupied  the  time  of  four 
men  in  his  old  houses,  will  here  be  reduced  one- 
half  by  the  use  of  West's  Force-pumps,  three  of 
which  are  employed,  placed  at  intervals  of  50  feet, 
at  the  south  end  of  the  houses,  and  to  which  a  hose 
is  attached,  leading  to  tanks  in  the  center  of  each 
house.  The  arrangement  is  convenient,  and  pro- 
mises much  economy  of  labor. 

The  heating  is  done  by  five  of  Hitching' s  largest 
boilers.  One  is  devoted  to  the  two  propagating 
houses  in  the  center,  and  the  others  to  the  six 
houses  on  either  side  of  them  :  two  to  each  six ; 
the  two  in  both  cases  being  connected,  so  that,  as 
Mr.  Henderson  said,  it  will  only  be  necessary  to  fire 
one  boiler  in  mild  weather  to  heat  six  houses,  each 
100  feet  long,  and  containing  in  all  2500  feet  of  four 


inch  pipe.  Boilers  of  that  size  ought,  in  my  opin- 
ion, to  heat  such  houses  as  Mr.  Henderson's  with- 
out calling  in  the  aid  of  reserves  ;  and  I  shall  be 
surprised  to  hear  that  he  has  had  occasion  to  use 
more  than  one  of  (iach  set  during  the  winter.  In 
case  of  accident,  however,  there  is  a  great  advan- 
tage in  having  two  boilers  connected,  especially  in 
an  establishment  like  this,  capable  of  growing 
nearly  half  a  million  of  bedding  plants  a  year.  By 
means  of  cut-offs,  each  house  can  be  heated  inde- 
pendently. 

The  propagating  houses,  always  objecta.of  inter- 
est, are  now  in  full  operation,  making  those  'stub- 
by' little  plants  for  which  Mr.  Henderson  has  be- 
come famous.  These  houses  have  all  the  '  modern 
improvements,'  including  hot- water  tanks,  the  best 
of  all  modes  for  furnishing  bottom  heat.  Instead 
of  a  return  flow  in  the  tanks,  the  water  is  conducted 
back  through  a  four  inch  pipe  running  along  the 
side  of  the  walk.  This  secures  a  moderate  outside 
heat  when  the  tanks  are  covered.  It  will  no  doubt 
at  times  be  greater  than  is  desirable,  but  it  can  al- 
ways be  controlled  by  the  abundant  means  of  ven- 
tilation at  command.  But  I  hear  a  host  of  voices 
crying,  "  Dont  these  tanks  leak?"  Perhaps  you 
may  find  a  '  bead  '  or  two,  if  you  look  sharp  :  but  if 
they  were  filled  with  'Old  Bourbon, '  you  would  have 
to  wait  a  month  or  two  before  you  caught  enough 
to  get  drunk  on.  Notwithstanding  all  that  has 
been  said  against  tanks  (mostly  by  those  who  have 
not  used  them),  they  possess  advantages,  when 
properly  built,  that  commend  them  strongly  to  all 
who  grow  plants.  They  have  their  place  ;  and  in 
that  place  there  is  nothing  better,  and  few  things 
as  good. 

I  should  like  to  describe  these  houses  more  in 
detail,  for  they  are  models  of  economy  in  their  way; 
but  as-  Mr.  Henderson  has  already  described  them 
in  part,  it  seems  hardly  fair  to  trespass  further  on 
your  space.  I  will,  therefore,  close  by  wishing  that 
Mr.  Henderson's  old  friends  may  find  him  out  in 
his  new  quarters,  and  shower  favors  upon  him 
more  abundantly  than  ever. 


NOTES    ON    GRAPES. 

BY  A.    HUIDEKOPER,   MEADVILLE,   PA. 

In  the  September  number  I  promised  you  some 
further  notes  on  Grapes,  at  the  end  of  the  season. 
Our  autumnal  frosts  have  held  off  longer  and  been 
lighter  than  usual,  and  out-door  grapes  have  had 
as  good  a  chance  to  ripen  as  they  will  probably  ever 
get.  Vines  have  suffered  less  from  mildew  than 
usual,  and,  fruit,  so  far  as  I  have  noticed  it,  has 


been  sound  and  good.  I  notice  in  brief  such  varie- 
ties as  have  come  under  my  observation  : 

Delaware — fruited  well  and  colored  well.  In 
some  gardens  it  was  very  small  in  berry  and  clus- 
ter, but  in  others  obtained  to  what  I  suppose  to  be 
its  best  size.  I  consider  it  our  best  out-door  grape 
as  yet  for  the  table  ;  but  it  is  very  much  sweeter 
under  glass  than  in  the  open  air. 

Concord^  Hartford  Prolific .,  and  Clinton,  ripened 
thoroughly  and  well ;  they  may  all  do  for  wine 
grapes,  but  we  need  better  varieties  for  eating,  as 
they  grow  here. 

Diana — ripened  some  of  its  clusters,  but  not  all. 
It  is  a  rampant  grower,  but  does  not  ripen  its  wood 
well ;  the  fruit  is  sweet  with  a  tough  skin,  and  it 
ought  to  be  a  good  grape  where  it  gets  a  few  weeks 
more  of  sunshine  than  it- does  here.  I  think  it 
likely  it  may  do  better  either  on  limestone,  or  on 
poorer  soils  than  it  does  on  our  deep  clay. 

Union  Village. — Some  specimens  of  this  left  me 
by  a  friend  were  well  ripened,  and  better  for  eating 
than  the  Concord  or  Hartford  Prolific. 

laylor's  Bullitt — Some  specimens  of  this  (if 
genuine)  were  small  and  not  well  ripened  at  the 
end  of  the  season. 

Early  York  (or  Franldin?). — From  a  large  vine 
of  this  variety,  I  gave  fruit  to  some  children  to  sell 
for  the  soldiers,  from  which  they  realized  $6  ;  from 
another  portion  of  its  fruit  seven  gallons  of  juice 
were  expressed,  and  a  good  supply  of  fruit  for  home 
and  neighborly  use  is  still  left  on  the  vine.  It  is 
apparently  but  a  good  variety  of  our  wild  frost 
grape,  having  a  thin  skin,  and  being  free  from  fox- 
iness.  It  is  very  hardy,  always  sure  to  ripen,  and 
a  much  better  grape  for  eating  than  the  Clinton, 
but  it  will  not  keep  after  being  gathered. 

Burton  s  Early. — This,  a  large,  very  early  and 
very  foxy  kind  of  a  grape,  dropping  its  fruit  as  soon 
as  it  is  well  colored.  Though  the  earliest  of  all  the 
grapes  I  have  named,  I  reject  it,  and  do  not  think 
it  worth  the  room  it  will  occupy  in  any  garden. 

GRAPES    IN  THE   VINERY. 

Under  glass  I  have  been  much  annoyed  again 
this  year  with  the  thrip.  I  will  give  $50  towards 
making  up  a  purse  for  any  one  who  will  give  direc- 
tions for  getting  rid  of  this  pest  without  injury  to 
the  fruit.  It  seems  to  do  no  injury  until  the  fruit 
begins  to  color,  when  its  numbers  rapidly  multiply 
and  the  foliage  is  much  injured  by  it.  Tobacco 
smoke,  though  it  annoys  it,  does  not  destroy  it,  and 
to  apply  Tobacco  smoke  in  sufficient  quantity  and 
with  sufficient  power  to  kill  the  insect,  would,  I 
think,  afi'ect  the  flavor  of  the  fruit.  Earlier  in  the 
season  one  can  apply  syringing  and  smoking  with 


good  results,  but  the  enemy  presents  itself  in  force 
only  when  these  remedies  cannot  well  be  applied. 
By  the  time  the  fruit  has  been  cut,  the  insect  bur- 
rows in  the  ground,  and  is  beyond  the  reach  of  such 
applications.  I  tried  an  experiment  v/ith  charcoal 
this  summer,  to  see  if  I  could  suffocate  it,  but  did 
not  succeed.  Either  from  the  experiment,  or  from 
a  sudden  change  from  protracted  dry  hot  weather 
to  cool  nights  and  very  wet  weather,  several  of  the 
vines  ripened  their  leaves  prematurely,  and  the 
Hamburgs,  though  larger  and  better  grown  than 
usual,  did  not  color  as  they  should  do,  many  of  the 
clusters  not  getting  beyond  a  purplish  red,  which 
no  good  cultivator  should  be  satisfied  with,  even  if 
the  fruit  be  sweet  and  palatable.  I  give  comments 
on  sundry  varieties : 

Golden  Chasselas,  Sweetwater,  and  Pitmaston 
White  Cluster. — These  grapes,  as  I  have  them, 
hardly  amount  to  varieties.  They  are  similar  in 
cluster  and  size,  and  all  become  amber  and  very 
sweet  when  fully  ripe,  and  mature  about  the  same 
time,  occasionally  one  showing  an  advantage  over 
the  others  in  ripening,  owing  to  the  condition  and 
treatment  of  the  vine  the  preceding  year.  The 
Grolden  Chasselas  seems  to  be  the  most  yellow  of 
the  three,  and  all  of  them  this  season  gave  me  en- 
tire satisfaction. 

Red  Chasselas — ripened  very  well,  the  berries 
not  quite  all  of  an  even  color,  but  flesh  sound  and 
good. 

Muscat  ITaniburg. — A  young  vine  ripened  a  few 
clusters  of  fruit,  sweet,  juicy,  and  of  first  quality. 
I  think,  however,  the  vine  has  some  Frontignac 
sap  in  its  vessels,  and  that  it  will  exhibit  its  ten- 
dency to  shrivel. 

Golden  Hamhnrg. — This  is  a  rampant  grower, 
and  one  of  the  best  vines  to  bear  I  know  of;  fruit 
and  clusters  very  large.  Its  quaility  this  season  was 
not  equal  to  what  it  was  last,  when  it  was  a  very 
sweet  grape.  It  has  but  little  pulp,  being  all  made 
up  of  skin,  juice  and  seeds.  If  there  is  any  country 
where  it  will  grow  out  of  doors,  it  ought  to  be  one 
of  the  most  prolific  of  all  wine  grapes,  though  it 
might  not  be  equal  to  some  others  in  quality.  It 
produced  fifty  pounds  of  fruit  this  season  on  a  three 
year  old  vine ;  and  possibly  the  cultivator  ought  to 
be  blamed  rather  than  the  vine,  when  I  rate  it  a 
little  lower  this  year  than  I  did  last. 

BucMand  Sweetwater — proved  a  good  sized,  fair 
late  ripening  white  grape,  of  good  appearance  and 
quality, — intermediate,  if  there  be  such  a  class,  be- 
tween first  and  second  quality. 

Muscat  Troveron — very  sweet  and  nicely  musked, 
firm,  and  not  transparent  enough  to  be  a  handsome 


}^^ 


ih^  ©arto^r'a  Panthlj, 


865 


grape.  It  ripens  late,  and  with  me  this  year,  did 
not  keep  well.  Fruit  of  medium  size,  and  not 
handsome  enough  to  be  popular. 

Grosse  Coidard. — This  so  resembles  the  Child's 
Superb  that  last  year  I  thought  them  to  be  iden- 
tical. A  diiFerence  in  the  manner  of  blossoming 
this  season  induces  a  contrary  belief.  Clusters  ir- 
regular, but  fruit  good  size,  white,  transparent, 
early,  and  this  season  very  good. 

Canadian  Chief. — Last  year  very  sweet,  this 
season  watery  and  insipid. 

White  Hamburg — large  cluster,  green  color  ;  too 
late  in  ripening  for  a  cold  vinery. 

Mr.  Hobbs,  with  whom  originated  the  grape 
"  North  America,"  has  tested  a  good  many  varie- 
ties in  this  region  this  year,  and  I  suppose  will  be 
his  own  reporter. 

While  the  fumes  of  sulphur  under  solar  heat 
(not  ignited)  is  of  great  value  as  an  antidote  for 
mildew,  the  efficacy  of  sulphur  as  a  repeller  of  in- 
sects is  very  much  exaggerated.  Bees  may  be  suf- 
focated with  burning  sulphur  ;  but  it  is  about  time 
that  such  cheap  advice  as  that  of  mixing  sulphur 
with  the  whitewash  of  graperies  to  annoy  insects, 
should  be  abandoned.  Such  application  does  no 
harm,  and  may  be  useful  for  a  diflferent  purpose  ; 
but  the  insects  that  annoy  the  horticulturist  are 
unfortunately  made  of  sterner  stuff  than  the  recipe 
implies. 


DECIDUOUS  FLOWERING  TREES,  SHRUBS, 
VINES  AND  CREEPERS. 

BY  WALTER    ELDER,    PHILADELPHIA. 

We  admire  trees  for  their  noble  stature  and  grand 
proportions  ;  we  love  shrubbery  for  its  neat  habits, 
lovely  flowers,  fruits,  and  delightful  fragrance  ;  and 
we  need  flowering  vines  to  clothe  our  terraces,  ar- 
bors, pillars,  and  unsightly  buildings:  It  will  be 
our  purpose  to  note  some  of  the  more  choice  of  each. 

Durmg  the  whole  year  some  are  in  bloom  or  in 
fruit.  Among  trees,  no  sooner  does  frost  leave 
the  ground  than  Forsytliia  is  clothed  with  its  yel- 
low blooms,  and  Daphne  Mezereon  with  its  sweet- 
scented  purple  bloom.  Cydonia  japonica  soon  fol- 
lows :  one  with  shining  scarlet  and  another  with 
pinkish  white  blooms ;  then  Spircea  Reevesii  and 
prunifoUa,  clothed  with  their  flowers  of  spotless 
white.  Magnolia  pwpvrea  shines  with  her  purple 
cups.  Lihcs  of  numerous  varieties.  Vihwnum 
opuh(s  with  flower-balls  of  white.  CaJycavtJms 
floridus,  with  its  fragrant  brown  blooms ;  Lonicera 
tartafica,  flowers  pink  and  white  and  Corchorus 
japonica  with  yellow  blooms. 

Among  shrubs,  Veutzia  scahra,  literally  covered 


with  scolloped,  flowers  of  white ;  Wcigelia  rosea, 
with  racemes  of  rose  and  pink  bell-shaped  flowers  ; 
Laburnum,  flowers  orange  yellow  ;  Dirca  pains tr is, 
a  miniature  tree,  thirty  inches  tall,  with  yellow 
flowers  ;  Berberis,  with  golden-tasseled  blooms  and 
highly  fragrant.  Crataegus,  with  Hawthorn  blos- 
soms ;  Chionanthus,  with  fringe-like  peduncles ; 
Amygdalis  nana,  one  with  pink  and  another  with 
white  double-peach-like  flowers,  are  among  the 
earliest  to  bloom.  Robinia  hispida,  with  racemes 
of  rose  ;  Privet,  with  white  blossoms ;  Rhus  cotiuvs, 
with  blooms  resembling  a  light  cloud,  and  Hibiscus, 
with  double  Hollyhock-like  flowers. 

"The  above  continue  a  constant  bloom  from  March 
till  end  of  August,  when  the  fruiting  kinds  show  to 
advantage.  The  red  and  white  Snowberry,  and  the 
Euonymus  or  Strawberry-tree,  loaded  with  their 
scarlet  fruit;  the  So7-bus  or  Rowan-tree,  crowned 
with  shining  scarlet  berries.  All  of  these  three 
genera  retain  their  fruit  fresh  till  midwinter. 

Among  flowering  vines  and  creepers.  Wistaria  sin- 
ensis blooms  early  in  spring,  and  is  the  most  beau- 
tiful of  all  vines,  it  requires  a  sunny  sspect ;  Yel- 
low Jasmine  shows  its  blooms  all  winter,  and  makes 
a  thick  covering  in  spring.  Honeysuckles  follow — 
the  Chinese  is  the  most  profuse  in  flowering,  and 
retains  its  foliage  all  winter  ;  the  Japanese  is  also 
an  evergreen  of  thrifty  growth,  and  is  suitable  for 
pillars,  walls,  etc.,  as  it  branches  close  to  the 
ground  ;  the  Coral  is  universally  known.  Clematis 
—flammtda  is  of  beautiful  and  thrifty  growth,  pro- 
ducing a  profusion  of  star-like  white  blooms  in  July 
and  August ;  Virginica  is  of  rampant  growth  with 
whitish  blooms  in  great  profusion  ;  there  are  many 
other  varieties  of  large-flowering  kinds,  which  do 
not  grow  above  six  feet  high,  yet  they  are  beautiful 
and  greatly  admired.  Jasmimon  officinalis  produces 
beautiful  sweet-scented  white  flowers ;  Periploca 
grceca  or  Virgin-silk  vine,  is  of  rapid  growth  but 
has  but  little  beauty ;  Ampelopsis  or  Virginia- 
creeper,  is  a  rapid  grower  and  creeps  up  walls  and 
clings  to  them,  the  leaves  get  a  red  tint  in  fall,  but 
fall  of  by  frost.  Bignonia  or  Trumpet- vine,  grows 
upon  walls,  and  produces  a  profusion  of  Trumpet- 
like flowers.  Ivy,  the  Irish  and  Scotch  species  are 
most  common,  and  the  best ;  they  grow  upon  walls 
and  have  beautiful  shining  foliage,  which  remains 
green  all  winter  ;  the  .Irish  is  the  prettiest,  but  the 
Scotch  takes  a  firmer  hold  of  walls,  and  is  not  so 
apt  to  be  torn  off  by  snows  in  winter. 

The  above  are  but  a  few  of  the  choice  ornamen- 
tal trees,  shrubs  and  vines  in  cultivation,  but  if  only 
these  were  properly  selected  and  planted,  they  would 
add  beauty  to  every  homestead  or  pleasure-ground. 


:=^^^ 


C|^  ®arbtiixr*s  Sctttllj, 


PHILADELPHIA,  DECEMBER,  1864. 

23=  All  Communications  for  the  Editor  should  be  addressed, 
"THOiMAS  Meehan,  Germantown, Philadelphia," and  Business  Let. 
ters  directed  to  "W.  G.  P.  Beincklob,  Box         Philadelphia." 


For  Terms  of  Subscription  see  second  page  cover. 

For  Terms  of  Advertising  see  page  33. 

Volumes  1,  2,  3,  4  and  5,  furnished  for  $1  50  each. 


PUBLISHER'S    NOTICE. 

December  is  our  campaign  month.  We  trust  our 
friends  will  do  their  best  t(5  make  the  paper  known 
to  non-subscribers  interested  in  horticulture.  If^ 
in  forwarding  subscriptions,  the  names  of  parties 
to  whom  it  might  be  to  our  interest  to  send  speci- 
men numbers  be  furnished  us  at  the  same  time,  we 
should  be  much  obliged. 

In  respect  to  subscriptions,  our  friends  will 
please  remember  that  we  act  on  the  principle  of  no< 
forcing  our  journal  on  any  one.  It  is  sent  to  no  one 
longer  than  they  subscribe  for  it.  This  relieves  all 
of  any  delicacy  about  stopping  it,  if  they  do  not 
like  it, — and  gives  us  much  pleasure  to  reflect  that 
our  entire  list  of  readers  are  with  us  heart  and  hand, 
and  do  not  take  it  "on??/  that  they  do  not  like  to 
stop  it.'"  Our  plan  has  some  annoyances.  Some 
friends  whom  we  know  value  the  Monthly  exceed- 
ingly, forget  our  plan,  and  knowing  that  we  know 
they  value  it,  feel  hurt  at  not  receiving  it  until  it  is 
convenient  for  them  to  send  their  subscriptions ; 
and  sometimes  withhold  their  names  nearly  the 
whole  year  in  consequence.  When  they  remember 
how  essential  it  is  for  the  guidance  of  clerks,  and 
all  parties  in  an  establishment  like  ours,  that  rules 
should  be  strictly  adhered  to,  it  is  at  once  seen  that 
no  disrespect  is  intended. 

Our  subscription  will  be  Tivo  Dollars  a  year, 
strictly  in  advance  ;  a  raise  which  the  great  advance 
of  every  thing  connected  with  printing  renders 
imperatively  necessary;  but  we  shall  resist,  we 
hope,  as  successfully  as  we  have  done,  all  tempta- 
tions to  lessen  the  number  of  pages,  enlarge  the 
type,  give  poor  paper,  or  any  other  popular  scheme 
of  diminishing  the  q)iantity  or  quality  of  the  matter 
of  the  jMouthly, — we  rather  hope,  with  the  assis- 
tance of  the  friends  of  horticulture,  to  add  to  its 
attractions  and  enhance  its  value. 

The  increased  numbers  of  new  subscribers,  espe- 
cially during  the  last  half  of  the  present  year,  en- 


«Br 


courages  us  to  believe  that  we  are  supplying  a  de- 
mand for  horticultural  knowledge  ;  and  trusting  to 
a  continuance  of  the  friendly  interest  which  has  ever 
been  manifested  in  our  behalf,  we  boldly  enter  on 
our  career  for  1865. 

The  December  number  is  our  best  campaign  doc- 
ument. The  index  takes  room,  and  the  frontispiece 
absorbs  all  the  lesser  dlustrations  for  this  month, — 
but  the  index  itself  will  furnish  the  best  evidence 
of  the  Monthly^  s  usefulness;  being,  as  a  correspon- 
dent in  the  present  number  not  inaptly  terms  it,  a 
^^ Dictionary  of  Gardenitig." 


FIRE    BLIGHT. 

It  is  to  our  mind  a  clear  case  that  fire  blight  is 
caused  by  excessive  heat  or  cold,  acting  on  imjiei- 
fectly  organized  wood.  What  we  see  and  call  fire 
blight,  is  but  the  end  of  the  life  struggle  in  trees 
previously  diseased. 

It  is  rare  indeed  to  see  fire  blight  in  an  old  or 
well  established  tree.  If  it  once  escape  the  perils 
of  barbarous  or  mistaken  views  of  training  or  culti- 
vation during  its  young  days,  it  will  give  you  no 
cause  of  concern  for  its  health  or  productiveness 
when  it  arrives  at  a  mature  tree's  estate.  This  is 
evident  in  whatever  part  of  the  Union  we  turn  to 
investigate.  In  Western  New  York  particularly, 
where  the  fire  blight  is  said  to  rage  so  fearfully 
among  nursery  trees,  the  old  ones,  where  they  are 
not  troubled  with  too  kind  a  system  of  culture,  are 
models  of  health  and  productiveness.  Indeed,  we 
have  been  accustomed  to  look  on  Pennsylvania, 
Maryland  and  New  Jersey,  as  peculiarly  the  Amer- 
ican Pear  district ;  but  in  all  our  extensive  travels 
through  these  States,  we  have  seldom  seen  such 
perfect  living  pictures  of  what  healthy  pear  trees 
ought  to  be,  as  the  old  trees  that  grov  in  the  grassy 
spots  and  lawns  about  Rochester  gardens.  This  is 
the  more  striking  when  compared  with  the  garden 
trees,  grown  in  ground  highly  enriched,  and  kept 
continually  stirred  and  rooted  about  in  the  same 
town.  The  trees  generally  live  but  a  very  few  years. 
To  keep  up  a  specimen  Pear  orchai-d,  it  is  necessa- 
ry to  have  a  reserve  ground,  from  which  to  trans- 
plant trees  as  fast  as  the  main  specimens  die  ;  and 
even  from  the  nursery  rows,  thousands  of  trees  are 
annually  taken  to  the  funeral  pile,  which  the  Molock 
of  high  culture  demands  as  its  yearly  sacrifice.-  Has 
it  never  occurred  to  those  who  look  on  fire  blight 
as  some  inscrutable  mystery,  to  ask  themselves  why 
those  old,  and  in  some  sense  '  neglected,'  trees 
should  so  entirely  escape  disease,  while  these  pam- 
pered children  of  luxury  are  yielding  up  their  youth- 


ful  lives  in  such  alarming  numbers  to  the  destroy- 
ing angel  ? 

The  observations  of  those  who  would  not  at  first 
agree  with  our  views,  confirm  them.  "You  are 
wrong,  sir,  in  your  notion,"  said  a  friend  in  the 
East  recently  to  us,  "  for  the  blight  is  connected 
only  with  certain  varieties.  Like  the  cracking  of 
the  Butter  Pear,  it  has  become  part  of  the  nature 
of  some  varieties  to  blight.  Our  Bartlett's  and 
Buflfums  give  us  great  trouble, — but  we  never  see 
it  on  Seckel,  Winter  Nelis,  Lawrence  and  some 
others."  But  we  have  seen  all  these  kinds  blight, 
and  especially  in  grounds  where  "six  inches  of 
good  stable  manure"  was  considered  the  sum  of  all 
good  in  Pear  culture.  These  latter  varieties  usu- 
ally ripen  their  wood  early  and  well.  Such  wood 
will  never  have  the  fire  blight.  8how  us  trees  that 
grow  late, — that  have  strong  sappy,  spongy  shoots, 
and  it  will  not  be  long  before  you  may  show  us  fire 
blight  also. 

Now  the  way  in  which  gouty  growth  turns  to 
fire  blight,  to  end  its  days,  is  simply  this: — To  go 
back  at  the  beginning,  we  may  remark,  that  vitality 
is  always  weakest  towards  the  pith,  and  strongest 
at  the  bark.  When  old  age  lays  its  wrinkled  hand 
on  a  tree,  the  jMth  first  goes,  then  the  '  heart 
wood,'  and  at  last  the  '  .«ap  wood,'  until  we  finally 
get  to  the  'hollow  tree,'  wherein  is  no  life  except 
the  bark,  and  the  wood  of  immediately  preceding 
years.  In  very  hot  or  cold  weather,  when  evapo- 
ration is  excessive,  the  tree  and  its  various  parts 
htis  need  of  all  the  moisture  it  can  draw  up  through 
to  its  surface.  "W^hen  the  whole  trunk  of  a  tree  is 
alive  and  sound,  there  are  millions  of  cells  engaged 
in  this  good  work  ;  but  when  the  half  perhaps  of 
what  ought  to  labor  are  unequal  to  the  task,  the 
healthy  ones  break  down  under  their  excessive 
work,  and  the  parts  nearest  dej)endent  on  their 
supply  die  away  at  once,  and  sometimes  even  the 
whole  tree. 

That  this  is  really  the  case,  can  readily  he  tested 
by  experiment.  Cut  away  a  portion  of  a  tree  sub- 
ject to  fire  blight,  and  the  pith  of  the  tree  will  be 
found  blackened,  and  frequently  two  or  three  of  the 
annual  concentric  rings  of  wood  nearest  to  the  pith 
will  be  found  quite  dead  also.  The  tree  gets  along 
very  well  by  its  thin  layer  of  live  bark  and  wood  till 
the  warm  or  dry  weather  begins,  when  the  parts 
give  out, — the  weakest  spots  in  the  bark  or  branches 
going  first. 

To  the  erper-icrrced  horticulturist  this  phenome^ 
non  is  not  confined  to  the  Pear-.  He  finds  it  fi-e- 
quently  amongst  half  hardy  trees  and  shrubs,  and 
hardy  ones  that  hapjyin  to  have  cxti-a  strong  or  late 


growths.  Very  frequently  in  the  Hose  he  finds 
strong  shoots  that  have  apparently  stood  several 
j'ears  uninjured,  suddenly  die  while  the  flower-buds 
are  bur-sting,  under  a  hot  June  sun  ;  on  cutting  the 
shoot  thr-ough,  he  finds,  as  we  have  described,  the 
pith  and  inner  wood  had  been  killed  by  the  severe 
winter's  frost,  leaving  alive  only  the  bark  and  the 
nearest  circle  of  wood,  on  which  the  severe  evapo- 
ration was  too  much  for  its  life,  and  it  went  the 
'  way  of  all  flesh.'  We  might  cite  many  such  in- 
stances, but  this  is  enough  for  our  purpose. 

The  great  fault  of  all  our  ideas  of  cultivation  is, 
that  we  look  too  much  towards  mere  growth.  Vig- 
orous growth  is  not  health.  On  the  contrary,  vig- 
orous growth  is  the  parent  of  numerous  diseases  of 
which  this  fire  blight  is  but  one  of  a  hundred  forms. 
We  battled  against  it  almost  alone, — and  though 
still  fighting  on  the  same  gr-ound,  but  with  the 
gratification  of  finding  ourselves  splendidly  sup- 
poi-ted,  we  regret  to  find  some  few  esteemed  friends 
still  pursuing  the  path  that  leads  to  destruction. 

The  chief  leaders  of  Horticultural  opinions,  how- 
ever, are  fast  recording  themselves  against  the  great 
digging  and  manuring  system.  Li  our  last  we  gave 
Dr.  Lindley's  review  of  the  new  English  edition  of 
River's  work,  and  what  he  says  of  high  cultivation 
we  reprint  here.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  opinions 
of  the  Physiologist  in  the  Chronicle  tally  exactly 
with  those  of  the  Gardener  in  the  Monthly  : 

■' Root-pruiring  and  biennial  removal  are  the 
most  essential  features  of  3Ir.  Iliver's  plan,  and 
from  the  moderate  size  of  the  trces^  cannot  be  re- 
garded as  obstacles  in  the  way  of  carrying  it  out. 
Their  purport  is  to  make  and  keep  the  trees  healthy 
and  fruitful  by  ensuring  that  their  roots  shall  he 
Ji'ept  near  the  surface  within  the  injiuence  of  the  sun 
and  air.  The  ground  over  the  roots  of  garden  trees  is 
too  commonhf  dug  once  or  twice  a  year  and  croj^ped, 
so  that  eveiy  surface  fibre  is  destroyed.,  and  the  lar- 
ger roots  are  driven  doicnwards,  with  the  certain 
result  of  imhihing  crude  watery  sap.,  and  developing 
a  too  surely  fatal  luxuriance— fated  because  the  wood 
scarcely  ever  ripens  as  it  should  do.^' 

One  more  word  for  the  public  ear.  So  long  as 
.you  will  have  fine  '  thrifty,'  'vigorous,'  'splendidly 
grown  trees,'  the  nurseryman's  duty  is  to  prepare 
tl(em  for  you.  You  prefer  a  two  years  old  Pear  tree, 
^x  feet  high,  to  one  the  same  age  four  feet.  If 
Brown  has  Dot  got  them,  you  will  go  to  Smith.  B. 
must  therefore  get  wh.'.t  you  want,  or  go  out  of  the 
business.'  You  must  not  blame  the  nur.seryninn  for 
selling  j-ou  a  puffed  up  tree.  It  is  your  own  choice. 
If  he  advise  you  to  take  the  four  feet  tree,  po.ssibly 
you  may  think  he  wants  to  close  out  his  .scrub.  It  is 


?i^ 


368 


S;|i^  §ardmtr's  (Plcnthlg. 


dangerous  for  him  to  advise  you.  He  wisely  thinks 
as  the  shoemaker  did,  who,  when  he  reminded  his 
customer  that  he  had  not  yet  taken  the  measure 
for  his  boots,  and  was  told  in  reply,  "  never  to 
mind,  of  course  I  want  them  as  big  as  I  can  get 
them  for  the  money,"  that  it  was  none  of  his  busi- 
ness if  they  did  blister  his  heels  after  he  had  wore 
them. 


PORTRAIT    OP    DR.  W.  D.  BSINCKLE. 

As  a  frontispiece  to  the  present  volume,  we  give 
a  lithogrnph  of  the  distinguished  pomologist.  Dr. 
W.  b.  Brinckle. 

An  extended  notice  of  this  lamented  gentleman 
will  be  unnecessary  here,  in  view  of  the  beautiful 
tribute  to  his  memory  from  the  pen  of  Dr.  Grar- 
dette,  published  in  our  magazine  at  the  time  of  his 
death. 

Brinckles  Orange  Raspberry,  one  of  his  own  pro- 
ductions, first  gave  the  great  impetus  to  Raspberry 
cultivation,  that  has  since  resulted  in  so  many  im- 
proved kinds,  and  the  immense  number  of  superior 
American  fruits,  particularly  Pears,  that  he  was 
mainly  instrumental  in  bringing  to  public  notice, 
will  cause  his  name  to  fill  a  prominent  place  in 
the  annals  of  American  pomology  for  many  years 
to  come. 

One  of  the  last  of  his  introductions  to  the  public 
before  his  death,  was  the  Maxatawney  grape,  which 
he  authoritatively  named,  and  described  in  our 
pages  a  couple  of  years  prior  to  his  decease.  Up  to 
his  last  moments  he  was  devoted  to  his  favorite 
pursuit.  We  had  the  pleasure  of  spending  a  day 
with  him  but  a  few  weeks  before  he  died.  His 
room  was  filled  with  specimens  of  fruits  from  many 
quarters,  sent  for  his  inspection  and  judgment, — 
and  his  greatest  pleasure  was  to  guide  his  friends, 
while  by  their  assistance  led,  through  his  seedlings 
and  cherished  trees.  One  of  his  pears,  the  Wil- 
mington, he  considered  would  be  the  one  with  which 
his  name  would  be  the  most  lastingly  connected  by 
his  fellow  countrymen, — although  two  newer  seed- 
lings he  had  not  yet  described,  he  thought  might 
perhaps  equal  it.  These,  he  informed  us,  he  should 
give  \is  sketches  of  in  some  future  number  of  the 
Monfhh/,  dedicating  them  in  some  Way  to  his 
friend.s  Wilder  and  Buist,  of  whose  long  and  endur- 
ing friendship  he  spoke  in  the  most  feeling  terms. 
He  died  before  he  had  accomplished  this  task  ;  but 
we  trust  some  of  his  friends  will  complete  it  for 
him,  and  in  the  way  he  wished  it. 

As  one  of  the  oldest  of  American  Pomologists, 
who  have  been  conspicuous  in  bringing  fruit  knowl- 
edge so  near  to  a  science,  as  we  now  find  it, — the 

■flBU    ■■ ~ 


portrait,  we  are  sure,  will  be  a  welcome  present  to 

all  our  subscribers. 


THE    GREELEY    GRAPE    PRIZE. 

In  our  last  we  made  some  remarks  on  the  way 
public  opinion  is  manufactured  for  the  support  of 
new  seedling  fruits, — and,  as  illustrating  what  we 
had  to  say,  reference  was  made  to  a  recent  case  : 
the  lona  grape  and  the  Greeley  prize.  We  repeat 
here  what  we  then  said,  that  we  have  nothing  to 
say  against  Dr.  Grant,  or  his  way  of  doing  business. 
Advertising  is  an  art  which  few  people  understand  ; 
and  the  Doctor  is  fairly  entitled  to  all  the  pecuniary 
profit  his  cleverness  in  that  line  obtains  for  him. 
If  he  can  use  the  press  or  the  public  to  his  own  ad- 
vantage,— so  long  as  he  honestly  believes  he  is  giv- 
ing them  a  dollar's  worth  for  a  dollar,  it  is  the 
public's  own  fault  if  they  think  they  are  getting 
ten  dollar's  worth  for  the  one  dollar  spent. 

We  did  not  think  our  readers  were  getting  this 
'  ten  dollar's  worth  '  in  the  way  of  the  testimonials 
to  the  lona  and  Israella,  although  we  are  satisfied 
that  the  'dollar's  worth  for  the  dollar,'  maybe  all 
right,  for  the  lona  is  no  doubt  a  strong  competitor 
with  a  well-ripened  Catawba,  as  far  as  the  solitary 
opportunity  we  have  had  of  judging  enables  us  to 
say ;  and  further  developments  show  that  in  the 
matter  of  the  Greeley  prize,  the  award  is  fast 
becoming  a  good  joke. 

In  another  column  we  give  the  latest  card.  Dr. 
Grant  having  "very  generously"  consented  that 
the  competition  shall  remain  open  for  other  grape- 
growers  to  exhibit  specimens  of  other  varieties  of 
grapes,  to  compete  with  the  lona,  grape-growers 
arc  invited  to  present  their  fruit  for  the  inspection 
of  the  judges,  at  one  of  the  exhibitions,  to  be  held 
at  the  rooms  of  the  American  Institute,  on  the  first 
Tuesdays  of  November,  December,  January,  and 
February 

If  tlie  premium  were  offered  for  the  best  mode 
of  preserving  grapes, — or  for  the  best  grapes  when 
preserved, — or  for  the  best  raisins,  there  might  be 
some  propriety  in  the  renewed  offer.  As  it  is,  the 
whole  thing  is  a  muddle. 

When  we  wrote  before,  we  knew  not  who  were 
the  committee.  Their  names  are  now  appended, 
and  prove  to  be  gentlemen  for  whom  we  have  per- 
sonally the  highest  regard.  They  have  probably 
got  bewildered  by  an  honest  enthusiasm.  We  do 
not  envy  the  share  of  responsibility  requested  to  be 
undertaken  by  Jlr.  Charles  Downing,  or  friend  W. 
L.  Ferris,  for  we  are  are  quite  sure  Dr.  Grant  will 
have  another  'rod  in  pickle'  for  them  similar  to  his 


'^^ 


Ch^  iardmr'^  (Ponlljig. 


369 


last, — just  strong  enough  to  ease  his  own  conscience 
in  case  he  is  hard  pressed  ;  while  he  will  no  doubt 
use  a  portion  of  their  report,  as  heretofore,  to  get 
what  the  report  justly  or  unjustly  entitles  him  to 
from  the  public. 


!C3^  Communications  for  this  department  must  reach,  the  Editor 
on  or  before  the  10th  of  the  month. 

Jn3^'rhe  Editor  cannot  answer  letters  for  this  department  pri- 
vately. 


Vineyards. — F.  D.  E.,  Hamilton,  0. — I  pro- 
pose the  coming  season,  to  plant  3  acres  in  grapes. 
Being  a  novice,  will  you  please  answer  in  your  next 
number  the  following  queries  : 

1.  What  varieties  to  plant  ? 

[Clinton  for  wine,  Concord  for  market,  with  a  few 
Hartford  Prolific,  and  a  few  Delawares  for  those 
who  will  pay  a  good  price  for  good  fruit  and  good 
wine.] 

2.  How  far  apart  in  the  row,  or  how  many  vines 
are  required  to  plant  an  acre  ? 

[One  vine  to  every  8  feet  square.] 

3.  Is  it  necessary  to  trench  the  soil,  or  can  I  not 
make  it  deep  enough  with  a  common  two-horse 
plow,  followed  by  a  subsoil  plow  ? 

[The  subsoil  plowing  would  do.] 

4.  The  soil  is  a  tenacious  clay.  Is  it  suitable  and 
would  you  advise  me  to  underdrain  it? 

[Unless  the  slope  is  great  enough  to  run  off  the 
water,  it  is  best  to  underdrain.] 

5.  With  good  culture,  how  many  pounds  of 
grapes  can  I  probably  raise  to  the  vine  ? 

[25  pounds  per  year  on  an  average.  ] 

6.  The  site  is  a  southeastern  slope  450  feet  above 
the  Great  Miami  river,  but  not  so  steep  as  to  wash 
off  the  soil  when  it  rains.  I  have  about  300  Ca- 
tawba vines  in  bearing,  which  produced  beautiful 
grapes  the  past  season,  not  at  all  affected  by  mil- 
dew or  rot. 

[If  they  do  well,  you  could  not  have  a  much  bet- 
ter grape.  ] 


Kilmarnock  Willow—^  P.  S.,  JSFew  York. 
— Is  the  Kilmarnock  Willow  naturally  dwarf,  or  is 
it  made  so  by  propagating  on  a  dwarf  stock?  If 
naturally  dwarf,  is  it  smallest  when  growing  on  its 
own  roots  or  otherwise  ?  What  height  does  it  grow 
on  its  own  roots? 

[This  kind  is  a  variety  of  the  Sallx  ca-prea  or  Goat 
Willow,  found  at  Kilmarnock,  in  Scotland.  The 
original  species  is  a  very  strong  and  upright  grower, 


attaining,  when  full  grown,  15  or  20  feet.  The 
WQCping.  variety  will  not  grow  tall  on  its  own  roots, 
unless  a  central  shoot  is  trained  to  a  stake.  The 
stock  it  is  usually  worked  on  is  the  original  species, 
S.  caprea.] 


Roger's  Hybrid  Grape.— Our  plate  last  month 
by  some  perversity  of  the  types,  had  "No.  15" 
beneath  it,  instead  of  No.  4,  as  the  text  called  for. 
All  our  readers,  no  doubt,  saw  the  error ;  but  they 
will  please  mark  it  correctly  for  future  reference- 
Why  do  people  send  out  new  fruits  under  numbers?. 


Begonias  and  where  they  come  from. — 
Some  months  ago  a  correspondent  asked  us  to  give 
in  the  Monthly  some  account  of  the  origin  of  the 
beautiful  Begonias  that  adorn  our  stoves.  The 
question  was  too  extensive  an  one  to  give  an  imme- 
diate reply  to ;  and  even  now  the  answer  is  not 
perhaps  as  complete  as  may  be  desired. 

Although  Begonias  have  long  been  one  of  the 
most  ornamental  classes  of  Stove  plants,  the  one 
that  first  called  marked  attention  to  it  was  B.  rex, 
— this  was  introduced  in  1857,  by  Linden,  of  Brus- 
sels, from  Assam  in  the  East  Indies.  B.  GriffitMi 
was,  however,  introduced  a  year  or  two  earlier  from 
Bhotan,  also  in  the  East  Indies.  From  these  two 
a  great  number  of  hybrids  have  been  obtained  :  al- 
most all  the  large-leaved  varieties  belonging  to  this 
race.  The  yellow  species,  B.  XantMna,  is  however 
somewhat  mixed  in  with  this  class  of  hybrids.  This 
was  introduced  from  Otacaraond,  in  Bhotan,  about 
1852.  The  B.  Lazuli  is  a  hybrid,  with  the  last 
named  for  one  of  its  parents,  also  the  one  figured 
in  Hooker's  Botanical  Ilagazine  Cplate  5102)  as 
B.  pictifolia,  but  which  we  have  not  seen  in  culti- 
vation. 

Since  those  introductions,  many  of  the  species 
long  in  cultivation  have  been  used  to  produce  hy- 
brid races.  The  B.  cinnaharina,  native  of  Bolivia 
and  the  Cordilleras  of  South  America,  is  no  doubt 
one  of  the  parents  of  B.  Frcstom'ensis ,  some  say 
between  that  and  B.  nitida.  B.  nitida  itself  is  a 
very  old  kind,  introduced  from  Jamaica  nearly  a 
century  ago.  B.  manicata,  the  variety  with  the 
singular  appendages  like  manicles  around  the  leaf 
stalk,  is  from  Vera  Cruz,  in  Mexico,  on  mountains 
3000  feet  above  the  sea  level.  It  can  be  traced  in 
some  of  the  hybrids.  The  beautiful  American  va- 
riety, B.  Feastii,  has  for  one  of  its  parents  B.  hy- 
drocotylifoUa,  another  Mexican  species.  B.  San- 
dcrsii  is  a  variety  we  have  not  been  able  to  trace  ; 
but  it  is  probably  a  cross  between  B.  nitida  and  B. 
fuchsoides,  the  latter  a  beautiful  and  distinct  kind, 


TBT' 


370 


®hi{  iardtner's  Jlotvllrlj. 


Bent  by  Purdie  some  twenty  years  ago,  from  New 
frrcnada.  Our  readers  do  not  know,  perhaps,  that 
this  popular  favorite  is  described  in  some  catalogues 
under  the  musical  name  of  Tittlehacliia  fuchsoidcs. 

The  small  waxy  white-flowered  one,  known  in 
cultivation  as  B.  jyarviflora ,  though  its  correct  name 
is  B.  Drer/ri,  is  a  native  of  the  eastern  part  of 
iSouthcrn  Africa.  There  are  several  varieties,  pro- 
bably hybrids,  known. 

B.  incarnata,  another  old  and  popular  kind, 
comes  from  Mexico,  near  Xalapa.  In  its  native 
country,  an  allied  species,  B.  gracilis,  of  Kunth, 
gives  as  much  trouble  to  botanists  by  its  numerous 
variations,  as  the  hybrids  do  in  our  greenhouses, — 
we  have  not  seen  it,  however,  in  cultivation,  but  it 
would  be  worth  introducing,  if  not  already  done,  as 
it  would  no  doubt  '  sport '  into  many  interesting 
forms.  The  little  dwarf  B.  nibrovenia,  from  Sik- 
kim  and  Bhotan,  has  been  extensively  used  in  hy- 


bridizing with  B.  Xantliina.  B.  Evansiana,  well . 
known  as  the  '  Beef-steak  plant,'  and  hardy  in  many 
situations,  is  a  native  of  China  and  Japan  ;  we  are 
not  sure  that  it  has  been  employed  in  hybridizing, 
but  it  is  worth  trial  as  a  hardy  race  of  beautiful 
forms  might  be  obtained.  B.  angularis  was  intro- 
duced from  Brazil  in  1845,  and  is  incorrectly 
culled  B.  zehrina,  although  the  leaves  are  not  al- 
ways Zebra  striped. 

In  addition  to  those  we  have  alluded  to  as  pro- 
bably the  parents  of  hybrids,  there  are  a  few  inter- 
esting ones  that  do  not  seem  so  far  to  claim  any 
such  influence,  and  yet  have  very  interesting  foli- 
age, or  are  otherwise  beautiful.  A  very  common 
one  is  B.  maculnta,  called  also  in  some  collections, 
B.  argyrostigma.  The  leaves  are  long  and  deep 
green,  profusely  covered  with  silvery  spots.  This 
is  a  Brazilian  species,  growing  about  Rio  de  Janeiro, 
and  of  which  the  engraving  is  an  illustration 


The  B.  heradeifolia  from  Eastern  Mexico,  with 
large  divided  leaves  like  a  Cow  parsnip,  and  nu- 
merous small  pink  flowers.  This  seems  to  sport 
readily,  for  Paxton  figures  one  as  variety  inmctata  ; 
Lemaire  one  as  lonpijnla,  and  Hooker  another  as 
nigricans, — the  last,  however,  not  the  same  as  the 
variety  (probably  of  Xanthina)  grown  in  gardens  as 
Begonia  mgresccns. 

B.  sanguinea,  a  strong-growing,  large  blood- 
leaved  variety,  from  Brazil. 

There  arc  a  few  others,  as  the  common  white 
sweet-scented  B.  scmpcrjlorens,  but  these  we  have 
named  are  all  of  interest  so  far  as  introduced  into 
American  gardens, — a  poor  representation,  consid- 
ering that  there  are  over  350  species  of  Begonias 
known  to  Botanists. 


11 


Cooking  the  Hubbaed  Squash. — "Mr.  Edi- 
tor :  You  have  heard  of  the  great  devotion  of  the 
Mahometans  to  their  Koran.  When  at  the  sack- 
ing of  Alexandria,  some  one  besought  the  mussel- 


man  conquerer  to  spare  the  magnificent  library  of 
the  town,  the  Grand  Turk  replied,  that  if  the  books 
contained  aught  not  in  the  Koran  it  must  be  false, 
and  they  should  be  destroyed;  and  if  they  had 
nothing  more  than  what  the  Koran  taught,  they 
then  were  worthless, — and  I  may  say,  I  have  had 
something  of  the  same  sort  of  veneration  for  the 
Monthly.  When  any  one  has  asked  me  what  is  the 
best  work  on  the  Strawberry?  I  have  said  '  Get  the 
Monthly."  The  best  Grape  book?  still  the  same 
answer,  "Get  the  Monthly."  But,  sir,  you  have 
found  if  not  brought  me  into  trouble  at  last.  Says 
my  wife  to  me  last  week,  "Abner,  T  should  like  to 
know  the  best  way  to  cook  Hubbard  Squash?"' 
Says  I,  Priscilla,  dear,  if  you  will  look  in  the  Gcr 
doner's  Monthly,  you  will  find  it.  The  index  of  the 
past  five  volumes  is  a  complete  Dictionary  of  Gar- 
dening."' A  pitying  look, — were  she  not  my  wife 
I  should  have  said  contemptuous  look  ;  but  she  is 
too  good  for  such  feelings, — taught  me  I  had  made 
some  mistake.     She  merely  said,  "You  think  I  do 


ra&. 


Clje  #mlciter's  (Pontbtg* 


371 


not  read  the  Monthly.  I  know  it  almost  by  heart, 
and  I  am  sure  there  is  nothing  of  cooking  Plubbard 
Squash  in  any  volume."  I  took  out  the  set,  and 
soon  pointed  to  page  77  Vol.  I.,  in  the  Index  for 
"Hubbard  Squash  ;"  but,  alas,  for  my  short-lived 
triumph, — it  was  only  to  give  a  history  of  this  'de- 
licious vegetable,"  as  the  paragraph  termed  it. 

Now,  Mr.  Editor,  my  wife  has  a  high  opinion  of 
your  Monthly,  and  if  you  knew  her  personally,  I 
know  you  would  value  hers ;  and  she  says  your 
magazine  will  be  still  further  advanced  in  her  esti- 
mation, if  you  will  give  a  first-class  recipe  for  cook- 
ing this  squash ?     Will  you  oblige  her? 

Truly  j'ours,  Abner  Prideaux." 

[A  bad  recipe  would  be  a  poor  return  for  so  com- 
plimentary a  note.  Our  friend,  James  H.  Gregory, 
who  was  mainly  instrumental  in  getting  this  variety 
so  wide  a  popularity,  we  are  quite  sure  can  speak 
intelligently  on  this  question.] 


Let  Fruit  ripen  on  the  Vine.— Almost  all 
fruit  are  gathered  too  early.  With  the  Albany 
Seedling  Strawberry,  and  the  Lawton  Blackberry, 
this  is  now  well  understood, — but  it  applies  to  all 
fruits.  Mr.  J.  E.  Mitchell  has  just  placed  on  our 
table  some  Chasselas  Grapes,  that  are  quite  equal 
to  the  best  Frontignans  in  flavor,  as  we  usually  get 
them,— and  sonje  badly  colored  Hamburgs,  that  do 
no  discredit  to  the  well-earned .  reputation  of  that 
variety  for  good  character.  No  doubt  the  good 
quality  of  many  grapes  when  sent  for  Editorial 
opinions,  beyond  what  one  often  afterwards  finds 
from  fruit  fresh  taken  off,  is  caused  by  their  ripen- 
ing a  little  on  the  waJ^ 


Our  table  is  covered  with  pamphlets, catalogues, 
serials,  and  books  for  notice  and  review,  but  we 
have  to  pass  them  over  for  the  present.  As  how- 
ever this  is  the  season  for  subscriptions,  we  cannot 
avoid  saying,  that  amongst  many  very  deserving 
periodicals  that  come  regularly  before  us,  the  scien- 
tific portion  of  our  readers  should  not  forget 

Sillima.n's  American  Journal  of  Science. — 
All  the  different  branches  of  science  receive  the  at- 
tention, in  turn,  of  the  most  distinguished  men  in 
their  several  branches  of  study.  No  one  who  wishes 
to  keep  up  with  the  latest  discoveries  in  any  branch 
of  science,  can  afford  to  do  without  it. 

Those  interested  in  the  discoveries  of  art  and 
mechanical  invention,  subscribe  for 


The  Scientific  American,  published  by  Muun 
&  Co.,  New  York,  and  the 

Atlantic  Monthly,  published  by  Ticknor  & 
Fields,  of  Boston,  which  stands  at  the  head  of 
monthly  journals  of  polite  literature,  science  and 
art, — and  is  the  only  one  of  its  class  that  seems"to 
take  especial  pains  in  the  agricultural  and  rural 
departments. 


Bogue's  Eureka  Grape.— The  Attica  Atlas 
calls  attention  to  a  grape  with  the  above  name,  said 
to  be  a  seedling  of  the  Isabella,  resembling  it  in 
size  and  shape  of  berry,  with  a  darker  color,  of  bet- 
ter flavor,  a  more  rampant  grower,  and  earlier — 
how  much  earlier  is  not  stated. 


New  Foreign  Pears. — The  following  is  a  list 
of  what  is  considered  the  best  foreign  Pears  of  the 
last  two  or  three  years  : 

Autumn  Nelis'  CStandish^. — Raised  by  F.  Gra- 
ham. Fruit  small,  skin  covered  with  russet  and 
blotched  greenish-yellow  ;  flesh  melting,  sweet  and 
rich,     Eipe  in  October. 

Belle  Julie.— A.  continental  pear,  described  as  of 
medium  size,  melting,  and  delicious.  Ripe  in  Oct. 

Bergamotte  Hertricli. — This  is  a  variety  of  the 
old  Fortunee  pear.  The  fruit  is  Bergamot-shaped, 
and  of  medium  size,  covered  with  a  rich  golden 
russet ;  flesh  melting,  very  juicy,  sprightly  and  re- 
freshing. In  use  during  April  and  May.  Like  all 
the  very  late  pears,  it  requires  a  warm  situation. 

Benrre  de  Glielin  (Verschaffelt). — Raised  by  M. 
Fontaine,  of  Ghelin.  Fruit  large,  irregular,  pyri- 
form,  gibbous;  skin  pale  yellow,  blotched  with 
pale  brown  ;  flesh  yellowish-white,  juicy,  sweet, 
and  fragrant.     A  first-rate  dessert  fruit. 

British.  Queen. — Raised  by  Mr.  Ingram  at  Frog- 
more.  Fruit  large,  pyramidal ;  skin  glossy,  of  a 
fine  golden  yellow,  partly  spread  with  cinnamon- 
russet,  and  sometimes  crimson  tinge  on  the  sunny 
side ;  flesh  yellowish-white,  juicy,  rich,  aromatic. 
Ripe  in  October.  One  of  the  finest  dessert  pears 
known. 

Doyenne  d' Alencon. — Medium  size,  sometimes 
large  ;  flesh  melting,  and  deliciously  flavored.  Ripe 
from  January  to  April.  The  tree  forms  a  fine  py- 
ramid, and  is  also  excellent  for  a  wall. 

Be  Maraise.- — A  beautiful  melting  pear,  of  deli- 
cious flavor.     Ripe  in  November  and  December. 

Madame  Millett. —  Very  large,  covered  with  a 


-l^B' 


372 


^t  §i\x&mtx'B  (Pant^Ig, 


golden  russet ;  flesh  melting  and  delicious,  This 
is  a  valuable  acquisition,  the  trees  being  of  dwarf 
habit,  and  well  adapted  to  grow  as  a  bush  or  against 
a  wall.  Like  Doyenne  d'Alencon,  it  is  admirably 
adapted  for  a  warm  garden,  as,  from  its  habit,  it 
does  not  require  much  room,  and  it  requires  some 
shelter.  No  late  pear  is  handsomer  or  of  better 
flavor  w-en  fully  ripe,  and  it  keeps  quite  sound  till 
May. 

3hrcl. — Fruit  medium  size,  covered  with  russet 
and  blotched  with  yellow  ;  flesh  melting,  vinous, 
brisk,  inclined  to  an  agraeable  acidity.  The  tree 
forms  a  natural  pyramid  like  a  cypress,  and  is  very 
ornamental,  and  well  adapted  for  planting  on  a 
lawn.  Though  hardy  it  requires  a  sheltered  place 
to  ripen  its  fruit  well.     Season,  April  and  May. 

Louise  Bonne  de  Printemps.— Fruit  large,  and  in 
shape  resembling  that  of  the  favorite  autumn  pear 
Louise  Bonne  of  Jersey.  Flesh  not  quite  melting, 
but  juicy  and  agreeable.    In  use  March  and  April. 

JInrie  Louise  CD'Uccle).  —  Fruit  medium  size, 
melting,  and  rich  flavor.  Tree  grows  freely  on  the 
quince,  and  is  most  prolific.  Season,  October.  One 
of  the  most  useful  of  the  new  pears. 

Fasse  Crassane. — Fruit  of  medium  size,  and 
much  like  the  old  favorite  wall  pear  Crassane,  but 
not  not  quite  so  large.  It  is  melting  and  rich  in 
flavor,  and  keeps  well  till  late  in  March. 

Foi7-e  de  ■Hert. — A  medium  size  late  melting  pear, 
of  great  excellence.  Season,  April.  The  tree  re- 
quires a  warm  situation  to  ripen  its  fruit  properly, 
as  is  the  case  with  all  the  late  pears. 

NouveUe  Fuloi. — Raised  by  M.  Gregorie,  of  Jo- 
doigne.  A  fine  melting,  perfumed,  richly  flavored 
pear.     Ripe  in  January. 

Hnyslies-  Frincess  of  Wales. — Fruit  large,  and 
superior  in  flavor  to  the  Victoria  and  Bergamot 
pears  of  the  same  raiser,  which  is  as  high  a  charac- 
ter as  any  pear  need  have. 

Vdnderpoel. — An  American  pear,  raised  by  Mrs. 
Mary  V.  Gilbert,  of  Columbia.  Medium  size,  tol- 
erable regular  in  outline  ;  skin  of  a  uniform  yellow 
color ;  the  flesh  melting,  juicy,  sweet,  and  without 
any  grittiness  at  the  core.  It  is  said  never  to  rot 
at  the  core,  and  when  sufiered  to  decay,  it  is  often 
quite  sound  at  the  centre,  when  the  outside  has  be- 
come rotten.  The  tree  is  of  a  vigorous  habit,  and 
a  great  bearer. 


New  Blackberries. — In  an  early  volume  of 
the  Monthly,  we  referred  to  some  varieties  of  which 
Mr.  J.  B.  Orange,  of  Illinois,  kindly  sent  us  spe- 
cimens. Two  of  these,  since  named  "Dr.  Warder," 
and  "  Col.  Wilder,"  are  highly  spoken  of. 


Jlfto  or  P.arp  "JPIanh* 


Cattleya  quadricolor. — Stems  narrow,  com- 
pressed, 6  or  8  inches  high,  often  as  long  as  the 
leaves,  which  are  more  erect  than  in  other  species 
of  the  genus.  Peduncles  usually  bearing  two  flow- 
ers, which  are  not  quite  4  inches  across ;  these, 
with  the  exception  of  the  lip,  are  of  the  purest 
white.  The  lip  itself  is  rolled  round  the  col- 
umn, and  trumpet-shaped  (not  -  spreading  out 
in  front,  like  many  Cattleyas),  and  adorned  with 
three  colors  :  a  rich  purple  transverse  blotch  form- 
ing its  upper  extremity,  to  which  succeeds  a  band 
of  yellow,  which  is  itself  succeeded  by  large  patches 
of  pale  rosy  lilac,  fading  away  as  they  approach  the 
base  of  the  column. 

This  beautiful  Cattleya  is  quite  distinct  from 
every  previously  known  species  of  this  genus.  A 
single  plant  of  it  was  introduced  many  years  ago 
by  Mr.  Rucker,  from  New  Grenada,  and  to  his 
kindness  I  am  indebted  for  the  specimen  that  is 
now  flowering  at  Knypersley,  and  from  which  the 
above  description  has  been  drawn  up.  It  exactly 
accords  with  a  sketch  that  I  remember  having  seen 
in  Dr.  Lindley's  herbarium,  taken  from  a  flower 
communicated  by  Mr.  Rucker  himself,  and  to  which 
the  name  of  quadricolor  was  assigned — no  doubt 
because  the  pure  white  of  the  sepals  and  petals, 
with  the  purple,  yellow,  and  lilac  of  the  lip,  made 
up  the  sum  of  four  colors.  I  do  not  think  the 
plant  relishes  as  much  heat  even  as  other  Cattleyas 
do,  but  as  it  is  as  yet  exceedingly  rare,  it  has  not 
been  possible  to  ascertain  this  or  the  contrary  by 
experiment,  ami  unfortunately  we  have  no  precise 
information  as  to  the  elevation  or  climate  of  the 
locality  whence  it  was  originally  brought  to  Europe. 

This  is  the  only  genuine  white  Cattleya  with 
which  I  am  acquainted,  for  the  so-called  C.  crispa 
is  a  Lffilia,  and  C.  Wageneri  and  C.  Candida  are 
mere  varieties  of  C.  Mossiae  and  C.  Harrisonii. — L 
Bateman. 


'^ 


^/T- 


CoccosYPSiLON  DISCOLOR. — Introduced  as  long 
since  as  1793,  but  now  re-introduced  to  notice  as  a 
very  efl'ective  plant  for  hanging-baskets.  .  It  is  so 
employed  at  Farnham  Castle  and  Dang^tein.  It  is 
a  native  of  the  temperate  mountains  of  St.  Domingo 
and  Jamaica.  Its  blue,  berry-like  flowers  are  in 
clusters  on  its  creeping  stems.  We  recommend  it 
as  a  basket  plant,  and  quote  the  following  from  the 
Floral  Magazine:— ''We  have  been  supplied, 
through  the  kindness  of  the  Bishop  of  Winchester, 


with  the  following  directions  as  to  its  cultivation 
by  Mr.  Lawrence,  his  Lordship's  intelligent  gar- 
dener :  '  It  is, '  writes  Mr.  Lawrence,  '  as  most  of 
our  most  beautiful  things  are,  very  easily  cultiva- 
ted. I  find  from  experience,  that  during  the  sum- 
mer months  it  will  do  better  in  a  close  greenhouse, 
near  the  glass,  and  fully  exposed  to  the  light  and 
sun's  rays,  than  in  a  stove  as  might  be  supposed 
from  its  being  a  native  of  the  West  Indies  ;  but  on 
the  approach  of  autumn  it  requires  more  heat,  both 
to  bring  its  flowers  and  its  beautiful  ultramarine 
berries  to  perfection, — the  latter  lasting  in  their 
brilliancy  during  the  whole  winter.  It  will  thrive 
during  the  winter  in  any  house  where  heat  is  used, 
such  as  a  Cucumber  or  Pine-pit,  or  intermediate 
house.  The  propagation,  also,  is  very  easy,  as  it 
grows  equally  freely  by  seeds  or  cuttings.  When 
planting  it  in  the  basket,  I  first  line  it  with  moss, 
then  fill  it  up  with  an  ordinary  compost  of  loam, 
leaf  mould,  and  sand ;  when  the  plant  begins  to 
grow  freely,  I  peg  the  shoots  over  the  surface  until 
it  is  thoroughly  covered,  then  it  will  throw  enough 
shoots  over  the  edges  to  make  a  fine  mass,  other- 
wise it  will  look  straggling  and  poor.' — Cot.  Gard. 


The  Botanical  Magazine  figures  the  following  : 

QuAMOCLiT  Nationis  (Mr.  Nation's  Quamo- 
elit). — A  tuberous-rooted  perennial.  A  native  of 
the  Peruvian  Cordillera.  Flowers  scarlet,  stems 
run  the  whole  length  of  the  rafters  of  a  greenhouse. 
It  may  possibly  bear  our  summers  in  the  open  air. 

SACCOLABroM  Harrisonianum  riMr.  Harrison's 
Saccolabium). — Native  of  Pulo  Penang  in  the  Chi- 
nese seas  ;  imported  by  Messrs.  Stuart  &  Low,  of 
the  Clapton  Nursey.     Flowers  white. 

Macleania  speciosissima  CSplendid  Maclea- 
nia). — Native  of  Columbia.  A  lovely  flowering 
shrub  ;  flowers  scarlet  tipped  with  yellow.  Requires 
to  be  placed  on  a  bracket,  in  a  warm  greenhouse, 
that  its  branches  may  hang  down. 

Dendrobium  marginatum  (White-edged  Den- 
drobium); — Introduced  from  Moulmein  by  Messrs. 
Hugh  Low  &  Co.  Flowers  white,  lip  spotted  with 
orange  ;  lower  lobe  orange,  but  white  edged. 

Micranthella  Candollei  (De  Candolle's  Mi- 
cranthella^. — Native  of  the  Andes,  at  an  elevation 
of  from  9000  to  10,000  feet.  Flow.ers  purple,  with 
very  prominent  yellow  anthers.  Well  suited  for 
greenhouse  cultivation. 

Meconopsis  aculeata  (Prickly  Meconopsis). — 
Native  of  the  Kumaon  and  other  South  Indian 
mountains,  at  elevations  of  from  10,000  to  14,000 
feet.     Flowers  large,  purplish  blue. 

Cyubiditjm  trigrinum  (Spotted-lipped  Cymbi- 


dium). — Native  of  Tennasserim  mountains,  at  an 
elevation  of  6000  feet.  Introduced  by  Messrs.  Low 
&  Co.,  Clapton  Nursery.  Flowers  cream  colored  ; 
lip  with  short  crimson  stripes. 

Urceolina  pendula  (Drooping  Urceolina.)— 
Imported  by  Messrs,  Veitch  of  King's  road,  Chel- 
sea, through  their  collector  Mr.  Pearce.  Native 
of  woods  on  the  Andes,  at  Pozuzo.  Flowers  yellow, 
green-tipped,  and  white-edged,  urn  shaped,  droop- 
ing, in  an  umbel ;  each  on  a  green  tube  so  narrow 
as  to  resemble  a  pedicel.     Bloomed  in  June. 

Erantiiemum  Cooperi  (Sir  Daniel  Cooper's 
EranthemuuO. — Raised  by  Messrs.  Veitch  from 
seed  received  by  Sir  D.  Cooper,  from  New  Caledo- 
nia. Bloomed  in  a  warm  greenhouse  during  June. 
Flowers  white,  with  middle  one  of  the  lower  limbs 
dotted  in  purple  lines. 


AcHYRANTHES  Yerschaiteltii.  Versch. — A 
splendid  introduction  ;  it  is  the  rival  of  the  charm- 
ing Coleus  Verschaffieltii,  with  the  advantage  that 
the  Achyrantlies  is  less  delicate,  and  may  be  kept 
easily  in  a  good  greenhouse.  It  will  be  one  of  the 
finest  plants  for  planting  out  in  summer. 


Acacia  petiolaris.—  One  of  the  most  strikingly 
beautiful  of  this  grand  genus  ;  its  broad  dark  green 
foliage,  and  fine  clusters  of  deep  primrose  flowers, 
combine  to  make  it  an  extremely  picturesque,  and 
desirable  plant  for  conservatory  decoration.  This 
is  perhaps  one  of  the  finest  Acacias  in  cultivation. 


Acer  pseudo-platanus  var.  Leopoldii. — One 
of  the  best  variegated  Acers  that  we  have.  A  cor- 
rect drawing  may  be  seen  in  the  September  num- 
ber of  the  "  Illustration  Horticole. "  '■ 


Phrynium    (]Marantaj    Vanden    Heckei. 
Versch. — This  splendid  Marantawas  introduced  by 
the  botanic  collector  Baraquin,  who  discovered  it 
in  Para.     It  is  one  of  the  finest  introductions. 


The  Floral  Magazine  figures  the  following  : 

Pelargonium  United  Italy. — Exhibited  by 
Messrs.  Henderson  &  Son,  Wellington  Road  Nur- 
sery. It  is  one  of  the  tricolored-leaved  varieties. 
Margin  of  the  leaves  creamy  white  ;  next  a  broad 
zone  of  crimson  pink  ;  next  a  bronzy  dark  shade  ; 
and  centre  green.  Flower  small  scarlet.  It  is  a 
good  dwarf  pot  plant. 

Barkeria  Skinneri  superba. — A  cool-house 
Orchid. 

Disk-shaped  Nemophila. — A  variety  of  Ne- 
mophila  maculata,  obtained  by  Messrs,  Carter  & 


Wm\  §miimtr's  JldnfMj, 


Co.,  High  Holborn.     Corolla  white,  and  base  of 
the  disk  dee])  purple. 

Tree-f LOWERING  MoNOCiiyETUM. —  A  Variety 
of  Monochfctum  sericeum  ;  introduced  by  Messrs. 
Smith  of  l^ulwich  ;  flowers  deep  pink. 


The  Prize  Fruits, — The  Judges  on  Fruit  of 
the  Horticultural  branch  of  the  American  Institute 
having  been  requested  to  ^ive  further  opportunity 
to  fruit-growers  to  compete  for  the  prizes  of  $100 
each,  offered  by  Mr.  Grreely  for  the  best  bushel  of 
apples  and  pears,  have  resolved  to  hold  a  series  of 
exhibitions  at  the  rooms  of  the  American  Institute, 
in  the  Cooper  Union  Building,  on  the  first  Tues- 
days of  November,  December,  January,  and  Feb- 
ruary next,  at  2  p.  m.,  and  invite  all  fruit-growers 
desirous  of  competing  to  exhibit  their  fruit  at  one 
of  the  above-named  exhibitions. 

The  Committee,  in  conference  with  Mr.  Greeley, 
announce  that  it  is  his  desire  that  the  variety  of 
apple  or  pear  that,  in  the  judgment  of  the  Com- 
mittee, shall  be  entitled  to  said  premium,  shall  be 
adapted  to  the  soil  and  climate  of  the  Northern 
and  Middle  States,  be  of  as  uniform  good  character 
as  possible  in  all  soils,  and  all  seasons,  and  a  regu- 
lar bearer  ;  of  such  flavor  as  to  be  generally  accep- 
table, and  its  size,  beauty,  and  excellence  such  as 
shall  make  it  universally  popular.  This  the  Com- 
mittee will  therefore  regard  as-  the  standard  to 
which  all  vai'ietics  so  competing  must  be  referred. 

If  two  varieties  of  equal  excellence  be  presented, 
and  in  all  those  respects  seem  to  be  alike,  prefer- 
ence must  then  be  given  to  the  one  that  will  give  a 
fiiir  crop  of  good  size  and  average  fair  character 
under  ordinary  cultivation,  such  as  it  will  receive  in 
the  hands  of  a  majoritj-  of  cultivators. 

Dr.  Grant,  to  whom  was  awarded  the  premium 
for  the  best  seedling  grape,  having  very  generously 
consented  that  the  exhibition  shall  remain  open  for 
other  grape-growers  to  exhibit  specimens  of  other 
varieties  of  grapes,  in  corapetition  with  the  lona, 
grape-growers  are  invited  to  present  their  fruit  for 
the  inspection  of  the  judges  at  one  of  these  exhi- 
bitions. 

In  view  of  the  responsibility  imposed  upon  the 
judges,  they  request  that  Messrs.  Charles  Downing 
of  Newburg-,  and  William  L.  Ferris  of  Throgg's 
Keck,  be  added  to  their  number. 

Isaac  M.  Ward,         W.  S.  Carpenter, 

P.  T.  QUINN. 


Residence  of  S.  B.  Whipple,  Esq.,  San 
Mateo.— In  a  recent  visit  of  a  day  spent  at  San 
Mateo  and  vicinity,  we  enjoyed  the  hospitalities  of 
Mr.  Whipple  and  hi.s  pleasant  and  happy  family. 

The  residence  is  a  very  pleasant  one,  embosomed 
in  climbmg  roses  and  beautiiiil  flowers,  with  grounds 
finely  designed  and  laid  out. 

At  the  front,  and  surrounding  the  house,  are 
stately  native  oaks,  and  our  native  Ceonothus, 
trained  as  trees  and  as  a  hedge  ;  the  residence  being 
thus  shielded,  screens  it  from  the  summer  &un,  and 
makes  it  a  very  pleasant  and  healthful  residence. 
A  verandah  surrounds  the  house  and  adds  to  its 
beauty. 

The  back  ground  of  about  50  acres,  enclosing  the 
buildings  and  gardens,  is  laid  off  with  three  sepa- 
rate orchards  of  the  choicest  fruit  trees  and  vines. 
The  high  fences  which  divide  them  break  the  wind, 
and  serve  also  to  train  fruit  upon,  which  we  found 
in  full  bearing.  The  trees,  however,  need  mulch- 
ing, which  would  help  the  foliage.  The  leaves 
droop  in  the  dry,  hot  atmosphere,  and  the  trees  are 
wanting  in  foliage. 

Within  the  first  inclosure  is  a  fine  double-siian 
grape-house,  about  60  feet  long,  with'grapes  in  full 
bearing,  many  varieties  ripe.  About  100  vines  were 
in  fine  condition.  Among  the  varieties  of  grape  we 
found  Black  Hamburg,  Cannon  Hall  Muscat,  Gol- 
den Chasselas,  Chas.selas  of  Frontignac,  and  Chas- 
selas  of  Fontainbleau,  Palestine,  White  Nice,  and 
Black  and  White  St.  Peters  ;  those  we  tasted  were 
in  luscious  order. 

Around  the  walls  of  the  first  orchard,  trees  were 
trained  to  the  walls  ;  and  along  the  borders  were 
currants,  gooseberries,  and  strawberries. 

We  noticed  perfect  order  everywhere  ;  not  a  weed 
was  to  be  seen  in  all  the  grounds  ;  excellent  taste 
and  neatness  were  the  prevailing  features. 

Two  large  '  water  tanks'  stood  some  20  feet  high 
upon  a  raised  platform  in  the  center  of  the  garden 
— water  raised  to  them  by  a  windmill,  from  a  deep 
well. 

Two  other  orchards  of  ap]>les  and  pears,  had  pro- 
tecting fences  to  break  off  the  bleak  winds. 

There  is  a  finely  hedged  drive  to  the  stable, 
which  is  a  very  fine  building,  with  well  arranged 
stalls,  and  every  convenience  for  its  purpose. 
The  yards,  and  all  the  other  bmldings  for  stock  are 
admirably  arranged.  —  California  Farmer. 


Feeding-  Gold  Fish.— We  have  been  told  by 
persons  who  keep  Gold  Fish,  that  they  do  not  re- 
quire to  be  fed  ;  and  we  have  seen  it  stated  by  oth- 
ers, that  Gold  Fish  will  soon  starve  to  death  unless 


they  are  properly  supplied  with  food.  Perhaps 
some  of  our  readers  who  have  had  experience  will 
answer  our  correspondent's  question.  It  is  possible 
that  he  is  not  aware  of  the  necessity  of  changing 
the  water  frequently.  Though  8-9ths  of  all  water 
is  oxygen,  the  gills  of  fishes  have  not  the  power  of 
decomposing  water  and  appropriating  the  oxygen 
which  is  chemically  combined  in  its  constitution. 
Their  life  is  sustained  by  free  oxygen  which  the 
water  absorbs  from  the  atmosphere,  and  as  soon 
as  this  is  exhausted  the  fishes  cease  to  breathe. 
Hence  the  necessity  of  either  frequently  changing 
the  water,  or  forcing  air  into  it  by  an  air-pump. — 
Scientific  American. 

[We  saw  a  Gold  Fish  kept  in  an  aquarium  with 
plenty  of  aquatic  plants,  three  years  without  feed- 
ing. Tt  did  not  perceptibly  increase  in  size  all  that 
time,  but  seemed  always  'gay  and  happy.' — ¥jD. 
G.  M.] 

Nurseries  at  Bloomington,  III. — F.  K. 
Ph(ENIX,  of  the  Bloomington  Nurseries.  Ilis 
grounds  are  divided  into  90  acres  of  apple  trees,  26 
acres  of  peach,  25  acres  of  pear,  15  of  grapes,  22 
of  evergreens,  8  of  cherry  and  plum,  6  of  small 
fruits,  4  of  roses,  and  the  balance,  24  acres,  in  or- 
namental trees,  shrubs,  bulbs,  &c.  The  grounds 
are  somewhat  scattered,  but  all  within  a  mile  and  a 
half  of  the  home  grounds. 

There  are  over  10,000  feet  of  glass  used  in  pro- 
pagating stock  of  various  kinds  and  for  plant- 
houses.  The  principal  houses  are  a  triple  range 
-T»three  houses— each  100x11  feet,  heated  with  hot 
water.  These  were;  built  the  past  spring,  Mr.  P. 
has  also  added  other  builJiuga,  one  a  large  two-story 
brick  oliloe  conveniently  arranged  to  accommodate 
his  growing  trade;  also  a  large  and  commodious 
brick  stable. 

Overman  &  Mann.— Captain  Mann  has  re- 
cently resigned  his  position  in  the  army  on  account 
of  his  health,  where  he  has  served  nearly  two  years, 
and  returned  home  to  the  peaceful  pursuit  of  hor 
ticulture.  The  leading  feature  for  some  years  with 
this  firm  was  the  supplying  of  the  Osage  Orange 
plants  for  hedges,  at  tho  same  time  keeping  up  a 
very  general  stock  of  fruit  and  ornamental  trees, 
shrubs,  kc. 

From  careful  observation  for  years  in  the  treat- 
nienj  of  hedges,  in  trimming,  etc.,  Mr.  Overman 
seems  inclined  to  discard  the  old  method  of  cutting 
back  the  hedge  yearly,  in  order  to  thicken  it  up  at 
the  bottom,  and  prefers  to  let  it  grow  naturally  for 
several  years,  say  six  to  eight,  without  citting 
back,  then  '  plash'  it,  that  is  cut  it  partly  off  near 

- — .^gj — 


the  ground  and  lean  it  over  in  the  direction  of  the 
row,  to  an  angle  of  thirty  degrees,  thus  forming  a 
dense  bottom,  as  the  new  shoots  thrown  out  from 
the  'plashed'  spot  will  be  numerous  and  spread  out 
both  ways.  In  order  to  get  at  the  hedge  to  do  this 
work  it  will  have  to  be  trimmed  up  at  the  sides. 
Concerning  a  machine  to  trim  with,  Mr.  0.  did  not 
know  of  a  successful  one ;  had  seen  one  tried  the 
past  season  that  promised  well,  if  it  could  be  guided. 
It  was  composed  of  a  large  wheel,  say  six  feet  in 
diameter,  with  four  knives  or  blades  extending  from 
its  periphery.  This  was  attached  to  a  frame  on 
wheels,  so  as  to  stand  vertically  by  the  side  of  the 
hedge,  and  revolved  as  the  carriage  advanced,  cut- 
ting upwards.  The  trouble  seemed  to  arise  from 
the  difficulty  in  governing  it  with  the  row ;  also 
from  the  irregularity  of  the  surface  of  the  ground, 
in  keeping  it  up  to  its  work ;  if  the  ground  along 
the  row  were  nicely  graded  and  sodded,  we  think 
this  might  become  practical.  We  can  hardly  ex- 
pect, however,  to  ever  have  grounds  kept  even 
enough  to  regulate  the  cutting,  and  some  contri- 
vance must  be  resorted  to  by  knuckle  joint  in  the 
shaft,  or  otherwise,  for  the  operator  .to  keep  the 
wheel  to  its  work. 

Jesse  W.  Fell  has  made  a  speciality  of  culti- 
vating and  setting  out  ornamental  trees,  and  imme- 
diately about  his  home,  at  Normal,  he  has  created 
almost  a  paradise  by  planting  trees  in  very  large 
variety,  most  artistically  arranged  from  plans  laid 
out  by  Mr.  Wm.  Saunders,  now  of  the  department 
of  Agriculture,  at  Washington;  and  for  miles 
around  can  be  seen  the  effects  of  his  spirit  in  tree 
planting,  in  streets  lined,  lots  laid  out,  and  trees 
arranged,  leaving  building  spots,  many  of  which  find 
ready  sale  at  large  prices.  Mr.  F.  is  an  enthusiast 
in  this  respect,  and  at  the  same  time  turns  his  ef- 
forts to  account  pecuniarily. 

W.  P.  Wills  &  Son  have  also  a  small  nursery. 
It  is  devoted  largely  to  evergreens  and  apple  trees. 
It  has  only  been  established  a  little  more  than  three 
years. 

Beaumont  &  Leland  have  commenced  an  estab- 
lishment for  the  propagation  of  grapes  and  plants, 
and  have  erected  a  good  glass  house,  heated  with 
flues,  where  thc3  have  turned  out  a  splendid  lot  of 
grape  vines,  which  they  arc  now  transfering  to  the 
open  ground.  We  here  saw  the  finest  lot  of  Dela- 
wares  from  single  eyes  we  have  ever  seen  together. 

Dr.  SiiRffiDER  must  not  be  forgotten.  His  vine- 
yard is  prospering,  although  the  winter  killed  quite 
a  large  number  of  his  vines  back  to  the  ground. 

The  Doctor  has  been  very  successful  with  straw- 
berries.    He  has  a  new  seedling  of  the  Wilson. 


Che  (Sarbmer's  PaittMj. 


which  he  calls  John  Brown.  In  appearance,  foli- 
age and  apparent  yield,  it  resembles  the  Wilson, 
but  the  Doctor  assures  us  it  is  eleven  days  earlier 
than  the  Wilson  in  the  same  locations.  He  will 
test  it  further.  The  Trioniphc  de  Cand — "  Hum- 
bug,"— the  Dr.  discards  from  his  li.st  as  unworthy 
of  cultivation,  although  he  has  it  for  comparison. 
There  will  be  a  large  crop  of  small  fruits,  currants, 
etc. ,  on  his  grounds. 

The  Dr.  has  made  arrangements  to  erect  at  once 
a  cold  grapery,  laO  by  30  feet ;  and  if  he  hears  of 
any  one  there  making  a  larger  one,  he  will  still 
build  larger.  We  were  treated  to  samples  of  the 
Doctor's  wine — sparkling  Catawba  and  the  sour 
wines — both  of  which  are  creditable  specimens,  and 
will  secure  him  sale  for  all  he  can  produce. — P.  Far. 


The  California  Tea  Plants. — In  these  parts 
there  are  two  kinds  of  the  evergreen  bush,  indigen- 
ous to  the  country,  used  as  a  substitue  for  tea.  One 
produces  no  leaf,  but  a  stem,  the  annual  growth 
of  which  is  from  six  to  fourteen  inches.  The  new 
growth  is  what  is  used  for  tea.  The  stem  is  of  a 
very  rich  green  color,  and  is  somewhat  of  a  gummy 
nature.  Steeped  in  the  usual  method,  it  produces 
a  beverage  of  very  nice  flavor,  and  is  used,  to  a  con- 
siderable extent,  as  a  table  drink,  where  the  China 
teas  cannot  be  had.  It  contains  valuable  medicinal 
qualities,  acting  moderately  upon  the  kidneys. 
Large  quantities  are  grown  about  here.  We  think 
if  the  Shakers  would  make  an  extract  from  this 
shrub,  it  would  be  invaluable  as  a  medicine  in  cer- 
tain cases. 

The  other  bush  bears  a  dark  green  leaf,  about 
the  size  of  a  pear  leaf,  rather  gummy  on  the  under 
side.  This  is  also  used  as  a  substitute  for  tea,  and 
makes  a  pleasant  drink. — Rural  New-Yorher, 

[These  are  evidently  species  of  Ceanothus.  By 
care  in  drying,  probably  a  tea  might  be  introduced 
from  these  and  our  Atlantic  Ceanothus,  that  might 
really  supersede  Chinese  tea.  It  would  be  a  great 
national  benefit ;  only  our  people  must  not  imitate 
a  recent  case,  and  pretend  they  have  the  real  Chi- 
nese tea. — Ed.  G.  M.] 


Fori 


Ign  Ivh. 


iiFiirp, 


Origin  of  the  Clove  Pixk.— If  a  florist  feels 
a  greater  degree  of  pleasure  at  times  more  than 
others,  it  is  when  he  beliokls  some  new  and  first- 
rate  flower,  which  naturally  leads  him  to  an  inquiry 

to  its  name,  by  whom  it  was  raised,  or  its  method 


of  culture.  It  rarely  occurs  but  that  there  is  a  plea- 
sure in  tracing  its  origin,  more  particularly  when  it 
comes  within  that  sphere  of  amusement  cultivated 
by  himself  There  having  been,  in  my  bumble 
opinion,  no  true  account  given,  or  statement  made, 
by  any  person  relative  to  the  above-named  flower, 
which  within  a  few  years  has  raised  its  head  almost 
from  insignificance  to  a  place  worthy  the  admiration 
of  all  florists,  I  flatter  myself  that  no  person  is  in 
possession  of  better  information  upon  this  subject 
than  myself,  having  been  particularly  acquainted 
with  the  raiser  of  the  first-named  Pink  which  came 
under  the  notice  of  the  public,  as  also  having  had 
access  to  his  books,  as  well  as  personal  information 
from  him.  The  first  Pink  worthy  of  notice  was 
raised  in  the  year  1772,  by  Mr,  James  Major,  who 
was  then  gardener  to  the  Duchess  of  Lancaster ; 
previous  to  which  there  was  but  four  sorts,  and 
those  of  very  little  note,  being  cultivated  only  for 
common  border  flowers.  Mr.  Major  having  saved 
some  seed  in  1771,  he  reared  several  plants,  which, 
blooming  the  next  season,  one  out  of  the  number 
proved  to  be  a  double  flower  with  laced  petals,  at 
which  he  was  agreeably  surprised,  although  he  con- 
sidered it  as  being  only  in  embryo,  and  the  prelude 
to  some  further  advance,  to  be  developed  at  some 
future  period,  which  is  now  verified  by  the  rapid 
strides  this  beautiful  flower  has  made  within  a  few 
years.  Mr.  Major  also  informed  me  that  he  made 
his  discovery  known  to  a  professional  gentleman, 
(a  florist),  who  came  to  see  it,  and  ofi'ered  him  the 
sum  of  ten  guineas  for  the  stock  ;  but  he  declined 
the  offer  till  he  had  consulted  more  of  his  floricul- 
tural  friends,  which  having  done,  one  gentleman 
told  him  he  had  done  perfectly  right  in  not  accept- 
ing the  offer,  and  advised  him  to  increase  the  stock 
for  the  ensuing  year,  and  then  offer  them  for  sale 
to  the  public.  He  took  the  hint,  and  accepted  this 
advice  of  his  friend,  and  sold  it  out  to  the  public  at 
10s.  6f?.  a  pair,  under  the  the  name  of  Major's  Du- 
chess of  Lancashire,  the  orders  for  which  amounted 
to  the  sum  of  £80.  One  order  to  a  single  individ- 
ual of  forty  pairs  was  delivered  at  the  above  price ; 
and  I  think  I  may  venture  to  say  that  no  person 
has  ever  been  able  to  make  half  that  sum  by  any 
new  Pink  since.- — Gardener's  Weeldij. 


Tokay  Wine. — The  village  of  Tokay,  which 
gave  its  name  to  the  Wine,  is  situated  in  Hungary, 
on  the  top  of  a  hill  near  the  meeting  of  the  Rodrog 
with  the  Theiss.  The  vineyards  are  to  the  west  of 
the  Rodrog,  and  they  occupy  a  space  of  10  square 
miles.  The  earth  is  of  yellow  chalk,  mixed  with 
large  pebbles.     The  wine  is  white,  and  the  vintage 


-'.    ^k<^ 


is  commenced  as  late  in  the  year  as  possible,  but 
generallj'  at  the  end  of  October.  There  are  four 
different  kinds  of  Tokay.  The  first  is  made  by  pla- 
cing the  Grapes  when  cleared  of  all  rotten  fruit,  in 
a  wooden  vat,  with  a  double  bottom,  of  which  the 
one  on  which  the  Grapes  rest  is  pierced  with  smaU 
holes.  The  vat  is  filled  with  grapes,  and  covered 
with  boai'ds.  After  a  few  hours  the  grapes  become 
heated  to  SC  Fahrenheit,  and  fermentation  sets  in. 
The  fermentation  destroys  the  tartaric  acid,  and  the 
weight  of  the  grapes  forces  the  juice  through  the 
holes  in  the  bottom.  The  grapes  are  then  trodden 
under  foot,  and  the  wine  is  poured  into  small  casks, 
where  it  remains  exposed  to  the  air  for  a  month 
after  having  fermented  for  two  days.  This  is  the 
wine  which  is  generally  exjjorted.  When  of  good 
quality  it  has  a  silvery,  oily  color,  the  taste  sweet 
and  mellow,  with  a  peculiar  earthy  flavor,  slightly 
astringent  and  aromatic,  with  good  body.  This 
wine  may  be  preserved  for  an  almost  indefinite  pe- 
riod, but  it  is  not  drinkable  until  it  is  three  years 
old.  Some  Yine-growers  in  the  Arriege  cultivate 
vineyards  on  the  tops  of  the  highest  mountains  in 
calcareous  earth,  covered  with  stones  similar  to 
those  found  in  the  vineyards  near  Tokay,  but  they 
have  not  as  yet  succeeded  in  producing  any  thing 
as  good  as  the  Hungarian  wine. — Monit.   Vinecok. 


The  Yeddo  Grape,  by  some  English  horticul- 
turists, is  characterized  as  a  distinct  species,  under 
the  name  Vitis  glaticescens. 


New  Vegetables  in  England. —  Princess 
Royal  Pea  is  prized  here  for  its  productiveness  and 
dwarf  habit,  and  Beck's  Dwarf  Green  Gem  Bean 
is  a  most  productive  and  rich-flavored  little  sort  ex- 
actly suited  to  a  gentleman's  table.  The  Chusan 
Marrow,  a  new  kind  introduced  this  year,  is  bear- 
ing here.  It  is  much  more  shrubby  in  habit  than 
any  other,  is  of  a  striped  green  color,  of  the  same 
shape  as  the  old  kinds,  and  bears  freely,  the  plant 
not  occupying  so  much  ground  ;  it  is  as  delicious  as 
the  Custard  Marrow.  Melville's  A^ariegated  Kale 
is  also  grown  here,  and  in  large  shrubberies  is  a 
highly  ornamental  plant.  Tom  Thumb  Lettuce  is 
a  firm  and  very  small  Cabbage  Lettuce,  not  at  all 
coarse  for  salads  ;  and  Wilson's  Prolific  Cucumber 
is  a  most  abundant  bearer,  and  just  the  sort  for 
amateurs.  Mr.  Ascough  speaks  very  highly  of 
Dean's  Early  Prolific  Potato,  a  small-haulmed  kind, 
only  five  or  six  days  later  than  the  Ashton,  of  medi- 
um size,  but  a  wonderful  cropper,  and  of  excellent 
flavor. — Cor.  of  London  Cottage  Gardener. 


Mr.  Jajies  Veitch,  of  the  Exotic  Nursery, 
Chelsea,  at  the  close  of  the  great  exhibition  at 
Brussels,  was,  on  the  distribution  of  prizes  by  the 
King,  created  a  Knight  of  the  Order  of  Leopold,  in 
consideration  of  his  distinguished  services  to  horti- 
culture. "A  prophet  is  not  without  honor  save  in 
his  own  country."  (Matt.  xiii.  57.) 


Raising  Ferns  prom  Spores. — Provide  a  bell- 
glass — say  one  of  6  or  7  inches  in  diameter,  and  a 
pot  large  enough  to  allow  the  glass  to  go  about  half 
an  inch  into  the  inside  of  it.  Put  a  large  crock  or 
piece  of  pot  over  the  hole  in  the  pot,  and  on  this 
place  smaller  pieces,  so  as  to  fill  the  pot  to  one-half 
its  depth.  A  layer  of  moss  or  the  rougher  parts  of 
the  compost,  should  then  be  placed  over  the  drain- 
age, after  which  fill  the  pot  to  the  rim  wi.th  a  com- 
post of  turfy  peat,  with  a  little  sand  intermixed. 
Gently  press  it  down,  leaving  the  soil  slightly  ele- 
vated in  the  center  of  the  pot.  Water  with  a  rose 
watering-pot,  and  place  the  pot  in  a  saucer  of  wa- 
ter, which  should  never  be  allowed  to  become 
empty  afterwards.  Whilst  the  surface  of  the  soi. 
is  wet  with  the  watering,  brush  the  spores  of  the 
frond  on  to  the  soil  with  the  hand,  and  when  this 
is  done,  put  on  the  bell-glass.  The  pot  should  be 
kept  in  a  moderately  shaded  and  moist  part  of  the 
greenhouse.  The  surface  of  the  soil  must  be  kept 
constantly  moist,  which  it  will  be  if  the  saucer  be 
kept  full  of  water,  and  the  bell-glass  constantly  over 
the  pot.  If,  however,  it  become  dry,  a  gentle 
sprinkling  of  water  should  be  given  through  a  very 
fine  rose.  When  the  seedlings  appear,  the  bell- 
glass  m.ay  be  tilted  a  little  on  one  side  by  placing  a 
small  stone  under  the  edge.  After  the  seedlings 
gain  strength  they  should  be  gradually  exposed  by 
removing  the  bell-glass  by  degrees,  and  potted  sin- 
gly when  of  sufficient  strength.  You  will  only 
succeed  in  raising  the  hardier  greenhouse  species  in 
a  greenhouse  ,  for  the  hardy  kinds,  however,  it  will 
answer  admirably. — London  Cottage  Gardener. 


On  the  Cryptomeria  japonica. — I  believe  in 
the  Cryptomeria,  but  many  people  do  not.  I  think 
that  when  it  attains  something  like  a  fair  size  it 
will  be  a  very  distinct  and  striking  tree— one  which 
will  make  a  feature  in  the  landscape.  I  said  that 
the  main  avenue  is  planted  with  Wellingtonias.  I 
think  the  better  plan  would  be  to  have  Deodars 
and  Wellingtonias  in  alternate  pairs;  but  I  should 
also  have  several  secondary  avenues,  and  one  of 
these  should  be  planted  with  Cryptomerias.  In  the 
account  of  the  ascent  of  Fusi-jama  (the  sacred 
mountain  of  Japan),  which  appeared  in  the  Times, 


of  Novomber  29^  1860,  there  were  one  or  two  ex- 
pn'ssions  which  found  a  home  in  my  note-book. 
^Ir.  Alcock,  our  envoy  at  Jeddo,  and  t^even  others 
(oi'wlioni  tlie  botanist  was  one)  were  the  fir,-t  Eu- 
ropeans to  aM'cnd  that  mountain,  about  which  so 
much  of  mystery  liangs.  The  mouiit<>in  is  an  ex- 
tinct volcano,  about  14,000  feet  in  altitude,  with  a 
crater  at  the  top  some  two  or  three  miles  in  eircum- 
foronce.  The  base  of  it  is  about  JOG  miies  from 
\eddo.  Throughout  the  journey  the  expedition 
found  the  vegetation  most  luxuriant.  '•From  the 
deepest  valley  to  the  mountain  tops  you  beheld  one 
dense  mass  of  flowering  shrubs  and  trees,  in  the 
foliage  of  which  there  is  as  great  a  variety  as  in  the 
scenery."  The  writer  says  also,  ''The  road  from 
Yeddo  to  Odawara — forty-five  miles — is  flanked  on 
either  .«ide  with  gigantic  cedars  and  vines.  The 
efleet  of  many  miles  of  these  avenues,  formed  of 
trees  averaging  from  150  to  180  feet  in  height,  is 
very  striking.  No  tree  is  finer  than  the  Cedar  of 
Japan  {Cryptomeriajaponica).'"  You  see  the  wri- 
ter, who  had  a  great  variety  of  plants  under  his 
eye  as  he  wrote,  says  that  no  tree  is  finer  than  this. 
AVell,  I  will  not  go  that  length  with  him,  but  I  will 
say  that  I  do  not  believe  that  the  Cryptomcria  is 
valued  as  highly  as  it  deserves  to  be. — G'rd.  Weeldy. 


nine-tenths  are  bilocellate  or  nearly  so,  and  only  ,six 
species  ol'Pliaca.  Dr.  Gray  recognizes,  in  a  paper 
read  to  the  American  Acadensy  of  Arts  and 
Sciences,  00  species  of  the  Phaca  series,  and  52  of 
Astragalus  proper.  Moreover,  rather  less  than  half 
of  the  latter  are  bilocellate  by  a  dorsal  septum,  and 
at  least  half  a  dozen  of  difi'erent  groups  have  been 
or  might  be  referred  to  Fliaca.  Dr.  Asa  Gray  con- 
cludes that  Phaca  must  be  merged  in  Astragalus, 
and  that,  since  in,  peihaps,  the  majority  of  Phac?e, 
there  is  no  intrusion  nor  peculiar  tumidity  of  the 
seminiferous  suture,  tlie  subtribe  Astragaleae  of 
DeCandolle  has  no  valid  foundation,  so  that  Astra- 
galus is  merely  a  genus  of  the  Galegeae — Chronicle. 


National  Honors  to  Horticulturt.sts. — 
For  their  distinguished  services  to  Horticulture, 
Napoleon  has  conferred  the  honor  of  Commamler 
of  the  Order  of  the  Legion  of  Honor  on  Mons. 
Brongniart  ;  and  '"  Chevaliers"  of  the  same  order 
on  A.  D'Oumet,  President  of  a  local  Horticultural 
Society,  and  on  ]\Ions.  Pu  R.  Gautbier,  the  emi- 
nent Paris  florist. 

Beurre   Sterkman's   Pear.— M.  Decaisne  in 
Rente   ITorticole   asserts   this  is   the  same   as  the  ' 
BtUe  Alliance.     Baltet  replies,  in  another  number, 
that  Decaisne  is  mistaken.  He  says  the  Sterkmans. 
is  an  extremely  variable  pear  however. 


Phaca  and  Astragalus. — Dr.  Asa  Gray  is 
satisfied  that  the  two  genera  Astragalus  and  Phaca 
must  be  united,  and  that  the  genus  Phaca  must  be 
merged  in  Astragalus.  It  is  in  the  botany  of  Amer- 
ica that  the  distinction  between  Phaca  and  Astra- 
galus is  most  pressing,  and  where  the  data  for  the 
answer  are  most  largely  to  be  found.  While  extra 
tropical  Asia  is  the  focus  of  true  Astragalus,  that 
of  Phaca  is  in  America,  mainly  in  North  America, 
with  an  extension  along  the  Andes  into  S.  America, 
while  the  flora  of  the  Russian  em!)ire  enumerates 
108   species  of   Astragalus;  of  which   more  than 


PEHN'A.  HORTICULTURAL   SOCIETY. 

MONTHLY   DISPLAY,    OCTOBER    11. 

The  best  disi)!ay  (^f  plants,  basket  of  Cut  flowers, 
a!)d  Hanging  basket,  were  awarded  toD.  McQueen, 
gardener  to  J..  Longstreth,  Esq. 

The  second  best  display  of  plants,  second  best 
ba-^ket,  and  best  pair  of  Hand-bouquets,  to  F. 
O'lveefe,  gardener  to  Joseph  Harrison,  Esq. 

Best  Table  design,  to  Tlios.  Meghran,  gardener 
to  Owen  Jones,  Esq. 

The  best  .3  bunches  Foreign  grapes,  to  Robert 
Buist.  They  were  Barbarossa,  Palestine  and  Mus- 
cat Hamburg. 

Best  12  bunches  Native  grapes  Cihey  were  Ca- 
tawba and  Lal'ella),  and  the  best  0  Pears,  to  P. 
S.  Bunting. 

Best  6  bunches  of  Grapes,  and  best  collection  of 
Pears,  to  J.  McLauchlin,  gardener  to  I.  B.  Baxter. 

Best  12  varieties  of  Apples,  to  S.  W.  Noble: — 
Baldwin,  Ridge  Pippin,  Fallowater,  Pennock, 
Northern  Spy,  R.  I.  Greening,  Newtown  Spitzen- 
burg,  Dutch  Mignonne,  Roxbury  Russet,  Jonathan, 
White  Doctor,  and  Smith's  Cider. 

The  Committee  recommended  a  special  premium 
to  G.  N.  Loomis,  for  "  a  cluster  of  bunches  of  a 
new  Seedling  grape,  which,  from  the  specimens,  is 
a  very  promising  grape." 

S.  W.  Noble,^F.  O'Keefe,  J.  Eadie,  Committee. 

The  Vegetable  Committee  "called  the  attention" 
of  the  society  to  some  Seedling  potatoes,  from  S. 
G.  Sharpless,  called  'Monitor.'  Others,  called 
'  Buckley's  Seedlings,'  from  John  R.  Penrose,  and 
awarded  a  premium  to  A.  W.  Harrison,  for  Cuzco, 
Garnet  Chili,  and  Pinkeye  Rusty  Coats. 

Thos.  Evans  and  R.  Kilvington,  Committee. 


Cltt  iiarHner'a  P011IW5. 


YOL.  YI. 


Abies  Menziesii,  21 
"      Polita,  25 
"      Bi'idgei,  57 

"     Canadensia      microphylla, 
27  ti 
Abutilon,  Regelii,  245 
Academy    of    Natural    Sciences, 
Proceedings  of,  56,  148, 
"        at  Lansing,  88 
Acacia  myriobotria,  245 
"        odoratissima  pendula,  245 
"       Petio!ari8,373 
Acclimatizing  of  Plants,  72 
Acer  Pseudo-platanus,  373 
Achimeoes,  llO 
Acbyranthea  Verscbaffeltii,  373 
Ada  aurantiaca,  275 
After  Culture,  4-1 
African  Fruits,  287 
Agriculture,   Report  of  Commis- 
sioner of,  24 
Agrioulture,'Departme»t  of,  242 
Agricultural  Mission    to  China, 

245 
Allen  Raspberry,  The,  183 
Alterations  in   the   Philadelphia 

Seed  Trade,  53 
American  Raspberries,  20 

•'         Institute,  Horticultural 

Society,  191 

"         Pomological  Society,  222 

"         Horticulturists,  Old,  260 

Anacharsis  Canadensis,  186 

Annual  Register,  &c.  for  1864,  24 

"        Address  of  Pres.  Grider, 

164 

Annuals,  with  Ornamental  ^Foli- 
age, 31 
"        Fragrant,  31 
"        Early  Flpweriug,  59 
"        At  Carter's  Seed  Farm, 
317 

Apparatus,  Cheap  Hot-water,  137 
Apple-pie,  Melon,  37 
Apple,  The  Co)  vert,  27 

"      Ribstone  Pippin,  in  Iowa, 

27 
"      Stanard, 77 
"     The  Grimes'  Golden  Pippin 

77 
"      Jelly  made  cheaply  from 

New  Cider,  118 
"      Orchard,  Treatment  of  an, 

119 
"     about  the  Chenango  Straw- 
berry, 136,  176 
"      Trees,  Root-grafted,  176 
"     The  William's,  in  Massa- 
chusetts, iS4 
"      Ben  Davis,  207 
"     The  Belmont,  in  Ind.,  207 
"       All-summer,  309 
"       Orchards    in     Neglected 

Grounds,  313 
"      New  Missourian,  346 


Apples,  Roman,  23 
"        Double,  28 
"       Best  Winter,  91 
"       for  the  Northwest,  117 
"       Dwarf,    for    Surburban 

Gardens,  189 
'        from   Woodbury,    N.    J.. 

276 
■'       Double,  280 
'      Young,   in  old  Orchards, 
341 
Arundo  Couspicua,  311 
Asparagus,  Planting,  71 
Asplenium  Ferrulaceum,  152 
Associations,  Scientifi<^,  248 
Athanasia  annua,  208 
Athyrium  Filix  foemina,  A  new 

variety  of,  311 
Atlantic  Monthly,  273 
Attached  Greenhouses,  43 
Aucuba  japonica,  new,  79 
Australian  Tree,  Gigantic,   124 
Autumn  Nelis  Pear,  Graham's,  26 
Azaleas,  done  blooming.  31 
Azalea  indica,  imperialis,  78 


Borer,  The  Peach  Tree,  171 
Boston  Curled-Lettuce,  119 
Botanic  Gardens  of  Trieste,  221 
Bouquet  Wedding,  279 
BoussinRaultia  gracilis,  311 
Bouvardia  leiantha,  311 
Bremen  Wine  Cellar,  318 
Brick-makiuj;  Machine,  87 
Brinckle.Rr.  W  D, Portrait of,36S 
British  Plants,  Popular  names  of, 

307 
Brooklyn   Horticultural    Society, 

223 

Buffalo  Strawberry,  The,  77 
Bulbs,  Growiug,  239 
Buttercups,  Poisoning  by,  286 
Butterflies,  Twelve  millions,  122 
Butternut,  Sugar  from  the,  348 


Bartram,  John,  49 

Basket  Plants,  New,  112 

Barkeria  Skinneri  Superba,  373 

Beaton,  Donald,  Death  of,  28 

Bean,  On  the  Lima,  38 

Beauty  of  Nature.  284 

Bedding  Plants,  28 

"  Geraniums,  209,  284 
"  at  Kew  Gardens,  281 
"      Plants,  Few  new,  298 

Begonia  Rex,  29 
"       Mannii,  209 

Begonias,  Where  They  come  from, 
369 

Ben  Davis  Apple,  207 

Belmont  Apple  in  Indiana,  The, 
207 

Berberidopsis  corallina,  25 

Berberry  as  Hedge  Plants,  118 

Berberis  Stelophylla,  276 

Beurre  Sterkman's  Pear,  378 

Biennial  Flowering  Plants,  107 

Bignonia  cupreata,NQte8  on  the,  85 

Bignonia  Crucigera,  85 

Biota  Pendula,  221 

Bird  Murder,  123 

Birds  vs.  Squirrels  in  the  Public 
Squares,  228 

Black  berry,  The,  117 

Bla-ck  Thorn  for  Fences,  120 
"    Rust  on  Verbeuas,  137 

Blight  in  Trees,  349 

Bo^ue's  F.ureka  Grape, 

Boibophyllum  Rhizophorss,  81 

Books,  Horticultural,  23 
"       177 

Boot,  Dr.,  Death  of,  81 

Boots,  Oiling,  185 

Borer,  Orange-tree,  153 


Calabrian  Raisin  Grape,  10 

Calanthe  Veitchii  hybrida,  25 

Calceolaria  ericoides,  78 

Calico  Varnishiug,  154 

California,  Tree  Cotton  in,  88 
Wild  Fruits,  247 

Camellia,  Duchess  de  Nassau,  79 
«         Sarah  Frost,  116 
"         Fanny  Sanchlola,  275 

Canada  Thistle  at  Red  River,  216 

Canker-worm,  Preventive  of,  330 

Carnation,  The  Tree.  60 

Carter's  Seed  Farm,  Annuals  at, 
,317 

Cape  Jasmine,  87 

Catawba  Grape,  The,  169 

Cattleya  quadricolor,  372 

Ceanothus  cnneatus,  26 

Celery,  Storing,  348 

Cement  Tanks,  242 

"  Hooker's,  336 

Central  Park  Fountain,  28 

Ceropegia  Bowkeri,  58 

Cereus  Pterogonus,  181 

"       Flowering    of'  the  Night 
Blooming,  236 

Character  of  a  good  Rose,  153 

Chenango  Strawberry  Apple,  136 

Cheap  Cold  Vineries,  139 

"      Hot-water  Apparatus,  137 

Cherry,  The  May,  27 

Cherries,  Bottling,  i  85 

Chestnut,  Tahitian,  255 

Chinese  Primrose,    Fern-leaved, 


25 
Chrysanthemum,  Striped   Japan 

ese,  26 
Chrysanthemum  c  or  on  a  rium 

Dwarf  Yellow,  57 
Chronicles  of  a  Garden,  115 
Classification  of  Fruits,  110 
Clematis  Fortuuii  and  Standishii, 

311 
"        Jackmanni,  347 
Clomenocoma  montana,  81 
Clove  Pink,  Origin  of  the,  376 


Coal,  Substitute  for,  312 
Coccolaba  platyclada,  25 
Coclogyne  lagenaria,  181 
Cucoanut  Refuse,  340 
Coccosypsilon  discolor,  372 
iCoJonopsis  cordata,  181 
Coffee  Tree,  History  of  the,  250 
Cold  Graperies,  5 

of  January  m  the  Southwest 

86 
at  Rochester,  Wi3con3in,112 
Grapery,  112 
Vinery,  146 

''    Grapes  for  a,  341 
Color,  with  Purslane,  To,  248 

"      Science  of,  253 
(!jlvert  Apple,  The,  27 
Comparative  Merits  of  newGrapea 

8 
Construction   of  a   Propagating- 

Honse,  6 
Construction  of  Greenhouses,  40 
Contributions    to    the    Sanitary 

Fair,  Florists',  272 
Coniferse,  Habit  of,  156 

Notes  on  Hardy,  265 
Cool  Treatment  of  Orchids,  29 
Corysanthos  limbata,  81 
Correction,  87 

Correspondents,  Annoyances  of, 
305 
«  339 

Cotton  Plant  in  Italy,  The,  125 
Country  Life,  82 

Gentleman,  244 
Seat  on  the  Hudson,  278 
Criticism  Sentimental,  241 
Cricket  and  Horticulture,  317 
Crystallized  Fruit,  313 
Cryptomeria  japonica.  On  the,  377 
Culture  of  the  Onion,  69 

"      the  Oilicinal  Rhubarb, 

108 
"     Perennial  Phloxes,  153 
"     GreenhouseCyclamens 
158 
Curious  Errors,  53 
Curculio  Remedy,  171 

205 
Currant  Worm,  306 

"      Mode  of  drying  the  Com- 
mon, 347 
Cuttings,  Striking,  132 

"         Starting  DelawareGrape 
Vines  from,  185 
Cyclamen  Culture,  157,  282 
Cyclamens,  Species  of,  157 

• '  C  ul  ture  of  Greenhouse 

158 
Cypripedium,  Hookers,  25 

"  Caricinum,  317 

Cyrtanthus  lutescens,  181 


Dahlia,  Native  Place  of  the,  23 
"      Beautiful  New,  79 


mnj ' 


Mt  (Sardm^r'fi  Jlonthlg. 


Dahlia,  Imperialis,  221 
'•      HISI017  of  tlie,  2)4 

Dammaua  Oiientali->,  81 

Danver's  Farmers'  Club,  76 

Daiiiols,  Ilowaril,  DoatU  of,  61 

Deciduous  Treet,  Eveigreensfrom|f 
214 

Defining  Species  Diracultiesof,220 

Delaware  i'eache.s,  23 

"         Vine,  The  Premium,  5 

Deudrobium  infuuilibulum,  115 
"  luti'ohim,  208 

"  FylcUiaauin,  275 

"  marginatuui,  373 

Department  of  Agiiculturo,  212 

Dictyopteris  variant,  lo2 

Dierviila  multiflcra,  1.02 

Diseases  of  the  Grape,  164 

Dimorphism,  306 

Divesting  Fruit  of  their  Pulp,  8 

Doolittle  Blackcap  Ilaspberry,  119 

Double  Apples,  28 
"      Flowers,  186 

Doyenne  du  Comice  Pear,  220 

Drag  Hoes,  112 

Dreanitborp,  113 

Drying  Flowers  i  n  their  Natural 
C'llors,  51 

Duchess  of  Buccleuch  Grape,  316 

Dwarf  Pears  and  Grapes  for  Can- 
ada, 87 


Eastern  Asia,  Scientific  and' ndu 
trial  txpiOration  in,   1^ 
Economic  Heating,  264 
EUisdale  Raspberry,  26 
Elm,  Old,  at  Pittsfitl.l.  312 
Emmiins,  Dr  E  ,  Death  of.  81 
Encephalartus  ho/iidus,  181 
English  Pea>s,  iVew,  207 
"        Kursery,  217 
"        Ivy,  Flowering  of,  341 
Epigearepens,  Double,  146 
Erantbemum  tuberculatum,  :~>S 
"  rul.roveuium,  78 

"  Cooperi,  373 

Evergreens  in  Pots  or  Tubs,  23 

"  Lending  Grace  to,  99 

"  Theory  of   Grafting. 

148 
"  Shading,  206 

"  from      Deciduous 

Trees,  214 
Evergreen  Trees  and  Shrubbery 

297 
Everbeariug  Raspberries,  341 
Experimeutal  Garden,  Washing- 
ton, The,  27 
Exhibition  of  Ptrawberrios  at  the 

Sanitary  Fair.  204 
Exhalations  of  PU.nts,  284 

P. 

Farmers'  Club.  Danvers',  76 
Fences,  Lombardy  Poplar  for,  119 
"       Scandinavian,  217 
"        Bla#k'ihiirn  for,  120 
Fern-leaved,  Chinese  Primrose, 

2j 
Ferns,  Notes  on,  33 

"        from  Spores,  Raising,  377 
Fern,  New,  242 

Fertilizing  Power  of  Pollen,  28.5 
Firelili^ht,  .'!66 

Flower-garden  and  Pleasure 
ground,  1.  33,  6.0.  97,  120, 
161,  194,  225, 2j7,  289,321, 
353 
Flower  Market,  123 

"     I'-eds,  Conii.etitionin,  124 
Flowers,  To  dry,  29 

'•       Dryiu^'  in  the  Natural 

Colors,  51 
"        Double,  1.S6 

AVild,  172,  201,  236,  268, 
301.  335 
"         Wax,  206 
Florist.s'  ConlrJmtiou  to  the  Sani 
tary  Fair,  272 


Flowering  Plants,  Biennial,  107 
"         of  the  Night-blooming 

Cereus,  236 
"         TreeB,Vines,Shrubs,&c. 
36.5 
Fines,  48 

Food,  on  the  Preservation  of,  14 
Forcing,  3 

"        Principally  by  sun-heat 
102 
Foreign  Grape.  New,  1S2 
Fountain,  Central  Park,  23 
Fragrant  Annuals.  31 
French's  Seedling  Strawberry,  207 
Fruit  Garden,  1.   34,  66,  9S.  1:;0, 
162,  194,  227 ,'258, 291,321, 
354 
•'      Divesting,  of  their  Pulp,  8 
"      Preserving.  75 
"      Growers'  Society  of  Wes- 
tern New  Y()rk,"90 
"      Grower.s'  Society  of  Eas 
tern     Pennsylvania,    62 
126,  226,  240;  288 
"      in  Richmond,  Ind.,  242 
"      Ciystallized,  .313 
"       Garden,  Miniature,  342 
"      at  tlie   New    York   State 

Fair,  349 
"      Ripen  on  theVine,Let,371 
Fruits,  All  the  yeir  round,  61 
Cla.ssification  of,  110 
Variation  in.  U>3 
C.ilifornia  Wild,  247 
D>^geaeracy  of,  283 
African.  287 
Hybridization  of,  314 
Pterin s,  349 
The  Prize,  374 
Fuchsias  from  Seed,  .54 
Fuchsia  "Lord  of  the  Manor"  80 
Fungi,  27 

Furnaces  Inside  Greenhouses,  36, 
170 

G. 

Gardening,  Window,  2 

Imagination  and  Fan- 
cy in,  83 

Modern,  217 
Gardeners,  134 

Garden,  Experimental  at  Wash- 
ington, 27 

How  to  lay  out  a,  242 
of  L.  B.  Gavitt,  Lyons,N. 
T,  278 

A  Winter,  349 
Gardens,  Fine,  near  Chicago,  313 
Geraniums,  New,  79 

New  Bedding.  209,  310 
Horse-shoe.  250 
Godetia  ruhicunda  srdendens,  68 
'^enetyllis  fimbriata.  348 
Gigantic  Australian  Tree, 
Gladiolus,  122 

Pronunciation   of,  305, 
342 

Propagating  292 
Glass  Structures,  Waste  heat  in, 

125 
Gloxinias,  116 
Gloxinia  macnlata,  181 
Glorying  in  the  Goad,  279 
Gold  Fish.  FeediD?,  374 
Good  Old  Roses.  29 

News  for  Lovers  of  Peaches 

247 
Annuals    at  Carter's    Seed 
Farm,  317 
Goodrich,  Chauncey  E.,  Death  of, 

215  Growing  Lima  Beans  in  Beds,  106 

Gooseberry,  Mountain   Seedling,         "       Bulbs,  239 

244  [Growth     of   Trees     on     Frazer' 

Gordon's  Pinetnm,  Supplement  to  River,  2S2 

65 

Gossip,  Western,  170  |  H. 

Grrahim's  Autumn  Nelis  Pear,  26 

Grafting  Wax,  A  new,  119  jHaggerstown,  David,  Death  of,  2S 

Evergreens,  Theory  o  f,  Hale's  Early  Peach,  207 
148  I  Half-hardy  plants  in  Winter,  Pre- 

Best  time  for,  183  serving,  240 


Grape,  Calabrian  Raisin,  10 
"      Rogers'  No.  15,  19 
"  "  "      again,  85 

"  "      No.  19,  276 

"      Seedless,  23 
"      Vine  Insect,  23 
"      Vine%  New  way  to  Propa 

gate,  52 
"       Houses  with(jut  Inside 

Posts,  71 
"      Underbill  Seedling,  7 
"      87 
"      Planting  and  Pruning  the 

91 
"      for  Wine,  What,  113 
"       Pope  Black  Hamburg,  124 
"      Charlesworth  Tokay,  124 
"      Notes  on  the,  131 
«      Culturist,  147 
"       Archfield  Muscat,  154 
"      Diseaaas  of  the,  164 
"      The  Catawba,  169 
"      New  Foreign,  182 
"      The  Delaware,  278 
"       Marmalade,  304 
"      Vine,  Mildewing,  .306 
"      New  Hut-house,  ;-09 
"      Prize,  The  Greeley,  339 
"      Seedling,  .341  ' 
"      Vines,  Pruning,  341 
"      Roijers'  No  4,  344 
"      New  ForeigQ,  340 
"      Duchess  of  Buccleuch,  346 
"       Rogers'  Hybrid,  369 
"      Bouge's  Eureka,  37i 
•'      The  Yeddo,  377 
Grapes,  Comparative  Merits  of,  S 
Growth  of  Rogers'Hybrid 
23 

Keeping,  after  they  are 
Ripe,  30 
Notes  on,  36,  49 
47.92 

Three  best,  to  Plant,  54 
for  Greenhouse,  86 
and  DwarfPears  for  Can 
ada,  87 
Premium  Rogers'  Hybrid 
No.  19,  140 
Hothouse,  147 
Premium,  Rogers'  Hybrid 
140 

Native,  160 
Notes  on,  263 
White,  272 
at  Rochester,  339 
"       for  a  Cold  Vinery,  341 
"       Diana,     Hamburg    and 

White  Muscat,  344 
"      How  many  pounds  up  on 
an  acre,  348 
Grapery.  Cold,  112 

205 
Graperies,  5 

"  in  Winter,  Uses  of,  264 

«  Cold.  271 

Grasses,  Ornamental,  318 
Greely  Prize  Grape,  The.  339 
Greenhouse  Plants,  54,  177 

"  Tropajolums,  252 

290 
Greenhouses  and  Grounds  of  Mr. 
Hackett,  28 
"  Construction  of,  40 

"  Attached,  43 

'•  Iron,  156 

"  Fttrnaces  inside  of, 

170 
"  Portable,  316 

Grimes'  Golden  Pippin  Apple,  The 


Hanging-Bai-kets,  How  to  FiU'334 

Heating  Horticultural  Buildings, 

111,  133 

"        Ec.iuomic,  187,  264 

Hedges  in  Canada,  Honey  Locust 

118 
Hedge  Plant,  Berberry  as,  118 

"  Honey  Locust  as  a, 

306 
Helichrysum,   Manuii,  L52 
Heliotrope  for  Winter  Flowering, 

183 
Helipterum  Sandfordii,  58 
Hemlock,  Variegated,  57 
Henderson's,  Peter,  New  Houses, 

362 
Herbaceous  Plants,  141 
llisbiscus    Hue^elii   quinquevul- 

nera,  58 
Higginsia  Ghiesbechtii,  25 
History  of  the  Tuberose,  22 

"      Coffee  Tree,  250 
"      Dahlia,  2.54 
Hoes,  Drag,  112 
Hollyhock  Seed,  217 
Honey  Locust  Hedges  in  Canada, 
118 

Locust  as  a  Hedge  Plant, 
306 
Hooker's  Cement  Tanks,  336 
Horse-shoe  Geranium,  2.50 
Horticultural   Society,  Pa.,  10,  32 
61,  104,  126,  141,  158,  190, 
288,  319,  350 
"  Books,  23 

"  Directory,  24 

"  Society,    Brooklyn, 

32,  228 
"  "  Hampden 

Co,  64 
"  Buildings,  Heating, 

111,  13.j 
"  Department  at  San- 

itary Fair,  210,  246 
"  Hall,  A  new,  184 

Horticulture,  A  Japanese   Work 
on,  68 
"  Magazine  of.  132 

"  Patents  in,  266 

"  Just  now,  270 

"  and  Cricket,  .il7 

"  in   the  Pennsylva- 

nia Legislature,  342 
Horticulturists,  Old  Ainerican,260 
"  National   Honors 

to,  .376 
Hot  and  Greenhouse,  2, 228,  259 
Hot-water  Pipes,  23 

Apparatus,  Cheap,  137 
Tanks,  325 
How  to  keep   Rjots  inside  Vine- 
ries. 251 
fill  a  Vase,  296 
"    Hanging  Basket,  334 
Hoya  carnosa,  197 
Hybernation  of  Insects,  331,  356 
Hybridization  of  Fruits,  314 
Hydrangea,  251 


rjex  Fortunii,  25 

tllinois  State  Horticultural  Socie- 
ty, 94 
maginalion  and  Fancy  in  Gar- 
dening, 83 
Indiana  Pomological  Society.32,93 
Ink  Plant,  Tlie,  217 
Insects,  18,  272 

'      Language  of,  124 
'       Hybernation  of,  331,  356 
Intermediate  istock,  31 
Iron  Greenhouses,  156 

s. 

Jap.an,  Peaches  in,  216 
'      Varnish  Tree.  2l!i 
'       Letter  from,  200 
Japanese  Chrysanthemums,  stri- 
ped, 26 
"  Work  on  Horticulture, 

68 


&t  &^n\mtf%  lUnthte. 


Juniperns  rigida,  78 
Junipers,  341 

E. 

Keeping  Grapes    after  they   are 

Ripo,  30 
Kew  Garclpus,  The  Redrljngat,281 
Kilmaraock  Willow, 369 
KiQ  the  Botanist,  338 

L. 

Larix  Lyalli,  7S 

Large  I'luras,  '^47 

Lawiv,  Liyiag  down  a,  232 

Laying  down  a  Lawn,  2j2 

Lemons  aad  Oranges,  Preserving, 

]-,6 
Lemon  Troesin  Northern  Italy,219 
Lending  (irace  to  Ev-Tgreens,  99 
Lettuce,  l:;ostoa  Curled,   119 
Lifting  the  Roots  of  Vines    and 

Renewing  the  Border,&8, 

1.j4 
Lilium  auratum,  298 
Lima  Bean,  On  the,  38 
"      Beans  in  Beds,  Growing,108 
"       Priz",  136 
Liquorice  Roots,  55 
Lombard  I'lum,  88 
Lombardy  Poplar  for  Fences,  119 
Lord  Byron's  Tr.es,  118 
Lupiuus  albo-coccineus,  245 
Lycloptelium  pubitlorum,  26 

Prl. 

Macleania  ]>iilchra,  347 

"  si'ivi.jsis.siina,  373 

Magazine  of  it  ):-ticulture,  132 
Maine  Board  of  AL'riculture,  95 
Maiiing  Superphosphate,  88 
Manuring  Strawberries,  304 
Maple  vSuitar,  31 
Maryland,  Western,  37 
Marvul  of  PourSeasous  Raspberry 

147 
Jlarmalade,  Grape,  304 
Mass.  Hort.  Society,  Origin  of  the, 

117 
Mcintosh,  Charles,  Death  of.  81 
Mead,  P.  B..  Letter  from,  248 
Mead's  t-eedling  Strawi)erry,   30n 
Meconopsis  aculeata,  373 
Melon  Apple-pie,  37 

"    Notes  on  the.  101 
Microstylus  discolor.  .OS 
Microscope,  Crai.',  147 
Micrenthe'.Ui  cani:i:lci,  373 
Mimulns  repeus,  liG 

"         tigrid'oidefi,  152 
Missouri  and  lUinois  Importing 

Association,  9.) 
"        State  Uort.  Society,  148, 

179 
MiscellancoiLs  Sketches,  19".,  293 
Jli^sinn  to  (:'hina,Aj;ricultural,24.'> 
Mistletoe,  Superstition  c  ncerning 

the,  221 
"         Propagating  the,  254 
Modern  G.trdoning,  217 
Monthly,  lu'ceivin;,'  the,  242 

'•  Writing  for  tlie,  -42 
Monoch:etnm,  The  Flowering,374 
Mountiiin  Seedling  Gooseberry,244 
Jioth,  Pomesranate,  156 
M-nmniy  Wheat.  281 
Mushroom  Ilouae,  123 
Mushrooms,  239 
Museum   of  Natural   History  at 

Charleston,  S.  C.,184 
Mutisia  decurrens,  155 

N. 


National   Poraological  Society,  90  Pegging  down  Rosps,  120 
Neniophila,  Disk-shaped.  373  Pel.a-goninras,  Seedliuff,  206 

New  Variety  of  the  Potato,  27         Pelargonium,  Bowkeri,  11) 

Wav    to   Propagate    Grape  "  United  Italy,  .^^73 

Vines  52  Pennsylvania  11  ■rticnUural  Sorie- 

Pvr"tlirnmH.  .56  ty,  10,  32,  fil,  104,120141. 

An<-nba,iaponica,79  158  190,288.319   350 

Geraniums,  79  IPennsylvania Tea-plant,  111 

Volume  Gardener's  Monthly  '<  Tea,  241 


Names  of  Plants.  23 

N.imo  of  Plant,  87,  112 
Name  of  our  Paper,  27ri 
Native  Place  of  the  Dahlia.  23 

"      Grapes,  ICO 

National  Experimental  Gardens,  Pears,  New  English,  207 

24  '     "       New  Foreign,  371 


85 
"    Grape,  87 
"    Basket  Plant,  112 
"    Grafting' Wax,  182 
"    Foro'gn  Grape,  182 
"    Fern,  242 
"    Seedlings.  337 
Nickerson  Pear,  77 
N'ight-blooming    Cerens,   Flower- 
ing of  the,  2.^6 
Northern  Ppy  A ppi'\  123 
Note  on  ITnrdy  Coniferac.  265 
Notes  on  Grapes,  36,  49,263 
"        Ferns,  33 
"         Peaches,  42 
"        the  Bignonia  cupreata, 
85 
the  Melon,  101 
Notice   to   the  Public  in  English 

Gardens.  l-'O 
November  Bloomin.g  Roses,  285 
Nnrs<:vy.  3 

"         Enslish,  217 
Nursery  Business  in   California 

147 
Nurseries  at  Bloomington,  111. ,37:" 


Oaks,  Weepinsr,  124 

Officinal  Rhubarb,  Culture  of  the 

103 
Ohio  Pomolocical  Society,  92 
Oiling  Boot''.  185 
Olive  Oil  and  Vinesar,  .313 
Onion,  Culture  of  the,  69 
Onions.  88 

Orange-trre  Borer,  1  53 
Oranges  in  the  Unite  1  States,  294. 

332 
"       and  Lemons,  Preserving. 

1.56 
Orchids,  Cool  Treatment  of,  29 
O-chard-honse-,  317.379 
Orchards.  Shall  we  ph.wonr?  llf' 
Orchard-honse  Cnltnrr,  143 

"  at  Sawbridgworth. 

221 
"  I.  PuUens.  2M 

Orchard  Management,  183 
'""ritrin  of  Si)e''ies.  215 
Ornanien^il  P'anti  ng  of  Trees  and 

Shrubs.  10 

Gras*;es,  31  S 
Ornitholognm  anreum,  109 


Paint,  Volatile   Soap  for  Remov- 
ing. 278 
Panax  sessiliflovnm,  25 
Pansy,  D'>nblo  "Good  Gracious," 

317 
Patents  in  HoTticulture,  266 
Peach-prnwhig,  145 
"     Tree  Borer,  171 
"     Trees. Prunim;;  of  Pyramid- 
al, 188 
"      Hale's  Early,  207 
Peaches,  Delaware,  28 
"         Notes  on,  42 
"        in  .Tapan.  216 
"        Good  News  for  Lover? 
of.  247 
335 
Pear,  Nickerson,  77 

Graham's  Autumn  Nelis,  26 
Tr  es,  Old.  28 
Seeds,  54 

Doycn'^r.rinConiir-e.  22C 
Tree,  Mammoth,  312 
B'-nrro  Sterkmau's,  378 


PhKflranassa  obtusa,  25,  181 
Phaljenopsis  intermedia.  ISl 
Philological  Criticism, 241 
Phloxes,    Culture    of  Perennial, 

1.53 
Phyllocactns  crenaln=,  25 
Phyrmium'Van-deit  Heckei,  275 
Pinus  lanceolata,  81 

Pence,  152 
Pipes.  Hot-water,  23 
Pitcarnii,  tabulteforniis,  25 

pungens,  8] 
Plantingof  Trees  and  Shrubs,  Or-j 

nament'>l,  10 
Plant,  Name  of,  87, 112,  341  i 

"     houses,    Wa'-ming    water 

for  use  in.  174 
"      houses,  Warminc;  and  Con- 
struction of,  205 
"      The  Ink,  217 
Plan  for  a  Rose  Bed,  175 
t^lant-ho-ises.  Construction  of,190 
Plants,  Room.  4 

"       Name^of  23,  112, 177,  242 
"        Redding   2S 
"        and  Plant-houses,  34 
"        Greenhouse,  54,  177 
"       Acclimatizing,  72 
"       Biennial  Flowering,  107 
"         Ne-w  Ha^ket,  112 
"        Hardy  HerbaceouB.  146 
"       Rxhq'lations  of,  '/'<l 
"       B'iiish.Popular  Namosof 
3  07 
Planting  Asp^ra«rTis.  71 

"        and  Pruning  the  Grape, 

91 
"        Strawberry  Beds,  m 
Hot-house  Orape.s,  147 
Plnm.  Richland.  23 
"       Lombard,  88 
«       Trees,  Trvnning,  219 
Plums.  Large,  247 
Plumbago  rosea,  181 
T-odophyllum  peltatum,  2<^a 
Poisonous  Properties    of  Shade- 

g-own  Plantn,  lis 
Poisoning  by  Buttercups,  S'^S 
Polvchilua  cornui-cervi.  115 
Polvanfhiis,  Sof-dlins,  205 
Pollen,  FertiliTiiusf  Power  of,  28." 
Pomegranate  Moth.  156 
Potato,  New  Variety  of  the,  27 
Potentillas,  Double-flowering,  311 
Pot  Cnlture,  Indiscretion  in,  362 
■Ponrettia  pungens,  78 
Prac'ical  Proorres",  238 
Premium  Delaware  Vine.  5 

Rogers'  Hybrid  Grapes 
140 
Preservation  of  Food,  on  the,  14 
Pre.=erving  Fruit.  75 

Oranges  and  Lemons 
1.56 
Primula  cortusoides,  311 
Prize  Lima  Eeaiis.  1.36 
Protectors,  Tree,  75 
Proceedinss  of  Academy  Natural 
Sciences  of  Philadelphia, 
148 
Proceedings  of  the  Missouri  State 
Horiicultural  Society.  148 
Prominciation  of  Gladiolus,  .305 
Propagating-house.  Construction 

ofa.6,  .52.  74 
Propagating  Tborus,  53 
""  hou.ses.  108 

"  of  Gladiolu".  '. 

Pruriingof  Pyramidal  Peach Ti-ees 
188 
"         G'apo  Vines,  341 
Publishers  Notice,  366 
Pugh,  Dr.  Evan,  Death  of,  182 
Pulp,  Divesting  Frait  of  their,  8 


Pumps,  177 

Purple-cane  Raspberry,  248 

Putty  and  Paint,  Solvent  for  old, 

83 
Pyrothrums,  New,  56 
I'yrelhrum  Mons.  Barral,  151 

Q. 

Quamoclit  Nationis,  373 

n. 


Railroad  Fuel,  Wood  for,  313 
Raspberry  Eilisdale,  20 
•'  The  Allen,  53 

64 
"         Doo!ittleBlackcap,119 
"  Marvel  of  Four  Seasons 

147 
"         Purple-cane.  248 
Raspberries,  American,  20 

"  Tbe  Newer,  245 

'•  273 

"  Everbearing,  341 

ed  Spid:-r,  Destroying  the,  315 
lied.  Wh  to  and  Black  Spruce, 340 
Report  of    the   Commissioner  o  f 
Agriculture.  24 
eply  to  -Pox  Meadow,"  329 
hodoleiidrous.  44 
llUododeudrouSeed.  60,  116 

Priucebs  of  Wales, 
116 
Rhubarb,  Officinal,  Culture  of.luS 
Ribstone  Apple  in  I-iwa,  27 
Richland   Piuin   and   Grape-vine 

Inse.-t,  23 
Ritchiea  polypetala,  25 
Rogers'  Premium  Hybrid  Grape, 

110 
Rogers'  Grape,  No.  15,  19 
19,  273 
"  4,  314 

Rolling  the  Ground,  2u2 
Roman  Apple,  23 
Room  I 'hints.  4 
Rose,  ]\fr-!.  William  Paul,  58 

Ba-.on  de  Kotbschild,  116 
'i  ree,  122 

Character  of  a  good,  153 
Roses,  (Sood  old,  29 

New,  of  1862.35 

60 

Tea,  89 

Pegging  down,  120 

November  Blooming,  285 

at  London     Horticultural 

Exhibition,  286 
Large  Grower  of, 288 
New,  312 

Hybrid  Perpetual,  .342 
Russellia  juncea,  Culture,  122 
Russian  Violet,  The,  60 

s. 

.9accolabium,373 

>audv  Ground,  Trees  for,  241 

Sanitary     Fair,     Exhibition     of 

Strawberries  at,  204 
Sanitary  Fair,  Horticultural  De- 
partment, 210,  246 
Sap,  Ascent  of  the,  177 
Sarmienla  repens,7S 
Scandinavian  Fences,  217 
Schizostylis  coccinea,  115 
.Science,  The  Value  of.  189 
"        in  Sport,  197,261 
"       of  Color,  253 
Scientific  Associations,  248 
Scraps,  171 
Seakale.  283 
Sedum  Sicboldii,  81 
Seedless  Grape,  23 
Seodliug  Polyanthus,  205 

"       Pelargonium,  206 

"        New,  357 

"       Grape,  341 
Sentimental  Critism,  241 
Sequoia  gigantea,  28 
Shade  Grown  Plants,  Poisonous 
Properties  of,  118 


SChc  ^nrkntr'j)  Montltln. 


Shading  Evergrsens,  20fi 
Shrubbery  and  Trees,  livergreenf 

207 
Sketches,  Miscelliine.ms,  ^0^.  203 
Solvent  of  old  Putty  i^nd  Piiiut, 

88 
Solanium  nnthvopopliiiu'orum,  116 
SoneriUa,  gramlifl  n'a.  81 
Species  of  Cyi-buiiciis,  l.J7 
"      Origin  of.  215 
"       DillicuUy  oll1<>fining,  220 
Sphoeraleea  !icorit'il..i,  -.S 
Sphserogyue  latit'olia,  7i? 
Spiraea  aurea,  272 
Sport,  Science  in,  197,  2G1 
Spruce,  Black,  272 
Starting  Delaware  Grape  Vines 

from  Cottiugs,  IS.i 
Stearic  Acid,  147 
Stenogrosta  multiflora,  78 
Stock,  Intermediate,  30 
Stocksior  Vines,  220 
Strawberry,  The  Buffalo,  77 

"  Beds,  rianting.  111 

"  Mound,  A,  116 

"  in  1861.  Tlio,  U-i 

"  Name  of,  177 

"  The  Tribune,  206 

"  French's3eedlin<>;,207 

"  Mead's  Seedling,  ."00 

Strawberries  in  New  Zealand,  1S6 
"  Exhibition  at  Sani- 

tary Fair,  204 
"  The  Newer,  245 

"  in  England,  271 

"  Manuring.  304 

"  Foreign,  410 

Striking  Cuttings,  132 
Substitute  for  Coal,  312 
Sugar  Maple,  31 
"       Trade  with  the  Indians,lS.5 
"      from  the  Butternut,  348 
Sun-heat.  Forcing  principally  by, 
102 


Supplement  to  Gordon's  Pinetum, 


Superphosphate,  Making,  88 
Superstition  Concerning  the  Mi.v 

tletoe,  221 
Sweet  Potato.Floworingof  the,341 


Trees,  Individual   Beauty  of,  302,  Vinegar  and  Olive  Oil,  313 

"     Ornamental  IJeciduou-s,  330Vineyaril.s,  360 
Treatment  of  an  Apple   Orchard,  Violet,  The  Russian,  60 


allow  Tree,  The,  217 
Talks  in  a  Garden,  326 
I'anks,  Cement,  242.  3C7,  336 
Mr.  Hooker's,  262 
Hat  water,  32.5 
Taxodium  Van  Volxermii,  275 
Taxus  addressa,  2!'3 
Tea  Koses",  SO 
plant.  111 
Amei'ican,  205 
Pennsylvania,  111,  241 
Plants,  The  Calitornia,  376 
Ten  Acres  Enough,  17S 
Three  Beet  Grapes  to  Plant,  Hi 
Thermometers,  12.5 
Thorns,  Propagating,  63 
Thyrsacanthus  rutilans,  IM 
Tokav  Wine.  376 
Tomato,  The  Cannibal's,  ISO 
Toronto  Gardener's  Improvement 
Soc-ietv,  P6 
"       Horticultural  Society, 224 
Training  Plum  Trees,  219 
Tree  Carnation,  60 
"    Protectors,  70 
"    Ctton  in  California,  88 
Trees,  Old  Pear,  28 

"     Lord  Byron's,  118 

"     for  Sandy  Ground,  241 

"     of  Pacific  Coasts.  2.51 

"     Growth  of,  on  Frazer's  Ki 

ver.  283 
"    and  Shrubbery,  Evergreen 
297 


119 

Tribune. Strawberry,  The,  206 
Tricyrtis  hirta, 
TriteleiaUniflora,  1.54 
Tropa'olums,  Greeuhnuse,  252 
Tuberose,  Histo'iy  of  the,  22 
Twelve  Millions  Butterflies,  122 


u. 

Underbill  Seedling  Grape,  77 
Urceolina  aurea,  3 1 2 
"        pe7idula,  373 


Value  of  Science.  Tlie,  189 
Variegated  Hemlock,  57 
Varnishing  Calico,  lo4 
Varnish,  Tree,  Japan  219 
Vase,  How  to  fill  a,  298, 
Vegetable  Garden,  2,  67,  98,  131, 
163,194,  228,  258,  291,  322 
Vegetables  in  England,  New,  377 
Vegetation  in  the  Moon,  214 

"  Influence  of  Light  on, 

253 
Veitch,  James,  ST7 
Verbenas,  Best,  at  London   Horti- 
cnltural.  Exhibition,   125 
"        Black  Piust  on,  137 
Vine,  Premium  Delaware,  5 
Borders,  Division  of,  153 
"  Kenewing,  154 

Vines,  Lifting  the  Roots  of,  154 

"      Stocks  for,  220 
Vinery,  Cold,  146 
Vineries,  Cheap  Cold,  139 

"        How  to  keep  Roots  in 
side,  251 


Volatile  Soap  fur  Kemoving Paint 

278 

w. 

Wall  Flower,  The,  104 
Warming  Water  for  Use  in  Plant 

Houses,  174 

and  Construction  of     " 

Houses,  205 
Wax  Flowers,  206 
Wedding  Bouciuet,  279 
Weeping  Oaks,  124 
Weigelia  Hortensis  nivea,  311 
Western  Maryland,  37 

"         Gossip,  170 
West  Jersey  Fruit  Grower's  Ass., 

2.55 
Wheat,  Mummy,  281 
Whittlesey's  Locomotive  Seat, 203 
Whipple,   S.  B  ,  Residence  of,  374 
Wide  Grapehouse  without  Inside 

Posts,  71 
Wild  Flowers,  17  2,  201,  236,  26S, 

301,  3:!5 
Heath  of  Europe,  288 
Willow,  Kilmarnock,  309 
Window  Gardening,  2 
Winter  in  Maryland,  113 
Wine,  What  Grape  for,  113 
Cellar  of  Bremen,  318 
ToKay,  376 
Wonderful  Book,  That,   45 


Yedo,  Scenery  near,  156 


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