PRITCHARDIA FILIFERA,

TSINClAin i SOM.liTK PHLLA.

£yGRAy£D EXPR£Sm-r FOK TH£ GAKDE/JE/fS MOHrHLY/

The Gardener's Monthly

AND

Horticulturist^

DEVOTED TO

HORTICULTURE, ARBORICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS.

EDITED BY

THOMAS MEEHAJ^,

Formerly Head Gardener to Caleb Cope, Esq., at Springbrook, and at the Bartram Botanic Garden*

near Philadelphia ; Graduate of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, [London,) England.

Member of the Academy of Natural Sciences. Author of " American

Hand- Book of Ornamental Trees." &c.

UBRARY
NEW YOUK
BOTANICAL

GARDEN

VOLUME XVIII. 1876.

PHILADELPHIA :

CHARLES H MAROT, Publisher,

No. 814- Chestnut Street.

1876.

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Frontispiece -Chromo Peitchappia filifera.

A

Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia 31

Arbor vitfe. Globe 101

Auricula ... 296

B

Beecroft's Wheel Hoe 4

Bouvardia Humboldtii corymbiHora 40

Brodiaea coccinea 340

C

Chickory (Witloef ) for Salads 209

Cineraria maritima 10

Cowan's Compensating Heating Apparatus 43

Croton spiralis 361

" volutum 359

Curves, Measuring T 229

G

Gilliflower, Paris 236

Grafting, Orange and Lemon — two cuts 104

Grape, Lady — Chromo facing page 80

Greenhouse Heating— Small 135

L

Liatris pycnostachya 294

Lilium auratum 184

O

Orange and Lemon Leaves — two cuts 105

P

Pear, Marshall 51

Pelargonium, Ivy-leaved — Konig Albert , 267

" Zon ale— Wonderful '. 237

Polyanthus, Double 296

S

Sarracenia Drummondii 323

Saxifraga Huetii 11

Standard Gooseberries and Currants — Method of Grafting 270

T

Tea Rose, Duchess of Edinburgh 231

Tree Ferns, Australian 347

Trellis for Melons 206

Trietelia laxa 278

V

Van Houtte, Louis, Portrait of 249

Violet Victoria Regina 76

TO THE LATE SUBSCRIBERS OF

THE HORTICULTURIST."

Having purchased the above niagazme from Henry T. WilHams, its late
Editor and Proprietor, it ceased to exist as a; distinct pubhcation with the issue
of its December number of the year just closed.

■I have prepared an extra edition of the January number of "The Gar-
dener's Monthly and Horticulturist" for those subscribers of the late publica-
tion who may desire to renew their subscriptions for 1876.

This number which you receive is a copy of the same, and is sent to you on
the presumption that j'ou were a subscriber to the late Horticulturist, up to
the close of 1875; its publisher having furnished us a list of that year's subscrib-
ers, of which your name is one.

We hope you will, on reception of this initial number of the combined pub-
lications, inform us of your pleasure as to a renewal or discontinuance for the
.year 1876, as our editions are limited to our subscription list, with very* few over
copies; and a postponement of renewal to a later date might find us unprepared
to supply the whole series for this year, including the back numbers from
January.

Those whose subscriptions are now current entitling them to one or more
numbers within 1876, to complete their credits, will please advise us at once,
informing of the time paid up to, so that we may revise their account on our
mail list.

The terms of subscription are, for one year, including postage, $2.10 ; for
six months, $1.05 ; for four months, 70 cents ; for three months, 53 cents.

Or, send us your own name and that of a new subscriber for $3.20 the two.

We would particularly thank those who wish to discontinue to kindly drop
a line to that effect, and accei^t the present number for their trouble in so doing ;
as it will be a great favor to know early how to limit our edition to the probable
demand. Hoping an inspection of the current number may inspire you with a
desire to try us one year longer, or that we may, at least, hear from j'ou, pro or
con, for reasons above stated, I am verj'^ respectfully yours,

CHAS. H. MAROT.

Address CHAS. H. MAROT,

Publisher of "The Gardener's Monthly and Horticulturist,"

814 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pk.

THE

NEW YORK

BOTANlCAl

CARDEN

GARDENER'S MONTHLY

AND

HORTICULTURIST.

DEVOTED JO HORTICULTURE. ARBORICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS.

Edited by THOMAS MEEHAN.

Volume XVIII.

JANUAEY, 1876.

Number 205.

BIlOWER &RDEN AND pLEASURE &OUND.

SEASONABLE HINTS.

In the North, with the great body of vegetation
still shrouded in snow and the usual habiliments
of winter, little can be done in this department ;
but in the Southern States gardening operations
will be about commencing actively. Pruning
should be completed as soon as possible. Some
judgment is required in pruning flowering shrubs,
roses, &c., although it is usual to act as if it were
one of the most conamon-place operations. One
of the most clumsy of the hands is commonly
set with a shears, and he " goes through " the
whole place, clipping off everything indiscrimin-
ately. Distinction should be made between those
flowering shrubs that make a vigorous growth,
and those which grow weakly; and between
those which flower on the old wood of last year,
and those which flower on the new growth of
next season, as the effect of pruning is to force a
strong and vigorous growth. Those specimens
that already grow too strong to flower well,
should be only lightly pruned ; and, in the same
individual, the weakest shoots should be cut in
more severely than the stronger ones. Some
things like the Mock Oranges, Lilacs, and others,
flower on the wood of last year — to prune these
much now, therefore, destroys the flowering:
while such as Altheas, which flower on the young
Qjwood, cannot be too severely cut in, looking to
LOImat operation alone. We give below a full list
■•— . of the shrubs in most common cultivation, of the
t^-j diff'erent classes.

Ornamental shrubs that flower chiefly from the
wood of the preceding year : Snowy Mespilus,
Dwarf Almond, the different kinds of Androme-
das, Azalias, Kalmias, Rhododendrons, Calycan-
thus, Corchorus, Cornelian Cherry and the other
Dogwoods; Philadelphuses, Deutzias, Mezereon,
Leather-wood, Fothergilla, Golden Bell, Hydran-
geas, Itea Virginica, Jasmines, Privet, Upright
Fly and Tartarian Honeysuckles, Pyrus japonica;
the Missouri and other ornamental currants;
most of the early flowering Spiraeas, Dwarf Pavias,
Snow Berries, Guelder Rose, Wiegelia rosea, Per-
sian and other Lilacs, Annual Roses.

Shrubs that flower from the present season's
growth: Amorpha fruticosa, Ceanothus Ameri-
cana, Bladder Senna, Coronillas, Burning Bushes,
Genistas, Scotch Broom, Althaea; Hypericums,
such as Kalmianum, Prolificum, &c. ; Green-
fringe, Flowering Locusts; the Fall-flowering
Spirjeas, Tamarix, Vitex agnis-castus, &c. These
lists also embrace the most desirable of orna-
mental shrubs in cultivation, from which the
amateur may select when the planting season
arrives.

In pruning roses, the Fall-blooming kinds,
which flower on the new growth, may be pruned
as severely as we wish— in fact, the " harder " they
are cut in the better. In this class are the Nois-
ette, Bourbon, Tea, China, and Hybrid Perpetual,
and Perpetual Moss. Without considerable ex-
perience it is difficult for the amateur to distin-
guish these classes. The best way to get over
the difficulty is to obtain the catalogues of the
principal rose-growers, in which each kind is

€3>

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[January,

usually classified. Amateurs should pay more
attention to the scientific — if we may so term it —
study of the rose, and its classification and gen-
eral management; no class of flowers is more
easily understood, and no one affords so rich a
fund of perpetual interest.

Wherever any part of a tree does not grow
freely, pruning of such weak growth, at this sea-
son, will induce it to push more freely next year.
All scars made by pruning off" large branches
should be painted or tarred over, to keep out the
rain. Many fruit trees become hollow, or fall
into premature decay, from the rain penetrating
through old saw cuts made in pruning. Also, the
branches should be cut close to the trunk, so
that no dead stumps shall be produced on the
tree, and bark will readily grow over. Many
persons cut off" branches of trees in midsummer,
in order that the returning sap may speedily
clothe the wound with new bark, but the loss of
much foliage in summer injures the tree, and
besides, painting the scar removes all danger of
rotting at the wovmd.

CO MM UNICA TIONS.

A PLEA FOR PLANTING PYRUS CORONARIA.

BY MR. W. T. HARDING.

I was much pleased with Mr. Stauff"er's re-
marks, in the March number of laat year, on our
native Pyrus coronaria, the American or Gar-
land Crab Apple. He, Mr. S., is an excellent
writer, — good, sound logic always seems to flow
from his pen, — and, that he loves the beautiful,
is also evident. He lets us know his heart is
where it ought to be, and feels " as happy as a
king " when beholding a crab tree.

It occurs to me, that when a boy, and reading
of a traveler (Waterton, I think), returning home,
after a long absence, observing, that " of all the
beautiful or wonderful sights he had seen, at
home or abroad, nothing pleased him so much
as the sight of an old crab tree, blossoming in a
hedgerow at the margin of a wood."
"O Jmppiness, our being's end and aim,
Good, pleasure, ease, content, whate'er thy name."

I endorse every word the genial Staufler and
other aesthetic writers say about the crab apple.
To quote his language, "A more beautiful object
cannot be found when in full bloom, together
with ita delightful fragrance (early in spring)."
He may well ask, "Why is it that we do not find

it in cultivation ?" " There's the rub." His de-
scription of its merits, I assure the reader, is no
exaggeration, and it ought to be in every garden
or lawn. It would be the glory of the green-
house in winter, and would seem, either in
groups or as isolated bushes, the loveliest of the
lawn. In many respects it far surpasses the
favorite Cydonia japonica as an ornamental
shrub. It flowers more freely, and is as sweet as
a Bon Siline rose. In the Southern forests, the
blending odors of the Carolina jasmine Gelsem-
ium sempervirens, and Pyrus coronaria, are as
exquisite as any floral perfumes can possibly be,
and are far more refreshing to inhale than frank-
incense and myrrh.

I think the reader, ere this, will have discov-
ered the writer loves pretty things, and they may
feel assured that he would willingly sign a round
robbin, vote in person or by proxy, hold up his
right hand, or both hands, in favor of doing jus-
tice to the Garland Crab Apple.

Before, and during the war, it grew abundantly
in South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Tennes-
see. I met with it in the neighborhood of Col-
umbia, Beaufort, Daufuskie Island, Savannah,
Saint Augustine, Fernandina, and Knoxville. I
presume it grows there still, unless the indignant
people living in those parts grubbed them all up
when it was suggested to "hang Jeff" Davis on a
sour apple tree." Why "a sour apple tree" in-
stead of any other, I cannot imagine. I shall
never forgive Mr. Doggerel, who first hinted at
putting such a beautiful tree as Pyrus coronaria
to so base a purpose as to make a gibbet for
any one. It would have been equally as consis-
tent to have advised smothering the unfortunate
man with flowers.

As Mr. Meehan observes, " It is singular that
in all the botanical excursions of the editor, he
has never ran against this tree." No doubt he
will some of these days, and (providing he does
not break his shins when doing so), will say
something pleasant about it. In the meanwhile,
I will tell the editor how I " ran against this
tree."

When in charge of Wade Hampton's estate, in
South Carolina, during "the piping times of
peace," I was often amused with the exciting
narrative of a coon hunt, one of the chief delights
of a darkey. So, "just for the fun of the thing,"
I proposed to join the sable " Nimrods " in the
hunt about to take place that night. About nine
o'clock I heard a negro quartette approaching,
and as they advanced from a copse of magnolias

1876.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

and evergreen oaks, I heard them singing hastily

the celebrated coon-catching epic, " Sittin' on a

Rail." The hero of the poem, it seems, was a

daring darkey, who fearlessly, bravely, and

stealthily, regardless of consequences, crept up

to—

" De raccoon sittin' on a rail, an' sleepin' berry

sound.
Den he cotch him by de tail, an' pull him to de

ground."
But, as the sequel will show, in this instance,
he was not " sleepin' berry sound." He was " a
wide-awake coon." The night was more than
usually pleasant, so calm and cool, and almost as
light as day. Nature seemed to be at rest all
serenely.

" The moon was bright, 'twas a shiny night.
In the season of the year."

I honestly believe we all felt as merry, if not
as brave, as did either Earl Percy or Douglass, of
"Chevy Chase" renown, as we filed off along
the forest path. " With axe or brand, no braver
band, advanced to face " — a coon.

The chief hunter rejoiced in the name of Long
John, while his henchman was equally proud of
Bogus. The next name on the roll was Festus —
" most noble Festus" — followed consecutively oy
the valiant Soger; then, yours respectfully, W.
T. H., and lastly, though not less famous. Vine-
gar, and whom all acknowledged to be " de best
dog dat eber treed a coon."

Now, in many respects. Vinegar was a remark-
able canine, and I say it advisedly ; he was the
leanest and mangiest pup that ever ran before a
tail. Indeed, he seemed to be a " cur of low de-
gree," and to have, as his looks indicated, a very
dogged way of his own. Notwithstanding, he
was, to his credit be it said, in possession of more
than ordinary dog talents in circumventing rats,
rabbits, 'possums, and coons, and was honored
accordingly. Bogus and Vinegar were bosom
friends by day and bed-fellows by night, and had
for several seasons lived and loved together.
Long John was considered a good man, and I
believe he was; he was (what I believe they call),
a Gospel expounder on the plantation. In some
respects he resembled Saul, who, "from his
shoulders and upwards, he was higher than any
of his people." He was also a man of might in
his way, having had some desperate encounters,
as he described them, when "wreslin' wid de
spirit, befo' he was 'ligeous." When I remarked
that I thought the spirit must have been a

plucky one that durst attack a man like him, he
replied, " De dibble wusn't half so plucky as he
'peer'd to be, wen he wus well tackled ; he mostly
got de wust of de scrimage." Just fancy Long
John and the other black fellow in a tussle.
Well, he was just as' good and useful on the coon-
path as he was terrible when on the war-path.

After wandering about some time, through
bogs and swamps, until I was weary and wet, in
fact, I was in a shocking plight. Vinegar had the
credit of treeing a coon. Bogus, approvingly and
with much gusto, remarked, " Binegah am de
most cunnin' ole man dat eber wag a tail,
shuah." Then was heard such a hvibbub, yell-
ing, hooting, howling, and barking round the
tree as was never heard before from four men
and a dog. All the time the chips flew fast and
furious, as they vigorously applied their axes to
the butt of the tree. Poor blackamoor! how
much they seemed to enjoy the sport, and how I
laughed to hear them cracking funny jokes at
" de gemman up de tree," whom they invited to
come down " an' 'zamin' massa Binegah mouf,
case he got de toof-ache, shuah !" I really pitied
the poor creature, and hoped he would escape.
It did not seem a fair fight — five to one. The
rotten tree soon yielded to their efforts, and be-
gan to lean over. The excitement seemed to in-
crease as it fell, when to the astonishment of all
hands, three coons scampered out of a hole, and
together fell foul on Vinegar. Thus beset, the
beleagured " Binegah " seemed to be getting the
worst of it, until Festus interfered. Aiming a
blow at one of the coons, he missed it, and buried
his axe in the dog's side, and disemboweled poor
Binegah.

"Great Goddlemighty !" exclaimed Bogus, and
looking at Festus, said, "See what you niggah
fool dun, you murdid poo' Binegah shuah !" In
an instant Bogus was do"WTi by the dog, vainly
attempting to close up the frightful gash in his
companion's side. The big tears flowed copi-
ously from the master's eyes, and fell fast upon
the face of his dog, whose life-blood was welling
away.

In the mind's eye I see the picture now, and a
more pitiful sight I seldom have seen, than the
poor weeping negro rubbing his rugged cheek on
the dog's, and sobbingly commiserating with his
dying friend, and exclaiming, " Poo' Binegah !
ole man, you dun fo' now ! No mo' rats, no mo'
possum, no mo' rabbit, no mo' coon, no mo'
nufRn, — an' no mo' -Binegah ! Dis chile will
miss de poo' fellow ! Sally, miss de poo' fellow I

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[January,

and de chilFn miss de poo' fellow ! Eberybody
miss de poo' fellow! Goddemighty, bress us
all !"

After gently patting his dead friend for the last
time, and throwing some leaves and grass over
him, he looked steadfastly at the most ignoble
Festus, and pointed at the blood-stained grass,
but never a word said he. Festus only laughed,
which stirred up the hot blood of the tamed sav-
age, and ended in a passage of arms, or rather
heads, or more correctly, butt and counterbutt.
Quick as thought, Bogus ran his head butt into
the stomach of Festus, and sent him sprawling in
the grass, who, on gaining his feet, returned the
compliment, and staggered Bogus. Then step-
ping in between, as seconds are supposed to. Long
John supported Bogus, while Soger did the like
service for Festus; when it was decided, according
to the code duello, their wounded honors had been
redressed in a chivalric and noble manner, be-

State, New Jereey, she remembers when a girl,
in the neighborhood of Mount Holly, seeing
quantities of the Garland Crab Apple. So it is
probably nearer Philadelphia than you are
aware.

EDITORIAL NOTES,

Waterproof Packing Paper. — Dissolve 1.82
lbs. white soap in 1 quart water. In another
quart water dissolve 1.82 ozs. troy of gum arabic
and 5.5 ozs. glue. Mix the two solutions, warm
them, and soak the paper in the liquid, and pass
it between rollers, or simply hang it up to drip. —
Scientific American.

Beecroft's Wheel Hoe. — Man is a pretty smart
sort of a creature, and has managed in various
ways to evade the primeval curse with tolerable
success. The old-ffishioned hoe we have, how-

coming to gentlemanly combatants, they shook
hands, feeling assured their fair fame was untar-
nished.

After all, it was a more sensible manner of de-
ciding nothing than white fools usually take,
when they run a muck at each with knives or
swords, or try to shoot bullets or buckshot into
each other's hides.

The raccoons had stampeded, as might be ex-
pected, while "the moon with her sober counte-
nance " placidly looked down at the scene where
the jasmines and crab apples bloomed profusely.

In conclusion, it only remains for me to say
that my better half informs me that in her native

ever, regarded as just about the same as it was in
the days of Adam, and we have an absolute
surety that when he went out to fight the thorns,
thistles, and noxious weeds with one of these
back-achers, he must, more than at any other
time, have felt that his rank disobedience, or
giving way to feminine persuasion, which ever it
was, did not pay at all.

We have watched continually for some good
thing to supersede this abominable implement,
and have from time to time given sketches of
wheel hoes of various kinds. The present one
(see illustration) is certainly the best of all we
have seen. It indeed reduces hoeing to an amuse-

1876.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

ment, and might be sent to gymnasiums, or to
dyspeptic clergymen, as a means of gentle exer-
cise in the garden, of benefit both to body and
mind. The machine has been introduced to us
by Mr. Thomas Jackson, of Portland, Maine, who
is doing good service in distributing it.

An Automatic Gate. — We have never seen a
gate of this character that did not in time get out
of order to an extent that caused an early aban-
donment. The idea of a self-opener is too good
in a gate to be wholly given up, and we are glad
to note that among those who are working on it
is our ingenious friend. Dr. Weed, of Des Moines,
as we find by the following in an Iowa paper : —

" We visited the farm of Dr. James Weed, yes-
terday, and inspected his self-opening gate. It
works like magic. As you approach in a buggy
the gate suddenly parts in the middle (being
double) and the two parts turn over backwards,
leaving the way clear to drive in, without slack-
ing speed, even though your horse should be on
the trot, and as you drive along, the gate as sud-
denly closes and latches as snugly as it was be-
fore you came to it. The principle on which
this gate operates is difficult to describe on paper.
All the machinery visible above ground is two
pieces of rounded iron in the road, one on each
side of the gate, about thirty feet from it. This
must be run over by the buggy, its weight press-
ing the iron down and causing certain motor
springs connecting with rods to throw the parts
of the gate upward. These parts are steadied by
" tortion " springs, which counteract the weight
of the gate, so that there is no slam or jar as it
comes down to the ground. The return of the
parts of the gate is caused on the same principle
by the buggj'^ running over the other piece of
rounded iron inside the enclosure. The ma-
chinery is so adjusted that the principle works
precisely the same whether going in or out of the
enclosure. It is not only a novftlty, but a pleas-
ure and convenience to ride along and, without
moving hand or foot, have the gate open and
close for you by some unseen power. Dr. Weed
has been experimenting on these gates for sev-
eral years, and his latest improvements are. sub-
stituting motor springs for gearing, and " tortion"
springs for the former method of balancing the
gates with stones of equal weight. He claims
that it is now perfect in every particular, and not
liable to get out of order in any kind of weather.
He secured a patent last year. These gates are
rather expensive — $200 — but what is that to a
man who is able and willing to pay for the thing

that suits him? We wish the Doctor success
after his long years of patient study in perfecting
his invention."

The Tulip Tree in England. — A correspon-
dent of Gardener's Chronicle says : " There is in
Lord Llanerton's grounds, Woolbeding, near
Midhurst, Sussex, ' a very fine Tulip tree,' which
was acknowledged by the late Sir Wm. Hooker
to be the finest specimen in the kingdom ; and
it certainly is a magnificent tree, being one mass
of foliage from its summit to the ground. Its
measurements in 1871 were as follows : Height,
91 feet 5 inches ; girth at 3 feet from the ground,
17 feet 2 inches; circumference round the
branches, 79 yards. It is in perfect health, and
has doubtless increased somewhat in size since
the above measurements were taken."

Wintering Echeverias. — Echeverias which
have served for borders, beds, or floral inscrip-
tions during summer, if potted to pass the win-
ter, are liable to rot or spindle up. A method of
preserving them, which occupies practically no
room whatever, and which avoids the above
mentioned inconvenience, is to shake out the
earth from their roots when taken up in autumn,
and suspend them heels up or anyhow, in small
bunches, on strings stretched horizontally, like
linen hung on a line to dry, beneath the roof of
a cool greenhouse, which just keeps out the
frost. — Gardener's Chronicle.

Arundo conspicua. — Vietch says it is very
similar in habit to the well-known Pampas
Grass (Gynerium argenteum), but blooming
about two months earlier than that variety, and
lasting much longer in beauty.

NIJW PLANTS.

Physianthus albens. — The Garden says :—
"Those of your readers who are in want of a
quick-growing summer climber, for covering a
wall or trellis, should procure this interesting
Asclepiad. A small plant of it, little more than
a foot high, with a few laterals, was turned ovit
against an ordinary wall, with a warm exposure,
about the end of May, and now covers five or six
square yards of surface, every joint being hvc-
nished with a raceme of pure white flowers. A
month hence the shoots will be pruned back,
and the plant potted up for wintering in a warm
greenhouse. I have yet to learn what degree of
cold it will survive, but probably it would endure
mild wintei-s in the southern counties of Eng-

TEE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[January,

land and Ireland. An easier plant to cultivate
can hardly be imagined." And we notice it here
to say that it is even a better plant for American
gardens than for Ejiglish ones. Last autumn the
writer of this saw it in Ellis Park, in Chicago,
more handsome than lie ever saw it before, cov-
ering trellises eight feet or more high with hun-
dreds of its large, waxy, white flowers. It is of
cruel tastes, however, the flower catching uisects
without any use whatever, so far as is at present
known.

Pentstemon humilis. — One of the prettiest of
the dwarf Pentstemons of the Rocky Mountains,
forms the subject of a handsome colored plate in
the Florist and Pomologist for November.

New Hardy Trees. — From various sources
we make up the following, that will probably all
prove hardy in our climate :

Maakia mnouriensis. — We had a specimen of
this from the collection of Alfred Cope. The
flowers are in close white bunches, and the
leaves have much the appearance of a Cladras-
tus tinctoria. It will be a good acquisition to
our list of hardy trees.

Corylopsis spicata. — We have before given
some account of this beautiful Japan shrub, one
which will probably prove hardy in our country.
The Gardener's Magazine has recently given a
wood cut of it, and with the following descrip-
tion : " This interesting hardy Japanese shrub is
regarded by hasty observers as a hazel or a near
relative of the nut tribe, but as the seed is a hard
capsule, those who watch it through its couree
learn that in one respect at least it is ftir removed
from the hazels. It is, in fact, a. member of the
Liquidambar family, and its generic name of
Corylopsis refers to the striking resemblance of
its leaves to those of a hazel, not to its flowers or
fruit.

"Corylopsis spicata is a free-growing shrub pos-
sessing considerable beauty, and especially hand-
some in the spring when its flowers appear, as
they bear some resemblance to the elegant in-
florescence of Garrya elliptica, being produced
in drooping racemes in the greatest profusion.
They appear before the leaves, and are of a
pleasing greenish yellow color, pleasantly fra-
grant, and attractive to the bees. The leaves
which follow are large, subcordate, and of a full
green color, like those of the hazel. Those who
are now planting will do well to include this use-
ful shrub in the list of desiderata for the shrub-
bery."

Othera japonica. — The English papers say of
this, which will perhaps prove hardy in at least
our Middle States : "A new and beautiful ever-
green shrub. One of the most distinguished
Japanese travellers says this is perhaps the pret-
tiest evergreen they have in Japan ; it grows
about twenty feet high, has dark green leaves and a
profusion of bright red fruit ; it is very efiective
and perfectly hardy."

A New Strain of Drac.exas. — Mr. Bause, who
was the first to break up the old-liishioned Coleus
into so many beautiful kinds, and without which
our gardens would make now but a poor show,
has done the same thing now for the Dracaena.
The new strain is said to be among the most
beautiful of leaf plants, quite as striking as the
Coleus. No doubt some of our enterprising flor-
ists will soon offer them in this country.

Pyracantha japonica. — We have not noticed
before that there is a Pyracantha under this
name in Europe. It appears there are a number
of good Japan trees and shrubs in the Old World
awaiting introduction here. The Garden says :
"In town gardens, Pyracantha japonica is now
one of the most attractive of all wall plants. In
the Royal Horticultural and also in Kensington
Gardens, this plant is now the admiration of all
who see it. Crataegus Aronia, in Kensington
Gardens, is also just now strikingly beautiful, as
is likewise the crimson-fruited Cotonea.stcr frig-
ida, which, as a town tree, ought to be more ex-
tensively planted than it is.

Styrax japonica. — This hardy deciduous shrub
is of dwarf compact growth, with elegantly
spreading branches, furnished with bright green
elliptic leaves, and gives a profusion of white
flowers, somewhat resembling snowflakes. It
will be a very useful plant for early forcing along
with Deutzias, Spiraeas, &c., and an exceedingly
pretty and useful shrub for borders in the open
air. It is a nati\'e of Japan. — W. Bull.

Deutzia crenata candidissima plena. — An
exceedingly free-flowering variety, producing fine
large, very double, pure white flowers. It is a
very useful winter and spring-blooming plant,
and looks extremely elegant when covered with
its large bunches of pure white flowers.

Weigela Lavaxlei. — The flowers of this at-
tractive variety are of a rich purplish red color,
with yellow centres, and are very freely produced
in exceedingly long bunches. It is a distinct and
handsome variety of robust growth, and is also
an excellent plant for forcing. — W. Hull.

1876.]

AND HORTICULTURTST.

fREEN tHOUSE AND tEOUSE GARDENING.

SEASONABLE HINTS.

Many of our readere have only a few window
plants. These are often kept too warm, too wet,
have too little sunlight, and have too many in-
sects. In towns, in addition to all these, they
have often too much of the fumes of burning gas.
Leaks or escapes from the gas pipe are well-
known to be an injury to plants, but it is not so w^ell
known that plants suffer,. though in a less degree,
from the common burning of coal gas. The trou-
ble with most room cultivators is to know when
plants get too much attention. Too many insects
are easily known, one — a single one — is by far too
many. We still think there is nothing like coal
oil to destroy all kinds of insects. A very little,
just enough to make a colored scum on the sur-
face of a tub of water, is sufficient, and in this the
insect covered plant may be dipped, inverting the
pot and plunging only the plant, and not the pot
of course. If too much oil is used the plant may
be injured. Too wet, is when a plant seldom gets
dry — a healthy plant should get drj-, and have
light dry looking surface soil, every too or three
days. As to heat, a temperature of about 55° or
60° is best for room plants ; below that they do not
flower freely ; above they grow weak, especially if
they have not a great deal of sunlight. Indeed
heat should be in proportion to direct sunlight
on the plants.

Roses, when they are forced, do much better
when the pots are plunged in some damp mate-
rial. When no better plan offers, they may be
eet inside of a large pot, with moss betw^een the
space around. All plants that come into flower
through winter should have those positions af-
forded them that have the most sunlight, espe-
cially the early morning light.

Ferneries are now so deservedly popular, that
we must have a word to say for them at times,
though their management is so simple, there is
Kttle one can say. It is probably their ease of
management, and the great results obtained for
the little outlay of care, that has rendered them
so popular. It should not, however, be forgotten
that the cases in which they are enclosed are not

to keep out the air, but to keep in the moisture,
as ferns will not thrive in the dry atmosphere of
heated rooms. A few minutes airing every day
will, therefore, be of great benefit to them. De-
cayed wood (not pine), mixed with about half its
bulk of fibrous soil of any kind, and a very small
proportion (say a tenth of the bulk) of well-rotted
stable-manure, makes a good compost Most
kinds particularly like well-drained pots. This
is usually effected by filling a third of the pots
in which the ferns are to grow with old pots
broken in pieces of about half an inch square,
on which a thin layer of moss is placed, before
filling the pots, to keep out the soil from choking
the drainage.

Many very pretty ferneries are made up en-
tirely of native ferns, some species of w^hich are
within the reach of every one. Of the exotic
ones, however, that are now general in most
flori.sts' establishments, and are remarkable for
their elegance and beauty, we may name,
Selaginellas (formerly Lycopodiums) S. stoloni-
fera, S. densa. S. Mertensii, S. denticulata, S.
cordifolia, S. flabellaris ; Adiantum concinnum,
A. pubescens, A. cuneatum ; Pteris longifolia, P.
serrulata, P. hastata; Polypodium Sieboldii, P
glaucum ; Doodia caudata, Gymnagramma chry-
sophylla, Platyloma rotundifoha, Nothoclsena
nivea, Pteris geraniifolia, Hemionites palmata.
This will form a good and easily obtained collec-
tion to commence with. Ferns are easily raised
from seed. Shallow pans of very sandy soil
should be procured and filled within an inch of
the rim. The seed, which is obtained from the
brown lines or spots (called by botanists, Spor-
angia) on the under surface of most mature
fronds, should be sown on the surface of the soil,
well watered with a very fine rose, window-glass
placed closely over the pans, to keep in the
moisture and keep out small insects, and the pans
themselves set in a heat of about 50°, when the
spores will germinate in about two months.

Where the air is dry, if in rooms or greenhouses,
frequent syringings are of much benefit to plants.
Besides, cleanliness keeps down insects and
checks disease in plants as in animals. Most old-

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[January,

fashioned lady gardeners (and may we ever bless
them for the many lessons they have, taught us !)
take every opportunity to set their window-plants
out of doors when a warm shower happens to
occur. In winter a rain at a temperature of 40°
or 45°, which often occurs, might be called a
"warm shower." Cold water does not have half
the injurious effect on plante that cold air has.
When plants get accidentally frozen, the best
remedy in the world is to dip them at once in
cold water and set them in the shade to thaw.

It is better to keep in heat in cold weather by
covering, where possible, than to allow it to
escape, calculating to make it good by fire-heat,
which is, at best, but a necessary evil. Wliere
bloom, is in demand, nothing less than 55° will
accomplish the object ; though much above that
is not desirable, except for tropical hot-house
plants. Where these plants are obliged to be
wintered in a common greenhouse, they should
be kept rather dry, and not be encouraged much
to grow, or they may rot away.

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

Mignonette is much improved by occasional
waterings with liquid manure.

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

COMMUNICA TIONS.

-ESTHETICS IN CONSERVATORIES.

No. 2.

BY F. W. P.

The London Crystal-Palace, of 1851, designed
by the then only Mr., afterwards Sir Joseph Pax-
ton, the gardener to the Duke of Devonshire,
was a clever structure, meeting the requirements
imposed by the government on the architects
better than any other plan proposed, and as

unique as it was in its conception, grand in its
dimensions, but imposing only on vulgar minds
or coarse and uncultivated tastes, as quantity and
size always do, it never was a beauty nor ever
claimed to be by its own originator. It was at
the beginning intended to serve but a temporary
purpose, and the permission for its erection was
granted upon the special condition, that it should
be removed immediately after the World's fair
was over. Its re-erection for permanency was
an after thought ; but the idea that it might serve
as a plant-house never entered the mind of
Paxton. He knew too much for that, and what
he might have done in this direction, if afforded
an oi^portunity, may be surmised after a careful
and intelligent study of the Conservatory at
Chatsworth. The mistaken adoption of the style
and the leading features of the Crj'stal Palace
for horticultural structures, only proved a gross
ignorance of the fundamental and indispensable
requirements of contrivances for the mainten-
ance and the proper display of plants.

To intrust the construction of them, if not
carte blanche to engineers, at any rate with too
much unwarranted faith in their superior genius
and skill, is a great mistake. We ought to re-
member that engineers are technicists, more or
less scientific mechanics, and as a class have
never shown much of an artistic turn of mind,
nor anything like infallibility. When in the con-
struction of our parks and conservatories, they
are invited to furnish just as much and as little
of their peculiar skill and ingenuity as is wanted
or indispensal)le, they may prove very useful ;
but to make them the directing minds and final
authorities in matters of science and art, for
Avhich they never had sufficient time nor oppor-
tunities to qualifj' themselves, is a mistake
which is sure to bring about such results as are
already visible in but too many places, and the
repetition of which ought to be discontinued.

Horticulturists and landscape gardeners may
easily add to their stock of knowledge what little
is required of engineering, to get along without
them; and before engineers can undertake to
supersede the professional gardeners, they have
to be initiated in mysteries beyond the power of
screws and levers.

That monstrous bubble of glass in Kew-garden
(constructed by a man whose legitimate business
was to build railroad depots, and who knew well
enough how, with iron and glass, to ard^ over
wide spaces for the accommodation of several
locomotives abreast), is, as a plant-house, about

18*76.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

as suitable and useful for information as a race-
horse is in its line, and Mr. Jeffreys in one of
his critics on the "Horticulturist" calls it "a
costly royal toy," adding that it is "a luxury
of which I cannot loell see the utility in so much ex-
pense." Well, would it be English if it were
not costly? Only think of it — sixty thousand
pounds sterling, to "dome" over only half an
acre of ground, for the exhibition of more iron,
tubs and pottery, than foliage and flowers, serv-
ing more to satisfy the vulgar curiosity of the
London sight seers, than the scientific thirsts of
students. For, what it is smaller in size and in-
ferior in efficiency than the Chatsworth conser-
vatory, covering an area of more than an acre, it
makes up in useless, costliness and ostenta-
tion, like some people's books, of which the bind-
ings cost more than the books themselves are
worth.

The celebrated Palm-gardens, at Frankfort on
the Main, originally built for the Duke of Nassau
on his place at Biborich were, after his media-
tisation, acquired by a society and removed to
Frankfort. They have since been considerably
increased in extent, and a richer collection of
tropical and sub-tropical plants in large and fine
specimens could not well be found in any other
establishment. In this enterprise the society has
expended up to this day the snug sum of about
half a million of florins (200,000 dollars), and has
the flattering satisfaction of realizing, together
with a universal and enthusiastic ajiproval of an
appreciating public, an encouraging financial
return on the outlay, by charging only half a
florin (.20 cents) admission fee.

Here, an arrangement of the plants, more
natural and thus more beautiful, than that in the
Kew Palm-house, forms one of the chief attrac-
tions, but, as in all the older structures of this kind,
the too great length in proportion to the width and
the uniform level of the ground or floor, made
full, or at least a better success in this direction,
impossible. We also miss the aquatic plants and,
besides a puerile, though larger than usual,
"rockwork with cascade," we notice incongrui-
ties, such as vases with a yucca or a dracsena
stuck into them ; palms, over forty feet high, in
tubs, which are by no means improved by being
coated with bark ; but what is decidedly most ob-
jectionable is the circumstance, that even here
some genius, delighting in small things, has been
permitted to intrude the paltry product of his
talent for rag-quilting into this assemblage of the
floral aristocracy of the tropics. (When will

both gardeners and amateurs learn to under-
stand where ribbon or mosaic planting, and how
much of it, is proper?)

The roof of this, in every essential respect, ad-
mirable conservatory, is appropriately simple
and unpretending, not forcing itself unduly and
first of all upon the visitor's eye. It is, what it
always should be, — the mere shell of a sweet and
delicious kernel.

EDITORIAL NOTES.

Calla ^thiopica. — Our lady readers will value
the following little hint from a correspondent of
the Gardener's Maf/asine: — With a comparatively
small number of plants, I have been cutting
blossoms nearly every week for the last twelve
months (not less than two hundred in all), and
from the appearance of the plants, as to buds
and luxuriant foliage, I may expect a succession
during the coming winter months, when other
white flowers are so difficult to procure, espe-
cially for church decorations. I must add that
I give the Callas very little rest, some of them
none whatever. By this system of culture the
old roots do not die, and the plants certainly pro-
duce much finer blooms.

Button-hole Roses. — Mr. Radclyffe must have
written in fun when he recommends Madame C.
Joigneaux and Charles Lefebvre as button-hole
Roses; but he might as well have "gone the
whole hog " and recommended a full-expanded
Paul Neron. He omits many beautiful button-
hole Roses — e.g., Madam Falcot, Madam F.
Janin, La Boule de Neige, and Prince Camille de
Rohan (in bud). There are several fine Teas^
too, of late introduction that he does not men-
tion ; for instance, Anna Ollivier, very fine in bud
for button-holes, and Amazone, the same. I do
not think we shall find many rosarians recom-
mend Abbe Bramerel, Maxime de la Rocheterie
or Baron Chaurand for any purpose. — P., in Jour-
nal of Horticidture.

Treatment of Oranges'. — The small Otaheite
Orange, so useful for winter flowering, should,
when out of bloom, have its growth pushed on
in a little warmth. This plant is subject to scale,
and before any young growth is made they
should be thoroughly cleansed with insecticide,
using the sponge in preference to the brush, the
latter being liable to scratch the leaves. Plants
of varieties of large growth that have . flowered
should be similarly treated. Oranges of all

10

THE GARDENER^S MONTHLY

[January,

kinds, whilst making their growth, must be well
supplied with water, especially overhead, and be
also slightly shaded from the sun. The orange
is a plant of comparatively easy growth, and
naturally able to withstand a good deal of bad
treatment withovit being killed outright ; and to
this, no doubt, may be attributed the indifferent
condition in which they are often seen. When
in a bad state the roots are generally few, and
almost dormant at a time when they should be
ramifying in all directions ; when thus stunted
and unhealthy the best course is to turn theia
out of their pots, reduce the balls considerably,
put them in smaller pots, and place at once in
moderate heat with a close moist atmosphere
until the roots are unmistakably active and the
growth is made : plants in such condition will be
much benefitted by a moderate bottom-heat of
about 70°. — Gardener's Chronicle.

Verbenas from Seed. — Those who are limited
or room in their greenhouses, and still like to
make as good a show of bedding plants as possi-
ble during the summer months, will find it by far
the best plan to raise their stock of Verbenas
from seed. This can be easily done in the fol-
lowing manner : — Take a few seed pans, and if
these be not at hand, a few shallow boxes will
sufl&ce quite as well (if the latter be selected,
some holes must be made in the bottoms), cover
over the bottom with some broken crocks, and
fill in to within about half an inch of the top
with a light mixture of rotten loam, leaf mould,
and a good dash of silver sand, make the surface
level, and press it a little, feo that when watered
it will not sink. On this surface the seeds should
be evenly sown, and then covered over with a
light sprinkling of the same soil that they are
sown on; they should be watered with a pot that
has a fine rose, and then placed in the greenhouse
close to the glass, and if put so that they will
receive a little bottom heat so much the better.
They should not be allowed to get dry, but still
never over-water them, as that would be much
more fatal. When strong enough the plants
should be potted off, and so grown on till it is
time to stand them out to harden off before be-
ing put out into the beds, in which they are to
bloom. When Verbenas are about to be raised
in this way the seed should always be purchased
of some good seedsmen, to ensure the varieties
being good. Petunias can also be raised in a
similar manner. — A Hassard, in TJie Garden.

Euphorbia jacquin^flora almost stands alone

for the incomparable beauty of its cerise-scarlet
flowers, arranged in such elegant wreaths, at this
season of the year. At an evening party not
long since, where the beauty of flowers, among
other pleasant agencies, ministered to the delight
of the company, this beautiful stove Euphorbia
was singled out for especial praise. Such a warm
glow of color as the flowers present appears to be
especially acceptable when snow and ice and
frost of unusual severity hold Nature in a stat-e
of repose. The flowers, though small, are indi-
vidually very exquisite in form and color, and
being produced with much profusion on the
elongated branches the plant throws up at this
time of the year, and the leaves being also of
elegant form and of a transparent green, it has
come to be much used by ladies as wreaths for
the hair. The flowers are set on at the base of
the leaves in short spikes of three or four to a
dozen buds, and as all regularly face in an up-
ward direction, they form a wreath of great
natural beauty. It is a grand plant for stove
decoration at mid-winter, and it can be met with
as specimens 6 to 7 feet in height, with from
twelve to twenty leading branches, each starting
from the base, and at the blooming season
crowded with flowers. For winter decoration
the Euphorbia, when ajjpropriately managed, is
scarcely second to any other plant known to gar-
deners. — Gardener's Chronicle.

NEW PLANTS.

Silver-leaved Plants.— A. L. S., writes, "Will
you give me, please, a list of such silver-leaved

plants as will grow in the open ground of this
climate (Maryland), and make borders for beds,
such as I have seen about Boston ? I should need

1876.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

11

enough to make, if in one straight Hne, say 100
feet."

[Artemisia stellaris ; Centaurea requsina,
often called C. Candida; C. gymnocarpa, and
Cineraria maritima, are generally used. Tlie
last is often kncfv\ai familiarly as the "Dusty
Miller," and is so easy to increase and manage,
that it is very popular. We give nn illustration
of it herewith when allowed to flower. For large
beds, where there is no necessity to have the leaves
sheared, as is sometimes desirable in this class of
bedding, the Glaucium corniculatum is used. —
Ed. G. M.]

Saxifraga Huetii. — Most of the Saxifrages in
cultivation are perennials, — the best known, per-
haps, being the S. sarmentosa, one of the most
useftil of plants in hanging-basket culture. The
present species in as annual, and is represented
as being a remarkably good thing for early spring

flowering in pots. It does not appear to be
known much in England yet, but has been intro-
duced on the continent by the old and well-
known firm of Vilmorin, Andrieux & Co., of
Paris, who are prominent in the enterprise of
Introducing good and substantial things.

QUERIES.

Disease in Palms. — E. H., New Bedfoi-d, Mass.,
writes : — " I enclose to you two samples of Palm-
leaves affected with a disease which seems to be
spreading over the entire plant ; my gardener
is at a loss to know how to deal with it. One of
the Palms is Latania Borbonica, a large thrifty
plant, growing well, but this threatens to destroy

it. Your opinion would be esteemed a great
favor. I have for years been a subscriber to your
Monthly."

[This disease is caused by a small fungus
which feeds on the interior tissues of the leaves.
It is not known how it enters the structure, but
probably through the roots. Wood ashes, water
with a little salt, just enough salt in the water
to be perceptible to the taste, or even warm
water itself (say 130°) will often destroy fungoid
matter at the roots of plants, — and the Palms
generally stand these doses better than other
plants. If, however, the plant is not too large, it
would be best to re-pot entirely in fresh earth*
washing the roots clean in water with wood
ashes. The diseased leaves should be cut off at
once, as soon as the injury is perceived. — Ed.
G. M.l

Tobacco as Manure. — H. L. says : — " Should be
glad to know through the Gardener^s Monthly or
otherwise, what the value of decayed tobacco is
as a fertilizer."

[It is not probable there is any more value in
tobacco, as manure, than in any other vegetable
substance. As decayed vegetable matter it would
have a value, no more. — Ed. G. M.]

The Double Lobell4.. — S. This is simply a
dwarf form of L. erinus, the common blue Lobe-
lia, and has no " native country." It is a gar-
den variety only. It was, we believe, raised in
England, but introduced into this country first by
Mr. Henry Chitty, of the Bellevue nursery. It is
a very desirable thing.

Cultivation of Ericas. — An Ohio correspond-
ent speaks in high terms of the value of Mr-
Munroe's article on the Cape Heath, published in
our last volume. These plants are among the
most beautiful in the world. They are supposed
to be more difficult to raise in our climate than
they are in England, — and we believe they are,
and hence there is the more credit due to the
skill of those who, like Mr. Munroe, produce
such good results.

CoLEUs Chameleon. — Mr. T. Ottway, Middle-
bury, Ohio, says : — "I saw it stated in last
Monthly, that it was necessary to pot Coleus
Chameleon in poor soil, to make it hold its colors.
It makes no difference with me, rich or poor.
At first I had some little trouble in getting good
sporting stock. This year I have a beautiftil lot,
the most brilliant colors, and old plants breaking
back very fine."

12

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[January,

il

RUIT AND lEGETABLE GARDENING.

SEASONABLE HINTS.

In getting ready for spring vegetables do not
fear to pile on the manure. It is the rank rich
growth which gives the agreeable tenderness to
them, and without an abundance of manure this
cannot be done. Deep soil is also a great ele-
ment of success. Though we do not favor sub-
soiling and underdraining for fruit trees, we
regard it as very profitable in vegetable growing

Asparagus beds may have the soil raked ofi' them
a little, if it was thrown up from the alley-way in
the fall. It allows the sun to get to the roots ear-
lier, and the crop is forwarded thereby. If the
beds are poor, they may have a dressing of guano,
or superphosphate, which has been found very
beneficial to this crop. It has become almost a
stereotyped recommendation to have "salt ap-
plied," but there is a good deal of the humbug
about it. In dry, sandy soils it does a little good,
and a little in whatever manure is applied is
acceptable to them, but more has been made of
the salt theory with Asparagus than it deserves.
Asparagus beds may be got ready as soon as the
ground is sufficiently dry to admit of working.
A deep soil is all-important; two feet, at least,
and a situation should be chosen that is warm,
and yet not too dry. The roots should be set
about four inches luider the surface, twenty
inches or two feet from each other, and the rows
eighteen or twenty inches apart. Large, fine
Asparagus cannot be obtained by crowding the
plants ; strong two and three year old plants are
the best; although in good, rich soil, one year
old plants will often bear a good crop the year
after planting. The length of time Asparagus
requires to come into bearing depends much on
the soil. It is useless to attempt raising it in poor
ground.

This is generally supposed to be the pruning
season. Orchard trees generally get too much
pruning. In young trees only thin out so as not
to have the main leaders crossing or interfering
with qne another. Or when a few shoots grow
m.uch stronger than the rest, cut these away.
Insist on all the branches in yoving trees growing
only on a perfect equality. On older trees which

-jave been in bearing a number of years, it will
often benefit to cut away a large portion of the
bearing limbs. By a long series of bearings,
branches will often get bark bound and stunted,
preventing the free passage of the sap to the
leaves. In such cases the sap seems to revenge
itself by forcing out vigorous young shoots a long
way down from the top of the tree. It is down
to these vigorous young shoots that we would
cut the bearing branches away. One must use
his own judgment as to the advisability of this.
If the tree bears as tine and luscious fruit as ever
of course no such severe work need be done, but
if not, then now is the time.

In young orcliards some species of scale insects
are likely to be troublesome. These should be
killed by washing at this season. If the trees
be very badly infested, cut back the young shoots,
and the stouter branches can then be more thor-
oughly done. Some people use weak lye for
washing, with good results ; we do not object to
some lime and sulphur going in with it. Old
trees are very much assisted by having the rough
bark scraped oft' of the trunk and main branches,
and then coated with a similar wash. Never
mind what people say about stopping up the
" breathing pores." Try it once, and you will
always want to repeat the practice.

And above all look after the nutrition of the
trees. Some people say that land which will
raise good corn will grow good fruit trees, which
is all right ; but they should add that like corn
they require regular and continuous manuring.
There are some parts of the country where corn
can be successively taken for a half a life time
without manure; on these soils we need not ma-
nure fruit trees, but in all others we must, to
have good results. This is particulary essential
where trees are grown in grass, as both the trees
and the grass require food. Where trees are
grown in grass, we prefer top dressing in June or
July, but if it has not been done then, do it now.
Where trees are kept under a clean surface cul-
ture, the manure is of course ploughed or har-
rowed in with the crop in the spring of the year.
To know whether trees require manure or not
ask the leaves. U in July they are of a dark

1876.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

13

rich green, nothing need be done to them, but if
they have a yellow cast, hunger is what is the
matter. This of course is supposing they are not
infested by borers, in which' case they will be yel-
lowish in the richest soil.

COMMUNICA TIONS.

FREE AND CLING-STONE PEACHES.

BY H. M. ENGLE, MARIETTA, PA.

In the September number of the Monthly
you compared several of the new early Peaches
with mine (the Downing), which was quite favor-
able to the latter, but closed by calling it a cling-
stone. Please define what you consider a cling-
stone. In my experience in peach growing, we
have three classes, viz : free, cling, and half or semi-
cling. In the latter we class Hale's, Early York,
Early Kareripe, Walter's Early, and others, all
of which part from the pitt, but not freely. My
Early Seedlings are of this class. My experience
is, that in some seasons they adhere to the pit
more than in others, but are never true cling-
stones.

A few years ago I shipped to a friend a few
crates of true Old Mixon free. He wrote back
that he wanted no cling-stones. That season our
free-stones were about as much clings as the
Hales and its class generally are. On the other
hand, we have had seasons when the latter were
received without objection to their being clings.

Am I wrong in classiijang as above ? Or is the
experience of peach growers different from mine?
Please explain.

[Mr. Engle is right. Peaches are divided into
two classes, free and cling. There is another,
which is generally free, and yet often clings
considerably to the stone. We have never thought
so much about this, as since Mr. Downing's note
in regard to the Alexander. There should be
three recognized classes. — Ed. G. M.]

BLACK WALNUT.

BY THE REV. J. H. CREIGHTON, COLUMBUS, O.

Almost every man and boy thinks he knows all
about gathering and cracking and eating Wal-
nuts — ^but may be not. Our native Black Wal-
nut [Juglans nigra) is hardly ever treated right,
and is when rightly preserved one of the best of
all nuts. It is commonly left too long in the
hull after it is ripe. Sometimes it is allowed to

lay for a long time on the ground in its thick
moist hull till the kernel goes through a kind of
change that makes it not only unpalatable, but
unhealthy. Hence, a great many persons have
an idea that this nut is strong, and hard to digest.
But it should be gathered immediately after it is
ripe, and not allowed to remain in the hull. It
should not even be allowed to remain on the
tree till it falls itself, but as soon as the kernel is
ripe take it oflf and dry it quick and it is a very
different nut from what is commonly found.
The kernel is white and delicious, no strong flat
taste, and has a delicate flavor that is hardly sur-
passed by any nut. And then when thus treated
there are little cracks in the hard shell that make
it easy to crack out the kernel. These little cracks
are formed by the sudden drying.

There are great differences in difierent trees as
to the size and quality of fruit. There is a tree near
Duncan's Falls, Muskingum County, Ohio, that
bears fruit of uncommon size and quality. We
have thought it worthy of propagation.

GRAPE GROWING AT GALVESTON, TEXAS.

BY J. FALCONER.

Many kinds of American Grape vines are
grown in the gardens in and around Galveston,
and although some sorts of them, do well, the
more experienced gardeners (I apply this term
to those people interested in and doing their own
gardening) are of opinion that it is a waste of
room, time and means to grow the American
grapes, when the finest European kinds can be
as easily grown, besides being so very much more
remunerative. At Mr. Stringfellow's gardens^
some two miles southwest of the city, I saw the
European grapes in as healthy and fruitftil a
state as I ever did under glass. His gardens are
near the sea beach, and like all the south coast of
Galveston, subject to most devasting south winds
that do more harm than north ones. To guard
against these winds he has his gardens fenced in
with a wooden fence, just inside of which, is a
high " sea-cedar " and oleander hedge ; oleander
hedges some eight feet high and fifty feet apart
run east and west through the grounds to act as
wind-bteaks too. In these sheltered plots Mr. S
has the Black Hamburg, Canon Hall Muscat,
Bowood Muscat, Muscat of Alexandria, several
kinds of Chasselas, and other sorts that he has
fully attested, and is satisfied that they are decid-
edly better adapted for Galveston than the Amer-

14

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[January,

ican grapevines. They ripen and color well,
produce large bunches of fine flavored fruit, and
the berries adhere well to the clusters and are not
so liable to rot as the natives. He grows his
vines on three barred wooden trellises three feet
high, for should they be higher the vines would
be blighted and prostrated by the Avinds sweeping
over the oleanders. As in hot-houses, so are these
grapes out of doors, they require thinning, and
this the grower considers an objection, but it is a
small one, for when we see plainly the great good
thinning out grape berries in the clusters does to
the appearance, quality, and value of the crop,
we can hardly grudge the trouble and time spent
in«i't. The vines are subject to mildew but Mr. S_
tells me that he keeps them effectually clean by
using powdered sulphur three times a year, viz.,
before they come into bloom, after stoning and
before coloring. Ten dollars worth serves him a
year, for how many vines I cannot say, but he
estimates his crop this year at 5,000 pounds. He
applies the sulphur through a fine wire sieve.

Mr. Stringfellow considers the Delaware the
best of the Americans for Southern Texas, and
particularly for Galveston, where it ripens early
and well, colors beautifully, and bears heavily.
He is very hard on the Scuppernong, and asserts
that it will grow like a weed, but with any amount
of coaxing he cannot get it to bear and ripen. I
may mention that Mr. S. is giving the Golden
Champion a fair trial. This is its first bearing
year, and now (April 29th) it has several very
solid bunches of flowers, and is withal in a most
promising and healthy condition.

Lawyer Tucker, a gentleman who grows grapes
for pleasure and profit, has the finest collection of
kinds that I know of in Galveston or in Texas.
He has now in admirable vigor and fruitfulness
forty-two distinct sorts of European grapevines,
all three years old, besides several one year old
plants and cuttings from California and elsewhere.
He, too, is of opinion that the European kinds are
by far the best for Galveston, and places great
stress upon the different kinds of Chasselas as
being the best. He tells me that he sells his fruit
for $1 a pound in Galveston and that they retail
in the same city for $1.25. His mode of culture
is almost a fac simile of Mr. Stringfellow's, but
his garden is further from the sea-coast and bet.
ter sheltered with big trees than Mr. S's, and the
soil is older and deeper. Mr. Tucker places
much weight, and I think justly too, in surface
dressings, and for this purjjose he keeps under
cover heaps of fresh earth, decomposed organic

manure, wood-ashes and charcoal, and leaf soil,
so as to be able to mix it and apply it as he con- ,
siders necessary, and his whole garden beai-s am-
ple testimony of this efficacious practice.

Mr. Cliappell, a farmer some five miles west-
the-island showed me an immense Scuppernong
vine that he has trained on a trellis over his wa-
ter cistern at the north side of the house, and
from which he says he cut 310 pounds of grapes,
besides what the folks about the house had eaten
off' it. He prunes off a good deal of old wood
annually, shortens the ends of the remaining
shoots, and as the vines begin to grow he leaves
only everj' third or fourth bud along the shoots,
rubbing off the rest. Mr. C. showed me several
other fine Scuppernong vines, all of which prom-
ised well for a heavy crop, but seeing the clusters in
flower and in ripe fruit are two difterent things.
Just observe the difference of opinion existing
as regards this grape between Mr. Stringfellow
and Mr. Chappell.

Mr. Shrader, a German farmer some distance
north-west of Mr. Chappell's place, and a thirty
years' "residenter" on the island has the most taste-
fully kept garden I saw amongst the farmers in
that district. He is a most polite and entertain-
ing old gentleman, and in his fruit trees and flow-
ers he takes great pride and interest. He has
Concord grapevines, but he does not like them ;
they bear regidarly and heavily and have large
clusters and berries, but should there come a
rain at ripening time they are sure to rot. He
has the Isabella too, and it does well with him
and he never found it to rot. This gentleman
has many other very fine grapevines, but having
lost their names and not keeping a written record
of them he does not know what they are.

COMET PEACH.

BY D. .0 MUNSON, FALLS CHURCH, VA.

I send you by to-day's mail a plate taken from
the same kind of peaches sent you, only the
ones sent to Dewey were larger than the ones sent
you. I also sent some to Chas. Downing, who
says it is a new peach. Rivers, of England, has
sent out a yellow peach called the Comet, and it
win therefore be necessary to give this one a new
name, and I have decided to call it the Billier's
Comet. It originated with a Mr. Billier, in Kent
County, Md., and has been known in that county
for several years as "Billier's Comet." The
buds I received from E. G. Hanford I learn
are from the yellow peach sent out by Rivers of

18T6.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

15

England, which he named the Comet, which is
described as ripening about the same time as this.
On accomit of the wet, cold weather during the
past summer, the peach was not so highly flavored
as in previous years ; still it sold for a big price in
Washington, D. C. market. It is from two to
three weeks later than the Salway. This peach
originated in Kent Co., Md.

[We have before given our opinion of this ex-
cellent Peach, under the provisional name of
Comet.— Ed. G. M.]

ELDRED CLING PEACH.

BY W. FALCONER, BRENHAM, TEXAS.

A year ago last June, Mr. D. R. Eldred, a far-
mer and enthusiastic fruit grower of this (Wash-
ington) county, Texas, brought a basketful of
these peaches to Mr. Watson for his opinion
regarding them. It was in the first week in June,
just as Hale's Early began ripening, and as a
cling at that season is a rarity, it may be consid-
ered one of the best additions to our peach list in
Texas, where clings are so much more in demand
than free-stones, and it is a decided cling. The
fruits are as large as Crawford's Early, somewhat
oval in shape ; pale yellow skin, with a beautiful
red cheek ; flesh, whitish, very juicy and rich.
Mr. Watson says it is the earliest cling of his
knowledge, and decidedly a first rate fruit, and
in compliment to its raiser. Mr. W. has named it
Eldred Cling. This j^ear the fruits sold at a
higher price than any in others Brenham.

EDITORIAL NOTES.

Strawberry Fertilizer. — A Lancaster corres-
pondent of the Farmer says : '"An experiment
made last year by myself may not come amiss at
this time with those who grow Strawberries. I
procured half a hogshead, filled it with rain
water, and put into it ^ib. of ammonia, and ^Ib.
of common nitre. When the Strawberry plants
were blossoming out, I gave them a sprinkling of
the solution at evening twice a week until the
fruit was nearly of size. The result was double
the amount of fruit on those where the liquid
was applied, to what was obtained from those
alongside, to which none of the liquid was ap-
plied."

Profitable Bee-keeping. — One of the most
profitable speculations in Bee-keeping that we
ever knew, was by a young lady in Illinois, until

recently. Miss Ella Dunlap. But two Cali-
fornian girls seem to have gone ahead of her
A correspondent of the Rural Press says " that
they kept on teaching till they got money
enough to buy two hundred stands of bees.
They then bid good-bye to school and took pos-
session of their bee-farm. Their accommoda-
tions were not palatial, but they answered the
purpose, and I will wager anything I have in the
world that no weary traveler passing the Smith-
Linden rancheria would say that the inmates
were ' keeping bach.'

Last week the senior partner came up by
steamer with the first 2,500 pounds of white
sage honey. She has another 1,000 pounds com-
ing. She found the honey market depressed on
account of the financial collapse, and put it in
store -until things looked brighter.

I have no business to be telling this story, but
I think it ought to be told for the encouragement
of girls tired to death of sewing and teachmg.
And I think it ought to be told to prove that one
student of the University has taken to agricul-
tural pursuits. And I think that every pound of
honey should be sold to the good housekeepers
of San Francisco at prices which will pay the
producers fairly for their credital)le undertaking.

Miss Smith is taking advantage of her leisure
to collect information about honey secreting
plants. She sowed all the mignonette seed she
could get last year, and now intends putting in a
crop of two acres."

Dreer's Lima Bean. — Mr. Geo. Paist, of Rees-
ville, Chester Co., Pa., reports that he finds this
variety a remarkably prolific bearer, and in his
opinion it is much superior in every respect to
the common Lima bean.

Remedy for the Celery Fly. — One of the
worst enemies to the celety is a small fly, which
deposits its eggs in the leaves, and the young eat
their way under the skin, and in this way materi-
ally affect the growth of the plant. The English
Gardener's Chronicle says : — " I can fully concur
with what has been stated by Mr. Tillery as re-
gards soot being beneficial to the growth of Celery
and also a preventive to the celery fly (Tephri
tis onopordinis), having experimented with the
same with satisfactory results, though instead of
selecting a fine day for the operation I selected a
showery one. I intended to have written to you
before on this subject, as I consider it an easy
remedy and of great importance where fine heads
of celery are in requisition."

16

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[January,

Dwarf Apples. — On nxy Pommkr de Paradis
stock, Apples may be planted eighteen inches
apart each way, and when they begin to touch
each other may have each alternate tree removed,
leaving the plantation at three feet apart each
way. At this distance they will do to stand many
years. I had nearly 1,000 sorbs in the season of
1868 in fruit, many of them bearing six to twelve
Apples, the trees being twelve inches by eighteen
inches apart, and most of them only one foot to
one and a half in height. The great thing with
this stock is that all the large Apples, which are
generally strong growers and slow bearers, bear
abundantly in two or three years, and produce
fine handsome fruit, generally better flavored
than when from the Crab or Doucin stock. The
management of these trees is very easy and simple
— that is, if any of them should have an inclination
to grow too luxuriant, merely lift them out of the
ground, tread down the place firmly, and then place
the tree on the part so hardened, covering its
roots with a few inches of the surrounding soil,
thus raising the tree on a little mound, which will
prevent the roots striking too deep into the cold
crude soil ; and as a consequence, the wood will
be well ripened and a fruitful tree be formed.
Little pruning is necessary ; a few over-luxuriant
shoots pinched back slightly once in summer,
and a neat and thin regulation of its branches in
autumn and winter, is all that is required. Avoid
too much summer pinching and pruning, other-
wise your trees will become ugly little stunted
scrubs, with their skins so tight that the life is
strangled in its ascent, and deformed abortions
will be all you will have. Be generous to your
trees; do not overpinch, overprune or overload
them, and they will repay you with interest. —
Scott's Orchardist.

NJEW FRUITS ^ VEGEJABLES.

The Northampton Apple. The Horticultural
Editor of the Lebanon Valley (Pa.) Standard, an
accomplished and intelligent horticulturist by
the way, giving a list of Winter Apples suited to
that section says: "Baldwin, Newtown Pippin,
Lady, Fallawater or Pound, Bellflower, Rambo,
Vandevere, White Pippin, Seek no further, Ro-
manite, to which list may be added an Apple
peculiar to Lebanon, bearing with us the name
of " Northampton " from the locality whence it
was introduced many years ago by Abraham
Light, deceased, and wliich is not described in

any of the books. We sent a specimen of the
books. We sent a specimen of the fruit to Char-
les Downing last May, and received the reply, in
answer to our request for a name, that he had never
seen the variety before, and requested us to send
him a specimen for trial this fixll. It is not procur-
able from any nursery and yet its many excellent
qualities of flavor, size, appearance and bearing,
coupled with the long period in which it can be
used, from October to May, entitle it to a promi-
nent place in the smallest collection or orchard."

Lucy Grieve Pear. We have from Messrs. E.
G. Henderson, of London, a beautifully executed
colored lithograph of thi^ new English Pear,
which is attracting much attention among Eng-
lish Pear growers. The description which they
send us, and which we give below, is from the
pen of Dr. Hogg, the Downing of England : —

" Fruit large, above the average, upwards of
three inches long, and two and a half wide, oval
in outline, combining the features of Glou Mor-
ceau and Swan's Egg. Its complexion lemon-
yellow, with a red blush towards tlie sun, and the
whole surfaced with cinnamon-colored russet
dots. Flesh white, very tender and melting, very
juicy, and richly flavored. It is a delicious Pear,
having the texture of flesh found in Marie Louise,
and ripens in October."

" The seed of this Pear was sown in a flower-pot
by the daughter and only child of Mr. Peter
Grieve, gardener at Culford Hall, near Bury St
Edmund's, who carefully tended the plants till
they were large enough to be planted out; but
ere the fii-st of them bore fruit, in 1873, tlie little
maid was in her grave. The first-class qualities
of this fruit will perpetuate her name, and as a
living record become at once a professional sou.
venir and ' forget-me-not.'"

QUERIES.

Petition.— J. H. C. says :— "The form of petition
in the Gardener's Monthly, page 347, is well
timed and should be copied extensively, and
signed by thousands and in good time sent to
Congress. If this be done we surely will have the
desired change. Let all our horticulturists at-
tend to it in good time.

" Our request is so evidently right, that we will
be almost certain to succeed."

[This did not reach us in time for our hist. We
trust the petitions will go in, if not already gone.

1876.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

n

We believe at this moment of writing, as we
have already said, that in this fight the Express
companies will prove stronger than the people.
We suppose the newspapers will be strong enough
to have the law altered, as it affects printed mat-
ter; but seeds, plants and such things will remain-
We shall be glad to find that we are mistaken,
and trust no effort will be lacking to prove that
we are wrong. — Ed. G. M.]

Phylloxera ox the Roots of Grape. — G. A.
P., Waltham, Mass., says : — " I send in this pack-
age a few lona Grape roots and wish you would
be kind enough to inform me if the knots on the
roots are caused by the Phj-lloxera. Please answer
through the columns of your valuable maga-
zine."

[Yes, it is the Phylloxera, and a very bad case.
Generally, as we have seen, only the fibres are
attacked. In these, many of the main roots are
suffering also. Such Grapes should not be jjlanted
until every swollen part be cut away. — Ed. G. M.]

W"n.D Celery. — M. L. saj-s : — " In Baltimore
recently, and dining with a friend, I was struck
with the excellency of some duck, and was told
that itjWas through the bird having been fed on
Celery. Is it generally known that Celery has
this effect on the flesh of the duck."

[We examined this matter some years ago, and
gave the results in the Gardetier's Monthly at that
time. It is not Celery, but a wild pond weed with
long grass-like leaves, known to botanists as Val-
lisneria spiralis, and which the sportsmen call
wild Celery. It does not impart any of its own
particular properties to the duck, but is favorable
to the bird's nutrition — just as corn would be, in
making flesh in an ox superior to hay or fodder.
—Ed. G.M.]

Grapes for a Cold Grapery. — B., Lebanon,
Pa., asks : " What are the best grapes for a cold
grapery ?"

[The best of all kinds for a cold grapery is the
Black Hamburg. Perhaps for an amateur who
takes pleasure in their growth, some variety
would be preferable. In this case a vine or so
of some of the forms of Chasselas for earlier, and
the West; St. Peters for later, might be desirable.
These are very old, but standard kinds. If one
is particularly fond of the subject, of course some
of the newer kinds, as Golden Hamburg, Muscat
Hamburg, Trentham Black, &c., may be intro-
duced ; but still looking to the Black Hariiburg
as the leading stand-by. — Ed. G. M.]

The HicxHland Hardy Raspberry. — A corres-
pondent from Ulster Co., N. Y., sends us the fol-
lowing. We may say that we know nothing of
the variety personally :

"This variety^ though surpassed, perhaps, in
some respects by others more widely known, has
nevertheless valuable qualities that commend it
to the attention of fruit growers throughout the
land. A short description of its qualities, habits
of growth, and manner of cultivation will proba-
bly be of interest to amateurs and others who
may be giving their attention to the cultivation
or testing of new varieties of fruits.

" Originating in this county several years ago,
it has rapidly gained such a popularity that
large plantations have been made of them, super-
seding other well-known varieties. The plant is
of vigorous growth, from 4 to 6 feet in height,
which affords an abundance of wood for the sup-
port of the fruit. The canes are perfectly hardy,
and have withstood a temperature of 16° and 20°
below zero during the past winters without in-
jury. I give them no protection whatever, nor
do they require it, as the canes bear fruit in
abundance to their very tops. This valuable
trait of being entirely hardy is the chief cause
why they have supplanted so largely the Ant-
werps and other kinds previously grown, that re-
quired winter protection. To such an extent are
they superseding the well known Hudson River
Antwerp, that the time is probably not far dis-
tant when they will supplant them almost en-
tirely in the River Counties which supply so
largely the markets of New York city.

They seem adapted to nearly all kinds of soil,
such as corn and other hoed crops are usually
grown upon, with the exception of clay flats, or
low, poorly drained fields. For the purpose of
experimenting, I have planted them on a diver-
sity of soils, and find that they can be grown
with profit even upon a heavy clay soil, if well
drained, either naturally or artificially, though
they do best on a gravelly soil, or light loam.

"The berry is a bright red, unusually firm,
which makes it of great value for shipping to
distant markets; flavor very good, comparing
favorably with other kinds ; size of fruit, medium
to large, surpassed in thi^ respect by other sorts,
such as Herstine, Brandywine, or the Antwerps.
The plants ripen their fruit considerably earlier
than most of the red varieties, coming into mar-
ket or upon the table a little before the Ken-
tucky, Jucunda or Col. Cheney strawberries dis-
appear.

18

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[January,

" The Highland Hardy may be classed under
the head of " very productive," giving with ordi-
nary culture from 40 to 60 bushels to the acre,
the crop selling in New York at from $400 to
$600 per acre. Under very favorable circum-
stances the fruit from small plots has sold at the
rate of from $1500 to $2000 per acre. Th'ese
latter figures are rare exceptions, but still they
show what success has been reached.

"As to their cultivation, the ground should
first be well ploughed, giving a good coat of
barnyard manure. After harrowing, the ground
can be marked out with a plow or otherwise,
placing the plants 4 feet apart each way, or by
making the rows 6 feet apart, and the plants 21
or 3 feet distant'in the rows. The first method
permits of better culture, though the yield does
not differ materially either way. The ground
should be kept well cultivated, except when the
fruit is ripening. Manure the land well late in
the fall or inHhe^'spring of each year ; not too
liberally, if the soil is naturally very rich.

" Plantations may be made in the fall or spring,
and usually the young shoots may be set out
with good success as late as the second week in
June. The second season from planting will
generally give'a paying crop, though full returns
should not be expected until another year. This
raspberry h&,s been widely disseminated through-
out the land, and those who have received them,
as well as others, will be interested, no doubt, in
knowing with^what success they are grown on
this their native soil."

The New Early Peaches. — T. T. A., Comorn
P. O., King George Co., Va., asks : " Please in-
form me how the early Beatrice, Louise, and
Rivers peaches have succeeded this year, and
would you advise the planting of them with us ?

[From all we can gather, they are desirable
varieties, and think you would be safe in plant-
ing them in your part of the country. — Ed.
G. M.]

•
Apples for South-eastern New Jersey. — A

correspondent from S. E. New Jersey asks : "Can

you give in the Gardener's Monthly a list of late

keeping apples of good quality and production ? I

have the Winesap, but would like several other

varieties, suited to our soil and climate, which

will keep till March or later."

[We have " official records " at hand that

would enable us to answer this question in a

manner that ought to be satisfactory. We under-

took to answer a question like this in regard to
Northern Ohio, from similar " authorities," and
our readers may renjember the trouble we got
into. Of course, not residing in these sections,
we have no other sources of information to fall
back on as regards these local affairs. We have
an idea what kinds we should plant in that part
of the world, but would prefer that some one on
the spot should answer. In case no one responds,
we will then give a list that we should recom-
mend.— Ed. G. M.]

Red-fleshed Apple. — A Henry Co., Ills., cor-
respondent says : " I have received from Michi-
gan an apple which I think is worthy of notice.
The skin is yellow, with a slight blush, medium
size, juicy, good flavor. The remarkable feature
about it is the color of the flesh, which is similar
to that of a red-cored watermelon ; it is bright
rose-colored, and I am told makes a cider very
much like wine.

Have you ever before heard of this apple or
anything like it. I will try and have a specimen
of it sent you. The man who owns the farm
where it grew says that the tree was on the place
when he bought it; and I understand that he
does not know whether this is the original tree
or not. My impression is that it is a seedling,
and that it has not been disseminated."

[Rcd-fleshcd apples are not uncommon. The
old-fashioned Quarrenden is often as red all
through as the heart of a watermelon, and so is
the Black Detroit and others. Tlie specimen did
not come to hand. — Ed. G. M.]

Winter Grafting of the Plum. — A New Jer-
sey correspondent writes : " I have a few hun-
dred plum stocks which I wish to graft, and
could I not saddle graft them successfully during
any pleasant weather this winter ? Should I tie
and cement?"

[Grafting of anything can be done all through
winter, if the scion and grafted part be protected
from frost. You must tie and wax, if whip or
saddle grafted. We are partial, however, to
cleft grafting, as when well done waxing only is
required. — Ed. G. M.]

Plum Growing. — 0. M., Ottumwa, Iowa, writes ;
" I am interested in plum growing, but am at a
loss to know how to proceed, or what plan to
adojit, and appeal to you for advice. This sub-
ject has not been tried much in this country,
and I am desirous of learning the best plans.
As you are aware, the great obstacle is the

1876.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

19

curculio, and this is what troubles me. I have
been thinking of a plan on which I ask your
opinion, viz., to plant an orchard, cultivate the
ground, sow lettuce under the trees, then with a
tight fence, and furnished with a pond of water,
pasture ducks and geese thereon. This idea is
original with me, and if you will be so kind as to
favor me with your opinion, also any other ideas
or hints which might be useful, I will submit the
same to our State Horticultural Society, and
thus, no doubt, be a source of valuable informa-
tion to others also."

[This letter reads as if a reply was desired by
letter ; but, as we often get similar requests, w^e
take occasion to say that we have no time to
write private letters on public topics, but are al-
ways willing to speak of them through these col-
umns. The members of the Iowa State Horticul-
tural Society are readers of our magazine, and
it will do the same good, and probablj^ interest
numbers of others, by being answered here.

That plum growing would be profitable, if suc-
cessful, is true. We may say it is profitable where
successful, for many succeed in keeping clear of
the curculio, and that is almost the only serious
obstacle. The insects are kei3t dowTi by jarring
the trees, when the insects fall into sheets and are
destroyed. EUw^anger & Barry have a snag made
by sawing off a branch a few inches from the
main stem. They hammer on tliis, and thus the
bark is saved from bruising. Dr. Hull liad a sort
of wheelbarrow, with a sheet spread on a frame.

and a pad so fixed as to save the bark when the
barrow was run forcibly against the tree. Both
these methods of jarring are followed by consider-
able fruit.

Keeping trees in chicken yards has been tried
with some, but not great, success. It cannot be
applied on a very large scale, and only to a score
or so of trees. The curculio is hard to catch,
even by one of the feathered tribe. Still some-
times it is very successful. One of our subscribers
in Philadelphia tells us that a half dozen trees in
a chicken yard are every year laden with plums.
"We suppose, in this case, the chickens destroy
the curculio.

This is all we can say of- our correspondent's
proposition from experience. It may do, but it
is a matter wholly to be worked out by an ex-
periment. It is worth the trial, as good plums
are as profitable as any fruit can be. — Ed. G. M.l

A Seedless Persimmon. — B. says : " I send a
small box of seedless persimmons. My reason for
sending is, I never heard of another tree of the
kind north of Texas, and the seedless feature is,
in my opinion, a valuable one. The fruit this
year is not as large as usual. The ow-ner of the
tree propagates from sprouts." ,

[Rather smaller than the average persimmon,

but only three small seeds in a hundred fruit a

siderable variety. It can be gi-afted on seedlings,
of tlie ordinary kinds, and in this way might be
increased rapidly. — Ed. G. M.]

DITORIAL.

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY AND HORTICUL-
TURIST.

A PIECE OF HISTORY.

As will be known to most of our readers before
their eyes meet this, the Horticulturist has now
become a part of the Gardener's Monthly. Per-
sonally we regret the fact. We liave never felt
any rivalry in regard to our old friend, or that we
had anything whatever to gain by its absence
from the field. On the contrary, we have ever

been ready, earnestly and sincerely, to lend it a
helping hand ; and not only to it, but to all enter-
prises of a similar kind. Mr. Williams resigns
it, primarily, because of his connection with so
many other w^orks ; but, of course, it would not
have come into our hands had other peoj^le felt
encouraged to continue it in an independent
form ; and the impression from these considera-
tions by the outside world must be, that horti-
cultural taste cannot be very wide spread on this

20

TEE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[January,

continent if there is room for only a single
horticultural magazine, and that a monthly one.
It is because we know that this view is deceptive
that we offer these remarks now. We have been
abundantly satisfied with our own success. No-
thing was more surprising to every one than the
immense circulation, for a purely horticultural
paper, achieved by the Gardener's Monthly before
the war. Though not equalling its original
strength, the course has been steadily onward
since the end of the great struggle. The intelli-
gent and the refined, to whom horticulture was
among the highest pleasures, were the chief
sufferers by the war ; and an entirely new class
came to the surface, with whom the taste for
horticulture was in a measure no more enjoyable
than an unknown tongue. Tliis has been, how-
ever, annually improving; and we have been
quite satisfied with our share in the good work.
AVe know the taste will continue to increase, and
we firmly believe there was no reason why any
of the horticultural magazines that have disap-
peared from the field should cease to be.

Let us review for an instant our own course.
Hovey's magazine had the field in the writer's
younger days. In some departments of gardening
it did immense service, especially in fruit culture,
and Pomology generally. Tlie present high po-
sition of Pear growing in this country is mainly
due to its labors. The Horticulturist followed.
It chose a higher field. It was the embodiment
of the best intellectual culture in this beautiful
department of art. Its sphere was all its own.
There was still room for another in a different
line, and the Florist appeared. The young editor
was abundantly fitted for the work. It was a
brave and worthy effort; but what could be done
by one without a dollar in the world? With its
departure the field was still open. The highest
taste and pomological gardening were fully
ministered to; but there was nothing for the
thousands with slender purses and small yards and
grounds, and others who, in numberless ways,could
be benefitted by little hints of a practical caste.
Tliis was our time. Unfortunately our good neigh-
bor, " The Horticulturist," came down from the po-
sition it was so ably filling, working in a measure
in our own line. We are satisfied it lost a great ad-
vantage by the change. The Hearth and Home folks
saw the opportunity, and it was indeed a grand
one. Why they failed was perfectly clear to those
who understood the needs of horticulture in this
country. It might have been to-day the expo-
nent of the highest culture in our beautiful art —

a leader equal to some of the best in the old
world — and a good paying investment instead of
the hea\-j' sinking fund it was to the projectors.
As for the American Gardener's Chronicle, the
American Journal of Horticulture, and Xhe American
Garden, the very fact of the adoption of these
names betrayed a want of originality, and invited
a comparison so unfortunate for themselves that
no one acquainted with bvisiness, in its relation
to horticultural literature, ever had the slightest
hojDe of their success.

The Gardener's Monthly is left the sole survivor,
but indeed it is not because there is no room for
more. The work which so many have tried to
do is really better done by the numerous excel-
lent agricultural papers of which our country nmay
well be proud. There is one agricultural phase
of gardening which, while not ignoring icsthetics
wholly, yet looks mainly to profit ; and there is
one which places the mental and the beautiful
a long way before the monetary and the material,
though still bordering on the mere agricultural,
and this is the work which we have to do. It
commences just where their "s ends. No attempt to
build u]) a paper which is simply in comijetition
with the horticultural departments of our excel-
lent agricultural serials can possibly succeed.
They ought not. Tliere is no need of them. But
those who can comprehend what true horticul.
ture is, and what it needs witli us, need not fear
to find abundant patronage.

Truly we had no ilesire to involve our elder
brother. Earnestly do we desire to see more of
our family keeping house for themselves, and it
is because we sincerely wish to have them do so,
and because we believe there is plenty of resison
why they should, that we have candidly given
our views on the situation.

In the meantime, we bespeak sympathy for the
Gardene)-'s Monthly and Horticulturist in its lonely
condition. If we make any new friends by the
change we shall try to treat them well, while we
trust our old friends shall have no cause to feel
jealous of any attention we may give to the new-
comers in our household.

We cannot close these remarks without thanking
our Weekly Agricultural, and other exchanges, for
their kindly notices of our new situation, for many
are coming to hand while we are writing this.
Our relations with them have always been kind
and cordial, and we do not know of one that we
may not call our friend. We are, indeed, co-op-
erative in the same task, and no one can appre-
ciate their good will as well as we.

iste.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

21

IMaTURAL miSTORY AND ^CIENCE.

COMMUNICA TIONS.

ABIES MACROCARPA— A NEW CONIFEROUS
TREE.

'BY DR. GKO. VASEY, WASHINGTON, D. C.

In the fall of 1874, Mr. F. M. Ring, of San"
Gorgonia Pass, California, sent to the Department
of Agriculture some cones and twigs of a conifer-
ous tree, of which he desired to know the name.
The striking resemblance of the cones to those
of Abies Douglasii was very apparent, but their
great size and weight were remarkable. I re-
quested from ISIr. Ring more detailed information
of the characteristic marks of his tree. In reply,
under date of Nov. 25th, 1874, he wrote as fol-
lows : " The tree in question is called here a fir
tree ; it is the first pine tree met with in ascend-
ing from the plain to the mountains, growing in
the canons of the foot hills, and in this locality
is the most common of the evergreens. As you
ascend in the mountains it becomes scarce, and
is not found higher up than about five thou-
sand feet. It attains a large size, from two, to
three feet in diameter, and from sixty to eighty
feet high ; the usual size, however, is about a
foot and a half in diameter, and fifty feet high.
Its appearance is peculiar, different from the
other pines found with it. This is caused by its
manner of growth, the limbs extending straight
out from the trunk without bending up or down.
It is a fine spreading tree, even when growing
thickly together, and I think would make a
highly ornamental one if planted singly or in
groups in open ground."

The leaves had all dropped from the twigs sent
by Mr. Ring, and as it appeared too late for
more specimens that year, I deferred the matter
until the coming year. In the meantime the
cones were seen by Dr. Gray and Dr. Engelmann.
Dr. E. was particularly interested in the matter,
and desired more information and specimens. I
accordingly applied again to Mr. Ring last sum-
mer, and under date of September 14th, 1875, he
writes as follows :

" I have endeavored to find some cones of the
fir tree, but have not succeeded so far. This year

there appear to be very few cones formed ; last
year the trees were loaded with them, but now I
can find none but the old ones which still hang
upon them. The cones that I sent you came off
separate trees, and were of the average size ; all
the trees of this sort bear cones of about the
same size ; there are none intermediate in size as
far as I can diijcover. If by the Abies Douglasii
you mean the Douglas spruce of the northwest
coast, I should say that the tree in question is
not the same. It has not the same general ap-
pearance, and grows under quite different cir-
cumstances. It is not nearly so large as the
Douglas spruce, and the branches are much
longer in proportion to the height of the tree.
The branches appear to me to be singularly long
and spreading, in marked contrast with the
other cone-bearing trees. The bark of the old
trees is quite deeply furrowed ; in the young ones
not so much so, but it is never smooth."

In addition to the information sought for from
Mr. Ring, I also instructed Dr. Ed. Palmer, who
was making collections in Southern California,
to search for the tree, and to get specimens and
a section of the trunk. He was successful in
finding the tree in San Felipe Canon, in the
mountains northeast of San Diego. The section
of wood has not yet come to hand, but the speci-
mens of twigs and cones have. The twigs seem
to be longer and slimmer than those of Abies
Douglasii, and the leaves are rather more
acutely pointed, but otherwise there is no appa-
rent difference. But the cones holdout in entire
accordance with those sent by Mr. Ring. They
are old cones. Dr. Palmer stating that no new
cones were to be found. They are five inches
long hj two and one-half inches in diameter,
composed of about 60 scales, which in the centre
of the cone are one and a half to one and three-
fourths inches wide. The bracts can hardly be
distinguished from those of Abies Douglasii ex-
cept that they do not project so far beyond the
scale. The difference in the cones of the two
kinds is most strikingly shown by their compara-
tive weight. Five average sized cones of the San
Gorgonia specimens weighed 202 grammes, equal

22

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[January,

to six and one-third ounces ; while live cones of
the average size of the ordinary form of Abies
Douglasii, weighed but tliirty-eight and one-half
grammes, or less than one-fifth as much. The
seeds are triangular, brown outside, and white on
the under side, with a wing twice as long as the
seed, together being seven-eighths of an inch to
one inch long. The seeds are much heavier
than those of the ordinary Abies Douglasii.

In recent investigations of the collections of
the Department, a cone was found marked Abies
Douglasii, var. macrocarpa, collected at San
Felipe, Cal., Nov. 16th, 1857, with the note, " cone
fi.ve inches long, I. S. N. Ives' Colorado Exp."
On referring to the report of Ives' expedition, we
find Abies Douglasii var. macrocarpa referred
to from the mountains near San Felipe The
cone corresponds exactly with those obtained by
Dr. Palmer. Further examination of the range
of this form, and of the permanence of the pecu-
liar characteristics stated is desirable, but it
would seem from what we now know of it, that
it deserves to rank as a new species, in which
event no more appropriate name could be found
than Abies macrocarpa.

DO PLANTS NEED WATER?

BY W. T. BELL, FRANKLIN, I'A.

"Thomas Meehan, editor of the Gardener's
Monthli/, answers this question by saying that " if
any one thinks plants need wafer, lie can try by
stopping up the hole in the bottom of a flower
pot, in which a plant is growing. This will be
one of the best ways of learning'that the essence
of all good culture is to get rid of the water
in the soil as soon as possible. This is the
great principle that underlies the practice of un-
derdraining land. We want moid air in the soil,
not water. ' Firm potting ' favors a large amount
of airspaces. If soil is moderately dry, the more
we 'pound' it, the more we pulverize it, and
pulverization means dividing into minute parti-
■ cles. The more particles the more spaces— the
more spaces the more porous is the mass. Every
pore contains air, and this air is moist air, and it
is on this moisture that the plants draw. There
is no difference in the manner by which a root
draws moisture from the atmosphere under the
ground, and that by which the root of an air
plant draws moisture above the ground. If you
take the earth in which a healthy plant is grow-
ing, and handle it, you will find "no ivafer in it ;
but you will perhaps find it moid enough to
dampen a piece of paper. We do not know that
any amount of pressure would squeeze ivafer out
of some soils in which ])lants grow healthy,
though possibly moist air might be so compressed
as to make water. Indeed, the matter seems
so clear to us, that we sui)posed it would be ne-

cessary only to state it to insure conviction. And
we wonder very much that writers still continue
to use the word water, when they speak of the
necessary conditions in the food of plants."

I clip the above item fi'om the Lancaster
Farmer, and must dissent from the views therein.
Stopping up the hole in the bottom of the flower
pot is scarcely a fair way to test the question.
You might as well say that a man does not need
water, and to prove it plunge him head and heels
in a water tank and keep him there. Plants
need water and men need water, but more than
they need is hurtful to both. You say " we want
moist air in the soil, not water." Why not say
also that man wants chyle, not food ? Man needs
food to form chyle, and plants need water to
make moist air in the soil about their roots.
Nay, more, plants must have water supplied to
them in such quantities that they can absorb it,
and appropriate at least some portion of the
quantity absorbed together with the other food
which it holds in solution.

[Our correspondent is in some measure right.
The comparison by stopping up the hole in the
pot is hardly a fair one, and scarcely meets the
case ; still it seems as good a way as any of illus-
trating what we mean. The difference between
water and mere vapor is not great certainly,
and there can be little or no humid particles in
the foil unless water is given. In this sense
plants need water of course. That is, water must
bt; given to the earth in order to create this hu-
midity ; but after giving the earth this water, the
good cultivator must draw it away again as rap-
idly as possible.

Oar correspondent kindly adds : " Two features
in the magazine strike me as particularly com-
mendable. 1st. You offer no chromos or other
useless premiums, and are not continuallj' blow-
ing your own horn, and 2d, you exclude adver-
tisements (cloaked or otherwise) from your read-
ing matter. My introduction to the Monthly was
maile in the Nov. No., but, from appearances, I
think the acquaintance will be continued for
some time to come." — Ed. G. M.]

EDITORIAL NOTES.

Disease in the L.\rch. — It is known that the
plantations of Larch in Scotland suffer much
from disease, and the planting has received a
check in consequence. At a recent meeting of the
Scottish Arboricultural Society, Mr. Gorrie, Rait
Lodge, read a paper on "The Failure of the

1876.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

23

■Larch." This subject, whether considered eco-
nomically or_ scientifically, was, he said, the
most important which forced itself on the atten-
tion both of forest owners and foresters, for the
failure of the Larch had involved vast pecuniary
loss in many districts of Britain. The principal
causes of the Larch failure he classed under the
following heads :— (1) Heart-rot, dry-rot, or pump-
ing ; (2) surface-rot, cancer, cankering or blister-
ing, and top-rot; (3) the Larch bug or blight.
The first was caused by excessive droughts,
occasional saturations, and fungoid attacks on
the roots, and the prevention was to avoid plant-
ing Larch in places that were likely to favor
these causes. Surface-rot, cancer, and blistering,
and top-rot were due to the effects of late spring
frosts occurring after the sap flow and growth
were in full progress, and to autumn fi'osts set-
ting in before the growth of the season was fully
matured. The prevention here was a more ju-
dicious selection of soils in which to plant young
Larch. They should avoid warm southerly
exposures that excited a too early spring growth,
and more especially all low, fiat, moist districts
that were subject to cold ground fogs or hoar
frosts. The bug which attacked the Larch did
not appear to be a native of this country, but
had been imported with the tree. It was found
most prevalent in low, hollow, sheltered situations
where thinning had been neglected. No perfect
preventive of the ravages of the bug had been
discovered, and the society should ofier prizes
for the best " steep " that would destroy the in-
sects or their eggs.

Immediate Effects op Cross Fertilization
ON Fruits. — Everyone knows that whenever In-
dian corn is fertilized by strange pollen there is
an immediate result on the grain of corn, but it
has been contended that this is not a fruit, as
pomologists understand it. Some think there is
an immediate effect on melons and squashes, but
just how much of the change seen is due to a
natural tendency to vary and how much to fer-
tilization is not quite clear. The following is a
contribution to this subject, from the pen of Prof.
C. E. Bessey, as we believe :

" C. W. Garfield, foreman of the Michigan Ag-
ricultural College Gardens, reports as follows:
"We made ten crosses, employing ten speciniens
in each cross — one hundred in all. Perfected
fruit was obtained in all but three instances. In
only three did we observe any variation in the
specimens, save that "which would come as an ef-

fect of the gauze employed to prevent the rav-
ages of the codling moth. These cases were : 1st.
Wagener upon Tallman Sweet. There was a
modification of flavor quite noticeable, the fruit
being sub-acid. 2nd. Tallman Sweet upon As-
trachan. In this instance there was a manifest
change in color, flavor and shape. The apples
were quite mild to the taste ; the color was very
much modified, and the form was that of a flat
apple. 3d. Tallman Sweet upon Wagener. The
modification here was noticeable in all the speci-
mens, in flavor and color. Two of these had no
gauze on them, and the difference was quite as
noticeable in these samples as in the remainder.

Fungus cracking the Pear. — At the meeting
of the American Pomological Society at Chicago,
the editor of this magazine was called on some-
what unexpectedly to deliver an address on
fungi and fruit diseases. Without notes or mem-
oranda, he stated that the peculiar black fungus,
which develops on the leaves of Prince's St. Ger-
main and some other pears, finally leading to that
peculiar form of cracking, might be from some
one of the polymorphic forms of Eoestelia cancel-
lata, the fujigus which causes the leaf blight in
young seedling pears. It appears, however, to be
another kind, with the rather hard name of. Hel-
minthosporum pyrorum. As Mr. Meehan's re-
marks may be reported by the secretary for the
proceedings, this correction may be made in the
volume by those who are interested.

Toughened Glass. — We have already noticed
this invention. Wlien it becomes cheap it will
be one of the best insurances we can have against
hail storms for our glass-houses. The Boston
Journal of Cliemistry, referring to it, says :

" Essentially, the process consists in heating
glass nearly up to the softening point, and then
plunging it into a bath of oil or grease. But to
bring it to perfection has needed the patient ex-
perience of seven long years. M. Bastie, who is
a gentleman of fortune, is said to have made his
discovery first some seven years ago. This was
after many years of investigation. But though
he seemed to have succeeded for the moment, it
took two years more of continual experiments
before he could repeat his success. Tlie invention
has been patented in all European countries,
and soon will be throughout the civilized world."

Rapidity of Growth in Timber Trees. — At
one time it was supposed that it took almost a
long life time for a tree to grow to any consider-
able size. Of late years people come to under-

24

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[January,

stand difterently. At a recent meeting of the
Scottish Arboricultnral Society, Mr. M'Corquodale
said he had measured recently two specimens of
Abies Douglasii, which were 41 years of age. One
contained OOj cubic feet of timber, and the other
132 cubic feet. That was a rapidity of growth in
coniferous trees that was seldom seen. Douglasii
was suited by a dry soil remarkably well.

QUERIES.

Depth of Roots. — J. B. says: "You remark
that the roots of trees which run deep are not
for food, but for moisture. Is it a recognized
truth in vegetable physiology that some roots
can only take up moisture, while others can take
other kinds of food?"

[We have never said that some roots can take
up moisture onhj, but it is tolerably certain that
young active fihrrs supply the plant wath nutri-
tive matter, while roots, that is (speaking of
trees), fibres that are more than a year old, do so
only with difliculty. Trees that lose their fibres
by rotting, or by fungi, have but yellow foliage,
and weak growth. They can take something
from the soil through these main roots, but not
what the fibres can. As to the fact, Mr. Darwin
says that Drosera roots can take in only water ;
and then we know practically that the roots of
the trees which go deep down into the subsoil
do not take up more than moisture, because
there is nothing else often ip the poor subsoil to
take. Plant food is chiefly at the surface.— Ed.]

Aponogeton distachyon. — " Please let me
know, through the Gardener's Monthly, the botan-
ical family and native place of the water plant
called by the gardeners "Aponegeton dis-
tachyon."

A [native of Cape of Good Hope, and, let us
say, one of the most interesting flowers to have,
and one of the easist to cultivate. Last year
we had a flower given to us by Mr. W. T. Foust,
of Philadelphia, from a plant that was raised,
simply in a tub of water— it being an aquatic.
It is of the natural order Juncaginace:^. The
white flowers are curiously formed, but the in-
describably sweet odor is its chief charm. It
would, we think, be hardy in any water where the
ice did not reach the bottom. — Ed. G. M.J

The Potato Disease.— M. .says: ''Dear Sir:—
Since my return from Europe, where I spent the

summer, I have been looking over some of the
back numbers of the Gardener's Chronicle, and
find that the potato rot continues* to excite spec-
ulation. You have doubtless often seen a lot of
English gooseberries, with a mild spring make
some nice young wood of several inches long,
when one night's frost would come, which would
not only check up the growth of the young
shoots, but in a few days you would find both
the shoots and the young berries covered with a
leathery fiuigus which enclosed them as a coat
of mail, and which you, sir, knowing well what
was the cause for that fimgus being there, would
count it idle to inquire further whether it was a
spore or a fungus. During my several crossings
of the Atlantic I have always spent a few weeks
in fatherland (north of Ireland), where, in an-
swer to my many inquiries as to the potato rot
and its cause, I was always invariably told that
the rot was preceded by a heavy fog, that ap-
proached the land from the east, and that as soon
as the fog passed away, the potato leaf would be
limp, and get discolored, and should the sun
come out strong, would throw off" a very disagree-
able odor. I was in Ireland during the potato
rot fog last August (1875). For some days after-
wards you could have smelled the potato fields
at a considerable distance. Tlie fog passed over
the north of Ireland about the 15th of August,
and in a conversation with a friend who plants
12 to 15 acres potatoes annually, he told me that
he had passed through his potato fields at early
morn, before the fog had passed away, and that
every leaf was frozen stiff.

" Since my return home I passed one evening
a beautiful flat of Dahlias belonging to my sons.
Two days afterwards, upon passing the same flat
of Dahlias, it reminded me of an Irish potato
field stricken with the potato rot, and there waa
no perceptible difference in the smell. Frost
did it. M."

[Nothing is more clearly proved than the fun-
goid origin of the potato disease. An examina-
tion of the evidence given in back volumes of the
Gardener's Monthly and other magazines shows
this. The potato disease will often rot a whole
cellar full of tubers, when certainly no frost en-
tered there. The point made by our corresj^on-
dent that last year the disease appeared with
most virulence in Ireland after a heavy fog, is a
good one, for it has been shown by the observa-
tions of Worthington Smith that the form of
fungus so destructive last year requires consider-
able moisture for its development. — Ed. G. M.]

187.6.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

25

Female Weeping Willow. — M., Newcastle, Del.
says : " I have heard that the willow in this coun-
try has but one sex. Is this correct, and how
is it?"

[This probably refers to the common weeping
willow, which, up to quite recently, was repre-
sented only by the female form. The original
willow probably came from China, and as it is in-
creased by cuttings, the plants are all, both in
this country and in Europe, of the sex of that
original tree, which chanced to be female. Of
late years, however, the male form, under the
name of Salix japonica, has been introduced. We
have now the two sexes, but the male is not so
pendulous or so graceful as the old one. The fe-
male mil therefore continue to be the weeping
willow.— Ed. G. M.]

Emblematic descriptiox of the Pas.sion Flow-
er. — Mrs. R. T. W. asks : " Can you inform me
where I may find the Emblematic description of
the 'Passion Flower,' and greatly oblige."

[ An apology is due to this lady for overlooking
the question last month, for which it came to hand
quite in time.

The Spaniards when they first entered Mexico,
associated everything possible with their religious
faith. This flower came in for its share of this
attention. It was taken to illustrate the passion
of Christ. The three nail-like pistilc were em-
blematical of the three nails by which he was
attached to the cross, and the five stamens the
five wounds, four on the hands and feet, and one
in the side. The singular narroAV processes which
characterize the passion flower, and form the
course below the stamens, is the crown of thorns
which covered the Saviour's head. The ten petals
and sepals are the ten apostles, two being
absent, one, Peter, being afraid and having run
away to hide himself; the other, Judas, ha\ang in
a spirit of remorse, gone and committed suicide.
The fancy is much more perfect than that which
identifies the Holy Ghost in the form of a dove
with the Peristeria elata, and is, perhaps one of
the best that the Spanish Americans have given
us.— Ed. G. M.]

The Charter Oak.— We have the following let-
ter from Dr. G. W. Russell, of Hartford: "I sent
you last year some of the leaves of the Charter
Oak, which you thought to be those of the Quercus
discolor or Swamp White Oak. As controversy
has arisen lately as to the true name of the Char-
ter Oak, some contending that it was Q. alba,
others Q. discolor, I write again :

" Genuine leaves of the Charter Oak taken from

it after it was blown over, are very variable ;
those on the upper branches are like those usual-
ly delineated and described as the Q. alba. Those
which I sent you were probably from the lower
branches.

Upon examining several trees of the Q. alba, I
find that universally the leaves upon the upper
branches are deeply lobed and of the usual form,
whilst those upon the lower, and near the trunk,
are quite difterent, being broader and not deeply
lobed.

"Those which I sent you were genuine, and
probably from the lower branches, and were of
this description.

" I am inclined to think that we made a mistake
in calling the Charter Oak tree Q. discolor, and
that it should be the Q. alba, as has always before
been supposed.

" I send you specimens of leaves of an oak which
I think to be Q. discolor, very unlike those of the
Charter Oak in either form ; the tree is ragged in
its appearance, bark loose, in large plates, and
upon the whole presenting much the appearance
of a man ' out at the elbows.' "

[The oak on the grounds of Mrs. Colt, shown to
the writer as a seedling from the Charter Oak, is
certainly ^. discolor. The leaves sent us from the
original tree, were very small, and on a cursory
examination we took them to be Q. discolor also.
Since receiving this letter of Dr. Russell we have
re-examined the little leaves critically, and with
numerous specimens of Quercus alba and Q.
discolor before us, and find that there are always
constant characters distinguishing the two kinds
quite independent of the outline of the leaf,
(which indeed is very variable) and which enables
one to fix the species even though only a portion
of the leaf should be under examination. We *
have now no hesitation whatever in deciding that
the original Charter Oak was of Quercus alba*
the common white oak.]

Rocky Mountain Silver Spruce.— H., Quincy,
111., asks : "Will you be kind eriough to give us
the botanical name of the 'Rocky Mountain
Silver Spruce ?' We are often asked to give it,
and cannot do so. We enclose a paragraph
clipped from a description by a well-known
writer."

" The Rocky Mountain Silver or Blue Spruce. —
This we consider the most beautiful evergreen of
America. A well-known writer speaks of it as
follows :

. . ' But the Silver Spruce is the one gem of
the trees, a sort of first cousin of the evergreen

26

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[January,

we call the Balsam Fir in New England yards,
but more richly endowed with beauty of shape
and color. . . It looks as if a delicate silver
powder had been strewn over its deep green
needles, or rather as if a light white frost had
fallen all upon and enshrouded it ; and you can-
not help wondering why the breezes do. not
shake the powder off, or the sun dissipate the
frost, so ever present is the one illusion or the
other. A soft Avhite, blue-green combination.' "
[The description suits Abies Menziesii, and A.
Engelmannii. As the latter is not common in
those parts of the Eocky Mountains frequented
by " well-known writers," the doctrine of chances
will make the tree Abies Menziesii. It is to be
hoped that the time will come when a fair
knowledge of botany, so as to be able at least to
write intelligently, will be regarded as part of the
education of "well-known writers." As it is,
they know so little of what they describe, as to

make it a waste of time to puzzle out their mean-
ing. Allies Menziesii, if this is the " most beau-
tiful evergreen of America" referred to, has been
under cultivation in most leading American nur-
series for a quarter of a century, and is generally
a mean and miserable looking thing. Now and
then we have seen a fair specimen, and if some
care was taken in finding out what particular
soil and situation just suited it, it might do its wild
character, as once in a while seen, some credit.
It seems also in our Eastern nurseries to be an
especial favorite of the red spider, and this is
against its chances of securing admiration. The
writer of this paragraph grew one once to the
height of 20 feet, which kept itself very beautiful.
It grew on bottom land, which seemed to suit it
very well, but one extra wet spring was too much
for it in that situation, and it died. It seems to
want some rather difficult and exact conditions
to do well.— Ed. G. M.l

.LITERATURE, ?1rAVELS & PERSONAL MOTES.

COMMUNICATIONS.

POISONING BY RHUS.

BY H. C. BEARDSLEE, PAINESVII.LE, OHIO.

I notice, in Gardener's Monthhi for December,
a communication in regard to the poison of rhus.
I have sxifTered many times from the poison of Rhus
toxicodendron (L.) and Rhus venenata, (D. C.)
In New England there were many popular reme-
dies for this poison. Among these were a strong
infusion of white ash bark Fraxinus Americana
(L.), of sweet fern Comptonia, and of the com-
mon everlasting Gnaphalium polvcephalum.
(Micl )

The most speedily effective remedy I know, is
a solution of the bichloride of mercury — corro-
sive sublimate — used as a wash. The only effec-
tive vegetable remedy I have ever seen used, is a
cold infusion of the roots of Nabalus albus (Hook.)
var. serpentaria, N. altissimus (Hook.) and N. fra-
seri, (D. C.,) all of which have similar properties.

The tuberous roots should be bruised and in-
fused in cold water — and this infusion should be
used as a drink — compresses wet with it should
be applied to the affected part and kept wet. It
is really a safe and effective remedy.

Corrosive sublimate is a very active, and per-
haps, if used strong, not always a safe applica-
tion.

GARDENERS AT GALVESTON.

Gardeners, with the view of getting employ-
ment at their trade, should not come to Galves-
ton or, indeed, to Texas, unless pre-engaged, as
no one employs professional men of their class —
a negro or common laborer does all the work
necessary. I would not advise those who would
wish to start in business for themselves, however,
to stay away, but merely remind them that every-
thing is at the highest figure on this island.
Land near the city is worth front; $300 to
$1000 an acre, and two miles out of the city,
along the island, from $50 to $200. Unless it is
old cultivated land it is poor and hungry, requir-
ing much manure, labor, and wind-screens.
There is no mode of transit on the island but
by wagons, unless the goods are being shipped
out of the island, when the railroad affords the
desired facilities. Galveston itself is a good
market for vegetables. There is a good road

1876.]

A ND HOE TIG UL T UBIS T.

2Y

(for a Texas road) along the middle of the
island, and it is not impassable with mud in
winter as manv of the inland roads are.

EDITORIAL NOTES,

Law of purchasing plants. — A trial has
taken place in England in which an employer
refused to pay Mr. B. G. Williams for plants pur-
chased by the gardener. Some of these plants
were expensive, one of them being $150. It was
shown that it had been the custom on the estate
for the gardener to purchase plants, as it had been
that of the cook to purchase the meat, and the
bill was ordered by the ruling of the judge, and
the verdict of the jury, to be paid, — with some
sharp comments on the practice of Mr. Williams
in giving five per cent, of the amount of the bills
to the gardener for ordering the plants of him.
The objection to the bill was that these particular
plants were not ordered, but the decision is that
if the gardener had been permitted to order
before, the employer was bound by subsequent
orders, unless notification had been given to the
contrary.

The baobob tree. — Adansonia digitata. — Before
the discovery of the mammoth Sequoias of Cali-
fornia, the baobob tree of India used to be
the greatest wonder among large trees. We
have read of it taking thirteen men spreading
arms and touching fingers to span one tree. An
English government paper on Forests, thus speaks
of some : — In Upper India, especially, the growth
of this tree is extremely slow. Two trees
planted at Etawah, in 1824:, are at this date only
50 and 55 feet high, with a girth of only 9 and 10
feet respectively at 6 feet from the ground ; and
the largest of a number of trees planted in the
same station, between the years 1859 and 1864,
by Mr. A. 0. Hume, the magistrate and collector
of the district, has now only attained a height of
24 feet, with a girth of 2 feet 2 inches at 6 feet
from the ground. At Lucknow, also, the largest
of some trees, locally reported to have been
planted in the reign of Asaf-ud-dowla, or between
ninety and a hundred years ago, is not more than
13 feet in girth at 5 feet from the ground.

Dr. C. C. Parry. — This well-known botanical ex-
plorer, has been spending the summer in Central
Utah, and will winter in Southern California.
Few men have added so much to the knowledge
of American plants as he has. He has now been

many' years engaged in various parts, with no
great profit to himself, but has placed us all
under great obligations for what he has done.

Personal. — Tlie. Country Gentleman, one of
whose editors recently made a visit to Mr.
Meehan's nursery, at Germantown, has a kind
reference to the fixct that in the seventeen years
of Mr. Meehan's editorship of the Gardener's
Monthly, no one would gather from anything in
its reading columns that he had anything to sell.
This arises from the fact that Mr. Meehan has
no ownership in the Gardener's Monthly. He is
simply engaged by the owner and publisher to
edit it in the interest of Horticulture, and it
would ]ie manifestly improper to use his position
for his own personal ends. The Country Gentle-
man has our best thanks for its generous notice
of the fact.

BiLLiEu's Comet Peach. — Since D. O. Munson's
article was printed in first form of present No-
(see page 14) we have the following from him by
vra,y of correction :

" I still find there is a mistake in the name of
the Comet peach. The correct name is Billieu's
Comet. When first heard from the parties, the
name was not written plainly, and I had to partly
guess at it."

Agave virginica. — We are in receipt of the
following striking circular from Tennessee :
" New Flower — Agave virginica.

This plant was discovered a few years ago in
one of the beautiful valleys of East Tennessee,
and is well worthy of cultivation for its curious
structure and delicious fragrance.

Foliage large — some plants during this season
having reached two feet in diameter. Some of
the leaves are fluted and of a deep green color ;
others of a pea-green shade ; others variegated,
spotted with blood red drops. The stalk grows
from three to six feet in height, having on each
from thirty-five to fifty flowers. It remains in
bloom from six to eight weeks. Its fragrance is
verj^ sweet, peculiar, and unlike any other flower
known to the discoverer. The arrangement of
the flowers upon the stem reminds one more of a
group of Chinese characters than anything else.
It has improved Avonderfully under cultivation.

The soil for its cultivation should be a rich loam.
When the bulb is potted in the fall, and kept in a
hot-house or conservatory, its beautiful foliage
contrasts strongly against other plants, and
blooms early in the spring. When potted in the
spring, it flowers early in July, continuing into
September. It can also be propagated from the
seed, flowering the second year.

I can furnish a limited number of these bulbs
at 50 cts. each, or $4.00 per dozen. Seeds, 25 cts.

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[January,

per package, postage prepaid. Those ordering
by express must pay charges.

Being the original discoverer and cultivator of
this plant, it can only be purchased from me."

It illustrates v^^ell how one may tell the truth
and not convey a good idea. There is nothing
that one can object to, in fact, in what is said,
and yet those who bought would be disappointed.
The flowers are sweet and curious but not showy.
It bears culture very well — some we have had for
several years in our garden thriving under all
vicissitudes. So far as the writer of the circular
is the first to make an effort to introduce it into
general culture, he is the " discoverer," nothing
more. It is however worth growing.

Binding the Advertisements. — A correspon-
dent of the publisher's, from Saratoga Springs,
New York, sends his year's numbers to be bound,
directing the advertisements to be inserted ;
" for," says he, " in years to come it will remind
us of old friends and stand-by's in the trade that
are gone." It is a good thought, and we wonder
more do not think of it. The editor has his per-
sonal copy bound in that way.

Thanks. — The publisher hands the editor a
batch of letters from many who are renewing
their subscriptions, telling him of their satisfac-
tion with the magazine, and their intention to
send ou a few more subscribers. These kind words
are encouraging, and go a good way toward.><
making hard editorial labors light. It is indeed
only by the kind efforts of friends that a maga-
zine like this can increase its circulation. Lovers
of horticulture are scattered, and no ordinary
advertising can find them. Once in a while are
some valuable suggestions. One thinks that if
there were more about fruit and less about flow-
ers, it would be an improvement, and another
thinks he would have some of the fruit depart-
ment cut down and given to the flowers. Another
tells us he does not know anything about
" oospores " and " peronospores " in potato, but
likes to read all that we sometimes write about
practical potato culture. Another thinks we
give too much attention to the scientific part of
horticulture, and would like to sec more of the
practical details, while still another thinks that the
"mental pleasures connected with horticulture
are its highest charms," and hopes we will give
still more of it. All of them, however, speak
kindly of the attention given to their several de-
partments by the editor, who is fully determined
to do all for every one that he possibly can.
That author felt badly who, when he asked read-

ers to criticise, found that not one solitary sen-
tence in his book escaped censure ; but when he
tried the other plan and asked for praise, and
found all was honored, he took heart again. We
do not ask for either praise or blame, but take
either kindly when it comes. By the criticisms
we often profit, and the words of praise encourage
to renewed effort to deserve all we get.

Alfred Cope. — Horticulture suffers a great
loss in the decease of this gentleman, which
occurred on the 4th of December. He was in his
70th year, fifty of which he had been more or
less of an invalid. He was particularly fond of
hardy trees and shrubs, and endeavored to grow
all that would endure our climate. In this and
in all other tastes that he inherited, he was ever
anxious to share his enjoyments with others.
Fond of gardening, himself, he was an advocate
of public parks for the people, and Fairmount
Park, Philadelphia, really owes its existence to
him, he and his lirotber having purchased the
Sedgely estate, and presented it to the city as the
commencement of the enterprise. The Zoologi-
cal Garden, one of the attractions of the Park,
and a source of much intelligent amusement to
the people, received $25,000 from him not long
since. He was ever a friend to the poor and the
oppressed, but so averse was he to letting his
right hand know what his left hand did, that the
many thousands of dollars he has given away in
his long lifetime will be known only to a few in-
timate friends. His great aim always seemed to
bo not so much to hold others up, as to help them
to hold themselves. Ho loved, therefore, to aid
the cause of education in its most solid and use-
fiil phases. For the operatives of Germantown
he established a free library in which an im-
mense collection of books have been gotten to-
gether, excluding frivolous kinds. Tliough a
devout and earnest Christian, he was also a deep
inquirer into the mysteries of science, fearing no
antagonism between truths. He leaves three
children — one of them, Prof E. D. Cope, stand-
ing at the head of certain branches of science in
this country.

Death of Dr. Hri.i.. — This excellent gentleman
died at his residence, near Alton, Illinois, during
the last week of November last, of inflammation
of the bowels, in his 59th year. Mrs. Hull, heart-
broken by the blow, died four days after. This
is a truly great loss to Western horticulture,
as few there had so great a knowledge both of
the theory and practice of horticulture. He was

1876.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

29

indeed a continuous student, and to the day of
his death was always in the van of progress.
Mrs. Hull was also an excellent botanist and
entomologist, and had a general love for all that
was intelligent. A day spent at their beautiful
home, along the Illinois river, some years ago, is so
pleasantly seated in the writer's memory, that it
forces itself into notice in this paragraph, lament-
ing their deaths.

R. Buist's Catalogue. — With a remarkably
full list of plants, Mr. Buist makes the an-
nouncement that this will be the last he ys\\\
issue. The next will be that covering the sale by
auction, in June, 1876, when the whole of this
famous establishment will be finally closed out.

Botanical Bulletin. — Mr. John M. Coulter, a
well-known botanist, has commenced the publi-
cation of a small monthly serial under this name.
It is only $1 a year, and single numbers 10 cents.
Address Dr. John M. Coulter, Hanover, Indiana.

The American Naturalist. — The Peabody In-
stitute, of Salem, Mass., has made over this pub-
lication to O. H. Houghton & Co., of Boston, by
whom it will be published as heretofore. Price,
$4 per annum.

The American Agriculturist. — This well-
kno-mi agricultural monthly is now entering its
thirty-fifth year, and with all the evidences of its
old time prosperity. Prof. Thurber, the chief
editor, is so well known for his many intelligent
accomplishments, that this alone is sufficient to
account for the prosperity of the Agnculturist.

The Scientific Monthly. — This is a new mag-
azme, devoted to the natural sciences, and pub-
lished and edited by E. N. Fitch, of Toledo, Ohio.
Price, $3 a year. It is a healthy sign that there
is room for intelligent magazines of this class.
We wish it every success.

The Annual Register. — We have just re-
ceived an advance copy of the Annual Register of
Rural Affairs for 1876, published at Albany, N.
Y., by Luther Tucker & Son, and mailed to any
address for the nominal sum of 30 cents. It is
the oldest (and now the only) publication of the
kind, and contains 150 pages of practical matter,
interesting to every resident in the country, illus-
trated with no less than 164 beautiful engravings,
almost all original. Elaborate almanac pages
are prefixed, and a very useful feature is the
Farmer's Register, which gives the addresses of all
the reliable dealers in everything a farmer needs
to buy — live stock of all kinds, seeds, implements.

nursery stock, kc. The cover is quite a work of
art, and altogether the little book is a gem in
its way. J. J. Thomas is the editor. We know
of no better almanac for the cultivator of the
soil to have ready to hand.

Gaedening foe Pleasure. By Peter Hender-
son. Published by Orange Judd & Co., New
York.

When man first looks to nature, it is for sup-
port — what he shall eat and what he must wear
are among his first thoughts. This is all in order.
It is the condition of animal nature. But the men-
tal soon calls him to an upward field. The mere
animal knows no difference between the flowers
of the field and the blades of grass. All alike are
food to him. Man alone sees the beauty and ad-
mires it ; and the extent of his culture in this line
is the full measure of the distinction between him
and the beast.

Mr. Henderson has worked in a truly natural
way. He knows man must first have the mate-
rial, and he gave us "Gardening for Profit."
Having learned folks, how to make the money,
he now proceeds to show them how to spend it
in a rational way, and " Gardening for Pleasure "
comes regularly in its place. It is a good idea,
and the work is welcome.

Mr. H. tells us all about preparing ground for
gardens — drainage, making walks and roads, of
manures and fertilizers for making things grow.
Then there are designs for gardens, and full
instructions for planting, propagating and pot-
ting. Window gardening has a share of atten-
tion, with notes on baskets, plant cases, green-
houses, conservatories. Graperies, fruits and
vegetables, and all adjuncts to a good garden, have
a fair share of attention.

The work is just such an one as should follow
" Gardening for Profit." It is not a treatise on
the higher branches of gardening. There is little
in it in common with such good things as Scott's
Suburban Home Grounds, or Downing and Sar-
gent's Landscape Gardening; but it places a link
in between the high and the low, and it is a link
much wanted, and will, we think, be highly ap-
preciated by the gardening public.

QUERIES.

Gladiolus. — The Pronunciation . — A correspond-
ent writes : — "Vick accents the first syllable ; Web-
ster, the second; and those not favored with the
perusal of either, the third. Among those wha

30

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[January,

wish to be governed by authority, the question
arises: 'Under which king?' We were indined to
follow Webster, but examination reveals the fact
that he has not followed his own analogy. For
he has glad^- iator and glacV- iole both from the
same root as gladiolus. So that apart from the
consideration of whether Vick is not the higher
authority in such things, he certainly has followed
what seems to be correct analog}'. We surrender
to Rochester, while awaiting the decision of the
Editor. Gladi'- olus."

[The analogy is not with its root but with the
class to which it belongs. Diminutives have
their penults short, in this respect differing from
adjectives which have their penultimse long. The
classical pronunciation therefore is gladi'-olus,
that is, " a little sword." — Ed. G. M.]

Hidden Advertisements. — A. P. P., Peoria, Ills.

writes: "Send me some samples. Gardening
here is carried on extensively for market pur-
poses. We have have been so often fooled in
agricultural papers that we have sworn to only
take such as are known to us as reliable and
truthful in advice to us, and not praising up
every newfangled tool or variety, and misleading
us into all kinds of misfortune and loss."

[We thank our correspondent for his good
opinion. We regard it as about the meanest
feature of journalism that under the guise of
"reading matter," sneaks in a paid for advertise-
ment. We can hardly think it is common with
respectable journals. At least we have been
asked to do it only once in seventeen years-
True, we have often been requested to give "no-
tices" as a condition of advertising,and have once in
in awhile lost a good advertiser by re fusing. — Ed.]

HORTICULTURAL FSOCILTIES.

EDITORIAL NOTES.

The Centennial Exhibition. — Horticulturists
will be anxious to learn what is going on in this
department of our coming Centennial. We sup-
pose there will be special exhibitions of various
classes of fruits and flowers during the several
months that the exposition will continue, but,
with the exception of fruits in September, in a
measure backed by the American Pomological
Society, and which goes into the agricultural de-
partment, nothing definite is decided on, at this
moment of writing. All effort so far has natu-
rally been centered in the completion of the per-
manent arrangements. The great conservatory
designed by Mr. Swartzman is finished, and is the
largest ever built in the United States. It is a
very imposing structure, and well calculated to
attract the popular eye during an exhibition of
this kind. In case there should be any large
collections of hot or greenhouse plants on exhibi-
tion, as illustrations of superior skill in plant
growing, it is remarkably well adapted to the
purpose. We have not, however, heard that any
of these are offered — this particular department
of gardening not having made as yet much head-
way in our country. The building is to be perma-
nent — as long as a large structure with so much of

wood will remain permanent — and will be an ex-
cellent place for the winter storage of large palms,
oranges, aloes, tree ferns, and other articles suit-
ed to the summer decoration of the Park grounds.
The two curvilinear wings are well adapted to
plant growth, and will be a permanent attraction
for rare plants. Alreadj' many valuable plants
are stored in them, the contributions chiefly of
Mr. W. K. Smith, of the United States Botanical
Garden, and of the Hon. Frederick Watts, of the
Department of Agriculture, through Mr. W.
Saunders, the Chief Superintendent of that divi-
sion.

The huge building is heated by eight large hot
water boilers, and four miles of iron pipes.

Exhibitors in the out-door departments prom-
ise to be numerous. Trees, flowers, fruits, an-
nuals, bedding plants, bulbs, &.C., are to be
planted out in beds arranged on a plan around
the conservatory, each exhibitor selecting a bed
from the plan for his own particular articles.
These beds are all now completed, and are ready
for planting by the exhibitors as soon as the
spring opens. The whole labor of arranging
these things has fallen on Mr. C. H. Miller, the
Chief of the Horticultural Bureau ; and horticul-
turists may congratulate themselves that the
commission was able to command the services of

18Y6.]

A ND HOE TIQ UL T URIS T.

31

one whose practical knowledge was equal to the
task of harmonizing such details with the more
popular features which must of course actuate
the leading commissioners of such an exhibition.

Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadel-
phia. — The natural sciences are in so many ways
the handmaids of horticulture, that we are all
particularly interested in their prosperity. The
Philadelphia institution has the finest collec-
tions, taken as a whole, of any in America ; and
its printed proceedings take a high rank all over
the world. The old building, though very large,
was completely inadequate to the collections,
and its large botanical department had to be kept
in what was contemptuously styled by those
familiar with more favored buildings, a "dust
bin."

Some ten years ago a move was made to put up
the building we illustrate, and the hope entertained
by some that it might be effected before the Amer-

have to be built sometune. It may be that the
good President, Dr. Ruschenberger, who, with a
few devoted fi-iends, have worked towards the
accomplishment of what has been done, with an
energy and determination against obstacles that
very few know of, many not live to see the final
building finished; and yet it is not at all impossible
that when the great public see how much has
been done with a few talents, may be tempted to
aid the workers soon with a good deal more.

From the Proceedings we take as follows :
— The Apple Hair worm. — It will be remem-
bered by our readers that last j'ear we called
attention to a long slender hair worm found in an
apple at York, Pa., and Avhich was supposed by
some to be the common Hair worm, Gordius
Aquaticus, but which was found by Dr. Leidy to
be an old acquaintance of his of quite a different
character. In the Proceedings of the Society just
issued, we find the followins; additional note : —

ican "one hundred years" should arrive. Money
was subscribed from friends continuously from
that time to this, and only as much work done as
could be paid for. About a quarter of a million
of dollai*s has been raised in this way, and one
wing of this building — this much larger than the
whole of the old building — ^has at length been
completed, and the collections removed there,
though not yet arranged. Considering that this
has all been done without any remarkable lega-
cies and bequests, that have so often aided simi-
lar institutions, and in this way a whole city get
the credit of what is really due to the generosity
of one or two individuals, it speaks very Avell for
the general interest felt in science in Philadel-
phia. The maia hall and south wing will yet

Prof. Leidy exhibited a living specimen of 3Ier-
mis acuminata, which had been sent to him for
examination, the 8th of last August, by Mr. P. H.
Foster, of Babylon, Long Island, N. Y. It was
one of two specimens which Mr. Foster had
taken from apple worms found concealed in a
woolen rag tied around the trunk of an apple
tree in his garden. The Mermis is7i inches long
and had been retained alive in a box with moist
sphagnum. It exhibits a condition which Prof.
L. had observed on several previous occasions in
other species of Mermis. An intermediate por-
tion of the body, apparently from injury, had
died and was decomposed, while the extremities
held together by the integument, were still alive
and active. This condition has been observed to

32

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

be maintained for some time, that is to say, for
some weeks."

We also extract the following from the same
publication : —

"Variations in the Stipular Sjiines of Robinia
Pseud-acacia. — Mr. Thomas Meehan referred to
the thorns of the yellow locust, which, as usually
seen, were about a quarter of an inch long, and
nearly as wide at the base ; triangular in shape.
At the meeting of the American Association at
Detroit he collected specimens, one of wliich he
exhibited, with slender spines, about three-quar-
ters of an inch long. Since then, in the vicinity of
Chicago, he had noticed that there was considera-
ble variation in the direction of long and slender
spines. In his own vicinity he had since noted
a large number of trees, and some variation, but
only to-day had he found one with long, slender
spines, and that was even longer than the case
from Detroit, being in some cases a full inch in
length. The fact of this great variation was
probably new ; but it was also interesting from its
bearing on a physiological question of importance.
The first suggestion made by most of his botani-
cal friends, to whom he had mentioned these
facts, and he believed the first that would occur
to the minds of most botanists, would be that
these extra strong si:)ines would be found in con-
nection with extra strong shoots. If these were
true spines — that is to say, abortive branches —
the inference would be a fair one; but these
thorns were the analogues of stipules, as we look
for in allied leguminous plants, and would, there-
fore, be most likely to follow the laws which
influenced stipular productions. One of those
laws was, at least so far as his own observatiAn
went, that stipular development was in inverse
ratio to ordinary growth force. For instance, we
say that the scales which cover the buds of trees
in winter are metamorphosed leaves ; but this
is, in many cases, certainly not strictly true. Bud
scales are, in many cases, but modified stipules
where leaves have these appendages, and dilated
petioles where they have not. This peculiar
development of the stipules, of course, only
commences with the decline of growth force in
the axis in the fall, or before it has achieved great
power in the spring.

" The specimens of Robinia exhibited illustrated
the same law. In the one from Detroit — the
three-quarter inch slender stipular spines— it
would be seen by the members, were not from a
very vigorous branch, but from a very slender one ;
but the best illustration was on the strong branch

which he exhibited, cut to-day, and with the inch
spines before referred to. This was from the
upper portion of a branch of this year's growth,
6 feet long. On the lower portion of the part
exhibited, produced when the growth force would
be at its maximum, the spines are of the normal
size, about one-quarter of an inch in length ; and
these spines increase in length gradually to an
inch, in proportion as the season's growth becomes
weaker. But there is a still stronger illustration
in the secondary branchlets which have grown
from the main one. These are no thicker than
straws, but the spines are about three-quarters of
an inch in length, and slender, and much larger
in comparison with the axis to which they are
attached, than the largest on the strong main
branch."

New York Horticultural Society. — After
numerous failures, some of the leading horticul-
turists of New York have organized a Horticul-
tural Society. We are glad to see it. Baltimore,
which had also often failed, has now succeeded
at last — and so may New York. There is about
New York the material for a first-class society,
and from the character of the gentlemen now
moving, we think there will be no failure this
time.

Winter Meetings of the State Horticultural
Societies. — Notices often come to hand of forth-
coming meetings, but too late to insert in our
columns. We would gladly aid these bodies by
publishing their dates and programmes, if they
would give us a chance to do so.

The American Pomological Sociei'y. — We
hope our readers will not forget that the Amer-
ican Pomological Society will hold an ad-interim
meeting in Philadelphia next September. Ex-
hibitions will be held continuously, of course, all
the year, but an especial attempt will be made to
have an extra exhibition at the time of the visit
of the society. There will be no discussional
meeting. It will be strictly Centennial business.

Pennsylvania Fruit Growers' Society. — The
Seventeenth Annual Meeting of 'The Pennsyl-
vania Fruit Growers' Society " will be held in
Lenape Hall, Doylestown, Pa., commencing on
Wednesday, Jan. 19th, 1876, at two o'clock p. M.
Essays will be read and addresses delivered by
prominent horticulturists and fruit growers, and
a full and interesting meeting is expected.

Edwin Satterthwait, President,
W. P. Brinton, Cor. Sec,
E. B. Engle, Rec. Sec.

THE

GARDENER'S MONTHLY

AND

HORTICULTURIST.

DEVOTED TO HORTICULTURE, ARBORICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS.

Edited by THOMAS MEEHAN.

Volume XVIII.

FEBRUAEY, 1876.

Number 206.

XOWER pARDEN AND pLEASURE KROUND.

SEASONABLE HINTS.

The problem of perfect roads is yet unsolved.
As every place, large or small, has to have path-
ways of some kind, it is a topic that interests
ever}- reader of our magazine. As we cannot
have perfection, we must approach it as near as
we can ; and we may approach much nearer
than we do, if we will give our thou^dits to the
principles that underlie success.

There is but one enemy to a good road, and
this is water. Some would say frost, but frost
does no injury whatever where water does not
exist. If we can get anj- kind of material so
tight and compact that it will not absorb water,
it is entirely frost-proof. This is the real secret
of the value of asphalt, which is simply bitumin-
ous limestone. Tiie rock is first broken in small
pieces, then crushed fine, and rolled under heat.
The crushing makes innumerable small spaces,
into which the melted bitumen penetrates.
Every air space is thus effectually closed, and
of course it is entirely water-proof. No frost can
therefore affect it in the slightest degree. The
danger is from high temperatures. The dark
color favors a rapid absorption of heat, and the'
heated mass expands, and as it cools makes nu-
merous small fissures that permit water to fol-
low. This freezes, and the disruption of the
whole commences, imperceptibly at first, but in
time to a serious extent. Lime alone will make
a tolerably good path, if slacked before using,
and put down in the form of plaster ; trusting to

continuous rolling to press out the air cells. Its
particles are too soft to stand against heavy, sud-
den blows, such as from horses' feet, but for steady
travel it is excellent, and very cheap. For cellar
flooi-s nothing better can be desired. It takes a
couple of weeks or more to harden, but is then
perfect reck. We were astonished recently to
see the cellar floors of a very large public build-
ing in Philadelphia being asphalted, as if they
were for a tremendous traffic, when the great ex-
pense might have been avoided by a lime floor.
The lime floor we have described, it must be par-
ticularly noted, is not a mortar floor, but a plas-
ter floor made of well-slacked lime and rolled.

There is not, however, much gained by these
patent attempts to get over the road-making dif-
ficvilties of the time. None of them are equal to
a first-class Macadam road, made of the best flint
rock. Rarely is a road, said to be "Macadam-
ized," really so. To make one we must first pro-
vide for thorough drainage. Any coarse, heavy
stone that will lay solid will do for a foundation.
As we near the surface it must be smaller, but
that on the top should be no larger than almonds,
and the whole compactly rolled. The reason
why they must be so small and no larger is this :
If a stone moves ever so little under a heavy
wheel, it is bound to be more or less broken ; or
if it does not move, if it bears the whole weight
of a wheel without any support from its neigh-
boring pieces of stone, it will be crushed to dust.
But if the pieces are so small that each is com-
pactly wedged in by the others, so that any dis-
placement of the piece is utterly impossible, it

34

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[February,

receives the heaviest weights with perfect indif-
ference. A well made road of this character will
bear public travel for a hundred years, provided
a facing of the half-inch material is added occa-
sionally, as the little wear that takes place needs
So far as public roads are concerned, loads of
this stone might be hauled to the yards of peni-
tentiaries, and broken by heavy machines worked
by convdcts ; and with a view to just such useful
labor these buildings might very often be erected
convenient to stone of this character. We trust
that these hints on roads will be useful at this
season of the year especially.

In many parts where our magazine . goes it
will be necessary to bring up the preliminaries
for active spring work.

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

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

To make handsome, shapely specimens of
shrubs, cut them now into the forms you want,
and keep them so by pulling out all shoots that
grow stronger than the others dui'ing the summer
season.

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

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

half a pint to fifty square feet. If very black or
rich from previous year's manurings, use a little
lime, al)0ut a pint, slacked, to fifty square feet.

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

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

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

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

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

In planting trees remember our repeated ad-
vice to use the pruning knife freely.

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

(JOMMUNICA TIONS.

TOUCHING THE HARDIHOOD OF CONIFERS,

BY F. R. ELLIOTT, CLEVELAND, OHIO.

Your comments, friend Meehan, in the De-
cember number of the Gardener's Monthly, are
just to the point, in so far as my own experience,
in practice and observation, proves. It has been
my study at all times to use new and untested
varieties touching hardihood, to place them
where they could be protected from the winter's
sun, and at the same time relieved measurably
from the severe cold winds of winter. I have
found among those Mr. Hoopes classes as tender,
that the Abies Smithiana and A. Douglasii
only needed the protection from Avinter's sun;
so also Cupressus Lawsoniana. I have in mind
a tree of this latter planted on the north side of
a building, but in a bleak exposure, on the bor-
der of Lake Erie, Avhich has for six years borne
the winter without a blemish. Similar exposures

1876.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

35

with the Chinese Arbor Vitses have proved only
a suffering of one or two inches of tlie ends of
twigs or branches, an item easily corrected by
shearing in the spring. The Oblong Weeping
Juniper, J. oblonga pendula, I have had for
years in full exposure, except of the sun in win-
ter, and it has only had to have here and there a
twig cut back.

The Pinus excelsa, while not generally success-
ful, yet with a little protection from other ever-
greens, stands well. I have, as I write now, in
mind a tree at Newburgh, N. Y. It is a beauti-
ful tree, as all acknowledge who see it ; ten to
twenty feet high.

[It is a pleasure to have the endorsement of
Mr. Elliott on this matter of shelter. The writer
has had a chance recently of examining the for-
ests of Mississippi, and is more than ever con-
vinced that all we need for many things is pro-
tection from winds. In Mississippi, in some
parts where the thermometer falls to ten above
zero, the writer found the Palmetto, Sabal Palm-
etto, flourishing ! But with the cane and other
thick masses of vegetation as wind breaks, it
laughed at the thermometer. Fancy a Palmetto
stuck ovit on a bleak Illinois prairie ! It would
die before the freezing point was reached, to say
nothing of 22 degrees below. — Ed.]

CELASTRUS SCANDENS.

BY J. F. M. FAEQUHAR, EAST PROVIDENCE, E. I.

This native climber, better known, perhaps, by
its popular name, Stafftree, presents a grand ap-
pearance long after king frost has robbed our
fields of their summer beauty. It blossoms early
in June, and its greenish colored flowers are pro-
duced in clusters along the sides of \h.Q branches.
The leaves are of a rich green color, oblong in
shape, and slightly serrated. The berries are
roundish or three-cornered in form. When frost
appears, the outer covering of the berry opens,
showing the shining scarlet pulp surrounding
the seed. Here this climber has taken possession
of some dead cedar trees, and at this late season
their branches are wreathed in beauty by the
long lines of scarlet woven round them. The
nook is much admired by all who see it, and the
berries retain their color, and do not fall for
many weeks. This climber is worthy of cultiva-
tion, and might be used with good eff"ect in many
positions in gardens, cemeteries, &c. It is easily
propagated from seeds, cuttings, or suckers.

TREES IN CITIES.

BY J. C, CHELSEA, MASS.

As you are well aware, much has been said and
written about shade trees, both for and against
them.

I believe it is well understood that even the
most handsome and rare trees would be out of
place in a city or town where it is densely set-
tled, but still there is occasionally a small square
or triangle occurring where a tree or two would
be a great relief to the eye in the midst of so
much brick and mortar. And when nearing the
suburbs of a city, what is more enlivening and
attractive than to see the sides of the streets lined
with handsome trees, say about fifty or sixty feet
apart, or what can please the eye of the traveller
better than the different shades of green in the
family of maples, not saying anything of their
rich autumn tints, and, where a varietj' of sorts
is wanted, the elm of different kinds, tulip tree,
&c., and manj- others that might be named.
Many are averse to seeing trees anywhere but in
an orchard or a forest. All such have never
studied the beauties of nature. Still I would say
with the old Scotch laird : ''Aye keep plantin' a
tree, Jock, it ivill he groivin' ivhan ye're sleepin'."

There is a good illiistration given of the value
of shade trees in cities, in the wdde-spread confla-
grations which have taken place frequently in
Virginia City, Nevada; they have often been
averted solely through the agency of shade trees,
in preventing the burning embers from flying
through the air, and thereby preventing distant
buildings fi'om taking fire. They also break the
force of the wind, so that, by taking advantage of
any open space as above stated, a community
which acts on these suggestions not only minis-
ters to the refinement of taste, but promotes a
love for the beautiful, and the blessing of the
traveller is sure to descend on hiift.

EDITORIAL NOTES.

Preparing Timber. — Mr. Saltonstall, of Massa-
chusetts, has known birch to be used for rail-
road sleepers, and to last ten yeai'S when kyan-
ized.

Forest Planting in Massachusetts. — Hon. B.
Perly Poore some years ago made a forest of
oaks in Massachusetts. We understand it is
quite successful, but have no particulars.

36

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[February,

Spiraea sorbifolia. — This plant is not uncom-
mon in American gardens, and is usually rather
long legged, but otherwise striking. A corres-
pondent of the Gardener's Chronicle treats S-
Lindleyana, a species of similar habits, to an an-
nual cutting down, as if it were an herbaceous
plant — a practice that would no doubt improve
our commoner one.

Hardy Begoxias. — The well-known old Bego-
nia Evansiana, often known by the absurd name
of Beefsteak geranium, is hardy in our part of
the world. A companion for it is probably B.
Vietchii and varieties, which is said to have lived
out several years near London and may do so
here.

PiNUS CEMBRA. — This is one of the hardiest and
most beautiful of pines. It is rather slow of
growth, but just the thing where there is not
much room to spare.

Wild Gardens. — These might be a cheap and
pleasant adornment to many a farmer's homo.
Many plants cannot be grown in our climate when
exposed to cold, dry winds. If these plants were
set in the borders of blackberry patches, or
among similar wild bushes, they would do well.
There would always be something to interest one
in such a clump as that. The chrysanthemum,
which is often killed outright in our open bor-
ders, would live out safely in such wild clumps
as these.

An Election for Roses. — The Journal of Hor-
ticulture gives the result of an election for roses.
Twenty-four of the mostdistinguished rose grow-
ers of England gave in a list of 25, naming their
first choice first, and the others in successive
order. There were votes :

16 for Louis Von Houtte.

15 Countess of Oxford.

12 Marquis of Castellane.

11 Francois Nicholson.

10 Ferdinand de Lesseps.

8 Captain Christy.

6 Catharine Mermet.

6 Etienne Levet.

4 Paul Neron.

4 Mdle. Eugenie Verdier.

2 Ed. Morren.

And one for each of the following: Auguste
Neuman, Hippnlyte Jamin,Depuy Jamain, Perle
des Jardins, Duchess of Edinburg, Rev. J. B.
Camm, Mary Turner, Baron Bonstcttin, Miss

Hazzard, Auguste Rigotard, Gen. Von Moltke,
Chestnut Hybrid, Mad. Lacharine, Mad. La
Comtesse de Monssac, Mdle. Marie Finger,
Princess Beatrice.

The first five we may therefore take as cer-
tainly the best roses grown in England.

The electors were Mr. Robson, Rev H. Dom-
brain, Rev. F. H. Gale, Rev. E. N. Pochin, Rev.
J. B. Camm, R. G. Baker, J. Hinton, Rev. Allen
Cheales, J. Scott, Rev. E. Handler, R. W. Beachey,
J. Burrell, H. Blandford, B. R. Cant, Ewing &
Co., George Cooling, Charles Turner, Mr. Ben-
nett, H. Curtis, Mr. Cranston, George Prince, S.
Wheeler, Richard Smith ; all rose celebrities.

Acer sxRiATUAt, or, as it is more correctly
called, A. Pennsylvanicum, though more com-
mon farther northward than in that. State, is an
interesting tree in winter by its peculiar striped
white and green bark. Its twigs are of a bright
red, and in this way the tree possesses an addi-
tional attraction. It is rather a fast grower. We
have seen trees the pjist year make a growth of
four feet. The large tri-lobcd leaves give it a dis-
tinguished appearance in the summer season.

Acer spicatum, or A. Montanum of some, the
mountain maple, somewhat resembles this spe-
cies, but is but a bush, besides having other
botanical charactei"s to distinguish it.

Achillea umbellata for White Edgings. — So
far as we know the plant referred to in the fol-
lowing has not been introduced into our country,
but is worth bringing in. The A. tomcntosa is
somewhat hoary, and makes a very good edging.
This one is now common in American gardens :
" If I were asked to name the most useful, and,
at the same time, the most lovely of the dwarf
white edging plants now in use, I should say
Achillea umbellata. It is perfectly hardy, and
certainly requires less manipulation than the
dwarf Ccrastium tomentosum. The latter re-
quire* renewing every year, whereas the former
will be as effective the second and third year aa
the first. For carjoet bedding it is a gem in every
way, and only requires to be known to be appre-
ciated. It is easily increased by cuttings taken
off in September or October, and dibbled in very
thickly under a wall. We have thousands
planted under the foot of a west wall, and they
give no more trouble than this — after a severe
frost~in spring, to sprinkle a little sifted leaf
mould over the cuttings, and with the hand press
into the soil those that have been forced out by

18T6.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

31

the frost. The few leaves falling from the fruit
trees give sufficient covering now until rooted,
after which they will take care of themselves."

Mammoth Rose Tree. — Mr. O. D. Dryden, near
Gilroy, informs us that he has a rose tree, twelve
years old, of the Cloth of Gold variety, the stock
of which is seventeen inches in circumference.
It branches one and a half feet from the ground,
and stands about ten feet high, with a spread of
top ten feet across. If it were not kept closelj'
pruned it would be much larger. — Pacific Rural.

NEW PLANTK

Dahlia gracilis. — This is a new species. The
common dahlia is improved from D. coccinea, a
single scarlet flowered kind. But it has simply
pinnate leaves. The leaves of this one are bipin-
nate.

Gladiolus cruextus is a new species intro-
duced into England from Natal, and has the ad-
vantage of floAvering late in the fall.

Rhus panaciformis. — A close-growing shrubby
plant of elegant character. It has alternate
pinnated leaves, with about six pairs of leaflets,
which are rounded and unequal-sided at the base,
elliptic oblong in outline, and on the young
plants about two inches long. The rachis is
puberulous, and the leaflets hairy beneath. It is
apparently a plant of stocky habits. — W. Bull.

Rhus RiTfa. — A fine pinnated-leaved shrubby
plant of ornamental character. It has erect
rusty-barked stems, pinnate leaves a foot long or
more, and consisting of about eight pairs of leaf-
lets, which are from 3 to 4 inches long, and from
an inch to an inch and a half broad, hairy be-
neath, oblong-acute, with the base rounded and
unequal-sided. The leaves are alternate, the
rachis tomentose, of a reddish hue, and the
whole plant of a free-growing and elegant habit.
— W.Bull.

Fraxinus longicuspis. — A slender deciduous
Japanese tree, with tetragonous branches, whose
bark is marked by lenticular warts. It has pin-
nate leaves, with two or three pairs of leaflets,
which in the mature state are lanceolate with a
long acuminate point, but in the young plants
are blunt, and sometimes rounded. The inflo-
rescence forms an erect terminal or lateral pani-
cle. According to Siebold, this is one of the
plants on which the wax insect feeds. — W. Bull.

Wistaria macrobotrys. — This variety, intro-
duced from Japan, is of vigorous growth, and ex-
ceedingly free flowering, producing fine large full
bunches of flowers, of immense length. Tlie
foliage is dark green ; the flowers are white,
tinted with bluish purple, and very large and
fine. It is a most attractive and ornamental
plant.— TF. Bull

Magnolia Campbellii. — "The Magnolia Camp-
bellii was discovered by Dr. Griffith in Bhotan ;
it is a large forest tree abounding on the outer
range of Sikkim, at elevations of 8,000 to 10,000
feet, appearing on the road above Pacheem, and
thence ascending to the top of Sinchul, 8,000, and
Tonglo, 10,000 feet ; though occasionally seen on
the central ranges at the same elevations, it is
much less frequent. The flowers are produced
abundant!}' in April, at the end of all the
branches, when the tree is as yet perfectly leaf-
less ; they vary from white to deep rose color, or
almost crimson, and in size from 6 to 10 inches ;
the scent is faint. In May the tree is in full leaf,
and the fruit ripens in October, when a few small
and often deformed flowers are sometimes pro-
duced. The flowering branch drawn in Mr.
Cathcart's collection is nearly twice as large as
that represented here. Young plants have the
leaves perfectly glabrous; those of older trees
are more or less silky on the under surface."

Gymxothrix latifolia a good Centre Plant
FOR Flower Beds. — Those who want a good
plant for the centre of a bed should use this
Grass, not so handsome in its flowers as the Pam-
pas Grass, but much handsomer in its foliage
and manner of growth. Here it grows over six
feet high, with broad deep green leaves, and red-
dish-brown knotted stems. It is a more compact
grower than the Pampas Grass. — H. N. Ella-
combe, Bitton Vicarage, Bristol, [in Garden.)

Viburnum Awafuki. — This beautiful hardy
Japanese shrub is now in splendid condition at
Belgrove, Queenstown, the seat of W. E. Gumble-
ton, Esq., who describes it as the most brilliantly
colored autumnal plant he has ever seen. Many
of its leaves are now of a bright rose color. —
Record.

Tamarix plumosa. — Of this plant, M. Carrifere
writes as follows in the Reims Horticole : "Nothing
can be finer or more graceful than this species,
which is still so rare, in spite of the readiness
with which it can be propagated. Its numerous,
slender branchlets, of a glaucescent green hue,

38

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[Fkbruary,

bear a certain resemblance to the curled plumes
of the ostrich (or the white stork), whence its
popular name of 'Marabout.' It flowers in Au-
gust, about the same time as T. indica. The
flowers, which are disposed in dense erect pani-
cles, have an airy lightness, which adds much to
the elegance of the foliage. Isolated on a lawn,
or in a large park, T. plumosa forms a compact
mass of the most pleasing appearance. It is
quite as hardy as T. indica, and propagated and
treated in precisely the same manner."

Daphniphyllum Roxburghii. — A deciduous
tree, belonging to the natural order Euphor-
biaceae. It has an extensive geographical range ;
the plants here offered are from Japan. It has
an erect twiggy habit, with oblong-obovate or
ovate opposite deep green leaves, and axillary
racemes of minute flowers.

QUERIES.

Rare Evergreens in Maryland. — W. G. A. says
"A friend brought me from Maryland, near Gun-
Powder river (or creek), these evergreens which
grow beautifully at that place. I was not able to
name them. The Spruce is very abundant, about
30 feet high, and beautiful. What spruce is it ?
The black and white belong to the north ; the
arbor vitse, I take to be our own. What is the
cedar ? These trees are supposed to be indigenous
in that locality."

[It is surprising to get specimens like these with
the suggestion that they might be indigenous.
One is the American arbor vitge from the north-
ern part of the continent; another the deodar
cedar of the East Indies ; another the Japan ce-
dar, Cryptomeriajaponica; and the other Liboce-
di'us decurrens of the Pacific coast. The re-
markable health of these specimens, shows that
they are excellent kinds for our Maryland friends
to cultivate.— Ed. G. M.]

Disease in evergreens. — B. T. B., Carlinville,
111., says : " My evergreens are dying ' piece-
meal,' that is, they die in spots ; a little branch
here, and another there ; sometimes on one side
of the tre^, and then again on the other ; and
then again, all through the tree you will see little
dead branches or twigs. What can be the mat-
ter with them ? Can you, and will you if you
know, tell me ? I would not bother you if it was
the busy time of the year. But now, I thought

you had time, and would, perhaps, give me the
desired information. My trees stand just aa
they have grown, never having been trained a
bit or a branch broken if I could prevent it, and
consequently grow down to the ground. I hate to
lose them now, they are 20 or 30 feet high ; and
should like it very much if you would tell me
what to do for them."

[Evergreens, especially pines, are liable to the
attack of a small fungus, which comes out in
spots like small pin heads all over the leaves,
and soon injures them, severely affecting in
time very seriously the health of the trees. This
is known as the ^cidium abietinum. In addi-
tion to this, pines often suffer from insect attacks ;
some kinds bore into the young branches and
kill them. This is probably what is the matter
with these trees; slit some of the injured
branches lengthwise and see. If so, their traces
will be seen, and the only remedy is persistent
watchfulness, to cut off and burn all injured
branches as soon as they are seen. — Ed. G. M.]

Chiococca racemosa. — M. C. & Co., Atlanta,
Ga., say; "A lady of Cedar Keys, Fla., sends us
the enclosed branch and fruit of a vine that is
indigenous to that part of Florida, and says it
blooms three times before fruiting, once flowers
yellow, twice white, and very fragrant. We do
not recognize it. Can you tell us what it is?
Also, seeds of flowering potato — so called there;
can you locate it ?

[We give the name above. There were two
kinds of seeds in the letter, one of sdhie malva-
ceous plant ; and the other, perhaps, a convolvu-
lus.— Ed. G. M.]

Raising Thorn Seed.— J. C. T., Farber, Mo.,
writes : " I have tried to get information of the
American Agriculturist how to manage thorn
seeds like this I enclose. I cannot find out \Vhy
I have failed two different times to get these
seeds to grow. I froze them all winter and
planted in good soil, but as yet not a single plant
appears. It grows abundantly here, a natural
hedge plant ; stocky, hardy, dwarf, very thorny,
and. so thick naturally that small birds make
their nests in it with perfect safety from large
ones. I have lost several years in trying, and
now appeal to you. Please tell me all the details
of treatment, as I have a lot of seeds now buried
with some crab-apples also, with which, I am
going to make some hedges, if I have to dig up
the roots. I have had the same luck with these
\ as with the others. I am greatly dissatisfied with

1876.^

AND HORTICULTURIST.

39

the Osage, on account of it« rampant growth and
its baneful influence on the crops contiguous to
it. I beUeve nature furnishes us, right at hand,
a hedge phmt fiir better in many ways than the
osage."

[The seeds were of Crategus crusgalU, the cock-
spur hawthorn. Many attempts have been made
to make a hedge out of it, which it will do in
from 10 to 15 years — entirely too slow for the

average American. Then it is liable to mildews
and moulds, and blights and borers, so that after
all their waiting, it does not please our posterity.
The seeds grow easily if you keep them one year
in a barrel of wet earth, and sow them the fol-
lowing spring; at the end of that season they will
be an inch high. When you get a good hedge
from your own sowing, we should be pleased to
be alive to look at it. — Ed. G. M.]

^REEN MOUSE AND fMoUSE GARDENING.

SEASONABLE HINTS.

Window plants are as much appreciated at
this season as at any time of the year. There
are few things more beautiful than the old classes
of roses — the Borbon and China. We have seen
some beauties in windows recently, and wonder
they are not more grown. In another case we
saw a handsome Chorozema cordata. Usually,
Australian plants do not thrive in our climate,
but this plant was simply plunged in partial
shade in summer, rewarding the owner with its
pretty brown and purple butterfly-like flowers
all winter. This, and many other window flow-
ers, are liable to suffer from the minute insect
known as j-ed spider. Very minute whitish
green spots on the leaves usually indicate the
insect's existence. It is best to lay the plants on
their sides, in the open air, and treat them to a
powerful syringing with strong soap-suds, and,
while still damp, sprinkle a little sulphur on
them from a pepper box. Red spiders do not
hanker much after sulphur. Sometimes window
plants suffer from mildew, and sulphur is a good
remedy for it also.

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

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

Dahlias should now be brought forward. A
good plan is to shorten the extremity of the
roots, put them in six-inch pots and place in a

warm greenhouse. In a few weeks they will
sprout, when they should be shaken out, divided
with a piece of root to each sprout, and sepa-
rately potted in four-inch pots.

Pansies are coming now into flower. They
like an airy frame, where they will not be roasted
in mid-day nor exposed to drying winds, and yet
have a free circulation of air and plenty of light.
Planted out in such a frame, and the old shoots
cut away as soon as the plant has done flower-
ing, the plants will keep healthy over till the
next season. Superior varieties can be raised
from seed. Choose those with the roundish
petals, best colors, and the first flowers that
open, to raise seed from.

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

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 ; on a
large scale, tobacco-smoke, in several successive
light doses, is still the best remedy.

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.

40

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[February,

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

Chrysanthemums should now be raised from
cuttings for fall flowering. They make better
blooming plants than offsets.

New Holland and Cape plants, such as Epacris,
Acacia, Heaths, &c., are now the glory of the
greenhouse ; hot bursts of sun on them should
be avoided, as it lays in them the seeds of " con-
sumption," which frequently carries them off" the
following summer.

COMMUNICA TIOAS.

GROWING THE POINSETTA.

BY JOHN HOOD, SOUTH AMBOY, N. J.

The Poinsetta is a little difficult to grow sat-
isfactorily in pots, being somewhat irksome to
maintain the proper degree of moisture, which
seems requisite to its well being. How we have
obtained the most satisfactory results with least
trouble, is to plant them out in the open ground,
in May, or as soon as there is a fair i^rospect of
settled weather. When the weather begins to get
hot and dry, Ave give them a good mulching of
well-rotted manure, if procurable, if not, with
short grass, Avhich keeps the ground cool and
moist. By the end of the following month, if
they have been growing vigorously, the young
shoots will have attained the length of fffteen
to eighteen inches. This we cut back to four
eyes, from which it started in May ; in all
likelihood those four eyes will push simulta-
neously, which rarely happens when grown in
pots, or nipped off as soon as they have made
four or five leaves. The strongest of tliis growth
is cut back again about the first week in August
— cutting with a view to equalize the flow of sap
and form a compact head. Near the end of this
month, select a cloudy day, and, with a spade,
cut around the plants thoroughly, not under-
neath. Pack the soil firmly around them again,
and replace the mulching. The distance from the
stem they require to be cut nuist be regulated by
the size of the plants and pots you intend they
shall occupy. This should be done three weeks
previous to their removal. In that time they
will make numerous fibrils, which can be re-
moved without injury — which is very essential

to successful transplantation. After being lifted
and staged for some time they require to be
carefully shaded, and, if kept in a close, humid
temperature of 65°, they will lose few of their
leaves, will quickly become established, and, in
the course of six or seven weeks. We opine
that, under good cultivation, as a winter flower-
ing decorative plant it has few compeers. Some,
however, prefer growing them in pots, and assert
they should not be cut back, as it impairs the size of
the bracts. Recently we saw an illustration of this
method at a commercial establishment, credited
with having well-grown plants. In outline they
reminded one of the common Sumach (Rhus
glabra), as seen in the fall of the year — shoots
over three feet in length, nude, except very near
the top. Tortured in this way, it is, undoubtedly,
more queer than beautiful.

BOUVARDIA HUMBOLDTII CORYMBIFLORA.

BY W. H. BAILEY, PROVIDENCE, R. I.

Having for a long time grown and flowered the
Bouvardias grandiflora and jasminoides, of which
species the Humboldtii is a member, and know-
ing their faulty character as bloomers, though
prizing them for their purity and fragrance, I
had just cause for many misgivings, when this
variety was flatteringly announced and intro-
duced to public notice. But the experience I
have had with it justifies me in awarding it a
very high place among the many new things of
the past few years. The drawing I send you
gives the natural size, without exaggeration, but
one can form from it but a meagre idea of the
plant as flowering upon my grounds last season.
I had a large bed containing some thirty-five or
forty plants, from thumb pots, and planted in
May, which in July was a sight worth a journey
to see. Each plant grew most vigorously, send-
ing up from eight to one dozen shoots, which,
after attaining a foot or more in height, began
budding, and were soon densely loaded with the
large jasmine-like blossoms, of the purest white,
with a fragrance not unlike the delightful Ste-
phanotis, and nearly as powerful as the Tuberose,
which, wafted about by the breeze, particularly
at evening, was the delight and wonderment of
all persons within its odorous range.

The first flowers opened in July, at which time
my beds of Vreelandii, Hogarth, lieantha, and
elegans had not the appearance of a bloom,
though the plants were the same size when put

42

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[February,

out, and received equally careful attention. From
the time Humboldtii commenced flowering, we
were able to cut generous clusters of flowers
until frost, and such plants as were carefully
lifted with earth adhering to them, and potted,
continued to blossom several weeks in the green-
house. For winter blooming, I think it very val-
uable, but the plants for this purpose should be
grown in six-inch pots, plunged in the border,
and not allowed to bloom during summer. This
treatment I find the best for all varieties of
Bouvardias when required for winter use, as they
do not generally transplant into pots very well
from the open ground. All the Bouvardias are
desirable, — we could hardly dispense with any, —
but the Humboldtii opens certainly a new era
with this fiimily. Having succeeded in crossing
it with the leiantha, a scarlet sort, I may have
something interesting to report at some future
date.

TAR IN GREENHOUSES.

BY PETER HENDERSON, NEW YORK.

You will be doing many a poor fellow a great
kindness if you will again warn, and keep warn-
ing, agairfst the common and fatal mistake of
painting hot-water pipes in greenhouses with
gas tar.

I have done so several times in the Monthly, but
as you know that we are getting scores of new and
inexperienced men every year into the business
who keep falling into this error, it is well to
keep on. Already two of my customers re-
port this season that they have so blundered,
and the eff'ect has been ruinous in each case.
As you are aware, if the mischief has been
done, there is no other remedy but taking
the pipes out and burning them thoroughly
until the gas is entirely expelled from the iron.

NOTES ON A SUMMER'S TOUR.

BY WILLIAM SUTHERLAND, PHILADELPHIA.

The country seat of Matthew Baird, Esq., situ-
ated at Darby, Delaware County, Pa., under the
skilful management of Mr. James McAdams, the
gardener, is one of the neatest kept places in the
vicinity of Philadelphia.

The flower garden is tastefully laid out in diff"er-
ent shaped beds, which were planted with a variety
of tropical and bedding plants calculated to pro-
duce the best effect, while in the background were
some fine specimens of choice evergreens.

Adjoining the mansion house was a small
conservatory, well arranged with a choice col-
lection of begonias, ferns and ornamental plants,
the ends of the conservatory being glazed with
looking-glass, giving the interior the appearance
of being three or four times as large as it really
is. In the middle of the house was a very fine
aquarium, filled with a variety of plants and fish,
while in two smaller ones I noticed some of the
largest specimens of Cyperus alternifolius that I
ever saw. Adjoining the conservatory is a small
vinery, from which the fruit had just been cut.
Mr. McAdams remarked that the vines had borne
well, and, judging from their appearance, I saw
no reason to doubt the statement. Descending a
flight of steps, and crossing the carriage road, I
entered another range, consisting of stove and
orchid house, palm house, and two large pits for
forcing tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, and other
vegetables. At the time of my visit (in Septem-
ber), one of the pits had just been started with
cucumbers, and the gardener complained bitterly
of the depredations committed by the ants, and
would like to know how to eflectually get rid of
them. For want of a better remedy, he lays
down raw meat bones, attached to short wires,
which as they become covered with the pests are
dipped in scalding water. By this means thou-
sands are destroyed, but their number does not
seem to be diminished.

In the palm house I noticed some fine speci-
mens of Dracaenas, Crotons and Allamandas ; and
one of the finest grown plants of Dracaena um-
braculifera it has been my good fortune to see.
It must be fully six feet in height. Tliere were
also some fine specimens, well marked, of Hy-
drangea speciosa, Croton aucuboefolium, and
Duranta Baumgartnerii. The old Aspidistra lu-
rida variegata seemed better marked than in
common. Among the palms I noticed some
magnificent specimens of Areca rubrum, Lata-
nia borbonica, Seaforthia elegans, Cocos plumosa,
and Caryota excelsa, many of them so high that,
although the tubs were sunk in the floor, the
tops barely escaped the glass. Mr. Baird will
have to raise the roof of the house or donate his
large palms to the Centennial conservatory, for
certainly their present quarters will not accom-
modate them another year.

The benches around the house were bright
with specimen Coleus, which gave a very cheer-
ful appearance. In the stove, adjoining the
palm house, there was a fine collection of Or-
chids, principally on blocks, all looking very

1876.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

43

promising, as was also a fine collection of Sela-
ginella, grown in pans of no mean dimensions.
Leaving this range, I next entered the green-
houses. Here I noticed a very neat specimen of
Cj'cas revoluta, and quite a number of magnifi-
cent Ficus elastica and Oleander plants ; also a
very healthy collection of Camellias, so thickly
set for flower that thinning out the small buds
was necessary. The Azaleas, of which there were
some fine specimens, all looked very promising.
One house was devoted to bedding plants, and

variegation being in the middle of the leaf, and
a broad belt of deep green around the edge.
This variety, I think, will make quite a stir when
it gets into commerce, and will, no doubt, be the
parent of a new class of variegated geraniums.

Mr. McAdams informed me that they were
about to introduce Cowan's new compensating
system of heating, Mr. Baird having had an
agent in Europe all summer for the purpose of
examining the apparatus before bringing it out
to this countrv.

m

W////M

another to winter flowering plants, such as
Stevia, Heliotrope, Cinerarias, Bouvardia, and
various kinds of winter flowering geraniums and
roses, from which to supply bouquets, &c.

Among the Zonale geraniums I noticed one
called " Happy Thought," which Mr. Baird has
recently imported from England. This variety
is quite distinct from any I have ever seen. The

Knowing that you are always on the lookout
for novelties to lay before the readers of your
valuable journal, I determined to pay another
visit after the first hard frost — when they hoped
to have the apparatus in full working order — and
open to the inspection of those who wished to
examine it.

I accordingly paid a visit about the beginning

44

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[February,

of December, and found the apparatus to consist
of a limekiln and an improved boiler.

The cut taken from Cowan's circular will give
the reader a better idea than pages of description.

This establishment formerly took three fur-
naces, and a like number of boilers, to keep up
th« heat in the different ranges. Without re-
moving the old boilers, these have now all been
connected by passing four-inch hot-water pipe,
laid in eight-inch terra cotta pipe, from one range
to another, under ground, and the whole appa-
ratus seemed to work admirably.

It is claimed for this system that it is compen-
sating, because the lime drawn from this appa-
ratus can be used for different purposes, also
that it requires no night attendance, and is
adaptable anywhere that lime-stone and coal are
procurable. It is in general use in most of the
large establishments of the United Kingdom,
both public and private, and in one place, near
Liverpool, England, four miles of four-inch pipe
are heated by one kiln, which formerly took the
united aid of sixteen boilers.

To Mr. Baird belongs the honor of introducing
this system into this country, and I think it does
not require a prophet, or the son of a prophet, to
predict that this system will eventually revolu-
tionize hot-water heating in all large establish-
ments.

[There are figures for reference in the cut, but
we have not the copy to correspond. We pre
sume, however, the cut is explanatory, in so far
as the main principle is concerned. — Ed. G. M.]

HOT-WATER HEATING.

we should be very cautious, and consider well
the essential points, before we adopt them. The
vital points about a good boiler are : 1st, to be
capable of burning all kinds of fuel ; 2d, have
plenty of heating surface; 3d, the boiler should
be so constructed as to give a rapid motion to the
water, thereby carrying off the heat from the
furnace, so as to save all its heat generated from
the fuel.

Rapid circulation is the very essential thing at
present, as many cultivators of plants build
greenhouses from one hundred to four hundred
feet long, and many times otlier additions to green-
houses attached, so the water has to pass through
five hundred to eight hundred feet of pipe before
it can return to the boiler to take on a fresh sup-
ply of heat. We should consider that all heat
is generated in the furnace, and the nioment
the water leaves the boiler, it begins to radiate
its heat, and when it moves slowly, and has parted
with the high temperature, it is of but little
value in repelling the sharp arrows of frost on a
cold winter's night, with the thermometer mark-
ing below zero; therefore, I would say, that the
boilers are very few that can heat the water and
give it a momentum through more than five
hundred feet of pipe, boiling until it comes back
to the boiler to take on a fresh supply of heat.
So a boiler that heats one thousand to three
thousand feet of pipe should have separate at-
tachments and very rapid circulation, or that
portion of the greenhouse over one hundred feet
away from the boiler will not be evenly heated
with that near by.

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

Having had considerable experience with heat-
ing greenhouses with hot water, I wish to give
a few suggestions.

I have learned that water pipes should be so
arranged as to facilitate the rapid motion of the
water, and any change in the size of pipe tends to
diminish the flow of water. A large stand pipe, or
expansion tank, where one pipe enters into and
another leaves it, retards the motion ; or where
a large pipe is contracted or enlarged also retards
the motion.

All steam generated in the boiler should be
used to move the water, but the pipes should be
8o arranged that the water could not boil out of
the exhaustion tank. On the question of boilers,
as new designs are being introduced every year.

EDITORIAL NOTES.

Roses for Wintkr buds. — Tlie Garden says
Niphetos, Isabella sprunt, and Safrano, are found
to be the best to grow for Cov^nt Garden Market.

Tacsonia ixsignis. — The Tacsonias are closely
allied to the passion flowers, and in many re-
spects superior to some in beauty. A new one
under the above title is among the novelties an-
nounced in England. The flowers are large, and
of a crimson color.

Hardiness of the coffee. — The coffee seems
a hardier plant than we have been accustomed
to regard it. A writer speaks of it as sometimes
under snow in coffee countries ; and that it
makes a good plant for room culture.

1876.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

45

LiLiis OF THE *VALLEY, are the most charming
of forced flowers. To be very successful with
them, they should be grown a year in boxes be-
fore being forced.

BouvARDiA JASMINIFLORA is becoming popular
in London for cut flowers. It is not as florifer-
ous as our popular Vreelandii or Davisonii, but
has the advantage of fragrance.

Names of ferns. — L. Puffer, Mass. — Your fern
is Aspidium falcatum. The fern from our corres-
pondent at Guelph, Canada, is Cheilanthes pilosa.

Violet Victoria Regina. — We have from Mr.
Chitty a bunch of flowers of this excellent violet.
It is strong stemmed, large and sweet.

Geramium, Happy Thought, also from Mr.
Chitty. The deep edge of green around the cen-
tral white portion makes it one of the most dis-
tinct and pretty of the variegated kinds.

Olea fkagrajss. — It will be seen by the follow-
ing from the Journal of Horticulture, that this
very sweet and poi^ular plant can be grafted on
the privet :

" Olea fragrans is flowering in the Economic

house, at Kew, and possesses a perfume of the
most delicious description. The flowers are
small and of a pale yellow color, but grow many
together in numerous clusters. They are used
in China for scenting teas. That called pekoe is
a green tea much prized for the scent imparted
to it by these flowers. The species is well worth
growing in conservatories for its perfume. It is
easily grown and succeeds on its own roots, but
is perhaps hardier grafted on privet. A plant so
grafted has withstood the last two or three win-
ters against a wall."

QUERIES.

Diseased Geranium Leaves. — F. R. & Son, Den-
ver, Colorado. — The leaves sent are not afl"ected
by red spider, but by mildew. Syringe them
well w^ith warm soap-suds, and then sprinkle
them with sulphur. Sometimes this trouble
comes from having the roots colder than the
atmosphere. Wlien plants are growing the roots
should be at least as warm as the leaves and
branches.

RUIT AND HeGETABLE ipARDENING.

SEASONABLE HINTS.

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

In the Middle States the work for February
will, for the most part, consist of preparations

for future operations, and particularly for deal-
ing with the manure question. All those kinds
that are grown for their leaves or stems require
an abundance of nitrogenous manures ; and it
is useless to attempt vegetable gardening without
it. To this class belong Cabbage, Lettuce,
Spinach, etc. The other class, which is grown
principally for its seeds or pods (as Beans, Peas,
etc.), does not require much manure of this char-
acter ; in fact they are injured by it. It causes
too great a growth of stem and leaf, and the
earliness — a great aim in vegetable growing — is
injuriously affected. Mineral manures, as wood
ashes, bone-dust, etc., are much better for them.
For vegetables requring rich stable manure, it
is better that they have it well rotted and de-
cayed. Nothing has yet been found so well
fitted for the purpose as old hot-bed dung :
though to the smell no trace of " ammonia " re-
mains in it.

One of our most interesting parts of a vegeta-

46

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[February,

ble garden is a hot-bed for starting seeds early.
The end of the month will be time enough for
those who have not command of a large supply
of stable manure, as the very low temperature
we often get at the end of the month soon ab-
sorbs all the heat the hot-bed possessed. It is in
any event best to put up the beds in the warmest
and most sheltered spots we can find, and to
keep cold winds from the manure, by covering it
with branches of trees or mats ; and the glass
should always be covered with mats at night.
Tomatoes, Egg-plants, Pepi^ers and Cucumbers,
are the first seeds to be sown this way. Cooler
frames can be got ready for Cauliflower, Lettuce,
Beets, Celery and Early York Cabbage, a little
of which may be sown about the end of the
month for the earliest crop. The Cauliflower is
a particularly valued vegetable, and no expense
spared to get them in perfection will be regretted
when one's eff'orts are successful.

In the open air, should the weather prove
favorable, as it often is about the end of the
month, Peas and Potatoes may be planted.
Frost seldom gets deep enough in new dug
ground to injure them after this date.

In the more southern States, the gardener will
lose no time in getting in his Potatoes, Beets,
Carrots, Parsnips, Peas, Spinach, Radishes, Let-
tuce, Onions, and Salsafy. These should be the
first crops put in after the season breaks up for
good. The earlier they are in the better. As-
paragus, Rhubarb and Horse-radish Iteds may
now be made. Asparagus roots are generally
planted too thicklj- to produce fine shoots, — they
starve one another. A bed five feet wide should
have three rows, and the plants set about eight-
een inches apart. A deep soil is very import-
ant, as the succulent stems require every chance
they can get for obtaining moisture. About four
inches beneath the soil is sufficient to plant
them. Rhubarb also requires a deep, rich and
moist soil. Horse-radish beds are best made
by taking pieces of strong roots, about one inch
long, and making a hole about a foot or fifteen
inches deep, with a dibble, and dropping the
piece to the bottom of the hole; a clean, straight
root will then rise up through the soil. Crowns
or eyes are better than i^ieces of roots, — where
they can be had — and a rich clayey soil better
than a light, sandy one.

About the middle or end of the month, or still
later in the North, — say the middle of March, —
Celery and late Cabbage may be sown. Here,
we usually sow the second week in March.

In the Northern States, Broccoli, and Cauli-
flower when sown in March as recommended, do
not head early enough in Fall. It should be
sown about the time of Early York Cabbage, in
the hot-bed, during this month.

Pruning of fruit trees, when required, should
be proceeded with at favorable opportunities.
We write when required, 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 mildew ; and so the more shoots, the
better. Our country farmers are the best goose-
berry growers, where weeds run riot, and giass
and gooseberries affect a dose companionship.
Wherever, in fact, the gopseberry can find a cool
corner, well shaded from the sun, and with a soil,
which, is 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 cultivation south of the St.
Lawrence. Nor, indeed, is it to be so much re-
gretted, since the improved seedlings of large
size and fine quality, raised from the hardier
Ameiican species, are becoming known, and
their merits appreciated by growers.

The rule, in pruning grape-vines, is to shoi;;ten
the shoots in proportion to their strength ; but if
the advice we have given in former summer hints
has been attended to. there will be little dispro-
portion in this matter, as .«ummer i)inching of
the strong shoots has eciualizcd the strength of
the vine. Those who are following any particu-
lar system 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
])runing in any case is to get strong shoots to
push where they may be desired, or to increase,
with the increased vigor of the shoot, which
l^runing supposes will follow the act, increased
size in the fruit it bears.

All fruit trees like a rather dry, rich soil. On
a cold, clayey bottom, diseases are usually fre-
quent. Do not plant deep ; cut off' tap roots, and
do all you can to encourage sin-face fibres. Sur-
face manuring is the best way of doing this after
the tree is planted. Do not allow anything to
grow vigorously around your trees the first year
of planting, nor allow the soil to become hard or
dry. Let trees branch low, and prune a little at
transplanting.

1816.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

4T

Manuring 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 nave 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 avoided; 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.

In order to grow good fruit, we need only re-
peat in a general way, that trees require as much
food as a crop of corn, or potatoes ; but it is very
important to keep the feeding roots at the sur-
face, and therefore that the very best way to
mature fruit trees is by surface dressing.

COMMUNICA TIONjS.

THE ICING WATER-MELON.

BY IRA J. BLACKWELL, TITUSVILLE, N. J.

Having gi'own the above melon the past sum-
mer, and thinking it a good variety for family
use, I endeavor to speak a word in its favor. We
grew the past season the mountain sweet, ice
cream, and the icing water-melons, all good
varieties. With us the icing ripened first, and
produced the most ; all the melons were of good
quality, even the small ones ripened up good,
and it continued bearing until the frost killed
the vines. It is one of the new things that is
good, or probably best, here. It is not very large.
Green skin, red flesh and white seeds, form
round. I think it a cross with the imperial, or
most probably a seedling. The dark green variety
is much the best.

MANAGEMENT OF THE BARK OF FRUIT TREES.

BY P., OF MISSISSIPPI.

I notice your tilts at those who do not believe
in opening the bark. I have seen in an orchard of
the best fruit, splendid trees, split in the bark of

the trunk and larger limbs. In a place, fence
between, same soil, same trees in variety, scant
fruit, bad quality in comparison and no thrift.
I have split tree bark ; saw it done sixty years
ago; then the careful men always did it. I
have scraped the rough bark off, and cleaned
the trunks.

A friend here uses linseed oil, to an extent as
if house painting, on 1, 2, 3 and 4 year old pear
trees, trunk and limbs, and has stopped the blight,
no increase of disease and tree apparently un-
harmed. I saw the trees, had my hand on them,
and he says, he did this before and will con-
tinue.

DON'T USE THE HATCHET OR SAW,

BY REV. J. H. CREIGHTON; COLUMBUS, O.

Of all the blunders that the common farmer, and
some others, make with trees, none is so com-
mon, or so hurtful, and which he is so long find-
ing out, and of which he might know so cer-
tainly, as the practice of cutting off lower limbs.
All over the country nothing is more common
than to see mutilated trees on almost every farm.
Big limbs cut off near the body of the tree, and
of course rotting to the heart.

This is a heart sin against nature. The very
limbs necessary to protect the tree from wind
and sun, and just where limbs are needed most,
they are cut away.

But the greatest injury is the rotting that al-
ways takes place when a big limb is sawed off —
too big to heal over it must rot, and being kept
moist by the growing tree, is in the right condi-
tion to rot, and being on the body, the rotting
goes to the heart and hurts the whole tree.

It is common all over the country to see large
orchards mutilated in this way. We often see
holes in the trees where big limbs have been cut
away, where squirrels and even raccoons could
crawl in. Perhaps the only reason these trim-
mers would give is, that the lower limbs were
easiest got at, and some would say thej'^ wanted
to raise a crop under the trees.

[To the good suggestion made by our corres-
pondent we would say also. Do not hack with
hatchet and saw; but when you do, paint the sur-
face of the part exposed by the saw, to keep out
water. Common paint is quite as good as wax
or plaster made from the most approved recipes..
—Ed. G. M.]

48

THE GARDE NEB'S MONTHLY

[February,

THAT LITTLE TURK.

BY GEN. W. H. NOBLE, BRIDGEPORT, CONN.

How got our curculio this heathenish name ?
Comes it of that wreck and waste marking
alike the bivouac of this Little and the Grand
Turk ? Most likely it was hinted by that Moslem
signet, the little crescent lip, gashed by his snout
upon our fruit. It is there he nests the tiny worm
that eats into its heart.

Not the plum alone suffers from this foe. The
grape and the apricot, and many think the apple,
pear and cherry show his marks. The question
is, how to defend our fruits against his raids.
Plainly, we must fight the little rascal, by tactics
and strategy fitted to his heathenish ways. His
■weakness then shall be our strength.

I have no fiaith in most of the "sure cures."
Hens and hogs in the plum yard, traps and entan-
glements for his footsteps, he laughs to scorn.
Stenches viler than Chinese stinkpots are his
joy. Hunting him in the cool of the morning,
about the time of the " early bird," while our
little Turk naps late, under chips and stones and
rubbish, is a waste of time and a delusion.
Early risers are not very plenty. Besides, such
fuss will only cut off some outlying posts of a
foe, whose hosts swarm among our neighbors.

The truth is, appearances deceive us. A de-
vice this year seems to give a full crop, which
the next don't work worth a cent. A few years
since, a friend of mine thought he had saved his
crop, by dusting sulphur on blossoms, leaves and
fruit. He made sure, and went straight for that
grand prize which somebody out West offered.
But by the next year the little Tin-k had got a
liking for sulphur, and did'nt care a snap for the
cure. For reasons past finding out by our phil-
osophy, one year, a tree matures a crop, every
fruit on which the next, drops stung by the cur-
culio. This season our trees may be loaded to
breaking, while our neighbor's not a hundred
yards off, cannot show a plum. Such results and
their seeming cures and causes, are often illogi-
cally linked. No remedy deserves our faith,
which will not, year by year, fulfill with a crop
the promise of the bloom.

Now the curculio can fly. Every remedy must
count on this. If we kill them, our noighl)ors
who don't, can furnish plenty of recruits. But
our little Turk has a weak spot in his mental
make-up. Like Major Bagstock, he thinks he is
" cunning and deevlish sly." Besides he is more
timid than a hare. He is a coward, and plays
possum. That smart rap, by which EUwanger

& Barry, have for so many years saved their
plums, startles him. At the first blow he
gathers his feet and snout and body into a ball,
at the next he tumbles to the ground for dead.
There the wide inverted umbrella or a sheet,
gathers him for a scald or a scorch, or some
lively fowl devours him.

Now this timidity of the little Turk, and some
observation of his ways and of some results, lead
me to think, that a very slight jar or rap upon
the tree, kept up through the season of fruiting,
will put a stop to our curculio's work. For years
my crop has never failed, nor do I have any
stung fruit, on trees trained on my barn. There-
in some years were stabled horses, &c. On
others only emptiness, yet each year alike,
they bore. Why this, unless " the rapping and
the tapping " of the twigs, and the rustling of the
leaves against the barn, startled the timid crea-
tures with some sense of danger. You cannot of
course train all plum trees on buildings, but you
can run, from tree to tree, slight iron rods or
stout wires fastened thereto, and by striking them
on end with a steady and slight automatic blow,
send through all the needed jar or shock. Some
little wind-mill tapper, some strong coiled spring,
or other slight propulsive force, perhaps would
do the work. A trellis of iron posts and wires,
vibrating under a gentle blow, would do well for
the grape or the plum.

A few years since, some one took out a patent
for doing this work by an automatic machine.
Right away there came to him from far and near
a demand therefor. He only thought of its use
to save the plums. But to his great surprise, the
loudest call came from Delaware, where the cur-
culio sadly trespassed on the grapes. The pro-
blem has been, to get a cheap machine, by
wound up weight, or spring compressed, or other
stored power, to run twelve hours; often and
gently rapping on some pin or rod fastened to
the trees. No cheap machine could be made, to
give more than a gentle rap every few seconds
through that time. The slight expenditure of
power, in a smart rap, often repeated during
twelve hours, counts up heavy in the pounds.
The storing of the needed force would call for
stronger and more costly and bulky machinery
than would pay. If anybody can get up one
cheap and durable, costing to buyers not more
than I."), he had best hunt up the patentee; there is
money in it, if not, as Col. Sellers has it, millions.
Meanwhile the plan of EUwanger & Barry will
hold the front as the best and cheapest remedy out.

1876.]

AND EOBTIGULTURIST.

49

GRAPES— TRAINING AND MILDEW.

BY " MYSTIC," MEDFORD, MASS.

In the summer of 1874, a large portion of the
leaves on some of my grape vines (out-doors),
were badly mildewed and dropped off. The mil-
dew followed cold, damp nights. My vines are
mostly trained on the southerly side of a tight
board fence, with southeast and southwest expos-
ures to the sun. Those with the southeast ex.
posure, were very much the most aftected by
the mildew. Those parts of the vines on, or
near the gi'ound were not perceptibly affected —
the heat of the ground (sandy loam), keeping
warm the lower stratum of the atmosphere and
counteracting the deleterious effects of the cold
night air.

How near the ground, and why upon the
ground, were the vines ? The vines are planted
midway between the posts of the fence (nine
feet apart), cut back yearly close to the gi'ound,
and allowed to take their own course in growing
(except pinching off the weaker shoots), until
four years old, then narrow strips of boards are
nailed horizontally from post to post, a foot
from the gi-ound, and laths are nailed verti-
cally to the strips and the top rail of the fence,
and the vines are tied to them. This brings
the vine six inches from the fence, which
leaves a space for the circulation of the air. I
first tied the vines to vertical wires instead of
laths, but found they slipped down under the
weight of the leaves and fruit. The strongest
ehoot is selected, trained perpendicularly and cut
off even with the top of the fence. Four arms on
each side are trained horizontally and cut off at
the posts — the arms being one foot apart, and the
lower one a foot from the ground. Short fruit
spurs (which should be renewed), are left at the
joints of the arms. If the shoot selected for the
upright stock has not the requisite number of
branches for arms, I train up shoots from the
ground to supply the number wanted ; and then
cut off all the others, and also cut off, from time
to time (oftener the better), the runners and
superfluous shoots, unless I leave some vigorous
ones to layer for new plants the next year. The
new wood on the spurs is kept pinched back to
about four leaves of the fruit — more fruit on the
spur requiring more leaves. In handling the
vines, care should be taken not to break off the
buds of the arms ; for a new bud (except at the
end), seldom starts without more skillful treat-
ment than is commonly applied. From vines, of

varieties suitable to the climate, trained within
the above-named limits, large, well-ripened fruit
is generally obtained, if too many bunches are
not allowed to gi'ow.

Those arms of the vines (Concords as well as
others) on which the leaves were badly mildewed
and dropped off early in the season, were mostly
winter-killed; while all the lower arms but one
survived. Th3 main stocks of two Concords were
killed down to the lower arms ; but none of the
vines left on the ground were killed. Tlie leaves
on the lower arms, and on the vines lying, on
the gi-ound, had not been injured by the mildew.
A vigorous Eumelan, four years old (which lost
nearly every leaf by mildew), received such a
shock that what wood was not killed made
scarcely any growth in 1875. Remedy — cut back
to the gi-ound and try a new gi'owth. The par-
tially killed Concords made a good growth — furn-
ishing plenty of new wood to supply the place of
that winter-killed.

My vines are mostly Concord, eight years old —
the best variety yet for out-door cultivation in
this region. Let no one who is limited to a few
vines, be deluded into trying other highly praised
or very promising varieties (often brought into
market for a speculative purpose), but stick to
the tried and reliable Concord for the present.

This experience of mine tends to show that
vines trained on, or near, the gi-ound, are not
perceptibly affected by the mildew, and that vines
badly mildewed are liable to be winter-killed. As
the lower arms of the vines were protected by the
snow, a part of the winter, it might be reasonably
maintained that this prevented their being killed.
But of the arms unprotected by snow, only those
were winter-killed that had been badly mildewed;
and a healthy Concord vine is believed to be hardy
enough to withstand, unprotected, the coldest
winter in this region. The winter-killing may
have been the joint effect of mildew and the
severity of the winter — the winter of 1874-5 being
a very cold and trying one for vines and fi-uit
trees.

[We have much pleasure in publishing this
excellent practical communication. The point
in regard to the comparative tenderness of wood
in cases where the leaves fall early from mildew,
or any cause, accords with numerous observations
recorded in our columns in regard to raspberries
and blackberries, and even the grape ; and then
as regards protection, it is also known that
though a raspberry cane that prematurely loses
its leaves is killed by severe frost— it yet is per-

50

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[February,

fectly safe when covered with earth. It is safe,
therefore, to say with "Mystic," that it is both
mildew and frost that destroys the grape wood.
It is worthy of further remark that all me-
thods of culture seem to have their peculiar
diseases. It has been noted that grape shoots
trained or growing near the ground, are less lia-
ble to mildew than when growing higher up — but
on the other hand the fruit maturing in these
lower vines are more liable to the disease known
as the grape rot. This has been often observed,
and it came again particularly under our notice
at Mr. Bassett's vineyard, at Hammonton, last
year.— Ed. G. M.]

EDITORIAL NOTES.

Fruiting of Hickory Tubes. — It does not take
so long for nut trees to come into bearing as
many suppose. Mr. Manning of Reading, Mass.,
has had a hickory to boar in fifteen years from
planting.

Preserving Grapes for Winter Use. — We
have on various occa.sions noted that the English
preserve their fine hot-house grapes for winter
ase, by cutting them witli pieces of the branch,
and inserting in a vial of water. So popular is
the plan, that contrivances for holding bottles are
numerous.

Planting Hickories. — The Hon. Leverett Sal-
tonstall, of Massachusetts, rcport«s that he finds
no more difficulty in transplanting hickories than
any other trees, if they have been transplanted
when young, and this is the experience of nursery-
men.

Good Old Strawberries. — It is a remarkable
fact that while in this country the Hovey's Seed-
ling now and then turns up, conquering all
popular favorites, Myatt's Briti.sh Queen often
docs the same in the old world, though now near
forty years old. The very old favorite. Keen's
Seedling, seems, however, to have gone out en-
tirely. Its name is never heard.

The Wilder Pear.— This one of Fox's new
California Seedlings, and described in our Maga-
zine, was referred to by Mr. Saul at the American
Pomological Society's meeting in Chicago, as an
excellent variety, which he had eaten in good
condition on the 19th of April.

Trained Gooseberries.— The Florist and Pomol-
ogial tella us of the great skill of Mr. Henderson,

the gardener at Moresby Park, in England, in
raising fruits. Among other things, he has a
wall twelve feet high, the northern fence of which
is covered by gooseberries, all trained artistically,
and fiistened to the wall. The branches are all
trained vertically, each four inches from the
other. Tlie increase in the number and quality
of the fe-uits on this plan is represented to be
enormous. Independently of this, it must be
worth going miles to see.

The Eiropean Sparrow and the Fruit Buds. —
We have given our opinion in these pages, that
the sparrow does not injure fruit buds. Thij
was the result of our own observations in connec-
tion with such evidence as we could gather from
other sources. It is but proper to note that the
editor of the Gardeners' Chronicle, whose oppor-
tunity for observation is much better than any
one'.s here, is of opinion that they do cat buds.
He speaks of it as a well ascertained fact that
"sparrows and bullfinches injure fruit buds to a
serious extent, even to the destruction of the crop
sometimes."

The Three Earliest Peaches. — The experi-
ence of this season confirms the opinion I had
I)reviously formed on the respective merits of
Air. Rivers' three earliest seedlings. As the mat-
ter concerns growers for the market, iis well as
amateurs, it Ls worth recording. Early Beatrice,
I see others recommend as the best early. I
cannot think so after six years of careful observ-
ation, made on about a dozen trees, trained
variously and exposed differently — under glass I
mean. It is a fine Peach ; carries a splendid color,
and is of good fiavor, but it is generally too small
here. If others had mentioned the circumference
we might have compared notes. Early Rivers
has so far been the very earliest ; this season it
ripened without fire-heat, on diagonal cordons,
by June 14. It is a very fine Peach, of large size,
exquisite flavor, prolific, and to be relied on as a
setter. All these are cardinal virtues in the Peach
for the purpose of sale, and it is for market grow-
ers that this notice is intended. But the stone
too often decays within, allowing passage to. in-
sects. This defect is owing to some tenderness of
habit, or some imperfection in the fructification,
which is inexplicable to me, considering its
healthy foliage and general vigor. Some artifi-
cial means might be adopted ; these might well
form the subject of consideration, for the Peach
is a most valuable one. Early Louise is the
third of the very early Peaches, and on the whole,

18T6.]

AND HORTICULTURIST,

51

I am inclined now to give my vote for its being
the best in its season. It is of a great size liere,
well colored, and healthy, flavor excellent, and
altogether a telling market fruit. It is about a
week later than Early Rivers and Early Beatrice.
This is, of course, an advantage. Had Early Ri-
vers been of a constitution equal to Early Louise,
it would have proved the greatest acquisition
made to the Peach grower during the last twenty
years; as it is, I like it extremely. We want a
very early Nectarine, not too small. Hunt's
Tawny is our earliest here, but it* is extremely

superior quality, that has not been pushed into
notice as its merits deserve. It originated in
Cambridge, Washington Co., N. Y., on the farm
of Wm. Marshall, some forty years ago, and at
present is only known on Long Island. I have
grown it a few years, and fruited it this summer;
find it in every particular to correspond with
the description given it by my friend, whose
language I will give : "

Deer Park, L. I., December 13, 1875.

Mr. p. H. Foster : — Dear Sir : As you request I
will give you a bit of the history, and my opinion

subject to mildew, which dwarfs the foliage and
renders the fruit small, unless carefully watched
and thinned. — Thomas Brehmd, Guernsey, in Gard-
ener's Chronicle.

NEW FRUITS.

Marshall Pear.— Se^ cut.— By P. H. Foster,
Babylon, L. I.— "The Marshall pear, is not a new
candidate for public favor, being an old fruit of

of the Marshall pear. While in Washington Co.,
I procured some grafts, which I have had grow-
ing for a number of years. Since they have come
into bearing, have cropped thein three years in
succession! The tree is a moderate grower, form-
ing a top much like an apple ; fruit above medi-
um, bell-shape, greenish russet becoming yellow-
ish when ripe, thin skin ; flesh white and buttery ;
flavor neither sweet nor sour; ten days after the
I Bartlett ; juicy ; is as good a bearer, and a better

62

i

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[February,

fruit. I consider it the best pear for general cul-
tivation. Tree perfectly hardy; fruit smooth
and fair, docs not crack or canker, is universally
admired by all who have seen it growing, or
tasted when ripe.

Respectfully yours, &c.,

J. T. Whipple.

QUERIES.

Plum Culture. — 0. W., Ottumwa, Iowa, asks :
" "Will you please tell us something relating to
the best curculio proof plums to grow?"

[The American varieties of the Chickasaw and
common red plums are less liable to injury from
the curculio than the finer kinds of the European
race. They are, however, much inferior in gen-
eral qualities, and if with a little extra trouble
you could succeed in growing these finer kinds,
the profit would be considerably larger. Of the
foreign kinds — or rather the kinds of the foreign
race — there is no one that resists the curculio
more than another, though some think they find
diff'erences, but a "proof" variety in one place
becomes just as bad as others elsewhere, show-
ing that it is rather some congeniality to the sit-
uation, giving it more power to resist, than any-
thing of a constitutional character — Ed. G. M.]

Variation in Apples. — H., Oberlin, 0., writes :
" By a recent reference in the Gardener's Monthly,
I see you refer to the Rhode Island Greening
producing sweet apples in California and sour in
the Atlantic States. Is the authority undoubted
for this statement? It is so remarkable that I
think it ought to have confirmation."

[The authority for the statement is our own.

We have eaten sweet Rhode Island Greenings
from California. If the authority requires
strengthening, perhaps the following, from the
pen of Charles Downing, may help our good
friend to believe. He does not, to be sure, speak
of his variations being sour or sweet, but still it
goes so far as remarkable variations : "As to the
two varieties being found on the same tree, it
reminds me of a remark made by a celebrated
pomologist, viz.: that he could select twelve
apples from a R. I. Greening tree, which any
fruit committee would decide to be twelve difier-
ent kinds, so you may select both Yellow and
Green Newtown Pippins from the same tree, but
the general crop of the yellow variety will be
yellow, and so of the green." — Ed. G. M.]

Grape Borders. — B. M. D., Spring Garden,
Pa., writes : " Wanting to make a vinery for for-
eign grapes under glass, I went to considerable
trou!)le to dig out a border three feet deep in the
clay, and fill in with good earth, with bones and
other rich matters to feed the vines, in accord-
ance with the directions in the best works I
could obtain on the subject. An English gar-
dener whom I have taken to look after my place
says this is all wrong, and that it is more hurt
than profit. He says that in England they do
not let the grape roots go deep, but very often
put a mortar floor under the ground about
eighteen inches from the top, so as to prevent
them. The gardener seems to understand his
business, but how about this advice of the
books?"

[Burn the books and listen to the gardener. —
Ed. G. M.]

The Blush Pippin Apple. — A correspondent
speaks of an excellent apple grown in Western
New York under this name. What is it?

iMatur.

ISTORY AND ^SCIENCE.

GOMMUNICA TIONS.

"DO PLANTS NEED WATER?"

BY W. H. BLANCHARD, WORCESTER, VT.

I wish also to dissent from the opinion of the
editor, and say that they do. Air plants are
no more fair examples than fresh water Algae

would be ; but let us take common agricultural
and garden plants.

If moist air, or the vapor in it, is enough for
plants, how can they obtain any of the ash con-
stituents, nitrogen or hydrogen? Perhaps a
little of the two latter from the air, but none of
the ash. These must be in solution in water in
its liquid state.

I

1816.]

AND HOBTIGULTURIST.

53

But it is a question if vapor of water is taken
up at all by the roots. Sachs and Knop, in their
experiments, found roots would not absorb, but
rather exhale, vapor. Free water injures the
roots of most plants if they are long confined in
it, it is true, but when drained off there is left
capillary and hygroscopic water, and with this
the plant grows in the most healthy manner.

This is the principle of underdraining land,
and there is, of course, moist air in the soil, be-
cause it is then open, with air circulating in it ;
and this air, if there is sufficient water in the
soil, will be vioist air — so that it is true that plants
need moist air, but this only as a necessity from
having a well-drained soil with water in it, not
bottom water, but capillary and hygroscopic.

So keep the hole open in the bottom of the
pot and let the plants have a chance to have
moist air, but do not keep the soil as an old lady
of my acquaintance advised — " a muddy wet."

Wliile the' editor saj's we want moist air in the
soil, not water, I say we want moist air in the
soil and water, and the water furnishes nearly
all the food of the plant, save carbonic acid.

For the highest authority in the world on this
subject, I refer the reader to " How Crops Feed,"
by Prof. S. W. Johnson, pp. 36 and 200.

[We do not know that we have any objection
to make against this statement. We are reminded
of the good minister who objected to dancing,
but who was opposed by a gay young parishioner
who thought she had Scripture to justify her,
and she quoted that " David danced before the
ark." " Ah ! " quoth he, " David danced singly
and alone. If you want to dance as David did,
go on." Now, there is water in every thing. In
every one hundred pounds of wheat flour there
is sixteen pounds of water, but it appears quite
dry to us, and we suppose there is no earth that
the gardener ever handles so dry but contains
"water." But the water we refer to is of another
kind. Wet and dry, horticulturally, are techni-
cal terms. To the gardener, when the earth
"smears" — makes a paste when he presses it —
it is wet, contains water ; when it rather powders
under pressure, it is dry to him. There is water
there, of course, in a chemical sense, but ^not in
the horticultural one. — Ed. G. M.l

THE POTATO DISEASE.

BY M.

Permit me to make a few remarks in answer
to your and Mr. Worthington Smith's conclusions

respecting potato rot. You are aware, I suppose,
of the very marked difference between the old
potato rot of 1846, '47 and '48 and what is termed
the potato blight of to-day. The rot commenced
with the potato, the blight with the leaf. In
1848, in Ireland, potatoes rotted everywhere,
with one exception, and that was where they
were put in ridges by the spade. Those ridges
were generally from five to seven feet wide, and
I was assured by a correspondent that wrote me
at the time that while the potatoes in the centres
of the ridges always rotted yet the rows upon the
brows of the ridges, alongside the trench, where
no water could lie, were always sound and good.
In those days, in this country, I could tell by
the thermometer what prospect we had for a
crop of potatoes. If we had a succession of warm,
showery w'eather in August, so much that the
water would lie between the rows, and when
tried by the thermometer it would stand from 80
to 85 degrees, and this state of weather continued
for three or four days without dry, windy weather
setting in, so as to absorb the heated moist-
ure the potato was enclosed in, the crop was
gone. If the weather blew up suddenly dry, only
such potatoes as the water sat around would go
to rot. All others were safe. Many is the stalk
of potatoes that I have pulled up, and always
found the points of such potatoes as were imbed-
ded in the heated moisture going to decay. I
have spread many and often stalks of potatoes
partially rotted along the tops of the rows to dry,
and always found that as soon as perfectly dried
that the rot extended no farther, and that such
portions of potatoes kept perfectly sound during
winter. Such was potato rot ; but potato blight
is a horse of another and very different color. It
attacks the leaves and tender tops. I have never
seen the appearance of a more promising crop of
potatoes in Ireland than was last year until, one
day a cold, chilly fog came floating along, and
which was so cold thf(t by the next morn potato
leaves were frozen stiff, so that as soon as the
sun came out upon them they began to blacken
and afterwards to smell, destroying all the late
crop. Now, what was it that killed thos$ potato
tops? — for at this time examine the tubers and
you can notice nothing wrong with them. Mr.
Worthington Smith says that it w^as fimgus. The
conclusion that I came to was that a frost that
would freeze a tomato, a snap-bean or a potato
stiff vf as enough to kill them without asking any
aid from a fungus to help. A few days later—
26th of August— I sailed from Rothsay, Isle of Bute,

54

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[February,

up the Clyde to Glasgow, and found that where
the fog, in place of floating, covei'ed its banks
like a blanket, and where there was no frost, of
course, that not a potato was injured. 27th of
August I strolled up past old Bothwell Castle to
near to Corrie Lynn and still no potato blight.

It is certainly true that put diseased potatoes in
a cellar they will rot, but that has nothing to do
with what made them diseased. I once dumped
into a covered cave 800 bushels of sound potatoes.
The weather was wet, and a good deal of clay
stuck to them. About mid-winter I found them
heated and half rotten, which I certainly never
would have thought of charging to fungus. The
same with 200 or 300 bushels of sound turnips that
after being carefully topped were piled away in
a corner of the cellar that soon began to grow
and then to heat, and which, if they had not
been immediately scattered, would all have been
lost. I was lazy, Mr. Meehan, about sending you
my last communication, and as much so this
time, but having written, and my conclusions
about potato rot thought to l)e wrong, I want you
and j'our correspondents to pitch into me. as it is
only/ods that I am after.

[Can our correspondent explain why no " frosts,"
"heats," "damps," or "fogs," had these destruc-
tive eff"ects previous to 1846?— Ed. G. M.|

TOBACCO AS MANURE.

BY W. H. JJ1..VXCIIARI), WOKClXrKR, VKRT.

II. L. can best see the value of Tobacco waste
by comparing its nitrogen and ash constituents
with other plants, as meadow-hay, and wheat-
straw and grain, as given by Prof. Wolfi; of IIo-
henheim :

Water. Ash. Nitrogen. Potash. Phos.

acid.

Tobacco, 180 197.5 4G 54 7

Meadow-hay, 144 GG.6 13 17 4
Wheat-straw, 141 42 3.2 5 2.3

Wheat-grain, 143 17 20.8 5.5 8

The table shows the innnber of pounds of
water, nitrogen, total ash, potash, and phosphoric
acid in 1000 lt>s., air dry.

It will be seen that tobacco is the most valu-
able plant we raise for manure, being worth three
times as much as meadow-hay. In practice, farm-
ers consider tobacco-stalks and waste of great
value, and apply it to the land, some directly by
plowing in, and others by composting it with
stable manure and allowing it to decompose;
which latter is the better wav.

RESTING SPORES OF THE POTATO FUNGUS.

BY J. G. HUNT, M. D., PHILADELPHIA.

In accordance with your request, I send you
the following :

There are three diseases, apparently, afflicting
the potato. First, the jiotatoes may be gathered
apparently sound, but after being housed a short
time, many of them and often the entire crop,
are found soft and in a condition of decay.

Secondly, many tubers are nearly or entirely
filled with hard concretions, while only a small
I)art is seemingly healthy, but the entire potato
remains dry.

The third diseased state — if it be really distinct
from the other conditions — I have more carefully
examined. The potato presents many irregular
excavations on the surface, extending often
deeply into it. These excavations on carefulest
examinations present no trace of igsect ravages.
The sides and entire circumference of each pit
are bounded by shrunken, irregular cells desti-
tute of starch granules. On making very thin
sections entirely across these excavations and
l^roperly treating the sections, a careful micro-
scopical examination reveals the following facts:

In many of the empty cells next the boundary
of the excavation are beaded filaments of a fun-
gus, two or more round cells, with the terminal
one often presenting a point. Mycelial filaments
obscurely septate ireep all among these cells,
and extend, back into and among the more nor-
mal cells, in which the starch is still in a natural
state. On many of these mycelial threads in the
still full cells are oval or round bodies, about the
one eight himdredth of an inch in diameter,
each containing one or more distinct nuclei.
The cells containing these bodies — which, prob-
ably are resting spores or oogonia — are generally
de.'^titute of starch, though a few grains often re-
main, but are altered in structure, being rough
and broken into fragments. It is apparent, that
no insect could produce ravages similar to these,
I am, therefore, convinced that a fungus is the
cause of this form of disease, and that the plant
is Peronospora, and that the resting spores are
placed where they are in order to get nutrition
through their resting stage in order to perpetuate
the fungus in the coming season when the new
croj^ shall be planted in the spring.

[At a recent meeting of the Academy of Natu-
ral Sciences, Philadelphia, Dr. J. Gibbons Hunt
announced the discovery of what he believed to
be the resting spores of the potato fungus in

1876.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

55

pot-ato tubers. These resting spores had never
been seen till last spring, when they were dis-
covered in England by Mr. Woi'thington G.
Smith, and found to be the cause of what was
supposed to be a new potato disease. It was,
however, but a new phase of the same old
epecies of Peronospora, the peculiar season having
favored the development of these resting spores,
and hence leading to their discovery.

We believe, however, that Mr. Smith's dis-
covery extends no further than the open ground;
and that Dr. Hunt's finding them on the tubers
and actively at work, is new and important. His
remarks will, no doubt, be given in full in the
Academy's proceedings ; in the meantime, at our
request, Dr. Hunt has kindly given the above
abstract to us. Ed. G. M.]

EDITORIAL NOTES.

PiKus ARISTATA. — Many American botanists
believe that this is the same as one collected by
Jeffrey, in California, and named by Mr. Murray
P. Balfouriana, and if so, the name of P. aristata
will have to be dropped, in accordance with the
recognized botanical law of priority. It must be
confessed, however, that no trees of P. aristata
have been found that have the cones quite so
much narrowed out as those figured from Jef-
frey's collection as P. Balfouriana. Neither, so
far as we know, have any more of this form been
collected since Jeffrey's time, though California
has been pretty well explored. We would thank
any of our readers who may live in those dis-
tricts, and may find very narrow-coned forms of
Pinus aristata, to send us specimens. Mr. Jef-
frey's cones came from near Mount Shasta, in
Northern California.

Utilizing the Rain. — Where land is of a hard,
rocky character, the rains are liable to run rap-
idly to the streams, very little penetrating be-
neath the surface. In such soils forests are of
immense service by checking the rapid flow, and
giving time for the water to sink in the ground.
Little of this water, however, goes to aid springs,
but is held by the soil for the trees' own use. The
farmer is a much better aid to the water reservoirs
of the earth than nature ever was. He loosens
the soil by his various methods of culture, so
that absorption takes place very rapidly. More
rain will penetrate the earth in an acre of well
cultivated com or potatoes, or even in an ordi-

nary timothy sod, in one year, than there would
be in the same land, naturally hard and tree
covered, in double the time. Art will beat na-
ture in these matters.

RoFiA FIBERS. — In many of our seed stores
Rofia is introduced in competition with Linden
bark for tying plants. It is not quite so low in
price, but is sometimes thought to go further.
It is simply the split leaves of a palm of Mada-
gascar — Sagus Ruffaa.

Pronunciation of De Candolle. — A. J. S.: The
accent is on the second syllable, — not Be Candolle,
but De Ca?7dolle. The letters or abbreviations
after plants' names are for the names of the
botanists who gave the name to the plant. Thus
Fuchsia, Lin., signifies that Linnaeus gave the
plant that name. The reference is useful as fur-
nishing a clue to the original description, and
then it sometimes happens that the same name
will be given to different plants, when the author's
name is almost essential to distinguish one from
another.

New Colorado and California Plants. — Dr.
Asa Gray contributes to the January number of
the Proceedings of the American Academy,
notes on various American plants, many new.
Some will be of interest to florists when they once
get into the seed trade, as quite a number belong ^
to families that have already furnished us with
well known favorites. When new Western
plants are found, the Asteraceous order is nearly
sure to be found among them, as many of these
are. A new genus, Palmerella, is described, — it is
allied to Lobelia and another, a shrub from
Guadalupe Island, off Lower California, named
Hesperela'a, of the Oleineous tribe, to which our
Chionanthus belongs. There are several Gilias
and allies, a tribe that gives us many ornamental
annuals; some Convolvuli and Pentstemons.
The genus Mimulus, also containing many inter-
esting plants to the florist, has undergone a com-
plete revise.

There is a genus of plants of the Chenopodia-
ceous, or, to make ourselves understood by the
general reader, we may say the order the Spin-
age belongs to, named by Hooker, Grayia, in
honor of Professor Asa Gray. It is interesting to
note that one of the discoveries of Prof. Gray, as
recorded in this paper, tends somewhat to
weaken this genus and place it nearer the old one,
Atriplex; at the same time the discovery in-
duces him to elevate an older species to generic
rank. Atriplex, or Obione Suckleyana. is hence-

56

TEE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[February,

forward Suckleya. It would be annoying to the
numerous friends of the distinguished botanist
if, after honoring so many others, his own name
should fail. There is, however, another genus
called Asa-Graya, so named by Lindley, allied to
Helonias in the Lily tribe, and which we believe
yields a famous Mexican drug known as Saba-
diUa.

Fertilization op Campanula. — As our readers
know, many flowers cannot fertilize .themselves,
but depend on insects to help them. In this way
the pollen is often brought from other tiowers
than the ones fertilized, and this constitutes
what is known as "cross fertilization by insect
agency." In the January number of the Amer-
ican Agrieidturist, Dr. Asa Gray has an article-
written in the clear and happy maimer he is
noted for when he chooses to write to the popu-
lar mind, showing that Campanula, the well-
known Bell flower of our gardens, is another
addition to this miserably helpless class of plants.

Variability of Conifer.?.— Our English friends
give specific names to numbers of forms from
our country that we regard scarcely as varieties,
not seeming to be aware how variable this class
of plants is, and yet facts before them often
seem to tea(;h this lesson. For instance, a cor-
respondent of the Garden says : " Of this some
striking examples may now be seen in Mr. Meth-
ven's Nursery, Edinburgh, among Lawson Cy-
presses raised from imported seed. Among those
plants possessing the most diverse habits and
colors, I noted the following forms, viz. : — 1. Cu-
pressus Lawsoniana, the dark green type, with
drooping leaves, and a rather lax habit. 2. C. L.
erecta viridis, a dense-habited bright green Thuja,
like shrub, of erect, almost rigid, habit. 3. C. L.
nana, a very dwarf glaucous form. 4. C. L. flac-
cida, a greenish glaucous variety, almost pendu-
lous. 5. C. L. glauca, a variety nearly like the
type in habit, but of a distinct bluish color. Be-
sides Ihese there were many other forms more or
less intermediate between them, but those num-
bered are quite as distinct as are many of the
so-called species of Abies or Finns."

Australian Grape fungus. — Mr. Berkeley tells
us in the London Gardenei-'s Chroniele about a
fungus on the grapes of Australia tbat may in-
terest our peoi)le to know about. He says :

"In the Gardener's Chronicle, June 8, 1872, p.
762, I gave an account of a disease which liad
proved extremely formidable to vines in Aus-
tralia, where it is known under the name of the

"black spot." The specimens were not so perfect
as might have been wished, but it seemed highly
probable that it was due to an obscure fungus
belonging to the genus Glaeosporium. This, like
many allied fungi, is probably a mere form of some
more perfect organism, connected possibly with
it by an alternation of generations. I have now
numerous specimens of live shoots sent to the
editors by Mr. Edwin Rice, from New Senakic»
near the seaport of Poti Caucasus, which are
affected apparently in the same way, and in a
most disastrous condition. Varieties received
from England three years since equally with a
large quantity of vines frorn the Crimea, have
fallen a prey to the destructive malady, the
former having not at present produced a single
bunch of grapes. 'The malady first shows itself
at the latter end of June ; the leaves begin to
shrivel round the edges, diminish in size, and
partly curl up from the contraction of the edges ;
all the young shoots wither as soon as they ap-
pear, the first appearance of the disease, as ob-
served under a good lens, being a small blister or
bladder containing liquid exactly like a scald in
the human flesh ; this blister darkens gradually,
till it becomes almost black, and turns to a scale,
which extends and destroys not only the bark of
the shoots, but penetrates a considerable distance
into the wood. The bunches of grapes are like-
wise afl'ected with black spots, which eventually
entirely destroy them. The vines at the end of
the season have the appearance of plants nearly
scorched to death, all the young wood being con-
sumed, and none left for the next year's train-
ing.' It is curious that the American Catawba
is not aff"ected, a circumstance agreeing with the
fiict that American varieties are in great measure
unaffected by the oidium. On examining the
shoots I cannot find any perfect GliEOsporium,
though there are plenty of minute tubercles
which, from their internal structure, I should
conceive to be their early stage, as I find perfect
sporophores ; but, on the contrary, on one of the
specimens there is a Sphicria, whii'h appears to
be identical with Spha'ria acuminata, Sov., or,
at least, is identical with what is figured under
that name by Mr. Currey in the Unman Trans-
actions. It is quite possible that this may be the
perfect form of the Glaeosporium. It is greatly
to be hoped that the disease may not visit us
after the fashion of the Puccinia malvacearum."

The Pear (Pyrus communis) and Apple (Py-
rus malus) are found in their wild state in the

18T6.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

Sit

mountain wood^ of the greater part of Europe,
and from these indigenous species have been
raised the whole of our orchard and garden
varieties. Their amelioration by cultivation, and
the perpetuation of varieties by grafting, have
been celebrated by poets from the time of Ovid,
and continue to the present day. Pliny enumer-
ates thirty-nine different pears known to the
Romans, several of them being also mentioned
by Virgil, Cato, Columella, Juvenal, Macrobius,
«fec. Ffee has endeavored to identify some of
them with modern French varieties, and Gallesio
with Italian ones, as in the following examples : —

Plinian Names. Supposed Correspoxding
Modern Names.

Amerina serotina . . San Tommaso.

Lactea Perle or Blanquette.

Dolabelliana .... Winter Bon-Chretien.
Falerna succosa . . . Bergamot.
Favoriana rubra . . Large Muscat.
Superba parva . . . Little Muscat.

Hordearia Common Muscat.

Mustea A variety of Bon-Chr6-

tien.
Picena or picentina . Spina.
Pompeiana mammosa. Campana.
Viridis Spadona vernina, con-
sidered by Gallesio as
a most ancient Italian
Pear.

Myrapia Guignoline .

Volema Another Bon-Chretien.

In Tuscany, under the Medici, we find, in a
manuscript list by Micheli of the fruits served up
in the course of the year at the table of the
Grand Duke Cosmo III, an enumeration of two
hundred and nine different varieties of pears,
and another manuscript of that time raises the
number to two hundred and thirty-two. Among
them, grafts of the Dorice Pear of Portugal were
introduced by the same Grand Duke, at a cost of
one hundred golden doubloons, whence it re^
ceived the name of Pera cento doppie, by which
it is still known, as well as by that of the Ducal
Pear. — Gardener's Magazine.

Species of Americ.u^ Plums. — So many of our
readers fail to distinguish the species of Ameri-
can plums that the following, prepared for Mr.
Curley's recent work on " Nebraska," by Prof
Aughem, will help them.

" There are three type species of plums in the
State, namely, Prunus americana, P. chicasa,
and P. punxila. Of these there is an almost end-

less number of varieties. In a plum thicket in
Dakota County, covering only a few acres, I
counted, while in fruit, nineteen varieties of
Prunus americana and P. chicasa, varying in size
from a fourth to 11 inches in diameter, and in color
from almost white and salmon, to many shades
of yellow, tinged with green and red, and from a
light, dark, and scarlet red, to purple tinged with
different shades of yellow. Such instances are
frequent over most portions of the State, the
plums being common in almost every county,
especially along the watercourses, and border-
ing the belts of timber. These plum groves in
spring time present a vast sea of flowers, whose
fragrance is wafted for miles, and whose beauty
attracts every eye. The varieties of Prunus
americana have oval or obovate leaves (broader
at the tip than where the stem is attached), with
saw-toothed or doubly saw-toothed edges and
very full of veins. The fruit is globular or oval,
and ranges from half an inch to 1^ inches in
diameter, the latter being an exceptionally large
size. The color is all shades of yellow, with
some red and crimson. Its juice is pleasant, but
its skin is tough and acerb, and its stone is sharp-
edged or margined. The shrub varies in height
from 6 to 25 feet. The fruit ripens in August
and the first half of September. These are the
prevailing characters, but they vary greatly, some
of the varieties producing fruit which is a great
improvement in size and taste on the type species,
while others again, have deteriorated. Still more
subject to change is the Prunus chicasa, which
grows from 4 to 12 feet in height, sometimes
thorny, and always with long, narrow, almost
lance-shaped, acute leaves, whose edges are set
with very fine teeth. The fruit is globular, of all
shades of red, and from half an inch to an inch
or more in diameter, of pleasant, some varieties
of delicious, flavor, thin-skinned, and containing
an almost round and entirely marginless stone.
The dwarf or sand-hill Cherry, so famoR^is on
our western plains, is really botanically a dwarf
plum, Prunus pumila, and therefore we speak of
it last. The stem is smooth, depressed, trailing or
semi-erect, from 8 to 24 inches high. The leaves
are obovate lanceolate, tapering to the base,
sometimes a little toothed towards the apex, and
pale underneath ; the flowers numerous, two to
four in a cluster. The fruit varies greatly, but is
generally about half an inch long and three-
eighths broad, ovoid, dark purple, brown purple,
brown, reddish, or nearly black, generally sweet,
sometimes delicious and occasionally almost in-

58

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[February,

Bipid. It is enormously productive. In one of
the plates is represented a specimen of this fruit,
natural size, taken from a shrub 13 inches high
.from the root, and found south of Lowell. The
shrub has a spreading habit, forming dense
masses, sometimes covering from 30 to 60 square
feet of ground, but usually the tufts are not more
than from 15 to 25 feet in area. It suckers
abundantly from the roots, and propagates in
this way as well as by seeds. It is found over
the greater part of the western half of the State,
and while it is not excluded from the richest soil
if dry, it seems to be partial to sandy localities
rich in alkaline earths. As this plum is nearly
related to some of our cultivated varieties of
cherries, and the stamens and pistils of the
flowers are large in both, it will require no great
skill to produce a cross between them ; and as
Fuller hixs remarked {Small Fruit Calturht), a
cross between the dwarf plum and a bigarreau
or morella variety, retaining the dwarf habit.
Tiger, and productiveness of the former, with the
flavor of the latter, would be an acquisition of
incalculable value, and would completely revolu-
tionize cherry culture. However this may be,
the best varieties of the dwarf clierry are valu-
able, as they come from the hand of Nature.
Many an explorer and traveller in the unsettled
regions has been refreshed l)y them, and the day
is not distant when this fruit will, as it deserves
to, have a place in the gardens of all the people."

QUERIES.

Drosera Roots and Water. — At p. 24 we en-
deavored to show that deep roots take in only
water, because there is nothing more that they
can take, and referred to a similar experience o
Mr. Darwin's in regard to Drosera. Tbe follow-f
ing is Mr. Darwin's :

" The absorption of animal matter from cap-
tured insects explains how Drosera can flourish
in poor, peaty soil, — in some cases where nothing
but sphagnum moss grows, and mosses depend
altogether on the atmosphere for their nourish-
ment

"We can thus understand how it is that
Drosera roots are so poorly developed. These
usually consist of only two or three slightly
divided branches, from half to one inch in length;

furnished with absorbent hairs. It appears,
therefore, that the roots serve only to imbibe
water, though no doubt they would absorb nu-
tritiovTS matter if present in the soil, for, as we
shall hereafter see, they absorb a weak solution
of carbonate of ammonia.'"

A correspondent calls our attention to our
statement, and so we give Mr. Darwin's own
words. Tlie Drosera roots cannot, in the sense
in which we said deep roots of trees could not,
" because there is nothing else to take." If, how-
ever, the expression "cannot" were to be taken
as " absolutely powerless," it would be an inter-
pretation not warranted by Mr. Darwin's words.

We used Mr. Darwin's observation merely to
illustrate our own point in regard to deep roots
not having anything to take but water, without
any regard to its application to Mr. Darwin's
case. But since our attention has been more
particularly drawn to it by our correspondent, we
are led to ask whether the peaty or boggy places
in which many Di'oseras grow are really so " poor"
as Mr. Darwin's language would seem to imply ?

Cross Fertilization of Fruits. — "Justice to
Mr. Gartield impels me to say that I had nothing
to do with the very interesting experiments made
by him upon cross fertilization of fruits, noticed
on page 23 of the January number of the
Monthly. So far as I know he is entitled to the
full credit of the work. C. E. Bessey."

Cambridge, Mass., Jan. 7th, 1876.

Plants' Names. — M. — All generic (the first)
names are spelled with a capital letter. No spe-
cific names (the second) begin with capitals
unless they are proper nouns or their genitives.
Thus we write Abies alba, the white spruce, but
Abies Douglasii, the spruce of Mr. Douglas.

Fungi. — A knowledge of these minute plants
is of great use to the gardener. The following
was not sent to us for publication, but we give it
in the hope it may help the study.

Dear Sir: — I beg to call your attention to some
collections of Fuvgi which I have made. They
are put up in sets of 100 species each ; correctly
named, and represent all the principal orders*
Price, $8.00 per set. Should you feel interested
in such plants please write for any further in-
formation. Should you wish some nice speci-
mens of Marine Algae I could furnish them.
Yours, very truly,

B. D. Halsted,
Bussey Institution, Jamaica Plain, Mass.

1876.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

59

llTERATURE, ^IRAVELS & PERSONAL #OTES

EDITORIAL NOTES.

Acknowledgments. — The letters of apprecia-
tion of the Magazine, and the kind notices of our
newspaper contemporaries are so numerous, that
we have to return our thanks in one general
acknowledgment. While, however, conscious
that some of the success of the Magazine has
been owing to the efforts of the Editor and the
Publisher, we cannot forget how much is really due
to the numerous correspondents who have helped
us through so many years. The whole of this
mass of information has been the free will offer-
ing of friends of the Magazine. Occasionally we
have well studied and carefully elaborated papers
offered for sale, well worth all that is asked for
them, — but we have to confine ourselves, in view
of our limited space, to the short newsy class of
matter, which enables us to touch upon a vast
variety of topics that go to make up general
gardening.

A Wedding in Iowa. — The "Editor of the
Gardener's Monthly " was made happy by the re-
ceipt of an invitation card to attend the marriage
ceremony between Miss Jennie Wright and Mr.
Alex. E. PattoD, of Ennis & Patton, of Lyons,
Iowa, on December 27th. It was pleasant to be
thus kindly remembered, and though it is twelve
hundred miles away, we advise our good friends
not to tempt us in that manner too often, or we
may be there one of these times. We represent so
many who esteem the firm of which Mr. Patton
is a member, that as "Editor," we feel that in a
Bort of representative capacity we can ofler a
host of congratulations at this new evidence of
happiness and prosperity.

Where plants can be purchased. — We often
have inquiries as to where the plants noticed in
our columns are to be obtained. This is a mat-
ter that wholly concerns our advertising columns,
and out of place in this de^Dartment. As a gen-
eral rule, however, the leading firms who adver-
tise in our columns either have the plants or can
obtain them ; and a line to them will generally
get the needed articles. Sometimes the plants
are only as yet in England ; but most of these

firms have European connections, and if an
order is given, shovild they not have them on
hand, they will get them if a little time be given.
For instance, we have some inquiries now where
things can be had referred to in our January No.
Turning to the advertising pages of that number,
we see that rare flowers and trees are dealt in by
Parsons, Ellwanger & Barry, Saunders, Meehan,
Miller & Hayes, E. M. Wood, H. A. Dreer, Sked,
Paddock & Co., John Saul, and Geo. Such. These
especially mention neiv plants. There are others
who do not specially mention them, and the list
may be increased by looking over past numbers.
In this way almost anything noticed in our col-
umns can be obtained.

Latin names for garden varieties. — The Gar-
dener's Chronicle says, "As a general principle we
should prefer that Latin names should not be
given to artificial productions ; " this is the
ground we have taken.

Pottsville, Pa. — A correspondent tells us that
on December 9th, the thermometer was 44° in
the shade at Pottsville. This is pretty mild for
a mountain climate, this city being 900 feet
higher than Philadelphia. Gardening is slowly
progressing in that great coal centre, though
just now suffering somewhat, as it is in all other
parts of the country.

Low PRICE OF American nursery stock. — The
celebrated nurseries of Luccombe, Pince & Co.,
of Exeter, England, have recently been sold at
public sale. The apple trees are regarded as
having been sold low, — at an average price of 75
shillings a hundred. People often have an idea
that trees are much higher in American nurseries
than in English ones, — but our nurserymen
would think themselves in "clover" if they
could get an average price of $20 per hundred at
a public sale.

Responsibility of Seedsmen. — At a meet-
ing of the Seed Trade, held at the Astor
House, in the City of New York, on the 6th
day of January inst., at which were represent-
ed the principal houses of New York, Boston,
Philadelphia and Albany, the subject of the lia-
bility of Seedsmen for damage by failure of crops

60

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[February,

from seed sold by them, was fully discussed — and
thereupon after much consultation, it was con-
sidered by the meeting that, in view of recent
decisions in the States of New York and New
Jersey, holding Seedsmen liable for all damages
happening to their customers by reason of failure
of their crops, which could be traced to the Seed
sold, it was imperatively necessary for them to
adopt such measures as should protect them
from the claims of designing or ignorant parties.

The meeting therefore adopted a resolution
that the Seedsmen print upon their packages,
bill-heads and circulars, a notice similar to the
following :

" While we exercise the greatest care to have
all Seeds jmre and reliable, it is hereby mutually
agreed between ourselves and the purchaser of
this package, that we* do not warrant the same,
and are not in any respect liable or responsible
for the Seeds sold by us, or for any loss or dam-
age arising from any failure thereof in any re-
spect."

It is unnecessary to add that the dealers, with-
out dissent, disclaimed any idea of selling poor or
imperfect Seed ; they propose as heretofore and
alwaj-s, to use their best efforts in good faith to
furnish their customers with the best, and while
they do not doubt that this will be well under-
stood and accepted, they feel confident that their
customers will at the same time approve and
justify them in their efforts for self-protection.

Flowers im Cemeteries.— A cemetery is mos*'
certainly the right place for a profusion of flow-
ers. Of all out-door monumental decoration
these are by far the inost beautiful and appropri-
ate. Those who have money to spend upon the
last habitation of their friends and relations, and
who piously desire to show their love and sorrow
by some sort of outward sign, will act more
wisely in paying some annual fee to the cemetery
gardener to keep churchyard flower-beds trim
and pretty, than in laying out a vast amount of
money among stonemasons, resulting in ill-exe-
cuted angels, or trophies of cannon-balls and
swords and cocked-hats, and other such insignia,
hinting at the professional careerof the deceased.
The sums of money spent on these great ponder-
ous symbolical monuments are often very large.
But who that has groaned in presence of some
hideous specimens of seinilchral bad taste, some
terrible combination of cherubs and skeletons, of
scythes and hour-glasses, of broken columns and
ponderous marble clouds, and who has felt the

beauty of one of these flower-begirt graves, will
not testify to the superiority of the gardener's
work over that of the stonemason? There is,
too, a symbolism in the introduction of flowers
here which makes them specially fit. These
plants have come up from a root which itself was
buried in the earth in order that the flower
which we admire might bloom. They were put
into the ground in the form of seed or bulb with
no beauty about them to win our admiration,
but they come up in due time arrayed in such
splendor of decoration as cannot fail to fill us
with admiration first, and then, as we think
longer, with hope. Tliey are grasses of the field
whose perishable nature has been made before
now to typify the insecurity of human life.
Moreover, they suggest, at least, a certain con-
tinued supervision, a daily tending and care,
which favor the idea that those to whose memory
they are sacred are still held in recollection by
their friends. — All the Year Round.

An'xual Report of the Pennsylvania Fruit
Grower's Society for 1875. — This excellent re-
port is beautifully illustrated with plates of vari-
ous Pennsylvania fruits, and has numerous essays,
and reports from many of the leading horticul-
turists of the State, besides brief notes of the
discussions. It is given free to all members of
the Society, which we are pleased to see by the
list printed herewith is quite a full one in com-
parison with that of some other States, though
not as full as a great State like Pennsylvania
ought to have. Mr. W. P. Brinton, Christiana,
Pa., is corresponding secretary ; and Mr. E. B.
Engle, of Marietta, the recording secretary.

Sixth Biennial Report of the Board of
Trustees of the Iowa State Agricultural
College. 1874-1875. — This iristitution seems to
be very successful, iiearly three hundred students
annually availing themselves of its advantages,
a large number being young women. Among
the reports of departments, that of horticulture
and forestry is full of interesting matter. A large
number of experiments have been tried on vari-
ous subjects, — and although many of the matters
sought to be proved have long since been decided,
it docs not detract from the value of the observa-
tions. Indeed, it is one of the weaknesses of our
profession, that too much is taken on trust. We
can only wish that more would follow the exam-
ple of Prof. McAfee and go over things as he has
done. Some of the expressions seem strange to
''old stagers." In an account of jtreserving treo

1876.]

AND HOBTIGULTURIST.

61

seeds, for instance, we are told that white oak,
red oak, burr oak and others, kept better in
layers piled on the surface all winter, than in the
less economical rot heap. A nurseryman who
would put such seeds as these in a " rot heap "
would be thought crazy. A "rot heap," in
nursery phrase, is a spot where hard bony seeds
lie for a year before sowing. We opine further
that some of the failures or successes in some of
the experiments are due to deeper causes than
those supposed, — and we think that repeated
experiments, to prove some of the points, would
not always end the same way. Prof. Bessey has
an interesting chapter on smut in Indian corn,
and some other plants.

Mr. David Webster. — This gentleman, well
known in connection with landscape gardening,
and a contributor to our pages, is at present on a
tour through California. We notice, by the Cali-
fornia papers, that his lectures on ornamental
gardening are well received there.

Mr. John Ellis — W^ell known to horticultural
readers of ten years ago as " Fox Meadow," is
now engaged at the University of California. He
is planting an arboretum of all plants that will
stand that climate.

Text Book of Scientific Agriculture. — By E.
M. Pendleton. M. D. Professor of Agriculture
and Horticulture in the University of Georgia.
2nd Edition. Published by A. S. Barnes <fc Co.,
New York.

This is one of the most useful works of this
class, published in this country, — and should be
in the library of every intelligent farmer and
gardener. It treats of the anatomy and physi-
ology of plants ; of meterology ; of soils in their
relation to physics; chemistry of the atmos-
phere ; chemistry of plants ; chemistry of soils ;
fertilizers, and animal nutrition. Not the least
interesting is the appendix, which gives a com-
plete history of all the leading agricultural plants
including cotton and other Southern staples.

The author has drawn on foreign investigators
chiefly for his facts. Prof. Kedzie, of Michigan,
and President Clark of Amherst, and Mr. Rave-
nel have each a single reference ; and Prof. S. W.
Johnston is quoted in a few instances. The main
reliance is chiefly on the results, often contradic-
tory, of foreign workers. We doubt very much
whether some of the positions assumed would
find unhesitating support in this country; and
consequently, the practices deduced from these
principles sometimes become questionable. In

the present state of our knowledge, however, no
person can write a book like this and have its
teachings as unquestionable as a work on geome-
try would call for; and the weak points we have
referred to, do not in the least detract from the
value of the book, which we hope will find
itself in the hands of all our readers.

Landreth's Rural Eegistee ; Vick's Flower
AND Vegetable Garden — deserve more than a
passing notice, on account of the immense
amount of useful information they contain. The
latter is an especially beautiful production, and is
a great credit to the American trade.

Centennial Historical Calendar. — Philadel-
phia, published by T. W. Price & Co., for 1876.

This little almanac will be of immense service
to any one visiting the Centennial. There is a
map of Fairmount Park with references to the
leading points of interest, with addresses of the
hotels, directions of the street cars, and many
matters that will interest the stranger. No price
is named, and it is probably for gratuitous distri-
bution by the firm above named.

The American Naturalist. — As announced in
our last, this magazine appeared in January, un-
der the protection of Messrs. Houghton & Co., of
Boston. The popular character of the magazine
has been immensely extended, and we shall be
surprised if it does not soon become one of the
most widely circulated of American periodicals.

The Rural Journal. — This is a new candidate
for public favor, published by H. Young, and edited
by Prof. S. B. Heiges, of York, Pa. The editor is
well known to the farmers and Fruit Growers' of
Pennsylvania, as one of the most intelligent gen-
tlemen connected with their interests; and he is
also known to our readers by an occasional con-
tribution from his pen. He was one of the best
presidents the State Fruit-grower's Society ever
had, and our editorial brethren receive in him an
honorable addition to their ranks. It is a very
cheap agricultural paper — only 50 cents a year.

The Garden. — This English weekly, now in its
ninth year, has been a great success. The pub-
lisher is now emboldened to add a weekly colored
plate, raising the price of the magazine one-
fourth more than it was before.

The Practical Farmer. — This well-known
agricultural paper, which, for seventeen years
was published by the late Paschall Morris, in
Philadelphia, continues to prosper, and will here-
after be issued as a weekly.

«2

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[Fkbruary,

QUERIES.

Pronunciation of gladiolus — A valued corres-
pondent writes in regard to the paragraph at page
29: "We say Gladiolus, because the penult is
short, and the rule is that when the penult is
short the accent falls on the ante-penult."

" Now, if it be asked why the ' i ' is short, the
answer is given in the first rule in prosody in my
Latin grammar : 'A vowel before another vowel,
or a dipthong, is short;' to which follows a string
of exceptions, none applicable to gladiolus.

"Then the case is hit by another rule : ' Diminu-
tives in olus, &c., — shorten the penult.' "

Forestry. — A correspondent asks if we cannot

give attention to this important branch of cul-
ture. We have done so — sometimes placing the
matter under our " Fruit and Vegetable Garden."
because it seemed a matter of profit — or as inci-
dents, under some other department. But we will
in future, give it a head of its own.

Reprinting the first volume. — ^E. S. W. Ber-
lin, Mass., whites, " I wish you would reprint the
first volume of Gardener's Monthly, and make it
uniform size with the rest, (I have all) and I will
take one copy."

[It would cost as much as an ordinary book of
that size, and take at least a thousand subscrip-
tions, and perhaps more of thom at $2.10 to make
expenses. — Ed. G. M.]

SoRTICULTURAL ^OCIETIES.

COMMUNICA TIONJS.

KANSAS STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

BY H. E. VAN DEMAN, GENEtA, KAN.

The ninth annual meeting of this Society was
held at Manhattan, Kansas, on the 14th, 15th and
16th of December past. The most of the regular
and reliable meml)ers of the Society were pre-
sent, except Dr. Wm. M. Howsby, who lias grown
gray and become almost superannuated in the
labors of the cause ; and Mr. S. T. Kelsey who
"within the last year has removed from the State
to North Carolina, where he is now prosecuting
the business of practical fruit growing.

Upon recommendation of the Committee on
Constitution and By-laws, the Constitution was so
altered that all ladies attending the meetings
were permitted to all the privileges of member-
ship without admission fee, and each of the Dis-
trict Horticultural Societies were entitled to two
delegates, and each of the other auxiliary So-
cieties of the State reporting to the Secretary of
the State Society were entitled to one delegate,
who should be admitted to annual membership
free of the usual fees.

H. E. Van Deman, of the standing Committee
on Botany and Vegetable Physiology, called the
attention of the Society to the same matter to

whirli reference was made at the previous meet-
ing at Fort Scott in June last, viz.: The death
and injury to trees and plants in Kansas during
the last two years.

As before stated, the two prime and chief
causes were tlie drouth of the summer of 1874
and the defoliation by locusts the same season.
These so weakened their vital force that nearly
all kinds of trees and plants were not able to re-
sist the evaporating influences of the following
dry, cold weather without injury. Many died
outright even before the winter set in, which was
unusually dry, and when the spring came many
more were either dead or seriously weakened by
evaporation. The past summer has been further
witness to the same causes of injury, which was
shown by the feeble growth of many trees and
plants w'hen the season just past was most favor-
able to growth. The same causes he thought
might occur again, and if the true physiological
principles were understood, the horticulturists of
Kansas might be able to prevent or ameliorate
in a degree, the natural results.

Mr. Cutter, of Junction City, spoke of the
damage sustained in 1874 by the parched condi-
tion of the earth killing the surface roots, and so
cutting off the supply of moisture usually taken
from the soil. Mulcliing he had found to coun-
teract this influence.

1876.^

AND HORTICULTURIST.

63

Dr. J. Stayman, of the Committee on Vegetable
Gardening, read a report or an essay giving di-
rections to all engaged in either market or liome
gardening. They did not differ from those
usually given for the more Eastern States. Dur-
ing the evening of the first day an address of
welcome was given by Mr. R. A. Parker, from the
citizens of Manhattan, and responded to by H. E.
Van Deman, on the part of the Society.

It is a noteworthy fact that since its first or-
ganization, the members of this Society have
been most freely and generously welcomed to
the homes of the citizens of every place in which
its meetings have been held. Indeed, we think,
for the State and the Society, this method of cir-
culatory meetings is far better than a permanent
location.

The officers elected for the ensuing year are :
President, E. Gale, of Manhattan ; Vice Presi-
dent, Robert Milliken, of Emporia; Secretary,
G. C. Brackett, of Lawrence; Trustees, H. E.
Van Deman, of Geneva ; D. B. Skeeles, of Gales-
burgh; and Geo. Y. Johnson, of Lawrence;
Treasurer, F. Wellhouse, of Leavenworth.

Following the report of the standing Commit-
tee on Arboriculture was a long discussion on
windbreaks, their uses and construction, the best
trees to plant in them, &c. The cottonwood
seems to be one of the most available and suit-
able. Lombardy poplar, the ash and elm in their
native species, the silver maple, and better than
all for a quick growth, good fuel, besides a quan-
tity of fruit, the common seedling peach, that
can easily be obtained and grown by the people.

We had a most instructive talk, as he called
it, from Prof. Wm. K. Kedzie, of Kansas State
Agricultural College, on the experimental sta-
tions of Europe, based upon his recent tour of
observations among these institutions. He
thought America should not be blind to the value
of such great instructors as similar sta-
tions would be in this country. Private indi-
viduals cannot afford the time and means to
properly carry out this grand idea, and the gen-
eral government or the States should each foster
it. We of Kansas propose to see first what can
be done without money, and hope to inaugurate
a series of experiments that may never stop short
of untold good to the fruit growers of this region.
With such a live, willing, working chemist as
our young Kedzie, and such an entomologist as
Riley, of Missouri, to aid us, we may hope to
reach some sound conclusions.

This latter enthiisiastic worker favored us with
his presence, and in his quiet, plain, sensible way
gave us much instruction. He who rides a bug
for a hobby certainly has a lively time if he
keeps his seat, but Riley comes as near it as the
next one. The grasshopper from the Rocky
Mountains gave him a rough jolting this last
trip, and indeed this whole Western country has
felt the effects of the ride. We want the govern-
ment to order a survey of the region from whence
they came and to which they have gone, which
lies in the Rocky Mountain plateaus of Northern
United States. Perhaps we can then be able to
effectively combat the devastators. You see that
we, from necessity, are horticulturists of the
rough and ready pioneer sort, who can scarcely
yet get to even discuss the more aesthetic and
elaborate departments of the subject. We have
aspirations, but must needs first lay the founda-
tions for what are as yet but our air-castles.

Let me say that the tree act of Congress, grant-
ing lands to those who should plant and cultivate
a certain per cent, of the acres taken, has proved
entirely abortive in Kansas.

EDITORIAL NOTES.

The Southern States' Agricultural and In-
dustrial Exposition. — It is sometimes said
of Southern people that they lack energy and
" push." The managers of this society are not
open to this charge. There never was an enter-
prise better advertised. This is to be held for
ten days from Feb. 26th. It happened recently
that we had the pleasure of going through these
fair grounds at New Orleans, and can conceive
of nothing more beautiful to a Northern eye.
If any of our readers would like to know how it
feels to walk down an avenue of Orange trees,
and see the Banana, the Pomegranate, and similar
things flourish in the open air, he could not do
better than take a trip to New Orleans, and do it
at the time of the holding of this great fair. If
he wishes to take his horticultural products
along for exhibition he can do so, and get a
schedule, with a colored lithograph of the beau-
tiful grounds, from Sam'l Mullen, Esq., New Or-
leans.

The Centennial Exhibition. — Tlie exhibition
was looked on rather coldly in England for
awhile, and, perhaps, considering the superiority
of English gardening over ours, it was but na-

64

THE QARDENER'8 MONTHLY

[February,

tural that it should appeal but little to the sym-
pathies of English horticulturists. The following
from The Gardener's Magazine, however, shows
that it may not prove wholly unattractive to our
English friends :

The International Exhibition of 1876, which
will be held in the city of Philadelphia, will in
all probability constitute as distinct an epoch in
the history of international exhibitions as did the
first of the series, held in the lovely palace of glass
in Hyde Park, London, in the year 1851. Since
then the experiment has been repeated in many
of the great cities of Europe, London included,
and, though it cannot be said that failure was
felt anywhere or any when, until a permanent
exhibition was organized at South Kensington,
yet there has always been wanting the freshness,
the surprise, and the completeness of the first
venture, while the partial successes achieved
have been more or less prejudiced by a pervading
sense of weariness. If any such thing as a great
international exhibition is wanted now, the
Western continent is certainly the proper place
for it. For the present, and for some time to
come, the old world has had enough of these
things, and it is well that our cousins on the
other side of the Atlantic have taken the subject
out of our hands, and intend to rehabilitate it in
their own thorough and original way of managing
Buch afl'airs. The description of the scheme,
which will be found in another part of this sheet,
will show that the scale is vast and comprehensive,
and comprises features now for the first time at-
tempted. All the industrial arts will be fully re-
presented, while agriculture and horticulture will
obtain a prominence they have never enjoyed
before in similar undertakings, a course of pro-
cedure consistent with the requirements of the
age as well as with the characteristics of Ameri-
can enterprise and taste.

One of the necessary consequences of the lo-
cation of the exhibition will be that the old world
will visit the new world iii considerable force in
1876. Hitherto the traffic across the Atlantic has
been chiefly determined by business considera-
tions, for although Americans visit Europe in
considerable numbers, very few Europeans visit
America, except in obedience to calls of duty or
the temptations of commercial advantage. In
matters intellectual the people of the States have
always had to subsist for the most part on the
products of the old world, and the influence on
them of European thought has of necessity de-
veloped an interest in European scenery and

memorials and manners. The playful sarcasm,
that " rich Americans when they die go to Paris,"
represents fairly enough the joyous curiosity
with which our Western cousin starts on his tour
of Europe, which may be said to begin at Strat-
ford-on-Avon, to culminate at the mosque of St.
Sophia, and to end somewhere in the neighbor-
hood of the Tuileries. Between us in respect of
such matters the reciprocity, thus far, has been
quite partial ; for few Englishmen, and in pro-
portion, fewer Continentals, have visited the
States unless they were impelled by motives of
interest or that conviction of duty which makes
the sea as dry land, and converts danger and
strangeness into delights which fill the soul
with agreeable expectancy. But a change is
coming, and, indeed, has come. The active
spirits of the old world are on the move. Phila-
delphia is the universal goal of the reflective, in-
quiring, and adventurous ones of Europe, and in
an especial manner of all possible English visit-
ors to any possible exhibition. It is early as yet,
perhaps, to make the trip, but many whose ruling
motive is curiosity are already on their way, and
the completion of the exhibition buildings will
be witnessed by many nationalities.

The spring of 1876 will sec a vast exodus west-
ward, and it is certain that thousands of brave
Britons will obtain a glimpse of the United States
in a very agreeable way, who would never have
sought such a pleasure except through the per-
suasions of an international exhibition. All will
be done that can be done on both sides of the
Atlantic to facilitate the movement; but the sea
that divides will take its toll of our time, how-
ever otherwise it may be disposed to help us.
The great Napoleon abolished the Alps by
marching over them, and the only way to abolish
the Atlantic is to take the fastest ship, and con-
sider the feat of crossing it a nine days' wonder.
Some time early in the summer of next year,
some great excursion parties will be organized
for doing the thing cheap and sociably, and even
now various kinds of accommodation are being
prepared for the very many who will make the
exhibition an excuse for a good look round at the
wealthiest cities and most renowned scenes of
the western continent; so that many who begin
at Philadelphia will have Lake Superior, and
Niagara, and Quebec in the programme, and wilj
be wiser when they return than when they went
out; or, if not really wiser, certainly richer in ob-
servations, and reflections, and comparisons that
the " memory will not willingly let die."

THE

GARDENER'S MONTHLY

AND

HORTICULTURIST.

DEVOTED TO HORTICULTURE. ARBORICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS.

Edited by THOMAS MEEHAN.

Volume XVIII.

MARCH, 1876.

Number 207,

LOWER »ARDEN AND If LEASURE pROUND.

SEASONABLE HINTS.

One would suppose that with all that has been
said in our pages in regard to deep planting, we
should not see much of it done ; but it is very
common, and we have to note the evils continu-
ally in our travels. If the land is dry and sandy,
or the trees with a few heavy roots of a thick
" tap" like character, it does not matter so much.
In the sands of New Jersey one may set trees
deeper without injury than in Pennsylvania, and
one would find much less injury in the dry earth
of Colorado, than in the moister climate of Iowa.
The Oak or the standard Pear does not suffer
much from deep planting, but it is best to set
them but little deeper than they grew before.
Fibrous rooters like Maples and Ashes must be
kept tolerably near the surftice, while hair-rooted
things, such as Rhododendrons and Azaleas, if not
growing in almost open sand, must be set on the
surface or not at all. We note these remarks
through having recently seen the attempts of a
friend, and we are sorry to say, a reader of the
Gardener's Monthly, to grow the Rhododendron
on quite an extensive scale, a comparative foilure
from deep planting. They were not very deep
either ; an Apple would not have rebelled at the
treatment. The balls of roots in a Rhododendron
should be set, as a general rule, on the ground,
and the earth drawn up about the roots, and
pressed very firm.

What we say of deep planting for trees, applies
also tu deep planting of flower or other seeds.

We may put a Walnut or Chestnut several inches
under ground, or six inches under ground if sown
in sand; but for our ordinary seeds, we want
them as near the surface as we can get them.
Suppose we actually take our readers to the gar-
den, and show them practically how to sow their
flower seeds.

The day is warm, and the surface soil just dry
enough to powder when struck with the back of
the trowel. We should not ask their company
otherwise, for when the soil is sticky it won't do
to sow seed. The ground has been dry several
days before. The surface is now powdered and
about the thickness of the trowel blade scraped
off. The seed is then sown, the soil drawn back
and beat firmly down on the seed. You see how
near the top we sowed the seed, and how firmly
we beat the soil over it, and we spoke about a
" first principle." This principle is this :— Seeds
want moisture to make them grow, but they
must also have air — one is an evil without the
other. If deep they get only water, in which
case they rot. If entirely on the surface they
get only air, and then they dry up. " But, Mr.
Hintsman, why beat the soil so firm?" Another
principle, dear lady, lies there. Large spaces in
soil enable the earth to dry out rapidly ; small
spaces, on the other hand, hold water. Crush-
ing earth, when dry, gives it these small spaces,
or as gardeners call it, makes it porous, and thus
you see we have set our seeds where they will be
near the air, and fixed them so that they shall be
regularly moist.

While caring for the flowers, forget not the

66

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[March,

lawn — that great charm — without which a gar-
den is not worthy of the name.

Our readers all know that the soil should be
made as deep as possible, because a deep soil is
generally a reservoir of moisture, from which is
replaced the waste from the drying surface, un-
der the summer heats, and thus the grass is kept
from burning out. But this is not all. Lawns
soon become impoverished by exhaustion of the
soil, and by continual mowing, — and this has to
be provided for. Mowing machines particularly
injure lawns, by their very close and continuous
cutting. But this must not be an argument
against the machines. We cannot do without
them. One should be on every lawn of any ex-
tent. But we must in some way provide a
counter advantage to check the weakening in-
fluence which they undoubtedly exert. One of
the troubles of close mowing is, that the grass is
so weakened in vitality that little, low, vile
weeds soon advance their forces, and choke out
the grass. Allowing the grass to grow up with-
out mowing for a year will give renewed vigor
to the grass, and be death to the little pests ; but
in a year or two the old sod will be as bad as
ever, and it is doubtful whether the advantages
of the plan compensate for the' untidiness. It
is, perhaps, better to follow the suggestions of
previous volumes, to set the machine so as not
to cut so low as we did on the first introduction
of mowing machines, where it has not been
done.

The hints we offered in our last number arc
in general applicable to this also.

COMMUNICATIONS.

FOREST HILL CEMETERY, UTICA, N. Y.

A correspondent sends us the following from
the pen of a citizen of Utica, — and we have from
Mr. Roderick Campbell the favor of photographs
of the buildings. The idea is excellent, and
promises to be very popular.

When the Mort chapel was erected in Forest
Hill Cemetery by the late Mrs. Silas D. Childs,
the trustees of the cemetery thought that a suit-
able place had been secured for holding the final
services over the remains of the dead. Experi-
ence proved, however, that it was unsuited to
this purpose in winter. As the building is con-
structed of stone, its temperature is very low in
winter, and as during this season bodies are kept

in the catacombs till spring, the application of
heat is out of the question. On many days it
v\'as colder in the building than out of doors.
The trustees therefore determined to provide a
building which could be used at all seasons of
the year.

The conservatory is constructed in the form of
a triple arch, the middle arch being the highest.
The side arches, or lean-tos, join the main arch
just bej'ond the highest part of their curve. The
conservatory proper is 80x36 feet in size, and
constructed almost wholly of glass. In front of
the liuilding is a porch, or porte du chaise, 12x13,
supported by two pillars, under which the funeral
parties alight without exposure. On entering,
the visitor finds himself in a vestibule, 20x16 feet,
separated from the rest of the building by glass
partitions. From the vestibule a door opens into
the auditorium and conservatory. This part of
the building is 60 feet in length.

The auditorium is 16 feet wide, and directly
under the main arch which is 25 feet high. The
floor is laid with alternate strips of ash and black
walnut, suflRcient space being left between the
strips to allow the heat to rise from below. On
either side are benches, of the same material,
for those attending funerals. Under the side
arches, which are 13 feet high, are flower beds,
10 feet wide, extending on either side the whole
length of the building. Hot-houses are divided
off by a glass partition in the front part of the
building on either side of the vestibule, where
tropical plants, requiring a higher temperature,
are kept. From the vestibule a stairway leads
to a gallery of the same size as the vestibule,
and from which a very good view of the interior
can be obtained. On the west of the conserva-
tory, and about the centre of it, is the tower and
observatory, 40 feet high. In the basement of
this are two large boilers, which supply the build-
ing with heat. The heated water from these
boilers flows through 2,000 feet of three-inch
pipes, laid under the floor beds, and when cooled
returns to the boilers to be warmed over again.
Twenty-five tons of coal were used in heating
the conservatory during the past winter, which is
only one-quarter of the amount first estimated.

It is the only building of the kind in the world,
and reflects great credit on its originator and
designer, Thomas Hopper. Roderick Campbell,
a genial son of Scotia, has been engaged as
florist. For the past five years he has had
charge of a private conservatory in Brooklyn,
and for fifteen years before that time, was en-

1876.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

67

gaged in the same occupation in his native coun-
try. He is famihar with the common and
botanical name of every plant in the building.

The cost of the whole has been in the neigh-
borhood of $13,000, which includes the fitting up
of the gardener's cottage, just east of the conser-
vatory.

Death is always an unwelcome visitor, whether
he comes to the aged or the young, the high or
the lowly. On the death of a friend or relative,
the mind is instinctively lifted from things earthly
to the world beyond. At such times the stern
realities of life grate harshly on the finer sensi-
bilities of human nature, and add to the suf-
ferings of those already deeply afflicted. Not
many years ago it was customary for relatives
and friends to gather around the grave at the
time of burial. As the beloved form was lowered
into the dark, damp earth, it seemed as if all
hopes of ever. seeing it again went down with it.
The heavy clods which rattled on the coffin lid,
fell with equal weight upon the grief-stricken
hearts of the mourners. It mattered not if the
winter's wind moaned drearily through the tree-
tops, and chilled the forms of those in waiting
till they seemed to feel the coldness of the grave;
or if the summer's rain fell thick and fiist like
their tears. Death is no respecter of times or
persons, and the sad duties were performed under
circumstances which made one shudder at their
recollection.

Now all this is changed. When a body is
brought for interment, it is first taken to the con-
servatory, which is in itself a paradise. Though
life may have been darkened with shadow, here
all is bright. The turmoil and bustle of life may
have broken the heart worn with care ; here the
silence is only broken by the glad songs of birds
and the music of the fountain. Rugged, desolate
and dreary the paths of life often are ; here all
is beautiful as a fairy scene, beautiful bej^ond
comparison with other earthly scenes ; carrying
the thoughts with those who have gone before,
to that Eden where sin, and sorrow, and suffer-
ing are unknown : " Where the wicked cease
from troubling, and the weary are at rest." The
coffin is placed in the centre of the auditorium,
when the final services are held, and a last look
at the face of the loA'ed one is taken. None can
regret leaving their dead in such a place. On
either side are beds of blossoming flowers, beau-
tiful camellias, calla lilies, pelai-goniums, azaleas,
acacias, rhododendrons,geraniums,andotherhot-
house plants. Here is also a large lemon tree in

bud, flower and fruit. Overhead are rustic
hanging baskets, magnificent in their variegated
colors. Ivies and other creeping vines twine
around the pillars and arches supporting the
roof. To these will be added a variety of tropi-
cal trees and plants, such as palms, palmettos,
orchids, passion flowers, and the finest of tropical
plants.

Comes winter, with its cold chilling the earth
and wrapping it in a winding-sheet. The win-
dows of the lodge look out from under its snow-
capped gothic gables as if half asleep. The
thick branches of the fir bend beneath the weight
of the fleecy substance which falls on mound
and monument alike. It is the sleep of nature,
cold and cheerless as death itself. But under
the shining arch of the conservatory, life and
perpetual summer reign. Here, in warmth and
light, surrounded by beautiful buds and blos-
soms, amid the cheerful songs of birds and the
murmur of the fountain which flows as cease-
lessly as time — here we leave our dead, and our
last thoughts of them will always be associated
with this place. The seasons may come and go,
but in this spot made sacred by hallowed recol-
lections, will be perennial spring. Here too, in
after days, we will love to sit and call up memo-
ries, sad, but full of holy joy, and hold sweet
communion with those who have been trans-
planted to the great garden above.

RHODE ISLAND BENT GRASS.

BY DR. WM. F. CHANNING, PROVIDENCE, R, 1.

In a note to the editor, which strayed into
print, in the Gardener's Monthly iov October, 1875,
I spoke of Rhode Island Bent Grass, pure and
simple, as the best Lawn Grass, in the estimation
of many persons living where it is supposed to
have Originated, and where alone it is extensively
cultivated.

There had been a previous lament in the
Monthly over many of our Lawn Grasses destroyed
by the intense cold of the preceding winter.
The Rhode Island Bent had stood this extreme
test without injury.

I have since received numerous letters enquir-
ing where the seed of this grass can be obtained ;
and the Country Gentleman has asked : " What
is Rhode Island Bent ? and in answer to its own
question has conjectured that it is probably
Agrostis vulgaris — the Red-top of New England
and New York, and the Herd's Grass of the
Southern States.

68

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[March,

A somewhat extensive examination enables
me now to say, and I hope to be able to show,
that the Rhode Island Bent is a distinct and valu-
able grass which, by a curious fatality, appears
to have hitherto escaped recognition and descrip-
tion. I am well aware that these light grass
seeds may blow from one end of the Continent to
the other, and it is not impossible that Rhode
Island Bent may be locally grown elsewhere
under a different name ; but I find no record of
the cultivation of any similar grass.

At this season it is impossible to furnish a bo-
tanical analysis of the plant, but I send to the
editor, for his comparison, two bundles, one of
Rhode Island Bent and one of Red-top, — winter
specimens — furnished me by Charles H. Potter,
of Prudence Island, Narragansett Bay, an exten-
sive cultivator of Bent.

The following paragraph from Flint's admirable
Treatise on Grasses and Forage Plants, is perhaps
responsible for the confusion between these two
grasses :

"This grass [Agrostis vulgaris) is known by
various names, and is greatly modified by soil
and cultivation. On a moist rich soil it grows
larger than on a poor, thin soil ; and not only
larger but has a darker, purplish color, with a
stem varying from eighteen inches to two and
two and a half feet high ; while on poor gravelly
soils, it seldom grows over twelve inches, and
often not over five or six inches high, while it
has a lighter color. In the latter situations it goes
by the name of Fine-top, and is universally seen
in old, dry pastures. In some sections where it is
highly esteemed, it goes by the name of Burden's
or Borden's Grass ; in others, of Rhode Island
Bent ; but I am unable to discover any difierence
between these and Red-top, except that produced
by varieties of soils ; and on enquiring of some
of the largest dealers in seeds, I find that Orders
for all these are supplied from the same seed."

With this authority before them, it is no reflec-
tion upon American seedsmen to say that, when-
ever a demand has grown up in any locality for
the real Rhode Island Bent, it has been met with
a dispensation of Red-top seed, and the genuine
grass, therefore, has soon lost whatever footing
it has acquired. I shall endeavor to state the
points of difference between these grassQs as they
appear in cultivation, side by side, in Rhode Is-
land, so that this confusion may be no longer
possible.

Both these grasses, as well as Florin and Eng-
lish Bent, belong to the genus Agrostis, of which

Bent Grass is the synonyme ; but, for conven-
ience in this paper, the word Bent will be used
exclusively to designate the Rhode Island grass.

Both the Bent and Red-top have perennial,
creeping roots ; but, while Red-top does not
spread rapidly by the root, the Bent rivals, in
this respect, the Couch grass [Triticum repens),
forming very soon a densely matted sod. But
the stoloniferous roots of the Bent are as numer-
ous and' fine as those of the Couch grass are
coarse.

Under the same culture the Bent grass is hard-
ly more than two-thirds the height of Red-top,
but is heavier bottomed, owing perhaps to the
denser sod, or to more numerous or longer leaves.
A field of Bent which appears much lighter
than one of Red-top, will often give an equal
weight of hay. This may be due in part to the
greater solidity of the stem of the Bent. Still
the average hay crop of Bent is probably less
than Red-top.

The stems of the Bent are also more numerous,
as well as more slender, than Red-top. Indeed
the Bont is one of the finest, most delicate
grasses, in leaf and stem. It makes up for size
by number of stalks and blades.

The blossom of the Bent is softer, more silky,
and lighter in color than Red-top, sometimes
nearly white. One of its names in Rhode Island
is Furze-top.

The seeds of the Bent are soft and silky to the
touch, while the Red-top is comparatively harsh.
An experienced dealer informs me that he can
distinguish between the varieties, or detect an
intermixture of Red-top with Bent, by simply
putting his hand into the sack. This is a distinc-
tion which may be useful to seedsmen and pur-
chasers.

In Rhode Island, Red-top has no aftermath.
The Bent grass, in wide contrast, starts as soon
as cut. This is one of its qualifications as a lawn
grass. The beauty of the Newport lawns are
proverbial. I have heard this ascribed by more
than one person to the prevalence of Rhode Is-
land Bent, though the climate, resembling the
English, must be taken into account.

The Bent has the reputation of standing
drought better than other grasses, and of furnish-
ing even then good after-feed, differing in this
widely from Red-top. This may be a result of
the fineness of the grass and closeness of the sod,
preventing evaporation.

Rhode Island farmers claim much greater
sweetness for Bent than for Red-top. The gen-

J

187(5.]

AND EOETIGULTURIST.

69

eral testimony is that horned cattle pick out and
prefer Bent to other grasses in tlie same field.
A farmer assures me emphatically that Bent is
the best grass for cows. This, as well as its readi-
ness to start after close cropping, b§ars on its
value as a pasture grass.

Another farmer, whose testimony is reliable,
tells me he has extirpated Couch grass by plow-
ing, manuring, and sowing with Bent. He gives
it as his opinion, that Bent, on a soil sufficiently
rich, will, at any time, crowd out Couch grass.

One bushel of Ehode Island Bent seed, well
sown, is sufficient to plant an acre. For Lawns
twice that amount should be used. The market
price of Bent in Rhode Island is from $2.50 to
$3.00 per bushel, according to weight and quality.
Genuine seed can always be obtained of Wm. E.
Barrett & Co., Providence, or of Thomas G. Pot-
ter, East Providence, both well-known seedsmen.

To sum up, in Rhode Island Bent we have a
Lawn Grass, perfectly hardy, forming a close sod,
fully occupying the ground and holding its own
against coarser grasses, fine in texture, and beau-
tiful in all its stages, starting as soon as cut, and
withstanding drought.

^~As a pasture grass it is sweet and perpetual.
For hay, deficiency of crop, if any, is mad« up
by luxuriant after-feed.

[Dr. Channing deserves the thanks of all horti-
culturists for his investigations in this important
matter. The poor specimens sent for Rhode Island
Bentgrass,appeartobewhatis known msome parts
of the country as "Hair Grass," Agrostis scabra, a
very different species from "Red-top" or A. vul-
garis. Its fineness should make it a much more
desirable grass than "Red-top." Besides, in our
experience, we find the latter chiefly in heavy
land, and the " Hair grass " in high and dryer
places, which will give it an advantage for lawns,
which are generally on dry land. — Ed. G. M.]

THE ENGLISH SPARROW,

BY GENERAL W. H. NOBLE, PROVIDENCE, R. I.

In some respects this little foreigner deserves
our welcome. But his distant origin and his
cheery, home-loving ways, blind us to his betters
at our doors. Before him we had native birds,
greedy for worms, more pretty of plumage, and
sweeter of song. We feed and pet this immi-
grant, but our own birds we shot and stoned, till
they found neither pluck or numbers to fight
the worm. Then the crawling pests so stripped

to wintry barrenness the garb of "glorious sum-
mer," that in pure despair we took on trust this
sparrow's boasted appetite for worms, to war
against our petty foes.

He breeds so fast that if each one only ate a
few, their numbers would make havoc among
the creeping tribes. A little colony of eight set-
tled here four years, have filled the town. But
as "early birds" after the worms, they don't eat
a cent's worth. Enough sparrows have squatted
on my two acres to eat all the worms off" an hun-
dred, and cry for more, yet the tormenting pests
still strip my currant bushes right under their
noses. Nor does the sparrow hunt other worms
any better. In fact, as help against our foes on
leaf and fruit, I set down the English sparrow as
a failure and a fraud. But worse than this, I
fear we may find him as big a pest as the worms
he promised to eat.

Sad stories come to me of his picking out the
fruit buds in the winter, and of his raids on the
opening bloom of spring. Last year, near New
Haven, a flock swept off" in a day the promised
crop of a whole orchard. Last winter the squatters
on my ground stripped my currant bushes of
half their buds. They served a large strawberry
bed in the same style. Hunger could not be plead
for such vandalism. They shared with my fowls
plenty of small grains, and garbage always within
reach. These sorry habits, in such swarms of
them as must soon fill the land, will by and by
demand a premium for their scalps.

These sparrows, too, are mighty exclusive in
their ways. Fellowship for other species is not
one of their virtues. They are a plucky and
fighting crowd, and more than a match for any
small bird, except the little bully wren. I find
the sparrow drives away many of his kind, more
pleasing in plumage and in song, who formerly
spent their summers at our door. The blue bird
no longer tarries with us after his Southern win-
ter tour. The Northern mocking bird has de-
serted the pear tree top, whence for years at
early dawn he filled the morning air with apt
and gleeful mimicry of song. Not half so many
kinds of birds spend their summers with us
now, as before the coming of these sparrows.

But perhaps this visitor does better elsewhere,
and will mend his ways. It would be hard to
condemn him on so short a trial. He is a hardy,
cheery, home-loving little fellow. He sticks
close to the crannies and nooks and little resting
spots around the house. In the gloom and
storm of winter, when pretty much all his kind

YO

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[Maech,

desert us for the Southern skies, his chirp and
lively flitting cheer away the gloom of a murky
sky and chilling blast. Though he is not a pretty
bird, or a sweet singer, nor fills the measure of
his promise in the line of worms, yet, like the
teaching of a friend when the clouds and storms
of fate hang o'er us, his lively chirp close to our
door steps, in face of the chill and glower of
winter, binds him to our hearts despite his
faults.

I hope to hear from others a more welcome
record of his ways. In the meantime, is there
no bird who will eat the hairy and thorny coated
worms, which are as bad as any ?

There is another English bird whose cheery
notes I would like to hear, defiant of the wintry
blast and storm — the English robin, the true robin
redbreast. Our robin is not truly a robin, but a
species of thrush. Isnotthatso? Yes. I do not
know his habits or his food. But if he never eats a
worm, the reality at our doors of his picture, sing-
ing from the snow-clad, red-borried holly, under
a murky sky, gleesome, defiant and hopeful,
would well pay for his passage and his feed.
Wont some enterprising bird man get us the
English robin redbreast?

EDITORIAL NOTES.

Rattan trelli.-^.— One of the neatest of trel-
lises for training strong growing vines on, we saw
last summer in the yard of Mr. Isaac Burk, of
Philadelphia, made of Rattan.

The Hou.yhock.— So far as we know this has
quite disappeared from our vicinity during the
past few years, through the operations of a fun-
gus that destroys the leaves. If any of our
friends have any this summer with diseased
leaves, we should be glad of some specimens for
examination.

Aralia PAPYRiFERA, HARDY.— We Were aston-
ished recently to meet with aspecimen of this popu-
lar greenhouse leaf plant which had stood the
severe winter unharmed.

An avenue ok Oranges.— The head-quarters of
the Jockey club, at New Orleans, was a private
residence before the war, and is one of the most
beautiful and tasteful buildings in the vicinity of
the city. The gardens are very elaborate. The
main path to the garden is lined by two long
rows of orange trees, forming a beautiful avenue.

A Hedge of Geraniums. — The Gardener't
Chronicle says, that on the Scilly Isles, which re-
ceive the full force of the warm gulf stream as it
dashes against the coast of England, there is
rarely frost, and it speaks of a garden there in
which there is a hedge of scarlet geraniums
fourteen feet high.

The Mistletoe grows on the Norway spruce
and Scotch pine in some parts of Europe. It is
supposed the seeds do not grow in many cases,
through not being properly fertilized. It can be
propagated by grafts inserted just under the
bark.

Chimonanthus fragrans. — This old-fashioned
shrub is not near as common in gardens as it
deserves to be. The buds are formed in the fall
and grow larger with every warm winter's day.
If these branches are cut off and placed in water
in a warm room, they will expand in a few days,
and fill the room with their delightful fragrance.
A new branch so treated every week, will keep
up a succession all win^r.

The Umbrella Pine (Sctadopitys verticil-
lata). — " It does not appear to be generally known
that this fine Japanese Conifer, so distinct in
habit and yet so beautiful, is hardy in sheltered
positions on well-drained soils, as far north as
Edinburgh. Two healthy little si^ecimens of it
in the Botanic Gardens there, planted out some
four years ago, aie thriving most satisfactorily.
There are, at least, two distinct forms of this
plant in cultivation, one being dense in habit,
and the other more lax and luxuriant."

The above is from the Gardm. We believe it
is one of the hardiest of coniferous plants, but of
remarkably slow growth. We know of one plant
that has stood 17° below zero without the slightest
injury, but it is not yet much over one foot high,
though now very branchy, and it is over fifteen
years old. Besides the above, we give the follow-
ing from the Gardener's Chronicle:

"Indigenous to Japan, from whence it was in-
troduced by Mr. Fortune in 18G1. It is described
as a large pyramidal tree, with horizontal spread-
ing branches, attaining from 100 to 150 feet in
height, and from, 3 to 4 feet in diameter. Dr.
Siebold, who previously discovered it, described
it as a large bush or small tree, from 12 to 15
feet in height. Judging from the progresg
making, and the specimens to be seen in this
country, Dr. Siebold's description is likely to
prove correct. It is very satisfactory to know
that this very distinct, indeed unique, tree, ha«

1876.]

AND HORTIGULTUBIST.

n

generally proved quite hardy, although of slow
growth, at least in its young state. Its branches
are alternate and verticillate, with numerous
branchlets ; its leaves are from 2 to 3 inches in
length, linear, leathery, and of a yellowish green
color, spreading out horizontally like the ribs ol
an umbrella, hence its name of Umbrella Pine.
Dr. Siebold considers the Umbrella Fir the finest
Conifer of Japan, and one which presents an ap-
pearance as strange as elegant, in consequence
of its innumerable ramifications, which always
end in a parasol-like tuft of leaves.

" We have not yet had sufficient experience to
speak very positively as to its merits and cul-
ture, but have seen enough to satisfy us that it
will require a warm situation to induce growth,
and a good deep soil on a dry subsoil. It will
probably be found to be better adapted for the
Southern than the Northern parts of these
islands.

"Wherever there is any chance of its succeed-
ing as an ornamental tree, it should be experi-
mented with, on account of its unique and ele-
gant appearance. At Castle Kennedy, and
numerous other places in Scotland, it has stood
the severity of our winters unscathed, but seldom
makes more than 2 or 3 inches of growth in a
season.

"Messrs. Veitch report that their largest plant
(4 feet in height), in their rich collection of Coni-
• fers at Coombe Wood, near Wimbledon, last year
grew 9 inches."

NEW PLANTS.

Abies alcoquiana. — This Japanese species
proves as hardy in our country as the Norway
spruce. The under surface is as silvery as the
Menzies spruce, while the upper surface is of
a deep green. A correspondent of the Garden
regards it as the handsomest of the spruces.

Improved Petunias. — The Petunia thrives bet-
ter in our climate than in that of the old world,
and hence has improved faster. Mender's strain
forms the subject of a beautiful illustration in
the^ Florist and Pomologist of London, and are
much like those we have seen of Vick, and oth-
■ers of our leading seedsmen.

Xanthoceras sorbifolia. — We have from time
to time had notices of this new tree. A recent
number of the Garden gives a colored illustration,
and shows it to be more beautiful than one I

would suppose from the description. The flow-
ers are as large as an apple blossom, white on
the upper portion of the petals, but of a purplish
crimson at the base, and they are borne in up-
right clusters, like those of the horse chestnut.
The leaves are like the mountain ash, whence
its specific name sorbifolia. As it grows in its
native wilds in China, together with the Kolreu-
teria, which is one of our hardiest trees, we may
look on this as something well worthy of. intro-
duction into our own country.

Pentstemon Palmeri, Gray. — This handsome
Utah species is of robust habit, attaining, in good
soil a height of from 3 to 5 feet. The lower leaves
are petioled, varying in form from ovate-lanceo"
late to spathulate, coarsely and sharply toothed ;
those of the stem broadly ovate, entire, and
semi-amplexicaul, or sometimes even connate,
all being of a fleshy texture, and, like the whole
plant, smooth and glu acescent. The flowers are
borne in a many-flowered naked panicle, from 18
inches to 2 feet long; the corolla, which is
peach-colored, being remarkable for its short in-
flated tube and gaping mouth, as well as for the
long reflexed lobes of the lower lip, each marked
by a central reddish line, and the conspicuous
projecting yellow-bearded sterile filament. It is
quite hardy, and will succeed in almost any
well-drained soil. — Garden.

Brodi^ volubilis. Baker (Stropholirion Cali-
fornicum, Torrey). — ThisCalifornian species is re-
markable for its twining habit, the flower-scape of-
ten reaching the height of 7 or 8 feet or even more.
The flowers are produced in terminal umbels of
from fifteen to thirty each, the perianth being of a
light rosy-purple color, nearly 1 inch long, of a
tubular ventricose form, contracted below the
mouth. The foliage is linear, somewhat fleshy
in character, and from 12 to 18 inches in length.
It is perfectly hardy, and of the easiest cultivation
in any soil, but will probably succeed best in
sandy loam. Seedlings will bloom the third year
of their growth. — Garden.

QUERIES.

The Charter Oak. — E. says : " This, many
years since, was discussed and decided to be Q.
alba. At one time I resided in Hartford, Conn.,
and visited the tree many times in company with
others."

Y2

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[March

Rocky Mountain Silver Spruce. — An Ohio
correspondent says : " I am not a little sur-
prised that any one conversant with this tree
should class it as Menziesii — but perhaps I have
never seen a true Menziesii — but of this Abies,
with its silvery blue green foliage, I have
gathered thousands from the forests or wilds of
the upper lakes, grown and sold them. In
damp — not wet^ — soil, of a light loamy or sandy
nature, it grows freely, and its gently drooping
branches, with its usually perfect sharp conical
form, makes it one of the beauties among ever-
greens."

[Our correspondent evidently refers to Abies
alba, and a beautiful tree. — Ed.]

An Illinois correspondent who has paid much
attention to the Rocky Mountain conifers, writes
that Ahies Menziesii is undoubtedly the tree re-
ferred to. He also adds that Colorado seed pro-
duces hardier and better plants every way, than
seeds of the same trees from the Pacific. He
regards this species as one of the handsomest to
cultivate. He has had plants of Finns ponderosa
from Californian seeds killed, when those from
the Rocky Mountains were quite unharmed.

Raising Clematises. — X. Y., Rochester, New

York : Clematises are generally raised from
seeds ; but they mostly take one year to
grow. The hybrid kinds are grafted on roots
of the Clematis flammula, or perhaps other
kinds. The improved clematises have been
a long time in this country, having been intro-
duced soon after the appearance of Clematis
lanuginosa, which is one of the parents of the
great hybrid race ; it being a very free seeder.
The hybrid clematises have not, however, made
much headway with us, owing, we believe, to
some root injury, apparently of a similar nature
to that produced by the phylloxera on the grape.
Where they do well there is nothing more beau-
tiful, and you may safely " experiment in their
propagation with a view to selling them."

Tar Walks. — Very good walks are made by
mixing gas tar with gravel. It softens somewhat
in summer, but is an admirable winter path.
They fail sometimes — and a correspondent of the
Countn/ Gentleman suggests that this is often

j through employing professional "walkers," who
boil the tar, and in this way make a very little
tar go a great way. There is not enough tar to

' make a lasting walk under such circumstances.

^REEN MOUSE AND MOUSE p'ARDENING.

SEASONABLE HINTS.

Visiting the greenhouse of a lady at Doylestown
recently, who keeps no gardener, but does all her
own work, it was interesting to note that tlie pots
were not only full of earth, but it was mounded
up so that the plants seemed to be growing on a
small hill in the centre of the pot. The first
impression of the good gardener would be that
this practice was wrong. There is no place for
the water. It would all run off. And this indeed
was remarked by a gentleman of the company.
The lady did not defend the practice against re-
cognized horticultural rules, but timidly remarked
that she was so ignorant about watering plants,
and found in practice that she always gave them
too much, she had made a mound as an insu-
rance against over-watering. To us, however.

the plants made no objective response. The
great health they presented shoAved that they
were quite satisfied with the treatment. The
little fibres peeped through the surface as happily
as the little chickens under their mother's wing.
Now we are often asked by window gardeners
how often they should water their pot plants, for
every one seems to know over-watering is an in-
jury. It is always hard to give an answer to this
question, but in the light of this lady's experience
we would say, fill up the pots full, mound it,
and then you may water every day or as many
times a day as you please. It will always do good.
In most places where our readers are, March
is a busy greenhouse month. For those who live
in Labrador or Australia of course we have no
March hints to give. But they understand that
what we say here must be sooner or later for
them.

18^6.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

t3

Our readers are so widely extended that for the
benefit of the most favored, we rather advanced
our hints as to season, last month. To the bulk,
they will still be in order.

COMMUNICA TIONS.

A FEW FACTS ABOUT CALLAS.

BY W. T. HARDING, COLUMBUS, OHIO.

Excepting the Rose, I know of but few plants
having more admirers, or of which so much has
been said or w-ritten, as the well-known Calla
^thiopica — or, more correctly, Richardia ^thi-
opica. Of all plants, it seems the one with which
everybody excels their neighbors in cultivation,
and on that account is so justly popular. The
first essays of amateurs generally begin with
them, and then follows, as is very natural, their
initial communication "to the editor," to an-
nounce their success. When we take into con-
sideration the combined beauty of flower and fo-
liage, and admit the fact of no one ever failing to
produce the finest flowers that ever grew, there
is no wonder why in every window stands a Stately
Calla. The latest remarks I quote from the
January number of the Monthly and Horticulturist,
in which a writer says : " I give the Callas very
little rest ; some of them none whatever. By this
system of culture, the roots do not die, and the
plants certainly produce finer flowers."

A more liberal supply of fair flowers, healthy
green leaves, or sturdier plants, I never saw under
any system of cultivation than which grew in
the basin of a water fountain in a Cleveland con-
servatory. For seven long years, through all
seasons, the pots stood up to their rims in water.
Were never dried off, had no rest — as they were
never weary of well-doing, did not require any
— and so they wept on blooming without ceasing.
More fortunate than poor Ponce de Leon, they
had found the fountain of life; and while enjo}'-
ing a perpetual spring, with all the vigor of im-
mortal youth, they freely imbibed the life-giving
water.

Years before, at the junction of the Black and
Yellow rivers, at the Cape of Good Hope, the
writer saw untold millions of them growing in the
swamps, lakes and lagoons. I believe they never
dry up there, in that particular region, during the
hot and droughty seasons peculiar to Africa, but
are at all times submerged. Who knows but
what the Arundinarias, Imperatas, Cj'perus, Arun-

dos, Papyrus, Nymphias, and Callas, overshad-
owed the ancient crocodile and hippopotamus
many thousands of years before Vasco de Gama
doubled the Cape.

There are but few plants capable of existing under
such dissimilar conditions as the Calla. Treated
as an aquatic, a terrestrial, or sub-aquatic, it
readily adapts itself to the situation, and flour-
ishes finely. Chilly winds and frosty weather are
more fatal to them than any other causes. Not-
withstanding they succumb to zero's icy touch,
they will endure considerable cold, and live, if
preserved fi'om frost.

It may be argued, for argument's sake, per-
haps, that, as they are tuberous plants, nature
intended them to have a period of rest, and it
would be folly to attempt to change such immu-
table laws. Such views may accord with the
ideas of those who consider' nature's law's as
austere and rigorous as were "the decrees and
statutes," right or wrong, " of the Medes and
Persians, which altereth not." As regards vege-
tation, I honestly entertain a contrary opinion,
and candidly believe, kind nature is neither so
unyielding or inflexible as the Solons insist, but
is, to a certain extent, governed by circumstances.
That nature often deviates from accustomed
ways, and seems none the worse for the change,
is obvious to all intelligent observers. In cor-
roboration of my assertion, Iwill cite but one more
instance, which came under my notice in South
Africa, namely the Erica, which is a 'very inter-
esting and elegant genus, always considered
so difficult to manage under cultivation. Of
all the plants which come under a gardener's
care. Cape Heaths require, probably, a higher
order of floricultural skill than most other plants
do to insure success. No mere novice, or pre-
tender, should be allowed to meddle or tamper
with them, as disappointment and loss will
inevitably follow. It is well said, " These plants-
are among the most beautiful in the world."
Such a gentleman as Mr. Munroe deserves
all the success he obtains with them, as well as
the hearty thanks of every Heath grower for his
pains.

At the Cape of Good Hope, Erica impe-
rialis, E. pellucida, E. grandiflora, E. viridiflora,
E. vestita alba, E. mirabihs, E. princeps, E.
blanda, and many others, the writer saw spring-
ing from slight cracks and openings in the rocks,
and growing amazingly, with apparently little or
no soil to support them, and where the sun's rays
literally blazed upon them. The same kinds,

74

TEE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[March,

■with numbers of other species, were equally
happy and vigorous on the mountain sides, be-
neath shady, broad-leaved forest trees, near the
sea-beach, in the snow-white sand, and in boggj'
hollows. With such a variety of soils and con-
ditions, they flourished, as if to show the different
ways " Dame Nature " had of doing things.

Returning to the Calla question. However
much cultivators may differ about the right
method of treating them, they all agree that
plenty of old rotten cow manure is a pabulum they
most delight in. Soot-water is also an excellent
stimulant ; in fact, is one of the best for pot plants
generally. For vegetables it is equal to guano —
especially for onions, celery, cabbage, turnips, as-
paragus, &c. As a fertilizer, to sow on the lawn,
or green pastures, I have used it with good re-
sults for many years.

If the heart's Utopia is among Callas, why, in
the name of all things flowery, let the good folks
enjoy it. Certainly the joys of floriculture, either
in this or any other land, are equal to any other
pleasures, and far surpass most of the trivial
ones which tempt us to follow. Yet, the cold-
blooded cynic may live unmindful of the Creator's
goodness in stz'ewing flowers along the waysides,
wliich he refuses to see or appreciate. He may
pass through the forest, cheery with the hum of
insect life, and merry with the music of birds,
without hearing them, or knowing there are
glorious old trees around and above him. He
may be in the midst of fields bearing the bending
golden grain, without heed or pleasure. But, he
is not " one of us"; being utterly incapable of
feeling, he does not know the world is full of
beauty when the heart is full of love.

Boston is as famous for Callas as it is for Lilies,
Violets, Tuberoses, Pinks, and Roses; and Mr.
W. C. Strong was much noted for successfully
cultivating the same. Callas were a specialty,
and were grown in immense quantities, both in
pots and in the borders of his mammoth green-
houses, to the profit and jjleasure of the worthy
proprietor.

MYRSIPHYLLUM ASPARAGOlDES.

BY F. R. FITHIAN, WEST CHESTER, PA.

This beautiful plant, commonly known as
Smilax, is from the Cape of Good Hope; the
word Myrsiphyllum means myrtle-leaved. It is
now used in the cities for decorating, and as

greens for bouquetvS, to such an extent that there
is a great demand for it by our city florists. It is
very easily cultivated, the seed being so'wti in
boxes of light but rich soil in August and placed
in a close and shaded greenhouse. I saw at one
time seed sown in two boxes, one box being
placed in a close house, the seed in it germinating
very well ; the other box was put in a hot-bed,
tlie heat being 95° ; there it remained for eight
weeks, only five or six seeds germinating; sup-
posing the balance of the seed had decayed, the
box was taken out of the hot-bed and placed
with the first box — in less than a week every seed
germinated, and grew at a rapid rate, soon out-
stripping the first box. AVlien large enough
they should at once be 'potted off" in two-inch
pots and placed in a warm house, and kept
growing until early spring, when they want a
rest, for, it must be remembered, they belong to
the Lily family ; after gradually drying them
out, place under the bench, turning the pots on
their sides. The first of August they will begin
to show life by throwing up long slender shoots,
of a light purple color, and looking somewhat
like asparagus. They are now just one year old,
and want planting out or potting; if they are de-
sired for " cut flowers," by all means plant them
out, they are tremendous feeders, want plenty of
room and plenty of water to bring them to per-
fection. Plant in soil composed of two parts
rich manure, two parts good loam, one part old
sods, and one part sand ; give plenty of water, never
allowing them to become dry; their two great-
est enemies are drought and red spider, either
of which causes them to drop their leaves, and then
they are worthless for cut flowers. Each plant
will throw up six or eight shoots, and will want
strings to hold them up; twine three or four
shoots to one string, and when they have grown
to the height of five or six feet they are ready for
market, each string being worth at wholesale
about twenty-five cents. After they are all cut, dry
off" gradually, and give a sliglit top-dressing of
fine but strong manure. Each following year
they will increase in value, throwing up more
and stronger shoots. While growing, they should
be often syringed, and occasionally watered with
liquid manure, after being diluted. The second
winter from seed they will flower and produce
seed. The flowers are greenish white and very
fragrant, though small. The berry grows to the
size of an English pea, and when ripe — in Aug^Jst
— is a light red color, containing three or four
seeds, which are hard and black.

18T6.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

t5

mCHARDIA ALBA MACULATA.

BY W. PULLEX, PENN YAX, YATES CO., N. Y.

Can you give me some information in regard
to the above-named plant? Having seen in
Peter Henderson's Catalogue that it was decid-
uous, and required the same treatment as the
Dahlia, I procured a tuber and planted it out in
summer, lifted it in the fall, and have it in the
house now. It is in a six-inch pot and has
twelve large handsome leaves and one flower on,
and is the admiration of all who see it. This
plant bloomed last summer, and from a flower I
saved seed which produced one hundred and
twelve plants, all as truly variegated as their
parent. What I wish to know is — does this plant
really require to remain dormant awhile as repre-
sented ? Many ladies and gardeners hereabouts
have been interested in my plants, and I propose
to have them photographed, a copy of which I
will send to you.

[The great success achieved by our correspon-
dent answers his own question. It does not
appear to be a necessity that it should be dried off"
like a dahlia.— Ed. G. M.]

EDITORIAL NOTES.

The Christmas Rose. — This — the Helleborus
niger — is popular as a winter forcer in England.
Recently some sold in London for half a dollar a
dozen — a good price for English cut flowers.

Variegated Sage. Tri-color. — This is becoming
rather common now, but there are few things
more beautiful as a leaf plant. It does well in
windows, and is very tractable in many respects.

Unhealthy Camellias. — One of the best
methods of restoring to health sickly Camellias,
is to cut them in severely, and plant in the open
ground. They will push into new growth of an
excellent character. They must be put into pots
again in September. They can be set out in the
full sun.

WiNTER-BLOOMiNG FucHSiAS. — The Fuchsia is
an excellent plant for window culture, but, un-
fortunately, does not bloom well in the winter
season, when window flowers are the most de-
sirable. Some, however, have a decidedly winter-
blooming tendency ; and of these, Speciosa,
Coccinea major and Speciosissima are, probably,
the best.

The LOVE of cut flow^ers is increasing in
England as well as in this country. The floral
establishments that make this branch a special
line are amongst the most successful of any
in horticulture ; and they vie with each other in
the introduction of new and special features.

A Fine Pot Rose. — The Gardener's Record
says: "The Gardener's Chronicle, of Saturday
last, gives an illustration of one of the splendid
roses in pots, exhibited by Messrs. Paul & Son,
at Manchester, at the Great Whitsun Exhibition
held there last spring. The variety was Paul
Ricaut, and it Avas seven and a half feet in diam-
eter in one way, by five and a half feet in an-
other; and it was from four to five feet high.
The group, of which it formed a part, was con-
sidered bj^ Messrs. Paul <fe Son to be the finest
they had ever grown ; and the thirteen plants oc-
cui')ied in transit two large railway trucks, which
they thoroughly filled."

Eucharis amazonica. — This is essentially a
lady's flower, both for hair and dress, combining
purity of color with delicate fragrance. Some
can scarcely command a bloom of this plant at
all, others flower their plants twice a year, and
some four times, which means never-out-of-
bloom. Some force them into flower with bottom
heat, and others starve them — that is, they rest
them in a pit or greenhouse, and flower them in
a stove. When there is such a diversity of opin-
ion, how is any one to decide correctly?

" There are at least two, if not more, varieties
of E. amazonica, or the species are confounded.
There is a kind which commences growing in
December or January, and this has very much
stouter petioles, and very much shorter, with
considerably broader and thicker leaves, deeper
in color, and has larger heads of bloom, and
more numerous blooms than a variety which
commences growing or flowering in May, and
which is remarkable for its long leaf petioles, its
thinner-textured, smaller and paler-colored
leaves, and smaller flowers with a paucity of
them. Is not the former E. grandiflora syn.
^amazonica, and the other E. Candida? I think so.

" In January the bulbs are to be shook out of
the soil or the soil removed, and four or five of
the largest potted in a 10 or 11-inch pot, and
draining well, using a compost of three parts
turfy loam and one part each of well-rotted cow
dung and fibrous peat, and pot so as to just cover
the bulbs. Three bulbs may also be placed in an
8 or 9-inch and one in a 6 or 7-inch pot. Place

76

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[March,

in a warm stove— 60° to 65° at night, 70° to 75°
by day — and keep very moist, and in March or
April they should flower ; and for blooming they
may be placed in a cooler house, and afterwards
be returned to the stove, when the plants not un-
frequently flower again in July. It is better, how-
ever, to rest the plants for a time after flowering,
say six or eight weeks, in a cool stove or a cold pit
after May, which by judicious air-giving is a stove,
watering only to prevent the leaves flagging, and

when the growth is complete, to place them in a
house of about 10° less heat than that in which
they are grown, but light and airy, and by no
means so dry as to affect the foliage ; and with
ten weeks of this cool treatment to return them
to heat, giving plenty of it, for they enjoy strong
moist heat and liberal watering during growth,
and after flowering and completion of growth
rest in a cooler house. — G. Abbey."

[We give the above from the Journal of Horti-

'>^^

VIOLET VICTORIA REOINA.

introducing to heat again, when the i)lants will
flower in August or September. Plants may be
had in bloom at almost any time by growing
them in brisk heat and affording abundant air-
moisture and water ; and when the growth ceases
rest them near the glass in a warm greenhouse
{55°-50° mill.) with water only to keep the fo-
liage from flagging, and with a syringing overhead
once a day they will scarcely need water until
required for starting. The rest should not be less
than six weeks. Another mode of culture is not
to dry the plants at all, but, after flowering, oi'

ciilturr, as supi)lomentary to an excellent article
by Mr. Taplin in one of our former numbers.
Few people here seem to gnnv it well. — Ed.G. M.]

NEW PLANTS.

Violet Victoria Regina. — Recently we re
ceived some fresh flowers of this beautiful new
violet from Mr. Henry Chitty of the Bellevue

1876.

AND HOB TIG UL Turns T,

11

Nursery, and now have the pleasure of givhig
our readers an illustration of the same.

New Variegated Fern: — Dictyogramma ja-
■PONICA. — Variegated ferns are very rare. Mr.
Williams of England has introduced this. The
yellowish green variegation is " herring boned "
along the centre of each leaflet as in some of the
marantas. There is a wood cut of it in January
Florist and Pomologisf. It is a hardy greenhouse
kind.

DzVHLiA Maximilliana. — This is a new species
from Mexico, with flower of a peach-blossom
color, seeds of which are being offered by Amer-
ican seedsmen. It may be the parent of a new
race.

ZoxALE Pelargonium, Distinction. — Mr. Chitty
says this is a very interesting variegated leaved
novelty. The leaves are dark green, having a
narrow band of jet black near the margin. There
is a cut of it in the advertising columns.

Clematis ligusticifolia. — This is a remarka-
bly strong and vigorous growing, hardy clematis.
A neighbor to the well known C. Virginiana of
the Eastern states, and will at least be as popular.
We note that it is now being offered in several of
our seedsmen's catalogues. It grows from Colo-
rado westward. A good thing for covering walls
of houses or outbuildings.

Alocasia odorata. — The common Caladium
esculentum is well known. Some years ago we
noted a fine plant in the garden of Mr. Mitchell,
of Milwaukee, as stated in our columns at the
time. Since then we have noted it of immense
size in Southern gardens; for which it is a very
striking object. Mr. Hanford thus speaks of it:

" This noble plant while young, slightly resem-
bles the well known Caladium esculentum, but
grows to really gigantic dimensions as it attains
age, and while the latter dies down annually to
the bulb, this grows into a stem or trunk, which
retains some of the foliage through the winter, if
kept in the conservatory or sitting room. The
leaves are of enormous size, of a bright glossy
green, with thick fleshy mid ribs and nerves,
standing stiff and upright on a stout stem.
Plants under good culture frequently attain eight
and twelve feet in height.

A remarkable plant and well worthy of a place
in every collection of plants, for garden, conser-
vatory, or sitting room decoration.

QUERIES.

RuBrs ROSiEFOLius. — S. D., Oxford, Pa. — The
above is the plant referred to in the following : I
send you by mail a box with a flower of a seed-
ling that came of itself in one of our pots. It is
new to me, although it may be an old flower. Is
it a raspberry rose ? — or what is it ?

[It is commonly known as the Bramble Rose.
It produces no seeds, but propagates by pieces of
the root. A piece was in the soil of your pot. —
Ed. G. M.]

Disease in Violets. — J. McB., Boston, Mass.
says : " Would you be so kind as to let me know
through the columns of your valuable periodical
what has caused the failure of a bed of Neapoli-
tan violets, which I had planted last fall in a
compost of maiden loam, decomposed manure,
one-fourth leaf mould, and a small proportion of
sand?

" The house in which I planted them is a span
roof running east and west. Parallel and to the
south of this house runs another house of the same
size and shape. So it was always partially shaded
by the house south of it, thereby preventing ex-
cessive heat from the sun. When I brought the
plants in from the open ground, they appeared
to be in a very healthy condition, and continued
to appear so for a few weeks afterwards.

" Some time in December I discovered they
had. become sickly, and, upon examination, I
found formed on the fibrous roots small tubercles
resembling diminutive Gladioli bulbs. Now, sad
to relate, my violets are all dead. I am at a loss
to know the cause of their death. Enclosed I
send you a sample of their roots.

" What I should like to know is, have the tuber-
cles caused death ? If so, what caused the tuber-
cles? Relying on your authority, I trust you
will give your opinion in the next number, as
you would confer a favor upon me as well as per-
haps others who may have similar experience."

[We have never seen this disease before. It is
evidently caused by an insect similar to the
Phylloxera in the grape vine. Send a few fresh
specimens in damp moss to Prof. C. V. Riley,
St. Louis, Mo. Tliey will be of great interest to
him.— Ed. G. M.]

Propagating Begonlis. — T. H., Bridgeport, 0.
— The dwarf kinds are raised from leaves, or
portions of the leaves, from any portion of which
buds will push. Many people divide the nerves

78

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[March,

and ribs of the leaves, and then peg down the
leaf on sand or light soil, and little plants will
form from the severed portion. It is best to have

the sand of a temperature of 60° or 70° to have
the best success. The more shrubby kinds are
raised from cuttings of the stems.

Mruit and "Vegetable Gardening.

SEASONABLE HINTS.

There is notliing so worries the editor of a
Magazine like this, as questions as to what va-
rieties of fruit it is best to plant ; for every locality
has a favorite list of its own. The editor of this 3/(7^-
azine has had a wide experience, there being few
localities over this great country that he has not
had some personal knowledge of, and yet he
■would not dare to give a list for any one place
■without feeling sure to raise up a host of observ-
ers, who would be sure they would not plant
Buch a list on any account. We may say, how-
ever, that we believe there is not near as much
"adaptability" required in varieties, as people
think for.

A very imperfect trial, perhaps with weak
plants, or under bad treatment, or perhaps some
exceptionable unfavorable seasons or circum-
stances, have given a variety a bad name, that
really deserved a better ftite. We know how-
very local the Triomphe de Gand strawberry
■was supposed to be, and yet it became a good
stand-by, and the Jucunda was actually discarded
by some of our best cultivators, before the late
■war. Knox found good in it, a decision that has
been abundantly confirmed. If the plant be
healthy and the system of culture not an exhaus-
tive one on the constitution of the plant, we
■woulci not hesitate to try in most localities kinds
that had been found reliable in others.

In fruit growing, remember that fruits are like
grain and vegetable crops, in this, that they must
have manure to keep up fertility. Unlike vege-
tables and grain, however, their feeding roots are
mostly at the surface. It is best, therefore, an-
nually to top-dress fruit trees. If manure can-
not be had, any fresh earth from ditches or road-
sides, spread half an inch or so under the trees,
■will have a wonderful effect. Indeed, we do not
kno-w but that for the pear tree a thin layer of

road sand is one of the best manures. We have
seen apples thrive amazingly with a coating of
coal-ashes.

Whitewashing the stems of orchard trees has
a very beneficial effect in clearing away old bark
and destroying the eggs of innumerable insects.
The Avhite color is bad; throw in a little soot or
some other matter to make it brown. In green-
houses sulphur has been found of benefit in
keeping down mildew. Possibly, if mixed with
the whitewash in tree-dressing it might do good
against fire-blight, and such like fungoid troubles.

In planting fruit trees aim to have them so
that the hot, dry sun will not have full effect
on the ground about the roots. The great heat
in this way injures the trees. !Many who have
trees in gardens, plant raspberries under them.
The partial shade seems to be good for the rasp-
berries and helps the trees. Blackberries would,
no doubt, do well in the same situation ; and
strawberries it is well known, do not do badly,
grown in the same way.

This is a busy season south of Peimsylvania in
the vegetable garden. Here Ave must wait till
the end of the month, and northward still later.
The crops noted will, of course, be dependent on
the arrival of the season, which is rather indicated
by the ground becoming warm and dry, than by
the almanac. It is very important to have crops
early; as soon as the ground is, therefore, in
good condition put in the seed. Possibly a cold
rain might come and injure them, and you may
lose, and have to make a new sowing. Even so,
it is but the loss of the seed and labor, while if
the seed do 7iot die, the early crop will more than
repay that risk.

Deep, rich soil, now so generally condemned
for fruit gardens, is of the first importance here.
Soil cannot be too rich or too deep, if we would
have good vegetables. It is, indeed, remarkable,
that in many respects we have to go very differ-
ently to work to get good fruits than we have to

1876.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

79

perfect vegetables. While for instance, we have
to get sunlight to give the best richness to our
fruits, our vegetables are usually best when
blanched or kept from the light. So, also, as we
keep the roots as near the surface as we can in
order to favor the woody tissue in trees, we like
to let them go deep in vegetables, because this
favors succulence.

In the open ground, peas and potatoes receive
the first attention. Then beets and carrots. Then
lettuce, radish, spinach, onions, leeks and parsley.
Beyond this unless in more favored latitudes than
Pennsylvania, little can be done until the first
week in April. There is nothing gained in work-
ing soil until it has become warm and dry.

Celery for the main crop will do about the end
of the month, but a little may be sown now. We
have never been able to make up our mind
whether there is such a thing" as an absolute
solid variet}' of Celery ; and whether pithiness in
any degree depends on soil or culture. Cer-
tainly we buy all the most improved " solids "
every year, and never yet found one satisfactory
throughout. We cannot say which is the best of
the many candidates.

In the hot-bed, pepper, egg-plant, tomato and
cucumbers maybe sown, — andina cooler hot-bed
frame, Early York cabbage, cauliflowers and
celery. Those who have not got a hot-bed, can
sow a few pots or boxes, and keep them near
the light in a warm room.

In addition 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 of the rest. To keep over the winter,
almost all kinds of root crops become tough or
coarse if sown too soon.

CO MM UNICA TIONS.

JUNE PEACH BUDDING.

BY H. E. VAN DEMAN, GENEVA, KAN.

My chief reason for writing this note is that
myself and others may be enabled to successfully
perform what is commonly termed June budding
of the peach. I will first say what I have done.
Last year, 1875, knowing that others had made it
a success, I began by setting a few buds in that
year's peach stocks about July 1st. The stocks
were less than the size of a lead pencil, the buds

were the nearest developed that could be found.
Every one united with the stock, and in about
eight days after setting I cut the stock off close to
the bud, which was inserted some three inches
above the ground. These died — root and all —
within two weeks from being cut off, although the
season was very favorable and some of them
showed signs of starting.

July 12th I set sixty buds, which all united,
and part of them I cut off to the bud in about
ten days. The buds in those cut off" made a
growth of from six inches to a foot.

About June 15th I set- a dozen peach buds
taken from the new growth in stocks of the pre-
vious year's growth. These united and I cut off
the stocks, and the buds made a growth of some
two feet.

Now my inferences from this experience are,
that these last mentioned buds set in the old
stocks succeeded, and that one might save stocks
that way in which buds had failed that were set
the fall i:)revious. That the first buds and stocks
both of the new growth, were, when tried (July
1st) too green or tender.

That those set July 12th made only a poor
growth, although the season was all that one could
desire.

I desire that Mr. Bilyeu, and others of experi-
ence, may give the readers of this journal the
benefit of their experience, so far as they can, by
written directions in this matter.

SELF OPENING GATES.

BY J. H. PEIRCE, DAYTON, OHIO.

I observe your remark about self-opening gates,.
or rather gates opened by the wheels of the car-
riage passing over them. I have had in use one
made by Messrs. Cottom, of this city, for three
years, and never in any respect out of order, or
working othen\ase than satisfactorily. Many
others of same make have been in use here for
five or six or more years, and give perfect satis-
faction. My single gate cost, put up, $40; the
price of double gates I think is $50 and $60. It
is the best I ever saw, and see no use for further
attempt at»improvement.

Sunday, 9th January, ther. 58°. A bush honey-
suckle in the garden in full bloom, from which
we have the flowers now in the house. 10th,
Monday, 7 A. M., temp. 16°; 11th, 10°; this morn-
ing, 21°.

80

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[March,

EDITORIAL NOTES.

The Lady Grape. — In our advertising pages
Mr. Geo. W. Campl>ell, of Delaware, Ohio, has a
beautiful lithograiih of his Lady Grape. We can
say from our own experience that it is a free,
healthy grower, and the fruit, which we have had
before us on several occasions, indicates it to be
one of the best yet introduced.

The Southern Ked Easpberry. — A year or
more ago Mr. Stearns furnished us a note in re-
gard to this variety, which attracted some atten-
tion. A corresi:)ondent from St. Mary's, Indiana,
furnishes us with the following note in relation to
its history.

" I have no reliable history of its origin. I re-
ceived it five years ago from Moses J. Stearns, of
Cobden, 111. After I had grown it a few years and
found it to be far superior to anything in the
raspberry line that I had ever tried, I wrote
to him for a full history of it. It was some three
or four months before I received an answer to my
letter, and it was then from a man by the name
of Crandall (his first name I quite forget). He
stated to me in his letter that Mr. Stearns was
dead, and that he was his administrator. He also
stated that as to the raspberry he was not posted
and could give me no correct history of it."

Borecole. — While on a trip through the State
of Mississippi recently, we had occasion to note
how extensively tliis was grown and appreciated
under its old fashioned name of " Coleworts,"
pronounced down here collards. They do not
head as the cabbage does, but have short tender
green leaves, which push out from buds all up
and down the stem as the Brussels spi'outs do.
These and other vegetables were in full condition
for use at McComb City, a settlement chiefly of
Northern men, who are prospering remarkably
well in this for off region. In our northern regions
we could not grow this as our winters are of
course too severe. Col. Hillyard, the enterpris-
ing secretary of the Mississippi Valley Company,
informed us that at McComb City the thermome-
ter rarely falls 12° below freezing point and
then only for a little while, which is of course
very favorable to winter vegetables.

Gr-\pe, Golden Queen. — The Gardener's Chron-
icle, referring to grapes for cold vineries, says this
continues to be one of the highest excellence.

Preserving Figs. — While along the Gulf coast
recently the writer noticed that the fig, though in

a climate exempt from frost, seemed determined
to keej) to its deciduous proclivities, and was in a
perfectly leafless state. We can, therefore, say
nothing about southern figs, but by the way the
southern people talk of them they must be some-
thing to temjit even an anchorite. But we were
told that no one has been able to dry them so as
to compete with those of Europe. So far as we
could learn no one seemed to know the process
by which, til ey were dried in Europe. We there-
fore give the following account. It may be re-
marked that even in raisin making the Europeans
make free use of lye to open the pores and hurry
up the drying.

The preparation of figs for market is given as
follows : Sheets are held under the trees — clear
of the ground — and the fruit is shaken into them.
They are then placed into baskets and dipped in
a bath of strong potash lye for about two minutes,
and then dipped into clean water. This is to re-
move the gvnn on the outside of the fruit and to
improve the color. They are then placed upon
hurdles to dry in the sun, or in a dry-house, and
when soft enough to pack closely are pressed
tightly into wooden drums or boxes. The drums
hold about fifteen pounds and must not be made
of pine, as it injures the flavor.

The Walbridge and Edgar Red Streak Ap-
ple. — A correspondent of the Prairie Farmer, says
these have been proved identical, the last being
the prior and therefore the proper name. He
gives the following history of it :

"The Edgar Bed Streak was originated in this
country by my Either, Joseph Curtis, of Paris, 111.,
in the year 1818, and was named by the Indian-
apolis Horticultural Society, of Indiana. It was
one of three varieties named from twelve new
seedlings which he presented to that Society (of
which he was a member) about the year 1840.
Was grown from the same planting of seed that
produced the Illinois Greening and Belleflower
Pippin. Has been noted here for vigor and har-
diness of tree, full bearing and bright color of
fruit. Keeps through winter, but is only second
rate in quality, and rather small to become a
popular market apple."

The Lettuce Mould. — This terrible disease of
the English salad grower has not been hitherto
very destructive in America, but Prof. Burrill,
excellent authority, reports it as being very de-
structive in the vicinity of Champaign, 111.,
last vear.

LADY.

Fro-ni aThptoffntph by CXoduriha.

OSf/OdE <* CO.UTN. CIN.O.

1876.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

81

The Wild Goose Plum. — ^It is very hard to
get at what is meant by the true " Wild Goose
Hum." We had some sent to us for our opinion
last summer, some from Delaware, and some
from Lebanon, in Pennsylvania, as the true and
genuine kind. On these we gave our opinion at
the time. We thought them fair cooking plums.
Referring to these lately, the editor was told that
the genuine kind was as large as a black walnut.
If so we have certainly never seen a true one.
Kow comes the meeting of the Western New
York Horticultural Society, and it seemed to be
by general consent regarded that Mr. Willard had
the true " Wild Goose," and he describes it as a
very good thing " an inch wide and an inch and a
half long." Now this is an oval plum, and no
larger than the ordinary copper plum, and very
different from a black walnut in size. To make
our troubles worse come Messrs. Hance of Red
Bank and they tell us the true Wild Goose is per-
fectly round, and a whole two inches in diameter ;
now here we get near the black walnut.

As to the quality, the meeting of the fruit grow-
ers referred to developed various opinions. A
Cincinnati gentleman who seemed to be very fa-
miliar with the " right " kind, thought it good
when, like a persimon, it was taken at the right
time, otherwise, still like a persimon, it was bit-
ter and astringent.'' J. J. Thomas' experience
was that it was pretty good to his taste. As re-
ported, however, there is a mystery about his
opinion. He seems to have fruiting trees, " not
grafted." "fruit thin skinned, but the curculio
failed to sting them ; " but the fruit on which he
based his opinion were not these, "but came
from Georgia." We know how brief reports do
injustice to speakers, and it is doubtless the case
here. In the meantime we are confounded with
this wild goose chase. We have 'an idea that
there is a real bird somewhere, but whether its
merits are a " matter of taste," or something on
which there can be no difference of opinion, we
do not know.

The Profit of Filbert Nuts. — A correspon-
dent of the Garden says :

" If, in America, an enterprising man were to
get the grant of 1,000 acres, and at once clear and
plant it with Cob Filberts, he would find it one of
the most remunerative transactions of his life —
their transit to this market is easy, and they are
not injured from being two or three months in
tubs, a circumstance which renders them as easy
of carriage by land or sea, as flour."

It shows how ill calculated one at a distance is

to offer advice; though we can appreciate the
good intention which moves the suggestion. Our
good friend is evidently unaware that this bush is
extremely liable here to a terribly destructive fun-
gus, which would sweep off a whole thousand
acres in two or three years. We would rather
take our chances on a thousand acres of plums
than a thousand acres of filberts, and every
American knows what that means.

Fertility resisting Frost. — We have repeat-
edly called attention to the fact that a half starved
tree, or one dried out in summer, is the first to
die in a severe winter. An abundance of rich
nutritious food is favorable to hardiness.

Under the heading of this note a correspondent
of the Country Gentleman has an excellent article
confirming this position . Clover and grass where
well manured were green and healthy long after
those under poorer circumstances wei-e killed.

Early Cabbages and Tomatoes. — A "practical
gardener of many years experience," hailing from
Janesville, Wisconsin, is issuing a circular in
which we are told that the tomato, except in few
instances, does not ripen in that latitude till Sep-
tember, but he possesses a " secret " by which he
can have them ripe by the 4th of July, which is
Independence day. By his "secret," cabbages
will mature "from two to four weeks earlier" than
any body else's cabbage. By virtue of " said
process," these " two important articles of food,"
cabbages and tomatoes, may be had " in bloom,"
when " the proper weather arrives for their trans-
fer " from the hot beds.

What special advantage there is in having a
cabbage in bloom we do not know, but this we
suppose is part of the " secret," which we are told,
" is not patented," and therefore can only be dis-
posed of for a "valuable consideration." We are
further told that " the method applies to nursery
stock as well," which, we suppose is to be made
to produce fruit on the fourth of July.

We do not know that any of our readers will
be particularly anxious to "go in," on these "se-
crets," but if there are, there can be no objection,
provided they pay all their debts first. It is their
own business.

Late Apples. — There ought to be a good
field for the exporter, with our late keeping ap-
ples, to England. The London Garden says that
early in January their two best keepers, Ribston
Pippin and Cox's Orange Pippin, are beginning to
decay. We could certainly keep the English mar-
ket in apples till the strawberry season comes in.

82

TEE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[March,

The Mandarin Orange. — This is one of the
luxuries of New Orleans. It is a much superior
finiit to the ordinary orange, but, decaying easier,
is not suited to transportation, hence we do not
get it in our markets. Those who have gardens
in Louisiana should plant this delicious variety.

Brockworth Park and Bonne d'Ezee Pears. —
The new English pear, Brockworth Park, is said
to be the same as the French Bonne d'Ezee.

Clapp's Favorite Pear is regarded by a dis-
tinguished French pomologist, as one of the best
three August pears for that part of the world.

American Potatoes in England. — It has been
long known to us that English varieties of potatoes
soon degenerate when planted here. It now ap-
pears that it is exactl}' so with our varieties in
England. They produce wonderful crops the
first year, but soon go backward.

American Apples. — In a notice of a collection
of apples from Ellwanger & Barry the editor
of the Garden observes that the flavor of Amer-
ican apples is far superior to that of English
apples, even the Ribston pippins from Rochester,
and which is the king of all apples in England
is pronounced " firm, juicy and delicious." Our
climate seems to have such an effect on the
juices, that to the taste of the editor, our class of
sweet apples seemed like eating a new race of fruits.
Tlie pears sent with the apples by E. & B., were not
regarded as equal to the best English fruit.

Talman's Sweet is the variety of apple which
especially struck the editor of the Garden as of
80 fine a flavor among all apples. This may be a
good hint to exporters.

The Best English Peas.— Kinds that prove
best for the English chmate, are not necessarily
the best here. Still it is good as a matter of in-
formation to know what are regarded as the best
in the old world. A correspondent of the Garden,
gives the following list and we believe he regards
them as best in order as named. It is a pretty
good list for "the best," and will indicate the
enormous number of varieties they must have in
England.

"I will name the following as among the very
best Peas in cultivation :—Fii-st crop— Kentish
Invicta, Blue Peter, Carter's First Crop, William
the First, and Laxton's No. 1 ; the last a very
early blue wrinkled Marrow Pea. Second or
main crop— Ne Plus Ultra, Dwarf Ne Plus Ultra,
Laxton's Alpha, Auvergne, Veitch's Perfection,'
Nutting's No. 1, Williams' Emperor of the Mar-

rows, Laxton's Supplanter, Champion of England,
and Burbridge's Eclipse. For late cropping —
Ne Plus Ultra, Veitch's Perfection, Moss Podded,.
M'Lean's Best of All, James' Prolific Marrow,
British Queen, Victoria Marrow, Knight's Tall
and Dwarf Green Marrows, Laxton's Omega
Yorkshire Hero, Champion of Scotland ; and for
the last sowings in August, First and Best and
Laxton's No.l and Alpha.

Protecting Trees from Rabbits and Mice. —
This is a very simple matter. A piece of paper
tied around the stem near the ground, and tarred,
is sufficient. Pine tar should be employed, gas
tar often contains creosote in sufficient quantity
to penetrate the paper and injure the bark.

Profits of Forced Peaches. — We believe all
attempts to make any very great profits from early
peaches have failed in the vicinity of Philadel-
phia. We do not know why it has been aband-
oned. It would seem that it ougJd to pay. We
give the following which we find as a " floating''
paragraph, observing, however, that nothing
of profits can be deduced from fancy prices, as
competition soon pulls them down.

From a single tree planted in a tub, and kept
in his hot-house, C. S. Holbrook, of Holbrook,
Mass., has sold in 18 years, no less than $2,300 worth
of peaches — some of them at .$36 per dozen ; many
at from $24 to $28 per dozen, and all at an aver-
age of $18 per dozen. Tlaey were sold mostly in
the months of February and March.

The Wilder Peach. — Mr. H. M. Englc, of Ma-
rietta, Pa., has got out colored lithographs of
this, which we favorably noticed last year. Mr.
E. is very sensitive about having his name con-
nected with any unworthy thing, and hence is
modest in pushing anything of his own. We feel
quite safe in saying that hundreds of new fruits
have been widely advertised on much inferior
merit to this. We would not be at all surprised
if this " Wilder " peach should distance all the
early ones yet brought out. Of course a careful
test would be necessary to give this as a positive
opinion, but we really think the facts point that
way.

NJEW FRUITS ^ VEGETABLES.

Large Montmorency Cherry. — Mr. Ellwanger
says in Report W. N. Y. H. Soc: " We have fruited
this fine acid cherry for several years, and consider
it one of the most valuable in cultivation. Tlie
tree is very hardy and a great bearer; fruit large

1876.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

83

and of a shining, dark red color, and of a very
good quality. Eipe about a week after the Early
Richmond."

Paul's Improved Crab. — Illustrated in January
Florist and Pomologist. This is highly colored and
a little early, and it is therefore regarded as a
hybrid between the common Siberian and Eed
Astrachan, but our Western Pomologists have
obtained niunerous seedling crabs of this charac-
ter, as simple seedings, without any idea of hy-
bridization.

Souvenir du Congress Pear. — At the recent
meeting of the Western N. Y. Horticultural So-
ciety Mr. Geo. Ellwanger said : " After several
years' fruiting, w'e can say that for large size,
beautiful form and color, as well as good
qualities, it is without a rival among recent intro-
ductions."

Two New French Pears. — President Drouard,
and Belle de Beatifert. — Under these names we
have from Mr. J. De Saint Ange colored plates.
They are large greenish " Duchess " looking fruits,
and both winter varieties.

Dr. McLean Pea. — An immense number of
new peas appeared in England last year. This is
thought to be one of the best. It is a dwarf blue
wrinkled marrow, large pods, and a great cropper.

qUERIES.

Mushroom Culture. — A " Subscriber, " has
started a small bed of mushrooms, as described
in " Henderson's Gardening for Profit," but says
he '' don't know how to cut, pack and sell them,
which Henderson omits to mention, and much
other minutiae perhaps necessary to be known by
the producer for profit."

[Mr. Henderson will perhaps oblige by furnish-
ing us with the desired supplement to his useful
work.— Ed. G. M.]

Black's Early Peach. — H. E. Van Deman says :
"Who knows to a certainty about this peach?
Where did it originate? What is its season of
ripening? What of its productiveness and qual-
ity ? Any one who can answer these questions
will confer a favor upon the writer and perhaps
upon other readers of the Monthly."

Water at the Roots of Grape Vines. — M.N.C,
Chicago, 111. You are right. It will not hurt
the roots of your vines to be near water. The
celebrated vine at Hampton Court is said to be
80 superior because some of the roots get to a cess-

pool, and one of the best growers of native
grapes in Pennsylvania, Mr. Jacob Garber, finda
some vines do best where a portion of the roots
get to a spring. Still it is also true that if all the
roots are damp, grape growing is a failure. Per-
haps the explanation is, that where some of the
roots are employed in taking up water only,
others are engaged in taking up other food, and
the division of labor is an advantage.

Fruit Culture. — A Cincinnati correspondent
says: "I am a great admirer of the Gardener's
Monthly, hut think you give too much space, to
small fruit growers and others whose grounds are
rather farms than gardens. In a recent issue I noted
that one-fifth of the whole space was occupied in
that way. Can you not give us a horticultural
paper, pure and simple and let these farm topics
alone."

Jupiter once sat in the heavens, and opened
his trap door to listen to the supplications of the
inhabitants of the earth. He who was blind
asked to be deaf instead, the lame man preferred
to be blind, the deaf man wanted to be lame. No
man had anything he wanted, and wanted eveiy-
thing he had not. Whereupon Jupiter waxed ex-
ceeding wroth, and shut the trap door down with,
such a bang that it has never been opened since.

However we shall have less terriper, and are
quite willing that the "fruit" men have their
say in turn if they wish.

Highland Hardy Raspberry. — J. A. N.

St. Josephs, Michigan, says : " Who sells the
'Highland Hardy Raspberry?' If what your
Ulster Co. correspondent says of it in January
number is correct, the purchasers would be many.
Please ask him to verify his statements, then ad-
vertise his bushes."

[As we stated in our note when inserting that
communication, we know nothing whatever of
that raspberrry. We suppose if it is all that is
claimed for it, some one will have it for sale be-
fore long.— Ed. G.M.]

Oyster Shell Lime. — W. M., Plainville, Conn.,
says : " My garden is a light sandy soil, and this
spring I think of using on it oyster shell lime.
Am I right in doing so, and what will be the result?
I also intend to apply it around my fruit trees.
Please note in March No. and oblige."

[Oyster shell lime is better on sandy soil than
ordinary lime, which on the other hand is best
for clay lands, — but beware of overdosing ; much
less lime to the acre has to be used on sandy than
on clayey lands. — Ed. G. M.]

84

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[March,

FORESTRY.

COMMUNICA TIONS.

RAPIDITY OF GROWTH OF TIMBER TREES.

BY F. K. ELLIOTT.

Your note of the Abies Douglasi suggests to
me that, perhaps, it would be admissible in your
journal to state that twelve to sixteen years in
this country has grown the cottonwood to a
height of over forty feet, and of size sufficient to
make from half to three-fourths of a cord of
wood. The black walnut, butternut, chestnut,
soft maple, willows, poplars, all are rapid growers.
The Norway spruce, white, and yellow, and Scotch
pine have grown to a height of thirty to thirty-
five feet in twelve years.

But, while we have many rapid-growing trees,
promising of profit and beauty, much depends
upon the soil in which they stand, and also the
distances apart. Many a piece of ground, now
vacant, and too low to cultivate without great ex-
pense, might be cultivated with forest trees, that
in ten to twelve years would be found of greater
profit than if planted in the ordinary way or left
to its natural grasses. The destruction of our
native forests is yearly rapidly increasing, and,
perhaps, no better move could be made than to
petition the controllers of public funds to apply
a certain amount yearly in premiums to those
who plant.

THE FORESTS OF MICHIGAN.

BY PROF. W. T. BEAL.

Within my recollection a large part of South-
ern Michigan, which is now in the form of arable
land, has been cleared of timber. Our grand-
fathers, at great labor and expense, cut down,
rolled into heaps, and burned the timber from
thousands of acres in New York, because they
must have room for com and wheat and meadow.
Our fathers did and are still doing the same thing
for Michigan. Educated in this way, brought up
in the woods, where timber is too plenty, as a
people, we have been taught to undervalue tim-
ber. There are now living, men who can see no

beauty in a tree, except for the cords of wood or
loads of lumber, or the hundreds of rails it will
make. The lovely elm, with all its grace and
beauty, well styled the queen of American trees,
shades the border of his meadow, and is a
nuisance. He cuts it down. Our large, grand
old trees have not been saved, partially because
of this lack of love for them. In many places it
would be impossible to save them. They would
not stand the storms alone when their fellow trees
were cut away. In 100 or 200 years it is likely
our successors will have and care for large sam-
ples of trees which have grown more stocky in
exposed places. One of the interesting things
now to do is to save what we can and make a
record of the size and position of any large trees
in Michigan.

The largest hemlock I ever measured was at
Hersey, in Oscela county. At the stump it was
thirteen feet in circumference. I know there
are larger specimens, and I am ready and anx-
ious to record and publish the figures. At Her-
sey, also, I measured a black birch ten and a
half feet in circumference. I hear of an arbor
vittE white cedar about twelve feet in circumfer-
ence on Cedar river. I hear of a buttonwood
tree, four miles below Grand Rapids, thirty-three
feet around. In Saginaw county I hear of a but-
ternut tree three feet nine inches in diameter. I
am anxiously waiting to get dimensions of more
native trees.

The largest apple and largest pear trees I
ever saw or hea^d of in Michigan are at Monroe.
The pear tree is ten feet in circumference in the
smallest place ; the apple tree is ten feet in cir-
cumference six inches from the ground. Near
Adrian is a weeping willow about four feet
through, and a grape vine twelve or thirteen
inches in diameter. In Branch county stand
two trees, twelve feet apart, each about twelve
inches through. They run up twelve feet, when
one starts off" horizontally and strikes the other,
when they grow together in one body. I heard
of a specimen, perhaps not now standing, two
pines, about four feet apart, diameters twenty-six
and twenty inches respectively. About sixteen
feet from the ground they are joined by a pine

1876.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

85

six inches in diameter. Above the point of union
the smaller tree becomes the largest. In Oak-
land county are twin beeches, much like the
pine trees just mentioned.

On Little Salt river I hear of a white oak
twenty-five feet in circumference. At Lansing
we have tamaracks about nine feet around. In
Lenawee, near Deerfield and on Little Prairie
Ronde, I hear of sassafras trees six feet in cir-
cumference. At Grand Ledge and at Tecumseh
are coffee trees four feet in circumference. At
Adrian and near Kalamazoo are honey locusts
about six feet in circumference. At Northport
is a red cedar about nine feet around. In Otsego
county there is a sugar maple said to be eighteen
feet in circumference ; one in Ionia county seven-
teen feet four inches around. At Clam Lake an
old lumberman can furnish spars of pine 175 feet
long and only two feet through at the butt. In
Heading, Hillsdale county, I hear of a. black
walnut nine and a half feet in diameter. As a
boy I remember one in Rollin, Lenawee county,
which, I think, was equal to the one in Reading.
In Dearborn I hear of a swamp oak twenty-three
feet around, an American elm at Manistee twenty-
four feet around. In Vevay, Ingham county, I
learn of a white wood eighteen feet around.

In Farmington, Oakland county, I hear of an
ailanthus thirty years old six feet three inches
, in circumference. In Flint I hear of an oak tree
nearly three feet in diameter. About ten feet
from the ground is a huge knot which is sound
and goes nearly around the tree. The wart, or
knot, strikes out nearly three feet each way from
the tree.

Some trees prove of great value because of the
peculiarity of the grain. If I am rightly informed,
a walnut tree at Potterville sold for $1,000 as the
wood was in beautiful waves. It was made into
veneering. Doubtless many a valuable log has
been destroyed by ignorant people not knowing
its real worth.

A thorough survey of the State, with a full il-
lustrated report of the forest trees and other
plants, would be of great interest and value in
many respects. Trees indicate soil. Massachu-
setts has a good report.

At the Agricultural College we have begim in
a small way to raise some of our native trees,
some foreign ones also, to see which will prove
of most value for future generations to grow for
profit. It may seem strange to hear of raising
trees for timber in Michigan, but our people will
soon begin to raise some kinds, and some of us

will live to see it in all probability. So far as we
can judge now our best trees to raise for timber
are white ash, hickory, black walnut, white pine,
white oak, European larch. An acre of timber
raised, cultivated and properly cared for is of
much more value than an acre of forest trees of
the same species.

Considering the great prominence of Michigan
forests when compared with any other states, it
is well worth while for our citizens, through
the Centennial, to show specimens of them, and
also sections of some of our oldest cultivated
trees, as fruit trees and ornamental trees, to show
how fast they grow, to show how well they endure
our climate. Of such, we are preparing to exhibit
locust, catalpa, European larch, apple trees,
cedars, maples, &c.

EDITORIAL NOTES.

Forestry in Iowa. — Mr. Suel Foster tells
the Country Gentleman: " Forest timber, wind-
breaks and ornamental trees," was a subject of
much interest in our meeting. No man in our
State has done so much in this line as Hon. C. E.
Whiting, of Monroe county, on the west line of
the State ; and no man in the State is doing so
much to instruct and encourage tree planting as
H. H. McAfee, Professor of Forestry and Horti-
culture at our Agricultural College. He is a man
who puts his hand to the work ; knows how to do
it, and when it is rightly done. His department
at the farm has not been enlarged, as the interests
of our State require, but so far it is progressing
in the right direction.

Californian Chestnut. — At a recent meeting
of the Californian Academy of Natural Sciences,
Dr. Kellogg said he had just returned from under
the shadow of the finest evergreens ever grown.
He hoped the secretary would record the fact
that there were in California Golden Chestnut
Trees (Castanea chrysophylla) from 100 to 200
feet high, 4 to 6 feet in diameter, and with an un-
branched trunk of from 50 to 70 feet.

English Oak Timber. — We have before us a
statement of an English planter that he has two
acres of oak timber planted in 1845 now with
trees fifty feet high. This is not two feet a year.
We have seen English Oak do better than that in
this country, and believe the timber, from some
few observations we have made, to be better than
any of our own species. We believe the time

86

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[March,

will soon be when a plantation of English Oak
will be one of the most profitable parts of one's
farm. In less than ten years it would play no
mean part in fencing.

Gum Trees. — At a discussion in New York, a
gentleman observed that one of the family of
Australian gum trees, the sweet gum, was already
prolific in the South. The Sweet Gum is the
Liquidambar styraciflua, almost useless for
anything but poor fuel we believe. The gum of
Australia is the Eucalyptus, of a family having no
relationship to the sweet gum. It shows the danger
of confusion in the popular mind of popular
names.

The Black Spruce.— An admirable and ex-
haustive paper appears in the recently published
transactions of the Albany Institute of New York,
by Professor Peck on the Black Spruce. Not
only are its botanical relations considered, but
its history as a timber tree, and its position in
American Forestry are very fully treated of.

Carolina Poplars.— English writers, and they
Are followed by some in this country, speak of
this as the "Black Italian Poplar." There are
two very distinct species. Both are cultivated in
leailing American nurseries.

Virtues of the Eucalyptus.— It seems to be
now conceded that the chief value of the Euca-
Ipytus resides in its rapid growing and numerous
roots, which absorb so much moisture as really to
dry up ground but moderately marshy, and indeed
to prevent in this way the material action on ani-
mal life. As the tree cannot be grown where the
thermometer shows a lower temperature than
the freezing point, we might at least profit by the
hint to the extent of extensive planting of other
fast growing trees in marshy places that have an
unhealthy reputation. We fancy a grove of
cypress would be as health giving as though of
Eucalyptus.

Value of Australian Gum Wood. — The
Rural Press, of San Francisco, thus speaks of
Eucalyptus wood :

" It will be of much interest to our gum tree
growers to know some of the uses and qualities of
the wood in the region where it has reached its
best estate. In Australia ship buildei-s get keels
of blue gum timber 120 feet long; they also use
it extensively for planking and other parts of the
ship. It is considered superior to American rock
elm. A test of strength made between some blue
^m, English oak and Indian teak, showed that
the blue gum carried fourteen pounds weight

more than the oak and seventeen pounds four
ounces more than teak upon the square inch. It
is extensively used by carpenters for all kinds of
out-door work, for fence rails, shafts and spokes
of drays, and a variety of other purposes. For
railroad sleepers it lasts about nine years. The
wood is of a yellowish grey tint, with a close,
straight grain.

" Nor is the red gum tree wood of less value
and utility. The specimens shown by Mr. Mackey
show its qualities clearly. Baron Von Mueller
gives the following careful description of the
wood : It is a hard, dense wood with a handsome
curly but rather short grain. It is almost en-
tirely free from the tendency to longitudinal
shrinkage which is the invariable characteristic
of all the other eucalyptii. It is of extraordinary
endurance underground, and is, therefore, highly
valued for fence posts, piles and railway sleepers.
It is extensively used by shipbuilders for maiu
sterns, stern posts, inner posts, dead wood, floor
timbers, futtocks, transoms, knight heads, hawse
pieces, cant, stern, quarter, and fashion timber,
windlass, bow rails, &c. It should be steamed
before it is worked for planking. Next to the
jarrah, from Western Australia, it is the best
wood for resisting the attacks of the sea worms
and white ants. Its possible uses are almost too
various for enumeration; as an instance of which
it may be mentioned that it is used with great
advantage and economy for the bearings of ma-
chinery, the cost being almost nominal as com-
pared with brass, whilst the material is equally
serviceable and almost indestructible.

Catalpa Timber.— We believe people are not
generally aware of the great value of the Catalpa
for enduring timber. We find the following in an
exchange :

" This familiar tree, says Landreth's Rural
Register, indigenous to the greater portion of the
Union, has been long known to a limited number
to possess wood of an enduring quality for
posts ; as lasting, it is claimed, as the black or
yellow locust — Robinia psued-acacia — but, for-
tunately unlike it, exempt from insect attack —
indeed, so far as our observation has extended,
it is not liable to disease direct or consequential ;
and as the tree grows readily from seed, there
need be no impediment in propagating it to any
extent desired. Fence rows, boundaries, lanes,
the roadside, impracticable plats of ground, inac-
cessible knolls, might each be seized upon for
planting this useful and ornamental tree."

1876.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

87

Dr. Lamborn once told the "writer of some gate
posts of Catalpa that were sound after fifty years.
Our own personal experience is limited. We
know of some fence posts of Catalpa, we think
eeven years old, which appear as good as the day
they were put in, and see no reason why they
ehould not last fifty by their present appearance.

The Ra>'ge of American Forests. — Prof.
Brewer, in discussing the distribution of Ameri-
can woodlands, says, that though Maine is the
great source of Pine and Spruce lumber, the
hardwood species predominate in that State.
The wooded area of New England is not dimin-
ishing, but the amount of sawed lumber is lessen-
ing — an indication that the trees are cut younger.
In the Middle States the wooded area is sensibly
and rapidly becoming smaller. The New Eng-
land and Middle States furnish hardwood trees ;
in the Southeastern States, from Virginia to
Florida, is a belt of timber which supplies the
hard and yellow pine ; and the Northwestern re-
gion contains immense areas of common pine.
From the Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic Ocean
stretches a treeless area 350 miles wide in its
narrowest part, and 850 miles wide on our north-
em boundary. West of this region is the narrow

wooded Rocky Mountain region, and west of this is
the barren region ofthe Great Basin. On the Pacific
coast are some ofthe noblest forest regions ofthe
world, and official government reports say that
the forests in some parts of Washington Territory
are heavy enough to " cover the entire surface
with cordwood ten feet in height."

Slow Tree Growth. — At a recent meeting of
the St. Louis Academy of Science, Dr. Engelmann
exhibited a section of the trunk of Juniperus
californica var., which was not quite four inches
in diameter and yet showed an unmistakable age
of 127 years, each ring being on an average about
one-fifth of a line wide. The largest growth in
ten years had been about 4 lines, the smallest
during a similar period about 1^ line.

QUERIES.

Work on Forestry. — B. M. — One of the most
beautiful and complete works on forestry that
we know of in our language, is an 'English work
by a Scotch gentleman : " Forestry," by James
Brown. If you read French "Cours Elementaire
Culture des Bois," by M. Lorentz, is a still better
one.— Ed. G. M.

ATURAL MlSTORY AND fgiCIENCE.

CO MM UNICA TIONS.

POTATO ROT.

BY M.

You asked me in last month's paper, " why no
frosts, &c. had these destructive effects previous
to 1846," which I might honestly answer by ask-
ing you another question. Is it a/act that pre\a-
0U8 to 1846 potatoes were not affected by both
vxiter and frost, so as to produce those diseases
known as potato rot and potato blight? But in
place of that I will answer you to the best of my
recollection. I was bom in Ireland, where, when
a boy, I had often seen frosts in May cut down
to the ground acres of potatoes that had made
six, eight, and even ten inches of growth, — such
destruction being mostly upon low, boggy ground.
I came to this country with father and family in
1820, and in 1831 was settled upon the farm on

which I still reside. About 1841 or 1842 I broke
up a piece of old meadow which I planted with
potatoes. The summer and fall being wet, so that
water for days would lie upon parts of it, I found
at lifting time that wherever the water lay, that
all the potatoes were rotted ; while on the dry
knolls they were sound. Several miles of under-
draining was commenced about this time. It is
about twenty-five years since I planted some two
or three acres with Neshanock potatoes, upon a
piece of boggy, coal formation soil. Something
prevented, so that the planting was kept back till
July. One day, early in September, I was pass-
ing by my potatoes, when I found that a blight
had passed over my beautiful patch, leaving it
exactly like fields that I saw this summer blight-
ed in Ireland. Now, sir, being entirely ignorant
(and I confess it) of all the mysterious working!
of funguses and spores, and the telegraphic man-
ner in which they destroy fields of potatoes, I

88

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[March,

will tell you the conclusion that I came to re-
specting this blight. I said to myself — here is a
bad job — these potatoes were too late planting.
The slight frost last night and the hot sun to-day
has fixed them — must plant so early after this
that they will be ripe before the first chance of
frost. Which conclusions I have carried out,
and believe that that was the first and last potato
blight that I ever saw upon the farm. While
your scientific readers may prefer the microscope,
I would advise your practical ones to keep an
eye open upon Old Prob.

[1846 was the date fixed by our correspondent
himself for the first appearance of the " frosts ''
so injurious to the potato. It is not uncommon
to have frosts in September sufficient to destroy
potato plants. These cases have no doubt ex-
isted for many years, — but the potato disease, as we
all now understand it, was not observed till 1845
on the British Isles, though we believe a year or
80 earlier on the Continent. — Ed. G. M.J

EDITORIAL NOTES.

Spoktaneous Combustion.— The matter of the
origin and prevention of fires, is a question of
particular interest to horticulturists. The follow-
ing, which we find in the Journal of Chemistry, is
to the point : —

" This seems a queer notion, but it is made
quite plausible by a recent English writer, who
says : " When oxide of iron is placed in contact
with timber, excluded from the atmosphere, and
aided by a slightly increased temperature, the
oxide parts with its oxygen, is converted into
very finely divided particles of metallic iron,
having such an affinity for oxygen that, when
afterwards exposed to the action of the atmos-
phere from any cause, oxygen is absorbed so
rapidly that these particles become suddenly red-
hot, and, if in sufficient quantity, will produce a
temperature far beyond the ignitible point of dry
timber. Wherever iron pipes are employed for
the circulation of any heated medium (whether
hot water, hot air, or steam), and wherever these
pipes are allowed to become rusty, and are also in
close contact with timber, it is only necessary to
suppose that under these circumstances the
finely-divided particles of metallic iron become
exposed to the action of the atmosphere (and
this may occur from the mere expansion or con-
traction of the pipes), in order to account for

many of the fires which periodically taka plac«
at the commencement of the winter season."

PiCEA Parsonsiana. — ^The history of this va-
riety, as recently given by Mr. Parsons in ovir
pages, has stirred up some of our English friends,
and several letters have appeared. Though Mr.
Parsons himself tells us that it is only a plant
selected from a lot of others, and that it can b«
kept distinct only in that way, — that is to say,
it is but a valuable variety. The discussion
turns on what species it really is. It is hard to
understand what rule our English friends have
for distinguishing species from varieties.

In this case the distinction is of much conse-
quence ; for as a good garden variety it has the
name. Parsonsiana has the right of priority,
and Mr. Gordon is not justified in naming it in
his book P. Lowiana. If it be a good species, the
rules of Botany require that the botanical descrip-
tion as well as the name should be published, in
order to entitle the name to stand. Even though
the plant had not been described, and Mr. Gordon
were the first to describe it, common courtesy
would dictate that a name common in nurseries,
used in the Gardeners' Monthly, and in such a
prominent publication as Barron's Catalogue,
should have the preference over an entirely new
one, — especially when that name — Mr. Low's —
only comes in as the receiver of the plant from
Messrs. Parsons. It may be right in the abstract,
and botanists would have to fiill in, — but with
their own opinion of the fairness of the author
taking such a course.

Those botanists, however, who are familiar with
the variable character of conifers, and especially
of Picea grandis, know well that this is but a
variety of that species, and Mr. Parsons' name
should and probably will be the name finally
adopted to designate it.

Botanic Garden of Harvard University. —
Very few know how widely useful this celebrated
garden has become. In the hope that our read-
ers may aid or profit by it to a still further ex-
tent, we give the notice of Prof. Sargent's recent
report of its doings and condition the paat
year.

IMPROVEMENTS.

The preparatory work, having in view the pro-
per re-arrangement of the hardy plants in the
Garden, has been continued during the year.
The perm.anent labelling of all plants, as soon a«
determined, has been pushed forward as rapidly
as possible, and is now, with the exception of the

18T6.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

89

Grasses and some other Monocotyledonous orders
as nearly completed as this difficult and con-
stantly recurring operation can be.

The small north glass shed behind the small
Orchid-house has been fitted with benches and
heated, and will be devoted to the cultivation of
Dionsea, Sarracenia, and other insectivorous plants,
cool-house Ferns, &c.

The brick wall dividing Greenhouse No. 2
from the large potting-shed behind it has been
removed ; the wooden roof of the latter changed
to a glass one, and the whole converted into a
span-roofed cool-house, which will be devoted to
the cultivation of Australian shrubs and other
half-hardy plants.

The principal range of glass-houses has been,
for several years, heated by two boilers, placed at
the two extremities. The smaller of these has
been discontinued ; an arrangement which, it is
hoped, will lead to a considerable economy in
fuel, as it certainly will in labor.

This range of houses, though in excellent con-
dition, is entirely inadequate to contain the vari-
ous collections of exotic plants now cultivated in
the Garden, and the plants are beginning to
suffer for want of sufficient room. The magnifi-
cent Palm in the Central Compartment, probably
the finest specimen in North America, must be
cut down the coming year, if new accommoda-
tion is not provided for it.

The email greenhouse in the rear of the prin-
cipal range is in miserable condition, and the
collection of Succulent plants grown in it has
already suffered for want of proper accommoda-
tion. This house is so old that it does not seem
expedient to make any great outlay on it.

For want of sufficient room and proper accom-
modation for its operations, the propagating de-
partment of the Garden has been transferred
from Cambridge to the greenhouses of the Bussey
Institution, now temporarily devoted to the uses
of the Arnold Arboretum.

Materials for the botanical classes during the
winter, which were formerly raised at the Gar-
den, are now either raised at the Bussey Institu-
tion or purchased. This arrangement is cheaper
than the former method, and it also admits of
the cultivation at the Garden of plants of scien-
tific interest in the space which must otnerwise
have been devoted to a great number of indi-
viduals of a few common species.

EXCHANGES.

The total interchange of plants and seeds with

other Botanic and Horticultural establishments
has more than doubled; while the number of
plants and packets of seeds distributed from the
Garden is more than six times as great as that of
the previous year.

They were distributed as follows: To Great
Britain, 487 plants and 878 packets of seeds; to
the Continent of Europe, 76 plants and 449
packets of seeds; to the Governor of Ber-
muda, 2 packets of seeds ; to all parts of the
United States, 6,492 plants and 685 packets of
seeds.

Total, 7,055 plants, and 2,014 packets of seeds.

1,609 plants and 2,195 packets of seeds, from
71 donors, have been contributed to the Garden
during the year. Of these, 187 plants and 754
packets of seeds have been received from Great
Britain ; 46 plants and 536 packets of seeds from
the Continent of Europe; 11 packets of seeds
from the Cape of Good Hope, and 7 from Algeria;
66 plants from the Island of Bermuda, and 1
from Australia ; and from all parts of the United
States, 1,310 plants and 887 packets of seeds.

The principal foreign contributions are : A set
of rare Orchidaceous plants and many Euro-
pean and Australian seeds from the Eoyal Gar-
den, Kew ; a large collection of seeds, from the
North of Europe and Northern and Western
Asia, from the Imperial Botanic Garden, St
Petersburg ; many seeds, especially of Mexican
and Australian plants from the Koyal Botanic
Garden, Palermo; a large collection of seeds
from the Musee d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris ; and
seeds of Alpine plants from the Royal Botanic
Garden. Edinburgh. Besides the above, the fol-
lowing foreign donations require especial ac-
knowledgments : A collection of the Ferns of
those Islands from Major-General Lefroy, Gov-
ernor of Bermuda ; a fine collection of Orchida
and other plants and seeds from Messrs. Veitch,
the eminent London nurserymen; several col-
lections of seeds from Mr. William Thompson,
seed merchant, Ipswich, England ; a magnificent
Tree-Fern trunk from Australia, by the Baron
Von Mueller; seeds and rare bulbs from Herr
Leichlin, Baden-Baden, and collections of seeds
of ornamental plants from the late M. Thuret, of
Antibes, and Messrs. Huber & Co., nurserymen,
Hy feres.

Among the many contributions to the Garden
from the United States, the following are of espe-
cial value : Seeds and plants from the Sierras of
California, by J. G. Lemmon, Esq., California;
plants and seeds by H. B. Bolander, Esq., of Saa

90

THE GARDENER^S MONTHLY

[March,

Francisco ; a collection of seeds made in South-
cm Florida by Dr. Edward Palmer, and another
made by the same collector on Guadeloupe
Island off the California coast ; a collection of
seeds made in Colorado and Utah by Dr. C. C.
Parry; a fine collection of plants and seeds from
P. J. Berckmans, Esq., of Augusta, Georgia; a
collection of exotic Orchids by General Rathbone,
of Albany, N. Y., and many rare seeds by Dr.
George Englemann, of St. Louis, and Dr. J. H.
Mellichamp, of Bluffton, South Carolina.

It is again my duty to call attention to the fact,
that to the very generous annual grant made to
the Garden by the Trustees of the Massachusetts
Society for Promoting Agriculture is due its
increasing usefulness as a means of illustration
for Botanical instruction, and as a scientific estab-
lishment, through whose agency many useful
and beautiful plants are annually introduced into
this country ; and from this country into all parts
of the. world. C. S. Sargent, Director.

Rhode Island Bent Grass. — Dr. Channing's
article in another column came to hand as we
were sending that department to press ; and the
imperfect specimens sent, appeared to be Agrostis
Bcabra, as we said in the appended note. Since
then we have a perfect specimen from Dr. C,
and find that the real species is Agrostis canina.
Tt seems to vary a little from the European
specimens of that species, but is, no doubt, speci-
fically the same.

Botanic Gardens. — Some of our larger cities
are now turning their attention to the forming of
botanic gardens, for the amusement and instruc-
tion of the people. There is no reason why these
gardens may not be artistic as well as botanically
viseful, and we take pleasure in introducing to
our readers the following from the Garden, with
which we entirely agree :

"There is a phrase in last week's Nature which
well illustrates the ideas of a certain school of
botanists as to design in botanical gardens. The
writer, speaking of the proposed changes in the
Oxford Botanic Gardens, deprecates ' transform-
ing a botanic garden into a pleasure ground, in
which the needs of study must once more be subordi-
nated to artistic effect.' With reference to the
words in italics, as well might it be said to young
artists, ' It is wrong to learn painting under the
influence of a noble gallery of pictures !' If any-
thing is wrong and foolish, it is the suggestion
that botanical study cannot be pursued in a gar-
den artistically beautiful. The greater the natu-

ral beauty in a garden the more likely is the stu-
dent to become a lover of plants and a good bo-
tanist. Who, for example, would not rather
study plants on Mr. Backhouse's beautiful rock-
garden than on many ugly excrescences that we
need not name in public gardens? Is not the
study of trees more attractive as they stand in
groups round a glade in a beautiful park than in
some narrow old botanic garden where their
naturally stately forms are crammed into narrow
beds, as in many old-fashioned botanic gardens ?
Are the plants in Glasnevin, w'hich is, in parts, a
picturesque and beautiful garden, any the less
interesting or attractive than in the old Chelsea
Garden, which consists of a series of squares, and
beds, and walks ? Surely the herbarium and not
the garden is the place for packing plants closely
together in a 'systematic' manner."

QUERIES.

Plants for Name. — Mrs. Norton, Iowa. — ^The
numbers have been mislaid. The purplish grass
was Agrostis scabra, the very small bit some
Sporobolus, the pretty little Iris like flower Sisy-
rinchium Bermudianum, and the other, with
numerous small, tine, head-like flowers, one of
the wormwoods — Artemisia dracunculoides.

Mixing of Potatoes by Pollen. — H. says : " I
send you a potato of a pink tint, which I am
positive grew on a plant of the Peach Blow
variety. Not far from where these grew were
some Early Rose. Does not this prove that the
pollen of the Early Rose reached the flowers of the
Peach Blow, and that this cross fertilization in-
fluenced the sap, and in this way had an imme-
diate effect on the tuber?

[Not that we see. The editors of the Prairie
Farmer sent us some years ago some red sweet
potatoes on the same root with white ones. As
the sweet potatoes never flower, how did the
" pollen " act in that instance ? All of this discus-
sion originates with people who have not kept up
with the progress of the times, and have no idea
of the plants' innate powers of change, quite
independent of any external influences. — Ed.
G. M.]

The Tomato Disease. — The "American Garden^
eners' Monthly, in quoting our account of the to-
mato disease around London, says : ' So far as
we know there has been nothing of this charac-
ter seen in the United States. Occasionally we

18T6.''

AND HORTICULTURIST.

91

have seen tomatoes suffer, however, from the
fungus known as Verbena rust.' It is instructive
to know that the tomato fungus does not thrive
in the drier dimate of America. Would Mr.
Meehan kindly tell us to what extent the potato
disease exists in America."

[The potato disease is rarely virulent of late
years in our country. It seldom takes the form

of destroying the haulm — blackening them in a
few days. The most usual course is rotting of the
tubers in the ground when about mature, or in
the cellar soon after storing. For some years past
the dise;ise has been comparatively slight all
over the Union, until last year it was rather severe
in California, taking the most virulent form in
the destruction of the growing foliage. — Ed. G. M.]

JTERATURE, ?^RAVELS & pERSONAL ^OTES.

COMMUNICA TIONS.

THE CHARTER OAK.

BY C. M. HOVEY, BOSTON, MASS.

In your January number you have some re-
marks in regard to the species of oak to which
this famous old tree belonged. I now send you
leaves and acorns gathered this day, Jan. 31, the
leaves from the tree, and the acorns from the
ground beneath it, by which you will know the
species even without seeing them; as Michaux
states that the Quercus alba is " the only oak on
"which a few of the dried leaves exist till the cir-
culation is renewed in the spring; one tree is just
now covered with leaves but they continue to
blow off with every wind, and by April 1 only a
few remain.

You may possibly inquire what tree, when we
say we gathered them from the tree, and how it
is known to have any relation to the Charter Oak ?
We will tell you.

About the year 1836 or '37, the late Dr. E. W.
Bull, of Hartford, who was well known for his
love of and deep interest in horticulture and arbor-
iculture, and who had a beautiful residence in
that city, on a visit to us, stated that he had
reared two young trees out of several acorns he
had planted, which he gathered with his own
hands from the old tree, and he kindly offered
to give us one of them if we would accept it. We,
■of course, were too glad to do so, and he said that
at the proper season he would bring it himself to
Boston. His promise was fulfilled, and he put
the tree, which was one year old, in his carpet
bag, and brought it to Boston. It was so small,
and for fear of its being injured or dug up by
carelessness, we planted it in a pot, and kept it in

the greenhouse and cellar in winter for two or
three years. It was then placed out in the open
ground, but grew slowly, and was only five or six
feet high in 1845 or '6, when it was removed to
its present position on the lawn in front of the
conservatory. It is now about 30 ft. high with a
handsome head.

This is the history of our Charter Oak, and the
tree from which we gathered the leaves. We un-
derstood from Dr. Bull some years later, when he
visited us for the last time before his sad death,
that there were only two seedlings in existence,
the one we had and one in his own grounds, and
we believe, if our recollection serves us, that after
the destruction of the old oak itself. Dr. Bull's
specimen was planted out in the identical spot
where the old tree stood for so many years before
its destruction. Dr. Bull had a real affection for
the old oak. He never failed to speak of it, and
he sent us two or three engravings of it, one of
which he desired us to present a copy of in the
Magazine of Horticulture ; but the drawing was
on so small a scale it would not give a very good
representation of the tree, and we laid it aside for
the time.

We at one time thought it could not be the
Q. alba, but for some years since it has developed
itself we think there can be little doubt about it,

[The leaves sent by Mr. Hovey are undoubt-
edly Quercus alba, the common white oak. It ia
clear, from all the evidence, that those who have
Quercus discolor under culture as seedlings from
the original Charter Oak are mistaken. Ed.
G. M.]

»^M

EDITORIAL NOTES.

.Advertisements. — Why will people send ad-
vertisements and other business matters to Mr.

92

THE OARDENEB'S MONTHLY

[March,

Meehan, the Editor, in Germantown, who has
nothing to do with it, instead of to the Publisher in
Philadelphia Among other evils, it makes sev-
eral days delay, and thus advertisements are
often too late !

W. H. Bailey. — We found an article on our
table, simply signed " W. H. Bailey," and having
Mr. Bailey, of Providence, in our mind, so made
it. It will appear from the following note that
it was not that Mr. Bailey :

" I regretted to see that you printed over my
article in the Monthly my address as Providence,
R. I. Now, though I feel every confidence in all
the works of Providence, I am satisfied I must
work out my own salvacion here at Plattsburgh,
N. Y., where I am growing plants and seeds. I
mention this matter, as many of my friends and
customers may notice the address given and
think that I have changed my location. If the
same could be corrected in your next issue I
would esteem it a favor. Very truly yours,

W. H. Bailey."

The Horticulturist. — Mr. Downing's name is
80 closely identified with the history of the Hor-
tictiUurist, that the public are apt to forget
it was to the enterprise of the late Luther Tucker,
of Albany, that the magazine originated, and
that it was financially sustained and publi-shed by
him till Mr. Downing's death.

The Cut Flower Trade op Baltimore. — The
American Farmer says : " The cut-flower business-
during the holidays and since seems to have
been satisfiictory, notwithstanding the cry of
hard times. Mr. Pentland's handsome store at
the corner of the new building of the Young
Men's Christian Association seems especially
adapted for a flower business, and has been ex-
ceedingly well patronized. The same is true of
his neighbors, Messrs. J. Edward Feast, and R. J.
Halliday."

Private Gardens about Baltimore. — We learn
from the American Farmer that Mr. W. W. Spence,
at Bolton, his beautiful place, which is a charm-
ing bit of country almost entirely surrounded by
city walls, has recently put up probably the
most modern and attractive greenhouse in or
near the city. President Perot has annexed to
his other structures, at his finished seat on the
Charles St. Avenue, quite a large fern and or-
chid house. Mr. Rasin has added a third to his
two already well-stocked houses. Captain Snow,
of Harford, is contemplating an enlarged plant-

house to replace his present ones, which do not
give room for flourishing palms and other plants
of tall stature. Numerous other alterations have
recently been completed, or are in progress.

Flowers in New York. — The New York Time$
says that the money expended in New York for
flowers exceeds $2,000,000 annually, and $3,000,-
000 more for plants, &c. ; but we suspect that this ia
only a guess, and not the result of any carefully
kept figures. In this amount is included $400
invested by "an excellent amateur florist of
thirty years standing" in blue roses, spotted
roses, black roses, and such other " novelties "
that seem to be a flourishing success on Broad-
way.

Not a New Candidate. — In Mr. Foster's not*
on the Marshall pear, he said it was " a new can-
didate." From the context we supposed the word
not was accidentally omitted, and so we inserted
it. Mr. Foster desires us to say he meant what
he said, " It is a new candidate."

Blue Roses, Strawberries on Trees, <fec. —
One man in New York has invested $700 in the
speculation, and thousands of dollars are being
taken by a set of swindlers. These men have
flourished for generations back. A coi respon-
dent says we should " warn " the public against
them. But the best "warning" to your neigh-
bor whom you would save from such swindles,
is to ask him to subscribe to a good horticul-
tural paper. No reader of such papers buys
such things.

Trees for Nothing. — A Western nurseryman
advertises "That he has growing on his premisea
spontaneous seedlings. Large amounts of seed-
lings of difl'erent sizes, and some ten or a dozen
diflerent varieties, which he will give away in
any quantity to any person for his planting only,
by his removing them at his own expense. He
will furnish full information regarding sizes,
varieties, cost of removing, <fec., to any person
addressing him as above, with stamp to pay re-
turn postage." It reminds us of an old "al-
manac " story. There was a man who was " too
lazy to live," and his neighbors determined on
burying him. On the way one charitable soul
took pity on him, and offered him a bushel of
corn. He looked out of the coffin in which they
were taking him to the grave, and asked, " Is it
shelled?' Finding it was not, he sadly ex-
claimed, "move on," and went to his rest ! It i«
hardly to be expected that people who are will-

iste.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

9S

ing to get something for nothing will " send a
postage stamp, &c." They may do so out West,
but that class have long since left here.

KLlnsas Agricultural Report. 1875. Fourth
Volume. From Alfred Gray, Secretary. A fine
volume of 750 pages, filled with information as
regards the agricultural resources and natural
history of the State.

The Waban Greenhouses of E. A. Wood &
Co. — A Boston paper gives the following infor-
mation about this establishment : " These green-
houses are conveniently situated to Boston on
the Boston & Albany Railroad, within a few min-
utes' walk of Natick, the nearest station to Bos-
ton, however, being ' Lake Crossing,' which is
about the same distance from the grounds, and
at which numerous trains stop during the day.
The houses for the growth of flowers are 25 in
number, and from 100 to 117 feet each in length,
built in the most substantial manner, and the
most approved methods of heating and venti-
lating are used, thus giving every facility for
growing young plants and flowers to the highest
perfection, and in the most abundant quantities.
The increasing popularity of the concern is ap-
parent from the fact that ten additional houses,
each 117 feet long, have been built the past sea-
son, and are filled with blooming plants, of
roses, carnations, lilies, etc. ; 15 houses are de-
voted exclusively to the culture of roses, both for
eut blossoms and young plants, the more cele-
brated varieties, Maerchal Neil and General
Jacqueminot, are made great specialties, while
numerous (in fact all) the good European novel-
ties are being added to the collection as soon as
they are introduced."

Mr. Darwin. — This distinguished gentleman
has brought out a new edition of his climbing
plants, and has in the press a new work on cross
fertilization by insect agency. We doubt very
much whether anj' one man has been of so much
service to the world of science as Mr. Darwin.
All the world does not agree with some of his
deductions. It is more than likely Mr. Dar-
win himself does not expect them to do so, but
no one has given more facts of importance than
he has.

Edwin Satterthwait. — The Bucks County In-
tdligencer gives an account of one of its neghbors
well known to our readers, from which we ex-
tract the following : —

" One of the most energetic and successful of

the farmers and truckers who regularly supply
the Philadelphia market is Edwin Satterthwait,
of Abington, whose establishment is about a mile
east of Jenkintown, not far from the Friends'
meeting-house. Mr. Satterthwait is also an ex-
tensive florist and nurseryman. When a young
man he was engaged in a store in the city, but
having a natural taste for agriculture and horti-
culture, he moved out to his native neighborhood
again and began operations in his present line of
business about twenty-five years ago. He then
had a small place of a little over thirty acres.
By taking the best care of this, he was enabled
to obtain more, and his property now contains
about 150 acres, of which all but ten is arable
land. He has always attended market, standing
along the curbstone to sell his produce for a
number of years until the modern market-houses
were erected. Since the great market-house at Mar-
ket and Twelfth streets was built Mr. Satterthwait
has occupied stalls there, and is one of the most
regular frequenters. Every week day in the year
a large wagon-load of articles from his place in
Abington is sent to the city for sale. Mr. S. him-
self remains in the city most of the time to at-
tend to sales, and affiairs on the farm are looked
after by his son, assisted by several foremen. He
goes down and up by the North Penn. trains,
while the marketing is taken down the pike.
The scale on which business is transacted is
enough to surprise an ordinary farmer. He
usually raises 20 acres of potatoes, an acre each of
carrots, ruta bagas and parsnips, several thous-
and bushels of turnips, thirty or forty thousand
cabbages, and as many plants of celery, which
altogether furnish an enormous bulk of produce.
From his 20 acres in potatoas he has usually ob"
tained six or seven thousand bushels, worth as
many dollars in market.

Mr. Satterthwait also deals largely in fruit.
His immense collection of pears has made him
famous among fruit growers all over the country.
He began taking an interest in this direction
fifteen or twenty yeare ago, and now has over
five hundred different varieties of pears growing
on his premises. Among so many kinds there
are of course some of no great value — and there
are very few which he considers better for general
pui'poses than the Bartlett and Seckel and the
Lawrence. He is generally the largest exhibitor
of pears at fairs held in this part of the State.
He has also a large collection of apples, but has^
settled down on Smith's cider as the most satis-
factory market fruit. Four years ago he planted

94

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[March,

100 cider apple trees,and last fall he gathered about
100 bushels of the finest fruit. From some older
trees, which came from the original stock near
Pineville, he had an average of 40 bushels each.

On the property are nine large green houses,
filled with ornamental and flowering plants of
all kinds. The plants in pots are sold mostly in
the spring and fall, for bedding-out and other
domestic uses. In winter, and especially during
the hoUdays, a large business is done in cut flow-
ers, and to produce these there are special houses
for roses, carnations, camellias, etc. The hard
times have interfered considerably with the cut-
flower trade.

Mr. S. takes a warm interest in horticultural
improvement, notwithstanding his busy life;
and at present he is President of the Fruit
Growers' Society of the State, which held its
annual meeting in Doylcstown on Jan. 19th.

QUERIES.

Ellis Park, Chicago.— W. H. P., Chicago, LI.,
writes: "It was very gratifying to me as well as
to many others, to find that Mr. Meehan was
pleased with some things at Ellis Park. We
value the place very much,notmercly for the posi-
tive enjoyment we have while there,but because it
shows how much may be done in the gardening
way to make a city delightful, even though space

and means are limited. The space is but three
acres and the total appropriation for all purposes
is only $2,500."

Names of Ferns. — S. G. — It is not easy to name
fragments of ferns, especially without fruit. 1,
appears to be some Doodia. 2, Adiantum per-
haps and concinnum. 3, Cassaberia hastata in
fruit. 4, Pteris longifolia. 5, Probably a fragment
of Aspidium spinulosum. 6, Nephrolepis bul-
bosa. ■ 8, Cassaberia hastata, piece of a barren
frond. 9, piece of some Davallia.

Not IX THE Trade. — The following card ex-
plains itself

Near Louisville, Ky., February 11, 1876.

Dear Sir. — I have for several years past been
in regular receipt of trade lists and wholesale
catalogues from numerous nurserymen in the
United States and in Europe. Upon inquiry I
find some directory has my name down as a nur-
seryman. It is quite a mistake as I am only an
amateur and have never been engaged in the
business, either as florist or nurseryman. How
shall I have the error corrected, for while I
could find many persons who would be glad to
get and read a good descriptive retail catalogue
and thereby be induced to buy, I know of no one
in this vicinity who cares to have a trade-list and
wholesale catalogue, while they are perfectly
useless to me. Will you mention this matter for
me in 'the Gardener's Monthly, and oblige,

Yours most Respectfully, Thos. S. Kennedy.

Horticultural rfociETiES.

C031MUNICA TIONS.

PENNSYLVANIA FRUIT GROWERS' SOCIETY.

BY M.

The annual meeting of this society was held
this year, and for the first time at Doylestown.

Mr. Edwin Satterthwaite, the well-known fruit-
grower, and president elect, presided, his past
experience in our Legislature well fitting him,
in addition to his horticultural eminence, for this
responsible position. He was elected for another
term, as indeed were all the old officers, except
the treasurer, for which office Mr. Geo. B. Thcnn-
as, of West Chester, was chosen. As the funds
of the society were in a prosperoua condition,

the membership fee was reduced from two dol-
lars to one dollar a year, and this is to include a
copy of the annual proceedings to every mem-
ber.

In the more practical business of fruit culture,
Mr. H. M. Engle, of Marietta, for the General
Fruit Committee, made a report on the condition
of fruit culture the past year in the State. The
pear seems always more or less of a success,
never an entire failure, in Pennsylvania. The
apple crop was fair, but not equal to former
years. Plum culture seems on the increase, and
injuries from the curculio not so prevalent. The
knot on trees, which injured the cherries so badly
in years gone by, is not near as bad as formerly,

1876.J

AND HORTICULTURIST.

95

With these facts before us, the Kansas State
Horticultural Society has created an experimental
commission, the purpose of which is to organize
and peach culture, which once was hardly
thought of as a Pennsylvania crop of any im-
portance, is noAV on the increase in many of the
southern counties. The president's annual ad-
dress took in for its chief topic the profits of the
fruit-growing business, in which he took the
ground that it seemed to be somewhat overdone
— that much more was being raised than there
was a good market for, though he thought the
present general depression pervading all classes
of the community had much to do with this
overstocked market, and brought about more
sellers than buyers. There was a discussion as
to whether the popular impression that a new
fruit appearing in any given locality was better
than varieties brought from abroad was correct
in principle, and the drift of the discussion
seemed to be that there was no such rule ; some-
times they were and sometimes not. The popu-
lar Bartlett pear is an English variety, while the
Jucunda strawberry is French, and Triomphe de
Gand French is Belgian. On the other hand the
Seckel pear is a Philadelphia seedling. There
was no rule as to nativity — only " try all things "
would show the local adaptations.

A discussion on " cheap refrigerators for fruits "
elicited nothing practical.

The raising of new fruits by design as hybrids
produced an interesting discussion, the essayist
opening it taking the ground that a selection of
kinds and raising from these, trusting to natural
laws of evolution for improvement, had done
more towards producing our best fruits than
cross-breeding had done or could do. The dis-
sent from this view was emphatic on the part of
many of the most intelligent members.

The cultivation of the apple, and the best va-
rieties to plant for the various seasons and for
profit, seemed the most popular topic introduced,
and took up a good part of the time at the
society's disposal. The Codling moth, which
produces the " wormy fruit," is the worst foe to
the apple-grower. Persistent gathering of fallen
fixiit, and collecting the eggs by hay bands round
the trunks of the trees, will destroy the whole
crop of insects in one year, and all for the next
year's operations will be only those that may fly
from one's neighbors' grounds.

In plum culture the interesting fact .was
brought out that the wild American plum had
been so improved as to approach the old-fashioned

the chance to taste one. These American pluma
seem to make themselves at home in our gar-
dens.

In grape culture it seems that the finer varieties,
which grow weak and liable to disease, can be
grafted on Concord and Clinton roots, and then
grow as well and as strong as these popular va-
rieties. The French have found this out, and
are importing largely of these American kinds
for grafting their own kinds for their vineyards.

[In addition to what has been furnished above
by our correspondent we may add that it is
one of the most difficult things in the world to
give even a synopsis of what takes place at a three-
days' meeting of such societies as this. In en-
deavoring to condense, the speaker's real point is
often lost, and frequently distorted. But one of
the best attempts at this condensation was made
by the Buck's Co. Intelligencer, from which most of
the notices given in the papers have been made,
but without fair credit. Though in its six long
columns only the briefest heads of the remarks
are given the true point is rarely lost. — Ed. G. M.]

Germantown Horticultural Society — Bego-
nias. — Thomas Meehan Esq., Dear Sir. — In your
notice of the fall exhibition of The Germantown
Agricultural Society, published in the Gardener*9
Monthly, there was an error in the name of the
exhibitor of the eight Foliage Begonias which
received the first premium. At the time I did
not think it worth while to call your attention to
what I supposed to be a typographical error, but
I find that you are still under the impression
that they were exhibited by Miller & Hayes.
The plants were of my growing and were
not from Miller & Hayes as reported. They were
rooted 18 months previously, and were shown in
8-inch pots. The best one covered a circle of
twelve and a half feet in circumference and the
others were nearly as large. Yours Respectfully,

Robert J. Siddall.

Kansas Horticultural Society. — E. G. says:
" Many questions relating to the culture of for-
ests, orchards and gardens in Kansas are yet un-
settled. We have learned that forest and fruit
trees suited to the southern part of KaAsas, are
not always a success in the northern portion of
the State. We know that trees which promise
well south do not succeed in the vicinity of Man-
hattan even. We have to accept the fact that
the experience of the eastern counties will not
avail for western, or even central, Kansas.

96

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[March,

garden plums in value, but which, from various
causes, have so disappeared from cultivation
that many persons now-a-days have never had
a system of experimental stations at the most
feasible points throughout the State. The com-
mission have organized and coainienced their
work in securing the promise of individual co-
operation from different portions of the State.
The work already done gives gratifying e\'idence
that we shall be able to very largely utilize the
work of individual enterprise, at really little ex-
pense to the society, at the same time making it
as available to the interests of horticulture as
though owned by the State.

It is the design of this commission to thoroughly
organize its work, by making these several stations
the points of systematic and regular observations
and experiment, with Manhattan, for the present,
as the common centre. By this course the com-
mission hope to collect a large amount of valua-
ble facts which would not otherwise be made
available ; and propose to report the same to the
State Society at the close of the year.

EDITORIAL NOTES.

The Centennial Exhibition. — It is difficult to
find out exactly what is being done in the various
States in regard to the agriculture and horticul-
ture of the Centennial. From most of our ex-
changes we learn that every where " something "
is being done, but we cannot tell exactly what.
Of Indiana the Indiana Farmer tells us :

" Thanks to the efforts of Prof. E. T. Cox, our
State Geologist, and a few other enterprising and
public-spirited citizens, our mineral resources,
agricultural productions and educational facilities
will have a fair representation. It is a matter of
regret that our last Legislature did not make a
more liberal appropriation for this purpose, but
it is gratifying to know that all will be done that
the moderate allowance made, and the too limited
subscription fund can accomplish toward giving
us a good showing in the eyes of the world."

Instead of reporting what people talk about
doing we have thought best to wait till we see
what is ^one, and about this we shall probably be
able to tell a little next month.

Organization of the Nursery Business. — At
a meeting of Nurserymen, Florists and Seedsmen,
at Crystal Lake, 111., Jan. 25th, it was decided to
hold a Centennial meeting of all engaged in the
trade, in the city of Chicago, on the 2d Wednes-
day of June.

It has always seemed strange that enterpriseea
of such vast importance have not as yet made any
special effort for a national organization. It ifl
hoped that a large attendance can be secured and
means devised to better organize and strengthen
these great interests.

A BOTANICO-HORTICULTURAL CONGRESS ifl tO

meet at Brussels, Belgium, on the 30th of April
in connection with the International Horticultu-
ral Exhibition to be held there at that time. A
leading topic will be to arrange for a Hortus EurO'
pens or catalogue of the correct names of all
plants cultivated in Europe, of which there ia
much need.

The Gardener's Monthly acknowledges the kind
invitation of President d'Hamale, of Malines, to
be represented on the occasion.

The Central Horticui.tural Society op
PRANCE is one of the most active in Europe. We
have a circular from Mons. A. Lavalle, the general
secretary at Paris, in which the advantages of
membership are fully and freely detailed.

Alton Horticultural Society. — Apples foe
Profit. — At a late meeting Mr. Pearson said that
his most profitable apple was Smith's Cider; and
next to this is the Benoni. No other sorts ap-
proach these. Dr. Long had made more money
out of the Ronianite than any other. The Early
harvest and Red Astrachan had done well. North-
ern Spy and Yellow Bellfiower were worthless on
his grounds. He found it best to cultivate his or-
chards, and to apply lime, ashes, and stable man-
ures. Young orchards he found most profitable ;
orchards generally through the country were not
profitable to the owners, simply because proper
cultivation was not given, and insects destroyed.

Western New York Horticultural Sociiity.
— The annual meeting held in January at Ro-
chester, but very full reports have been given in
the Rural New Yorker, Country Gentleman, Rural
Home, and other agricultural weeklies, so that
details in a Monthly like ours would be rather
out of date. It appears to have been more than
usually successful. Mr. Barry presided with his
usual excellency.

Massachusetts Horticli.tural Society. — No
Horticultural Society in America at all nearly
equals that of Massachusetts in wealth or in the
amount awarded in premiums. For 1876 the
prizes will amount to $6,80(), of which $3,200 are
for plants and flowers, $2,100 for fruits, $1,200 for
vegetables, $300 for gardens, greenhouses, etc.

THE

GARDENER'S MONTHLY

AND

HORTICULTURIST.

DEVOTED TO HORTICULTURE. ARBORICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS.

Edited by THOMAS MEEHAN.

Volume XVIII.

APEIL, 1876.

Number 208,

XOWER I^ARDEN AND iFLEASURE GROUND.

SEASONABLE HINTS.

April in the South is Spring, and the early-
flowers have long since been in bloom; but Aj^ril
in the North scarcely finds the Violet in flower.
What should we do if we were to write a " Cal-
endar of Operations " for our readers? However,
this we never attempt. What we give as "Hints,"
are not so much intended for the month as for
the season. We speak now of the early spring
season, and each must apply it as he finds to suit
the latitude. Of course the trees and bushes are
all pruned, litter cleared up, grass rolled, walks
edged, and vegetation is pushing along. Ever-
greens may be set out till after the growth has
been made. Deciduous trees also may be still
set out, if any leaves they may have made are
plucked oS". They will make new ones. The
main business of this department will be in set-
ting out garden flowers.

Of flowering plants which thrive well in our
climate, we have a good selection. The Gerani-
ums are amongst the best, although botanically
they are not distinct from Pelargoniums ; yet it
serves a good jDurpose to retain the name as a
popular designation of an useful class in flower
gardening. There are now dofible varieties ; but
for flower gardening purposes, double flowers are
inferior. These varieties do not flower as freely
as the single ones. This has proved to be the
case with the Petunia, the Pansy, and other
things, and we suppose the rule will hold good
here. The Rose Geraniums flower somewhat
steady throughout the year, and are indispensa-

ble for their delightful fragrance and elegant
foliage. The Verbena used to be the main reli-
ance for bedding — but the great ravages of the
verbena rust, have made it somewhat unreliable ;
and, although it is indispensable yet, it does not
take the front rank as formerly. Of double
flowers we may say, however, that the Double
Wliite, and perhaps Asa Gray, a bronzy salmon,
flower much more profusely than some of the
older kinds.

In the class of scented flowers, the Heliotrope,
the Mignonette, and the Sweet Alyssum, com-
mand a prominent place. The last is liable to
suffer much from the cabbage-fly. A syringing
with water, in which a few drops of coal oil has
been spread, soon settles his business. There is
a variegated Sweet Alyssum which is very pretty.

The Golden Feverfew is admirable for edgings.
Lantanas are very desirable; but to have the
best results from them, they should be planted
in poor soil. Mr. Harkins' new variegated Lan-
tana is said to stand the sun well. A very pretty
species, trailing like a Verbena, but not
much known, is L. Sellowii. The varieties of
Lobelias make fair bedding plants if not
put in too dry a soil, or too warm a situation.
The Cuphea hyssopifolia sent out by Messrs.
Hoopes is a good border plant.

The old doiMe tvhite Feverfew is one of the
most desirable of bedding plants. White flowers
can be cut from it all summer, and yet have
plenty left to bloom. The Petunia, though of
no account for cutting, keeps up a brilliant show
the whole season. They do also very well in hot

98

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[April,

places where little else will do. The singles give
the most flowers. For cutting purposes, the
Monthly or Tree Carnations are lovely things,
though they are ugly growing plants, and do not
make much show on the grounds. The blue
Ageratum is not very showy, but blooms so pro-
fusely, that every one likes to have it. The old
Nierembergia gracilis is another not very showy
plant, but flowers so well, and is so satisfied with
indifierent treatment, that one cannot let it go.
The Gazania is curious, and makes a brilliant
show of orange and black on a fine day, but is
not well adapted to a hot place. The little Ouphea
platy centra has rather too much green for a show
plant, but if the soil is not too rich, gives fair
satisfaction.

The Othonna crassifolia is perhaps one of the
best vase succulents ever introduced for sunny
places. The new hybrid Dianthuses are beauti-
ful bedding plants, about which see an article in
another column.

COMMUNICA TIONS.

POSTSCRIPT TO ARTICLE ON R. I. BENT
GRASS.

BY DR. W. F. CHANNING.

Since the article in last number was written I
have obtained specimens of Rhode Island Bent
grass from Charles H. Potter, which were cut suf-
ficiently young to retain and show the character-
istic inflorescence. On submitting these to Joseph
W. Congdon, Esq., of East Greenwich, an ac-
complished botanist, he reports as follows :

"After a thorough and careful examination, I
am satisfied that the species is Agroslis canina,
L., or Brown Bent of the books. The flowers
when carefully examined with a glass, show that
there is only one husk or palea, wrapped around
the grain. On the back of the palea you find a
long bent awn, growing out of it near its base.
This usually projects more or less out of the
flower, but is hardly noticeable to the naked eye.
It usually disappears, being very fragile, after the
grass has blossomed."

These observations which I have confirmed,
seem to leave no doubt as to the species. There
are one or two varieties of Agrostis canina, native
to the grassy mountains of New England,
Whether the Rhode Island Bent is one of these,
or different, remains to be ascertained. It is
certainly an upland grass, and is in thorough

possession of the soil in Rhode Island, as if to
the manor born. Horticulturally and agricul-
turally at least, it seems to have been hitherto
unrecognized, except in southeastern New Eng-
land.

[ As stated in a brief note in our last, this ex-
cellent lawn grass is certainly the Agrostis canina.
Ed. G. M.]

REMONTANT PINKS. (CARNATION.)

TRANSLATED FROM LA CULTIVATEUR,' LYONS, FRANCE,
BY MISS B.

The culture of the Carnation is believed by
certain horticultural writers to have been for
upwards of 2000 years We know nothing of
what was practiced at that time, and horticultu-
ral Science as well as some others, dates but lit-
tle in the first century, so that we can only trace
the present history of th5 Monthly Carnation.
The Remontant Carnation originated in Lyons.
Mons. Dalmais, gardener to Mons. Lacure, (the
zealous patron of Horticulture in Lyons, and
formerly of our Horticultural society) obtained
the first true one nearly 36 years ago.

It was sent out in 1844. Atim was the
product of artificial impregnation of a kind
known by the common name of Mahon or St.
Martin (because it flowered almost regularly
towards the middle of November) with the Car-
nation Bichon. This first result was afterwards
impregnated with the fancy and produced in 1846
numerous varieties of diff"erent colors.

Mons. Schmitt one of the most earnest and in-
telligent Horticulturists of Lyons, followed Mons.
Dalmais in the track which he traced and in-
creased the collection to several remarkable va-
rieties, such as Arc en Ciel, and Polar Star, which
were cultivated for a few years but are lost now,
being replaced by better sorts.

Towards 1850 a maladj-^ broke out amongst
these. Mons, Schmitt was discouraged and
abandoned them. It was at that time that Mons.
Alegatiere applied himself to their culture, and
in a short time made great progress, and it is to
this able and persevering Horticulturist that we
are indebted for the numerous Remontant sorts
so esteemed in England, Germany and Italy, and
also for the best means of cultivating them,
which we will describe. Mons. Alegatiere is not
contented to increase the Carnation so extensive-
ly as to put it on a level with the old Florist's
Pink (in the culture of which the Belgians and Hoi-

1816.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

99

landers excel) but he imposes upon himself the
task of giving us Remontant Carnations with
stiff flower-stems, which he obtained in 186G.
And it may also be said that Mons. Alegatiere has
produced a race which will be continued by seed.

"A permanent race is almost a race which we
have created," (Henri Lecoq.) This kind has
the same merits as the Carnation Flon, and the
advantage of having large flowers and various
shades of color. Certain authors have said that
the culture and propagation are very easy. At
a time not very distant it was said and published
of the culture of the Carnation : " Grafting, con-
sidering the few chances of success which it
offers is seldom employed ; therefore it is recom-
mended to split the bottom of the graft and in-
troduce into it a grain of wheat, oats, barley or a
small pebble, to keep it apart." Without doubt
this means of grafting ofl'ers fewer chances of
success, as one of the grafts rots, and if the plant
coming from this graft does not die, it remains
weakly. Grafting was therefore condemned,
and layering,which w^as in its inf;xncy,was extolled.
Now the routine yields to observation, and by
the intelligent student of facts it is generally ad-
mitted that grafting is the best means of multi-
plying all plants.

Thus it is admitted that grafts can be inade of
a plant when layers cannot. The graft cut, the
plant seeks to replace these cuts, to repair the
damage to which it has submitted,and reproduces
new branches, whilst the plant that has been lay-
ered nourished its half cut branches without re-
placing them. It has been said on this subject,
that shoots take root very easily; it is quite cer-
tain that cuttings make better plants than layers.

These can be made (says my friend Alegatiere,)
at all seasons, but for those who have a green-
house and wish to propagate largely, the best
time is winter, that is to say, January and Feb-
ruary, and they will have plants that can be
potted in April andMay,will be strong in the course
of the summer, and flower in the autumn. If you
have no bell glasses the sash of a greenhouse will
suffice to strike these cvittings. It is not neces-
sary to tell how to prepare these cuttings, — every
gardener knows that. An essential point tow-
ards success is to remove every day the leaves
that become yellow and not to fear to lift the
cuttings; on the contrary the undertaking is more
sure, for changing the place and soil from time
to time hastens them in rooting. And why?
Because the earth around them becomes mouldy
and if the cutting does not die the development

of its branches is retarded. Frequent waterings
are indispensable, as excess of moisture is better
for Carnations than dryness. Cuttings made in
winter, take root generally in 3 or 5 w^eeks, ac-
cording to the variety. As soon as the cuttings
are rooted they are put separately in sniall pots
and brought gradually to the air, and the further
treatment is like A, B, C, to the workman.

The cuttings having rooted it is best to put
them in the ground during April or the beginning
of May, (according to the season and climate,) in
a place well aired, as the Carnation loves air and
dreads to be confined between walls and trees.

The nature of the soil is not difficult ; however,
it prefers fresh earth provided it is well drained,
as stagnant moisture is very destructive to it.

Copious waterings, not too often repeated, it
likes, provided these waterings are of liquid ma-
nure and free of fovil materials. These last can
easily be disinfected by sulphate of iron.

To preserve Remontant Carnation dwarf it is
better to take off" each flower-stem immediately
after the flowering, to 2 or 3 inches above the
base, the plant will then branch out more and
send forth new flower-stems. Carnations resist
the cold perfectly and can be left in the ground,
unless they are desired to bloom in winter. In
this case a good precaution to take is to shelter
the plants after a strong frost from the rays of the
sun by some covering.

If they are to flower in winter, pot the plants
in October, at least those that show buds, and let
them be as late as possible (so that the buds do
not freeze) in an Orangery greenhouse, shed or
any other temperate shelter, and give them air
every time the exterior temperature is fit. The
amateur who has not a greenhouse for propaga-
tion should graft them in September, against a
northern wall in the open air. The striking of
them is then almost certain. This culture is within
the means of everybody. These same rules will
apply to many plants, especially those which are
called soft-wooded. Many horticultural publica-
tions contend that certain plants are difficult to
multiply by grafting. Why difficult ? Because we
are ignorant. Every plant grafts easily if we know
how to do it. It is to hide our ignorance that we
say a thing is difficult. " Seek and you will find,"
says Jesus Christ, and it is and always will be true.
What man knows not how to do he declares im-
possible. Pride ! What he cannot comprehend or
what is above his intellect, he decides to be im-
practicable. Pride ! Jean Sisley.

Monplaislr. Lyon, Dec. 19, 1875.

100

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[April,

TIME TO PRUNE SHRUBS, AND OTHER HINTS.

BY F. R. E.

All know me as an old fogy soon to pass away
to, I hope, a land where trouble or doubt has no
abiding place — but while here among my fellow
men I cannot rest, without now and then pen-
cilling down my thoughts as I read their teach-
ings.

In your general directions, page 34 of February
number, you are correct, but as you are now the
only Horticultural Magazine Editor for all ex-
cept California or southwest thereof, should you
not occasionally tell novices as to the time or period
of the bud swelling; when to prune, please ? " With
March all should be finished" — will not quite
pass in our more Northern sections, and it is too
late for the South. I suggest that you tell us how
to prune, and then give touching the breaking
of buds, etc., as to the location of your readers.

Perhaps you will reply to me as follows : " We
write for those who are educated, not for those
who have had no knowledge either of books or
practice." All right, but here let me object to
your item of how to make sliapely specimens.
I would not pull out the strong .shoots, but I
would shorten them, and cut in close the weak
one, and then as the buds on the strong shoots
struck but laterals, I would i:)inch them back,
here an inch and there three inches.

But you need not publish this of mine ; for in
this article I have been picking at, you have so
complimented the ladies, and told so many truths
of what we should and what we should not do,
in the use of spade as compared with fork, or
the hoe as compared with the rake.

Eight again, and keep it before your readers
until after the April number, " That no good
gardener loses a tree in planting, because an-
other has injured its roots." As you say, the ex-
perienced hand in tree planting keeps always in
mind the old motto, " never say die."

Now I am along when you have been putting
" Sam Slick " on me, but I forgive ; yet am
afraid it will make somebody try to throw
me out of oflice should I ever gain another

berth, and so I . Well, well, no matter, let

me turn over to the few words of Pinus Ccmbra,
please; for the planting in grounds when space is
restricted, we have nothing superior to it, in
hardiness, beauty of form, color of foliage, and
compactness.

Wild Gardens. Let us have more of them.
Who is ever afraid to gatlier a flower of the wild

Azalea, or the common Kalmia, or who hesitates
to pluck a fern leaf when wandering in our wild,
wild woods. If you have any of that kind on
your list, take them into some of the rocky
woods of Connecticut, etc. Let us have more of
the old shrubs and perennial flowers. Why
should we continue to dress and decorate in
gaudy colors, when simple blue and rosy white,
are the shades that tinge on gi-een so sweetly in
nature.

Spirxa sorbifolia. Once more I must call at-
tention. Never cut it clear down, except when
first planted, then do it and cut out the poor
puny stems, shorten the strong shoots and take
out the laterals that tend to thicken too much
the centre, and shorten back the laterals that
come out, to assist you in giving the shrub a cone
or round head, etc., as you desire.

EDITORIAL NOTES.

Jasminum nudiflorum. — This is one of the
best hardy plants to put under the windows on
the walls of houses. It is a trailer and needs a
trellis or wires to keep it up. It grows in a
dense mass, and the flowers open on the slightest
taste of warm weather. The season has been
rather mild in GermantoAvn, and a beautiful
block of it on the house formerly occupied by
the late Miss Elizabeth Morris, the well known
Botanist, has been in full bloom since Christmas,
and has given pleasure to hundreds who have
stopped to look at it. It has the good merit of
getting along under the roughest treatment; even
in the dryest places under trees it will grow and
do well.

The Live Oak — Quercus virens. — In our re-
cent trip to the far South, we know of nothing
that so impressed us with its rare beauty as the
Live Oak, and we feel a grateful remembrance of
Col. Hardee of New Orleans, for a drive to where
these beauties were. The general aspect of these
trees is that of huge apple trees, — that is to say,
they branch comparatively low down, and spend
their remaining efforts in producing immense
heads. In this way the trees, tall as they are,
are wider than high? The branchlets are rather
slender for an oak, and hence in spreading be-
come somewhat pendulous, and this favors the
spread of the "moss" (Tillandsia usneoides).
This moss does not increase much from seed,
but by pieces blowing on the other branches, and

1876.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

101

thus new colonies are formed, and of course a
sub-pendulous habit is an advantage to the
spread of the Tillandsia. With yards in length
of this " moss " hanging in every direction from
a grand Live Oak tree, it seems to make the per-
fection of arborescent beauty.

Garden Edgings. — Those who do not like box,
or are in climates too cold for it, should by all
means use the Globe Arbor Vitas. It can be laid
just as box is laid, and bears trimming just the
same as box if not better. We recently saw
some beautiful edgings at the nursery of Geo.
Achelis, at West Chester. When full grown it is a
beautiful ornament. Here is a sketch of one as
growing on the grounds of Wm. E. Mercer, Esq.,
of Bucks Co., Pa.

ScHizosTYLis cocciNEA. — A few years ago we
saw this beautiful plant in flower in a garden
near Philadelphia, but have missed it lately. We
suppose it is 3'et in some of our gardens. We
are reminded of it by the following sketch in the
Gardener's Magazine.

" This is one of the most valuable of plants,
either for conservatory decoration or for growing
in any warm sheltered nook, for supplying cut
flowers during autumn, and no garden, however
small, should be without it. In order to have
strong plants, it shoiild be planted out early in
the spring, in beds specially prepared for that
purpose, as it grows much more vigorovisly
treated in this way than it doesjwhen confined in
pots. The beds should be formed of some rich

Abies ENGELMANNn.— On the grounds of W. R.
Mercer, Esq., of Bucks Co., Pa., we recently saw
two fine specimens of Engelmann Sjjruce. One
was about three feet high, and probably larger
than Mr. Gray's at Boston, which we had sup-
posed hitherto, was the largest in cultivation. As
is well known, there is a remarkable tendency to
vary among coniferous plants, and hence our
readers will not be suriorised to learn that there
was much difierence between these two plants in
habit and other characters. This beautiful Colo-
rado spruce seems well adapted to eastern cul-
ture, and we hope to see it become common.

vegetable material, such as leaf soil and good
fresh loam, or any refuse peat that has been cast
aside as unfit for potting purposes. If either of
the above materials can be spared to form a bed
from 6 to 10 inches deep, there will be no diffi-
culty in growing such plants of Schizostylis as
will produce an abundant supply of its rich
scarlet Gladiolus-like blossoms during the greater
part of the winter. WTiere supplies of leaf soil
or peat are not to be had, it may be grown tolera-
bly well in any ordinary soil that has been well
enriched with rotten dung previous to planting.
Its flag-like leaves are rather subject to red

108

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[April,

spider, but this may always be prevented by
keeping the plants well supplied, when necessary,
with water, as it is invariably over-dry ness, either
in the atmosphere or at the roots, that favors the
existence of this pest; both may, therefore, be
guarded against by sprinkling the plants over-
head two or three times a week, or as often as
the weather renders such a course necessary or
desirable for the health and well-being of the
plants. If treated in this way, they will be found
to produce flower-spikes early in October, when
they may be taken up and placed in pots accord-
ing to the size and strength of the tufts. They
should then be placed in a close, mois^t frame for
a week or so, to give them a chance of becoming
established before being placed in the compara-
tively dry atmosphere of a greenhouse or con-
servatorv."

NEW PLANTS.

RoMNEYA CouLTERi.— A new and peculiar flow-
er, belonging to the Poppy family, wliich wo did
not meet in California, but of which we often
heard. The plant was represented to us as two
feet or more in height, with white, fragrant flow-
ers quite five inches in diameter. The petals are
pure white, stamens bright yellow, foliage pale
green, somewhat glaucus. Flowers fragrant, and
often from forty to fifty adorning the plant at one
time. — J. Vick.

[We believe this plant has somewhat the face
of the well known Argemone Mexicana, or Mex-
ican Poppy.— Ed. G. M.]

Delphinium nudicaule.— Mr. ^'ick .says of
this : " Among the beautiful flowers that adorn
the California mountains, we saw nothing reallv
more decorative than the bright scarlet Larkspur,
Delphinium, nudicaule. Every moiuitaiii-top, es-
pecially in the neighborhood of the Geysers
seemed covered with these brilliant little flowers!
We filled our hands with the flowers, and
our pockets with the seeds; and though
often warned that rattle-snakes abounded, we .saw
nothing more formidable than the pretty little
lizards, that seemed as lively as crickets."

Brodlea Californica.— Of all the ])retty flow-
ers that abound in California, we know of noth-
ing prettier than the twining Hyacinth. The
flowers are a very fine pink, or deep rose. It
grows in the mountains and twines over every
bush it can reach, and the flower-stem goes to

the top of the bush to which it is attached, no
matter if it is five or ten feet. After it gets to the
top of the bush and rests awhile to be sure it haa
got a good hold, it lets go of the earth and goes
on blooming and seeding for weeks and monthsi
regardless of the burning sun by day or the cool
mountain air by night. The leaves are long,
narrow and grass-like. The roots are very deep,
and being entangled with the roots of shrubs and
bushes, it is next to impossible to get them up.
This plant is in flower at all times from May to
September. The flower-stem breaks oS" near the
ground, and the flowers are left swinging in the
air without any connection with earth or root,
supported by the bash about which it twines. —
James Vick.

Spir.i=:a palmata. — In a description of this
plant given in the Botanical Magazine, No. 285,
Dr. Hooker says : " By far the handsomest spe-
cies of the genus hitherto imported, and cer-
tainly one of the most beautiful hardy plants in
cultivation ; the deep purple red of the stems
and branches, passing into the crimson purple
of the glorious broad corymbs of flowers, con-
trasts more exquisitely with the foliage, which in
autunni assumes beautiful tints of brown and
golden yellow." It is a native of Japan, and
was discovered and introduced by Mr. Fortune.
— W. Bull.

QUERIES.

CR.A.T.KGrsPYR.A.CANTHA HEDGES. — A Kentucky
correspondent writes : " I take the liberty of
writing you regarding Crataegus Pyracantha,
which i.s now exciting a good deal of attention
in these parts, though very little is known of ita
merits as a hedge plant. Do you believe it
would l)e hardy down here? That is, hardy to
the extent of carrying its foliage throughout the
winter. I am glad your Monthly is getting
along finely."

[The common Pyracantha is a rather strag-
gling l)usli, and has to be kept in order by the
shears. The White-Berried Pyracantha is a dense
close grower, and makes a beautiful close hedge
without trimming. It is rather a slow grower,
but as there is nothing lost by cutting back, as in
most fast growing things, it comes up in about
the same time. The white-berried kind is very
much the hardiest, and keeps green all win-
ter. It must be raised from cuttings. — Ed. G. M.]

1816.''

AND HORTICULTURIST.

103

'KEEN mOUSE AND IfioUSE ^ARDENING.

5^:i3'-a^

SEASONABLE HINTS.

In this part of the world wmdow plants are not
given their summer airing until May, but every
opportunity is taken to let them have all the
open air possible, by opening windows and
sashes wherever practicable. People often com-
plain that i3lants from greenhouses are too tender
to stand the open sun, but it is only because they
have been too much confined. If any plants grow-
ing in pots are yellow, or in anyway sickly, it is as
well to prune them severely and i:)lant for a year
in the open ground. If they have insects on them
these should be cleaned off before planting out,
or they will increase under our dry summer sun.
The red spider is best treated to a syringing of warm
soap suds, and then to be dusted Avith sulphur;
and the scale insects should have a painting with
whale oil soap, and some say linseed oil. Many
plants will have to be kept in pots all summer,
and these are best set in partial shade. There
are few more desirable room plants than the
Ivy and Pei'iwinkle in tlieir numerous varieties.
These should be potted now, and grown all sum-
mer. There are many things nearly, or quite
hardy, that are not often kept in i:)ots, but which
would make good things for ]?oom culture, and
these should be potted now. Of these we may
name Cotoneasters, Mahonias, Berberis, Euony-
mus. These are very easily managed, and it
seems to us that for those who have had little
experience in plant growing, or whose conve-
niences are limited, it is just as feasible to have
beautiful tilings easy to grow, as beautiful things
that are difficult.

During the summer one may have rooms pre-
pared for winter window-plants, and much may
be done by arranging shutters so as to make
double windows, to keep out the cold. In this
connection read the following good hints from
the Builder:

"Nothing is more effective to keep out
cold than double windows ; the layer of air be-
tween two panes of glass is a good non-conductor
of heat, and can only transmit it from'the inside
outward by convection, that is, by a circulation

of the inclosed air, which will descend along the
outer cold window pane and ascend along the in-
ner warm pane. The radiated heat, which, at tem-
peratures below 100° Fah., is very weak through
glass, is of course smaller still through double
glass ; then the inconvenience of glass becoming
covered with frost during cold weather, is done
away with, if the inclosed air is drJ^

"Some time ago we communicated a sugges-
tion, made by some builder, to insert two panes
of glass, one on the outside and one on the inside
of the same frame, having rabbets on both sides ;
this may do for economy, but is subject to the
objection that the inside cannot be cleaned with-
out taking the glass out, and the fact is that in
the course of time it will in some way or other
get into such a condition as to need cleaning ;
then, when the glasses are so close together, the
l^rotection against the outer cold is less effective
than if a greater mass of air is included.

"In very cold countries, like Russia, Sweden, or
Canada, the need of such protection is more felt
than with us ; but even here it is often adopted
in exposed localities, when the parties can afford
the luxury. Thus all the houses on Brooklyn
Hights, enjoying the magnificent view of New
York harbor, and those on Washington Hights,
enjoying the view of the Hudson river and the
Palisades, are fully exposed to the strong and
cold blasts of the northwest winter winds, and
are all provided at the west and north sides with
double windows, the absolute necessity of which
has become more and more evident for the com-
fort of the inmates. Such a double window may
serve another purpose, and be used as a little
greenhouse ; when exposed to the sun, the solar
heat is stored up in them, and in France some
parties groAV different plants and even grapes in
them in winter."

COMMUNICA TIONS.

ORANGE AND LEMON TREES AND GERANIUMS.

BY ^^^LLIAM Sutherland, Philadelphia.
A lady, writing from Maryland, says that laat
spring a year ago I proposed in the Monthly to

104

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[April,

tell something about raising Orange and Lemon
trees, and wishes I would redeem my promise.
She says she and her lady friends followed my
instructions for growing the Calla lily with very
favorable results, and adds that she is quite suc-
cessful in raising seedling Geraniums, but has
great difficulty in getting them to flower before
they are very large plants. Now, I think this
letter ought to have been sent to Mr. Meehan,
as all letters of inquiry should be ; but as she
says I promised, I must, of course, perform. The
first thing to be done is to procure the lemon
seed (as both orange and lemon are generally
grafted or budded on the lemon stock) ; this can
easily be accomplished by saving all the perfect
pips they find in the lemons when next they
make lemonade ; these should be dried and sown
in light sandy soil in a pan or shallow box, and
■when two or three inches in height should be

Suppose the stock to be one foot high, or as
high as your fancy may dictate; with a sharp
knife carefully cut the bark and outer wood down
as shown in Fig. 1, then prepare the graft as
showii in the same figure ; insert the graft in the
stock, carefully bringing the edges of the bark
together so that the bark of the graft fits the
bark of the stock (it is not necessary that the
graft fit the stock exactly, if the bark of the graft
meet the bark of the stock on one side it is all-
sufficient) ; tie them in their pjace as shown in
Fig. 2 with some soft tying material, such as
cotton strings, matting, &c. After tying them
smear the grafted part over with soft clay,
shorten the stock back, place it in a glass jar,
and stop the mouth up with moss, cotton or soft
paper, so as to exclude all air during the time
that the union is taking place. Shade the plant,
and when the graft has taken, gradually harden

potted singly in small pots or planted out in the
open ground. If the weather be warm, and all
danger from frosts be over, these seedlings when
as thick as an ordinary lead pencil may be bud-
ded with orange or lemon buds in the same way
as peach trees, and about the same time of the
year — July, August, September. For my own
part, I prefer grafting, as it forms a specimen
much quicker than the slower process of bud-
ding, which causes us to wait until the next sea-
son before we can hope to get a growth. The
only difficulty in the way of grafting is to keep
the stock and gi-aft, or rather that part which is
operated upon, in an air-tight chamber during
the process, which can be readily done in the
following manner :

it off" by removing the material from the mouth
of the jar for two or three hours each day, ex-
tending the time until it is thoroughly hardened,
but in no case allow the graft to droop from too
long exposure. In selecting the grafts be careful
to take only such as have plump eyes on the
half ripened wood, as the older the wood is the
slimmer the chance of success. The orange is
generally distinguished from the lemon by its
leaf .stalks having wings, as shown in Fig. 4,
while the lemon has a plain stalk as shown in Fig. 3.
Both plants grow well in almostany rich sandy soil,
and when growing require Tin abundance of wa-
ter. The pots should be well drained with oyster
shells, broken pots, or small stones, and the

1876.]

AND HORTICULTURIST,

105

plant shifted into larger pots, as the old one be-
comes filled with roots.

The principal varieties of oranges and lemons

are —
Sweet Orange.
Bitter Orange.
Finger Orange.
Blood Orange.

Varieg. leaved Orange.
Sweet Lemon.
Sour Lemon.
Citron.

Otaheite Orange. The Lime.

Myrtle-leav'd Orange. Californian Lime.
Mar darine Orange. Dwarf Lime.
Fr. Hybrid Orange. The Pummelce.

In regard to flowering seedling Geraniums the
process which I generally practice after the plant
has grown some eight inches is as follows: I
make a six-inch cutting of the top, dry it in the
shade for a day, and insert it in sand or sandy
soil, keeping it moderately dry until rooted,
when it should be potted and shifted, as it re-
quires, or planted out in the ground.

By this means it will be found that seedling
Geraniums flower much quicker and grow
dwarfer than on the seed roots, and where room
is no object, and stumps are kept, you get two
plants instead of one, which is a great advantage
if the seedling be worth preserving, &c.

COAL TAR.

BY J. F. M. FARQUHAR, EAST PROVIDENCE, R. I.

A few years ago I had some experience with
the use of coal tar in two forcing pits, which may
be interesting to some of your readers.

The wooden frame-work of the beds having be-
come decayed, it was necessary to renew them.
In order to make the new frames last as long as
possible, the inside of the planks were given a
coating of coal tar. The work was done in sum-
mer, so that it had time to dry and harden before
the soil was put in. I had recommended to my
employer pitch tar in preference to the cheaper
article, fearing that bad effects might result if the
high temperature in the pits should melt the
coal tar. But in the fall, when the soil was
placed in the beds, so hard and dry had it be-
come that I thought the work could not be done
better, or more cheaply, and my earlier appre-
hensions were removed. Winter-flowering plants
and early vegetables occupied the beds, and all
did well for about three months after being
planted.

The weather having become intensely cold,
the heating apparatus had to be kept at work
night and day. Just at this time the plants
seemed to lose their healthy look; Koses and
Bouvardias began to sicken, their leaves to turn
yellow and fall off. I at once suspected what the
trouble was, and in order to remedy the evil as
far as possible, I removed these plants out of the
beds and potted them. I found that their young
roots were black and lifeless from being poisoned
by the tar. The continual heat from the pipes
immediately under the beds had melted it, and
the gases being absorbed by the soil poisoned
it. In other parts of the pits, Carnations, Helio-

106

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[April,

tropes and Stocks were planted in the same
manner, and they did not appear to suffer in
the least. Lettuces, however, didn't seem to like
their quarters any better than the Roses and
Bouvardias. Parsley grew quite as well as if
nothing unfavorable touched its roots. I had no
satisfiiction from these pits that season, and
when summer came round again, I took the first
opportunity to remove all traces of what had
given me so much trouble, and refitted the
frames with hard pine planks; after which I had
no trouble. Experience is often a hard teacher,
and this mishap taught me that a gardener can-
not know too much about anything that relates
to his business.

HEATING WITH HOT WATER.

BY THUS. OTTAWAY.

I have had thirty years' practical ex^perience
in heating plant houses with fines, steam and hot
water, and do not hesitate to say that hot water
is by far the best for plant growth. The best
boilers are those of Hitchings & Co. and Weathered
of all I have had in use. My advice is to u.-^e
plenty of pipe for heating to produce healthy
plants. I don't like the water to exceed 160 de-
grees. My advice is to keep pipes 4 to 6 feet
above the boiler, and to connect the feed pipe
with the flow, to take away the steam generated
in the boiler. Many suppose the hot water
drives the cold, but it is just the reverse— it is the
balance of power. Cold water being the heavier,
the more the pipes are elevated above the boiler
tlie quicker the circulation. »

EDITORIAL NOTES.

Floral Decorations at Tunbridge Wells.—
The floral decorations at the exhibition of the
Tunbridge Wells Horticultural Society, held on
the 2nd inst., exhibited a marked improvement
upon those of last season, both as regards num-
ber of entries and taste in arrangement. In the
class for a group of three pieces for table deco-
ration (flowers or fruit), strange to say not one
group staged contained fruit. The first prize in
this class was awarded to Mrs. Seale, London Road,
Sevenoaks, for a charmingly-arranged group
of three March vases, decorated with white Wa-
ter Lilies, scarlet Geraniums, the scarlet spathes

of the Flamingo plant. Orchids, scarlet Begonias,
pale blue Larkspurs, mixed varieties of Ferns and
wild Grasses, while from the trumpets trailed
long sprays of Lygodium scandens. The arrange-
ment of the flowers in these stands was much
more effective than that which Mrs. Seale exhib-
ited at the Crystal Palace on the 26th of last
month; indeed, I quite agree with one of our
oldest judges, who, when he saw Mrs. Seale's
group of March vases at Tunbridge, said it was
the prettiest arrangement he had ever seen. The
second prize in this class was awarded to Mrs. G.
Smith, Hurstley, for a group of three vases, con-
sisting of trumpets rising out of fiat tazzas, the
centre piece being the tallest, but had it been
about 6 inches taller still it would have been a
great improvement. The principal dressing of
these stands consisted of blooms of Tacsonia Van
Volxemii, sprays of Spirpea and Copper Beech,
and light grey-tinted foliage furnished by Cen-
taurea and other grey-leaved plants. The third
prize in this class was awarded to Mr. John
Beech, for an effective group consisting of a March
stand for the centre piece, and at each side
trumpets rising out of tazzas,all three being dressed
with nuich taste. In the cla.ss for a single piece
lor table dec()ration the first prize was awarded to
Mr. James Bolton for an elegantly-arranged vase,
in which Orchids, blue Corn-flowers, Stephanotis,
and other flowers and Ferns were charmingly in-
termixed. The second prize fell to Mrs. Seale
for a March vase, very similar to the others ex-
hibited by that lady ; and the third prize w'as
awarded to Mr. Fennel for a jiretty design ; and
an extra fourth Avas awarded to Mr. G. Hubbard.
The hand bouquets were good, nearly all exhib-
ited, with few exceptions, being lightly put to-
gether, and free from that packed appearance
too often to be observed in those exhibited for
competition at flower shows; the prizes were
awarded (in the order in which the names stand)
to Mr. John Staples, Mrs. Staples, Mr. G. Hub-
bard, and Mrs. Fennel. For button-hole bou-
quets, which were plentiful, the first prize was .
awarded to Miss Jane Hollamby, and the second
to Mr. R. A. Boesseer. Again, as last season, in
the class for arranged groups of wild flowers,
there was a keen competition. The first prize
was awarded to Miss Cox, the flowei^s in whose
stands consisted of Poppies, Dog Daisies, Forget-
me-nots, yellow^ Bird's-foot, Trefoil, and Grasses ;
the second to Mr. Cliarlcs Noble, for a large-sized
March vase, in which, in addition to wild flowers,
Grasses were extensively emiiloyed. In the

1876.]

AND HOBTIGULTURIST.

lot

class for a single piece for table decoration
(for gardeners only), the prizes went to Mr. Rich-
ard Downing and Mr. James Bolton, both of
whose arrangements were much admired. — The
Garden.

Annuals for Bouquets. — People often want
to know what to sow to get flowers for cutting
all summer long. The following list is recom-
mended by Messrs. Thorburn :

LIST OF ANNUALS SUITABLE FOR BOUQUETS.

Abronia umbellata.

Ageratum Mexicanum.

'' album.

Alyssum maritinum.
Amaranthus tricolor.
Aquilegia cserulea.
Aster chrysanthemiflora.

" alba.
Balsams Camellia flow-
ered.
Centranthus m a c r o s i -
[phon.
" dwarf.
Clintonia pulchella.
Collinsia bicolor.
" verna.

Cuphea ocymoides.
" miniata.

" purpurea.

Dianthus Chinensis.
Didiscus caerulea.
Gilia tricolor.
Gypsophila paniculata.

Gypsophila acutifolia.
Heliophila araboides.
Heliotropium grandi-

florum.
Iberis odorata.
" umbellata.
" sempervirens.
Leptosiphon d e n s i -

florus.
Lobelia gracilis.
" erinus.
Mimulus moschatus.
Phlox Drummondii.
Eeseda odorata (Mig-
nonette).
Silene Schafta.
Smilax asparagoides

(Mj-rsiphyllum).
Spraguea umbellata.
Stocks, (Ten Weeks.)
Viola tricolor, finest.
Viscaria oculata.
" Dunnettii.

Zinnia, all the double varieties.

NEW PLANTS.

Macleya Yedoensis. — This charming orna-
mental-leaved plant has been recently introduced
from Japan. It is a vigorous grower, and attains
in one season a height of from four to five feet.
The leaves are very large, of a glacous green,
with rosy yellow nervoses on the upper side, and
are deeply and elegantly cut. — R. G. Hanford.

New Variegated Lantana — Harkett's Per-
fection. — This has been proved the past two
summers and is undoubtedly the best variegated
bedding or pot plant to stand the sun. The leaves
are golden yellow, blotched and marbled with
dark green ; having rich rose colored flowers
with orange centre, beautifully harmonizing with

the foliage. It obtained a diploma at the North-
western Exposition held in Dubuque, in Sep-
tember, 1875.— TF. A. Harkett.

Othonna crassifolia. — This pretty plant is
but little known. It has a dwarf, creeping, or
pendulous habit, with slender, round, fleshy, light
green leaves, and small axillary, yellow flowers.
As a plant for hanging-baskets, flourishing in a
cool temperature, it is the gem of all similar
plants. Its numerous graceful stems droop over
the sides of the pot or basket, and its Sedum-like
foliage glistens under the bright sun ; also suita-
ble for carpet-bedding among succulent plants.
It is a perfect gem in the full sun.

Begonia FRoeBELi. — This new species was first
exhibited in this country by its introducers,
Messrs. Froebel & Co., of Zurich, on August 4th,
1875 (see The Garden, Vol. VIIL, p. 121), when it
received a first-class certificate. In habit it is
quite distinct from all others, having large ob-
liquely cordate, hairy leaves, hoary beneath, and
very variable in size, the largest being 6 to 12
inches in length, and from 3 to 8 inches in width.
It has crimson-scarlet flowers, which are borne
in erect panicles from 10 to 15 inches in height.
The male flowers are four-petaled and nearly 2
inches in diameter, while the female flowers are
five-petaled, and about 1 or li inches in diameter.
The peduncles themselves are of a bright red
color spotted with crimson. This species has
been used with success for bedding purposes on
the Continent. It is a welcome addition to our
hardy tuberous-rooted species, and will be inval-
uable to the hybridiser, the panicles of vivid
flowers being borne well up above the tufted radi-
cal leaves on separate stems, as in B. Veitchii or
B. rosreflora, only we have here many-flowered
branched panicles instead of a few-flowered
scapes. This, one of Mr Roezl's discoveries on
the Andes of Ecuador, where it luxuriates at al-
titudes varying from 8,000 to 10,000 feet, or in a
temperature where the Strawberry seems per-
fectly at home, is well figured in the January
number of the Illustrirte Garten- Zeitung, t. 1. W©
believe Mr. B. S. Williams has made arrange-
ments to distribute it in this country.— £., m
London Garden.

QUERIES.

Names of Plants.— J. I., Newton, Mass.— The
little leaf No. 1 appears to be a variegated leaf of

108

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[Apeil,

Eranthemum pulchellum. No. 2, variegated
Vinca major.

Machines for Flower Pots. — F. G., Memphis,
Tenn. : " You will confer a favor upon a con-
stant reader of your Gardener's Monthly by letting
me know where I can get a machine to make
flower pots."

[Tliese are made in Baltimore, we believe, but
are unable to give more precise directions. — Ed.
G. M.]

FlO'WEKING of CoMBRETUM GRANDIFLORl'M. — J.

B., Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio : " Could you give me
some information, please, how to make blooming
Combretum grandiflorum. We have one plant
of it; been about 15 years on the place; never
did anything but grow."

[This plant and its allies often take these con-
trary humors, but when they do bloom usually
make up for it. The best advice that we can
give is to keep it under potted, and let it have
all the light and sun it can get. — Ed. G. M.]

Variegated L.antana. — Mr. Harkett writes :

" I send you to-day a plant of my new Lan-
tana, which I think you will find a valuable
plant for bedding, especially where exposed to
the sun, where few variegated plants can suc-
ceed. I also enclose a few remarks in regard to
training trees and fruit bushes to walls for late
crops, Avhich may be both valuable and interest-
ing to some of your readers in the large Eastern
cities, where walls abound that can be made
to do service.

' ' In regard to the Lantana, the leaves get a little
green when they are shaded too much or get old,
but while growing, exposed to the sun, it is ex-
cellent, and I think will prove the most valuable
addition to the class yet obtained. I have also a
very fine scarlet Geranium of dwarf habitand very
free bloomer that holds its petals well and pro-
duces large flowers and trusses which is fully
equal in quality to the latest imported varieties,
although flowers are not as large as Eienzie or
quite as perfect, but better bloomer and has
larger trusses."

[The Lantana did not come to hand. — Ed.
G. M.l

plRUIT AND VEGETABLE GARDENING.

SEASONABLE HINTS.

The Apple is our standard fruit, and may al-
ways be relied on with reasonable care. The
first care is good food. Some talk about too
rich soil. We never saw the soil too rich for the
apple. Where any trouble arises in apple cul-
ture, it will be safe to attribute it to other causes
than rich soil. Kitchen ashes, in which table
refuse is thrown, is an excellent top-dressing for
apples. We like top-dressing better than any
other system of manuring a]jple trees. Even
nice ditch scrapings are good to top-dress with,
where nothing else offers. Apple trees are often
starved in other ways than by neglect to ma-
nure. The apple borer leads to starvation of-
tener than poor soil. The supply of food is cut
off by every move the borer makes. They work
at the surface of the groiuid. Look for them
now. If you have no time, set the boys and
girls to work. Say they shall have no apples for

Christmas or birthdfiy presents if they do not.
HoAvever, get the borers out somehow, even if by
wire and jack-knife. If not soon done they will
soon get out themselves, and give you more
trouble in the future. After they have left,
whether by your invitation or otherwise, keep
them out; even though you have to lock the
door after the horse is stolen. There is nothing
like tarred paper to keep them out. The paper
must be put an inch or more below the ground,
and two or three above. We have used gas-tar
for years ; but find that if the tar contains creo-
sote, as it sometimes does, and the newspaper be
verj' thin, it will once in awhile injure the bark.
Pine tar will therefore be better.

In grape raising people seem to go to extremes
in management. A few years ago the poor plant
was in leading strings. It dared not make one
free growth, but it was pinched and twisted into
all sorts of ways. Now the "prune not at all"
maxims are getting headway, and this is as bad,
if not worse. First, grape growing was such a

1876.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

109

mystery it took a life time to study it, and the
" old vigneron" was an awfully sublime sort of a
personage. He is now among the unfrocked and
unreverenced. But there is great art in good
grape treatment; and yet this art is founded on
a very few simple principles. For instance,
leaves are necessary to healthy growth ; but two
leaves three inches wide are not of equal value
to one leaf of six inches. To get these strong
leaves, see that the number of sprouts be limited.
If two buds push from one eye, pinch out the
weakest whenever it appears. The other will be
strengthened bj^ this protective policj', and the
laws of trade result in favor of larger and better
leaves on the leaf that follows. Allow no one
shoot to grow stronger than another. If there
are indications of this, pinch off its top. Wliile
it stops to wonder what you mean by this sum-
mary conduct, the weaker fellows will profit to
take what properly belongs to them. There is
little more science in summer pruning than this;
but it takes some experience, joined with com-
mon sense, to apply it. This, indeed, is where
true art comes in.

South of Philadelphia, the more tender kinds
of garden vegetables may now be sown — beans
corn, cucumbers, squashes, etc. — that it is not
prudent to plant in this latitude before the first
of May ; and tomato, egg-plants, etc., may also
be set out in those favored places. Cucumbers,
squashes, and such vegetables, can be got for-
ward as well as tomatoes, egg-plants, etc., by
being sown in a frame or hotbed, and potted off
into three-inch pots. They will be nice plants
by the first week in May. Rotten wood suits
cucumbers and the squash tribe exceedingly well
as a manure. Tomatoes and egg-plants that are
desired very early are best potted, soon after they
come up, into small pots. They can then be
turned out into the open air without any check
to their roots. Of course, they should be gradu-
ally inured to the open air — not suddenly trans-
ferred from a warm and moist air to a very dry
one.

Early York cabbage for early use should be
set out early in this month. An excellent plan
is to make the holes with a dibble first, where
the cabbage is to be set ; then fill the holes with
manure-water ; and after the water has soaked
away, set in the plants. It is rather more
laborious than the old way, but the cabbage
grows so fast afterwards that it pays pretty well.

Celery is an important crop, and should be

sown about this period. A rich moist spot
shaded from the mid-day sun, should be chosen;
or a box in a frame, if convenient.

Bean-poles may be planted preparatorj-- to
soAvmg the Lima bean in MaJ^ Where bean-
poles are scarce, two or three hoop-poles, set
into the ground, and tied together at the top,
make as good a pole, and perhaps better.

Dwarf beans should have very warm and
deep soil — sow them only two inches apart.
The Valentine is yet the best early, take it all in
all.

Peas should be sown every two weeks for a
succession — do not make the soil very rich for
them.

COMMUNIGA TIONS.

A VISIT TO COVENT GARDEN MARKET.

BY MANSFIELD MILTON.

Being long anxious to visit this world-renowned
place for a display of vegetables, I accordingly
paid it a visit one Saturday morning, in January
last. With the produce which the market gar-
dens around London brought to this market I
was astonished at its excellence ; but with the
place they have for selling it in I was disappoint-
ed. It is far too small for the immense traffic, and,
together with the narrowness of the streets lead-
ing into it, make it altogether a very mean place
for the purpose. The business is mostlj'- done in
the morning between 6 and 9 o'clock, when but
little trafl&c of any other kind is being carried on,
especially during winter; but, at the same time,
the large wagons used for conveying the produce
are so closely packed together it is very difficult
for those on foot to push their way through ; and
very disagreeable for those having the work to do,
getting their vegetables off" the wagons, and pro-
perly disposed of.

The flower market is much superior to the vege-
table department. It is a large building so ar-
ranged that one can move about and examine
the plants and flowers with a good deal more
comfort than in the vegetable market, and, un-
doubtedly, with a good deal less of rebuff to the
stranger than in the latter place. The buyers
and sellers appear to think they have an exclu-
sive right during the early hours of the morn-
ing, and that strangers should stand outside and

110

THE aARDENER'S MONTHLY

[April,

under no pretense whatever ask any questions
about what they see, except the prices of the dif-
ferent vegetables. In the flower department
every one appeared very anxious to inform us
what we asked them.

Upon the whole, I really think London — the
Empire City of the world — should possess a vege-
table market something in keeping with her
great size and immense wealth. For the benefit
of the readers of the Monthly, I shall give a list
and the prices of some of the principal vegeta-
bles, plants, and cut flowers which were in the
market at the time of my visit.

Turnips were in large quantities and of good
quality, but not very large in size ; they sold for
4d. per bunch. Carrots were splendid, not extra
large, but clean and free from canker; 6d. per
bunch. Rhubarb, at Is. Gd. per bundle, was
finely colored, although forced, which is what is
not always seen, and what many gardeners do
not deem requisite to have in forced rhubarb,
but what is not well colored is not well flavored.
Plenty of air and light are necessary in obtaining
color. Green peas, at Is. Gd. per ft., were not
very plentiful. Considerable quantities of new
potatoes were in the market, and for about Is.
6d. per small basket. A good many tomatoes I
saw, but of a quality which would not be much
relished by Americans, who are so much accus-
tomed to such fine fruit at home; they brought
from Is. to 2s. per dozen. Scakale was in splen-
did condition, thoroughly blanched and, there-
fore, very tender; sold for about 2s. per punnet.
Asparagus was plentiful, and of excellent quality ;
home-grown brought from 8s. to 10s. per bundle.
There were also cucumbers, onions in large quan-
tities, leeks, celery (mostly red varieties), lettuce,
endive, cabbage, Brussel-sprouts, and cauliflower^
which all sold at good, fair prices. Taken alto-
gether, the vegetables were the best and in larger
quantities than I had previously seen anywhere.

The fruit was also very good and in large
quantities; some excellent grapes of Lady Downe's
and Black Alicante varieties. These are the two
best kinds we have for hanging late, but it ap-
pears to me the true Alicante is not always seen
bearing the name. It is a fine keeping and good
looking, but not an extra flavored grape. They
ranged in price from 2s. to 6s. per ft. Plenty of
foreign grapes at much lower prices.

There were some good specimens of Ne Plus
Meuris, Easter Beurre and Beurre Eance, pears,
large lots of American apples, plenty of oranges,
figs, nuts, melons and pine-apples. The plants

were mostly growing in six-inch pots, but were
well grown and free from insects ; those in flower
appeared as if their blooms had just opened, so
as to be in their best that very day. The plants
of Azaleas were grown mostly as standards, and
the smallest of the plants full of blossoms, both
single and double varieties; they sold for from
£2 to £3 per dozen.

Bouvardias were not in such good condition as
I have often seen some of the American garden-
ers having them ; they sold for about 12s. per
dozen. Wlien visiting the large plant establish-
ment of Messrs. Hugh Low & Co. I saw a great
quantity of the different varieties of bouvardia
growing in pots flowering very freely, but what
drew my attention most was the large size of trusses
they had. Primula sinensis astonished me to see
the excellent strains of some of the lots exposed
for sale here. It is very strange some of the en-
thusiastic florists throughout the United States
have not got into the cultivation of some good
strain of Primula and raise seed for home de-
mands. As it is, gardeners in want of fine kinds
have to import from England, and although the
highest price is paid for it, far superior strains
are seen for sale in Covent Garden than any I
have ever seen raised from any of our " im-
ported " seed.

Tlie plants have foliage of fine substance, the
flowers, which are very large, are produced in
large trusses, and raise above the leaves just high
enough to make them look well. The fine strains
brought 12s. per dozen.

Poinsettia pulcherrima is grown in six-inch
pots. The plants are very dwarf, and the bracts
very large. Some of the white one — alba — are for
sale, but not nearly so abundant as the red one ;
they brought about £1 per dozen. Tulips were in
variety and very fine. They are planted five
bulbs in a pot, and sell from 9s. to 18s. per dozen.
Hyacinths are grown singly in pots, and bring
about the same price; except Eoman Hyacinths,
which sell for as much as 30s. per dozen. There
was a great show of the diflerent colors of Cycla-
men, selling for from 12s. to 18s. per dozen.

Besides the above, there were large lots of
Heaths in variety, Begonias, Echeveria retusa
floribunda, Cyperus alternifolius, Epiphyllums,
Dracsenas, Mignonette, Pelargoniums, and Ficus
elastica. Cut flowers were not so plentiful as are
seen in the florists' establishments in the United
States. I have seen in a single establishment
there more flowers at one time than there were
in all Covent Garden Market. Some of the prin-

1816.]

ANV HORTICULTURIST.

Ill

cipal were Carnations, 12 blooms, 2s. to 4s.; Gar-
denias, 12 bl., 12s. to 18s.; Eucharis, 12 bl., 6s. to
18s.; Stephanotis, 12 sprays, 9s. to 18s.; Tube-
roses, per dozen, 4s. to 9s. Such kinds as Cylca-
men. Heliotropes, Mignonette, Pelargoniums,
Primula, Spirea, Violets, and Roses sold a good
deal cheaper.

A NEW CULTURE FOR ASPARAGUS.

BY GEN. W. H. NOBLE, BRIDGEPORT, CONN.

The horticultural observations and experience
you so "wisely invite, have worth just in propor-
tion as they come tested and sifted from mere
notions and whims. WTiat others tell us they
have tried or seen, gains value only through a
like ordeal. No one matter with which the hu-
man has to do is fuller of humbugs told as truths
than horticulture. I, therefore, sift well all new
ways put out as betters of the old. Under this
rule, asking for what I am about to tell only the
trust deserved by well weighed words, I relate a
new mode of asparagus culture, told me bj' the
venerable Elias Fairchild, whom all here know
to be truthful and exact.

Just over our New York boundary, a hotel-
keeper, who was also a garden-lover, planted on
good, level soil an asparagus bed of some 12 by
20 feet. When its growth became strong he year
by year covered it with some two or three inches
of good rich mould. Up through this shot the
stalks and crept the roots. The method was fol-
lowed up every season, with the result of larger
growth and product, till the bed became an ob-
long mound of some 2 or 3 feet in height, and a
perfect wonder in the quality and quantity of
asparagus furnished for the table. That yearly
blanket of soil was, my friend thinks, the only
culture or enrichment given. The bed was never
dug with fork or spade.

Have we not in this a new and better method
for this toothsome and healthful vegetable ? To
many it may not be new. It was to me. A slight
experience of mine, the last season, gives me
faith in its value. By sheer accident, some two
or three inches of good loam was spread over a
portion of my asparagus bed ; I noticed there, a
much more vigorous growth of the vegetable as
well as weeds than elsewhere on the bed. The ques-
tion is, if such results come simply from this
heavy dressing of good mould, may we not hope
for greatly larger when we spread on new earth,
full of absorbed richness from cattle yards,

the bottoms of old stalls, or taken where the
wash of house or barn have soaked the soil.

If others have known of such results from like
causes, I hope they will not fail to tell your
Monthly, to which we look for sound views and
new light on all horticultural matters.

EDITORIAL NOTES.

June Budding Peach Trees. — H. C. S., Green
Tree. Pa., says : — " Gardeners, be so kind as to
inform me through the columns of the Garden-
er's Monthly, whether peach trees, budded in
June, are budded from wood of the previous
year's growth, or of the present year's growth ;
and if the former, is there any advantage in bud-
ding the peach in June? For I see peach trees
budded in June recommended by several nursery-
men in their catalogues."

[By June budding, if the proper time and con-
ditions are secured, a season is saved in getting
a tree. The plants are not as large as those
which take two seasons — not half as large,^-but
we have seen very good trees so raised, quite
good enough for extensive planting, and we
know no reason against the practice. — Ed. G. M.]

The Lady Apple. — There are two varieties of
Lady Apple, viz.: Pomme d'Api rose and Pomme
d'Api noir. The black one is really black, if we
may term a blackberry black, and has a very
peculiar appearance on the dish in company
with its rosy-cheeked companion. Both are
worth growing, but I have had no experience of
them in this country. — Chevalier, in The Garden.

Foreign fruits in England cannot compete
with the native grown. Grapes, pines, bananas,
— none are so good as the English raise in their
forcing houses. The American Newtown Pippin
apple is, however, the most popular in the Eng-
lish markets of all apples. English pears are
said to be superior to any. Glout Morceau and
Winter Nelis, are the favorites at Christmas time.

American seedling Potatoes continue popular
in England, on account of their immense pro-
ductiveness, — ^but are produced very inferior in
quality to the standard English kinds.

Two SETS OF ROOTS TO A Grape Vine. — The Gar-
dener's Chronicle speaks of the great success of a
grape grower in obtaining fine fruit, who bent
the top of the cane down so that it could root
in the ground. There were thus two sets of

112

TEE GARDENEB'S MONTELY

[April,

roots, one at the bottom in a natural way, and
one at the top. The result was extremely favor-
able to vigor and health, and the fruit was extra
fine.

Forced fruits and vegetables. — It is said the
taste for varieties is increasing, and prices rather
on the advance for them in England.

The early Olive Radish is the most popular
early kind now in England, having completely
displaced all others where a first-rate kind is de-
sired.

The profits of Or.'^nge growing. — There has
been some discussion as to the relative profits of
fruit growing north, and orange growing in the
far south — the advantage being thought to be
with the southern oranges. We are inclined to
doubt this. The Semi-Tropical, of a recent date,
says : —

" Mr. F. Hudnall has sold for shipment 35,000
oranges from his grove on the river opposite
Jacksonville, which averaged but one hundred
and thirty-eight to a barrel. Mr. Tuttle, owning
a grove of eleven-year-old trees near Mandarin,
has marketed seven hundred oranges, which for
quality cannot be excelled. One hundred select-
ed from the lot weighed over one hundred
pounds."

V/hen the writer of this was in New Orleans,
last December, Florida oranges were being brought
in by the boat load, and were selling on the levee
for $1.50 per hundred, — and these were thought
to be good prices. The "grove" of Mr. Tuttle
is not given as to its size, — but if these seven
hundred are the first products of " eleven years,"
a northern apple orchard will go a long way
ahead of this. If we have to wait so long, and
we think we have, what signifies $400, and from
this are to be deducted shipment to New Or-
leans.

Here is another paragraph : —

" Mrs. Bryan, an old resident on Lake Santa-
fee, Alachua county, Florida, has an orange tree,
planted by herself sixteen or seventeen years
ago, which produced last year five thousand
oranges."

At a cent and a quarter a piece, it is not much
to wait sixteen years for. Better set out oak
timber.

The Big Rambo Apple. — In regard to the note
of our Ohio correspondent, Ave find the following
in the Galena Press : —

"J. H. Creighton, of Pataskala, Ohio, gives the

supposed origin of the Big Rambo Apple which,
with many aliases, has grown to be a very popu-
lar fruit. He says that nearly sixty years ago
Wm. Cummins, of Pickaway county, Ohio, pur-
chased half a dozen of the trees from a sale, at
the residence of Mr. Bogart, in Fairfield county,
Ohio, and that these trees are still alive, and in
full bearing. His son recently informed the
writer that one of his neighbors took sprouts
from the roots of these trees which produced the
same kind of fruit, hence he concludes the
Bogart farm must have produced the original
seedling.

" Now it seems to us there are just two serious
objections to this theory. First, if it proves any-
thing it would prove too much, namely : that all
the half dozen trees were seedlings, else why
should sprouts from these produce the same
fruit? Yet again if they were all seedlings, it
would also go far to prove that an apple was at
last found which perpetuates itself from the
seeds. We have grown more than a dozen
varieties of plums in our garden from root
sprouts which were true to the variety of the
grafted stock, including e\'cry one of the Gage
varieties, yet we know the trees from whose
roots the sprouts were taken were grafted stock,
some of them being grafted by us. How then
were the sprouts the same as the grafted stock?
Simply by deep planting, and striking roots
from the grafted stock so that the tree gets to
stand upon its own roots. All the sprouts from
these roots will be the same in kind as the grafts
ed stock. We never thought of mentioning this
before, because we supposed the process familiar
to all whether nurserymen or amateurs. It is
quite common in such cases to have two kinds
of sprouts from the roots of the same tree ; one
set with the same leaf as the tree, the other, that
of the seedling on which it was originally grafted."

Large English Pears. — A correspondent of
the London Journal of Horticulture, thus braves
American pear growers as to the size of their
fruit : —

"We have from time to time read in the news-
papers surprising accounts of the enormous size
pears and apples have reached in California and
other favored places in the United States, but I
had no idea that we possessed in England either
a climate or a soil sufficiently fertile to produce
pears rivalling the fruits of our brother Jonathan.
A few days ago I received from Carmarthenshire
a box of specimen pears of such unusual size

1876.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

113

and beauty, that I think they are worthy of be-
ing noticed in the pages of our Journal.

Easter Beurr6, 1 lb. 1 oz.; Beurr^ Superfine, 1 lb.
2 oz.; Durandeau, 14j ozs.; Beurr6 d'Anjou, 12ozs.
Marie Louise, 12^ ozs. ; Winter Nelis, lOJ ozs.;
Gansel's Seckle, 8 ozs.; Zephirin Gregoire, 6| ozs.;
Do^'enne du Cornice, 1 lb. 61 ozs.

This last magnificent specimen measured 13 J
inches every way. These pear trees were not
delicately nurtured under glass in an orchard
house and fed with stimulants, but they grew in
the open air, and carried full crops of fruit.
The Marie Louise last year produced upwards of
640 fruit, and has j-ielded another very large crop
this year.

NEW FRUITS ^ VEGETABLES.

Thwack Raspberry. — A Louisiana,Mo., corres-
pondent says : " This berry so far is only locally
known, for I have purposely held it back till I
could propagate a good supply of plants, and
thoroughly test in ordinary field culture with-
out jirotection. The upright cane sorts, Turner,
Herstine,Brandywine and Philadelphia, killed to
the ground last winter, while the Thwack leaved
out to the very tips, and bore an enormous crop
of fruit last summer. These other sorts have
usually been hardy, but last winter with us was
unusually hard on small fruits,and they all foiled.
The Thwack is a cross between the Herstine
and Brandywine.

The Sterling Strawberry. — Mr. Bateham
sends us a private letter, evidentlj- not intended
for publication, but in which he says he is an-
noyed by parties writing to him about it, and he
desires us to say to all without any further cor-
respondence, that he regards it a first-class va-
riety, superior in many respects to the Jucunda
from which it may, perhaps, be a seedling. He
gives the following account of its origin, which
we think he will have no objection to our ex-
tracting : —

" The Sterling, with several other seedling
strawberries, was first exhibited to the j^ublic at a
fruit and flower show at East Cleveland, in June
1870, when I was present, and in common with
other fruit growers was very favorably impressed
with this variety. I learned that it was grown
from seed by Matthew Crawford, a market berry-
grower of that place. The seeds taken from
several large varieties, including Jucunda and

Triomphe de Gand. About this time, Mr. F. R.
Elliott had fruit of the Sterling presented to him,
and wrote a flattering notice of it for the Rural
Neiv Yorker and the Cleveland Herald.

QUERIES.

HuisrAN Hair as a Fertilizer. — A New York
correspondent says : " Do me the kindness to
inform me what you would think of the applica-
tion of human hair as a special manure to pear
and plum trees in orchards. It occurred to me
to-day that it must be full of the phosphates,
and might have some value. Will it decompose
readily without the use of some acid with it ?
Any light you can give will be gratefully re-
ceived.

[Clippings of barbers' shops are found to be
verj^ indestructible unless treated first to a dose
of sulphuiic acid. We should suppose it would
be an excellent fertilizer so treated. — Ed. G. M.]

Gas Lime. — D. D. & Sons, Allegheny City.
" Will you please inform us if lime, after being
used in the gas works, is better than fresh lime
for land for cabbage? "

[Gas lime is no better than other lime, but is
cheaper. Sometimes it is dangerous from the
amount of creosote it contains. Ed. G. M.]

Hardy Market Raspberry. — "A subscriber,
J. S." near Crosswicks, N. J., " about to commence
the cultivation of raspberries for market," asks,
"What is the best kind for the purpose, and
whether the best kind for market is hardy or re-
quires any special treatment?"

[So far no better kind for the purpose indicated
has beeft found than the Philadelphia. It is the
only kind not needing any special treatment,
though somewhat inferior in quality to others
which have to be covered by earth in winter.
Ed. G. M.]

Do Persimmons change by Grafting? —
E. H. C, Shepherdstown, Pa., saj-s : "Your ad-
vice to a correspondent in regard to propagating
the persimmon has suggested this question.

"More than twenty years ago I procured
grafts from an adjoining county of a large and
almost seedless variety, and grafted them on a
non-bearer. The result has been large, fine fruit
but very seedy. I have heard of similar
'freaks' in grafting this fruit. Wlio can tell
more about it?"

[This is an extremely interesting fact, and

114

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[April,

though we have never known anything of the kind
before, it accords with what we have placed before
the public in regard to the laws which regulate
the production of the sexes in plants, and also in
relation to fertilization. We have shown that in
regard to fertilization, what is known as the doc-
trine of " cross fertilization by insect agency " is
defective in this : that it assumes an actual pur-
port or design, a practical separation of the sexes
in order to obtain some supposed benefits from
cross fertilization. Thus the first crop of ciover
produces few seeds, but the second many, and the
assumption is that the plant can only seed by
cross fertilization, and the insect necessary to
this act is not abundant till the second crop is in
flower; but the truth in all probability is, as has
been shown by the writer of this, that it is from
some peculiarities of nutrition which at some
seasons, or at some times in some seasons, now
favors the male organs at the expense of the fe-
males, or the females at the expense of the males,
or now makes an exact balance of advantages
which results in a hermaphrodite flower truly
perfect in all its functions. Thus we see why
clover may fail in one month, and succeed in
another, and after its first course of nutrition has
been interfered with by the mowing.

We note further how nutrition interferes with
the sexual organs of plants, in what has been
written by the writer of this on the laws of sexes,
and putting all these facts together, it is perfectly
explicable how a persimmon, seedless on one
stock, should perfect seed on another. Nutrition
and the root system of a tree are intimately con-
nected, and one tree may easily communicate to
a set of branches an impulse favorable to the
perfection of pistils— conditions necessary to per-
fect seeds — which another set of tree roots would
be unable to do. Ed. G. M.]

Pe.\ch Seedlings.— B. W. H., Bloomingdale,
Ind., writes : " I have seen in catalogues refer-
ence to peach seedlings and grafting. What are
they grafted on ? How are weeping trees propa-
gated?"

[We are not clear that we quite understand
our correspondent. We will, however, say that
peaches in nurseries are raised first from the
stones, and when four months old are budded.
That is, the sprouting kernel of April is budded
in August. In the case of weeping peaches the
stock is, however, suffered to grow two years, so
as to get it 6 or more feet liigh, so that the
branches may have room to hang down. In the

Southern States peaches are crown grafted in the
winter time, and stowed away in boxes till spring*
as we do apple grafts, and this is more popular
than our Northern systems of summer budding.
Peaches are often grafted on plum stocks, and
do very well on some kinds, especially on the
Mirabelle, but do not do well on the Myrobalan.
There are often discussions on these points, some
praising, some discouraging plum stocks, but the
kind of stock makes all the difference.

Perhaps our correspondent is referring to the
use of seed of seedling trees for stock raising,
about which there is some difference of opinion
among nurserymen. The question, per se, we
should decide in favor of seedling seed. We be-
lieve that seeds of fruits of any kind are more
likely to be better from ungrafted trees than
from grafted ones, but there are many practical
circumstances to interfere with this abstract
good. In the case of the peach it is liable to
many diseases arising from culture, and it can
transmit disease to its progeny. This is the case
with seedling as with grafted trees, and one will
have more success with seed from healthy
grafted trees than from unhealthy seedlings. In
fixct no nurseryman finds any diffimilty in getting
as good trees as any one wants, in spite of the ab-
stract question, if the seed be only from healthy
trees, grafted or not. On the other hand much
injury results from this seedling idea in this that
it opens the door to frauds. There are some few
places where people are satisfied with small, infe-
rior peaches, which, of course, have small stones,
and the impression has become general that a
seedling peach must have a small stone. There
are some kinds of peaches that will reproduce
themselves tolerably pure from seed. Of these
we may mention the Columbia and the Smock.
We believe that orchards are once in a while
planted with seedlings of these, and they would
make excellent vigorous stocks, but no purchaser
of "seedling" stones would touch them, because
the stones are not small. To cater to this im-
pression, seeds of Early York, Hale's Early, and
similar kinds, are saved, and passed off for "seed-
ling." But they are really worse than the ave-
rage of good grafted seed, because they are less
vigorous, and, as is well known, more liable to
disease. The quantity of seedling orchards in
the country is very small, but there are stones
enough of "seedling" sold every year in the
United States to an astonishing extent. This is
where the practical evil of a good abstract idea
comes in. — Ed. G. M.l

1876.]

AND HORTICULTURIST.

115

iORESTRY.

COMMUNICA TIONS.

THE GROWTH OF THE CORK TREE IN THE
UNITED STATES.

Read before the Germantoivn Horticultural Society
by the President, Mr. John Jay Smith.
It was a witty reply — and wit keeps for a long
time — which Mathews gave when asked if he had
«ver been to Cork : " No, but I have seen many
■drawings of it." Our theme at present is not the
city of Cork, but the growing of cork trees from
acorns. Whether this will become, in the South-
em States, a new industry or not, further experi-
■ence only will test ; more probably than not, a
cork tree plantation will prove of eqvial if not
greater value than a sugar orchard ; the profits
from the latter, from Canada to Virginia, are not
inconsiderable.

From official statements it appears that the
•value of cork imported into the United States
in the year ending June 30, 1874, was $435,909,
and in the year ending June 30, 1875, $381,959.
No weight is given. Surely here is inducement
enough to make us to render ourselves indepen-
dent of foreign countries*. The countries which
supply us with cork are Spain, principally, and
Barbary; we pay in two years, if we calculate the
above sums in gold, three-quarters of a million of
<3ollars for a useful substance proved, as I shall
ahow, to grow successfully in our Southern cli-
mate, and where thousands upon thousands of
acres are to be bought for a few dollars an acre !
The emancipated slave looks upon to-morrow as
futurity, and is happy if he can see his way to
the next Saturday. The statesman should look
with forecast to the future of our country' ; while
he fosters manufactures by high tariffs, he should
look to every portion of the products from the
land, and encourage new industries.

About twenty-four years ago this was attempt-
ed, as regards acorns of the cork oak. A great
flourish was made, and a few bushels of nuts were
distributed to cultivators in the South — this by

• It is said tea culture is at last becoming successful in Geor
gia. Why not also cork?

the Patent Office, there being then no Agricultu-
ral Bureau ; the latter came into fashion, and one
would have thought the cork acorns would have
been looked after. Upon writing to Judge Watts
on the subject I received the following letter, and
this would seem to be all he knows :

"Dec. 13, 1875.
"Jno. Jay Smith, Esq., Germantown, Philad'a.

"Sir :— In reply to your letter of the 10th inst. I
send you the experiment of J. H. Kion, of Wims-
borough, S. C. He says— 'In 1859 I planted
acorns of the cork oak sent me from your Depart-
ment (meaning, no doubt, the Patent Office).
All came up, producing healthy plants. I gave
away some, and transplanted others to my back-
yard. Those I gave away are doing well where
planted, and I now have three flourishing trees.
One of them is twenty-three feet high, and
twenty-seven inches in circumference. I send
you the bark of one, which you see is good cork,
three-quarters of an inch thick.

'The trees are evergreen, resembling some-
what the live-oak ; they are of slow growth, and
very long-lived. Spain is the home of the cork
oak, but the largest tree known grows in Eng-
land. Besides the cork, this tree produces enor-
mous acorns, which are fine food for stock, and
when roasted are much relished by the Spaniards.
Spanish Black is simply the charred bark of this
tree. There is no reason why this tree may not
be profitably grown in any part of the United
States'."

(The writer should have said in any part where
the live-oak will flourish. It would not succeed
at the North. He could have added that the
mast gives a peculiar and delicate taste to the
lard of hogs fed upon it.)

I had said to Judge Watts that two trees at
least were in flourishing health at Orangeburgh,
S. C, and he asks : " The Department would like
to hear further of the success of the two trees in
Orangeburgh, S. C, that you mentioned in your
letter. Respectfully,

"Fred'k Watts, Commissioner."

Accordingly I forwarded to the Department
the following copy of a letter from Judge Thomas

IIG

THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY

[April,

W. Glover, of Orangeburgh, S. C. Under date of
Dec. 21, 1875, he says : " About 24 years ago I
planted six acorns of the cork tree. All germi-
nated, but grew slowly, as the soil was barren,
and the location exposed them to the sun. They
were not cared for; but wishing to test their
adaptation to our climate, after four or five years I
removed two of them to a more favorable soil, and
where they enjoyed the shade of a house. Since
their removal the trees have advanced in height
and increased in diameter. My trees are about
twenty feet high, and thirty-one inches in cir-
cumference — and nineteen inches at five feet
from the ground. The leaf resembles that of the
live-oak, but the branches ate not so extended.
My trees have never yet borne any acorns. I am
satisfied that the tree can be successfully culti-
vated here. I enclose pieces of the bark."

All this is satisfactory and to the point. The
specimens of the bark no one can mistake; they
are true cork. (Si^ecimens were shown.)

We come now to the facts of European cultiva-
tion, and give presently a few particulars from
Michaux, and the exhaustive account of that ex-
pounder of botanical matters, Loudon, in his
great work, the Arboretum Brittanicum. As long
ago as 1845 I visited one of the largest cork trees
in the world, at Ham House, England, which was
planted by Dr. Fothergill, and is still in tolerable
condition, not having ever been stripped. I have
taken p