THE SECRETARY'S PORTFOLIO. 180 



this field. We may bo able to change the color of a plant or flower by trans- 

 ferring it into another soil, but we are never sure of the result, and can not 

 give any scientific explanation of it. The fragrance of a llower is likewise pro- 

 duced by chemical action which hitherto has escaped our closest investigations ; 

 we see the result; we sec that a llower, like the bee which transforms pollen 

 into honey and wax, fabricates volatile oils out of air, water, and light: but the 

 chemical process itself is a complete mystery to us. We only know that the 

 slowness or rapidity of the evaporation of these oils is the cause of the stronger 

 or weaker odor of the flower. The mode of their formation is a good example 

 of the unlimited variability and manifold variety of vegetation's chemical pow- 

 ers. Many plants do not limit themselves to the formation of a certain volatile 

 oil in the blossom or flowers, but produce at the same time various kinds of oils 

 in their different parts. The orange tree, for instance, produces volatile oils in 

 the leaves, flowers, and the rind of its fruit. A close investigation convinces us 

 that these differ, not only in their smell and taste, but also in their weight, 

 density, and other physical and chemical qualities ; that, in short, they are dif- 

 ferent and independent substances which can not be mistaken for each other. 

 The same plant must therefore possess three different organisms, by which it 

 generates three entirely different substances out of the same ingredients. What 

 chemical laboratory, be it ever so well furnished and skillfully managed, can 

 boast of results in any respect so wonderful? — .4. VogeJ, in the International 

 Review. 



TREE AND SHRUB ELECTION. 



The Rural New Yorker solicited from the experienced horticulturists of the 

 country a list of twenty-eight trees and twenty-five shrubs that, according to 

 their estimates, should be perfectly hardy in the climate of Kew York, and be 

 most desirable for cultivation. The responses were cordially made, and a great 

 number of lists were recorded. 



The elected shrubs and trees are given below in the order of their merits as 

 pronounced by the votes. 



SHRUBS. 



1. Hydrangea paniculata grandiflora. 



2. Chionanthus Virginica (White Fringe). 



3. Prunus triloba (Double-flowering plum). 



4. Deutzia gracilis (Graceful Deutzia). 



5. Spiraea prunifolia fi. pi. (Double-flowering Plum-leaved Spiraea). 



6. Diervilla Japonica, or Weigela rosea. 



7. Hibiscus Syriacus variegatus fi. pi. (Double variegated Hose of Sharon, 

 or Shrubby Althaea). 



8. Philadelplius grandiflorus (Large-flowered Mock-orange). 



9. Rhus Cotinus (Smoke-tree, or Venetian Sumach). 



10. Syringa Persica (Persian Lilac). 



11. Berberis vulgaris purpurea (Purple-leaved Berberry). 



12. Diervilla hortensis nivea (White-flowered Weigela). 



