DOMESTIC NOTICES. 



485 



southern aborigines to give them light by friction. 

 There were several fine plants of the rare Sem- 

 pervivum tabulcpforme, spreading over the pots on 

 every side. 



In addition to the foregoing, there are several 

 Orchids growing in various ways; some in pots, 

 some in baskets, and others in their most natural 

 position — on blocks of wood. The representatives 

 of this curious and beautiful order in Mr. Hogg's 

 collection, are chiefly Cattleyas. Gongoras, Aero- 

 peras, Oncidiums, Laelias, Stanhopeas, Maxil- 

 larias, and Schomburghkias . S. tibicinif is, from 

 the shape of its pseudo-bulbs, called the " Cow- 

 horn Orchis;" when these become hollow 7 they are 

 used by the natives of Honduras to produce a 

 sound similar to that made by blowing a horn. 



Mr. Hogg's mode of propagating Camellias is 

 deserving particular notice. He performs this 

 business in the midst of winter, when little more 

 can be done. His method is to cut the head of 

 the stock, leaving only the lower branches; he 

 next selects the scions from the varieties he wishes 

 to multiply, and grafts it as low as he conveniently 

 can. The stage in his propagating house consists 

 of several shelves, rising one above the other from 

 the front to the back, and at such distance as to 

 admit of a board, 6 or 8 inches deep, to the front 

 of each shelf; the back being also boarded, gives 

 the shelves the appearance of troughs. These 

 troughs are filled with animal charcoal; (that is, 

 the refuse charcoal of sugar refiners.) The plants 

 being ready, they are plunged in this in a reclined 

 position, leaving only the rim of one side of the 

 pots to be seen. The grafts are inserted so low 

 as to have the part worked covered in the char- 

 coal when in this reclined position. Whether this 

 method be new to your readers I am not aware. 

 I would recommend those who wish to get an 

 idea of plant culture to call at Messrs. Hogg's. 

 Their plants are principally low and thrifty, pre- 

 senting none of those elongated walking canes, or 

 poles, so frequently met with; and, what is yet 

 more commendable, remarkably clean. 



Since I last wrote, I have the pleasure to add 

 the following to my list, viz: Mr. Hauser's, near 

 29th Street, 3d Avenue; Mr. Monk's, do.; and 

 Mr. Buchanan's, ]8th Street, 5th Avenue. Mr. 

 Hauser's houses are all small ; one is chiefly oc- 

 cupied with Heliotrope, and Mignonette; another 

 with young Geraniums, which bear testimony to 

 his qualification as a grower. The others are de- 

 voted to Verbenas, Roses, Daphnes, Chinese 

 Primroses, Camellias, &c. At Mr. Monk's, the 

 houses are well stocked, and show 7 good culture, 

 but are chiefly filled with a few popular genera, 

 suited to sales in the market. Two of the bouses 

 here are filled with Roses, and another large 

 house with young Geraniums. The remaining 

 houses are filled with Camellias, Roses, Helio- 

 trope, Azaleas, kc. Mr. Monk's plants are all 

 thrifty and well grown. In closing my remarks, 

 on this place, I would recommend those that want 

 to buy Geraniums, cither in good variety or well 



grown, to call at Mr. Monk's and Mr. Hauser's. 

 At Mr. Buchanan's, two of the houses are mostly 

 devoted to Roses ; in one of which are some fine 

 specimens of Begonia fuchsioides , and a large 

 plant of Combretum purpureum in bloom ; a third 

 is a Camellia house, containing several of the 

 newest kinds, — one in particular (Lowe's Elex- 

 ine,) is very handsome; a fourth is a large house 

 with a mixed collection, consisting of Camellias, 

 Daphnes, Azaleas, Chinese Primroses, 8tc. Other 

 houses are occupied with less tender things. I 

 am, sir, respectfully yours, M. C. 



Catarobe Grape. — The Catarobe, as I under- 

 stand it, is an European grape; at all events, it 

 is not a western grape. It nearly resembles the 

 Isabella in leaf and fruit, and general habit; and 

 in the west the two are almost always confounded 

 together, except by connoisseurs. (If it resembles 

 the Isabella in leaf it is no European grape. Pray 

 send some specimens to the fruit convention at Cin- 

 cinnati next fall. Ed.) Yours truly, /. B. 

 Turner. Illinois College, Feb. 27, 1850. 



Pomological Congress. — Dear Sir: I ob- 

 serve that the Ohio State Board of Agriculture, 

 at its last annual meeting, passed a resolution, in- 

 viting the American Pomological Congress to 

 hold its next session at the same time and place 

 of the Ohio state fair, which is to be held at 

 Cincinnati on the 11th, 12th, and 13th of Septem- 

 ber next; at the same time, very kindly offering 

 to defray the expenses of printing its proceedings. 

 This is, to be sure a very fair offer; and as such, 

 will doubtless be duly appreciated by the mem- 

 bers of the Congress; but for one, I hope its next 

 session will not be held at the same time with the 

 state fair, and for the following reasons: 



1. I think it too early in the season, before 

 nurserymen can well leave, but more particularly 

 on account of the immaturity, and hence abnor- 

 mal state of winter apples at that time. . 



2. There will be, in my opinion, more danger 

 of sickness in travelling and changing climate at 

 that season than a few weeks later. 



3. The tremendous jam, confusion and fatigue 

 inseparably attendant upon a state fair, are quite 

 incompatible with the highest degree of success 

 and usefulness of our Pomological Congress, and 

 most particularly with the comfort of its members. 

 Such at least is the result of my experience, as 

 well as being, so far as I am acquainted, the uni- 

 versal testimony of others who are familiar with 

 such matters. 



It might perhaps acoommodate the state fair, 

 and all classes interested in pomology who attend 

 it; but would not, as I think, the Congress, or its 

 members generally. We shall doubtless bo quite 

 large and unwieldy enough of ourselves; and 

 thorefore not only deserve, but absolutely require, 

 a clear field — an undivided chance. We shall 

 certainly and most indispensably need every faci- 

 lity that can be afforded by the most pcrfoct order 



