54 



DOMESTIC NOTICES. 



•which he is not ready to say at least a few words. 

 As a general rule, too, his suggestions are much 

 to the purpose, having often, to my mind, been 

 the means of introducing new ideas and improved 

 methods. It is true, that when his critique, on 

 the subject of deep growing roots, left me to the 

 tender mercies of Dr. Stevens, I did not think he 

 had got to the root of that matter; but now, when 

 bethinks " I deserve a gold medal," for having 

 talked up to the mark about Indigenous Flowers, 

 I cannot but admire his taste and knowledge. 

 Such is human nature. 



And now for his suggestion of giving the com- 

 mon names of my indigenous list. I think this is 

 a timely as well as a reasonable hint, and there- 

 fore, as far as the plants have common names, 

 shall give them, and I hope in season for the next 

 number. Where there are several species, the 

 name of the genus will perhaps be sufficient. 



Liatris — Gay-feather. 



Leptaiidria — Culver'' s physic. 



Lygodium — Cltnibing Fern. 



Mimulus — Monkey Flower. 



Myricn — Bay berry. 



Nymphfea — Poiid Lily. 



Osmunda — Floicering Fern. 



Priuos — i'potted Alder. 



Pyrol a — Winter-green . 



Rhodora — Canadian Rhodora. 



Rhododendron — Sicamp-pvk. 



Salix conifera — Cone-bearing 

 Willow. 



Staphylea — Bladder-nut. 



Spirsea — Hard-hack. 



Sarraeenia — Side-saddle fotcer. 



Sagitlaria — Arrovj-head. 



Solidago odora — Sweet golden- 

 rod. 



Typliia — Cat^s-tail. 



Thaliclrum — Meadow-rue. 



Triosteum — Fetter root. 



TnlUum—TriUittm. 



Teplirosia — Cat-gut. 



Vcrbascum — Moth mvllein. 



Viola — Bird''sfoot violet. 



Virburnum — Maple-leaved virb. 

 Arrmc-wood. 



Vicia cracca — Tufted vetch. 



Ac oras — Sweet-flag. 

 Acer — Maple. 

 Aristolochia — Snake-root. 

 Apocynum — Dog's bane. 

 Aquilegia — Columbine. 

 Actaea — Bane-berry. 

 Arbulus — Bear-berry. 

 Asclepias — Milkiveed. 

 Aster — Star-flmier. 

 Coplis — Goldthread. 

 Calllia — Cou-slip. 

 C ornus — Dog-wood. 

 Clematis — Virgin's botcer. 

 Convalaria — Solomon's seal. 

 Clethra — Siceet pepper. 

 Ceaiiothus — Jersey tea. 

 Cypripedium — Ladies' slipper. 

 Dirca — Leather wood, 

 Epilobium — Willmv-herb. 

 Equisetum — Scouring-rush. 

 Gentiaiia — Soapirort gentian. 

 Gerardia — Yellow Gerard ia. 

 Hamameljs — Witch hazle. 

 Habenaria — Orchis. 

 Hepatica — Liverwort. 

 Kalmia — Laurel. 

 Liliutn — Yellmv and red Lily. 

 Lysimachia — Loose stripe. 

 Xiudwegia — Seed-box. 

 Lobelia — Cardinal floicer. 



I might extend this list quite readily by extract- 

 ing from that of Mr. Grkene, of Boston, publish- 

 ed in your May number. He has added several 

 fine specimens, and among them Calypso Ameru 

 cana, Sabbatia chlorloides, Panax quinquefolia, 

 all of which I should like to have by way of ex- 

 change. Yours truly, /. L. Comstock. Hart- 

 ford, June 6, 1850. 



Notes on Grape Culture. — Notwithstanding 

 all that has been written and is daily appearing 

 on the culture of the grapevine here, there is a 

 lack of information as to its general management 

 every where around us ; as well with people of 

 high practical pretensions as with the mechanic 

 and farmer. It is for the latter, and not for pro- 

 ficients that I venture to become a contributor to 

 your Journal. I shall not refer to any of the 

 modes adopted in scientific works and extensive 



vineyards, but to that which is seen every where 

 at the mechanic's cottage and the farm-house. 

 Our people all plant grapes for two essential ob- 

 jects, viz: Shade and fruit; but ere many years 

 elapse the vines become stunted and feeble, the 

 fruit shanks and shrivels, and nothing but shade 

 can be obtained. The cause of this may be justly 

 attributed to two prevailing evils, want of proper 

 manure and bad manag^ement. 



The great relish every body has for this fruit 

 in our warm climate, not unfrequently induces the 

 majority of our people to forfeit quality for quan- 

 tity. In endeavoring to achieve this object they 

 seldom cut out any but the extreme tops of the 

 branches in the winter pruning, while in summer 

 every eye is left to bear shoots, and every shoot 

 to ripen all the fruit it shows. In this confused 

 state they become, by the end of summer, a com- 

 plete mass of worthless, ill-flavored fruit, and 

 useless, half-ripened branches. Others boast of 

 treating theirs something more scientifically, in 

 attempting to prune on the spur system, but with 

 equally bad results. 



The manner in which it is performed, almost 

 without exception, being this; the main branches 

 being once established, they keep shortening the 

 young shoots, year after year, till in a single spur 

 there are several years wood, looking more like so 

 many antlers than any thing else. 



This is one of the principle causes of shanking 

 and shriveling, and the older those spurs are the 

 more will those diseases increase; hence the ne- 

 cessity of making a proper reserve in the summer 

 dressing, and the sooner it will be now attended 

 to the better. There is little or no difficulty in 

 selecting a due suppl)' of young shoots at this 

 season. Those nearest the main branches should 

 be prefered ; if growing from the main branch so 

 much the better, for it is such that always bear 

 the largest and best fruit. All superabundant and 

 useless branches should be cut away ; even your 

 favorite old spurs can be cut now with as much 

 safety as in the fall (besides gaining a season's 

 growth,) tying the young shoots to their places 

 to become the bearing wood of the next year, and 

 nipping all laterals they produce above the first 

 eye, and not cutting these laterals entirely away 

 as too many do. 



This is a point seemingly but little understood, 

 and to which I would like to call special atten- 

 tion, for this reason, that when the laterals are 

 cut clear away the principal eye will soon break 

 again, and exhaust itself in the production of use- 

 less branches. After a few years of this injudici- 

 ous treatment it will be denounced as a barren 

 and worthless variety, and the plant vender of 

 whom it was purchased, will get his share of the 

 blame. 



Those wishing information on the manure best 

 suiting the vine can consult the articles on special 

 manures in the Horticulturist. Fidelius. 



