editor's table. 



believe, confirmed the supposition that the odor of plants and flowers was due to ammonia ; 

 the odor being good or bad according to the proportions in which the ammonia was com- 

 bined. From this it is shown that plants are doubly beneficial, by absorbing ammonia, as 

 well as exhaling oxygen. We must remark, however, that some chemists dispute the accu- 

 racy of these conclusions. 



Sundry Matters promised for this month have been crowded out unexpectedly, among 

 them communications from valued correspondents on subjects of permanent intei'est from 

 Cincinnati, New Jersey, &c., but for which room will be found in our next. The delay in 

 publishing the rojiort of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, was unavoidable. Inter- 

 esting matter for the Horticulturist is now crowding in upon us. 



The " Calendar of Operations " which we commence, it is intended to carry through the 

 year, forming a feature that many have regretted the absence of in former volumes. It will 

 make the present a valuable book of reference for the future, as well as the j)resent time, 

 and is by an able hand. 



The Poultry Exhibition in Philadelphia, a few weeks since, was very successful and 

 useful. The Governor of the State attended and made a very good speech. 



Is Grape Culture and Wine Making firmly established among us ? — This question we put 

 to a distinguished vine-grower in Cincinnati, R. Buchanan, Esq., more to satisfy some 

 friends than to clear up any doubt of our own. The following is his reply : " I am happy 

 to be able to say that, in the West at least, I consider the vineyard culture of the Grape 

 firmly established. It is also increasing with great rapidity all over the West and South- 

 west. The sale of grape-cuttings in Cincinnati last spring amounted to over 2,000,000, and 

 of stocks 300,000. I sold from my own vineyard 140,000 cuttings. This looks like progress. 

 The demand for the wine fully equals the sujjply, but the hard times of last year caused an 

 accumulation of the stock of sparkling Catawba (the most expensive of our wines), which 

 will take another year to diminish. I repeat to you in all candor my opinion, that the vino 

 culture is now established as a branch of national agriculture that cannot retrograde. It 

 has also the sympathy of the moral part of the community, who believe that the spread of 

 the wine will diminish intemperance." 



The Niles Pear, exhibited at the December meeting of our Horticultural Society, is a 

 foreign variety with a native name, and was thought by many to be identical with the 

 Easter Beurre, but comparison from the same place of growth, showed how distinct they are. 

 Tlie Niles was then nearly ripe. There was a fine display of Passe Colmar, which is to 

 December what the Seckle is to the September month, scarcely to be excelled in its season. 

 The Vicar of Winkfield looked "watery" beside the Duchesse D'Angouleme. 



Dwarfing Pears. — R. H. Tubbs, Kingston, Pa., writes us: "I am trying to dwarf the pear 

 on the Juneberry. Thus far it promises well, one tree having borne a fine crop the fourth 

 year from the bud. Its advantages would be longevity and freedom from disease ; it is an 

 American forest tree." 



