There appeared to be no fear of the moth, so destructive au enemy among us. 

 The i)roduct of honey and wax from Cuba is very great. 



The oraupe-tree does not fare so well. It is attacked by a coccus, which en- 

 velops the whole wood, and has once or twice destroyed nearly all the plants on 

 the island, no attention being given to its cxtiri)ation. Some twenty years ago, 

 it obtained the mastery, when orange-trees became extremely rare, tlic export of 

 the fruit being abandoned. Whole fields hedged with this valuable fruit, disap- 

 l^eared ; those now seen were soon afterwards planted, and are again destined to 

 destruction for want of care — shall we say, for want of a Jlorticulturist to warn 

 the proprietors of their danger, and the remedy ? 



We might give long botanical descriptions, but why enumerate where the cata- 

 logue would include such great variety ? Every garden might have, and many 

 do have, such plants as the lemon-scented verbena as a common bush ; the Mag- 

 nolia fuscata and the Pittisporum, are as common as box-bushes with us, sometimes 

 attaining a height of twenty feet. There is also a tree mignonette, Eeseda arhusta ; 

 the almond grows with the slightest attention; various fruits of the Sapota) family, 

 or Star apples, are common, as are wild plums, the caimeta, and an Anona called 

 Sapota ; the latter is agreeable, but, in general, it may be said that the numerous 

 fruits that are so tempting to the eye of the new-comer, are not very good eating. 

 They possess a sweet, sickly flavor that very few relish. Visitors are apt to keep 

 to their well-esteemed oranges, bananas, and pine-apples. Doubtless, a taste may 

 be acquired for many others by degrees. 



GARDEN VEGETABLES, NO. 10. — THE MTSHROOM. 



BY WM. CHORLTGN. 



The Mushroom, in a natural state, is very generally distributed over many of 

 the more temperate parts of the world. The species that is most commonly ac- 

 cepted is the Agaricns catnpestn's of botanists — a cryptogamic plant of the natu- 

 ral order Fungi. That part made use of, and which develops itself above ground, 

 is the fructifying organs, the real and true plant being beneath the surface, in the 

 form of delicately reticulated, and slender, white threads, that traverse very rapidly 

 any matrix which is conducive to their welfare. It is an edible that is almost 

 universally relished, although we cannot say much in favor of its nutritive proper- 

 ties ; it may be either made up into a dish for the table, used as a flavoring in 

 many kinds of cookery, compounded into catchup, or preserved in pickle. In all 

 cases, there is a flne, savory taste imparted to whatever it accompanies. 



Considering the great request for Mushrooms, it is not a little singular that the 

 cultivation of them is not more generally understood ; more particularly so, as 

 they neither require an extent of garden ground, nor yet the influence of the sun's 

 rays, to bring them to perfection. Any person who has got a good cellar that is 

 free from frost, may grow them through the winter ; and at other seasons nothing 

 is needed but a closed-in shed, or, in a small way, a few boards nailed together in 

 the form of a ^ cover, to keep off heavy rains and drying winds. Such conve- 

 niences are enough to supply any ordinary family, but when a great quantity and 

 uninterrupted succession is wanted, it becomes necessary to erect a house for the 

 purpose. In such case, a double-span roofed shed, some ten feet wide, and in 

 length according to the demand, is the best adapted, and most economical. The 

 framework of this may be built with common spars, the roof shingled, and the 

 whole double-boarded, with the between casings filled with shavings, sawdu 

 still better, powdered charcoal. Such a structure is similar to an above-ground 



