DOMESTIC NOTICES. 



have fertilized with the pollen of the Ilanibiirgh, 

 and not with that of the Isabella. The inference 

 no one can mistake. My seedlings partaking 

 so mncli more " the constitution and habit of 

 the mother," are not as likely to prove vigorous 

 and hardy as they would have been with the 

 Isabella on the maternal side. " Physiological 

 theory teaches"' well, but " practical experience 

 proves" /ic?" sometimes to be in the wrong. The 

 question to be tested is — are the seedlings of 

 my raising, and of which I gave you some ac- 

 count in September last, as hardy as the Isa- 

 bella vine? Putting aside all physiological 

 theory, I appeal to the past severe winter for an 

 answer. This test, in addition to the four pre- 

 vious seasons of cold, has tried my vines to my 

 entire satisfaction, and it has demonstrated that 

 their constitution is " as liardy, if not more so, 

 than the Isabella." They need no eulogy from 

 me beyond a declaration of the fact, that they 

 have not received the least injury from their 

 entire exi)0sure to an unusual degree of frost. 

 Mr. Chorlton may, by going the right way to 

 work, fiir exceed my efforts in experimenting, 

 and he may rest assured of my best wishes for 

 his success, but until something better is an- 

 nounced, I hold my seedlings to be superior to 

 every other grape grown in the open air in any 

 part of the U. States. In all the essential qualities 

 of a first rate table grape, it is I venture to say 

 without a rival, and, notwithstanding the mis- 

 fortune of having gone to work the ■'' wrong 

 way," it will be yet some time before its equal 

 will appear. This may be saying a great deal, 

 and I may be thought i)artial to my new grape, 

 but as I am no speculator in humbugs, and 

 don't particularly care to cater a la Barnum 

 to the follies and cheats of the prevailing mania 

 in almost everything, I can leave my grape to 

 the ordeal of its own merits, and the test of 

 time. Nothing would have been easier than to 

 have propagated a considerable stock /or sale, 

 but I have so far destroyed all the cuttings, and 

 resisted very many exquisite hints, about giving 

 or selling a single eye. If living and able to do 

 so, I intend exhibiting the fruit in Boston this 

 coming fall; then, its taste can be commented 

 on. and a comparison instituted with the Diana 

 and some others that I have read of I shall 

 ive proof of its excellence," though 

 sure of '• startliii'i; the countrv with the 



intelligence of my having ten, twenty, orahun- 

 dred thousand plants" to sell. I aim at estab- 

 lishing the reputation of my grape on some bet- 

 ter evidence than the usual form of horticul- 

 tural charlatanism. "When I have done so, (if 

 I ever do,) I shall then take into consideration 

 the benefits I may justly claim as the result of 

 my effort to improve a valuable and delicious 

 fruit. Respectfully yours, Wm. W. Valk, M. 

 D. Flushing, L. I., May 5, 1852. 



[for the HOHTICULTLRIST.] 



The Gardener's Mission. 



BY REV. JAMES RICHARDSOX, JR. 



Oil ! tell n? not, that Puradise 



Bloomed in the distant p;ist, 

 Eiu Culture o'er tlie darkened world 



Her radiant light had casll 



Oh I ta'k not ol" a Golilen Age 



In centuries dim and old, 

 Before creatis-e Art begun 



Her wonders to untold 1 



No I Paradise is yet to come! 



And in the (uiuie years, 

 With unimaynied glories ciowned, 



'J'lie Golden Age appears. 



The heaven-taught gardener's wondrous skill 

 Shall wreath the Earth with flowers. 



While new and luscious fruits sliail grow 

 Throughout her Eden boweis. 



The world was but a wilderness, 



Till Art's celestial birth 

 Spread culture, like a robe of light, 



O'er all the joyful Earth. 



AVild grasses waved their scanty store 



Over the unlilled plain, 

 That now, with lile and bounty tilled, 



Bend down their ripened grain. 



The wild-wood briar waited long 



l'"or love, that should disclose. 

 By Art's sweet power, from meagre buds 



The full and blushing rose. 



Sour grew the rough and stinted crab 



Within the thorn tree's shade, 

 "Where now, aiaid the glancing leaves, 



Tiirough Culture's magic aid — 



Swells fortli the Apple's glowing cheek, 



With juices ricli and rare, 

 And hangs, wilh melting nectar filled. 



The templing golden Pear. 



And. in the Future's brightening years, 



I'jngression's law divine, 

 riil'oldiiig siill. with still nev\' charms, 



Shall make the landscape shine. 



So that the day shall never dawn. 



In which still lairer flowers 

 And fruits more lu>ciou< shall not come, 



'J'o bless tills world of ours. 

 Tiicn ro-y Hope, wilh heaven-eyed Fiaith, 



Siiall cheir our labors wise, 

 T,ll this once rough dark wilderne.ss 



Shall clumv'e ti'i I'aradise. 

 Deilham. Muss . Ma>/, ]-.5-i. 



YioLLOw liosF.s. — You will oblige one of 

 constant readers, by giving in the next nu 



