DOMESTIC NOTICES. 



ever planted a vineyard, became prostrated 

 from intoxication, without the addition of the 

 little brandy which is now applied in making 

 wine — a man of snch self-denial and extraordi- 

 nary strength of purpose, as to withstand with- 

 out flinching, the sneers and opposition of the 

 world — can we expect that the weaker portion 

 of the human family will 71010 do better, if we 

 place this drink freely before them, with half a 

 dozen other and stronger drinks ready to take 

 its place as soon as increased appetite shall ren- 

 der this too weak? 



I ask these questions simply for the conside- 

 ration of the readers of this Journal — ^which I 

 hope I may be permitted to do as a matter of 

 justice, because what has been previously said 

 has all been on the other side of the question — 

 leaving it entirely with them to draw their own 

 conclusions. T. 



Mr. Downing. — It was with heartfelt sorrow 

 that I learned of tlie death of Mr. Downing, 

 and I deeply sympathise with his family and the 

 readers of the Horticulturist. I consider his 

 loss a national calamity, and one that I fear is 

 irreparable ; and I now suggest to the readers 

 of the Horticulturist, that we raise a fund by 

 contribution, (by the subscribers to the Horti- 

 culturist,) to erect a suitable monument near 

 his grave, as a token of our esteem for him. I 

 am willing to pay $5, or whatever sum may be 

 thought sufficient from each subscriber. E.J. 

 Capell. Rose Hill, jlmite Co. Miss., Septem- 

 ber 25, 1852. 



Great Exhibition of Fruits. — At the late 

 annual exhibition of the Massachusetts Horti- 

 cultural Society, at Boston, a " mammoth pa- 

 vilion," 100 feet wide and 200 feet long, was 

 engaged for the occasion, under which was ar- 

 ranged more than 1,000 running feet of tables. 

 These were occupied with flowers, fruits and 

 vegetables, about two-thirds being filled with 

 fruits. There were more than 3,400 dishes, 

 baskets, &c., many of them containing more than 

 a peck each, amounting in all to more than 100 

 bushels, about two-thirds of which were pears. 

 The specimens generally were the finest ever 

 exhibited, many being really superb. Several 

 collections were very large. Hovey &. Co. ex- 

 hibited 2-50 sorts of pears, M. P. Wilder 267, 

 Cabot 160, B. V. French 150, Samuel 

 er 145, Robert Manning 167, &c. B. V. 



French had 178 varieties of apples, and others 

 large collections. The whole formed the finest 

 thing of the kind ever seen in this country. 



House Plants in Winter. — " What is the 

 reason that my plants do not grow so well 

 as Mrs. Jones' ? I am sure I take a great deal 

 more pains with them, and water, and nurse, 

 and air them, but all Avill not do; they are 

 weak, slender, sickly, and some of my best 

 plants have died — while Mrs. Jones seems to 

 take very little care of her's, and yet they grow 

 and bloom beautifully !" 



This appeal to us for aid and advice, which 

 has just been made, is not the first complaint 

 of this kind of ill success The truth is, some 

 plants are actually nursed to death. Care and 

 attention bestowed on plants, w/a'c/i they do not 

 need, are worse than nocare at all. It is know- 

 ing ju.it luhat to do, and doing that, and no 

 more, that gives some persons their success. — 

 Or, as a late writer remarked, there are two 

 great points to be attended to, 1. !Not to let 

 your plants suffer by neglect; and 2, not to 

 7i)ake them suffer by interference. We would 

 class the i-equisites for good treatment, as fol- 

 lows : — 



1. Plenty of light. 



2. A due supply of water. 



3. Proper temperature. 



Fresh air, cleanliness, and good soil, are ob- 

 viously of importance, but are less likely to be 

 neglected than the three first named wants, and 

 we shall therefore add a few additional remarks 

 under these heads. 



1. Light. — Plants cannot by any possibility 

 have too much of this. The stand should 

 therefore face the window, and be placed as near 

 to it as practicable ; and the window should be 

 broad, as little obstructed in its light by out- 

 side trees as the nature of the case will admit. 

 But rapidly growing plants require most light ; 

 hence such should be placed more directly in 

 front of the window. 



2. Water. — This must be given according to 

 circumstances. A plant in nearly a dormant 

 state, needs very little — those in rapidly grow- 

 ing condition require considerable. Too much 

 water will make the latter grow slender, but 

 they will bear a greater supply if in a strong 

 light. It must be remembered as a standing 

 rule, that dormant plants may remain compara- 



