CHAPTER ON SEEDS. 



The Peach Plum. — We have a large tree loaded with this magnificent Plum. It 

 ripens close upon the Jaune ITative, early in August here, and although not of the 

 finest quality, is so large and so handsome, and so early, that it should be much more 

 extensively grown. Vie must give it a place among our colored drawings. 



The Stanwick Nectarine. — This famous fruit, which for a time was one of the 

 wonders of the day in England, has in a great measure failed there, no doubt from 

 the want of sufiicient heat. We have always thought that our warm summers and 

 long, clear, warm and dry autumns, would bring out whatever excellence it possessed. 

 We are glad to learn, by the following note from Mr. Meehan, that this season will 

 test it at Philadelphia : 



"The Stanwich ISTectarine has fallen into bad repute in England. It does not ripen well 

 there. From specimens here, it will probably prove a most valuable addition to American 

 fruits. I put it into the forcing-house the first week in January, and now, (middle of July,) 

 though Peaches, Nectarines, Grapes, Figs, &c., started at the same time, are 'ripened and 

 gone,' the fruit of the Stanwich is hard and green, and will probably require three weeks 

 to ripen. They now measure eight inches in circumference ; and I have no doubt that 

 when ripened under favorable circumstances, they may be had ten or even ticehe. It is 

 difficult to get Nectarines in our latitude after the beginning of September ; here we shall 

 certainly have a large and fine one a month later, but of the quality — more anon." 



A CHAPTER ON SEEDS. 



BY TUOMAS MEEIIAN, PHILADELPHIA, PA. 



There are probably few branches of horticulture so ill understood as the management 

 of seeds. A package of seeds may be placed in the hands of two men, divided be- 

 tween each, and sown by each in his own peculiar way ; and while one succeeds in 

 raising plants, the other fails. Sometimes the individual who succeeds in raising some 

 particular seed one season, will himself fail in another, though to all appearances the 

 seed was gathered, preserved, and treated exactly in the same manner. For want of 

 attention to these variations and their causes, many erroneous notions respecting the 

 vegetative powers of seeds have arisen, and many contradictory statements made by 

 various writers, which needs only a slight reflection on the principles of successful 

 seed-saving and sowing to reconcile. For instance, some old writer, I think Hanbury, 

 asserts that seeds of the Sweet Gum {Liquidamhar styracijlua) will germinate the 

 same season of sowing; while another old writer, I am not certain, but think Philip 

 Miller, flatly contradicts this, satisfied that they will not grow under two years. 

 Succeeding writers have followed the one or the other, according to their own obser- 

 vations or taste ; and to this day I am not aware that it is generally known that both 

 are right to a certain extent. I might instance many such cases. I could name a 

 man in a western State, whose business reputation is actually not in the highest 

 standing with some of his eastern acquaintances, because he was unlucky enough to 



