SUPERPHOSPHATE OF LIME FOR TRANSPLANTING TREES. 



foliage they more nearly resemble the Hamburgh, though some of my friends here think 

 them distinct; the leaves are "very deeply serrated." 



The bunch the thief left is not a good specimen to judge by, but poor as it is, I send it 

 to you. The fruit is not ripe yet, but you can tell, perhaps, what may be thought of it. 



Yours very truly, &c. Wm. W. Valk, M. D. 



Flushing, L. I., Sept. 13, 1851. 



Kemarks — The bunch of grapes referred to by Dr. Valk, reached us in excellent order. 

 At first sight the bunch resembles that of the Isabella — the grapes being hung somewhat 

 loosely upon it. But the berries are round — blacker than the Isabella, and totally dis- 

 tinct in flavor from our native grapes — resembling the dark colored foreign grapes. There 

 can be no doubt that this is the first genuine cross between the foreign grapes and our na- 

 tives, and if the cross realizes the promise of this single bunch — evidently a poor sample 

 of the product of the vine — this new seedling of Dr. Valk's will soon become widely 

 sought after. The fact that hybrids may be raised, being settled, we shall expect to see 

 a new and delicious class of hardy grapes springing up in this country, admirably adapted 

 for the table and for wine, and perfectly suited to our climate. Ed. 



SUPERPHOSPHATE OF LIME FOR TRANSPLANTING TREES. 



PROF. LINDLEY.— IN THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



There are no doubt places in which all the skill of the planter will at first fail in getting 

 trees to grow, but even in such cases he need not despair; the cause of his failure usually 

 is, not that the soil is absolutely unfit to support vegetation of any kind, but that the 

 circumstances being highly unfavorable, the plants are not able to get over that shock to 

 their systems which they always suffer in ordinary transplanting. It is evident that 

 plants which are moved with bare roots, as young trees are, must receive a far greater 

 check than those which are moved with a ball of earth; and it is very often found that a 

 little extra care in the planting is well repaid, because if the tree survive this check, and 

 form fresh roots, it will generally get such a hold upon the soil, that it is then able to 

 grow up, and form a healthy tree. In planting the most barren and exposed situations 

 then, particular care must be taken, and it appears in such cases to be well worth while 

 to add some "improver" to the soil, thrown into the holes in which the trees are planted. 

 The quantity required is small, its cost need not be great, and the labor of using it is a 

 trifle, compared with the good effect produced by its application. 



The effect which it is desired to produce is the formation of fresh roots, and any sub- 

 stance which will cause the plant to throw out a quantity of fibrous rootlets, will enable 

 it to overcome the evil effects of its being transplanted. It appears that phosphoric acid 

 possesses a very great and remarkable influence on the development of roots, causing 

 plants to throw them out with unusual vigor; we do not know of any very satisfactory ex- 

 planation of this phenomenon, either chemical or physiological, but of the fact itself there 

 seems to be no doubt. The most convenient mode of employing this substance is in the 

 form of superphosphate of lime, as it is called, that is to say, a mixture of oil of vitriol 

 and burnt bones. This compound, which is rich in phosphoric acid in a soluble state, may 

 be readily mixed with a little dry mould, and it then forms a most valuable aid 

 planter; a little of the mixture being thrown in round the roots of the transplanted 



