PARLOR-FLOWERS L\ WINTER. 



proportion to its youth, and that all varieties cease, after a few j-ears, to be as productive 

 as they once Mere. When Mr. Knight's seedlings weie originally tried, they yielded 

 in one case at the rate of 68 and 70 for one; no such crops can now be obtained from 

 them." 



In tlic n;ll of that year, 1845, the blight of the potato was first extensively developed 

 in England, and Dr. Lindley with two eminent chemists were appointed on a commission 

 by the government of the late Sir Kobeut Peel, to inquire into the cause and suggest a 

 remedy. Considering that I had good reasons to be disatisfied with their explanation, and 

 that a more truthful view of the whole cause had occurred to me, I sent three letters to 

 the London Morning Herald, stating ray views as to the nature of the malady, and show- 

 ing that the commissioners were in error in concluding that the disease was of a tempora- 

 ry character; that their explanation was not adequate to account for it, and that their re- 

 medial measures alone could not possibly prove efficient. 



I need hardly say that time has abundantly proved my objections were well founded. In 

 the article on the 20th of Dec, 1845. Dr. Lindley, when objecting to my notions in the 

 matter said, "we regard the notion that the races (varieties) of plants wear out, as utterly 

 baseless and visionary. The health of the potato is not, with any certainty, to be increas- 

 ed by raising new varieties fiom seeds. The idea of renovating the potato crops of Europe 

 by raising new varieties from seed is a dream. We advise growers not to indulge in a vain 

 hope that seedling varieties will be any better than what they now have." May I not 

 well ask, if in March and September, it was certain that in the course of time the pro- 

 duce of varieties diminishes, and they become feeble as tbey grow old, what had occurred 

 since; what new light had there been thrown on the subject, that these opinions should in 

 December be denounced as " utterly baseless and visionary?" If in March and Septem- 

 ber, renewing the vigor of potatoes by raising new varieties from seeds, was a point of 

 hnmcnse importance, a practice always attended with some advantage, why in December 

 should the idea of renovating the health of the potato crop by raising a succession of new 

 varieties from seed be pronounced a dream, and the hope that seedlings would be any bet- 

 ter than those we now have be dismissed as vain? 



Respectfully yours, John Townley. 



MoundvilU, Marquette county, Wis. 



We commend Mr. Townley's article — certainly one of the most interesting we have 

 published in this Journal — to the perusal of our readers. Ed. 



PARLOR-FLOWERS IN WINTER. 



BY H. W BEECHER. 



The treatment of house-plants is very little understood, although the practice of keep- 

 ing shrubs and flowers during the winter, is almost universal. It is important that the 

 physiological principles on which success depends, should be fairly understood, and then 

 cultivators can apply them with success in all the varying circumstances in which they 

 may be called to act. 



Two objects are proposed in taking plants into the house, — either simple protection, or 

 the development of their foliage and flowers during the winter. The same treatment will 

 for both objects. Indeed the greatest number of persons of our acquaintance, treat 

 inter plants, from which they desire flowers, as if they only wished to preserve 



