the next question ; a matter very easily nscertaincd, but liko many othors, not inquiri'd after. 

 Tlie thing might have forever cseiiped my memory, had I not by accident got into tliat neighbor's 

 cellar a few months since, and seeing about two inches thick of clean rye straw lying on the 

 ground, with some fall Apples lying thereon, looking very nice and clean, I o^kid whether they 

 were in the habit of keeping their Apples in that way; to which he replied that they were, and 

 that in that way those had been preserved which so surprised me the year before in June. But 

 the most surprising part (to me) is yet to tell. In the latter part of that winter and early in tlie 

 spring, there was much rain ; in consequence whereof, the cellar had water standing in it, so as 

 nearly to swim the straw and Apples; notwithstanding which, they ke])t till the middle of June. 

 The cellar is dark and deep, with limestone soil. Whether this plan will ahvaj-s prove a good 

 one or not, I would not pretend to say, but the thing is certainly worth trying. S. M. — Cahndale, 

 Lebanon, Pa. 



NotittS of Books, ^amptltts, ^t. 



Victoria Eegia; or Tna Great Water Lily of Amkuica, with a brief account of its discovery and Introduction 

 into cultivation, with illustrations by Wa. Suarp, from specimens gFown at Salem, Mass. By John Fisk Allen. 

 Boston: Dirri^N iSc Wbntwobtii. 1S54. 



This wonderful and magnificent "Water Lily, Victoria regia, whose leaves are six feet 

 in diameter and flowers three feet in circumference, has bloomed finely with Mr. Allen, 

 of Salem, Mass. ; and it must be gratifying intelligence to those who feel an interest in the 

 wonders and beauties of tlie vegetable kingdom, that this gentleman has seized the oppor- 

 tunity to prepare and publish a complete description of it, and an account of its history 

 and introduction, with ample and beautiful illustrations of both the plant and its flowers 

 in their various styles of growth and development. The volume is a superb one, not 

 unworthy of this peerless Queen of Water Lilies, and is appropriately dedicated to Caleb 

 Cope, Esq., ex-President of the Pennsylvania Hort. Society, to whose zeal in horticulture 

 we are indebted for the introduction of many rare and beautiful plants, and to whom 

 belongs the honor of first cultivating and flowering the Victoria regia in the United States. 



Teansactio.vs or the Worcester (M.vs3.) IIouticcltueal Societt fob the Tear 1S54, containing Annual Re- 

 ports of the Committees, list of Premiums awarded, List of Officers for 1S54, and a list of the new members. 



The transactions show a most prosperous and efficient state of the Society. The Com- 

 mittee on Apples, of which Col. Geoege Jacques is Chairman, is a carefully prepared and 

 instructive document. It states that about 900 dishes of Apples were offered. Among 

 varieties of merit growing obscurely in that County, mention is made of the Forbush, Sut- 

 ton Beauty, Harvey, HunVs Rmset, CaproTi's Pleasant. Samuel H. Colton, of the Wes- 

 cott Nursery, had 40 varieties ; Job C. Stone, Shrewsbury, 40 varieties ; T. W. Ward, 33 

 varieties; Geo. A. Chambeelin, 33 varieties; Silas Allen, 28 varieties; and Joel Knapp, 

 of Sutton, 23 varieties. 



m 



Transactions of the New IlAMPSmRE Statb Agricultural Sooiety, foe 1853. Compiled by the Secretary, 

 James O. Adams. 



This is the second volume issued by the Society, and it does it much credit. The ad- 

 dresses, reports, and statistics afford much valuable instruction. The book is well printed, 

 and illustrated with drawings of animals, implements, &c. We have marked for insertion 

 an article on " The Cultivation and Preservation of Forest Trees," by F. B. Eaton, 

 subject is one of growing importance, and we are glad to see it attract attention. 



