DOMESTIC NOTICES, 



a.lonj^ With many others, receive consideraVon . 

 We shall probably be able to announce the time 

 fixed in our next number. Ed.] 



The Character of the Strawberry. — Mr, 

 Downing: Your correspondent, (Dr. Valk) in the 

 last Horticulturist, attempts to set this question at 

 rest : but makes, I think, quite a mistake by re- 

 ferrinjT to accidental causes, facts which belong to 

 fixed laws. In the last clause ot" his article he 

 says that, " the dioecious character of some species 

 and of all varieties, is the result of accident, rather 

 than fixed laws." From a long and carefal inves- 

 tigation of this question, in which a great number 

 of species and varieties has come under my obser- 

 vation, for, besides having access to the extensive 

 collections in the nurseries, I cultivate from two to 

 three acres of the most approved kinds, I have de- 

 duced the following facts or laws : 



1. Whether plants growing wild or those raised 

 from seed be examined, there will generally be 

 found some hermaphrodite, that is with both pistils 

 and stamens developed : and others pistillate, or 

 having no perfect stamens. 



2. These two kinds being increased by runners 

 do not vary their characters. 



3. Hermaphrodite plants will bear fruit by them- 

 selves, being furnished with both pistils and sta- 

 mens, though possessing various degrees of produc- 

 tiveness. 



4. Pistillate plants will not bear fruit, unless 

 impregnated by others having stamens, but when 

 thus impregnated are usually very productive. 



These propositions, which embrace the whole 

 matter at issue, being universally true, must be 

 considered as general and not accidental laws. 



It does sometimes happen that a few blossoms of 

 an hermafihrodite plant prove defective in stamens 

 or in pistils, by abortion, but the general character 

 of the plant is never changed. 



In regard to plants perfect in both organs, it 

 may be observed that the stamens and pistils, in 

 different varieties, bear very variable relations to 

 each other. In some the receptacle is full and per- 

 fect, and the fruit sets with some degree of cer- 

 tainty, while in others the receptacle is small or 

 otherwise defective, and the blossom liable to blast. 



The above views, or rather facts, are the deduc- 

 tions of experience and observation, and agree, I 

 believe, with those of Mr. Longworth. 



After the fruiting season is over I intend to make 

 some remarks up^n the comparative value and 

 qualities of many different varieties lately brought 

 into notice. G. W. Huntsman. Flushing, May 

 nth, 1848. 



[We shall be glad to receive Mr. Huntsman's 

 further remarks. He is a earful observer. Ed.] 



Cherry Trees at the South. — Dear Sir: I 

 noticed your directions, in the very first number of 

 this Journal, to those who had failed in raising the 

 finer varieties at the south. I immediately (Aug. 

 1846) set about sheathing my trees with straw, ex- 

 tending it some distance up the larger limbs. The 

 next autumn I also made a new plantation of the 

 best tender varieties, putting, as recommended, on 

 the north side of a fence and building. 



I think it will be quite a boon to those of us who 



have hitherto failed with this tree. I already ob' 

 serve a very marked difference between those trees 

 left fully exposed to the climate and those covered 

 with straw — 'among the old trees ; and those planted 

 two years ago are usually green and healthy. I 

 had nearly abandoned the cultivation of ail but the 

 Mayduke, and the more common Morellos, owing 

 to the difflcuitv experienced here, but now hope to 

 cultivate all the best varieties named in your work. 

 Yours, &tc. Ji. P, Miss., May, ]848, 



Horticulture at Nashville, Tenn. — As the 

 Horticulturist, among the numerous valuabe and 

 instructive artides with which its pages abound, 

 occasionally informs us of the formation of new 

 horticultural societies, I have been induced to for- 

 ward a slight and imperpect sketch of tiie com- 

 mencement and progress of our association, (the 

 Nashville Horticultural Society ;) and as the ])lan 

 adopted dilfers, in many particulars, from any other 

 society I have seen described, the following details 

 may not, perhaps, be devoid of interest: 



An attempt to form a society for the encourage- 

 ment of rural pursuits, and for the improvement of 

 the culture of fruits, flowers, &c. was announced 

 in the year 1844, by a few individuals of this city 

 and neighborhood, who organized and established 

 a horticultural societj', hoping, by encouraging ex- 

 hibitions and awarding premiums, to arouse some- 

 thing of that spirit and enterprising improvement 

 so apparent in the more northern and eastern 

 states ; but in consequence of the indilTerence mani- 

 fested by those engaged in the culture of the soil, 

 the society met with very indifferent success. 

 It then became evident that a course must be pur- 

 sued which would exhibit the advan'ages derivable 

 from such asso(;iations in a clearer light. 



To eflect this purpose, the society obtained of the 

 State Legislature a charter, enabling it to hold pro- 

 perty, as a corporate body- A stock book was 

 opened for subscriptions of shares, at fifty dollars 

 each, and the constitution remodelled, making it 

 obligatory for each member to be owner of at least 

 one share of stock. A sufficient amount having 

 been subscribed, the society purchased a beautiful 

 lot of ground within one mile of the city, which 

 is arranged so as to form a nursery, iiito which 

 are being introduced the finest varieties of trees, 

 fruits and flowers, and the remaining portion ap- 

 propriated as a pleasure garden and grounds. 

 This is now the resort of members, their families, 

 and visiters invited by them. The green-house was 

 completed and stocked with plants last autumn, 

 and others are in progress. A cottage, in the rural 

 or English gothic style, has been built, in the con- 

 struction of which your works were advantageously 

 consulted. The cottage contains three rooms, for 

 the gardener's accommodation, and devoted to a 

 library and the reception of those visiting the gar- 

 den. The society will be obliged, for some time, to 

 dispose of a sufficient amount of plants and fruit 

 trees to meet, (with a small annual subscription,) 

 the current expenditure ; but we hope, ere long, 

 our more wealthy citizens may be impressed with 

 some portion of that intelligent taste and energy 

 which are, in the Eastern States, converting even 

 their bleak coasts into fruitful gardens. ISuch a 



