DOMESTIC NOTICES. 



293 



The names of two gentlemen were unintentionally 

 omitted, and those of two others given in tiieir 

 place. The correct list is as follows : Thomas 

 Hancock, J. J. Thomas, Robt. Buist, Robekt 

 Manning, Herman Wendell, Josiah Lovett, 

 L. C. Eaton, Geo. Gabriel, and A. J. Down- 

 ing. (Chairman.) 



A circular of suggestions is beinsi prepared 

 by the cliairman of the General Pruit Cammit- 

 tee, which will soon be forwarded to the memhers 

 of the committee in all the different states. 



Pine- Apples by Steam. — A manufacturer in 

 Phila<!elphia, is said to hnvc hit upon a novel mode 

 ofsrowing pine-apples. He introduces waste steam 

 under the bottom of the bed into which the pints 

 are pliinj^ed, and thus gruws and ripens the fruit 

 very perfectly under our iiot summer snn, without 

 the aid of plass. Owin2; to this full exposure to 

 the air, the flavor of the fruit is far superior to that 

 of pines ripened in the hot^house. 



Wood Ashes vs. Insects in the Soil. — Mr. 

 Downing; I have been in previous seasons much 

 plagued by grubs and insects in the soil, so that I 

 was obliged almost to abandon the cultivation of 

 carrots and some other vegetables. 



Two years ago I gave my plants in the kitchen 

 garden a heavy manuring of fresii wood ashes. On 

 those portions so dressed, I have since cultivated 

 crops of vegetables without the least difficulty, 

 the worms having entirely disappeared Yours, &c. 

 M. R. W. Jersey City' N. /., Nov., 1848. 



Bituminous Coal Ashes. — Dear Sir : I have 

 been in the habit of using the ashes of Liverpool 

 coal as a manure for three j'cars past, and find it of 

 great value. 



Applied to trees of all kinds, and especially to 

 fruit trees and evergreens, it acts wonderfully well. 

 Indeed, I now use it wherever I plant a tree or 

 shrub, mixing several shovelfuls with the soil put 

 immediately about the roots, and with the most 

 evident benefit to the subjects to v/bich it is appli- 

 ed as com.pared with those not so treated. As 

 those ashes are frequently thrown away, would it 

 not be well to sav something on this subject. Yours 

 A Philadelphia- Sv.bscriber. Nov. 1848. [Bitumi- 

 nous coal ashes are very valuable in organic ma- 

 nures for all trees and shrubs. We find that ever- 

 greens thrive particularly when treated with them. 

 Ed.] 



Cereus Crenatus. — I would recommend to your 

 notice and that of your readers, the Cereus crena- 

 tus, as one of the most beautiful of the Cactus 

 trioe, and certainly the fiiicst recent acquisition I 

 have seen to our succulent exotics. 



It is a remarkable plant. The flowers are white, 

 large and magnificent, rivalling those of the night 

 blooming Cereus, while they differ by opening in 

 the day time. It received the highest medal at 



the Chiswick exhibition, in June, 1S45, offered for 

 new plants. Its native country is Honduras. Al- 

 though similar in some respects to Epiphyllum 

 lat\frons, it proves distinct, and far more desira- 

 ble, because the flowers open in the day time, and 

 continue open for five or six days. In addition 

 it is deliciously sweet-scented, and cannot fail to 

 be highly prized. The plant grows about two feet 

 high, with large spreading branches, usually flat 

 and broad, of a fine b) ight green, with large round- 

 ed teeth along the edges, and a prominent midrib. 

 The flowers are produced near the extremity of liic 

 shoots, and liave a slightly curved tube about four 

 inches long, and numerous pale cream-colored pe- 

 tals of a delicate texture, forming a circle several 

 rows deep, about five inches m diameter, from the 

 ccntie of which a great number of filaments are 

 protruded, about two-thirds the length of the pe- 

 tal. The bloom buds are of a brownish-pink be- 

 fore expansion. Yours very truly, Wm. W. Valk, 

 M. D. Mushing, L. I. Oct. 31, 1848. 



Late Autumn Flowers. — There are peculiar 

 points in gardening, that ought to be spoken of at 

 times, as worthy the attention of your readers. I 

 have one such to mention at present. On the 

 north side of my garden, I have a tight wooden 

 fence seven feet hig.i, which of course gives one a 

 warm sheltered border on the south side of it. 

 Along a part of this fence I have this south border 

 planted with Chrysanthemums (Artemesias,) 

 Salvias, Bourbon Jioses, and the like. Gene- 

 rally you know, these are cut off' at the close of 

 October by sharp frosts. But by planting them 

 close to the fence, tying up the shoots as they 

 grow, and then having a coping or hood of boards 

 (say eighteen inches wide) projected over them 

 from the top of the fence, from which I hang mats 

 every cold night, I have this border in full bloom 

 and beauty, often till near Christmas. You have 

 no idea how superbly the Chinese Chrysanthemums 

 grow and bloom in this way, as compared with 

 those in pots ; and they continue in flower a great 

 length of time. The walk which runs along this 

 border is a cheerful and ever gay one late in the 

 autumn, after all the rest of tne verdue and bloom 

 of the garden has passed away. Respectfully 

 yours. Chrysops. Brooklyn, N. Y.,Nov.\\, 

 1848 



To Prevent the Mildew on Peach Trees. — 

 Mildew infests many kinds of plants, and assumes 

 many different appearances. It attacks peaches 

 and nectarines, particularly the Tillotson, Early 

 June, and other serrate varieties, seizing the ten- 

 der points of the shoots, which are quickly des- 

 troyed. 



It has been ascertained by naturalists, that the 

 mildew is a species of fungus which attaches itself 

 to certain plants, when they are in a peculiar state 

 of growth favorable to its nature. If this be so, 

 it cannot with propriety be called a disease, though 



