DOMESTIC NOTICES. 



495 



shrubs from China, which form so rrvcal an acqui- 

 sition to our gardens, — the double Japan Spirete 

 (^Spiraea prunifolia pi-,) and the Cluncsc Wiegela, 

 (Wigelia rosea,) have both stood the winter in 

 the open border without the slightest protection. 



Seeds and Grafts by Mail. — A petition is 

 circulating in the state of Maine praying Congress 

 for such a modification of the post office laws as 

 will enable those persons who are engaged in hor- 

 ticultural pursuits, or others, to transmit by mail 

 seeds, grafts, and such other horticultural objects 

 as may without inconvenience be forwarded in 

 this manner, at a rate of postage not exceeding 

 that of newspapers, provided they be in packages 

 of not more than two ounces. It is evident that 

 public good would be promoted by the proposed 

 amendment, as it would present an opportunity 

 for testing plants and fruits, useful for cultiva- 

 tion, in all soils and climates. We hope to see a 

 petition drawn up and circulated in this state. J*". 

 W. P., Westchester Co., N. Y., March 9, 1849. 



This movement was, we think, first commenced 

 by the Cincinnati Hort. Soc. But nothing was 

 eflected during the last session of Congress. We 

 should be glad to see petitions sent in from all the 

 horticultural societies next winter — as no doubt a 

 modification of the postage laws will take place 

 at the next session of Congress. In Great Britain 

 seeds, grafts, and small plants are sent by mail 

 to the great advantage and convenience of the 

 whole kingdom, and there is no reason why the 

 people should not give cultivators the same privi- 

 lege here, since it would so manifestly be for the 

 public good. — Ed. 



ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



Grapes. W. H. S., (Toledo, 0.) The Black 

 Hamburgh is not hardy in this climate, and re- 

 quires covering. The Lenoir has fruited two 

 years with us, and promises well — but we cannot 

 speak of its merits for culture on a large scale. 

 It is quite hardy, and is a good, small grape. 



Flowering Plants. An Amateur, (N. York.) 

 " Beaxity Supreme " is the finest pink verbena yet 

 grown in this country; it flowers abundantly, and 

 forms fine masses. " Tom Thumb" is much supe- 

 rior to the old scarlet geranium for masses, as its 

 color is very vivid scarlet, and the plant, though 

 not absolutely dwarf, as its name implies, is of 

 compact habit, with good foliage. Tuberoses will 

 flower abundantly if you plant the roots in pots 

 at once, and start them in a frame or hot-bed, and 

 turn them out in the border about the 1st of June. 

 — William, (New- York.) You will find the plants 

 you wish at Thorburn's. See advertisement. 



Fruit Tree Manures. C. S., (Newport, N. 

 Y.,) The composts recommended in our leader 

 of last month are intended not only for top-dress- 

 ings, but also for enriching the soil when planting 

 the trees. A barrow-full may be used to each 



hole three or four feet in diameter. Mix it tho- 

 roughly with the soil. 



Lime. An Inquner, (New-Haven.) Never 

 mix fresh slaked lime Vv'itli fresh animal manure 

 unless you wisli to de.'^troy part of the value of the 

 latter. If you wish to apply both lime and ma- 

 nure, spread the manure and turn it under with a 

 spade, and then apply lime as a top-dressing. It 

 will find its way downward in the soil as fast as 

 the tree requires it — and not so fast as to act 

 upon the manure injuriously. Old, or mild lime 

 may be used along with manure. 



Lawns. 5., (Philadelpiiia.) If you are not in 

 haste about your lawn, and economy is the object, 

 a bushel of seed per acre will answer. But it 

 will require a year's growth to give a close 

 turf, which might be obtained by more plentiful 

 sowing, in two months. Red-top, (the " bent 

 grass" of New-England,) makes the best lawn 

 for this climate, and it makes a more beautiful 

 lawn alone than with white clover — though the 

 latter gives immediate effect, and helps to pre- 

 serve the verdure in a very dry soil or season. 

 Make the surface as smooth as possible before 

 sowing the seed, and roll it with a heavy roller 

 directly after. If you had only a small surface to 

 sow, instead of several acres, we should recom- 

 mend you to use from two to four bushels of seed 

 per acre. 



Pruning. A Canada Subscriber. You may 

 prune your hardy grape vines now. We have 

 tried the experiment repeatedly of late, and have 

 never been able to discover that bleeding injures 

 spring-pruned vines in the least. Prune back the 

 side shoots so as to leave only one or at most two 

 buds of the last year's growth. 



Grafting. C. S. You may succeed perfectly 

 well in grafting the fine plums on your wild plum 

 stocks, but it will not change the habit of the im- 

 proved sorts any further than adaptation to the 

 soil is concerned. They will be just as liable to 

 the attacks of the curculio. 



Shrubs. — A Northern Reader. You can plant 

 no prettier shrub for masses than the upright 

 (Tartarian) honeysuckles. They are beautiful in 

 leaf, blossom, or berry, from April to December. 

 The "Dutchman's pipe" is a perfectly hardy, 

 shrubby vine, and will grow in any good garden 

 soil. It will cover a trellis twenty feet high. 

 The European holly will stand the winters north 

 of New- York only with protection from the sun in 

 winter. Tree pcEonias are quite hardy here, but 

 must be covered in winter nortii of Albany. 



Vegetables. A Tyro, (Trenton, N. J.) The 

 red-solid celery is hardier and kee])s much better 

 than the white, but is not so tender if eaten raw. 

 There is no beet comparable to the Bassano, 

 either for earliness or flavor. There is no melon 

 for general culture superior in all respects to the 

 small netted citron. 



