i88s. 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



29 



has led some to question its American origin. But 

 the first fact named settles that beyond dispute, 

 for whatever may be said of the passage of the an- 

 cestors of our aboriginal tribes across Behring 

 Straits, or the Icelandic discoveries upon north- 

 eastern borders, it is very certain that no voyager 

 from any country where the pineapple could be 

 grown, ever set foot upon the shores of either 

 the American Continent or Islands previous to the 

 days of Columbus. It is equally certain that it 

 has been widely distributed by the hand of man, 

 and that, too, at an early period. It is said to have 

 been found naturalized in Java as early as 1599. 

 It was carried to Europe soon after its discovery 

 in America by Columbus, and thence to regions 

 beyond. But it is probable that it was carried to 

 China from Peru by way of the Pacific, and thence 

 distributed to surrounding regions. It is also 

 probable that India derived its first supply from 

 the European stock through Portuguese soon after 

 its introduction into Europe, and thence extended 

 to adjacent countries. Wherever introduced, it at 

 once was conceded a high rank among the fruits 

 of earth, because of its large size, its delightful 

 aroma, and the abundance of its juice of a most 

 exquisite flavor. — Rev. yas. H. White, in Florida 

 Dispatch. 



Tr.\nsactions of the Illinois Horticul- 

 tural Society, 18S3. — A. C. Hammond, Warsaw, 

 Secretary. 



Transactions of the Mississippi Valley 

 Horticultural Society, 1884. — From W. H. 

 Ragan, Greencastle, Indiana, Secretary. 



Ontario School of Agriculture, Ninth 

 Annual Report, 1883. — From James Mills, Pres- 

 ident of Ontario Agricultural College. 



What a grand work for the horticulture and nat- 

 ural history of our country, some one might do 

 who would undertake to make a general index of 

 all the good things that have appeared during the 

 past quarter of a century in works like these, — no 

 individual could afford to do it, but some society 

 possessing complete sets, and having the means at 

 command, could not put the money to better uses. 

 One of the best pieces of work General Le Due did 

 when Commissioner of Agriculture was to make 

 an index of all the volumes of that department up 

 to his time. Would it be out of order for the same 

 department to make an index of all State reports ? 

 What a very useful work it would be ! These before 

 us contain very valuable essays ; but just when one 

 wants to refer to them he will forget where to look. 

 A few days ago we wanted to look over all that had 



been written on actual experiments or observa- 

 tions on the intercrossing of Indian corn, and 

 after an hour's search found nothing, yet surely 

 there must be much on record somewhere. 



Orchids, the Royal Family of Plants. — 

 By Harriet Stewart Miner. Boston: Published by 

 Lee and Sheppard, and in New York, by Charles 

 T.Dillingham. Price, |l 5.00. 



The most magnificent work of its class ever is- 

 sued in our country, and will do more perhaps 

 than any thing that has appeared to make orchid 

 culture widely popular. There are seven great 

 families of orchideae, and in the twenty-four plates 

 given selections are made from all these, and thus 

 is given a general idea of all the family. The 

 species illustrated arc, Dendrobium Devonianum, 

 D. Ainsworthia, D. nobile, Masdevallia Veitchii, 

 CattleyaTrianse, C. Choccensis, C. Mossse, C. Lod- 

 digesii, Laelia autumnalis, L. Dayeana, Phalse- 

 nopsis Stuartiana, Oncidium Barkeri, Calanthe 

 Veitchii, Aerides quinquevulnerum, Odontoglos- 

 sum Roezlii album, O. triumphans, O. Alexan- 

 dra;, Lycaste aromatica, Vanda suavis, Cymbid- 

 ium Hookerianum, C. niveum, C. Haynaldium, 

 and C. Spicerianum. The colored lithographic 

 plates are all drawn by the authoress and are given 

 here in quarto size. The lithography is very well 

 done. Practical facts, philosophical speculations, 

 classical allusions, poetical references, and various 

 thoughts suggested by the subjects form the text, 

 which is beautifully printed on heavily calendered, 

 gilt edged paper. Possibly critics in the various 

 departments of literature might want to qualify or 

 add to what has been said by the authoress, but 

 all will say that her attempt to offer a very beau- 

 tiful and interesting work has been a signal suc- 

 cess. 



For weddings or birthday presents, Easter gifts 

 or memorial gifts of any kind, nothing we are sure 

 would be more appreciated than a copy of this 

 book; while those who have a collection of orchids, 

 or desire to have one, will surely want this beauti- 

 ful book in their libraries. 



How THE Farm Pay's. — By William Crozier 

 and Peter Henderson. New York : Peter Hen- 

 derson & Co. 



This is a large octavo of 379 pages, handsomely 

 printed and profusely illustrated, giving the ex- 

 perience of two of the most successful men in 

 market gardening and farming our country has 

 produced. What two such men have to say about 

 profitable work of this kind must of necessity 

 have great weight. Mr. Henderson's works of a 



