376 



The HortkuUurist. 



The Garden and The Gardener's Chronkh. 

 As long as they live and progress with such 

 handsome strides, we think they will add in- 

 citement to American editors to emulate them, 

 as well as give genuine delight to hundreds 

 who know their actual worth. 



Jioldo. 



The American public were greatly enter- 

 tained, two years ago, with wonderful reports 

 of the curative properties of a new plant, 

 '' CundurangoT Although we know that in 

 one case it did prove of great efficacy, yet 

 probably, in a majority of cases, it failed to 

 meet the popular estimation, 



A new plant is now making its way to 

 jjrominent notice, called Boldo, which, upon 

 the authority of the Medical Press, is really 

 wonderful, 



" Researches have been made by Messrs. Du- 

 jardin, Baumetz, and C. L. Yerne, on this 

 proposed addition to our list of medicines. 

 Boldo is a tree, found in Chili, of a height of 

 five or six feet, isolated on mountainous re- 

 gions, with yellow blossoms and verdant foli- 

 age. Its bark, leaves and blossom possess 

 marked aromatic odor, resembling a mixture 

 of turpentine and camphor. The leaves con- 

 tain largely an essential oil. It contains an 

 alkaloid which is already called " boldine.^'' 

 Its properties are chiefly as a stimulant to di- 

 gestion, and having a marked action on the 

 liver. Its action was discovered accidentally 

 thus : some sheep, which were liver diseased, 

 were confined in an enclosure, which happened 

 to have been recently repaired with Boldo 

 twigs. The animals ate the leaves and shoots, 

 and were observed to recover speedily. Direct 

 observation proves its action. Thus, one 

 gramme of the tincture excites appetite, in- 

 creases the circulation, and produces symp- 

 toms of circulatory excitement, and acts on 

 the urine, which gives out the peculiar odor 

 of Boldo." 



The Gardener'' s Chronicle, in commenting 

 upon it, says that it is a native of Chili, 

 Boldosa fragrans. Its introduction to medi- 

 cine is comparatively recent. Professor Bent- 

 ley speaks of its employment as a remedy to 

 diseases of the liver. In Chili the tree has 



many uses ; the sugary, succulent fruits are 

 eaten ; the bark is employed in tanning ; and 

 the wood is much esteemed when prepared as 

 charcoal. 



Weatern New Yorli Horfiriilturnl Socieli/. 



The annual meeting of this society will be 

 held in the Common Council Chamber, in the 

 city of Rochester, on Wednesday and Thurs- 

 day, January 6th and 7th, 1875, commencing 

 at 11 o'clock A. M., Wednesday. In addi- 

 tion to the usual reports of standing commit- 

 tees, there will be addresses and discussions 

 on many of the most important fruit growing 

 and horticultural topics of the day, and it is 

 expected that the meeting will be one of more 

 than ordinary interest. Samples of new and 

 rare fruits, and other objects of special inter- 

 est, are solicited. 



Moth on J''riiit Trees. 



Dr. Hull says, that an application of 

 soft soap is a better remedy for the exclusion 

 of the moth on fruit trees than carbolic soap, 

 and not near so expensive. 



Vick's ('titnloi/ue, lS7o. 



The new issue of Vick's Floral Gvide, for 

 1875, judging from advance sheets, which we 

 have received, will be the very best literary work 

 Mr. Vick has ever performed. It is a perfect 

 glossary of garden flowers, with every possi- 

 ble item and directions to assist in their culti- 

 vation, and the most complete the country has 

 ever seen. The book, for now it is a book, 

 contains divisions into annuals, perennials, 

 bulbs, climbers, garden vegetables, green- 

 house plants, etc. Under these divisions, 

 each flower has a full description, with illus- 

 trations, so that any cultivator may, at any 

 moment, turn to it and learn all that his fancy 

 could desire. No prices are given in this part 

 of the book, but will be published at the end 

 in the shape of an index. We need not add 

 that it is issued in Mr. Vick's usually tasteful 

 style, and we would specially recommend that 

 Mr. Vick keep the plates of the literary por- 

 tion of the book, and bind the pages up into a 

 volume for permanent circulation, and con- 

 venient reference by the public at large. li 

 would make a publication of great use, and be 

 everywhere well appreciated. 



