a2 



JOTJENAX CXF HOETICULTURE AND COTTAG-E &AE.I>irNEE. 



[ Augnst 4, 1863. 



stouter in fi-uit-bearing, more slender in such trees as j^ro- 

 duce principally male flowers, in very robust specimens 

 14 and rarely even l.\, usually about 1 inch long ; on sterile 

 branches straight and horizontal, " f^ving the branches the 

 appearance of so many bottle-brushes." The vaginte con- 

 sist of 7 or 8 oblong scales with fi-inged margins, adpressed 

 and fonning a sheath 3 or 4 lines long on the young leaf, 

 soon spreading and squaiTose, falling off in the second or 

 thu'd year. Many lanceolate acuminate scales, periUie, 

 sheathe the lower part of the shoots ; shorter broader bracts, 

 bearing in then- a.xils the male aments, follow next. The 

 aments together form a very short spike, or rather head, 6 or 

 8 lines long ; often these heads persist on the axis for two or 

 even thi'ce years with a few bunches of leaves above each, 

 giving the appearance pf a leafy spike 1 or li inch long. 



Om- figiu-e does not represent this condition distinctly, but 

 shows the numerous naked spaces, about ten in number, wluch 

 in former yoai-s had been occupied by male flowers. We have 

 seen branches with sixteen such naJced spaces, proving that 

 leaves were persistent for sixteen yeai-s — a fact unheard of 

 among Pines, where leaves are said to endure only thi-ee 

 years. The stipitate oval ament 3 to 4 lines long, has a 

 proper involucriim of four oblong scales or bracts of equal 

 length. It seems that the involucrum of the male ament 

 and the foi-m of the ament of the anthers, together with the 

 fruit and seed, offer characters of importance for the distinc- 

 tion and aiTangement of species, hitherto neglected probably 

 because living nature has not been studied as diligently as 

 the cbied mummies of the herbaria, and these contain so 

 few good flowering specimens of Pines ; the number of leaves, 

 so much relied on, is of secondary consideration, and is often 

 calculated to mislead, separating the most natiu-al affinities, 

 such as our Cembroid Nut-pines with one or five leaves, or 

 the pineoid Pines (P. Pinea, P. Sabiniana, P. Ton-eyana), 

 with two or five leaves. P. sylvestris has an oval ament 

 3 lines long, with an involucrum of three equal lance-Hnear 

 acute scales in the axU of a lanceolate recui-ved bract, which 

 is deciduous with the ament ; anther mth a short, ne;u-ly 

 entire crista. P. austriaca has a cylindric curved ament 

 li inch long, with an involucrum of about ten very un- 

 equal and almost distichous oval scales, in the axU of a 

 linear-lanceolate recurved persistent bract ; anther, with a 

 semicirciiliu- entii-e crista, large enough to entirely hide the 

 body of the anther in the yet-closed ament, and give the 

 latter the appearance of a young cone. Crista of the anther 

 scarcely indicated by a knob, smaller than in any Pine ex- 

 ammed by us. Female aments single, or two together near 

 the end of the young shoots, bristling with the lanceolate, 

 aristate erect scales, of a purple black colour. Cones oval, 

 obtuse, 2\ to 2; inches long, about half as much in diameter, 

 often covered with resin as if varnished; their pui-plish- 

 brown or blackish colom- is found also in a little group of 

 alpine Pines of the Popocatepetl with three to five leaves, 

 discovered by Eoezl. Bracts, as in all Pines, not obHterated 

 ("evauidae") as is usually stated, but much altered, and 

 ra,ther indistinct ; more or less thickened and partly connate 

 with the base of the scale ; in oiu- species, only the upper 

 obtuse mucronate part membranaceous and free ; scales 10 

 to 15 lines long, and 4 to G lines wide at their exposed part ; 

 transverse ridge of the rhombic rather flat, protuberance of 

 the scale very conspicuous ; the slender mucro or awn, from 

 the small rhombic central knob, 2 to 3 lines long, cm-ved up- 

 wards, at last tortuous and easily broken off, has suggested 

 the name for the species. Seed neai-ly 3 Unes long, with the 

 obovate wing G to 7 lines long ; embryo in all the seeds 

 examined by me, with seven short cotyledons. — {American 

 Gardener's Monthly.) 



WOBE POE THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



Should the present dry weather continue, the water- 

 barrel will be in continual request among all newly-planted 

 crops. Surface-stiiTing to be also fi-equontly resorted to 

 ft>r the jiurpose of preventing a too rapid evaporation. 

 Broccoli, where they have been planted between rows of 

 Peas the latter should be removed as soon as they are done 

 with, the ground to be then dug, and the intennediate spaces 

 filled up. Cnhhoye, prick-out the plants intended for sjiring 



use in nursery-beds, that th^ may get stocky pi-evious to 

 their final planting. Earth-xip all the Brassica tribe that 

 ai'e sufficiently advanced, and make succession plantations 

 of Brussels Sprouts, Buda Kale, Broccoli, Coleworts, and 

 Savoys. Cauliflowers, the plants now coming into use to 

 be liberally supplied with water to produce close heads. 

 Chervil, make a sowing for autumn use. Endive, continue to 

 transplant as oh-cumstances require. Another solving may 

 also be made. Potatoes, the Ash-leaved Kidneys intended 

 for seed may now be taken up and exposed to the sun until 

 they are green. Ttrniijis, seize the opportunity of a shower 

 to get in another breadth of Late Wliite. 



PLOWEE GAKDEN. 



The season of the year has now airived at which the 

 flower garden has attained, or neai'ly attained, the zenith of 

 its beauty, and the amateur or gardener may contemplate 

 with satisfaction the result of his labour in that department ; 

 but if there is anything in the present arrangement of 

 colours to mar the effect, it shoidd be noted for correction 

 another season. Much watering will be necessary here 

 dui'ing the heat we now experience. Continue to remove 

 dead flowers from Koses, and give plenty of manure water 

 to the autumn-blooming varieties. Plant-out rooted cuttings 

 of Pansies in nursery -beds in a shady situation. Propagate 

 Pansies, keeping them well- watered ii the weather is diy untQ 

 they get established, and save seed of dioice sorts. Plant-out 

 Pinks in beds, water fi'eely in di'y wealher. Water layers of 

 Carnations and Picotees in di'y weather. Keep choice 

 Dahlias thin of shoots and buds. Trap earwigs. Water 

 American and other choice shi-ubs in ih-y weather. Shrubs 

 that were planted late in spring will requii-e liberal supplies 

 of water and mulching to prevent evaporation. Train climb- 

 ing plants neatly to trellises. The lawn during the present 

 hot weather will sometimes requii'e to be gone over with the 

 scythe in the middle of the day to cut off any straggling 

 tuifts of grass. 



FEUIT GAEDEN. 



Peaches, Nectarines, and Apricots to have frequent at- 

 tention in keeping them well nailed to the walls, to guard 

 against high winds. The fi'uit also to be exposed to the 

 action of the sun as much as possible, without divesting 

 them of leaves, to insure fine flavoui- and good colour. 

 Continue to make fresh jjlantations of Strawbeiries ; the 

 ground to be deeply trenched — they like a fresh, stiff loam. 

 The wall ii-uit trees will demand a good supply of water at 

 their roots, to be mulched with short litter. 



GREENHOUSE AND CONSEEVATOKT. 



Keep everything in the eonservatoiy in the neatest order, 

 shifting to other quarters those plants that ai-e fading in 

 bloom, and replacing them by others that have been pre- 

 pared for the pui-pose. Keep the creepers neatly trained, 

 and occasionally washed with the engine or sjTinge. New 

 Holland plants and Heaths that h.ave been standing out of 

 doors for some time to receive immetliate attention, if wet 

 and windy weather prevail. Some of the best and most 

 tender varieties to be secured by placing them in cold pits 

 or other secure situations. Persevere in keeping all plants 

 subject to the mildew clear of that pest by di-edging them 

 with sulphur, as the season is now arrived when hardwooded 

 plants are subject to it. Persevere in clearing-off all decayed 

 blossoms, and pinching back luxuriant shoots. It will be 

 much to the advantage of the inmates of plant-houses to 

 reduce the shading after this time, to enable the plants to 

 ripen theh- summer's growth, allowing more air to keep 

 down the temperatm-e, and to check any tendency to a 

 second growth which may show itself, and which can only 

 take place at the expense of next season's bloom. Examine 

 the stock of pot plants to see that none are suffering from 

 want of jjot-room or other attention neccssaiy to assist 

 tlicm in making young wood for blooming next season. 

 Young, rigorous plant-^, however, sometimes require to be 

 watered rather spaa-ingly at this period to prevent their 

 making a second growth. Cinerarias for early blooming 

 should now be growing li-eely, and shoidd be shifted when 

 necessai-y, for if they are to form large specimens for bloom- 

 ing in winter they must not be permitted to sustain any 

 check. Eemore snckere whenever they can be obtained, 

 and pot them for spring floweidng. The conservatory- 

 borders will now require most liberal waterings, and care 



