306 On the Propagation of the Mtsturtium. 



but a short time after this, I also saw it blooming finely in 

 the g-arden of Messrs. Hovey & Co. of this place. It being 

 something new and choice, I was anxious to procure a plant 

 of it. It is quite easy to propagate from cuttings or layers: 

 the plants that I now have in flower, were raised from cut- 

 tings put in last fall ; it is very tender and succulent, so 

 much so, that the first slight frosts we have in the fall com- 

 pletely kills the whole plant : this was the case with those 

 grown by Mr. J. W. Russell, at Mount Auburn, last year. 

 They were all killed by the early frosts, before he was able 

 to procure a single ripe seed. 



I think this a very superior variety, compared with com- 

 mon garden nasturtium ; of which there is both the major 

 and minor, double and single, although I have never seen 

 them double. This new variety is said to have been raised 

 from the seed of the common kind, but sported from the 

 orange yellow of the parent, to its present dark color. It 

 was remarked, at the time it was first raised, as a singular 

 instance of the sporting of plants : the common majus, hav- 

 ing been cultivated in England both for use and ornament, 

 for nearly two centuries, without any particular variation 

 in the color of the flowers ever having been observed. The 

 great removal from the original color in this variety was 

 therefore considered remarkable. It has been stated that 

 seeds saved from this variety will not be sure to preserve 

 its dark color, but return back to that of its parent ; it may 

 be so in some instances, but that it is not so in all, has been 

 fully proved, as in the case of Mr. Russell, who raised his 

 from seed. 



It would be a very pretty green-house plant, neatly train- 

 ed, and placed in an airy situation during winter. The 

 flowers and young leaves are not unfrequently used in Eu- 

 rope for salads; the flowers, also, and particularly of this vari- 

 ety, are used for garnishing dishes, and the green berries of 

 the common sort, for pickles. I hope to see this most beau- 

 tiful plant more generally known and cultivated. I have 

 been told, by good authority, that it sold in London two 

 years ago, for a guinea a plant. 



Yours, &c., Wm. Leathe. 



Cambridgeport, July llth, 1835. 



Mr. Leathe havinir, in the above communication, alluded to this plnnt us 

 flowering in the garden of the Messrs. Hovey, we would stiite, that it is a 

 very beautiful addition to the flower border, the green-house, or the con- 

 servatory. Whether it can with certainty be perpetuated by seeds, we 

 are not yet assured. We had at first but one plant, which, with another, 

 were the only two, raised from upwards of twenty seeds, that retained 

 their dark color ; the others were the common kind ; perhaps the seeds 

 might have been a mixture of sorts, although they were imported under 

 the name of the atro-sanguincum. — Conds. 



