460 DomesUc JYotices. 



else is grown, and the air consequently pure and dry, it would retain its 

 qualities in a liigh dcifrce, until the month of January. We hope some of 

 our friends will try the ex|)erinient, and let us know the result. — Conds. 

 Madura auranliaca, — A memoir has lately been presented to the 

 French Institute, stating that the leaves of this plant are good food for 

 the silk worm, and will he an excellent substitute where the Morus 

 niulticaulis cannot be grown. It is known that the Madura grows free- 

 ly, bears fruit, and stands the winter unprotected in the Middle States. 

 VVe have seen one of the finest s[)ecimens this side of its native hai)itat 

 (the Arkansas) in the nursery of the Messrs. Landreth, Philadel|)hia. 

 If the leaves should prove to be as nutritive to the silk worm as the 

 mulberry, the Arkansas will reap immense benefits, as the tree abounds 

 throughout the territory, and millions of silk worms might be supplied 

 with food. Would it not be of some inq)ortance for those interested in 

 the silk manufacture to try the experiment? — lb. 



Chinese Chrysanthemums. — The weather, during the present fall, has 

 been so uncommonly fine, and unaccompanied with severe frosts, that 

 chrysanthen)ums growing in the open air have produced blossoms in 

 abundance. At the residence of T. Lee, Esq., near Jamaica Pond, they 

 have been surpassingly sjjlendid, and have presented one mass of bloom 

 for several weeks. Indeed, so numerous and large were the flowers, 

 that the plants were almost breaking under their weight. If a judicious 

 selection were made of the earliest flowering sorts, and set in favorable 

 situations, we have no doubt but they would display their rich blossoms 

 long after many of the tender annuals have yielded to the first light 

 frosts. — lb. 



Catawba, Isabella, and Bland^s Virginia Grapes. — We have lately 

 received (Oct. 31) from the Messrs. Downing, of Newbnrgh, N. Y., 

 some fine specimens of the above kinds. The Catawbas were far su- 

 perior to any we ever tasted ; Bland's Virginia were not quite ripe, and 

 we doubt whether they will ever perfect their fruit north of Virginia; 

 it is a superior sort and deserves full trial ; they were the best we have 

 ever tasted. We have raised some in our garden this season, but not 

 quite equal to those favored us by the Messrs. Downing. The Catawi)a 

 is, in our estimation (and we are not great lovers of native grapes), en- 

 titled to a j)lace in every grapery. Was it but a few days earlier, it 

 would be the richest addition our fruit gardens have received for many 

 years. It should be more generally cultivated. — lb. 



Hawthorn Grove, Dorchester. — The splendid green-house which has 

 been here building (Inring the past season, is now nearly completed, and 

 ready for the reception of the plants. It is upwards of eighty feet in 

 length, of proportionate width and height, and is divided into two com- 

 partments, one of which will be devoted to hot-house and stove, and the 

 other to gr<>en-house plants. Mr. Wilder has considerably increased his 

 collection, and it may now be considered as equal to that of any other 

 amateur of gardening. We hope to have the pleasure of giving our 

 readers an account of a walk through the above in a month or two. — lb. 

 The Jlmateur Garden of Mr. S- Swectser, Cand)ridgeport, has just 

 received the addition of a new, beautiful and most convenient green- 

 house. It is upwards of thirty feet in length, and is heated with hot 

 water upon the same ])rincii>le as that adopted at Mr. Cushing's, at Bel- 

 mont ()lace. It works admirably, and we have no doubt but it vvill su- 

 persede the use of brick flues. We intend to give a plan of this house 

 in a future number, as it is just such a one as many gentlemen would 

 want. That at Hawthorn Grove is also heated in the same manner. — lb. 

 Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. — The splendiil dahlia show of 

 this society took i)lace in Philadelphia, on Monday, the 19ih of October 

 last. Premiums had been oflered for the best varieties, and also for the 



