Horticultural Memoranda for June. 239 



long yellow French. Old onions are exceedingly scai'ce; but new ones, 

 of very fair size, are now received. Radishes are very abundant, and 

 of h-mdsome appearance. 



Cabbages are nearly or quite all gone, as are also cauliflowers. Let- 

 tuces now come in of first rate quality. Rhubarb is as abundant as we 

 have ever known it. Spinach, dandelions, &.C., a good supply. A few 

 peas were received this week from Philadelphia; they were rather small; 

 they will undoubtedly come to hand in considerable quantities, from 

 New York, in a few days. Asparagus, considering the earliness of the 

 season, comes to hand plentifully, and of good size. Of West India 

 squashes there has been a few arrivals, of large lots, and the market is 

 just now overstocked, so much so, that prices have fallen considerably. 



The fruit market continues exceedingly dull; indeed, for the lateness 

 of the season, more so than could have been anticipated. Undoubtedly 

 the pressure of the times has had a sensible effect in diminishing the 

 sales, when it is recollected that, generally speaking, they are luxuries, 

 and not necessary articles of food. Of apples there is a plentiful sup- 

 ply, and of excellent quality: it has not probably happened during sev- 

 eral years that they could be bought as cheap in the month of May as 

 they could in November; but such is the fact now. The finest Bald- 

 wins and russets, all carefully picked, sound, and of good size, can be 

 had at the same rate as they were purchased for in the fall, soon after 

 the gathering of the crop. Pears are about gone; we believe the last 

 were disposed of this week. Watermelons continue to come to hand 

 from the West Indies, and prices have now become moderate. Pine 

 apples are unusually plenty for the time of the year; the arrivals have 

 been some weeks earlier than heretofore. Cucumbers have come to 

 hand the past fortnight somewhat more freely, and there has been a re- 

 duction in prices. Cocoanuts are now quite an article of trade; large 

 quantities are brought here and sold, and perhaps it may be well to 

 quote them hereafter. Oranges and lemons are rather scarce; West 

 India oranges, of fine size, command the prices per doz. in our quota- 

 tions. Walnuts are yet plentiful. — Yours, M. T., Boston, May 23d, 

 1837. 



HORTICULTURAL MEMORANDA 



FOR JUNE. 



Up to the date we now write, (May 24,) the weather has been rather 

 cold and chilly, and easterly winds prevail; these, with an abundance 

 of rain, which has flooded all low land, will destroy many seeds which 

 have been already committed to the soil. Squashes, cucumbers, Lima 

 beans, and sweet corn, vegetables, which are almost invariably planted 

 too soon, will be destroyed in many instances. We wish we could 

 convince both gentlemen and amateur gardeners that such early plant- 

 ing as is generally practised in New England is not so favorable to 

 many, indeed most, crops, as if made later in the season. With the 

 exception of a few kinds, the surest time to plant to have the seeds 

 vegetate well, and sufficiently early to procure a good crop, is about 

 the first of June. Lima beans ivilt not vegetate until the ground is 

 warm, and so with regard to cucumbers antl siiuashes. As agricultural 

 information is diffused, the prejudices in favor of such early planting, 

 now in practice, will give way, and the more natural one, of sowing 



