; THE GENESEE FARMER. 65 i^' 



Work for the Month. — Very little can be done in the garden or orchard during 

 the month of February. Old aiyple trees that have been neglected until the heads are 

 become dense and twiggy, may be thinned out at any time; scions may be cut; poles 

 for peas and beans, and supports for climbing plants, rustic baskets, flower stands, or 

 other ornaments, may be constructed ; manures and composts collected, turned, mixed, 

 and prepared for application ; implements maybe put in order; and various arrange- 

 ments made that 'will facilitate operations in the spring. Those who intend to use hot- 

 beds may be getting them in readiness for the middle of March. The fruit room will 

 demand attention ; and it must be remembered that the conditions most favorable to 

 preservation are dryness, coolness, and uniformity. Warm air should never be admitted 

 among fruits, as it creates moisture by condensation, and this promotes decay. All 

 unsound specimens should be removed at once, and nothing like decaying vegetables, or 

 anything that emits an offensive odor, be for a moment Dcrmitted near the fruits. 



A National Park. — Our government at Washington has really taken one step 

 towards the formation and improvement of public grounds. 150 acres of land within 

 the city of Washington is to be converted into a magnificent park, embracing four or 

 fiv^e miles of carriage drive, foot walks, ponds, fountains, statues, &c., and a complete 

 collection of the trees indigenous to North America. The plans have been given by 

 A. J. Downing, Esq., and the work is to be executed under his superintendence. It is 

 supposed that three or four years will be required for its completion. 



The question of a great park in the city of New York is also agitated, but the New 

 Yorkers hardly know what a park means. Philadelphia is also moving in the same 

 direction. The times are brightening. 



Funis from France. — Mr. Andre Le Roy, of Angers, France, sent to the Massachu- 

 setts Horticultural Society a case of fruits for exhibition, comprising 116 varieties of 

 pears, 30 of apples, 12 of crabs, walnuts, chestnuts, &c. ; and we learn from Ilovey's 

 Magazine, that only about 30 varieties of the pears, and the same number of the apples, 

 arrived in go*l order, owing to detention in England. Mr. Le Roy has, in a recent 

 communication to us, expressed his intention of sending a collection to our next State 

 Fair. So much for steam communication. Europe and America will soon be making 

 exchanofes of fruits on an extensive scale. 



The Season. — The winter here set in unusually early, and up to this time (Jan. 10) 

 has been marked by extreme severity — a continued succession of hard frosts and heavy 

 falls of rain and snow. On the night of the 2d of January the mercury fell 10 deg. 

 below zero — a degree of cold seldom experienced here. No serious injury is yet done 

 to fruit trees or the wheat crop, and now we have a fine warm coat of snow eighteen 

 inches deep. We trust the close of winter will be more temperate than the beginning. 



The North American Sylva. — A new edition of this magnificent work of Michaux, 

 on the Forest Tfees of North America, with Nuttal's continuation, has just been issued 

 by Robt. p. Smith, of Philadelphia ; the whole forming six volumes royal octavo, with 

 278 plates. This will be a real treasure to every man who can afford to place it in his 

 library. Price, S-15 dollars with colored plates; $31 uncolored. 





