VOL.. X'l. NO. 46. 



AND HORTICULTURAL JOURNAL. 



363 



Answer. — There is no soil in this district, deem- 

 ed worthy of cultivation, on which lime is whoUi/ 

 inoperative as a fertilizer. On some sterile sla- 

 ty ridges and on magnesian rocks, it has indeed 

 but a slight eflect; and even the benefits of barn- 

 yard manure are very transient. In low swampy 

 grounds, also, unless they are jireviously well 

 drained, the labor of applying lime is pretty much 

 thrown away. Tiiere seems to be some thing in 

 the constitution of magnesian rocks peculiarly un- 

 friendly to the growth of the more valuable plants. 

 Indeed, there are patches of the soil perfectly des- 

 titute of all vegetation. Repeated attempts have 

 been made to cultivate the bases of our serpentine 

 banks ; but neither lime, nor manure, will enable 

 the farmer to obtain more than a light crop of 

 small grain. Neither clover, nor the valuable 

 grasses, can be induced to take root and flourish 

 in the imgenial soil. It is, therefore, almost uni- 

 versally neglected. 



I have thus endeavored, (in rather a desultory 

 manner, I confess,) to answer your queries accor- 

 •ding to my best judgment. If what I have furnish- 

 ed shall in any degree tend to make the subject 

 tetter understood, I shall be amply gratified. 



With great respect, I have the honor to be your 

 obedient servant, Wm. Darlington. 



Jesse Buel, Esq. Cor. Sec. Sfc. 



Westchester, (Penn.j December 17, 1832. 



MASS. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



For the Nevi England Farmer. 

 liARGE APPLE TREE. 



There is at present standing in Duxbury, Coun 

 ty of Plymouth, an apple tree remarkable for its 

 age, size, and fruitfulness. This tree is over 40 

 feet in height, branches very wide spreading and 

 large, the circumference of the trunk eight inches 

 from the ground, is 16 feet ; at four feet from the 

 ground it spreads into two branches, one of which 

 is 9 feet in circumference. These again spread, 

 the larger into three, the smaller into twc branch- 

 es, each of which equals an ordinary apfle tree in 

 size. It covers with its branches a space of 

 ground 31 paces in diameter. In its most fertile 

 days, it bore 76 bushels of apples for winter use, 

 and not many years since, the fruit made 10 bar- 

 rels of cider, l)esides 30 bushels for :he cellar. 

 Its ascertained age is near one hundred years. It 

 still is quite productive and sound, the upper and 

 lower branches bear alternately. The fiuit is of a 

 pleasant sour, rather tender, but keeps well all 

 winter. 



Proceedtngs of the Massachusetts Horticultural 

 Society, at a meeting held in the Hall of the Insti- 

 tution on Saturday, May 25, 1833. 



The following report was made by H. A. S. 

 Dearborn, Esq. the President of the Society. 



Since the last meeting, I have received the sub- 

 joined letter from David Porter, Esq., Charge D'Af- 

 fairs of the U. S. at the Ottoman Porte, with the 

 seeds therein named. These repeated acts of kind- 

 ness demand our gratitude, while the promised con- 

 tributions of Fr. Siimmerers, Esq. can not fail of 

 being of great value. The countries bordering on 

 the Black Sea, are extremely rich in vegetable pro- 

 ductions, and acquisitions from thence are sought 

 with avidity by the naturalists, and the cultivators 

 of useful and ornamental plants in Europe. Sev- 

 eral of our valuable fruits were first introduced 

 among the Romans by Lucullus, from the south 

 eastern borders of the Euxine. 



The benefits of those trophies of his enterprise, 

 civilization and refinement, have been extended 

 through nineteen centuries, and over two hemis- 

 pheres ; — while his splendid victories, and the re- 

 gal treasures of Mithridates, were not sufficient to 

 protect him, from the denunciations of his ambi- 

 tious rivals. If his country was ungrateful for liis 

 martial achievements, his pacific deeds have veri- 

 fied his prophetic remark to his officers, on the 

 morning of bis great battle in Armenia: — " I will 

 make this a day to be remembered by after ages." 



Fortunately for our country, the naval officers 

 of the Republic who have visited the East, have 

 emulated the taste, as well as the chivalry of the 

 Roman warrior, and our Society has been repeat- 

 edly enriched by their offerings. The seeds have 

 been placed in charge of the Gardener, at Mount 

 Auburn. Respectfully submitted by H. A. S. 

 Dearborn. 



Brinley Place, Roxhury, May 25, 1833. 



Mr. AnnuEON, says the Boston Patriot, in a let- 

 ter addressed to a gentleman in this city, dated 

 Eastport, May 9th, observes, that he has conclud- 

 ed to charter a schooner of some 50 or 60 tons, 

 for his voyage, in the following directiot : — From 

 Eastport to Sable Island, thence to Newfjundland, 

 and all around it — thence to the coast of Labrador, 

 and up towards Hudson's Bay, as far as the sea- 

 son will admit." 



A cloud of /fitnesses. — One hundred and seven- 

 ty-two witnesses have been examined en the trial 

 of the Rev. Mr. Avery, now in progress at New- 

 port, and there remained twenty or thirty more, 

 at the last dates, who were yet to testify. 



Mr. Frost stated in his address at the Young 

 Men's Temperance meeting, that of 125,000 ton- 

 victions for crime recorded in this country for one 

 year (we believe 1829,) 96,780 were distinctly 

 traceable to ardent spirit. 



If it can be used in the place of Olive Oil, we 

 cau raise the seed and manufacture the oil here so 

 as to afford it, at the price Olive Oil usually sells 

 at. 



Will you please to place it, in your exhibition 

 room for examination, after it has been exhibited 

 it is at your disposal. Respectfully, your obedient 

 Servant, James Homer. 



Amesbury, May 22, 1833. 



Resolved, That the thanks of the Society be pre- 

 sented to David Porter, Esq. for his present of 

 valuable seeds. And to Mr. James Homer for 

 half a dozen bottles of Oil from the seed of sun- 

 flowers, and Messrs. B. and C. Adams, for a quan- 

 tity of seeds. 



William Sharp Mc Leay, and Francis Summer- 

 ers, were elected Corresponding Members of the 

 Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 



Peru, March 6, 1833, 

 Sir, — I send you some seed Beans, which were 

 given me by his Excellency, the Baron D'Olten- 

 fels. You will find his note in the box. 



Fr. Summerers, Esq. has promised me foi-ty 

 different kinds of seeds from Wallachia and Mol- 

 davia, and among them those of an Apple of ex- 

 traordinary size, and excellence, which when I 

 receive I shall have the pleasure to send you. I 

 am Sir, with great respect your very obedient ser- 

 vant. David Porter. 

 H. A. S. Dearborn, Esq., Pres. 

 of the Mass. Hor. Soc. 



Note from the Baron D'Ottenfels to David Por 

 ter Esq. 



Beans of Kordofan in Africa, raised in 1832, 

 they are planted in April and May, on dry or 

 moist land, indifferently, in a situation sheltered 

 from the north wind. The stalks furnish excel- 

 lent charcoal for gun powder. The beana are 

 very good for poultry and cattle, the plants being 

 cut down and mi^ed with manure, give an enrich- 

 ing activity to the earth. Otteniels. 



HORTICtIl.TTJRAL, EXHIBITION OF FL,OWKRS. 



P. B. Hovey, Cambridgeport, Ranunculus. 

 S. Walker, Roxbury, Tulips. 

 J. A. Kenrick, Newton, several fine specimens. 

 S. E. Green, Brookline, Red and White Cypri- 

 pediuni humile, strong and prominent of their kind. 

 Messrs. Winsbips, usual show of flowers. 



Per order, J. Winship, Chairman. 



Capt. D. Chandler, of Lexington, exhibited the 

 largest shoots of Asparagus that we ever saw, 

 measuring no less than 4 inches in circumference. 



Adjourned to Saturday next. 



There were more than fifty varieties of Flowers 

 exhibited by the Messrs. Winship, of Brighton. 

 Mr. Walker's Tulips were fine and much diversi- 

 fied with beautiful colors. — Editor. 



To the Directors of the Massachusetts Horticul- 

 tural Society. 



Gent. — I send you a half dozen Bottles, of Sa- 

 lad Oil, Manufactured from Sun Flower Seed. 



I believe, you will find it as sweet, and of as 

 good flavor, as any Olive Oil. 



From the Vermont Chronicle. 

 BEES. 



Messrs. Editors, — A variety of expedients 

 have been devised to prevent the entranco of the 

 Bee Moth into Bee-Hives. I am not well satisfied 

 with any I have seen, though they may be of some 

 use. I beg to propose a new one ; and that is, a 

 rope of cotton wool, extending from the entrance 

 of the hive round to the entrance again; and if 

 thought necessary, another around the top of the 

 hive. Indeed, put cotton wool, somewhat loose, 

 in or on all places where the Moth will incline to 

 lay its eggs. It may be well to sprinkle the cot- 

 ton with fine salt. If the rope becomes wet and 

 adheres to the hive or bottom board, a new rope 

 may be substituted. The reason of the thing. In- 

 sects in general, and moths in particular, avoid 

 cotton wool, as a nidus for their eggs, probably be- 

 cause they are so easily caught by its threads, and 

 because there is no oil in it as in wool. Bees them- 

 selves will not walk upon it. Salt too is avoided 

 by insects as a nidus, and by sprinkling the cotton 

 with that, it may be still more uncomfortable to the 

 miller. 



The experiment is so simple, I hope it will be 

 tried. In general, if a hive is well stocked with 

 bees, there is not much fear but they will manage 

 to guard the entrance, if the apertures are not too 

 large. J. W. 



May 20, 1833. 



" What you leave at your death, let it be with- 

 out controversy, else the lawyers will be your 

 heirs." — F. Osbornt- 



