430 



NEtV ENGLAND FARMER. 



Sept. 



Massachusetts this year ; would they not subserve 

 the puhlic good by publishing their doings? 

 Would it not induce many to "go and do like- 

 wise." 



The time for sowing is at liand, and he that 

 would avail liiiuself, must be "up and doing." I 

 would roeouiuicud to sow two l)ushels to the acre 

 on lightish soil, and two and a half bushels on 

 heavier soil. Yours respectfully, 



Brooklyn, N. Y., Aug. 1th. H. Poor. 



Remarks. — On land in good condition we have 

 never used more than five pecks of seed ; six pecks 

 we should consider liberal seeding on a well-man- 

 ured clay loam. It will be well for the cultivator 

 to make experiments with different quantities of 

 seed, say at the rate of 5, 6, 7 and 8 pecks. 



SUBURBAN GARDENS. 



The editor of the Practical Farmer has been 

 looking into some of the fine gardens in the vicin- 

 ity of Boston, and among others, describes that of 

 Mr. Joseph Breck, the well-known Seedsman and 

 Florist. What he says of Mr. Breck's "Book of 

 Flowers," is no more than the Avork justlymerits. 

 There is no other work of that description which 

 wc think would so fully meet the wants of our 

 people who cultivate flowers for home use, and as 

 pleasant objects about the house. We commend 

 it to all, whether amateurs or not. 



MR. JOSEPH breck's GARDEN, BRIGHTON. 



Mr. Breck is known throughout the country ; 

 wherever flowers are admired and cultivated, 

 there is he an admitted authority — a household 

 friend. His "Book of Flowers" is, without doubt, 

 the most complete and satisfactory work, that we 

 have upon the su})joct ; — it is just the work upon 

 the very subject, that, viith a full knowledge of 

 Mr. Breck's character, any one would have pro- 

 phesied that Mr. Breck could and would write ; 

 a work unpretending, exact, quietly enthusiastic 

 and complete ; just Joseph Breck "set up" (not 

 in the convivial sense !) in duodecimo form, paged, 

 pressed and bound. It was no comuion treat to 

 visit his garden, Avith himself as guide, and speak- 

 ing of his own flowers as if they were the beauti- 

 ful creations of God for the general enjoyment ; — 

 it was no common treat to sit down at his tea- 

 table, and to partake of his old-style — hearty — 

 open-handed — unapulogising hospitality ; with his 

 worthy help-meet doing the lionors of the evening 

 meal. But we must leave this repast 



" and the cup 



That cheers, but not inebriates," * * 



to walk forth in the garden. 



Mr. Breck's garden contains about 3 acres of 

 land, — a part of which is a new purchase, now 

 undergoing transformation and improvement. The 

 planted portions of the garden were in the finest 

 condition, as to culture and cleanliness ; all spoke 

 of active, careful superintendence. 



Among the plants especially noticed, most of 

 which wore in l)loom at the time of our visit, are 

 the following. 



Clematis vitaccUa atro rubra — a much admired 



imber, with a profusion of brownish red flowers, 

 crowing 10 to 15 feet in a season; C. vitacella ma- 



jor — a vigorous elimber, like tlie last, with large 

 purplish blue flowers; C. vitacella plena — also a 

 great climber, with curious double flowers in clus- 

 ters, of a dark lead or bluish slate color ; C. Shil- 

 lingei, with dark colored flowers; C. Ilendersoni, 

 with blue flowers ; C cyliudriea, with paler blue 

 flowers ; the three last are climbing plants, but 

 not so vigorous as the three first named. Clematis 

 alpina with profuse clusters of white flowers, and 

 Clematis integrifolia, with solitary blue flowers — 

 both tall plants, but not climbers. 



In addition to these beautiful varieties of the 

 clematis in bloom, there are in this collection 

 Clematis Sieboldii, C. azurea graudiflora, C. flam- 

 mula, C. florida, C. florida plena, montana, and 

 other varieties coming later into bloom — all de- 

 sirable for their beauty, but some of them requir- 

 ing slight protection in the winter. 



•The roses were nearly out of bloom, but we saw 

 the remains of about 150 varieties of the finest 

 sorts in the country. To see the roses in perfec- 

 tion, they should be examined during the first 

 week of their bloom . ]Mr. Breck's stock of hardy 

 herbaceous plants is probably as choice as any 

 other in the country ; as it has been his care for 

 the last thirty years to collect from every source 

 this pleasing class of plants. We believe it is 

 conceded by most amateui's, that his seedling Del- 

 phinium, No. 1, {D. Breckii) is one of the most 

 brilliant and desirable of this tribe. It was raised 

 by him some 10 or 12 years since, from the seed 

 of D. grandiflora, probably crossed AvithD. sinen- 

 sis 'plena. The flowers are double — of the most 

 exquisite ultramarine )»lue, AA'ith a wliitish shade 

 in the centre. It grows from 2 to 3 feet high, 

 and is in bloom from June to October, if care is 

 taken to cut off the flower stems, as soon as the 

 first bloom is over. As it does not protluce seed, 

 it is propagated from divisions of the root. 



Of the Phlox tribe we found about 75 of the 

 best varieties ; but few of them were in bloom. 

 Bampanula persicafolia plena, and va^'iety j^lena 

 alba, and other varieties of Campanula were in 

 bloom ; also many beautiful varieties of Sp;'rja. 



The forcing house for grapes is about 50 feet 

 long ; half of the crop has been disposed of, but 

 we noticed the vines near the door heavily laden 

 Avith fruit. The cold graperies are 85 feet in 

 length,Avith span roof divided into two apartments. 

 There are four tiers of vines, about 80 in number, 

 in these houses, embracing 18 A'aricties — about 11 

 more, says Mr. Breck, tlian I Avould recommend 

 to the horticulturist. A small green-house 32 feet 

 long, is attached to the cold-houses. — Practical 

 Farmer. 



Prince Albert's Farm. — Public interest in 

 Prince Albert's agricultual experiments must be 

 considerably cooled I)y the fact (brought out in 

 Parlimcnt) that they are carried on chiefly at the 

 public expense. 1 1 appears that his lloyal High- 

 ness has two farms, for one of Avhich he pays rent 

 like any other tenant, but has tlie rare privilege 

 of making what improvements he pleases, one-half 

 at the expense of the public ; while of the other 

 farm, a dairy appended to Windsor Castle, the 

 whole charge is throAvn on the Civil List. Prince 

 Albert must be a poor agriculturist if he can not 

 work two contiguous faruis held on such a tenure 

 to very decided pecuniary advantage. — North 

 British Mail. 



