no 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER, 



Oct. 22,1850. 



^mw mm^ih^^m ^^mmmm^ 



BOSTON, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1830. 



From the Gardener's Magazine. 



On the Birch Rind of the 

 light be applied i 



3rican Indians, and the uses to 

 ling. In a Letter from Mr Haw- 

 ,of the Honotnble Hudson's liay Company, to Jlr Baillie of 

 Dropmore Gardens ; with a Note by Mr Baillie. 



Sir — Having some time ago spoken to you on 

 the subject of biich rind, and suggested its ap- 

 plication in liorticultural practice, I venture in a 

 simple manner to relate what I have witnessed 

 with regard to the usefulness of this rind, and in 



ray humble opinion the many ways in which it 

 might be applied to our gardens. 



The settlements of the Hudson's Bay Company 

 are supplied with this rind by tlie Indians. The 

 Europeans never venture to peel it from the tree, 

 for in this process much skill and ingenuity must 

 be displayed, otherwise the trees soon become 

 weak, and in a few years perish. 



It is part of the Indian's study, particularly of 

 the inland tribes to watch with care tlie growth of 

 this beautiful tree, the height of which may be 

 judged by the circumference, as the first-rate trees 

 measure from 18 to 20 feet round. The rind on 

 an average is half an inch thick, and tliis is re- 

 duced in a most scientific and easy manner by a 

 people whom we are accustomed to call savages. 

 They begin by separating the outside, rough and 

 knotty parts from the more delicate, which, when 

 prepared, they use for tentings or tent covering, 

 small and large baskets and various other utensils. 

 Tlie rind next the outer baik is principally used 

 for large and small canoes ; the latter will carry 

 20 cwt. They also construct measures of it, 

 which will hold from one to two bushels, and are 

 exceedingly light and durable. But as that part 

 which is used for tenting appears to me of most 

 importance to the horticulturist, 1 will endeavor 

 to explain how the tenting is formed, and its use 

 among the Indians, and leave it to the decision of 

 the amateur and gardener how far it might be 

 useful in our gardens. 1 have frequently seen 

 the Indian, his wife and children, forming this 

 covering, which generally consists of four lengths, 

 each length 12 feet, and the width 4 feet. The 

 making is simple, but no European was ever 

 known to me that could finish off one to answer 

 the purposes with the readiness and nicety of the 

 natives. The women sew the lengths togetlier 

 with roots which the children [rocure in the 

 woods: these undergo the process of barking, 

 cleaning, and dividing. The men frame each 

 separate length at both ends, so that any conven- 

 ient length or breadth might be obtained. The 

 utility of the rind tents is acknowledged by the 

 hunter and traveller of North America. They 

 are used throughout the year ; but during the 

 hot months of June, July and August they are 

 found particularly comfortable, and are easily 

 removed from place to place. The rain may 

 descend in torrents, but all beneath are safe from 

 the storm. 



I have seen an Indian tent forming a circle of 

 60 feet, and 10 feet high, covered in the short 

 space of half an hour ; so that flower beds, con- 

 taining choice roots or plants might thus be de- 

 fended from frost and heavy rains, particularly the 

 latter, which do so much injury to our half hardy 

 shrubs and trees. There are many other purpo- 

 ses in gardening to which this rind might be np 



plied that will readily suggest themselves to prac- 

 tical men. 



My motive in bringing this article into notice is 

 to serve the public, trusting that it will one day 

 or other become a national benefit. 

 I am, sir, &c. 



Hamlet Halsay Hawthorn. 

 Mr Baillie, Dropmore Gardens. 



The following is an e-xtract from Mr Baillie's 

 reply. 



Sir — Having mentioned this article to several 

 of my friends and acquaintances, they, as well as 

 myself, were of opinion that the rind might be 

 usefully employed in horticultural practice, and 

 applied with advantage in a great many ways not 

 enumerated in the above communication. From 

 many that suggest themselves the following are 

 abstracted : 



1st. As a durable substitute for the portable 

 marquees in use in the ]>leasurc grounds of Brit- 

 ish gardens ; the materials of which, as at present 

 constructed, being inadequate to the purpose to 

 which they are applied, to repel heavy rains and 

 intense sunshine. These tentings may also de- 

 mand the particular attention of the florist, as 

 affording in my opinion excellent material for 

 protecting tulip beds from heavy rains in winter, 

 by rolling them up and down, as circumstances 

 might require. To stages of carnations, auriculas, 

 &c, they might be applied with advantage either for 

 shade or shelter. 



2dly. Ranges of pine, and melon pits and frames 

 might be safely defended from rain and frost by a 

 roll of this kind, as also pots of alpine and other 

 plants that suffer more from wet than cold during 

 our winter months. 



Portable copings for garden walls might also 

 be constructed of this article, which' would de- 

 fend peach and apricot blossoms from rain and 

 spring frost, 



ipecacuanha, 35 drops of tincture of opium, one 

 drop spirits of lavender, and two drops tincture of 

 rhubarb, to be taken at once, and the complaint 

 will be instantly reheved. — Long Island Star. 



MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY- 



Saturday, October IC, 1830. 

 FRUITS. 



Some very fine specimens of fruit, were this 

 day exhibited, although the display did not qiiiic 

 equal in its variety, the very extensive exhibition 

 of the Saturday preceding. 



Pears. — From John Prince, Esq. were receivi ci 

 specimens of Passe Colmar, true, and in eatliii:. 

 (prematurely) ; Winter Auchan, from Flushing, .i 

 very long green pear, not in eating; Oliver's, a lar;,'i 

 pear, supposed to be the Spanish Bon Chrelii ii 

 not in eating ; ' Dr Hunt's,' ' Connecticut,' (un- 

 named,) and the Beurree du Roi, a pear of goot 

 flavor. From John C. Gray, Esq. a pear callct 

 in the American Gardener, at p. 132, a ' stripec 

 variety of the Moorfowl Egg,' called by others thf 

 Striped Dean, and the Culotte de Suisse, and VerU 

 Longue Panachee, of some other authors. Fron 

 Mr Manning, a ])ear cultivated in Salem, as th( 

 Capolette or Muscat Vert ; (doubtful.) From M. 

 Downer, Capiaumont Pears. From Hun. Benj 

 Crowninshield, of Danvers, specimens of a largi 

 round pear, very good, name unknown. From S 

 G. Perkins, Esq. Duchesse d'Angouleme, lemarka 

 biy large and beautiful, but not in eating. (Thi 

 is probably the first specimen produced in Ameri i 

 ca.) The form and appearance of this fruit agre 

 well with the figures in the Transactions of th 

 London Horticultural Society and Poniologict 

 Magazine. For a more particular account of thi | 

 pear, see Mr Perkins' note subjoined ; al.^o a fin ( 

 pear received by him from England, under th 

 name of Charles d'Autriche ; in size and fori I 



like a St Michael. Wo have seen three varietie i| 

 This rind might also prove a good | of pears, each bearing alike the name of Charle j( 

 substitute for the wicker protections now in use d'Autriche, and as unlike to each other as poss d. 

 for half hardy trees and shrubs. In the kitchen ble in everything else. The committee were U( ' 



garden its utility is also apparent. Beds of such 

 vegetables as are readily injured by frost, by being 

 previously arranged, and planted so as to admit 

 of two rolls of this kind, of 4 feet wide and of 

 any given length, being run along a few hazel or 

 ods, arched across them ; rows of early peas and 

 beans ; beds of cauliflowers, broccoli, lettuce, 

 potatoes, &c, might be readily and securely pro- 

 tected in this way ; and a few square yards of 

 this rind, placed in a favorable quarter of the 

 kitchen garden would assist in ripening abund- 

 ance of tomatoes for a large family and obviate 

 the pernicious practice of planting them near 

 fruit trees, &c. 



Another warning to Fruit Stealers. — A fellow of 

 the name of Foster, was committed to jail in Rox- 

 bury the week before last, for stealing fruit from 

 the orchard of Mr Aaron D. Williams. He 

 was detected shaking the trees, regularly, on the 

 Sabbath, was arrested in behalf of the common- 

 wealth, and for want of bail has been conunitted 

 to prison, where it is not unlikely he will remain fir 

 some time. The business of stealing fruit from 

 orchards has been carried on so largely of late, by 

 a few worthless vagabonds, that the marketmen 

 think they have generally more fruit stolen on the 

 Sabbath, than they sell during the week. 



jjrepared at the moment to decide confidently a l| 

 to the correctness of the name of this fruit, bi I 

 it seemed, however, to be the impression with ; It' 

 least one of them, that this specimen was rightl i: 

 named. From Mr R. F. Phipps, of Charlestovvi (/( 

 specimens of the Andrews Pear. I ; 



Peaches. — Late Clingstone, very fine, from Joh lit 

 Prince, Esq.; this appears to be the same vaiiel ;i 

 called tiie Hyslop. I 



Apples. — By Mr Jonas Monroe, of very lai'g I 

 size, from the garden of Mr James Vila, of Bee i I 

 ford; tree produced 20 bushels. From Mr E I ( 

 Weston, Jr, of Duxbury, ajiples from a seedliu i : 

 tree, nearly 100 years old, which has borne in i . 

 single year, 76 bushels of sound ripe fruit : nam I I 

 unknown. From Mr R. F. Phipps, Russet nn i 

 Baldwin Apples, both from a limb of a Baldwi 

 tree. Some of these were in their appearance i 

 an intermediate grade bctvfeen the Russet an 

 Baldwin. 



Grapes. — Lombardy Grapes, from Mr R. i 

 Phipps. Catawba Grapes, from Mr N. Seaver, t 

 Roxbury. Isabella, from Mr D. Fosdick, t 

 Charlestown ; and from Mr Downer, four varif 

 ties, namely, Isabella, Schuylkill, Muscadel, E 

 senburg, or Elsenborough, free from pulp, one ' 

 two seeds in a berry, and of good flavor ; and 

 sample of true Bland Grape, free from pulp, on 

 and two seeds in a berry, and good flavored, cole 



Cure' for the Cholera Morbus or Bowel Complaint. 

 -One ounce of cinnamon water, one grain of I'»'e »e''. "nd transparent. 



