236 



THE GENESEE FARMER 



July 30, 1831. 



COMMUNICATIONS. 



FOR THE GENESEE FARMER. 



IRRIGATION. 



Although I am not opposed to irrigation, when 

 it can be incidentally introduced without great ex- 

 pense, I do not think it at all essential to good 

 husbandry in our northern latitude, nor that its 

 benefits would in any measure compensate for 

 the heavy expenses attending it in other countries. 

 One would suppose that during the present sea- 

 son, and those which have preceded it, we had 

 more occasion for ditches to carry off, than to let 

 in water, upon our fields. The globe may be di- 

 vided into agricultural zones, each of which re- 

 quires a different system of husbandry. Ours is 

 not the zone of rrigation, but of draining and ma- 

 nuring ; where a judicous rotation of crops, and 

 clean husbandry, with the auxiliaries I have na- 

 med will generally countervail the evils of drought. 

 Grounds suffer from drought in proportion to their 

 poverty and bad tillage. In central Asia, the 

 northern part of Africa, and tropical America, 

 irrigation is the great source of fertility, and the 

 use of manure is almost wholly dispensed with. 

 In countries lying between these two zones, those 

 of irrigation and of draining and manuring, as in 

 the south of France, Italy, Spain and the southern 

 states, the two systems may be blended with the 

 best effect. The expense of irrigation, in En, 

 land, is stated by Loudon, to vary from 10s. to 

 401 sterling per acre. We are apt to forget the 

 difference in climate, when we recommend to our 

 farmers the practices of Egypt, of Persia, Peru, 

 Chili and Mexico. Some of these countries have 

 no rain during the year, while others are without 

 tiny from three to six months at a time. 

 Albany, July 16- ^^ J- B - 



FOR THE GENESEE FARMER. 



HINTS TO FLORISTS. 

 Florists who live remote from the great nurseries 

 of ornamental plants near our sea-ports, are indu 

 ced by report or by a very slight knowledge to 

 order a plant; and although it is ob- 

 tained and successfully transplanted, yet some- 

 times they are disappointed ; for some plants are 

 beautiful, but unsuited to our climate, like the fair 

 maids of France (Ranunculus aconiiifolius.*) 

 Others are beautiful, but so vigorous and produc- 

 • ive as soon to infest the gardens. Their beau- 

 ties are nearly forgotten in the troubles that they 

 .-ause • and if we could not get rid of the nuisance 

 on easier terms, we would freely pay the pur- 

 chase money anew for deliverance. 



The following hints may possibly save some 

 cash and some labor. 



A pretty plant called Butter and Eggs, from the 

 color of the flower, (Antirrhinum linai la,) has 

 been introduced intoseveral gardens in this western 

 jountry. It is one of the most troublesome weeds 

 in the lower parts of New- York and Pennsylva- 

 nia, increasing by the root and by the seed, and 

 ought to be carefully extirpated. 



(Eiiolhera rosea is a native of Peru. Although 

 a tropical plant, it endures our winters in shelter- 

 ed situations, and spreads abundantly through the 

 garden by seeds. It is pretty, but not worth the 

 (rouble that it causes. 



Tussilago farfara is less interesting than 

 Tussilago fragrans. The roots of these plants 



spread deep and wide, and ought not to be trusted 

 in a garden. 



Potentilla anserina is one of the finest native 

 species of this genus, and grows on the wet gra- 

 velly shores of our lakes. In 1825 I introduced it 

 in my garden ; and soon after, finding it become 

 troublesome, I endeavored to eradicate it. Yet 

 only three days ago, I found a small remnant, so 

 freely has every fragment of its roots, vegetated. 



Coronilla is an ornamental genus. The flow- 

 er of C. varia is in heads resembling white clover, 

 but very pretty from a difference of colors. The 

 oots spread all through the ground without any 

 regard to other plants, and I have dug them out 

 to a considerable depth with great care. 



Cerastivm (tenuifoliuni) has a white flower of 

 some beauty, and forms a carpet on ledges of the 

 slate at the head of the Seneca lake. In a garden 

 it is difficult to keep in its proper place, as it 

 spreads by seeds and roots. 



Centaurea nigra has a dark red flower, rather 

 ornamental. It is naturalized in some parts of 

 the United States. It produces many seeds which 

 vegetate freely, and which will require attention in 

 a garden. 



Ononis Spinosa I have endeavored to eradicate. 

 Its beauty is very limited, and its odor unpleas- 

 ant. It has strong cord-like roots which deeply 

 and laterally penetrate the soil, and young plants 

 spring from the seeds in great abundance. 

 - Malva moschata has white musky flowers, and 

 scatters its seeds in profusion. It causes more 

 trouble than it is worth. 



Diervilla lulea is an ornamental shrub, but 

 very troublesome by its deep roots and numerous 

 suckers. Mine has been extirpated. 



We want such plants as will modestly keep 

 their places without much encroachment on the 

 rights of their neighbors. 

 7 mo. 15, 1831. T>. T. 



( Valeriana) with blue flower, we must infer that 

 the kind or kinds named, (were there tvwT) are of 

 the genus Polemonium,* which by Some unac- 

 countable perversion of language is called valeri- 

 an, — Greek valerian, — although one species is a 

 native of Britain and the other of the United 

 States. I interfere not with gardener's names in 

 their own catalogues, but these are now published 

 to the world under the sanction of men eminent 

 among their countrymen, who ought to be more 

 particular. 



New-York Horticultural Society. 

 "May. 31. — Mr. Smith — presented Podaly- 

 ria." To discover this plant no clue is given. — 

 We only know that the old genus Sophora has 

 been divided and subdivided, and that Podalyria 

 and Baptisia have sprung from its branches. 



A bunch of fringe tree." Two species of 



Chionanthvs are called white fringe tree, and 

 Rhus cotinus is called purple fringe tree. 



■" A yellow Iris." There are many species 



of Iris with yellow flowers. 



"June 7. — Mr. Morrow — an Antirrhinum.' 

 The old genus of this name comprised more than 

 forty species, amongst which we are left to guess 



"June 21. — Mr. Neal — a beautiful Scabiosa." 

 More than thirty species of this genus have been 

 enumerated. 

 " Double Lychnis." Not less than three or 



four species of Lychnis have double flowers. 



' Fox glove." Three species are decidedly 



ornamental, besides 2 or 3 varieties. 



" Two kinds of Coreopsis" out of twenty 



*S(;o M. Floy's statement in Uio 

 Vol. 4, No. 2, p 41. 



w-York Farmer 



FOR TUE GENESEE FARMER. 



The sole object of these criticisms, is to induce 

 Recording Secretaries to write so as to be under- 

 stood, and to regard propriety of language. I 

 have no ambition to be troublesome, but I have 

 some curiosity to know what fine flowers or rare 

 plants are exhibited before our Horticultural So- 

 cieties. I confess I have been greatly puzzled 

 sometimes even to guess at what was intended by 

 the names given in, although I have referred to 

 Horticultural Compends, Floras, and Catalogues, 

 for assistance. If nurserymen hope by showing 

 their plants and then having them advertised, to 

 obtain distant customers, they ought to givo us 

 name enough to make out an order. To do this 

 however, we must first be satisfied that we have 

 not already got the plants under other names ; 

 and in most cases after all, we shall have to use 

 the language of Botany. 



Albany Horticultural Soci 

 ,; May 17. — Japan apple — from the garden of! 

 D. B. Slingerland." Pyrusjaponica is common- 

 ly called the Japan Gluince, and doubtless with 

 more propriety. 



"May 31. — Blue and white valerian — from 

 J. Buel." Unfortunately, the name valerian is 

 applied to plants not of the same genus, — nor e- 

 ven of the same Natural order, — nor even of the 

 same Natural Class, — nor even of the same Ar- 

 tificial Class. As there is no proper valerian 



species. 



&c. &c. &c. But I am fatigued with sucl' 



■indefinite art iclcs which cannot possibly be use 

 lul to the public. 



Rensselaer co. Horticultural Society. 

 "June 1.— Mr. G.B.Warren — a beautiful r„ 

 rietm of flowers." In Botany, the word variety 

 has a technical meaning of different import from 

 the word in this notice, and every florist ought to 

 know enough not to confound them. That socie- 

 ty has members who do know better, and who 

 would do well to render their services before such 

 accounts be published. Unquestionably, the wri- 

 ter meant " a beautiful" collection " of flowers." 



"Mr. Ballard — presented a root of the 



" double pheasant eye pink 1'. inches in circum- 

 ference, actual measurement, upon which wen 

 " 1500 perfect full blown flowers." This plant 

 was doubtless, a curiosity, — and so is the descrip- 

 tion. I guess (and to do so is nil that remains 

 for me) that the root of this pink at the surface 

 was nearly 2J inches in diameter; and that th( 

 stalk (3 feet high 1 ?) supported on its numerous 

 branches. 1500 flowers. 



"Mr-. Alexander Walsh — a star-fished 



flowered staphyle." I copy to the letter, and pre- 



sume this was not staphylea one species of which 

 (S. trifoliata) is common in many parts of the 

 country, — but Stdpelia Asterias, a native of the 

 Cape of Good Hope. 



"A perennial Coreopsis," as if there were 



only one perennial species, when there are not 

 less than fifteen. 



" Fragrant double pink Pseonias." Were 



there more than one kind ? If not, was it one of 

 the double v arietics of Piconia uioutan? Or one 

 of the double varieties of Ptconia albiflora? — 



•Taero is only another species. P. itfcTfrnru/w. 



