Reclaiming the Wilderness. 217 



The compost should be moderately rich, but rather strong, and retentive 

 of moisture, as the plants are impatient of drought. 



During the summer, the plants should be kept in shape, or may be grown 

 in any required form, by frequent pinchings ; but this should not be con- 

 tinued after the first of August. When the flower-buds appear, give water- 

 ings of guano-water or other liquid manure. 



The varieties are very numerous, and every year gives us new and often 

 finer varieties. 



The following list comprises the best English kinds. We are not aware 

 tliat the hybridization of this plant has been attempted in this country. 



Andro?neda. — Cream with brown points. Christiana. — Canary-yellow 

 with brown points. Ross Trevama. — Rose and blush. Salamon. — Rose 

 carmine. Miss Talford. — White. White Trevenna. — White. Miranda. — 

 Bright rose, fringed petals. Canary-bird. — Canaiy-yellow. Lizzie Holmes. 

 — Canary and rose. Mrs. Dix. — Blush bordered with rose. Sensation. — 

 White with variegated foliage. E. S. R.^ jfun. 



September, 18O7. 



RECLAIMING THE WILDERNESS. 



On the 7th of August, 186 1, the train from Philadelphia for Cape May 

 carried two passengers, who sought from one of the high officials of the 

 railroad (then on the train) the unusual privilege of being left at a place of 

 their own selection in the wilderness of New Jersey, some thirty-four miles 

 from Philadelphia. The request was refused ; and the two passengers were 

 carried perhaps eight miles beyond their destination, with the cheerful privi- 

 lege before them of making the return distance on foot at their leisure. 

 One of the men was a surveyor; and the other, though chief in the enter- 

 prise on which they were bent, was, for the time, his assistant. So they 

 shouldered their instruments, and began tJie weary journey; but, the day 

 being far spent, they were glad at nine o'clock to seek shelter and rest at the 

 house of one of the few old settlers of the region for whom solitude had 

 no terrors. The next day, they reached their destination, and, as the start- 



voL. II. a8 



