236 Domestic Notices. 



Mew seedling Pansies.— Mr. Walker, of Roxbury, has just shown us 

 some new and most beautiful varieties of pansies, which have come into 

 flower this season. Two among the number, we thought remarkably 

 fine. These have been named, and probably, as soon as increased, will 

 be ready for sale. We are glad to see amateurs giving more attention to 

 this interesting flower. — Conds. 



English Hawthorn {Cratis^gus Oxyacdntha.) — A fine specimen of this 

 charming tree is now in full bloom, iu the garden of J. W. Boot, Esq., 

 of this city. Few trees or shrubs exceed this in beauty, and we wish 

 that it was more generally planted than it is at present. Its blossoms are 

 extremely fragrant, perfuming the air to a considerable distance. Plant- 

 ed singly on lawns or groups, with other trees, it is one of the prettiest 

 ornaments of landscape. — lb. 



'^ymph(e>a ceEriilea. — This splendid species, of the water-lily tribe, is 

 now in bloom at Belmont Place. One or two plants, in the stove, have 

 thrown up two strong flowers, which are superbly beautiful in the morn- 

 ing. We believe this is the first time it has ever flowered in this coun- 

 try. JV. pigmea, a small white species, is also throwing up flower-buds. 

 — Conds. 



Wistaria. Consequana hardy. — A small plant of this splendid climber, 

 we set out in the open border, against a south wall, last season, late'm 

 July. It made but a small growth, owing to the weakness of the plant, 

 which was imported the same season. No protection was given to it during 

 winter ; and at all times, excepting when the ground was covered with 

 snow, it was wholly exposed to the cold. It has, however, this spring, 

 started in one or two places, six or eight inches above the soil, and will 

 probably make vigorous shoots during the summer. We shall leave the 

 same plant out another winter, to fully test the experiment. If it is hardy 

 in our climate, it will be one of the richest acquisitions, that has been 

 made to our garden for some time. — Conds. 



Phytolacca decdndra. — In Loudon's Magazine, (Vol. IX, p. 255,) among 

 the articles copied from the provincial papers, is one stating that this 

 plant is used " in America, like asparagus and spinach." The plant is 

 well known as growing by the road sides, in many parts of the New 

 England States, called generally poke, and Dr. Bigelow, in his Medical 

 Botany, (Plate 3d), states that the root is a violent emetic. Has any of 

 our readers ever known of its having been used as a substitute for aspar- 

 agus or spinach ? — Conds. 



Microscopic Beauty of some oj the Graminece and Juncece. — No truer as- 

 sertion than of Holy Writ, that the splendor and magnificence of human 

 art and industry, cannot equal the exquisite beauty of the grass of the 

 field. No ostrich feather can compare in elegant lightness and elasticity 

 with the plumose anthers of these humble but usefid plants, nor the rich 

 produce of the silk-loom vie with the scarious membranes of their floral 

 envelops. How securely, though almost invisibly attenuated the support 

 of the filament, docs the heavy laden anther, seemingly float on the air, 

 from the spikelet, while below, secure in its husky envelop, lies the cu- 

 rious fabricated and all important germ. 



The perianth of Luzula canipestris (now in flower on every sandy 

 plain), forms no unapt resemblance, from beauty and manner of 

 coloring, to the more specious and splendid Amaryllis vittata, which, 

 instead of a few flowers, we liere have a considerable })anicle. Had we 

 tlie eyes of the insect tribe, if they are as microscopic in effect as in ap- 

 pearance, these minuter beauties of Ci'eative Power would ])erhaps raise 

 our admiration as much towards the " noisome weed," as the protected 

 and favored tenant of the garden. — R. L. J. 



Seedling Hibiscus. — At Belmont Place, a ihw days since, we noticed a 

 beautifiil species of the hibiscus in bloom. The petals are of a deli- 



