THE 



AMERICAN 



GARDENER'S MAGAZINE, 



DECEMBER, 1836. 



ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 



Art. I. Some Remarks on the Oxalis, as ivorthy of General 

 Cultivation, <^c. By John Lewis Russell, A. M., Prof, 

 of Bot. and Veg. Physiol, to the Mass. Hort. Soc. 



Now is the season for some of the earlier autumnal oxalises to 

 be in flower, and for others of the winter blooming species to be 

 in an active state of preparation for adorning our parlor windows, 

 and the front lights of our green-houses. Perhaps there can be 

 no species of elegant cultivated plants which are so desirable, 

 from their variety and exquisite beauty, than these general in- 

 habitants of tropical and temperate climes. Very many of the 

 most interesting, and, by far, the most beautiful, are natives of 

 the Cape of Good Hope, and have been long introduced and 

 known to collections of merit and of taste. But while for more 

 general cultivation, the fragrant hyacinth, the gorgeous tulip, the 

 pretty crocus and the pale nodding snow drop, have been select- 

 ed, to serve as reminiscences of the charms of Flora, at a season 

 when the apparent desolation of winter shuts from our sight the 

 varied landscape of smiling green and of party-colored foliage — 

 the lovely oxalis is scarcely permitted to lend its gentle aid, and, 

 by the brightness of its corols, to assist in the dissipation of the 

 gloom which the season brings to some too sensitive minds. 

 Winter is pleasant indeed, and its peculiar charms impressive. 

 It is something more; for there is a magnificence and grandeur 

 in its operations. But the florist is well content to admire its 

 peculiarities by themselves, and would fain excuse its too intrud- 

 ing presence into his own domains. He would prefer to see the 

 sun sparkling on the deeply tinted sepals of the crimson and 

 crystalline amaryUis, than ghtteringin transparent diamonds, in fa- 



VOL. II. — NO. XII. 56 



