AUGUST. 379 



rum, a charming little pink kind and a most profuse flowerer, although not 

 remarkable for good shape, must prove a favorite. Due du Brabant is a 

 pretty variety in the way of pictum. Many other sorts deserve notice, but 

 the above are a few of tlie more striking. — [Card. Chron., p. 423, 1856 ) 



0iitj)I]j Gossip. 



The Season in Ohio. — We are suffering from dry weather. Fruit of 

 all kinds scarce and inferior. Peaches an entire failure ; cherries, few and 

 imperfect ; apples much impaired by the curculio and codling moth ; pears 

 somewhat more promising, yet few in number. The wild pigeons have 

 destroyed our strawberries, currants and raspberries. 



The only thing which is flourishing with me is my Gloxinias. They are 

 beautiful, and very fine. — Very truly yours, J. P. Kirtland, Cleaveland, 

 July 22, 1856. 



Culture of Oranges and Verbenas. — I have a fine old orange tree 

 grafted by L. Menand of Albany, some years ago ; it had small fruit on 

 when I brought it home, when I removed it to a larger tub ; the fruit 

 dropped oif, and it has never blossomed since ; it appears to be healthy. 

 Let your readers have something upon the culture of the orange, and also 

 the verbena ; my plants of the latter are destroyed by lice and mildew. — 

 Yours — An Amateur. 



A capital article on the culture of the orange will be found in a previous 

 volume. We apprehend the trouble with our correspondent was the repot- 

 ting into too large a tub, by which the plant Avas thrown into a very vigor- 

 ous growth, which has retarded its bearing ; as soon as the roots have filled 

 the tub it will probably begin to bloom again. 



Verbenas are of such easy culture it seems almost unnecessary to give 

 detailed directions on the subject. In our earlier volumes will be found 

 several articles on their cultivation, but as we presume our correspondent 

 does not possess them they cannot be referred to. If set out in light rich 

 soil they rarely are troubled with mildew in the open air. In the house in 

 pots they are often affected with it; but it may be prevented by the free 

 application of sulphur. The aphis or lice can be easily destroyed by fumi- 

 gation with tobacco. — Ed. 



Wintering the Roots of Gomphrena Hovetii. — While securing the 

 roots of Commelinas, and some other flowers, last fall, a thought occurred 

 to me that the roots of Gomphrena Hoveyu appeared so much like them, 

 they would winter as well as others ; accordingly I took them carefully up, 

 and stored them in dry garden soil in the cellar, and they came out sound 

 this spring, and sprouted as well as a dahlia, and are full of buds. — An 

 Amateur. 



