Neiv Haven Horticultural Society. 347 



seeds, and the elaboration of wood, and often chills the air to that degree, 

 even in the month of July, as to render it incongenial to the growth of the 

 tender products of tlie garden. It is a very common practice in England 

 to cover cucumbers and some other plants, even in midsummer, by 3 or 4 

 o'clock, P. M. William Cobbett boasted that he could ripen Indian Corn 

 in England. The summer when he tried it, was one of remarkable sun- 

 shine for England ; and he did succeed in maturing a small, early kind of 

 Indian Corn. But it was a rare hit, and we believe he did not venture to 

 try again. 



The recommendation of the practice of removing evergreens in the sum- 

 mer, just as they are forming a new growth, in June and August, origi- 

 nated in the works of English gardeners. Although it may sometimes 

 succeed here, it will not generally, unless the season or the soil happen 

 to be of uncommon moisture. Spring is the appropriate season for trans- 

 planting evergreens. An excellent Horticulturist (the late Judge Buel) 

 recommended their removal during the summer ; but his success may be 

 accounted for by the peculiarity of his soil.* 



It is not strange that English works on Horticulture should not suit us, 

 when we contrast our bright skies with their vapory climate. Their sum- 

 mers afford too little sun-light, and abound too much in moisture, to ripen 

 some of the finer fruits. But our summers, on the other hand, are often 

 so dry as to require extensive artificial irrigation ; and our droughts occa- 

 sionally destroy, in situ, the grass of the field, and some of the trees of 

 the forest. 



Many European trees and shrubs, like the English Hawthorns, so 

 beautiful there, will blast when introduced here, and become unsightly. 

 Our native Crataegi are universally preferable to theirs ; and we know of 

 but few European trees which flourish as well in our climate as our own. 

 The English Elm is a beautiful tree, but does not flourish here as well as 

 our native kinds. The great clearness of our atmosphere, and the intense 

 heat of our summer sun require a different aspectf and slope for our green- 

 houses, from what prevails in England. It is neither needful nor desira- 

 ble with us, as it is with them, that we should construct our greenhouses 

 so as to derive the greatest possible influence from the heat of the sun's 

 rays." 



Of the forest trees of this cotmtry which are vaktable 

 for ornamental plants, the author remarks : 



" Some of the oaks of New England, as the coccinea, rubra, &c., are 

 trees of great beauty of foliage ; but the southern section of our country 



* This was situated directly over what is called hard-pan, which compacts the 

 roots Hke those of a plant in a flower-pot. 



t For a miscellaneous collection of plants, such as are generally found in ordinary 

 greenhouse structures among us, an aspect ov exposure which shall not receive any 

 of the sun's rays after one or two o'clock in the afternoon, appears to me the most 

 desirable ; and we should prefer it for many tropical plants, and likewise for grapes. 



One remark on glass for greenhouses. This should be of a thickness so near 

 uniform as to prevent its concentrating the sun's rays. The Boston crown glass, 

 that has been generally recommended for this use, is the worst possible kmd. Very 

 many of the panes being lenses, a single one of which, at the distance of from two 

 to eight feet, will often burn the leaves and impair the beauty of a dozen pots of 

 plants in a few hours. 



