58 Cultivatiofi of Gesnera Zebrhia. 



though I did not fairly commence the nursery business till 

 last season. I have now partly matured my arrangements 

 for an extensive nursery and fruit growing establishment. 

 During the last autumn, I visited the nurseries in Western 

 N. Y., and made some purchases as the best, but it was with 

 considerable hesitation that I took a part of the variety I 

 did, as I found there was room for doubting their genuine- 

 ness. When I buy again, it shall be at no nursery short of 

 Downing's, or those in your vicinity. The very idea of con- 

 ducting a nursery in the way that I know some are, sickens 

 me. Year after year propagating varieties that are utterly 

 worthless, or under wrong names, and the first to know it is 

 the disappointed purchaser ; when, had they taken the trou- 

 ble to examine proper authorities on the subject, they might 

 have discovered the error ere they had helped to perpetuate 

 it. I have at present a tolerable good stock to begin with, a 

 part of which I know to be correct, — of all my varieties, I 

 have, or am, putting out specimen trees. But I fear I am 

 trespassing on your time and patience in thus particularizing, 

 and yet I have taken the liberty to do so, in view of the 

 strong interest you seem to take in the progress of Horticul- 

 ture, and thinking that you would be pleased to learn 

 something of the situation and the natural adaptation of this 

 justly and far-famed portion of the "mighty West," to its 

 pursuits." 



Delavari^ W. T., Ja?iuary 1845. 



Art. IV. 0?i the Cultivation of Gesnersi zebrina. By C. 

 J. Ryan. Gardener to G. C. Thorburn, Astoria, L. I. 



I HAVE cultivated Gesnera zebrina the last season with 

 much success. We had nothing in its season which attract- 

 ed more attention, or which sold so readily at a very high 

 price. 



My method of treating it is as follows : The first week in 

 February I potted the small bulbs in thumb pots, one in each, 

 in a compost of half peat, quarter loam, an eighth leaf 



