Tour through New York, ^c. 47 



much injured by this disorder. Mr. Kent attributed it to 

 the dry weather of .Tune and July, All the kinds of mar- 

 ket produce are cultiv^ated by Mr. Kent, with great success. 

 Mr. Kent also cultivates large quantities of carnations and 

 other flowers, for the Fulton market. 



Residence of N. J. Becar, Esq., Henry Street. — At the 

 time of our last visit, the new range of houses was unfin- 

 ished, though nearly completed, and, the season being 

 earlier, the plants remained in their summer quarters, in 

 the open air. Now, however, we found the greater part of 

 them arranged in the houses, particularly the camellias in 

 the large green-house; and a more robust, healthy, and 

 vigorous looking collection of plants we never saw ; though 

 indeed we may say, that this has been obtained at some 

 sacrifice of free blooming. Latterly, quite a change has 

 taken place in the opinions of cultivators of the camellia 

 in regard to the soil. Seven or eight years ago peat was 

 the principal compost made use of, but gradually more 

 loam was intermixed, till now the greater part is pure yel- 

 low loam, with a small portion of peat, manure, and sand. 

 The consequence is, that while the one enfeebles by the 

 redundance of blooms the other strengthens by the partial 

 loss of flowers. The use of heath soil or peat, as it is com- 

 monly termed, in the proportion in which it was formerly 

 employed, though given up by most English cultivators, 

 is still continued in France, even by so eminent an amateur 

 as the Abbe Berleze. It will do while the plants are young, 

 but they soon need more nourishment than it will aftbrd. 

 Good fresh loom, of an adhesive character, is now the 

 principal component, although we would not advise too 

 free a use of it, unless strong plants alone are wanted ; the 

 great vigor which it imparts to the plants, prevents their 

 giving such a quantity of flowers as would be expected. 

 Mr. Becar's plants are all tied up to neat green stakes, and 

 their stateliness — deep green foliage — clean wood, and hand- 

 some form, struck us with admiration. Only a few more 

 buds were wanting to make them the height of perfection 

 in the way of camellia cultivation. 



In the reserve houses we found a great number of young 

 stocks and seedling camellias coming on, which looked in 

 fine condition. From the seedlings some good kinds may 

 be expected as Mr. Becar has expended much care in the 

 impregnation of the varieties. A good collection of pelar- 



