Domestic Notices. 311 



well be preserved, as far as it can be, in the vegetable as in other dejjart- 

 ments. — /. S. Skinner, Washing/on, D. C, April, 1844. 



Seaweed — Preventative of the Curculio. — At a late visit to Col. Wilder's 

 garden, we noticed that the plums were producing a heavy crop, and the 

 Curculio seems less injurious this year than heretofore. On one tree, 

 around which seaweed had been spread as far as the branches extend, Col. 

 Wilder informed us he had not seen a single insect ; should it have the 

 effect of keeping them oif, it will be a neat and cheap remedy. Perhaps 

 salt strewed on the ground before the seaweed is put on, would be an ad- 

 ditional preventive. — Ed. 



Rochj River Grape. — You will receive, in due time, cuttings of the 

 Rocky River grape. Dr. Kirtland, the most intelligent horticulturist in 

 this section of the State, lives in the immediate neighborhood of these 

 grapes, and I hoped to have seen him ; but unfortunately for my purpose, 

 he was at Columbus, on my journey out and back. I called at Rocky 

 River, and saw Mr. Wright, on whose farm (a mile distant,) the grapes 

 grow. He told me he had three kinds of the native grape : one purple, 

 very good ; one white, excellent ; and one small, but good for wine. He 

 promised me cuttings on my return. I called, and was informed by him, 

 that he was told the month of March was the time for cutting them. I 

 gave him particular directions, in writing, to send two slips of the differ- 

 ent kinds to you. To this subject every attention has been paid, and I 

 regret not to have seen the slips in a letter to you. They will, however, 

 be sent, without any doubt. — Yours, E. Whitlleseij , Ohio, Feb. 1844, in 

 a letter to J. S. Skinner, Esq. 



Phlox Drummoiid'ii. — I have plants of this beautiful species, which have 

 furnished me with a constant bloom throughout the entire winter, and 

 turned out into the open border is at this moment covered with flowers and 

 buds. It cannot be too highly recommended, both as a parlor plant for 

 winter and to furnish a rich patch of divers colored elegance through the 

 summer months. Seeds sown in dry weather, in spring, may not appear 

 until autumn, — which indicate that autumn sowing, and cooler, moister 

 weather, are most favorable to its growth. — P. 



Insects destructive to the Lime Tree. — I have received a very interesting 

 letter from Dr. Paul Swift, of Philadelphia, relative to an insect which 

 is destroying the European and American Lime trees, (Tilia europea and 

 americana). A short paper of mine, on this subject, was printed in the 

 Farmer^s Cabinet, and I propose to write another, containing additional 

 information, accompanied with figures of the borers in all their states; 

 and, when it is ready, will let you have it for publication, if you wish for 

 it. In Washington Square, alone, in Philadelphia, 47 European Lindens 

 have been destroyed by these insects within two years ; and two rows of 

 the trees, in front of the State house, in Chestnut street, have been 

 attacked, and will soon be destroyed by them. The same insects are 

 found here, and considerable numbers have been taken on our Cambridge 

 Limes or Lindens this summer. — Yours, T. W/n. Harris, Cambridge, 

 June 20th, 1844. — [This paper will appear in our next. — Ed.] 



Tradescantvd virginica, a test for the detection of Acids. — Dr. C. T. 

 Jackson states that the petals of the spider-wort, or Tradescantm Virgin- 

 ica, a common and light blue flower, seen in many gardens, will furnish, 

 on being bruised and squeezed in a piece of linen, a rich blue juice, which 

 has the property of turning red by acids and green In/ alkalies. The 



