JVeiu Yorkj Philadelphia, Baltimore, «^c. 415 



adelphia. The tree has the fineness of foliage like the Chi- 

 nese, but with the vigorous habit and deep green color of the 

 American species. It may probably be between the two. 

 Though small, the trees were exceedingly beautiful, and we 

 purchased two or three of them, in order to see how far they 

 varied from the American and the Chinese species. 



We were highly pleased to learn that the whale oil soap, 

 that sovereign article for the destruction of the rose slug and 

 various other insects, has been tried by many of our friends 

 with complete success. Mr. McKee had been syringing his 

 roses with It, and he had found it to be perfectly effectual, 

 not only in destroying the slug, but the thrips and other insects 

 injurious to plants. Mr. Hogg, of New York, had also tried 

 it with the same excellent results. Mr. McKee's garden, 

 though not extensive, is kept in good order, and filled with a 

 good variety of plants. 



Philadelphia, Jiugust 14. — With the exception of a short 

 and very hurried visit which we made to this city late in the 

 autumn of 1S38, when returning from Baltimore, some few 

 notes of which we made at that time, (Vol. V., p. 63,) mb 

 have not been in Philadelphia since 1837, and our last general 

 account of the various gardens appeared at that period, (Vol. 

 III., p. 201.) 



Comparing the general taste for horticulture. In Philadel- 

 phia, with what it was in 1837, it must be acknowledged that 

 it has increased and been more generally diffused than in any 

 other city In the Union. This taste is apparent in the nume- 

 rous glass structures which may be seen in passing through 

 many of the principal streets, attached to the gardens of the 

 more wealthy. We were indeed surprised, while passing 

 through only a small portion of the city, to notice the neat 

 appearance and high keeping of the small gardens and plats of 

 ground, both In the front and rear of a great portion of the dwell- 

 ing houses, particularly of those which have recently been erect- 

 ed. To the stranger who appreciates a taste for plants, this is 

 so apparent that it at once attracts his attention. No such taste 

 is displayed in other large places, and Ii strikes him as a pecu- 

 liar feature of this city. 



This general taste has given rise to a great demand for 

 various kinds of plants, trees, &.C., and, within a iew years, 

 several new commercial gardens have been established and 

 carried into successful operation, and so far as we are able to 



