ORIGIN OF FLOWERS. 



By R. L. Pell, Esq., of Pellham. 



Origin of Flowers. — The rose, (Rosaceae,) of all flowers is the 

 most beautiful : perhaps there is no flower grown in our borders, 

 that is more distinguished for its form, fragrance and beauty. They 

 are natives of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. There are more 

 than one hundred distinct species, and above 2,300 named varieties; 

 the most valuable kind is, probably, the Rosa centifolia, which came 

 originally from Eastern Caucasus, and from which that most fragrant 

 essential oil, the Altar, is expressed; the whole family of roses re- 

 quire rich, well pulverized, free soil. Dig your hole two feet and a 

 half square and two feet deep; fill it half full of well decomposed 

 manure and charcoal dust, and incorporate the whole thoroughly 

 wuth surface soil, then set your plant, spread the roots fan shaped, 

 and fill in with surface soil, keeping the roots several inches above 

 the surrounding border; complete the operation, with the subsoil — 

 the same mode should be adopted with all the plants I may describe 

 hereafter. 



.Azalea. — (Ericaceae,) are extremely pretty flowering plants, and are 

 natives of North America, Turkey and China. The Chinese varie- 

 ties require to be kept under glass, in our climate; they are easily 

 raised by seed, and hybridize readily. TJiey are classed by botanists, 

 among the Rhododendron tribe of plants. They eijoy a heath mould 

 or sandy loam, and should be kept shaded when the sun is very pow- 

 erful. 



The Cactus. — (Cactaceae,) are natives of tropical regions. The 

 greatest variety are found on the dry arid plains of Mexico and Bra- 

 zil, where the natives are accustomed to tap them, and drink the li- 

 quid they contain; cattle likewise frequently bruise them with their 

 hoofs, and suck the moisture from them. Some of the; varieties grow 



[Assembly, No. 151.] 29 



