1872 The Western Pomologist and Gardener. ^7 



'Wliat are Floorers, and ^vbf Regard Them? 



*'How they grow no man knows, 



They spring, they bud, they blossom fresh and fair, 



And deck the world with their rich pompous shows." 



A small polished casket containing within itself the tender germ of a plant is dropped 

 to the earth from the prolific capsule of its parent, where, vivified by the sun, it soon 

 bursts its hard covering, thrusts its feehle root into the soil and erects to the light its slen- 

 der stem ; day after day and week after week, leaf is added above leaf, as its stem and 

 branches elongate upward.s and outwards ; every new born leaf being made after one and 

 the same model, till at last a bud appears, perhaps many such overspread the plant ; in 

 due lime the day of its advent arrives, the morning sun bursts the swollen bud, whereupon 

 a new form of leaves, of most exquisite workmanship, entirely un'.ike the green leaves that 

 hitherto clothed the plant— of the most brilliant hue, and in the most regular manner — 

 expand to our view and fill the air with their perfume. How common is this sight, and 

 yet how wonderful ! 



So far as the cultivation of flowers is concerned, there has been in our uay a vast im- 

 provement both in variety and magnificence over those cultivated a generation ago. AH 

 parts of the world have been explored to add new attractions to the green-house and flower 

 border, where we have an example of universal brotherhood assembled from every nation 

 under the heaven. — Selected. _, 



Tbe Stark Apple. 



This apple, as we are told, originated in Western New York, and though brought 

 Westward some years ago has not attracted much attention until recently. We believe 

 Mr. M. L. Dunlap introduced it into Illinois, and first called attention to it. He speaks of 

 it as being one of the most reliable winter apples— the tree a young and constant bearer 

 fruit large and showy and tree very hardy. Through the kindness of Mr, A. H. Gaston, 

 of Illinois, we have been favored with a box of the frtiit, and after a fair trial, in our esti- 

 mation the Stark is a valuable apple. It eats well from the hand and for cooking at this 

 season not excelled by any other. The fruit was on the tables at the late meeting of the 

 Iowa State Horticultural Society, and so far as we know, was highly commended by those 

 who tried it in comparison with some others of the old and favorite sorts. Verry Aldrich 

 an extensive orchardist at Arispee, Illinois, has been trying it top-grafted upon some of his 



