No. 10. 



AxND GARDENER'S JOURNAL. 



151 



firinl watering of plania in ibe open air isndvanto- 

 ge'Hxa, unlcea in particular caeea ; and moat assuredly, 

 il It is done at nil, it ought to be niueh more copioub 

 thnii ia usual. It is cbiefly in tile case of annual erope 

 tlint watering nriilicinlly is really important ; and with 

 them, if any means of occaaionnlly deluging ground 

 Cflii be dev'eed, by mtanaof sliiicea or otberwioe, in 

 the aanic way aa we water niPJ'lovvs, it may be expec- 

 tcil to be advantngeo s.* Mildew, which is eo often 

 produced by a dry air acting upon a delicate ^n^face 

 of vegi table tissue, is completely prevented in annuals 

 by very abundant watering. t The ravages or the 

 b 'trytis rffusa, which ntiacks spinach ; of aci'osporivm 

 inontUotdcs, which is found on the onion ; and the 

 mildew of the pen, caused by the ravages of cnjsipke 

 romminiis, mny all bcsto[)pcd, or prevented, by abun- 

 diuit watering in dry weather. Mr. Knight tirst np- 

 I'liud this fact to the securing a late crop of peas for 

 the table in the following manner: — 



The ground is dug iu the usual way, and the spaces 

 which will be O'x'npied by the future rows are well 

 e inked with water. The mould upon eoch side is 

 ihfii collected, eo as to I'orm ridgea seven or eight 

 inches above the previous leve' of the ground, and 

 these are well watered ; after which, tliJ seeds are 

 Bowed, in single rows along the tops of the ridges. — 

 The plants very soon appear above the soil, and grow 

 with much vigor, owing to the grcnt depth of soil 

 and abundant moisture. Water is given rather pro- 

 fusely once in every week or nine days, even if the 

 weather proves showery : but, if the ground be thor- 

 oughly drenched by the autumnal rains, no further 

 trouble is necessary. Under this mode of manage- 

 ment, the plants will remain perfectly green and 

 luxuriant till their blossoms and young seed vessels 

 are destroyed by frost, and their produce wil! retain 

 its proper flavor, which is always taken away by mil- 

 dew. 



The Flowers «f Summer. 



The following article was prepared by our friend 

 Dr. Ai.EXiNDKR Tiio.MPSoN of Aurora, Cayuga Co. 

 (who has one of the neatest gardens in the country) ; 

 but it was received too late for insertion in our last 

 number. We hope he will continue his contributions 

 to our columns. — Eds. 



After the interesting monthly observations on Flori- 

 culture, given to the public in your columns, an apolo- 

 gy may seem due for introducing to your notice a few 



on the topo!" iho ground, under a powerful sun and strong 

 winti, the surface beir^nu's so hard that aci^essofnirlothe 

 roots is ahrost precluded ; and the w.-i'cr rarely peneir.ites 

 more ihitn a couple of inches; while the operator iinngincs 

 lie j3 supplying the thirsty roots with nlnind.inl moisrnre, 

 he is doing them an injury liy the application of a very tran- 

 elent sliniiilus, which is followed liy an ini_Te;i8ed scnsil>iliiy 

 10 the drouth. In late spring planting, it is always prefera- 

 ble to leater abundantly in the hole.while plantihcthc tree, be- 

 fore tilling in the upper lajernf soil. This will in most cases 

 suffice, until the tree becomes sufficiently established by the 

 emission of new rootlets to support itse'f; and also serves 

 to ensure its growth by filling up all the small hollows around 

 the lesser fibres. In seasons of continued drouth, when it 

 becomes absolutely ncccss.iry to w.-iter flagging trees, two 

 or more inches of the surface soil shoulil always be rcmovd. 

 the trees watered copiuusly, and the earth replaced before 

 the surface dries. This will prevent evaporation and the 

 encrusting of the ground, and the moisture wili be retained 

 for ft much longer perioii. — A. J. D.] 



*["In the vicinity of Liegen (a town in Nassau.) from 

 three to five perfect crops of grass are [annually] obtained 

 from one meadow ; and this is effected by covering the fields 

 with river water, which is conducted over the meadow in 

 spring by num TOUs smjjl canals. This is found to he of 

 such advantage, that supposing a meadow not so treated to 

 yield 1000 lbs. of hay, then from one thus watered 4-5n0O lbs. 

 arc produced. In respect to the cultivation of meadows, the 

 eoiiniry around I.iegen is considered to be the best in all 

 Germany." Liebig. Orgau. Chen. p. 105. — A. G.J 



' I The mildew which attacks the young fruit of the for- 

 eipn grape, when reared in the open air, is one of the most 

 troublesome to the cultivator in this country. An elTectual 

 remedy is the flowers of sulphur dusted over the bunches 

 with adredging-hox (or the soUitivm applied with a syringe.) 

 when the grapes are of the size of small peas. But the 

 most certain prevention of this, a* well as most diseases to 

 which plants arc suiijcct. consists in keeping the vines in a 

 thrifty and vigorous condition. The first crop or two of a 

 young and thrifty vine is almost invariably tine and free 

 from mildew; but everv subseriuent year (if the common 

 mode of pruning is followed.) as the plant grows older, the 

 proportion of fair fruit is emallcr, until at last nothing but 

 shrivelled and mildewed hiinchses are seen. By laying 

 dovn half of the long shoots of each vine annually, ifius 

 forming new plants, and never allowing the same to hear 

 more than two years, a full crop, free f^rom rust or mildew, 

 mry tie obtained aanually. Even the liner sorts, as the Is- 

 abella, are sometimes li,alde to mildew on old vines : when 

 this oc'Urs, they should be headed back, to bring up a sup- 

 ply or voung wood, and plentifully manured. The young 

 an thrifty sh'iots will then have sufTicieat vigor towith- 

 BL-nd the attacks of mildew, to which the enfeebled fruit 

 rtoatfcvl by tUe Old wood |g so liable.— .\, ,■>. D.J 



ants with whcwe phenomena you may already be 

 familiar. But I trust the "lover of flowers" will 

 never become weary with even a repcrusal of any 

 thing relating to the successful culture or peculiari- 

 ties in the structure of rare and benutilul plants. 



Caltindrinia grandijlora. Having for the first time 

 proved successful in the culture of this interesting 

 plant, for the encouragement of those who have met 

 with like failures i am disposed to ofler some obser- 

 vations on the probable cause of my success, the repe- 

 t tion of which, if followed by similar favourable results 

 will introduce to the Horist one of the most beautiful 

 ornaments of the garden. Mjei plants of the genus 

 Cfdandrinia ore natives of California, and like many 

 products of warmer regions than our own, this species 

 shows itself illy qualified to endure the influence of our 

 burning suns. So far as relates to the trial made by 

 myself, the whole secret of success seems to have de- 

 pended upon a rich soil, a sufficiency of moisture, ond 

 a shady situotion ; the tirst consisting of a compost 

 formed of equal parts of well rotted manure, decom- 

 posed vegetable matter from the woods, and coarse 

 sand. Under these circumstances, during the whole 

 of the past month, while other plants were suffering 

 or entirely destroyed by the excessive drought, a 

 succession of these beautiful flowers excited the admi- 

 ration of every beholder. 



Verbena. The introduction into Floriculture of this 

 unique and attractive genus of plants, is doily demon- 

 strating that by this accession to the garden, is added 

 one of its brightest gems. The facility with which 

 new species may bo produced from the seed, places in 

 the power of every one, on opportunity for making 

 choice collections, blending in their varied forms every 

 variety of the most brilliant colouring. Few flowers 

 require less pains for their succeasful treatment. Pro- 

 fessor Russell remarks " that a hot sun, poor soil, 

 and open air are the best means of cultivating them," — 

 three requsits which most gardens are capable of fur- 

 nishing. Indeed, during the excessive drought of the 

 past month, while most of the occupants of the par- 

 terre were struggling for existence, with a burning 

 sun above, and the perched earth beneath, the Verbena 

 daily exhibited its dense corymbs of brilliant flowers, 

 in the blight sunshine, almost painfully dazzling to 

 the eye. 



DoDBLE Flowers. The appellation monster, by 

 which botanists have been pleased to designate those 

 flowers, which under peculiar circumstances of soil, 

 cultivation &c. are disposed to undergo transmutations 

 or conversions from one organ to another, and thus to 

 aaume new and varied forms, — in some instances 

 would acem to be misapplied, for among flowers of 

 this character we refer for many ol the choicest speci- 

 mens of Flora's kingdom. 



From this indiscriminate appellation of the term, I 

 have been the more disposed to dissent since observ- 

 ing a few mornings past a splendid specimen of the 

 Double Tiger Flower (Tigridia pavonla.J 



The characteristics of the original plant, so for os 

 colour, form of petals, &c. were preserved. In other 

 respects every organ ol the flower was double, the 

 twelve expanded petals arranged systematically as in 

 the single plant, and presenting a beautiful star shaped 

 flower of almost unequalled magnificence. 



I am not aware that this tendency to the multiplica- 

 tion of organs is frequent in plants of this genus. On 

 the contrary,! am inclined to think that the occurrence 

 is very rare, though not an unfrequent event in the 

 ARTtFiciAL CLASS to which plants of this genus be- 

 long. 



Wool is Micbigav. — In conversing, this morning, 

 with a friend from Tecumseh, Mich., engaged in 

 the manufacture of Cloth, we were informed that the 

 Wwl-graieing business 13 more extensive, in th»i 



state, this year, than in former eeasons. He says 

 the location ond charocier of Michigan is peculiarly 

 well adapted to succcesful engagement in that busi- 

 ness ; and thinks that Wool will soon be a leading 

 and important orticle of export from tbot fertile ond 

 beautiful state. Wheat-growing and sheep roising 

 work admirably well on the same promisee. 



We have noticed, in rcpnrlincr the lokc trade, that 

 some fair quantitiea of wool have been fehipped down 

 the lake from the Peninsula state. May her prosperi- 

 ty be commensurate with her industry otid economy ; 

 and let all be proportioned to her natural advantages 

 and soon no state may say "come ahead." — Rochester 

 Eccnivg Poit. 



riantins Orchards-~Pe<ldUng Fmit Trees. 



The great demand which has existed for fruit trees 

 in newly settled parts of the country, baa given rise to 

 a system of imposition, in the ehapeof peddling, which 

 demands exposure ; for it results in loss and disap- 

 pointment to thousondsof unsuspecting persons, who 

 purchase trooB in this monnci, hoping to improve their 

 premises. 



In the spring of the year,p!!rlicularly,enormoueload8 

 of fruit trees may often be seen possing through the 

 country, on a tour of two or three weeks, without even 

 the slightest provision being mode to preserve their 

 vitality — tied up like so many bundles of brushwood, 

 their roots exposed to the fidl action of theean, winds, 

 or frosts, as though they were completely imper-sha- 

 ble; whereas a few hours exposure is often enough to 

 destroy all xhe fibrous roots, so essential to the life and 

 growth of the tree. It la indeed surprising that any 

 man of ordinory intelligence, especially any cultivator 

 ol the soil, should be so ignorant of the first principles 

 ofvegetnble physiology, oe to expect trees thua treated, 

 or rather maltreated, to live and thrive. 



But a few days ago we were conversing on the sub- 

 ject of planting trees, with a gentleman from Canada, 

 where this peddling system is practised considerably ; 

 he said that he and many of bis neighbors had planted 

 apple orchards year after year, but with very littlo 

 success — not more then one third of the trees lived, 

 and they might as well have died, for all tho progress 

 they have made. We asked bim how be procured bis 

 trees ; he replied, from a man who was peddling them. 

 This at once explained the cause of bis ill success. 

 Partiol failures frequently occur from unskilful plant- 

 ing and other odverse circumstances, but in the cose 

 we have related, ond all similar coses, the trees were 

 in fact dead before they were planted. 



The man who digs up trees and sends them about 

 the country in this monner, palming tbem ofT upon 

 the community in o ruined condition, is guilty of A 

 wilful violation of the lows of common honesty ond 

 fair dealing, and should be regarded as little belter 

 than a pickpocket. 



But there is an argument of a pecuniary character 

 in favor of purchasing from these pedlars : — they usu- 

 ally sell their trees ot a lower price than regular nur- 

 serymen. Enough bos been said to show ibe fallacy 

 of this economy. But it may be asked why can tbeso 

 pedlors sell lower than regular nurserymen ? Be- 

 couse their trees are roised in a cheap and careless 

 manner, without proper regard being poid to the kind 

 or quality of the fruit ; cultivating those kinds which 

 come easiest to bond ond produce the most rapid 

 growth of wood ; while in nurseries where there is a 

 reputation at slake, and responsibility is assumed, tho 

 reverse of this is the practice, and in consequence of 

 the extra expense incurred in keeping all correct, and 

 in procuring new and valuoble vorieties from a great 

 distance, the prices must be somewhat higher. 



We may hereafter have occasion to expose the mis- 

 conduct of some professed regular nurserymen; hut, 

 ono thiDj at « time, is our motto. O- P> Q- 



