o. 10. 



AND GARDENER'S JOURNAL. 



151 



inl woUTi'iig ()t pliiiUs ill llie open nir is nilvniitn 

 u»9, unless ill pnriicnlnr cn^es : nn<l in»8( a!<furcdly, 

 it is done nl nil, it oii2ht to be niurh more copious 

 nn ia usual. It is chielly in llic cnsc of annual crops 

 at watering ariiticially ie reiilly iniportnni ; and wiib 

 if any means of occasionally deluging ground 

 n be devised, by mtnnsof sluirts or oiberwise, in 

 e snnie way na we water meadows, it may be c.vpec- 

 i to be advaningeoiie.** Mildew, wbicb is so often 

 educed by a dry air acting upon a delienle surface 

 vcgitnble tissue, is completely prevented in annuals 

 cry abundant watering.! The ravages ot the 

 ()•;/''-■•■ iffi'su, which atlacUs spinach ; of acrosjiorhi in 

 4 oiiilioi/lcs, which is found on ibe onion ; and the 

 ildew of the pea, caused by the ravages of crysi/j/ic 

 mmiijiis, may all be slopped, or prevented, by abun- 

 "Ant watering in dry weather. Mr. Knight first ap- 

 ied this fact to the securing a late crop of peas for 

 c tnbic in the following manner:— 

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

 lieh will be occupied by the future rows are well 

 iked with water. The mould upon each side is 

 ?n collected, eo as to form ridges seven or eight 

 ehes above the previous level of the ground, and 

 esc are well watered ; after which, tlio seeds are 

 wed, in single rows along the tops of ihe ridges. — 

 le plants very soon appear above the soil, and grow 

 th much vigor, owing to the great depth of soil 

 d abundant moisture. Water is given rather pro- 

 sely once in every week or nine dnys, even if the 

 eaUier proves showery ; but, if the ground be thor- 

 igbly drenched by the autumnal raine, no further 

 is necessary. Under this mode of mnnage- 

 ent, the plants will remain perfectly green and 

 xuriant till their blossoms and young seed-vessels 

 e destroyed by frost, and their produce will retain 

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

 ;w. 



The FloAvers of Summer. 



The following article was prepared by our friend 

 r. Alexander Thompson of Aurora, Cayuga Co. 

 vho has one of the neatest gardens in the country) ; 

 It it was received too late for insertion in our last 

 imber. We hope he will continue his contributions 

 our columns. — Eds. 



After the interesting monthly observations on Flori- 

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

 ' may seem due for introducing to your notice a few 



I tlie top of ihe grojjnd, under a powerful sun and strong 

 ind, the surface becomes so hard that access of air to the 

 is alaiost preeluded ; and the water rarely penetrates 

 ore than a couple of inches ; while the operator imagines 

 lupplying the thirsty roots with abundant moisture, 

 loing theni an injury by the application of a very tran- 

 itlmulus, which is followed by an increased scnsiliility 

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

 lo utaier ff&anf/flwr/y in the hole, while plant! hg tile tiee.be- 

 ; filling in the upper la) er of soil. This will in most cases 

 i.-e, until the tree becomes sufficiently established by the 

 ssion of new rootlets to support itself; and also serves 

 nsure its growth by filling up all the small hollows around 

 lesser fibres. In seasons of continued drouth, wlien^it 

 conies absolutely necessary to water flagging trees, two 

 tnore inches of the surface soil should always be reinovd. 

 ; trees watered copiously, and the earth replaced bsfore 

 ; surface dries. This will prevent evaporation and the 

 trusting of the ground, and the moisture will be retained 

 aniueh longer period. — A. J. D.) 



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



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



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



;h river water, which is conducted over the meadow in 



ing by numerous small canals. This is found to be of 



h advantage, that supposing a meadow not so treated to 



eld 1000 lbs. of hay, then from one thus leatered iSOW) lbs. 



produced. In respect to the cultivation of meadows, the 



ntry around Liegen is considered to be the best ia ail 



ermany." Liebiff, Orgau. Chem. p. 105. — A. G.J 



[The mildew which attacks the young fruit of the for- 

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

 oublesome to the cultivator in this country. An effectual 

 :dy is the flowers of sulphur dusted overthe bunches 

 a dredging-box (or the solution applied with a syringe,) 

 hen the grapes are of the size of small peas. But "the 

 tost certain prevention of this, as well as most diseases to 

 ■hich plants are subject, consists in keeping the vines iu a 

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

 oung and thrifty vine is almost invariably fine and free 

 om mildew; but everv subsequent vear (if the common 

 lode of pruning is followed,) as the plant grows older, the 

 roportion of fair fruit is smaller, until at last nothing but 

 hrivclled and mildewed bunchses are seen. Dy laying 

 men half of tile long shoots of each vine annually, "tiius 

 >rming new plants, and never allowing the same to bear 

 lore llian two years, a full crop, free from rust or mildew, 

 lay be obtained annually. Even the finer sorts, as the Is- 

 iiella, are sometimes liable to mildew on old vines : wlien 

 lis occurs, they should be headed back, to bring up a siip- 

 iy of young wood, and plentifully m,inured. The young 

 111 thrifty shiiots will then have sufficient vigor towith- 

 and the attacks of mildew, to which the enfeebled fruit 

 roBused by the old wood is so liable.— A. J. D.J 



plants with whose phenomena yon may already be 

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

 never become weary with even a repcrneal of any 

 thing relating to the successful culture or pccnlinri- 

 ties in the structure of rare and beautiful plants. 



Ciilandrinia gmvdifiora. 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 ofli:r some obaer- 

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

 tition of which, if followed by similar favourable results 

 will introduce to the florist one of the most beautiful 

 ornaments of the garden. Most plants of the genus 

 Calundrinia are 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 for as relates to the trial made by 

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

 pended upon a rich soil, o sufficiency of moisture, and 

 a shady situation ; the first 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 planls 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 genns of plants, is daily demon- 

 strating that by this accession to the garden, is added 

 one of its brightest gems. The facility with which 

 new species may be produced from the seed, places in 

 the power of every one, an opportunity for making 

 choice collections, blending in their varied forms every 

 variety of the most brilliant colouring. Few flowers 

 require less pains for their successful 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 buj-ning 

 sun above, and the perched earth beneath, the Verbena 

 daily exhibited its dense corymbs of brilliant flowers, 

 in the blight sunshine, ahnost painfully dazzling to 

 the ej'e. 



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 

 asume new and varied forms, — in some instances 

 would seem to be misapplied, for among flowers of 

 this character we refer for many of 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 (Tigridiapavonia.J 



The characteristics of the original plant, bo far as 

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

 respects every organ of 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 

 ARTIFICIAL CLASS to which plants of this genus be- 

 long. 



Wool in Michigav. — In conversing, this morning, 

 with a friend from Tecumseh, Mich., engaged in 

 the manul'acmre of Cloth, we were informed that the 

 Wool-growing business ia more extensive, in that 



state, this year, tlian in former seasons. He says 

 the location and character of Michigan is peculiarly 

 well adntucd to successful en*,'ngcmcnt in that busi- 

 ness; and thinks that Wool will soon be a leading 

 and important article of export from that fertile and 

 beautiful stale. Wheat-growing and ehecpraising 

 work admirably well on the same premitcs. 



We have noticed, in reporting the lake trade, that 

 some fair quantities of wool have been shipped down 

 the lake from the Teuineula slate. May her prosperi- 

 ty be commensurate with her industry and economy ; 

 and let all be proiiortioned to her natural advantages 

 and soon no state may say "come ahead," — Uocluslcr 

 Evening Post. 



Plautin? Orchaids—PeddUng Fiuit Trees, 



The great demand which has existed for fruit trees 

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

 a system of imposition, in the shape of peddling, which 

 demands exposure ; for it results in loss and disap- 

 pointment to ihoueiinda of unsus|)ecUng persons, who 

 purchase trees in this manner, hoping to improve their 

 premises. 



In the spring of the year,partieuIarly,enormousload8 

 of fruit trees may often be seen passing through the 

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

 the slightest provision being made to preserve their 

 vitality — tied up like so many bundles of brushwood, 

 their roots exposed to the full action of the sun, winds, 

 or frosts, as though they were completely imperisha- 

 ble; whereas a few hours exposure is often enough to 

 destroy nil ihc fibrous roots, so essential to the life and 

 growth.of the ires. It is indeed surprising that any 

 man of ordinary intelligence, especially any cultivator 

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

 of vegetable physiology, as to expect trees thus 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 ia practised considerably ; 

 he said that he and many of his neighbors had planted 

 apple orchards year after year, but with very little 

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

 and Mey might as well have died, for all the progress 

 they have made. We asked him how he procured his 

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

 This at once explained the cause of his ill success. 

 Partial failures frequently occur from unskilfid plant- 

 ing and other adverse circumstances, but in the case 

 we have related, and all similar cases, the trees were 

 in fact dead before they were planted. 



The man who digs up trees and sends them about 

 the country in this manner, palming them ofl" upon 

 the community in a ruined condition, is guilty of a 

 wilful violation of the laws of common honesty and 

 fair dealing, and should he regarded as little better 

 than a pickpocket. 



But there is nn argument of a pecuniary character 

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

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

 serymen. Enough has been said to show the fallacy 

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

 pedlars sell lower than regular nurserymen ? Be- 

 cause their trees are raised in a cheap and careless 

 manner, without proper regard being paid to the kind 

 or quality of the fruit ; cultivating those kinds which 

 coiue easiest to hand and produce the moat rapid 

 growth of wood ; while in nurseries where there is a 

 reputation at stake, and responsibility is assumed, the 

 reverse of this is the practice, and in consequence of 

 the extra expense incurred in keeping all correct, and 

 in procuring new and valuable varieties from a great 

 distance, the prices must be somewhat higher. 



We may hereafter have occasion to expose the mis- 

 conduct of some piofessed regular iturserymen; but, 

 one thing at a time, is our motto, O. P. Q. 



