I>. 10. 



AND GARDENER'S JOURNAL. 



163 



"<.itj 



qiiicUly imrodiicoJ ; niiil iluis ilio nmUiplicoiion 

 essemini mtnns ol euitly is in[inl — lure we niuci 

 |;nd cliiclly on Imoks, mid 1 need buruly binic bow 

 :h mure valuable niid inlei'csung is ihc book ol 

 re ihiin tbc bDok of miin. A romiiniit of ibe is 

 jnce of, mill want of iniereet in vckchiUIo pbyisi- 

 \y, of the oljBr bolanisla, I ihink is loiind in ilif 

 many ot iheni still entoiinin towards tbe 

 isformations in t'.owt-re, efl'cciel by lb' art of tbe 

 [rticiilturist, eiiWor by bybridisation or by llic mill- 

 ition of parts, causing wbnt is called double fl 'W- 

 To me this aversion appears to arise from a coll- 

 ided view of tbe subject — all these translorniatioiis 

 operations of nature, all lake place in accordance 

 lb lier lows : tberefore nil are deserving of study 

 of systematic arroni^ement, and wben well un 

 rstood tbey must ibrow much ligbt on the functions 

 ditil-riuit parts, as well ne on tbe relations these 

 |rts bear to each other. livery deviation from regu. 

 structure, called by the man of science abnorninl, 

 I3t afford insight into the laws of that structure , — 

 id I am cnvinced that tlie more these changes are 

 [iditd by the scientific Botanist, the more enlight- 

 I will become the views on those portions of ibe 

 ■table kingdom which arc now comparatively ob 



I cannot resist the temptation to explain a single in- 



,ance where the cloie observation ol the growth of 



iants is ol importance, and I do so more willingly 



tbc result is likely to be useful, and bears directly 



Ipon the interesting subject of Guano. 



The nectariferous juices, or, as il is commonly call- 

 d, the honey in flowers, is usually separated or se- 

 re'.ed by glanilular bodies called neciarics, and this 

 ouey bus by many been supposed to be of iiidispen- 

 ablc service in the fecundation of the seed ; but there 

 re also glands on the leaves and leafstalks (petioles) 

 f many plants, which perform ilio same otiiocof ee- 

 reiing honey ; here, of course, it cannot bo of use 

 3V t'lis purpose. iSneh glands exist on the peiioles, 

 ir leafstalk'-, of most of the Acacia tribe, on the tips 

 )f three or four of tbe lower seriaturea on the leaves 

 )f Grewia, on various parts of tbe leaves or stems of 

 ;he Balsam, on Passifloia, and many other plants. — 

 The g'ands only secrete honey during the youth and 

 growth of th'i leaf; it is then only that their opera- 

 tion and beaut. ful structure can be properly observed ; 

 iwhen the leaf has attained its full growth and perfec 

 lion, the active part of these glands dries up, the 

 time for observing their powers is past, and the leaf 

 then proceeds in its own important function of ela- 

 borating the sap. It has been lately surmised, and 

 i: appears to mo with every probability of truth, that 

 this honeyl is an ctcretion thrown off, of the supetn. 

 bundani and uselefs part of the juices, alter the leaf 

 or flower iias selected all that is necessary, precisely 

 analogous 10 the e.Ncretions of the animal frame. J 

 will uitempt, very briefly, to show that this view, if 

 correct, is of soma importance both to Agriculture and 

 Horticniuire. Mr. A. A Hayes, o( Ri).\bury. in a 

 beautiful, simple, and I believe original e.\pcriment, 

 exliibited hefore the Chemical Society of Bjsion this 

 spring, proved the e.'iialence of phosphoric acid (pro- 

 bably comb.ned) in several seeds, by immersing sec. 

 tions of them in weak solutions of sulphate or acetate 

 of copper ; in whatever part of the seed phosphoric 

 ncid existed, on that part was depos ted a precipitate 

 of hisphato of copper ; this was particularly evident 

 in the seeds of Indian corn. 



A. certain qaautity of phosphoric ncid, or phos- 

 phites, is therefore necessary to the existence of these 

 seeds ; and that part of the plant, (probably the flow- 

 er, ) destined to perform the function of preparing the 

 juices tor these seeds, mu-t go on e.\erting its utmost 

 powers in selecting and rejecting until the requisite 

 quantity of phosphates and other ingredients for the 

 seed are obtained. Now the phosphates in most soils 

 exist in extremely minute quantities ; therefore, those 

 plants and flowers whose seeds require any quantity, 

 must e.\tract large portions of food from the toil be- 

 fore they can select the amount of phosphates neces- 

 sary for the perfection of their seeds ; and probably 

 only as many scjds arrive at matnrity, as the plant 

 Clin procure phosphates to complete ; the remainder, 

 embryos of which are always lormed in nbundnnce,are 

 abortive ; that is, never come to perfection. 



The same line of reasoning of course applies to the 

 other necessary ingredisius of seeds. II", therefore, 

 we present to a plant food containing an abundant 

 supply of these ingredients, it seems reasonable to 

 suppose that wo shall produce more seeds, or rnihcr 

 that more of the embryo seeds will be perfected. Now 

 1 have before stated that the chemical analy.^is ol Gu- 

 ano shows that it contains, in abundance, most of the 

 necessary ingredients ef plauts and seeds, tbe nitro- 



gen of its ammonia being nb.solutely requisite for thi 

 cellular, vascular and other parts of tbo stem and 

 ieavcf, and its phoiphoric acid, as well as its nitro 

 gen, tor the seeds; and ifliiluro experience should 

 confirm what I have lo-dny stated ns un opinion, ibni 

 the flowers of plnnls irianuicd with Guano beconu 

 siiinller, it may be accounted lor on ilic assuinptioii 

 that ns there is presented to the pinnt these ingrcili 

 enla in nhHiidnncc, particularly those necessary fo; 

 ihc seed, tue flower and its glands, whose ollice it it 

 to prepare the latter, have less work to perforin, Ics^ 

 food to analyze, less to select and less to reject ; hence 

 there is no necessity to havo them of so largo a S'Ze 

 ns where much exertion of these functions is rccpiircd. 

 The seed will also be larger and in greater quantity. 

 I ofler this irain of reasoning on an nbstruso and 

 little understood subject with the utmost dillidcuce. 

 and ceitaiiily under the impression that wc have not 

 yet suflicicnt evidence or experience on this most in- 

 teresting manure to offer a solid and well-grounded 

 opinion ; but it is at all events a suflicicnt roniidntion 

 on which to lay the superstructure of experiment. 



Horticulture is probably still in its infancy in this 

 couniiy ; but if so, it is the infancy of a giant. How 

 few have hitherto devoted their whole attention to 

 raising new varieties of fruits, flowers or vegetables 

 from f-eed, and yet we have already, among flowers, 

 the almost unsurpassed Camellia Wilderi, rnised by 

 our indefatigable President, with several others of 

 great beauty. The seedling Pelargoniums, exhibited 

 mis spring in tbe rooms of this Society, are not far 

 from some of the best imported from Kuiope. In 

 fruits, wc may with pride refer to the strawberry, 

 raised by an active member of this Society, which 

 has deservedly acquired so much celebrity. — to many 

 of our native apples and pears, to Mr. iVIanning's 

 cherries, to several new plunis which have been ex- 

 hibited. I have also tasted seedling penches from pri- 

 vate gardens, unnamed and little known, which may 

 successfully vie, for, flavor and size, with many Euro- 

 [lean fruiis poieesscd of high sounding titles. And in- 

 deed, we have everything to encourage endeavors in 

 iliis branch — lor it requires but little attention from 

 the hand of man to produce these improvements. — 

 Nature has been lavish in her gifts to this climaie. — 

 The glorious beauties of our sunscta amply attest the 

 purity of our atmosphere, and the almost tropical 

 sun which rides over our heads during the summer 

 monihs, perfectly matures the wood, the juices, the 

 pollen and the seeds of our plants. For the grate- 

 ful shade of other lands, the ingenuity of the Hor- 

 ticulturist here can easily find a substitute ; — 

 but to pr^'duce or imitate our glorious sunlight, is be- 

 yond tiic art of those of many other countries. It has 

 been thought that our long winters are a serious im- 

 ptdiment to our Horticulture, but it is not so. The 

 very essence of this pursuit is to overcome difficulties, 

 to make tbe wintry desert blossom like the rose ; if 

 every circumstance were favorable, if everything 

 flourished spontaneously, of what value would be the 

 exertions of the gardener 1 It is the long pr-valion 

 of the charms of Flora and Pomona, by our protracted 

 winter, which makes ihcin so eagerly sought after 

 when they do come. The very length of our winter 

 acts, on the one hand, ns a stimulus to the gardener 

 to produce his early fruiis and flowers : and on the 

 other hand, increases the desire ot the patrons of Hor- 

 ticulture to enjoy them. I believe that it would be a 

 very profitable epeculati on for tbe builders of new houses 

 in the country, or even in the town, to contrive, at the 

 back of each, a small greenhouse about 15 by 12, just 

 enough for the inhabitant to employ his leisure hours 

 in cultivating, with hisown hand, a fewexotic plants. 

 The expense of this structure could not exceed $100, 

 or $150, and no doubt many would be found who 

 would cheei fully pay from $20 to $50 additional rem 

 for such a true and constant enjoyment. If properly 

 arranged originally, by placing a small boiler in the 

 br'ck work, at the back of the fire-place in the ad- 

 joining room, with pipes containing hot water circu- 

 lating around it in the interior, no extra expense foi 

 fuel, or trouble would be required. Even those who 

 do not delight in exotic flowers, would have no objec- 

 tion to use it as a grapery, where fine sorts of this lus 

 cious fruit might bo cultivated in the highest perfec- 

 tion. 



There is evidently an increasing taste for plants to 

 decorate the parlor, but the greatest hindrance to their 

 flourishing luxuriantly is the want ol vertical light and 

 properly regulated heat ; in structures such ns I re- 

 commend both these difficulties are obviated, and they 

 would no doubt succeed admirably. Those who re- 

 member Mr. Towno's well cultivated plants, will noi 

 require proof of this statement. 



I trust also, that, in a few years, attention will be 



more directed to the exhibition of true taste, wdielher 

 in laying out the email gaidcn plot nround the house, 

 or in more extensive ornnmontnl grounds. For iho 

 coat is the same, whether the labor of plnniing and 

 making wnlks be expended in a manner consonant to 

 true taste or otherwise ; and the principles of thli 

 iruo taste arc extremely simple and easy of opphcn- 

 lion. Ha. I lime permitted, I shouhl like to havo 

 Iniddoun a few of lho»e principles, and also to linvo 

 Kiiid a few word.t on the subject to essential to land- 

 scape gardening, of harniouy, which should be etud- 

 led with i>n artist's eye, both in the plantation of massea 

 and lims of trees, with regard to their modcof growth 

 and foliage, ns well as in the orrangement of the 

 colors of liie flower garden. I must also leave un- 

 touched niiotber subject of great importance ; I mean 

 ihe scientific nrraugeincnt ol trees and plants in gar- 

 dens, an object which, when attained, not only in- 

 creases immeasurably the interest of a garden, but 

 lends even those unscientific minds, which are strong- 

 ly imbued with a love ot" order and arrangement, to 

 enjoy and delight in the beautiful domain of tho vege- 

 table kingdom. 



It vN'ould be wrong, however, to devote all of our at- 

 tention to the ornamental branches of Horiiculiure; 

 the Useful demands an equal, if not a more extensive 

 share. Perfection in the growth of those healthy lux- 

 uries of the diniicr.tnlile, vegetables, is a main part of 

 the gnrdener's aim. The value of one portion of these 

 edible plnnls consists in the pcrlection of the early 

 eboots, the stems and the foliage , such ns the aspara- 

 gus, rhubarb, the cabbage, the lettuce, the tellcry, 

 &c. — of anoiher portion, it consists in the perfection 

 of the seed, such as pens, beans, &c. — in a third, the 

 perfection is to bo produced in the pulpy or cellular 

 mass which covers and surrounds the seed, ns the 

 squash, melon, cncnmber, &c — and, in a fourth, in 

 the perfection of the root, as in the radish, the carrot, 

 the beet, the polatoe, &.c. Now in the consideration 

 of the aciionol various manures, these points must 

 be the chief objects of study, and it is here that exper- 

 iments on Guano and other manures seem of impor- 

 tance. If. as appears by the plants exhibited, that the 

 action of Guano is great on the stalk and foliage, then 

 Its value should be great in the cultivation of cellery, 

 rhubarb, &c. ; if it be found, as appears to me likely, 

 that it improves the seed, then it will be valuable for 

 peas, beans, &c. 



All these considcrntions induce nie to think it pro- 

 bable that we are still in our infancy on these subjects, 

 and that the value of horticultural societies, to nurse 

 this infancy to'a healthy manhood, will become every 

 year more and more evident. 



But if horticultural societies have done much to ad- 

 vance this pursuit, horticultural publications have per- 

 haps done more. Without such publications many 

 of these societies would not now be in existence, antl 

 that thousands of individuals who have found inno- 

 cent and delightful resources and excitement in Horti- 

 culture, would have been ruined at the tavern or tho 

 gambling-house, — finally, that it is impossible to cal- 

 culate the advantages bestowed on mankind by the 

 vnst dfliision of a taste for Horticulture, which these 

 publications have mainly contributed to produce. I 

 cannot now enter more into detail of these advantages; 

 besides a very brief instance will elucidate them with 

 more fiirce. 



In the Gardner's Chronicle, published in London 

 5th May, this year, there is an account of the method 

 of growing asparagus, at Guipiiscon, on the Spanish 

 coast. The beds are formed on the borders of salt wa- 

 ter, which at spring tides is allowed to How in through 

 channels cut for the purpose, thus inundating the 

 roots. Once a year they are covered wiih about two 

 inches of night soil, which is forked in in the au- 

 tumn ; in the spring a thick layer of leaves is laid on, 

 through which the asparagus shoots riee, in size from 

 three to six inches diameter, or more than double the 

 size of the finest grown here. Nearly the largest head 

 of asparagus I have ever seen, I found duiingoneof 

 my botanical excursions growing wild on the edge of 

 one of the salt marshes at Dorchester in this vicinity, 

 just where the land rises into little hillocks covered 

 with small wood. Here, with the exception ot the 

 nightsoil, nature's operation closely resembles that 

 lollowed at Guipuscon ; the salt water has occntion- 

 ally access to the toots, and the shoo's rise through 

 the bead of leaves with which the autumnal deca- 

 dence has protected the root. On rending the ac- 

 count in the Gardner's Chronicle, all these facts te- 

 curred to my memory, and I have no doubt that some 

 pieces of salt marsh, to which, by a little m.na^e- 

 ment, the salt water might be occnsionlly admitted, 

 could be most profitably converted into asparagus 

 beds, which in luxuriance and produce would far sur- 

 pass many at present in existence. 



