12 



Garden and Forest. 



[February 29, .18 



would turn with the fresh alertness which has ever character- 

 ized every motion and every thought, to the preparation of 

 what he called fondly, his " legacy" to young botanists. That 

 precious legacy we have now liefore us. 



In form it is much like the Lessons, but more compact and 

 yet much more comprehensive. Its conciseness of expression 

 is a study in itself. To give it the highest praise, it may be 

 said to be French in its clearness and terseness. Not a word 

 is wasted : hence, the author has been able to touch lightly 

 and still with firmness every important line in this sketch of 

 the principles of botany. This work, in the words of its au- 

 thor, " is intended to ground beginners in Structural Botany 

 "and the principles of vegetable life, mainly as concerns Flow- 

 "ering or Phanerogamous plants, with which botanical in- 

 " struction should always begin ; also to be a companion and 

 " interpreter to the Manuals and Floras by which the student 

 " threads his flowery way to a clear knowledge of the sur- 

 " rounding vegetable creation. Such a book, like a grammar, 

 " must needs abound in technical words, which thus arrayed 

 " may seem formidable ; nevertheless, if rightly apprehended, 

 " this treatise should teach that the study of botany is not the 

 " learning of names and terms, but the acquisition of knowl- 

 " edge and ideas. No effort should be made to commit tech- 

 " nical terms to memory. Any term used in describing a 

 " plant or explaining its structure can be looked up when it is 

 " wanted, and that should suffice. On the other hand, plans 

 " of structure, types, adaptations, and modifications, once un- 

 " derstood, are not readily forgotten ; and they give meaning 

 "and interest to the technical terms used in explaining them." 



The specific directions given for collecting plants, for pre- 

 paring herbarium specimens, and for investigating the struc- 

 ture of plants make this treatise of great use to those who are 

 obliged to study without a teacher. The very extensive glos- 

 sary makes the work of value not only to this class of students, 

 but to those, as well, whose pursuits are directed in our 

 schools. The work fills, in short, the very place which Dr. 

 Gray designed it should. G. L. Goodale. 



The Kansas Forest Trees Identified by Leaves and Fruit, liy W. 

 A. Kellerman, Ph.D., and Mrs. W. A. Kellerman (Manhattan, 

 Kansas). This octavo pamphlet of only a dozen pages con- 

 tains a convenient artificial key for the rapid determination of 

 seventy-five species of trees. By the use of obvious char- 

 acters the authors have made the work of identification com- 

 paratively easy in nearly every instance, and even in the few 

 doubtful cases, the student will not be allowed to go far astray. 

 The little hand-book ought to be found of use even beyond the 

 limits of the State for which it was designed. G. L. Goodale. 



Public Works. 



The Falls of Minnehaha. — A tract of fifty acres, beautifully 

 located on the Mississippi, opposite the mouth of the Minne- 

 haha, has l.ieen acquired by the City of St. Paul, and land will 

 most probably be secured for a drive of several miles along 

 the river. The bank here is more than 100 feet high, often 

 precipitous, clothed with a rich growth of primeval forest, 

 shrubbery and vines. It is hoped that Minneapolis may secure 

 the land immediately opposite, including the Falls of Minne- 

 haha and the valley of the stream to the great river. In this 

 event a great park could be made between the two cities, easily 

 reached from the best part of both, with the Mississippi flow- 

 ing through it and the Falls as one of its features. This, in 

 connection with the park so beautifully situated on Lake 

 Como, three miles from St. Paul, and the neat parks of Minne- 

 apolis and its superbly kept system of lake shore drives, 

 would soon be an object worthy of the civic pride of these en- 

 terprising and friendly rivals. 



A Park for Wilmington, Del. — After many delays and defeats 

 the people of this city have secured a tract of more than 100 

 acres, mostly of fine rocky woodland, with the classic Brandy- 

 wine flowing through it, and all within the city limits, together 

 with two smaller tracts, one a high wooded slope, the other lying 

 on tide water, and both convenient to those parts of the city 

 inhabited by workingmen and their families. A topographi- 

 cal survey of these park lands is now in progress as prepara- 

 tion for a general plan of improvement. Of the " Brandvwine 

 Glen " Mr. Frederick Law Olmsted once wrote : " It is a pas- 

 sage of natural scenery which, to a larger city, would be of 

 rare value — so rare and desirable that m a number of cities 

 several million dollars have been willingly spent to obtain re- 

 sults of which the best that can be said is, that they somewhat 

 distantly approach, in character and expression, such scenery 

 as the people of Wilmington have provided for them without 

 expense." 



Flower Market. 



Retail Prices in the Flower Market. 

 New York, February sjd. 



There is a glut of flowers, particularly of lea roses of an indifferent 

 quality. Bon Silene buds cost from 75 cts. to $1 a dozen, Perle des 

 Jardins, Niphetos, Souvenir d'un Ami, and Papa Gontiers bring $1.50 

 a dozen. C. Mermets are very fine and from 30 to 35 cts. each. Not 

 more than one in three La France roses is perfect ; they bring from 

 25 cts. to 50 cts. eacli. Mde. Cuisin and Duke of Connaught are 

 25 cts. each, Bennets 20 cts. each and Brides 25 cts. each. American 

 Beauties are $1 to $1.50 each, according to the location where they are 

 sold. Puritans cost 75 cts. each, and Jacqueminots 50 cts. Magna 

 Chartas are the most popular of the hybrid roses at present. They, 

 .A.nna de Diesbach and Mad. Gabriel Luizet bring from Si to Si. 50 

 each. 



Mignonette is very plentiful, well grown and of the spiral variety; it 

 brings 75 cts. a dozen spikes retail, very large spikes bring as high as 

 15 cts. each. Hyacinths, Lilies-of-the-Va!ley and Tulips bring Si a 

 dozen. Lilacs cost 25 cts. for a spray of one or two tassels. Violets are 

 abundant, mostly of the Marie Louise variety, and bring $2 a hundred. 

 Fancy long stem red Carnations cost 75 cts. a dozen; short stem Car- 

 nations are 50 cts. a dozen ; the dyed Carnations, named "Emerald," 

 are in brisk demand and sell for 15 cts. each. Daffodils are Si a 

 dozen; those dyed bring 20 cts. each. Finely grown Forget-me-not 

 brought in small quantity to retail dealers sells for 10 cts. a spray. 

 Calla Lilies bring $2 and $3 a dozen, and Longiflorum Lilies $4 a 

 dozen. 



Philadelphia, February 2jd. 



Heavy demands for flowers dropped off short on Ash Wednesday, 

 and decreased each day until Saturday, when the regular orders for 

 loose flowers caused the trade to pick up again. The demand for 

 Orchids issteadily growing ; a fairquantity is used at balls and parties, 

 but nothing in comparison to Roses, Violets and Lily-of-the-Valley. 

 Violets have been in greater demand, so far, than for several years. 

 Large quantities of Tulips have been used recently for table 

 decorations, especially the pink varieties, the favorite color for dinners 

 and limches. The American lieauty Rose, when cut with long stems, 

 and really first class in every other respect, has been in great demand, 

 at the best prices. Md. GatSrielle Luizet is scarce, the local growers 

 not having commenced to cut in quantity ; it is frequently asked for. 

 Carnation plateaus in solid colors have been used freely. Lilacs are 

 considered choice and have been in good demand. Retail prices 

 rule as follows : Orchids, from 25 cts. to Si each ; La France, Mermet, 

 Bride and Bennet Roses, $3 per dozen ; Jacques, $4 to S5 ; American 

 Beauty, $4 to S9 ; Puritan, $4 ; Anna de Diesbach, S5 to 87.50 ; Papa 

 Gontier, Sunset, Perle des Jardins arid Mad. Cuisin, $1.50 ; Bon Silene, 

 Si. 00; Niphetos,Si toSi.50. Lily-of-the-Valley, and Roman Hyacinths, 

 bring $1 per dozen ; Mignonette, 50 cts., and-Freesia the same per 

 dozen ; Heliotrope, Pansies, Carnations, and Forget-me-nots, 35 cts. 

 per dozen. Violets bring from $1 to Si. 50 per hundred; Lilium 

 Harrisii, $3.00 per dozen; Callas S2 per dozen, and Lilacs S2 per bunch 

 of about eight sprays. Daffodils sell briskly at from Si to Si. 50 per 

 dozen. 



Boston, February 23d. 



The season of Lent is always looked forward to by the florists with 

 anxiety, for the rest from receptions, assemblies and balls cuts off one 

 of the chief outlets for the choicest flowers : a few warm days are 

 sufficient to overstock the market, and prices take a fall. Buyers are 

 learning, however, that at no period of the year can cut flowers be had 

 in such perfection and variety as during February and March, and 

 although not much required for party occasions they are bought forother 

 purposes in increasing quantities every year, so that the advent of Lent 

 does not now produce utter stagnation in the flower trade. In Roses 

 there is at present a large assortment offered. From the modest Bon 

 Silene, and its new competitor. Papa Gontier, up to the magnificent 

 American Beauty and Hybrid Perpetuals, may be found every gradation 

 of color, size and fragrance. Retail prices vary from 75 cts. per 

 dozen for Bon Silenes and $1.50 to S2 for Perles, Niphetos, etc., up to 

 S3 and $4 for the best Mermets, Niels and La France ; Hybrids and 

 Tacques of best quality bring from $6 to S9 per dozen. In bulbous 

 flowers a large variety is shown. Lily-of-the-Valley sells for Si. 50 

 per dozen sprays ; Narcissus of various kinds. Hyacinths and Tulips 

 for $1 per dozen ; Violets, 50 cts. per bunch ; Pansies, Mignonette, 

 Heliotrope, Forget-me-not and Calendulas, 50 cts. per doz. Long 

 stemmed Carnations are to be had in great variety at 75 cts. per dozen; 

 Callas 25 cts. each, and Smilax 50 cts. a string. At this season Smilax 

 is at its best, being its time of flowering, and the flowers are 

 deliciously fragrant. 



Publishers' Note. 



A photogravure of Mr. A. St. Gaudens's bronze medallion of 

 the late Professor Asa Gray will be published as a supplement 

 to the second number of Garden and Forest. 



