72 



Garden and Forest. 



Afril 4, 



Maine, where, after the removal of the old timber, the remain- 

 ing growtli has sufficient vitality to be benefited by the increased 

 light influence, this method may be even recommended, at 

 least for some time to come. 



But, looking further info the future, this policy will ultimately 

 not prove the best, as it is bound, by and during the frequent 

 removals of older growtli, to damage the young growth, which 

 at the same time gets but little chance for development under 

 the continued shade of the older growth, and gradually the 

 valuable forest " runs out." 



It is, however, possible to conceive of this method of selec- 

 tion under given circumstances and when skilfully manipulated 

 with regard to the needs of an aftergrowth as good forest 

 policy, and on the mountain slopes, where the preservation of 

 a forest cover rather than the production of the most valuable 

 timber is the object, it is decidedly the best policy. 



B. E. Fcriiow. 



Recent Publications. 



A Catalogue erf Niagara Plants, by David F. Day. 



To the Report of the Commissioners of the State Reserva- 

 tion at Niagara, recently presented to the Legislature of this 

 State, Mr. David F. Day, of Buffalo, has joined a catalogue of 

 the plants found growing spontaneously upon the Reservation 

 and in its immediate vicinity. In a very interesting introduction 

 to this carefully prepared work it appears that it is based upon 

 observations made in the neighborhood of the Falls during a 

 period of twenty years. Probably, therefore, the catalogue is 

 nearly complete, althougli Mr. Day modestly, states that he 

 may have overlooked a few species of Grasses, Sedges and 

 other difficult plants. In the prosecution of his task the author 

 has consulted, as far as possible, the observations made in this 

 neighborhood by other botanists. The references to the 

 botany of Niagara Falls, especially by the earlier explorers, are 

 few. It is possible that Peter Kalm, the pupil and correspond- 

 ent of Linnaeus, may have left some record of his observations 

 made at Niagara in 1750, although no mention can be found of 

 their publication, either in the Swedish original or in transla- 

 tions. If Kalm's journal still e.xists its publication would be a 

 welcome addition to the literature of American botany. It is 

 probable that he discovered the Hypericum and the Lobelia 

 which bear his name near Table Rock. There is no evidence 

 that either Michaux or his son ever visited Niagara, and it is 

 certain that Pursh came no nearer to it than the site of F.lmira. 

 Nuttall, who botanized near the Falls before 1818, mentionstiut 

 one plant found by him there — Utricularia cornuta. Torrey 

 was probably familiar with this region, although in his " Flora 

 of the State of New York," published in 1843, he mentions as 

 peculiar to Niagara, but wholly upon other authority, only 15 

 out of the 1,511 plants which he describes. The labors of later 

 botanists, however, have been more useful to Mr. Day in the 

 preparation of his catalogue. The journals of Judge Clinton, 

 prepared while he was engaged in studying the botany of Buf- 

 falo and its vicinity, proved of the greatest value, as did the 

 "Flore Canadienne " of the Abbt5 Purvancher and Macoun's 

 "Catalogue of Canadian Plants." 



The Flora of Goat Island shows few plants that are uncom- 

 mon in western New York. Still, the island is rich in the 

 number of its species. Perhaps no tract of its size in that vici- 

 nity can exhiliit so large a number. Its vernal beauty is attrib- 

 utable not merely to this variety of plants, but also to the great 

 abundance in which they are produced. It is probable, more- 

 over, that the island formerly contained other species which 

 are now extinct, such as several Orchids and Lilies. The Hare- 

 bell has disappeared within a comparatively short time, and 

 the Grass-of-Parnassus is iast going — the result of reckless 

 llower-picking. The same fate awaits the Blood-root, the 

 Dutchman's Breeches, the Wake-Robin and other charming 

 wild flowers, unless the Commissioners succeed in putting a 

 stop to this wholesale spoliation. They should endeavor, too, 

 to restore those plants which have been exterminated from the 

 island — an undertaking neither difficult nor expensive. 



The value of this catalogue is increased by the references it 

 contains to many rare and interesting plants found near the 

 Reservation, although not within its borders. Of the 908 

 species of plants named in the catalogue 757 are native and 151 

 are foreign. 



The Revue -'es Detix Mondes — March ist, 1888 — contains 

 an article on 'The Composition of Forests" — by the dis- 

 tinguished palaeontologist the Marquis of Saporta, which sets 

 forth how the present constitution of the forests of various parts 

 of Europe is explained by the ch.mges of climate which have 

 taken place in successive geologic periods, and is illustrated 

 by tlie fossil record. 



Flower Market. 



New York, March 30th. 



Trade has been fairly good this week to supply numerous Church 

 orders for Holy Thursday and considerable elaborate funeral work. 

 The long period of dark weather will interfere with Easter bloom to a 

 certain e.xtent. As is usual at this time, white flowers are being held 

 back for use on Sunday. As far as possible florists are resolved not 

 to alter prices for Easter. There is a gorgeous display in the floral 

 shops of plants, but it will not be as large as that of last year. Prom- 

 inent dealers make grand exhibitions of Orchids, arranged in banks, 

 where choice varieties of Vandas, Epidendrums, Cattleyas, Oncidiums 

 and Cypripediums are offered for sale by the plant or spray. 



Selected Hybrid Roses have risen to $1 each. A limited number of 

 Her Majesty Rose are brought in, and bring $1.50 each. Tea and 

 Hybrid Tea Roses remain as quoted last week. Plants of Lilium Har- 

 risii cost from $1 to $2, and single flowers from 35 1050 cts. each, ac- 

 cording to the location. Plants of Calla with one flower and bud bring 

 il. Cut Callas cost 25 and 30 cts.. White Ascension Lilies are 15 cts. 

 each. A few Gladiolus (Shakespear) are offered and sell from 50 to 75 

 cts. a spike. Lily-of- the- Valley of the best growth costs $1 a dozen; in- 

 ferior flowers bring 75 cts. a dozen. Sfinva Japonica costs 81 a dozen 

 spikes. Plants of the same of medium size cost $1. French Mar- 

 guerites are 35 cts. a dozen flowers, or $3 for 100. Large plants well 

 flecked with bloom sell for $2.50. Boxes of cut flowers for gifts are 

 more in demand than designs. Novelties for these boxes are Stephan- 

 otis and Orange Flowers. These sell for 50 cts. a spray. Spikes of 

 Vanda Suavis tricolor Si^Mox imm $3 to 85. There are from six to 

 eight flowers on them. An Azalea (Artevelde) six feet high brought 

 £10 ; a plant of Genesfa seven feet high S20. Hydrangeas are exqui- 

 sitely tinted and sell for from %2 to $5 a plant. French Marguerite 

 Flowers are of an unusually large size. 



Philadelphia, March ^oth. 



Owing to the approach of Easter, flowers are plentiful. Carnations 

 amongst staple articles being the most scarce. Grace Wilder, a deli- 

 cate pink, is still the favorite, and with more sunlight and heat is im- 

 proving in quality. Buttercup, yellow, with red stripes, comes next in 

 favor. Whites will be most in demand at Easter. Swayne and Lam- 

 born are amongst the best new sorts. Hinzie's White is also good ; 

 it brings from 35 to 50 cts. per dozen. Tulips are frequenfly delivered 

 at the stores growing in shallow bo.xes ; they make a gorgeous display. 

 Cottage Maid, rosy pink, shaded with white Duchess de Parma, 

 bronze-red, edged with yellow. Kaiser's Kroon, similar in color, but 

 lighter, and the red and yellow more clearly defined, are all favorites, 

 as are also the yellows, Chrysolora and Yellow Prince. Whites and 

 solid reds are in demand too. They sell at from 75 cts. to $1.25 per 

 dozen. Yiolefs are not so good in quality as they were ; some of the 

 single ones are poor, and sell at from $1 to Si. 50 per 100, according to 

 the quality and variety. Single varieties, when good in quality, are 

 favorites here. Asparagus tenuissiinus will be more used for Easter 

 decorations than formerly. This is brought about through the scarcity 

 of Smilax ; it sells at from 50 to 75 cts. per string. A. plumosus is not 

 at all plentiful. It is preferred to A. lenuhsimus when obtainable at the 

 higher price. Roses— Magna Charta, Captain Christy, Madame Lui- 

 zet. Baroness Rothschild, Mrs. John Laing and Jacqueminots, amongst 

 Hybrid Remontants— are plentiful, and sell at from $3 to »8 per dozen, 

 according to locahon, variety and qualify. Puritans, with the advanc- 

 ing season, continue to improve. Catherine Mermets are not a good 

 color. Bennetts are fine when fresh, but their disagreeable tendency 

 to become blue with age renders them less \'aluable than they were 

 early in the season, especially since Jacqueminots have become so 

 abundant. 



Boston, March joth. 



The flower stores are gorgeous with Easter plants and flowers. The 

 use of plants in churches has become almost as general as the use of 

 cut flowers. For this purpose are offered a variety of showy, flower- 

 ing plants, among which the Harrisii and " Longiflorum " Lilies must 

 be given first place. Fine pots of these bring from $2. 00 to $5.00 each, 

 according to the number of blooms. Quite as showy as the Lilies, 

 and more durable, are the Hydrangeas. The variety most generally 

 seen is that known as //. Olaksa. Plants are offered in all sizes, from 

 fti.50 to S5.00 each. Spiraeas and Cinerarias are also to be had in 

 profusion, and are worth from $1.00 to 8i-50 per pot- Cut Lilies and 

 Callas bring $6.00 per dozen. The old-fashioned White Lilies bring 

 from 82.00 to 83.00 per dozen flowers on stalks. Cool weather has 

 been fa^•orable for the Rose crop. The qualify of Roses to be had for 

 Easter in this market has never been better. Magnificent Hybrids 

 are offered at 812.00 per dozen. The best Mermets, La France and 

 Tacinieminots bring from 84.00I0S6.00 per dozen. Lilies-of-fhe-Valley, 

 Tulips and Daffodils continue at 81.00 per dozen. Carnations have 

 advanced in price, and good, long-stemmed fancy varieties bring Si-OO 

 per dozen readily. Immense quantities of Yiolets and Pansies are 

 always used for Easter; 81.50 per hundred is the price quoted. Smi- 

 lax is very scarce at 50 cts. per yard. The new climbing Asparagus, 

 which is more beautiful and lasts longer than Smilax, is largely used 

 as a substitute. 



