240 



Garden and Forest. 



[July ii, 1888. 



ordinary lover of nature often reveals. For this reason it may 

 l)e read with profit as weU as with pleasure, and we may echo 

 the wish for America which the author earnestly expresses for 

 England — that a School of Forestry may soon be established. 

 In speakinsf of the advisability of beautifying country roads, 

 and not only city streets, by the systematic planting of trees, he 

 says that "in some parts of North America every citizen is 

 compelled to plant a certain number of trees — say six or a 

 dozen — at his marriage or coming of age." We trust this may 

 be true, but should like to be told of the exact locality in which 

 the rule is in force, especially as the words " coming of age" 

 strongly suggest that some English mind has invented a friendly 

 fiction to our credit. 



Notes. 



Ripe Tokay and Muscatel Grapes were in the Yuma (Cali- 

 fornia) markets as early as June 13th. 



According to the Santa Barbara Herald, the crop of Pam- 

 pas plumes will be heavy, and already buyers are offering 

 to take them at good prices. Not infrequently the profit from 

 an acre has reached the sum of $1,000. 



Cherry trees were sprayed with arsenites at the Ohio Experi- 

 ment Station soon after the blossoms fell this spring, and the 

 result was that very little wormy fruit appeared, while on check 

 trees, where the spraying was omitted, the curculio did much 

 damage. Analysis of fruit a week after spraying showed no 

 trace of poison. Spraying with a solution of lime was also 

 tried, but it proved much less effective. 



After the funeral of the Emperor William, in Berlin, the 

 wreaths and other fioral devices which had been sent from all 

 |iarts of the country were exhibited in one of the rooms of 

 the HohenzoUern Museum. They numbered more than 2,000, 

 and consisted not only of fresh Howers, but also of Palm 

 and Laurel garlands, of arrangements of Immortelles and 

 Edelweiss, of gilded Oak leaves, and of foliage simulated in 

 gilded or silvered metal. 



From the discussions at the late convention of nurserymen 

 in Detroit it was evident that the majority of members did not 

 approve of reducing the postage on " plants," and oljjected to 

 adding this word to "seeds, cuttings, bulbs and roots," in the 

 bill now before Congress. The argument was that sending small 

 plants throug-h the mail interfered with the prices that must be 

 asked by agents, and a large proportion of the business of 

 nurserymen was transacted through agents. 



Professor Budd is experimenting on a large scale with seed- 

 lings from the Russian Apples which he has imported. A 

 series of crosses between the Russian Apples and certain 

 American varieties have been made and the crossed seedlings 

 are now growing. Many piu-e seedlings from the Russian 

 Winter Apples are also growing. The hope is that varieties 

 may be secured which will endure the trying summers and 

 winters of our north-west region, and, at the same time, have 

 the good quality of some of the more tender kinds. 



Both branches of the Philadelphia City Council have voted to 

 include the historic Bartram Garden among the Small Parks to 

 lie established under the ordinance of which mention has 

 been already made in these columns. This means that the 

 land cannot now be sold for any other purpose and that it may 

 be taken by the city whenever it may choose to appoint a jury 

 to assess damages, or that it may be taken by any responsible 

 body of citizens who ask the courts to name a jury for this 

 purpose and agree to pay for the ground as the jury may esti- 

 mate its worth, or as may be arranged with the owners with- 

 out a jury. In case an association of citizens take the matter 

 in hand the city would without doubt respect the wishes of the 

 donors as to how the garden shall be cared for. If the city 

 pays for it the garden will remain at the tender mercies of city 

 officials, who cannot always be trusted to treat such a posses- 

 sion with either the reverence or the good taste wliich its im- 

 portance demands. Still, that so much has been accomplished 

 is a matter for gratitude, and thanks are due in an especial 

 manner to Councilman Thomas Meehan, the Chairman of the 

 Sub-conimittee on Small Parks, for his labors in this behalf. 



The statement which has been going the rounds of the 

 papers that the old Endicott Pear Tree, planted by Governor 

 John Endicott about 1630 on his farm in Danvers, Massachu- 

 setts, was dead, has no foundation m fact. This venerable 

 tree is still alive and in a fairly vigorous condition. It now re- 

 sembles in habit a low, wide-spreading Apple tree. A few 

 years ago the trunk was split by a storm, which caused it to 

 lean over the iron fence which protects the tree from cattle; it 



then sent up from below the split a strong, vigorous shoot, 

 which gives it its present bushy appearance. This tree was 

 never grafted, as suckers from it produce the same inferior 

 fruit as the main branches. Another famous Pear tree, known 

 in Salem as the "Orange Pear," and supposed to have been 

 planted about 1640, is still alive and flourishing in a garden in 

 that town. The soil and climate of Essex County seem fa- 

 vorable to longevity in Pear trees. The "Cogswell Pear 

 Tree," in the Town of Essex, is more than two centuries and 

 a half old. John Cogswell brought the seed which produced 

 this tree from England in 1635. This tree, which stands in the 

 open field back of' Mr. Edward Lee's house, near the founda- 

 tions of John Cogswell's first house, still bears fruit, which is 

 used for preserving. 



Retail Flower Markets. 



New York, July bth. 



Roses continue scarce, and are of poor quality. So rare indeed are 

 all good flowers tliat all choice bouquets are set off with Orchids. 

 Paul Neyrons are best of the Hybrids. American Beauties are very 

 small and one-sided. Selected Hybrids are almost too poor to use, and 

 cost S3 and $4 a dozen. Marechal Neils and General Jacqueminots ar- 

 rived in small lots from Newport. They cost $1.50 a dozen. La 

 France Roses are scarce and small. They cost $1 and S1.25 a dozen. 

 Lily-of-the-Valley sells for winter prices — Si. 50 a dozen. There is 

 little of it unless to order. Liliiim longijloriiiii and Callas cost $33 

 dozen. Gladioluses, $1.50 ; Pansies, 25 cts. ; Buttercups, 35 cts., and 

 Daisies from 15 to 20 cts. Pea Blossoms cost 25 cts. for a small clus- 

 ter. Mignonette is of bad quality and in light demand at 25 cts. a 

 dozen. Peonies are out of bloom. Florists receive plenty of steamer 

 orders, but really have not the flowers to fill them. For the dinner 

 given at Delmonico's to the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough the 

 favors ordered were not supplied, because it was impossible to get 

 any Roses. Tamarisk foliage is used with good effect in tall designs. 



PHILADELrUIA, July blk. 



Good flowers, and especially good Roses, were never less abundant 

 than they now are. True there is little demand for flowers at this 

 dead season. The "Commencements" are all over, and most of the 

 flower-buyers are out of town. During recent years flowers ha\'e been 

 used with less profusion at school commencements, but this year a 

 decided improvement was noticeable in the demand, and certainly 

 there are few occasions where they c:in be more appropriately used. 

 Sweet Peas are still asked for, and are in fair supply. Zinnias are 

 becoming more plentiful, and are catching the public fancy, owing to 

 the improvements in them within the past few years. The tints and 

 shadings in some of the flowers, though over showy perhaps, are 

 really \'ery beautiful and distinct. Rudbeckia may be obtained in 

 limited quantities from the fields. It is figured in a recent number of 

 T/ie Art Iiifc-rc/uDigc-, and labeled "The Black -eyed Susan! " without 

 any indications of its botanical name. It is frequently called the 

 "Cone Flower," and sometimes the "Buckeye Daisy." Carnations, 

 excepting white varieties, are fairly plentiful, and sell at 25 cts. a 

 dozen. Sweet Peas, Zinnias and Rudbeckia also sell at same price. 

 There are some few Mrs. John Laing Roses to be had at Si .50 a dozen. 

 Meteors, though not at all plentiful, cost the same. La France, Mer- 

 mets and the Bride cost gi to Si. 50. Perles and Sunsets, 75 cts. to Si- 

 The demand for Asparagus tenuissinuts and Smilax has fallen off con- 

 siderably, though there is very little change in the price. A few 

 flowers of that pretty wild pink Orchid, Calopogan pukhelhim, are 

 brought from New Jersey, and sell at 50 cts. a dozen. The orange- 

 colored Polygala lu'tca, from the same State, are offered at 25 cts. a 

 dozen. The two latter flowers have not been noticed in this city be- 

 fore. They will remain popular as long as they are in season. 



Boston, July bth. 



The month of July is the dullest in the year for the florist. School 

 graduations and social gatherings, which make a demand for cut 

 flowers, are all finished ; the fashionable season at the seaside resorts, 

 which sometimes gives a little life to the business in midsummer, has 

 not yet begun, and were it not for the "steamer days " and an occa- 

 sional funeral, florists might as well lock up their shops. The season 

 that has just closed has not been remarkable in any way; nothing 

 striking or decidedly original has been introduced in the way of floral 

 designs, and the only characteristic thing to say of the season is that it 

 began late, and that the average price of cut flowers was considerably 

 lower than ever before. Roses in midwinter were not up to the 

 average either in quality or quantity, but otherwise the condition of 

 the trade has been generally satisfactory. Among the best selling 

 varieties at present, and in fact all through the season, are the Grace 

 Wilder Carnations. It is a remarkable hold which this Carnation has 

 taken of flower-lovers and buyers. The pink Pond Lily seems to be 

 as popular as ever as a summer favorite. Gloxinias, Cornflowers and 

 the golden Sweet Sultan are all among the popular flowers of this 

 monUi. Out-door Roses are still plenty and cheap, the street ped- 

 dlers handling the most of them. A few Sweet Peas and Asters are to 

 be seen in the florists' windows. There are no settled prices that are 

 worth quoting. All is grist that comes to the mill just now, and no 

 reasonable offer is refused. 



