1853.] THE PHILADELPHIA FLORIST. 263 



r^Adiantum, Pteris, the Woodsias, Asplenium, Schizsea, &c. equal in 

 £> beauty any collection of exotics we have ever seen : and we respect- 

 fully suggest to the schedule committee, to offer another medal for a 

 collection of indigenous ferns. 



As to pointing out localities where this or that plant may be found 

 we say let every one find that out for himself; it is of great disad- 

 vantage to learners to have all the difficulties in their way smoothed 

 for them ; I recollect at school that the boy who had his Latin trans- 

 lated for him was always behind the one who used his dictionary : 

 so the plant collector will remember better both the plant and the 

 locality if he finds it himself, than if told to go to such a swamp and 

 near such a tree he would find so and so : but if he is out herborising 

 and finds plant after plant new to him, and happens on something 

 rare, how much more will he value it. Besides this pointing out of 

 localities has another bad effect — everybody goes after a rare plant, 

 until it is entirely rooted out and the locality is a locality no longer. 

 In England, Cypridedium calceolus is not to be found except in gar- 

 dens, and not frequently in them ; any person or persons who are for- 

 tunate enough to know its habitat, now grown wise, keeps it a pro- 

 found secret. C. pubescens has been exterminated in this immediate 

 neighborhood, and we believe that C. spectabile was found by Bar- 

 tram in this county, (not country, as you made me say in my last 

 letter.) 



We hope to see the time when natural history will form an impor- 

 tant branch of early education ; in this respect we cannot but com- 

 mend the educational institutions of the Society of Friends — West- 

 town school has turned out more lovers of nature by far than any other; 

 and we well recollect the young " broad brims " from Haverford 

 school prowling about the neighborhood with botany boxes and nets 

 for butterflies. 



In the last number of Hovey's Magazine was an account of a visit 

 to a celebrated locality in Vermont. Why cannot some of your 

 readers, among whom we know are several of the best native bota- 

 nists, give you an account of the varieties found in this neighborhood, 

 which is said to be almost the richest in the United States'? 



Philarve^sis. 



MILDEW ON GRAPES, 



One of the greatest pests that vine growers have to contend against 

 is the mildew, which I have invariably found made its appearance 

 among vines after a cold rain, with an easterly wind prevailing — 

 (there is an old saying, "that the wind from the east is neither good 

 for man or beast," nor I may add with truth, for vines either.) — It 

 very rarely attacks these before July or August, which I attribute to 

 the vines having by this time attained a vigorous growth, as they are! 



1639b- ^QP. 



