1853.] THE PHILADELPHIA FLORIST 



l£ become more and more green, and eventually turn almost black ; r© 

 ^p their stalks become long and stiff, and their surface broad and shining. ^ 

 I At last when vegetation is over, the crop is found to be much more 

 considerable than in plants growing in pure air : it is also found that 

 weight for weight they contain almost twice as much nitrogen" — thus 

 producing the effects of increasing their growth and of rendering their 

 produce more nitrogenous. 



By ammonia we may also modify the vegetation of plants. Added 

 several months before flowering it makes no change in the growth of 

 the plant, except in increased vigour ; but if introduced when the plant 

 is about to flower, the flowering is checked and growth induced. These 

 experiments should not be tried in summer, as the plants appear to be 

 damaged, from the fact of the balance between the action of the roots 

 and of the head being destroyed. Roots are generally intended to 

 furnish plants with mineral matters. If such substances are absorbed 

 beyond a certain limit, the plant is unable to use what it receives, 

 and saline inflorescences form on the surface of the leaves. But when 

 the leaves are more active than the roots, organic elements are what 

 are chiefly absorbed : but these elements cannot be assimilated, unless 

 a sufficient quantity of mineral matter is absorbed. Thereupon comes 

 to pass a striking phenomenon ; what the roots are unable to supply 

 the plant furnishes from its own stores, and the substance of a certain 

 number of leaves is resorbed. 



Mr. Fortune is going out to the East Indies, for the purpose of 

 again attempting the introduction of Tea into the Himalayas.. 



The Gynerium argenteum, or Pampas grass, is attracting much at- 

 tention in Great Britain. A plant near Dublin threw up forty-seven 

 flower stems twenty feet high. The plant measures nine feet in cir- 

 cumference. 



Our Public Squares. 



The city councils are at length beginning to think of a little im- 

 provement in the arrangement of the trees in the city squares, which 

 are so ornamental and useful to citizens. The dreary nudity of their 

 winter aspect is cheerless and disheartening. The city councils there- 

 fore, upon motion, appointed a committee to consult with several hor- 

 ticultural gentlemen as to some change being made in this respect, and 

 the report of the committee recommends the removal of about fifty 

 deciduous trees, and that evergreens be subs'.ituted. This is the be- 

 y ginning of improvements, and we trust that when the city councils 

 A witness the increased beauty and effect produced, it will encourage 

 /V; them to go a little more into decorative horticulture. Refreshing a$Q\ 



h^^. ^osm 



