192 THE FLORIST AND 



Shade Trees.— Mr. Downing, in one of the last numbers of the "Horti- 

 culturist," which appeared before his untimely death, made an onslaugh up- 

 on the Ailanthus. From the earnestness of the article one would have 

 thought that the writer had passed a week in Philadelphia. Mr. Btovey has 

 lately appealed from the judgment of his deceased cotemporary, which ap- 

 peal leads us to the belief that Boston is comparatively free from the nui- 

 sance. If Mr. Hovey was obliged, as the writer is, to walk across Philadel- 

 phia twice a day, and be continually subject to the detestable smell, which 

 is a cross between sulphuretted hydrogen and what might be called a green 

 smell, of their blossoms, he would regret that he had ever said a word in 

 their defence. In some of our streets they occur at intervals of a square, so 

 that you no sooner get away from the effluvium of one tree than you are met 

 by that of another. If some charitable citizens could only form a committee 

 of vigilance, and enact lynch law upon every Ailanthus in the city, they 

 would deserve a monument sere perennius. 



In Schleiden w T e lately met the sentence — "It is a common saying among 

 the people, especially afciong the Germans, that the wood of the lime con- 

 tains gold," Now here is a chance for somebody to find a 'placer' near home, 

 and to confer upon us a benefit equal to that of destroying the Ailanthus: — 

 Let a company be formed to cut down, dig up and burn all the European 

 Lindens which at this season obstruct the side-walks with their festoons of 

 worms. Whether the amount of gold found would necessitate the erection of 

 another mint w r e are not certain, but we wish the experiment tried. 



— — ♦ 



The Mobile Horticultural Society held its first exhibition last month. 

 It seems from the report in the "Alabama Planter," to have been very satis- 

 factory. Among tho«e who obtained premiums we noticed the names of se- 

 veral of our friends there. The Develins, Geo. L. Brown, and others. In 

 future we shall endeavor to obtain full reports of the exhibitions there. 



-o- 



We congratulate our subscribers upon the arrival of several of the plates 

 procured in Europe. In the coming numbers of this year we will give figures 

 of several novelties lately introduced to British and Continental gardens. — 

 The execution of these plates, as will be seen, is far superior to anything 

 that can be obtained here — at least at anything under a very extravagant 

 price; and we hope that the'additional expense we are at in getting these, 

 will induce our friends to lend their aid in obtaining an increase in our sub- 

 scription list. 



« 



jfgg^ We are under obligations to Mr. H. A. Dreer for a basket of Moya- 

 mensing Strawberries, which were most exquisite in flavor, and remarkably 

 well colored* 



Erratum. — =Onp. 143, for "Comtes" read Comptes. 



Letters received from J. C. Helm, Esq.. L. Knorr, M. D., yours is re- 

 ceived; the numbers shall be sent by the next Havre or Bremen steamer. 



T. M. I suppose that Mr. Lenchars can give his authority for saying 

 that the glazing without putty has been mentioned in English papers. 



