HORTICULTURAL. REPOSITORY. 



23 



soil in the vicinity of water, it has been observed that 

 much the larger portion of its roots has been directed 

 towards the water ; and that when a tree of a different 

 species, and which requires a dry soil, has been placed 

 in a similar situation, it has appeared in the direction 

 given to its roots, to have avoided the water and moist 



soil." 



" When a tree (remarks Dr. Smith) happens to 

 grow from seed on a wall, (and he particularly alludes 

 to an ash in which the fact actually occured,) it has 

 been observed, on arriving at a certain size, to stop for 

 a while, and send down a root to the ground. As soon 

 as this root was established in the soil, the tree contin- 

 ued increasing to a large magnitude." 



The best means, perhaps, that a plant can possess 

 of resisting the effects of drought, is a tuberous or bul- 

 bous root. The grass called phleump-ffiteise, or com- 

 mon catstail, when growing in pastures that are uni- 

 formly moist, has a fibrous root, for it is locally suppli- 

 ed wish a sufficiency of water ; but in dry situations, 

 or such as are only occasionally wet, its root acquires 

 a bulbous form, and thus instinctively accommodates 

 the plant with a natural reservoir. And there are va- 

 rious other grasses, as the alopecurus genicidatus, or 

 geniculate foxtail, that exhibit the same curious adap- 

 tation. 



ART. 20. — On the N'ew-Zealand Spinage, by 

 Michael Floy, addressed to the President of the JYew- 

 York Horticultural Society, read Nov. 28, 1827. 



Sir, — I beg leave to present to the Society, to be 

 distributed among tne members, 50 papers of the New- 

 Zealand Spinage seed, Tetragonia expansa. As the 

 plant appears to be very hardy, it may be sown in the 

 month of April, on a bed of good rich mould, two 

 seeds in a hill, and each hill at the distance of from 

 two to three feet ; the latter is probably the best me- 

 thod, as it will spread, and soon fill the bed at that dis- 

 tance, and the leaves will be fit to gather for use during 

 the whole summer, and until very late in the fall ; a 

 slight frost not materially injuring it. As it is very 

 productive and much esteemed, it will no doubt be 

 soon introduced into every garden. The seed was 

 received last spring from France, by Doct. Hosack, 

 President of the Society, and presented by him for dis- 

 tribution among the members. The package I re- 

 ceived contained but two seeds, from the pro- 

 duce of which, I might have cut many messes. It 

 also seems to stand the dry hot weather very well, 

 and is in great perfection when vegetables are scarce, 

 which is the case during the month of August. Per- 

 haps this esculent vegetable needs very little recom- 

 mendation, after the very high encomiums bestowed on 

 it in the transactions of the London Horticultural So- 

 ciety ; but we may also give our opinion. Its produc- 



tiveness I fully assent to, and a mess of the greens was 

 presented to the Inspecting Committee, who, last fall 

 had it cooked, and found it to be very fine eating, and 

 superior to common spinage in every respect. It was 

 more mild flavored, not having that rank taste of the 

 common spinage, and as the leaf has a firmer and 

 thicker consistency, does not shrink away so much ; it 

 has risen so much in the public estimation in Europe, 

 that a mode of culture has been adopted to have it for 

 use throughout the year, which may be done, and with- 

 out any very extraordinary exertion. I would there- 

 fore beg leave to recommend the following mode of 

 culture, to such as may think it worth while to have it 

 in continual supply. I apprehend it would be neces- 

 sary to have it in three crops ; the first crop, about the 

 middle or latter end of February. 



It is common with gardeners to make hot-beds, for 

 raising early York and other cabbage and lettuce. 

 When these beds are made, a few smallest size pots 

 may be filled with good mould. One or two seeds might 

 be planted in each pot, and the pot plunged in the 

 frame, which would require no other treatment, but 

 such as is given to the young cabbage and lettuce 

 plants ; and about the same time that the cabbage 

 plants are fit to plant out, say the middle or latter end 

 of April, the Tetragonia plants would also be fit to 

 plant out ; selecting a warm and sheltered border, well 

 dug: each pot should be turned out with the ball of 

 earth entire, and planted about three feet apart. It 

 would be best to cover each hill with a bell glass du- 

 ring cold weather and frosty nights, until they are well 

 established, and the danger of frost is over ; they will 

 then take care of themselves, with the ordinary cultiva- 

 tion, and keeping down the weeds. The second crop 

 may be sowed the latter end of April or beginning of 

 May, and treated as before. 



The third crop may be sown the last week in August 

 or first week in September, in a sheltered place, and 

 where the plants could be protected with common 

 frames, the glasses of which should be put on at the 

 appearance of frosty weather, and during the winter, 

 well covered with mats or straw. The plants of this 

 sowing ought to be much thicker ; a foot apart from 

 plant to plant, would be most eligible, the object being 

 to have an abundant supply in as small a compass as 

 possible; they would not grow very much in the winter. 

 By this mode of culture, which, if adopted, is not very 

 difficult, a supply, I apprehend, would be kept up du- 

 ring the whole year. I need not inform the practical 

 gardener that in very severe weather, it might be ne- 

 cessary to have a good lining of hot stable dung kept 

 around the frame, and adding fresh, when necessary ; 

 although it may turn out to be much hardier than we are 

 aware of ; yet practice in its cultivation can only deter- 

 mine this, it being rather a stranger with us at present. 

 As I feel pretty coufidcat it will b« found to rise in 



