262 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[July, 
FORSYTHIA. YIJUDISSIMA. 
Early Flowering' Shrubs. 
It was the singular good luck of Mr. Fortune 
to introduce into cultivation a number of plants 
that pleased the public taste, and they became 
.at once popular. Among the Chinese plants 
introduced by Mr. F., is the Forsythia, a shrub 
named in honor of an English gardener, Mr. 
Forsyth. It is hardy, is easily propagated, 
blooms very early, and is handsome when not 
in flower — characters which tend to make it 
popular. The species generally cultivated is 
F. wHdissima ; another, from Japan, F. suspensa, 
is comparatively rare. The Forsythia forms a 
clump of slender, willow-like twigs, which, in 
April, before the leaves appear, are quite cov- 
ered with hanging flowers, of the size and shape 
shown in the engraving. The color of the flow- 
ers is a bright yellow — indeed, almost too yel- 
low, when the shrub is used very abundantly. 
The leaves are long and narrow, rather firm, 
and of a green so deep and rich that the plant 
is aptly called mridissima. In autumn the fo- 
liage turns of a dark purple, not so brilliant as 
we see in many other leaves, but yet not with- 
out elegance. It is a useful shrub to train against 
a fence or low trellis, being almost as managea- 
ble in this way as a vine. It is propagated 
readily from cuttings and layers, and by suck- 
ers from old plants. The Forsythia belongs to 
the Olive Family, which includes of our orna- 
mental shrubs the Fringe Tree [Chionanthus], 
the Privet, and the Lilac. Among early flow- 
ering shrubs the old Japan Quince, (Pi/rus Ja- 
ponica,) still holds its well-merited prominence. 
Indeed, there can scarcely be a more brilliant 
sight than a good bush of this in full flower. 
Though not so earl)' as these, 
an old, and with us favorite 
shrub, is the Bladder Senna, 
(Colutea arborcscens). It will 
be seen at once from the 
engraving that this belongs 
to the Pea Family. The 
clusters of yellowish flowers 
are pleasing, but the shrub 
is most attractive when in 
fruit. The pods are curious- 
ly inflated, and when sud- 
denly compressed, burst with 
a slight "pop," which makes 
it a favorite shrub with 
both old and young children. 
Tree-Boxes. — Many per- 
sons in cities and villages 
paint their tree-boxes of a 
bright green. This is in the 
worst possible taste. The 
green of the box detracts 
much from that of the tree, 
especially when the tree is 
young. The color of a tree- 
box should be one which 
shall be as inconspicuous as 
possible ; the box is a neces- 
sary evil at best, and ought to 
be kept, out of sight as much 
as possible. Some warm 
drab or gray — some color 
that is not very unlike that 
of the trunk of the tree, is 
much better than a glaring 
green. We look for the time 
when our people will be 
civilized enough to allow 
tree-boxes to be dispensed 
with, but as long as heathens 
will hitch their horses to 
trees, and boys will try their jack-knives, we 
must furnish boxes for horses to gnaw, and boys 
to whittle. But whatever may be the kind of 
box used, please don't paint it bright green. 
Liquid. Manure in Gardens. 
But little attention has been given in this 
country to the use of liquid fertilizers, while in 
Europe they are classed amoug the gardener's 
important aids. In the market gardens around 
Paris, the liquid manure tank is regarded as an 
essential part of the establishment. Brick tanks 
thoroughly cemented are sunk in a convenient 
part of the grounds, and considerable expense 
is incurred in arranging a system of under- 
ground pipes to convey into it the urine and 
other liquids from the stables, and the slops 
from the house. The manure from the hen- 
houses and dove-cots finds its way to the tank, 
and privies are arranged for the laborers with 
movable boxes, the contents of which from 
time to time are emptied into the tank. There 
is hardly a farm or small place in the country 
on which there is not a great waste of fertiliz- 
ing material, and the example of the French 
gardeners may be imitated with profit. A sunk- 
en cask may be made to serve as a receptacle 
for these usually wasted fertilizers, and the wash 
from the house be led into it by means of drain 
tile, or even a conductor made of boards. That 
attention is being turned to the subject of liquid 
manures is shown by several letters asking about 
the best means of distributing it. In Europe a 
wheeled apparatus made of boiler iron is used, 
but a barrel or cask mounted on wheels would 
COLUTEA ARBORESCENS. 
answer every purpose, and this may be moved 
by hand or horse-power, according to its size. 
The discharge pipe should be arranged after the 
plan of the street sprinklers used in cities. 
What is wanted is something to divide the liq- 
uid and distribute it along the row, much after 
the manner of a watering pot. The shape of 
this sprinkler will depend upon the surface to 
be watered. It ma}' be a tin cylinder, with holes 
near the ends, and of a proper length to water 
two rows at once. The sprinkler should be 
connected to the barrel by a short piece of hose, 
which will allow its hight to be altered as need- 
ed. The discharge may be regulated by a 
valve placed over the orifice, upon the inside of 
the cask. A block of wood with a piece of 
leather on one side will answer for the valve; 
this is to be held in place by a leather hinge, in 
a manner that will allow it to be lifted by means 
of a string attached to it, and which passes out 
at the hole through which the cask is filled. 
The valve should be weighted with a piece of 
iron or lead, to insure its closing tightly. The 
discharge is regulated by pulling the string. 
In July, 18G5, we illustrated a pump which 
would serve for raising it from the tank or res- 
ervoir, to the distributing apparatus. If the 
liquid is to be distributed by a sprinkler, care 
must be taken to use only the clear portions, as 
sediment of any kind would soon close the holes. 
The conteuts of a manure receptacle, like the 
one we have referred to, will vary in character, 
and no rule can be given as to the amount to 
be used. Excessive strength must be avoided, 
and if that iu the reservoir is highly concentrat- 
ed, it should be diluted. Manure waterings 
should not be given in very dry weather. 
