18GG.] 
AMERICAN AQRICIJLTURIST. 
103 
The twigs of the Red-Maple are ruddy with 
their bursting buds; tlie Ash begins to show its 
flowers, so inelegant, yet welcome because they 
are flowers ; the golden buds of the fragrant 
Spico-bush are cautiously opening, 
and at our feet the pale blue flower 
of the Ilepatica gives assurance 
that spring has conic. The violet 
may servo in Europe as the em- 
l)leni of spring, but with us, the 
Liver-leaf, albeit its name is nn- 
poetical, must stand as the herald 
of the season. Rising from the 
cluster of last year's leaves, come 
the hairy stems, each bearing a 
single flower, which has no petals, 
but to compensate for their absence, 
tiio calyx is delicate in texture and 
color, and to those who do not look 
at plants with a botanical eye, is to 
all appearance a corolla. Just be- 
low tlic flower are three small 
leaves forming an involucre which 
appears nuich like a cal3's. The 
leaves are produced later than the 
flowers, and grow quite thick, and 
they remain during winter until 
after the new ones are formed. In 
the dark ages it was believed that 
plants, by the form and markings of 
tlieir leaves and other parts, fur- 
nished an index to their medicinal 
qualities. Accordingly, the three- 
lobed leaf of tliis plant being sup- 
posed to bear a resemblauce to the 
shape of the human liver, it was considered that 
uature intended it should be employed as a 
remedy in liver complaints, and for a time it had 
a medicinal reputation. Though quit* as ab- 
surd things are believed now, we have got over 
the " doctrine of signatures," as it was called, 
and thougli our prettj' little plant has lost cred- 
it as a medicine, it bears evidence of its former 
reputation in its generic name, Ilepatica, 
which is derived from the Latin for the liver — 
and in its common name of Liver-leaf The 
plant is also sometimes called Liverwort, a 
name, however, which properly belongs to 
some juimljle plants related to the mosses. 
We find some plants with the lobes of the leaves 
pointed, like those in the engraving, but more 
commonly the lobes are rounded and blunt. 
Some consider these as distinct species, while 
others regard them only as varieties. The ordi- 
nary form with rounded lobes is Ilepatica triloba, 
and the sharp-lobed one is called Ilepatica acu- 
tiloha, by those who regard it a distinct species. 
We have found specimens with the leaves split up 
into several narrow divisions. In the wild state 
tlie flowers vaTy in color, giving us purple, blue, 
pink, and even white. In cultivation there are 
doulile flowers of all these shades, except white, 
which has not yet we believe been produced in 
the double form. This wildling of the woods 
does very well in the garden: it should have a 
light soil with plenty of vegetable mold, and a 
]iartial sliade. The double varieties are much 
grown by florists. Tliey may be planted in the 
open border, or if early flowers are wanted, they 
are set in cold frames. Planted in pots and 
kept in a cold frame until early spring and then 
brought into the green-house, the double varie- 
ties flower profusely, and are very ornamental. 
It is a common spring flower in the London 
markets, but is not much known with us, ex- 
cept by the florists, who use a considerable 
quantity of them in making up bouquets. The 
plants are multiplied by dividing the roots. 
Select Pears for General Culture. 
Tlie list of fruits recommended for general 
culture by the committee on the Greeley prizes. 
LrvEU-LEAF — (Et'jjalica actttildba.) 
was published in January. This committee 
comprised some of our most distinguished po- 
mologists, from different parts of the counti-y, 
and their object was to present a selection of 
fruits which are adapted to the widest possible 
From the inquiries we have had, it would seem 
that some of the pears in the list are but little 
known to our readers ; especially tlie summer 
varieties, Rosliozer and Manning's Elizabeth. 
Tlio early pears commonly culti- 
vated are usually of indifferent 
quality; if it were generally known 
that there were really good sorts 
that ripened in August, they would 
be much sought after. This deci- 
sion of the committee lias called 
general attention to the above 
named sorts, and we comply with 
several requests in giving illustra- 
tions and descriptions of them, as 
■we have room. In the present is- 
sue we can only find space ibr the 
RosTiEZER. — The precise origin 
of tliis variety is unknown. It was 
firgt introduced to the notice of 
American pomologists by the late 
Ml'. Manning, who obtained it un- 
der its present name from a nur- 
sery in France. Tlie tree is healthy, 
and when young produces vigorous 
upright shoots, which in the old 
tree are somewhat droojiing, and 
if the tree is not shaped by severe 
shortening while young, it will as- 
sume an irregular spreading form 
when left to itself It grows well on 
both pear and quince slocks. The 
engraving represents the fruit of 
natural size and shape. It is rather 
below the medium size, of a regular 
pyramidal form. The stem is remarkably long 
and slender; calyx open, in a shallow liasin. 
Tlie skin is slightly rough, of a dull green, often 
somewhat riissety, with a dull red tinge on the 
suuny side. It is a very juicy, melting, sweet 
pear, with an excellent flavor ; a great bearer, 
producing its fruit in clusters. Hovey says of 
it: "As a summer or early autumn pear, it is 
scarcely equaled in its spicy and luscious flavor, 
partakiug much of the character of the Seckel. 
Like the latter variety, it is a small and some- 
what indifferent looking fruit, but, from its oth- 
er fine qualities, holding tlie highest rank among 
the choicest pears." Tlie other pears recom- 
mended were, (in addition to theBartlctt, which 
took the premium as the single pear, best suited 
for general cuUivation,) the Seckel, Sheldon, 
Lawrence, and Dana's Hovey. These are all 
good and reliable varieties, but there are others 
which, in a collection of moderate size, we 
would not willingly omit, such for example 
as: Buffum, Howell, Duchesse d'Angouleme, 
Beurrc Bosc, Tyson, Beurre d'Aujou, etc. 
The Process of Fertilization. 
KOSTIEZER PEAK. 
range of climate. It is quite diflicult to fix upon 
any one or any dozen varieties which will be 
suited to every situation, and we believe that 
the selection of the committee will give as gen- 
eral satisfaction as any that could be made. 
It ^has long been established that a grain of 
pollen, when it falls upon tlie stigma of the pistil, 
puslies out a prolongation or pollen tube, which 
continues to extend through the substance of 
tlie pistil imtil it comes in contact with the 
ovule, wliich after this contact begins to develop 
an embryo and becomes a seed. Tliat so min- 
ute a body as a grain of pollen should bo able 
to throw out so long a tube — sometimes several 
inches in length — has been a mystery which 
could only be solved by supposing that the pol- 
len grain received nourishment from the pistil, 
and that the prolongation of the tube was an 
actual growlli. That such is the case, and that 
growth really does take place, has been shown 
by the researches of Dr. P. Martin Duncan, 
quoted by the Loudon Gardener's Chronicle. 
