80 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[March, 
The Petunia— New Varieties. 
The improvement which lias been made in 
this favorite bedding plant is truly wonderful, 
when we compare the present forms with the 
old white and purple kinds. The engraving 
here given, represents 
some of the seedlings 
produced by Mr. Isaac 
Buchanan, the well- 
known florist of this 
cit3 r . Being dissatisfied 
with the double varie- 
ties, he turned his atten- 
tion to those with 
blotches and markings. 
Beginning with a blotch- 
ed plant which ho 
brought from Gand, he 
has, after several years 
of careful culture, suc- 
ceeded in obtaining 
some well marked va- 
rieties — the beauty of 
which is reproduced in 
the engraving as well 
as can be done in black 
and white. In the spe- 
cimens we have seen, 
the markings are well 
defined, of a rich purple 
color, on a clear, white 
ground. We cultivated 
some of these varieties 
last Summer, and their 
striking contrasts of col- 
or made them the most 
brilliant ornaments of 
our grounds. The pe- 
tunia, from the ease 
with which it is propa- 
gated, is exceedingly 
popular. Though a per- 
ennial, it is cultivated 
like an annual, and 
blooms very early from 
seed sown in the open 
ground. Towards the 
end of summer cuttings 
may be made from de- 
sirable sorts. These 
strike readily, and may 
be kept for winter 
blooming, or in a dor- 
mant state for spring 
planting. A paper of 
seeds of the finer sorts will be likely to give 
a considerable variety of colors and markings. 
■»-< .-■«•—. — _- 
For the American Agriculturist. 
Impositions in Grapes and Other Fruits. 
These are continually occurring. Here are a 
few from which I have personally suffered. 
Several years ago, following the advice of influ- 
ential persons, I purchased a rooted layer of 
the Logan grape. It was said to be equal to the 
Isabella, but hardier, more productive, and ri- 
pening before the Concord. Even more than 
this was said in its praise, but this was enough, 
if true. So I remitted the $5 demanded, and 
received a vine. It has now borne fruit three 
years, and I must testify that it is not equal in 
quality to the Isabella, and not half as produc- 
tive as that variety. It is early and hardy as 
oould be desired, but it does not set its f 111 it 
well ; in this regard it is inferior to the Concord. 
More recently I bought a Cuyahoga vine, 
for $3 ; a "knitting-needle" vine, too. The first 
plant died, and next year I tried again, with 
another needle, which lived. The recommend- 
ations of this grape were very high. Here is 
one, published in the Horticulturist : "Ripens 
ten days or two weeks earlier than Isabella, is 
free from rot or mildew, ripens its berries uni- 
formly, and they hang well on the bunch. Pulp 
melting, juicy, sweet — quality best." But last 
year the facts began to leak out. Reports of its 
rotting and mildewing found their way into the 
papers. The specimens exhibited at the differ- 
ent fairs were few, small, and poorly ripened, 
and, worse than all, they were found to be later 
in maturing than the Isabella. That, of itself, 
kills it for cultivation in a northern latitude. 
The Adirondo.c grape has lately come out with 
a brave blowing of trumpets. This is declared 
to be certainly superior to the Isabella, has a 
touch of the flavor of that royal grape, the 
Black Hamburgh, is very prolific, hardy, ripens 
before the Concord, etc., etc. This sounds well, 
but I am getting nervously shy of these un- 
tried novelties. The Adirondac originated in a 
small village near Pittsburgh, N. Y. A recent 
correspondent of Hovey's Magazine writes from 
that village, saying : "The original Adirondac 
vine stands but a few steps from the lake, in the 
town of Port Henry. I do not think it equal to 
the Delaware, Diana, or even Concord, for this 
region." That is certain- 
ly quite a home thrust. 
The writer charges no 
one with dishonesty, but 
counsels the public to 
be extremely cautious 
not to pay large prices 
for untested novelties of 
any kind. Vitis. 
Remarks. — We can 
scarcely wonder at the 
state of mind, in which 
"Vitis" finds himself; 
he has not a few sym- 
pathizers. The gist of 
his letter is contained 
in one of the last words, 
which we have itali- 
cised. It is not enough 
that one interested per- 
son, with the experience 
of one locality, shall rec- 
ommend a grape as the 
best ever grown, though 
he may intend to speak 
ever so honestly. Our en- 
terprising propagators 
are always on the look- 
out, and ready to spend 
money and time in test- 
ing all promising novel- 
ties, and many of them 
are honest enough to 
Bpeak and act upon the 
facts regarding a new 
vine. Some are unscru- 
pulous enough to help 
keep up the factitious 
merits of any new plant, 
until the public have re- 
paid to them their outlay 
in the experiments; but 
there are enough of the 
former class to soon put 
a plant upon its proper 
level of merit. For the 
masses it is generally 
safe to wait for the tes- 
timony of leading prop- 
agators in favor of a 
grape or other fruit, before investing in it. A 
little time may be lost in securing a variety that 
proves to be valuable, but the security against 
imposition will make up the loss. Men of wealth, 
those who can afford to lose the outlay, may 
w 7 ell experiment with every thing new com- 
ing up, whenever there are any reasonable 
grounds to hope for good results. By so do- 
ing, they confer a benefit upon the public— Ed.] 
•-• — » ™ .-«. 
Downing's Everbearing Mulberry. 
This vai'iety of mulberry has now become 
pretty widely disseminated, but of its real mer- 
its very little is yet known, except by the few 
who have eaten the fruit from trees six to ten 
years old ; that from younger trees being al- 
ways inferior to what is grown on those that are 
old and mature. Several other sorts very much 
