1873.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
261 
Some Water Plants. 
Those who look over English and other for- 
eign catalogues will be surprised to see our 
common water aud marsh plants offered at 
high prices. In a recent catalogue we read 
that " Symplocaipus faitidus, a very interesting- 
reach the surface. When closed, as it is late in 
the day, the flower shows only as a green bud, 
the four sepals completely enclosing the nu- 
merous petals. The flowers open early in the 
morning, and float upon the surface with a 
purity of whiteness and a delicacy of perfume 
uuequaled by the rarest exotic. The flowers 
Packing and Marketing Produce. 
BT J. R. I1ELFRICU. 
[Every one engaged in growing fruit or vege- 
tables for market knows that the raising of the 
articles is but one step towards getting a return 
water-shield. — (Brasenia pdtata. ) 
American Aroid, with large, handsome foliage 
(rare), 2s. 6<i" "When we say that this rare 
American plant is our common Skunk-Cabbage 
our readers may think that the English cultiva- 
tors have strange tastes. If it were not com- 
mon with us we should value it, for there are 
few plants more odd in their way of flowering 
or more luxuriant in foliage than this mal- 
odorous inhabitant of our swamps and marshes. 
We allude to this to show that European culti- 
vators take advantage of every opportunity to 
beautify their places. If one of them has a 
pond or stream he considers himself fortunate, 
as he can then grow numerous aquatic plants 
in the water, and along the wet margins he can 
introduce many things that flourish in such sit- 
uations. In this country we see but very little 
of this phase of cultivation. Where one has the 
facilities, there is a large number of water and 
marsh plants that he can grow, and that can be 
grown nowhere else. We give illustrations of 
two of the commonest of our aquatic plants, 
both of which will adapt themselves to deep or 
shallow ponds. The engraving on the right is 
the Water-Lily, more frequently called Pond- 
Lily, and sometimes Water-Nymph, than 
which no flower on land or water is more 
beautiful. The root, or, more properly, root- 
stock, is very large, and lies in the muddy 
bottom of the pond ; this sends up leaves 
upon leaf-stalks, the length of which is gov- 
erned by the depth of the water. The leaves 
are nearly orbicular, cleft at one side, and from 
six to nine inches across. The flowers are 
borne singly upon stems that allow thern to 
are often nearly six inches in diameter. When 
the glory of the flower has departed, what re- 
mains turns downward to ripen the fruit under 
the surface of the water. This flower is parti- 
cularly interesting on one account : it shows a 
complete gradation between petals and stamens. 
Some of the inner petals show a tendency to 
become stamen-like, and as we go towards the 
center of the flower we find every stage between 
perfect petal and perfect stamen. It is not rare 
to find localities where the flowers are pink, 
aud we have heard of, but never have seen, a 
blue one. Our common species is Nympluea 
odorata, and in Western New York aud other 
localities is Nympliosa tuberosa, which has scent- 
less flowers, and bears tubers upon its root- 
stocks. When found, as it may be, growing 
in very shallow water, the Pond-Lily may be 
grown in a tub of moist earth as a semi-aquatic. 
The other plant that we figure is the Water- 
Shield, Brasenia pdtata. Its oval leaves are cen- 
trally attached to the foot-stalks, and are always 
noticeable as they float upon the water. They 
have their use as forming a shade and covert 
for fish, as anglers are well aware. The flowers 
are of a dull purple, and come to the surface 
to perfect themselves, but make but little show. 
One peculiarity about this plant is thatthe stems, 
flower, and leaf-stalks are all clothed with a 
coating of transparent mucilage, which is soluble 
in hot water, and has been used for the same pur- 
poses as Iceland moss. This aquatic plant has 
a remarkably wide distribution, it being found 
not only in this country, including the north- 
west coast, but in Japan, Australia, and India. 
water-lily. — (Nymphcea odorata. ) 
for his labor. No matter how well his produce 
is grown, if not properly marketed his labor is 
lost. These articles, by Mr. Helfrich, upon the 
customs of the New York market, are so im- 
portant, that we feel that no apology is neces- 
sary for occupying a considerable space with 
them. — Ed.] 
tomatoes. 
Tomatoes sent from the South or to a distant 
market should be picked rather green. In the 
latitude of Savannah and Charleston they 
should be picked when they begin to turn red 
on the blossom end, and they will ripen in 
transit; at places nearer by, such as around 
Norfolk, they should be riper or nearly ripe 
when picked. Do not put up any that are 
fully ripe, as they will mash, and the juice will 
sour and spoil the rest. Keep out all worm- 
eaten, cracked, and sun-burnt fruit. Tomatoes 
should be packed in crates holding one bushel. 
These are made of two end-pieces and one 
middle-piece, 9 x 15 inches, and one inch thick. 
To these laths 34 inches long are nailed all 
around, leaving openings of about one inch 
between the laths. In New Jersey and other 
places near New York the fruit should be nearly 
ripe, and is best sent to market in bushel 
baskets. Iu packing in crates it will pay to 
handle the fruit carefully, and lay it in placing 
one tomato at a time. Shake the fruit down 
well, and fill the crates so as to have to press 
the laths down gently iu nailing, so that the 
fruit may not move in handling. In using 
baskets, place the fruit in stem down, and fill 
the basket a little roundiug. The large smooth 
