18(54.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
241 
"Resurrection" Plants. 
There are several plants, produced in coun- 
tries where there are long seasons of drouth, 
■which shrivel and roll up in the dry months, but 
expand when moistened by the rains and live 
or take the appearance of life. As these plants 
appear to come to life after dying, they have 
been termed "resurrection plants." One of the 
best known of these is the Rose of Jericho, 
which is often brought by travellers from the 
Holy Land. It is not a rose at all, but a little 
annual which has much the manner of growth 
of the -carpet-weed, figured on another page. 
When the dry season comes on, its prostrate 
brandies curl in toward the center of the plant, 
and the whole appears as a small ball, formed 
of the stems of the plant ami its seed pods. 
The winds break this away from its slender 
root, and drive it about over the desert. The 
plant remains in this curled up state until it is 
moistened by rains or otherwise, when its stems 
unfold and its seed vessels open. This opening 
and closing can be repeated at will, by alter- 
nately giving and withholding moisture. There 
are some Oriental superstitions connected with 
this plant, but the phenomena it presents are 
only curious as one of the many contrivances 
for the scattering of seeds. Recently some kind 
friend, who withholds his name, has sent us from 
California, specimens of what is there called 
the " Rock Rose." This is an unfortunate 
name, as the plant is in no way related to the 
rose, and the term Rock Rose has already been 
adopted as the popular name of a very different 
thing. The specimens were of the shape and 
about the size shown in the right hand figure, 
of a brownish gray color, and looking neither 
beautiful nor interesting. Upon being placed in 
a saucer of water, the ball gradually unfolded 
and in a few hours appeared as shown above. 
The leaves (or more properly fronds) are arrang- 
ed in a beautiful spiral, and look somewhat like 
twigs of arbor vita;, but of a much darker and 
finer green. This plant is one of the club 
mosses, and is called Selaginella lepidophylla. The 
. writer has seen this, or a similar species, grow- 
ing upon the rocks along the Mexican frontier. 
During the greater part of the year it keeps 
rolled up in the manner already described, but 
during the short rainy season it expands and 
clothes the rocks with a brilliant verdure, in 
wonderful contrast with their former barrenness. 
Our plants appear to be still alive, and we 
shall give them a chance to grow if they will. 
Notes on Strawberries. 
The following remarks upon new and old va- 
rieties, are made with the hope that they will in 
some degree help our readers in making up a 
selection. They are made after examining ber- 
ries in the garden and upon our exhibition ta- 
bles. It should be borne in mind that many va- 
rieties which are valuable for home use are 
wholly lacking in the characters essential to a 
market berry. Unfortunately the number of 
really valuable market berries is very small ; in 
these firmness is the first requisite, and then 
good color and size are the next considerations, 
while flavor and sweetness are but little re- 
garded, as fruit is sold in the market entirely 
upon its appearance. A hard, showy and pro- 
ductive fruit will, for market purposes, take the 
preference of one of high flavor, but which 
lacks these qualities. On the other hand the 
amateur, who cultivates for his own use only, 
looks to quality rather than quantity, and as his 
fruit goes only from the garden to the table, it is 
of little importance to him if it will endure 
transportation or not. In this enumeration no 
particular order is 
followed. The 
present season has 
been very unfa- 
vorable for devel- 
oping the flavor 
and sweetness of 
berries, and all 
varieties have 
been tested under 
unfavorable, con- 
ditions. A good 
shape is a most 
important charac- 
ter in a strawber- 
ry. A conical 
shape, like that 
shown in fig. 1, 
the calyx or hull 
to be readily removed, and this is done all the 
more easily if the fruit is narrowed into a neck 
at the point where the hull is attached. The 
Agriculturist, Brooklyn Scarlet, and Monitor are 
Fig. 1. — CONICAL BERRT. 
is one which will allow 
good examples of berrlee which have a distinct 
Deck, A frail of tiiis shape is vastly preferable 
io one like that in Bg, 2, iii which the berry lias 
lak&n on a monstrous form, ami become COZ- 
combed, as it is called. It is very difficult to 
prepare a fruil of this kind for tbe table, as the 
hull is imbedded in the flesh of the fruit and 
can not In- removed without disfiguring it. The 
Triomphe dc Gand, Austin, and Rippowan, 
incline to produce specimens of this shape. 
'"''/•, sometimes called Cutter's Seedling. 
A medium sized, solid berry, with a short neck. 
Said to be very productive, Specimens from 
several growers were rather sour, though it is 
sweet in good seasons — will probably prove a 
good market fruit. 
Hovey. — An old variety, and if persons wish 
to grow a pistillate plant, this is one of the best. 
It is of good size and color, quite productive, 
and though not of the richest, is well flavored. 
Near Boston it is considered the standard sort, 
and is a favorite in some parts of New Jersey. 
The best cultivators have concluded not to re- 
commend any pistillate sorts, although there are 
some with this defect having superior qualities. 
Downer. — Of good size, shape and color, but 
rather acid and lacking in flavor. It is rather 
early awl on account of its good shape and size 
is a fair market berry. Very productive. 
Boyden's Mammoth. — A large berry, but hollow, 
flavor very fair. See Union. 
Longwortlis Prolific— A. firm, acid berry, of 
large size and good bearer. It has a thick foli- 
age and is much prized in some localities. 
Fig 
iLL-sn.wi:i> 15ERRV. 
Union. — This is said by Mr. Trembley to be a 
seedling, while others claim that it isTrollope's 
Victoria, and some say that it is the same as 
Boyden's Mammoth. According to Mr. Trem- 
bley it is far more productive than the Victoria. 
It is very possible that a variety may produce a 
seedling identical with the parent in eveiy re- 
spect, save one, and that this may be a seedling 
from the Victoria which resembles it in berry 
and foliage, but is a better bearer. The fruit is 
of good size, fine color, hollow at centre, soft, 
juicy and of not high flavor. Its show}'- q, 'i- 
ties will make it a good fruit to market near b> . 
Scotch Runner, known also as Pine Apple, and 
by several other names. — There can scarcely be 
a handsomer berry than this ; it is of rather 
small size, conical shape, brilliant scarlet color, 
and the surface is beautifully honey-combed by 
the depressions in which the seeds are sunken; 
it is soft and flavorless, but still marketable. 
Bicton Pine.— White, of good size, but very 
irregular surface ; has a tendency to coxcomb, 
and as it is very hollow, not worth cultivating 
Russell. — A distinguished cultivator writes 
" Russell in the plant, blossom and fruit resens 
bles McAvoy's Superior. The Russel! is mom 
productive and I think will prove a surer bearer. 
