340 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
mi tttoom we had never seen, except in pictures. 
But most persons at the North may easily raise 
a few Cotton plants in their gardens. We have 
tow (Oct. 4,) in bloom a dozen of nearly perfect 
specimens of both Sea Island and Upland Cotton 
(plants, produced from seed sown in the open 
ground, June. 2. The soil was a warm one, and 
R .)one-sawings were added with the seed. They 
show the form, leaf, flower, and plant finely, and 
iare really ornamental. Of course we do not ex¬ 
pect them to mature, though some flowers already 
r cIosed promise to produce the actual fiber. This 
might have been certainly secured the present 
year by earlier planting especially if under shel¬ 
ter. A few seeds may be started in April by 
planting them in bits of turf under shelter, and 
then transfer them to the open ground when dan¬ 
ger of frost is past. But except at the far North, 
ibis is not necessary where only the flowers are 
ooked for. To accommodate those who desire 
to raise a few plants, we will place Cotton seed 
in our next list of seeds for free distribution. 
-- » — - t~m. - 
Fig 1— Physalis Viscosa Plant. 
The Winter Cherry- (Phy salts ) 
Called also : Pine-apple Cherry—Ground 
Cherry—Strawberry Tomato—Pine-apple To¬ 
mato—Hull Tomato—Cape Gooseberry, etc. 
We are more than ever convinced that this is a 
generally valuable plant, and that it will be so con¬ 
sidered by all who learn how to use it. The Amer¬ 
ican variety, ( Physalis viscosa,) is easily grown at 
almost any point, and furnishes a very palatable 
sauce, as well as an excellent pickle. The fruit 
may be kept through the entire Winter in its cap¬ 
sules, without any preparation—from which origi¬ 
nated its name—“Winter Cherry.” The plant 
produces fruit in 2£ to 3| months after coming up 
from the seed. We gathered fruit Aug. 8th, 
from plants that were just out of the ground, June 
tst. We have this year obtained over five bush¬ 
els of fruit from a plot less than tnree rods square. 
It is too sweet to suit the taste of most per¬ 
sons, without the addition of a little lemon, which 
greatly improves it. Stewed down with this ad¬ 
dition, and pound for pound of sugar, it makes an 
Fig, 4—Alkekengi Leaf and Capsule. 
excellent preserve, with a Pine-apple flavor, and 
somewhat resembling honey. No person tasting 
it, as we have it prepared, has failed to like it. 
The fruit when ripe, or nearly ripe, put into vin¬ 
egar, with a little sugar, makes first rate pickles. 
TWO VARIETIES described. 
We present sketches taken from plants of two 
varieties now growing in our garden, which show 
the difference in the habit of the plants, the form 
of the leaf, and the shape of the capsule. 
Fig 1, is the American variety (Physalis visco¬ 
sa). Only a portion of a single plant is shown. 
Tins grows wild in many parts of the countiy, and 
run he i athered for use ; hut it is improved in 
size and flavor by cultivation. Where the plant 
has room, it spreads over the ground, several 
feet, extending upward scarcely a foot. 
Fig. 2, shows a section of the stalk, with the 
form of the leaf, and the shape of the fruit capsule. 
Fig. 3, is an open capsule, drawn on a still 
larger scale. The frtjit averages a trifle larger 
than common cherries. It is yellowish when ripe. 
The capsule usually falls early to the ground, 
where the fruit matures. 
Figures 4 and 5 show the Foreign variety. 
Our seed came from Gen. Mezzaros, who brought 
it from Hungary. He recently informed us that 
it came originally from Italy, where it is grown 
extensively, as well as in some other parts of 
Europe. This grows upright, 4 to 6 feet or more 
in hight, with large branches. We purposely 
sketched the smallest, and least branchy plant we 
could find, in order to have room for the engrav¬ 
ing. The leaf, capsules and fruit are all much 
larger than the American variety, and differ con¬ 
siderably in form, as will he seen by comparing 
figs. 2 and 3, with fig. 4. The leaf of the P. alkc- 
kengi variety is also much more soft, velvety, and 
thicker than the P. viscosa (American). 
The fruit of the alkekengi, is nearly twice as 
large as the viscosa, is more acid, and has a little 
more of the Pine-apple flavor. On these accounts 
the alkekengi is superior to the viscosa, and is a 
more desirable fruit. But it is longer in matur¬ 
ing, and though we have grown it from seed in the 
open ground the present season, this can not al¬ 
ways be depended upon in this latitude It usu¬ 
ally needs starting in a Green-House or hot-bed. 
Further South it will doubtless mature well, when 
sown in the open ground. Like the American va¬ 
riety, the P. alkekengi yields a large amount of 
fruit. A gentleman who has resided in several 
European countries, recently informed us that in 
some localities, a dozen plants of the alkekengi 
not unfrequently furnished the only supply of fruit 
consumed by a family, especially among the poor¬ 
er classes. 
SEED FOR DISTRIBUTION. 
We have the present season raised and saved 
a good supply of seed of the American variety, 
for free distribution among our readers, which 
will be announced in our catalogue. Several 
thousand packages were sent out last Winter, and 
many have grown it, though not a few were de¬ 
ceived in its late vegetation, and without waiting 
for it to come up, they replanted the ground with 
something else. As before stated, our seed sown 
May 3d, did not show itself until towards the 
middle of June, and this was the case with that 
lying in and upon the ground over Winter. W 
shall probably have enough for all applicants ; 150 
seeds in a parcel, if all should grow, will give five 
times as many plants as any family would need. 
Of the Foreign variety (P. alkekengi), we have 
not a large crop, but will give out to those de¬ 
siring it, small parcels of 15 to 20 or more seeds, 
so long as it lasts. As we shall have only a 
couple of thousand, or so, of these parcels, we 
hope none but those living South of this latitude, 
Fig. 5—Physalis Alkekengi Plant. 
or those having Green-Houses or hot-beds at the 
North, will apply for this variety. Next year we 
shall have an abundance. 
“Husk Tomato”(?) 
Below is an accurate sketch of the appear¬ 
ance and exact size of some specimens of fruit 
sent us by Isaac Hicks, Hempstead, Long Island. 
We have also received similar specimens from 
New Jersey and Wisconsin. Not having the flowers 
or fresh stalks and leaves, we are unable to give 
its true botanical name. So far as we have heard 
it spoken of, it has been called the “ Husk To¬ 
mato,” but this is not the proper, or not the 
best name, we think. We shall be glad to hear 
“ Husk Tomato ” Fruit. 
from those acquainted with it, in reference to its 
origin, name, botanical classification, mode oi 
culture, and value as an edible fruit. From pre¬ 
vious notes from correspondents, we had supposed 
this a variety of the Physalis, but the wilted vine 
before us is different from any species of that fam¬ 
ily, and more resembles the solanum. The taste ot 
the fruit somewhat resembles the tomato, but is 
much more solid. The color of the skin is dark 
purple, and the flesh is also purplish. 
