1865.] 
AMERICAN ACRTOULTURIST, 
28S 
The varieties cmrulea, bicoloi\ and alba^ are good. 
Delphinium^ or Larkspur, in its many species 
and varieties, gives us flowers from nearly wliite 
to the darkest violet, some of the blues being 
exceedingly pure and beautiful. Delphinmm 
Jormosum, Hendersoni, Gmlestium^ and Ela- 
tum may be mentioned as among the best. 
Dodecatheon, the American Cowslip, of which 
there is but one species, D. Meadia, which is 
pink, and a white variety. This is a native 
■which ought to be much more cultivated than 
it is, for the beauty and singularity of its flowers. 
Iberis, the annual Candytuft, is well known, 
but a perennial species, sempervirens, is but lit¬ 
tle cultivated. It has flowers much like the 
annual one, and comes in flower very early in 
spring and continues for a long while. 
Lupinus. —There are several garden peren¬ 
nial species of the Lupin. Lupinus polyphyl- 
lus, is one of the most showy, and our native, 
Lupinus perennis should not be forgotten. 
Lychnis.—There are many showy ones in this 
genus, and they are of easy culture. 
(Enothera, the Evening Primrose. One of the 
best of these is (E. macrocarpa (sometimes 
called Missouriensis), a dwarf spreading species 
with enormous flowers. Tlie much praised 
(Enothera Lamai'ckiana, is very large flow¬ 
ered, but grows tall, coarse and weedy. 
Papaver. —Among the perennial Poppies we 
have, Papaver bacteatum, orange crimson, 
P. nudicale, yellow, and P. oriemtale, scarlet 
with large black blotclies on the base of petals. 
Pentstemon. —This is a fine genus of peren¬ 
nials, some of which are perfectly hardy and 
others require protection. The garden names 
are unfortunately so confused that we are una¬ 
ble to designate all the hardy ones with accura¬ 
cy. A paper of mixed seeds will give a num¬ 
ber of hardy one.s. 
Phloxes. —The perennial Phloxes are among 
the most popular garden plants, and a great 
number of named seedlings are sold. The 
seeds in the catalogues are called Phlox hybrida, 
and Plilox decussata, and if they can be had 
from a good stock, many fine and well marked 
seedlings may be raised. 
Potentilla. —The names of garden sorts of 
these are very much confused, and it is as well 
to buy the mixed seeds. 
Pyrethrum. —Very showy and free flowing 
plants with brilliant aster-like flowers, which 
continue long in bloom. Mixed seeds are best. 
Verba.scum. —A tall and rather showy species 
of Mullein, V. pyramidalis, for large grounds. 
In this list we have merely indicated a few 
good perennials, and recommend onr flower 
growing readers to turn their attention toward 
these plants. Many of the biennials, such as 
Digitalis, Lunaria, Dianthus, and others which 
we have not space to enumerate, may also be 
sown this month in the same manner, and 
make good plants for blooming next year. 
--—I % » ■ ■■'—- 
Notes on Grapes and Grape Culture. 
Generally this has been a discouraging year 
for grape growers, tlie crop in many cases being 
a total fiiilure. The burthen of numerous let¬ 
ters is, “what is the matter with my grapes?” 
and these communications are frequently ac¬ 
companied by specimens of leaves, shoots and 
fruit, showing some of the various troubles to 
which the vine is subject. One specimen was 
sent, in which the leaf h^d upon its upper sur¬ 
face a number of rough warts the size of a 
small pea, each one of which contained a grub. 
We have seen this upon the grape only once 
before, and have not been able to trace its de- 
velopement and find the insect in its perfect 
state. A number of specimens of the disease 
alluded to on page 351 (August), have been sent. 
This seems to be a rot, which appears on the 
young wood, soon destroying its vitality, and 
ultimately affecting the fruit. We know of two 
instances, in which this was noticed in time and 
its spread prevented by immediately removing 
all the diseased parts. The rot has made sad 
havoc, especially with the Catawba and Con¬ 
cord. A fine vineyard, which we saw last 3 mar 
bearing hundreds of bushels of fine Catawbas, 
has not a bushel of fruit this year, and similar 
accounts come to us from other places. Mildew 
has made unprecedented ravages, and in many 
cases has destrojmd the crop. Sulphur, when 
applied in time, has been found to check its 
progress. The bellows which was figured in 
July has been advertised in some of the jour¬ 
nals, and we have heard bitter 
complaints from those who have 
ordered and failed to receive 
them. One must be deficient in 
mechanical tact, if he could not 
fit up some contrivance to serve 
as a substitute. One gentleman, 
who procured a bellows in time, 
informs us that he saved some 
thousands of vines by the 
prompt application of sulphur. 
Each j^ear’s experience shows 
the importance of a proper sys¬ 
tem of training the vine. Where 
the vine is kept within bounds, 
as in the arm and spur method, 
with the canes and laterals prop¬ 
erly pinched, the leaves attain 
a strength and a firm texture 
which enable them to resist 
mildew and those diseases caus¬ 
ed by sudden atmospheric 
changes much better than do 
those vines that are allowed to 
grow nearly at random. An¬ 
other benefit resulting from the 
arm and spur training is, the 
free circulation of air it affords, 
provided of course that the trel¬ 
lis is not in a confined situation. 
The overfruiting of young vines 
prevents their attaining proper 
vigor, and renders them less able to resist dis- t 
ease another year. In many cases the trouble ' 
with the vine is a wet subsoil, and the want of 
a proper drainage is particularly felt in such 
a wet season as the present has been. We have 
a number of letters in praise of the Delaware 
as a vigorous grower and abundant bearer. As 
this variety may be considered to have establish¬ 
ed its reputation as a first class grape in every 
respect, we should be glad if our correspondents 
would give their experience with the newer 
kinds. One writer states that he had Delaware 
vines from two sources, and that the two lots 
were planted in the same soil with equal care. 
The vines, which had much the stronger look¬ 
ing roots, made a growth less than a quarter of 
that made by the other lot, and our correspond¬ 
ent asks the reason. We think that the reason 
is to be attributed to the difference in cultivation 
the first year. In one case the roots had to go 
far for nourishment, and made long and simple 
roots with but few small branches, while in the 
other case the soil was better and the roots more 
finely divided. In i-egard to the article in 
August upon the roots of vines in pot and open 
culture, we did not wish to be understood as 
saying that good vines cannot be grown in pots, 
for we know that tliey can be, but we wished 
to show that the bedding plan rvas free from 
the difficulties attending the use of pots when 
the latter w'as carelessly practised. The 
question often occurs, if vines grown through 
the season under glass, are likely to be as hardy 
as those grown partly in the open air. We 
think thatthey are if properly managed, and the 
propagator, who uses glass, is enabled to guard 
against mildew, which so often attacks and 
weakens young vines planted out of doors. 
Our advice to those who contemplate purchas¬ 
ing largely is, to visit the different propagating 
establishments while the young stock is grow¬ 
ing, and examine the condition of the vines be¬ 
fore the leaves have fallen ; they will thus be 
able to see what care is used in their cultivation, 
and to judge something of the quality of vines. 
---—-- 
The Horse-Nettle, a Terrible Weed. 
{Solanum Caroliniense.) 
This plant, which is a native of the South, 
has heretofore only been found in a few locali¬ 
ties in the Northern States. A specimen was re¬ 
cently sent for a name from Eipley Co., Ind.; it is 
said to bespreading in that direction, and we are 
reminded of the necessity of illustrating the 
plant, in order that it may be known at once 
wherever it makes its appearance. The only 
place where we have seen this weed was near 
Westchester, Pa., where it was pointed out to 
us by the late venerable Dock Darlington, and 
where we obtained the specimen from which 
our late friend, A. O. Moore, made the drawing 
for the accompanying illustration. Tlie engrav¬ 
ing shows the prickly character of the plant, 
and the shape of the leaves and flowers, though 
the flower cluster is usually more full and 
conspicuous, and the prickles, which are upon 
both leaves and stem, are even more abundant 
