402 
AMEBXCAN AG-RICULTUBIST. 
are large, thi6k, and broad, some of a clear white 
color, and others of cream color. It is Dr. Har¬ 
ris’ opinion that this division came originally 
from the western side of America, as Chili, Peru, 
Mexico, and California. He considers the opin¬ 
ion advanced by most botanists, that pumpkins 
and squashes were originally natives of Asia, as 
unauthorized. There is abundant evidence in 
ancient works that they were unknown in the 
Eastern hemisphere before the discovery of 
America, and that they were originally natives of 
the warm parts of America, and that they were 
extensively cultivated by the Indians, from Ca¬ 
nada to Chili, before Europeans settled on this 
continent. 
Dr. Harris gives a list of ten varieties, that 
come under his third division, and probably 
there are many others, fresh importations from 
the South Sea Islands and western America, 
that have not yet come under his notice. 
1 . The Mammoth Pumpkin or Potiron. 
2. A Glancous or grayish green squash, tur¬ 
binated and growing to a large size. 
8. Mr. Cole’s Connecticut pie squash, spher¬ 
ical, and three and a half feet in circumference. 
4. Elongated Valparaiso Squash, tapering at 
each end and striped with white. 
5. The Ovate Valparaiso. 
6 . The Autumnal Marrow, first brought into 
general notice, by Mr. Ives, of Salem. 
7. The Cushaw Squash, probably introduced 
from Louisiana, where it was known a hundred 
years ago. It rots in our climate before it is ripe. 
8 . The Acorn Squash, or Le Pepon, turban 
of the French. 
9. Mr. Stetson’s Cuba Squash. 
10. Mr. Dunn’s round, rough-skinned pump¬ 
kin or squash, weighing about 150 pounds. 
There was a Lima Squash exhibited at the 
Windham County Agricultural Fair, in the fall 
of 1852, evidently differing from any of the 
above, and yet belonging to the same division. 
The only two, however, of the list, worthy of 
general cultivation for the table, are the Marrow 
and the Acorn; the others being quite too large 
for family use. These two are great acquisi¬ 
tions to the garden, and will yet be worth mil¬ 
lions to the country. For feeding cattle, the 
larger varieties may be very desirable, as they 
are much richer than the common field pump¬ 
kin, and ought to take its place. They need a 
rich soil, and a little extra care, to save them 
from the depredations of insects. With these 
requisites, we have no doubt they would be 
found a profitable crop for making milk, beef, 
or pork. 
NEW-YORK HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
CONVERSATIONAL MEETINQ.—THE AZALEA. 
This Society held their regular conversational 
meeting at their rooms, GOO Broadway, on Mon¬ 
day evening, Feb. 27. Shepherd Knapp, Esq., 
in the chair. Subject, Cultivation of the Azalea. 
Essays giving a historical and botanical ac¬ 
count of this plant, together with some general 
remarks upon its habits and cultivation, were 
read by Messrs. P. B. Mead and R. L. Pell. 
Several members followed in a practical discus¬ 
sion of the best modes of propagation, prepara¬ 
tion of soil, &c. 
The genera! opinion seemed to be, that the 
Azalea is one of the most beautiful and satisfac¬ 
tory plants to cultivate in rooms, though in such 
situations it must be two or three years old be¬ 
fore it will blossom abundantly, or attain a 
strong growth and habit. The propagation 
from young shoots, attached to a bit of the old 
wood, and sunk in sand with the bottom resting 
on soil, was generally considered to be the best 
plan. 
The method of grafting and raising from seed 
were minutely described. The seedlings were 
stated not to be very hardy, and the smaller 
plants in young life were somewhat difficult to 
be kept in healthy growth, though with plenty 
of air and good soil they will soon attain strength 
and blossom abundantly. A good soil was gen¬ 
erally thought to be one composed of one-third 
peat, one-third loam, and one-third charcoal. 
Animal or vegetable manures of a heating cha¬ 
racter are generally destructive to the tender 
fibers, and should not be used unless sparingly 
and with great judgment. 
The discussion was participated in by several 
of the leading gardners and plant-raisers in the 
vicinity of New-York, and was pleasing and in¬ 
structive to all engaged in cultivating the Aza¬ 
lea. Many of our ladies, who love to cultivate 
this beautiful plant, would have been interested 
had they been present. 
The subject of conversation for the next meet¬ 
ing—Monday evening, March 20—is the Vege¬ 
table Garden, and as there are multitudes inte¬ 
rested in this matter, the Society’s rooms, at 600 
Broadway should be crowded at that meeting, 
for the familiar discussions of practical operators 
cannot fail of imparting much useful information 
on this important and seasonable subject. The 
meetings are opened freely to all who wish to 
attend, either to liaton to the discussions, nr take 
part in them, or to solicit information. 
FORCING AZALEAS. 
As the culture of Azaleas is occupying the 
attention of many Horticulturists at this time, 
we give the following article, which contains 
several practical hints for those not already 
skilled in the process of cultivation. 
The ordinary mode of treating Azaleas is well 
known to most people, but there are many who 
do not seem to be aware that they can be man¬ 
aged so as to be had in flower at least nine 
months out of the 12; and this merely by means 
of paying a little attention to well ripening the 
wood, allowing them a season of rest, and being 
particular as to time of introducing them into 
heat, &c. By attending to these matters they 
will not only continue to keep the conservatory 
gay during the winter and spring months, but 
they will also furnish cut flowers for glasses and 
bouquets. They .may be propagated freely by 
means of cuttings, or by grafting ; but I would 
recommend those beginning to grow them to 
leave their propagation to the trade, as they 
can now be had from any nursery at a very 
moderate price. The plants should be examined 
as soon as you get them ; and if a shift is ne¬ 
cessary, which will be known by turning them 
out of their pots and inspecting the roots, move 
them into pots a size larger than those they are 
in; previously clean them, however, and well 
drain them. Should the roots be at all matted, 
which is sometimes' found to be the case, the 
space between the ball and the new pots should 
be filled rather firmly with the fresh compost, 
as, if this is not attended to, the water will 
probably run off the balls into the loose soil, and 
may cause the death of the plant. The soil 1 
would recommend for growing the Azalea is 
simply sandy peat; I have found them to suc¬ 
ceed better in this alone than in any other com¬ 
post. After shifting, place the plants in a pit 
or house, as near the glass as possible, and 
where the temperature will range between 55® 
and 60° at night, allowing it to rise a few de¬ 
grees in the day time. Great attention must be 
paid to giving water, of which the plants will 
take a great deal, provided the drainage is good. 
As the plants advance in growth weak manure- 
water may be given twice a week, which will 
assist materially in keeping them robust and 
healthy, sprinkling them over-head with tepid 
water, and shutting up early in the afternoon. 
Air should be given on all favorable opportuni¬ 
ties ; this will not only tend to keep down red 
spider, but also thrips. This latter pest is con¬ 
sidered by some difficult to eradicate. I have, 
however, found tobacco-smoke at all times 
effectual in removing it. Fumigate in a mild 
evening, keep the house close the following day, 
and should there be bright sunshine, shade 
rather than give air; should this not prove effec¬ 
tual, fumigate again the following evening, and 
in the morning you will have the satisfaction of 
finding every insect destroyed. It will be ne¬ 
cessary to tie out the shoots of such plants as 
have a rambling tendency, in order to secure a 
compact and bushy habit, stopping any over-lux¬ 
uriant shoot. Some of the plants may require a 
second and even a third shift during the season, 
which should be given the moment it is per¬ 
ceived to be needed. After the plants have per¬ 
fectly ripened their wood, and have formed their 
flower-buds, they may be gradually hardened 
off and removed to a rather shady situation 
where they can be protected from storms and 
heavy rains. When cold weather sets in they 
should be removed to their winter quarters; 
and although they will not require much water 
at this season, they must never be allowed to 
get dry at the root. It would be well previous 
to placing them in their winter quarters to turn 
them out of their pots, in order to seek for 
worms, and also to see if the roots are in good 
condition, for a plant is sometimes allowed to 
get so dry that the water will not penetrate 
the ball, but will run down the sides of the pot. 
In this case the plants should be placed in a 
tub of water until the soil is thoroughly soaked 
through. If a regular succession of bloom is 
the object aimed at, the plants first excited into 
growth should be properly labelled, so as to 
indicate their time of introduction into 
heat, &c., and these plants should be com¬ 
menced at exactly the same time the fol¬ 
lowing season, the next succession as before, 
and so on in rotation. If this is properly at¬ 
tended to, a beautiful display of these lovely 
flowers may be had all through the dull periods 
of the year.— J. i?., in Gardeners' Chronicle. 
- 9-0* - 
LEAVES FROM MY CHINESE NOTE BOOK, No. IV. 
SPRING FLOWERS IN THE NORTn OF CHINA. 
In the north of China there are a number of 
plants which have their flower-buds very pro¬ 
minently developed in autumn, so much so that 
they are ready to burst into bloom before the 
winter has quite passed by, or, at all events, on 
the first dawn of spring. Amongst these Jas- 
minum nudiflorum occupies a prominent posi¬ 
tion. Its yellow blossoms, w r hich it produces in 
great abundance, may be seen not unfrequently 
peeping out from amongst the snow, and re¬ 
minds the stranger in these remote regions of 
the beautiful Primroses and Cowslips which 
grow on the shaded banks of his own land. 
Nearly as early as this, the pretty daisy-like 
Spiraea prunifolia, the yellow Forsythia viridis- 
sima, the lilac Daphne” Fortunei, and the pink 
Judas tree, become covered with blossoms, and 
make our northern Chinese gardens extremely 
gay. There are also some good Camelias which 
flower at this time, but they are generally grown 
in pots under such shelter as mat sheds and 
other buildiugs of a like kind can afford. The 
double blossomed Peach, of which there are 
three very distinct varieties now T in England, 
are perhaps the gayest of all things which flower 
in early spring. Fancy, if you can, trees fully 
as large as our Almond, literally loaded with 
rich colored blossoms, nearly as large and 
