1873 .] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
21 
A New Japanese Cockscomb. 
Last fall, Mr. James Yick, the well-known 
seedsman of Rochester, N. Y., sent us speci¬ 
mens of a Cockscomb that 
were in both form and color 
quite unlike any we had be¬ 
fore seen. The seeds were 
sent from Japan to a lady 
friend of Mr. Yick by her son, 
and we have the original bag 
in which they came, which is 
interesting as showing the 
state of the seed business 
among the Japanese. In the 
engraving, we have given a 
reduced single flower-head, 
and the habit of the plant in 
a drawing still more reduced. 
The flower-head of all Cocks¬ 
combs is a curious abnormal 
development, and consists of 
flattened flower-stems grown 
together in a mass which 
bears some resemblance to 
the rose-comb of a cock, and 
naturally enough suggested 
the popular name. The com¬ 
mon Cockscomb of our gar¬ 
dens (Gelosia cristata ) in its 
natural state shows none of 
the peculiarity for which it is 
so much prized. Instead of 
producing its flowers all in a 
compact mass, it is a regular¬ 
ly branching plant, with its. 
flowers in pyramidal panicles. 
In this Japanese plant the 
heads are much less formal 
than in the old one, and the 
plates or “combs” of which 
they are composed are not 
soldered so closely together; 
their edges are free for a con¬ 
siderable distance, and ruffled, 
which gives a much more 
pleasing appearance. The 
plant branches freely, and 
produces a great number of 
heads. The color is one of surpassing bril¬ 
liancy and beauty. Scarlet hardly describes 
it, as it seems to us as intermediate between 
scarlet and carmine. Not only are the flower- 
can, from the specimens sent us, readily accept 
Mr. Yields statement when he says: “A single 
plant being an object of great beauty, while a 
bed containing a dozen plants is not equaled, 
VICK’S SEW JAPANESE COCKSCOMB. 
for a garden display, by anything wc are ac¬ 
quainted with.” If we mistake not, this new 
Cockscomb will be a formidable rival to the 
Amarantus salicifolius. We notice that Mr. 
Vick calls this Gelosia Japonica in his catalogue, 
a name which, if we mistake not, has already 
been applied to another plant of the same genus. 
PEAKED SWEETING—SECTION. 
heads colored, but the whole stem and the 
veins of the leaves are similarly tinted. We 
The Peaked Sweeting. 
One of the numerous native seedlings of 
Eastern Connecticut is the Peaked Sweeting, a 
late fall and winter apple of the highest excel¬ 
lence for cooking. It is quite generally distrib¬ 
uted in the towns of Groton and Stonington, 
and wherever known is preferred to all other 
sweet apples for baking. We believe it has 
never been propagated by the nurserymen, but 
is much more worthy of it than many popular 
varieties. It is not a handsome or large apple, 
and has nothing but a luscious saccharine flesh 
to commend it. In size it is medium, under good 
cultivation; oblong ovate, some specimens 
oblong, a little irregular; smooth, greenish yel¬ 
low, with marblings of green, and dots and 
patches of russet, nearly all russet about the eye ; 
stem short and small, in a rather narrow, deep 
cavity; calyx large, closed, in a rather shallow 
basin; flesh yellowish white, fine,tender, juicy, 
of a rich, excellent, sweet flavor. For the des¬ 
sert, and of the highest excellence for cooking. 
Season, from October to January. 
Originated upon the farm of Thomas Miner, 
near Mystic Bridge, Ct. The 
original tree died some years 
since, but the grafts have been 
disseminated, and it has a 
high local reputation. The 
tree is a good grower, and 
bears abundantly. 
Thee Seeds. —Numerous 
inquiries are made regarding 
tree seeds. Some seeds will 
germinate if kept and sown 
like ordinary seeds. Others 
need to be scalded before 
sowing, and others still will 
not come up well unless they 
have been exposed to freez¬ 
ing and thawing during win¬ 
ter. Unfortunatel 3 r , there is 
no work which gives full 
directions to meet every case. 
Indeed, the work on tree 
culture has yet to be written. 
Elm and the Silver and Soft 
or Red Maples mature their 
seeds in June, and must be 
sown at once. The nuts, such 
as hickory, black-walnut, 
chestnut, etc., are best sown 
as soon as gathered, but may 
be preserved by mixing with 
plenty of dry sand, and keep¬ 
ing in a cool place. Seeds 
of native forest trees that 
have a hard shell may, as a 
general thing, be mixed with 
earth in a box, and exposed 
to freezing. Locust seeds, 
both Black and Honey, may 
be treated in this way, or if 
kept dry through the win¬ 
ter, must be scalded before 
sowing. Osage Orange must 
be sprouted, by being kept 
moist and in a warm place 
for several days. Seeds of all the thorns 
and those of the cedars can hardly be induced 
to start under two years. These are mixed 
with earth and left for a year in a heap, sub- 
PEAKED SWEETING. 
jecled to the weather, and sown early the 
next year in light, rich, well-prepared soil. 
