January 31, 1888. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
51 
in the leaves of Gros Colman, and therefore moisture is quickly extracted 
by the sun. The closer the cells are packed together the greater is the 
resisting medium to the solar rays, and vice versa. Consequently the 
looser the tissue the greater the supply of water must be to sustain it, or 
shade must be afforded to arrest evaporation. For these reasons, then, I 
think that more water rather than more potash is required to enable Gros 
Colman to “ keep its foliage; ” but fortunately both can be given 
together if liquid manure, consisting largely of urine, be poured to the 
roots of the Vines. I will now cease thinking at present, and let others 
have a turn.—A Thinker. 
CAMPANULA CORONATA. 
Among floral treasures the Campanulas hold a conspicuous place 
Scarcely a country within the temperate zone which does not contribute 
several species to this very interesting genus. Their general appearance 
is well known, for the gardens are few indeed in which some Bellwort is 
not to (be found. In so extensive a genus considerable differences o^ 
habit would naturally be looked for ; and, accordingly, we find species 
varying from a few inches in length—as in the elegant little C. pumila— 
to several feet, as in the equally well-known C. pyramidalis. Some of 
them are trailers, of which class the C. garganica, often cultivated as a 
window plant, may be cited as an example ; but far the greater portion 
of l he species are of erect growth. A few are annual, and there are 
about twenty biennial species ; but the genus consists chiefly of herbaceous 
perennials. White, and various shades of violet, blue, and purple, are 
the prevailing colours ; there are, however, several yellow species, and 
also a few of a reddish lilac, but no ie of a distinct red tint. 
The present plant is a hardy per nnial, growing about 3 feet high, and 
having foliage closely resembling that of the Peach-leaved Campanula 
C. persicifolia. The white calyx, with its green tips, has a very pretty 
effect, and we strongly recommend the species for general cultivation. It 
is of easy increase by seeds or division of the roots in spring.—W. T. 
HORTICULTURE IN THE UNITED STATES DURING 
THE LAST FIFTY YEARS. 
This is a subjeot not unworthy of our consideration when we look at 
the almost universal interest it exercises over the minds of the people of 
the present day. 
At the time our story begins, 1837, Philadelphia was considered the 
headquarters ot horticulture; here were to be found the Landreths and 
Maupays, as nurserymen, or dealers in fruit and ornamental trees ; while 
Buist, Sherwood and Dryburg, Ritchie and Dick, McKenzie and Buchanan, 
with D. Fetters, were florists of good repute, and the few private col¬ 
lections of any note were Pratt of Lemon Hill; J. B. Smith, of Moya- 
mensing ; General R. Patterson, and Mr. Pepper, the brewer, whose 
greenhouses occupied a building on Chestnut Street, second and third 
storeys. 
The principal kinds of plants then in demand consisted of Camellias, 
Roses, Pelargoniums, and Chinese Primroses. Of hardwooded New 
Holland and Cape of Good Hope plants, were Acacias, Pimeleas, Choro- 
zemas, and Leschenaultia°, with a sparse sprinkling of Cactus, &c. Ferns 
were not known in those days by florists. In making up bouquets, which 
were not much in demand, the flowers used were mostly Camellias, Roses, 
single Chinese Primroses and Carnations, and as green to set these off, 
Chinese Arbor-Vitae, with Rose Geranium leaves, were the steady stand¬ 
by. Plants in pots, for the decoration of private rooms or public halls, 
were seldom called for; in fact, the articles wanted, as Palms, Gum 
Elastic, &c., did not find a place with florists. 
In New York, Thorburn, Hogg, Dunlap, and Bull were the leading 
flower growers, while as tree nurserymen, the Downings at Newburg and 
Wm. Prince, Flushing, were the only notable cultivators. Mr. Prince, 
though eccentric in character, was notable for his zeal in introducing new 
and valuable fruit and ornamental trees into the country, and among 
these new things, which, be it said, proved of little account, was the 
Chinese Yam, about which, for a time, he bored the country, but after 
giving it a fair trial it was found that half a day’s work of a man was 
necessary to dig as many roots as would make him a dinner. 
Boston then contained one horticultural establishment of merit, that 
of Hovey & Co.; one of the firm, C. M. Hovey, conducted the Horticul¬ 
tural Magazine, the only monthly periodical of the kind in the country. 
It was ably managed, and gave much valuable information on fruits, 
among which Mr. H .vey is an expert even at the present day. He it 
was who, against much opposition, advocated the merits of the Concord 
Grape, and it has nobly sustained the estimate he then formed of it. 
Boston people ought to be thankful that they have had a Hovey and a 
Wilder to educate them up to the high standard of horticulture which they 
now enjoy, and in which work my old friend, Dr. Asa Gray, has given 
valuable aid. 
In the year 1837 such plants as are suitable for ribbon and carpet 
bedding out were almost unknown, but we then formed groups of Roses, 
double Dahlias, Heliotropes—mixed with Fish Geraniums, as they were 
then called—but the effect produced was anything but artistic. But 
about this time a scarlet, a white, and a lilac Verbena were introduced by 
me (not by R. Buist, as published), and florists, by cros-ing these, in a 
few years numerous varieties were raised of almost all shades of colour 
save yellow; and just let me say here, parenthetically, that I grew a 
yellow Verbena in Scotland in the year 1832 (Verbena sulphurea), intro¬ 
duced from South America by Dr. Gillis ; unfortunately, it never has 
found its way into the United States, so far as I know. 
A few years previous Petunia phoenicia had made its appearance, and 
by crossing this with P. nyetaginiflora, a white species, many beautiful 
varieties, both single and double flowered, were the result. Now began 
fancy grouping of these, aided by the new varieties of fi-h or scarlet 
Geraniums of various shades of colour ; but people were not contented 
with brilliant flowers ; they sought after plants with gaudy foliage, which 
they found in Coleus, Acbyranthes, Alternantheras, and Centaureas ; so, 
at the present day, it is no uncommon thing to find a bed filled with 
flowers and foliage of as many colours as that which made Jacob’s coat so 
remarkable, and we would here remark that it takes no inconsiderable 
amount of taste to have the colours harmonise in arranging such beds, be 
the style either the ribbon, carpet, or mixed type. Ladies, as a general 
rule, excel in this kind of work. 
In Baltimore, where the taste for floriculture of late years has made 
rapid strides, credit is due to the Feasts, the Pentlands, and the Hallidays 
for the aid they have rendered, while we think that the Maryland Horti- 
cultral Society, by its exhibitions, has exercised a more powerful influence 
than any other agent in bringing about the present pleasing state of 
things. Hundreds of florists have of very recent years sprung up in the 
city and its suburbs, yet these cannot supply all the demands for bridal 
parties, funerals, public feasts, and private parties, so that quantities have 
to be procured from the northern establishments. 
Then look at our public parks and squares in the city. What kind of 
aspect do they now present during the summer months from what they 
were a few years ago ? They are found bright and beautiful, fit emblems 
of an advanced state of civilisation. 
About twenty years ago, one of the commissioners of the squares 
flanking the Washington monument asked me what ought to be done to 
improve those grass plats. I replied, Remove the unsightly railings, and 
adorn the surface with groups of shrubs and beds of flowers. His answer 
was : “ Oh! that would never do, as people would pull them up root and 
branch.” My answer to this was, Only give the thing a fair trial, and that 
it was his duty as a progressive man to educate and refine public taste. 
In the same space of time that horticulture has advanced so rapidly 
pomologists have not been idle. The ancient list of native Grape Vines, 
which embraced little more than the Catawba, Isabella, and Lenoir, is 
now supplemented by new and superior kinds that would stand counting 
by the scores. From many, wines are made equal in bouquet to any 
foreign brand, thinks to the late N. Longworth, of C'ncinnati, as the 
forerunner in this laudable enterprise. The State of Ohio gave us a 
J. P. Kirkland, who raised some of the finest Cherries now under 
cultivation. 
