14 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
Farmers’ Garden. 
PERENNIALS, BIENNIALS AND ANNUALS. 
Perennials do not generally flower the first year, 
but die down to the ground, and spring up again the 
next spring, for a number of years—as peonies, lillies, 
&c. Biennials flower the second year and then die. 
Annuals flower and die the year they are sown. We 
shall omit the botanic names, and notice such as are 
most conspicuous for beauty and fragrance, and are of 
easy culture. 
1. Amaranthus, the globe and the tricolour, the first 
admired for its everlasting flowers, and the latter for 
its foliage. Plant the seed in May, and allow the 
plants room to spread. Annual. 
2. Aster , (China) An annual. The double, or quill¬ 
ed and the German, or striped flowered, are most ad¬ 
mired, though a bed of the early flowering, exhibiting 
as they do a great variety of colours, is highly orna¬ 
mental. Sow early. If a small space in the hot bed 
can be given to this, the amaranthus, balsam, &c. 
their season of flowering may be greatly accelerated. 
3. Balsams, a beautiful annual, of infinite varieties, 
very much improved within a few years, in brilliancy 
and in combination of colours. One of the most 
showy flowers for the autumnal borders. Gather 
seeds before the pods change colour, and sow early. 
4. Canterbury Bell, biennial, admired for the pro¬ 
fusion of its large bell-shaped blue and white flowers. 
5. Chrysanthemum, perennial, much admired, of 
many varieties, propagated by dividing the roots. 
South of New-York they generally flower well in 
the open ground; but in our borean region, they must 
be potted in August or September and sheltered to 
produce flowers. Many of the varieties are brilliant 
when in bloom. 
6. Carnation, beautiful and fragrant, but too tender 
for the open ground in winter. It flowers in sum¬ 
mer, and should be taken in before severe frosts oc¬ 
cur. Propagated by pipings, layers or division of the 
roots. 
7. Crown imperial, a splendid bulbous rooted plant, 
flowering early. Plant in autumn, four inches deep. 
Multiplies by offsets, and is produced from seeds. 
8. Crocus, a small bulbous rooted perennial, multi¬ 
plied by offsets—hardy, flowers very early, and is of 
various colours. Plant in autumn two inches deep. 
9. Columbine, very common, very neat—many 
species,—perennial. Seeds. 
10. Crimson monardia, (high balm,)—well known. 
Offsets. 
11. Convolvulus, an annual, many species, as the 
morning glory, bell of day, &c. admired. Sow the 
seeds early. 
12. Coreopsis tinctoria, a pretty annual, with yel¬ 
low flowers, and a dark centre, which, when once in¬ 
troduced, propagates itself, as the plants which spring 
up from the seed self-sown, endure the winter’s cold, 
and flower the earlier. It may be sown in Septem¬ 
ber. There are several other species of the coreopsis. 
13. Candytuft, white and purple flowering, are 
pretty dwarf growing annuals, the seeds of which 
should be sown early. 
14. Coxcomb, an annual; like the amaranthus and 
eternal flower, it retains its beauty through the win¬ 
ter, if gathered before frost. Sow early, and in hot 
bed if convenient. 
15. Clematis, (Virgin’s bower.) Several species, 
beautiful perennial climbers—some woody—some in¬ 
digenous. Seeds. 
16. Dahlia, too well known and admired to need a 
description. It is one of the greatest ornaments of 
the garden, and often flowers from June to October. 
It possesses about the same hardiness as the potato, 
and like the potato may be started in the spring in 
earth in the green-house or dwelling, though the stem 
should not be exposed in the open ground till the first 
of June. A stake should be put down by each plant, 
which should retain but one stem, to tie the plant to 
as it grows. The roots may be divided into as many 
parts as there are sprouts. Plant from three to five 
feet apart in moist rich ground. The roots should be 
taken up after the plants have done flowering, and 
being suffered to dry a few hours in the sun, may be 
packed for the winter in dry sand, and placed in a 
dry cellar, or cellar kitchen. They do not bear 
frost or great humidity. A dozen will afford a pretty 
variety of colours. 
17. Daisy, a modest but beautiful dwarf perennial, 
suitable for the border, producing double white and 
pmk flowers, multiplied by seeds or offsets. 
18. Double perennial Sunflower, produces an abun¬ 
dance of double showy yellow flowers. 
19. Eternal flower, led, white, purple and blue, all 
beautiful, the flowers retain their colours through the 
winter, and, like the amaranthus and coxcomb, make 
a fine appearance in vases. 
20. Eupatorium, a perennial with blue flowers 
much admired. Divide the roots. 
21. Evening primrose, (onothera) several species, 
perennial and annual, the dwarf annual particularly 
handsome. 
22. Eltscholtzia, (Californica,) a dwarf of beautiful 
foliage and a yellow flower, sows itself, and is long 
in bloom. If a little protected, the plants will stand 
the winter, and flower early. 
23. Foxglove, white and purple flowering. Pro¬ 
duced from seed. Perennial. Sow early, and cover 
the seed lightly. 
24. Fraxinella, perennial, white and pink flower¬ 
ing, the blossoms and capsules possessing a peculiar 
aromatic fragrance. Seeds. 
25. Hyacinth, a bulbous rooted perennial, produc¬ 
ing beautiful and fragrant flowers of various colours, 
single and double. Usually multiplied by offsets. 
26. Hollyhock, or holy-oak, termed a perennial, but 
is rather a biennial, unless the stems are prevented 
from seeding. It is a showy plant, of a multiplicity of 
colours, and some of the double varieties have all the 
delicacy and beauty of the rose. 
27. Iris, or fleur-de-lis—many species, embracing 
different combinations of colours—is generally grown 
on the border, and the dwarf kinds are used for edg¬ 
ings. Multiplies rapidly. 
28. Larkspur. There are several perennial species, 
much admired for their beauty, particularly the Chi¬ 
nese double flowering, which last can be only multi¬ 
plied by dividing the roots—the others producing seeds. 
There are other species that are biennial and annual. 
The rocket, (ajacis,) sown in a bed in September, 
produces the next season, the most brilliant spikes ol 
diversified flowers. 
29. Lily. There are many beautiful species belong¬ 
ing to this genus, and several of them are natives of 
our woods and meadows. We have transplanted the 
common meadow lily, {superbum,) when in full bloom, 
and some of them, under culture, have produced from 
30 to 47 flowers upon a single stem. The tyger lily 
is very showy. Propagated by seeds or by dividing 
the roots. 
30. Lupins, several species, perennial, having showy 
flowers, propagated by seeds. 
31. Lobelia, the scarlet and the blue, are both na¬ 
tives and are perennial, and pretty flowering plants. 
Seeds. 
32. Lichness, the double scarlet, fulgens and double 
ragged robin ( flos cuculi) are beautiful species of this 
family. These kinds propagated by dividing the 
roots. 
33. Lichnidia, or phlox, several species, of various 
colours, coming into flower in succession. Propagat¬ 
ed by dividing the roots. 
34. Monkshood, the common, a blue flower, and a 
new kind has variegated flowers. 
35. Mignionet —admired more for its fragrance than 
the beauty of its flowers. Annual—seeds. 
36. Musk plant, a dwarf annual, with small yellow 
flowers, highly scented with musk. Sows itself when 
once introduced. 
37. Narcissus, a bulbous rooted plant, managed like 
the hyacinth—blooms early, is beautiful and fragrant. 
The polianthus narcissus and jonquils, both elegant 
flowering plants, are propagated and cultivated, in all 
respects, in the same manner. 
38. Nasturtium, is an annual, two varieties, with 
showy flowers, cultivated principally for their fleshy 
pods, which are gathered before they are ripe, and 
pickled. They are used as a substitute for caper 
sauce. 
39. Pceony. The double scarlet is common, the 
double blush less so ; but the Chinese, of which there 
are at least three herbaceous kinds {Whiileji, Humei 
and Fragrans) are equal in beauty, and surpass the 
others m fragrance. There are several other kinds 
of less note. 
40. Peas —The everlasting is perennial, and there 
are several annuals, differing in flowers and fragrance. 
41. Pink —a large family of plants, embracing the 
Sweet William, clove, China, and many other species. 
Some are equal in beauty to the carnation, and the 
pheasant-eyed, which is propagated by layers, affords 
at all seasons, a beautiful tuft of green foliage. 
42. Poppy, perennial, has a very large, showy scar¬ 
let flower. There are two or three oriental species. 
Seeds. 
43. Poppy, annual—many varieties, and of brilliant 
and diversified colours. To perpetuate double ones, 
those with single flowers, growing near, should be de¬ 
stroyed as soon as the flower buds burst. 
44. Petunia, an annual of recent introduction, pur¬ 
ple and white flowering—flowers very abundant, 
resembling in size and shape the morning glory. 
45. Purple hyacinth bean, makes a very pretty 
show when trained over an arbor, or upon a wall. 
46. Polyanthus —many varieties—a bulbous rooted 
plant, treated like the hyacinth. Offsets. 
47. Spiderwort, three kinds, blue, pink and white 
flowered—perennials. Divide the roots. 
48. Tulip. A great many varieties of this beauti¬ 
ful plant are annually imported, and the finer kinds 
command a high price. It may be raised from seed ; 
but the more ready way is to plant the bulbs, which 
multiply by offsets. The tulip should be planted at 
six inches distance, in a rich soil, and the bulb should 
be surrounded by sand when planted. Plant three 
inches deep. The roots should be taken up at least 
every second year and divided. 
49. Violet —many species and varieties. This has 
now become an amateur flower in Britain; violet 
shows are frequent, and prizes are awarded for the 
best flowers. The choice kinds have been partially 
cultivated by amateur florists among us. 
This list of ornamental plants might be greatly ex¬ 
tended ; but we opine it will be considered already 
too extensive for a farmer’s care. If so, it admits of 
being curtailed to suit the taste or the convenience 
of the cultivator. Our woods and meadows, and 
swamps abound with ornamental plants highly prized 
in Europe; and which would also be admired here, 
were they not common. A collection of such as are 
not here enumerated may be made without much 
trouble or expense, which would add greatly to the 
beauty and variety of the ornamental grounds. 
The ornamental department may be blended with 
the fruit and kitchen departments ; it may be spread 
through these and the court-yard, or grounds about 
the dwellings, or it may constitute a distinct depart¬ 
ment, under the name of flower garden or shrubbery, 
combined or separate. In whatever manner it is ar¬ 
ranged, it should be contiguous to the dwelling, of 
easy approach, and where it may be seen from the 
doors and windows. 
Tower’s Cheese Press. 
We called the public attention to this press, of 
which we here give a cut, in October, 1837. The 
inventor, Jonas Tower, lives in Madison, Ohio.— 
We here figure and again notice it, because we 
deem it the best that has ever come under our no¬ 
tice ; and were it in market here, we doubt not it 
would sell well. 
[Fig. No. 2.] 
The press is entirely of cast iron, except the le¬ 
ver. It occupies about two feet square, and stands 
about three feet high. It is on the principle of con¬ 
tinuous pressure ; the power may be increased at 
pleasure, to almost any required extent, by a youth 
of twelve years old. It is simple, and can hardly 
get out of repair. Its advantages are— 
It occupies but little space ; and 
The pressure may be graduated at pleasure. 
The Silk Business. 
An uncommon degree of public attention has been 
turned to this subject during the last few months. 
A national convention of silk growers was held at 
Baltimore, in December, as we have already no¬ 
ticed. Since which time, state conventions have 
been held in Maryland, Pennsylvania and some 
other states, and the “ Journal of the American 
Silk Society, and Rural Economist has been 
commenced at Baltimore, by J. S. Skinner, the 
original publisher of the American Farmer, assisted, 
we believe, by G. B. Smith, two gentlemen emi¬ 
nently qualified to conduct a publication of this 
kind. The Journal is to be published in monthly 
numbers, each number to contain thirty-two pages, 
8 vo., at two dollars a year, to be paid in ad¬ 
vance. A prospectus of the Journal may be seen 
at the office of the Cultivator, where subscriptions 
for the work will be received. The first number 
contains the proceedings, including the debates, of 
the national convention, and of the American silk 
society, an address to the people of the United 
