the accessories of our civilization are com¬ 
paratively in the same condition, and there 
are few homesteads, even in the oldest States 
that would lead a stranger to think that the 
proprietor ever had a grand father. We have 
sometimes thought that our people studied 
to avoid all signs of stability or permanency, 
and wished to concentrate within themselves 
ami take personal credit for all there was of 
them or in their surroundings. Old trees of 
stately dimension are cut down to give place 
little pink, clove-like flowers have exactly 
the fragrauce of Hyacinths. It is evergreen, 
but I have laid mine down and covered it 
with coarse chips. 
My Tritoma did not blossom. It grew 
well. I never have happened to see one in 
bloom, but liavc not the least idea lhat they 
arc superior to the exquisite gladioli. Dah¬ 
lias were “nowhere” if you'll allow me the 
use of that very handy expression. Out of 
twenty-five kinds of Daidias we ordered 
tie care aud gives greater satisfaction. Mine 
have clusters of blossoms as large as a bowl. 
The pompones are tiuest, because more doub¬ 
le and compact. The large-flowered kinds 
are more apt to be loose and imperfect.. Next 
year I mean to have a bed of them for fall 
blooming in the garden. 
31 y Heliotropes are doing double duty by 
brightening up their nook iu my window 
garden, and making the room fragrant with 
summer-sweet odors. I like Heliotropes; 
l0rintlhtr;e 
tsntsstons 
AMERICAN INST. FARMERS’ CLUB, 
ABOUT IVIES. 
The old Celtic word for cord is Hedra , 
hence the generic name of the true ivies, in 
allusion to their cord-like stems. The most 
common species is the Jledera helu\ native 
of various parts of Britain, aud from which 
many varieties have been produced. Old 
ruins of castles and churches, as well as the 
sacred temples of a later day, are often half 
concealed with the deep green leaves of ivy. 
In our climate these plants do not succeed 
as well in the open air as in some portions 
of Europe; still, when planted in a half 
shady position on the north side of the wall, 
the hardy species will thrive most, luxuriant¬ 
ly, as may be. seen by examining some of the 
old specimens in our Eastern cities. 
The ivies are especially valuable for cov¬ 
ering rock-work, either natural or artificial, 
particularly when it is located in a cool, 
shady place, where few other plants will 
thrive. Within the past few years our 
florists have paid far more attention to the 
cultivation of ivy than formerly, and great 
numbers of plants are sold every year for 
hanging baskets (see Fig. 4) and similar or¬ 
naments. Among the many fine climbers 
grown as house plants, there arc few licit 
succeed as well as the hardy ivies, for they 
require very little care, not being very sen¬ 
sitive to cold, and thrive better in shade 
than when exposed to the direct rays ot the 
sun. 
The ivies are also very readily propagated 
by cuttings made from almost any portion 
of the stem, whether old or young, and they 
will strike root in almost any kind of soil, 
clay, loam, peat, or sand, although a mixture 
of the two lost is preferable to the former. 
It must, not, however, be supposed that be¬ 
cause ivy will grow in a poor soil, that it 
does not prefer one that is rich; and if a 
strong growth is desired, generous treatment 
must be given. 
Many beautiful ornaments may be made 
with these plants, and one of the most unique 
as well as useful is the ivy as shown iu the 
illustration, (figure 1,) page 44. Such 
a screen enuuot. be made in a few days or 
weeks, but requires time, care, and patience. 
Provide a strong box of the length required 
for the screen, aud fill it with silver sand, 
peat, or leaf-mold, adding a small quantity 
of soil scraped up in the burn-yard. Some 
old pieces Of brick broken up finely may 
be placed In the bottom before the soil is 
put in ; then fill up to within an inch of the 
top. Plant either well rooted slips, or cut¬ 
tings, and then give water whenever requir¬ 
ed, but do not keep the soil constantly soak¬ 
ed. When the plants begin to grow, care¬ 
fully tie them to slender stakes until they 
are three feet high, and then put lip the 
frame for the screen which should be of 
wire, painted green, and of any design to 
suit the fancy or purse of the owner. As 
the plants grow, the small shoots may be 
drawn through the meshes of wire, and in¬ 
terlaced until both sides of the screen lie- 
come a solid wall of 11 Ivy green.” 
Wc know that our lady readers will readi¬ 
ly appreciate this hint, and know just, where 
to place such a screen to produce the most 
desirable elfcct in a room, as well as how 
to keep the leaves free from dust so that 
they will show to the best advantage. If a 
solid wall of green is considered too dark 
and gloomy, some of the variegated sorts 
may bo iuK-rmiugled with the plain leaved, 
but unless carefully tended they will often 
look sickly. 
One of the prettiest of the variegated sorts 
is II. margiiMUt Grandis, the color being 
pale green margined aud blotched with 
white, (Fig. 2,) but in form similar to the 
more common Irish, ivv. Our favorite 
among the ivies is the II. eordata, (Fig. 3.) 
or Heart shaped leaved. The plants grow 
strong aud vigorous, and the leaves large 
and very thick, retaining their bright, green 
color during winter in the open air, when 
grown in the shade. There are at least 100 
distinct varieties of ivy cultivated in Euro¬ 
pean nurseries, all of which may be imported 
at small cost if desired. 
get their full growth—iiboo!. three hundred 
pouuda—of any kind. The Yorkshire Is the 
base of nil improved white breeds, nod they are 
excellent hogs nl i large size. The old-fashiou- 
ed Suffolk had too much China, and were too 
small and chunked. They have run out; at 
least, I know of none, 
“There Is a breed called Suffolk, which are 
small Yorkshires, hut ihey are not common. 
Then there is stilt another Suffolk, nailed 'im¬ 
proved,' which bus boon iin ported and bred 
quite extensively by the Messrs. 8"rr< knf.v. it 
is a popular breed in England, and they me 
longer in the body, have more hair, and are yel¬ 
lowish whil e in color. They are a Superior kind 
to cross upon common hogs,and would improve 
any native swine. Their heads should he small; 
ears the same. There is very little souse about 
them. Tho Chester While would doubtless Im¬ 
prove t he hogs of some sections. As this breed 
generally runs, the native hogs would have to ho 
pretty mean ones to be heneilled bya cross with 
the ufuch lauded ('he:.tors. They are coarse, lop- 
eared, big eaters, and badly mixed. They are 
white, generally—always should be, and have 
the redeeming tpialily of being good milkers, 
anil consequently good mothers. The old fash¬ 
ioned, small Suffolk would probably he bettered 
by crossing with them, as greater size would be 
obtainable, and larger and more vigorous 
growth. There is more humbug about Chester 
White hogs than any oi lier breed. 
“Avery popular kind of hogs now-a-ilnys is 
the So-called Cheshire, Originating in Jefferson 
Co., N. Y. The best breeders of these pigs are 
now very properly abandoning this fictitious 
title, and call them the Jefferson Co., swine, 
which is more appropriate. They have been brecl 
too close, and uow laek bone and constitution, 
Which defect can be readily remedied. The pigs 
often die in the nest at birth, not having strength 
sufficient, lo help themselves, and I heir mils dry 
up and drop off, owing to a want of circulation. 
They are valuable to cross upon native hogs, aud 
their offspring will usually be equal to the im¬ 
proved stock In looks, and possessing more 
stamina, feed heller, and make more valuable 
porkers, t. e., the breeder gets a finer tone and 
quality of meat, with less offal, and the consti¬ 
tutional vigor to deveiopo the wholo to a com¬ 
plete success. With course slab-sided squealers, 
a cross with the Jefferson Co., would be just the 
thing. The change would be immense. I think 
these hogs have been bred long enough to merit 
the distinction of being culled a breed. 
“The Western people believe iu big things, 
hence they have a breed of their own, started in 
Butler county, Ohio. They louk to me like the 
old-time Berkshire, only a little more so. With 
the small farmer of the East, where corn is corn, 
they will not pay. Out West, whore transporta¬ 
tion Is an object, and it pays to crowd a good 
many bushels of corn into one hog and then into 
a barrel, these large-boned, big porkers wilt 
answer. They do net mu lure early enough for 
us. Mr. Macuis has succeeded in getting these 
black and white lings to meet the notions of the 
farmers of Ohio, and tlm prairie States. It is tv 
mistaken idea that, the ‘swill-pall makes tho 
breed.’ There la such a thing as economy ot 
food in swine, and aptness to fatten, and all the 
Imported breeds excel in thesaquntltlesover iho 
native. They are superior, also, iu regard in 
waste. It costs Just us much It* produce snout, 
cars, and legs as it does side pork or hum ; hence 
pigs which have less snout and more ham, less 
ears and more length and depth of sides, less 
legs and wider shoulders, are to be preferred. 
There is also a mighty difference in the skin and 
grain of the meat. The thorough-bred lmg lias 
a thin skill and Hue-grained tle&h. Some of the 
Western pork Is not lit to eat, it is so coarse¬ 
grained and flabby, und rank iu taste. There is 
nothing which will pay the farmer better than a 
good breed of hogs, ir not of a pure breed, then 
a Judicious crossing of such as ho has upon a 
better. 
The Wine Plant. The qualities of Khuharb 
“ Wine,’’ for medicinal purposes, was broached 
by a correspondent, and Dr. Smith said ho did 
not regard It wine, but that it might have some 
qualities as a cordial, which would recommend 
It to a physician who should find It necessary to 
prescribe tho extract of Rhubarb to a patient. 
Major-General Cl'utis pronounced Rhubarb a 
humbug as a wine plant, and the extract a de¬ 
coction no better than alcohol. Mr. Fuller 
said the Wine Plant was an exploded humbug," 
and those who may be humbugged by it may bo 
set. down ns not reading the papers. 
Will flheMUlif* Grow when Pry i — Bo asks 
James Butler, South Hill, Pa. Mr. Fuller 
said No. They should be kept moist and cool 
from the time they are dropped from the burs. 
Soon after gathering thorn, mix with sand, and 
bury them two or three feet iu (he ground, in a 
dry place. They wilt come out fresh and grew 
in the spring. 
Pumpkin Crop.— N. J. Miller, South Selio- 
daek, N. Y., writes of a pumpkin vino which 
ENGLISH YEW — TAXUS BACCi 
last spring, only five blossomed. 
But this wus not half as provoking as the 
disappointment I had in my one-dollar- 
apiece Spireas. Miserable little yellowish- 
white flowers, precisely like those we have 
growing in a marsh near by, only the native 
kind is far ahead of its Japan cousin. One 
kind, a Spina odloaik, did not blossom, 
therefore, 1 am hopeful that my expectation 
in Spireas will not prove to be wholly a 
failure. 
My lilies blossomed finely. The Japan 
lilies were so sweet, and the auratwns so 
magnificent, and the caiulidunis »j white, 
and the excelsum* and todclbcdonicnma so 
showy aud gay that I would not dare to say 
which attracted the most attention. Tito 
great “ gold-banded” one, however, was 
rather ahead, I think. Eben E. Rexfoud. 
to the new sapling of recent importation or 
discovery. Sacred to old time associations 
with our ancestors, is a sentiment scarcely 
kuown iu ollr Uluru lure ; but it will certainly 
be engrafted into it at some future day, and 
those who desire to be remembered, should 
take heed that they do something to bo 
honored for, while there is an opportunity-. 
There is certainly an abundance of ma¬ 
terial to begin with, and we may gain some¬ 
thing by selecting lhat which possesses or 
lias attached to it a goodly history. Among 
evergreens there are none more suitable for 
this purpose than the English Yew. Its 
very name is suggestive of age and perma¬ 
nency. Specimens of this tree exist in 
European gardens Unit are supposed to be a 
thousand years old ; and yet they are healthy, 
and their green leaves as beautiful as ever. 
English literature is filled with praise of the 
Yew, for it lias long held a prominent place 
in European gardens, as tt should have in 
our own. 
One of the handsomest specimens in the 
vicinity of New York stands in the grounds 
of Messrs. Parsons & Co., at Flushing. A 
representation of it is given in the accom¬ 
panying illustration. This plant is about 
ten feet high and twelve broad, and is very 
compact, vigorous und healthy, forming a 
most elegant ornament, and one that every 
arboriculturist would covet. 
The English Yew is quite hardy in most 
of the Northern States, unless planted in a 
very wet or very dry, poor soil, where the 
growth is retarded, and the plant becomes 
weak and sickly, Young plants are readily 
and safely transplanted, and can be had 
they are such unassuming little things, and 
so sweet too! 
My Carnations are beginning to show 
their flower buds. I have several kinds. I 
like “ La Purite,” rosy pink; “ Defiance,” 
bright scarlet; and “La Florufier,” white, 
slightly tinged with pink; best of any I have 
ever grown. 
My Fuchsias are beginning to drop their 
leaves. As booh as the weather becomes a 
trifle colder I shall put them down cellar. I 
give them but little water, and allow the 
leaves to drop, but they come out finely in 
the spring. Geraniums I have wintered 
successfully iu the same way. 
I wish some one would tell me what to do 
with an Abutilon I have, to make it blossom. 
It was quite a plant when received from the 
florist last spring, and had buds on it. It 
has grown well ever since, and lias showed 
buds at every leaf, but they dry up when but 
little larger than a pin-head, and never grow 
any larger. In all summer I haven’t had a 
blossom from it. I cut it back once, and it 
is now over four feet tall. The soil it is 
potted in is one part sand, two parts leaf- 
mold, and one part loam. It is I lie new 
Abutdon vcwillariuum introduced a year or 
two ago, and, as it was said to be particular¬ 
ly lino, I should like to get it to blossom. 
Its growth and shape of leaf is entirely dif¬ 
ferent fit m the common kind of A butilon. 
rboriculturr 
ENGLISH YEW — (Tams baccate.) 
It is to.be feared that the constantly in¬ 
creasing desire among professional horti¬ 
culturists, as well as amateurs, for new and 
rare evergreens, will cause a neglect of many 
an old and valuable species. Tho natural 
AMONG MY FLOWERS, 
Tnoucn the summer glory has departed, 
and the autumn’s splendid coloring has 
faded into the sober tints of leafless trees 
and bare brown fields, I have my windows 
full of flowers. My chiefest window orna¬ 
ments just now are my Chinese Chrysanthe¬ 
mums. Oh! they are lovely! Perhaps it 
isn’t quite orthodox for one of the “sterner 
sex” to go into extaeies over flowers ; but I 
have enough woman in my composition to 
love flowers as well as the best of them, and 
as for being ashamed of it, as a person once 
remarked to me, why, good Rural, 1 never 
thought of such, a thing! I have Mrs. Camp¬ 
bell, dark crimson ; Sunset, bronze aud pur¬ 
ple; Golden Crest, beautiful bright yellow; 
and Blanche, clear pure white, There is not 
a plant in the catalogue that requires so lit- 
Fic. 3—Leaf of EL Com, at a 
My roses dropped their leaves when I ten 
potted them this fall, but are putting out tie 1 
finely now. 1 have “ Hermosa,” pale pink, inv 
ami a great bloomer, and “ Louis Phillippe,” far 
dark velvety crimson. These two are the wli 
only ones I have found to grow well under stq 
cultivation in the living-room. fer 
The Daphne Cuenrum is a desirable for 
shrub. I got one last spring, and have of 
nothing in the garden that I value more. It we 
blossomed several times, and its 
exquisite 
I.^I p." 
^ Jl , 
