tleman and American Citizen, I naturally 
felt anxious that the original name should 
be preserved and perpetuated :is the true 
one in our pomological publications — es¬ 
pecially in those which the American public 
arc wont to regard as authority in such mat¬ 
ters. Hence it was that I ventured to 
"regret” that in the recent edition of 
Downing’s Fruit and Fruit Trees of Amer¬ 
ica one of its synonyms, the Flatus St. John, 
had been adopted instead of the true one, to 
which, it was entitled by all the rules of po- 
mological nomenclature. No one but the 
profitable for market; but in that require¬ 
ment it is deficient; and as it is too acid for 
the amateur, why should it longer he kept 
before the public as a good variety ? 
Hoyden 
is even larger than Green Prolific, is a good 
grower, hut it is too soil for market pur¬ 
poses. When 1 apeak of market purposes, I 
mean a berry that will ship and retain form 
and color from Southern Illinois to Cleve¬ 
land, or a thousand miles by rail and thirty- 
six hours of time in transit. For those who 
grow’ only to sell at home can, of course, and 
seeds mainly abortive; season, October. 
Mr. Downing may have received a tree 
under this name which corresponded in 
fruit to the Delicts Van Mons. AII of these 
new, or comparatively unknown new pears, 
require careful observance and frequent test¬ 
ing ere we can rely one iota on the foreign 
recommendation ; for it is plain that while 
foreigners are all the time producing, or 
rather introducing, new things, not one in a 
hundred can be relied upon. Nor is any 
representation they make worth a straw to 
the real fruit growers of this country. 
0rintItnrc 
NOTES ON STRAWBERRIES, 
ARUM DRACUNCULUS. 
IJY F. R. ELLIOTT, 
Tnis curious plant belongs to the same 
family as the Indian Turnip, (A. triphyUum,) 
and Dragon Root, (A. Draamtiiim ,) of our 
woods. It is anat i ve of the south of Europe, 
and although frequently sold by our florists 
and seedsmen as a hardy plant, is not truly 
so as far north as New'York, as its conns, 
or fleshy, potato-like roots will perish from 
frost if the winter is very severe; even in 
the neighborhood of Paris, it is deemed nec¬ 
essary to protect it from heavy frost by cov¬ 
ering it with leaves or long litter. It should 
therefore be grown in pots at the North, and 
may then be bloomed iu the green-house 
early in the spring. 
The conn or root throws up a cylindrical 
stem two or three feet high, furnished with 
elegant pedate leaves, divided into five seg¬ 
ments, which are sometimes entire, and 
sometimes sub-divided, and strongly veined. 
The flower or spathe borne on the summit 
of the stein, is from nine to twelve inches 
long, and exteriorly Is of a pale green color, 
the interior or upper side being of a deep, 
livid, violet purple color. At the time of its 
flowering, if emits a strong, corpse-like odor, 
which is very disagreeable, and if inhaled to 
any extent, will produce headache, dizziness 
and even vomiting. For this reason, it 
should not be kept in a sitting-room. The 
stem of the plant and the petioles of the 
leaves are of a pale green, marbled and spot¬ 
ted with dark brown and black, like the skin 
of a snake. It will grow in any light, rich 
soil, but should be kept rather moist. 
A most remarkable phenomena has been 
noticed in the flowers of this plant, and also 
in others of the same yemra, namely :—the 
evolution of heat from the flowers at the 
time of their expansion, which has been ob¬ 
served in some cases to reach as high as 
31.5 ‘ Fahrenheit above the temperature of 
the surrounding atmosphere. 
To this family (Arac&e) belong the Gala- 
(Hums, whose beautifully colored and marked 
foliage renders them so popular as green¬ 
house and bedding out plants; the Caloca- 
sias; the (’alia now ealled Ridumlin, or 
Ethiopian Lily, and other remarkable fo- 
liaged plants of our green-houses. The 
leaves and stems of nearly the whole family 
are acrid and poisonous, whilst the roots of 
nearly all of them are starchy and nutri¬ 
tious, being largely used in tropical countries 
as articles of food, the acid juices being pre¬ 
viously driven off by heal, either by boiling 
or roasting. 
A sort of sago, known in commerce as 
Portland Sago, is made from the roots of 
one species, and the various roots used as 
food, and known as Yams, Tara or Kopeh, 
Cocoes, Eddoes, 01, &c., all belong to this 
family. The expressed juice of the leaves 
and roots of some species are sometimes used 
medicinally for cleansing ulcers; as cata¬ 
plasms, cm men agog ues, expectorants; and 
some have been useful in cases of consump¬ 
tion and asthma. 
The name ‘‘Lords and Ladies” is given 
in some parts of England to one species, A. 
Macndatum , otherwise known as Cuckow- 
Ilint, or Wake ltobin, because in former days 
the stiff ruffs worn by those personages were 
starched by means of the starch prepared 
from the roots of this species. 
The past winter in Northern Ohio wao a 
mild one, and yet its action on many a plant, 
and in many localities, was more injurious 
than winters heretofore of far greater severi¬ 
ty. It came, as I think, from the fact that 
we had first a wet autumn, and much of late 
growing stuff did not ripen; in this particu¬ 
lar, late planted beds of Strawberry vines 
were peculiarly unfortunate. Then ve had 
rain and a little snow ; then a freeze, so that 
the ground was frozen eight to ten inches 
deep; then wo had rain, and a thaw of two 
inches deep or so, then more rain, and then 
a freeze. All unripe and succulent plants, 
and all late plantings, especially, were’af¬ 
fected injuriously. And yet the strawberry 
in all, or nearly all, of the old plantations, 
came out in spring finely. The plants start¬ 
ed well, bloomed early, and set fruit abun 
dant ly; but the want of rain from about the 
time of blooming until the time of ripening, 
materially affected the size, and probably the 
quantity, alt hough that is a nice question ; for 
it there are twenty berries one year, measur¬ 
ing a quart, and another year it takes thirty 
to do the same, iL may not he that the quan¬ 
tity produced is any less in numbers really, 
hut their lessened size makes less for the 
market. 
Tin? Nicn.ilor, 
in my own and several others’ grounds that 
1 visited, was the earliest to bloom and to 
ripen its fruit. Iu strong, rich land it is one 
of the most valuable sorts for home use or a 
local market; but it will not bear shipment 
successfully. In light, thin grounds it is 
valuable only as an early sort, its quality 
ranking it among the best. 
The I tin, 
an old sort, comparatively, was again, with 
me, second only to Nicanor in bloom; it set 
mod ripened also second only thereto, and it 
is a sort that holds all the season through, 
even to the very latest. Its fruit is on lull 
footstalks, always up clean from the dirt; and 
even on the poorest soil and under the 
massing, neglectful style of culture, it is a 
good producer. But, unless in rich soil and 
kept thin in the row, or on the hill system, 
it is too small for market. 
Doivner'a Prolific 
lias more than sustained its previous good 
character; but it is not as early as Nicanor 
and is too soft for market, and so, only for 
the amateur, 1 fear it w ill have to go to the 
walk 
French's Hecdlintr. Col. F.llttworlh nml 
New Jersey Sen riel 
are also sorts that again, as they show this 
year, I shall have to say we do not want. 
Lady Finger 
is with me, not a great, but a good bearer. 
Its fruit is borne clear from the ground, is of 
just that pleasant character that one likes to 
eat from the vine out of hand, is exceedingly 
handsome, and easily hulled for the table, 
and one that I would not he without ; hut 
for market it. is not sufficiently productive. 
It has one good quality for the amateur, 
viz.-it ripens all along gradually; and, 
yet again, the amateur who has only a small 
bed would never get a quart at a time. 
Thu Clinrli’H Downing, 
it grieves me to say, is, in my grounds, not 
worth ground room; nor have I been able 
to find it any better under others’ culture. 
It is a strong vine, sets a fair truss of fruit, 
which comes to good size and is of good 
quality; but its footstalk is so weak that 
even with good mulching 1 cannot get a 
clean and perfect berry. 
THi‘ Kentucky, 
another of the enthusiastic, energetic, per¬ 
severing Downer’s originating, plants of 
which I received from him early this spring, 
and from which only 1 now make my notes, 
is a strong grower, and I think the best 
rooted plant of the whole list of varieties; 
and while it is evidently a good producer, I 
fear it, like Charles Downing, has too long 
and weak a fruit footstalk. 1 have it in tw T o 
distinct soils and locations, and "shall see 
what I shall see.” 
I wish somebody could produce a Hovey 
berry with the Wilson productiveness. It 
seems to me they are the two to breed from 
by intermingling, or crossing; both are 
hardy vines and both firm fruit. 
Km incr 
lias not, this year, with me, proved of value. 
It is a good berry, and moderately produc¬ 
tive ; dues not ripen early nor does it keep 
on long. 
J u lien 
is another Westerner of good size, a hand¬ 
some berry, moderately productive, and as 
rich in flavor as a dry chip. 
JIcikI'm Seedling 
is an older sort which, although I have seen 
^ it in other’s grounds pretty good and liked 
for its peculiar flavor, with me is of no value. 
rv 
Green Prolific 
^ lias again done well with me, and only 
. wants firmness to make it valuable and 
rare ixmi.icjr.s de TjA. mjettsk peak, and ofj’mne 
realize profit, adapt captious and hypercritical could have man- POMOLO 
:aste of the people ufactured offense to anybody out of my 
wer on a large scale article; and yet it seems the writer of the Tl,w herstlne 
size, firm, and that Bornological Notes in the Rural New- Most pomologi 
3 r much, and often Yorker of April 5th lias discovered a large 11 eustink ol Phil 
quantity of egotism and blundering in it; perimentinglarge] 
ii. and that in questioning the immaculateness a large number of 
me by some kind of a Northern anon a Southern fruit have been announ 
along with others, I have committed the unpardonable sin. d, ily 6th, by invi 
lould this meet bis In my article nothing at all was said of horticulturists of 
1 have seen the "Flaler’s” or of "Latinizing flavors,” as H,! .y 111 ‘others 
ii as .7 n cun da. Ills your critic would have his readers believe. 11 krstjne’s place 
:e formed berry, of Unless he could have quoted correctly he We have no space 
izo, but not in any should have sent uiy article to the printer wbh'b resulted fn 
just as it. was. I merely stated that Flatus main point is the: 
id. St. John—the name 1 understand Downing raspberries are c< 
friend A. S. Ful- has adopted* (1 have not seen his hist edition) hugs of the Alle 
me as Chilian; but —was evidently a corruption of the Latin s0rl - They are : 
minds. My plants word Flams ,which menus yellow-, and that parently, upon tl 
,i. it. Prince, and the error iu name had originated in an at- ,r <>m the large n 
nail, long, conical tempt to Latinize the word yellow That hied were selectee 
I formerly had it, such was really the true history of the Flatus ent as worthy pci 
late maturing sort part of tin* name I fell fully convinced from these are ilcrsthi 
orm, and well held the facts within my possession, and which ders and Ruby. 
were briefly stated in my article. Under scarlet in color, 
.riling*. these circumstances I think 1 was fully jus- lent quality, and 
> a j ew days since tilled in regretting that our principal author- the parent, the A] 
is Received; but I *ty upon American pomology should have and exceedingly 
Ritz as a seedling adopted the name farthest removed from the Mr. Hkkstine. 1 
ood promise. 1 say true one. that they have n 
gn sorts, the But it now appears that we are all wrong a >id no one shoti 
B Cnnd ’ and that blater's St. John is the true name! until they are. 
have observed it. Well, the old saying that if we would hear fruits retain their 
than Jucunda and' e//>/ nows we must go to the. pountry for it, is will open anew 
>il suited to them • n<) doubt as true now as it ever was; and so berry production, 
il in such sorts as I of lhla P ( ‘ lich matter, if we would learn the Vr .iu- 
can give my plants, lnK! ll!un< ' and history of a peach that origi- j. c. Neff, Du 
B Royu , ' natod in New Orleans and has been in culti- ] ias {l strawberry, 
*, form, color quali- votion thcrc a 'luarter of a century or more, t)uL vcry mucll ] a J 
ictiveness of’ any I must S° to New York for Ulc intonna- its second year of 
l ' on ’• conical, or egg ft 
ncn*, Emma, But "’ hile are il11 . of c°ursc, bound to color, juicy and s 
- n sorts have been acce P l the dktum of your critic as eouclu- who have eaten of 
o I think in nearly siWj 1 for oue wmld Iikc to know th e his- strawberry,” but 
e seen them grown. of Uie of •' Flatus Si. |„y Slmvlicny." 
llM0 John - 11 13 a ncw tldll S 10 me, and if to and slout) of a c1 
w in mv soil which 1,6 found in !my catalo » ue or fruit book yet fruit foot stalks s 
or keeping 'of the l )ublW, “ i 1 tavc lili “ l .° S " d «• . . „ He Hull nil clear c 
lener, but after that _ wasey, . . “Nnuvi 
himself has a irood * downing, in ins last edition has it Plater’s st. This is slated, ii 
time to do it in or rubai.. a see dling grow* 
JULY FLOWER GARDENING 
Our gardens arc now brilliant with the 
glories of the bedding-out plants, and great 
with the expectation of the annuals not yet 
in bloom, but filled with buds which will 
soon delight the beholders. We have fin¬ 
ished the hardest work of gardening; the 
beds are all in order; the flowers arc trans¬ 
planted; still they require constant care. 
Daily must we water, train, stake and tie 
up. We keep a hand rake and hoe com¬ 
bined ill one handle, and hidden under a 
large hush, ready at hand when we step into 
tiie garden; and a few moments’ use of it 
several times a day keeps all intruding weeds 
laid low. Amateur gardeners will find this 
a good method to adopt, and will t hus avoid 
a day’s weeding, which makes every hone 
in one’s body ache and every nerve quiver, 
besides roughening the hands for a week to 
come. 
If the summer continues as hot as June 
has promised for it, a mulch of barn-yard 
manure, or of leaf, or chip dirt, will greatly 
enhance the beauty of Asters, Stocks, and 
Balsams. The scorching heat dries up the 
the tender rootlets, and withers the fair 
promise of flowers. A frequent wateringof 
liquid manure made either from stable drop¬ 
pings or by mixing two tablespoonfuls of 
Peruvian guano with one gallon of tepid 
water, and letting it stand over night; water 
with this twice a week, and the beauty and 
size of your plants will he doubled. 
Many ladies complain of their ill luck in 
floriculture ; nothing ever thrived with them. 
Why ? Because,after the plants are set out 
they neglect them, thinking that the sun, 
DELICES DE LA MEUSE PEAR. 
FLATER’S ST. JOHN PEACH 
According to Leroy, this pear has been 
propagated since, or rather originated about 
1845, and is entirely distinct from Polices de 
Mons, or Dc-Uces Van Mons, of which Down¬ 
ing makes it a synonym. Leroy says 
Delices de Mons is a synonym of Du- 
verguics, and Delices Van Mons a synonym 
of Vicompte de Spoelborg. 
Fruit large, irregular, obovatevpyriform; 
surface angled; color dull, light yellow- 
green, with many black dots and faint traces 
of russet; stem one and u-quarter inch long, 
set at an oblique angle without depres¬ 
sion; calyx large, open, with pointed seg¬ 
ments; flesh granular, juicy, almost melt¬ 
ing, rich, sw’eet, very good; core sur¬ 
rounded by a deep, harsh, gritty line; 
In the Southern Horticulturist for March 
I published an article on the Yellow St. 
John Peach, in which 1 tried to embody all 
that was certainly known as to its origin 
and subsequent history. In doing so 1 
imagined that 1 was doing a real service to 
the cause of American pomology, inasmuch 
as the Yellow St. John, being perhaps the 
best of all our early peaches, had not, to my 
knowledge, been honored with a reliable 
history and description in any of the pub¬ 
lished works on American Fruits. 
Having, some ten or twelve years ago, 
been the first to name, propagate and dis¬ 
seminate it, and having at that time de¬ 
scribed it in both the Southern Rural Gen¬ 
