from the leaves ? Take an oak leaf and chew 
it—nor, very much sweet juice do you get 
out of it, nor from chestnut, maple, or any 
of the rest. 1 don’t see how a sweet, saccha¬ 
rine juice can exude from the leaves. 
Next, how can the aphides or “plant lice” 
discharge it so evenly over the leaves of so 
many trees and in so wide a circuit ? It 
must require a cloud ol them sweeping 
through the air ; for these “plant, lice” are 
very small, not much larger than a good- 
sized pin head. I don’t think that the lice 
are the cause of honey dew, hut, v\ hat causes 
it 1 have no power to say. Science alone 
must let us into the secret. That bees gath¬ 
er honey from the aphides i do not doubt, 
for I have seen the same ; you may find a 
cluster of fuzzy white aphides ou many an 
elder bush, with drops of nectar around 
them and hoes gathering it. I havo also 
seen bees gathering honey dew. 
L. P. Walcott. 
IMPROVED PELARGONIUMS.—NO. 3 
We now come to the ivy-leaved sections of 
Pelargoniums. These of late years have be¬ 
come very popular. The graceful trailing 
hr- bit of growth peculiar to this section be¬ 
fits them for covering rustic work, hanging 
baskets, rockwork, and all purposes where a 
trailing, or sub-trailing habit is available. 
The bright, waxy foliage of these plants has 
a particularly rich appearance. They are 
also abundant bloomers, which is also quite 
an ornamental feature. There are many 
named varieties, but (ho. following six are 
the most distinct and perhaps best: 
Duke of Edinburgh, has large, light green 
leaves, which are broadly margined with 
cream color. The flowers are nearly pure 
white, the plant is a vigorous grower and an 
abundant bloomer. 
Bridal, Wreath , has very large trusses of 
pure white flowers and yellowish green 
foliage, vc ry distiuct, half-bushy, half-trailing 
habit. 
Fairii Bells, has blush pink flowers, and 
strange, somewhat shield-shaped leaves, and 
trailing habit. 
L. Elegante .—The leaves of this variety 
are a deep, rich green, margined with 
creamy white ; its white flowers are pro¬ 
duced in dense masses, making it at once at¬ 
tractive and beautiful. 
Pelted am Elegnns, with its pure mauve 
colored flowers, rapid growth and profusion 
ot rich, deep green waxy leaves, each leaf 
distinctly marked with a black zone, is ex¬ 
ceedingly attractive and beautiful. 
Itemarkable ,—This is a new and very dis¬ 
tinct variety, of a strong climbing habit; it 
has glossy, light green foliage, and its large 
trusses of rich, rose-colored flowers are pro¬ 
duced in the greatest profusion. 
But the most remarkable of all the Pelar¬ 
goniums are the gold and silver variegated 
sections. These are usually known as the 
gold and silver tricolor Pelargoniums. This, 
however,- is wrong, as the Pelargonium tri¬ 
color h a very different plant. The golrlen 
varieguted section, of which .1 fry. Pollock 
is the original and type, was Arab announced 
in 1S57, and a variety colled Sunset was un- 
r following which was fol- 
!• Lightning rods, as usually erected, do 
not afford much protection. 
2. Insulators, and glasses, at the points of 
support, are of no use in any ease ; they de- 
stroy the most valuable influence of the rod, 
and may, under certain circumstances, be 
the cause of most terrific and destructive 
return strokes. 
fi. The conducting power of lightning rods 
is proportional to their solid contents, or 
sectional area, wit h similar metals of equal 
lengths, and not to t heir surfaces. 
4. A lightning reel should have the con¬ 
ducting power of n copper rod one-half inch 
square, and perfect metallic union of all its 
parts. A roil made exclusively from copper 
wires, if of sufficient size, constitutes one 
which is perfect hi theory, 
а. Sharp points for the upper termination 
of rods are necessuiy. Rods are of but little 
value without them. Points should be plated, 
to prevent oxyelation. They are also of value 
when used at the lowest terminus of the rod. 
б. It is necessary to place a point at each 
gable, chimney and ventilator ; to connect 
the rod with metallic roofs, gutters, valleys, 
steam pipes, gn-s pipes, water pipes, speaking 
tubes, and other permanent metallic bodies 
about buildings, and the more numerous the 
connections with the earth the better, 
7. Tim rod must be attached directly to 
the huildltig, the closer the better. It must 
not be insulated by being passed through, or 
over rings of glass, horn, or other non-con¬ 
ducting substances, nor be placed at a dis¬ 
tance from the object to be protected. 
8. Ground rods must have two or more 
brunches penetrating the earth to permanent 
moisture ; must extend below the foundation 
walls, or the bottom of the cellar. In some 
instances, where it is difficult to reach moist 
earth, they must bo imbedded in charcoal. 
9. Lightning rods, constructed and erected 
in accordance with the foregoing principles, 
will afford full protection in the hour of dan¬ 
ger, and their use is strongly urged as a 
necessary means of safety. 
leaf disc aud margin, and black, brown, 
bronze, or chocolate colored zone. These 
arc the very finest bedding plants. The hot 
sun which only tends to injure the more deli¬ 
cate variegated forms, has the very opposite 
effect with the bronze Zonules. All that is 
necessary to secure a grand display of these 
plants is to set them out in spring, in a bed 
by themselves if possible, in moderately 
good soil, and close enough together so they 
may cover the ground before very hot 
weather comes. In July and August, if the 
selection of varieties has been carefully 
made, the effect wall be gorgeous hi the ex¬ 
treme. When once thoroughly established 
the hot sun only helps the brilliancy of these 
plants to be still more brilliant and effective. 
The gold and bronze varieties are also well 
adapted to pot culture, but require abund¬ 
ance of light aud air to develop the fine col¬ 
oring of the foliage. If grown in dark, close 
situations they become drawn and sickly, 
aud give but little satisfaction in their cul- 
l ure ; but treated as above they will well 
repay the care bestowed upon them. Beauty 
of L! alder dale is one of the oldest of this sec¬ 
tion, but Blade Prince, Kentish Ilero, Priwa 
Donna, Plains, Standard Beauty and Rev. 
Mr. Rnddiffc are improvements and among 
the best and most distinct. Now varieties 
are, however, continually making their ap¬ 
pearance, some of which are great improve¬ 
ments on the older forms. 
H. E. Ciiitty, Su.pt. Bellevue Nursery. 
FILLBASKET PEA, 
This is one of Mr. Thomas Laxton’s best 
and latest productions. It is accredited with 
being a first-class variety. The following de¬ 
scription is from Dr. Hogg’s Gardeners’ Year 
HONEY DEW 
In the Rt-ral New-Yorker of Jan. 10th, 
we find a. communication from some one, 
who docs not sign his name, about “Bees 
Gathering Honey Dew.” Ho says he has no¬ 
ticed particularly, but never did he see a bee 
gathering it; also, it was the same case with 
other beekeepers, too, lie suys, and a number 
of them. Now, they all must have been 
very close observers, or else there was no 
honey dew In their vicinity, for they are 
very much at variance with my own obser¬ 
vation. I have noticed honey dew a number 
times within the last ten or fifteen years, not 
by accident merely, or of my own particu¬ 
lar discovery, but I remember passing under 
some trees, when my attention was culled to 
the loud humming of bees. I first thought 
it must be a swarm going over, or In the 
trees, but found to my surprise that the 
leaves of the trees were alive with bees, 
working with a will; and not only bees but 
“yellow jackets” and humble bees, with 
now and then a hornet. I gathered some 
of the leaves and found them covered with a 
thick saccharine substance, of the most ex¬ 
quisite sweetness. It seemed to be glued to 
the leaves, for it did not run over their sur¬ 
face. It was found on several kinds of 
trees, such as Oak, Chestnut, Maple, etc. 
This was nine years ago last season. I took 
from one of ray stocks of bees over Cl pounds 
of box-honey, of the nicest kind,selling very 
readily at 25 cents per pound. My stocks 
gained rapidly at the time of the honey dew, 
filling up the empty combs in a hurry. 
I am not alone in observing a “ honey 
daw,” for I met a brother bee keeper a while 
after, and h? said, “ Did you ever «ee a hon¬ 
ey dew V' “Of course I have,” I said, “and 
have seen the bees at work gathering it, too ; 
havn’t you ?” “ O yes,” he said ; “ I was out 
hunting bees a few days ago, and found lots 
of bees at work on the leaves of the trees, 
and they were covered with something os 
good as honey itself.” 
Whether honey dews occur every year or 
not I cannot say, but think they do not. I 
have not seen but two or three that were of 
much magnitude, but havo noticed a little 
sometimes on a few leaves at a time. 
Now, what is honey dew 3 “ Langstroth 
on the Hive and Honey Bee” (third edition, 
page 285), says:—“Bees often obtain a sac¬ 
charine substance from the honey dews 
which are found on the foliage of many 
trees, and are sometimes merely an exudation 
from their leaves; though oftener a dis¬ 
charge from the bodies of small aphides or 
“ plant lice.’ u How can it be an exudation i 
nounced the yea 
Hwed by Lacy Grieve, Mrs. Benynn, Lady 
Cullum, Sophia Cusnck, aud in rapid suc¬ 
cession by many others of these beautiful 
plants. The admiration they commanded 
for many years was almost unbounded. The 
horticultural world is indebted to the skill 
and perseverance of Peteh Grieve of Cul- 
ford, England, for tho first introduction of 
these strange forms of variegation, which 
were tho result of several years’ careful cul¬ 
ture and cross fertilization. 
These charming plants are used quite 
freely in England for outside bedding pur¬ 
poses ; they are also cultivated very exten¬ 
sively in pot? for greenhouse and conserva¬ 
tory decoration. But our hot summer 
weather seems to be somewhat against the 
perfect development of these plants in the 
open air. The hot sun appears to extract 
the rich coloring of tho leaves, and after a 
while they become as ordinary plants* As 
ornaments for tho greenhouse, the conser¬ 
vatory and tho window, however, they are 
unrivaled, and for these purposes they arc. 
eminently worthy of our best efforts in cul¬ 
ture. 
Tho silver variegated Pelargoniums were 
introduced into cultivation a few years be¬ 
fore the golden Mrs. Pollock, or about 1851. 
The first variety was Kinghom’s Attraction; 
this was soon followed by others of inoi-e or 
less merit, until within a year or two some, 
really splendid varieties havo been intro¬ 
duced. Among the best may be mentioned 
Charming Bride, Prince Silverwinga and 
Excellent, The chief characteristics of the 
silver variegated Pelargoniums are a. white 
or creamy-white leaf margin ; a zone of 
pink, carmine, lake or crimson, in some va¬ 
rieties , a faint inner zone of black, and a 
delicate or deep green leaf disc ; in some 
the colore are very distinct and brilliant ; in 
others they are not so well defined ; but it is 
the distinctness and brilliancy of tho leaf- 
markings -which determine the value of the 
variety. Unfortunately these exquisitely 
beautiful plants eannot be relied upon for 
outside decoration. The perfect develop¬ 
ment of the rich leaf-markings requires care¬ 
ful pot culture. The fine varieties of this 
section are rather expensive. This is owing 
SCIENTIFIC AND USEFUL NOTES 
Rat Poisofi ■.—The following method of 
preparing poison for rats is said to be more 
effectual than moistening grain with a solu¬ 
tion of strychnine : Make a clear solution of 
areeuite of potash, by boiling in a large iron 
kettle one part of white arsenic, one of car¬ 
bonate of potash, and 25 of water, stirring 
tho whole well together; add 25 parts of 
water, and introduce, while warm, 50 parts 
of barley, wheat, or oats, stirring frequently 
during 24 to 30 hours ; then heat the grain 
and stir it with a paddle until it appears dry 
extcrnally. For use in the house it may be 
advisable to color the grain by adding 1,500 
parts of liquid fuchsin. Clean tho kettle after 
use by scouring with lime. Inmost cities, 
however, the areeuite of potash can be ob¬ 
tained ready made, and thus the trouble and 
danger of preparation is saved. 
Painting Rough Buildings. —Take two 
ounces of sal-ammoniac and two ounces of 
potash, dissolve these in three quarts of 
water ; add one quart raw linseed-oil, then 
take, say ten pounds dry red paint, and add 
water to make it thin enough to put on 
with a whitewash brush. Add one gill tur¬ 
pentine to the linseed-oil. If red does not 
suit, add anything to alter the color. Paint 
made as above will bo almost as bright in ten 
or twelve years on rough buildings as when 
first put on. To make tho buildings fancy 
you may paint the corner boards with white 
lead and oil. 
Harness Polish, —Take of mutton suet, 2 
ounces ; bees-wax, 6 ounces ; powdered su¬ 
gar, 6 ounces ; lamp-black, 1 ounce ; green or 
yellow soap, 2 ounces \ water, pint; spirits 
of turpentine, y< pint. Dissolve the soap in 
the water, add the other solid Ingredients, 
mix well, and add the turpentine. Lay it on 
harness with a sponge, and polish off with a 
brush. The same blacking ought to answer 
as well for boots and shoes.— Journal of Ap¬ 
plies! ('hemistry. 
Elastic Varnish. —As an excellent and 
easily manufactured varnish for wicker¬ 
work, Mr. F. Rliien recommends the follow¬ 
ing composition :—One part of good linseed 
oil is boiled down to a sirupy consistency, 
and mixed with twenty parts of copal. This 
mass is then diluted with oil of turpentine to 
the proper thickness. The varnish dries 
easily, and remains elastic, so as not to crack 
by the bending of the basket, 
FILLBASKET PEA. 
Book for 1873 :—This is a cross between Lax- 
ton’s Standard and Supreme. The plant Is 
very robust, vigorous, and three feet high, 
the stem branching, and producing from 
twelve to fourteen pods, generally in pairs, 
and which arc very long, curved, rounded, 
of a fine bright green color, closely filled 
with from seven to nine bright green peas 
of good size. This large, handsome and very 
prolific pea comes into use at. the same time 
as Bedman’s Imperial, it received a first- 
class certificate from the Royal Agricultural 
Society. This pea is superior in flavor to 
Supreme, which it somewhat resembles in 
general appearance. 
To Prevent Club-Foot Cabbage.— A Ger¬ 
man market gardener in Pennsylvania the 
past season, in putting out his cabbage, fol¬ 
lowed the German custom of “puddling” 
the roots of a part of his plants in a thin 
mixture of cow-manure and water. Five 
rows thus treated entirely escaped disease, 
growing prosperously, while the remaining 
portion of the crop, one thousand four hun¬ 
dred plants, all died. 
