1 
“UP LIKE A ROCKET,” Etc. 
Whenever a valuable discovery is made that 
does not tread on anybody’s toes there is a 
mighty rush on all sides to invest it with attri¬ 
butes or with wldoly-diatributablo applications 
that at length diverge bo far from the shadow of 
plausibility that common sense would be scan¬ 
dalized by longer tolerating them. Then the 
bubbles are exploded, and the resultant drops, 
divested of their pretty pictures, may be seen 
and valued intrinsically. 
Mr. Darwin's researches as to the extent that 
insects are essential to the fertilization of flow¬ 
ers were so pleasing to botanicaliy-inclined peo¬ 
ple that tho latter have ever since been adding 
all flowers to the list as unquestionably fertilized 
by insects, if there was any room whatever to 
doubt as to their self-fertilization. 
Prof. GnAY, as if he had himself inclined too 
far in that popular direction, conservatively sums 
up iu the American Agriculturist as follows: 
“Cross-fertilization, we may well believe, is 
the best thing, but is risky. Cross-fertilization, 
tempered with self-fertilization—which is tho 
commoner case—is practically the best, on the 
whole, under ordinary circumstances — is the 
compromise between tho two rinks, viz., failure 
of vigorous and fertile posterity on the one 
hand, and failure of immediate offspring on the 
other. ' Get money, honestly, if you can, but- 
got money,’ was the advice of an unscrupulous 
parent. Get fertilized, cross-fertilized if you 
can, close-fertilized if you must—is Nature’s rule 
for flowers." 
But the carnivorous philosophers are the 
“ sticks" that have to come down the hardest, 
having enjoyed a brilliant and intoxicating as¬ 
cent. After they have struck the bottom, looked 
about and become quite sober, it will occur to 
them that their investigations have indeed added 
many plants to those which years ago were 
known to detain insects, in one way or another, 
but that, further, the light that coaxed them on 
to give credit to the plant’s power of dissolving, 
appropriating and assimilating Buch insects was 
an illusive snare. 
-- 
MISCELLANEA. 
Leaves fob Bouquets. —Thero is no other leaf 
of Pelargoniums so durable, so fern-like and 
graceful for bouquets, as that of P. femifolium. 
“ Spray ’’ is a word peculiarly appropriate as ap¬ 
plied to this leaf, since it b so divided that little 
else besides the main veins are left. 
The “Skeleton-leaf*' is better known. Yet 
this is as coarse, compared with tho other, as 
the common Sumach. (Rhus </labra ) is, compared 
with its cut-leaved form (R'. g. laciniala). 
The leaves are borne upon long, slender peti¬ 
oles, and tho mid-vein so curves as to give to 
the whole plant a rounded, almost drooping 
habit. Yet, though short-jointed and close¬ 
growing, the leaves are so alight that a newspa¬ 
per can be read if held upon the other side of 
the plant. 
But speaking of bouquets, these filmy leaves 
furnish the much-needed bright green without 
concealing the flowers and the long petioles 
reach the water, and are thus preserved quite 
fresh as long as the bouquet iB worth retaining. 
The Blue-o um. —There seems to be a variety 
of opinions and statements regarding the hardi¬ 
ness of Eucalyptus globulus. For the purpose 
of testing this we left out a plant last fall. It 
was startod from seed the preceding fall and 
grew to the higbt of five feet. Two degrees of 
frost withered the leaves—five degrees of frost 
killed the plant. 
Agricultural College. 1 
Lansing, Mich., Jan, 7,1877. f 
A Card. —I see you give the Michigan Farmer 
credit for my artiole on “ Bee Plants." The 
Farmer, I suppose, took it without credit direct 
from Gleanings in Bee Culture, for which paper 
it was prepared. 
How hard it is for all papers to get the proper 
credit! W. J. Beal. 
[We credited it to the Michigan Farmer be¬ 
cause there was nothing to show that the article 
was not written for that paper. It is indeed 
hard for all papers to get proper credit. -Ed. 
JTOTES. 
Roses La France and Madame Lachabme — 
The London Garden gives a colored plate of the 
above Rose, and S. Reynolds Hole, a pleasing 
writer and an enthusiastic rosarian, says of 
them:—“At the happy reunion of Rose-grow¬ 
ers, held at the Horticultural Club in London, I 
on the 7th hast. (December), I ventured to ask a 
question often asked before, ‘ Which would he 
your Rose if you might have only one ?’ The 
answer was prompt, unanimous, and iu accord¬ 
ance with my own judgment—‘ Gloire de Dijon.’ 
Nevertheless, and although I indorsed the ver¬ 
dict, I was thinking all the time of a rival Rose 
which, though it has not the prolific powers of 
Gloire de Dijon has for several summers glad¬ 
dened my eyes and nose with a long continuance 
of Rosea exquisite iu color, form and scent. So, 
wishing to have confirmation of my choice, I 
asked again, ‘ And which, were (hero no Gloire 
de Dijon?’ and immediately, from one of our 
most victorious champions, came the reply, 
which I hoped, and which seemed to be accepted 
by us all, * La France. ’ 
“ Madame Lacharme, of more recent introduc¬ 
tion, has also had a great reception, white ltoses 
being rare and precious. In a favorable season, 
it is a charming Rose, and is well described by a 
skillful rosarian as, ‘ White—center the palest 
bluish color, beautifully clear and wax -like, enp- 
ped, exquisitely formed and highly scented. ’ ” 
The Propagation of Hyacinths from leaves is 
effected by taking off the loaves when in full 
rigor, cutting them off as close to the bulb att 
possible, and inserting them in leaf soil and 
sand, and placing in a frame or greenhouse. In 
eight or nine weeks bulbs will form at the base 
of the leaves. The Journal of Horticulture says 
that many years ago an English gardener in¬ 
creased new and rare Hyacinths in a similar 
manner, but found it necessary to secure a por¬ 
tion of the scaly bulb with the base of each leaf. 
Tube-rose Culture in Texas.—M r. G. 
Marti of Houston writes :—Having lately seen 
some hints as to the more successful cultivation 
of Tube-roso bulbs in the Southern States, I in¬ 
close two a verage-sized bulbs. They will come 
to this size in one summer from the offsets. 
[The bulbs measure three inches In diameter.— 
Ed.] 
Specialties in Seeds.—HD. Peter Hender¬ 
son offers an unusually attractive list of novel¬ 
ties and specialties in seeds and plants. We no¬ 
tice seods first: 
Begonia “JVc Plus hllra ” has bell-shaped 
flowers, pendulous, of “ enormous dimensions,” 
and of a light scarlet color, produced in threes. 
Dark - green foliage, robust habit, profuse 
bloomer. 
Tiroimllia Itoezli .—This differs from B. elata 
in having flowers double the size. 
Double Petuma, New Fringed. The flowers 
are “ very double and deeply fringed.' 
Cyclamen Persicum gigant$um is deemed a 
great improvement over old sorts, having broad, 
beautifully - mottled leaves and flowers that 
measure from 2 to 21$ inches in length, pure 
white, with a violet-purple edge. 
Lygodium scandens is the Japanese Climbing 
Fern to which we have already several times re¬ 
ferred. It is a s'litable companion to Smilax. 
A brilliant-colored plate of Pansies accompao 
ios Mr. Hf.nderson’6 catalogue. Those who 
cultivate this jolly plant will see in tho 12 types 
there represented every blending of colors that 
heart can desire. 
Specialties in Plants.— Among plants, Abe- 
lia rupestris, in tho Honeysuckle family, is a 
dwarf shrub, found by Mr. Fortune in China. 
A. triJJ.m-a, a native of India, and scarcely known 
in this country, would have been a far more de¬ 
sirable novelty, its flowers being more numerous 
and of a brighter color. 
Acalypha tricolor, of the Euphorbia family, 
resembles A. marginaJa, which we described a 
week or so ago, the former having a blotched, 
the latter a marginal variegation. 
Aesehynanthv* epeciosus, an epiphyte in its 
native home (Java), where it grows upon the 
branches of trees, is a suitable plant for baskets. 
It was first introduced by the late Jam eh Vkitch. 
Aquilegiachrysanlha aud A. ccerulea, from the 
Rooky Mountains, are, among the hardy peren¬ 
nials, very desirable. The former has yellow, 
the latter hlue-and-whito flowers. 
Among Palms, we find Gy cos recob Ua, Prilch- 
ardtia fllamentosa, of California, and among 
Screw Pines. Pandanus utilia. 
Eulalia Japonica zebrina is really a beautiful 
Grass. Of this, Mr. Henderson has the entire 
stock, purchased of Mr. Thomas Hogg, who col¬ 
lected it iu Japan. A very' superior engraviug 
shows its transverse variegation and feathery 
spikes. 
The White Hydrangea “Thomas Hogg” is 
valuable for its white flowers The price named 
in the catalogue, $7 50 each, ought to be $1.50 
each, we presume. 
We ore pleased to see a out of the Bryophyllum 
ectlycinurn, of which we gave a description 
two years ago that “ went the rounds." Little 
plants grow from the junctions of the creua- 
tures of the succulent leaves, if detached from 
the plant, as readily as if the leaves were beds 
sown with seeds. Those not familiar with it 
will find much to interest them iu its cultivation, 
and much that is peculiar, if not pretty, in the 
hundreds of flowers it bears the second or third 
season. 
Poinsettia pulcherrima plenissima. — Our 
readers will bear witness that the Rural has 
talked of this Double Poinsettia for the past two 
years. At last wo have it. HD. Henderson asks 
$5 each. It is a striking plant, and a striking 
price, too, for these hard times. 
Sutton’s Amateur (-Iuidb in Horticulture. 
-This is one of the most elaborate and practi¬ 
cally instructive works we have ever seen of the 
kind. The frontispiece is a beautiful, double- 
paged chromo of a bouquet of flowers, those, 
for the most part, of easy, out-door cultivation. 
Then follows an account of “A Year’s Work in 
tho Kitchen Garden.*’ Then careful instructions 
as to the cultivation of vegetables of every sort. 
Next, tbe “ Eradication of Garden Yermto,” un¬ 
der which every species of pest infesting garden 
plants is separately treated. Laying Down and 
Improving Lawns, Cultivation of Flowers and of 
Bulbous Flower Roots, with innumerable illus¬ 
trations, complete tbe handsome and service¬ 
able work. Accompanying this is a oataloguo of 
the vegetable and flower seeds, potatoes, bulbs, 
etc., which they offer for sale. To this we shall 
have occasion to refer again. 
Messrs. Sutton & Rons of Beading. England, 
have one of tho largest seed establishments of 
that country, aud they are too well known here 
to need any praise from us. 
Catalogues Received. — E. Mood.y <fs Bona, 
Lookport, N. K—VVholesalo trade-list of fruit 
trees, small fruits, cions, outtiDgs, evergreen and 
deciduous ornamental trees and shrubs. Estab¬ 
lished in 1839. 
J. B. Moot'a Garden Manual and Catalogue, of 
Seeds , Plants, Etc., Mock ford, III .—Half of this 
instructive Manual is “ Iu tho Flower Garden” 
—half “In tho Vegetable Garden.’ The cultu¬ 
ral directions are plain and full. The lists com¬ 
prise everything in general cultivation. 
Robert Douglas J: Sons, Waukegan, Lake Co., 
III .—Wholesale catalogue of evergreen and orna¬ 
mental tree seedlings and troo seeds. One of 
the oldest and best nurseries in this country. 
A. Ilance & Son. Med Bank, Monmouth Co., 
N. J .—Descriptive catalogue of fruit and orna¬ 
mental trees, small fruits, flowering shrubs, 
vines, etc. It presents a long list of specialties. 
CUT-LEAVED DECIDUOUS TREES. 
A large majority of all trees are, in strict 
terms, cut-leaved; but Budden increased varia¬ 
tion from the original form has. iu many cases, 
produced “ sports ” that present extreme instan¬ 
ces of variously cleft, lobed and divided forms. 
These, from their curious and striking nature, 
liavo attracted attention, and have, therefore, 
lieen perpetuated by grafting and layering. 
The forms thus exhibited are often very ele¬ 
gant and graceful, and bonce merit a prominent 
position in tho outer portions of groups, or in 
places readily soon by ordinary observers. 
Nearly evc-ry species of the common orna¬ 
mental trees has presented us varieties of this 
character. It is our purpose, however, to merely 
note tho most beautiful and distinct, with the 
hope that increased interest will procure, iu time, 
their extended employment. 
The best known, perhaps, and certainly ono of 
the roost beautiful of these forms, is the Cut- 
Leaved Birch (Betula alba laciniala), sometimes 
called Weeping Birch, as applied to the drooping 
nature of the outer cud of tho branches. More 
or less symmetrical, the mass of the head is yet 
rather open, and this effect, increased by the 
divided leaves and intensified by the contrast of 
white hark and green foliage, lends a certain 
airy grace. 
The Fern-Leaved Beech (Fag us sylvalica as- 
plenifolia ) haH broader leaves than laciniala, 
hence tho name asplenifolia , meaning shield- 
like—a quite distinctive definition. 
One Cut-Leaved Elm deserves, however, par¬ 
ticular mention (Limns campestris Berardii). 
It is a small Dee, of slender growth and pyram¬ 
idal habit, with deeply and delicately-cut fo¬ 
liage—a very decided acquisition. 
The Cut-leaved, red-twigged Linden (Tilia 
Europaea lacinhita rubra ) is a medium-sized tree 
of fine symmetrical habit, with tho foliage deeply 
cut, and the bark on the young wood rose-col¬ 
ored. Its position in the Tilia genus is very 
much that of the Eagle-claw Maple among the 
Acers. 
The Cut-leaved Oak (Q uercus pedunculala 
pectinala) is a desirable variety, quite variable, 
with its narrow leaves, becoming broader as the 
season advances, 
The Cut-leaved Horse-chestnut (Aesculus 
Hippocastaniim laciniala ) is a rare and interest¬ 
ing variety, with the young leaves quite shred¬ 
like in appearance, and always remaining sDongly 
cut-leaved. 
The Eagle-claw Maple (Aoer Platanoides lacin- 
iaturn has leaves very much cut, and curled in 
the form of an eagle’s claw, which form remains 
quite persistent to old age. 
Acer Platanoides occulatum is a very peculiar 
variety, with broader, rounder lobes than the 
,ast, curled down around the edges. 
Acer Plalanoides Sorbergii is still another 
handsome variety, with larger leaves, deeply cut. 
The Japanese Maples, already mentioned, pos¬ 
sess, for the most part, deeply-cut leaves, some 
being unrivaled for exDerne delicacy aud refine¬ 
ment of form. 
The elegance and lightness of this group of 
trees give a peculiar charm and finish, which the 
landscape gardener, in his study of diversified 
forms, may turn to an effective account. 
Samuel Parsons. 
-*-*-♦- 
WAYSIDE TREES. 
The London Gardener's Chronicle says:—“ In 
America, where aDoet planting is almost uni¬ 
versal, and where every person is free to follow 
his own inclinations, it appears—so at least wo 
are told—that this liberty is sometimes asserted 
in tho selection and planting of the wayside 
Dees, and that one person will plant one kind, 
and his neighbor another, till tho avenue be¬ 
comes a series of heterogeneous Dees, forming 
anything hut a line of beauty. The rule of 
uniformity as to the kind of tree planted, should 
bo adopted, at least eo far as any one sDeet or 
lino of trees is concerned.’’ 
Yes, the Chronicle has been told truly. We 
do “assert the liberty" of planing along our 
“waysides’’ juBt whatever Dees we fancy until 
“ the avenues become series of heterogeneous 
Decs.” But the worst of it iB we deem it good 
teste. The Chronicle gets tho notion that. Lon¬ 
don is the universe, and that as little else besides 
tho Plane will grow in its smoky streets, that 
homogeneity should bo the law elsewhere. Why 
not variety in our streets as well as in our 
gardens ? Why not first a Horse-chestnut, then 
a Maple, then a Tulip, then a Linden, and so on ? 
If they will all thrive in the same avenue, is not 
their variety of leaf, flower, form and stature 
more interesting, more pleasing than if but a 
single variety were employed ? 
It is the easiest thing to form ideas of “lines 
of beauty ” from local necessities—but tho rule 
should not be made so oppressive that it must 
Re applied to all otbor places in which those 
local necessities may have no existence. London 
may have its lines of Planes. Haring heard of 
London smoke, wo will not say that it is had 
taste. But until the Gardener’s Chronicle 
knows something of our linos of heterogeneous 
Dees otherwise than from hearsay, let it not 
impose upon us any “rule of uniformity” 
whatsoever. 
-- 
A NEW AUSTRALIAN WILD FRUIT. 
HIr. W. Howard lately brought under the no¬ 
tice of the Queensland Chronicle specimens of a 
wild fruit, which, according to his account, ha s 
been only recently discovered by settlers in the 
Burrum, and of the edibility of which even the 
blacks until lately had no knowledge, they hav¬ 
ing been first induced to taste it by observing 
that their dogs greedily devoured those that had 
fallen from over-ripeness. In size aud appear¬ 
ance it is very like a small apple; the color, ex¬ 
ternally, bright rod; inside, greenish white ; the 
pulp closely resembling that of an apple, but 
drier and more fibrous. The flavor is tart, but 
not unpleasant, and approximating to that of a 
common crab or wood apple. It contains five 
hard pips of a bright mahogany color, each in¬ 
closed in a separate core, and about an inch in 
length. Tbe tree is described as very tell and 
ornamental, and the locality where it abounds is 
noar the mouth of the Burrum. The fruit, al- 
thqngh not very palatable in its wild condition, 
would no doubt be easily improved by cultiva¬ 
tion. The Dee in question abounds on the head¬ 
waters of Tinaua creek and the Boppel range, and 
the apple, by keeping, becomes mellow and deli¬ 
cious. It seems to belong to the sapotaceous 
order, aud to be referable to one of two genera 
Achras and Mimusops. 
ASBESTOS AND ITS USES. 
Asbestos, as our readers are probably well 
aware, is a kind of mineral, a variety of horn¬ 
blende and pyroxene oocurring in long, delicate 
fibers, resembling silk or cotton more than 
mineral or stone which it is in reality. It 
occurs In extensive beds in the United States 
and various parte of the world, and although 
long used in the arts, it is only of late years tha[ 
its great value as indestructible fireproof 
material has been fully appreciated. Perhaps 
the later discoveries in the working of this min¬ 
eral have had something to do in the increased 
consumption of asbestos, but whatever might 
have been the cause it is now employed for 
hundreds of purposes where a fire-proof article 
is desired, especially for coating the roofs of 
buildings. 
Italy is said to stand at the head of all coun¬ 
tries in the use of this mineral, and from one of 
our foreign exchanges we learn that at a late 
