MARCH 40 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
453 
of which had been obtained from the champion 
squash man, Gregory of Marblehead. I deter¬ 
mined to confine myself to one variety of this 
vegetable, in order to be able to w arrant the 
seed, which I have ever since sold with profit to 
our local seedsmen. For flowers, I destined two 
ridges on a slope nearest the house, that, besides 
enjoying their beauty ourselves, they might 
please the taste of those epicures, the bees. An 
ounce of Dwarf Celery soed was sown in the 
open ground, in a small seed bod and the hol¬ 
low of black loam, planted with a first crop of 
early potatoes that could bo marketed before the 
time came for transplanting celery, which my 
guide-book assured mo was always a second 
crop, and a very profitable one sometimes. 
How I reveled in that garden as the days ( 
grew warmer and the ancient plum trees along 
the fence side suddenly became huge bouquets 
of white beauty, and when the last cucumber 
seed and grain of corn wore covered up, I heaved 
a sigh full of relief, and yet of hope, and entered 
in my note-book, “ Expense for seed and labor, 
sixteen dollars.” A friend who had to spare 
slips of the largo English gooseberry and 
Houghton's seedling, generously gave mo all 
I needed to plant in the rows between my 
apple trees. These, with currants, black, white, 
and red, of the ordinary variety, gave a promise, 
when planted, of adding to the pecuniary value 
of the garden—a promise they havo long ago 
fulfilled. 
At this time, having conned the book on vege¬ 
tables till I knew it by heart. I was attracted by 
a new purchase—Fuller’s Small Fruit Culturist, 
which I may truly call the father of our present 
fruit garden. Oh I the luscious bunches of cur¬ 
rants there to be seen, the tempting raspberry, 
the outicing strawberry! r read and was con¬ 
quered. From a Canadian nurseryman I pro¬ 
cured one hundred plants of Wilson's Albany 
Strawberry, fifty Brinckle’s Orange Raspberry, 
and a dozen of tho cherry currants. Of the straw¬ 
berry plants, one-half, on fruiting, proved no 
larger than a wildling. Tho raspberry canes 
were delicate and needed tender care, and the 
fruit of those cherry currants proved sourer and 
smaller than tho small etui of tho bunch in or¬ 
dinary varieties. 
To the Small Fruit Culturist I wrote for one 
hundred plants of “ Seth Hoyden” Btrawberry, 
to be sent by mail. Ah! well do I remember 
their arrival. As they came from tho post bag 
in our little village, smelling of damp moss and 
fresh earth, they seemed a link between our cold 
North land and the Jersey garden whore they 
grew; and when wo counted our treasures we 
found 104 plants, which grew and proved true to 
name. This hefty is tenderer and smaller than 
the Wilson, suitable for market purposes at 
short distances, and brings higher prices with 
customers who require quality as well as size—a 
fact which compensates for their not being so 
productive as the more popular variety. Hardly 
were the last plants in the ground, when taking 
a walk Uirough our promising land, after a warm 
shower, we perceived the earth taking on a tinge 
of green. Onions? Yes, hero and there were 
the doublcd-up threads breaking through the 
ground; but between the row s and in the rows, 
everywhere in fact over that blessed acre, Ike 
‘teeeds had come! 
— ■- 
OUR TREE AND SHRUB ELECTION. 
For the benefit of many new subscribers, let 
us briefly state that several months ago wo solic¬ 
ited from our experienced horticulturists and 
leading nurserymen a list of twenty-five trees 
and twenty-live shrubs that, being what is 
termed “ perfectly hardy " for such climates as 
that of New York, should, as they might esti¬ 
mate, prove the most desirable jn cultivation. 
Whether the response was cordial or not may 
be judged from the fact that we have been 
obliged to give two eutire days to the summing 
up of the votes. 
The elected shrubs and trees are given below 
in the order of their merits as pronounced by 
the votes. 
SHRUBS. 
1. Hydrangea paniculata grandijfpra. 
2. Chionant/vus Virginica (White Fringe). 
3. Prunus triloba (Double-flowering Plum). 
4. DeuUia gracilis (Graceful Deutsda.) 
5. Spiraea prunifolia Jl, pi. (Double-flowering 
Plum-leaved Spiraea). 
6 . Pier villa Japonica, or Weigela rosea. 
7. Hibiscus Syriacus vgriegatus jl. pi. (Double 
variegated Rose of Sharon, or Shrubby Althaea). 
8 . Philadelphus grandiflorus (Large-flowered 
Mock-orange). 
9. Pirns Colinus (Smoke-tree, or Venetian 
Sumach). 
10. Syringa Per sic a (Persian Lilac). 
11. Herberts vulgaris purpurea (Purple-leaved 
Berberry). 
12 . DierviUa hortensis nivea (White-flowered 
Weigela). 
13. C ydonia Japonica (Japan Quince). 
15. Corylus Avellana purpurea (Purple Hazel¬ 
nut). 
15. Cornua florida (Flowering Dogwood). 
16. Forsylhia viridissima. 
17. Spiraea lanceolata, or Reeoesiana jl. pi. 
(Lance-leaved, double-flowering Spiraea). 
18. Viburnum plicalum (Plaited-leaved Vi¬ 
burnum). 
19. Oercis Canadensis (American Red-bud). 
20. Spiraea, or Exochorda grandijlora. 
21. DeuLzia crenata Jl. pi. (Double-flowering, 
crenate-leaved Deutzia). 
22. Oornus mascula variegata (Variegated 
Cornelian Cherry). 
28. Halesia tetraptera (Four-wiuged Silver 
Hell Tree). 
21. Lonicera Tartarica (Tartarian Honey¬ 
suckle. 
25. Viburnum lantanoides (Hobble-bush). 
The following are the elected 
TREES, 
1. Acer platanoides (Norway Maple). 
2 . Fagus sylvatica purpurea River si (Rivers 
Purple Beech). 
3. Betula alba laciniata pendula (Cut-leaved 
Weeping Birch). 
4. Larix Europasa (European Larch). 
5. Magnolia conspicua Soulangeana (Sou- 
lango's conspicuous-flowered Magnolia). 
fi. SaHsburia adumtifolia (The Maiden-hair- 
loavod Salisburia, or Ginkgo Tree). 
7. Acer sacekariunm (Sugar Maple). 
8 . Lirhtdendron tulipifera (Tulip Tree, Pop¬ 
lar, Whito Wood, Cauoo Wood, Virginian Pop¬ 
lar, etc.). 
9. Fagus sylvatloapendula, (Weeping Beech). 
10. Ulrtms Americana (American or Whito 
Elm). 
11 . Pyrus aucuparia (European Rowan Tree, 
Or Mountain Ash). 
12. Cladrastis tinctoria, or Virgilia lutea 
(Yellow-wood). 
13. Fagus sylvatica heterophylls. (The various 
or out-leaved Beech). 
M. Aescuhis Hippocaslanum (The common 
Horse-chestnut). 
15. Liquidnmhnr Hlyracijhia. (Sweet-gum 
Tree). 
16. Acer dasycarpumlaainiatum Wieri (Wier’s 
Cut-leaved Silver Maple). 
17. A hvus glutinosa laoiniata imperialis (Im¬ 
perial, Cut-leaved common Alder). 
18. Magnolia acuminata (Cucumber Tree). 
19. Oymnocladus Canadensis (Kentucky Cof¬ 
fee Tree). 
20. Aesoulus rnJnamda (Red Horse-chestnut). 
21 . Taxodium distichum sinense pendulum, or 
Glyptoslrobus pendulus (Chinese pendulous Cy¬ 
press). 
22. Koelrcutvria paniculata, or Sapindus Chi- 
nensis (Paniclod-flowering Koelreuteria). 
23. Tilia Americana (American Linden, or 
common Basswood). 
24. Quercus pedunculata purpurea (Peduncled 
purple English Oak). 
25. Magnolia purpurea Lennei (Lenne’s Pim¬ 
ple Magnolia). 
Tho following shrubs, arranged relatively to 
merit, reooivod a goodly number of votes, but 
not a sufficient number to place them iu the 
above list: 
1. Pavia macrostachya, or Aesculus parvi- 
Jlora (Loug- racenied Pavia). 
2. Hydrangea quercifolia (Oak-leaved Hydran¬ 
gea). 
3. Clelhra alnifolia (White Alder). 
4. Rhodora Canadensis. 
5. Azalea nudijlora (Pinxter Flower). 
6 . Viburnum gpulus slet'ilis (Guelder RoBe, 
or Snowball Tree). 
7. Galycanthus jloridus (Carolina Allspice, or 
Sweet-scented Shrub). 
8 . Spiraea Pouglasi. 
9. Euonymus alropurpureus (Burning-bush, 
or Spindle-tree). 
10. Crataegus coccinea Jl. pi. (Scarlet double- 
flowered Thorn). 
And the following trees would have been add¬ 
ed, in the following order, had the election-list 
been thirty-five, instead of twenty-five: 
1. Acer dasycarpum (White Maple). 
2. Fagus sylvatica (European Beech). 
3. Magnolia Iripelala, or Umbrella Magnolia. 
4. Quercus concordia (Golden Oak). 
5. Q ucrcus j'astigiala (Pyramidal Oak). 
6 . Magnolia macrophyUa (Great-leaved Mag¬ 
nolia. 
7. Acer Pseudo-Plalanus (Sycamore Maple). 
8 . Ainas glutinosa laciniata (Cut-leaved 
Aider). 
9. Oxydendrwm arboreum (Sorrel-tree). 
10. Catalpa hignonioides (common Catalpa). 
It will be observed that several Magnolias are 
mentioned in the above lists. Messrs. T. C. 
Maxwell A Bros, remark, after naming two in 
their lists: '’But there are other Magnolias of 
great value and exceeding beauty. By experi¬ 
ment and careful sifting, the great desideratum 
of hardiness has been secured, and when tho fact 
is thoroughly made known, no attraction for the 
lawn will be more eagerly sought.” 
Mr. Josiaii Hoopes, of West Chester, Pa., 
writes; “ J know very well that different localities 
suit many beautiful trees that cannot be coaxed 
into success at others. As examples, the Horse- 
chestnut, Cut-leaved Birch, Mountain Ash, Elm, 
etc., otc., do no good whatever in this vicinity. 
This feature should bo mentioned in publishing 
a list of shrubs and trees for a wide circuit of 
country, as hardiness, in the general acceptation 
of the term, is of no more consequence than 
freedom from insects, diseases, etc.” 
Mr. Thomas Mekuan and Messrs. Meow an¬ 
ger & Barky, to whom we are indebted for lists, 
deemed it impossible to name them with regard 
to value that being in so great, a degree a mat¬ 
ter ol' taste. Wo hope, therefore, to publish 
their lists separately in a week or so. 
Prof. Beal of Michigan favored ns with a 
list especially for that part of the country. This 
we shall also give separately in due time. 
-♦♦♦- 
ECHEVERIAS. 
In a late number of tho Rural, tbeEchoverias 
are well spoken of on account of the fino appear¬ 
ance of thoir leaves, and one of them is men¬ 
tioned as worthy of special notice for the beauty 
of its flowers. This combination of interesting 
loaves and flowers is not, however, confined to a 
single member of this very interesting family; 
Relieverin nucla , Jl. lutea grundijiura. E. splen- 
dvns , and E. stdlonifera , not to mention others, 
are all abundant bloomers, and E. stoiXmifera is 
wonderfully free in throwing up it» flowers. 
Small plants uf tho Echovorias, if put out-of- 
doors towards the cud of May, iu a moderately 
dry, sunny spat, make a rapid and handsome 
growth, and if potted and taken in before frosty 
weather sets ill, the varieties moutiouod above 
will produce flowers nearly all tho winter. 
Echovorias, with their thick and fleshy leaves, 
are well able to endure tho dry heat, of ordinary 
sitting-rooms ; if they fail to do well, it will 
almost surely bo because thoy havo not sunlight 
enough, or because they have been too much 
watered, and unless thoy are kept in compara¬ 
tively small pots, the watering is very likely to 
bo overdone. 
A few of the Echovorias are pretty generally 
known, such, for instance, as Echeeeria seevnda, 
E. metaliim, and others, but many of tho hand¬ 
somest are by no moans common. E. J'arinosa, 
from California, is an elegant little plant, with 
loaves thickly coated with silvery-white dust, 
and E. puhocrutenta, hIbo from California, is a 
most noble plant, with flne, broad leaves that 
havo absolutely the appearance of richly-frosted 
silver. K. rosacea iB a perfect rosette of glau¬ 
cous or bluish-gray loaves, and is a notable im¬ 
provement on E. secunda gbauca, which it some¬ 
what resembles. 
Without dwelling on the Bpecial beauties of 
each, two or threo other varieties may be men¬ 
tioned which aro rare and flne, Those are E. 
agavoides, E. carninala, and E. pack yphytoides 
—the latter a hybrid between an Kchevena and 
a Pachy phylum; but as these are scarce and 
high-priced, beginners should gain their expe¬ 
rience by growing somo of the inexpensive sorts 
before taking in hand these latter. 
South Amboy, N. J. George Such. 
- *■■*■■* - 
TREATMENT OF MUTILATED TREES. 
The reading of an article in tho Rural of tlio 
3d inst. in relation to tho natural readjust¬ 
ment of the symmetry of a tree after an acciden¬ 
tal mutilation,” reminds me of a ease of artificial 
restoration after a similar mutilation. This was 
a Balsam Fir, about four feet high, with tho 
leador broken off close down to the side branches, 
leaving the top tho shape of an inverted um¬ 
brella. The first year after transplanting it 
seemed to make no efforts at a restoration, al¬ 
though it made a fair growth. I then turned up 
the uppermost of tho sido branches and laced ft 
with the whole trunk to a perpendicular stako. 
This was kept tied, I tiiink, for two seasons, and 
the last, I saw of it, which was four or live years 
after transplanting, the new louder was |at least 
three times the size of the side branches, and 
the whole tree of most hopeful symmetry. 
a. b. p. 
Many an old gardener has uttered a warning 
against the destruction of the leading shoot of 
Buch symmetrical-growing trees as the Balsam, 
Pine, and Bpruce, declaring that if such an acci¬ 
dent occurred the specimen was mined for orna¬ 
mental purposes. But such old-time theories 
and ideas have passed away, and uow we see 
nurserymen going through their grounds cutting 
out the leaders from such trees for the purpose 
of causing a better development of the side 
branches, and thereby producing a more sym¬ 
metrical and compact growth. 
Evergreen trees like the deciduous kinds may 
be pruned and forced to take ou almost any form 
desired, and when inclined to grow tall and 
slim, the removal of tho leading shoots will gen¬ 
erally check the tendency.— Ed. Rural. 
- , »- 
FORESTS OF PRUSSIA. 
It is very generally supposed that older Euro¬ 
pean countries have been pretty thoroughly de¬ 
nuded of forests, but this is an error, for both 
the governments and individuals ol’ the more 
civilized countries know the value of forests too 
well to allow them to be ruthlessly destroyed, as 
has been done in many localities in tho United 
States. From oho of our foreign exchanges we 
leant that the woods and forests of Prussia 
occupy nearly 28)-.) percent, of tho total super¬ 
ficial area of the country, and are so distributed 
that 7,V per cent, of them belong to the crown, 
to towu and county corporations, and 13 per 
cent, to private individuals. 
The proportion of forest to the total super¬ 
ficies in tho various separate provinces is as fol¬ 
lows:- In Hesso-Nassau 40 per cent.., in the 
Rhine provinces 37, in Brandenburg 82, in Si¬ 
lesia 30, in Westphalia 28, in Posen 23, in Pome¬ 
rania 20, in Saxony, Prussia proper, and Han¬ 
over 13, and in Schleswig-Holstein 4 per cont. 
In the eastern part, of the monarchy the larger 
proportion of forest land belongs to the crown, 
while in the western district corporations and 
private landowners hold the greater share. 
-■» ♦ ♦- 
NOTES. 
Temperature of Water for Plants. —Wo 
have always favored giving warm water—or at 
least of tho temperature of tho air—to house 
plants for tho reason that it warmed tho soil 
and seemed on general principles to promote 
growth. A correspondent of the Revue Uorticole 
lifts made experiments which have conviucod 
him to tho contrary, or rather that plants thrive 
just as well if given cold spring wator as when 
given warm water. Two lots of seeds wore 
planted in different boxos at tho same time 
under precisely the same circumstances except 
that cold wator was given to one and warm to 
the other. Tho result was that the experimenter 
preferred tho former. 
Coal Ashes for Grass.—As a little experi¬ 
ment for my own satisfaction, I scattered about 
a gallon of silted coal ashes over ton feet square 
of my lawn in early supitner and watched tho 
results. I could not see, either during tho sum¬ 
mer or at tho end Of it, that ft produced any 
efl'eot whatever.— a. o. g. 
Clematis Propagation. — I havo never tried 
the latest varieties as I have considered tho 
wood too valuable to experiment with, as we 
propagate from layers or by grafting (hard wood 
on Viticolla roots), But I have successfully 
struck Jaekmanni, Amrea grandijlora, and 
Standisld from green cuttings taken off tho 
shoots (grown in tho Iioubo of course), as soon 
as hard enough, but, still quite succulent, three 
or four years ago. It was simply an experiment. 
I tried perhaps a dozen different varieties, but 
only the above threo succeeded,at all. Jack¬ 
manni not near so well as the other two. Stan- 
dishi roots freely In this way. 
Still I dii not consider it a successful modo of 
propagation, and not one of the larger firms em¬ 
ploys it with success. Hoopes Bros. A', Thomas 
and Maxwell Bros., the largest growers, do not 
find it, a buccohh. Layering is the true way iu my 
Opinion. -A. K., Rochester, .V. 1'. 
CONCUSSION, AGAIN. 
• 
Col. Hardee of Florida for several years 
past has claimed that many, or all, of our insect 
pests may be readily destroyed by what he terms 
*•' Concussion,” produced by firing a gun among 
fruit trees, or exploding gunpowder hi any other 
manner by which a violent concussion of the ah’ 
or earth may be effected. 
Now, while wo havo not had any personal ex¬ 
perience in this method of destroying insect 
life, still we are inclined to favor giving it a trial 
the present season, and hope our readers will 
also do so and report tho result. 
But Col. Hardee claims more thau the above, 
for iu a private letter before us he says, “ I also 
claim that concussion to fruit trees while the 
fruit is young will hasten the maturity, and it 
also has the same effect upon watermelons, to¬ 
matoes, and squashes. It, does not, however, 
so affect oranges or grapes." He writes further, 
that “ Many persons are now employing concus¬ 
sion in Florida for the purposo named, and I 
think that giant powder will be extensively used 
the present season for destroying the cotton or 
army worm.” 
We are also informed through other sources 
that the orange scale has been in scores of in¬ 
stances destroyed by firing a gun under and 
among the branches of tho trees ; and if either 
concussion or the smoko from burning gunpow¬ 
der will destroy this orange tree pest, it would be 
well to try the same agents against our Northern 
apple tree scale, which is closely allied to the 
species that infests the orange tree. 
it will certainly not ccmt much to put Col. 
Hardee’s concussion theory to a practical tost, 
and we hope it will be done, for some good may 
come of it, if not all that is claimed by the 
inventor. 
