Q 
AOS. 25 
THE ISDBAL NEW-YORKER 
whon the plant—cither strawberry or tomato— 
comes to maturity, there will lie a uniform posi¬ 
tion of the rootsand crown ; uature having sure¬ 
ly adjusted them to her tilling. Tho tomato will 
at once form a new crown at the surface of the 
earth, aud soou abandon to decay all below it. 
Straight rows add much to the beauty, utility 
and pleasure of cultivation ; and whether one is 
to ho guided by stakes or lines, will dopend on 
tho grade of tho surface. If this he nearly a 
true one, the lino is tho most expeditions, and 
may easily be stretched 20 rod# by adding one or 
more intermediate stakes. Au expert man, with 
a smart boy, can easily take up and transplant 
one thousand strawberry plants per hour. 
1 havo spoken of tho spade as the only tool to 
boused. Now i he best-fashioned one for this, 
and many other farm purposes, can be made by 
a locksmith from a piece of an old mill-saw, anil 
should be four to live inches wide, sixteen to 
eighteen inches long, with the sides curved 
slightly forward to atiffeu it aud a large socket 
for a long, straight handle. 
The mode hero presented will by no means 
apply to tho transplanting of trees, shrubs, and 
vinos, which require special pains in tho adjust¬ 
ment of tho roots and crowns; but experience 
suggests plans and rule# for expediting these 
operations and for niakiug straight rows, all 
tending specially to the saving of time, which, in 
this fast age, is of vast conseqnenoe. 
EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENTS’ 
LETTERS. 
I see you are offering a premium of plants for 
best horticultural article#. Don't 1 wish I was 
able to strive for it! As I am not, I will give 
you a short history of my “acre," though it is 
not an aero by any moans—only a largo garden. 
In the first place, 1 will tell you I am a farmer’s 
wito, and think il no disgrace to have brown 
bauds. First., ns regards rny kitchen garden ami 
flowers ; I cannot omit them. My garden slopes 
a little to the north, and wood# at the lower side 
of the 1 oneo afford a great protection to rny vino# 
in tho winter. Along tho fence 1 havo Raspber¬ 
ries of several variotios, which are just done 
boaring, having been loaded with fruit. I mere¬ 
ly cut the tops of those, and keep them thinned 
out, aud let thorn run. up on (ho fence in nearly 
their own wild way, though I havo sorno trini- 
m«'d and tied to stakes. Next comes my plot, of 
Wilson Strawberries, about ten fact wide, the 
whole length of my garden. Next a row of 
Grape-vines, about thirty (you see my garden is 
a wide ouo); these are Concord and Hartford 
1 roliflc, bearing only a few bunches of grapes, 
as they aro only two years old. Next another 
bed of Strawberries, of some live of tho host va- 
rietioM—the largest I have ever seen grown_ 
affording fruit enough for my family, ami some 
to give to my neighbors. I first set them out in 
hills, but have given that up. I kcop them thin¬ 
ned out, as well as I can, and get more berries, 
if not so largo. Next Come several rows of Lima 
Beans, which aro my favorites ; thon Evergreen 
Sweet Corn, with Beans — a running variety. 
Now a space for very late planting of Corn, 
which gives mo roasting ears till frost comes. 
Then my Cabbage in rows. By planting in rows 
it can all be plowed till it get# too large, aud this 
does much more good than only hoeing. My 
louiatoos come next. Those I plant in rows, 
putting a polo on each side. Next my rows of 
Sweet Potatoes—then a path, aud along this aro 
planted my Peas. After planting the early ones, 
I set out. Tomatoes along ouch row, which tho 
pea stalks, after they are done bearing, hold up. 
Next conic my Onions, Beets and Asparagus 
beds. Pie-plant and other vegetable# fill up Uio 
lest. Around the outside aro Gooseberries and 
Currants. Ho much for my kitchen garden. 
In my flower garden, J use the front for orna¬ 
mental and tho hack for useful purposes. Next 
to the fence I have Grape-vines—twelve varie¬ 
ties, from tho earliest to tho latest—which I 
have just got through summer pruning, thin¬ 
ning out branches aud leaves. They are very 
lUl1 this year; some of thorn are bearing this 
summer, for the first time, and are uew kinds 
for rue: I am therefore curious to see them 
>ipen. I havo Damsons aud other kinds of 
l’ltuus. aud Quinces and Gooseberries, which (ill 
up my back garden At the sides are Ever¬ 
greens aud other ornamental trees. The front 
is almost one mass of flowers. The Moluccella 
teens yon sent me, this spring, is just beginning 
to blossom, and is beautiful—different from any¬ 
thing I have. Please accept a thousand thanks 
01 -^1 this I attend to, hoeing and weeding, 
love them so well, 'tis such a pleasure to da it. 
ou c:ln ,l »y 0110 get tired, discouraged or lone¬ 
some, with so many of Gon’s beauties around 
her i Besides I know it is healthy work. 
Mas. C. McCoy. 
--♦ ♦ ■»-- 
GARDENING PEN-TALKS. 
by Mils. ANNIE L. JACK. 
nine-years-old Jamie came to mo this 
morning, a perfect picture of Warm kb’s * • Bare¬ 
foot Boy." and as lie stood, framed in the door 
with face and voice keenly interrogative, these 
lines filled my mind: 
" All too soon those feet must hide 
In the prison cell# of pride; 
Lose the freedom of the. end. 
Like a colt's, for work be Shod; 
Made to frond the uiill of toil 
Pp and down, in ceaseless moil; 
Happy if their track be found 
Never on forbidden ground.” 
But my spoken words were unlike my thoughts 
as he asked, “ What is my work to day, mam¬ 
ma?’’ and I replied in one word. “ IPads.” Our 
summer routine of work is such that the chil¬ 
dren all help in the lighter duties, taking tho 
early part of tho day for work that requires ex¬ 
posure to the rays of the summer sun; and 
while resting during tho heat of the day, em¬ 
ploying their time in various studies. The girls 
then practice botanical drawing or music, while 
the younger boys are busy reading and the elder 
lads arranging any Insects caught, and pursuing 
their favorite entomological researches, 
Tho prospect of a day's fi-liing on the morrow, 
niado Jamie still more anxious to he classed 
among our workers, such an excursion being n 
reward for well-doing. “ I wish the weeds would¬ 
n't grow, mamma." 
“ So do I,” answered I, sympathetically, “ hut 
you know there is only a small bit left for your 
hoe around each currant bush after papa lias 
cultivated the ground lengthwise and across. 
The weeds eat out all tho strength from the 
plant and leave it no food if they aro not destroy¬ 
ed. What would you do if twenty strange little 
boys wove eating your breakfast ?" 
“Fight’em!” said belligerent Jamie, prompt¬ 
ly. 
“ That's tho way to talk," said 1, “ for that is 
just what is happening to the trees aud plants in 
our gardon. Tho soil, and manure, aud rain, 
and snow, place around thorn a nourishing food, 
to make them grow thrifty and strong ; but tho 
weeds come along aud eat up all the food, and 
tho poor little plants get weaker and at last die, 
choked and starved. Now, do two rows and then 
you can dig for worms to got ready for tho fish¬ 
ing.” 
“ Give mo a hoc. I'll light to let the poor cur¬ 
rant hushes get their breakfastaud away he 
ran, quite pleased with the comparison 1 had 
made. 
I find t hese gardening talks, whether of tongue 
or pen, very pleasant as the summer passes; and 
if in the future Rukalh, I now and then give the 
indulgent reader a glimpse at onr quiet home, 
with its busy workers, it will only he by such 
simple observation# as aro suggested through 
the eye in nature’s garden, for such only are 
jotted down in these talks. 
-»-» ♦—--- 
HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS FOR FALL 
FLOWERING. 
During the fall season few gardens, evon 
among those which rejoice in large collections, 
can boaBt of a good variety of seasonable, hardy 
perennials. This is greatly to be regretted, for 
there aro few classea of plants which hotter 
repay the planter, or give a greater amount of 
satisfaction for the cost and time spent on them. 
Thoso which will hereafter be spoken of are 
some of the most dwrVble kinds in cultivation. 
They aro all showy and beautiful plants, of easy 
cultivation, and furnish flower# during a season 
when, without them, tho garden would weir a 
very bare appearance. 
At llie head of the list stands Anemone Jn- 
ponica alba , tho very finest white-ilowored, 
autumn blooming plant in cultivation. Dur¬ 
ing the summer, when other plants aro at tho 
hightof their glory, this is a very plain, common- 
looking plant, but as they pass away in the cool, 
dewy nights of autumn, the flower Mem# of this 
begin to shoot up and in a short time the plant 
is a mass of snowy bloom. A single well grown 
specimen, with its fifty to a hundred pure white 
flowers, growing handsomer everyday until after 
a severe frost, is an object of delight to every 
flower lover. The plant grows two aud a half 
l'eet high, and is of a very neat, compact habit; 
while the flowers are from two to two and a-half 
inches in diameter. 
Anemone Japonica.— This is another grand 
autumn flower, similar to tue above. It grows 
two feet or more in bight. The flowers are 
borne in the greatest profusion during August; 
and, until destroyed by severe frost, they aro, 
when well grown, from two and a half to three 
inches in diameter. In color they are a bright 
rose-tinged purple, the center of each flower be¬ 
ing a brilliant yellow. 
Sedum spectabilc .— This is one of the finest 
flowers for show and display purposes of which 
I know. Of a compact growth, growing one 
foot high, a bed filled with the Anemones and 
edged with this, is one of the grandest sights 
in floriculture. Blooms from August to Novem¬ 
ber. Flowers in dense heads often on well grown 
subjects eight inches across ; flowers of a bright 
rose color. 
Sedum . Teleph.ium roseum .—This is of similar 
habit and nearly identical with tho last, flowers 
largo and of a deeper color. The former is a 
native or Japan, the latter a hybrid from it. 
Funk in, or Day Lily. These are old favorites, 
and constitute as flue a class of fall flowering 
plants as wo have. F.alha odorata bears largo, 
white, fragrant flowers, while its foliage is of a 
light yellow-green color. F. marginata lms 
large foliage of a pure green, marked distinctly 
with broad sulphur stripes. This variety flo wers 
later than any of Iho other Day Lilies. F. cov- 
ulea lms pretty blue flower# amd dark green 
glossy foliage. 
Asters,—The perennial Asters furnish us 
with somo of our gayost flo waring fall plants. 
There aro a tmnvbor of varieties and colors to be 
found among them, a few of tho best, which 
should be in all collection# are, A coneinnux 
with rosy crimson flowers, growing two feet 
high, A. lliinoloi/msis growing a foot and a half 
high bears small white flower# in great profu¬ 
sion. A. Nova 1 Antflive bears a handsome pur¬ 
plish flower while A. laneeolatux Califovnieus , 
furnishes# flowers of a pure azure bhio, all desi¬ 
rable. 
Tricyrtis grandiJlom.—Ono of the haud- 
Bomcst fall plants I ovor (lowered. Flowers re¬ 
semble those of an orchid. Tho ground color 
of tho flower is lilac, marbled with white. Has 
an agreeable fragrance. Blooms late and should 
ho grown in every collection. Besides tho above, 
Antirrhinums, Delphinium#, Tritoinas. or Kui- 
phollas, Verbena Montana, several varieties of 
Htatieo, and Klein sin furnish flowers during this 
season, and I had almost forgotten the Chrys¬ 
anthemum, tho best of all. W. C. L. Dbew. 
Eldorado, Cal. 
--♦-» «-— 
THE TEXAS STAR-THISTLE, (Centaurea 
Americana,) AND OTHER PLANTS. 
BY WILLIAM FALCONER, BOTANIC GARDEN'S, 
CAMBRIDGE. 
This Centaurea. an annual of sterling merit 
as a garden flowering plant, a native of Arkansas 
and Texas, is a comparative stranger in cultiva¬ 
tion. It is described by Dr. Aha Gray as 1 to 2 
ft. high, but tho plauts now growing in our gar¬ 
den are 1 ft,, high. They are stout-stemmed, 
rather sparingly branched as compared with their 
size, but every branch and branohlet is termi¬ 
nated by a flower-head, of which from 15 to 23 
decorate each plant. The open heads are 3 to 5 
in. across, of a pale purple Color and very showy. 
They begin to bloom about tho middle or 20tli of 
.July, and go on flowering till September. In 
spring wo raise and otherwise treat them a# we 
do Stocks, Asters, Zinnias, or Drummond Phlox, 
and towards the end or May transfer them to the 
garden plots iu clumps of three. At night, and 
after being cut and kept iu a shady place, the 
flowers “close up," the heads then looking like 
a painter’s brush. These “ brushes," whether 
on tho plants or as out-flowers in tho house, open 
as beautifully as ever ere sunrise next morning. 
Cl. Americana var. Haitii only differs from the 
typical plant in having tho flowers of a deep 
rich purple color, and a littlo fuller and more 
compact perhaps. Nor does it “ close-up” so 
noticeably or quickly as does tho trim Americana. 
It is not a garden-raised variety, but also a na¬ 
tive of Texas, where it was collected and dissem¬ 
inated by Mr. IIaix, in compliment to whom it 
was named. 
(IVN'OTilERA GilANDITLORA (GotMifl Wkitncyi), 
I am unacquainted with Ooddia “Lady Albe¬ 
marle," you so favorably speak of July 28, p. 55, 
but would like to know how her ladyship com¬ 
pares with the flowers of OS. grandifiora I here¬ 
with send to you. This (Fnolkera is reckoned 
the largest flowered and prettiest specie# iu 
cultivation. The plants are 18 in. high, much 
branched, and tho flowers, from 2 to 3 in. iu di¬ 
ameter, are crowded at tho summit of the stems 
and branches. Tlio ground-color of the petals 
is a pale, purplish-tinged pink ; somo blooms are 
almost self-colored, others faintly penciled with 
bright purple-crimson, and otners again havo 
large, intense blotches of the same hue. 
Many years ago the pale, Unspotted kind was 
figured and described in the Botanical Register 
as (iwlclia ejrandijlora. a bush 2 feet high, and 
native of tho northwest coast of North America. 
In 187U tho most brilliantly spotted flower was 
figured and described by Dr. Hookkk iu tlm .Bo¬ 
tanical Magazine as <Enothera Wkitncyi. “First 
collected by Dr. Bolandeu in Humboldt Co., 
California, in 18G7.” Subsequent observations, 
however, have proved that both figures are illus¬ 
trations of the same species, as the blooms I send 
to you, showing the various stages of variega¬ 
tion and raised from tho same packet of seeds, 
can testify. I must say, however, that pale and 
highly-colored flowers aro not both found on one 
plant, and I oauuot say whether or not seeds of 
the pale-(lowering variety will produce a progeny 
having intensely blotched blooms; but next year 
I mean to satisfy myself on this point. At-any 
rate, it is an annual worth overy amateur's at¬ 
tention. 
Japanese Privet (Ligustrwm Japonicum ).— 
This species has a wide-spreading bush habit, 
large, oval, evergreen leaves, and terminal ample 
panicles of white flowers that arc qui e pretty. 
K'vrv branch and branchlet oil tho very smallest 
to the Urge.b specimens, aro terminated by theso 
panicles, till sometime# tho shoot# depend in 
arches to the ground. They are in bloom during 
the first three weeks of July. But, alas ! This 
desirable shrub is not hardy. Wo lift our plants 
when frost comes and heel thorn in in a cold 
frame (deep pit), which we cover over in win ■ r 
with wood tit shutters, and transfer them to tho 
open garden next April or oarly May, when they 
grow and flower as if nothing happened. Last 
year wo left out a plant by way of experiment, 
mnleliiug heavily around it, but in January it 
died, root and stem. 
The Common Privet.— Your remarks Aug. 4, 
p. 72, cone, ruing Jngnstrum nutgare , have incited 
mo to send yon tho following extract from my 
diary, and which speaks lor itself:—“ June 26, 
’77. I.igufttrum. vulgare iu full flower. Old. iso¬ 
lated, tree like shrubs bloom abundantly; but 
young stock and luxuriantly-growing plauts flow¬ 
er sparingly." 
--♦--*-♦-- 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS. 
August 14. 
How to Cross or Hybridize Flowers. 
There are hundreds of others, beside myself, 
that would be glad ifthu Rural would give us 
some rules for hybridizing, crossing and fertil¬ 
izing flowers. I want to cross some Petunias, 
Strawberries, Potatoes, and a number of other 
flowers, and don’t know bow to do it.—Dn. 
A. C. W. 
Answer, 
It is very simple. Lot us take, for example, 
the Pelargonium, or Geranium, as it is common¬ 
ly called. For tho reason that the male and 
female parts do not mature at tho same time, as 
well as for the Tva«i>U that tho crossing may be 
effected either out of doors during the summer, 
or iu the house during winter—this is one of tho 
best of plant# to experiment with. 
Out of doors at the present time, the Gladiolus 
i is perhaps t he easiest for tho begiuner 
to operate upou, as the flower is huge 
and the generative organs easily man¬ 
aged by tho most unskillful hands. But 
tho principle for all is tho .-mine, aud wo 
trust our instructions for the Pelargo¬ 
nium may bo readily applied to any 
other flowers. Fig. 1 is the pistil of a 
Kip. i. Pelargonium, thrice its natural size. 
The apex is called tho stigma, which, when ready 
to resolve the pollen, spreads out into flvo re¬ 
curved threads, us iu Fig. 2. As soon as the 
flower open#, and before tho stigmas have spread 
apart, tho anther# (as shown in Fig. 3) should 
lie removed. For this purpose tho point of a 
penknife answers very well. Tho anthers aro 
the pollen-hearing organs, of an oblong-round¬ 
ish shape, delicately attached to the upright, 
slender stems, called filaments. Iu the bud, and 
generally for some time after the “ flo.var" has 
expanded, the anthers arc smooth and entire. 
Soon, however, they burst or, ho t.o speak, turn 
inside out. Then the pollou (yellowish powder) 
is ready for use, and tuay bo applied to tho 
stigma which we desire to pollonate with a view 
to fertilizing its ovary, which is the f) 
lower, swollen part, as shown in either 
Fig. lor 2. If fertilization takes place, £ j) 
then the ovary begin# to enlarge in a 
day or so, until finally, as in Fig. 4, the j\ 
ripened fruit detaches itself, tho tenth- n \ 
ery stylo curls up, carrying the fruit J. 1 
with It. Hero it may remain, feebly M j# 
held at tho apex ol* tho elongated re- vuVrJ 
ccptaoio, until it is wafted away by the f,-] '* 2 . 
wind. As soon, however, as tho fruit turns a dark 
brown color, it is better to secure and plant 
them at once. This beak, from which Gera¬ 
niums and Pelargoniums derive their generic 
names, is peculiar to them and to several othor 
genera. 
If the operation of crossing or hybridizing is 
to be conducted out of doors, a gauze-netting 
must be made to cover tho flower during its ex¬ 
istence -otherwise insects would bo very likely 
to render tho results of our efforts doubtful. If 
in tiic house, no such covering is uoce##ary. We 
jii would advise Dr. A. C W., and 
°^ 101 frauds who attempt to cross 
( s ” fH-rikjyf rat flowers for tho first time, to select 
\ ip/fs neither tho Strawberry, Potato 
\ vVl// now Petunia, for reason# which 
yt 'l j Vj will occur to them after some ex- 
V\ t perionce, and which would require 
(j\ Ik a good dual of space to explaiu. 
X Besides, it is rather late in the 
Fig. 8. season for Potatoes and .Straw¬ 
berries. Gladioli may ho crossed for two weeks 
yet, in this climate. A penny hair brush Is as 
good as anything to transfer the pollen from the 
anthers of one plant to the stigmas ol’ another, 
