342 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
Nov. 
ped from the tree; not one was left. The branches 
were perfectly bare, with the exception of the load of 
plums which half obscured them. The plums remain¬ 
ed on the tree, without changing any in size, color, or 
taste, while others on trees not so affected, were rapid¬ 
ly ripening round them. In two or three weeks, a se¬ 
cond crop of leaves appeared, when the fruit immedi¬ 
ately commenced a second growth, and attained full 
size. It subsequently assumed the usual color, and all 
the richness of flavor of well ripened specimens, and 
was about one month later than the usual period of 
maturity. 
Other varieties, affected with leaf-blight, presented 
similar results, but less striking; and nearly all of them 
soon after the appearance of the second growth of 
leaves early in autumn, were also observed with a thin 
crop of blossoms. 
Address of David Thomas, 
Before the Buffalo Horticultural Society. 
We briefly alluded to this address in our last number. 
Its merits are of a high order. We regard it as one 
of the best productions of its distinguished author. 
With the hope of inducing our readers to procure it, we 
give a few brief extracts:— 
The following remarks on a taste for flowers, have 
much point:— 
“ Does any animal except man, enjoy the beauty of 
flowers ? I presume not, having never seen any indica¬ 
tion of the kind, though hundreds of insects regale on 
their nectar. Our love of flowers must then be consi¬ 
dered as evidence of a higher organization; and those 
who cannot appreciate it, suffering from the want of 
some phrenological development, have claims on our 
sympathy. Yet as organs are said to be enlarged or 
diminished, according to our moral or mental training, 
so many of our friends now shut out, may indulge the 
hope of rising hereafter, to the enjoyment of more glo¬ 
rious objects, and of purer and more elevated plea¬ 
sures.” 
The subject of the various shades of color is vividly 
illustrated:— 
“ Occasionally we meet with tastes that are partial 
or averse to particular colors; and this state of mind 
may arise from impressions perhaps long since forgot¬ 
ten. If we had only seen in early life (as the poet 
says.) 
‘ Where tawdry yellow strove with dirty red,’ 
we should doubtless have acquired a distaste for those 
colors; and probably without perceiving it at the time. 
That it would be a prejudice however, must be evident 
when we look at the rainbow or prismastic spectrum— 
so clear, so free from every tinge or impurity of earth, 
that we rejoice in the whole seven colors and know not 
which to prefer. 
u Pure white, as we see it in a sunbeam coming 
through a clean atmosphere, is the blending of all co¬ 
lors in certain definite proportions; and when it is im¬ 
pure, a surplus or deficiency of some color must cause 
it. The colors of most flowers are mixtures. The 
purples are rarely, if ever, pure, being only the inter¬ 
mingling of red and blue.—-The prismatic colors exhi¬ 
bited in flowers, however, with rare exceptions, are on¬ 
ly six, for green in Botany, like black in Optics, is not 
considered a color. 
“ The intense blue of some Alpine flowers, has been 
ascribed to the deep hue of the sky that bends over 
them; but the constant supply of moisture may be a 
better reason. Finer colors may have been observed in 
some species near brooks in summer and autumn, than 
on similar plants that stood on dry banks above them.” 
The following facts, of a practical character, cannot 
fail to be interesting to the cultivator of flowers:— 
“ The winters of Western New-York, are as favora¬ 
ble to herbaceous perennials as those of Philadelphia 
—perhaps more so—but they are less favorable to half 
hardy shrubs. Our heavy loams freeze not half as 
deep as theirs, owing in part to more clouds at that 
season—the condensed vapor of our lakes—that obstruct 
the radiation of heat; and to more snow at the time of 
our severest cold. Plants that lie snug under this man¬ 
tle, are as safe as they would be in England; and we 
need only be apprehensive of danger, immediately after 
an untimely thaw. With half-hardy shrubs, however, 
it is different. Over our snows, winds below zero fre¬ 
quently sweep along; and when spring returns, we of¬ 
ten find all above ihe snow-line dead, and all below it 
alive , and in the best condition. 
“ Bulbous plants from warm climates, that can bear 
much depth of earth, do' well under our northern sky. 
Perhaps the number, however, is not great, though I 
know of but few T experiments in this line; but Jimaryl~ 
lis longifolia from Southern Africa, is quite at home 
in my border. It has been there 15 or 20 years. It 
was planted about ten inches deep; and this depth has 
been increased by turning a sod, or throwing litter over 
it. It has produced leaves four feet long. 
Another bulb— Pancratium maritimum —from the 
sea coast of Southern Europe, after a trial of four years, 
is now doing well in the open border, among sand and 
peat. It is not more than six or seven inches below the 
surface; but then it is in a sunken and not in a raised 
border,—a difference in position worthy of particular 
notice. For the first two years, it was not vigorous; 
but on sprinkling salt round it at different times, it be¬ 
came healthy; and it is now in the most flourishing con¬ 
dition, having produced two fine umbels of flowers the 
present season. They are white, star-like and two in¬ 
ches in diameter. 
11 Amaryllis belladona, from the West Indies, has 
also withstood the last winter under similar circum¬ 
stances. Owing perhaps to habits contracted in the 
green-house, it started to grow’ late in the fall, which 
was a wrong movement; and accordingly, its leaves 
w T ere cut dowm by the frost; but it is growing again.” 
The construction of a very simple support for pillar 
roses, is thus described:— 
u Perhaps the best method of training the tall-grow¬ 
ing kinds, is on pillars. Two years ago, I had pieces 
of scantling, twelve feet in length and three inches by 
four, planted as posts, first perforating them in five 
or six places with a two inch auger. Through these 
holes the stem of the rose is drawn. As it lengthens, 
this operation should be repeated from time to time, 
till it reaches the top, about nine feet high; and as it 
depends on no decaying cord or bandage for support, 
it eannot be blown down by the wind. 
11 To insure these posts from decay, inch auger holes 
near the ground w T ere bored, slanting dowrnwards, not 
quite through, and filled with salt. Some persons hav© 
used plugs in their posts to keep out the rain; but it is 
best to leave them open for a time, till the wood becomes 
saturated with brine. As the salt dissolves, more 
should be supplied—-say two or three times a year. 
“To obtain a finer display, I have planted roses of dif¬ 
ferent colors on opposite sides of the posts, intertwin¬ 
ing their branches. At one, I have the tea scented 
Ayrshire and Violet Episcopal, by way of contrast; 
and at another, the Baltimore Belle and Queen of the 
Prairies. I have sixteen posts of this description, and 
have obtained, expressly for this -purpose, a sufficient 
number of tall-growing kinds. Further experiments 
are wanted, however, to determine what sorts can be 
most fitly associated, and what shades of color will har* 
monize the best.” 
The following reasons for cultivating a general se¬ 
lection of fruit, are well worthy of consideration:— 
“ But why do we want so many sorts of fruit ? JW 
