1853 . 
THE CULTIVATOR, 
23 
form, invariable, and permanent continuance by 
natural propagation. A species may include many 
varieties .” 
Thus the oriental species of Hyacinth ( Hyacin - 
thus orient alts) has run into hundreds of varieties , 
some double, some single, some white, some red, 
some yellow, some blue, and some purple; and a 
similar remark, with not more than one excep¬ 
tion, may be made respecting the common species 
of Tulip ( Tulipa gesneriana) , and its uncounted 
varieties. Some species of Pseonia have also se¬ 
veral varieties , as P. officinalis which has pro¬ 
duced the old double crimson, the double roseate, 
and the double changeable, or albicans , besides 
many other varieties. So also P. albiflora, while 
it retains its specific character under every 
change,—has given us double and single varieties , 
varying from deep red, or purple, to the purest 
white. David Thomas. Greatfield, 12 mo. 2, 
1852. —^— 
Rural Culture. 
Trimming Evergreen Hedges.— The Ameri¬ 
can Arbor Vitse, called White Cedar in Western 
New-York, endures shearing better, perhaps, 
than any other evergreen. We have seen a hedge 
of this tree on the grounds of J. P. Cushing, of 
Watertown, Mass., fourteen years old, and kept 
sheared down to five feet in height, which was so 
smooth and dense as to appear like a perfect wall 
of verdure. The red cedar usually suffers under 
the shears, or does not thicken well below. With¬ 
out shearing, it makes a beautiful screen. Hem¬ 
lock shears well. Balsam and Norway firs may 
be shaped by pruning, but should not be sheared 
closely. 
Insects in the Soil. —’Soils sometimes become 
filled with insects. Salt, at the rate of 8 or 10 
bushels per acre, has been recommended; but a 
better way, and especially on old, much worn 
clay gardens, is to burn the earth. It may be ac¬ 
complished by procuring a large quantity of 
chopped brush, and covering layers of it with a few 
inches of the soil during the driest part of autumn, 
and then setting fire to the whole. A mixture of 
old straw will assist the combustion. Indepen¬ 
dently of the destruction of the insects, the im¬ 
proved fertility of the soil will be of great value. 
Buckthorn Hedges. —To do well, these must 
be planted in rich, sub-soiled or trenched land, and 
be kept cultivated. By such treatment, a few 
years will make a very stiff hedge. Without it, 
we have seen a hedge continue for years, making 
but little growth. Hedges, which would other¬ 
wise have been good ones, have also been spoiled 
by not shearing them narrow at the top; the full 
breadth being permitted above, shaded the lower 
part, and it consequently became thin and leaf¬ 
less. The Buckthorn must not be planted in very 
shaded situations; we have seen many failures 
from this cause alone, at Brookline, Mass., and in 
other beautifully shaded rural places. 
Rapidly Growing Treesr— Perhaps the most 
rapidly growing evergreen is the Norway Fir— 
much exceeding in this particular the Balsam, 
Arbor Yitge, or White Spruce. On a deep, good 
soil, it often shoots up four or five feet in a season. 
The White Pine is a good grower. Among deci¬ 
duous trees, the Silver Maple ( A. dasycarpum ) 
is one of the very best, far outstriping the Sugar 
Maple. The Silver Poplar is scarcely equalled by 
anything, in the speed with which it expands from 
a small twig into a large tree; and its glitter¬ 
ing silvery foliage is certainly very beautiful. 
But it throws up suckers beyond all endurance, if 
near a dwelling or garden, and must therefore be 
very sparingly introduced, and be planted remote 
from cultivated ground, where a dozen scores of 
suckers cannot prove an inconvenience or injury. 
The Pour Finest Roses. 
The interesting semi-annual report made to the 
Horticultural Society of the Department of Lower 
Seine, by A. Peron, its recording secretary, fur¬ 
nishes a statement which will be valuable to rose 
amateurs. After remarking that rose culturists 
were formly satisfied with twenty-five sorts, as 
comprising the whole catalogue, he states that hy¬ 
bridization has now increased this list to at least 
three thousand , from which roses can be had every 
day in the year by attention to shelter from the 
cold, heat, moisture, and wind, by transplanting, 
training, nipping, and by fire heat. But it be¬ 
comes rather a puzzling test for a novice to make 
a proper selection out of three thousand different 
roses, the bare examination of which would occu¬ 
py him about one whole week, if he should spend 
but a minute upon each. In order to trim 
down this great catalogue, an effort was made to 
reduce it to one hundred and fifty of the very first 
—the first pick—all of which should be real par¬ 
agons of beauty. Six distinguished judges were 
selected, and their votes stood as follows:— 
4 roses rec'd each 6 votes, or were unanimously approved. 
8 “ 5 “ 
26 “ 4 « 
49 “ 3 “ 
53 “ 2 “ 
The four standing at the head, were Duchess 
of Sutherland , Geant des Battailles, Souvenir de 
la Malmaison, and La Reine. 
Every Thing in its Place. —The man who 
loses half an hour daily going for or hunting dis¬ 
placed tools, loses 150 hours per year, or about 
half a month working time. 
