A NEW HYBRID ROSE. 
The hybridization of the Rose, and the growing of 
now varieties from seed, the results of cross-fertilization 
and of hybridization, is a branch of this industry that 
has been sadly neglected in this country. England has 
been generally considered the home of the Rose, and 
not altogether unjustly so, yet we dare say there are far 
more Roses sold in this country, in proportion to its in¬ 
habitants, than iu England, notwithstanding the climate 
of Euglaud is far more favorable for the development 
of its flowers than that of this country. Rut while they 
far surpass us in the cultivation of this popular flower 
in the garden, we by far surpass them in its cultivation 
under glass, both iu quality and quantity. 
Until recently but little attention, relatively, has been 
paid to the growing of new sorts from seed by our nur¬ 
serymen and florists. It is true, Feast of Baltimore 
gave us the Prairie Roses, Prairie Queen, Baltimore 
Belle, etc. And Anthony Cook of the same city raised 
the well-known “Cornelia Cook,” the finest Tea-rose in 
cultivation. Messrs. Ellwanger & Barry, of Rochester, 
are now and have been for the past few years paying 
considerable attention to this interesting work, and their 
labors have been rewarded by several very beautiful 
varieties, that are destined to occupy a prominent place 
in the list of good Roses. 
The desire for something new, that will surpass the 
old, has induced others to make the attempt, difficult 
though it may seem, to produce forms, colors, habits or 
fragrance, not already possessed by some of the many 
thousand varieties already under cultivation. Iu any 
branch of industry, well directed, persistent labor is 
always crowned with success. The growing of new 
Roses is no exception to the rule, and we are pleased to 
show our readers a good likeness of the new Hybrid 
Rose 
AI.PHA, 
raised by Messrs Hallock & Thorpe, of Queens, N. Y. 
Mr. Thorpe is indefatigable in the labor of hybridiza¬ 
tion, and to his efforts in this direction we are indebted 
for very many of our best Geraniums and other popu¬ 
lar plants. The history of this Rose we give in his own 
words. “ Tlie.Rose, Alpha, is a seedling, raised in 1880, 
a cross between Hermosa and Sofrano. From one cross 
there were raised nine seedlings. All except one were of 
a more or less pink shade; the one other was a creamy 
white, and of no value. The seed was sown in Novem¬ 
ber, 1880, and by the middle of April, 1882, Alpha had 
already four flowers opeu, and has continued to flower 
without intermission ever since. Its habit is identical 
with Hermosa, excepting that it is much stronger, and 
under all circumstances it has never been attacked with 
mildew; this alone is a great point in its favor. The 
flowers are as large and as perfect in shape as the John 
Hopper (Hybrid Perpetual), the color is a bright rosy- 
crimson ; the flowers are persistent, of good substance 
which makes them “ wear” well; the fragrance, though 
not strong, is sweet and pleasing, inclined to the Tea 
section. In habit the plant is all that could be desired, 
strong, vigorous, and dwarf, much like the Hermosa, 
but with larger and richer foliage.” 
WONDERS OF THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 
no. m. 
That “ there was nothing made iu vain,” is a familiar 
truism, but in vain do we look for any good use there 
can be made of some created things, or where, in the 
economy of nature, they have a fitting place. The 
vegetable kingdom furnishes us many subjects of this 
character. Conspicuous among them is the 
STINGING-TREE, 
Urtica crenulata, an East Indian species of Nettle, com¬ 
mon iu tropical Australia, where it is more dreaded b}’ 
the natives and tourists than any species of animal. 
The stinging effects of our common Nettle, Urtica 
dioica, are familiar to most of our readers; but these 
are not to be compared for a moment with some of the 
tropical species. Listen, for instauce, to De la Tour’s 
description of the effects of the sting of Urtica cremdata. 
“ One of the leaves,” he says, “ slightly.touched the first 
three fingers of my left hand ; at the time I only per¬ 
ceived a slight pricking, to which I paid no attention. 
This was at seven in the morning; the pain continued 
to increase. In an hour it become intolerable; it 
seemed as if some oue was rubbing my hand with a red- 
hot iron. Still there was no remarkable appearanco, 
neither swelling, nor postule, nor inflammation. The 
pain spread rapidly along the arm as far as the arm-pit. 
I was then seized with frequent sueezings, and ■with a 
copious running at the nose. About noon I experienced 
a painful contraction of the back of the jaws, which 
made me fear an attack of tetanus. I went to bed hop¬ 
ing that repose would alleviate my sufferings, but it 
did not abate ; on the contrary it continued nearly the 
whole of the following, night; but I lost the contraction 
of the jaws about seven in the evening. The next day 
the pain left me. I continued to suffer for two days, 
and the pain returned when I put my hand into water; 
and I did not finally lose it for nine days.” 
A traveler in Queensland sends to the Villa Gardener 
a very interesting account of this wonderful vegetable 
creation. He says: “Though the tropical scrubs of 
Queensland are very luxuriant and beautiful, they are 
not without their dangerous drawbacks, for there is one 
plant growing in them that is really deadly in its effects 
—that is to say, deadly in the same way that one would 
apply the term to fire; as, if a certain proportion of 
one’s body is burnt by the Stinging-tree, death will be 
the result. It would be as safe to pass through fire as to 
fall into one of these trees. They are found growing 
from two or three inches high, to ten or fifteen feet; in 
the old ones the stem is whitish, and red berries usually 
