SftftAft
mm
■'xr.^A.
tinftdri
>A/\.fS A'Ar*
iikflM^**
r /s « 2 * & * <
'. /- * H *
. ' ,r\/V '/>AAr* . ... -n
A. r,Ar,„,
^mmm
l/taM
.. .Afi^A^ ■ . A'-
ffl'^A^ a
LfPBfeH'-tv
a'A1 ..-A'A;
r Af "^^/v >%*!
^■vfcft
Kf\ANt
AAAOOrvfVA
'■■■■•-■
; <Ccc?c Of" c«r<Cc c;
■ cc: «x • <s: cccr c
-C <C were?; <xz C«ac3< cc
VV^' CC CC C CC <C«
C«&-c •««!
< -<lEr<crc* mzccr
Kcc?c ; car? <c jp«r " CCCCC,
c ■<&:«:< ccrcct
C~ <5C c<x c. ccc <-=! cccuc <r<c«c
C ok. <sr <-"*■ <otcj
0 5007 0507301 1
California State Library
G Cc cC<
c ccc c cc^
c c«L*a £ C«CJ C C:«C"
C<<:«SC«&^
^cfcf«jc; «cc-*^
<c<C
- <~~^ CMf c CJ«C <
C CtC C <£_: <£<
'• c<C c CCC^
' iCL «nc C'c<r<
■c. *c ccn c CCS
^^M/lY
'<&&.£■
EXTEAOT
From an Act prescribing frdesfor the Government of tke State Library,
passed March 8th, 1861.
<r c ' ci-cc.c
v< Cf«rca ■■ < <r <c < cc c c<
"'x cc or "C.c
i c ;' c« c< . c < ; .. c ■■<:■■■ <x< C <
K& C C^1 -C C- U < v <- g -c< -
' c rccr I
rcc< c^:"(v <-- CXT C<C^-< C~ ^ .
r <co-- c ■ ■■■■■■■ c <^^s£>c<<t
Section U The Librai1an shall cause to be kept a register of a* boots .sued W returned ; and all books take, by the £%£
L t„ t m'e' °r ItS °ffiCerS' ShaU b8 retllrned at «» close of
he sessxon If any person injure or fail to return any book taken
« of ; rarTy',he sha11 forfeit and pay to ths «-. ^
benefit of the Lxbrary, three times the value thereof; and before the Controller shall issue his warrant in favor of any mem officer of the Legislature, or of this. State, for his per diem allow- ance, or salary he shall be satisfied that such m mber or officer has returned all books taken out of the Library by him and his settled all accounts for injuring such books or otherwise
of'the i^!0t0kSmay,be takenfrom a»« ^rary by the members Attorney-General, and the Trustees of the Library. '
|
~ C-^f-t |
<rc |
|
c<aCC. |
ccc |
|
C'<SC- |
<c< |
|
cc . |
cct |
|
'" .<:«-■'-"'- |
C3: |
|
= C CiC -. |
«C^r |
|
- cc?c: |
<*£-• |
|
C < © c |
' o |
|
"" C <8 |
«araS^. |
|
«Z c ~ |
* <*K. |
|
r" c<3' |
iiBf~ |
|
<C" < c |
|
|
^2 .^5 c |
^^=? |
":-v: ,.OCj
cc:c ■ ccc M
%- cc ':cc£<m
?'. cc ■ c..C ■:.
r cc err
■( CC CC
: C(C' CC :< <T
X <''-• cC
: cc <<
gj cc < CC«C
~W c<- ( c '•■'
?<Cg7 CC <-:X C
c*gr; cc cc ^*C
S- f 5Wecc eve oc «:<«
^ mm ^JmmMm^^^^^
^cc^^ >< V « - ^ lc^' ^^ -
>C < ""
-<CC 4J
cc
<rc < <
e&c c _
<c «Tt
Veer <:
C:
CT
<5 ■'-.-
c.cc
<: cc -«j
c< S
<3o
<LC
Ccc c
cc^: cocc: <rrc <
c< oc-cC c.cc — - c • < cc c c e: cc
-"A c V <: £IdCC < < <-■ <c C c <i C< <2" C r«r_ - -< ^5, -re cccCc- c< C -C< cccct C c<r< : >■£- <l.«3CC« ccc c7 *c c c<ccc c. cc
c err r? f-*~ ^ C C <&CC«j c C«Ci>
TfT c <r* <: d « c <r «<r «^-
c c c c<Kc c < <r c « C<^CC<
-<- cc -
lECari <cxcr <
S^a caeacc * c
C<TCC^ W s cc c < . CgX cc c c •
C<£ C ~C< < 0*££C <i
-C X <-C c (CC €tc
<Sf £~ cc e xcccc «
arc <r ^<r<*_
:c <? cere cc cdcc cc
re €^<^c c-C5S= £££££
cc -: <c<: c CTc <^'.cm c< CgTJCC «
■? c< ^r c-<e. cc <.^r<z.
=r^ >r«: >>^' _*£ j&-rf' <r <^ cc < cc c«r« -- c id :" ^^ ^-J^ c
' -c c -^1 CCL^ < V^c c
o- c <. <r\ <^---cc_r ^ ^r^c-ic
ci c * <s: c<^ 5? < < « .^^ <
1 cc c <C oC C ^ "c^« c
^T CCC CC cC re C c,^ cc
C c cc fc: c cc <<(S ^^c
Z *&L< CC( ec cc ^
~ <c c:«rc: cic <c >^ r <c <c^-c ^c cc c- c^
^ClcceCC: CC "<r c
CfC-CCC c < r C ^j?
c ,vr .re
- cC' e-'C-C.
c<c C ■
s < c <■;■■ < c c cc,
< c OCc
c
cc
I <c
< <ci «^n«- C cc «er":><
erg <^T CCCCCCC
Cc^f^
~5 c c
f c c 9^ fir c
rxi^CCCC
" '-'• ^ V - cc«
3 cc ^cr^ ^c^
^^^ « CCC cc c
; <C^ ;:c^ CJC
cxr <?: cccc ^C>-
<^rer
c ccr x
«c cc
- c «C
^cV7' c CC' c <3C_^1
<Z < c: c c: e
<sviC: C< re ccX
',"<• : r
c C Cv
rvTr < ^CrC c C C
c|C c<C CO|
^cr«c cc c<c
.^j^^; CC c«'
^c c
CC <Cc ^
c ^-'5^
wc Cc CCC > ^V" c«^' «r^ <? cc <3KC C V- r ^T<
f-5™ ■fc^-
-:-<C^ C
<3c:^ c :cc c
1
^
THE
California Horticulturist
AND
mV.1896,
FLORAL MAGAZINE.
VOLUME IY.-1874
PUBLISHED BY JOHN H. CARMANY & CO
No. 409 Washington Street, opposite the Post -Office, SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.
INDEX.
Page
Abutilon (Illustrated) 284
Abutilon, Boule de Neige Ill
Acanthus, The Broad-leaved 307
Achiraenes 73
Acacia Groves 153
Adiantum Farleyense and Begonia san-
guinea 20
Agassiz, Louis 22
Agave Xalapensis 219
Alder, The 139
Alpine Plants 201, 233
Ammonia in the house 117
Analogies 376
Annuals, Group of (Illustrated) 113
Annuals, Cultivation of 91
Annual, A Pretty 10
Annuals (Illustrated) 90
Apple-trees, Grafting 182
Apples for Food 84
Aquarium, Brighton 108
Aquarium, The 211
Aristolochia Sipho (Illustrated) 254
Asparagus Culture in Germany 276
Baobab, The '. 209
Banana, The 58, 334
Baron von Mueller 352
Beautify your Homes 282
Bedding-plants and Perennials 351
Bee Culture in California 370
Bee Pasturage, About 57
Beets, Improved Foliage 68
Begonias, New Tuberous-rooted 182
Begonia sanguinea, Adiantum Farleyense. 20
Birds in the "Woods 190
Blackberry, A New 246
Pag
Books, Notices of 62
Bouquets, How to arrange 272
Catalogues Keceived,
63, 93, 124, 158, 286, 318, 351, 377
Camellia Culture 105
California, Visitors to 191
California Trees and Plants 45
Castor Oil 157
Calycanthus 166
Cereus Grandiflorus 156
Cherry Culture 315
Cinchona, The Culture of the 20
Cineraria 41
Cions, Care of 217
Cistus Ladaniferus 144
Cinerarias, Double 36
Climate, Our 158
Climbing Annuals (Illustrated) 221
Cloth of Gold Rose 196, 257
Coffee, California 154
Coffee-tree, The so-called 301
Cone-flower, Purple 68
Coral Fishery 96
Coral Tree, A fine 132
Corn Culture 157
Cranberries in California 152
Currants, Greek 302
Cut-flowers, Preserving 78
Cut-flowers, Preservation of 172
Cut-flowers, Price of 205
Dahlias 310
Dahlia, Origin of the 213
INDEX.
Date Palm 305
Double White Geranium (Illustrated) 351
Elm, The 171
Enamels 181
Epiphyllum 55
Epiphy Hums 85
Eucalyptus Globulus 16
Eucalyptus Groves 114
Eucalyptus, The 120, 330
Exchange Table.... 62, 94, 159, 254, 286, 318
Farming, Mountain 119
Favors Keceived 30, 63, 93, 124, 159, 222
Ferns and their Culture 61
Ferns and their Poetry 366
Fern, New Weeping Tree 13
Ferns from Australia 300
Ferns, Native 245
Fast Colors 190
Ferns, Preserving 340
Fever-tree 189
Fish-geraniums 311
Ficus Elastica 51
Floral Review 30, 64, 127, 162
Flannels, Our 43
Floral Decorations in Ball-rooms 248
Flowers, Color in 242
Flowers, Sleep and Odor of 314
Flower-beds, Tan Mulch for. 277
Flower Culture 284
Flowers, To Preserve 59
Flowers, Kemove the 86
Flowers, Comfort for 85
Flowers, Group of (Illustrated) 362
Flowers, Home Trees and 15
Flowers, Everlasting 223
Flowers, Love of 374
Flower Gardens for Children 63
Flower Gardens, More Variety in our 9
Fig Culture 107
Food, Nutritious 90
Forests, Influence of in Drawing Moisture. 173
Forests, Silence of 206
Forest Trees from Seed 151
Forestry 50
Forget-me-not, Origin of the 330
Fruit and Vegetable Market, Keport on. 32, 65,
97, 128, 163, 193, 224, 255, 289, 321, 354, 379
Fruit Growing and Curing in California . . . 274
Fruit, Worms in 286
Fruit, Sun-dried 281
Fruit Drying 252
Fruits, Coloring of 246
Page
Fruit Trade, Growth of 118
Fruits, California 234
Fruits, Japan 376
Fruits— On what do their qualities depend ? 47
Fruit-trees, Protecting Young 80
Fruit-preserving in London 225
Fruit Growing and Curing 121
Fruit, Eotting of 42
Fruit-growers 189
Fruit Culture 145
Fruit Prospect 150
Fruits in Trinity County 216
Fruits Adapted to California 220
Gardening for Children 112
Gardening for Women 373
Garden, Joys of a good 154
Garden Practice in Olden Time 349
Garden Adornments 59
Gardens, Woodward's. 29, 62, 92, 124, 158, 317
Geraniums, Double, Origin of 180
Geraniums, Double-flowering (Illustrated). 377
German Ivy 94
Glacial Action upon the Pacific Coast (Il- lustrated) 54
Gladiolus 185
Gleanings 36, 69, 101, 132, 167, 196, 229,
257, 292, 324, 357, 383
Golden Gate Park 143
Grain Crops, Insure the 57
Grama-grass 311
Grape, Training the 278
Grape, How to cultivate the 347
Grape-vines, Summer Treatment of. 268
Grape-currant, The Zante 323
Grasses, Native of California 332
Grasshoppers, About 336
Gum-tree, Australian 368
Hanging Baskets 202
Hardy Bulbs and their Culture 339
Hedging, Ornamental 176
Hibiscus 329
Hollyhock Fungus 312
Holly, The 76
Honey in San Diego County 382
Horticulture 341
Horticultural Matters 316
Horticultural Exhibition 222, 285
Horticultural Report 206
Horticultural Society 124
Hot-beds, Mice in 223
Humea Elegans Purpurea 192
INDEX.
Insects, How to Catch 125
Insect Pests Increasing 348
Jute in Paper-making 49
Jute Manufacture ... 316
Lac and its Products 138
Lands, Means of Improving 218
Landscape, Upon the term "Natural "as
applied to 18
Lemons, Healthfulness of 26
Lilium Bloomerianum (Illustrated) 12
Lilies, California 138
Lilium Auratum 350
Loco and Battle-weed 309
Mangroves, On , 147
Manihot Hibiscus 266
Meteorological Record 40, 72, 104,
136, 168, 200, 232, 264, 296, 328, 362, 384
Manures, Vegetable 247
Manure, Liquid 128, 351
Manure, Preserving Barn-yard 219
Mechanics' Institute Fair 192
Mignonette, Large 209
Mildew and Blight 306
Mount Shasta from Strawberry Valley 115
Mountain Meadows, Lakes, and Prairies . . 174
Mosses and Lichens 306
Mulberry as a Shade-tree 163
New and Bare Fruits.. 228, 288, 318, 353,378 New and Bare Plants,
35, 95, 125, 160, 226, 287, 319, 353, 378
Nitrogen and Vegetation 150
Nurseries, etc 184
Oleander, How to G-row the 288
Olive-trees, Plant 144
Orange Culture 81, 147
Culture, Scale bugs and 304
Culture vs. Vine Culture 155
Orange Culture, Profits of in California. . . 116
Orange Culture in Florida 53, 195
Oranges, Collection of 119
Orange, Osage 25
Orchards, Californian , 180
Page Ornamental Shrubs — How to take care of
them 74
Osage Orange Hedge 125
Pasonies, Barren 3~2
Pseony Sinensis 356
Palm, The Oreodoxa Eegia 120
Pansy, Viola Tricolor (Illustrated) 179
Parks, Our City 28
Passiflora 169
Paulo wnia Imperialis 239
Pecans and Chestnuts, How to Plant 119
Pelargoniums, Standard 350
Pepper, Adulterated 213
Petunias, Training 248
Plants, Potash in 17
Planting, Colors in 11
Plant, Bedding — Pelargonium 65
Plant Stand 56
Plants, Exposure of !.'4
Plants, Grouping 83
Plants, Fragrant Shrub 131
Plants and Seeds, Export of 114
Plants and Trees, Labels for 179
Plants, Succulent 204, 267
Plants, Climbing, for Indoor Decorations.. 21
Plants, Effects of Electricity on 210
Plants, Fresh Diet for 250
Plants, Absorptive Power of 214
Plants, Fertilizing 283
Plants, Tropical, Adapted to California. 297, 265
Plants, Names of 298
Plants, Fumigation of 253
Plants, New 352
Plants, Winter Flowering 363
Plant Life, Action of Camphor on 243
Planting Shade-trees 122
Plum and the Prune 53
Pomona and Ceres at Home in the Mount- ains : 99
Poplar, The 269
Potato, New 320
Potatoes on Dry Lands 313
Potatoes and Potato Culture 87
Poultry, Treatment of 181
Primrose, New Japan 223
Baisins in California 86
Baisin-growers ' . . 126
Boots adapting themselves to Proper Depth. 228
Bhododendrons 42
Boses 342
Bose, A True Variegated 279
Boses, American Culture 26
INDEX.
Page
Sand-hills, A Carpet for Ill
Scale-bugs ... 304
Scientific Gardening 106
Scotch Fare 252
Scutellaria Mociniana 249
Sea Bottom, Curiosities of the 27
Seasons, W et and Dry 192
Sesamum Orientals 26
Shade-tree3 for Streets 215
Shrubs, New 12, 28
Shrubs for the Lawn and Door Yard 14
Societies, Notices of 30, 62, 93
Spircea, The Palmate 310
Stemless Lady's Slipper (Illustrated) 137
Stock on the Cion, Influence of the 140
Sunflower 370
Tamarix 195, 278
Timber, Best Time to Cut 34.
Treatment of Gloxinia, Gesneria, and Achi-
menes 78
Trees, Best Time to Manure 202
Trees, Growth of 191
Trees, Don't neglect the 183
Trees, Utility and Beauty of 345
Trees and Flowers, Home 15
Tree Planting 188
Tree, How to measure 152
Tree Planting, Errors in Ornamental 87
Tree-ferns 170
Tree in Australia, Wonderful 153
Tropical Vegetation in California 251
Vanilla, The 240
Verbenas, Ammonia for 122
Vegetable Market of San Francisco 280
Vegetable Physiology 364
Vincas, Variegated 99
Vineyard Interests 149
•
"Walnut Lumber, Value of 61
Water-pots, Mending 221
Wild Sheep of California 173
Willow, The 109
Wine, Sacramento 281
Wisteria, A Rampant 17
Woods, California 283
Wood in the World, Oldest worked 15
Worm, A destructive 113
Lilium Bloomer ianum
THE
^^%%^p fa
AND FLORAL MAGAZINE.
Vol. IV.
JANUARY, 1874.
No. 1.
MORE VARIETY IN OUR FLOWER GARDENS.
BY F. A. MILLEE.
[Continued.]
In my last communication on this subject I enumerated certain trees and shrubs which we do not so frequently meet with as their merits entitle them to, and I will now say a few words in favor of flowering plants, which ought to be more generally cultivated in our gar- dens.
There is no doubt that Fuchsias and Pelargoniums will for the future be as popular with us as they have been in the past. They thrive admirably every- where, and under any kind of treat- ment. Here in San Francisco they flow- er freely, both in summer and winter, and give a most cheerful appearance to our gardens. It is not surprising, therefore, that they are cultivated so extensively. I would, however, sug- gest that some of the newer varieties should be introduced, and some of the older and less meritorious kinds be dis- carded. Such sorts as Smith's Ava- lanche, Brilliant, Duchesse de Gerol- stein, Extraordinary, General Grant, Lucre tia Borgia, Lizzie Haxson, Wave of Life, Tower of London, Rappee, and
Vol. IV.— 2.
Talma are really magnificent Fuchsias, and can now be recommended as adapt- ed to our soil and climate. They are far superior to most of the old sorts that have been introduced here during the past ten years.
Of Boses we can not have too many; they will always form the chief attrac- tions in our gardens. However, there are many sorts cultivated which might be replaced by much better varieties of later introduction, and which can now be obtained of some of our larger nur- series. Some of the new Tea Boses are really excellent, and bloom freely throughout the winter season.
The Pink is also one of those popular flowers which are always admired, and give general satisfaction. Our gardens contain some splendid varieties, better, perhaps, than I have seen anywhere else.
The varieties of Verbenas generally cultivated are of poor quality, and I think that more attention should be paid to the introduction of better sorts. The large auricula - flowered varieties are of very excellent quality and habit, most of them deliciously fragrant, of brilliant colors, and with large yellow or white eyes. Some of our nursery- men keep on hand an assortment of the
10
THE CALIFOKNIA HOBTICTJLTUBIST.
best varieties, and every one has an op- portunity of obtaining them. They are required in every garden, and as they flower abundantly with us, both in sum- mer and winter, they should be consid- ered important features in the borders. There are from twenty to twenty-five new varieties introduced of late, every one of which is a gem of its kind.
"While Eoses, Pinks, Pelargoniums, and Verbenas may form the leading fea- tures in our gardens, other plants are wanted to furnish contrast, variety, and completeness, without which our gar- dens can not give the recreation, enjoy- ment, and effect, for which they are created.
The plants which are particularly wanting here are flowering bulbs and roots of all kinds, which now are con- sidered indispensable in the East and in Europe; and I would certainly urge their introduction into every garden, for several reasons. First of all, our climate is favorable to their growth; secondly, they can remain undisturbed in the ground for a number of years, (very few sorts excepted); thirdly, we can have most of them in bloom in winter as well as in summer; and fourth- ly, their qualities are most desirable for beauty of flowers, fragrance, and pleas- ing effect.
A few varieties of the Gladiolus we meet with here and there, mostly of the old scarlet sorts, which amount to very little, compared with the elegant spikes of exquisitely colored flowers produced by the newer varieties lately offered for sale. I plant some of them every month, and have the grand satis- faction of seeing them in bloom at all seasons of the year. The same method could be carried out in every garden with the same success, only on a smaller scale. From thirty to forty varieties can now be obtained at a small expense
in this market. If three of these were planted every month, their flowers would prove a continued ornament to the gar- den; and as bright flowers are generally very scarce during our winter months, they are particularly valuable then. As cut-flowers for vases and table bouquets, they are invaluable, as every bud will develop itself in perfection if placed in water.
Hyacinths ought to be grown much more extensively, and I would recom- mend early planting — the roots to re- main in the ground undisturbed for sev- eral years.
The Amaryllis is a magnificent flow- ering bulb, and is rarely met with here. If grown in the garden, most of the va- rieties will flower abundantly.
The Agapanthus. umbellatus, general- ly known as a greenhouse plant, is perfectly hardy here— at least in San Francisco and surroundings — and in the cooler districts of California its roots would not suffer in winter, even if the foliage should perish. Its charming clusters of blue flowers are very orna- mental and most useful for bouquets. No garden should be without it.
The JDielytra spectabilis, (Bleeding Heart) is another exquisite bulbous root, and well known, although but very few plants are found in California. It is perfectly hardy, and succeeds well in our soil and climate. Once estab- lished, it forms large clumps of roots, and produces a profusion of flowers during spring and early summer. Its graceful racemes of heart-shaped pink flowers are most pleasing ornaments.
[ To be continued.]
A Pretty Annual. — Though rarely met with in gardens, one of the most fragrant of annuals is the dwarf and curious Schisopetalon Walkeri. When sown in spring it blooms in June or
THE CALIFORNIA HORTICULTURIST.
11
July, and its flowers are deliciously scented, even more so than Mignonette; a few flowers in a tumbler of water be- ing sufficient to scent a room for several days. So says the Garden.
COLOBS IN PLANTING.
In the modern American gardens, our latest and strongest aims now seem to be, to gain color, as well as beauty of forms in our plants. Subtropical gar- dening is exactly adapted to our climate; our brilliant skies and glorious sunny weather give a possibility and appro- priateness to the use of high-colored foliage plants; and trees of rich hue be- come mammoth paintings on our lawns and in our flower gardens. In the Garden, a correspondent discussing this subject, says justly, garden scenery is brightened immensely by means of color. "The leaves of the new-born summer, the matured ones of autumn — how much they owe to delicate and multitu- dinous coloring ! But for freshness of touch, that neither painting nor wood- coloring can reproduce, commend us to the bursting buds of April — the newly unrolled beauty of May leaves. Among these, what more beautiful than the Beech and the Purple-leaved Filbert? There are two more varieties of each, one larger and of more substance than the other. In fact, of the Beech there are many varieties, for the red repro- duces itself from seed, and in a batch of seedlings there are tints of many de- grees, ranging from dull greens to those of fiery glow. We have, however, nev- er yet seen a seedling to equal in brill- iancy the common variety, which is mostly increased by grafting it on the common Beech; and another with larger leaves, that keeps its color later in au- tumn. But Purple Filberts are easily
multiplied by means of suckers — a mode of increase not always to be depended upon in Purple Beeches on their own roots. Beeches seldom produce suckers, yet they occasionally throw little bunch- es from the surface roots, and I have seen these green on purple seedlings, and purple on grafted plants — rather a singular circumstance. The Filbert is also so fully purpled over and through, that we never remember to have seen it throw out a green sucker. It is most useful in shrubberies, contrasting ad- mirably with such plants as Lilacs, La- burnums, Guelder Roses, Deutzias, etc. It seems actually to glow with the in- tensity of its coloring, and is to the fore and middle ground of shrubberies what the taller Beech is among other trees. The Beech has a soft fluffiness and semi-transparency about it that the Filbert, glorious as it is, lacks; and the richest coloring treat — a very feast of glowing magnificence — is spread around every far-reaching Purple Beech. One of the best modes of enjoying it to the full is to put the trees between the be- holder and the sun, and look through the leaves toward him soon after he has risen, or a few hours before his setting. The purple is thus flooded with golden magnificence, and each leaf and branchlet is set off to admirable advantage. Purple Beeches are espe- cially rich as foreground to masses of green Oaks, Elms, or other deciduous trees; or set against Larches, Birches, or Limes, the light foliage of these or the flowers of Service-trees — wild Crabs, Pears, Apples, etc. — give a deep tone to the glowing purple. Further, the young leaves especially contrast admi- rably with most conifers; though it must be admitted that the darker hues of the Purple Beech in autumn become too sombre accompaniments for most Pine-trees. The place for the Purple
12
THE CALIFOKNIA HOETICULTUEIST.
Beech is the background of shrubber- ies, home plantations, belts, the park, and even the woods and forests; for the Purple Beech is not weakened bj its color. It grows as fast, and forms tim- ber neither better nor worse than any- other Beech, and assuredly its more general use would give a glow to forest scenery that would add much to its beauty, and to the breaking of its dead monotony of color as well as form. Clumps of Purple Beech here and there would change the face of our landscapes and render them more agree- able, without their being one whit less profitable. What with our want of di- rect sunshine, and our dripping clouds, and leaden skies, we have often a de- ficiency of cheering color, and there could hardly be an easier and cheaper method of supplying this want than the planting of our copses with groups of Purple-leaved Filberts, and our woods with Purple Beeches. — The Horticul- turist.
New Shrubs. — The Dwarf Almond, Amygdalus nana, is a deciduous shrub of low growth, which, in the opinion of the florist and pomologist, should oft- ener find its way into ornamental shrub- beries. It is, however, one of the old-fashioned things which seem to be overlooked nowadays. M. Carriere has recently described ( Rev. Hort. 1872, 340) two new varieties, which he calls A. n. microflora and A. n. campanu- loides. Amygdalus nana microflora is a branched bush with sub-erect ramifica- tions, having the leaves like those of the type, oblong lanceolate, and the flowers small, spreading, with narrow petals, often more numerous than usual, thus showing a tendency to duplication, of a lovely rose, each marked at the top, exteriorly, with a deep spot. — The Horticulturist.
LILIUM BLOOMERIA.NUM.
BY A. KELLOGG., M. D.
We extract the following description of this Lily from the Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, of May 5th, 1873. The illustration accompany- ing this issue of the Horticulturist is a faithful representation of this flower :
"Bulb purple, scales as in the origi- nal species, but bulb often compound, three to six inches in diameter. Stems one to five from a single or compound conglobate bulb; five to seven or eight feet high, sub- glabrous or slightly striguloid scabrulose above, more or less purplish tinged; flowering at the sum- mit only; three to eight blossoms on somewhat erect - spreading peduncles, three to six inches in length, bent down and shortly curved at an abrupt angle beneath the flower, rarely bracted, ex- cept at the base. Leaves in whorls of five to ten, sessile, lanceolate, four to four and a half inches long, three- fourths to one inch in breadth, five- nerved, glabrous above, lamina densely sub -discoid scabrulose beneath, and scabrous along the mid-rib below, mar- gins waved scabrous, tips and upper margins usually purplish tinged. Flow- ers stiffly nodding. Campanulate, se- pals many-crested at the base chiefly on the inner series, three outer sepals plain above, at length more revolute than the inner series, claw one-fifth to one-sixth the blade; inner sepals some- what broader, claws much shorter, one- ninth to one-tenth the blade, or longer than the mountain form; a double fold- ed medium elevation marks the face, and a truncate slightly grooved ridge along the back the entire length; base reflexed, the upper two -thirds gently recurved and aspiring aloft; all the se- pals at the margins above and apicu- late tips papillose. Color light orange
THE CALIFORNIA HORTICULTURIST.
13
ground, studded with ocellate blotches as if spattered with a dark purple pig- ment that had spread and tinged an aureola around the spots, the lower third or base being spotted with more numer- ous darker or nearly black and clean well-defined dots; stamens shorter than the style; the curved ascending style slightly streaked with broken purple lines, apex triangular-clavate, stigma undivided.
' ' There are two varieties of L. Bloom- er-ianum found growing together in the interior; otie with bold, distinct, and well defined dark dots and spots, with long- er sepals more attenuated above; the other with ocellate or nipple-like blotch- es, being broader and of more continu- ously oblong form. The same distinc- tion into masculine and feminine form is observed among these maritime Lilies. The Island Lily has slightly scabrulose stems, and more discoidly- scabrulose under surface to the leaves, and are always scabrous along the mid-rib be- neath; whereas the Sierra Mountain Lilies are mostly glabrose — sometimes pubescent on both mid-rib and nerves, but never scabrous; they also sport more leaves in the whorls, etc.; these also are broader, hence the greater number of nerves; the numerous flow- ers are usually, if not always, alter- nately distributed on longer and more divaricate peduncles. The slightly pur- plish scales of. those of the mountains become very remarkably purple on the islands. The enormous gregarious bulb, with its numerous stems, is a peculiar feature not observed in the thousands of specimens hitherto examined.
"Found by Mr. W. G. W. Harford, of U. S. Coast Survey, on Santa Rosa Island, growing on the west side of deep sheltered ravines, trending nearly north and south, hence, only where they get the morning sun; but are shad-
ed from the ardent meridian or post- meridian heat, which burns the leaves and kills them out on opposite exposures of the same locality. They are found growing in loose gravelly detritus of sweet freshly made soils, on the high and dry well-drained or leaching bench- es, or steeper declivities, where, thus sheltered, they thrive the best, mid fogs and fierce cold winds.
"We find no evidence of any proper description of this Lily. The catalogue refers to scores of new Lilies from this coast, among which is L. Hvumboldtii It is proper to say, this has been kindly figured and sent to me by Max. Lichten, of Baden; but that drawing is certainly our L. pardalinum; so far as our trans- lation of the remarks of the author en- ables us to judge — together with the excellent painting — -there can be no doubt as to the correctness of this con- clusion. "
*
New Weeping Tree Fern. — This is one of the most beautiful of all Tree Ferns. It is a native of South Africa — is rather difficult to import in good condition, as the trunks have to be brought some hun- dreds of miles down the country before they are shipped, and frequently suffer on the journey. In habit it is perhaps the most graceful of all Tree Ferns, its ample light-green feathery fronds sweeping elegantly downwards. It may be grown in an ordinary green- house or cool conservatory, and, when fully developed, forms a most attractive object. It grows freely in the usual compost, making fine pendant fronds from four to six feet long, and from two to two and a half feet in breadth in the widest part. The stout reddish purple mid-ribs are tubercled, and furnished at the base with a profuse quantity of slen- der chaffy scales. The trunk is dark- colored, and nearly a foot in diameter
14
THE CALIFOKNIA HOETICULTUEIST.
in the widest parts, the imported speci- mens varying from five to ten feet in height.
SHEUBS EOE THE LAWN AND DOOE- YAED— CAEE NECESSAEY.
The art (for it is an art) of pruning and keeping shrubs in neat shape is yet to be learned by most of the ruralists of the country. "We have known of ca- ses of people so stupidly ignorant that they pruned Spiraea, Deutzia, and Dwarf Almond, before the spring growth com- menced, and then wondered why they never got a blossom. They had not yet learned, or at least observed, that the blossoms are borne almost entirely upon last year's wood before the coming of the leaves. The best way of grow- ing shrubs nowadays is in groups or well-planted masses, thus giving a mu- tual protection, and effective display. But, as The Country Gentleman observes :
"When they are grown as isolated plants in front door-yards, it is neces- sary to make them hold their heads up, and look trim and tidy. Every day we see examples of such bushes tied up in compact bunches, with a stake to secure greater uprightness; but towards April it is common to see stake and all dang- ling helplessly over. Then they are straightened by re-setting the stake, and by cropping the disheveled tops by barbarous pruning-shears or knife. This treatment is senseless. It directly defeats the main object, which we sup- pose to be the securing of a plant of neat figure, robed in luxuriant leaves, and brightened with well - expanded flowers. For it is obvious that not one of these crowded shoots can open its leaves to the light, and as they were similarly suffocated last summer, they have nothing laid up — no means nor sub- stance from which to produce good
flowers this year, even if there were ; room to display them. Next summer they will, of course, be barren too, if the leaves are given no room to turn. But the bush will do something, so long as it has roots safe and sound, and as it can do nothing else well, it will go back to the primitive course of throwing up fresh sprouts from the ground, thus adding to and aggravating the crowded condition above. The right treatment in such a case is to use a strong, narrow knife, or saw, or sharp-pointed pruning shears, such as French garcftmers use, or a suitable chisel and mallet, and cut out all the old exhausted shoots, and all the young ones that are weak or un- ripe, close at the surface wherever pos- sible, or beneath it, for neatness' sake, leaving only those which have been first selected as the best placed. Separate these by tying or spreading, using a light hoop, if necessary, to secure a well-balanced and evenly distributed figure, with full room around each shoot for its flowering brahchlets and leaves, i and full access of light and free air throughout. If a stake seems needful, ' it will not look amiss, provided it is set erect and centrally, even although it may be thick and tall. In that posi- ; tion it may be even taller than the shoots. The shoots left to bloom should not be shortened further than to take out . ill -turned, unsymmetrical branchlets, , or slender ones incapable of bloom. If this care is supplemented by a tri- fling attention, in May or June, to pinch out the sprouts that will appear numer- ously then, leaving only the suitably placed few that are wanted to fill va- cancies, or to renew good blooming canes, according to the nature of the plant, the fullest rewards of successful training will be attained. Some plants make a rank growth from the tops in August or September, and in their case
THE CALIFORNIA HORTICULTURIST.
15
a pinching of the ends of wild or wan- ton shoots is advisable. Climbing Ro- ses, Raspberries, Currants, Gooseber- ries, etc., class under the above rule of treatment. When shrubs are grouped in masses they are not tied up in any formal figure. Pendent branchlets or low growing sorts placed in front of erect ones hide the stems, and present to the sight only leaves and flowers, as in natural boscage."
Oldest Worked Wood in the World. — Probably the oldest timber in the world, which has been subjected to the use of man, is that which is found in the ancient temples of Egypt. It is found in connection with stone work which is known to be at least four thou- sand years old. The wood, and the only wood used in the construction of the temple, is in the form of ties, hold- ing the end of one stone to another in its upper surface. When two blocks were laid in place, then it appears that an excavation about an inch deep was made in each block, into which an hour- glass-shaped tie was driven. It is there- fore very difficult to force any stone from its position. The ties appear to have been the Tamarisk, or Shittim wood, of which the ark was construct- ed, a sacred tree in ancient Egypt, and now very rarely found in the valley of the Nile. These dove-tailed ties are iust as sound now as on the day of their insertion. Although fuel is extremely scarce in that country, these bits of wood are not large enough to make it an object with the Arabs to heave off layer after layer of heavy stone for so small a prize. Had they been of bronze, half the old temples would have been destroyed ages ago, so precious would they have been for various purposes. — Journal of the Farm.
HOME TEEES AND FLOWEES.
BY R. E. C. STEAENS.
If you are fortunate enough to pos- sess a homestead, consider the impor- tance of devoting a small portion of your time and money to the adornment of it. With a very small expenditure of the latter, and the judicious use of such leisure moments as may occasion- ally be spared from the hurry of busi- ness, the homestead grounds can be made to "blossom like the rose."
The ornamenting of the grounds sur- rounding a house is of as much im- portance as the embellishment of the interior, and both are alike worthy of consideration, and should never be neg- lected. Make the homestead, in-doors and out, the most attractive place within the reach of your children, and the boys will be less likely to become vic- ious, or the girls to go astray.
The beauty of a place depends not so much upon showy buildings as upon green shady trees and climbing vines. The roughest whitewashed cottage, sur- rounded by trees and flowers, presents a beautiful appearance, and the costly mansion without these looks desolate and unattractive. The reason why the houses and villages of New England are so pleasant is due to the numerous trees which surround them, and with which the streets are lined. Many an old farm-house, unattractive in itself, is rendered picturescpie by some grand old Elm. All the expense incurred, all the labor expended, will repay you a hundred-fold.
Home! Trees! Flowers! A blessed trinity ! Flowers ! ever pleasing the eye with their diversity of form, and regal- ing the nostrils with delightful perfume ! Flowers and trees! Who ever forgets the trees and flowers which grew about
16
THE CALIFORNIA HORTICULTURIST.
the old homestead — ■" the cot where I was born?"
"It stood 'mid the shadow of green dark trees, The cot that my childhood knew; Around it the violets, the children of Spring, And the early Roses grew."
Wherever you have a spare corner in your garden plant a tree; you will never regret it. You may live to enjoy its shade, and you will have done some- thing to beautify the earth. If nothing more, the morning song of the bird that sings among the branches will be your benediction.
EUCALYPTUS GLOBULUS,
ITS USE IN IMPROVING THE SALUBRITY OP MARSHY AND MALARIAL DISTRICTS.
The many very interesting accounts which have been published with regard to the Eucalyptus globulus do not seem to have exposed all of its values. And we find in Comptes Bendus of October 6th a note presented to the French Academy of Sciences by M. Gimbert, in which he describes another value equal- ly as great as those with which all are so familiar. From reports received from various reliable sources, it seems to have been determined that in localities where the Eucalyptus flourishes there has been a complete disappearance of intermit- tent fevers. "A tree," says the author, " springing up with incredible rapidity, capable of absorbing from the soil ten times its weight of water in twenty-four hours, and giving to the atmosphere an- tiseptic camphorated emanations, should play a very important part in improving the health of malarious districts." It has the property of absorbing directly and rapidly the water of shallow marsh- es, thus preventing fermentations which are produced, and paralyzing the animal miasma proceeding from them which might arise from them; The predic-
tions with this regard, which were made in 1869, have in all cases been realized. The author furnishes a few of the nu- merous results, which are very inter- esting.
The English were the first to experi- ment in their sanitary plantations in Cape Colony, where they were eminent- ly successful. Two or three years were found sufficient to change the climatic conditions, and the aspect of the mala- rious districts of their possessions.
Some years ago the Algerians took oc- casion to spread the Eucalyptus through- out the French possessions in Africa, and the following are some of the re- sults obtained, as communicated by M. Trottier :
' 'About twenty miles from Alger, at Pondouk," he says, " I owned a prop- erty situated near the river Hamyze, the emanations from which produced intermittent fever among the farmers and their servants every year. In the spring of 1867 I planted upon this farm 13,000 plants of the Eucalyptus globulus. In July of that year, the season in which the fevers appear, the farmers were completely free from them. In the mean time the trees had scarcely attain- ed a height of more than eight or ten feet. Since that time the settled pop- ulation has been entirely free from fe- vers."
Fourteen thousand Eucalyptus trees were planted upon the farm of Ben Machydlin, in the vicinity of Constan- tine. It has for several years past been noted for its insalubrity, being sur- rounded with marshes throughout the entire year. The trouble entirely dis- appeared, and the soil became perfectly dry in five years. The atmosphere is constantly charged with aromatic va- pors, the farmers are no longer troubled with disease, and their children are bright with health and vigor.
THE CALIFORNIA HORTICULTURIST.
17
The operations of the manufactory of Gue in Constantine were rendered wholly impracticable during the sum- mer on account of the pestilential ema- nations from the marshes with which it was surrounded. M. Saulier conceived and put into practice the idea of plant- ing a large number of Eucalyptus trees in these marshes, and in three years about twelve and a half acres of the marshy soil were converted into a mag- nificent park. The water completely disappeared, and the health of the workmen has since been in good con- dition.
In consequence of the large grove of Eucalyptus globulus on the farm of Maison-Carree, which is situated in a district in which the inhabitants former- ly succumbed to the malaria, similar hygienic revolutions have taken place.
It is stated by land-owners in Cuba that there, also, the paludal and telluric diseases have disappeared from the ma- larial districts where the Eucalyptus has been cultivated.
According to Ramel, Australia is very healthy where the Eucalyptus flourishes, and unhealthy where the tree is not found.
On the banks of the Var, near the en- trance of a railroad bridge, is situated a garrison-house, near which earth-works were thrown up to dam the river in or- der to build the bridge. The malaria arising from it made it necessary to change the guard each year. Two years ago, M. Villard, the engineer in charge of that section of the road, planted forty trees in the vicinity of the build- ing, and since that time this post has been the most healthy in the country.
These evidences fully establish the fact that the Eucalyptus globulus has a good effect in preventing the spread of malarial diseases, and that it may serve decidedly practical purposes in this par-
Vol. IV.— 3.
ticular. Throughout our entire South and Southwest many valuable enter- prises have been wholly impracticable from causes stated above; and if the examples thus set before us were fol- lowed throughout the South, there is no doubt that many of the dismal, swampy, and marshy districts, hitherto entirely worthless, may be transformed into beautiful, pleasant, and healthy sections. — Monthly Report of the Depart- ment of Agriculture.
A Rampant Wisteria. — The foreign journals speak of a beautiful Wisteria — recently in full bloom — covering the front of a well known hotel near Slough, in England, and running around each end for some distance, making altogeth- er a length of about 150 feet. It was planted against a strong iron support of the veranda, which support it long since lifted bodily from the ground, and broke in pieces with the seeming ease with which a man would break a lucifer match. A Laburnum grows against the building on one flank, and the contrast between the clusters of blue and yellow flowers is declared to be "perfectly charming."
Potash in Plants. — A correspondent of the Country Gentleman gives the fol- lowing table, showing the amount of potash contained in 1,000 lbs. of ashes made by burning different kinds of wood: pine, Jib.; poplar, fib. ; beech, l^lb. ; maple, 4 lb. ; wheat-straw, 4 lbs. ; corn-stalks, 17 lbs. ; oak-leaves, 24 lbs. ; stems of potatoes, 55 lbs. : wormwood, 72 lbs.; sunflower stalks, 19 lbs.; oak, 2£ lbs. ; beach bark, 6 lbs. The remain- ing portion of the ash, consisting of carbonate and phosphate of lime, iron, manganese, alumina, and silicia, is an excellent fertilizer.
18
THE CALIFORNIA HORTICULTURIST.
UPON THE TEEM "NATUEAL," AS APPLIED TO LANDSCAPE.
BY E. J. HOOPEE.
[Continued from December Number.]
A landscape may be considered as natural— we will instance Napa Soda Springs, by way of example — when we find in it all those productions which we meet with in a forest, except its redun- dancies. All the indigenous plants must be there, though their condition may be improved by trimming and lopping off superfluities, thus reducing the dense forest to a less crowded entanglement than in the nnadapted wilderness. The trees may be allowed wider spread, and the shrubbery may grow more independ- ently outside of the thickest woods, in- stead of forming only a meagre skirting of undergrowth. The hand of man may assist the plants in obtaining their full development without excluding any species. The birds and other animals that are the true tenants of the wild- wood must be present and be preserved, as well as some domestic animals, whose appearance in moderate numbers is the best evidence that the harmony of Na- ture has not been too greatly disturbed. We find in the primitive forest an en- tangled and crowded growth that ren- ders the charms of Nature unavailable to us, and many places inaccessible. A great entanglement obstructs our pas- sage and interferes with the course of vegetation. Then, the removal of these impediments does, in truth, render Nat- ure more natural, as a plant becomes more natural when removed from a dark cellar into the open air. So long as no species of plant is destroyed which would be found in the place if it had not been subject to culture, and so long as each plant and animal enjoys its native habitat and circumstances of growth, the landscape has not been
denaturalized by the removal of any ex- crescences.
The word natural is not sufficiently precise to be used in philosophical dis- cussion. I should prefer a more specific term, which has not been generalized into unmeaningness by universal inap- propriate use. The term should ex- press a combination of all the proper- ties and characteristics of a wild scene, divested of its inconveniences and of everything that interferes with the growth and development of all those plants which Nature is struggling to develop, from the minutest Moss, or Fern, or Lichen, to the tallest Pine, or the widest-spreading Oak. Just so far as we improve the development of the indigenous plants and animals, without deranging their natural pro- portions and relations to one another, so do we improve Nature without de- stroying her characteristics. Nature, when left to herself, admits of an ex- cessive crowding of species, as was ex- emplified in the Springs above alluded to, before the improvements were made; and it is only in occasional situations that she is enabled to afford any one tree or other plant its full proportions. It may be averred, that a scene is more natural in which everything has grown up with these imperfections; but we may with the same propriety contend that the dense and stived population of a crowded city — the Chinese quarters of San Francisco, for example — only half developed in their physical pro- portions, from the want of light and fresh air, are more natural than the well-developed inhabitants of the coiur- try, or the less crowded and better por- tions of the cities. It seems to me that we may denaturalize a place in the two following ways: Either by depriv- ing it of some of the individual species and groups that belong to it, or by ar-
THE CALIFOKNIA HOKTICULTUEIST.
19
ranging them in an order that can only be attained by art. Nature has made certain groups to harmonize with one another, and to depend on each other; and if we too artfully disturb these re- lations, we do violence to her system. And though there may be certain nox- ious plants — the Poison-oak, for in- stance, pretty as it is — and sundry animals, which must for our own safety be extirpated, the offense we thereby commit against the order of Nature is a necessary deviation from a general prin- ciple.
Some of the English artists in land- scape, and their followers, have omitted to take all these things into considera- tion, and have believed themselves pu- pils of Nature, when they have simply imitated her irregularities, in the ar- rangement of the different objects in their grounds, while they have omitted to copy her other graces or character- istics. It is true that Nature does not plant her herbs, trees, and shrubs in rows, or according to any mathemati- cal lines or figures; but it does not fol- low that one who plants in the same irregular manner, produces a work that is modeled after Nature. As well might we call him a mathematician who places his figures in mathematical columns, while the figures have no relation to one another, and lead to no result. We must form our opinion of the character of any tract by the decision of Nature herself. If we find within it all those indigenous plants which would have been found there, had the grounds never been too greatly disturbed, and all the indigenous birds and animals accepting it as their home, then will we be justified in believing Nature to be truly the presiding goddess, receiv- ing the homage of all her creatures.
The little solitary birds that flee the park ,and orchard, and reside only in
the woods where certain of their natural conditions still remain, will not inquire whether the planter has arranged his trees or shrubs in rows, or scattered them at random; but whether he has left the wild bushes, grasses, and vines in which they are accustomed to nestle, and the wild fruits and seeds that afford them sustenance. Howsoever geomet- rically the trees and shrubs may be ar- ranged, if they are attended by the same groups and species that form their bed- ding and undergrowth in the wilder- ness, the tract thus arranged is more natural than a park consisting only of selected trees and lawn, without any undergrowth of native plants. In the one ease, every natural circumstance is present, except the irregular planting; in the other case, every natural circum- stance, except the irregular planting, is absent. Those improvers, therefore, who flatter themselves that they are copyists of Nature when they introduce the custom of irregular planting and of curved and straggling walks, while the surface is all smooth lawn and the walks neatly graveled, are as far from Nature as a lady florist, who, for the same reasons, scatters flower-pots in wild irregularity over her parlor carpet. A straight wagon-road is frequently made by our farmers through a level piece of woodland, and is then left to Nature, who embroiders its sides with all the herbs and flowers that habitu- ally inhabit such places. It never seems to me, when strolling through one of these rustic avenues, that it savors any less of Nature on account of its direct course; although, if very long, a walk in it is not so pleasant as in an irregular or winding avenue. Both are artificial, for Nature makes no paths at all, unless we except the tracks of wild animals. But the plants arranged in almost straight lines in the one case, and in
20
THE CALIFORNIA HORTICULTURIST.
curvilinear lines in the other, are all equally natural, because they are in such case the spontaneous growth of Nature.
Those situations in which Nature has been subdued by man, and afterward allowed to resume her sceptre, are of all places the most delightful, when she has completely re-established her em- pire over them. Such, I am confident, is their influence upon the majority of sensitive minds; not that these have more sympathy with Nature than with humanity, but that they enjoy more happiness among the simple scenes of the natural world than among the am- bitious works of art. Hence comes that serene pleasure that always attends us when we behold the rural deities re- suming their habitation in grounds once despoiled by man, and making known their presence by knolls tufted with moss, by plats of wild flowers, by tan- gled bowers, and the voice of the soli- tary bird that flees the haunts of luxu- rious wealth and sings only to the children of the rural regions.
THE CULTURE OF THE CINCHONA.
Note on Adiantum Farleyeese and Be- gonia sanguinea. — Acliantum Farleyense is a native of Trinidad; was found on the estate of Farley Hall, thereby its name; was sent to England by a ship from Barbadoes. My plant, now two feet high and two and a half feet wide, came from its native locality in Trini- dad, and has not the least affinity to A. tenerum, which is not, I believe, found on the same island.
Begonia sanguinea takes its name from the blood-colored leaves. The flowers are pure white. Was introduced about forty years ago from Brazil. It is a very attractive window-plant, and should be in every collection, large or small. — M. Buist, Sr., in Gardener's Monthly.
The importance of an enterprise look- ing to the growing of the Cinchona-tree in sections of the world other than South America, can not be overrated. It is a question equally interesting to the botanist, the pharmaceutist, and vo- tary of economic science . In the last number of Nature there is an excellent account of the various efforts made to propagate this tree in India and Ceylon, from which we make the following brief summary :
The Dutch Government took the ini- tiative steps, directing their efforts to the introduction of the tree in Java. The first Cinchona-trees sent out to that colony were specimens of the G. cali- saya raised in Bolivia. In 1852 the Dutch government sent a Mr. Hasskarl on a mission to South America to pro- cure plants and seeds. The collection made was divided into two parts, one- half being sent to Java direct, and the remainder to Amsterdam. In 1856, there were 260 plants on the island of Java. Many serious troubles attended the early efforts to raise the trees, aris- ing from insects, wild animals, and badly chosen localities on the island. At last, in 1860, success crowned their labors, and in 1863 the total number of trees in Java numbered 1,150,180. It was found that the C. calisaya in Java was the best adapted for the locality, the C. Pahudiana containing much less of the alkaloid. The efforts of the British Government were commenced as early as 1839. In 1852 the East India Company sent to the British consular agents in South America for seeds of the various species, but it was not until 1859 that the matter was fully taken in hand. During this year Mr. Markham proposed a fourfold expedition to South America, and the plan being sanctioned
THE CALIFORNIA HORTICULTURIST.
21
by the Secretary of State for India, the scheme was carried out. Expedi- tions were sent to Bolivia, Caravaya, to Cuerica and Loxa in Ecuador, and to New Grenada and to the Chimborazo districts. The illness and privation suf- fered by the searchers after these trees rendered the task a difficult one. At last a fair stock was collected, but most of the plants were killed during the Red Sea transit to India. Once in In- dia, however, the few that survived throve immediately. At Ootamacuna a station was established in 1860, and in 1861, 1,128 fine young Cinchona^trees were reported as alive. In 1863 the number was 248,166.
The efforts of the British Government have not been directed alone to accli- matize the Cinchona in India, for in Ceylon in 1863 they had 20,000 young trees.
In referring to India matters (Blue Book of 1870) in the Bengal and Madras Presidencies, no less than four millions and a half Cinchona-trees are reported.
Experiments with the Cinchona have been tried in the South of Europe, in the Caucasus, in the Brazils, Philip- pines, Australia, and Jamaica, but not of sufficient extent to have any signifi- cance.
Of all the fine species of trees, the following seems to be the results as to alkaloids: G. calisaya, only a small proportion realizes expectation in its yields of quinine; G. Hassharliana (call- ed a hybrid), which appears to be of little value in respect of alkaloids; C. Pahudiana, deficient in the same par- ticulars, but producing a bark which finds a ready market for pharmaceuti- cal purposes in England; C. officinalis, which, in British India, appears to be the most generally satisfactory; and C. succirubra, which, notwithstanding cer- tain exceptional samples, has not turn-
ed out altogether well. — Forest and
Stream.
Climbing-plants for In-door Decora- tions.— There is nothing which will do more to beautify and give a home ap- pearance to a room, than a few nicely arranged climbers, properly trained over windows, picture frames and glasses. Many seem to have imbibed the idea that such plants require great art and skill in their production and proper treatment; but such is not the case, for no plants are more readily taken care of than these. My favorites are the Mau- randias, and particularly the M. Barclay vine.
If raised from the seed, the sow- ing should not be later than the middle of June, but cuttings may be put into proper soil in August, which will make good plants for winter growth. Layers may sometimes be put down early in September, which, by plentiful water- ing, may make good plants. My best out-door specimen is now fourteen feet long, and will cover at least thirty square feet of surface. The colors vary with the variety, and are matters of taste. Next in order of favoritism comes the Cobcea scandens, or Mexican vine. There is some difficulty in start- ing the seeds of this plant in the open ground, though, with care, it can be done. From five seeds planted, this season, I have three fine plants for win- ter flowering. For filling pots for win- ter climbing vines, a mixture of equal parts of garden soil, sand, and leaf mold is best, and occasional waterings with liquid manure should be given. Some succeed very well with many of the varieties of Passiflora, or Passion Flower. The selection will depend up- on taste as to color, but my favorite would be P. cerxdea, or P. pemissa. — Journal of the Farm.
22 THE CALIFORNIA HORTICULTURIST.
LOUIS AGASSIZ:
THE INVESTIGATOR, THE TEACHER, THE PHILOSOPHER, AND THE
BELIEVER.
Born in Motier, Switzerland, May 28th, 1807. Died in Cambridge, Mass,, December 14th, 1873.
THE FIFTIETH BIRTHDAY OF AGASSIZ, May 28, 1857.
by h. w. longfellow.
It was fifty years ago
In the pleasant month of May, In the beautiful Pays de Yaud,
A child in its cradle lay.
And Nature, the old nurse, took
The child upon her knee. Saying: " Here is a story-book
Thy father has written for thee."
"Come, wander with me," she said,
Into regions yet untrod; And read what is still unread
In the manuscripts of God."
And he wandered away and away "With Nature, the dear old nurse,
Who sang to him night and day The rhymes of the universe.
And whenever the way seemed long,
Or his heart began to fail, She would sing a more wonderful song,
Or tell a more marvelous tale.
So she keeps him still a child,
And will not let him go, Though at times his heart beats wild
For the beautiful Pays de Vaud.
Though at times he hears in his dreams The Ranz des Vaches of old,
And the rush of the mountain streams From glaciers clear and cold;
And the mother at home says, "Hark!
For his voice I listen and yearn; It is growing late arid dark,
And my boy does not return ! "
THE CALIFOENIA HORTICULTURIST.
23
CULTIVATION OF DATURA ARBOREA.
The Datura arborea, sometimes call- ed Brugmansia, is a rapid grower, with large foliage. There are several varie- ties. The one generally found in our greenhouses is called Datura Knightii ; it has interesting double white funnel- shaped flowers, and very fragrant, which it bears profusely. The bloom is, how- ever, of rather short duration; still they are worthy of a place in every green- house. Can be stowed away under the stage, or in any odd, dark corner dur- ing the winter months- They can be projDagated from eyes. The whole of the last season's wood can be used as you would a grape vine, that is, with half an inch of wood to each bud, which can be placed in small pots, or a num- ber in shallow pans or boxes, as most convenient to the cultivator. If a gen- tle bottom heat is available they will root much quicker. They must be kept moist, but not wet. The young plants will do well during the winter, if a temperature of from 50° to 55Q can be maintained. Early in the spring they may be potted into four-inch pots, and started into growth in the hothouse; they will soon make rapid growth if as- sisted with bottom heat. From the time they are first potted, they must be constantly attended to in that respect. As soon as the roots have reached the sides of the pot, shift into larger size ones till they have reached fifteen or eighteen inches; large plants are re- quired. If you wish to grow dwarf standards, put stakes to them, taking care to keep the stem perfectly upright, then the side shoots must be pinched off, leaving three or four at the top. When the plant has attained the height you wish — from two to three feet is a convenient height, and looks well — pinch out the top. After this is done,
the three or four side shoots not rubbed off will grow fast, and are the founda- tion of the head. These shoots can each have their terminal bud pinched out in the same way as you did the top of the plant. After they are three or four inches long they Will then throw out several shoots each, and quickly form a head. If any cross -growing shoots show themselves, cut them clean away, or any other shoots that would tend to crowd the plant. The main shoots must not be stopped after this, but allowed to grow till they produce flower-buds; they had then better be removed to the coolest part of the house for a few days, previous to their remov- al to the greenhouse or conservatory, where they will continue to flower for a long time, filling the house with their powerful fragrance. They grow best in a compost loam, (sod cut from an old pasture),- Jersey peat, and cow-dung, about two parts of the first and equal parts of the latter. If sod from a pas- ture is cut and laid by until it is well rotted, it is then enriched with veget- able matter, and will then grow any- thing. Plants of a succulent nature, . like the Datura, will grow better if a por- tion of the peat and cow-dung, or leaf mold is added. If the plants are to be placed on the lawn, or any other con- spicuous place about the grounds, pro- tect them as much as possible from the wind, which, as the foliage is large and brittle, is very liable to be broken. They may be planted out about the • time the ordinary bedding subjects are put in their summer quarters, tak- ing care to support them with stout stakes and neatly tied. They can either be plunged in their pots, or turned out. Before frost appears, they must of course be taken up With a ball of earth, and packed closely under the stage (if room is an object) upon the ground,
24
THE CALIFORNIA HORTICULTUEIST.
keeping them without water; and after they have dropped their leaves, they may be pruned, top and root, then pot- ted in fresh soil prepared as stated, slightly watered, placed in the back part of the hothouse or greenhouse until the buds commence to grow, then at once remove the light.
In pruning the head cut in rather close to the stem, that is within two or three buds; you can then select the best placed ones that will make the handsomest head, cutting the others entirely away. All they will require this season is to stop any shoots that show a tendency to become more vigorous than their fel- lows,
The Acarus tellarius, or Eed Spider, is the greatest pest, and care must be taken to frequently syringe the plants, more particularly the under -side of the leaves. They can not exist where syringing is well attended to. Water is death to the Eed Spider. — Thos. F. Webb in the Gardener's Monthly.
Victa Stativa — (Common Vetch, or Tare), 17th class and 4th order of Lin- nasus; Diadelphia decandra—2, valuable herbage plant. Some consider the win- ter variety a distinct species, but Prof. Martin proved by cultivating both, that they were not even very distinct varieties. The winter variety is sown in Septem- ber and October^ and the summer at different periods, from February to # June, For successive cuttings, the soil requires to be in good condition; other- wise they will produce but a poor crop of herbage. On a good soil they will yield ten or twelve tons per acre, which is found to be excellent for milch cows and working stock. The crop is seldom left to ripen its seeds, except when the seeds are wanted; the only use made of them is for sowing or feeding pigeons.
There are from thirty-eight to one hun-
There are Jrom thirty-eight to one hi dred species in this genus, and some them highly esteemed by Europe; farmers. , Subscriber.
of iean
ELmGNUS PAKVIFOLIUS.
This plant (Silver Thorn) is destined, in all probability, to play an important part in the rural affairs of the United States. No one but at once grants the gravity of the fence question. It is ad- mitted, that if the whole farm land of the Union were to be called on at once to renew the timber fences, the best part of our farmers would become bank- rupt. A cheap live fence, and one easi- ly managed, would be one of the great- est blessings to the people of this nation.
So far, the best thing has been the Osage Orange. This is the. best chiefly because the seed can be easily procured, and because the plants are very easily and rapidly raised from the seed. These are great advantages; but the disadvan- tages are its tree-like character, which requires much skillful labor to keep it down to proper dimensions; and also that it only produces thorns on its young growth. "Wood once formed never gets thornier; and should per- chance naked places occur, it is almost impossible to fill these places in. As a sort of sop to this disposition, plashing and other patching schemes have been adopted, all of which are tolerably suc- cessful in the hands of i intelligent men who are not afraid to work. The fact, however, is patent as we travel through the country, that nine-tenths of the Osage Orange hedges planted in this country have become nuisances to every- body that has any relation to them.
Heretofore few plants which are but naturally shrubs, grow fast enough to make a protective hedge within a rea- sonable time, or if they do, are deficient
THE CALIFOKNIA HORTICULTUKIST.
25
in some other element of a good hedge. This Elceagnus seems to be nearer onr idea of a good hedge plant than any- thing we have seen. Some years ago a small quantity was set out for trial on the grounds of the Experimental Gar- den at Washington; and when the wri- ter saw it, in company with Mr. Wm. Saunders, he was informed that it had proved entirely satisfactory in every re- spect.
It does not grow more than a few inches high the first year from seed; but these small seedlings dibbled out in the hedge-row, grow as rapidly as Osage Orange transplanted the first season.
We saw, recently, a line half a mile long set out last spring, mere threads then, most of which are two feet high, and thick and bushy now. They look very harmless the first year, having no thorns; but there are large numbers of short branches, from a quarter of an inch to two inches in length, and these become sharp spines the next year. The older the plants the spinier they become — an excellent feature in a first-class hedge plant. The second and third years branches are produced from three to five feet long, thus soon reaching a good hedge height. But the plant rare- ly shows any disposition to go above six or eight feet high, when the plants are massed together. When they reach this height, they grow by sending strong shoots out from the stems near the ground, thus perpetually self-thicken- ing— another excellent feature. If pruned, they make a first-class hedge; if totally neglected, they are still pro- tective, and not the useless eyesore of an Osage Orange. Plants three or four years old seed, so that in a few years with any moderate encouragement, plants in abundance could be obtained.
Besides its protective value, it has a very beautiful appearance; the under
Vol. IV.— 4.
side of the leaf, as well as the young growing branches, are silvery, whence its common name. South of the Poto- mac it would probably be an evergreen. In Pennsylvania it holds its leaves to Christmas. The flowers are greenish- white, not showy, but resemble in fra- grance the celebrated English Haw- thorn. The berries which succeed are of a mottled red. How much cold it will stand before it becomes injured, is not known to the writer. It has re- mained uninjured in the slightest degree in one situation, when the last year's shoots of the Osage Orange and Honey Locust have been destroyed, and when the thermometer has been 14° below zero. It will probably endure much more.
It is called, in European catalogues, E. refiexus, and some other names, but De Candolle adopts Wallich's name, E. parvifolius. It is a native of the Himalaya Mountains. — The Gardener's Monthly.
The Osage Orange. — The Madura aurantiaca has become a familiar shrub in most parts of the United States, from its general use as a hedge-plant; but it is now proposed to utilize the Osage Orange for other purposes. A decoc- tion of the wood is said to yield a beau- tiful and very permanent yellow dye; and this decoction, carefully evaporated, forms a bright yellow extract called au- rantine, which may be used in impart- ing its color to fabrics. In addition to this coloring-matter, the wood of the Osage Orange is rich in tannin. Ex- periments made in Texas represent that hides are tanned quicker with the wood of this tree than with oak-bark. The seeds yield a bland, limpid oil, resem- bling olive-oil, and which may, in gen- eral use, be substituted for it. — Report of Department of Agriculture.
26
THE CALIFORNIA HORTICULTURIST.
Roses — American Culture. — The Rose never wearies us; we enjoy every men- tion of it; and though not a new beau- ty? yet ^s beauty never wears out. Read what The American Bural Home says about planting Rose-beds:
" The Rose likes a virgin soil, and the nearer the composition of our Rose- beds approximates to that, the greater will our success be likely to be. Hence decayed sods, and leaf-mould from the woods when it has been sweetened by the sun, are good fertilizers. The old- fashioned way of scattering Roses about the lawn is not the best way. Their culture, thus isolated, is apt to be neg- lected, and grass works in and chokes them; besides, the effect is not equal to where they they are grouped in a round or oblong bed, highest in the centre. Suppose that we decide to plant a bed of Hybrid Perpetuals. In the centre we would want a white Rose, or a clus- ter of white Roses, according to the size of the bed. Madame Alfred de Rougemont is one of the finest whites. Portland Blanche is another fine one. Next we could have a row of flesh color and light pink. Caroline de Sansal is one of the finest of the former, and Sydonie of the latter. Auguste Mie (rosy pink) would pretty nearly corre- spond with this shade. The next row should be still deeper — rose or deep rose. Of this shade, Ave have Baronne Prevost, Victor Verdier, and Madame Victor Verdier. In the next row we could have rosy crimson, rosy lilac, rosy carmine, and vermilion. Among those of these shades, Anne de Dies- bach, General Washington, John Hop- per, L. Reine, Mad. Fremion, Maurice Bernardin, and William Griffith, rank the highest. On the outside we could have the deepest shades, as deep red, crimson, and velvety. Dr. Amal, Fran- coise Arago, Giant of Battles, General
Jacqueminot, Jules Margottin, Pius the Ninth, Prince Camille de Rohan, and Triomphe de TExposition would fill the outer ring. We do not say that this order should be strictly adhered to, but we think the highest effect would be produced by having white in the centre, and gradually shading deeper to the cir- cumference. All that we have named are first-class Roses, and our readers may be assured that in selecting from them they will get no inferior Rose."
Sesamum Orientals. — Bean or oily grain, didynamia angiosperma, 14th class and order 2d of Linnaeus; Pedalinece of Jussieu; two to four species, a native of the East Indies, etc. These plants were introduced into Jamaica by the Jews, and are now cultivated in most parts of that island. They are called Van- glo or Oil Plant, and the seeds are used in broths by many of the Europeans, but the Jews make them into cakes. Many of the oriental nations look upon the seed as a hearty and wholesome food, and press an oil from them similar to the oil of Almonds. It has also been manufactured into a salad oil.
S. Indicum is closely related to Mar- tynia of the gardens. The seeds are small and yellowish, and contain a great deal of oil. Mr. Gordon, of Staten Island, has tried it; it grows about two feet high, but in tropical climates it grows to five or six feet; the oil is of excellent quality, and is used for the same purpose, as Olive oil.
Subscriber.
The Healthfulness op Lemons. — When people feel the need of an acid, if they would let vinegar alone, and use Lemons or Apples, they would feel as well satisfied, and receive no injury. A suggestion may not come amiss as to a
THE CALIFORNIA HORTICULTURIST.
27
good plan, when Lemons are cheap in the market, to make good Lemon syrup. Press your hand on the Lemon and roll it back and forth briskly on the ta- ble to make it squeeze more easily; then press the juice into a bowl or tumbler — never into a tin; strain out all the seeds, as they give a bad taste. Remove all the pulp from the peels, and boil in wa- ter— a pint for a dozen pulps, to extract the acid. A few minutes boiling is enough; then strain the water with the juice of the Lemons; put a pound of white sugar to a pint of the juice; boil ten minutes, bottle it, and your lemon- ade is ready. Put a tablespoonful or two of this Lemon syrup in a glass of water, and have a cooling, healthful drink. - — Farmers' Union.
CURIOSITIES OF THE SEA BOTTOM.
Forest and Stream has a communica- tion from Commodore Beardslee, com- manding the steamer Blue Light, as- sisted by Professor Verrill, of Yale College, from which we copy the fol- lowing passages:
Cape Cod is a dividing line upon our coast. South of it one class of crea- tures are found in profusion, but the quohog clam (the Calista convexa), cer- tain star-fishes and worms, and the oys- ter, have not existed, or, having existed, have become extinct north of this line, except in a very few localities. A live Calista convexa (a species of clam), brought up in Casco Bay, upset at once the opinion held till then that it was extinct so far north. Quohog shells in plenty we find in the ancient Indian shell mounds, which dot every slope of the island, showing that once they ex- isted in plenty. Now but one little bay — a mere cove at the head of Casco Bay — furnishes this creature, which,
south of Cape Cod, is but the common plentiful clam. Oyster shells, of a size to which a Saddle Rock is but a pigmy, lie thickly planted six feet below the present bottom of Portland harbor. They too, however, are extinct.
In that great convulsion of nature that was so sweeping in its effects not a living oyster was left to fulfill a mission. It seems a sad mistake up here, where oysters could be eaten every day in the year, and the nightly blanket renders superfluous the mosquito bar. But the ocean is still well filled, and with fruits and flowers, with vegetables and plants, masons and well-diggers, robbers and cannibals, and each bearing in a great- er or less degree a resemblance either in appearance or habits, to the creature or object above water that it is named for. Away down in the dark depths, animal life utilizes every inch of ground, and no square foot above the surface can equal in number or variety of forms the same space at the bottom of the sea. Strange, odd, horrible creatures, with none or many eyes, with speckled bod- ies, and long, slimy, clinging arms, changing at once their form and size at will, and, like the genii of the Arabian Tales, from a mere starting-point ex- tend themselves almost indefinitely in size. Beautiful creatures, too, as the anemones and dahlias, at first fright- ened and jarred as we see them in the dredge, mere masses of pink or purple flesh, covered with a tough skin; left to themselves in a cool, dark place, they protrude, from an opening in their bod- ies, clusters of gay-colored and grace- fully-moving antenna?, which in some branch like coral, in others bear close resemblance to the stamens and petals of flowers. Down here the animal kingdom takes from the floral tribe the duty of embellishing. Living, breath- ing, food-devouring flowers, and the
28
THE CALIFORNIA HORTICULTURIST.
kitchen garden, too, and orchard, are not unrepresented. Sea cucumbers, (Penlaciafrondosa), sea peaches (Cynthia pyriformis), sea pears (Boltenia clavala), and apples are found in plenty, the former so close a simile of the fruit, both in color and form, that it could be mistaken the one for the other.
The flowers, beautiful as they are, are but brigands; those graceful petals wave but to entice and grasp a victim, which, when seized, is pressed close to its mouth, and then, even if larger than its captor, is swallowed whole.
The process of swallowing whole a morsel larger than the swallotver is rather an unusual proceeding among animals, and of course an unusual method has to be adopted. The anem- one does it in this way: holding tight- ly its prey, it gradually protrudes its stomach from its mouth, and turning it inside out, envelopes its dinner, and then lies quietly awaiting the death and digestion. It rejects such portions as are not suitable, and stows away its stomach for future use. "What a bless- ing some men would esteem this faculty to be!
The sea cucumber is another curious creature; first found it is a small, com- pact "gherkin;" left to itself, it will swell and develop to an immense cu- cumber, quite large enough to make a boat of, if the sea urchins had the same habits as did those urchins of whom I was once one.
New Shrub . — One of the finest and most remarkable hardy shrubs recently introduced into England is Ulceagnus longipes. It comes from Japan. It is of medium size; the flowers are pro- duced in great profusion, and are suc- ceeded by berries, orange in color, ob- long in form, speckled with brownish scales.
®flit<m;ti IJflrtMw.
OUR CITY PARK.
ITS AVAILABILITY FOE PBACTICAL PUEPOSES.
As California is destined in the near future to become a great agricultural State, and even now is assuming her place in the front rank of cereal-growing countries, it is of the utmost importance that we should lay a sure and solid foundation upon which to rear this ag- ricultural superstructure, so that it may, when once established, remain forever. The question might be asked, as very likely it will, how is this to be done ? I answer, by knowledge — knowledge born of science and experience, prac- tical and theoretical; that which springs from the mental labor of the stu- dent, as well as from the manual toil of the husbandman. A short time ago, when " book farming," as it is term- ed, first sprung into existence, it was an object of ridicule with many, and no sarcasm was too bitter, or wit too sharp, to be launched at it. Time, that great equalizer of all things, has somewhat changed the relation between theoreti- cal and practical farming.
Mr. Mecchi, a perfumer of London, has given to all England that admirable system of sewerage farming, which is in- creasing her agricultural products four- fold. In our country the writings of Bridgeman and Downing have brought orchard and market gardening to a high state of perfection. In Australia the researches of Dr. Muller have added largely to the agricultural wealth of that country. Agricultural and horti- cultural magazines and papers, all over the world, have done good work in the dissemination of knowledge in their re- spective departments; and the labor, though often unrequited, is now bear- ing golden fruit.
THE CALIFORNIA HORTICULTURIST.
29
But, with all this, another power should be brought into the field, and co-operate with those already occupying it; and this is, the State and city gov- ernments. In many countries this is done; and our own General Government has for many years been doing good ser- vice in the publication of the monthly and yearly agricultural reports. Still, in addition to this, each State should do something for the unfolding of her special agricultural resources — some- thing that could be received alike by all her people and made of actual use. Her natural products, such as timber, grasses, and various useful plants, more especially, should receive proper care and attention. Reckless waste and ex- travagant use should be controlled, and the people within her borders taught the necessity of moderation in use and the great value of replacement. Cities should use their public parks as botani- cal gardens, and thus show the natural productions of the whole State. By this means the newly arrived agricult- urist, with but a slight knowledge of Botany, might gather information in respect to the climate and soil of the different parts of the State.
In this article, which is but the out- line of what could be written on the subject, I desire to speak of our Park. San Francisco is now engaged in estab- lishing a park which will be of great value to her as a pleasure and health- giving spot, and can also, if rightly managed, be made of still greater value, as an index to the Botany of the Pacific coast. It has often been said that Bot- any is a mere ornamental study, and one of no great practical value. This is far from true. Botany is really an index to the character of climate and soil, and, therefore, is of great impor- tance to agriculturists. The intelligent farmer, with a slight knowledge of this
science, is enabled to judge of far-off countries and their adaptability for set- tlement.
In view of these facts, we should en- deavor to so make known our resources and products, that all may see and understand their true value. In fur- therance of this object a scientific man should be chosen as superintendent of the Park — one at the same time capable of imparting this knowledge to the peo- ple, who are more especially engaged in the kindred branches of Agriculture and Horticulture. Reports should be made from time to time by him of his observations in these branches. Under such management the Park would be no greater burden than at present, no pleasure would be lessened, while it would of necessity prove of great value to the State at large.
C. A. Stivers, M. D.
The request of "A Subscriber" for a list of plants adapted to a northern shady situation, will be complied with in the February number.
Woodward's Gardens. — Notwithstand- ing the inclemency of the weather at the present season, these grounds and conservatories are in fine order, and the plants in a growing condition — demand- ing, however, a large amount of addi- tional attention. Considerable addi- tions have been made to the aviaries, many valuable birds having been re- cently purchased. In other depart- ments the work of renovation and im- provement is progressing vigorously. Preparations are being made for a series of novel and interesting balloon ascen- sions; and every exertion is being used by the proprietor to render the ap- proaching season gratifying and satis- factory to the public.
30
THE CALIFORNIA HORTICULTURIST.
NOTICES OF SOCIETIES.
Fruit- growers' Society oe Pennsyl- vania.— This Society will hold its an- nual meeting this season at Mechanics- burg, Cumberland County, on the 21st, 22d, and 23d of June, 1874. The prac- tical details of fruit culture are gener- ally fully discussed, and the meetings usually very fully attended. Mechan- icsburg is on the railroad leading from Harrisburg to Chambersburg, and very easy of access. In one of the most successful fruit regions of the State, there is no doubt much useful informa- tion will be elicited by the meeting.
FAVORS EECEIVED.
It gives us pleasure to acknowledge the receipt of the Monthly Report of the Department of Agriculture for No- vember. It is replete with valuable statistics and general information.
The Overland Monthly, for January, is decidedly the best number yet pub- lished of this really first-class magazine. " Abrasions of the Northwest Coast," "California Indians," " Summering in the Sierra," "New Zealand," "Seeking the Golden Fleece," are specially inter- esting.
No. 6 of the Flower Garden is at hand. This quarterly periodical com- bines the magazine with a copious cata- logue and price-list. It is published by Beach, Son & Co., 76 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, N. Y. Terms, $1 per year.
During a recent passage from Havre to San Francisco, it became needful to economize in the use of fresh water. Bread mixed with sea-water was found not only to be better, but also to keep longer. It was made use of for a long period without resulting in a single case of sickness aboard.
FLORAL REVIEW.
BY F. A. MILLER.
That our gardens have a much bright- er appearance during the winter months than those of our Eastern friends, is well known to every one; nevertheless flowers are rather scarce with us at this time, and our florists can not readily satisfy the demand. I would suggest that our amateurs, therefore, pay more attention to winter flowering plants, for the very reason that flowers are much more appreciated when they are less plentiful. "While some shrubs and plants flower much better with us dur- ing winter than summer — for instance, the Laurustinus, Polygala, Veronica, Stevia, Chrysanthemum, Violet, Pansy, Diosma, and Erica — others may be had in bloom at this time by proper treat- ment^— such as Roses, Stocks, Gladio- lus, Lilies, Pinks, etc. To accomplish this, let some Roses rest during the months of July and August by keeping them dry, and then irrigate freely in September and October, occasionally working up the ground around them. This treatment will force out young wood and buds, which will come to per- fection during the winter months, as the frost in our milder regions is not heavy enough to injure them. This can not be done with all the varieties of Roses which we cultivate. The best for that purpose are most of the Tea Roses, the Bengal (or China) Roses, and some of the Bourbons; a few of the Per- petuals, such as General Jacqueminot and Geant de Battailles, may also be successfully treated in this way.
Gladiolus and Lily roots will produce their flowers in winter, if planted in September and October. Stocks will also do as well, if the seed is planted late; and Pinks are sure to bloom throughout the winter months, if the
THE CALIFOENIA HORTICULTURIST.
31
soil around tbem is well manured and worked up in September. Add to those already named the Pelargoniums, He- liotropes, Fuchsias, Abutilons, Sollya lieterophylla, Hydrangea, Ageratum, and others, which bloom as freely in win- ter as summer with us, and I see no reason why our gardens should not look cheerful and bright at this time.
During the holidays just past, our florists had their hands full, the demand for flowers having been in excess of the supply. Probably $15,000 were paid for cut-flowers, bouquets, and floral dec- orations, which is a large amount for a city with less than 200,000 inhabitants. The bulk of the fkowers used were Ro- ses, Pinks, Stocks, Candy-tuft, Sweet Alyssum, Violets, Stevia, Gladiolus, Pelargoniums, Fuchsias, Pansies, Lau- rustinus, Diosma," Erica, Mignonette, Gypsophila, and Abutilon, all of which were grown in the open ground. The choice and more costly flowers from the greenhouses were, Camellias, Eu- charis, Tuberoses, Epiphyllums, Aga- panthus, Azalea, Heliotrope (also from the open ground), Spanish Jasmine, Cyclamen, Poinsettia, Chinese Prim- rose, Begonia, Cineraria, Orange-blos- soms, and Adiantum cuneatum. The price for Camellia bouquets during the holidays was from $2.50 to $5, and for baskets of flowers, from $5 to $30, which is from thirty to forty per cent, higher than the prices usually paid.
This goes far to show that the people of San Francisco do love flowers, and are willing to pay their money for them. I believe I am correct when I state that the people of such cities as Chicago and St. Louis expend much less for this pur- pose. At the same time it is well known that our florists furnish much more for the same amount of money than the florists of the Eastern cities are in the habit of doing, during the winter sea-
son. This is mostly due to the large expense incurred there in cultivating all the flowering plants, under glass by artificial heat, at this time.
During the coming month Hyacinths and the Lily of the Valley will be in bloom, and continue to flower for sev- eral months, in the house or under glass; Cyclamen, Camellias, Eucharis, Azaleas, Epiphyllums, Bouvardias, He- liotropes, and many other choice house- plants will furnish their quota of flowers.
The weather for the past month has been very unfavorable for greenhouse plants, and little could be done in the open air on account of continual storm and rain, from the effects of which we suffer more in California than from se- vere cold. During such weather it is very important that plants in general be kept dry. This can not be well done unless the houses are artificially heated; and I believe we will have to come to this, if we wish to succeed in the culti- vation of certain choice and more deli- cate house-plants. A very small heat- ing apparatus will be sufficient to keep up the proper temperature in this cli- mate, and to relieve us of the loss caused by "damping off" on account of super- fluous moisture. Several parties here are now making preparations for heat- ing apparatus, which experiments, I hope, will lead to some successful mode of heating houses.
There is yet time to plant the Hya- cinth and Narcissus. For winter flow- ering they are indispensable. Bulbs and flowering roots have been imported plentifully this season, and many varie- ties are in the market, which heretofore have been very scarce, or could not be obtained.
In the open ground, Snowdrops, Cro- cuses, Ranunculus, Tulips, Anemones, Dielytrias, and Pseonies should be plant- ed at once.
32
THE CALIFORNIA HOKTICULTURIST.
The planting of trees, shrubs, and hardy herbaceous plants should not be delayed. An occasional rain during the winter season will help them very much, and will double their growth next spring and summer.
EEPOET ON THE FEUIT AND VEGE- TABLE MAEKET.
BY E. J. HOOPEE.
I have hitherto written of the various fruits, their conditions, and merits — except the different nuts, as found in our markets. I shall now say a few words concerning the latter productions. It is not usual for us to see all the va- rieties of nuts displayed in our market stalls, yet in plentiful seasons they can be purchased at some of them. The choicest nuts are usually sold in our fine groceries, fruit-stores, and at our confectioneries .
And first, with regard to Almonds. The part eaten is the kernel of the dry pit or shell of the Sweet Almond, some of which have shells so soft that they are easily crushed by the fingers. These are known as the Sultana, but more usually called Soft or Upper-shell, and Ladies' Thin-shell; the thick-shell are known as the Jordan or Hard-shell. They are now being much cultivated all over our State, especially in the south- ern parts of it, and with much success. Large supplies are also brought here from the south of Europe. The fresh or new nuts usually arrive in our win- ter months, when they are found very tender and sweet, with much of the ' ' nutty flavor;" while the old nuts are hard, dry, and with but little of this ex- cellent flavor.
Those excellent nuts, the Black Wal- nuts, when ripe, with the husk off, are round and very rough, and black on the
exterior. They are not plentiful here, but may be had during January and February, and will keep for many months. The ripe kernel is very large, sweet and wholesome, particularly when eaten with a little salt. The immature fruit, while in the green, tender, out- side shell, and before the internal shell has become hard, (which it usually does in the months of June and July, accord- ing to location), makes the "Walnut cat- sup, oris used for pickling.
Brazil-nuts are natives of South America, and are of a dark-brown col- or, being rough - shelled and three- cornered, with a large white kernel, having the flavor of the Hazel-nut, and are very oily. The season for the new nuts is from April to June.
Butternuts, White Walnuts, or Oil- nuts, are a species of the Walnut, re- sembling, when young, the Black Wal- nut, but elongated and smaller. When ripe they are of an oval, oblong form, not quite so large nor so rough as the Black Walnut, and are of a different flavor, with an agreeable taste, and rich in oil. When green and soft, they are excellent for pickling. They ripen in the month of August. In the Eastern States these nuts are known as Oil-nuts, and in southern Ohio and other sec- tions, as the White Walnut.
The Cashew-nuts are natives of the Indies, but are sometimes brought here. The nut or fruit is in size like an apple, some being of a white, red, or yellow color; and like the Cherry, they taste sweet and pleasant, but sometimes are sharp and astringent. The kidney- shaped seed grows on its summit, and when roasted, is superior to the Almond.
Of Chestnuts there are but two kinds represented here — the common Ameri- can Chestnut and the large Spanish Chestnut. Great quantities of the lat- ter are sold roasted, in a hot state, along
THE CALIFORNIA HORTICULTURIST.
38
some of our public streets. The com- mon Chestnut, however, is the best flavored, especially when fresh, and is excellent, either raw, roasted, or boiled. Their season commences in the begin- ning of September and continues good throughout the winter.
The Chincapin-nut, or Dwarf Chest- nut, is a small variety of the Chestnut, growing on smaller trees, and is con- sidered about the same quality. It is seldom seen here, but is quite plentiful in the markets of Baltimore and Phila- delphia, and is known by some as the Dwarf Chestnut.
The Cocoanut is the best flavored of all the foreign kinds. They come from the islands of the Pacific, and from Bara- coa, Brazil, and other places. The white kernel, although hard, woody, and tough, in its fresh state, is said to be very nutritious; and though in its unprepared state not very digestible, yet, when grated, it makes excellent puddings, pies, cakes, and is used in candies, etc. It contains a white liquid called milk, which is sweet and nour- ishing. The nuts should never be pur- chased except when this milk is heard to shake within them. The Cocoa-nut tree furnishes food, raiment, milk, oil, toddy, cups, bowls, cordage, brushes, mats — in fact, it is difficult to say what it does not furnish to the Indian.
"The Indian nut alone Is clothing, meat, and trencher, drink and pan, Boat, cable, sail, and needle — all in one."
Filberts are said to be an improved variety of the common Hazel-nut, but a great deal larger. The best kind is called the Red Filbert, known by its crimson skin; and also another, called the large Spanish Filbert. They are found in the East throughout the year, but the new nuts are received from Oc- tober to January.
The Ground-nuts, Chufas, or Earth-
Vol. IV.— 5.
Almonds, are small oval tubers. Having the name of nut applied to them is the reason why they are placed under this head. They are hardly ever seen in our market, no doubt in consequence of their smallness, although they are con- sidered esculent, nutritious, and worthy of culture, which improves them in size. They are ready for use at the end of the summer months. When roasted, their taste is much like boiled Chestnuts; they are white, mealy, and well flavored, and when dried, their taste is somewhat similar to the Almond. In some parts of Europe they are used for making an orgeat, which, with water, makes a milky drink, much used in Spain and other hot climates where they are known.
Hazel-nuts, or Wild Filberts, are much of the shape, form, and color of the Filbert, but are smaller, thicker shelled, and better flavored. They grow on bushes alongside the borders of the woods and the fences, in clusters of frizzled husks; and when they begin to open, or show the end of the nut, they are fit to eat. They usually appear in July or August.
Of Hickory-nuts there are several va- rieties, which are often found mixed together, and it requires some knowl- edge of them to select the best. The choice nuts are generally known under the name of Shell-barks, or Shag-barks. These grow on the shaggy-bodied trees, having a thin shell, a very well-tasted full kernel, of a good size, and they ripen in September and October. Mocker- nuts, or Thick- shelled Hickories, are usually a larger and rounder nut, but with a very thick shell, while the kernel is small but sweet. There is also a smaller thick-shelled nut which some call the White-heart Hickory, but prob- ably it is the same grown in a poorer soil.
Pig-nut Hickories, which are smaller,
34
THE CALIFORNIA HORTICULTURIST.
fig-shaped nuts, have a kernel with a bitterish taste, though sometimes they are found pretty sweet. This tree pro- duces the toughest wood of all the kinds.
For the want of space we must defer our descriptions of the remainder of the nut family to our next report.
A small lot of fine Oranges received during the last of December from Pu- tah Creek, Solano County, found quick sales at $1.50 per dozen. It is a singu- lar fact that, although some hundreds of miles farther north, Solano comes into market with some fruits a month ahead of Los Angeles. A new variety of fruit, not heretofore cultivated in this county, has thus come to market — a consignment of 350 Oranges from the ranch of J. R. Wolfskill. They were exceedingly fine specimens, large and fully ripened. They obtained nearly double the price of those which first ar- rived from Los Angeles. Thus Solano fruit-growers may be encouraged and induced thereby to plant Orange groves.
On the 26th of December new Pota- toes were quoted at 6c. per pound; Cabbage-sprouts retailed at 12^c. per pound; Savoy Cabbage, 10@15c. each; Artichokes, $1 per dozen; Jerusalem Ar- tichokes, 8c. per pound; Horse-radish, 25c. per pound; Parsley and Water- cress, 20c. per dozen bunches. The va- rious kinds of Lettuce ranged from 25 to 37^c. per dozen bunches; Kale, 50c. per dozen; Tomatoes, nearly given out. Ripe Tomatoes were not to be had at any price, and the green vegetable was quoted at 8c. per pound; extra fine quality of the same description, 25c; cultivated Mushrooms from the gar- dens of Stockton, 25c. per pound.
The wholesale market price of Pine- apples during the last week of Decem- ber was exceedingly high, but there was no corresponding response in the
price of the same descriptions of fruit by retailers, choice lots being offered at $1 each. Lady Apples, imported from Oregon for the holidays, brought 15 cts. per pound. Other kinds of Ap- ples ranged from 5 to 8 cts. per pound. Oranges, on the 26th of December, be- came more abundant at the prices of the week before. Lemons were a trifle easier, inferior being obtainable at 75 cts. and choice at $1.25 per dozen. As usual during the holiday season, there was a very poor display of fruits, varieties being few and the quality in- ferior, though better and more various than could be found in the East at the same season. With the exception of those already mentioned, there was no change in supply or prices of other de- scriptions, compared with our last re- port in the December number of the
HORTICULTURIST.
Best Time to Cut Timber. — Dr. Har- tig, who has made numerous experi- ments to determine the point, states that March and April are the best months in which to cut timber for build- ing purposes, as it then contains its lowest per cent, of moisture, which he states to be forty-seven per cent. Dur- ing the three previous months it has fifty-one per cent., and the three fol- lowing ones, forty-eight. He further states that properly seasoned timber should not contain more than from twenty to twenty-five per cent, of moist- ure, and never less than ten per cent. If the moisture is removed to a still greater extent, the wood loses strength and becomes brittle. An English au- thority states that if trees are felled as soon as they are in full leaf, and al- lowed to remain undisturbed until the leaves dry up and fall off, the timber will be found well seasoned, the leaves having exhausted all the moisture.
THE CALIFOENIA HOETICULTUEIST.
35
NEW AND RARE PLANTS.
E. Verdier, the celebrated Eose-grow- er of Paris, sends to The Gardener's Monthly the following list and descrip- tions of the best new Eoses of the past year:
hybrid perpetuals, (Hybrid remontants.) Antoine Castel. — Tree vigorous with strong erect shoots of a reddish tint, numerous dark spines, foliage with three to five leaflets round and leathery, very little serrated, and a pale green color. Flowers of medium size, very double; color bright rose or light cerise, shaded with a dark hue, and white stripes. Similar in growth as Prince Kotchoubey . Ernest Herger. — Tree very vigorous with reddish shoots and numerous short straight pink spines. Leaves with five dark-green leaflets with purple points. Flowers large, full, of a deep bright purple.
Francis Gourtin. — Tree very vigorous with strong erect dark-green shoots and numerous straight reddish spines; leaves with five leaflets, very large, of dark- green color, and but little serrated. Flowers large, full, fine cup-shape, fre- quently three top together, rarely soli- tary; outer petals large, reflexed and imbricated, color purplish cerise, out- side rose with white stripes; very fra- grant; a free and abundant bloomer and of the highest merit.
John Harrison. — Tree vigorous with erect reddish shoots, long and pointed spines; leaves with five leaflets deeply serrated. Flowers very large, full, of fine cup -shape; color dark brilliant crimson strongly shaded with a velvety blackish hue; very effective variety.
Madame Laison IAerval. — Tree vigor- ous with very strong light-green shoots; very few elongated slightly reflexed brownish spines. Leaves light-green,
with five to seven leaflets deeply ser- rated. Flowers very large, very full and of fine form; color fine carmine with brilliant centre; calyx surrounded with very long sepals. A very free and con- tinuous bloomer; seedling of Victor Verdier.
Miller Hayes. — Tree vigorous with erect reddish shoots and a few short brownish spines; leaves with three to five light-green leaflets and red leaf- stalks; flowers large, full, and of fine cup -shape, generally solitary, some- times two or three together; thick pet- als, color crimson with bright centre and shaded dazzling velvety red. First- rate variety; seedling of Chas. Lefevre.
Pauline Talabot. — Tree vigorous with erect light-green shoots, and very rare short, straight reddish spines; large light-green leaves with three to five leaflets deeply serrated; flowers large, full, and of fine form ; color dark daz- zling rose or reddish carmine. A very free bloomer, and altogether of great merit.
President Hardy. — Tree vigorous with erect reddish shoots and irregular rosy spines; leaves light green with three to five leaflets deeply serrated; flowers large, full, and of fine globular form, and from four to eight together; color purplish carmine.
Theodore Bucheter. — Tree vigorous with erect reddish shoots, numerous brown irregular spines; leaves with five leaflets, deeply serrated, dark green; flowers large, full, and of fine form, purplish velvety violet with fiery centre.
Thomas Mills. — Tree very vigorous, erect, somewhat reflexed light -green shoots, irregular short nearly straight rosy spines. Leaves with five leaflets, large, acuminated, of a dark green, and finely serrated. Flowers extra- large, full, and of fine cup-shape; color
36
THE CALIFOKNIA HOBTICULTUEIST.
dazzling bright rosy carmine with whit- ish stripes; very free bloomer, and alto- gether of the greatest merit.
Double Cinebabias. — Among the most striking novelties of the past year are Double Cinerarias. These have occa- sionally appeared in the hands of Eng- lish florists; but they have never suc- ceeded in fixing them so as to produce a distinct race. The more patient Ger- mans have, however, done the thing at last, and Haoge & Schmidt, the seeds- men of Erfurt, Prussia, announce that they will distribute the seeds this sea- son. They are represented to be as double as the common Pompone Chrys- anthemums, and to embrace most of the colors already known in single ones. We can imagine nothing more beautiful than such a set of improved Cinerarias will be, and we can not but regard the introduction of such novelties as these, after so many years of persevering at- tempts, as among the grandest floral tri- umphs of the age. — Gardener's Monthly.
Light seems to have no effect on the respiration of Elodea canadensis, the ab- sorption being the same in the light as in the dark, but it differs from yeast in that during the diurnal respiration it gives off free oxygen. If a large quan- tity of the plant be immersed in a tol- erably small quantity of water, and sub- mitted to direct sunlight for an hour or two, numerous bubbles of gas will be liberated, and a supersaturated liquid will be obtained which may contain as much as twenty cubic centimeters (7.88 English inches nearly) of oxygen per litre, (1.76 English pints). The man- ner of absorption is the same for both plants, but in case of the Elodea the absorption is about ten times less.
(SMifortHl (Stating.
How Arizona lost her Forests. — A legend of the Utes, for which I am in- debted to the perusal of Major Powell's MS. notes, explains the cause of the absence of woods in northern Arizona. It is not long, and there is something so inexpressibly novel in its movement, as well as in the fact of our drawing a new mythology and fresh imagery from the very heart of the continent, that I give it as it is remembered. It is call- ed "The origin of fire," and tells how once upon a time a bright spark fell from the point of a reed, upon the ground, and the nightingale picked it up in its beak and found it was fire. And the mighty chief of the Utes asked what it was, and the nightingale said it was fire. And the chief asked if there were any more in the world, and the night- ingale said, that far off in the south was a people dancing ever about a great fire, with songs and shouts. So the mighty chief of the Utes made ready, and put on a fine cap, with long eagle feathers upon it, and started for the people of the South. And, as he went, he stationed nimble runners of his tribe all the way from the land of the Utes to the Fire People, at intervals of a mile. And, journeying, he came, after many days, to the Fire People, dancing with songs and shouts about a great fire. And he mingled with them, but they saw he was a stranger, and looked as- kant at him. But he danced and sung and shouted with them, and suddenly stooping, thrust the end of his eagle plumes in the fire, and they blazed up mightily. And the Fire People would have caught him, but he leaped over their heads and ran to the first man of his tribe, and falling exhausted, handed him the blazing torch of plumes and told him to run. And he ran and fell
THE CALIFORNIA HORTICULTURIST.
37
exhausted by the second man, handing him the plumes. And so they ran, each man catching the fire plumes from the hand of the runner, until the last man brought it to the land of the Utes. And they were so rejoiced, they put the torch to the roots of a mighty tree on the edge of the forest, and shouted as it burned. But a great wind sprung up and carried the fire into the forest, and it spread in every direction, and all the woods were destroyed. And the people of the Utes prayed long and loud to the god Tawotz, and at length he sent a mighty rain, which quenched the fire. But a turtle sat upon a spark of fire and kept it alive during the rain. And this was the origin of fire.
Old and New, for December.
THE DAHLIA.
A correspondent of the Garden ex- plains the true origin of the Dahlia, first mentioned by Hernandez, in his History of Mexico, in 1651. But the first scientific description of the plant was given by the Abbe Cavanilles, from a specimen which flowered in Madrid, in 1790; and the Abbe named the plant after his friend, Andrew Dahl, the Swedish botanist. The Dahlia was sent to the Royal Gardens in Madrid, from the Royal Gardens in Mexico. It first flowered in Madrid in 1789, and was introduced by the Marchioness of Bute into England, in the same year.
But that plant soon perished; and the Dahlia did not reappear until 1803, when the old single variety, Coccinea, was flowered by Frazer, at Chelsea. Meanwhile, Cavanilles had sent the three varieties known in Madrid, to Paris, in 1802, and between that time and 1814, many varieties were raised. Humboldt sent home seed from Mex- ico, in 1804; and from this source the
numerous varieties since obtained have been principally derived.
A Pretty "Window Plant. — One of the best window plants, capable, as it ap- pears, of resisting almost any hardships to which plants in such circumstances are subjected, is the Aspidistra lurida. This plant, and its variegated variety, is grown largely in France and Belgium, in windows, corridors, etc., and might with advantage be employed here for like purposes. — Gardener's Chronicle.
Fancy Peices for Plants. — At a re- cent sale of rare plants by Messrs. Back- house, of York, England, the Country Gentleman says: " A mass of the Oncid- ium tigrinum, consisting of about thirty bulbs, sold for $150. Smaller plants or masses brought $15 to $60. A strong plant of Oncidium macranthum was sold for $45, and other plants, all of the same species, from $17 to $37.
Profits of Gardening. — The results of gardening in the "Garden of Retreat for the Insane," at Utica, New York, were published by Dr. Brigham. The land was good and yearly manured, and the product was as follows on one and a fourth acres of land: 1,100 heads of Lettuce, (large), 1,400 heads of Cab- bage, 700 bunches Radish, 250 bunches Asparagus, 300 bunches Rhubarb, 14 bushels of Peas in the pod, 40 bushels of Beans, 419 dozen Sweet Corn (three plantings), 715 dozen Summer Squash, 45 dozen Squash Peppers, 756 dozen Cucumbers, 7 barrels Cucumber Pickles, 147 bushels Beets, 29 bushels Carrots, 26 bushels Parsnips, 120 bushels On- ions, 180 bushels Turnips, 35 bushels Early Potatoes, 40 bushels Tomatoes; Winter Squash, — wagon loads; 500 heads Celery— all worth $621 in Utica
38
THE CALIFORNIA HORTICULTURIST.
market, but supplied 130 persons in the Institution with, what they could con- sume, and only one man to do all the labor. — Gardening for the South.
Excellent Glue. — According to the statement of a foreign chemist, an ex- cellent paste may be prepared as fol- lows: Eour parts, by weight, of glue are soaked for several hours in fifteen parts of water, and then slowly warm- ed until a perfectly clear solution is formed. This solution is then diluted with sixty-five parts of boiling water, and thoroughly stirred. In the mean- time thirty parts of starch are stirred into 200 parts of cold water, so as to form a thin milky liquid, free from lumps. Into this is poured the solution of glue, stirring continually and heat- ing. When cold, ten drops of carbolic acid are added. The paste made in this way is said to possess extraordina- ry adhesive power, joining leather, pa- per, pasteboard, etc. By keeping it in closed vessels, so that the water can not evaporate, it may be preserved for years. Where no great strength is desired, or- dinary flour or starch paste is used, a little carbolic acid being added to pre- vent souring.
Simple Ornaments. — A pretty mantel ornament may be obtained by suspend- ing an acorn by a piece of thread tied around it, within half an inch of the surface of some water contained in a vase, tumbler, or saucer, and allowing it to remain undisturbed for several weeks. It will soon burst open, and small roots will seek the water; a straight and ta- pering stem, with beautiful glossy green leaves, will shoot upward, and present a very pleasing appearance. Chestnut trees may be grown in the same man- ner, but their leaves are not so beauti-
ful as those of the oak. The water should be changed once a month, tak- ing care to supply water of the same warmth; bits of charcoal added to it will prevent the water from souring. If the leaves turn yellow, add one drop of ammonia into the utensil which holds the water, and they will renew their luxuriance.
Another pretty ornament is made by wetting a sponge and sprinkling it with canary, hemp, and grass seeds. The sponge should be refreshed with water daily, so as to be kept moist. In a few days the seeds germinate, and the sponge will soon be covered with a mass of green foliage. — Scientific American.
Guano-water foe Plants. — The Farm- er and Gardener, in reply to a corre- spondent, says: "All guanos are not alike in soluble proportions; hence a pound of phospho-guano will go as far as two pounds of many other brands. We use about one gallon of the former to a barrel of water. Let it remain three or four days, stirring the mixture daily. When using we add an equal quantity of water, thus taking one gal- lon of phospho-guano to two barrels of water. Guano-water must only be ap- plied to plants when in full growth, and not when they are at rest, as is the case during our warmest portion of the summer."
The Iris. — It is the fate of many good plants to get set aside for novelties not near so good. The Lis has been one of these unfortunates. The varieties are very numerous, and there is no flower capable of giving more interest than a collection of these. They flower as the Hyacinth goes out, and are excellent plants to go together with them. — Gar- dener's Monthly.
THE CALIFORNIA HORTICULTURIST.
39
Asters as Decorative Plants. — The Florist and Pomologist says that the per- ennial Asters, sometimes termed Au- tumn Daisies, furnish some most valua- ble decorative plants for the open ground during autumn. Aster amellus is one of the best of them, bearing plenty of flowering stems numerously branched at the top, the flowers violet-blue; neat clumps of this dotted about shrubbery borders, or at the back of mixed beds, form most welcome masses of a very acceptable hue of color in our gardens, right up to November. A violet-colored variety of A. amellus, named bessarab- icus, is a good decorative plant also.
Cutting Blossoms. — Lovers of flowers must remember that one blossom allow- ed to mature or "go to seed " injures the plant more than a dozen new buds. Cut your flowers then, all of them, be- fore they begin to fade. Adorn your rooms with them; put them on your ta- bles; send bouquets to your friends who have no flowers; or exchange favors with those who have. You will surely find that the more you cut off the more you will have. All Roses after they have ceased to bloom should be cut back, that the strength of the root may go to form- ing new roots for next year. On bush- es not a seed should be allowed to ma- ture.
Power of Insects. — Most of our read- ers have no doubt noticed the extraor- dinary power of insects, but Abbe Plessis seems to have been the first to measure and record this power. He attached a light box to a large horned beetle, and gradually loaded it with a weight of two and one-half pounds, and yet the insect moved it steadily over a smooth board. On comparing the load with the power, he found the former to
be 315 times the latter. At the same rate a common farm-horse should draw one hundred and eighty-one tons. — Jour- nal of the Farm.
A Pretty Floral Contrast. — A cor- respondent of The Gardener's Chronicle describes a pretty scene of climbing vines in a conservatory: "One of the pretti- est floral sights that I have seen for a long time, is the result of allowing Tacsonia Van- Volxemi, Clematis Jack- manni, and Mandevillea suaveolens to grow together at their own sweet will. They were all in full bloom, and the plants having grown up the different rafters of a conservatory and met at the top of the house, the result was certain- ly a very striking contrast."
Wood oe the Osage Orange. — A cor- respondent, who has been experiment- ing with the wood of the Osage Orange, informs us that it takes a fine polish, and is very durable. The wood grown in Texas is found to be durable in all situations, and none more so than in fence posts. It is largely used for wag- on wheels, and the wheels made of it are said never to require a second hoop- ing. In Pennsylvania it is of slow growth, but farther south it finds a congenial climate and grows rapidly. If seed is to be sowed , the trees should be planted in clumps, in order that fer- tilization may be perfect. — Journal of the Farm.
Saving Fuchsia Seed. — Mr. Cannell, the great Fuchsia-grower, says: "When the seed-pods are thoroughly ripened, partly dry them in the sun, after which cut them in halves and quarters with a moderately sharp knife, and minutely examine each part; the old self-colored
40
THE CALIFORNIA HORTICULTURIST.
varieties produce seed very freely, but the choice kinds very sparingly, partic- ularly the light varieties. An abun- dance of hollow seed will be found, but good plump seed is about half the size of that of the pansy, and easily distin- guished and picked out."
Oenamental Hedges. — Edwin Marsh, nearly a mile west of Agawam Centre, has a very handsome hedge of White Pine. This tree was placed by Down- ing at the head of beautiful evergreens. Planted near it is a well-trimmed Hem- lock hedge, and on the grounds of Mr. Goddard, opposite, a very beautiful hedge of the American Arborvitse. On account of its brighter, never-changing green, we had, in this case, to give our preference to the "White Pine. For dry sandy soil, it is peculiarly adapted. — New England Homestead.
Hide-bound Tkees. — Trees that have long stems exposed to hot suns or dry- ing wind, become what gardeners call "hide-bound." That is, the old bark becomes indurated — can not expand — and the tree suffers much in conse- quence. Such an evil is usually indi- cated by gray lichens, which feed on the decaying bark-. In these cases a washing of weak lye or of lime-water is very useful; indeed, where the bark is healthy, it is beneficial thus to wash the trees, as many eggs of insects are thereby destroyed.
Moth Pkeventive. — The following recipe for keeping moths out of cloth- ing is a favorite in some families : Mix half a pint of alcohol, the same quan- tity of spirits of turpentine, and two ounces of camphor. Keep in a stone bottle, and shake before using. The clothes or furs should be wrapped in
linen, and crumpled pieces of blotting paper, dipped in the liquid, should be placed in the box with them, so that it smells strong. This requires renewing about once a year.
METEOROLOGICAL RECORD,
Foe the Month Ending Dec. 31st, 1873.
(Prepared for The Hoeticultdbist by Thos. Tenhent, Mathematical Instrument and Chronometer-maker, No. 423 Washington Street, near the Post Office) .
,, BABOMETEE.
Mean height at 9 a. m 30.10 in.
do 12m 30.10
do 3p.m 30.09
do 6p.m 30.08
Greatest height, on the 17th and 25th at 9 a. m 30.32
Least height, on the 4th at 6 p. m 29.67
THEEMOMETEE. ( With north exposure and free from reflected heat.)
Mean height at 9 a. m 47°
do 12 m 51°
do 3 P. M 50°
do 6 P. M 48°
Greatest height, on the 5th at 12 M.and 31st, 3 p. M. 58° Least height, on the 3rd at 9 a. m 37°
SELF - EEGISTEBING THEEMOMETEE .
Mean height during the night 43°
Greatest height, on nights of 30th and 31st 50°
Least height, on night of 12th 35°
WINDS. North and north-east on 5 days; south and south-east on 14 days; south-west on 6 days; east on 4 days; west on 2 days.
WEATHEE.
Clear on 3 days; variable on 7 days; cloudy on 21 days;
rain on 20 days.
EAIN GAUGE.
December 1st 0.04 inches.
3d 1.89
4th 1.1]
5th 0.27 "
6th 0.36 "
7th 0.39 "
8th 0.30
9th 0.97
10th 0.01
13th 0.28 "
14th 022
15th.. 0.08
16th 0.44 "
18th 0.02
19th 0.41
21st 0.32
28th 0.01 «
27th 0.42 "
29th 0.98
.. ■ 30th 1.60
Total 10.12 «'
Total rain of the season up to date 12.29 *'
OF EVERT DESCRIPTION
THE
AND FLORAL MAGAZINE.
Vol. IV.
FEBRUARY, 1874.
No. 2.
CINEEAEIA.
BY F. A. MILLEE.
But few flowering plants are more useful and give better satisfaction, than the Cineraria. One of its excellent qualities is, that it may be had in bloom at all times, in and out of doors, if properly managed. Another meritori- ous point is, that it furnishes a profu- sion of flowers of all shades of color, except yellow.
Cinerarias are raised from the seed, which grows readily, if planted in a pot or box filled with light and porous soil. The seed should be covered very lightly, and the pot or box placed 4n a warm, sunny place. During cold nights it is well to protect the young plants by cov- ering them with a pane of glass. The plants begin to flower in about seven or eight months from the time the seed is sown; and by paying a little more atten- tion to this fact, we may have them in bloom whenever the flowers are most desirable. If the seed is planted every three or four months, we can have them in bloom throughout the year. This applies to their cultivation in pots in the house. If treated as house-plants, they should be thrown out after they
Vol. IV.— 6.
have done flowering, and young plants should take their place. It is true that by shaking the soil from the old plants, and dividing and replanting them in new soil and smaller pots, good flower- ing plants can be obtained; but this process is much more laborious and less satisfactory than the raising of new plants from the seed, except when it is desirable to cultivate a certain variety in particular. The soil for these plants should be rich, light, and porous, and be one-third well decomposed manure, one-third sand, and one-third loam, to which may be added a little bone-dust and charcoal, which is all that is needed. Cinerarias are also very useful as gar- den plants, where they assume the char- acter of perennials in this mild climate. I have seen them in bloom constantly, through summer and winter, for three or four years, and showing no lack of luxu- riant growth. There is no other gar- den plant of which we can say so much, except, perhaps, the monthly blooming Pinks. At our garden we plant out all the old plants, which have done flowering and could not be dis- posed of, in the borders, and treat them the same as other hardy herbaceous plants, and they give us a large amount
42
THE CALIFORNIA HORTICULTURIST.
of flowers throughout the year. This facility of growth and blooming should make the Cineraria one of the most pop- ular plants on this coast.
If cultivated in the house, Cinerarias are very much subject to "damping off," and to the ravages of the "green fly." This can be prevented by giving plenty of fresh air, and by frequent fumigation with tobacco smoke. "Watering over- head also has a very bad effect, and is apt to produce rot in the leaves and stems.
The extremely bright and pleasing colors of the Cineraria make it a most desirable flowering plant for the house as well as for the garden, and a fair trial is sure to bear me out in all that I have said in its favor .
In Germany, a great novelty has been produced in the way of a "double Cine- raria." I have not yet seen the flower. In fact, the seed of this new acquisition has only recently been offered for sale for the first time. If this new variety proves to be what its originators claim for it, it is certainly a most valuable ad- dition to flowering plants.
Causes of the Rotting of Fktjit. — Ac- cording to Decaisne, the rotting of fruit is produced by two microscopic fungi, which develop in moist, confined air ; namely, Mucor mucedo and Penicillium glaucum, infinitely minute germs of which are continually floating in the at- mosphere, and which attack more es- pecially any injured or abraded portion of the surface. If now, the fruit be wrapped up in cotton, or with soft tissue paper, or, still better, with waxed paper or tin foil, the introduction of these germs will be prevented, and the fruit can be kept for a long time without any appreciable change.
RHODODENDRONS.
Haedy vaeieties. Rhododendron Catawbi- ensis.
Among the evergreen plants used for garden, lawn and other decorative situ- ations, where one, six, or a larger num- ber are to be used, commend us to the grand old Rhododendron. The king of the city garden, the pride of the village green, the pet flower of every ten by twelve grass plat, and, grandest of all, the flowering climax of every well- stocked, elegantly decorated park.
This magnificent flower is so well known, or should be to all lovers of beautiful plants, that a familiar descrip- tion of the same would scarcely seem necessary. Yet such is not the case. There are many persons, ladies and gentlemen, too, of good taste, who de- light in a well-stocked garden, who have never seen a Rhododendron in full bloom. Said a lady to me one day, "I saw a very beautiful flower in full bloom in front of a gentleman's house in New Jersey the other afternoon. I wish I knew what it was. It had bright glossy leaves, grew about three feet high, and had about ten short limbs, all covered with an orange shaped leaf, that looked like a leaf made from wax. From the middle of the bunches of green leaves there sprung a large pink colored flower as large as my hand, and O ! so beautiful. I do much wish I knew its name. I want to purchase one, as I never saw a. more beautiful plant."
This very natural exclamation of the lady would probably find a response in very many hearts when looking upon this plant for the first time. This would be the case with any one who could spend an hour in the garden of Messrs. Hovey, near Boston. There your eyes would be delighted with specimens of this beautiful flower twelve feet in
THE CALIFOENIA HORTICULTURIST.
43
height, and in its season of blossom all covered with flowers.
We have been told that familiarity breeds contempt. Not so with the Rhododendron. Beautiful! indeed, the more we become acquainted with the rare qualities of this valued plant of the garden the more we love its bright shining leaves, its rich and enduring flowers, and well may the term of a "thing of beauty" be applied to it. Magnificent is a well-fitting title for the Rhododendron Catawbiensis. While there are many varieties of this flowering shrub which, with care, can be cultivat- ed to perfection upon the lawn and be- neath the shelter of the deepening woody borders of our gardens, we can recom- mend for hardy culture the Catawbiensis as perfectly reliable. Plant this kind and you will have a reliable plant. And a ' ' sure thing " in the garden is a mat- ter of much consideration to all our lady friends who love these beautiful flow- ers. This article upon the Rhododen- dron was written at the express solicita- tion of two of our lady friends, who know something about garden flowers.
The R. Ponticum, and many of the hardy varieties — hybrids — will grow well beneath the shady sides of woods, but we feel that all who do not tolera- bly understand their cultivation had better confine themselves to the culture of one or two of the perfectly hardy species. There are thirty varieties of the Cataicbiensis — all hardy; from these they can choose their plants and go to work on a half-dozen or a dozen with a good degree of confidence in ultimate success.
Like the Azaleas, the Rhododendron does pretty well in ordinary garden soil, but is greatly improved in size and beau- ty of color by a skillful adaptation as near as possible to its natural soil and situations. Make them as much at
home in their new home, by a judicious combination of soils, as they were be- fore they were lifted, and your work is done.
There is not a more superb plant than the Rhododendron cultivated, and our earnest plea is for our pet plant. It can be planted in pots if you desire it, and you can keep it in the greenhouse in the winter and bring it out in the spring to beautify the plat or garden. Ama- teurs and others desirous of trying their hand with three or five of these plants, can obtain perfectly hardy varieties from any of our seedsmen.
If we could have but one "garden pet," our choice would be the Rhodo- dendron. It is hardy, vigorous of con- stitution, not liable to insect attacks, pos- sesses beauty and symmetry of growth, and when in flower it pays you a hun- dred times over for the care you bestow upon it. We have often felt surprise at the lack of appreciation this flower seemed to command, and were thus led seriously to consider why it was thus sparsely cultivated. Perhaps a promi- nent reason may be found in the fact that considerable care and attention is required to make an appropriate bed, soil, and situation for the growth of this plant.
In hopes of giving our lady friends and, incidentally, others a few reliable hints as to how to prepare a bed for the Rhododendron, I will tell them just how I made one for myself last week, and they are at liberty to improve upon my plan as much as they please. If our friends have patience sufficient to in- duce them to make such a bed as we describe, and sufficient faith in our ex- perience, they will have as good a show of Rhododendrons as any of their neigh- bors.
First, this plant, to thrive well, re- quires a deep, well-prepared soil. Be-
44
THE CALIFOBNIA HOETICULTUKIST.
longing- to the family Ericaceae, its root- lets are exceedingly delicate, and are always found very fine. Now, whenev- er you find these delicate rootlets dry, from any cause whatever, you may throw your plant away at once, for however green its leaves may appear your plant is dead.
On what are called the most "unseem- ly places" you can make your plant bed, as I did mine. The hillside upon which I have prepared a bed for the next spring planting faces the south- east. I first determined the size which I designed for my bed. This I staked out in outline, which I think a good plan, using sharpened sticks six inches long. The bed is of an oval form, in the longest measurement ten feet, in breadth, or shortest, five to six feet. Carefully cutting the sod with a sod cutter, I removed all the same from the • top of the bed. This being done, I re- moved the earthy loam and placed it outside the excavation for future use. Then I removed the gravel to the depth of four feet; this gravel you will need to make the side of the lower embankment of your bed, for I made the upper side of my bed four feet below the level of the sod in its original form. From this level, to be determined by the circum- stances of the case, by those who follow these suggestions, I, in making my bed, made a level bed, or plateau. This was the foundation, or pit, of my bed. Now comes the filling-up process. On a side hill like the one in question you will not often need much artificial drainage. You will, as I did, prepare for a too rapid drainage, which is death to your plant, by covering the whole bottom of your pit with pine needles, or oak leaves, or fine meadow hay, to the depth of from one to two feet. Now pass back again into the pit your loam, and your leaves are fixed, and should be
trodden down to make what you have already placed there about six inches deep from the bottom. Now you are ready to place the old sod soil — the soil that should compose the bed, and that which I used was a mixture of one part peat, or well rotted leaf mold, one i:>art of rich loam, and one part sharp sand. Let these be most thoroughly mixed, and let lay in a heap three or six days ; then fill up all the space left of your bed, level with the former brow of the hill, and outwardly forming a level at the top of the embankment of some two or three feet, which should be sodded to prevent the earth of your bed from sliding down hill. Now you can, after doing this, leave your bed over the win- ter, and in April, on some bright warm day, spade the whole over preparatory to planting out your Ehododendrons.
You can always procure good plants from reliable nurserymen. If you want the cheapest of plants there are always humbugs enough to cheatyououtof your money. Having obtained what you be- lieve to be good plants, set them say from one foot to fourteen inches distant in rows lengthwise of your bed, or, a general rule adopted by some landscape gardeners is, "so that they shade the ground by their foliage just touching each other." This is as good a rule, perhaps, as can be given, and I adopt it whenever I set out grounds. If possi- ble to obtain, I prefer to mulch, say two inches in depth, over the plants as soon as set out, with ground tan-bark, always easily obtained, and there can be nothing better.
Now let your bed alone, unless the summer should be extremely dry. Two copious waterings with the water-pot or hose will be all-sufficient, and nine chances out of ten you will not need any water. Because why? You have set out your bed as you should have
THE CALIFORNIA HORTICULTURIST.
45
done, and they will probably live and thrive.
As a protection from frost and cold in winter, we use boughs of cedar, hem- lock, or pine, the ends well sharpened, and a crow-bar to make holes to receive them, and the boughs firmly set about the bed is sufficient to shelter them from the coldest weather. More of these plants are killed from sunshine in winter than from the intense cold. Pro- tect them well from the winter sun.
In the course of time, as your plants grow in size, you will of course make new beds by removing from the old bed every other plant year by year, until you have left one or two very large plants, whose value, singly, would pay a large percentage of time, care, and the mon- ey expended. — Forest and Stream.
Our Flannels. — The value of flannel next the skin cannot be overrated. It is invaluable to persons of both sexes, and all ages, in all countries, in all cli- mates, at every season of the year, for the sick and the well — in brief, I can not conceive of any circumstances in which flannel next the skin is not a com- fort and a source of health. It should not be changed from thick to thin be- fore the settled hot weather of the sum- mer, which in our Northern States is not much before the middle of June, and often not before the first of July, And the flannels for the summer must not be three-cjuarters cotton, but they must be all woolen, if you would have the best protection.
In the British army and navy they make the wearing of flannel a point of discipline. During the hot season the ship's doctor makes a daily examination of the men at unexpected hours, to make sure that they have not left off their flan- nels.— Bio Lewis in To-Day.
INCEEASED DEMAND FOE CALIFOENIA TEEES AND PLANTS IN EUEOPE.
The business of collecting seeds of trees and plants indigenous to the Pa- cific Coast has expanded at a surprising rate, during the last three years, in re- sponse to orders from Europe, and at certain seasons of the year furnishes remuneration, through arduous labor, for hundreds of people. One firm in San Francisco, who are special dealers in tree and shrub seeds, have their rep- resentatives in Oregon, "Washington Territory, California, Nevada, and even in the heart of Arizona, from whom are received valuable consignments of seeds at stated periods, generally in the fall and winter months. The mountain tree seeds of this coast, especially those of California, are deservedly popular abroad, on account of the beauty of the trees and the comparative ease and rapidity with which they grow and ma- ture. The procurement of these seeds is always attended with a great deal of hard work and not a little hazardous ad- venture. The gatherer must possess a certain amount of botanical knowledge, both theoretical and practical, as well as a fair share of vim and muscle. His calling often brings him to the very summit of lofty and rugged mountains, where no other footstep, save his own and those of his associates, are known; along giddy trails, across mountain tor- rents, over treacherous snow-banks, on the verge of leaning crags inaccessible to anyone but an experienced mount- ain climber; in fact, wherever the Fir, Spruce, Pine, and Cedar abound, he must go, in order to secure his harvest of seeds. These venturesome men of the mountains seldom come within the actual confines of civilization, and more rarely reach the bustling cities, or even the large towns. They learn to love
46
THE CALIFORNIA HORTICULTURIST.
the grand old mountains they roam about, and after a few years have no de- sire to take up a permanent residence at any point near the sea-level. It was the good fortune of the writer to meet <3ne of these men of the mountains, an intelligent and adventurous young fel- low, a few days since, and hear from his own lips accounts of his various ex- peditions after seeds. With his father and several brothers, he removed to the valley of the Yosemite in 1867, and still makes his home there. It was during that year that the flood occurred which caused the only material change in the appearance of the valley that has been known since its discovery by the whites. Up to that time the bed of the valley was covered by a beautiful greensward that stretched as a carpet from end to end. The heavy fall of snow, melting in the spring, came booming down the canyon, in the form of a bread sheet of water, bringing with it particles of dis- integrated rock, and a debris that cut up and covered the grass and left the bed comparatively barren. Regarding the collection of seeds, the mountaineer said that his party, numbering four or five white men and fifteen Indians, who were provided with thirty horses and mules, made its excursions in the fall, generally occupying three weeks for the round trip, though at times protracting the absence to a couple of months. The cones are cut from the trees with prun- ing-knives attached to long poles. The pastoral suggestiveness of these imple- ments, which greatly resemble in ap- pearance the shepherd's crook, is dissi- pated by the sight of sundry bowie-knives and revolvers distributed about the per- sons of the bearers, and the ponderous Kentucky rifles, in hand or slung across the packs upon the animals. One of these trips netted five hundred sacks of cones. After the cones are gathered,
they are often exposed to the sun for three weeks, or a month, according to their condition, though at times they ripen in a few days. The ripening of the cones to a nicety requires consider- able botanical knowledge on the part of the operator. If he makes a mistake in his calculations, and fails to remove the seeds at the proper time, he will find them worthless. And here a ques- tion of honor arises. He could send the seeds to market and sell them as be- ing healthy without fear of immediate detection. But eventually the fraud would be detected. A few years ago, certain persons, either through ignor- ance or indifference, palmed off a lot of inferior California seeds that never ma- tured, and thereby worked a serious injury to the business. Some time elapsed before confidence could be re- stored among the seed dealers abroad, on account of the swindle, and of course the then growing demand abated. Un- der favorable circmstances, the trade has brightened up, as already stated, and orders are now pouring in thick and fast. The mountaineer expatiated upon this point at great length, and evinced an irrepressible enthusiasm in his call- ing. The party of which he is a member ranges from the Big-tree Grove, in Mar- iposa, to the eastern base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, at altitudes from 4,000 to 13,000 feet above the level of the sea.
The Pacific Coast is constantly yield- ing up botanical treasures, and attract- ing the attention of the scientific world. The -parterres of lovely flowers upon our hills and mountains are not appreciated until one has been abroad, and visited the gardens of Europe. In England, and in several countries on the conti- nent, wild flowers from this State, where they are found in boundless profusion, are cultivated under glass, and nurtured
THE CALIFORNIA HOKTICULTUKIST.
47
as botanical novelties. There are seven- teen species of the Lupine in California, indigenous to the soil, and other wild flowers in proportion. Among the Cali- fornia plants held in high esteem by the Europeans, is the Ceanothas, or, "The Beauty of the Sierra," a charming flow- er, found in the mountains, as its name would imply, and also on the hills to the west of the city. The California Pitcher-plant, differing materially from the Pitcher-plant of the Eastern States, is also prized abroad as a novelty. Its leaves are in the form of tubes, and will hold water. Another popular plant is the Scoliopus Bigelowii, a plant dis- covered by the Mexican Boundary Com- mission, and named in honor of one of its members. This is a great botanical curiosity. It grows to the height of eighteen inches, has large green leaves, spotted with maroon, and bears purple flowers.
Among the tree seeds in demand among the Europeans are those of the Sequoia gigantea, or Wellingtonia gigan- tea, in compliment to the late Duke of Wellington, which is best known as the Big Tree of California. The English naturalist Lobb is supposed by many to have first met with the tree near the source of the Stanislaus River, in Cala- veras County, though other writers at- tribute its discovery to Douglass in 1831 ; but perhaps the most probable state- ment is the one generally believed in California, and is, that a company of miners on a prospecting tour came acci- dentally upon the Calaveras group. In 1865 Mr. Sonntag sold two pounds of the seeds of this tree in one of the Ger- man States, at the rate of $125 per . pound. Other favorites are, the Pinus fiexilis, a hardy tree, found at the height of 13,000 feet; the Pinus insignis, a lovely grass-green Pine; the Gupressus macrocarpa, an evergreen; the Thuja
gigantea, the gigantic Arbor Vitse, alias Ldbocedrus decurrens, a noble tree, with a straight and very robust stem; in color the foliage is a remarkably bright green, and the branches are long, flat, and frond-like; and many other Firs, Pines, Cedars, Cypresses, etc. The need of a good work on the Botany of the Pacific Coast has long been felt; and in this connection, we are pleased to learn that Professor Brewer, of Yale College, who was associated with Clarence King dur- ing the geological survey, is writing a book devoted exclusively to . this sub- ject.— S. F. Bulletin.
FKUITS — ON WHAT DO THEIR QUALI- TIES DEPEND?
BY E. J. HOOPEK.
I am aware that this is a question which no person can answer, involving as it does so many considerations, and so many debatable points, which await a vast amount of inquiry before they can be determinately answered. Such, however, constitute no solid ground for avoiding an investigation. Our Horti- cultural and Pomological Societies in this State, conferring as they certainly do great benefits on the public, are not in the habit, at their meetings, of doing as much good in this respect as they undoubtedly might. They do not seem to be in the habit of appointing com- mittees whose duty should be, among other things, to judge of the correct nomenclature, character, qualities, etc., of those fruits which are, or ought to be, brought before them for such pur- poses. If they would attend to this more than they do, they would be ren- dering the State valuable service. No man, however experienced, but would have his mind enlarged by attentively perusing the statistical and other in-
48
THE CALIFOENIA HOETICUIiTTJEIST.
formation that such reports would con- tain. I verily had thought that I knew all about the Winter Nelis Pear, a great favorite of mine for years, as it should also be of the public in general, but I could not but feel that I had acquired interesting information in comparing the various conditions, both above and below ground, which certain exhibitors at the late Horticultural Fair of last fall in this city furnished me. Added to this, there was the verifying of my own opinions as founded upon my own ex- perience. I do hope that those culti- vators who continue to exhibit at our % agricultural fairs, or attend regular meetings, whether monthly or weekly, will get into the habit of carefully re- porting a few of th» main conditions, as well as the correct names, under which some of their fruits are pro- duced, and that the horticultural com- mittees will report the same to the peo- ple. No man can put such information to better use than really good orchard- ists, gardeners, and fruitists — men expe- rienced in such things. There is no spoiling such men with crude notions; and after carefully digesting the reports, the above named committees are in a capital position to sum up the evidence, and, as Burns says, "prent it."
On what conditions, then, does the quality of fruits depend? Let me first state what conditions are inimical to quality in the average of fruits. The ripening may be too much hurried; again, ripening in some cases is arrested through low temperatures, as, for in- stance, in the climate of San Francis- co, and other lands near the ocean; also, excess of root moisture; humidity in the air, (generally rather uncommon in Cali- fornia); by gross and succulent growths; or by deficiency of light through neg- lected pruning, etc. ; or stagnant air I through the want of a due circulation;
and lastly, by the attacks of insects.
Now, these remarks, although apply- ing, in some cases, almost exclusively to the preservation of in-door fruits, I in- tend to offer in such a shape as shall be common to out-of-door productions.
A forced or hurried ripening, whether occasioned in-doors or out, is generally antagonistic to high qualities. This may be particularly observed in Peach- es and Melons, and is doubtless the reason why fine-looking fruits at our exhibition tables sometimes do not pos- sess those high qualities which their appearance and kind promise. We also know, that in hot climates and loca- tions, many of our fruits become vapid and worthless; but Nature has provided special kinds and adapted them to the climate and aspect. It is here necessa- ry to observe, that an over-slow or re- tarded ripening is, in some cases, pre- judicial; and this is perhaps most mani- fest in some of our Pears, which, if kept much beyond their natural ripen- ing period, sometimes assume the char- acter of petrifactions.
Excess of root moisture is to be avoid- ed. Thorough drainage and a cautious use of irrigation are the means within our reach to avert this evil. Fruit- bearing plants are apt, like many of the animal creation, to prove gluttonous, especially when there is a heavy draw on the system; and in the ripening pro- cess, where very high flavor is desired, we do not need so much water. It is the high and perfect elaboration and as- similation of the stores of the plants that is to be desired. Nevertheless, it may be laid down as an axiom in fruit-ripening, that the foliage must be in a perfectly healthy condition when the fruit is ripening, or undergoing that change which forms a crisis in its histo- ry. Thus we find, that if melons — it matters not of what kind — have decay-
THE CALIFORNIA HORTICULTURIST.
49
ing foliage when the fruit is turning for ripeness, the flavor is sure to be deficient, and the eye part becomes spongy. It therefore becomes necessa- ry, with all thin-foliaged fruits, (which of course are liable to sudden and pro- fuse perspirations), to keep up as much moisture at the root as will sustain a healthy foliage. Too much air moist- ure is of course not desirable; but we can seldom complain of this in our cli- mate.
We will now come to succulent growth, which, in most cases, is a foe to intensity of flavor. The Peach is at once a good instance. How is it that we seldom obtain such large and fine Peaches from young and gross trees as we do from those arrived at maturity? Simply because the growth at extreme points being so exuberant, much of the collateral and subordinate wood is rob- bed for the sake of this great impulse. Pinching these robbers, therefore, by equalizing the sap, causes the inferior portions to receive a more regular sup- ply. In short, these remarks apply to almost every kind of fruit, especially to those of rapid and impulsive growth. Thus, we know that it is a common practice to stop or pinch vines, Melons, Cucumbers, etc., all of which are of rapid growth.
Deficiency of light is the next consid- eration as concerns flavor and quality. It is well known that both flavor and color in fruits and vegetables can only be obtained through the influence of a liberal amount of solar light. "We have very little, however, to complain of in this our sunny clime. But, at any rate, it becomes us to avail ourselves of every cultural means, and not to place the plant or tree in such a position as not to receive with facility whatever light oc- curs. But not only is flavor in fruits dependent on a liberal amount of light;
Vol. IV.— 7.
their size and general character are also particularly concerned. Who has not noticed the inferior character of fruits, such as Apples, Pears, and other ordi- nary fruits, in the interior of badly pruned or neglected trees ?
Freedom from insects is indispensable to flavor in fruits. Happily, we are not greatly troubled in California in this particular. Yet I learn that the apple- worm has been discovered in some parts of the country, and we shall be likely soon to import other noxious insects with trees, grafts, seeds, etc.
Jute in Papek-making. — The use of Jute as a paper material will greatly in- crease the commercial value of this val- uable fibre. The Dundee Advertiser, (Scotland), on its appearance printed on Jute paper, after apologizing for its transparency and thinness, says:
"A remarkable fact is, that it is the product of Mr. Watson's second experi- ment, and if we can attain to such a result on only a second trial there need be no fear with respect to further ex- periments. The thinness and transpar- ency will easily be remedied, as there is nothing to prevent paper made from Jute being of any degree of thickness and opaqueness. It may be explained that this sample is made almost entirely from old Jute bagging. We propose to have samples made entirely from Jute fibre. To some extent Jute bag- ging and waste have been used by pa- per makers for several years, mixed with other materials; and when we men- tion that nearly 50,000,000 Jute bags were exported last year — the demand for home requirements being also very large — it will be seen how large a quan- tity of manufactured Jute there is to work upon, especially as bagging is on- ly one class of the goods made from this material."
THE CALIFORNIA HORTICULTURIST.
FOKESTKY.
An "International Congress of Land and Forest Culturists," held at Yienna in September, presided oyer by the Austri- an Minister of Agriculture, passed reso- lutions petitioning the Austrian govern- ment to take measures for inaugurating international treaties with other Euro- pean states, intended to secure birds useful in agriculture; another series de- claring the lack of scientific basis for land and forest culture, and the neces- sity of official publications of exact sta- tistical comparative data illustrating the status and progress of each country in these departments of industry; and a third, relative to the necessity of action toward forest preservation, as follows:
"1. We recognize the fact that, in or- der to effectually check the continually increasing devastation of the forests which is being carried on, interna- tional agreements are needed, espe- cially in relation to the preservation and proper cultivation (for the end in view) of those forests lying at the sources and along the courses of the rivers, since it is known that, through their irrational destruction, the results are great decrease of the volume of wa- ter, causing detriment to trade and com- merce, the filling up of the river's bed with sand, caving in of the banks, and inundations of agricultural lands along its course.
"2. We further recognize it to be the mutual duty of all civilized lands to pre- serve and to cultivate all such forests as are of vital importance for the well- being — agricultural and otherwise — of the land, such as those on sandy coasts, on the sides and crowns as well as on the steep declivities of mountains, on sea-coasts and other exposed places, and that international principles should be laid down, to which the owners of such
protecting or ' guardian forests ' be sub- ject, thus to preserve the land from damage.
3. We recognize further that we have not at present a sufficient knowledge of the evils (disturbances in nature) which are caused by the devastation of the forests, and therefore that the efforts of legislators should be directed to caus- ing exact data to be gathered relating thereto."
It was stated, in the course of the pro- ceedings, that the Rhine, the Oder, the Elbe, and other European rivers, have lower water -marks than formerly; at Altenbruch, in Hanover, ten Hamburg feet lower in 1857 than a half century before; that part of the kingdom of Wurtemburg had been reduced to com- parative barrenness by the felling of trees; that droughts were increasing in severity in Hungary, a fact popularly attributed to the deforestation of the country.
The case of the region near Trieste, on the Adriatic, was particularly refer- red to. It was stated that five hundred years ago a heavy forest covered that region, which was destroyed by the Ve- netians for the purpose of securing pile- timbers and lumber for commerce, and that after the trees were felled the un- protected soil was washed away by storms, and the whole face of the coun- try became a dreary waste. In August last we passed through that region, and noted it was one of the most desolate views presented by any country. The surface far away from the coast was completely covered with ledges and rough bowlders, was almost destitute of soil, and the heat radiated from the rocks was intolerable. In parts of this broad belt some millions of Olive-trees have been planted by the Austrian gov- ernment, the soil for the purpose being transported in baskets in some places.
THE CALIFORNIA HORTICULTURIST.
51
It is stated that the rains, which twenty- five years ago ceased to fall here, are again appearing to refresh the scene.
Similar statements are made relative to local ameliorations by forest planting on the coasts of Germany, in Upper Egypt, and at Ismaila, and in other countries. — Monthly Report of the De- partment of Agriculture.
FICUS ELASTICA— CAOUTCHOUC— GUM- ELASTIC OR INDIA-RUBBER TREE.
BY THE EDITOE.
This tree belongs to class 33, or- der 2, Polygamic/, Dioecia of Linnaeus, and Vasculares Dicotyledonce Urticce of Jussieu. It is a handsome evergreen, and is a native of the East Indies. It is by no means difficult to propa- gate, for which purpose cuttings of the ripe wood are necessary. These should be about two inches in length with a pair of leaves to each; the stem should be split down the centre, and the cuttings laid on the greenhouse shelf for a few hours to wilt. They should then be planted separately in pots filled with light sandy soil, the cutting to be plunged to the depth of an inch and secured by one of the leaves to a small stick to prevent its be- coming loose. The pot should be plac- ed in a warm corner of the greenhouse. The Ficus elastica is valuable for in-door decoration and for conservatories dur- ing the summer season, but requires rather more than the ordinary green- house temperature to keep it in health during the winter months, at which time it is essential that the plants be kept rather dry. A very handsome speci- men of this interesting tree adorns the conservatories at "Woodward's Gardens, San Francisco, which collection is re- plete with choice typical plants that
render it a most valuable field of study for the botanical student.
Caoutchouc is found associated with various essential oils and resinous mat- ters in the milky juice of the plants, and is procured from sundry species of Ficus, as Ficus elastica, F. radula, F. elliptica, and F, prinoides, by wounding the plants. A kind of caoutchouc, call- ed gutta percha, imported from Singa- pore and Borneo, is procured from Iso- nandria Gutta, one of the Sapotacece. Balata gum is also an elastic gum, ob- tained from the Mimusops belata, which is indigenous to British Guiana, where it attains large dimensions. This gum is of an intermediate character between India-rubber and gutta percha, as it possesses the elasticity without the in- tractibility of the India-rubber, and the ductility without the brittleness of pure gutta percha. It is employed as an in- sulating medium for telegraphic pur- poses. Many of the Euphorbiaceos , As- clepidacece, Apocynacece, Artocarpacece , and Papayacece contain caoutchouc or gum -elastic. The principal supjDiy, however, of this gum is obtained from Siphonia Brasiliensis, which is a com- mon tree in the forests of Para, Brazil. The genus Siphonia belongs to the Euphorbiaceae, and consists of some half dozen species, of which one is the S. elas- tica, a native of French Guiana, and the remainder of the Amazon and Rio Negro districts of Brazil. They are called Seringa -trees by the Brazilians, from the Portugese word seringa — a syringe, for the making of which article the caoutchouc was first used. The ge- neric name derived from the Greek, siphon, has reference to the same use. The species are trees varying from twen- ty-five to seventy, or upwards of a hun- dred feet in height, and all contain a milky juice in more or less abundance, though they do not all yield caoutchouc
52
THE CALIFORNIA HORTICULTURIST.
of good quality, that from some species being brittle. Their leaves consist of three entire leaflets radiating from the top of a long stalk, and are clustered towards the end of the branches; and their flowers are borne in loosely branch- ed panicles, with numerous little branch- lets consisting of a few male flowers and a female at the top; both sexes have a bell-shaped five-toothed or five-parted calyx, and no corolla, the males con- taining a central stamen-column bear- ing five or ten anthers in one or two se- ries or whorls some distance below the apex, and the females a three-celled ovary bearing a more or less three-lobed stigma with or without a short style. Their fruit is a rather large capsule, composed of three one-seeded pieces, which split in halves when ripe. The raw seeds are poisonous to man and to quadrupeds, but macaws eat them greedily, and they are excellent bait for fish; long boiling, however, deprives them of their poison, and renders them very palatable.
As we said before, the bulk of the caoutchouc exported from Para, whence the chief supply is derived, is obtained from S. JBrasiliensis, which is the one common in the forests of the province of Para; but that brought down to Para from the upper Amazon and Rio Negro is divided from S. lutea and S. brevifolia. These three species are slender smooth- stemmed trees averaging one hundred feet in. height. The Para species, how- ever, yields the greatest abundance of caoutchouc. Europeans first became acquainted with caoutchouc in the early part of last century, and its botanical history was made known by M. de la Condamine in 1736; but it is only within the last forty or fifty years that it has become such an important article in our manufactures and commerce. It exists in the tree in the form of a thin white
milk, and is obtained by making incis- ions in the trunk, from which it exudes and is collected in little earthen vessels, and afterward converted into the black homogeneous elastic mass familiar to us as India-rubber, by pouring the milk upon molds and immediately holding them over the dense smoke caused by burning the nuts of the Urucuri Palms (Attalea excelsa and Cocits coronata) until it is sufficiently hard to bear another coating, when the process is repeated until the requisite thickness is obtained. The mold is then removed. Formerly these molds were always in the form of shoes and bottles, and hence one of the kinds of caoutchouc is known com- mercially as bottle-rubber; but they are now frequently shaped something like battledores for folding linen, only thin- ner. In 1863, 65,649 cwts. of caout- chouc were imported into Great Britain. The belt of land extending around the globe, from 500 miles north to 500 miles south of the equator, abounds in these trees producing caoutchouc. They can be tapped for twenty succes- sive years without injury. In their na- tive forest they stand so close that one man can gather the sap of eighty in a day, each tree yielding on an aver- age three tablespoonfuls daily. Forty- three thousand of these trees have been counted in a tract of country of eight superficial miles in extent. There are more than one hundred and fifty manu- factories of this material in Europe and America, employing between seventy and eighty thousand operatives, and using more than ten million pounds per annum; yet such is the extent of the field of produce, that however consid- erably the demand may increase, there will always be sufficient of caoutchouc to meet it.
Tropical fruit is now free of duty.
THE CALIFORNIA HORTICULTURIST .
53
THE PLUM AND THE PRUNE.
There is, we believe, no other of our more common fruits that can be made from year to year so certainly profitable as the Plum in its numerous varieties. As an early table and dessert fruit it is always in demand. As we have no cur- culio to mar the fruit in any stage of growth, it is always perfect. It can be dried upon the stone with perfect as- surance that no insect is inclosed; or the fruit can be stoned and then dried.
It is one of the most certain fruits grown, and the most abundant upon the tree. While the Grape requires eve- ry year a large amount of labor in the pruning and general culture to obtain a crop, the Plum or Prune scarcely re- quires the touch of the knife.
The dried product commands nearly as high a price per pound in New York as Raisins, the present quotation being for California Prunes, from twenty to twenty-five cents per pound. They are a fruit very easily managed; from the picking or gathering — for they can be shaken from the tree without injury — to the packing away of the dried fruit, the whole process is simple and easy.
Some of the larger and soft-meated varieties, as table fruit, need a more careful handling, and should be picked from the tree; but the smaller, lighter kinds can be shaken and caught on the canvas laid upon the ground. The rather dry tough-pulped German Prune is of this character, and yet with the finest of these the utmost care is taken in the picking and handling in order to preserve the bloom, which adds so much to their merchantable appearance.
There is not that extreme care or nicety required in the drying process as with Raisins, and they can be dried nearly as well upon a prepared bed of black soil, in our climate, as by any ar-
tificial process. Excellent results, how- ever, have been obtained by the Alden process of fruit drying, which turns out a product perfectly unexceptionable.
There would seem to be hardly a limit to the extent to which Prune growing and curing could be carried on in Cali- fornia, with certain and profitable re- sults. Our adobe soils, not entirely congenial to the production of many of our finer fruits, are the very best for large, perfect and sure crops of Plums and Prunes. We believe it would be one of the best investments in fruit growing that can be made, if, having adobe lands, the owner would turn his attention to the planting extensively of the Plum and Prune, and now is just the time to make the purchase of trees. — S. F. Chronicle.
Orange Culture in Florida. — As evi- dence of what has been done in Orange culture in the State, we cite a few in- stances. Dummitt's grove, on Indian River, is perhaps the finest in the State. It cost its proprietor to take care of it last year, $1,000, and yielded 600,000 Oranges, for which he was paid $11,000. This grove has 3,000 trees, which, with proper care, would average 3,000 Or- anges each, and give an annual income of $50,000 to $75,000. H. L. Hart's grove, at Palatka, yields him an income of $15,000 to $20,000 per annum. Ar- thur Ginn's grove, at Mellonville, of 1,100 trees, pays him $12,000 to $15,000 yearly, and is worth $100,000. Besides these groves there are a great number of splendid promise; but having been planted of late years, the incomes de- rived from them are as yet of little mo- ment. Mr. DeBarry, of New York, has a grove, near Enterprise, of 20,000 trees. Mr. Charles S. Brown, of New York, has one opposite Palatka of 1,200 trees;
54
THE CALIFOENIA HOETICULTUKIST,
and Mr. James Patterson, of Toronto, has a groye on Banana Biver of 8,000
trees. — Palatka (Fa.) Herald.
GLACIAL ACTION UPON THE PACIFIC COAST.
BY PROF. GEO. DAVIDSON, XT. 8. COAST SUEVET.
In May last, I read a paper before the California Academy of Sciences, up- on' the terraces that disconnectedly bor- der on our sea-coast from latitude twen- ty-six or seven to Behring Strait, and with most of which I have been more or less familiar since 1856. These coast- terraces, or plateaus — the mesas, or ta- bles of old Spanish navigators and the late Spanish inhabitants — have general- ly been supposed to mark the ancient sea-levels, and to have been brought to view by an elevation of the continental shores. Some few of the smaller mesas, or terraces, composed of sand or gravel, may have been formed under the sea and subsequently elevated; but in near- ly all such cases we must suppose the elevation to have been irregular and sudden. But those that exhibit, on an extended scale, level plateaus of rock which have every degree of inclination and contortion of stratification, and an infinite variety of trfexture, can not have been so wrought by the agency of wa- ter alone. Other forces, more powerful and more uniform and constant in ac- tion, shaped these fiat -topped rocky benches ; and the forces, if more than one, abraded the present continental line of our coast and cut through the western part of the Santa Monica range of mountains, so as to form the north- ern tier of the Santa Barbara islands. Much of the sharp lines of this abrasion has been obliterated by subsequent causes, rjrincipally by water from pre- cipitation, alternations of heat and cold, and the action of the waves. * * *
The upheaval of the continental shores by subterranean action can not produce such terraces and plateaus. If the shores of the Pacific were to-day to be raised, say 200 or 600 feet, we know from the contour of the bottom border- ing it, that such results would not be one of the consequences. The action of the water will not account for them. Whether by "continual dropping" or by storms, it first wears away the soft and more friable parts, leaving the harder; it destroys shores by undermin- ing, and then grinding it, leaves irreg- ular jagged surfaces. These irregular surfaces, if upheaved above the level of the sea, would not wear away regularly by the weather; the inequalities would in time be filled by disintegrated mate- rial, but the surface of the rock would not bear the impress of a planing-ma- chine. We must be guided in a great measure by experience, and judging by our knowledge of present local glacial action, I think we can appeal to the ac- tion of ice, moving slowly but surely, as a great planing or molding machine; its lines of movement perhaps controlled by masses and elevations of land not now existing as such, and by forces no longer acting on such a scale. We may suppose a great ice-belt to have existed contiguous to the continent and moving parallel with it, and existing at the same period with the ice-sheet that covered the continent or the lower part thereof. The mechanical effects of this belt may be those we see exhibited upon the isl- ands and the general coast-line; the effects of the latter in the gorges open- ing upon the shores in the interior val- leys, and on the mountain flanks when at right angles to the coast-line.
Ikon nails in a flower-vase will aid to keep the water sweet and the flowers fresh.
THE CALIFORNIA HORTICULTURIST.
55
EPIPHYLLUM.
BY P. A. MLLLEE.
The Epiphyllum is a genus of Cactus frequently met with in greenhouses and conservatories, and by some popularly known as the " Lobster Cactus," and by others as the "Fuchsia Cactus." The former name originated undoubt- edly from the shape of the flower, which resembles the lobster, (particularly in the varieties of recent introduction); while the name Fuchsia Cactus is easily traced to the graceful flowers which, like Fuchsias, are pending from the ter- minal branches. All the Epiphyllums are natives of Brazil, where they are found abundantly growing upon the trunks of trees, like Orchids.
One of the oldest varieties, and cul- tivated most extensively, is E. Busselli- anum, which is readily distinguished from all the others by its straight and regular flowers, the petals being dis- tributed in a regular manner. The col- or of the flower is a beautiful, vivid purple-crimson .
Another old variety is the E. trunca- tum, which bears the flowers resembling ' ' lobsters," one side of the expanded flower being much larger than the other. Of this species, some very fine varie- ties have been produced, and are prom- ising to become extremely popular. The flowers of these new varieties are much richer in color, and present a number of shades, such as orange, crimson, purple, scarlet, pink, salmon, and violet, with white stamens.
Last spring we imported the follow- ing varieties, which are now in full bloom, and have been so for the past two months. They are admired by ev- eryone who sees them; and I consider them of the best class of winter flower- ing plants — showy and pleasing:
E. album violaceum, violet and white.
E. laleritium album, crimson and white.
E. roseum amabile, rosy crimson.
E. Rucherianum, crimson.
E. salmonianum, salmon color.
E. grandifiorum marginatum, salmon,
with white. E. grandifiorum rubrum, vivid crimson. E. tricolor, orange, crimson, and white.
E. violaceum grandifiorum, violet and crimson.
F. spectabile, rosy crimson, white edge. All of these are robust growers, and
will flower when very young. With us they have done much better than could have been reasonably expected.
As to their cultivation, I must can- didly say that they have not received any attention from us. They seem to thrive well in any soil; they are satis- fied with very small pots; and they may be placed in almost any locality in our climate, and will not fail to flower abundantly. Only one thing should be borne in mind, which is, to water them freely while the buds are forming, and until they have done flowering, after which period they may be watered more sparingly. Unlike other Cacti, they require more moisture, and are not easily hurt by the frequent application of water; yet it seems necessary to pro- vide for good drainage in the bottom of the flower-pot, by filling up one-fourth of the pot with broken pieces of crock. The best soil for them seems to be a light and porous mold, although we have them in excellent condition in common loam mixed with a small quan- tity of coarse sand and well-decomposed stable manure.
The Epiphyllums are propagated with- out any trouble. Any of the branches taken off the plant when the flowering season is over, and inserted slightly in sand, will readily strike root within two or three weeks, and are likely to flower
56
THE CALIFORNIA HORTICULTURIST.
within a year. What more could pos- sibly be required of a plant to make it one of the most popular and most de- sirable ?
Among the plants we recently im- ported were two Epiphyllums grafted upon Pereskia stock, the trunks of which are about nine inches in height. Un- doubtedly much finer specimens can be obtained in this way, and a stronger growth may be expected; but as there is no Pereskia stock to be obtained on this coast, we can not expect to work up- on it; and instead, the stronger-growing Cereus may be used as stock to graft upon. I am convinced that fine speci- mens may be grown in this manner within a short time, producing a very large quantity of flowers, and I certainly think this modus operandi well worthy
of a trial.
♦ ■
. A PLANT STAND.
The lack of a desirable place to keep plants often prevents the pleasure of raising them. They must have light, and air, and sunshine, and it is not al- ways convenient to devote the brightest windows to their occupancy. If kept on the ledges, they are in danger of be- ing chilled on a frosty night; and it is a tax to be compelled to move the heavy pots every time the thermometer drops. A flower stand of some sort that can be readily moved from window to window is therefore a necessity. The old-fash- ioned wooden ones are clumsy, heavy, and take up too much room. The mod- ern wire frames are pretty and light ; but one of moderate size costs ten or twelve dollars, which is a great deal to put in the stand when we wish to put it in the flowers.
We saw something the other day that seemed to serve both economy and con- venience. A box three feet long, a foot
and a half wide across the bottom, and eighteen inches deep, is made of com- mon pine. The sides flare outward, so that, at the top, they measure six or eight inches more, from edge to edge, than at the bottom. This box stands on four legs with casters, and under the bottom of the box a piece of wood, fan- cifully cut on the edge ( a sort of pine valance), holds the legs firmly and sym- metrically together. The top of the box is nearly even with the window-sill, and, when the whole is constructed, it may either be painted in colors, or stained dark-brown, to match the furni- ture wood. The inside of the box is better preserved from decay, if lined with zinc or tin; but it will last one, possibly two seasons, without any lin- ing at all. Over the bottom is spread a three-inch layer of bits of broken flo w- er-pots, and on this is set a double row of pots, or as many as will stand evenly on the surface. Then a thick layer of sand is poured over the broken pieces, and the rest of the space filled up with earth till it is even with the top of the flower-pots. In the bed thus formed, bulbs and slips are planted between the pots, and vines are started at the cor- ners. When the latter are well under way, wires, on which the vines twist, are fastened diagonally from corner to corner, forming a beautiful, green arch over what seems to be a bed taken bod- ily from the garden. Sometimes a tiny hanging basket, or an Ivy growing in water, is hung from where the wires cross in the arch, but, even without it, there is no appearance of bareness. A carpenter will make the box for two dollars and a half, and the rest, painting and all, can readily be done at home. — " Home and Society ; " Scribner's for Feb- ruary.
. * i » •
In India, Jute is superseding Cotton .
THE CALIFORNIA HOKTICULTUEIST.
57
INSURE THE GRAIN CROPS.
Every year our farmers suffer the loss of hundreds of acres of wheat, burned upon the field before harvesting, gener- ally by the carelessness of sportsmen, smokers of cigars, or the spontaneous ignition of phosphorus used for the destruction of squirrels. These fires have sometimes proved destructive to that degree that some have had recourse to insurance to protect them against a total loss.
For the last two years, so imminent has become the danger, that insurance companies refused to take the risk, and farmers were compelled to become their own insurers. It will doubtless be the same this year; sweeping fires will lay waste in a day the labor of months. To guard against such wholesale destruc- tion, there is no better mode of insur- ance or protection than belts of green trees or green herbage a hundred feet or more in width, interspersed at prop- er distances the entire breadth of the field.
These belts should be prepared now, by plowing and seeding with something that will be sure to remain green till aft- er the harvesting of the grain. Alfal- fa, as one of the clovers, has this prop- erty in a remarkable degree, and would be an effectual bar to the progress of fire in a grain-field, and its product really worth more to the farmer than the same breadth of land sown to wheat.
Among shrubs of taller growth, af- fording food for animals while green, and wood for the kitchen fire when dry, but remarkably juicy and succulent just when it would be wanted as a barrier against fire, there is nothing in • the range of our experience equal to the Malva. If we take a still larger tree, and grow a belt as a bar to the progress of fire,' as a wind-breaker, and for tim-
Vol. IV— 8.
ber, take the Eucalyptus globulus. These barriers, if miles in length and costing considerable sums, would be, nevertheless, a good paying investment, enhancing the value of the whole prop- erty, and adding security and insurance to broad, almost endless grain-fields; at least, only one section need be lost at one burning. It is a matter worthy and should receive the attention of our large landowners and grain-growers. — Chron- icle.
♦
ABOUT BEE PASTURAGE.
With experience and fact both going to show the profitableness of bee-cult- ure on the Pacific Coast, the business nevertheless seems to be every year cen- tralizing, getting into fewer hands, or, at least, with our rapidly increasing ag- ricultural population, there is very little increase in the number who keep bees. We can account for this in no other way than that those who have attempted it in previous years and failed, either had really no taste for the pursuit, or were unfortunate in their location for its suc- cessful prosecution.
Wherever pasturage can be obtained in tolerable abundance, bee-keeping, if scientifically conducted, is attended with large profit. Our long and severe- ly dry summers cut short the food of bees even more than would have been supposed ; and this fact has brought about the nomadic system now prac- ticed by our largest bee-keepers. How- ever necessary this may be to the owner of thousands of hives, there are still great numbers of localities where from fifty to one hundred hives can be kept upon a largely paying basis without re- moval.
In the vicinity of towns and cities where vegetable gardeners grow their own seeds, and where fruit and orna-
58
THE CALIFORNIA HORTICULTUKIST.
mental trees and flowers abound, our suburban residents should keep bees.
For the benefit of those who would like to know whether they are in the vi- cinity of good bee pasturage, we annex a few of the more commonly grown plants, shrubs, and trees found in the suburbs of towns, which yield good bee pasturage. In early spring, Crocuses receive lively attention from bees ; but more pollen than honey is collected from these flowers. The border Hya- cinths of our gardens are honey-yield- ing, and are eagerly sought when in flower. The Raspberry, Gooseberry and Currant furnish excellent feed. The flowers of nearly all the different kinds of Beans are about as rich in honey as any flower can well be. A singular fact in regard to the flower of the Bean is, that being tubular-shaped and narrow, the bee can not get to the bottom of the flower on the inside, but will pierce the tubes near the bottom from the outside.
Field Mustard not only continues a long time in bloom, but yields a clear and excellent honey. The flowers of Turnips and all the Brassica tribe are exceedingly tempting to bees, and yield them large supplies. The White or Dutch Clover stands the queen of hon- ey plants, but the large Red, though pro- ductive of honey, is useless, the bee be- ing unable to reach it.
Plum-trees are among the very best of our fruit-trees for honey-yielding, but the Apple, Pear, Cherry, Peach, and Apricot are all largely honey -producing. The different varieties of Willow — salix — are always visited by bees in the spring. Maple, Sycamore — or Plane — and Lime-trees are of value to the bee farmer. From the foregoing list of the more common honey-producing plants, one can judge of the probable amount of bee feed for the season, in their re- spective localities. — Chronicle.
THE BANANA.
Mr. F. Curtis, a writer for the Prairie Farmer, from Louisiana, thus talks about the Banana :
" The Banana is not properly a tree, but a plant of leafy, succulent growth, of the genus Musa. The stalk is form- of the stems of the leaves in concentric layers, reaching with its leaves a height of fifteen or twenty feet, aud eight or ten inches in thickness, and contains no woody fibre. From the centre comes the first bearing stem, which turns, and grows downwards. The end of it has the appearance of an ear of Corn, with purple shuck. This unfolds one leaf at a time, displaying two rows — eight to twelve — of tiny little fruit, with deli- cate blossoms, until it attains a length of two or three feet, covered with fruit. The leaves are a marvel for size and ap- pearance, sometimes reaching a length of six feet, and eighteen inches in width, of a glossy pea-green. The root is per- ennial. It is large and fleshy — some- times of the size of a half -bushel meas- ure, from which put forth numerous rootlets, half an inch in diameter. From the main root are constantly springing numerous suckers, which go to form new plants. This being its mode of propagation, they can be taken off to form new plantations, or remain, as may be wanted.
"In a suitable soil, which should be rich and moist, and tropical climate, it requires about one year to mature its fruit, from the first appearance of the plant. When it is gathered, the stalk is cut down. Ten feet apart is a good dis- tance to plant them. This gives over four hundred per acre, and the second year there will be ten or twelve plants to each hill, and soon will occupy most of the ground. After the first year they require but little cultivation, the
THE CALIFORNIA HORTICULTURIST.
59
old stalks and leaves acting as mulch and manure. Under favorable condi- tions there is no cessation of growth. New plants and ripe fruit are found at all times, and a plantation once started lasts for years.
"It is probable that no plant ever cultivated will yield more food per acre, or result in greater profit to the owner, where there is a market for it. It is easily and cheaply gathered, requiring no packages, and bears handling and transportation well. Ten bunches a year per hill is a fair estimate for the yield of a good plantation. This would give over 4,000 bunches per acre. Many of these will contain over 100 Bananas. It is a favorite fruit in tropical coun- tries, and always in demand at the sea- port towns for shipment. There are some people, ,no doubt, who live on Bananas alone; but it is not probable that any great amount of work can be got out of a dozen of that fruit a day. Southern Florida and some of the isl- ands on its coast have proved to be suitable and profitable for the culture of the Banana, and instances are men- tioned where the receipts have been over $3,000 per year from a single acre, in- cluding some plants sold. The south- ern part of California is also said to be well suited to its growth. These are the only parts of the United States where it can be grown successfully.
"Here it requires two years to perfect itself, and without winter protection, seldom matures its fruit."
Garden Adornments. — Ornamental vases, rustic stands, and hanging bas- kets filled with choice growing plants, now form a prominent and comely fea- ture in the decoration of our flower gar- dens and pleasure grounds. They are elaborately bedecked, and add rich-
ness and elegance to well-embellished grounds. In the smallest gardens there is room for one or more of them ; they are of various sizes, and sold largely by seedsmen.
The successful culture of lovely plants in baskets, vases, etc., lies in the prop- er selection of plants; for example, all the plants set in one vessel shoxxld be such as will flourish under the same treatment.
It is true that some species require more water than others — some thrive best in sunshine, others succeed best in partial shade. Any one at a loss to se- lect suitable plants may ask an honest florist to furnish such plants, and the right number to plant in a vase, stand, or hanging basket. State the size of it, and whether it will be placed in full or in partial shade — and whether creeping or upright plants are desired.
The next point is, to use a rich, light, and friable compost for the plants to grow in, as their roots will be confined in a small space. Frequent waterings should also be attended to. When the weather gets too cold for the plants in fall, all the vessels may be taken into the house, and by special care the plants therein will flourish till the fol- lowing spring, when they should be thrown out, and the vessels refilled with new plants and fresh compost.
Ferns, Ivies, Lysimachias, Periwin- kles, Lycopediums, Tradescantias, Sax- ifragas, and many other genera, grow well even where they never get a glimpse of sunshine. — The Evergreen.
To Preserve Flowers. — Put a pinch of nitrate of soda into the water every day when it is changed. This will pre- serve flowers for a fortnight. Nitrate of potash in powder has nearly the same effect.
60
THE CALIFORNIA HORTICULTUEIST.
ADORNMENT OF HOME.
Home £as a meaning and intention beyond the simple necessities of life. It is made, or ought to be, for some- thing more than a place to eat and drink and sleep. Ifc is for cultivation, pleas- ure, rational enjoyment and improve- ment. Cultivated man generally ex- hibits some taste about home. It is generally the index to his degree of cul- tivation. The savage leaves his home unadorned. The barbarian deems it unworthy of him to study for rational adornments of his home; or even for ordinary comfort.
Just as civilization advances, taste exhibits itself in the homes of the peo- ple. A cultivated mind craves a beau- tiful home. And what makes a beauti- ful home? It is not wealth, for we have just been told of a man worth $250,000, who never had a chair in his house or rather hovel. He and his family sat on rude stools. It is not professional honors, nor learning, nor talent, that makes home beautiful; for we have seen all these in homes dis- gusting to every idea of taste, order, or neatness. It is what is around and within our home that makes it beauti- ful— the evidence of taste, refinement and culture that encircles it. A home must have some things about it, or it can not be in the highest degree pleas- ant. The first of these is order. There must be order in the arrangement of the buildings. They must be situated in proper relation to the points of the compass. A house that faces no way in particular; neither north, south, east, or west, is sadly out of order, unless the road, or street, or hill, or valley, or stream, or some other prominent natu- ral object, be so important as to be its regulator. When a house is orderly established with respect to the points
of the compass, or the scenery about it — the next thing is to have the land im- mediately around it so graded as to car- ry off all water and look pleasantly to the eye. Then the fences about the house should be square with the house and other buildings. They should be neat and trim, the best of their kind, and made both with respect to conven- ience and good taste. Fences may be cheap and in good taste, or expensive and out of taste. The yards, gardens, &c, about a home, when neatly fenced, add greatly to its appearance. Fine fences beautify a farm, and especially a home. When kept in good repair, painted or whitewashed, free from a hedgeway of weeds, briars, thistles, brushwood, &c, they remind every passer-by of thrift, taste, and happiness within.
The next point of importance is walks to the road, garden, yards, and out- buildings. They are easily made, and when neatly made and well arranged, add greatly to the beauty of home. A puddle of water, a mud -hole, or any such pestiferous obstruction, in a fre- quented path or walk about a farmer's home is a great annoyance, and reflects seriously on his good taste and good sense. The walks made, and trees and shrubbery are then wanted. Trees along the road, trees about the yards, and shrubbery around the house, are so nat- ural, so graceful to the eye, so musical to the ear, so delicious to the taste, that a home without them scarcely deserves the name. We would not have it all trees about a home. That would create too much dampness. But just enough trees to make a sprightly contrast be- tween sunshine and shade, between heat and cold.
But trees are not enough. There should be vines, an abundance of vines, those beautiful emblems of affection,
THE CALIFORNIA HORTICULTURIST.
61
about every home. A home without vines, is like a man without a wife, or a bird without a mate. It wears a look of desolation. Vines come creeping about so lovingly, grow so thriftily, bloom so profusely, can be trained into so many beautiful forms, and are withal so fresh and fragrant, that they should be about every home, to remind its inmates of in- dustry, sprightliness and affection.
Then commence the flowers, close along the walks, beside the doors, un- der the window, in the corners of the fences, sprinkled in profusely and yet orderly, so as to give an idea of finish as well as of beauty and happiness. A home without flowers! No, let it not be. Let every woman, every child with tiny hand and growing taste, plant flow- er seeds and roots in little nooks, and recesses, and beds, where they can grow as well as not. They love to grow and blossom. Who does not love to see them? Let the buildings all be paint- ed, then let the flowers challenge them to a contrast of colors. When all is in order, let it be kept in order. And when the outside is beautiful, let the in- side be, with order, neatness, comfort, taste, virtue, peace, good-will, love and happiness. — Ex.
Value of Walnut Lumber. — As an illustration of the increasing value of Walnut lumber, the Indianapolis Jour- nal notes that the standing Walnut trees on a half section of land on Eel River, in Miami County, Indiana, were recent- ly sold to a lumber dealer for $17,000. There is a large amount of other timber on the tract which is not included, only the Walnut timber being sold. Walnut lumber is coming more and more into use throughout this country and Eu- rope, and at present a very large busi- ness is done in preparing and shipping it from Indiana.
©Mortal lortMitf.
FERNS (F1LICES) AND THEIR CULTURE.
We are much gratified to perceive among our amateurs a rapidly increas- ing appreciation of this wonderfully beautiful class of plants, whose con- summate grace and delicacy of fronds, and lovely shades of pure green, afford far more gratification and repose to the eye than all the gorgeous tints of Flora's kingdom.
Ferns belong to the Cryptogams, and more especially to the division Acrogens of that class, of which they form one of the principal groups. They consist of arborescent and herbaceous perennials, and very rarely of annual plants; some of the tree Ferns having trunks from sixty to eighty feet in height, while others of the herbaceous varieties scarce- ly exceed an inch in height. All true Ferns may be recognized by the growth of their young fronds, which first make their appearance in the centre of the crown, clothed with a villous coating of light brown hair, and each closely en- rolled on itself; and by the development of their spores, which are produced on the under sides of the leaves. The Ferns offer so much variety of struct- ure, that they are necessarily subdivided into many groups. They are found in almost every part of the world. They grow to the greatest perfection in the shade of almost impenetrable forests, and generally delight in a humid atmos- phere— this habit must be specially noted in their cultivation. Like all other plants, they must have their sea- son of repose. Many varieties are spe- cially suited for rock cultivation; others are well adapted for hanging baskets. As a general rule, a compost of one- third of white sand, one- third of leaf- mold, and one -third of fibrous peat,
62
THE CALIFORNIA HORTICULTURIST.
is the best soil that can be used for them. Their propagation is compara- tively easy — either by subdivision of the roots, or by raising them from the spores — while some few develop young plants upon their fronds. These latter, when they have put forth two or three fronds, should be carefully removed, potted into small pots, and kept in the shade. Many very beautiful varieties are indigenous to our State, and their collection and cultivation promise a de- lightful recreation to those of our ama- teurs who have the opportunity, and will embrace it. Very useful articles on their culture will be found in the California Horticulturist, vol. 1, p. 289; vol. 2, p. 26; vol. 3, pp. 17 and 165.
WOODWARD'S GARDENS.
Although the present season has hitherto been particularly unfavorable, owing to the closely alternating of heavy rain and sharp frosts, yet, by