The Horticulturist and journal of rural art and rural taste
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^^W^i •fc.'^matz ^'' ^mzih^c;^'^: <:; «rc''".'< * <_ cc <4r «sas«<w:<.<!«CLc^' <^ *- ^ ■n«:<ismKzy <ce; cC THE HORTICULTURIST AND JOURNAL OF RURAL ART AND RURAL TASTE. DEVOTKD TO HORTICULTURE, LANDSCAPE GARDENLNG, RURAL ARCHITECTURE, BOTANY POMOLOGY, ENTOMOLOGY, RURAL ECONOMY, &.c. Edited by A. J. DOWNING, AUTHOR OF ■' LANDSCAPK GAHDENINO," " DESI8N3 FOR COTTAGB RESTDEXCES," " FRUITS AN'D FRUIT TREE3 OF AMERICA," ETC., ETC. Vol I.— July 1846 - June 1847. ALBANY: PUBLISHED HV LUTHER TUCKER. BOSTON'— JOSEPH BRFXK AMD CO., NO. 51 NORTH MARKET-STREET. NEW-YORK — M. H. NEWMAN AND CO., 199 BROADWAY. PHILADELPHIA — GEO. B. ZK1BF.R AND CO. /\ r THE JOURNAL OF RURAL ART AND RURAL TASTE. No. I. JULY, 1846. Vol. I. Bright and beautiful June ! Embroider- ed with clusters of odorous roses, and laden with ruddy cherries and strawberries ; rich with the freshness of spring, and the luxu- riance of summer, — leafy June ! If any one's heart does not swell with the unwritten thoughts that belong to this season, then is he only fit for " treasons, stratagems and spoils." He does not practically believe that "God made the country.'''' Flora and Pomona, from amid the blos- soming gardens and orchards of June, smile graciously as we write these few intro- ductory words to their circle of devotees. Happy are we to know that it is not to us a new or strange circle, but to feel that large numbers of our readers are already conge- nial and familiar spirits. Angry volumes of politics have we written none ; but peace- ful books, humbly aiming to weave some- thing more into the fair garland of the beautiful, and useful, that encircles this ex- cellent old Earth. To the thousands, who have kindly made our rural volumes part of their household library, we offer this new production, which begins to unfold itself now, in the mid-sum- mer of the year. In its pages, from month to month, we shall give them a collection of all that can most interest those whose feelings are firmly rooted in the soil, and its kindred avocations. The garden and the orchard ; the hot-house and the conser- vatory ; the park and the pleasure grounds ; all, if we can read them rightly, shall be made to preach useful lessons in our pages. All fruitful and luxuriant grounds shall we revel in, and delight to honor. Blooming trees, and fruitful vines, we shall open our lips to praise. And if nature has been over-partial to any one part of the globe, either in good gardens, fair flowers, or good fruits, — if she has any where lavished secret vegetable treasures that our cultivators have not yet made prizes of, we promise our readers to watch closely, and to give a faithful account of them. Skilful cultiva- tors promise to make these sheets the re- pository of their knowledge. Sound prac- tice, and ingenious theory will be continually developed and illustrated. The humblest cottage kitchen garden, as well as the most extended pleasure grounds, will occupy the attention of the pens in our service. Beau- tiful flowers shall picture themselves in our columns, till even our sterner utilitarians shall be tempted to admire and cultivate them ; and the honeyed, juicy gifts of Po- mona shall be treated of till every one who reads shall discover that the most delicious 10 NOTES ON SUPEUIOU FRUMS. products of our soil are no longer forbidden fruits. Fewer, perhaps, arc there, who liave watched as closely as ourselves, the zeal and enthusiasm which the last five years have begotten in American Horticulture. Every where, on both sides of the Allcganies, are ciur friends rajiidly turning the fertile soil into luxuriant gardens, and crying out loudly for more light, and more knowledge. Al- ready do the readers of rural works in the United Slates number more than in any Cis- atlantic country, except gardening England. Already do our orchards rover more acres than those of any other countr)\ Already are the banks of the Ohio becoming famous for their delicate wines. Already are the suburbs of our cities, and the banks of our broad and picturesque rivers, studded with the tasteful villa and cottage, where a charming taste in ornamental gardening is rapidly developing itself. The patient toil of the pioneer and settler has no sooner fairly ceased, than our people begin to enter with the same zeal and spirit into the re- finements and enjoyments which belong to a country life, and a country home. A for- tunate rancfo of climate — lands fertile and easily acquired, tempt persons even of little means and leisure into the delights of gar- dening. Where peaches and melons, the richest fruits of the tropics, are raised with- out walls — where apples and pears, the pride of the temperate zones, are often grown with little more than the trouble of planting them, — who would not be tempted to join in the enthusiasm of the exclamation " Allons mcs amis, il faul ciiltivcr nos janlins!" Behold us then, with all tliis growing zeal of our countrymen for our beauiilul and favorite art, unable to resist the temp- tation of commencing new labors in its be- half. Whatever our own feeble efforts can achieve, whatever our more intelligent cor- respondents can accomplish, shall be done to render worthy this monthly record of the progress of horticulture and its kindred pursuits. If it is a laudable ambition to " make two blades of grass grow where only one grew before," we shall hope for the encouragement and assistance and sym- pathy of all those who would see our vast territory made smiling with gardens, and rich in all that makes one's country worth living and dying for. NOTES ON A FEW FRUITS OF SUPERIOR EXCELLENCE. Such a vast number of new fruits have been introduced into our gardens lately, that the novice is quite bewildered how to choose; and the more experienced cultiva- tor is forced to pause and consider, when asked " which are the best ?" There are, meanwhile, a few sorts which the experience of the last ten years has proved to be so highly valuable that we shall refer to them, in order more particu- larly to point them out to many whom we know to be still ignorant of their merits. There is a large class of very fine fruits which have only a local value. They be- long to a certain small district where they have originated, where their qualities attain the highest perfection, and beyond which they deteriorate. Among such, must be numbered those surpassingly fine fruits, the Newtown Pippin and the Esopus Spitzen- NOTES ON SUPERIOR FRUITS. 11 burgh. Here, where their local origin pla- ced and confines them, they are truly unri- valled. Abroad, in New-England, at the south, and even at the west, they are scarce- ly the same fruits. On the other hand, there is a small class of fruits which seem to have a capacity of adaptation that fits them for soils and ex- posures of almost every character. Hardy, uniformly productive, and thriving in al- most every tolerable soil, they become sources of profit to the orchardist, and of continual enjoyment to the possessor of small gardens. To this class belong the foilowino- sorts of fruit. Fig. 1. The Imperial Ottoman Plum. Plums. Imperial Ottobian. — This va- luable fruit is comparatively little known. It is named, but not described, in the Cata- logue of the London Horticultural Society. We believe it was imported from Europe many years ago by the late proprietor of the Linnean Garden at Flushing. The Imperial Ottoman has qualities which will soon make it a very popular plum. In the first place, it is among the earliest sorts, ripening only two or three days after the Morocco. Secondly, it is reviarkably juicy, sweet and excellent ; the flesh of very melt- ing texture. Thirdly, it is a most abund- ant and very regular bearer; the fruit hang- ing in the richest clusters. And lastly, it is a very hardy tree — suiting itself to al- most any climate, Avhere the plum will thrive.* The Imperial Ottoman is a fruit of me- dium size, oval, and regulary formed. The skin is of a pale, semi-pellucid greenish yellow, a good deal marbled. In general appearance, the fruit approaches, some- what, the Imperial Gage, but the skin is thinner and more transparent. It hangs for some time upon the tree, and though borne in thick clusters, does not incline to rot like some of the finer plums. The stalk and leaves are rather downy, and the former is slightly inserted. The skin is covered with a delicate whitish bloom ; and the flesh, Avhen fully ripe, scarcely adheres to the stone. This plum is yet scarce in the nurseries, and we notice it here, in order to commend it to the attention that it really deserves. It is certainly among the best of the earl}'' varieties. The fruit raised in our garden last season, was pronounced by all who saw and tasted it, of very excellent quality. Jeeferson. — We have given our opinion respecting this noble plum in our work on Fruit Trees. Every year's trial confirms our high estimation of its merits. We per- ceive that it is now well tested in England, and equally admired there. Its size, beau- ty, and delicious flavor, are not its only re- * Col. Henry Little, of Bangor, too well known for his po- mological zeal to need furtlier mention, informs us that it succeeds admirably a.« far north as Maine. y2 NOTES ON SUl'EUIOR FRUITS. commenilaiions. Its power of hani^inj; a this French variety, from the little village, much longer time on the tree afleriipeuiiig tlian any other plum of its class, without rotting or hc'ing attacked by wasps, is a point of great value. Wherever it has borne, the testimony is universal that it has on the whole, no superior among plums — and we are proud of its having originated ill what must, indeed, be considered the very meridian for the growth of the plum — the upper half of the valley of the Hudson. There has been an extraordinary demand for the trees of this variety during the past season. We are sorry to learn that in more than one case, the Binghayn plum has been sold as identical with it. The latter is a totally different clingstone variety, and al- though a good fruit, is in no respect to be compared with the Jefferson. Crawford's Late Melocoton Peach. — This is unquestionably the most magnificent of all yellow flashed peaches. Last year afforded abundant additional proof that it is also one of the most profitable of all orchard varieties. We saw baskets of the fruit of- fered for sale in New-York, from which many specimens would measure nine and ten inches in circumference. As size, and beauty of appearance, tell better than any other qualities in the market, it is not sur- prising that fine baskets of this sort readily command three and four dollars each, when good peaches of the ordinary kinds were w^orth only 75 cents per basket. The tree is very vigorous, with handsome foliage, and bears very large and regular crops. It will probably drive the old Me- locotons {Malagatunes) out of cultivation, as it is in every respect superior to it. It appears also one of the hardier sorts. We have seen specimens of the largest size grown almost without care, as far north as the neighborhood of Boston. Belle de Choisy Cherry. — Certainly whose name it bears, near Paris, is one of the most delicious we cultivate. It is of medium size, and is only a moderate (though very regular) bearer. But it is very beautiful with its thin, semi-transpa- rent skin, and of the most delicate and agreeable flavor. The Belle de Choisy is now very well known among amateur cultivators in most parts of the country. We are glad to learn from various accounts, that it proves to be adapted to a great variety of soils and cli- mates-— suiting both the south and tlie north. This might indeed be predicted from its constitutional habit, which is that of the Duke cherries — only one remove from the Kentish or Morello — popularly known as pie cherries — the hardiest of all cultivated cherry trees. It is a little remarkable, we may here say, that the cherry, which has the reputa- tion of coming originallj' from Asia iMiiior, should be found a difficult tree to cultivate in our Southern States. All the finest Heart and Bigarreau cherries absolutely suffer in many parts of the south from the exposure of their trunks to the heat of the sun. The only remedy that w-e can sug- gest for those districts, is to keep the head of the trees low — plant them in northern situations, and sheath the stems with straw. The latter will, in most cases, prevent the distension and bursting of the sap-vessels, and splitting of the trunk, to which this tree, in all its more valuable varieties, is subject in such situations. Pears. — The pears which appear to have risen very highly in the public estimation during the past two seasons, are the Beurr'' d'Aremberg, the Beurre Bosc, and the Dear- born's Seedling. The Beurre d'Aremberg is now almost unanimously acknowledged by our best FIG. 2. VIEW OF A COMMON COUNTRY HOUSE. RURAL ARCHITECTURE. 13 cultivators, to be the first of winter pears for this climate. The tree, hardy, uniformly productive, and holding its fruit well ; the fruit itself high flavored, maturing perfectly in all situations, and always keeping and ripening admirably ; what better character is necessary to place it foremost among se- lect and valuable varieties? Among autumn pears, the Beurre Bosc proves, year after year, equally deserving of praise. Its branches are regularly laden with large, fair, and beautiful specimens, of a fine yellow, touched with a little cinnamon russet, w^hich ripen gradual- ly, and always attain a delicious flavor. With many sorts of pears, it is unfortunately the case that only one fruit in ten is a really fine specimen. With the Beurre Bosc, it is just the reverse; scarcely one in ten is blemished in appearance, or defective in flavor. It is, in short, a standard fruit of the highest excellence, and worthy of uni- versal cultivation. Dearborn's Seedling. — This most excel- lent little pear, raised by Gen. Dearborn of Boston, has scarcely had justice done it. Its merits have been in fact eclipsed by the more showy qualities of the Barthtt, which ripens but a little later. Indeed, the Bartlett pear, from its unusual productiveness, size, excellence and beauty, as an early fruit, added to its vigor as a tree, and the rapidity with which it comes into bearing, has ac- tually been the object of a sort of mania among those largely engaged in pear plant- ing, within the last three years. Notwithstanding this, Dearborn's Seed- ling deserves a place in every garden and ever}'' orchard. It is, we admit, not a large pear, but it is one of most excellent flavor, and bears such regular and enormous crops, that its moderate size is amply compensated for by the abundant quantity. As, like most pears, it is always best when ripened in the house, it will bear transportation to market \vell ; and no one who makes an acquaintance with its flavor, will feel in- clined to lay it aside for any competitor of its season. RURAL ARCHITECTURE. DESIGN FOR IMPROVING AN ORDINARY COUNTRY HOUSE. No man has it in his power to say when or where he shall be born into the world. He has nothing to do with the conditions of his personal appearance. Whether he shall have the portly figure of John Bull, or the spare one of the walking skeleton ; whether he shall be a giant or a dwarf; or belong to the Hottentot, or a Caucasian race ; all these are matters over which he has no control whatever. Mankind are therefore forced to accept the conditions of birth as they find them. But we are not equally obliged to folloAv the law of necessity in all other conditions of life. A man is not always forced to be meanly clad, like the Esquimaux. He need not always live in a hut or a wigwam, like the Potowatomies. A civilized man will first make his habitation and his outward circumstances comfortable and convenient for all his wants. His reason teaches him to do this. He will then add something of grace and beauty to the objects that sur- round him ; — to his dress — his house — and his grounds. The sense of the beautiful and perfect — attributes of the godlike, im- 14 RURAL ARCHITECTURE. planted in every man's lieart — (vague and rudimentary though they appear in some,) will as inevitably lead him to this latter result. Certainly there is nothing that more powerfully aflects the taste and habits of a family — especially the younger members of it — than the house in which it lives. An uncouth, squalid habitation, is little likely to awaken that attachment to home, that love of good order, and that sense of pro- priety and elegance in social deportment, which are so much promoted, so much de- veloped, by that home where a certain pro- portion, a certain fitness, and a sense of beauty, are every where visible. It is not necessary to these conditions, that wealth should always be present ; a log hut may, in its way, be made as taste- ful as a palace. Onhj is it needful that the mind should be alive to the superiority of a good form over a bad one — that we should feel the mental pleasure of fitness, and the mental pain of clumsiness — in short, that we should be susceptible of the enjoyment of beauty, whether in the rainbow, the sun- shine, smiling fields, or rural cottages and gardens, at least as constantly and strongly as we feel the mere animal pleasures of eat- ing and drinking, sleeping and walking. It will therefore be part of our duty in this journal, to explore further, from time to time, this field of progress, in the taste of rural dwellings, in which Ave have already labored. It is not every man's fortune who lives in the country, to build a tasteful house for himself. Some care nothing for the form and appearance, fo that there are rooms to live in, and a roof to cover them. Others have had no models to study, no works or architects to consult, and no capacity to de- sign an agreeable dwelling. There is a still larger class — those who have bought or inherited a house which is too good to be sacrificed, and yet so devoid of every thing pleasing, that it does not satisfy a mind the least cultivated. Such a house may be altered. Its whole character may be changed ; and this fre- quently at a small cost, compared with that of building a new one. As we find the owners of the great numbers of houses of this class, are desirous of having suggest- ions for such alterations and improvements, we shall occasionally introduce examples of this kind, as well as those of a more distinct and original character. In figure 2, (see frontispiece,) is seen a building that our readers will recognize at a glance, as the portrait of a plain country house, common in almost every neighbor- hood. Whilst there is perhaps nothing mean in the expression of this house, neither is there any thing in the least tasteful, or above the character of coinvion-place. It belongs to the large class of dwellings whose presiding architectural genius is that of the "Z»a7-e and hald.^'' In figure 3, is seen our proposed altera- tion and improvement of this house. In the first place, to give spirit and cha- racter to it, we have boldly projected the roof, and ornamented the eaves. To give expression to the tame line of roof, we have added a small gable in front. The window pierced in-this gable, will serve to light and render useful an additional room in the garret. For the meagre and insufficient porch, we have substituted a veranda ten feet wide, along the whole front ; the shude and comfort of which in summer, makes it at least equal in value to any room in the house. A part of the roof of this veranda, viz : that portion under the shadow of the gable, is finished with a tight sealed floor, so as !■' form an agreeable balcony to the central NEW ORNAMENTAL TREES. 15 window of the front. The windows them- selves, (though this is not so important,) we should prefer to change from the common form, to that of the more expressive and cottage-like latticed sash, as shown in the engraving. We think no one can compare these two buildings without confessing that the alter- ation confers a character of taste and pic- turesqueness on what was before a very ordinary and insipid building. The im- provement does not involve any material change in the body of the house itself, but merely in those external parts easily altered and added to. Let us add a few words on the details themselves, that we may be the better un- derstood. The roof should project two and a half feet all round the house. This pro- jection is easily made by taking off the sid- ing directly under the eaves of the old roof — introducing pieces of joists as rafters ; upon which, carry out the rafter boarding, and piece out the roof to the necessary breadth. The verge boards, or eave boards, (i. e. the ornamental piece running round below the outer edge of the roof,) must be cut out of sound two inch plank. It is the besetting architectural sin of half the carpenters in the country, (and more especially those in New-England,) to make these portions of a rural cottage of thin boards. Nothing gives a cottage, otherwise good, such a rickety, paste-board-ish air. The spirit of the carv- ings and ornaments of the gothic villa, of which these cottages are modified forms, is that of elegant solidity — not '^ginger- bread'''' flimsiness. The supports of the veranda are simple solid posts or columns, six or eight inches in diameter, left square for base and capi- tal, and hewn to an octagon in the shaft. The arch which runs at the top, from one to the other, is cut from two inch plank. Nothing is heavier and less agreeable than the common square chimney. We would therefore advise the owner of figure 2, to complete the alteration by adopting the simple form of carrying up distinct flues, standing on a common base, and connected at the top, as we have shown in figure 3 The expense is but little more than in the common mode, and the effect far lighter and more agreeable. Estimate. — The cost of the proposed al- teration of this house, will vary from S400 to S700. The cost of lumber and of the mechanic's labor, varies so widely in tho different States, that it is impossible to give an estimate which will be an accurate one, for any two sections of the country. Where we write, the whole could be completed in a workmanlike manner, for about $550. THE TWO NEW ORNAMENTAL TREES. Two new ornamental trees have lately made their appearance in our gardens, which are attracting the attention of all amateurs. They both appear to be quite hardy in this latitude, and will undoubtedly add greatly to the beauty of our lawns and plantations. These are the Paulownia, and the Deodar Cedar ; the former, a fine de- ciduous tree, with the general habit of the Catalpa ; the latter, a noble evergreen, with the grand character of the Cedar of Lebanon. Some account of each of these trees may be acceptable to our readers. The Imperial Paulownia is one of the plants lately brought to Europe from Japan, by Dr. Von Sieboldt, the Belgian botanical 16 Ni:W ORNAMENTAL TREES. traveller. In its native country its local name is Kirri ; and the Chinese call it Too-IIak-Too. It forms a tree, in Japan, about 30 or 40 feet high, Avith a trunk two or three feet in diameter. The bark is smooth and light colored. The branches are rather few in number, spreading hori- zontally and forming a large head. resemble in g/neral api)earnnce those of (he Catalpa, but the color is a pale bluish- vio- let. The seeds are borne in an oval sule as large ns a pigeon's egg. cap- Fig. 4. THE PAULOWNIA. Paulownia imperialis. Sieboldt & 7.ucc. Schrophiilariaceo'. Liiid. Vcg. King-. The striking peculiarity of the Paulow- nia, however, is its showy foliage. The leaves are of the shape of those of the Ca- talpa, but of a darker green, perhaps re- sembling more closely those of a large sun- flower— being broad and heart-shaped. In rich soil, the growth of the tree is extremely rapid — young plants making shoots of 8 or 10 feet in a season, and on such, wc have measured leaves a foot and a half in diam- eter. But on older trees, they are usually about half that size. The flowers are produced in April, in panicles, at the ends of the branches. They Fig. 5. Blossviiis nfllie Pouloiniia. l-'\lh the natural size. When the Paulownia was first introduced into the Garden of Plants at Paris, it was treated as a delicate green-house plant. It was soon found, however, that it was per- fectly hardy on the Continent and in Eng- land. In this country it appears equally so. The trees in this latitude have stood the past two winters, even in exposed situations, without covering, and have not lost an inch of the previous season's growth. Wc therefore consider it a hardier tree than the Catalpa, which often suffers badly from the cold of this latitude. Nothing is easier than the propagation of this tree. Single buds will grow, like those of the Mulberry and the Vine, taken off early in the spring and covered about an inch deep in the soi' of a fresh hot bed. The cuttings of the young shoots, planted under a hand-glass in a shady border, strike root readily. But by THE BEST FIVE WINTER PEARS. 17 far the easiest and most rapid mode is that of planting pieces of the roots. Every little piece of the root of the Pau- lownia will, under certain conditions, pro- duce a plant. It is only necessary to make a common hot-bed early in the spring, re- duce the roots of the parent tree, (and it will bear a very severe reduction,) and plant every piece that will make a cutting not smaller than a goose-quill, and a couple of inches long. Plant these bits of roots about an inch and a half deep in the rich, light s il of the hot-bed. In a fortnight's time, every bit will throw up a bud, make new roots, and become a distinct plant. When the plants are about three inches high, they may be transplanted into rows, beds, bor- ders, or, in short, wherever they are finally to grow. If the season is favorable, they will grow to the height of from three to six feet before the close of the autumn. Next year, if the soil is deep, they will make shoots eight or ten feet long. AVhen the Paulownia was first offered for sale in Europe, about three years ago, it was advertised by the Brothers Baumann, the great nurserymen of the Rhine, at from three to six gui7ieas per plant. From the rapiditj' with which the nurserymen are propagating it now, in this country, we have no d jubt it may be bought next autumn at wholesale, at about the same price per hundred trees. The parent tree, in the Jardiii des Plantes, Paris, has already borne seeds in considera- ble quantity, which have vegetated very regularly. The tree has not yet, to our knowledge, flowered in this country, but will probably do so next spring. As soon as the seeds are produced in abun- dance, we advise cultivators to resort to them — the best of all modes of propaga- ting ornamental trees — when it is possible to do so. THE DEODAR CEDAR. Cedrus Deodara. Roxburgh. Pinacea:. Lind. Veg. Kingdom. The Deodar Cedar is the glory of the Himalayas. Bishop Heber describes it in one of his letters as " a splendid tree, with gigantic arms and dark narrow leaves, which is accounted sacred, and chiefly seen in the neighborhood of ancient Hindoo tem- ples, and which struck my unscientific eye as very nearly resembling the Cedar of Lebanon. I found it flourishing at nearly 9,000 feet above the level of the sea, where the frost was as severe as in England." Deodara or Devedar, is the local name in the Hindoo country, and signifies Tree of God. It is used there as the incense fuel ; but is also considered one of the most valu- able sorts of Indian timber. In the Penny Cyclopedia, it is stated that specimens were taken from a bridge in Ladak, where they had been exposed to the water for 400 years. Of course, the Deodar Cedar will only be interesting to our readers as an ornamental tree. Specimens are growing at this mo- ment in many collections in this country ; and so far as we learn, it is perfectly hardy to the southward of this latitude, though li- able to be injured by the winter at the north. South of New- York, it will certain- ly form one of the most beautiful of orna- mental trees. The general habit of this tree, as has been already remarked, is that of the Cedar of Lebanon, which it most nearly resembles. Its foliage, however, is larger, of a lighter, more silvery hue, and the branches have more of a drooping habit and more feathery lightness than the Cedar of Lebanon. The fact that it grows much more rapidly, will serve as an additional recommendation to the lover of fine trees. This is still a very rare tree. There are 18 NEW ORNAMENTAL TREES. Fig. 6. The Deodar Cedar. yet no specimens in America over a few feet in height. The accompanying portrait is from the Annals of Horticulture, and re- presents an English specimen about ten years old. We add the following note from the same work: "The cones of tliis tree resemble those of the Cedar of Lebanon, and arc ripe in the months of November and December, when they fall olT like the Sih'er Fir cones. They may be crushed into pieces even with the hand, and the seeds are then easily picked out ; the good ones are plump, whilst those which are useless, are flat and shri- velled. During the month of May, a light friable piece of ground should be selected, (and in the climate of England it will be all the better to be shaded,) and after being dug and raked, the seeds should be sown in beds in the same way as Larch seeds are sown, viz: by covering them to the depth of two-thirds of an inch. The plants will appear in June, and in those beds they may be allowed to remain two years, keeping them free from weeds ; they should then be transplanted into lines, and treated in every respect the same as the common Larch tree. The system of keeping them in houses is just as absurd as growing the common Scotch Pine in heat, or any other plant which is equally hardy." THE BEST FIVE WINTER PEARS. BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Mr. Downing — You ask me for the results of my experience as to what I consider " the hest five varieties of winter Pears^ I com- ply at the spur of the moment. I regret that at the present time my engagements will only permit of devoting the passing hour to the subject, and will necessarily compel me to pass more hastily over it than I could wish, for one of its importance. The list, however, is made up from many years' experience with the varieties named ; all of which, I can confidently recommend as worthy of extensive cultivation. For more particular descriptions than will be found in the following remarks, reference may be had to the various Pomological works of the day. I commence with that " Prince of Pears," the THE BEST FIVE WINTER PEARS. 19 Fig. The Beurrii d' Arembers 1. Beukee d'Arsmberg. — This variety has, for the last ten years, never failed to yield me an abundant crop of its deli- cious fruit. It has as often been exhibit- ed at the rooms of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, always receiving the unqualified approbation of our most experienced amateurs and cultivators. Possessing all the characteristics of a first rate table pear, it retains at maturity, its flavor and chainpagne sprightliness, with all the freshness of a specimen just pluck- ed from the tree. The foliage and fruit adhere with a remarkable tenacity, re- sisting the frosts and gales of autumn better than those of most other varieties. As a constant, prolific, hardy sort, the d'Arcmberg is unsurpassed, and whether on the pear or quince stock, proves admirably adapted to this climate. It keeps as well as a Russet apple, and requires no further care than to gather in a dry day, and pack at once from the air, in close boxes or barrels — with no other precaution, it has been found in a state of per- fect preservation in the month of January. Season, December to February. The Beurre d'Arem- berg is a fruit easily excited to ma- turity, and may be brought into eating in November, or retarded until March. 2. Winter Nelis. — This is class- ed second in my list, not from any inferiority to the first named variety; for in fact, as a sweet, melting winter pear, it has no equal. Con- noisseurs generally prefer the brisk, Fiff. 8. Tht ^^^ inter Nelis 20 THE BEST FIVE \\ INTER PEARS. Fig. 9. Tlie Columbia, iiitli the stem shortened. vinous juice of the d'Aremberg, but some of our good judges esteem the Nelis above all others of the season. The growth of the tree is not strong, but more so on the quince, to which it seems weli adapted ; it is hardy and thrifty in rich soils, otherwise the shoots are more stint- ed and feeble than is usual with most other sorts. To obtain speci- mens above medium size, requires high cultivation and some thinning of the fruit. Keeps and ripens well, and bears good crops. Season, No- vember to January. 3. Columbia. — This excellent na- tive variety has proved with me a fruit more uniformly smooth, perfect in shape, and free from the depre- dations of insects, than almost any other sort. The tree is thrifty and hardy, not prolific when young, but a great bearer on mature subjects, the fruit being regularly distribu- ted over the branches, and of very uniform size. I was so much plea- sed with this variety when it first came to my notice, that I despatch- ed a special messenger from the city of New- York, to the owner of the original tree in Westchester county, for half a bushel of the pears ; and I did not regret the ex- pense of twelve and a half dollars, when I consider the acquisition of such a fine American variety. My Fig. 10. The Gtuut Morceau. THE BEST FIVE WINTER PEARS. 21 Beurre Diels were then in eating, and I judged the Columbia of equal qualit}'; since which, however, I have seldom seen it so good. Ri- pens about the first of January ; Oi a clear lemon yellow, very hand- some, and may be kept two or three weeks in this state. Its beauty will give it a ready sale, and its quality and its merits, on the whole, if not as high as our first impression, will prove perfect- ly satisfactory. 4. Glout Morceau. — This pear, under the name of Beurre d'Arem- berg, is more universally cultiva- ted in France, as a winter fruit, than any other variety. It is truly an excellent, rich, sugary pear, and is not unworthy of the appellation given it. The tree is hardy, a great and constant bearer ; but it re- quires, like most pears, good culti- vation. Few varieties succeed so well on the quince, as the Glout Morceau; a tree of which, in my own ground, annually produces a barrel of large perfect fruit ; this is clear waxy yellow, and very hand- some at maturity; keeps into the winter months, with ordinary care ; commands as good a price in the market, and is esteemed by many, equal to the Beurre d'Aremberg. It varies much in form. In growth, it is more luxuriant on the quince; the large specimens frequently having a very thick, short stem, set angularly on the fruit, with the peculiar knobby appearance of the d'Aremberg. On the pea?- stock, and under medium cultivation, the stem is smooth and straight, as figured by Thompson in the Gardener's Chronicle, and Downing in the Fruits and Fruit Trees of America. From this circumstance, the present subject has Fig. 11. The Passe Colmar. been confounded Avith the Beurre d'Arem- berg. Season, December and January. 5. Passe Colmar. — As a hardy, vigor- ous, excellent pear, the Passe Colmar has few superiors. It is prolific to a fault, and requires judicious management. To insure fruit corresponding to its character in the Catalogue of the London Horticultural Soci- ety, " first size, and first quality," it is neces- sary to commence the trimming process as earl)"^ in the season as the best specimens can be distinguished, or the pruning out of half the fruit bearing spurs in the month of March, as recommended by the late Mr. Manning, will contribute to relieve the tree « 22 THE BEST FIVE WINTER PEARS. of its overbearing propensitj'. The French make two varieties of tliis pear, viz : Passe Cobnar gris, and Passe Colinar dorv. I have never discovered any difierence in the fruit of these trees, that only which is ex- posed to tlie sun, having the golden color alluded to, the beauty of which is some- times with us further enhanced by a red check. This tree makes long weeping- branches, and frequently sets a second crop of fruit, which should always be removed. Ripens gradually from November to Feb- ruary, but may be kept later, large and beautiful specimens having been received by me from New-Bedford, as the Colmar d'Hiver, on the 18th day of March. Without the adoption of the system of culture here recommended, this variety will generally prove unsatisfactory. An iiiquiry \rill no doubt arise in the minds of some of your readers, why the Easter Beurre has not found a place in the above list. My answer is, that although Ave obtain some specimens of first rate excel- lence, yet this variety has generally proved so variable and uncertain that it cannot from our experience at present, be recom- mended for general dissemination. It how- ever succeeds better on the quince. Respectfully yours, Marshall P. Wilder. Boston, June 1, 1846. Remarks. — If our pomological readers, and the novice just commencing a fruit gar- den and orchard, attach any importance to experie?ic€, and the simple results of the best practice in the country, then they may look upon the foregoing article by Col. Wilder, as one, every word of which is of sterling value. In all our various examina- tions of the orchards and gardens of this country, we have no where seen the gene- ral cultivation of the pear more entirely successful than in the garden of the Presi- dent of the Horticultural Society of Boston. But what is of far more consequence to the public, is the fact that, unlike many ama- teurs whose sole delight seems to be to col- lect and retain possession of eiejy thing, whether good, bad or indifferent, that bears a name, our correspondent exercises his judgment and his reason in openly repudia- ting sorts of poor quality, and bearing a candid and impartial testimony in favor of the few sorts really good. Our readers will notice that under the head of Glout Morceau, Col. Wilder has pointed out the cause of the variety of opinion as to the form of that pear, as com- pared with the Beurre d'Aremberg. The normal form of the Glout Morceau when grown on a pear stock, is that figured in our work on Fruits and Fruit Trees, page 437. Often when grown on a quince stock, it takes the figure of the d'Aremberg, as shown by Mr. Hovey in his Magazine. The flavor of the two fruits, and the growth of the respective trees, however, dis- tinguish them perfectly at all times. The Glout Morceau is a pear of sweet and honeyed flavor, like the Doyenne or St. Michael; the Beurre d'Aremberg of vinous flavor, a rich mingling of sugar and acid, like the Brown Beurre, or in its own per- fection, more like a Pine-apple. Again, the spreading, depending shoots of the Glout Morceau, and its somewhat wavy leaves, mark the distinctness of the tree at a glance, from the more erect habit of the Beurre d'Aremberg. — Ed. THE AMERICAN ARBOR VITiE. 23 THE AMERICAN ARBOR VITiE FOR SCREENS AND HEDGES. BY THE FOREMAN AT THE HIGHLAND GARDENS. Every one having the care of grounds in the country, is aware of the want of some good, rapid growing, evergreen plant, for screens and for hedges — something to hide unsightly objects, and to serve as a kind of thicket between one part of a place and another. Unfortunately, in this climate, the Hollies, Portugal Laurels, and other beautiful evergreens of Europe, will not succeed. But there is one native ever- green, which stands admirably in their place, making the most perfect screen, and with the least possible care and trouble. The undersigned, therefore, proposes to offer a few remarks on its merits to the readers of the Horticulturist. In the first place, he would remark, the ease and success with which it may be transplanted. When grown in loose nur- sery ground, where it can be taken up with- out injuring the roots badly, not one in one hundred, ever fails ; and even in its native localities, when taken up with ordinary care and kept damp, and covered from the sun and drying winds until again planted, the failures are in general very few. In the next place, the little care required in its after management, or in other words, the no care at all required — unlike the evergreens of Europe above spoken of, which require such frequent pruning and trimming, to keep them in shape. One of the finest screens the writer ever had the pleasure of seeing, is one of this kind grow- ing here. The plants have never had a shears or knife applied to them for the pur- pose of pruning or trimming, since they were first set out: this is now 12 or 15 years. The screen is now 16 or 18 feet high, and almost as symmetrical and regu- lar as if clipped annually with a hedge shears. Another superior qualification possessed by the native Arbor Vitee, is its freedom from disease, or tendency to decay — in many hedge plants, and even the Red Ce- dar, some of the hardiest branches, and occasionally whole trees, die off without any apparent cause ; neither does it ever suffer from the effects of winter, like the Chinese Arbor Vitae, and many other plants. It is a fact that such a thing as a dead tree or branch is never seen, even in its native lo- calities, unless broken or injured in some unfair manner ; add to this, that insects never attack it, and its longevity is very great. Another character peculiar to the Arbor Vitse is, that in summer, when many evergreens look brownish, compared with the foliage of some of the deciduous trees, its beautiful verdure will not suffer in com- parison with the most lively green of June foliage. The foregoing remarks have reference to the American Arbor Vitae as a screen plant. 