94. FUCHSIA SPECTA'BILIS Hook. Elegant Fuchsia. (Eno

A greenhouse plant; growing four feet high; with rosy crimson flowers; appearing all summer; increased by cuttings; grown in rich light soil. Flore des Serres, pl. 359. 1848.

In our last volume, (XIV. p. 311,) we noticed the introduction of this magnificent species into English collections. We now have before us a most finished representation of the flowers, fully characterizing it as the "most beautiful of all the fuchsias yet known." Mr. Lobb, in a letter to Mr. Vetch, describes it as the "loveliest of the lovely." The plant has a strong and vigorous habit, with large and superb foliage, and the flowers, which are of a brilliant rosy crimson, open flat, and are greatly heightened by a prominent white stigma. It is one of the greatest acquisitions that has ever been made to this fine tribe, and must become a great favorite. We hope it will speedily be introduced. (Flore des Serres, June.)

95. CASSELIA INTEGRIFO`LIA Nees.

Entire-leaved Casselia,

(Verbenacea.) Brazil.

A stove plant; growing two feet high; with lilac flowers; appearing in spring: increased by cuttings: grown in heath soil, and leaf mould. Flore des Serres, pl. 361, 1848.

A pretty little plant, from the forests of Brazil, with an abundance of small lilac flowers, elegantly striped with purple. The foliage is handsome, and it is abundantly supplied with flowers, which appear in terminal clusters. (Flore des Serres, June.)

96. RO`SA BRO`WNII Spring. Mr. Brown's Rose. (Rosacea.) Nepaul.

A half hardy plant; growing ten feet high; with white flowers; appearing In summer; increaed by cuttings; grown in rich soil. Flore des Serres, pl. 366, 1848.

This species was introduced long since, but is very little known in European collections. It has immensely large clusters of single white flowers, of an agreeable odor. Mr. Van Houtte states that it braves the rigors of a Belgian winter, and, with the ordinary protection, it would undoubtedly be hardy in our climate. Its growth is similar to the Lady Banks, making very long slender shoots, and suitable for covering an arbor or trellis. It comes from the Nepaul mountains. (Flore des Serres, July.)

97. CASTILLE JA LITHOSPERMOIDES H. B. Lithospermum-like Castilleja. (Schrophulariacea.) Mexico.

A greenhouse plant; growing eighteen inches high; with scarlet flowers; appearing in summer; increased by seeds; grown in light rich soil. Flore des Serres, pl. 371, 1848.

A very pretty greenhouse plant, suitable for bedding out, like the antirrhinums, and others of the same natural family. This Castilleja has an erect stem, terminated with a spike of beautiful orange scarlet flowers. The plants are easily raised from the seeds, which are abundantly produced. (Flore des Serres, July.)

MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE.

ART. I. General Notices.

Pelargoniums. During the past week, I received a box of pelargoniums from that indefatigable raiser of new varieties, Mr. Beck, of Isleworth, and was highly gratified at the masterly way in which they were packed up. Although the plants had been a whole day incarcerated in very narrow limits, when I released them from bondage every leaf assumed its natural attitude, and looked as fresh as if the box had never taken the place of the greenhouse. By means of little wicker baskets, made in the neighborhood of Isleworth, the plants travel without the least injury, and the mode of conveyance should be adopted by nurserymen. The extra expense and trouble will be more than compensated for by the satisfaction given to the purchaser.

Having set this little collection of flowers at liberty, I looked at them with great interest, and began to inquire in what way I could best keep them in health during the winter. They had evidently enjoyed every advantage, and exhibited robust health; the fresh green of the foliage, and its freedom from spots indicating the former possession of proper light and temperature. Not possessing a greenhouse myself, I knew that the change would be felt by my newly acquired plants, unless I considered their wants, and employed a little petting, to accustom them to their more humble home. Two plans suggested themselves; one, to keep them in a pit out of doors, the other, to place them in the window of the sitting-room. A pit is a most eligible place for pelargoniums, if properly defended from frosts. I have kept a large number in health during a long winter in a garden frame, protected as described in former papers. In long frosts, no air must be admitted, except in the middle of the day, if the atmosphere is not lower than the freezing point: but, on all occasions, when there is no danger of frosts attacking the plants, air and light must be plentifully supplied.

But this little collection of Beck's pelargoniums I intend to attend to myself in-doors, and several particulars will require to be observed. First, no more water must ever be given than is requisite to keep them in health, and, in cold weather, a very small portion indeed will fulfil that condition. Secondly, they must be kept as close to the glass as possible, and be turned round frequently to preserve uniformity of growth. Thirdly, as the atmosphere of a sitting-room is dry, and unlike that of the open air or a well. regulated greenhouse, the window must be opened frequently. Fourthly, to prevent the dust which is unavoidable in window-gardening from stopping up the pores of the leaves, the plants should be put out of doors in genial and mild rains. By observing these rules, I hope to find my plants in good order when the spring comes round, when I shall put them into blooming pots, and bring them on in a frame. Perhaps this relation of my own intended mode of procedure may be useful to some amateurs who are now in possession of young pelargoniums, in circumstances similar to my

Own.

The intrinsic beauties of this favorite plant, both as to its leaves and flowers, will prevent it ever being thrown aside, and the kindliness with which it yields new varieties to the art of the florist will continue to invest it with fresh charms. Amateurs who practise hybridizing should study deeply the principles of the process, that every defect may be gradually obliterated, and the excellent qualities scattered among various kinds be collected to. gether in one. The masterpieces of Grecian sculpture are said to be not fac-similes, or the representation of any figure in rerum naturà, but a combination of all the graces which the artist could conceive of. It results from this, that forms as beautiful as came from those ancient chisels can never be found among men. But what human nature cannot yield, Flora grants to her votaries. We may imagine perfection of form and color in a flower, and, by patient skill, may at last produce one which shall quite equal the beau-ideal.—(Gard. Chron., 1848, p. 732.)

ART. II. Domestic Notices.

Notes on Pears.-At page 6, of your Magazine for 1848, you gave us an interesting list of the newly introduced pears, that had fruited around Boston, in 1847, and proved desirable; and also a list of some, that further experience had confirmed their previous high character. The past has been a great pear season, and I hope, in the next number, you will give a list of all the new ones that have proved valuable, and also a confirmatory list of those that have proved worthy of cultivation on further trial. The Rosiezer pear, which you figure so prettily in your Fruits of America, has borne here the past four years, and has proved fine every year; it grows fast, and unites well on the quince for two years certain; and also Dear

born's Seedling, which ripens at the same time. But the Seckel, and Flemish Beauty, grow well only for one year, with me, and die off, or stop growing, the second year. The Surpasse Virgalieu, (not Virgoulouse, as you have it,) is a fine pear, when the scason suits it, say one out of three. I am aching to get hold of the seventh number of your Fruits of America. I hope to see our favorite Seckel occupy one of its pages, in some future number.-Yours, respectfully, J. R. C., Mabbettsville, N. Y., Dec. 28, 1848.

[Our correspondent, who we are happy to hear from, will find the lists of fruits he alludes to, in our first article. The seventh number of the Fruits of America is nearly ready, and the succeeding numbers will regularly follow. Delavs, beyond our control, as well as circumstances which we could not foresee, in getting up so expensive and laborious a work, have prevented us from issuing them at the intervals originally intended; but we believe we have now so far overcome all difficulties, that hereafter the numbers will appear every two months.-Ed.]

The Felch Apple.-I send you herewith, a few samples of the fruit, known here as the Felch apple; it is a superior winter fruit, and, if known under any other name, elsewhere, we should be glad to learn it. It is believed by many, to have originated in this county; but I doubt its being a new seedling,,-ean you throw any light upon it?—Yours, S. L. Goodale, Saco, Dec. 14, 1848.

[We can inform our friend, Mr. Goodale, that his Felch apples were some of the finest specimens of the Baldwin, we have lately seen,-which he may truly say, is a superior winter apple." How an apple so well known as the Baldwin, should be supposed a seedling, originating in Maine, we are at a loss to imagine. This is, however, only one of the many instances, showing the importance of a comparison of fruits, from various sections of the country, in order to arrive at a correct and uniform nomenclature.-Ed.] The Best four varieties of Strawberries.-Our old correspondent, Mr. Longworth, of Cincinnati, Ohio, was greatly surprised that we should state that there were only three varieties of strawberries really worthy of cultivation, viz. :-Hovey's Seedling, the Boston Pine, and Early Virginia, (or Large Early Scarlet.) We see, by a notice in the American Agriculturist, for December, that we are not alone in our opinion; an experienced fruit-grower writes the editor, "that, after trying thirty of the best and most popular modern varieties of strawberries, he has come to the conclusion, that but four are worth cultivating on the light sandy lands of Monmouth county, New Jersey. These are Hovey's Seedling, the Boston Pine, Large Early Scarlet, and Crimson Cone, or Scotch Pine."

Another cultivator of the strawberry, Mr. C. H. Starr, of Groton, Connecticut, states the result of his experience with Hovey's Seedling, as follows:-The soil was a moist loam, half an acre in extent, well pulverized by ploughing, and manured at the rate of 20 cords to an acre of seaweed and fish. The variety was Hovey's Seedling, with a few English plants as fructifiers, and were set in April, in rows, three feet apart. The product from the half acre, under cultivation last season, was 2000 quarts of fruit, some of which measured 4 inches in circumference.

This is at the rate of 4000 quarts to the acre, which, at Boston prices, would net, after all expenses of picking and selling, 20 cents per box, or $1600 per acre. The writer sets down the total expense of labor per year at $160. This certainly would afford a handsome profit, far exceeding that of any other variety we have yet seen. It is somewhat different from the statement of a writer at Poughkeepsie, that Hovey's Seedling was "far behind all others," in productiveness, not bearing one fourth as much as the Early Scarlet. Taking this writer's estimate, he ought to get 16,000 quarts of the Early Scarlet to an acre, and nobody believes this, any more than they do his preceding statement. The fact is, that the writer did not intend to state the truth, or else he cultivates, as a great many do in Western New York, Mr. Downing's Hovey's Seedling, a staminate variety, which he sent to the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, as the true Hovey's Seedling, but which proved a worthless sort. What confirms this, is the statement by the writer, that the "vexed strawberry question," is unknown in his garden.-Ed.

Mr. P. Barry, of the firm of Ellwanger, Barry & Rowe, nurserymen, Rochester, N. Y., sailed for England in the early part of December last. He intends making a visit of about three months, and will return in March. The object of his tour is to visit the gardens and nurseries of England, Scotland, France and Belgium, and to select all the new and choice kinds of fruits, worthy of introduction to our gardens.-Ed.

ART. III. New Haven County Horticultural Society.

THE annual exhibition of this Society was held on the 27th of September last, at New Haven, and a report of the same has been published, a copy of which, we have before us, containing an account of the flowers, fruits, and vegetables exhibited, with the premiums awarded, and the list of officers for the year 1849. We give a brief abstract of the report :PLANTS. The principal contributions of plants came from E. Watkins, who sent Ipomæ'a Leàrii, Salvia splendens major, Péntas cárnea, &c. Messrs. H. Whitney, E. Mugford, John Moneghan, and others, also sent small collections.

FRUITS. The exhibition of pears was very good. Dr. V. M. Dow had, among sixteen sorts, the Howell, which we shall describe in our next. Col. J. A. Totten exhibited the Vicompte de Spoelberch, Howell, Edward's Elizabeth, McLaughlin, and seventeen other sorts. Miss H. Edwards exhibited the following, all of them, we believe, seedlings of Gov. Edwards :-Gerry, Tyler, Clay, Van Buren, Spice, Cantelope, Jackson, Seedling St. Germain, Frances, Baking, Black Hawk, Calhoun, Elizabeth, John, Dallas, Humbug, and Harriet. S. D. Pardee exhibited, among others, Van Mons Leon le Clerc. There were also about twenty other contributors of small collections.