the base, and narrowing to the crown, which is small: Skin, slightly rough, with a deep yellow ground, nearly or quite covered with a clear cinnamon russet, often with a tinge of pale red on the sunny side: Stem, short, about half an inch long, rather slender, and little sunk in a small cavity: Eye, medium size, nearly closed, and but little depressed in a small, shallow basin; segments of the calyx short: Flesh, yellowish, fine, soft, and tender: Juice, abundant, pleasantly acid, rich, and high-flavored: Core, medium size, rather open Seeds, rather large, dark brown. Ripe from October to February. XXXIII. COGSWELL. The origin of the Cogswell apple, (fig. 25,) is unknown to us. The only specimens of the fruit we have seen, have been exhibited before the Massachusetts Horticultural Soci Fig. 25. Cogswell Apple. ety by Mr. J. A. Kenrick, of Newton, Mass., and these have been of such excellence that we venture to place it among our best winter apples. As late as February last, Mr. Kenrick presented two or three dozen of the apples for exhibition; the specimens were remarkably fair, large, and beautiful, and in the most perfect preservation; and the Committee on Fruits, upon tasting them, pronounced the variety to be well worthy of cultivation. The tree is of vigorous growth, and bears well. Since writing the above, we have received the following communication from Mr. Kenrick, to whom we applied for an account of the origin and history of this apple : DEAR SIR,-The Cogswell apple was received by me fourteen years since. The only information I could obtain from the gentleman from whom I had it was, that "it came from Attleboro', or its vicinity." I have always supposed it originated there, but, having taken no pains to ascertain, am not certain. By whom its name was given, I have no knowledge. When it first fruited with me, I do not recollect, as it was grafted on a large branch of a tree, together with several other kinds, but it came very early into bearing. It is a good straight grower, and I think as abundant a bearer as any apple I am acquainted with. It is an early winter fruit, keeping a little longer than the Hubbardston Nonsuch, being fit for use from October to about the 1st of January: I have, however, kept them till June. Those you saw were kept too late to give a fair specimen of their real merit, and, should I live till autumn, I will show you samples that will give you a better opinion of their flavor; and I consider it second, for profit, to very few if any apples I am acquainted with.Very respectfully yours, John A. Kenrick. Size, large, about three and a quarter inches broad, and two and a half deep: Form, roundish oblate, very regular, largest in the middle, and little flattened at each end: Skin fair, smooth, rich deep yellow, nearly covered with very distinct and abrupt splashes, stripes and dots of brilliant red, having a few large russet specks scattered over the surface: Stem, short, slender, and moderately sunk in a very regular, open cavity: Eye, medium size, nearly closed, and slightly depressed in a very small shallow basin; segments of the calyx broad: Flesh, yellowish, little coarse, crisp, and tender: Juice, abundant, with an agreeable admixture of sweet and acid, sprightly, high-flavored, and excellent: Core, small, rather close: Seeds, medium size, angular, dark brown. Ripe from October to February. ART. IV. On the Culture of Clerodendrons. By R. B. LEUCHARS. New Haven, Conn. THE Clerodendrons are a most noble family of half-shrubby, half-herbaceous plants, with very large oblong-ovate, or acute lobate leaves, sinuated, or angled at the margins, and bearing, generally at the end of each shoot or stem, large capitate heads of flowers of various colors, and some of them are delightfully fragrant. I believe there are few amateurs who cultivate this splendid tribe of plants in this country. And I think I may assert, without fear of contradiction, that there are few, who have seen them in all their splendor, who would not wish to have them in their collection, however small the collection might be. They are of easy cultivation, and exceedingly well adapted for the adornment of greenhouses during the hot months of summer, a period when these structures, instead of being, as they certainly ought, the centre of floral attraction, are frequently converted into receptacles of lumber and rubbish, thereby becoming a kind of floricultural incongruity in the midst of the floral harmony that reigns around them, and lying like a dead weight upon our sensibilities every time we cast our eyes upon them; and, as they are generally erected in the most conspicuous places, they can hardly be avoided. Such plants as the Clerodendrons, together with gesneras, gloxinias, torenias, achimenes, &c. would keep the house in a blaze of bloom during the hottest of seasons, i. e., providing it be kept shaded, and a moderate degree of humidity artificially maintained.* In the artificial culture of any kind of plants brought from the tropical latitudes, I consider it essentially requisite to inquire into its habit, and the treatment it receives in its natural habitat. It will generally be found that the closer we approach to the culture it gets from nature, the more likely will it be to develope its natural beauty. If the plant be sensibly improved by certain modes of management, then we conclude that it has found the conditions in which it has * We are glad to see that some gardeners are aware of the importance of what we have so strongly urged in an article in our volume for 1847, (XIII. p. 258.)—Ed. been placed more suitable for its development, and consequently to be adopted. There are very few plants that show so strikingly the effects of good culture over bad treatment and neglect. Clerodendrons, if not grown well, are scarcely worth growing at all. For the benefit of those who may not be acquainted with the tribe, I shall describe a few of the most desirable kinds, and the method of management by which I have grown them to great perfection. Fràgrans.-A beautiful pink, and highly odoriferous. Macrophyllum and sinuàta are pure white; the latter is very fragrant. Scandens.-A pretty climber, finely adapted for the greenhouses of this country. The stem and branches of this species are nearly quadrangular, and slightly pubescent; leaves in pairs somewhat downy; flowers are borne abundantly in corymbs which spring from the axils of the leaves; the blossoms are white, and tinged with purple. It produces flowers abundantly in winter. This is a most valuable species, and should be in every collection of greenhouse plants. Capitàta. This is a truly noble flowering plant. It forms a handsome bush, with obtusely tetragonous branches, and large, dark green leaves. The young leaves are subovate; the larger ones oblong and acuminate, covered with ferruginous or brown hairs, bearing, on terminal peduncles, a dense head of purely white blossoms, and delightfully fragrant. This species has the merit of flowering when very small, and remains a long time in bloom. Bethuniana. This is, perhaps, the most beautiful of all these beautiful plants. It is a native of Borneo, and was imported from thence into England a few years ago. It grows to the height of ten or twelve feet, bearing, at the point of every branch, a large spike of rich crimson-colored flowers. The spike itself is frequently three feet in height, and seldom under two, forming with its bracts, which are also crimson, a magnificent pyramid of bloom, each blossom being relieved by the delicate white centre of long protruding stamens. The foliage is also fine, being heart-shaped, dark, dense, and of elegant appearance. This is by far the noblest plant I ever saw, and, when in flower, is worth a day's journey to see. On receiving young plants from a nursery, they will be generally in very small pots, with their roots cramped into a firm mass. The best time to transport these plants is before they have begun to grow. Otherwise, it is difficult to pack them without breaking their leaves, which, when young, are brittle and tender. When ordered in the spring, they will generally be received in a growing state. If in a six inch pot, it should be shifted into one double the size; the roots carefully spread out among the fresh soil. They luxuriate in a compost consisting of two parts decayed turves, one part fibrous peat, and one part well-rotted cow dung. Let the whole be well incorporated together, and use only the rough lumpy portions. The fleshy roots of these plants delight to ramify in open lumpy soil, where the air has free access to them. The pots should be drained with charcoal, and lumps of the same material liberally intermixed with the soil. The leaves of these plants appear to possess an extraordinary power of decomposing carbonic acid, which is evident by the great power that the roots possess of absorbing carbonaceous matter from the soil. I am of opinion that the clerodendron possesses this decomposing power in a greater degree than any other plant with which I am acquainted. I have tried to grow the C. sinuàta in charcoal alone, liberally watered. Its leaves were a very dark green, but its flowers were small and dingy-colored. It grew beautifully in equal parts of charcoal and loam. But the compost I have named is most suitable to all the species. When potted, introduce them into a temperature of about 60°; a small pit or cucumber frame is a good place for them while they are small enough to find head-room. In a fortnight or three weeks, they will require another shift, and on successively, as the roots reach the side of the pot, from nine inch to sixteen, and finally into eighteen inch pots in which they will flower. In the early part of spring, they should be aired and watered very carefully, the latter applied always in the morning, and warmed to about 70°. This is of more importance to growing plants in winter than is generally supposed. As the season advances, both may be supplied more liberally. They delight in a humid atmosphere, and shaded from the hot sun. They should be syringed morning and evening with diluted charcoal wa |