knows the danger of allowing any of the hard-wooded plants from Australia or the Cape to flag. Neglect them only for one day during a dry summer, and their tissues become contracted, the leaves and tender tips droop, and then the greatest care the gardener can bestow will not be sufficient to recover his favorites, whose roots are confined within the narrow compass of the potter's handiwork. Nature has not endowed plants with the power of locomotion, but by successional layers of organized matter the roots become elongated, and in pot cultivation soon reach their prison walls, and of course are there ill situated to withstand drought. But see similar plants in their native country,—they there possess a luxuriance of growth and profusion of blossom that calls forth the admiration of every traveller. The heath is a plant which is well known to be very impatient of drought, but look at it as I have done on the mountains behind Cape Town, where heat and drought far exceeds any thing of the kind in this country. Again, witness the vegetation of New South Wales, where the majority of our most lovely greenhouse plants is to be found. There I have seen the Banksias, the lovely Epacrises, Chorozemas, Boronias, Pultenæas, &c., flourish among rocks and thrive upon sandy plains exposed to the parching sun, and for a long period without a drop of rain; but their roots are there at liberty to pursue what course they please, and so they penetrate to a great depth, where they are kept cool and moist during the driest seasons. That king of the Australian forest, the noble Eucalyptus, whose size astonishes every traveller, occupies immense tracts of strong marl, broken only by an occasional gully, where I have seen the princely palm, from 80 to 90 feet in height, and the most lovely ferns the Cryptogamic botanist could desire. Again, round the margins of swamps I have delighted in the sight of the strong-growing Acacias, such as armata and dealbata, many of the Melaleucas, Eutaxias, and the humble Blandfordias. On such trees are numerous parasitical plants, not the least curious of which is the Acrostichum alcicorne, which is perfectly at home on the top of the Casuarina, appearing at a distance like some huge bird's nest. Planted there by the hand of nature, and watered by the dews of heaven, it attains a size unequalled under artificial cultivation.

Looking round on the various forms of vegetation in distant countries, I thought their captive brethren were often harshly treated. For instance, how frequently do I see them taken from the greenhouse and placed behind some wall, hedge, or high trees during the summer months, thus depriving them of part of the sun's power at the very time when they ought to receive every ray of his light; for, it should be remembered, that the brightest of our summers cannot for a moment be compared with those of the countries of which these plants are natives, and where the majority of them stand fully exposed, ripening and hardening their systems to an extent which enables them at the approach of winter to withstand degrees of cold that would surprise many people. I have often thought that nature's laws would be more perfectly fulfilled if, on their removal from the greenhouse, these plants were placed where they could receive the full benefit of the sun, while the pots might be plunged in sand or the common soil. By so doing

the roots would be kept cool and moist; comparatively little water would be required, and the plants would acquire a solidity that would enable them to bid defiance to damp and mildew in winter, when they could also bear a few degrees of frost with impunity.—(Ib. 1849, p. 212.)

ART. II. Foreign Notices.

FRANCE.

French Bouquets.-The Marchands de Bouquets are a very numerous and thriving fraternity in Paris. In all the principal streets, and particularly in the arcades and passages near the theatres and places of public amusement, are to be found their attractive shops, where nosegays may be procured at from ten sous to twenty francs throughout every day of the year; a still more numerous, yet humbler class, sell in the public streets, and at the railway stations, roses, violets, carnations, camellias, in fact, every flower in its natural season from January to December at from one to five sous (d. to 24d). The amount spent by the Parisians in this way is almost incredible; thousands of persons obtain a living by selling these halfpenny bouquets; to understand this, it must be borne in mind that the manners of the continent are different from those in England; that in catholic countries almost every day is the "Jour de fête" of some saint, and that in France it is the custom for every one to present flowers, either growing or cut, to their friends on their birth-day or "jour de fête ;" so universal is this, that a duchess gladly accepts the friendly homage, and the meanest inhabitant of a garret feels neglected, if not insulted, without it.

To meet this demand, there is a distinct and numerous class of florists, occupying small gardens from a quarter to one acre of ground, adjoining the city walls in the Faubourgs St. Denis, Menilmontant, Charonne, Marceau, and St. Jacques, whose sole occupation is the cultivation of these flowers; each has his "specialité" which he grows upon a large scale and can afford to sell at a cheap rate. Everything is done upon the most economical plan; to save expense, the plant-houses are built two, three, or four feet below the surface, exactly like spanroofed pits; the front or south lights are glass, the back or north is generally covered over with deal boards; this enables them to cover the whole thickly over with leaves in winter, and effectually prevents the frost from entering; there is not one in fifty of these houses ever warmed by any other means; fuel is very expensive in Paris, and it would not answer their purpose to be at the expense of fire heat. Tan is abundant, and procured at a reasonable price; it is everywhere used in these gardens for bottom heat.

With these florists you do not find any large collections or general stock; few grow more than ten or fifteen kinds of plants to bloom in succession, that their energies may be concentrated upon one thing at a time, and, as might be expected, what they do is done well. The "specialité" of one

consists of camellias, azaleas, roses, orange trees, and hard-wooded plants; another of ericas, epacris, pelargoniums, &c.; another of violets, pansies, carnations, &c. Thus an immense quantity is raised. It is no uncommon thing to find in one of these little gardens 10,000 or 15,000 camellias; in another, as many roses or crassulas. I am quite sure that for Midsummer day (Fête de St. Jean), there are not less than 60,000 or 70,000 plants of Crassula coccinea cultivated about Paris. The white chrysanthemum, especially the new white anemone flowering varieties, are now largely cultivated for cut flowers in December. The Rose du Roi (crimson perpetual,) is almost the only one sold in the markets. I have seen it in bloom during every month of the year; its delicious fragrance, fine color, form, and habit, render it decidedly more useful than any of the China and Provence kinds. The Indica minor, alba, and coccinea, are also extensively grown for the Marchands de Bouquets; they are, with the violet, chrysanthemum, and camellia, their grand resort for the winter.

I have often been struck with the difference between the bouquets of London, Paris, and Brussels; in London, it is no uncommon thing to see beautiful stanhopeas, oncidiums, and other orchids, forming part of a bouquet; in Brussels, also, you see some fine rare flowers, but nothing of the kind is to be seen in Paris. In the latter town, in general, they are composed of the common flowers of the season; they are, however, nevertheless very pretty,-the secret lies in the grouping. Most decidedly the French understand harmony of color and tasteful arrangement better than any other people; it is thus that they make up an elegant nosegay for a mere trifle; even in November, December, and January, you may always procure them at a moderate price; this is no doubt, in part, owing to the climate, but in no little degree to the means used in retarding or prolonging the bloom. During those months, there is a plentiful supply of violets, cyclamens, epacris, laurustinus, white chrysanthemums, fairy roses, Chinese primulas, oranges, ericas, and camellias; and as the national colors are ever dominant with the Parisians, they make up very pretty tricolor bouquets of fairy roses, violets, and primula sinensis or white chrysanthemums.-(Gardeners' Chronicle, 1849, p. 356.)

ART. III. Domestic Notices.

New Haven County Horticultural Society.-The nineteenth annual exhition of this society will be held on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, the 25th, 26th, and 27th of September next, at New Haven. Liberal premiums will be awarded for flowers, fruits, and vegetables.

Northwestern Pomological Convention.-Some of the western papers propose a horticultural convention, to be held at Chicago in the coming autumn. We have no doubt it would be attended with the best results. Such is the extent of our country, that it is next to impossible to carry fruit and attend conventions at a very great distance. A meeting of the kind

proposed would be of great service to the pomologists of Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Missouri.-Ed.

Vermont Fruit Grower's Convention.-A notice has already been issued for holding a convention at Montpelier, on the 18th of October next. This has been decided upon by the State committee appointed at the North American Pomological Convention. Communications and specimens of fruit are requested to be sent to the care of Daniel Baldwin, Esq., of Montpelier, who will take charge of them. The notice is signed by the committee, of which C. Goodrich, Esq., is chairman.-Ed.

ART. IV. Albany and Rensselaer Horticultural Society.

The exhibition of the society, on Wednesday the 20th June, presented a fine display of fruits, flowers, and vegetables. The reports of the several committees are annexed, in which a description of the articles on exhibition may be found. The attendance of visitors, taking into consideration the overpowering heat of the weather, was large. The flowers were very tastefully arranged upon a new stand designed by Mr. J. M. Lovett, which added much to the display. The increased interest manifested in the exhibitions of the society, is very encouraging.-B. P. JOHNSON, Secretary.

FRUIT. The Committee on Fruit report that there were exhibited by B. B. Kirtland, Greenbush, six varieties of strawberries, viz, Burr's New Pine, Iowa, Sciota, Columbus, Burr's Old Pine, and Ohio Mammoth. By E. Prentice, Mount Hope, five varieties of strawberries, viz, Ross Phœnix, Early Virginia, Iowa, Hovey's Seedling, and Stoddart's Alpine. By Dr. J. Wilson, Bethlehem, four varieties of strawberries, viz, Early Virginia, Black Prince, Bishop's Orange, and White Alpine. By Wm. H. Dewitt, Ross Phoenix and White Alpine strawberries. By V P. Douw, Wolven Hook, Ross Phoenix, and Iowa strawberries, and Green Citron muskmelons, grown under glass. By E. C. McIntosh, Hovey's Seedling strawberries.

By J. Rathbone, Kenwood, Cincinnati Pine, Early Virginia strawberries, and May Duke cherries. By Wm. Cooper, Guilderland, Early Virginia strawberries. By J. Wilson, five varieties of strawberries, viz, Crimson Cone, Columbus, Alice Maude, Burr's New Pine and Aberdeen Beehive, (two plants of which new variety were exhibited, growing in pots, and heavily laden with fruit.) By Stephen E. Warren, Troy, Iowa strawberries. By E. H. Pease, Hovey's Seedling and Boston Pine strawberries. By Dr. Herman Wendell, four varieties of strawberries, viz, Aberdeen Beehive, Swainstone Seedling, Boston Pine and Iowas. By Luther Tucker, Bethlehem, six varieties of strawberries, viz, Royal Scarlet, Boston Pine, Crimson Cone, Ohio Mammoth, Old Hudson, and Hovey's Seedling. By J. M. Lovett, Swiss Home, Bethlehem, Iowa strawberries.

PREMIUMS.

For the best and most extensive collection, not less than half a pint of each variety, to E. P. Prentice, $3.

For the second best with same requirements, to B. B. Kirtland, of Greenbush, $2.

For the best and finest flavored variety, to B. B. Kirtland, for Burr's New Pine—a delicious, hardy, and productive variety, but of comparative moderate size, $2.

For the second best, with same requirements, to Luther Tucker, for Royal Scarlet, a large and beautiful as well as delicious variety, and but little inferior to the above, $1.

The committee beg leave to remark, that it will be seen by the report of entries given above, that the much lauded Aberdeen Beehive strawberry was exhibited by two gentlemen, one of whom exhibited plants laden with fruit growing in pots, and one fruit from plants of open culture, and as far as they are able to judge by comparison with other varieties, they are disposed to think that it will be found to prove a hardy prolific, when grown with a fertilizer and rich variety, but not by any means superior, if equal in these particulars, to many favorite and well-known old varieties. They also beg leave to add, that several varieties of Burr's New Seedlings were exhibited by two gentlemen, all of which have proved to be hardy and thrifty growers, and the New Pine, a prolific, large-sized, and delicious, as well as beautiful variety, and also one well suited for marketable purposes, as it is of firm flesh, keeps well, and bears transportation remarkably well.— HERMAN WENDELL, Chairman.

FLORAL DESIGNS.-GREENHOUSE PLANTS, &c.-The committee reports that there was exhibited by Joel Rathbone, of Kenwood, two beautiful round vase bouquets-not in competition-arranged with good taste, and composed of fuchsias, eupatoreums, gloxinias, pelargoniums, and other choice flowers.

By Dr. Herman Wendell, one large round bouquet for centre table vase, arranged with good taste, and composed of choice roses, pinks, pansies, spireas, &c., &c., to which the committee awarded the premium of $2;. one large flat bouquet for mantle vase, tastefully arranged, and composed of about the same varieties of flowers; a basket bouquet with handle, exquisitely arranged, composed of choice rose buds, pansies, forget-me-nots, &c. &c., to which the committee awarded the premium of $2.

By James Wilson, of Albany, a very beautiful and well arranged large flat bouquet, for mantle vase, composed of choice and rare roses and buds, pelargoniums, fuchsias, spireas, &c., &c., to which the committee have awarded the premium of $2; a large round bouquet for mantle vase, composed of about the same varieties of flowers; a round hand bouquet composed of rare and beautiful flowers, as hoyas, pelargoniums, &c., and arranged with exquisite taste, to which the committee have awarded the premium of $1. A flat hand bouquet, arranged with equal good taste, the premium of $1.

By L. Menand, a very beautiful round hand bouquet, composed of rare flowers, arranged with skill and taste, and several varieties of plants growing in pots, all in beautiful bloom and fine order, evincing Mon's well known skill-and for which the committee awarded the premium for the best six plants of different varieties in pots, $2.

Flowers, &c., in variety were also contributed by S. E. Warren, J. M.