them the Spanish,) about thirty feet high, and so loaded with fruit that their branches touched the ground, were objects which every lover of trees should see; of the Spanish, Mr. Manice has gathered twenty-four fruits which weighed a pound. In front of the conservatory and stove, and near the house, were fine specimens of Magnolia conspicua, twelve feet high, which are perfectly hardy here; M. purpurea and M. Soulangedna. The yew is perfectly hardy.

We now entered the fruit garden, which is filled with standard and dwarf trees, the former in rows, about twenty feet apart; the unpropitious season had affected the trees here, as in other places, and Mr. Manice had but little fruit this year. We noticed, however, a tree of Beurré Langelier, with three or four fruits, the first time of its bearing here. About half an acre is filled with dwarf pear trees on the quince, now of good size. Mr. Manice has a plum garden on the plan which we have heretofore noticed, viz., a square planted with trees, under which the ground is wholly paved with brick, and surrounded with a high board fence, thus cutting off all means of egress for the curculio; the paving preventing them from making their way out of the ground, and the fence keeping them from the enclosure. The trees were in fine condition, and Mr. Manice informed us he had been successful in securing abundant crops of plums. The fig is cultivated here in the open ground, the plants being protected by large boxes, which cover the plants, with a few leaves thrown in among the branches, before the top is nailed on. The plan is worthy of being followed by all who like to try the fig in the open air.

The forcing-houses are extensive, being about one hundred and fifty feet long, and divided into three compartments, one of which is an early vinery, one a succession house, and the last a cold house. The crop was abundant, and the vines were yet bearing a quantity of fruit. One of the houses was nearly filled with the Muscat of Alexandria, so well ripened as to have that rich amber tint which it always acquires when fully mature. The walls are of brick, and every thing is built in the most substantial manner.

The various hedges, in different parts of the grounds, are exceedingly well managed-some are of the Cockspur Thorn

others of the Washington; some of Three-thorned acaciasome of buckthorn-some of arbor vitæ, and others of the privet; all look well, but to our fancy the buckthorn and privet bear off the palm, except when used as a screen, and then the arbor vitæ must claim preeminence. The verdure of the privet is deeper than the buckthorn, and it retains its foliage very late-qualities which add greatly to its value. The Washington thorn has a dark glossy foliage, but does not appear to make so compact a hedge.

We have remarked that the soil was light and sandy, and, consequently, quickly affected by the droughts of summer, and to such a degree as to greatly injure not only annual crops, but trees of all sizes and kinds. To counteract this want of moisture in the soil, Mr. Manice has, at great expense and labor, recently completed very extensive waterworks, located in the rear of the park, the reservoir of which is elevated some twenty-five feet above the surrounding ground, so as to irrigate every part of his premises. The water is supplied from a well, elevated by windmill power, but a gale, subsequent to our visit, having demolished it, Mr. Manice informs us that he has now adopted a steam pump, which is to raise two hundred gallons per minute. The supply of water from a well, thirty or forty feet deep, is almost inexhaustible; a sufficient quantity to fill the reservoir, holding many thousand gallons, not materially lessening its depth. From the reservoir, under-ground pipes of iron, ten inches in diameter, conduct the water through all the main walks, and when wanted for use, a hose, applied to any of the hydrants, which are fitted at convenient distances, will discharge a volume of water with sufficient force to completely irrigate every portion of the grounds. The expense of constructing the water-works exceeded $4000.

Mr. Manice deserves great credit for the taste he has displayed in making a place, naturally possessing so few advantages for a country residence, so full of interest. No department of horticulture has been neglected, and when the water-works are completed, Oatlands must become one of the finest residences on Long Island.

ART. II. Desultory Remarks on the Principles and Practice of Horticulture. By WM. SAUNDERS, New Haven, Conn.

THE amount of pleasure to be derived from horticulture, and the interest taken in it by its patrons, will, generally, be found in a pretty exact ratio with the success resulting from their operations, and the accomplishment of the objects and ends towards which their labor has been applied. Many who have entered enthusiastically in the cultivation of fruit trees, for instance, have, after a time, become disheartened by their want of success, and the enumeration of their failures has hindered others from attempting it. And, truly, when we look to the long array of difficulties, real or supposed, that are, from time to time, promulgated, there is some allowance for the conclusion. I say supposed difficulties, for it is evident that, in many instances, no effort has been made to trace effects to their proper causes; and, in some cases, where the effort has been made, to use a familiar phrase, "the saddle has been put on the wrong horse." As instances, I may mention the occasional blistering of the leaves of peach trees, in the early part of summer, which I have heard stoutly arserted was produced by the aphides, and I once failed in trying to convince a worthy old gentleman that it was a fly which caused the leaves of his apple trees to curl, and not, as he supposed, the ants he saw running up and down the stem; and in the last number of your Magazine we have another illustration of the fact, in the article on pear tree blight, where that malady is, I think, traced to its proper source.

It may safely be assumed then, that many of the causes assigned for particular effects, have been prematurely arrived at, and facts have been thrown aside to make way for long cherished theories, which, when investigated, have been found to be simply absurd, and contrary to any law or provision of nature; for, although the culture of plants, as articles of food, or objects of beauty, dates from a very ancient period, it is only very lately understood to be founded on general and fixed principles; and I believe that I am justified in saying that the majority of those who cultivate the soil, have yet to learn that it is by the operation of natural

laws that plants grow, and that all cultivation, unless founded on these principles, must be uncertain and unsatisfactory.

The cultivator of the soil has constantly to contend with various incidents which go far to counteract his best efforts; weather,―climate,-soil,-all have a material influence upon his operations. Insects and vermin of various sorts have to be contended with, forming a phalanx of formidable opponents, requiring skill, intrepidity, and a knowledge of their habits and natures, to enable him to adopt measures for their extermination. Sudden and extreme changes of weather are too well known to be often the cause of ruinous disappointment, and, if the location and other physical circumstances are bad, success will be limited, although his management may be unimpeachable.

Keeping these things in view, it is plain that a thorough knowledge of the fundamental laws, the definite and immutable principles on which these physical sciences are founded, is of the utmost importance to the cultivator of the soil, enabling him to see the rationale of his operations, and contend, with some chance of success, against the many evils with which he is assailed.

Practice without science may be compared to a ship without either compass or rudder-the sails may be unfurled, and every advantage taken to catch the favoring breeze, but the chances of reaching the desired haven are few; so, seed may be sown, trees planted, and all the minor details performed, but, without science (the compass,) success will result more from accident than certainty; and the probability of a successful termination will, in both cases, be very much alike.

On the other hand, there is not wanting those who, confiding solely on theoretical knowledge, are as little inclined to listen to the experience of practice, as the others are to the dictates of science. It is needless to say, the one extreme is as bad as the other, and it is to the intelligent, practical man that we must look for the useful application in art of the demonstrations of science; and although the truths that scientific research has already revealed, may be looked upon as only faint glimmerings of mighty principles yet to be divulged, if the light that has already been thrown upon the economy of vegetable life was more generally diffused, many

of the obstacles which now intervene, would be observed and eventually removed.

I hope these desultory remarks will not appear altogether out of place, for it cannot be denied that an empirical system of cultivation has long been practised, but is gradually giving way, and the sooner it is consigned to oblivion the better, that it may no longer interfere with the progress of science. To conclude, in the words of the poet,

"Strength may wield the ponderous spade,

May turn the clod, and wheel the compost home,
But elegance, chief grace the garden shows

And most attractive, is the fair result of thought."

New Haven, Oct. 27, 1849.

ART. III. Descriptions and Engravings of Select Varieties of Apples. By the EDITOR.

XXIV. SUMMER ROSE. Coxe's View, &c.

The Summer Rose (fig. 46,) is a beautiful summer apple, of medium size, and of excellent quality, well deserving a place in every good collection. Coxe describes it as an apple of "singular beauty and excellence, both for eating and stewing;" but, though this was thirty years ago, it does not appear to have been but little cultivated, except in New Jersey, where it is known, in many places, as Woolman's Harvest, under which name we received it from thence, five or six years ago. It is not often seen in our markets, and what few find their way there, are received by the way of New York. Our trees came into bearing this year, and we were surprised to find it so good a fruit.

The tree grows vigorously, having an erect habit while young, but forming, in time, a fine spreading head; it also comes earlier into bearing than many kinds of apples.

Size, medium, about two and a half inches broad, and two