New-York Horticultural Society. The first semi-annual exhibition of this Society took place at Metropolitan Hall, June 9, 10, and 11. A hasty glance at the exhibition, the first day, enabled us to see that it was by far the best of the kind for many years in New-York, and we argue good results from it for the future success of the society. The display of plants in pots was particularly good-the geraniums and Verbenas being well grown. The "observed of all observers," was the Victoria regia, specimens sent by Mr. COPE of Philadel phia, and admirably displayed in a large tank or basin of water occupying the centre of the exhibition room. Its gigantic size was finely set off by comparison with the lovely white water lily of onr ponds, in full bloom, in the same tank. We had hoped to receive a full account of the show from the Secretary-but it has not reached us in time for this number. The attendance of visitors was very large and the exhibition went off with most encouraging eclat. Louisville (Ky.) Hort. Society. THE STRAWBERRY SHOW.-We called in at the store of A. G. Munn & Co., on Saturday, to examine the display of Strawberries exhibited as the first weekly show for the season, held under the auspices of the Kentucky Horticultural Society. There was quite a spirited competition among contributors, and in the exhibition some 12 or more varieties were represented. Orinsby Hite, Esq., displayed a basket of the Black Prince, which we thought very fine. W. L. Green exhibited a beautifully colored basket of what he termed Carolina Pines. Mr. James Orr had the British Queen, and one other variety, both of which appeared to be well grown. A. G. Munn, Esq., exhibited quite a number of varieties, and among them several that were superb. His Black Prince, Boston Pine and Burrs' New Pine, would have been hard to beat in any Strawberry community. John Thatcher, Esq. also exhibited a single plate of the Black Prince, not inferior to any upon the society's tables in appearance, and we rather thought the berries larger than those of any other contributor of the same kind. Mr. Edward Wilson, as usual represented Flora on this occasion, gracing the ta bles with a fine boquet of cut flowers. There was but one contributor of vegetables, Mr. P. Birkeumayer. But his display was highly creditable to his skill as a grower. His specimens of asparagus were very large, and, al though we have seen heads of the cauliflower of greater size than that exhibited by him, still we think the fastidious taste of Dr. Johnson himself, who thought the cauliflower "the fairest of all flowers," could scarcely have desired firmer or more compact heads, or heads more perfectly white.-Louisville Journal. Bangor Horticultural Society. At the annual meeting of the Society, held on the 29th May, the following officers were elected, viz:President-Henry Little. Vice-President-Cyrus Goss. Secretary-Albert W. Paine. Cor. Secretary-I. D. Bartlett. Treasurer-Albert W. Paine. Executive Committee-John S. Ayer, B. F. Nourse, and Albert Noyes. Committee on Fruits-B. F. Nourse, Albert Emerson, Albert Noyes, Walter Goodale. and J. W. Chapman. On Ornamental Trees-I. D. Bartlett, G. K. Jewett, and J. S. Wheelwright. On Vegetables-J. S. Sayward, Thos, Beacroft, J. W. Carr, E. French, and C. B. Abbot. On Flowers-I. D. Bartlett, B. F. Nourse, and A. Noyes. The Treasurer's report was offered and accepted, show ing funds in the treasury to the amount of $196.03. I. D. Bartlett was invited to deliver the annual address at the next annual exhibition. Voted, That the Society hold monthly exhibitions, at the discretion of the Executive Committee, at such times and places as they may appoint, in addition to the annual exhibition. Voted, That the Executive Committee be authorized to solicit subscriptions for the erection of a suitable Hall for the use of the Society. ALBERT W. PAINE, Sec'y. Answers to Correspondents. GRAFTING EVERGREENS. - A Subscriber, (Newton, Mass.) The French nurserymen are very successful in grafting evergreens, and practice it as follows: "the proper time for grafting pines, is when the young shoots have made about three-quarters of their length, and are still so herbaceous as to break like a shoot of asparagus. The shoot of the stock is then broken off about two inches below its terminal bud; the leaves are stripped off from 20 to 24 lines down from the extremity, leaving, however, two pairs of leaves opposite and close to the upper end of the shoot so headed back-which leaves are of great importance for drawing up the sap. The shoot or stock is then split to the depth of two inches, with a very thin knife, between the two pairs of leaves left; the scion is then prepared the lower part being stripped of its leaves to the length of two inches, and is then cut to a wedge and inserted, in the ordinary mode of cleft grafting. The graft is tied with a slip of woolen, and a cap of paper is fastened to a stake, and firmly fixed over the whole graft, to protect it from the sun and rain. At the end of 15 days this cap is removed, and the ligature at the end of a month." Some evergreens, grafted in this way, make a second growth of five or six inches the first year-but most sorts do not start till the next year. Books.-H. M., (Pittsburgh, Pa.) The work on Fruits will be entirely remodelled this season, and all new varieties and improvements added. J. (Baltimore.) Lindley's Horticulture is precisely the book you need-no one who will study the principles laid down in it, can be an ignorant gardener. HEATHS. A Tyro, (New-Bedford.) The dif. ficulty which many complain of in growing heaths in this country, is in the hot and dry summer climate. The roots of all heaths are impatient of extreme dryness. The most successful grower of heaths in America, is Mr. RRECKENRIDGE, the superintendent of the exotic plants at Washington. He keeps his heaths in summer, in a hot-bed frame, the glass raised | always to reduce the last year's growth to one about six inches at the north end, and the transparency dulled by a coat of whiting, or whitewash, on the under side. In this way the heaths are kept shaded—are not subject to be burned up by the heat, being in a cool and uniform condition of the atmosphere. His bloom of heaths in February, is worth a journey to Washington from any part of the Union, to see-and it shows how an intelligent cultivator can modify his practice so as to grow plants in a climate naturally very much against them. CATERPILLARS.-M. Miles, (Philadelphia.) Tie a sponge on the end of a long rod or pole; fill a pail half full of soft-soap, with just water enough to make it liquid; dip the sponge in it, and turn it around in the nest of the caterpillars. It should be applied just after sundown, and will finish the business of each nest very speedily. BUDDING ROSES.-Esther, (Lancaster.) Commence budding roses immediately. The Prairie roses will take any of the everblooming sorts-but the hardier kinds of Bourbons, such as Madam Desprez, Gen. Dubourg, Souvenir de Malmaison, &c., are the best. If the plants are growing in a situation exposed to the sun, you will have to tie some shade, in the shape of matting, straw, or branches of evergreens, over the budded portion in winter to prevent injury by the sun. If growing on the north side of a building or fence, it will not be necessary. A Lady. If you wish continual bloom on your monthly rose beds-never allow any seeds to grow-cut off the hips as fast as they form, and peg down any long shoots that run up. This will force up new shoots, and along with these new flowers. You can hardly make the beds of everblooming roses too rich in this climate, where fully exposed-the more growth, the more bloom-especially if the soil is deep. TRANSPLANTING.-A Vermont Subscriber. You would have saved all your trees if you had headed-them-in well when you planted them. It is folly to expect to maintain a large head, when the roots have been mutilated and cut short. If it were made a rule in moving trees, bud, half the failures in transplanting would not occur because the head and the roots would be at once brought to something like a balance of power. Shortening-in and mulching transplanted trees ought to be followed as established practical rules, in this climate, in transplanting every deciduous tree needing more care than a willow. VERBENAS.-A Novice, (Bethlehem, Pa.) Your young plants damp off in your pit in winter, because they are not well rooted, and are too tender in the stalks. If you strike cuttings in July, instead of September, they will not only get well rooted, but the stems will become firm and woody, and will resist a good deal of cold and damp without injury. APPLE-ORCHARDS.-Jamestown. A paint of very thin soft soap, is far better for the bark of trees than whitewash, because it actually kills all insects and their eggs in the crevices of the bark, and because its good effects continue through the whole season instead of ending as soon as it becomes dry. STANWICK NECTARINE.-G. E. French, (Alexandria, La.) We believe the Messrs. this variety. PARSONS of Flushing, N. Y., are cultivating CYPRESS VINE.-Julia. (Northampton, Mass.) Only one thing is needful to make this annual vegetate freely, and so far as we know nothing else will, viz: to soak the seeds over night in milk-blood-warm when the seeds are put in it. Warm water will not answer. APRICOTS.-B. (Cincinnati.) You will never succeed with the trees planted in a warm southern aspect. Plant others in a due north expo. sure where they have no sun from 10 to 4 and they will do finely. Buda and large Early are the surest and best sorts. GARDEN WALKS.-The growth of weeds in gravel walks has been securely prevented, by forming a solid bottom beneath the gravel, of marl and coarse gravel or small stones, rammed down hard, and through which no weeds nor grass can penetrate 66 OWN with the Ailanthus !" is the cry we hear on all sides, town and country, DOWN -now that this "tree of heaven," (as the catalogues used alluringly to call it,) has penetrated all parts of the union, and begins to show its true character. Down with the Ailanthus! "Its blossoms smell so disagreeably that my family are made ill by it," says an old resident on one of the squares in New-York, where it is the only shade for fifty contiguous houses. "We must positively go to Newport, papa, to escape these horrible Ailanthuses," exclaim numberless young ladies, who find that even their best Jean Maria Farina, affords no permanent relief, since their front parlors have become so celestially embowered. "The vile tree comes up all over my garden," say fifty owners of suburban lots who have foolishly been tempted into bordering the outside of their "yards" with it-having been told that it grows so "surprising fast." "It has ruined my lawn for fifty feet all round each tree," say the country gentlemen, who, seduced by the oriental beauty of its foliage, have also been busy for years dotting it in open places, here and there, in their pleasure grounds. In some of the cities southward, the authorities, taking the matter more seriously, have voted the entire downfall of the whole species, and the Herods who wield the besom of sylvan destruction, have probably made a clean sweep of the first-born of celestials, in more towns than one south of Mason and Dixon's line, this season. Although we think there is picturesqueness in the free and luxuriant foliage of the Ailanthus, we shall see its downfall without a word to save it. We look upon it as an usurper in rather bad odor at home, which has come over to this land of liberty, under the garb of utility* to make foul the air, with its pestilent breath, and devour the soil, with its intermeddling roots-a tree that has the fair outside and the treacherous heart of the Asiatics, and that has played us so many tricks, that we find we *The Ailanthus though originally from China, was first introduced into this country from Europe, as the "Tanner's Sumac"-but the mistake was soon discovered, and its rapid growth made it a favorite with planters. AUG. 1, 1852. No. VIII. |