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to present such facts and proofs as would satisfy others. In this research, I have received the most important aid from a gentleman of great intelligence, but who is, at the same time, one of the least assuming votaries of Pomona, John W. Knevels, Esq., of Fishkill. I received intimation long since that the tree in the garden of the late Robert Gill, Esq., in Broad Street, New York, whence the scions of the so-called George the IVth were obtained, was an inoculated tree; but it is only within about three years, that I have ascertained satisfactorily that the tree was obtained from my father, under another title. I am now enabled to state these facts positively, and to refer to unquestionable authority for proof on these two important points. Dr. James S. Rumsey, a great connoisseur of fruits, who resides at Fishkill Landing, is a step-son of the late Robert Gill, Esq., already referred to, and who, at the latter part of his life, removed from Broad Street, New York, to Fishkill Landing. The lady of the late Mr. Gill, who is the mother of Dr. Rumsey, now resides with him, and is in perfect possession of all her faculties. Mr. Knevels, in his letter to me, states thus: "From them I have often heard it asserted that the peach named and noticed by Mr. Floy, as the George the IVth, was obtained, as is in fact well known." (This Mr. Floy himself states.) "The tree grew in their court yard, in Broad Street, and was one of several trees received by Mr. Robert Gill, at one time, under an order sent to your nursery, for so many trees of the Red Rareripe; of this there can be no question."-In reply to an application made by me (Mr. Knevels) at your instance to Dr. Rumsey, he says: "The fact of the original George the IVth peach tree having been procured from Mr. Prince, as the Red Rareripe, I have often mentioned to you and others interested in such matters."

Such is the information obtained from other sources; I will now speak for myself. In the spring of 1843, I planted a tree of our ordinary Red Rareripe, (which is called "Morris Red Rareripe," by Mr. Downing,) and a tree of the George IVth side by side, and they have both borne fruit for three seasons; and, on a critical comparison of growth, foliage, glands, flowers, and fruit, I cannot perceive the least particle of distinction. I therefore pronounce them to be identically the same, 13

VOL. XIII.-NO. III.

and to be the original and ancient Red Rareripe, brought to Flushing by the Huguenot emigrants at the Revocation of the edict of Nantes, together with the Pomme d'Api apple, St. Michael, and Summer Bon Chrétien pears, and some other fine fruits, all of which were extensively cultivated in the nursery and orchards of my grandfather, and have continued to be so in numerous orchards and gardens up to the present period. The Red Rareripe peach has been propagated to a greater extent in our nurseries than any other variety, and disseminated to every part of the Union. It acquired its cognomen of "Morris," from being extensively cultivated in the orchards of Gouverneur Morris, and his relatives, at Morrissania, a few miles from the city of New York.

The genuine original Red Rareripe, or George IVth, has globose glands. The Red Rareripe of Mr. Downing, No. 41 of his work on fruits, is a distinct variety, and has serrated leaves, without glands.

I shall send you the results of other investigations connected with the history, nomenclature, and synonomy of the varieties of the peach from time to time; and in order to be perfectly au fait on the subject, I have concentrated in my specimen grounds every variety of note, obtainable from France, Italy, England, and our own country, and have even obtained specimen trees of all the principal nursery and orchard collections throughout the Union, for the purpose of perfecting the synonomy of this estimable class of fruits. On investigation, I reject every inferior variety, and the collection now offered, with the additional highly estimable varieties, which I shall announce in our catalogue for the ensuing autumn, comprise fruits of most admirable qualities, whose introduction will form a new era in the peach culture.

Linnæan Bot. Gard. and Nurseries, Flushing, L. I. Feb. 1847.

ART. IX. Hydrangea Japónica, its Cultivation, with an Engraving of the Plant. By the EDITOR.

SINCE the earliest expeditions which have been sent out from Europe, in search of the Botanical or Floricultural

treasures of other countries, few, if any, have achieved greater results than that of Dr. Siebold, to Japan. For several years the choicest new plants which have, from time to time, been introduced to notice, have formed part of the gems which enriched his magnificent collection.

The Japan Lilies are perhaps the best known, as they are certainly the most gorgeous of his acquisitions. Hydrangea japónica, (fig. 14) the subject of our notice, though of less pretensions, is another fine plant; and we have just seen announced a most beautiful hardy spiræa, with flowers as white. as snow and as double as the ranunculus, clothing the stems their entire length, which was brought home by this indefatigable traveller.

Hydrangea japónica, when it first flowered, was thought to possess less beauty than the old and familiar H. hortensis;

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but the plants were young, and only produced inferior flowers; since the specimens have become older, and been grown with a view to show its elegance, it is acknowledged to far surpass the hortensis. A specimen from the garden of the London Horticultural Society was exhibited in 1845, from which our drawing is copied, and greatly admired; but, the last season,

it was still more brilliant, having, at one time, upwards of twenty heads of its showy flowers expanded at once.

In habit of growth, it much resembles the hortensis; but it makes longer and rather more slender branches, longer jointed, with larger leaves, deeply serrated, and adhering longer to the branches. The flowers are produced at the ends of the shoots; but, instead of being in globular heads, they appear in flat clusters or cymes, the sterile flowers occupying an outer row, while the fertile ones fill up the centre, contrasting prettily, by their bluish tint, with the white flowers of the circumference. Its broad and deep green foliage, and its numerous corymbs of blossoms, render it one of the most conspicuous and beautiful objects of the conservatory.

In a previous volume, (III. p. 63,) we have given the mode of treatment of the Hydrangea hortensis: H japónica requires similar management. It should be potted in a compost of peat and leaf mould, with very little loam, and, when in a flowering state, placed in a half shady situation, and be liberally supplied with water. Our plants, which are yet rather small, in consequence of cutting them for propagation, have received the same care as the common species, and both have been placed in a frame or under the stage of the green-house, until they commenced growing towards spring.

It is readily propagated from cuttings or layers, which, if put in about April or May, in a slight heat, under good treatment, form fine blooming plants the second year : when about six inches high, they should be repotted; and if the plants are very vigorous, they may be shifted into pots 6 or 8 inches in diameter. The second spring, when they commence growing, they should be top-dressed, and in May, if growing rapidly, they may be potted into the next size; stake up the shoots carefully, and in June it will commence flowering, and continue in great beauty for several weeks. Every amateur col

lection should possess a plant of the H. japónica.

It is of recent introduction to English collections, and first flowered, we believe, in the Horticultural Society's garden. In Belgium, it is common in most collections of plants.

REVIEWS.

ART. I. European Agriculture and Rural Economy, from Personal Observation. By HENRY COLMAN. Vol. II. Part VIII. pp. 223 to 370.

MR. COLMAN has now thoroughly taken hold of the subject, and the present number possesses a value which could not attach to any of the preceding ones. The subjects discussed are few, but they are important and valuable to all. They are as follows:

CVI. Crops (continued,) CVII. Flax; CVIII. Live Stock; CIX. Dairy Husbandry; CX. Manures; CXI. General Reflections.

These subjects are treated upon with that minuteness of detail, which alone can make them useful to any farmer. Actual experiments are recorded, and results given. Under the head of crops, are enumerated all the improved varieties of wheat, &c., and, in the chapter on live stock, the best breeds are described, and a comparison of their value added. The number is illustrated with a fine drawing of a Leicester

ram.

In the chapter on manures, which we wish we had room to copy, Mr. Colman adds the following to what he has previously stated on Guano :

Guano still maintains its reputation. No new facts have transpired respecting it, but old ones have been confirmed. It continues to be applied, at the rate of two hundred pounds, and even four hundred pounds weight per acre, to various crops, with signal success, unless its efficacy is suspended or defeated by drought, or unless it comes in immediate contact with the plant, when it proves fatal. It is never safely applied alone, and the preferred mixture is a very liberal proportion of mould. Its mixture with ashes, strongly recommended by some farmers, is, as I have before observed, of questionable expediency. In Devonshire, I witnessed the most extraordinary effects from it, this year, applied at the rate of about three hundred ponnds per acre upon grass land. The extreme luxuriance and richness of the grass, where it was applied, were most remarkable, especially when seen in contrast with parts of the field not guanoed. Nor is its effecacy limited to one year, but continues for a length of time as yet not determined.

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