FINE SCARLET GERANIUMS. HOVEY & Co. Offer for sale the following very fine varieties of Scarlet Geraniums, some of which are exceedingly rare and beautiful. They have been selected from the most showy kinds in English collections, and all of them beautiful for turning out into the border, or planting in circles upon the lawn, where, from the brilliancy of their flowers, they form the showiest objects of the garden. TOM THUMB is a most remarkable variety, attaining only to the height of 6 or 8 inches, with small foliage, but with fine large clusters of brilliant scarlet flowers, which rise on strong stems, high above the leaves. Only a few plants of this variety are for sale. Plants packed carefully, for safe transportation to all parts of the country. ROCHESTER COMMERCIAL NURSERY. BISSELL & HOOKER have sold an interest in this establishment to Mr. Wm. M. Sloane, and the business will hereafter be conducted by, and under the style of, BISSELL, HOOKER & SLOANE, who will execute with fidelity all orders addressed to them. Mr. Hooker will visit ENGLAND AND THE CONTINENT rare trees and during the coming winter, for the purpose of purchasing plants, and executing any commissions that may be entrusted to him by nurserymen, and others. He will leave here about the first of December next, and, on his return, will sail from Liverpool as early next spring as trees can be moved. He will personally superintend the packing of all his purchases, and accompany them home, per steamer, unless otherwise directed. Post-paid communications promptly answered, and orders respectfully solicited. July 1, 1847. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. General Subject. ART. I. On the Importance of the Cultivation of the Oak, and other valuable Timber Trees; with Observations on the Preservation of Ship Timber, and the Process of Decay in Wood. By A. Mitchell, M.D., Portland. In a Letter to the Hon. H. A. S. Dearborn. Communicated by Gen. Dearborn, Horticulture. ART. II. May's Victoria Currant, with an Engraving of Floriculture. Page 385 392 394 ART. IV. On the Propagation of Stove and Greenhouse Reviews. ART. I. The Culture of the Grape. By J. Fisk Allen. Embracing Directions for the Treatment of the Vine in the Northern States of America, in the open air, and under glass structures, with or without artificial heat. Pamphlet, 8vo. 56 pages. Boston, 1847, . MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 401 406 Printed by Dutton & Wentworth, No 37 Congress St., Boston. THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. SEPTEMBER, 1847. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. ART. I. On the Importance of the Cultivation of the Oak and other valuable Timber Trees; with Observations on the Preservation of Ship Timber, and the Process of Decay in Wood. By A. MITCHELL, M. D., Portland. In a Letter to the HoN. H. A. S. DEARBORN. Communicated by Gen. Dearborn. MY DEAR SIR,-The following article was communicated by me to Gen. Joseph M. Hernandez, of St. Augustine, Fl., and published in the Florida Herald. You will probably recollect that this gentleman has been, for many years, exclusively devoted to the science of Agriculture, and is one of the best systematic planters in that State. An Essay written by him on the Culture of the Tobacco Plant has been considered to be one of the most elaborate articles ever published on that subject. Reasoning from analogy on the soil and productions of the southern portion of our Union, we may attribute to Florida, as having within its domains as many natural advantages as any of the tropical regions in the cultivation of those plants that are indigenous to those countries, presenting an extensive surface, which as yet remains imperfectly explored-rich in the spontaneous growth of many esculent plants for the support of man, and the growth of domestic animals, and offering a wide field for the cultivation and introduction of many more for exportation and home consumption. Such are the tea-plant, coffee, tobacco, sugar cane, Turkish poppy, olivetree, cotton, indigo, saffron, grape, fig, &c. As we shall briefly descant, at present, on the vital importance of a community being well versed in agricultural science, in order to improve with advantage those rich fields which a bounteous Creator has spread out before us, we shall principally advert to the forest-growth of this peninsular portion of our United States, with some original observations on the preservation of ship timber, and the process of decay in these woods. As our navy may be considered the present and future bulwark of our safety as a commercial nation, it is not thought inappropriate to make a few remarks on those woods which are principally used in the construction of our ships of war and commerce. The process of decay termed dry rot has been a theme of scientific inquiries for many years among many of our most eminent chemists; and the most elaborate investigations have been made, both at home and abroad, in order to ascertain the chemical effects of air, heat, light, and moisture, on the same, as our oaks and various timbers that have been previously prepared and appropriated to use for ship-building. We do not, at present, have the presumption to offer any preservative means that would counteract the effects of this dreaded enemy to our national purse, but simply to throw out some hints that may, in the future, be useful as a rallying point to others that can claim a precedence over their more humble brothers in the profession of science. The modern use of iron in the construction of marine vessels has been thought, at a subsequent period, would supersede that of wood; we should then have oxides to contend with instead of fungi; but we do not believe the former will ever supersede that of the latter.. As the grand engine of navigation is deteriorating every day from the causes of decay, it may be asked, what is the dry rot? and how long has it been known to affect the timbers of vessels, and the cause of this effect? Well, in answer to the former, the dry rot is caused by the spontaneous decomposition of the vegetable albumen which acts as a ferment on the other constituent principles that may be present in the wood, as sugar and starch, which disintegrates the fibres of the wood, and accelerates the growth of mushrooms by the formation of ammoniacal salts. Of these fungi, there are two species, as the Xylostroma giganteum, |