Scions of trees may be cut now if desired, and placed away in earth in a cool place.

Pear, apple, and quince seeds, and cherry stones may be planted now: let the ground be well manured, and deeply dug. Sow in rows about a foot apart, and one inch deep.

FLOWER DEPARTMENT.

Dahlias, ere this, have probably mostly been taken up, as the frost, the middle of October, destroyed the plants. See that the roots are all housed before severe frost.

Hyacinths, tulips, &c.- From the first to the tenth of November is the best period to plant all hardy bulbs; if planted too early, they appear above the ground too early in the spring.

Japan lilies should have the tops cut off, and the pots placed away in a dry place till January.

Chrysanthemums will now be flowering freely, and should be kept well watered; giving liquid guano occasionally.

Azaleas should be rather sparingly watered at this season.

Nemophila insignis, and schizanthuses should be repotted this month. Hardy roses may be removed now with success. If rare kinds, it will be well to lay down the tops, and cover with leaves or manure.

Neapolitan violets should be protected in frames, or, if in pots, removed to the greenhouse, where they will flower finely.

Pelargoniums, raised from cuttings, should now have the tops nipped off to make them branch out, and become stocky plants. Older plants intended to form fine specimens should have attention: the branches should be tied down, and the young shoots pinched off as directed for young plants. Herbaceous plants can now be safely transplanted; any kinds partially tender should be protected by a slight covering.

Paeonies may be removed now.

Chinese primroses in small pots should be shifted into the next size. Alyssum, mignonette, and ten-week stocks in small pots should be shifted to the next size.

Camellias should have attention; all the plants should be neatly staked up, the pots top-dressed, and the leaves washed before they are finally arranged.

Ericas will need careful watering, and all long shoots should be nipped off to make the plants bushy.

Verbenas should be placed on a shelf near the glass.

Tender roses in the open ground should all be potted this month, and placed in a frame: those potted early may now be pruned.

Gladioluses should be potted this month.

Petunias raised from cuttings now, make the best stock for next year's plants.

Pansies, taken up and potted, will flower all winter in the greenhouse. Heliotropes should now be propagated from cuttings for a spring stock. Scarlet geraniums, if placed in the cellar in a dry airy place, will keep well, and make fine plants for turning out into the border in spring.

OF

HORTICULTURE.

DECEMBER, 1847.

ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS.

ART. I. Descriptions and Engravings of Select Varieties of Plums. By the EDITOR.

IN our September number, (p. 394,) we commenced our series of articles describing all the best varieties of cherries. We now have the pleasure of giving the first article of another series, describing and figuring all the choicest kinds of plums now known, or which may be introduced or produced from seed. Much confusion exists in the nomenclature of this fruit, though to scarcely the extent of that of the cherry; but a great many varieties are cultivated under erroneous names. Our object will be, not only to make the finest sorts better known to cultivators, but to describe the best varieties under their true names, that they may be identified, and their synonymes readily detected.

Not many years since, with the exception of the Washington, Imperial Gage, and one or two other sorts, the principal plums in cultivation were of foreign origin. But now that the rapid augmentation of our native kinds has afforded a better opportunity to make a good selection, the principal varieties generally sought after are American seedlings. Thus the Jefferson, Columbia, Lawrence's Favorite, Hulings' Superb, Purple Favorite, McLaughlin, Thomas, &c., are considered as among the choicest varieties which can be selected. The Green Gage, from its superior excellence, has been, and deservedly, a great favorite; for no other variety, however so large and showy, could equal it in flavor and richness. Now, however, if not to be eclipsed by the Reine Claude de Bavay, of which so much has been said, it is at least fully equalled by a new native seedling, which we have already described, the Schenectady Catherine.

The curculio is the great foe to a much more extended cultivation of the plum; but a fruit so valuable, not only for the table, but for the kitchen, should not be neglected with a little extra care and expense, the curculio may be so subdued, as to do no material injury to a crop.

Our catalogues contain about forty different kinds of native seedlings, many of which have been some time in cultivation, while others are quite new, and recently made known to the public among the latter, are several which have been produced on the Hudson River, that famed locality for plums, and four of them we are now about to describe and figure. Fine specimens were sent to us from the original trees, and each of them we consider fine acquisitions to any collection. We shall continue our descriptions of both foreign and native kinds :

1. MULBERRY. Fruits and Fruit Trees of America.

Fruit, large, about two inches long, and one and a half in diameter, oval, tapering most towards the stem, with a slight suture on one side: Skin, pale dull yellow, dotted with a few crimson specks, covered with white dots, and a thin, whitish bloom: Stem, medium length, about one inch, rather slender, curved, and inserted with scarcely any cavity on an elongated obtuse point: Flesh, greenish yellow, rather coarse, melting, and adhering to the stone: Juice, abundant, rich, sugary and excellent: Stone, large, oblong,

Fig. 46. Mulberry.

pointed at each end. Ripe the first of September.

This fine plum, (fig. 46,) nearly equal in size to the Washington, but much more oval, was raised in the famous plum garden of Isaac Denniston, of Albany. The tree is moderately vigorous, with large, broad, crumpled leaves.

2. ALBANY BEAUTY. Fruits and Fruit Trees, &c. Fruit, medium size, about one and a half inches long, and nearly one and a half in diameter, roundish oval, with a very

Fig. 47. Albany Beauty.

shallow suture: Skin, greenish

yellow, with stripes of a darker

shade, dotted with red on the sunny side, having a crimson blotch at the base of the stem, and covered with a thin bloom : Stem, rather long, about three quarters of an inch, slender, curved, and slightly inserted in a small, shallow cavity: Flesh, yellow, melting, and separating from the stone: Juice, abundant, sweet and rich: Stone, medium size, ovate. Ripe the last of August, and first of September.

This variety, (fig. 47,) is another of Mr. Denniston's Seed

ling varieties, and, though not so large as the Mulberry, is an excellent plum.

3.

DENNISTON'S SUPERB. Fruits and Fruit Trees, &c.

Fruit, medium size, about one and a half inches long, and one and a half in diameter, oblong oval, rather full at the end, tapering much to the stem, with a distinct suture extending half round: Skin, greenish yellow, shaded and blotched with crimson on the sunny side, and covered with a thin lilac bloom: Stem, medium length, about three quarters of an inch, rather slender, curved, and inserted without any cavity on an elongated end: Flesh, yellow, very melting and thick,

Fig. 48. Denniston's Superb. separating freely from the stone: Juice, plentiful, rich, vinous, high-flavored, and delicious:

Stone, medium size, with three prominent ridges on one side, and very pointed at one end. Ripe the last of August, and first of September.

This plum, (fig. 48,) is decidedly the richest of any of Mr. Denniston's Seedlings that we have tasted, and comes nearly or quite up to the Green Gage. Its flesh is of great consistence, exceedingly melting and luscious. In size, it is about the same as the Green Gage, but is much more elongated towards the stem. It is a great acquisition.

4. DENNISTON'S RED. Fruits and Fruit Trees, &c.

Fruit, large, about one and three quarters inches long, and one and a quarter in diameter, roundish oval, tapering towards

Fig. 49. Denniston's Red.

each end, with a distinct suture extending half round: Skin, pale violet red, somewhat marbled with light and dark shades, thickly dotted all over with fawn-colored specks, and covered with a thin violet bloom: Stem, long, about one inch, slender, and inserted in a rather large deep cavity: Flesh, dark amber or yellow, melting and separating from the stone: Juice, moderately abundant, sweet, sprightly, and excellent: Stem, small, ovate, compressed, pointed at each end. Ripe the first of September.

This variety, (fig. 49,) is a very handsome red plum, not surpassed by any of the same color. It was also raised by Mr. Denniston, as its name indicates, and is well worthy of a place in a choice collection of plums.

The past season, Mr Denniston exhibited, at the show in Albany, many additional varieties of seedling plums, and probably we may have some more new sorts to add to the fine ones which he has already produced. The plum is yet