a dry air could be naturally maintained throughout the year; but this desideratum could not be easily obtained. The time necessary to season the oaks differs according to the density of the structure, (and various dimensions of those woods that are exposed for desiccation;) a plank probably would not require twelve months, while a piece of larger dimensions could not be thoroughly seasoned in six or seven years; and, if placed in a humid situation, would not season at all, and the result would be a decomposition from the formation of ammoniacal salts and mushroom growths.

To benefit property, and perpetuate the materials for shipbuilding, and increase our navies, we propose that the legis latures of our States appropriate means for the cultivation of those oaks that are indigenous to their regions. In order to ensure success in such an undertaking, a tract of land should be set apart of some thousand acres in a favorable location for their growth. The soil for this purpose should not be too rich nor stimulating the trees can be propagated from the acorn, or transplanted from their native forests. If the latter plan is adopted, the trees selected for this purpose should be from four to five years of age, of a healthy appearance, and perfect symmetry. We recommend their being taken up in the latter part of October or the month of November, with a careful preservation of their roots, and immediately transferred to the soil that is allotted for their permanent abode. This period for transplanting those trees is decidedly the best, as then the descension of the sap is completed, and the action of the leaves quiescent, while that of the absorbing rootlets ceases also, because the nutrition which is taken in by them is not convertible into woody substance without the coöperation of the leaves. They should be set apart, at proper distances, in such a manner as to have ample room for growth, and the free action of heat and light on all sides. Such parks or nurseries in our States would be more commemorative of the genius of a nation than all the marble monuments and towering edifices that can be erected. This scheme is not only thought worthy of a government's consideration, but is applicable to every individual farmer and landed proprietor in this country. They should be transplanted on the outskirts of every farm or plantation; marking the boundary of

their different possessions, by the growth of those sylvan giants that have been the pride of nations for centuries.

Portland, June 24, 1847.

HON. H. A. S. DEARBORN.

AUGUSTIS MITCHELL, M. D.

No subject is of more importance, in a national point of view, than the preservation of our Forests, and the formation of new plantations for the supply of timber for maritime purposes. The subject has been, from time to time, agitated, and Congress has been memorialized in reference to it, (Doc. 241, 25th Congress.) But amid the party strife which at that time occupied public attention, the matter ended with a reference to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

We hope, now, that the efforts of Dr. Mitchell may be instrumental in again drawing attention to this important question, and should the establishment of an Experimental Garden in Florida for the cultivation and acclimation of tropical plants be successful, that not only will the attempt be made to acclimate the useful trees of other climes, but that the whole subject of Arboriculture will be its leading feature,—that a series of experiments may be carried out to ascertain the best period of felling trees, and the best plan of seasoning timber, the prevention of dry rot, and all other questions pertaining to the preparation of timber for naval purposes.

Should Congress not move in the matter, we trust the interests of each and every State may be appealed to in the way Dr. Mitchell proposes; our own State has just concluded her Report upon the trees indigenous to her soil, and we doubt not that the interests of the Commonwealth will induce her to take some steps to accomplish this. Mr. Emerson has set forth, in just terms, the importance of the preservation of our forests, and urged the formation of new plantations of trees on the thousands of acres which now lay waste and barren. A tract of land set apart for the growth of our native trees, as well as all those of other parts of the country, and of foreign growth, which will flourish in this latitude, and entrusted to the care of some competent individual, would be an object, as Dr. Mitchell remarks, "more commemorative of the genius of a nation, than all the marble monuments and

towering edifices that can be erected." Such a garden would form a school for the study of the noble trees which enrich our forests, and make them as familiar as the commonest plants of our gardens, and furnish a fund of practical information in regard to their growth, habits, usefulness in the arts, and adaptation to the purposes of ornamental land

scape.

But we have not room to follow the train of ideas which Dr. Mitchell's article calls up: of the importance of the subject, all will agree, and we hope that something may soon be done, especially in our own State, to induce our land-owners to preserve what remains of our primitive forests, and to commence, at least in a limited way, the plantation of new ones on what are now considered unimproveable lands.-Ed.

ART. II. May's Victoria Currant, with an Engraving of the Fruit. By the EDITOR.

In our article upon the cultivation of the currant, in a previous volume, (VIII. p. 325,) we offered some remarks upon the importance of raising currants from seed with a view to the production of new and improved varieties. Among the smaller fruits, none possess a greater value than the currant, and yet none have received less attention at the hands of cultivators. Mr. Knight, impressed with the idea that very superior kinds would be the result of proper attention to the growth of seedlings, wrote an article upon the subject which was published in the Transactions of the Society. He also raised a great number of seedlings, and three of them were thought to possess such merits as to be deserving of names. The gooseberry has been improved from a small and austere berry to a very large and delicious fruit: the strawberry has also been produced of such size and flavor as to be scarcely recognized as the offspring of the wild berry of the woods and pastures. And why may not the same success attend experiments to improve the currant? There is no reason to doubt they will, and we may yet hope to see currants nearly as

large as cherries, and possessing a flavor much sweeter and richer than any we now possess.

Fig. 32.

Victoria Currant.

owing to the high price of

We

The White and Red Dutch currants have been cultivated for a great length of time, and have not, until now, been displaced by any new varieties. Mr. Knight's seedlings, though good, did not supersede these old sorts. have, however, in the variety under notice, one which bids fair to take a place at the head of all. This is May's Victoria. Though recently raised from seed, and as yet confined to a limited number of collections, its merits are so great that it will soon find its way into every garden. The berries are of very large size, of a rich deep color, often measuring five eighths of an inch in diameter, and the bunches are from five to six inches long. The flavor is also excellent, and,what is of great importance,-the fruit will hang in perfection for a much longer time than the White or Red Dutch.

This variety was raised by Mr. Wm. May, nurseryman, of Yorkshire, Eng., and the fruit was exhibited at one of the shows of the London Horticultural Society, and was awarded the prize both for its size and excellence. It has been but little disseminated, the plants; but, as they are easily

multiplied, we may soon hope to see it introduced into every garden where the production of fine fruit is an object.

Our plants produced a few specimens last year, and, from the ordinary size of the clusters and berries, we thought it had been overrated; but, the present season, when the bushes had acquired sufficient strength to bear a crop, we were happily disappointed in finding the fruit and bunches of such large size and beautiful appearance; and our drawing (fig. 32) is an accurate representation, by measurement, of the size of both berry and bunch.

The plants are of exceedingly vigorous habit, with foliage differing from the White and Red Dutch in being thicker, deeper green, and not so finely cut at the edges: in good rich soil, the annual shoots are very stout and strong.

The currant, as we have stated in the article before alluded to, requires to be severely pruned when the object is large and handsome bunches and berries. It would be useless to expect fine fruit unless this is attended to. At the spring pruning, every new shoot should be headed back to four or five eyes, and the old wood wholly cut out, or as much of it as possible, as it is only on the young and vigorous wood that the best fruit is produced. By attending to these suggestions, the cultivator may have the very finest fruit.

We may therefore highly recommend the Victoria currant; and, as its production is one step towards a superior fruit, we hope our amateur cultivators may be induced to follow up the experiment until something still better shall be the result.

ART. III. Descriptions and Engravings of select varieties of Cherries. By the EDITOR.

HAVING, in our several volumes, described and figured upwards of EIGHTY varieties of pears, embracing all the choicest which have yet been proved, and having also commenced another series of articles in which we intend to describe and figure all the fine sorts of apples in the same manner, we now intend to devote the same attention to the cherry, and describe and figure all the fine ones which are worthy of cultivation. We have been gathering the materials for some time, and