The advantages to be derived from this method are numerous, and must be evident even to the casual observer; the principal of these are,

5

d

the regularity of the supply of moisture, without any chance of saturation; the power of examining the state of the cuttings at any time, without injuring them, by lifting out the inner pot; the superior drainage, so essential in propagating, by having such a thin layer of soil; the roots being placed sonear the sides of both pots; and the facility with which the plants, when rooted, can be parted for potting off, by taking out the inner pot, and with a cammon table-knife, or the like, cutting out every plant with its ball, without the awkward, but often necessary, process of turning the pot upside down to get out the cuttings.

In fig. 5, a shows the clay stopping of the pot; b, the drainage of potsherds, or broken crocks; c, the sand or other soil in which the cuttings are inserted; and d, the water in the inner pot."

Art. 5, entitled "Notices of remarkable trees growing near London," contains nothing of interest to our readers.

The sixth article is a "list of trees, with their prices, in the London nurseries, for planting an arboretum, on a comprehensive scale, with the smallest number of plants, &c. By the Conductor. In the introductory remarks, he

states:

"So many of the names in the nurserymen's catalogues stand as those of species, while, in fact, they are only those of varieties, or are synonomous, that we think we shall be rendering a service to those who intend planting arboretums this season, by giving a list of trees, which, according to our opinion, will comprehend almost all the species procurable in the London nurseries, and also some of the best and most distinct varieties.

"It must not be supposed, while we contend for limiting the species, that we deny the distinctness of many of the varieties: as well might we pretend to say that all the garden varieties of the apple and pear were exactly the same thing as the crab, and should be neglected accordingly. All that we wish is, that varieties should not be passed off as species; partly to simplify the business of planting arboretums, and partly to prevent gardeners and others from puzzling themselves to find specific distinctions, when in reality, none exist. It is this rage for making species, and parade of nice technical distinctions, which, with many, has turned practical botany into ridicule. According to our ideas of a species, there is none which may not be distinguished, as such, in the seed before it is sown, and in the infancy and maturity of the plant, and at every season of the year. We are aware that this will not be agreed to by many acute botanists; but we shall hereafter, in the Arboretum Britannicum, explain ourselves at length, and trust to the common sense of our readers."

The list is too long for insertion here, it containing about 300 plants. It includes eight species of Magnolia, fifteen of maple (Acer), thirty-eight of Cratæ`gus, and about twelveof oak (Quercus), and many evergreen trees and shrubs. The cost of such, in England, of small size plants is about £30 sterling; but they would cost here double or treble that sum.

ART. II. Report of the Committee of Arrangements of the Second Annual Exhibition of the Columbian Horticultural Society, June 10th and 11th, 1835, with the Reports of the Standing Committees, upon the Objects exhibited, and those entitled to Premium. Pamphlet, 8vo. pp. 28, Washington City, 1835.

THIS pamphlet which we have been kindly favored with, is filled with a variety of interesting matter, relative to the objects which were presented at the annual exhibition in June, 1835. The reports of the committees on fruits, flowers and vegetables, are annexed, and the amount given in premiums exceeds two hundred dollars. We are extremely happy to perceive that the ladies of Washington take such a prominent part in the exhibition. No less than twentyfive contributions of various kinds of flowers were made, and upwards of twelve prizes carried off by them. If the ladies of other cities, towns and villages, were to manifest the same zeal, in this most innocent pursuit, we should soon have the gratification of beholding societies springing up in every part of the country, and the influence they would exert in creating a taste for gardening, would be most wonderful. We are much pleased to notice the attention which is given to culinary vegetables; too little has been done by our horticultural societies to improve this most useful and important branch of gardening, too important to suffer the neglect which it has hitherto received. We hope it will command more attention in future.

Annexed is a list of the officers and members of the society.

MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE.

ART. I. General Notices.

Insect Plant.-The following account of a most singular and extraordinary phenomena in Natural History, we extract from a Southern paper: for the truth of the same we cannot vouch; but it comes to us in such a manner, that we cannot hardly doubt its correctness. A figure of the insect plant appeared in the January number of the American Magazine, copied, it was said, from a preserved specimen. It must be a most singular curiosity." A specimen of a natural production was shown us a few evenings since, that is neither fish nor flesh, beast nor bird, animal, vegetable nor mineral! It was procured in Plymouth, North Carolina, and brought to this city in a glass of alcohol. The thing, for it is without a name, is both entomological and vegetable. When its entomological nature commences, and when its vegetable character has arrived at maturity, its entomological character developes itself and its vegetable ex

istence disappears. In other words it is alternately a bird and insect: it is perhaps about one inch in length and three-fourths of an inch in circumference. It is of a brownish color, shaped like a wasp, destitute of wings, head similar to a beetle, with two antennæ or horns, has neither its head on either side, a short leg shaped like those of the mole, with broad, serrated extremities, and intended, doubtless, like those of the earth. It has also two posterior legs, the purpose of which shall be seen. When the insect has attained its growth, it disappears beneath the surface of the ground and dies. Immediately after its death the two posterior legs, just spoken of, begin to sprout or vegetate. These two shoots soon appear above the earth, and the insect plant soon attains the height of about six inches. It puts forth branches and leaves resembling trefoil. The extremities of the branches bear a bud, which contains, in embryo, neither leaves nor flowers, but an insect! As the insect developes itself and grows, it neither falls to the ground, or returns on its mother plant, but feeding on its leaves, until the plant is exhausted, when the insect returns to earth again, and again the plant shoots forth!

The true nature of this insect plant or vegetable insect, we know not what to call it, is entirely inexplicable to us. It may be surmised that an insect has here associated itself with the seed of a plant, in such a manner, that they produce and mature each other. Or, it may be supposed, that nature has invested this specimen of existence which attributes the nearest possibly assimilated to those of both the vegetable and animal kingdom, yet belonging not exactly to either, but entirely to both. It may seem to be the hinging point at which the animal kingdom merges into the vegetable, and the vegetable into the animal kingdom. It is certainly a wonderful curiosity, and we believe that it is not entirely unknown to naturalists, but has never before been publicly described.

We understand that a gentleman in Philadelphia of whom the specimen we saw was procured, is cultivating a quantity of them which he has obtained from North Carolina, for the purpose of furnishing the Museums. We hope to be able to furnish a more particular account of this insect vegetable hereafter. In the specimen we saw, the plant had grown about three inches, and the insect was yet preserved in its original and nearly perfect state.-Tam. Mag.

ART. II. Foreign Notices.

Dahlia Exhibitions.---These exhibitions were held in various parts of England last fall, and the beauty and splendor of the flowers were superior to any ever before seen. We extract the following account of the Cambridge Florist's Society.

"This Society had their grand autumnal show of dahlias on Thursday, Sept. 24th, in the Assembly room at the Hoop Hotel. We have witnessed many floral exhibitions here and at other places, but we never before beheld any thing approaching the beauty and magnificence of this exhibition; on no previous occasion was the dahlia exhibited in so high a state of excellence. We may expect to see great additions made to the colors and varieties of this very beautiful flower, but we much doubt if ever the grand stand of prize flowers displayed on this occasion will be surpassed in size or quality by that of any future show. The task of decorating the room was entrusted to Mr. Edward Catling, florist, of

Cambridge; and nothing could possibly exceed the happy and elegant taste with which every ornament was executed. The sides and ends of the room were beautifully decorated with evergreens, wreaths and dahlias. At the head of the grand stand was an immense orange tree, thickly studded with dahlias, to represent the fruit in its various stages of growth, backed by a beautiful Fuchsia muitiflòra, 12 feet high, from the Botanic Garden. At the end of the room, was a prettily variegated crown entirely composed of dahlias. But the grand attraction of all was a splendid balloon, wholly formed of dahlia-blooms, suspended from the ceiling, the car of which appeared to be illuminated, from being placed over a gass chandelier. This ærial machine had a striking effect, the flowers being arranged in stripes to represent variegated silk; and we were told that more than 2,300 dahlias were required to complete the balloon, exclusive of the car, from which two flags were pendent.The afternoon show was attended by a numerous and respectable company; but the evening exhibition was crowded beyond all former precedent, owing to its being on the eve of the horse-fair, which gave the neighboring country people an opportunity of witnessing the finest display of dahlias ever seen in Cambridge. Upwards of 700 well-dressed persons were in the room at one time, and from eight to half past nine o'clock the number amounted to little, if any, short of 3,000 persons, all with happy countenances, highly delighted with the fairy scene; added to which were the musical strains of the Cambridge Military Band, who played several new and difficult pieces, with a precision and taste that would have done credit to veteran performers. After the ladies had withdrawn, more than 200 members and their friends sat down, with the splendid flowers before them, and enjoyed the scene with music, song, and toast.

We have prepared some account of the best dahlias which gained prizes, which will appear in our next.-Conds.

ART. III. Domestic Notices.

Maclura aurantiaca.-We have received from some of our correspondents more information respecting this plant. From this we are convinced that it is a dioecious plant, and that Mr. Nuttall was right in placing it in Dice cia tetrandria. One of our correspondents writes as follows:-"The Maclùra is, unquestionably, a diœcious plant. I have both the male and female growing on my grounds, which have flowered freely for several years. It belongs, as stated by Mr. Nuttall, to the order tetrandria, but I am unable to describe, from memory, the staminate flowers accurately at this time, further than to say they are very small and white, and depend in loose racemes from the axils of the leaves. The pistillate plant is a year or two older, and considerably larger than the staminate; and, according to my observation, I should say the latter was not necessary to the former, for the production of fruit or berries; but that it is indispensable to the fertilization of the seed. The berry is composed of several hundred acini or pulpy grains, each of which should contain one seed. Owing, however, to the disparity in size and age, between the two trees, and the consequent partial fructification of the pistillate organs by the pollen of the staminate flowers, I have not noticed one of the berries to contain more than fifty seeds; and, until two or three years past, they perfected none." The Maclùra will undoubtedly

stand the rigors of our winters unprotected, as during the last winter not a single twig was injured on plants which were standing in a situation where the mercury fell as low as 12 below zero. Although this was but for a short time, yet, as not even a branch was in the least hurt by the cold, we infer that if it was exposed to the same temperature a greater length of time, it would receive but little additional injury: perhaps a partial damage of the young and unripened wood, made late in autumn. Plants, a few years since, were for sale in Paris, grafted on the white mulberry. How would the Mòrus multicaúlis grow, inoculated upon the Maclura? Would it not be well for some of our nurserymen to try the experiment? Plants of the Chinese mulberry are now for sale in our nurseries, grafted upon the white mulberry.—Conds.

Green-houses and Forcing-houses. We understand N. Biddle, Esq. intends erecting, the coming season, a fine range of houses, in New Jersey, four or five hundred feet in length: we are happy to perceive this increasing taste for gardening.-Conds.

ART. IV. Retrospective Criticism.

Rural Affairs.---With me, your Magazine is a particular favorite. I read it constantly and with great delight, and think it a valuable work; and what augurs well for its future prosperity, is the fact, that it im-proves with every number. I have access also, to several foreign periodicals of a similar character, which I read with much interest, and from which I have gathered considerable information. As the “American Gardner's Magazine," purports to be a Register of useful discoveries and improvements in Horticulture and "Rural Affairs;" I have thought an increasing interest might be given to it by touching occasionally on a subject on which you have hitherto said nothing, and which our transatlantic friends are exerting themselves to create a correct taste for, viz., "Rural Architecture." By occasionally giving plans and elevations of cottages, and such houses, (so designed as to produce the most happy and picturesque effect,) as will suit the circumstances and convenience, of that class of people for whose benefit you are so commendably exerting yourselves, you will no doubt confer an especial favor. I hardly need say that these are such as occupy the middle walks of life; for the indigent have not the means to gratify their tastes, and the wealthy have at their command the talents of those whose profession it is to design and plan buildings of every description. As our country increases in wealth and prosperity, so will a growing taste for rural pursuits manifest itself in our population. Every year we see individuals, who by industry and thrift, have acquired a moderate competency, retiring to the pleasures of a country life, rather than striving in the turmoil of business to obtain an overgrown fortune. And I imagine there are more of this class, than any other on your list of subscribers. I doubt not that yourselves, as well as many of your correspondents, have the ability, and also a willingness to communicate the desired information. Three or four such plans, in the course of a year, (or volume) together with designs for ornamental, front fences, and entrance gates, and also descriptions of the best and most durable methods of preparing garden walks would add much to the value of your already highly esteemed Magazine. Should these remarks be deemed worthy of your notice, they may possibly draw from the resources of some one whose eye they meet, and thereby confer a very acceptable favor on more than, Your Ob't. Serv't, Camellia.-January 25th, 1836.