"Dwarf Blue Peas for summer use. Dwarf imperial, *blue Prussian, white Prussian, Groom's superb dwarf blue."

*

We hope that this careful and probably very correct list, will be a guide for all seedsmen in the sale of seed peas.

ART. III. Report of the Committee of Arrangements of the Third Annual Exhibition of the Columbian Horticultural Society, June 8th and 9th, 1836, with the reports of the standing Committees upon the objects exhibited, and those entitled to premium. Pamphlet 8vo, pp. 44. Washington, 1836.

THIS report is got up in a style which gives much credit to the society from whence it emanates. It contains a report of the committee of arrangements of the third annual exhibition, in June last, with a full and particular account of the various things exhibited. After this come the reports of the several committees on fruits, flowers, vegetables, &c., stating the best specimens that were exhibited, and the award of the premiums to the successful competitors. Then follows a recapitulation of all the exhibitions held between the second and third annual meetings. The whole of the reports appear to be made up with much care, and the names in most instances spelt correctly, a thing not generally attended to. As we shall give an account of every thing worthy of notice, exhibited, in our December number, we shall refer our readers to that, which will show them how far advanced our southern friends are in horticulture and floriculture.

The manner in which this report is published is worthy of imitation by all the horticultural societies in the country. How much better suited to the purposes for which it is intended, and how much more convenient to the amateur is such a report, than the method followed by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, of giving detached accounts in a periodical which, perhaps, few that are interested see, and where, a greater portion of the time, the botanical names of shrubs and flowers are allowed to come before the public so barbarously spelt, that few persons would know what plants they were. Instead of an easy reference, as is the case with this report, the horticulturist or florist has to wade through a voluminous mass of uninteresting matter, spending hours in searching out what information he is in want of, while, if the whole was contained in a pamphlet of forty or fifty pages, he could turn to any part of it in a moment. We certainly hope that such a course will be pursued in future: the whole might be printed and bound in with the annual address, making altogether an interesting and desirable pamphlet to the amateur horticulturist.

ART. IV. New-York Farmer and American Gardener's Magazine. In Monthly Numbers. Quarto. Three dollars a year, in advance. Nos. 1 to 10, from January to October, inclusive. New York. 1836.

THIS work is, in reality, what the first part of its title indicates, a farming periodical: the quantity of matter, particularly original, which relates to gardening, being but a very small portion, compared with that treating upon agriculture. It has now reached the ninth volume (sixth of a new series), and has been, we believe, a very useful work. We know not but what it may still be so, and we hope it is. We have not, however, noticed it at this time to discuss its value to the agricultural, or even gardening portion of the community, but to make a few remarks respecting the conducting of the work.

To gather and diffuse useful information, in whatever manner, either by original communications, or by extracts from cotemporary journals, should be the object of a periodical work treating upon any subject connected with the sciences or the arts. But that magazine, paper, or journal, which contains the most original information, and which is continually bringing forward such to the notice of the public, must, in the view of all, not only be thought, but in reality be, the most valuable and interesting work. In such a one, new ideas are advanced, suggestions thrown out, successful experiments detailed. But the task of conducting such a work is no easy one, and requires not only unremitting labor and attention on the part of the author, but the aid and cooperation of those who are interested in the subject of which it treats. Nor is this alone all: the expense attending the publication of a periodical containing original contributions is very great, and hence it can only be carried on with success, when a good circulation is obtained. But the mass of the reading public call for cheap publications, and whether such are got up by fair or unfair competition, it matters not. A work is published composed wholly, or in part, of extracts made up from some original periodical. The authors of the former, seizing upon the contributions of the latter, appropriate them to their own use, and, spreading them before the public, completely paralyze the efforts of those who have labored to gratify their patrons. There are those, it is true, who know how to appreciate the latter: but they are few in comparison with the many: and while that magazine or paper containing original information is suffered to languish, that filled with extracts receives a liberal support.

But we come to the subject at the head of this article. Until

lately, only the name of the proprietor has appeared on the title page of the New York Farmer. The contributors are few in number. A writer under the signature of H. C., which we may interpret as the Rev. Henry Colman, appeared in the previous numbers of the present volume, and the value of the communications need not be told, when we have said this: with the exception of Judge Buel, we know of no other writer upon agriculture whose sound opinions we so highly value, and from whom the farming public have received more practical information. But of late the signature of H. C. does not appear. Since the establishment of our magazine, there seems to have been a jealousy, on the part of some agricultural papers, in regard to its circulation, as if it would interfere with theirs: but so far from doing this, on the contrary, we believe it has increased their subscription lists, while our own has received but little benefit. Very few have bestowed but a passing notice upon it, unless we except the New York Farmer, which has done so to such a degree, as to make that work a medium through which all, or a greater part, of the original information contained in our magazine, is circulated to the amateur horticulturists in that state. We have forborne finding fault with the editors of this work, thinking they might see the injustice of this course, until we have been compelled to do so, from a sense of duty to our numerous contributors, and to ourselves.

In the present volume of the New York Farmer, are included a large number of the original communications which have appeared in our magazine. These are generally, it is true, copied with acknowledgment, though we are sorry to say, in some instances without it. In the number for March, are no less than ten columns, consisting of two long, and, we believe, considered very valuable articles; and these taken, too, from our March (!) number, which appeared but a week or two previous. From the commencement of the January number to the last one published (October), there has appeared no less than thirteen articles from our work, making fifty-two columns of matter in the Farmer. At page 167 and 102, are two articles by our correspondents, signed Junius and S. Pond, copied without any acknowledgement; and these have been the rounds of the agricultural papers throughout the country, credited to the New York Farmer. The last number for October contains four articles, from our magazine, for the previous month, taking up twelve columns, which is nearly one half the original matter in our September number.

Of the ungenerousness of such a course, we are certain the conductors, if they at once reflect, must be convinced. In regard to those articles copied without acknowledgement, they must be aware that it is deceiving the public to call that original which has already appeared in another work. To copy from

one magazine into another, is perfectly just and fair, provided the one quoted from has been for some time before the public: but to fill the pages of a magazine with extracts from another that has just appeared, is not only unjust but absolutely wrong; any one who knows the trouble of preparing an original manuscript for publication, is aware that it is quite another thing from copying from that which is already printed.

We cannot refrain from quoting the language of Mr. Loudon, in a review of a cotemporary work. "Supposing," he says, "it were lawful to copy the greater part of one magazine, just after its appearance, into another magazine sold at the same price; it is evident that, while the magazine containing original matter was losing, the other which copied from it would be making a handsome profit. The losing magazine would have no alternative but to give up appearing, or to adopt the practice of the other, and to take its articles ready prepared, from some other published work. Both magazines, in consequence of this, would be rendered almost worthless to the public."

We hope we have said enough to convince the conductors of the New York Farmer, that the course which they have pursued is both illiberal and unjust; illiberal-to extract so largely from our magazine, and unjust in doing so without giving due acknowledgment for the same. We hope for the future that such a practice will be discontinued. We care not how many horticultural periodicals are projected: ours was the first which has succeeded in the country, and we hope, by a continuance of the same care and attention which has heretofore secured it favor, to make it superior to any other that may be published.

MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE.

ART. I. Domestic Notices.

Gladiolus natalensis.-This species with me has done wonders. It sent up three spikes about four feet high; one with thirteen flowers, the other two with twelve flowers each, besides a lateral branch, with three or four flowers or more. It ripened plenty of apparently perfect seeds, which I planted as soon as ripe.-Yours, M. A. W., Athens, Ga., August 29th, 1836.

Gladiolus lineatus.-This plant is very exactly figured and colored in

Redouté, as a variety under that name: but is probably Tritònia lineàta of Loudon's Encyclopædia of Plants. My G. Watsonius answers well to the technical description, but does not exactly agree in color with Redouté the leaves are very singular, and it is altogether a very graceful and desirable plant. Watsònia Meriàna has flowered finely.-Ib. Amaryllacea.-Did not one of your correspondents promise a list of such species and varieties of this family as require to be kept dormant for a time, to ensure flowering? I want much to see it: I have a very pretty collection, but several are too shy of flowering for all my art— especially Griffinia hyacintha.-Yours, W., September, 1836.

Cyclamen persicum.-Two or three roots of this species of cyclamen stood out, during all last winter, in the garden of Mr. S. Walker, of Roxbury, without protection of any kind, other than that afforded by the snow. They have thrown up vigorous leaves, and, as soon as the roots get stronger, will probably flower. Mr. Walker thinks that by treating plants in this way, if they continue to endure our severe winters, their season of flowering may be reversed, and the blossoms appear in early spring, instead of their usual time, when growing in pots, in October and November.-Conds.

ART. II. Retrospective Criticism.

Scolopendrium officinarum not a rediscovery.-On the 389th page of No. XXII. of your Magazine, Messrs. Conductors, it is observed by your valuable correspondent that this rare fern had lately been rediscovered by Prof. Torrey, at Chittengo Falls, N. Y., and that previously it had not been seen by any botanist since first found and described by Pursh. The accuracy of this last named and distinguished botanist had therefore been questioned; and Beck, in his "Flora of Northern and Middle States," thinks it very singular that Pursh should have only observed it in this country. I however find it in Riddell's "Synopsis of the Flora of the Western States," sp. No. 1755, as growing in shady woods and rocky situations about Louisville, though quoted with a query; and what is of still greater importance and puts the matter beyond doubt, Nuttall, in his “Genera of N. A. Plants," tells us, that he has seen it living ("v. v.")" in the western parts of the State of New York, in the crevices of calcareous rocks," &c. In justice to this excellent botanist and to truth, I have thought it advisable to endeavor to correct a seeming mistake on the subject.-J. L. R.

Quere.-What are the specific characters and distinctions by which Dr. Graham's Poinsettia pulchérrima and Raffinesque's Pleuradèna coccínea (its synonyme), is separated from the Linnæan Euphorbia? [As soon as our English botanical periodicals reach us, in one of which this is figured, our correspondent shall be furnished with the requisite information, of which at present we are as ignorant as himself.-Conds.]