HORTICULTURAL SEED WAREHOUSE.

HOVEY & CO.

Nos. 79 and 81 Cornhill.....Boston,

Respectfully inform their friends and the public, that they have for sale the most extensive assortment of GARDEN SEEDS, of the growth of 1835, of all descriptions to be found in New England. Particular care has been taken in the selection of the various articles, and they can confidently recommend them to be of the best quality.

Some of the varieties more immediately in demand are here enumerated:

Also every article connected with the Kitchen Garden, of the best quality. HERB and MEDICINAL SEEDS.

HOVEY & Co. beg leave to state, that their collection of FLOWER SEEDS, in addition to the old varieties, contain all those new and rare worthy of cultivation, which have been introduced. They are in correspondence with several of the most celebrated Seedsmen, Florists and Nurserymen in London, Liverpool and Paris, and they flatter themselves that they enjoy such facilities as will enable them to procure every thing new and beautiful. They have just received, via. New York, their spring assortment for 1836.

H. & Co. take this opportunity to state, that they have had great success in raising several new varieties of DOUBLE GERMAN ASTERS. They would particularly invite the attention of their friends and the public to their unrivalled collection, which contains twelve distinct varieties.

BULBOUS ROOTS of all descriptions; Amaryllis formosissima (Jacobean Lily), Tigridia Pavonia, and T. conchiflora (Tiger flower), Tuberose, Gladiolus, Natalensis, &c.

GRAPE VINES, Gooseberries, Currants, Strawberries, Roses, greenhouse and hardy herbaceous Plants of all descriptions.

Agricultural Seeds of every kind, including all the kinds of GRASS SEEDS, Lucerne, White Dutch Clover, Mangel Wurtzel, Altringham Carrot, Dale's New hybrid Turnip, &c. &c.

They are agents for the long established and celebrated Nursery of John Kenrick, Newton; and any orders addressed to them will be promptly executed.

Orders from the country will receive immediate attention, and seeds or plants packed with care, so as to be safely transported any dis

tance.

THE

AMERICAN

GARDENER'S MAGAZINE.

APRIL, 1836.

ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS.

ART. I. On the Construction of Brick Pits for early Forcing; to which is added the Cultivation and Forcing of the Cucumber; taken from Horticultural Memoranda, and exhibiting the State of their Progress from January until September. By the CONDUCTORS.

(Continued from page 81.)

JOURNAL.

April 2d, 1832.-The weather to-day very fine and mild; the mercury indicating 54° at one o'clock, P. M. The plants are now growing vigorously, and show large numbers of flowers.

At the close of this article, in our last, we alluded to a practice general among gardeners, commonly termed "setting the fruit;" but what is perhaps more proper, or, at least, better understood, by this, is the impregnation of the pistillate flowers, or those with embryo fruit, with the staminate flowers, or those erroneously called false blossoms. Formerly it was a practice with many persons, to pull off or destroy all the false blossoms, from the supposition that they injured the plants, by exhausting their strength. This, however, is a bad practice; and if pursued in early forcing, the cultivator would be deprived of a large quantity of fruit, and such as was produced, would be of inferior appearance. Sometimes a large quantity of staminate blossoms will appear, and no pistillate ones; when this is the case, they should be partly rubbed. off, as they are then of no use, and rather tend to keep the plants from pushing out fruitful runners. Cobbett states, in his Gardener, that the fertilizing of the pistillate blossoms is entirely useless, and only pursued from its being an old practice among English gardeners. We were inclined to this opinion, until we had tried the experiment to our satisfaction; but we are now well assured that, 16

VOL. II.-NO. IV.

if the blossoms are not impregnated during the months of March and April, very little fruit will be obtained from the vines. In the spring of 1831, we had three hills of plants, one of which was in a much more forward state than the others; the plants having been obtained, when young, from a friend who had raised them before our bed was put into operation. They grew vigorously, and came into flower some time before those which we sowed ourselves; the blossoms were all pistillate ones, each showing embryo fruit. They continued to appear for above a fortnight, without opening a staminate flower; not one of the fruit swelled off, and we gave up the hope of seeing any, for some time, when it occurred to us, that if we could procure from some person, who had plants in flower, a few blossoms to impregnate them, there would be no difficulty of their growing; this was done, and in less than twenty-four hours afterwards, the fruit had swelled to double its embryo size. A few days after this, the staminate blossoms opened on the other plants; but still the fruit would not swell, unless the blossoms were regularly impregnated. In the summer time, when they are grown in the open air, there is no need of the operation; as bees and the free circulation of air accomplish the object; but in a frame, where the sashes are opened only a few inches, during March and April, or earlier in the season, there is not a free circulation of air sufficient to fertilize the blossoms, and recourse must be had to other means. We have tried the experiment two or three seasons in succession, and are convinced of the truth of these observations. The operation is performed as follows:-When the flowers are in full bloom, (which is generally about 9 o'clock in the morning,) cut off one of the staminate ones, and cut or tear off all the petals, being very careful, in doing this, not to destroy the farina; then, holding the pistillate blossom in the left hand, so as not to injure the young fruit, apply the staminate one, and giving it a twirl once or twice, let it remain in the flower; it is important that this should be done in the morning, as, in the afternoon, the flowers close up, and there is some danger that the operation will have no effect. Such flowers, with young fruit, as look weak and puny, should be cut off, and not be suffered to grow; as they take away the strength from the others. Only one fruit should be allowed to grow at a joint, and when it is shaded too much by the leaves, they should be cut away, that it may acquire a good deep color; it may also be laid upon a piece of slate or glass.

During this month, the bed should be uncovered earlier than the last. Begin by uncovering it at 8 o'clock in the morning, and gradually earlier, so that, at the last part of the month, the covering may be taken off at 7 o'clock. At night, it should be covered up at 6 o'clock, and gradually later toward the end of the month, when it may be done at 7 o'clock. On no account omit a single night, as a sudden change in the weather, (which often happens

in April,) would greatly injure the future health of the plants. Temperature of the bed, 65°, 76°; 72°; of the soil, 78°.

6th. The heat of the bed having decreased, from the last three or four days of cooler weather, two barrows of the old manure were removed, and four of fresh added. The whole was well forked up, and the doors closely shut. This should never be neglected; immediately after the manure is thrown in, at any time, they should be closed, and straw or hay placed in front of them and against the crevices all round; this should be kept up, as before mentioned, by a wide board or plank. When the straw or hay, from continued wet, becomes rotten, it should be replaced by a fresh lot. Some of the blossoms with embryo fruit, which had been fertilized, from too much moisture in the bed, damped off; but those which have been since attended too, now swell their fruit rapidly. The plants have now acquired considerable size, and extend themselves very fast all the joints are regularly pegged down as before recommended. Continue to stop the runners at every joint, as this will cause the vines to throw out more fruit, and acquire greater vigor. Temperature, 62°, 75°, 78°; of the soil, 78°.

10th. The roots of the plants having penetrated through the soil in the hills, a sufficient quantity was now added to make the whole in the bed level; for this purpose, it should be composed of loam, old decayed manure, and leaf mould, in about equal quantities. Let only a portion of it be put in at a time, early in the afternoon, if the weather is cool, and there is any danger of chilling the temperature of the bed; but in mild weather, there need be no apprehension of injury, and the whole may be put in at once; be careful, in doing this, not to break the leaves of the plants, and thus cause them to bleed. They will now require water every day, which should be given as soon as the sun's rays leave the sashes; it should be warmed to the temperature of the air in the bed, and be given over the plants through a very fine rose, lightly sprinkling the whole of the surface of the soil, so as to raise a gentle steam. Air should be admitted in greater quantity as the spring advances, and during warm days, the sashes should be opened at the front as well as the back, so as to allow of a draft of air through the bed. Numerous blossoms expand every day, and due attention must be given, and every pistillate one fertilized, or the fruit will not swell kindly. Let it be a rule to go over the vines every morning about 8 or 9 o'clock. Temperature, 70°, 80°, 68°; of the soil, 85°.

14th. The first two fruits which appeared, having grown to their full size, they were cut to-day. Their average length was eight inches; those which appear first do not generally acquire the size of the later ones. The heat in the bed has also decreased, and thus prevented their full growth; the temperature should never be allowed to fall but a degree or two after the fruit appears, or

it is apt to grow crooked and inferior flavored. Three barrows of manure were taken out, and four of fresh added to-day; this was well forked up with the old manure, and stowed up at the back of the pit. Temperature, 72°, 75°, 66°; of the soil, 80°.

19th. The heat having declined, two barrows of fresh manure were added to-day. The plants now grow vigorously, and numerous blossoms expand every day; a number of fruit will be ready to cut in a week or ten days. Give large quantities of air every favorable opportunity, and do not omit to supply the plants with plenty of water, as they delight in this element, and soon show when it is not duly given. Cut away all decayed leaves, and preserve the air in the bed as pure as possible; cucumber plants are often injured by an impure atmosphere. Temperature, 68°, 68°, 66°; of the soil, 76°.

26th. Cut four more cucumbers to-day. The temperature of the bed has become quite brisk, and the fruit swells very rapidly. The bed is looked over every morning. Temperature, 70°, 95°, 75°; of the soil, 82°.

28th. Cut two fruits, measuring ten inches in length. The plants continue to acquire more vigor.

30th. Cut eight cucumbers, some of them measuring eleven inches in length. Large quantities of water are given every night, and as much air admitted as will keep the thermometer below 100. in the middle of the day.

May 1st. The season has now become so far advanced, that but little care will be required in the cultivation of the plants, compared with that of the two previous months. Indeed, through this and the succeeding months, they need no more attention than is given to many other kinds of vegetables, when it is intended to grow them to perfection. The covering must be continued until the latter part of the month; as the sudden changes in our climate, and the cold easterly winds which are sometimes prevalent in this month, keep the heat in a fluctuating state; the benefit of this practice will be quickly perceived in the health and vigor of the plants, and the kind and rapid swelling of the fruit, which will now be produced in the greatest abundance. Sudden checks in the temperature of the bed are more injurious to the successful cultivation of the plants, than most all other causes together; and when they are in full bearing, they are most especially to be guarded against; this should ever be in the mind of the gardener, who would wish to be called a good grower of forced vegetables or fruits.

Water and air must be given in greater quantities, and, if convenient, liquid manure, in a rather weak state, may be supplied once or twice a week; this is not of so much consequence now, as later in the season, when the strength of the soil is more exhausted; but it may be occasionally applied: give air early in the morning,