ADVERTISEMENTS. EXHIBITION OF DAHLIAS. HOVEY & Co., having a superb collection of Dahlias, propose making an Exhibition (unless prevented by early frosts) on WEDNESDAY, the 28th of September, 1836, at their Room, over the Massachusetts Horticultural Society's Hall, No. 81 Cornhill. Amateurs, connoisseurs, and others, are respectfully invited to attend and view the Exhibition. SUPERB BULBOUS FLOWER ROOTS. WE shall receive, in the course of the month, one of the most superb and rare assortments of HYACINTHS and other Dutch Bulbs ever imported into the country. We have grown nearly all the fine hyacinths, and those we have imported this year are such as we have selected from hundreds of sorts, and know to be extra fine. They are from the same house in Holland, from which we received our assortment last season, which far exceeded in splendor any ever sold in New England. The collection of TULIPS is very superior: we flowered above one thousand roots the past spring of unrivalled beauty. In addition to these, we shall also receive a great assortment, including the early double and single sorts for blooming in pots in parlors. Of poonies, lilies, narcissuses, ranunculuses, anemonies, gladiolas, crown imperials, jonquils, snow-flakes, crocus, &c., a larger variety has been ordered than has ever been introduced into New England. HOVEY & CO., HORTICULTURAL WAREHOUSE AND SEED STORE, 79 & 81 CORNHILL CONTENTS. ART. I. Some Remarks on the Genus Phlox. By John Lewis Russell, A. M., Prof. Bot. and Veg. Phys. to the Mass. Hort. ART. III. Calendar of Plants and Shrubs in bloom from the month of May to October, inclusive. By the Conductors, ART. IV. Some Remarks on the Tree Peony, (Pæonia Moutan), including its history, introduction into England, the production of ART. I. The Gardener's Magazine and Register of Rural and Do- mestic Improvement. Conducted by J. C. Loudon, F. L. S., H. S., &c. In monthly numbers, 8vo. 1s. 6d. each. No. LXXVI, THE AMERICAN GARDENER'S MAGAZINE. OCTOBER, 1836. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. ART. I. Some Remarks on the Genus Phlox. By JOHN LEWIS RUSSELL, A. M., Prof. Bot. and Veg. Phys. to the Mass. Hort. Soc. THE almost exclusive American genus of Phlóx, from its varied and exceeding beauty, claims a much higher regard of the favorable notice of the floriculturist than the present taste seems to evince. Who is not struck with the appearance of some snug and favorite garden site, where, from its confined limits, a few only of the most ornamental plants can be introduced, when he sees a good and select collection of phloxes occupying the well arranged borders? I have often thought than an entire collection of the numerous species and varieties of this single plant, grown in a manner best suited to their different habits, would make a rare, unique, and altogether unrivalled appearance, and recommend itself, at least to some tastes, for its novelty. I suspect that the comparatively low estimation in which the phloxes are held in this country is mainly owing to the improper management of their cultivation. Thus it is an uncommon sight to see a well grown phlox. I know not how, and with what success, they cultivate the plant in England, where the humid nature of the climate would no doubt materially assist in producing, if, not fine flowers, at least a considerable duration of them. It is however certain that the plant is there considered worthy of much attention, from the fact that new and sometimes fine varieties are produced by the ingenuity and patience of florists. From the neglect to the wants of the several species, as observable in the gardens of this vicinity, one is not much tempted 46 VOL. II.-NO. X. to give even a passing notice to the huge mis-shapen clumps and patches which disfigure our borders. Instead of a few strong, straight, well clothed stems, with rich panicles or pyramids of purple or white corols, we see fifty or more weak, bare, yellow, desiccated stems and heads, fading under the powerful influence of the sun, or covered with the insidious mildew, so as to forbid a near approach. By a rarer luck, and owing to the moisture of the season, the earlier kinds escape this fate, and are therefore more universally admired and cultivated. But though superb patches of P. subulata, setàcea and nivàlis may dazzle or delight the eye for a few weeks in early spring by their vivid or snowy flowers, yet no sooner have their floral gems withdrawn themselves from our notice, than neglect causes the plants to assume a sickly and faded appearance, instead of the deep vivid green which they should possess. It is my own opinion, judging from the native habitat of P. setàcea, on rocky and precipitous hills, and in a rich, strong, loamy soil, that the rock work would afford the best artificial mode of growing them to perfection. The moisture which the covered and buried stones would naturally give to the very small and fibrous roots, would produce a strong, vigorous and constant growth to the plant. Another great attraction which these species possess is their habit of autumnal flowering; and if advantage was taken of this disposition, by supplying them with the requisite means, their estimation would be greatly enhanced. In like manner that lovely vernal species, P. stolonifera, might be made more conspicuous and manageable by its introduction on the rock work, where its stolones would have ample room to extend without interfering with more delicate plants, as they are certainly wont to do in the border. The finest plants of the delicate blue P. divaricata I had the pleasure of seeing in the spring of 1835, on the deep rich meadows through which the slow and quiet Monongahela flows; and any one who has ever noticed any species of this superb genus in the perfection of nature, is inclined to feel a sincere pity for its miserable fate when under the misnomered fostering care of the common cultivator. P. pilòsa naturally thrives in rather wet meadows, and so different is its appearance, from the specimens we see in gardens, as to be hardly recognized as the same and identical plant. Perhaps it may not be generally known that all the early flowering tall species may be made to send out a new and successive display of flowers, by removing the tops just after flowering. From the axils of the vigorous leaves, and oftentimes from the roots, new and strong flower branches issue. By this simple management the general unsightly appearance of the withering plant is avoided, and a fine late succession of good flowers in |