ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. ART. I. Some Remarks on the Cultivation of Lima Beans. By ART. II. On the Cultivation of Double China Asters in Pots. 401 By 403 ART. III. Calendar of Plants and Shrubs in bloom from the month 404 407 - 408 ART. V. Observations on the Treatment of several Genera of the ART. VII. Calls at Gardens and Nurseries, REVIEWS. ART. I. Elements of Botany. By Asa Gray, M. D., Member of the Cosar. Acad. Naturæ Curiosum, and of the Lyceum of Natural History, New York. 1 vol. 12mo. pp. 428. Carvill & Co., New York. 1836, ART. II. The Gardener's Magazine and Register of Rural and Domestic Improvement. Conducted by J. C. Loudon, F. L. S., H. S., &c. In monthly numbers, 8vo. Is. 6d. each. No. LXXVII, for August, ART. III. Report of the Committee of Arrangements of the 414 418 421 424 432 433 THE AMERICAN GARDENER'S MAGAZINE. NOVEMBER, 1836. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. ART. I. Some Remarks on the Cultivation of Lima Beans. THE uncertainty with which a crop of this truly estimable vegetable is obtained in our climate, has led us, the past season, to try a new method in their cultivation. It is well known that the Lima bean is a strong and very rapid grower, attaining, when the plants are properly supplied with tall stakes, the height of ten or fifteen feet, and, in some strong soils, even overtopping stakes of the latter height. The plants rarely show bloom until late in the season, when they have run some distance; and often before the pods are well filled, and sufficiently large for picking, our autumn frosts have entirely destroyed the vines. The cultivator is thus not only deprived of his supply for cooking, but is also prevented from preserving any ripe seed for another season. To guard against disappointment, it is necessary to have recourse to more than ordinary care and attention. The Lima bean is very tender, much more so than any other variety, not excepting the Sieva or Carolina,-the latter often succeeding when the former will not flourish at all. At the time of sowing, which is usually in the month of May, the seed often rots in the ground; if it comes up well, and dull, cold, cloudy or very wet weather occurs, soon after, the plants turn yellow and gradually appear less vigorous, finally damping off close to the ground: it is rare that the cultivator can procure plants from the first sowing: we have known, in some instances, two or three to be made, and these without saving scarcely a plant. The past season was so unpropitious that such failures. occurred with many cultivators. The method which we have adopted to procure a crop, we have, therefore, thought might be of some interest to our readers; and though, we believe, not a new system, one which we have found to succeed so well, that, at the present time, we have an abundant supply, and the vines partially destroyed by the uncommonly early frosts. About the 20th of May, after three successive failures in the open ground, we procured a number of sods, which were placed in a spent hot-bed: the sashes were kept covered close for a day, to give additional warmth, when the beans were planted all over the surface of the sods; a little common soil of the garden was then sifted over them, through a coarse sieve, and the sashes again closed. At night a few mats were thrown over the lights, to prevent the escape of what little heat there was in the bed. A little water was applied the second or third day after planting, which was repeated once or twice before the plants were up. As soon as they had made two rough leaves, preparations were made to transplant them into the rows where they were to grow throughout the summer. The soil was enriched with some well decayed manure, and the stakes placed in the rows, to prevent disturbing the plants after they were set out. The sods were taken out of the bed very carefully, and with a sharp spade separated in such a manner as to leave a portion of the turf or sod attached to the roots of the plants: in this manner they were set out in the rows, placing them in the soil so deep that the cotyledons, or seed leaves, were just above the level of the surface: after this they received no more than ordinary attention, and soon began to make a good growth: probably, if dry weather should ensue immediately after transplanting, the plants would need watering once or twice; but cold and unfavorable to vegetation as was the last spring, watering would not only be injurious, but might prove fatal to their future success. Peas have repeatedly been forced, or brought forward in this manner, though we do not recollect of ever noticing any account in which the bean was attempted; but they bear transplanting as well as peas, and a good crop can with certainty be relied upon. It is unnecessary for us to say any thing farther to induce lovers of this vegetable to give the experiment a trial. To market gardeners it is important, as it will enable them to supply them in quantities; and the high price they bring will pay them well for their labor. One thing will be observed, that our seeds were sown about the 20th of May, after repeated failures to vegetate others in the open ground; if, however, no attempt had been made to raise them only in the hot-bed, and the seeds had been planted a fortnight sooner, pods large enough for shelling could have been obtained by the first of September. ART. II. On the Cultivation of Double China Asters in Pots. By S. SWEETSER. THE cultivation of double asters in pots is very similar to that of other annuals, such as balsams, globe amaranthuses, &c., with the exception that they require much less heat, and may consequently be produced in any garden, even without the aid of a green-house, while the former can only be grown with the assistance of a hot-bed. Having had considerable success the past season in flowering quite a number in pots, I send you these few remarks, though they contain nothing new that I am aware of, but are simply the result of my method of growing the plants. They were the greatest ornaments of my green-house throughout the summer, and elicited the admiration of many friends, and the notice of yourselves; and as I have never observed any plants cultivated in this manner, perhaps my remarks may be the means of their more general growth in pots. The varieties are now very numerous, and possess exceeding beauty. Seeds of five or six varieties were sown in a frame, without much heat, early in the month of April. The plants came up very thick in the pots, and were allowed to remain until they had made five or six rough leaves: they were then potted off into number two pots, in a light rich compost, one plant in each, and placed in the frame or green-house, where they made a slow but strong growth. In the month of May the plants were shifted into number three pots, and, in the couse of a few days, they were removed to the open air, in a sunny situation, where they remained for some time. The plants were regularly supplied with water. They soon began to make a rapid growth, and, early in the month of June, they were again repotted into number five pots: the soil at this shifting was composed of loam and leaf mould, or decayed manure of any kind, in about equal proportions. The plants immediately after this shifting made vigorous growths; the leading shoots were tied to sticks as they advanced, to prevent their being broken by the wind. The green-house plants being mostly removed out of doors, or such of them as did not require to be retained, all the pots containing the double asters were placed upon the stages, at the distance of about two feet from each other. The upper sashes were allowed to remain open all night throughout the summer, except when the weather was extremely cool; water was supplied in large quantities, and occasionally liquid manure. Towards the latter part of July the plants showed flower-buds, which soon began to expand: and, from the first of August to the present |