PREFACE. IN the Second Volume of the American Gardener's Magazine, an additional quantity of information will be found, for which we refer the reader to the table of contents. For this we are indebted to the continued kindness of our correspondents: our own experience as conductors has also enabled us to add more interest to the work. In this Volume, agreeably to our intentions as stated at the close of the first, we have commenced giving plans of green-houses of various sizes: two have already appeared, from which designs, we have the gratification to learn, one or two have already been built, and others contemplated for erection the ensuing season. Other plans will be forthcoming in the next and succeeding Volumes, which will finally embrace the most beautiful structures in this vicinity. We have it also in our power to say, that, if we are enabled, by an increasing circulation, ground plans of some of the best arranged gardens will also appear in the third Volume. The method of heating by hot water, as detailed in connexion with the plans of the green-houses, and the method invented by Mr. Hogg, in this Volume, will be a sufficient guide to those who are erecting stoves or green-houses, in fitting up such apparatuses. Of the various papers in the second Volume, which we may recommend as particularly interesting, are those on the cultivation of Strawberries, on the employment of Vases in garden scenery, on the cultivation of some of the Cacti, on the pink and carnation, and the remarks on the genus Oxalis. Our own articles on the forcing of the Cucumber, on growing Peaches in pots, the Calendar of plants, and the remarks on the Pæony, will, we hope, be of some value to the practical as well as the amateur gardener. The paper on the classification and arrangement of Peas, with their numerous synonymes, taken from a foreign work, is of great value. Among the improvements we may mention the indication of the generic and specific names of plants, as whether classic, aboriginal, commemorative, or composed. Though this may be anticipating a more general knowledge of Botany, we believe they will be found to render the names of plants more familiar. We have also adopted what we think a decided improvement in the index: instead of a general one, we have given a list of all the plants mentioned in this Volume, with, in most instances, their synonymes corrected; from which a reference can be made with great facility. For this improvement, we are indebted, in part, to the 11th Volume of Loudon's Magazine. In addition to the above improvements in this Volume, in the next will occasionally appear an article, headed Pomological Notices: these notices will contain accounts of all the new varieties of fruits introduced, more particularly of the fine kinds of pears, raised by the venerable and celebrated Professor Van Mons, of Belgium. Those varieties which already exist in our gardens, under different names, which may be noticed, will have their synonymes carefully and correctly given. To aid us in the perfection of this article, we shall be assisted by several eminent pomologists. Notices of all new vegetables, worthy of cultivation, will also appear. The Floricultural notices will, as heretofore, embrace every thing new and interesting. With the close of this Volume, Mr. P. B. Hovey, jr., retires from the editorial department. On this account, however, our Magazine will not be rendered less interesting: he will continue to assist by frequent contributions. With the same zeal in the pursuit of horticulture which has heretofore animated us, we shall endeavor to make the Magazine what it has ever been our desire to, a periodical worthy of the support of all amateurs and lovers of gardening. With the increasing taste for the science, which we are vain enough to believe our Magazine has been eminently useful in spreading, we anticipate a corresponding increase in its circulation: our efforts will be directed to the diffusion of such information as will continue to create a love of horticulture and botany. To our friends who have so liberally contributed to its pages, we again offer our warmest thanks. Boston, November 18th, 1836. C. M. H., CONTENTS. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. GENERAL SUBJECT. Some Account of a Green-house erected the past Summer in the Garden of Mr. S. Sweetser, Cambridgeport; accompanied with Engravings illustrating the same, and the Method of Heating by Hot Water. By the Conductors, Descriptive notice of the Osage Orange (Maclura aurantiaca). By T. S. P., On the neglected State of Cottage Gardens, with Hints for their Improvement. By R. Murray, Descriptive Notice of J. W. Knevels, Esq's. Collection of Exotic Plants at Newburgh, N. Y. By A. J. D., Some Hints on the Importance of improving Cottage Gardens. By an old Florist, Notice of some of the Epiphytæ, and Parasitic Plants of the United States, with Remarks on their Physiological Characters. By John Lewis Russell, Prof. Bot. &c.. to the Mass. Hort. Soc., Some Account of the Camellia House and Stove, accompanied with Engravings, lately erected at Hawthorn Grove, Dorchester, the Residence of M. P. Wilder, Esq. By the Conductors, Rural Scenery: The Thatched Cottage. By Junius, . 201 Descriptive Notice of Mr. Hogg's new Method of Heating by Hot Water. By A. J. Downing, Botanic Garden and Nursery, Newburgh, N. Y. Remarks on the Fitness of the different Styles of Architecture for the Construction of Country Residences, and on the Employment of Vases in Garden Scenery. By A. J. Downing, Botanic Garden and Nursery, Newburgh, N. Y. On the Use of the Osage Orange, (Maclùra aurantiaca), as Food for Silk-worms. By T. S. P., Beaverdam, Va. On the Preservation of Plants, Fruits, &c., against Ants. By M. Emilien de Wael, of Antwerp, Programme of a Prize of one thousand Francs offered by the Royal Horticultural Society of Paris, with the view of obtaining, by means of a repetition of the Experiments of Van Mons, and also by any other Method pursued with Seeds, the Improvement of the varieties of Apples and Pears. Translated by A. J. D., HORTICULTURE. 210 .248 .281 On the Forcing of the Strawberry. By E. 321 407 On the Cultivation of the Plum, with some Remarks upon Grafting on Peach Stocks. By S. Pond, 134 161 207 On the Cultivation and Management of FLORICULTURE. 401 444 Observations on the Camellia, and its Va- On the Propagation and Management of the |