This section is from "The Horticulturist, And Journal Of Rural Art And Rural Taste", by P. Barry, A. J. Downing, J. Jay Smith, Peter B. Mead, F. W. Woodward, Henry T. Williams. Also available from Amazon: Horticulturist and Journal of Rural Art and Rural Taste.
As usual, during the months of January and February,- the mails of the respective Publishers are so large, and the rush of subscriptions so great, that it is almost impossible to get prompt answers to letters, or inquiries attended to with celer-itity. Subscribers must not suppose that, because of these necessary and unavoidable delays, any one is intentionally neglecting them. Nearly every large Publishing house at that time often gets days behind time in the mere entering and posting of their letters.
Mr. Prince: Very thrifty and fine. Mr. L. E. Berckmans: I should like to see it advanced; it is one of the best in New Jersey, and have found it as valuable South as here. Mr. Buist: A uniform good bearer - tree good grower. Mr. Wilder: Keeps till May in Massachusetts; flavor like the Eastern Beurre. Carried to the list for general cultivation.
Of the new single-flowered sorts there is a very effective one - Cambridge, of a pale grey blue, with black center, distinct in character and really attractive.
Our gardens possess few perfectly hardy blue-flowering plants; certainly none that will equal this charming variety of the perennial Larkspur. It cheerfully adapts itself to any rich garden soil, and continues all summer to throw up tall spikes of magnificent light azure blue flowers; when planted in clumps the effect is grand. To insure an abundance of bloom the plants should not be allowed to produce seed. It only requires an acquaintance with this desirable variety to make it as much of a favorite as the Dielytra spectabilis.
A new and very fine perennial hardy larkspur has been introduced in England by A. Waterer. With him it grows 3 feet high, having bold, deeply-parted leaves, 10 inches across; flowers in dense spikes, nearly a foot long, having several short branches at the base. The blossoms are double, about an inch and a half across, cerulean blue, the center and base of the petals tinted with rose, a tuft of small white petals forming a white eye.
None of these great producing establishments send their perishable wares to the market, but orders are received from the retail dealers daily, and are filled as nearly as possible. During the winter season the demand for flowers by the retail florists is immense, and at holiday time and Easter the orders are so great that they cannot be filled in the neighborhood of New York. - The Evening Post, New York.
[TO BE CONTINUED.]
Mr. J. J. Younker has forwarded specimens of the Democrat and Schman pears, the former medium size, and a very excellent August variety worthy of cultivation; the Schman not equal to others of the same season already cultivated. The Democrat originated on the farm of a neighbor of Mr. Y., in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
One of the hardiest of orchids. The flowers are a dazzling white, lasting three or four weeks, and are de-liciously fragrant in the evening.
 
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