Double-flowered Perlargonium Prince of Novelties. This flower is a new result of hybridization, being a double variety in the large-flowered section of the pelargonium; a result but recently attained in the zonale section.

The upper and lower petals, of unequal outline, are transformed into a flat, circular ray of equal-sized petals, forming a diameter in each flower of about an inch and three-quarters in width, and filled up in the centre with small flowerlobes.

These individual blossoms are produced in trusses of three, six, or nine, according to the vigor of the plant. The general color is brilliant, carminetinted crimson, bounded with a blush-white margin, each petal being marked at the base with a dark rich crimson blotch, from which netted lines run over the carmine surface.

The habit is free, robust, and branching; for which reason, to repress too luxuriant growth, the soil should not be very rich.

Spotted Foxglove Beauty of Dorking. A seedling variety, with large white flowers with purple markings.

Carnations, True Blue and Eccentric.- Two show-flowers; the former a purple flake, the latter a scarlet bizarre.

Cattleya Brabantiæ. — A hybrid variety between C. Aclandia and C. Loddigesii, partaking of the nature of both parents; but, if the illustration is to be relied upon, of less beauty than either.

Rose Antoine Ducher. - A seedling from Madame Domage, of good shape, and of a vivid red-color suffed with purple.

Pelargoniums Heirloom and Victor. - Two fine new varieties of the largeflowered section; the former a fine flower, rich, rosy-carmine ground, with a large blotch in the upper petals, and a clear white throat.

The latter a very high-colored flower; the upper petals an intense, deep maroon, almost black, with a narrow, clear border of deep crimson; the lower petals bright crimson-pink, with a blotch in each petal, with a bright veining of crimson outside.

THE DOWNING EVER-BEARING MULBERRY. We have cultivated this fruit for some years, and have been quite pleased with it. We have sown the ground about the tree to grass, which we keep closely cut; and then let the fruit, when it is fully ripe, drop on the green carpet. If there is no fruit down when wanted, a gentle jar will bring down a shower of it. It very much resembles the blackberry. Children are very fond of it. The tree is a rapid grower; so much so, that the limbs are liable to be split off. The ends of the very thrifty shoots sometimes winter-kill, but not enough to be objectionable. Plant one or two in your garden.

EARLY STRAWBERRY.

This is a beautiful little red apple, of a pleasant, sprightly, sub-acid flavor. The tree is an upright grower, not a great bearer, and not very valuable for many sections of country.

WINTERING TENDER PLANTS IN COLD PITS AND FRAMES. In many cases, cold pits and frames are all that can be commanded for wintering tender flower-garden plants. There is sometimes an outhouse, spare room, or bowwindow, that can be used as an auxiliary to a pit or frame. With such convenience, indifferent as it may be considered, and really is, it is astonishing how much can be accomplished by judicious management, and earnestness of purpose. In the construction of cold pits to be used for wintering such things as pelargoniums and verbenas, the principal object to be secured is dryness; because damp is a far greater enemy to such plants, and one more difficult to combat, than frost. On this account, I have an objection to sinking below the groundlevel, unless the walls below ground be made perfectly water-tight by cement; and the bottom should be as thoroughly drained as possible. Indeed, it is a good plan either to pave or cement the bottom of the frame or pit to prevent water rising by capillary attraction; in which case there must be holes for the escape of all moisture that may collect inside: and the foundation of the inside should be of open rubble, with a drain to take the water away. Pits sunk a little into the ground, and constructed in this way, are warmer than when raised above the ground-level; but I would rather have all above the level, and construct the walls hollow, enclosing a stratum of air, which is the best nonconductor.

One of the principal points necessary to success in wintering plants without the aid of fire-heat is that of preparing the plants in autumn. I have already recommended for all cases early and the coolest system of propagation; but this is most especially applicable to the case of those who have no better convenience than cold frames or pits to winter their plants in. Early propagation allows of the plants being exposed to the open air, and enables them to become thereby robust; and their growth is thus ripened or solidified, so that they are not so susceptible of injury from either damp or cold. They, of course, become well rooted, which is another requisite to success.

When it becomes necessary to place the plants in the pits in order to be secure from autumn frosts, the lights should be drawn off by day, when the weather is dry: not a drop of water should be allowed on the leaves, and they should be kept dry to the drooping-point. This brings on a state of maturity before winter, calculated to stand a damp, cold, confined atmosphere, and the absence of light, with the least possible injury. In placing the plants in the pit, do not over-crowd them. The pots should be washed clean; and, where the leaves of such as pelargoniums are crowded, thin out some of the largest of them.

Some dry, loose material, such as hay or straw, should be in readiness, as winter approaches, for covering up with in case of severe frost; and some of the same material should be packed round the sides of the pit: but for this avoid any thing likely to heat and prematurely excite the plants by a rise of temperature. When thick coverings over the glass become necessary, the material should, if possible, be perfectly dry, and shaken on as loosely as possible; as, the more loosely it lies, the more air -the best non-conducting medium — it contains. If, over the loose, dry material, some light covering, such as strong

oiled calico, can be thrown, it will prevent cold winds from penetrating, and keep the hay or straw dry.

When it becomes necessary, from severe and continuous frost, to keep the glass covered up for a few weeks at a time, and when, perhaps, the thermometer inside the pit would indicate a few degrees of frost, great caution is necessary in uncovering, and exposing the plants to light and air, when the weather changes suddenly to a thaw. To uncover suddenly, under such circumstances, exposes them to such a sudden re-action as will prove far more destructive than a degree or two of frost. The covering should not be touched till the temperature inside has risen above freezing a few degrees; and then it should not be removed all at once, but by degrees. Plants are living things, possessing all the susceptibilities of the most perfect and delicate organism; and are as subject to injury from sudden and extreme changes of light and heat as is the human frame. Many never think of this, or, if they do, are apt to forget it; and so, as soon as it thaws, off goes the covering, and the plants are injuriously affected even by the sudden flood of light; and, if they have been slightly frozen, they are ruptured by a too sudden thaw, and mould and rottenness follow. Frost should not be allowed to creep in, if possible; but, if it does, it should be allowed to creep out, not be suddenly expelled.

The great points, therefore, in watering plants, where fire-heat cannot be applied, are, first, to keep the plants dry, and in as complete a state of rest as possible, all the latter part of autumn and winter; secondly, when it becomes necessary to cover up for a length of time from severe frost, the covering material should be dry and loose; thirdly, when thaw takes place, do not uncover at once, but gradually, and not till the thaw is complete.

All winter-watering should be avoided beyond what is necessary to preserve life; and it is much better to have plants at the drooping-point than the least over-wet. This is equally applicable to plants wintered in spare rooms, and, indeed, even in greenhouses, where fire-heat can be used. It is astonishing how little water is sufficient in winter for flower-garden plants, and especially pelargoniums, which are often ruined by late propagation and over-watering in winter. I have frequently had variegated pelargonium cuttings in eight-inch pots on shelves go without water for eight and ten weeks, and look splendidly; although so dry, that some would think they would be starved. — D. Thomson, in "Gardener."

ROYAL ASCOT GRAPE.- - The productiveness of this grape is extraordinary. After every successive stopping, fresh bunches are developed on the young shoots put forth. The regular crop has for some time been cut: but numerous bunches of a second crop, left to test the fruitfulness of the variety, are now ripening; while there are others with the berries as large as peas; and others, again, from recent stoppings, younger still. So prolific is it, that the young plants just struck from scarcely-ripened buds, are, in almost every case, showing clusters which promise to grow on and perfect. themselves during the winter or early spring. It seems impossible to repress the bearing propensities of this grape; and this quality, if maintained, coupled with its size and fine quality, mark it out as a grand acquisition for grape-growers.

GRAPES IN 1867 (No. 2). — SOME OF THE NEWER VARIETIES. Creveling (synonymes, Bloom, Catawissa). — The great merits of this grape for wine seem to have been strangely overlooked; and yet it is one of the few (provided it succeeds there) of which a good wine can be made at the North. It is a moderate but healthy grower here, which may be planted rather closer than some of our rank growers (six by six feet will give it room enough); is productive, and little, if any, subject to disease; bunch long and loose, shouldered; berry medium, round, black; skin thin; has hardly any pulp, and an abundance of rich, sweet, dark-colored juice. Ripens about a week later than Hartford Prolific, and makes an excellent red wine resembling the choice brands of claret. Specific gravity of must by Echole's scale, eighty-eight degrees.

Cunningham (synonyme, Long).· Where this grape will ripen well, as it invariably does here, it will prove one of the most profitable. It is a very strong grower, and should be planted at least six by ten feet apart. It belongs to the same southern division of the Æstivalis species which includes the Herbemont, Lenoir, Baldwin's Lenoir, Pauline, and others. Bunch medium, very compact, often shouldered; berry small, round, black, with blue bloom; skin rather tough, but sweet; without pulp; spicy. It is a good and uniform bearer, and will, perhaps, make the best white wine we yet have, not excepting the Delaware. One of the most healthy, but requires a long season, a warm soil and sunny location, and, here, covering in winter. Very valuable for our climate and farther South. Specific gravity of must, a hundred and twelve degrees.

Herbemont (synonymes, Sumter, Warren, Warrenton).

Though this is not a new variety, its merits have been so much overlooked, that I will include it here. For our sunny South hillsides and farther South, this is one of the most valuable varieties, as it is an enormous bearer, but little subject to disease, is a delicious table-fruit, and makes one of the choicest wines we have. The vine is a very strong grower, and needs as much space as the foregoing. Bunch large, always shouldered, compact; berry below medium, black, with blue bloom, round; skin very thin; without pulp; juicy, sweet, spicy, and refreshing ; justly called by Downing "bags of wine." As we grow it here, I would rather have it for the table than Delaware and the famous (or notorious) Iona, as it is more refreshing, and (to speak Grant-ish) has a purer taste. It will produce about seven hundred gallons to the acre, and the wine sells readily at four dollars per gallon. Specific gravity of must, ninety-six degrees. Requires covering here in winter. Louisiana. Belongs to the same class, and promises to be valuable as a wine grape it also ripens earlier, and is somewhat more hardy. Bunch medium, often shouldered, compact; berry small, round, black, with blue bloom; juicy; without pulp; spicy, sweet, and rich. Is generally healthy, and moderately productive; and makes an exquisite white wine, of great body and delicate aroma. Specific gravity of must, a hundred and fourteen degrees.

Rulander (synonyme, Red Elben). — This is not the German Rulander, but is only called so here, and belongs to the same class, I think, as the foregoing, which the vine and fruit resemble so closely that it is difficult to distinguish. Its juice is of deeper color, however, and the wine not white, but rather brownishyellow, of great body, but with a decided and strong aroma, resembling the best

of Hungarian wines. A moderate bearer, and a thrifty and healthy grower. Specific gravity of must, a hundred and ten degrees.

In my opinion, it is to this Southern division of the Æstivalis species to which we must look for our best and most delicate wines; and, although they may be too tender and too late for the North, they are well suited to the climate here and farther South. Seedlings grown from them may show still greater improvements. We should experiment more with them than with the Labrusca species, if we wish to obtain true wine-grapes. George Husmann.

Hermann, Mo., March 9, 1868.

CONCERNING Grapes at SanDUSKY AND VICINITY, 1867. — The early summer of 1867 filled us all with high hopes of a marvellous grape-harvest in this region. The previous year, 1866, gave us a meagre crop, but matured for the following year vines of utmost vigor with admirable fruiting-canes. Fecundation at flowering was perfect; not, as in 1866, prevented in good part by violent rainstorms, which washed away the pollen. The copious showers from the opening of spring to June started the vines into robust growth. A cessation of rain-falls came with the summer months; and we experienced through them and autumn the most remarkable drought ever known along the Lake Shore. This, with the high temperature, severe upon man and beast, and seriously damaging to the ordinary products of the field, was favorable to the grape. The leaves expanded and thickened. The young wood attained majority speedily, and ripened to the tips. The berries reached medium size at midsummer; stood still, apparently, till the latter part of September, and then swelled to unusual size. It must be admitted, however, that in July and August, though all or nearly all the causes usually deemed predisposing to disease. as sharp showers succeeded by hot suns- were absent, still the rot came, and did much damage among the Catawbas. This was especially true upon soils containing a considerable percentage of organic material.

Strange too, in August, the Catawba and Isabella exhibited an appearance of leaf so similar to mildew and its effects, as to be named such by high authorities, as Mr. Saunders of Washington. On Put-in Bay, he attributed this effect to dew; but on the islands there is no dew, and, particularly this very dry season, there had not been the faintest semblance of it. For the two months previous, there had been no rain; neither had there been any such noticeable changes of temperature as sometimes occur even in this delightful climate.

Nevertheless, abundance of leaf-power remained for the needs of the vine; and the loss by rot was balanced, in part, by the extra size finally attained by the fruit. The favoring autumn yielded other compensating results. With sparse showers and continued high temperature, the late grapes gained bountifully in quality as well as size. The tables once blessed with the sugary and aromatic fruit demanded more, and the trade became immense. The shipments began in September, and were not completed till late in December. Heavy orders for wine-grapes also came in from the South, West, and East. At home, too, the wine-merchants purchased heavy supplies; and every owner of a vineyard, nearly, thought it a safe investment to stock his cellar with these promising wines.