The wild white violets are V. blanda, lanceolata, and primulæfolia. They are common in damp soils, and, though not showy, are very pretty. V. blanda is slightly fragrant: as a rule, however, our wild violets are without perfume.

The common yellow violet is Viola pubescens: the flowers are yellow, bearded, veined with purple.

All these are worthy of a place in the garden if they are not found wild in the vicinity. They readily domesticate themselves, and increase freely from seed, sometimes so rapidly as to become weeds.

The species with leafy stems, which flower all summer, are much more desirable for the garden.

Of these we may mention V. canina var. sylvestris (V. Muhlenbergii), with light-blue flowers, and V. Canadensis, with white and blue flowers. Both are common in rich woods and damp localities, and thrive when transplanted to the garden. There are many other native violets, some of rare occurrence: all are pretty, and do well in cultivation.

A fact not generally known, is, that violets, after the spring, often produce flowers without petals all summer; and these apetalous flowers produce seed more freely than the others. The well-known pansy, heart's-ease, lady's delight, is a violet (V. tricolor in its varieties), and has, in some places, escaped from cultivation, and become naturalized.

Of European violets, there are two which have recently attracted some notice in the horticultural world; one of these, V. cornuta, a native of the Pyrenees, is a charming plant, and hardy enough to stand a New-England winter. The foliage is neat and small, light green; and the flowers are light mauve, large, and pleasantly fragrant. Almost any florist can furnish plants.

The other, V. lutea, has large, clear-yellow flowers, and, when in bloom, is very showy. It probably is not hardy enough to endure our winters.

Both of these are easily propagated by seed, cuttings, or division.

When we consider that there are at present more than a hundred known species of violets, it will at once be seen how little justice can be done to our subject in an article necessarily confined to a few pages. We would, however, in conclusion, say to all, Grow violets. No flower will give you

so much pleasure with so little care; and there is no reason why any

one having a few rods of ground may not gather violets every day in the year.

From May to November, we can have a succession of those which we have mentioned, in the open border, by only caring that the plants are not burned up by the sun. From November to May, we need the aid of a cold frame. Now, how to make it? Prepare a bed of rich soil, and, about the middle of May, procure some small plants of the English, the Neapolitan, and Giant Violets. Set these about nine inches apart, and keep the bed free from weeds, and, as it must be in a sunny situation, well watered; encourage the growth of runners, and by November the bed will be filled with a strong, vigorous growth. As soon as the ground begins to freeze at night, cover the bed with a frame, drawing on the glass at night, but giving plenty of air on warm, sunny days. The single English will begin to bloom in early autumn, and there will be plenty by the middle of November: these will be succeeded by the Giant, and these by the Neapolitan: so that a succession of bloom will be kept up until spring.

As the weather in autumn becomes colder, cover the glass with mats and shutters, so as to keep out the frost, but give light on every sunny day.

During winter, very little water will be required; and on every day when mercury is above freezing in the sun, plenty of violets may be gathered. It is a good plan to have several frames, and to open them in succession; and thus a plentiful supply may be gained.

Any one with a small sunny city-yard can raise violets; and certainly the fragrant blossoms will well repay the small outlay of time and money required.

GLEN RIDGE, April 22, 1869.

GEN. TOTLEBEN PEAR.

By MARSHALL P. WILDER, President American Pomological Society.

SIZE very large; form pyriform, approaching obovate, broad at the centre, narrowed in the neck; surface a little uneven; stem variable, generally long, sometimes an inch and a half, enlarged at the junction, inserted without depression; skin green, becoming nearly yellow at maturity, with

traces of russet, and a dull bronzy cheek; flesh tinted with rose, very melting and juicy, slightly granulous at the core; flavor pleasant, aromatic, tolerably rich, inclining to sweet, a little astringent near the skin; quality very good. Season December and January; keeps well, and has been pre

served to March; but, like many other fine pears, must be used at maturity. Tree hardy, vigorous, and prolific, inclined, from its strong growth, to ramble a little, but, with proper use of the knife, makes a good pyramid: this, on account of the size of the fruit, is the best form.

The Gen. Totleben was brought to notice in Verschaffelt's "L'Illustration Horticole," some six years since, and is now recognized as among the best new late European varieties.

MR. EDITOR, As I intimated in my former communication that I might continue it if acceptable, I send you a few criticisms on your April number:

Sub-tropical Gardening is a subject exciting much attention at the present time, and justly a matter of interest. What can be more effective than masses of cannas, than the broad leaves of the colocasia, or the tall, stately ricinus ? But pray tell us, Mr. Hovey, which of the caladiums are of value for bedding, and if they preserve their rich and varied shadings in the full blaze of our summer's sun. I doubt their value or effectiveness for this purpose, and, till further evidence is adduced, must think that the stove is the place to see caladiums in perfection. What is the value of bananas for bedding when the first windy day tears the foliage into shreds? Of the new Musa ensete we as yet know nothing, save that it is hardy enough to live in the open ground, with slight winter-protection, in the latitude of Paris, and costs at present a small fortune. It is said to stand the wind; but certainly no others of the family will do so.

The Pink Family, with some good illustrations. - Again our old friend Mr. Breck writes out of the fulness of his knowledge, starting with Gerarde's Herbal, from which he is fond of quoting, and coming down to our own day. And, speaking of Gerarde, many of our writers on horticulture could with advantage take a leaf from his book, and imitate his perspicuity and accuracy.

Hardy Apples. Here, now, is another experiment in the same direction as that on the native plums which Mr. Adair told us about in March. There is nothing in the whole range of horticulture so interesting as studying the new creations which grow up under the hand of the skilful cultivator; and I almost envy our friends in the North-west the pleasure of watching the gradual development of their crabs into great, juicy apples, as I have no doubt they will be.

VOL. V.

37

289

I think, if there had been any accidental crossing with the large varieties of apples, the marks of it would have been detected; and therefore infer that there has not been. Has the native Pyrus coronaria ever been subjected to cultivation so as to bring out any tendency to variation? If it has not, it will be soon, or our Western horticulturists are not the men I take them to be. Is there any fruit that is not capable of affording new and improved varieties under cultivation? I would not assume that there is without testing the question.

It is not long since that the grape was not more adapted to our climate than common apples are to Northern Iowa and Minnesota; and in the Croton Grape we have another instance of what perseverance and skill have done, and a prophecy of what they will yet do with the crab-apples.

A Chapter on Greenhouses. Why not say a volume? The plan is extensive enough for one. I like it; there is grace, elegance, and beauty in Mr. Lord's designs. It has been a puzzle to me why greenhouses were usually so very ugly, with every opportunity for beauty of outline, and lightness and airiness of structure. These plans of Mr. Lord's are a step in the right direction. May we be there to see when the present structure is erected; for it is safe to say that the vicinity of Boston will show none more elegant; and I think Mr. Rand may be trusted to make the floral display inside even superior to the architectural beauty of his greenhouses.

Two short articles on Abutilon vexillare and Bulbocodium vernum. -We need short articles, which, like these, are to the point. The former is a good window plant, and the latter is a gem among spring flowers; this year it bloomed with the earliest snowdrops in February.

Mr. Breck on Lawns. - Yes, a lawn is a possibility; and this article is plain, simple, and to the point. The directions on seeding are good. If any one wishes a lawn, the sooner he disabuses himself of the idea he is to make hay from it the better. If he would have it, every thing must be given up to it, and all the care directed to the one object; then success will attend his efforts; and who shall say the end will not repay the care?

I notice Mr. Burr calls attention to the unusual abundance of the Pine Grossbeak during the last winter. A friend informs me, that they were constant visitors in his garden for several months, and that the snow beneath his dwarf pear-trees was literally strewed with the fragments of the buds they had destroyed. He thinks, however, there are still sufficient buds remaining, and that, on the whole, no serious injury has been sustained.

The Pepper which your artist has so finely illustrated, and which “C. N. B.” has so well described, is a noble specimen of the capsicum family, truly; but is it new? I am inclined to think it the Sweet Spanish; for I find the Piment monstreux to be synonymous with the Sucré d'Espagne, introduced many years since by M. Vilmorin of Paris. But this fact detracts nothing from its real merits, which, I am glad to see, are fully put before your readers. Have you ever noticed that varieties of the pepper seem to lose their pungency somewhat in proportion as the fruit increases in size; so that, in the flesh of the "Monstrous," you have a modified degree of warmth or piquancy, which will prove acceptable to palates that would find the smaller and more acrid sorts decidedly disagreeable? I