a man always pursues a certain consistency in all that he does, he stamps the rank of character on his actions; when he changes his plans and motives every day, we say he has no character. So, in building a city, a village, or even the cottages on a farm, let every man's house be different, (as they are in the city of New-York,) and the effect is only that of a confused jumble. But let certain portions of a city, or the whole of a village or country place, show dis. tinctly some one single pervading influence or feeling in design, and a character of dignity and importance, is at once conferred. Variety is a good thing, but it is only a secondary source of pleasure-based on the weakness, rather than the strength of man's nature. ED.

A FEW REMARKS ON CHERRIES.-Triumph of Cumberland.-I have a cherry which passes under the name of the Triumph of Cumberland, which, as far back as I can trace it, originated at the Cumberland county almshouse, (a seedling.) The last two years it has been the finest cherry among about forty varieties of all the choicest cherries now in use-of the very largest size. It would, this last, and the summer before, cast into the shade such as the Black Tartarian, Holland Bigarreau, Bigarreau de Mezel, Napoleon, and all others that I had, in point of size, and second to none in point of flavor. Its form is much like that of the Black

Eagle; it is a deep red when ripe, and it ripens about medium season.

I am satisfied that the variety is not much known out of this state, and as a nurseryman, would not attempt to give it such a recommendation, were it not that I have not a dozen trees of it for sale at present. JACOB COCKLIN, of York county, and D. MILLER, of Carlisle, have had trees of it on sale, I know, as I have got from them before now, when short of them.*

New Large Black Bigarreau.-In your work on Fruits and Fruit Trees of America, in describing the Large New Black Bigarreau, you attach a note, mentioning that it is the same as the Black Tartarian, in a former edition. Now I received grafts from A. SAUL, three years ago; among other varieties the New Large Black Bigarreau, which is by no means a Black Tartari

The Triumph of Cumberland, and the Cumberland Scedling Cherry, have been confounded. I have them both on the same tree, and cannot consider them the same.

an; it is quite as large as the Black Tartarian, but much firmer fleshed, and about eight or ten days later-I consider it a first rate cherry. I mention this so that if Messrs. SAUL & Co. have trees of the kinds sent out as the New Large Black Bigarreau, in the spring of 1848, they need not call them Black Tartarian, as they are not it by any means.

This

Bigarreau Monstreuse DeMezel.-On seeing a cut and description of the above cherry, in the Horticulturist, a few years ago, I think I was among the first to get hold of it. year it fruited finely with me, and as there has been nothing said about it since its introduction into the country, and even some reputable catalogues omit a description of it, (which I think a very good plan, so long as a fruit is not known,) I will say a word about it. I have not at hand the volume of the Horticulturist, wherein it is described, but at the time of its ripening I considered the description above named, as correct as I would undertake to make one, except the fruit is not quite so large as the cut represented; it is quite firm, excellent flavored, and ripened a little after the Black Tartarian. I consider it a splendid cherry, and, from expe rience, believe it to be an early bearer,as a small tree but two years from the bud had three cher. ries on it about four feet from the ground; they were however far inferior to those on grafts on a large tree. S. MILLER. Union Cottage, New Leb., Pa., Dec. 26, 1851.

THE IMPROVEMENT OF GARDENERS.-Sir: Being anxious to promote the profession of gardening, I will suggest the idea of gardeners and nurserymen, in the vicinity of large towns and cities, meeting to form libraries, to consist chiefly of books on Agriculture, Horticulture, Ar

History, and the leading periodicals embracing chitecture, Mathematics, Botany and Natural the above sciences, as issued from the press. It is for the benefit of both employer and employed, to combine the strictest economy with the most profitable results-and to act on that principle, a man must understand the laws of nature, and how those laws are assisted by the ingenuity of man. Whether it is in the proper tillage of the soil; or in the various crops raised from it; or in the construction and heating of buildings for growing fruits or flowers in an artificial atmosphere. The energies of the most

talented men have been employed to become acquainted with these laws, and they have left the various methods of their practice and their results, for the benefit of those after them. To purchase the various volumes necessary for the acquirement of this knowledge, would incur a greater expense than could be spared by one individual. This being the case, and feeling the want of such assistance, I would like to see a spirit roused among gardeners and nurserymen, that would, at a trifling expense to each inividual, effect the desired object.

In making an appeal to the public, to meet with the response wished for, it is necessary for them to be convinced of the utility of the object of the appeal. The persons appealed to in this instance are those connected with, or interested in gardening; and I am satisfied that those who are lovers of the art, will, themselves, assist and use their influence in their own immediate neighborhood, to cause others to lend a helping hand also. It would seem needless to enumerate the benefit that gentlemen and nurserymen would derive by employing active, intelligent men. To have such men, there must be facilities such as those suggested here, that would give them the information necessary to raise them to this standard. Now who are the employers that would not like to have such men, and how few of them there are?

The instances of stupidity and ignorance are too well known by every employer, and the little leisure of the present season could not be better employed than to form a plan and commence reading societies, before the gardening season commences. Should you find a place in your Journal for these few remarks, it may cause abler pens than mine to be employed in soliciting means for the fulfillment of the purpose, and the desired benefit be derived. THOмAS PAXTON. Staten Island, N. Y., Jan. 16,

1852.

THE YELLOWs.-Dear Sir: I have seen in the Horticulturist, many speculations and suggestions as to the cause of the Yellows of the peach tree, but none of them have been satisfactory to my mind, and I wish to suggest a new theory, or at least, one that I have not seen mentioned.

This disease may be constitutional and infectious; but having observed the commencement and progress of the disease, now prevail.

ing in all the peach orchards, I believe, without exception, through the whole length and breadth of the Connecticut river valley, south of Springfield, I am fully convinced that, in this instance, it is an epidemic.

I first observed the disease in 1846, upon a few trees, by the premature ripening of the fruit, and the small wiry branches growing upon the main stems. This appeared simultaneously in different parts of the State, upon seedlings growing on poor soil, as well as upon the choicest varieties receiving the highest culture. Since that time the disease has prevailed to such an extent, that a large number of trees have already died, and a healthy tree can scarcely be found in this section of the state. I trust you will call out some of your Yankee correspondents, who will give us some light on this subject. Very resp't yours, C. C. SAFford. Cleveland, O., Jan. 10, 1852.

NEW FUCHSIAS-F. SERRATIFOLIA.-The Fuchsia is fairly in the field as one of the fashionable and favorite flowers of the day. Hy. bridization and botanical discoveries are increasing its attractions with amazing rapidity. There is probably not another of the popular genera that has been so much improved within a space of say ten years. Its real progress may be dated from the introduction of the fulgens in 1837 or '38. The species and varieties that were in collections previous to it, were comparatively uninteresting. The distinct character, large foliage, and long elegant showy flowers, of that species, created a sort of furor among cultivators, and was the means of directing such attention to fuchsia culture and improvement, as has brought about, in so short a period of time, its present state of perfection. Hundreds of species and varieties are now in existence, and indeed hundreds of new ones are annually produced. They now occupy a place among the most brilliant objects of floral fetes, and they have become specialities among foreign growers, like the Rose and the Dahlia.

Amongst those of more recent introduction, Serratifolia is worthy of special attention, as possessing not only beauty but distinctness in its appearance and character. It is a species or sub-species introduced from Peru, by Messrs. VIETCH of Exeter, England, through their successful collector, Mr. LOBB.

Its habit is stiff and bushy, leaves of a peculiar dark green with red petioles. They are verticillate, in fours, and the flowers are produced from their axils, one from each leaf. The flowers are one and a half to two inches long, the calyx or tube of a fine bright rose, the points of the sepals or division being green; the corolla is scarlet, with a shade of orange. Altogether, when in bloom, it is a beautiful plant. We propagated it last spring for the first, and had a nice stock of young plants, but were disappointed in its not blooming with the hybrid varieties during the summer. The plants were allowed to remain on the stage in the greenhouse all summer, without any shifting or care beyond a supply of water. In the autumn, when the plants were housed, the Serratifolia was placed among the others in a cold corner, and much to our surprise, they soon began to show blossoms. They were then brought forward, and continued to bloom finely through the whole of November and December, although not over 10 or 12 inches high, late spring cuttings.

Thus you see its season of beauty just opens when most of the others are to be laid on the shelf to rest; and this trait, I consider, entitles it to particular attention, for a beautiful plant like this, blooming in the dreary winter months, is a real acquisition. This late blooming sug. gests the necessity of a different mode of treatment from the summer flowering sorts. We would in future either turn out the young plants into the border about the first of June, and repot them in September, or we would plunge the pots during summer in an open border, and manage them something like Chrysanthemums. In either of these ways we will get good strong plants and bushy, (if kept topped) that will give a superb bloom in November and December. An English gardener in a late number of the Chronicle, states that he has been very suc cessful with a treatment similar to this. His cuttings were struck early in February, and after being potted off, they were repeatedly shifted into a mixture of equal parts of loam, peat and leaf-mould with a little silver sand, until about the middle of May, keeping them well topped. By this time they were nice plants.

As soon as the weather permitted, I then turned them into the open borders where the soil was not over rich, choosing as dry a place

as possible, and no farther notice was taken of them, till the end of September, when they began to show flower buds.

He then prepared the same soil for them as before, and carefully lifted them into suitable pots, according to their size, keeping them in a close pit for a few days, and syringing them every evening, till they had recovered from the check, giving air by degrees until they could be fully exposed. He then placed them in a shaded situation until they were housed with the other green-house plants. Two year old plants he cuts back when done flowering, reduces the ball when they commence growing, and shifts them like young plants. Under this treatment they bloom from November till February. The same treatment exactly will answer here, but the plants will probably bloom sooner and last not quite so long.

Among the hybrid varieties I have noted, Pearl of England, Fair Rosamond, Manifi cent, Eliza Mielliez, President (Youell) and President Porcher, (Mielliez) are first rate, and Serratifolia multiflora, Serratifolia alba and Spectabilis will take the same rank. P. B. Rochester, N. Y., Jan. 16, 1851.

MASS. CENTRAL BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.This Association met at the green-room in the state house, at 10 yesterday morning. The Board was called to order by Hon. MARSHALL P. WILDER, the President, and SIMON BROWN, editor of the New-England Farmer, was ap pointed Secretary pro tem. The attendance was quite large, and much interest was manifested by the delegates in the objects of the board.

Reports were submitted as follows: From Mr. WILDER, delegate to the Hampshire Society; Hon. ALLEN W. DODGE, delegate to the Hamp PROCTOR, delegate to Worcester Society, and shire, Hampden and Franklin; Hon. JOHN W. also to the Bristol Society; Mr. WHITAKER, delegate to the Plymouth Society; Hon. B. V. FRENCH, delegate to the Bershire Soc.; Hon. Dr. GARDNER, delegate to the Franklin Society; Col. PAGE, delegate to the Essex Soc., and Ex-Gov. EVERETT, who attended the Middlesex Exhibition. Other reports will be submitted at a future time.

Lieut. Gov. CUSHMAN, from a committee appointed for the purpose, reported a constitution and series of by-laws for the government of the Board. The constitution styles the Board the "Massachusetts Board of Agriculture." It continues the organization of the Board as before, with the addition of an Executive Committee of five. The report was accepted and the constitution adopted.

Rev. Mr. SEWELL, from the Committee on

Manufactures, submitted the report of that committee. Mr. WILDER, from the Committee on Agricultural Education, submitted a series of resolutions, taking high grounds upon that subject. Mr. DODGE, on Milch Cows and Dairy Droducts. Mr. GORHAM, on Stock.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

Professor FOWLER, of Amherst, submitted the following resolution:

Resolved, That the President of the Massachusetts Board of Agriculture be requested to enter into a correspondence with the Presidents of the several state societies, and of other agricultural associations, on the subject of the expediency of calling a national convention for the purpose of taking into consideration the interests of agriculture in the United States.

It was discussed and unanimously adopted. Mr. WILDER then nominated for the Executive Committee of the Board, the following named gentleman: Hon. EDWARD EVERETT, JOHN W. PROCTOR, J. H. W. PAGE, B. V. FRENCH, Professor FOWLER. They were unanimously elected.

The second reading of Mr. Wilder's report on Agricultural Education was called for, and given. The following resolution was then offered by Lieut. Gov. CUSHMAN:

Resolved, That the report of the Committee on Agricultural Education be referred to the Executive Committee of this Board, with instructions to present the same to the Legislature in behalf of this Board, and urge the passage of such laws as may be necessary to carry out the principles and views contained in said report.

[The report asks for the establishment of a State Department of Agriculture, with officers commensurate with the importance of the duty to be performed; suggests the propriety and expediency of reserving a portion of the proceeds of the sales of public lands, and devoting such sum to the promotion of Ag. Science; and in short claims for Agriculture the same fostering care which is bestowed upon other interests.]

After a lengthy discussion upon the general subject of Agricultural Education, and the best mode of securing it, the resolution was adopted unanimously.

PENNSYLVANIA HORT. SOC.-The stated meet

ing of this Society was held on Tuesday evening Jan. 20, 1852. E. W. Keyser, V. P., in the chair. A few objects of interest were presented, notwithstanding the severity of the weather, which were-a beautiful basket of eut flowers, of choice kinds; among them were a raceme of

The special committee on nominations, submitted a ticket to be voted for at the annual meeting, and a report descanting fully on the subject of the President's determination to decline a re-election, expressing regret thereat, and fully setting forth his services, and the advantages he, by his liberality, has rendered to the cause of Horticul ture in this community; likewise alluding to the course of proceeding of the Society in the encouragement of the cause, by a liberal expenditure in its awards, and anticipating a hope that so useful a society may yet be the recipient of donations and legacies to enable it to establish what was originally contemplated, a Botanic Garden; ending with a recommendation that a committee be appointed to devise some suitable testimonial to Mr. Cope, in appreciation of the good he has effected.

The Annual Meeting was organized by calling Mr. J. J. Vanderkemp, to the Chair, and appointing J. E. Mitchell Secretary. The election for officers resulted as follows:

President-Gen. Robert Patterson. Vice-Presidents-Jas. Dundas, E. W. Keyser, Joshua Longstreth, Dr. W. D. Brinckle.

D.

Treasurer-John Thomas.

Corresponding Secretary-Thomas C. Percival.
Recording Secretary-Thomas P. James.

Professor of Entomology-Samuel S. Haldeman, A.M.
Professor of Botany-William Darlington, M. D.
Professor of Horticultural Chemistry-Robert Hare, M.

A committee of five members to devise the suitable testimonial (as recommended) to Mr. Cope, was appointed. THO. P. JAMES, Recording Secretary.

Auswers to Correspondents.

B. W., (Cayuga.)-The fruit buds of the peach are usually destroyed when the thermometer sinks to 12° or 13° below zero of Fahr. You may ascertain now if the mischief is done, by slicing a bud across with a sharp knife; if the center or heart of the bud, is brown or black, instead of green, (its natural color,) there will be no fruit from that bud. It will blossom, but the fruit will not set. It does not always follow, however, that even this temperature will destroy the embryo fruit-because if the bud thaws gradually, in cloudy weather, it will escape-the sun striking in the branches after so cold a night, does the harm, and hence trees quite in the shade, often escape entirely, though equally exposed to the frost.

SELECT ROSES.-A Young Florist, (NewYork.) We recommend one dozen hardy ev

um venustum, and a moss covered urn, bearing fine flowers. Also another beautiful flower of the Victoria Regia, the thirty-eighth produced by Mr. Cope's plant; the bud was cut and brought in, carefully protected from the cold, and when taken out it expanded handsomely, and was a perfect specimen, of smaller dimensions than those shown at recent meetings. Dishes of Pears were shown-the "Niles" variety, from Wm. V. Pettit, the Easter Beurre from H. W. S. Cleveland--a winter variety, from N. Lott, Reading, Pa., and of Apples, the "Northern Soy," from J. J. Thomas, Macedon, N. Y.; the "Keim" from C. Kessler, Reading. There was a large table of culinary vegetables from Miss Gratz's garden.

The library committee presented their annual report, by which it appears that the library contains upwards of nine hundred and fifty volumes, on subjects solely appropriate.

Madam Laffay, Giant des Batailles, Baron Prevost, William Jesse, La Reine, Duchess of Sutherland, Aubernon; Bourbons-Madame Desprez, Bouqet de Flore, Souvenir de Malmaison, Pierre de St. Cyr, Mrs. Bosanquet. A dozen best Roses for pot culture, are the following: Saffrano. Princesse Marie, Souvenir de Malmai son, Devoniensis, Compte de Paris, Mrs. Bosanquet, Eugene Beauharnois, Niphelos, Queen of Lombardy, Hermosa; and for larger pots, the

branches to be trained, Solfaterre, and Cloth of Gold. The best hardy Climbing Roses for "the most northern states," are Boursalt Elegans, Blush Boursalt, Queen of the Prairies, Balti. more Belle, Superba, and Eva Corinne. Wiegela rosea, is, so far as tried, hardy all over the north. SELECT FRUITS.-Ibid. The best half-dozen Strawberries for family use, are Large Early Scarlet, Burr's New Pine, Hovey's Seedling, Hudson, Crimson Cone. The best half-dozen Plums, do., Green Gage, Imperial Gage, Purple Favorite, Smith's Orleans, Coe's Golden Drop, Frost Gage.

MAGNOLIAS.-F. T., (Maine.) The only Magnolia known to be hardy in Maine, is the Cucumber Tree, M. accuminata. But as M. conspicua, and M. soulangiana, have borne 20° below zero, on the Hudson, without injury to any part except the flower buds, you might make trial of these beautiful Chinese varieties with confidence. Tulips kept out of the ground all winter, will be worth very little in the spring. TREE SEEDS.-J. M. M., (Tompkins county, N. Y.) Seeds of some of the ornamental trees may be had of Thorburn & Co., New-York, and Buist, Philadelphia; but a general assortment is not kept anywhere in this country. Mahaleb cherry stones, cannot probably be had short of France.

BLACK ROSES.—A Lady, New-Haven.) The old story of grafting a rose on a black currant, is a pure absurdity; first, because the graft would not take, and second, because the color would not be changed if it did. The darkest roses are only a dark reddish purple; the black hollyhock is the most decidedly black flower produced by cultivation.

LAWNS.-W. R. S., (New-London.) If you wish a lawn at once, don't commit the folly of planting oats, or any other crop, with your grass seed-but plant only the grass seed itself, three times as thick as usual, and you will have a close turf by July. The soil must be made deep by trenching or sub-soil plowing, if you wish to maintain the verdure through the season. Either red-top or blue-grass, mixed with white clover, mikes the best lawns; threefourths of either of the former, to one-fourth of the latter. Sow as early in the spring as the ground is mellow and dry enough, and roll the surface perfectly smooth afterwards.

MONARCH PEAR.-A Pomoligist, (New-Bedford.) Our opinion is, that in spite of the high reputation made for Mr. KNIGHT's pears abroad, not one of them is above second rate in the United States-some of them far below that.

OSAGE ORANGE.-W. Brenner. This unusu ally cold winter will settle the hardiness of this hedge plant in all parts of the country. But you must remember that because a young hedge two years old, is cut down to the ground, it does not follow that a full grown hedge would not defy the frost-the wood of the first being sappy from luxuriant growth-that of the latter being firm and mature, from constant pruning and stopping the hedge.

GRAFTING.-P. Wilson. In grafting over full grown orchard trees, it is the better mode to graft the top branches the first year, and the side branches the second year. This equalizes the distribution of the sap, and produces a much better head. Rhode Island Greenings and Bald. wins, are more regular and heavy bearers than the others in your list.

GREEN-HOUSE.-M., (Albany.) We suspect the want of healthy growth in your greenhouse, is from the high temperature at which you keep it during the night. This forces the plants to grow most in the dark-with very little pure fresh air to grow in. Keep the temperature always much lower at night than in the day time, and continue, if possible, to introduce fresh air warmed-by passing it over the flues or furnace in some sort of air chamber.

KEEPING FLOWERS FRESH.-A Young Reader, (Charleston.) Flowers fade so soon because the juices of the leaves evaporate through the pores-and the dryer and warmer the room, the more rapidly the flowers fade. If you wish to keep them fresh for a long time, keep them under a glass shade; or shut up a favorite boquet at night, in a covered box, sprinkling the flowers plentifully before hand. In the morning you will find them quite fresh-they having taken up moisture through the pores of both leaf and flower.

CHERRY STOCKS.-J. T., (Moundville, Wis.) The choke cherry, (C. serotina,) has been used as a stock, but it is somewhat difficult to make the cultivated varieties take upon it. The quality of the fruit is also somewhat deteriorated by

the stock.