Natural Soils

It is often remarked that such and such a plant does well in its natural soil. We confess our inability to define what forms a natural soil for any plant, for many plants found wild are - although identical in themselves - embedded and growing in soils of entirely different components. Observation has taught us that one plant under our artificial cultivation succeeds best in clay, another in sand or sandy loam, etc., etc., but at the same time we find that plants have the power to substitute one element for another under certain circumstances, as plants ordinarily requiring potash subsist in soils entirely void of that salt, provided in place of potash it contain soda.

Nature Printed Ferns

This must be accepted as the greatest book of the year - 23 by 15 inches: nor does its value rest on its size, for, with conductors so eminent, it were strange indeed if it proved to be other than it is - faultless.

Nature-Printed Works

We are promised a series of nature-printed botanical works by Mr. Henry Bradbury, of London. A collection of figures, of octavo size, including every species of British ferns, is being prepared, and will be issued periodically, with descriptive text by Mr. Thomas Moore. Uniform with the above will be published nature-printed British seaweeds and nature-printed British mosses. The specimens already issued are exceedingly life-life and beautiful.

Nebraska

We are glad to welcome to our audience the names of several subscribers from the new territory of Nebraska. Even amid the din of noisy men, the peaceful art of horticulture finds its followers; an evidence that everything is not swallowed up in political discord.

The Nebraska Farmer

This is a new candidate for public favor, which we take pleasure in commending. It is published monthly in the quarto form, (16 pages,) by Furnas & Lyanna, BrownViile, Nebraska. The matter is varied and well made up. Terms, $1 per year.

" That Juice" - 'We are now quite satisfied, Mr. Heyser, where some of "that juice" has gone to. Our publisher is a very polite and considerate man, and passed the samples to our " sanctum." That in the " slim bottle" is a very fair article of its kind; but the other (we " spare you not") is not so good by ever so much.

Nebulosa

Silvery green, with plainly marked dark margin.

The Begonias do not succeed well outdoors; at least, if bedded out, should have a shaded border. They require plenty of moisture and warmth, with a soil formed of peaty mould and sand. To those who have not had much experience in growing house plants, would advise them not to attempt the Begonia, only upon a limited scale: to the conservatory they are indispensable. - Ex.

Negative Artesian Wells

The Society Of Arts have published Herr Bruckmann's paper on " Negative Artesian Wells" - that is, wells which take in instead of giving out water. $uch wells serve as permanent drains; they are sunk in loose strata, or where communications exist with fathomless fissures, or with deep-lying streams. Mr. Bruckmann, who is a native of Wurtemberg, states that they may be established " in all the so-called normal or sediment formations: diluvium, tertiary deposits, chalk, Jurassic rocks," and others. And he brings forward examples of the benefits that have followed the sinking of negative wells in towns or in swampy country districts. The drainage becomes at once perfect, and constant; fluid matters of all kinds find their way to the mouth, and flow away, while solid matters may be stopped and used in fertilisation.

CORRESPONDENTs and exchanges will oblige the Editor by directing everything intended for him to Germantown -Pennsylvania.