This section is from the book "The Gardener's Monthly And Horticulturist V25", by Thomas Meehan. See also: Four-Season Harvest: Organic Vegetables from Your Home Garden All Year Long.
Just before leaving home we had a cactus from A. L. Siler, which though with long mammae was evidently an Echinocactus, and which we could not identify with any described species. On our return we find Dr. Engelmann has named it E. Sileri. As it bloomed with us the flower was greenish and not very showy, but the plant is very pretty and will be very welcome in collections of half-hardy cacti.
"J. W. K.," Denton, Md., sends a leaf of a peach which is two-leaved at the apex, and but a single leaf at the base.
The manner in which nature goes about to make these monstrosities is not very clear; and the reason still less. All we can say is, that in making things she seems to have no exact mould by which everything is cast out, but sometimes goes a little beyond or a little short of what is needful to make the perfect thing.
A company has been formed to continue the business of the late Mr. Hooker of Rochester. M. G. Hooker, E. B. Taylor, and Robert Ades, are the officers.
These have been purchased by J. M. Rulifson, who proposes to maintain it as one of the first-class establishments of the South.
These celebrated nurseries will be continued as heretofore, the widow, representing the interests of her late husband.
Mr. Chas. B. Ott, a very successful orchardist, of Bucks County, Pa., is among the deceased of last month. He was one of the first to bring into prominent notice the merits of the Water apple of that section, and his block of the Red Astrachan apple was quite noted for its profitable returns.
One part of this great work was issued several years ago. It will delight all interested in American plants to know that the other part, which will include the very difficult Compositae, is about to be put to press.
This famous botanist, long past three score and ten, left for his native land in June, and, considering his age, it is feared he may not return to his adopted country.
The Journal of Horticulture says that Manetti Rose stocks, "rightly prepared," do not produce suckers in England.
American grown plants of Tuberoses have such large roots that they have had great popularity in Europe. It is now said that those of the French growers in Algiers are superior to the American - about double the size, some say. The stems grow five to six feet high, and bear about twenty-five flowers to a spike.
 
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