Abies, The Spruce Fir

All the species are ornamental, and many are useful as timber-trees. They grow in dry, elevated, rich soils, though some will do well in rich, moist valleys, in the vioinity of water, or in the midst of rocks. Their diversity of growth is excessive. We have had Pygmea twenty years, and it does not exceed three feel, whilst we have had Excelsa to grow as much in one year, "Araucaria, a genus of remarkable trees, natives of the Southern Hemisphere, all of majestic growth, attaining the height of over 100 feet. We fear, that none of them will be generally hardy here, but, in Southern latitudes, they grow freely in sandy, rich soil, with a dry bottom.

Abraham Lincoln

Since changed to "The President" by its originator, (?) Mr. Plattman. Not the first time its name has been changed, as several good judges who have examined it on my grounds agree with me fully in pronouncing it the Agriculturist. Yours truly,

Wm. F. Bassett.

Absence Of Editor, Apologies

The universal demand for the services of the editor of The Horticulturist to conduct an Agricultural Editorial Excursion to the West, to act as secretary at last session of American Pomological Society at Boston, and attend various fairs as one of the judges, will sufficiently explain his absence from home and literary duties during last summer and fall.

These anxieties being all disposed of, friends of The Horticulturist will accept proper apology for any lack of interest and originality in past numbers, and the future ones shall be doubly attractive.

Acacia Diffusa, Ker. Leguminaceae

(Paxt. FL Gard) - A handsome and profuse flowering green-house shrub, with balls of bright yellow flowers, which appear in winter, and short, narrow, spine-pointed phyllodes or leaves, at the base of which a small oval gland sometimes (not always) appears. Native of Van Dieman's Land, where it is very common. It differs from A. siliculaeformis of Cunninghm in being altogether much larger, the phollodes in particular being as large again, and becoming wrinkled when dry or old. (Syn. A. prostrata, Lodd in Bok Cob).

ACACIA DIFFUSA.

Acacia Marginata, R. Brown, (Alias A. Trigona Alph De Candolla)

A handsome green-house shrub, with dark green leaves, and bright yellow blossoms appearing in April. Native of King George's Sound.

This is known in Gardens as A. cel astrifolia major, under which name the plant from which our drawing was made was exhibited by Messrs. Henderson etc 0a, of Pine Apple Place. Its long narrow curved phyllodes (leaves), shorter spikes, and downy ovary, amply distinguish it from that species. To A. myrtifolia it approaches much more nearly, as Mr. Bentham has remarked ; it seems indeed to be distinguishable only by its longer and more falcate leaves and more downy ovary. As to the A. marginata of gardens, we believe it is more frequently A. celastrifolia itself than anything else.

ACACIA MARGINATA.