ment in circumference of the largest fruit? These questions being answered, we may then judge of the size and value of the variety. The weights of Hovey's Seedlings, which have taken prizes, are on record, and for the convenience of those who do not wish to turn back to find them, we now give here :

Six berries exhibited in 1847, weighed three and a half

ounces.

Six berries exhibited in 1848, weighed three ounces seventeen grains.

The average measurement of these specimens was about five and a half inches in circumference. Comparing these data with those of McAvoy's Superior, when they are published, we may form some estimate, other qualities being equal, of the value of this new variety, and of the justice of the award of the Cincinnati Horticultural Society. We hope Dr. Warder will give us the required information, through his excellent journal.

Several new seedling strawberries, as will be seen by our reports of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, have been exhibited this year, but though very good of themselves, they have not come up to that standard required of a new variety, viz., that it should be at least as good, if not better, than any kind already grown.

We notice in the Rural New Yorker, that a writer speaks of the excellence of the Bishop's Orange strawberry, a variety discarded by the cultivators around Boston years ago; and one which was struck from the list of the London Horticultural Society. It has greatly surprised us to see this old sort now spoken of, "as possessing the very finest qualities."

Scarcely a new seedling has been raised the last ten years, of any merit at all, but what was better than Bishop's Orange. Indeed, any person, with carefully selected seed, could be certain of a better variety. It is very acid, of only medium size, and the fruit is borne on such short stems, that it lies upon the ground, and is greatly injured by heavy rains.

In our last Number, in the Report of the Massachusetts

Horticultural Society, will be found the Report of the Fruit Committee, upon thirty varieties of strawberries, presented by J. P. Cushing, Esq. They included all the prominent kinds which have recently been brought to notice, and a careful perusal of the report will at once give a tolerably fair estimate of the kinds. Several of them were very fine, others good, while many of them were indifferent, and we might say, worthless. Though well grown, with much care by Mr. Cushing, none of them were what would be called large. The Black Prince was among the kinds; but with all due deference to the opinion of others, we even do not class it so high as the committee, who call it "below medium quality." It is a very dark, dull looking fruit, with prominent seeds, and the flesh is coarse, woolly, and almost tasteless. Burr's New Pine is a pale looking berry, of moderate size, and delicate flavor, but wanting in the rich character of the Pine. strawberries. It greatly resembles the Chili, and appears to have been raised from that parentage. Most of the others were too ordinary to require particular notice.

NEW CHERRIES.-Several new varieties of cherries have fruited the present year, but with the exception of some native seedlings, none of them come up to the Black Eagle, Tartarian, &c. The Hon. M. P. Wilder exhibited the Cerise de Xavier, and Cerise de Spa, both acid cherries; Buttner's Black Heart, of good size and firm flesh, but not tender or high flavored; Bigarreau de Mezel, large, but not very rich; Bigarreau Noir Tardif, of medium size, very dark, sweet and good; Guigne Blanche, small, late and sweet; it appears to be identical with the Transparent, of some writers; De Holstein, a round red cherry of medium size, very good.

Messrs. Hovey & Co. also exhibited their new Seedling, which is very late, of the largest size, extremely beautiful and excellent.

THE KINGSLEY APPLE.-The specimens of this apple, which we noticed in our last, did not come up to our expectations. The fruit is below medium size, but of good appearance, and that it keeps well we had the best evidence before us in the remarkably sound specimens eaten the first week in

July but beyond its late keeping, we cannot, from what we have so far seen of it, give it any other character than that of a late keeping fruit: perhaps our specimens were not in their best condition, but judging from them, we should set it down as only of medium quality, possessing very little flowercertainly bearing no comparison with the Roxbury Russet, English Russet, Baldwin and Northern Spy, all in eating nearly at the same period.

ART. VI. Description of Twelve New Verbenas.
By the EDITOR.

WE continue our descriptive account of new verbenas, from our last volume (XVI, p. 275,) up to which time we have described in our pages all the valuable varieties which have been produced in this country, and most of the foreign ones, which have been introduced.

We have often alluded to the very great great improvement which has been made in the verbena ; and last year, in noticing some of the new ones which originated with the French cultivators, we remarked that their seedlings were taking the place of those of the English florists: this appears to have been true, for of all that have been introduced into collections here, a larger part are of French origin, and they are generally superior in the richness and variety of their coloring, as well as in the large size of their flowers, and the fine habit of the plants.

We trust our cultivators will not abandon a field, so rich and beautiful in its products, and where results are so speedily obtained, even with the fine sorts before them which have

There is no reason why

recently been received from abroad. we should not go on improving all the more; for with the improved sorts to aid them, there is good reason to hope for still greater results. We have several new seedlings, a few of which are very remarkable; one a magnificent white, and the other a superb striped one, which we shall hereafter describe; but with the exception of these, we have not seen an

American seedling distinct or new in color raised the last year.

We repeat, that we hope our amateurs and nurserymen will each make renewed efforts to produce seedlings, confident that, with proper attention, they can raise varieties which will equal if not surpass any yet introduced.

1. HEROINE (Dufoy's.) Flowers large, light blue, with dark eye; petals large, flat, well formed and of good substance; umbels very large, moderately compact, and rather flat; habit vigorous, similar to Defiance, but the trusses of flowers are rather short stemmed and do not elevate themselves sufficiently above the lateral clusters of buds: foliage medium size, good. It is a superb variety of this color.

2. PAUL AND VIRGINIA, (Demoureau.) Flowers medium size, pink with a deep rose centre; petals medium size, somewhat starry, nearly flat, and of good substance; umbels large, well formed, moderately compact; habit moderately vigorous, similar to Reine du Jour, but the flower stems are longer and more erect; foliage good. A distinct and fine variety, blooming very freely.

3. ECLIPSE, (Dufoy's.) Flowers large, pale rose, with a large and deep purple centre; petals well formed, of good substance but rather too much cupped at the edges; umbels large, moderately compact and well formed; habit moderately vigorous, similar to Reine du Jour; foliage good. A distinct and showy verbena.

4. MORPHE' (Dufoy's.) Flowers large, of a deep bluish purple, with a light eye; petals large, finely formed, and of excellent substance; umbels large, moderately compact, and well formed. Habit vigorous, similar to Heroine, which it somewhat resembles in color, though darker; foliage good." A superb variety.

5. ADELE', (Chauviere.) Flowers large, rosy lilac, with a distinct light purple centre, and white eye; petals large, flat, well formed and of good substance; umbels good size, tolerably compact, presenting a fine circle and well up in the centre; habit vigorous and good; foliage good.

6. TALLEYRAND, (Defosse.) Flowers medium size, lilac mottled; petals large, well formed, and of good substance;

umbels large, compact, good shape, well up in the centre; habit similar to Adelé; foliage good.

7. ECLIPSE, (Epps.) Flowers medium size, fine rose, distinctly lined on each side of the petals with blush white; petals of medium size, rather starry and of good substance; umbels good size, nearly flat; habit moderately vigorous, extending rapidly and very high up or trailing; foliage good. This is quite a new and distinct variety, and from its trailing habit well adapted for vases.

8. WHITE PERFECTION, (Smith.) Flowers of medium size, pure white; petals medium size, of fine form, and tolerable substance; umbels medium size, compact and fair form; habit similar to Suzette, which it resembles, and is no improvement upon it.

9. SUNSET, (Turner.) Flowers large, deep cherry; petals very large, of good form and substance; umbels very large, moderately compact, well formed; habit vigorous, very similar to Beauty Supreme, which it resembles, but the trusses are much larger.

10. WONDERFUL, (Perry.) Flowers medium size, blush white, with fine eye; petals large, well formed and slightly cupped, and of good substance; umbels of good size, compact and well formed; habit moderately vigorous; foliage good.

11. UNION JACK. Flowers medium size, deep crimson scarlet, with a distinct yellow eye; petals medium size, well formed and of excellent substance; umbels moderate size, of fine circular outline, well up in the centre, rather compact; habit moderately vigorous and good; foliage small, good. A very brilliant variety.

12. BEAUTY OF RYE, (Turner's.) Flowers medium size, clear cherry, with yellow eye; petals medium size, well formed; umbels fair size and good form; habit moderately vigorous; foliage small.

Several other foreign varieties have been introduced, but we have not seen them sufficiently to give a description. Their names are as follows:-Clotilde, Sir Seymour Blanc, (white), Ariadne, Sea Bird, Graciosa, (mottled blue,) Malvina, &c. &c.