A jolly-looking preacher is Jack, standing erect in his parti-colored
pulpit with a sounding-board over his head; but he is a gay deceiver, a
wolf in sheep’s clothing, literally a “brother to dragons,” an arrant
upstart, an ingrate, a murderer of innocent benefactors! “Female
botanizing classes pounce upon it as they would upon a pious young
clergyman,” complains Mr. Ellwanger. A poor relation of the stately
calla lily one knows Jack to be at a glance, her lovely white robe
corresponding to his striped pulpit, her bright yellow spadix to his
sleek reverence. In the damp woodlands where his pulpit is erected
beneath leafy cathedral arches, minute flies or gnats, recently emerged
from maggots in mushrooms, toadstools, or decaying logs, form the main
part of his congregation.

Sku: wildflowers02

In the descriptive ballad which follows, it will be evident that I have
endeavoured to preserve the style of a gossip, and to transmit the
memorial of a custom, the extent or antiquity of which I am not acquainted
with, and pretend not to enquire.
In Suffolk husbandry the man who, (whether by merit or by sufferance I
know not) goes foremost through the harvest with the scythe or the sickle,
is honoured with the title of “_Lord_,” and at the Horkey, or harvest-home
feast, collects what he can, for himself and brethren, from the farmers
and visitors, to make a “frolick” afterwards, called “the largess
spending.” By way of returning thanks, though perhaps formerly of much
more, or of different signification, they immediately leave the seat of
festivity, and with a very long and repeated shout of “a largess,” the
number of shouts being regulated by the sums given, seem to wish to make
themselves heard by the people of the surrounding farms. And before they
rejoin the company within, the pranks and the jollity I have endeavoured
to describe, usually take place. These customs, I believe, are going fast
out of use; which is one great reason for my trying to tell the rising
race of mankind that such were the customs when I was a boy.

Sku: wildflowers

The general design of the following sheets is to inlist Imagination
under the banner of Science, and to lead her votaries from the looser
analogies, which dress out the imagery of poetry, to the stricter ones,
which form the ratiocination of philosophy. While their particular design
is to induce the ingenious to cultivate the knowledge of BOTANY; by
introducing them to the vestibule of that delightful science, and
recommending to their attention the immortal works of the Swedish
Naturalist LINNEUS.
In the first Poem, or Economy of Vegetation, the physiology of Plants
is delivered; and the operation of the Elements, as far as they may be
supposed to affect the growth of Vegetables. But the publication of this
part is deferred to another year, for the purpose of repeating some
experiments on vegetation, mentioned in the notes.

Sku: botanicgarden02

Cucurbita maxima (pumpkin) is believed to have originated in South America, while the other species
became differentiated in the southern U.S.A, Mexico and Central America. Pumpkins are now grown all
over the world with the exception of Antarctica.
Pumpkin belongs to the Cucurbitacae family, which includes cucumber, melon and squash. Within this
family is the genus Cucurbita which includes all varieties of pumpkin.
Pumpkin plants are hardy creepers or soil surface runners, but able to climb where there are supports. The
fruits vary in shape, colour and sizes. They are monoecious and can be bred from pure lines.
Pumpkins are cultivated for their ripe fruit with the seeds in the central cavity and the yellow or orange flesh
being eaten. Pumpkin contains an important antioxidant, beta-carotene, which is converted to vitamin A in
the body. In the conversion to vitamin A, beta-carotene performs many important functions in overhall
health. Research suggests that pumpkin seeds have unique nutritional and health benefits.

Sku: pampkin

What is Botany? The pupils are very apt to say at first that it is
learning about _flowers_. The teacher can draw their attention to the fact
that flowers are only a part of the plant, and that Botany is also the
study of the leaves, the stem, and the root. Botany is the science of
_plants_. Ask them what the Geranium is. Tell them to name some other
plants. The teacher should keep a few growing plants in the schoolroom for
purposes of illustration.Ask them what else there is in the world besides plants. By this question
the three kingdoms, animal, vegetable, and mineral, are brought up. It
will give occasion for a discussion of the earth and what it contains, the
mountains, formed of rocks and soil,

Sku: lessonsinbotany

In the fall of 1890 Dr. George Vasey, then Botanist of the
Department of Agriculture, arranged with me to prepare a revision
of North American Cactaceae. Owing to the peculiar difficulty of
preserving material the family was poorly represented, even in
our leading herbaria. To secure a large amount of additional
material in the way of specimens and field notes the Department
authorized me to visit the region of the Mexican boundary during
the summer of 1891. Preliminary to this exploration it was
necessary to examine the Engelmann collection of Cactaceae, in
the possession of the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Sku: northamericanspecies

Wherever there is soil, plants grow and produce their kind, and all
plants are interesting; when a person makes a choice as to what plants
he shall grow in any given place, he becomes a gardener or a farmer; and
if the conditions are such that he cannot make a choice, he may adopt
the plants that grow there by nature, and by making the most of them may
still be a gardener or a farmer in some degree.
Every family, therefore, may have a garden. If there is not a foot of
land, there are porches or windows. Wherever there is sunlight, plants
may be made to grow; and one plant in a tin-can may be a more helpful
and inspiring garden to some mind than a whole acre of lawn and flowers
may be to another.The satisfaction of a garden does not depend on the area, nor, happily,
on the cost or rarity of the plants. It depends on the temper of the
person. One must first seek to love plants and nature, and then to
cultivate the happy peace of mind that is satisfied with little.

Sku: manualgardening

Abelia.–Very ornamental evergreen shrubs, bearing tubular,
funnel-shaped flowers. They succeed in any ordinary soil if the
situation is warm and sheltered, and are readily raised by cuttings.
Height, 3 ft. to 4 ft.
Abies _(Spruce Firs)_.–Among these ornamental conifers mention may be
made of the beautiful Japanese Spruce Ajanensis, which grows freely
in most soils and has dual-coloured leaves–dark green on the upper
surface and silvery white underneath; this makes a grand single
specimen anywhere. The White Spruce (_Abies Alba Glauca_) is a rapid
grower, but while it is small makes a lovely show in the border; it
prefers a moist situation. Of the slow-growing and dwarf varieties
Gregorii is a favourite. The Caerulea, or Blue Spruce, is also very
beautiful. Clanbrasiliana is a good lawn shrub, never exceeding 4 ft.
in height. The Pigmy Spruce (_A. Pygmea_) is the smallest of all firs,
only attaining the height of 1 ft. Any of these may be increased by
cuttings.

Sku: gardeningformillion

A taste for floriculture is spreading amongst Anglo-Indians. It is a
good sign. It would be gratifying to learn that the same refining taste
had reached the Natives also–even the lower classes of them. It is a
cheap enjoyment. A mere palm of ground may be glorified by a few radiant
blossoms. A single clay jar of the rudest form may be so enriched and
beautified with leaves and blossoms as to fascinate the eye of taste. An
old basket, with a broken tile at the top of it, and the root of the
acanthus within, produced an effect which seemed to Calimachus, the
architect, “the work of the Graces.” It suggested the idea of the
capital of the Corinthian column, the most elegant architectural
ornament that Art has yet conceived.
Flowers are the poor man’s luxury; a refinement for the uneducated. It
has been prettily said that the melody of birds is the poor man’s music,
and that flowers are the poor man’s poetry.

Sku: flower-gardens

A BOOK OF
Fruits & Flowers.

SHEWING
The Nature and Use of them, either
for Meat or Medicine.
AS ALSO:
To Preserve, Conserve, Candy, and in Wedges,
or Dry them. To make Powders, Civet bagges,
all sorts of Sugar-works, turn’d works in Sugar,
Hollow, or Frutages; and to Pickell them.
_And for Meat._
To make Pyes, Biscat, Maid Dishes, Marchpanes, Leeches,
and Snow, Craknels, Caudels, Cakes, Broths, Fritter-stuffe,
Puddings, Tarts, Syrupes, and Sallets.

Sku: fruitsandflowers

Comprehensive history of Charles Darwin’s knowledge on flower types. Showing his knowledge of the world around him in great detail.

INTRODUCTION.

CHAPTER I.
HETEROSTYLED DIMORPHIC PLANTS: PRIMULACEAE.

Primula veris or the cowslip.–Differences in structure between the two forms.–
Their degrees of fertility when legitimately and illegitimately united.–P.
elatior, vulgaris, Sinensis, auricula, etc.–Summary on the fertility of the
heterostyled species of Primula.–Homostyled species of Primula.–Hottonia
palustris.–Androsace vitalliana.

CHAPTER II.
HYBRID PRIMULAS.

The oxlip a hybrid naturally produced between Primula veris and vulgaris.–The
differences in structure and function between the two parent-species.–Effects
of crossing long-styled and short-styled oxlips with one another and with the
two forms of both parent-species.–Character of the offspring from oxlips
artificially self-fertilised and cross-fertilised in a state of nature.–Primula
elatior shown to be a distinct species.–Hybrids between other heterostyled
species of Primula.–Supplementary note on spontaneously produced hybrids in the
genus Verbascum.
CHAPTER III.
HETEROSTYLED DIMORPHIC PLANTS–continued.

Linum grandiflorum, long-styled form utterly sterile with own-form pollen.–
Linum perenne, torsion of the pistils in the long-styled form alone.–Homostyled
species of Linum.–Pulmonaria officinalis, singular difference in self-fertility
between the English and German long-styled plants.–Pulmonaria angustifolia
shown to be a distinct species, long-styled form completely self-sterile.–
Polygonum fagopyrum.–Various other heterostyled genera.–Rubiaceae.–Mitchella
repens, fertility of the flowers in pairs.–Houstonia.–Faramea, remarkable
difference in the pollen-grains of the two forms; torsion of the stamens in the
short-styled form alone; development not as yet perfect.–The heterostyled
structure in the several Rubiaceous genera not due to descent in common.

CHAPTER IV.
HETEROSTYLED TRIMORPHIC PLANTS.

Lythrum salicaria.–Description of the three forms.–Their power and complex
manner of fertilising one another.–Eighteen different unions possible.–Mid-
styled form eminently feminine in nature.–Lythrum Graefferi likewise
trimorphic.–L. hymifolia dimorphic.–L. hyssopifolia homostyled.–Nesaea
verticillata trimorphic.–Lagerstroemia, nature doubtful.–Oxalis, trimorphic
species of.–O. Valdiviana.–O. Regnelli, the illegitimate unions quite barren.-
-O. speciosa.–O. sensitiva.–Homostyled species of Oxalis.–Pontederia, the one
monocotyledonous genus known to include heterostyled species.

CHAPTER V.
ILLEGITIMATE OFFSPRING OF HETEROSTYLED PLANTS.

Illegitimate offspring from all three forms of Lythrum salicaria.–Their dwarfed
stature and sterility, some utterly barren, some fertile.–Oxalis, transmission
of form to the legitimate and illegitimate seedlings.–Primula Sinensis,
illegitimate offspring in some degree dwarfed and infertile.–Equal-styled
varieties of P. Sinensis, auricula, farinosa, and elatior.–P. vulgaris, red-
flowered variety, illegitimate seedlings sterile.–P. veris, illegitimate plants
raised during several successive generations, their dwarfed stature and
sterility.–Equal-styled varieties of P. veris.–Transmission of form by
Pulmonaria and Polygonum.–Concluding remarks.–Close parallelism between
illegitimate fertilisation and hybridism.

CHAPTER VI.
CONCLUDING REMARKS ON HETEROSTYLED PLANTS.

The essential character of heterostyled plants.–Summary of the differences in
fertility between legitimately and illegitimately fertilised plants.–Diameter
of the pollen-grains, size of anthers and structure of stigma in the different
forms.–Affinities of the genera which include heterostyled species.–Nature of
the advantages derived from heterostylism.–The means by which plants became
heterostyled.–Transmissionplants.–Final remarks.

POLYGAMOUS, DIOECIOUS, AND GYNO-DIOECIOUS PLANTS.

The conversion in various ways of hermaphrodite into dioecious plants.–
Heterostyled plants rendered dioecious.–Rubiaceae.–Verbenaceae.–Polygamous
and sub-dioecious plants.–Euonymus.–Fragaria.–The two sub-forms of both sexes
of Rhamnus and Epigaea.–Ilex.–Gyno-dioecious plants.–Thymus, difference in
fertility of the hermaphrodite and female individuals.–Satureia.–Manner in
which the two forms probably originated.–Scabiosa and other gyno-dioecious
plants.–Difference in the size of the corolla in the forms of polygamous,
dioecious, and gyno-dioecious plants.

CHAPTER VIII.
CLEISTOGAMIC FLOWERS.

General character of cleistogamic flowers.–List of the genera producing such
flowers, and their distribution in the vegetable series.–Viola, description of
the cleistogamic flowers in the several species; their fertility compared with
that of the perfect flowers.–Oxalis acetosella.–O. sensitiva, three forms of
cleistogamic flowers.–Vandellia.–Ononis.–Impatiens.–Drosera.–Miscellaneous
observations on various other cleistogamic plants.–Anemophilous species
producing cleistogamic flowers.–Leersia, perfect flowers rarely developed.–
Summary and concluding remarks on the origin of cleistogamic flowers.

–The chconclusions which may be drawn from the observations in this volume.

Sku: FlowDarwn

124 pages of writings by Helen Johnson about life & love.

PREFACE.

An observance of the hand of God in his providences, as well as of his
Spirit in the written Word and in the human heart, has led to the
publication of this book. Though more than twenty years hare passed
since Miss JOHNSON died, her name is like “an ointment poured forth.”
Many who never knew her personally seem to know her well from her
poetic writings: for “as fragrance to the sense of smell, music to the
ear, or beauty to the eye, so is poetry to the sensibilitiheart,–it ministers to a want of our intellectual nature;

Sku: CanWldFlowers

An expose of how to use fruits & flowers.

A BOOK OF Fruits & Flowers.

SHEWING

The Nature and Use of them, either
for Meat or Medicine.

AS ALSO:

To Preserve, Conserve, Candy, and in Wedges,
or Dry them. To make Powders, Civet bagges,
all sorts of Sugar-works, turn’d works in Sugar,
Hollow, or Frutages; and to Pickell them.

And for Meat.

To make Pyes, Biscat, Maid Dishes, Marchpanes, Leeches,
and Snow, Craknels, Caudels, Cakes, Broths, Fritter-stuffe,
Puddings, Tarts, Syrupes, and Sallets.

For Medicines.

To make all sorts of Poultisses, and Serecloaths for any member
swell’d or inflamed, Ointments, Waters for all Wounds, and Cancers,
Salves for Aches, to take the Ague out of any place Burning or
Scalding; For the stopping of suddain Bleeding, curing the Piles,
Ulcers, Ruptures, Coughs, Consumptions, and killing of Warts, to
dissolve the Stone, killing the Ring-worme, Emroids, and Dropsie,
Paine in the Ears and Teeth, Deafnesse.

Sku: FruitFlowers

Full & comprehensive gardening guide to seeding, grafting, planting, and garden management.

• Soil, fencing, laying out of gardens
• Making of hot beds & houses
• Propagation & cultivation
• Vegetables & herbs
• Fruit, flowers
• Bedding, suckers, slips, grafting

And more…

Sku: AmericanGardener