I. AGRICULTURE AND RURAL ECONOMY. 399 



viewing all that has been said on the subject, Mr. Thistleton 

 Dyer comes to the conclusion that the only way in which 

 there is any reasonable hope of relief from the scourge is in 

 obtaining early maturing kinds. August, in England at least, 

 is the month when the disease is worst, especially if the 

 weather be both wet and warm. If the crop can be secured 

 before this period, the evil will be avoided. The production 

 of early kinds, so as to cause a systematic improvement, is 

 possible only with time, united to skill and patience. 4 A, 

 -A^oyem^er, 1872, 254. 



AID IN ADVANCING THE GEKMINATION OF SEEDS. 



As a means of promoting the germination of fruit and oth- 

 er seeds, a German horticulturist recommends the following 

 simple preparation, as tested by his own experience : Seeds 

 of apples, pears, etc., are placed in a tumbler or glass jar, 

 Avith a sufficient quantity of rain-water to cover them, and 

 kept in a room at a temperature of from 62 to 65 Fahr., 

 the w^ater to be renewed when its odor indicates spoiling^ 

 After about a fortnight the germs appear, when the seeds 

 should be slightly dried by spreading them upon a cotton or 

 woolen cloth, and then planted immediately. Locust seeds 

 and others having hard shells are equally benefited by such 

 soaking. 10 (7, 1872, vii.. 111. 



PREVENTION OF KOTTING IN FINE FEUIT. 



It very often happens that fine fruit, especially pears and 

 apples, is attacked by birds and insects so as to make a 

 Avound, which, if left to itself, will cause the fruit to rot. It 

 has been found that by cleaning out the place affected, and 

 removing all the dirt and disorganized and bruised matter, 

 and filling up the cavity w^ith plaster of Paris, farther decay 

 may be arrested, and the fruit become fully ripe. A little 

 space may be worked out from under the edges of the skin, 

 so that when the plaster is pressed inward it will keep its 

 place. The exclusion of the air, consequent upon this ap- 

 plication, is all that is necessary to prevent the progress of 

 decay. This would, of course, be inexpedient in many cases, 

 but w^hen large and valuable apples and pears are involved, 

 the trouble will be but trifling in comparison with the result 

 accomplished. 9 i?, August 12, 1872, 620. 



