Miscellaneous. 23 1 



more than the home need are quickly sold in the market. Like everything 

 else, they require care, though not as much as apple trees do. The hickory 

 nuts in the South are also proportionately larger than in the North. 

 Windsor Co., Vt. J. Wilder. 



—Prairie Farmer, Chicago, III. 



THE COUNTRY ROAD. 



From the busy fields of farmer-folk 



It starts on its winding way, 

 Goes over the hill, and across the brook, 



Where the minnows love to play ; 

 Then, past the mill with its water wheel, 



And the pond that shows the sky; 

 And up to the bridge by the village store, 



And the church with its spire so high, 



You would never think that the country roac}, 



From the hill to the store, could be 

 So long to a boy with an errand to do 



And another boy to see. 

 You can never dream how short it is 



From the farm to the frozen pond. 

 Nor how very much further it always is 



To the schoolhouse just beyond. 



Oh, the country road ! at the farther end 



It runs up hill and down, 

 Away from the woods and rippling brook 



To the toiling, rushing town. 

 But, best of all, when you're tired and sick 



Of the noisy haunts of men. 

 If you follow it back, it will lead you home 



To the woods and fields again. 



—St. Nicholas. 



A NEW GOVERNMENT EXPERIMENTAL PLANTATION. 



Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. 

 E. G. Menenhall, Kinmundy, 111.: 



Sir : — We have established upon our Arlington farm a plantation for 

 the maintenance and testing of standard as well as novel sorts of apples, 

 peaches, plums, grapes and small fruits. It is the purpose to have grow- 

 ing upon the grounds of the Department a collection of varieties which 

 shall be as nearly authentic in their trueness to name as such a collection 

 can be made. We, therefore, wish to interest originators and introducers 

 of new varieties to supply us with plants, cuttings, buds or grafts of new 



