Miscellaneous. ' 353 



Even if the stumps and roots of the forest are killed the or- 

 chard must still have labor expended upon it if it is to prosper. 

 There is no business that will thrive if unattended to in any land 

 for any length of time, and fruit growing is no exception. The 

 sooner people who have a little capital to invest, thoroughly appre- 

 ciate this fact the better will it be not only for them but for the 

 leal, permanent development of the South as well. The South is 

 already strewn with ragged, neglected orchards, the property of 

 non-resident owners, and these exert a deterrent influence upon the 

 intelligent, thoughtful citizen looking for a location for a home. — 

 Prairie Farmer. 



CHRISTMAS GIFTS. 



(By Minna Irving.) 



The earth is folded in the snow, 



A sound of silver bells 

 In clear and joyous harmony 



From many a steeple swells. 

 The brook, a crystal coat of mail, 



A month or more has worn. 

 And all the woods are white with frost, 



For this is Christmas morn. 



The pines in stately symmetry 



Uplift their branches green, 

 On every bough, the squirrel's prize, 



A pendant cone is seen. 

 The mistletoe upon the oak 



Reveals its clustered pearls, 

 The holly has a coral pin 



For all the boys and girls. 



Where here and there above the snow 



Remain the withered weeds. 

 The birds are sure to find a store 



Of dry and dainty seeds ; 

 For God who makes the summer rose , 



And molds the winter drift. 

 For every creature in the wood 



Has hung a Christmas gift. 



AN EXPERIMENT WITH OIL SPRAYS. 



LIVELY WORK OF THE SCALE. 



The San Jose scale is gradually but surely invading many of 

 the best orchards in the east, and fruit growers are fully alive to 

 the necessity of fighting it. It has been demonstrated over and 



H— 23 



