236 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the apple. In these later days we probably possess over two thousand. As an 

 article of food they rank with the potato, and on account of the variety of ways 

 in which they may be served, they are far preferable to the taste of many per- 

 sons ; and if families would only substitute ripe, luscious apples for pies, cakes, 

 candies, and preserved fruits, there would be much less sickness among the 

 children, and the saving in this one item alone would purchase many barrels of 

 apples. They have an excellent effect upon the whole physical system, feeding 

 the brain as well as adding to the flesh, and keeping the blood pure ; also prevent- 

 ing constipation and correcting a tendency to acidity, which produces rheupaa- 

 tism and neuralgia. They will cool off the feverish condition of the system ; in 

 fact, they are far better for these purposes than the many nostrums which are so 

 highly praised in the advertisements, and so constantly purchased by sufferers. 

 A ripe, raw apple is entirely digested in an hour and a half, while a boiled 

 potato takes twice that time — Rural World. 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



SEEDS BEST SOWN IX THE AUTUMX. 



Most people have observed, no doubt, that self-sown seeds, that is seeds that 

 have dropped from the growing plants of the previous season, sometimes pro- 

 duce the strongest and most healthy plants that bloom the most freely. This 

 is true of several kinds, and particularly those that suffer under exposure to 

 our midsummer suns. The reason is, that self-sown seeds get a very healthy 

 growth in the spring, vegetating as soon as frost is gone, and are good-sized 

 plants by the time we usually put seeds in the ground, even if they do not start 

 in the fall. They thus mature and flower during the cool weather of spring. 

 The clarkias and nemophilas and annual larkspurs are noted examples. There 

 are several varieties of hardy annuals that do well with spring sowing that will 

 bear autumn sowing in the open ground, and reward us with early spring 

 flowers. Sweet alyssum and white candytuft will give us abundance of white 

 for early cutting, if sown in the autumn. In a sandy soil the portulaca may 

 be sown in autumn with good success. Seeds of biennials and perennials, if 

 sown early enough to produce strong little plants will flower the next summer; 

 pansies and Chinese pinks, though they bloom the first summer if sown in the 

 spring, will make much stronger plants and flower more freely and earlier if 

 young plants are grown in the autumn. — Fjc/I'.s Floral Guide. 



TRAILING ARBUTUS. 



Many attempts have been made to introduce that most delicate spring 

 flowering plant, Epigia repens, into the garden, but we have not known a single 

 instance where the effort has resulted in much of a success. The difficulty 



