»4 



THE FARM AND GARDEN. 



(gOF^I^ESPONDENGE. 



7b 6c a good letter wHter is said to be one of the 

 aecomplishments. The shorter a business letter ^ and 

 the more pointed it is^ the greater the accomplishiiient. 



Write to an editor vAthout an apologjj, Nevei- say 

 you. hate to trouble him ; that troubles him morejh^in 

 €Ul you write. He loves business, not apologies. 



Jobn Williams, Wabeish County, Illinois, asks : 

 What is the legal size of the apple barrel? Ans.: 

 Unfortunately for our apple Interests there is no 

 legal standard of size for all the states, and the 

 size of apple barrels is about as definite as the 

 saying is, "as large as a piece of chalk." The 

 New York standard Is 100 quarts dry measuie, 

 but the law is not enforced, and the size of bar- 

 rels is of the same unknown size as ever. There 

 ■hoald be a standard size, which would be better 

 for both buyer and seller. 



J. T. Dixon, Hutchinson CJounty, Dakotah, 

 asks about the postage on seeds, plants, cuttings, 

 roots, &c. Answer: Tlie Post Omce department 

 rates seeds, cuttings, &r., as fourth-class matter, 

 subject to postage at the rate of one cent per 

 ounce or fracti»->n of an ounce. The fourth-class 

 also includes samples of merchandise, samples 

 of ores, metals, and m my other articles which 

 cap be easily and cheaply sent by mail. No pack- 

 age can exceed four pounds. Articles can safely 

 oe sent by mail. r 



J. G. M., Mnntpeller. Vermont, asks can we 



frow amber cane In Vermont. Answer : Cer- 

 ainly you can ; but what good would it do you 

 only for soiling or fodder. Your season is too 

 abort for it to ripen to make cheap sugar, and 

 sugar making machinery Is too expensive for a 

 farmer to buy, unless thousands of acres are 

 planted. Molasses can be made by cheap mills 

 and a little expense. 



John M. Olll, Yazoo, Mississippi, asks what are 

 the merits of the Le Conte pear for profit in Mis- 

 sissippi. Answer : The Le Conte will grow and 

 produce well with you. The question about the 

 profit depends upon whether there is a market 

 for it. That, you can tell better than we can. 

 The pear would find a ready sale at the North, if 

 It could be Shipped safely in good coudltlon, and 

 cheaply. '^ j, 



D. B. Johnson, Kennebec, Maine, asks wh.v !s it 

 always the coldest Just before day. Answer: The 

 sun is at its greatest power about '.i P. M., i. c, the 

 day at 3 P. M. will average the highest average 

 temperature, and from that point it slowly cools, 

 and as It cools slower than It heat.'*. It takes more 

 than half a da.v (twelve hours/, to cool, which 

 would take It past midnight at least three or four 

 hours to cool, or near daylight when the ap- 

 proacliing sun begins to warm the morning 

 Iwiliglit. j^ 



Charles A. Behm. Juniper, Yavapel County, 

 Arizona, asks for a list of apples and grapes for a 

 small experimental orchard in Arizona. Answer: 

 The climate of .\rlzona I.h peculiarly liable to late 

 frosts and sudden changes of heat and cold. 

 While trees might not winter-kill, yet, the sudden 

 cold of summer would dwarf tender varieties. 

 The dry air of .Vrlzona Is also very injurious to 

 fruit. The Ainerlcan Pomologlca! Society does 

 not Venture on a list for .Arizona, and we would 

 onl.v advise you for an expci^ment'it trial, as with- 

 out trial, no one can speak witli confidence. As 

 you have lato frosU, you will of course select no 

 valley for an orchard, but a place where It Is 

 warin and sh..>lterevl, and safe from late frosts a-s 



SKslble, ail I plant for a trial, Shockley Rawle's 

 enet. Wealthy, Alexander, and any of the Rus- 

 sians that Prt)feHsor Budd. o! .\mes Iowa, recom- 

 BQends. The shockle.v will bear a freeze after the 

 fruit is set, with little'lnjury. The Rawle's Genet, 

 blooms very late, as does also the Ben Davis, 

 Which you might also try. Grapes :— Concord, 

 Worden, Moore's early, and perhaps Delaware. 

 If any of our readers can advise us a list of tested 

 varieties suitable for our correspondent, where 

 the climate is dry and changeable, and the eleva- 

 tion 6,iO0 feet, we shall be pleased to hear from 

 them, and It would oblige many readers. 



William French, Muskegon, Michigan, and 

 others. We have not space to answer your In- 

 quiries, how to make a cistern. We will give it 

 attention in our February Number, and give an 

 Illustrated article on cisterns and now to make 

 them . 



J. B. Mathews, Santa Barbara Count.r, Califor- 

 nia, asks for true statement about the Kiefler 

 near, and it It is worth growing. Answer: The 

 Kiefler pear, we think. In your section might for 

 Its abilll.v to stand dry weather, and late ripening 

 qualities be valuable. The quality depends much 

 upon where it is grown, and how full the tree is 

 allowed to hear. In wet clay soils, or in colder 

 sections, the KleflTer being a late pear does not 

 ripen, and the quality Is not very good, while in 

 lighter soils and warm exposures, if not allowed 

 to overhear, the qiialit.v Is good. The pear is for 

 its hardiness and superior canning qualities, 

 valuable everywhere. A trial of a few trees, as 

 they bear very early, frequently at two years old, 

 yfill decide their value anywhere. 



It never troublea an editor to write him and tell him 

 pmjL want to take his paper. Nothing pleases him so 

 much n.» a long subscription list. Correspondents 

 /ih/ndd bear this in unind. 



S2.30 FOR 50 CTS. 



THE BEST OFFER OF THE SEASON. 



OXTR SPECTAI, •TABM AX1> GAKDEIV* 

 PACKAGE FOK 188&. Ao Dn<-qu.'ilt«d •pim^QoltT 

 to ■»e<3-nr.? "Ths f*(.M isr Uardbpt." thi^ pajnr, ibe Be«^ 

 Live. Wide Awake FarmerH* Pnper In Aiaericft| 



t^ti^edft &t a iritliug ovst, as aD iuduwoiiiit lu \tj litem, 

 Ve are bound to lotroduce thcni luto thiiu<'aii<l9 ml Mrw 

 boioe«, and l>ellei-e tbc best way to do ihls i.-< try KeB4tBgT«« 

 tfald 6ampl« Package at an e^ceeditiK'v ^nmll prtoe. Wa 

 are ■willing to abide t'T the resolt." of yoar trial" of onr aeede. a&d Lnret to joar ftature orders for our profit. PACKAGE *"F'* Miilaia* 

 one packet each. Cuban Queen Watermelon, New Favorite Tomato, Execlinlor Cabbaire, Lons Orause 

 Carrot, Bo«ton Market Celery, Green Fringed Leltuee, Mammoth Red 4»nlon, ^usar Purnntp. Longr 8«ai«> 

 let Kadlsh, BoHt^n Market Cucumber. Purple-Top Turnip, Buy %'lew Melon; hI^o 8uperT> Pansy (niii'.h alone »eUi fcr 

 60 cts.). Usual price <A these -eel^ in i|il.HO: add the prlcf of theTAKM A>D GARDEN. 60 cti., viakiug 9^2. UU. and soe wbU 

 we give for only £>0 cents. OHIIKK AT ONCE, and taJie advauiai-r- of the ureatest ofl. r t- ver made. Send vour 8'ldrf»M viib 69 

 cents in cash or stamps, and receixc iti«> Seeds Uy return mail, aod Lbe [Miper one year, all fully prepaid. I'lie "FA KM AN9 

 GAKDEN** alone 1» worth many times the price of the entire puekaffc The packaj:';a are put up read\- for mai'luj^, and ean- 

 not t>e broiien or chaoped, but will )..■ s.rit to any address, wiih the paper one vear, all fully prepaid, by mall, on rtcfiiilor prtoa. 

 THERE IS NO I»I*»COr.NT ON THESE PACK AGES, lo matter how iany are or.i.-red Old custo'iner^ nmv a^all lb.i..-lT«« 

 of the offer if they wiuh. If tou an' already a subncrib^T for the paper, order the Setds for vours.-lf nnd hav-- th.- jap'-r s.ul to t-ou « trt^mAm 



Address all orders pla inly to Q. W. DORR & CO., 282 FouTth Street, Des Moines, Iowa. 



Green FriiigT>d Leiiuce. 



Bay View UeloD. 



wm 



TThtte KnfillKtiMui^ard. 



Large White Globe 

 OdIod. 



V.x. Early OiftllenirePta. 



Large Cheete PtuDpklo. 



Wblte SonuDer Raditih. 



Salsify. 



CORN.— CoDtiQDed. 

 8towell*B Improved Everirreen.— Very large, sixteen rowed, deep ker- 

 neled and sugary, remtdcing a^tooK time la a fit condition for boiling one of 

 the beat for general purpoaea. Quart 15 ct^.. peck 1^1, buahel l|S.&0. 



CUCCMBERS. 



Early White 8plne.— Oar Improved strain of this popular variety is 



justly I'uDiiUered best for general purpose*. It i» not. ao aome "aspect from its name, 

 a whii^ cucumber, but it is rather a bright green color, the spines or prickles 

 only being white. For pickles, thN sort has no superior; excellent for 

 table use: Ftraigbt and well form-rd: smooth aurfuce] tluok tte^b; gn^at yieldcr. 

 Packet 5 ct«.. ouQCti 10 eta., )« lb. 85 ct^.. lb. 411.25. 

 EGG PLANT. 



Improved New Vork* — Extra large and choice; line Hatois Packet 10 ots., 

 oaai;>e 50 cu. 



GOURDS. 



Nest EcS'— ^otlticea line white fruit e^cactly the aln a»d abape of eggs, and 



so similar as to almost deeel^ e the most experienced. Capiral for nest 



('Sffs, as thev do not crack and will la^i for years. Plaut id a rapid srower* very 



oruumental — aaefal for ooveriitg scrci-n)!. etc. Packet 10 ot^., ouuoe £5 eta, 



LETTUCE. 



Green Fringed. — This Tery ornamental sort certjkloly eorpasscs all others 

 In itTi handsome appearaooe. It Is of a very delicate stid ptr'nllar shade of 

 green, the inner partii of the leaTei white, with the edges beaatlfully cut and fringed, 

 it not only furnishes an abnndance of tender leaves fit for ase nearly all the 

 Nummcrt ^^^ ''^ omameDtal chiiracter make^ it verr desirable for iabl« deooratlon. 

 Packet 5 ct^.. ounce 15 cu.. ;« lb. 50 els., lb. ^11.50. 



Improved llrud. Imperial Head or Prize Head. — Heads well* tender, 



slow runnlnjc to seedt first clunx for Summer. 1» coosldereil the best vailet; 

 tor huiii<: u»-. I'acket 5 cts., wuii.ie 15 cl»., )^ lb. 50 eta., lb. t^l.50. 



MELON.-Musk. 



Bay View.— Altfi-^oKh hut of r^'X-nt introduction, it ooetiplea an enviable posi- 

 tion in the list of luscious melon*. It U by far the nnest-flavored melon 



HI . v,.rate, delletonsly rich and sweet, large size under ordinary treat- 

 ment; "" k-'->I er.'und It in>-raee« from twelve to eighteen Inches In length, and 

 «. ,ti tr-iii twel\ e to twenty pound h. Flesh very deep, rich green color, 

 ■ kiti ru^-M-t I'ulored: ".rv hatid^oiui- and attrn^tne lu aiJpearauce: very firm 

 when ripe and endures ahlpplng well. Packet 5 cIji., uuuc« 10 ct^., >^ lb. 



«t>ct?.. lb. 4^1. 



Christiana.— Extra early. Green rfnd, yellow lleah, splendid Savor. 



1'ii.ckct o ctA.. OQDCtf 10 cU., H lb. 'i£0 rf*., lb. 4ll. 



MELON.-Water. 



Cuban Queen. — Thin magolfio<^ni new melnn Isoof of th-lnrgeat and finest ■'^or 

 imr.v'lucd. Thtf Hkin i* beantlfblly striped dark and light green, of the lat- 

 t.r th'T" beiiin l*»ii r-hade- ngr**i'ahl_\ diver'Ulid. The \iu.- are wry strong, 

 hcHllhy and vigorous In growth. The tlt.'iih 1^ bright red, remarkubly 

 solid, pecullurl>^UMelons, crlspund sugary, and in il. lioiou» flavor U uusur- 

 p.V!.-«-d. Pack.-! 5.1- ...uiicr 10 cu.. ;., ib. 85 ct*.. lb. «l.li5. 



New Scaly Rurk. -A remarkable new variety of very recent Introduction, 

 if' rlud Is verv thin, ' ut extremely tough and strong. One of the rtrv best 

 ihlpping melons eitr brought ouu Packet 10 cU., ouoo« S5 cU>., \ lb. 60 cts., 



HUSTARU. 



Sow 



A pungent salad umM ^omelimr* with CreM. also eleffant for grecnH 

 thl'kTy in rows and cut whcs about two Inches biKh: for u»<.- during wTut^r it may be 

 f)uwD at loirrvala In boxes Id the greenboune or in a frame. For a crop of seeds sow in 

 April, Id drills a foot apart, sod thiD out moderately whea about three inohea high. 

 Sow early In shallow drIlU. 



White KngUah or London.— Psckct 5 ct<i., onnce 10 eta., lb. 50 oU. 

 ONION. 



Large Red Wethersflcld.— TbU 1b the standard variety, »nd the fbvoHtet 

 onion In the Kaat, where lmiii<Mi--e cr.-i'S are ,?rowii for fhh.mi-nt. Large sIec{ 

 ■ kin deep purpllsh.red; form round, fiat; flesh purpilsh-whlie; moder- 

 utely fine grained, ^'er) produt'tlve, the best keeper, ao(l one of thi' 

 most popular f'>r gvnerul cultivation. The ^tjipie variety of the Weslcra onion 

 grower-. Packet 5 ct-.. outi.-e lO .ti... \ lb. 80 ctj-.. lb. #1. 



Yellow Ounverfc — A fln^ variety, oridnaied tti Sonth Danr^ra, Ma^s. Above 

 the medlam size, globular lu form: -kin yellowlsh.brown; tiesb white, 

 sugary, comparatively mHd, and well flavorcdl a icood producer, frequently 

 producinij six hundred buiihelsio the acre, ttom seed sokd in ibeSprlog. racket 

 5 ctH., ounce 10 ••U.,% lb. SOcU., lb. #1. 



Lnrge %Vhlte Globe. — The baodiKimest market variety we have ever seen. 

 Large aize; o> al form! very even; mild and pleasant flavorl good 

 keeper; outsells every other variety. Packet 5 oia., oqdc« 25 ou., >-« lt>. i|l, 

 It'. 4tB. 



PAIWLEr. 



Row Iq March, tblDly lu drills, ooe fbot apart, half an Inoh deep. Soak seed a few 

 hours io warm water before sowtng. For Winter uae protect iQ a glass &ame or light 

 cellar 



Covent Garden.— Fin e«t eurledf be«t for garaUbiag. Packet 6 ot«., 

 ouDc« 10 eta., U lb. 80 OU. 



PEAS, 



(Twenty-five oents per qoart must b« added to par postage wheo peaa are ordered by 



mail. All peas per packet l6 eta., postpaid.) 



Extra Early Challenge. — The ChalleDge wa* obtained by continued seWtfoni 

 fryni Kxtra Earfr Philadelphia, and we oao In all i?oQtideiioe say that aH-r a trial of 

 nearlv all Fxtra Vlarly varieties offered to the trade, we have not found one poM< 

 nesNing more merit, henoe it« name. For the market gardener It has no 

 superior. It Is not only extremely early and prolific, but it is of most lus- 

 cious flavor. All itae good qualities of the Extra Karly are more nearly brought 

 lo pvrfeciloD ID tbe Challeugo. Vioen Itl iDcheci. Quart 85 ote., peak li2.Sa, bushel 



McBeth's Pride.— An Improvement of the Kentlnh Invlcta, being fiilly as early 

 and materially better, "usl&lnlng the same relation t^) that desirable variety as 

 does the Challenge to the Extra Early. We confidently recommend It for profit 

 to the gardener. Like the Kentish Invlcta It miilurcti it.^ entire crop toKeiber, 9o 

 that one pickinK is 6ufficienL. For shipping, thla la a most valuable Item. 

 Height 36 inches. Quart 85 et«., peck 4ia.'J5, bu:«h>-l ifiH. 



PEPPER. 



New Golden Dawn Mango. — In productiveness this surpasses any 

 variety we ever grew. SiiiEle rlnnt*' thi* =eason ripened Oom 19 to Bi 

 fVults. Ill color it ill a bright golden-yellow, very brilliant and hand- 



Mome. esp.-''i:ill_v t.howy when mixed with red sons by way of contrast. But the qual- 

 iiy which di-tiuRuishes It from all other-. It^* crowniug point of excellence, la the 

 fact that it I- entirely exempt fVom flery flavor. Even the seeds and pulp may 

 be chewed without detecting the slightest smarty ta^te. Ladles who have had trouble 

 with burnt-d baodfl. Id stuffing so-called Aweet liiangoee, will appreciate this trait in 

 thc'lr charai-'ter. In shape and site this new maogo b liatilar to the well-koown 

 ^ weet MouDtalD. Packet 1 cts., ouoce 85 eta. 



PUMPKIN. 



Largo Cheese.— Very desirable for cooking pnrpo«e«. Packet 6 eta., 

 ounce tOcii., '-^ lb. 80 cents., lb. $1. 



RADISH. 



KariT Long Scarlet, Short-Top.- Verv extensively grvwn and very tender 

 when grown quickly. It is tbe best standard variety for market gar- 

 deners and private ase. It Is nnlfcrmlv tttralght and smooth, of bright scarleU 

 Fkl. 5 01,1.. ounce lOctfl., },i W. e5ct«<,. lb. T5 cU. 



White Summer.— We hinhty recommend this to all aa the ht^l Summer variety. 

 It h of large alze, quick growth, tamlp-shapedt flesh white, semi-trans- 

 parent., tender ond criap. Th^v have brought the highest prioe of any of the 

 radishes. lu our marhf t for ncveral Tears. Fkt , 5c.. ounce lOe., H lb. 80 o.^lb. #1. 



Prize Head L«ttsoe. 



Cuban Que^n Uekm. 



Chrlftlana HelM. 



Large Red Wetl 

 OdIoo. 



Coveot Garden Pantoy. 



New Or.)den Dsw 

 Mat! $0. 



Extra Earlr LoagI 

 Rsdt^h. 



Tbli advcniwnaiit ol C. W. Dorr a Co.. Oci Molnei. Iowa, conulni tlit moil cofttpleto lilt el flood stodo at lew prktt tw 



tlwd. It It coBpltiied 00 inoo 15 ud It. 



