DOiMESTIC NOTICES. 



439 



gate their branches, at a time the beetles are 

 most liable to attack the fruit; or, if the trees 

 were to be squirted on by a hand engine, with 

 water in which tobacco leaves were soaked ; 

 either of these two methods, I should think, if 

 they did not totally prevent, yet, at least, would 

 secure so much of these fine fruits as would be I 

 worth the labor of people of circumstances, who 

 are curious to taste these fine fruits in perfection. 



I take it, the reason the plum succeeds so well, 

 is the frequent shaking the trees, by being planted 

 in a frequented place. The beetles are tumbled 

 off, or else are disturbed and frightened from 

 settling on the trees; and the ground being trod 

 so much, may be a great help, by keeping in the 

 moisture which is so conducive to bring the fruit 

 to maturity. 



This brings to my mind a contrivance I was 

 told, a few days agone. An Englishman went 

 and settled at Naples, about your latitude, and 

 writ over to P. Miller, that apricots throve very 

 well, but all the fruit dropped off, which he was 

 surprised at ; for he expected the finest fruits in 

 that fine climate. But he was mistaken; for the 

 natural fruits of that country are figs, pomegra- 

 nates, olives, grapes, oranges and lemons. My 

 friend Miller writ him word, to lay a great deal 

 of muck (rotten dung and straw mixed,) or a 

 great quantity of fern leaves, or any compost that 

 would keep the ground moist, and prevent the 

 sun's action, which is very penetrating in that 

 country, as well as with you. 



This had the desired effect ; and the gentleman 

 writes him word, that since he has practiced it, 

 he has never failed of fruit in plenty, and in the 

 greatest perfection. 



Now, Friend John, improve this hint ; and if 

 your apricots are too forward, plant them under 

 all disadvantages possible ; that is, in the most 

 exposed places, and in all the coldest, shadiest as- 

 pects that can be found. Perhaps, when moun- 

 tains come to be settled, the north sides may suc- 

 ceed with this fruit and others, and may not be so 

 much frequented by the beetles. I apprehend if 

 your gooseberries were littered, it would prevent 

 their dropping off; and if this litter was now and 

 then watered, both under the apricots, &c, it 

 would be of service. 



Friend John, I have writ more fully by Captain 

 Mesnard ; but this will hint to thee thy good for- 

 tune of all thy cargoes coming safe, which is great 

 luck these very perilous times. Now farewell. 

 P. Collinson. London, April 26, 1746. [Dar- 

 lington's Memoirs of Bartram.] 



ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



Miscellaneous. — F. K. Phcenix, (Delavan, 

 Wis.) Cranberry. The cranberry may be raised 

 from seed, by planting the seeds (after freeing 

 them from the pulp.) in a common frame, (with- 

 out manure.) The frame should be placed in a 

 shady place, and covered with glass or oiled cot- 



ton sashes, and watered every day till the plants 

 are up and well established. After they are an 

 inch high, the lights may be removed, and the 

 plants left to grow all the season — watering thera 

 frequently. The seeds may be planted in autumn 

 or spring, and the soil should be half sand and 

 half decayed leaves or peat. Japan lilies suc- 

 ceed well in the open air, but should have very 

 deep, rich soil, and a situation where the mid-day 

 sun does not reach them. Your Tuberose and 

 Amaryllis bulbs do not flower, because they do 

 not fully complete their growth. Put them in 

 pots, and stand them immediately in a hot-bed, 

 and about the 10th of May turn them out in a 

 rich sunny border, and they will reward you next 

 year. 



Market Fruits. — P., (Wisconsin.) A good 

 selection of 25 sorts of market orchard apples is 

 the following: Summer — Red Astrachan, Early 

 Harvest, Early Strawberry. Autumn — Porter, 

 Gravenstein, William's Favorite, Fall Pippin, 

 Jersey Sweeting, Summer Sweet, Paradise. Win- 

 ter — Rhode Island Greening, Baldwin, Yellow 

 Bellefleur, Roxbury Russet, Fameuse, Jonathan, 

 Lady Apple, Ladies' Sweeting, Northern Spy, 

 Nonsuch or Canada Red, English Russet, Dan vers 

 Winter Sweet, White Bellefleur, and, for deep 

 limestone soils, Newtown Pippin and Esopus 

 Spitzenburgh. 



Small Green-houses. — W. Rice, (Bridgewa- 

 ter, Va.) The most convenient shutters are made 

 of the thin half inch boards, called " siding," 

 which are very light. The oil-cloth will answer, 

 but requires more care and trouble in managing 

 it, especially in snowy and frosty weather. The 

 only object in putting a sheet iron door to the air- 

 chamber, is to prevent its being burned. If it is 

 so far from the fire that this cannot occur, then a 

 wooden one will answer. 



Fruits that begin to bear early. — W. K. 

 White, (Athens, Geo.) Apples — Red Astrachan, 

 Yellow Bellefleur. Baldwin, Rhode Island Green- 

 ing. Pears — Bartlett, Dearborn's Seedling, Beur- 

 re Bosc, B. Diel, Louise Bonne de Jersey, Beur- 

 re d'Aremberg, Seckel. Plums — Lombard, Jef- 

 ferson, Downton Imperatrice, St. Martin's Quet- 

 sche. Cherries — May Duke, Black Tartarian, 

 Amerieam Heart, Downer's Late. 



Pears. — F. L. 0., (Staten Island.) You can 

 double-work the Flemish Beauty pears on Quince. 

 An Enquirer, (Augusta, Geo.) Your trees have 

 evidently suffered from the heat of the sun. They 

 would have done better on the north slope of the 

 hills. As it is, mulch the ground over the roots, 

 and bind a loose covering of straw around the 

 trunks and principal branches. If you wish large 

 and fine Stokel pears, you must give a ve>y libe- 

 ral supply of manure. A. P. Johnson. The na- 

 tural pear trees, 10 inches in diameter, may be 

 grafted very easily, and will in three years give 

 you a large crop of fruit. Begin with the top; 

 graft the upper half of the head this year, and tha 



