CRITIQUE ON JANUARY UORTICULTURIST. 



liiii'lilv cullivati'il, iuid riulitly directed. I trust we may ere long discover one on 

 whom liis mantle has fallen. 



Frontiftpiece — an old house neirly uiodcUeil. — This is a very sensiljle all'air; more 

 so, hy lonp: odds, than three-fourths of the starched up things that appear in print 

 from some of our professional architects. It so well suits me that 1 have no dis- 

 jiosition to criticize it, further than to say that I don't fancy that round-topped 

 window jierked up into the eaves of the tower front. I supjjose, however, it is 

 to balance the bay window below, and give light to the attic, or garret, which 

 miu-ht have been done with better architectural effect by a roof light, as the room 

 couimuniealing with it is not wanted for the occupation of either family or guest. 

 The ujjper kitchen is a grand reform. Stick to the vpper kitchen, Mr. Smith. 

 Let your future efforts but be in as good taste as this, and you will succeed in 

 "country" architecture. 



Railroads in a social point gf view. — A mighty good thing for the country, bad 

 as some of them are, even if the stockholders do cry over their depleted pockets. 

 Railroads have added twenty-five to fifty per cent, to the agricultural wealth of 

 the country at large, and given you, and me, friend Horticola, and many thousands 

 of others, a chance to enjoy life in the pure air of the country, while our daily toil 

 is mixed up with the stench of the cities. These things will all find out their true 

 interest by and by. 



Nexo Pears. — Why, my dear Doctor, you are so flooding us with new pears that 

 we shall be utterly at a stand in our choice of what to cultivate, for the simple 

 dozen varieties of which we stand in need. But it is "the trade" of the nursery- 

 men to give us new things; and if they but prove good, no one need complain 

 that so numerous varieties are offered for his choice. 



A day at Kew Gardens, No. 1. — Why, Mr. Editor, will you tantalize us with 

 descriptions of what we shall never see, and what, with all our longings, we 

 never can have, on this side the water? It is pleasant to read them, however, 

 and thus we will look with much interest for Nos. 2, and 3. 



Gossip from the Northtvest. — "Go ahead," gentlemen. You have it all to your- 

 selves in that quarter. But don't "crow" too lustily over your prodigious growths 

 of limb, and great big fruits. You are hardly "out of the woods" yet. The 

 blight will be after you presently, as it has been after us — and possibly stay with 

 you — in the pear line; and the curculio, and the apple-borer, the peachworms, 

 and the yellows. They are all on their westward travels. Recollect you are only 

 ten years old out there in Iowa. So, don't beast too abundantly. I've suffered 

 a little in that line myself. How is the flavor of those aforesaid large fruits, com- 

 pared with the compact, medium-sized specimens? Let us have & tasting -party 

 at the pomological meeting next fall at Rochester, when I hope we shall all come 

 too-ether. 



