editor's table. 



Ugkxia Uoni. — We regret to loam, from Mr. Buist, that the Ugenia Ugni, a fruit bearing 

 slirub, mentioned several times lately in tliis work, and recommended lately by Mr. 

 S.irgi-nt, is not likely to be liardy here. It will ro<iuiro eitlior to l>e taken up every winter, 

 nr Icept as a greenhouse plant in this latitude. At the youth, it will prove of great value. 



TnF, Pampas Grass. — Several paragraphs in this journal have lately alluded to the Pampas 

 Grass as highly ornamental. A number of questions regarding it have reached us, to which 

 we reply, that it is scarcely known among us yet, though two or three friends have it coming 

 forward. Tlie following description is from the London Gardeners^ Chronicle : — 



" One of the most interesting plants, now in flower at Turnham Green Gardens, is the 

 Pampas Grass of Brazil Hiynerium argenteiim). Tliis plant has twelve flower stems, each 

 some eight feet long, about the thickness of the thumb, and supported by an erect panicle 

 of inflorescence at least eighteen inches in length, which, beneath the bright sunshine, looks 

 a beautiful, light-colored feather, spangled with silver ; the panicle is in the form of the 

 beautiful Arundo phragmites. The leaves, which are some seven or eight feet long, with a 

 hard, flinty skin, grow in tussocks, which, in situations at all favorable, soon acquire a large 

 size ; when in flower, certainly few plants are more striking or magnificent in appearance 

 than this gigantic grass, which, being perfectly hardy, will be found to be a great acquisition 

 to ornamental grounds." 



Bees. — Here is something about bees which quite abates our early prejudice in favor of 

 those always instanced little creatures that '■'■improve each shining hour." 



" Many curious instances have been noticed by naturalists, illustrative of the instinct 

 which directs various animals to proportion the amount and nature of their labor to the 

 exigencies of particular cases. Bees transported from Europe to Bermuda, omitted, after 

 the experience of one season, to make the annual provision for the winter ; and, laying 

 aside their habits of industry with the necessity of exertion, became idlers and sources of 

 vexation to the inhabitants." 



Dr. Ward's article on the Pear will appear in our next. 



Pruning the Pear-Tkee.- — We recommend to all practical men the article by "B., New 

 Jersey," in our present issue, on pruning the Pear-tree. It contains the essence of what it 

 is desirable to know on the subject, in a condensed form, and we are mistaken, if there will 

 not be found in it much that many practical men have yet to learn. 



We have received the rules of the British Pomological Society, established in London, in 

 1854, of which Sir Joseph Paxton is President. This is the first in Great Britain, but we 

 hear nothing of its reports. Will one of our English correspondents send them as they 

 appear ? 



The Transactions of the Northwestern Fruit Growers^ Association, held at Burlington, Iowa, 

 last September, have at length reached our table. It is the fourth session ; the discussions 

 are of great interest ; practical men have given their experience ; facts are settled, syno- 

 nymes determined ; the pamphlet, in short, is necessary to the Western fruit grower. 



Plum culture was first discussed, and, of course, our acquaintance "the little Turk," 

 received complimentary attention. Mr. Barry said the plan of paving under trees, gave 

 him the idea of beating the earth hard; a boy, at the same time, jarred the trees, and 

 picked up the punctured plums ; and thus the larvije and insects are destroyed, not only 

 X>rotecting the present crop, but lessening the next year's crop of insects. He thinks the 



