1880. 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



175 



nothing new about it, and if he be not fully com- I ground. I do not say it would be too close, 

 pensated, I will agree to pay for all expense Raise the vines gingerly from time to time to 

 and trouble. keep them from rooting, as you would a sweet 



potato vine. This rooting habit is not favorable 

 to the fruit, robs it of nourishment. The same 

 directions, thin to one plant at the Snal thinning. 



POTATOES AND MELONS. 



BY RUSTICUS, lexin<;ti»n, ky. 



In your May number you allude to those who Let three of the most thrifty stand ; at all events 



grumble at the anticipated "fearful crop of po- two. Plow in green oats or other stubble in the 



fall, deep, and as lumpy as possible. Spread 

 thoroughly rolled manure m the spring, double 



tato weeds." I am not of that party. I wel- 

 come the volunteers. My experience has 

 been that they excel the spring planting, and harrow and roll. Mark off, dig holes a foot deep,, 

 that, too, without special culture. If the "grum- [ cover the bottom with pasty manure, fill in with 

 biers" would select a moist time and carefully | finely pulverized dirt, hill up a moderate size, 



transplant them to a spot where they can be 

 regularly cultivated, my word for it the so-called 

 potato weeds will give a good report of them- 

 selves. It is better to let them remain where 

 they spring up, if it can be so arranged, for 

 then there will be no check to the plant. By 

 preserving my potato weeds I have eclipsed my 

 friends in early potatoes, making them stare 

 when I spoke of my ripe ones. Depend upon 

 it, nature does not work in vain. We should 

 study her more closely and learn her ways. To 

 change the application, "her ways are ways of 

 pleasantness and all her paths are peace." I 

 am petting some vigorous ones now, and expect 

 to dig them the very first. In places they will 

 grow up too thick, too many vines in one hill. 

 Thin out judiciously or you will have a mass of 

 marbles. Plant deep in the fall and mulch 

 heavily, and you will breakfast off your " Smiling 

 Murphys " before it is time to do your spring 

 planting ; the tubers forming beneath the sur- 

 face without tops first appearing ; on the same 

 principle that minute potatoes grow from those 

 in the potato pile secured for the winter. Lying 

 in the ground separately is more favorable for 

 a larger formation. If you will pardon me, Mr. 

 Editor, for a very abrupt changing of the sub- 

 ject, I would say a word on melon culture, sug- 

 gested by a novel method of cultivation promul- 

 gated by a certain seed-house not a thousand 

 miles from you, as I regard it. It is to plow the 

 musk melon after the vines will not admit of 

 running the cultivator, the plowing to be as for 

 corn. I should as soon think of putting a plow 

 in an advanced melon patch as a bull in a china 

 shop. Melon roots run out the exact length of 

 the vine. These should not be disturbed, for 

 they are feeders for the plant. Hills seven feet 

 apart, according to these same directions, would 

 soon utterly exclude a plow, for the vines rapidly 

 commingle that distance if in properly prepared 



plant your seed not very deep, an inch, and pat 

 down the surface, — be sure of that; keep the 

 ground loose and light ; exterminate every 

 weed ; fight them like grim death ; nip back and 

 prune out. There will be useless vines spring- 

 ing from the crown of the plant. They are only 

 thieves, abstracting more than they give. Keep 

 the earth drawn up to the head of the vines- 

 Pull off some fruit when yet very thick. Don't 

 take off the fruit for use until it almost drops off 



of itself. 



•••> • 



EDITORIAL NOTES. 



American Pomological Society. — Report 

 on new fruits examined during the session of the 

 American Pomological Society at Rochester, N.. 

 Y., September 18th and 19th, 1879. 



PEACHES. 



Forty-four Seedlings, originajted by J. D. Hus- 

 ted, Lowell, Kent Co., Michigan, from cross of 

 Hill's Chili upon Hale's Early in 1875. They 

 are in season between Hale's Early and Craw- 

 ford's Early, and are all of good quality. The 

 majority are either reproductions or slightly 

 modified forms of Hill's Chili. 



Wheatland. — From David Rogers, Wheatland, 

 IT. Y. Very large, yellow, resembles Craw- 

 ford's Late. 



Mrs. Brett. — From J. H. Ricketts, Newburg, 

 N. Y. Large, white with red cheek, very juicy,, 

 sub acid, very good. 



GRAPES. 



Lady Washington. — Originated by J. H. Ric- 

 ketts, Newburg, N. Y. A cross between the 

 Concord and Allen's Hybrid. Bunch very large,, 

 compact, shouldered ; berry medium to large, 

 deep yellow, pink where exposed to the sun ; 

 flesh tender, juicy and sweet, and very good. 

 Vine vigorous, hardy and productive ; leaves 

 large and thick. Promising for the market and 

 the amateur. 



