EDITOE'S TABLE. 





prevent cross-fertilization, with the hope of reproducing the identical, or closely similar varieties, 

 superior in some respects, perhaps, to the original variety. 



For example : If the Scckel pear could thus be produced by its seeds, the habit of the new 

 Seckel tree might, perchance, be that of a robust and vigorous grower. It is feared, by some, that 

 the tree of the famoiis Northern Spy apple will prove to be an indifferent bearer ; may not this 

 defect be obviated in the next generation of Xortliern Spi/s ? 



Should the foregoing ideas appear speculative, we hope some writer competent to the under- 

 taking will inform us precisely how much latent power to reproduce themselves, individual 

 varieties of fruits possess. Jas. Weed. — Muscatine, Iov:a. 



^ . — , 



SiiABE Tkees — ^ToE CLrNTON Gr.u>e. — I heartily endorse most of Mr. Bacos's remarks on shade 

 trees in the March number. There may be too much of a good thing ; and if you can have trees 

 all handsome, variety is better than sameness. The Maple is really a very desirable tree ; but 

 have not old associations done much to give it unmerited supremacy? In New England you will 

 see more Maples used as street sliades tlian all others combined. Hardly any of its villacres at 

 all known for neatness and beauty, but has its avenue, or avenues, of century-old Maples ; and 

 the iS"ew England farmer, when he plants his street row, still selects the Maple as almost matter- 

 of-course. If he does not select it, the one alternative is the Elm, which — I quite agree with Mr. 

 Bacox — ^is the better tree of the two. Happily there is no necessity of being confined to either 

 one of them, where there is room for variety. So far as my observation goes, I may hazard the 

 opinion that all our most beautiful forest trees at the north may be successfully grown on any 

 soil capable of good farm crops, if first well subdued and thoromjldy drained. I have seen equally 

 fine Oaks and Elms on the lightest and on the richest of soils — on the poor plain, honored by the 

 good taste and good cultivation of Kew-Haveu's citizens, and on the rich clay of the (so-called) 

 Ohio Black Swamp, or the alluvial of the Miami Valley. 



In the forest the Hickory is, perhaps, oftenest found on rich, flat ground ; yet some of the 

 handsomest specimes I have ever seen of the species grow on light sand — sand a good way down, 

 too. The Red Flowering Maple, oftener known as the Soft Maple, is mostly found native to wet, 

 or rather low situations. In a variety row of my own, two years' planted, on high, stiff, clay 

 soil, it thrives as well as any tree in the row. 



Speaking of the Oak, Mr. Bacon says he has no reason tt) complain of the tardiness of its 

 growth. Such is my experience. It grows ftist enough, with good attention, to satisfy any one 

 of reasonable expectations; and it is vmquestionably the king among trees, as the Elm is the 

 queen. 



I am glad to see that your correspondent, " G. E," calls attention to the Clinton Grape. For 

 its hardiness and great productiveness, ten years of cultivation by ray father and myself bear 

 good witness. It is not quite equal to the Catawba as a table grape — having a pungency in the 

 skin that imparts a rather unpleasant sharpness to a pulp which, alone, is both sweet and tender. 

 For its hardiness and productiveness it is a valuable grape, where tlie Catawba and Isabella will 

 not always ripen. Your correspondent says that in equal situations it ripens two or three weeks 

 before the Isabella; my observation says from one to two weeks; even ten days grace often 

 makes a very material difference in the value of a grape when frosts threaten to admonish the 

 lagging season. I have little doubt that the Clinton will prove an excellent wine grape, though 

 I have not seen it fairly tested I have seen no greater nor more regular bearer ; and have tried 

 none tJiat keeps better when packed for winter and spring use. Wm. II. Scott. — Adrian, Mich. 



If there ever was a natiu-al flower garden, it is the Sacramento Valley. W'ldk any place you 

 please outside of the city, and wherever the jdowshare of tlie husbandman has not been, there 

 will you find a bed of beautiful wild flowers of every hue and description. Travelers by the 

 wayside, at this season of the year, are indeed "treading in a paradise of beauty." — Californian. 



