EDITOR'S TABLE. 



Mr. Editor, I am unwilling to close tliis communication, already " unprofitably" long, without 

 eayiug something of a grape lately found in this vicinity ; and if you have an atom of patience 

 left, I promise to be brief. Bunches — medium, loose, composed of from eight to fifteen berries, 

 round, very large, many of which will measure two and a half inches in circumference. Skin — 

 thick, but not so thick as Scnppcrnong, pale red, blackish-red when fully ripe, covered with thick 

 bloom. Flesh — pwlpyj j^iicy, sweet, slightly musky, scent quite musky. It was found growing 

 in this neighborhood in a poor washed place, that had not been in cultivation for many yeai-s, 

 climbing over some stunted bushes, and probably if cultivated in a good soil would grow 

 much larger. If any should suppose that I have been describing the grape that is familiary 

 known in this section as the Muscadine, I can inform them that although resembling that grape 

 somewhat in shape and flavor, it is not only distinct from it, but a difi"erent species of grape. 

 What we call the Muscadine is what Downing, Tuomas, and others, call the Black Scuppernong, 

 with smootli bark on the old wood, and leaves smooth on upper and under surfaces; while the 

 grape which I have attempted to describe has rough, shaggy bark on the old vine, with larger 

 leaves, differently shaped, upper surface dark green, under surface very downy or furred, of a 

 beautiful color. 



Well, some may ask, Suppose all this be so, what does it'all amount to ? Why, just to this, and 

 no more : in size it is one of the most splendid of grapes ; it may prove a good wine grape — I 

 can see no reason why it should not — it is well flavored, productive, and does not rot, and is of 

 that species of vine which is easily propagated by cuttings. Ripe the middle of August. Rusticus. 

 — Tar River, Granville county, N. C. 



« 



I HAVE carefully noted the instructions given from time to time in your journal as to the impor- 

 tance of mulching trees ; and as I have a large orchard of young trees, I have tried several 

 experiments with tan, chips, straw, spent logwood, <fec. The result has satisfied me that nothing 

 is more important in the cultivation of young trees than the protection of the roots by mulching. 

 During the severe drouth of the past summer, all my young trees (with a few exceptions to be 

 named) have thrived beyond my most sanguine expectations without being watered, which I 

 attribute wholly to the fact that the roots were protected by a substantial mulching of turnin»- 

 chips, tan, ttc. I had some ten or fifteen trees deeply mulched with spent logwood — say six to 

 eight inches pressed down to three inches, in a circle of six feet diameter around youug trees, 

 which were the most valuable on my place. These trees I find have done nothing this year — 

 some of them have not grown an inch, and I am persuaded that over mulching, like over doctor- 

 ing, is deadly, and as much to be deprecated and guarded against as intemperance in any other 

 form. If you accord with me, will you please inform your readers in your next number that 

 moderate mulching of trees is good and beneficial, and will save a large projiortion of new settings 

 in the dryest season, but that four inches pressed down round a young tree will exclude the sun 

 and air, on which the tree is as dependent as for water and nutriments, and will as surely kill 

 the tree as fourth proof alcohol without water will the man. Luigl 



I SKND you some caterpillars, diff"erent to any thing I have ever seen until last year. They are 

 very bad upon resinous plants — the Cedar and Arbor Vita? their favorites. But, for an experi- 

 ment, I took about a dozen from a Cedar and laid them on the walk, and found they took posses- 

 sion of the first plants they came to, which happened to be Chrysanthemums. They travel with 

 great facility, and take their house with them. Last year I saw but few of them, but this year 

 they have come by hundreds and thousands. You will find a cocoon of last year among them. 

 All that I have cut open are like the one I send you. My impression is that the caterpillars leave 

 it when very small, and that there are many in one of these cocoons. It is the most destructive 

 thing I have ever seen, and if it gets ahead is capable of destroying all the Pines and Cedars it 

 comes to. I find they can be got rid of by picking them off and burning them. Roct. Meston. 



An account of this insect will be found on another page. We are tliankful for all infor- 

 mation of this kind. 



