The Refue Ilorticole, rnris, takes up the subject and adds: " The macliira is not the only 

 wild plant A?hich may succeed along our iron roads, either to strengthen their slopes, or to use to 

 advantage on the vacant and often extensive plots of ground near them. Without neglecting 

 the American tree, we might think of more than one of our indigenous species which, while 

 they preserve the soil, arc cajiablo of being made profitable. Now that an excellent paper can 

 be manufactured from the fibres of several plants which were long considered useless, would 

 it not be well, for instance, to attempt the cultivation of the genistre, the spartiuni, or some of 

 the yuccas, along the arid slopes of the railroads in tlie South of France?" 



Here are two valuable suggestions which we place before our readers for their consideration. 



PiNCER TO Mark Trees or Bushes. — Tlie French have several little ways of verification, 

 which we have not yet put in practice. If j'ou purchase a looking-glass in Paris, the vender 

 hands you a candle, and asks you to write your autograph on the face; notwithstanding 

 this verification, we have never been quite sure that a purchase in that line was not somehow 

 (possibly by a transfer of the candle-grease to another glass) unverified. But let that pass. The 

 adjoining little cut represents an instrument for the verification of your tree purchases; where 

 suspicion exists, it will be it very handj- article to bring out of a waistcoat pocket. 



The little pinccr allows you to place a marked lead above a knot, by a string or cord, by 



which you verify your tree when it gets home. It is a 

 common pincer, having at its extremities two points, 

 upon which numbers or letters at a and b are engraved ; 

 pinched slightly into the knot or bark, your string sus- 

 tains a lead with a similar indentation, enabling you to 

 be perfectly satisfied that you have obtained what you 

 purchased. It is the invention of JI. Arnheiter, and 

 engraved for a late number of the Revue Ilorticole. 



U4S — 



ScrppERNONG Grape. — This seems to be the grape for the South, and for making wine, 

 which is in greater demand than any other made there from native grapes. John II. "WcUer, 

 Brincklcyvillc, N. C, makes and sells this article, at from one to four dollars a gallon. 



Vermin. — Baspail, one of the best French chemists, states that a solution of aloes, washed 

 over the trunks and branches of trees with a brush, will destroy all vermin on plants and trees. 

 Soft soap is also strongly recommended to prevent the borer making his attacks, as well as to 

 give the tree a green and healthy appearance. 



Guinea Fowls vs. Rats. — A correspondent of the Prairie Farmer, who was much annoyed by 

 rats, tried shooting, poisoning, and everything he could think of; but they defied the whole 

 category. He then heard that they would not remain where Guinea fowls were kept, and 

 procured several, and now says that for over two years he has neither seen nor heard a rat 

 about the premises. 



A Large Apple. — We are indebted to ]SIrs. R. S. McElory, of Tickens District, for a present 

 of the largest apple that has, as yet, come under our observation. It is fourteen inches in 

 circumference, and weighs one pound and a quarter, and only a fair sample of her own raising. 

 It is called the BuiF apple. Taking them all in all, we are sure they were the soundest and 

 finest looking apples we ever saw. — Greenville (S. C.) Enterprise. 



P^-- 



