1876.] 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



79 



perfect vegetables. While for instance, we have 

 to get sunlight to give the best richness to our 

 fruits, our vegetables are usually best when 

 blanched or kept from the light. So, also, as we 

 keep the roots as near the surface as we can in 

 order to favor the woody tissue in trees, we like 

 to let them go deep in vegetables, because this 

 favors succulence. 



In the open ground, peas and potatoes receive 

 the first attention. Then beets and carrots. Then 

 lettuce, radish, spinach, onions, leeks and parsley. 

 Beyond this unless in more favored latitudes than 

 Pennsylvania, little can be done until the first 

 week in April. There is nothing gained in work- 

 ing soil until it has become warm and dry. 



Celery for the main crop will do about the end 

 of the month, but a little may be sown now. We 

 have never been able to make up our mind 

 whether there is such a thing" as an absolute 

 solid variet}' of Celery ; and whether pithiness in 

 any degree depends on soil or culture. Cer- 

 tainly we buy all the most improved " solids " 

 every year, and never yet found one satisfactory 

 throughout. We cannot say which is the best of 

 the many candidates. 



In the hot-bed, pepper, egg-plant, tomato and 

 cucumbers maybe sown, — andina cooler hot-bed 

 frame, Early York cabbage, cauliflowers and 

 celery. Those who have not got a hot-bed, can 

 sow a few pots or boxes, and keep them near 

 the light in a warm room. 



In addition to sowing of the above, onions, 

 leeks, parsnips and parsley must be sown at this 

 season — not for the main crop, but to have a few 

 in advance of the rest. To keep over the winter, 

 almost all kinds of root crops become tough or 

 coarse if sown too soon. 



CO MM UNICA TIONS. 



JUNE PEACH BUDDING. 



BY H. E. VAN DEMAN, GENEVA, KAN. 



My chief reason for writing this note is that 

 myself and others may be enabled to successfully 

 perform what is commonly termed June budding 

 of the peach. I will first say what I have done. 

 Last year, 1875, knowing that others had made it 

 a success, I began by setting a few buds in that 

 year's peach stocks about July 1st. The stocks 

 were less than the size of a lead pencil, the buds 



were the nearest developed that could be found. 

 Every one united with the stock, and in about 

 eight days after setting I cut the stock off close to 

 the bud, which was inserted some three inches 

 above the ground. These died — root and all — 

 within two weeks from being cut off, although the 

 season was very favorable and some of them 

 showed signs of starting. 



July 12th I set sixty buds, which all united, 

 and part of them I cut off to the bud in about 

 ten days. The buds in those cut off" made a 

 growth of from six inches to a foot. 



About June 15th I set- a dozen peach buds 

 taken from the new growth in stocks of the pre- 

 vious year's growth. These united and I cut off 

 the stocks, and the buds made a growth of some 

 two feet. 



Now my inferences from this experience are, 

 that these last mentioned buds set in the old 

 stocks succeeded, and that one might save stocks 

 that way in which buds had failed that were set 

 the fall i:)revious. That the first buds and stocks 

 both of the new growth, were, when tried (July 

 1st) too green or tender. 



That those set July 12th made only a poor 

 growth, although the season was all that one could 

 desire. 



I desire that Mr. Bilyeu, and others of experi- 

 ence, may give the readers of this journal the 

 benefit of their experience, so far as they can, by 

 written directions in this matter. 



SELF OPENING GATES. 



BY J. H. PEIRCE, DAYTON, OHIO. 



I observe your remark about self-opening gates,. 

 or rather gates opened by the wheels of the car- 

 riage passing over them. I have had in use one 

 made by Messrs. Cottom, of this city, for three 

 years, and never in any respect out of order, or 

 working othen\ase than satisfactorily. Many 

 others of same make have been in use here for 

 five or six or more years, and give perfect satis- 

 faction. My single gate cost, put up, $40; the 

 price of double gates I think is $50 and $60. It 

 is the best I ever saw, and see no use for further 

 attempt at»improvement. 



Sunday, 9th January, ther. 58°. A bush honey- 

 suckle in the garden in full bloom, from which 

 we have the flowers now in the house. 10th, 

 Monday, 7 A. M., temp. 16°; 11th, 10°; this morn- 

 ing, 21°. 



