JVotes from my Garden. 77 



Susquehanna, Yellow Heath Cling and Crawford's Late. They were set out in the 

 spring of 1867, cultivated with low heads, and by the shortening-in method, recom- 

 mended by Downing. They commenced bearing the third season after planting, and 

 have yielded four successive crops of the largest and finest flavored fruit of their 

 respective varieties. Meanwhile the trees have died from time to time, so that not 

 more than one-third the original plantation remains, and from certain signs, these will 

 probably not last over next summer. 



In filling vacancies caused by death, and increasing my orchard, I have added 

 Troth's Early, Early York, George 4th, Eliza, Marker's Seedling, White Heath, and 

 Old Mixon Clings, and the Blood Peach. 



The Blood Peach, which Downing says is only fit for pickling, we find very agreea- 

 ble eating in Virginia. Forty years ago I knew it as the " Black Georgia," and six 

 years ago enjoyed some very fine specimens, at Richmond, Virginia, so I conclude it 

 requires a southern sun to temper its abundant and refreshing juices. 



The Early Hale has been a decided success with me, showing no more disposition 

 to rot than some other varieties. In the season of 1871, I lost nearly the whole crop 

 by the rot. The Early Crawfords suff"ered equally, and Crawford's Late very con- 

 siderably. The same season, my plums were annihilated, while apples and grapes 

 both suffered by rot. The last season, all my fruit was remarkably sound, and of 

 three bearing trees of Early Hale, I did not lose a single peach by the rot. 



I have fought the Borer with ashes, lime, tarred paper, hot water, knife iind Avire, 

 yet on examining the stumps of the dying or dead trees, I find from a dozen to 

 twenty worms in each, often in the roots a foot below the surface. 



Although I am of opinion, generally, that we cannot rely on the improved peach 

 for more than four or five consecutive crops, I don't doubt that worms were the 

 immediate cause of the death of my trees. 



Of plums, I have the Jefierson and Duane's Purple, lately planted ; seedlings of 

 the common Damson and Eurly Harvest, in bearing; and three varieties, sent by a 

 nurseryman, under false names — one is a Green Gage of fair quality, but rather 

 insignificant in size, good for preserving, and hangs a month on tlie tree after ripen- 

 ing; the second is a larger and higher flavored fruit, oblong, light green, with a 

 white bloom and faint blush ; the third is a superb plum, six or seven inches in cir- 

 cumference, and of most delicious flavor, externally bearing a close resemblance to 

 Coe's Golden Drop, but a clean free stone, ripening about the first of September. 



I have combated the Curculio by jarring over a sheet for two seasons, catching a 

 dozen or more insects at each operation. The first season I saved no fruit at all ; 

 last season I i-ealized full and satisfactory crops, although nearly all had been punc- 

 tured by the Curculio. The first outgrew the wounds and ripened healthy, and with- 

 out worms, showing only a thin scab on the skin. This leaves me in doubt whether 

 the jarring had anything to do with the success of my crops this year ; under the 

 Green Gage tree I tied a hen, with a brood of young chickens, about the middle of 

 May ; from this tree I caught no Curculios, and not a single plum was punctured. I 

 have faith in this trap, and will extend the experiment next year. 



My Dwarf Pears, Duchesse d'Angouleme, Belle Lucrative and Vicar of Wink- 

 field have been fruiting for several years, three or four specimens each- This 



