352 JSditorial JVotes. 



therefrom, she transferred it to a watering-pot, and in the early part of the day, 

 when the green rvorm is most vigorous in its movements, she gave several garden 

 plots of cabbage a sprinkling. These were examined soon after, and a number of 

 dead worms were picked from the leaves. The operation was repeated next day, 

 and from careful observations made, it is believed the leaves of the plants, wherever 

 the solution has been fairly tried, have been cleared of these pests. 



JUiiergreens Among I'ear Trees, 



Hon. E. H. Hyde, Vice-President of the Connecticut State Board of Agriculture, 

 planted a number of small evergreens in a circular form around some pear trees, 

 simply for ornament, intending to keep them down in the front of a hedge, and to 

 allow the pear trees, "for effect," to appear above them. The plan was neglected 

 after a while — as many such plans are — and the evergreens soon outstripped the 

 dwarfs, and towered up above and nearly encircled them. It came to be noticed 

 after a while that while the pear trees away from the evergreens were irregular 

 bearers of rather inferior fruit, those within the circle were almost invariably prolific, 

 and the fruit was of superior quality. There was no other apparent cause for this 

 result than the influence of the evergreens, hence the inference in favor of protection 

 would seem to be a just one. 



This discovery, however, is not a new one. The influence of shelter belts on fruit 

 trees, as well as on farm crops, has long been known and taught by enterprising 

 horticulturists, but like other improvements not yielding immediate revenues, people 

 have been slow to adopt the plan. There is not a particle of doubt as to their good 

 eff'ects both for shelter and for beauty. An orchard of any kind interspersed with 

 them would, without doubt, yield better returns, even with one-quarter or one-third 

 the space given to evergreens. Their pyramidal shape makes the shade they cast 

 comparatively small, hence that is a slight objection. If inclined to occupy space 

 at the expense of necessary convenience, they can be clipped, headed back or sheared 

 into almost any form, and their density of foliage only be increased thereby. If 

 largely planted over the country as screens, shelter belts, or only interspersed here 

 and there through orchards and farms, they would not only exert a special protection 

 on adjacent -orchards, and vastly beautify the landscape, but would eff"ect a general 

 amelioration of the climate, which would be a universal benefit. The culture of 

 evergreens is only in its infancy as yet, and every fact or incident tending to promote 

 taste or inquiry in that direction znay justly be regarded as a public benefit. 



Gertninaton of Seeds, 



Some curious statements have recently been published in regard to the extent to 

 which the germination of seeds can be facilitated by chemical agencies, especially 

 by ammonia and oxalic acid. By placing them in a solution of the latter substance, 

 they will begin to germinate within one or two days, even after having been kept for 

 forty years, and are then to be planted out in the usual way. Coff'ee seeds, which 

 are proverbially hard to start, are best forwarded by placing in a covered vessel, 

 containing equal parts of water and of spirits of sal ammoniac, at the ordinary tem- 

 perature. At the end of the twelve hours the roots will be found to have started, 

 and even the young leaves can be discovered by careful inspection. In 1834 wheat 

 was exhibited to the German Scientific Association, raised from seed found in an 

 J](ryptian tomb, 2,000 to 2,500 years old. This had been soaked for a considerable 

 time in fatty oil before planting. 



Growing Perennial fhloxes. 



The Agriculturist recommends flower lovers to observe one precaution, " not to 

 have them too crowded,'''' as they will mildew, and by the time the flowers are ready 

 to open, the foliage becomes unsightly. 



