374 JEditoi-ial JVotes. 



could discover their economy, their passions and their enjoyments. The microscope, 

 on this occasion, had given what nature seemed to have deuied to the objects of cou- 

 temphxtion. The base of the flower extended itself under its influence to a vast 

 plain ; the slender stems of its leaves became trunks of so many stately cedars ; the 

 threads in the middle seemed columns of massy stuctures, supporting at the top 

 their several ornaments ; and the narrow spaces between were enlarged in walks, 

 parterres and terraces. On the polislied bottom of these, brighter than Parian 

 marble, walked in pairs, alone, or in large companies, the winged inhabitants ; these, 

 from little dusky flies, for such only the naked eye would have shown them, were 

 raised to glorious, glittering animals, stained with living purple, and with a glossy 

 gold, that would make all the labors cf the loom contemptible in the comparison. I 

 could, at leisure, as they walked together, admire their elegant limbs, their velvet 

 shoulders, and their silken wings — their backs vying with the empyrean in its blue ; 

 and their eyes, each formed of a thousand others, out-glittering the little plains on a 

 brilliant, above description, and too great almost for admiration. 



Profltfi ill Raising Cfiih Ajtjtles. 



The Transcendent Hyslop and other improved Crab apples, have been raised with 

 great success by R. G. Fields of Osseo, Wis. x\s many as 1,000 bushels have been 

 raised in a single year, and he has never sold them for less than $2.00 per buNhel. 

 Among the new Kussia varieties being planted in the vicinity, the Tetofsky has the 

 preference. 



froliflc Fetiches. 



Upon the farm of Dr. Henry Ridgely, Dover, Del., is a peach tree, from which 

 was gathered in one day this year, no less than twenty-two baskets of peaches. 

 Another tree bore twenty-one and a half baskets. The first was of the late old 

 Mixon variety, and was sold at Dover depot for $1 per basket, or $4o.50 clear for 

 produce of the two trees. 



A Ciiriotis Peach. 



]Mrs. H. W. Draper, of Dover, Del., discovered on one of the peach trees of her 

 place, a peach of fine large size, but curious growth. One-half had the appearance 

 of the old Mixon variety, while the other half resembled the late Crawford. The 

 color line was very distinct on the skin. On opening the peach the varieties separ- 

 ated as marked, the stone being split and a portion adhering to each half. The 

 flesh, however, did not exhibit so strongly the distinctive characteristics of the two 

 varieties, the old Mixon color and flavor predominating. Hybrids are of frequent 

 occurrence in the peach orchard, but fine specimens like this are somewhat rare. 



J'faninfj Fruit Trees, 



The Kansas State Horticultural Society has been discussing pruning, and it is 

 asserted that the best success was from low-headed trees little pruned ; in fact this 

 is said to be proved by the very lowest orchards. Mr. Grubb, of Brown county, who 

 has a large orchard, seventeen years old, is decidedly in favor of very low-headed 

 trees, and he prunes none except with thumb and finger ; and the best lesson he said 

 he ever got on pruning was from the late Reuben Ragan of Indiana, who said when 

 he found that pruning was coming into his mind, the very first thing he should do 

 was to throw his knife into the well. 



Our I'ears, 



L. Van Houtte, of Ghent, Belgium, announces a new pomological volume, entitled 

 " Nos Poires.^'' It is edited in two languages, French and English, and gives colored 

 plates of fifty varieties, with engravings of about forty more ; probably selecting the 

 very best of all that are grown. 



FachitKj Apples in blaster, 



A farmer in the eastern part of Connecticut, last fall, packed some apples in 

 plaster, filling up all the interstices with this material. Opening the barrels, on the 



