1883.] 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



^75 



Experiments show that one cow prepares, daily, 

 85.57 lbs. dung. " Cow dung, for several reasons — 

 its universality, its sameness of character, its com- 

 position — may be taken as the type of all ma- 

 nures, and all may be valued as they approach to 

 or depart from it. A single cow, fed on hay and 

 potatoes, will yield 31.025 lbs. dung. This would 

 have lime enough for 140 bushels of rye, and its 

 straw, could it all be evenly spread and readily 

 taken up, and also more than enough nitrogen.'* 

 Let me direct thought to the agricultural value of 

 leached ashes (wood). In 100 bushels, Troy 

 weight, analysis gives : Phosphoric acid, 11 '4 lbs.; 

 silex, 146 lbs. ; oxide of iron, 17 lbs.; oxide of 

 manganese, 51 lbs. ; magnesia, no; carbonate of 

 lime, 3.072 lbs. ; potash combined with silica, 50 

 lbs. It is very desirable. Apply manure to sur- 

 face, and also plow in deep. You thus meet all 

 requirements. 



EDITORIAL NOTES. 



Degeneracy in Strawberries. — In our coun- 

 try it is pretty clear varieties of strawberries do not 

 last long. We have to continually replace old 

 with new varieties. We have contended that there 

 is no reason in nature why a variety should not 

 endure for an indefinite period. No degeneracy is 

 due to unfavorable conditions which induces a 

 relaxation of vigor, and the degeneracy is propa- 

 gated with the variety. In England, where the 

 climate is peculiarly favorable to the health of the 

 strawberry plant, old varieties continue in popu- 

 larity. Keen's seedling and others, near a half 

 century old, are still the popular favorites to-day. 



Soil and Quality in Strawberries. — Re- 

 ferring to this important consideration, in an 

 address at New Orleans, Mr. McKay observed 

 that while it is true that berries grown on a sandy 

 loam are often as large and apparently as firm and 

 well colored as on a clay loam, it is equally true 

 that they are deficient in that solidity, strength of 

 color and general make up that the same varieties 

 possess grown on the clay loam. AU the facts, so 

 far as we have been able to gather them, point to 

 the general conclusion that, all other things being 

 equal, the strength, beauty and perfection of the 

 berry is diminished in proportion as free sand ex- 

 ists in the soil ; not that any of our good land is 

 without sand, but we use the term free sand where 

 it readily separates and can be seen in the branches 

 and little gullies. 



Deterior.\tion of the Wilson Straw- 

 berry. — At the meeting of the Mississippi Valley 

 Horticultural Association, Mr. Galusha stated that 

 the Wilson plant was not so robust as many other 

 varieties of the strawberry, such as the Crescent, 

 Piper, Cumberland Triumph, Kentucky, and 

 many others of like constitutional vigor. The 

 Wilson, and some other varieties of strawberries, 

 upon the same, or adjoining and similar soil, where 

 fifteen years since vines of Wilson were healthy 

 and productive, are now feeble, make but few 

 plants, and give but one-fourth, at most, the fruit 

 they formerly gave, and this, too, where the best 

 plants are used in planting, the ground enriched 

 with manure, and good care given in the cultiva- 

 tion. Mr. Galusha then cited several instances 

 where large raisers of the Wilson had abandoned 

 that strawberry on account of its great deteriora- 

 tion by time. There were exceptions to this rule, 

 however ; the Wilson in some localities in Wiscon- 

 sin, \/estern Michigan and Southern Illinois, the 

 plants there being vigorous and healthy. The 

 Wilson strawberry, when allowed to ripen upon 

 the vine became a rich fruit ; but the Bidwell, 

 Capt. Jack, the Sucker State and the Piper, when 

 shipped to large distances, arrived in about as 

 good order, and were much superior in taste. 



Stewed Raspberries. — A correspondent writes 

 that there is a wonderful difference in the value of 

 raspberries for stewing, and that those who have 

 never tasted stewed raspberries have missed one 

 of the richest epicurean treats that this world 

 affords. 



Russian Currants. — Writing from Russia to 

 the Iowa Homestead, Prof. Budd says : " Of cur- 

 rants we find here a new race, with black and red 

 fruit, decidedly sweet. It is labelled in the botan- 

 ical garden, Ribes alpina. The fruit of one variety 

 seen here is as large as the cherry currant. It is 

 not prized, as the currant is mainly used for sauce 

 and jelly, for which the common form is preferred. 

 Many Americans like sweet fruits, and would 

 think this new race valuable." 



The Cherry and La Versaillaise Cur- 

 rants. — We have always contended that those 

 who have asserted the identity of these two 

 are in error. They are readily distinguished when 

 the true kinds are together. It seems some in 

 the old world have also confused them, but the 

 Revue Horticole notes that it is a great mistake to 

 confound the two. The fruit is much longer and 

 regular in the bunch than the cherry. The plant 



