THE CA^NADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



253 



India (Mysore) 1 acre of land gives 

 1 1 J cwt. of seed, which yeilds 45 gallons 

 of oil, which is there compared with 

 ground nut oil, and applied to the 

 same uses. Russian seed is expressed 

 on the spot, and the oil is largely em- 

 ployed for adulterating olive oil. The 

 purified oil is considered equal to olive 

 and almond oil for table use. The chief 

 industrial applications of the oil are for 

 woollen dressing, lighting, an-^ candle 

 ai:Md soap making; for the last mentioned 

 purpose it is superior to most oils. It 

 is pale yellow in color, thicker than 

 hempseed oil, of 0'926 specific gravity 

 at 15°, dries slowly, becomes turbid at 

 ordinary temperature, and soldifies at 

 - 1 6° 0. — Dm Reporter. 



THE NIAGARA GRAPE. 



The Wine and Fruit Grower, in a 

 late number, copies some remarks upon 

 this grape from the National Tribune, 

 and then indulges in an expression of 

 its own opinion that is more fierce than 

 complimentary. We copy the whole 

 for the benefit of our readers, and thus 

 contribute our mite towards keeping 

 the grape before the public : 



For thirty years we have been familiar 

 with grapes, and we have probably tested 

 all the varieties which have been introduc- 

 ed during these years. We have no re- 

 collection of any grape being introduced 

 that was not pronounced to be far better 

 than any other ; and yet, among hundreds 

 brought forward, but few are really worth 

 growing. Just at present the Niagara is 

 well kept before the public, and judging 

 from the opinions given by those who 

 have tasted the fruit, it would be difficult 

 to say what it is worth as an edible fruit. 

 One will state that it is of the highest 

 quality ; another, that it is foxy, of second 

 class ; the third will call it good, but not 

 best — and so on. But if it is well kept 

 before the public, we presume its owners 

 will be satisfied. — William Saundebs, in 

 The National Tribune. 



[Exactly! And those who have planted 

 largely of this grape, will doubtless be 



''satisfied" too, that they have ''got left." 

 We had an opportunity to test this grape, 

 and an "alleged" wine made from it, at 

 the recent meeting of the American Pomo- 

 logical Society, and had hoped to be agree- 

 able surprised by its good qualities. We 

 were surprised. The samples shown were 

 grown at Charlottesville, Va., where the 

 grape ought to do well, if anywhere. But 

 we are compelled to say that neither the 

 grapes nor the wine were calculated to in- 

 spire any one with admiration. In short 

 we think it a gross humbug, as bad as it is 

 big, and wholly unworthy of cultivation. — 

 Wine and Fruit Chrower. 



INSECTICIDES. 



N. Y. Agricultural Experiment Station, 



Geneva, N Y., Sept. 29, 1883. 



One of the greatest boons to garden- 

 ing would be the discovery of effici- 

 ent methods for the destruction of in- 

 sects, as well as remedies which are 

 easily to be procured and of easy appli- 

 cation. This, however, is a difficult 

 matter to accomplish, and upon a view 

 of the season's work we recognize but 

 little absolute success. 



The cabbage worms have been abun- 

 dant and destructive. We have war- 

 red against them with tobacco-water, 

 saltpetre, alcohol, boracic acid, bisulph- 

 ide of carbon, etc., in various combina- 

 tions, but we finally settled upon an 

 emulsion of kerosene oil and soapsuds 

 as the remedy that, all things consider- 

 ed, was the most satisfactory. It ap- 

 pears that one ounce of common yellow, 

 hard soap, one pint of kerosene oil, and 

 one and one-half gallons of water, well 

 mixed and stirred, and applied by means 

 of a rose from a watering-pot destroys 

 all worms that become thoroughly wet 

 with the mixture, and does not injure 

 the plant. Care must, however, be 

 taken to keep the ingredients thoroughly 

 mixed in the pot, for if the oil is per- 

 mitted to rise to the surface, «6 that it 

 will pass out upon a few plants, it will 

 prove fatal to the few, while the re- 

 mainder will not receive enough of the 



