TUB CANADIAN H0RTICULTCKI6T. 



247 



bisulphide of carbon remedy, and, 

 with the rest of tlie cabbage firrowing 

 world, would hail it with rejoicing, if 

 successful in destroying the pests with- 

 out injuring the plants. 



Thos. G. Bright. 

 Meaford, Oct. 4, 1882. 



REPLY BY W. SAUNDERS. 



Bisulphide of carbon is made by 

 passing the va]X)r of sulphur over red 

 hot charcoal in suitable vessels, and 

 consists of one part of carbon united 

 to two parts of sulphur. It is a 

 colourless liquid, with a very offensive 

 odor and very volatile character. It 

 is inflammable, and its vapor mixed 

 with atmospheric air explodes with 

 violence if lighted. It is a powerful 

 solvent, and one of the chief uses it 

 serves in the arts is as a solvent for 

 India rubber and gutta percha. It is 

 usually kept in drug stores. When 

 poured into a hole in the soil, and the 

 orifice closed, the vapour gradually 

 permeates through the spongy earth 

 and destroys insect life. It is, I fear, 

 too expensive to be used as a general 

 remedy for insects, and its inflam- 

 mability, and the liability of its vapor 

 to explode when mixed with air would 

 deter many from using it. 

 London, Oct. 10. 



THE ENGLISH SPARROW. 



Mr. Editor, — I would respectfully 

 suggest that you have for discussion at 

 the next winter meeting the following 

 subject : " Is the English sparrow a 

 friend or enemy of the fruit grower] " 



I would suggest that you announce 

 the subject early and ask for papers on 

 the subject from all who are in a posi- 

 tion to give light on the subject, to be 

 sent to the Secretary in time for the 

 winter meeting. 



My own opinion is that this question 

 is an importiint one or will soon become 

 so as these little Britons increase, and 



I think discussion would bring out a 

 good many points for and against the 

 sparrow. Yours truly, 



Wm. E. Wellington. 



Toronto, Aug. 7, 1882. 



EXF»LORATIONS IN RUSSIA. 



Mr. Editor, — It will perhaps inter- 

 est some of your readers to know that 

 there are at present in Europe two 

 enterprising and enthusiastic lovers of 

 fruit from America who are exploring 

 the northern portions of Europe and 

 particularly of Russia, for the purpose 

 of ascertaining what varieties of fruit 

 are successfully cultivated in these ex- 

 tremely cold climates, hoping by this 

 means to find new sorts which will be 

 hardy enough to withstand the rigours 

 of the colder portions of the Northern 

 and North- Western United States and 

 Canada, and thus lay under further 

 tribute the countries which have given 

 to us the well-known apples. Red 

 Astrachan, Duchess of Oldenburgh, 

 Alexander, and Tetofsky. The ex- 

 ploring party consists of Prof. Budd, 

 of the State Agricultural College in 

 Iowa, and Mr. Chas. Gibb, of Mont- 

 real. The following post cards have 

 been received from Mr. Gibb : — 



"Vienna, July 22, 1882.— Work inter- 

 eating, though we have not yet reached the 

 severer climates. Many new apples in Eng- 

 land and (iermany are in leaf semi-Astra- 

 chanic, and some Russian full bloods. Pears 

 in Jardin des Plantes crossed in many Ciwes 

 with northern or southern Chinese forms, 

 cider and cooking pears of Keutlingen, &C. 

 We saw a few thick leaved v. vinifera, two 

 of them as thick as Lindley and one as 

 thick as Concord, from Jura," 



"On THK Volga, Aug. 30, 1882.— Here 

 we are in a little boat going down the Volga 

 from Kasan visiting the orchanls with a 

 kind Russian friend. 'I ho apples now in 

 the market are ahead of our August apples, 

 a tine assortment in size an<l colour, and 

 some of them fine in quality. The Vladimer 

 Cherry is grown in enormous quantities in 

 that cold climate. Entire trains latlen with 

 these clKrries leave here for different parts 



