248 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



The Gentle Bees. — Mr. John McArthur writes to deny Mr. Holterman's 

 statement, and sends a copy of the American Bee Journal and report of the 

 Convention in which Mr. McArthur's name is mentioned and also a copy, of an 

 article by the editor describing his visit to Toronto Island, and how wonderfully 

 patient of abuse ]V[r. McArthur's breed of bees was. We have no room for dis- 

 cussing disputed points. 



A Big Strawberry. — Mr. S. T. Pettit, of Belmont, sent us a four quart 

 pail containing some immense samples of the Sharpless strawberry grown on his 

 farm. The soil is clay loam and evidently well adapted to growing strawberries. 

 One of these berries measured 6j.'( inches in circumference and weighed x }( oz. 

 Mr. Pettit claims that every farmer should grow a good patch of strawberries for 

 home use whether he grows them for market or not. 



The San Jose Scale. — The dreadful San Jose scale has been spread all 

 over the Union by trees from California nurseries. The kerosene and soap 

 emulsion recommended by the Washington authorities has proved very unsatis- 

 factory ; but the following has been found to be a perfect remedy: Boil 10 

 pounds unslaked lime and 20 pounds sulphur in 20 gallons of water four hours. 

 Then slake 30 pounds more lime, adding 15 pounds stock salt while slaking. 

 Mix all together and cook an hour longer. Strain and spray as soon as leaves 

 fall in autumn and when buds swell in spring. — Ex. 



Protecting Cherries from Birds. — Horticulturist Troop of the Indiana 

 Station has been experimenting with bird netting to protect several trees of 

 Russian cherries from birds. Two six year old trees of Bessarabian cherries 

 bore half a bushel of fine fruit each, where protected, those not covered were 

 entirely stripped. About 75 square yards of netting were used for trees 10 feet 

 high ; the cost was four cents per square yard. Mr. Henry R. Boardley, of 186 

 Denmark Road, Lowestoft, England, writes he has a large stock of garden 

 netting at low rates. 



A Live Western Horticultural Society. — The Iowa Society is 

 making rapid progress, judging by the Report for 1895, just to hand. The 

 State grants them $2500, and the Society has four Sub-societies, to each of 

 which it grants $150 per annum. There are also sixteen fruit experiment 

 stations in the State, under the control of the Society. The work of these is, 

 however, rather desultory and the fruits planted in convenient vacancies in 

 various parts of the fruit farms, so that little satisfaction can be got from the 

 station reports ; of course little can be expected when only $10 per annum is 

 allowed each experimenter, but it is proposed to increase this to $50 each per 

 annum. It is also proposed to ask the State for $10,000, to establish a central 

 station of forty acres in charge of the Secretary, who is also visitor to sub-sta- 

 tions. 



