The Canadian Horticulturist. 267 



GREEN VEGETABLES AND FRUITS. 



^a^HE cabbage has been laid down as the healthiest of green vege 



f 



tables. The early spinach also has its virtues, and it is said that 

 the American dandelion root and leaf, whether used as greens or 

 as a salad, has a direct agency in assisting the liver to do its 

 work. The tomato is acknowledged as one of the most valuable 

 of blood purifiers, and is largely eaten. The silica in corn and peas has the 

 reputation of being of use to growing children, lettuce and celery of resting the 

 nerves, onions and onion tops of aiding digestion, encouraging sleep, and stimu- 

 lating the circulatory system, and carrots of preventing dyspepsia ; while the 

 turnip is very nutritious. 



Cucumbers come in season to cool the heated frame. Strawberries and 

 cherries are cooling and purifying ; the juice of the apple and orange, taken in 

 the early morning, is a fine tonic, and the peach, when in perfect condition, is 

 well known as a corrective. A change to a vegetarian and fruit diet for a day 

 or so will sometimes work wonders in quickly restoring health. — New York 

 Farmer. 



RUSSIAN PLUMS. 



Sir : — I note by the excellent " Horticulturist," and also by letter from 

 Mr. Craig, that the Russian plums are not generally proving satisfactory as regards 

 production, and perhaps in quality. I have quite an assortment of them, received 

 from Prof. Budd of Iowa, four and five years planted, and am getting as much fruit 

 from them as from other varieties, except perhaps some of our own and western 

 wild kinds. They are perfectly hardy, and vigorous growers. It occurs to me 

 that perhaps my method of planting with all these varieties and species together, 

 closely planted, may account for my better success. The soil of my plum 

 orchard is sandy on the surface, but deeply underlaid with clay at a depth of 

 one or two feet. Surface water does not stand upon such a soil ; but there is 

 always moisture at a moderate depth. I am aware that perhaps few would have 

 just such a piece of ground ; yet my experience might afford a hint as to the needs 

 of the Russian, and indeed all plums, for I see very little of a distinguishing 

 character in the Russians, except perhaps a somewhat dwarf growth and early 

 fruitage. For profit alone I should prefer our own wild plums (Western and 

 Eastern alike), so far as I have gone in plum culture. They are immense crop 

 pers, and the fruit sells at wholesale for quite as much money as the foreign 

 sorts. 



NeiKport, Vt. T. S. HosKiNS. 



