190 Editors' Letter- Box. 



one. By fresh reference, however, I see that " asphalted felt " is used instead 

 of any form of rubber. If I were going to make a glass house, I should cer- 

 tainly try the use of some kind of rubber belting or packing, and this hint may 

 be of use to some of your readers. C. F. H. 



Waterville, Maine, Februaiy 9, iS;o. 



We think our correspondent's suggestion is worth acting upon, and if any of 

 our readers should act upon it, we hope they will communicate the results to the 

 Journal. 



K. A. J. — If your soil is too stiff, you must cart on sand or fine gravel. By 

 mulching the trees or plants on it with tan or sawdust, which, as they decay, will 

 gradually become mixed with the soil, the character of it will be greatly improved, 

 and the plants will be saved from throwing out by the action of the frost, as they 

 are apt to in such soils. It requires a good deal more sand to ameliorate a clay 

 soil than it does of clay to make a sandy soil sufficiently tenacious ; but when 

 once brought to the proper consistency, it makes one of the most valuable soils, 

 especially for pear trees. By underdraining, if susceptible of it, it may be brought 

 into condition to be worked much earlier in spring than otherwise. 



Editor Journal of Horticulture : I am engaged somewhat extensive- 

 ly in fruit raising, particularly apples, pears, and peaches. We have had good 

 crops, of all kinds, during the season just closed ; have worked them off, and 

 have no reason to complain of results. In regard to apples and pears, I have 

 felt the want of experience in handling them, and write this to ask of some one 

 who has the necessary experience, to communicate it through the columns of the 

 Journal, for the benefit of novices like myself. The points upon which informa- 

 tion is more especially needed are, the kind of buildings necessary for storing 

 and wintering fruit, with an arrangement for the ripening of winter pears, the 

 best method and mills for making cider and vinegar, and for keeping the same. 

 My pear orchard is on the quince, and as the success of the pear cultivated in 

 that manner is yet doubted by many, when the result of my experiment is known, 

 I will give it to the readers of the Journal. Yours, very truly, T. J. P. 



Goshen, Ohio. 



You will find information in regard to ripening, packing, and keeping fruit, and 

 the construction of fruit-houses, in our vol. iii. p. 321, vol. v. p. 330, and vol. 

 vi. p. 45, and on cider and cider manufacture, in vol. v. p. 331. We should be 

 glad to hear further from our readers on the points mentioned by " T. J. P.," and 

 especially in regard to making and keeping cider and vinegar. It will give us 

 pleasure to publish the results of your experiments in cultivating dwarf pears. 



Mr. Editor : I notice that the last number of the Horticulturist classes the 

 Flemish Beauty among popular pears, and would name it, without hesitation, for 

 a place in every pear list. Now, I am under the impression that tliis variety has 

 been subject to blight of late years ; but as the journal above named says noth- 

 ing of this, I would like to ask if I am right. S. J. R. 



You arc right. Ten years ago, or more, the Flemish Beauty was one of the 



