JVotcs and Gleanings. 291 



there is a man who can't get some new ideas on that point from Mr. Philbrick's 

 plain and practical directions, I think he had better give up gardening. 



How to Grow Grape Vines luitJioict Glass. — I don't know that I can claim to 

 be one of the learned of the craft, but I have known of excellent success in prop- 

 agating grape vines by the method Mr. Miller describes ; and I will vouch for 

 the truth of all that he says, and add that he has set a good example to other 

 cultivators in communicating the details of a valuable process, — though they 

 might be previously known to experts, — for there are thousands to whom this 

 method will be just as new as if it had been discovered yesterday. 



Peas — Old and New Varieties. — Among the peas recommended by Mr. 

 Burr, I do not find Laxton's Alpha. The variety is new, and probably is yet 

 little known, but I think it should be included among those worthy trial. Please 

 examine it as sketched — from a photograph — in the London Gardener's Maga- 

 zine of February last. Such pods ! at every joint a pair, from ground to sum- 

 mit ! And then, too, it has the merit of earliness — is even described as a "first 

 early ; " and besides this, is a marrow pea of the finest character on the table — 

 an advance on Advancer. Now, Mr. Editor, under our sunnier skies and dryer 

 atmosphere, I do not look for the freshness and beauty of growth, neither do I 

 expect much of t!:e extraordinary productiveness portrayed in the illustration ; 

 but I shall try the " Alpha." 



Looking over the peas at our seed-stores, I find that not only the new, but a 

 large proportion of the older varieties are obtained from abroad. Why is this ? 

 Can our seed peas be imported at less cost than they can be produced at home, 

 or are the seeds fairer, and therefore more salable than those American grown .'' 

 Perhaps, however, they are preferred for the reason that they may succeed better. 

 But this is by no means a settled question. My own experience goes far to 

 prove the contrary ; and I am inclined to think that a measure of the sturdiness, 

 and even of the productiveness, common to our acclimated peas will be found 

 wanting in the crops raised from seeds of foreign production. 



About Pears. — I always make a point of reading all that Mr. Earle says about 

 pears. His suggestions in this essay are most excellent, and the point of select- 

 ing the best trees is especially important — indeed, absolutely essential. But I 

 am most pleased with the tentative, suggestive character of the whole essay, and 

 its freedom from anything like the dictatorial tone which we too often hear. A 

 man raises some good pears, and he presently informs the world that all they 

 have got to do is to follow after him, placing their feet exactly in his steps ; but 

 somehow or other this doesn't always do, and then they are ready to cry out that 

 pear culture is a humbug. Now, if such a man had waited a little longer, he 

 would very likely have found out that he did not know everything, and have been 

 more modest in his teaching. 



Lujninosity of the Fraxinella. — This is certainly a most singular phenome- 

 non. The explanation of it given in the Journal seems to be very plausible, but 

 I have lately been informed, on the highest authority, of the successful produc- 

 tion of the flame from flowers in full bloom. Such a curious property is worth 

 investigating ; and I hope the readers of the Journal will try the experiment in 

 both stages of the flower, and give us their report. Bismarck. 



