GARDEN committee's REPORT. 73 



growth, from only six pounds of the " Early J?ose," purchased in March, 

 at the cost of three dollars per pound. These had been produced from 

 cuttings, started under glass and again cut, and started every fortnight 

 and planted out, until the growth was very sni-prising. Opening two 

 or three hills of those longest planted, two or three good tubers were 

 found, with other small ones; and it was evident that a large yield 

 would be obtained, if the weather should prove favorable for a few 

 months. But vinfortunately, northeast storms set in, and this crop, in 

 common with many others, was struck by disease, and nearly all lost. 

 Eighty-six bushels of good sized tubers, besides some bushels of very 

 small ones, were measured as the product of six pounds of seed! (The 

 details of this experiment are fully given by Mr. Strong, in the. January 

 number of Tilton's Journal of Horticulture.) 



That the ''Early Rose" is a free grower and good producer can- 

 not be doubted. With Mr. Strong it yielded much better than the 

 "Goodrich Early." Dr. Wight of Dedham, with ordinary care, 

 obtained sixty four pounds, of fair sizes, from one pound of seed; and 

 Mr. George Davenport of Dedham, using guano and with care, raised 

 twelve bushels from two pounds of seed. The j)ublic, therefore, may 

 well be glad to welcome such a new comer! It is a singular fortune 

 that Mr. Breese, the originator of this variety, should have also pro- 

 duced another so valuable that a single pound of " Breese's No. 4" has 

 been sold for over fifty dollars — and l)oth were obtained from a seed- 

 apple or ball of the Garnet Chili. 



Mr. Strong has also been making some interesting experiments in 

 the culture of the Grape, to ascertain the best mode of cutting, training 

 and fruiting the vines. But, perhaps one of his most useful and profita- 

 ble experiments is the building of a Border House, in which he is 

 busily engaged, to demonstrate the practicability of forcing fruits and 

 flowers under glass at moderate expense, economizing time and fuel, and 

 having room for work. 



Eor this purpose he selected the side of a hill— quite steep, and 

 measured up aboiit ninety five feet, with a width of sixty-five feet. He 

 then built fourteen brick walls along the side of the hill, parallel to each 

 other, and about three feet high, and sixty-five feet long, so as to make 

 a series of steps and levels for border planting, and a Avalk for each, 

 enclosed at the ends by walls extending to the top of the hill. Thus 

 thirteen houses or borders are obtained, (18x65 feet), with deep gutters 

 for each, to prevent injury from snow slides and accumulation of water. 

 The furnace, placed at the lowest level, warms the whole; the heat 

 jDassing up through apertures left in the walls, near each end, so as to 

 spread over the whole enclosure. This, your Committee are informed, 

 is proving a success, and is worthy of examination. 



