122 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



Blood's Black. A sort of which as vet we know but 

 little, but are impressed in its favor. In size and quality 

 it compares with the Isabella. Memorandum, Aug. 27th, 

 says: Blood's Black nearly covered with red. Sept. 4th: 

 Blood's Black fully ripe. Sept. 9th: Blood's Black all 

 eaten by the birds. 



Ontario. Not enough is yet known of this noble ap- 

 pearing fruit to enable us to say much positively in refer- 

 ence to it. We hr.d the pleasure of tasting it last sum- 

 mer, but it was grown under glass. We should not, we 

 think, be warranted to ascribe to it in the open air the tine 

 quality it then presented. It was show fully ripe at the 

 State Fair held last year at Watertowu, Sept. 17-21. It 

 is a fruit of great promise; bunches very large, double 

 the size of Isabella; berries large, black; skin thin, cov- 

 ered with a rich bloom ; flesh with very little pulp, juicy, 

 aromatic and vinous. 



Perkin3. A variety but little known. Although not 

 equal to some other in quality, it is so hardy and so very 

 prolific that it bids fair to be a sort which will be consid- 

 erably planted. At the meeting of the Fruit Growers' 

 Society of Western New York, Oct. 1, 1S61, Mr. Town- 

 send said that he had " seen the Perkins on Mr. Hoag's (of 

 Lockport) grounds, and had never seen a vine so im- 

 mensely loaded. It is of fair quality — as good as Isabella 

 and better tfaan Hartford Prolific, though only second rate 

 as compared with Delaware." The time of ripening of the 

 Perkins varies but little from that of Hartford Prolific. 



GLASS CASES FOR PARLOR GARDENING. 



The use of glass cases in rooms for growing certain 

 varieties of plants, is becoming deservedly popular, and 

 we hope to see this taste wide spread throughout our 



GLASS CASE FOR PARLOR PLANTS. 



country. No object can be introduced into the parlor 

 more ornamental, or vthich will afford so constant and 

 lasting a pleasure. Especially with a people inhabiting a 

 latitude where we are confined to our houses the greater 



portion of the time for several months iu theyear, should 

 tins branch of horticulture be carried to its highest limit. 



The cases employed for this purpose may be very sim- 

 ple, consisting only of a wooden pedestal, which the wood 

 turner can make, somewhat similar in form to the one 

 represented in the annexed engraving, and a simple glass 

 case, such as are sold by the crockery and glassware mer- 

 chants. The glass case ought not to be less than a foot 

 or fourteen inches in diameter, and the pedestal made to 

 fit it closely. 



The upper surface of the pedestal should be turned out 

 or hollowed, so as to leave a basin from half an inch to 

 an inch in depth, which should be closely lined with zino 

 to prevent the water from being absorbed by the wood, 

 which of course would soon destroy it. 



The engraving we here give is of a case much larger 

 than that of which we are now speaking, and suitable to 

 grow a greater variety of plants and those of a larger 

 size than could be employed in the small case. The cut 

 and the description of it which we here give are taken 

 from the Journal of Horticulture (English.) The writer 

 of the article says: 



I should prefer a stand similar to that represented in 

 the engraving; it should have a diameter of three feet, 

 but Jess would of course suffice, in cases where that may 

 be thought too large. The glass case should be made to 

 fit exactly to the inside of the stand, and should have the 

 framework formed of stout brass bars, well secured to a 

 strong rim of zinc round the bottom. A department on 

 each side should be made to open, care being taken that 

 these openings are made as nearly air-tight as may be, 

 and a few hooks should be securely fastened to the bam 

 in the upper part of the dome, by which to suspend small 

 plants in pots. The stand sho'd 

 be filied nearly to a level of the 

 rim with broken pot-sherds or 

 sandstone, or any rubbl v porous 

 material. Over this should be 

 laid a small stratum of sand, to 

 make a very level surface. Iu 

 the centre, on this level surface, 

 place a four sided cone of zinc, 

 about l(i inches in height, with 

 a saucer at the top, and having 

 some strong pieces, of about 2 

 inches square, well fastened to and projecting from the 

 sides. Next commence around the base of the cone, and 

 place angular pieces of sandstone of about five or six lbs. 

 weight each, and pile up thus completely over the cone. 

 The projecting pieces will assist in retaining the stones in 

 position ; and a most important point to be observed is, 

 that every stone must be laid perfectly firm from bottom 

 to top, as the plants will not flourish on a movable stone. 

 Tins may be insured by the use of a little cement as the 

 operation proceeds; but I have also made use of small 

 flexible wire, passed several times round the mass, for 

 the same purpose. The interstices between the stones 

 may be tilled with some nice iibry loam, sandy, so& and 

 unctuous to the touch. 



As it will be difficult for most people who may wish to 

 construct these cases to procure glass curved so as to 

 form the top as it is represented in the engraving, we 

 would suggest that the case be made polygonal in form 

 and the top pyramidal, and then plane glass can be used 

 for every part. A case with a diameter of three feet 

 would require, to be in good proportion, a height of from 

 four to six feet. Such a structure, with its furnishing; 

 would of course be quite heavy, and care should be taken 

 that the lint. loin be constructed of good solid material. A 

 set of strong castors will einifle it to be moved from spot 

 to spot as convenience may require. 



