Notes and Gleanings. 41 



were planted beside the Stevens, at the same time; were about ten days later; 

 quality much inferior. Yield from the four pounds, about two bushels, mostly 

 fed to the cows. Last year they had improved in quality, though still inferior to 

 the Stevens, and ten days later. Last spring I got four pounds of Sutton's 

 Racehorse, which, though of good quality, disappointed me in every other re- 

 spect ; but, as I think they will improve, I shall try them again. 



And no.vv let me say a few words of another early potato, — better, by 

 far, than any other that I know ; one which, in thirty years' experience, has never 

 disappointed me : I mean Ashland Kidney. For the last four years, I have 

 grown them beside other early varieties, those above named included ; and it is 

 earlier by from two to three weeks than the earliest, and in quality and flavor 

 equal to the best, but in yield, unless very well grown, not quite so productive. 

 Why our seedsmen have not introduced them, I do not know. I got them from 

 England the year after I came to this country, — eighteen years ago. 



And now a few words about the new tomatoes. I planted on the same day 

 the Keyes, Tilden, and White China, and five weeks later the Maupay and 

 Cook's Favorite ; the first three side by side, the last two a few rods distant. 

 The first ripe tomato I got was from the Maupay (a chance one), the next was 

 Tilden, and the third Keyes. The Tilden bore well from the first ; Keyes occa- 

 sionally ; the Maupay abundantly ; China few, and far between ; the Cook's Fa- 

 vorite rather later (only a few days) than Tilden, but fully equal in quality. In 

 the order of ripening, they stand with me, Maupay, Tilden, Keyes, Favorite ; in 

 size, Tilden, Maupay, Favorite, Keyes ; in quality, Maupay, Favorite, Tilden, 

 Keyes. 



I intended, when I sat down, to say something of the new pease ; but have 

 not time now to say more than that the best with me are Carter's First Crop and 

 M'Lean's Little Gem. J. Green. 



Newton, Io. 



Practical Entomology. — Every horticulturist must have been convinced 

 by a few years' experience that insects constitute no mean foe, but that the 

 plants of his culture suffer very severely from their depredations. It is gratify- 

 ing to observe that some of the great Western States are imitating the noble 

 example set them by the older commonwealths of the East. In this good work, 

 Massachusetts led off in the appointment of the lamented Harris, whose Treatise 

 has become the text-book of practical entomology. This was followed by New 

 York, where the indefatigable Asa Fitch has long continued to make annual 

 reports to the State Agricultural Society, which have proved of immense value 

 to his fellow-citizens. New Jersey has the services of Dr. I. Trimble, who is 

 an ardent and devoted student of the habits of insects, and who has already 

 made an elegant contribution in his volume on the codling-moth. 



Among the Western States, Illinois has secured the assistance of the scientific 

 D. B. Walsh, who has for a long time been engaged in studying the insects of 

 the Mississippi Valley, and whose services as editor of " The Practical Ento- 

 mologist " have been of immense value to the cultivators of all parts of the 

 country. 



VOL. IV. 5 



