Editors Letter- Box. 191 



Rose, Marion. — For the rose-slug, use a solution of whale oil-soap, applied 

 with a syringe ; or the new sapo tabacum is equally efficacious, and less offensive. 

 For the rose-bug, the thumb and finger and a dipper of hot-water are the best 

 remedy. Rose-bugs are seldom numerous enough to do much injury to the foli- 

 age ; but they destroy the flowers : you also find them on many other flowers 

 and trees, such as spirea, cherry, grape-vines. 



Is the mountain-seedling gooseberry a profitable sort to raise ? I have already 

 Hougliton's Seedling: how does the mountain-seedling compare with it ? — We 

 regard the first-named variety quite as productive as the Houghton : berries 

 larger ; never mildews ; grows more upright and stronger ; more easily picked ; 

 fewer thorns, or spines. It is true that it is not so high flavored when ripe : but, 

 except this latter point, it is superior to the Houghton ; and, as most of the 

 gooseberries are sold green, this is not an important matter. 



Please name a few of the best cherries ? — Black Eagle, Black Tartarian, 

 Black Heart, Downer, Mayduke, for early use ; Napoleon Bigarreau, if you want 

 one of this class. 



H. S., Milvvaukie. — If you wish for a fair bed of pansies next spring, you 

 have only to procure your seed from some reliable seedsman (be sure and get 

 the best), and sow during the month of August or September, either in a box or 

 seed-pan, or, what is still better, in a cool frame on a spent hot-bed, where it may 

 be sheltered both from the direct rays of the sun and dashing rains. The soil 

 should be a light loam, finely sifted. Make the surface smooth, upon which the 

 seed may be thinly scattered ; sprinkle some of the soil over the seed, barely 

 covering it, and gently press the surface ; water when necessary, using a water- 

 pot with a fine rose : on no account let the soil become dry. The young plants 

 will make their appearance in about two weeks, which must be carefully guarded 

 from the direct rays of the sun. Prepare your bed where they are to blow by 

 spading deep, and thoroughly enriching with well-decayed compost : cow-manure, 

 well decomposed, is preferable. Transplant the plants ten inches apart as soon 

 as they can be handled. Upon the approach of freezing weather, cover the bed 

 with hemlock or spruce boughs, so that the plants may be thoroughly protected 

 from freezing and thawing. As soon as the frost is out of the ground in spring, 

 uncover the bed, and, with a hand-fork, loosen the soil between the plants. Should 

 the plants be weak, and show but one flower, this should be pinched off, which 

 will cause the formation of side-shoots and a more stocky plant. Keep the soil 

 well stirred, and free from weeds, and you will be richly rewarded for your labor. 



Mrs. William H., Milford, O. — Will you please inform me what is the 

 best time to gather winter pears, and the best way of keeping them through 

 the winter? — It is a safe rule to let winter pears hang on the tree until the time 

 of picking winter apples, or until the fruit begins to drop considerably. After 

 being picked, they should be kept in a dry, cool place ; the cooler the better, if 

 they do not freeze. Some pears will ripen up with very little trouble. The Law 



