192 Editors' Letter- Box. 



rence, for instance, is a variety that may be treated just as apples are treated, 

 headed up in barrels, and they will ripen finely ; while other varieties require very 

 different treatment. From time to time, as winter pears are wanted for use, they 

 should be taken into a warm place, when a few days will suffice to ripen them 

 perfectly. The principle involved in the patent fruit-house of Prof. Nyce is to 

 keep the fruit dry and cool until just before it is wanted for the table, and then 

 treat it as directed above, bringing it into a warm place. 



ViNELAND, N.J., claims to have sent the first water-melon to market from 

 that State this year. 



A SuBSCRir.ER, Norwich, Conn. — We have stated decidedly and repeatedly 

 that anonymous communications would not call a reply. If the information you 

 ask for is not the value of your signature, it certainly is not worth our time to 

 give. 



T. W. O., Eden Home, Chalfaut, O. — What do you mean by the "common 

 alder {Aliius incand) bearing a large crop of delicious, rich, and fine-flavored 

 berries " .'' — Your plant may be the elder (Sajnbucus) or the mountain-ash 

 {Pyrtts Atnericana or acuparid): it cannot be an alder. Send us foliage, 

 flowers, or fruit ; and, when we have identified the plant, we should be glad to 

 learn the culture by which you produce such desirable results. 



A. C, West Cambridge. — Has the Keyes's Prolific Tomato proved thirty days 

 earlier than all other varieties ? — We think not. We have asked several farmers 

 who have raised it this year in regard to its earliness as compared with other 

 varieties ; and most of them say it is no earlier or better than Cook's Favorite 

 and some other sorts. One or two persons said it might be a very few days 

 earlier than some others. It is no more prolific than other well-known varieties. 

 It needs further time to fully decide the question of its value. 



Subscriber, Springfield, Mass. — My peach-trees have ripened their fruit 

 earlier this year than ever before ; and on some branches they ripened before 

 they were very large, and before the fruit on the remainder of the tree ripened. 

 What is the cause .'' — We should think it was a clear case of the yellows, a dis- 

 ease that has destroyed thousands of peach-trees in many parts of the country. 

 The only remedy is to dig up and destroy all that show symptoms of the disease. 



H., Philadelphia. — Some of the pear-trees in my garden have shed their 

 leaves, the fruit not being grown. Will it ripen ? — If the trees have lost most 

 of their leaves, the fruit will not be good. If it is nearly or quite grown, and 

 would soon have been ripe if the leaves had remained on, it is possible that 

 some of it may be eatable, but probably poor. If the trees so affected are win- 

 ter varieties, the fruit will be of no value. 



