Notes and Glcatiings. 233 



Tree-Seeds. — Wlien these can be gathered in tlie autumn, tlicy sliould be 

 mixed with sand, and kept through the winter in some place secure from mice. 

 Some of the coniferous trees do not ripen their seeds until spring. The cones 

 will generally open of themselves, but may be very much assisted by placing 

 them before a fire for a few hours. When the spring is fairly open, the smaller 

 and more delicate seeds should be sown in a bed prepared specially for them, 

 composed of sand, loam, and leaf-mould, in about equal parts. This bed should 

 be so situated, that the plants will not be exposed to the burning heat of noon- 

 day, and dry, scorching winds, during the early summer. The seeds should 

 be sown in drills, and covered with leaf-mould or light loam. These beds will 

 require watering quite often, both before and after the plants come up. Some 

 use meadow-mdss, which retains the moisture well as a mulch. A great many 

 are raised in frames placed in a cool, sheltered position ; so that, while a few 

 years ago we were entirely dependent upon the nursery-men of Europe for young 

 evergreen and other trees, now we raise them in large quantities. 



Delaware Grapes. — I have noticed frequent complaints in your Journal 

 concerning mildew on the Delaware vine. I have a vine four years old, that 

 gave thirty-five bunches this year of thoroughly-ripened fruit, at the same time 

 making many new canes, twenty of which were over fifteen feet long ; while but 

 very few leaves mildewed, and those only after the fruit had ripened. I attribute 

 my success to thorough drainage, frequent stirring of the soil with a garden- 

 fork, and training so as to fully expose the vine to the full blaze of the sun ; 

 though we had but very little sunshine the past season. I have no fault to find 

 with this variety. G. S. G. 



Covering Strawberries. — I have, for the last five years, used corn-stalks 

 for covering my strawberry-beds. Straw and hay often contain seeds, causing 

 much inconvenience the next summer. These, as also leaves, frequently make 

 a covering too compact, especially where the snow is deep. We have no ever- 

 green boughs. I consider corn-stalks as decidedly the best as well as the most 

 convenient material for such a purpose. The stalks may be removed in the 

 spring, leaving the brittle, broken leaves as a mulch for the summer. 



The covering should be light, permitting the snows of winter to be sifted 

 through the stalks upon the vines. * 



Galena, III 



Beurre d'Aremberg Pear. — This is a very fine winter-pear, of medium 

 size and excellent quality, but rather difficult to raise. The tree is a very poor 

 grower; and the variety should, in all cases, be grafted on the top of a large 

 tree. We have tried for years to push forward a young tree we have in our 

 orchard, but in vain ; and we fear we never shall gather much fruit from it : 

 while we have a few scions, which were put into the top of a large tree a few 

 years ago, that yearly yield large crops of fine fruit. Let those who admire this 

 excellent pear just try the plan we have adopted, and they will not be ready to 

 give it up as utterly incorrigible. 



