24 Notes and Gleanings. 



curred only at intervals of about thirty years. Excepting such unusual visita- 

 tions, the pineapple may be cultivated without cover. Even when deemed neces- 

 sary, the amount of protection required is surprisingly slight. Within the present 

 season, as fine specimens of this delicious fruit, grown in our midst, were exhib- 

 ited at this place, as ever grew under the equator. 



Pear Trees in Grass. — The advocates of planting pear trees in grass have 

 quoted the case of the pear trees in the nurseries of Messrs. Hovey & Co., at 

 Cambridge, Mass., in defence of their theory ; and it is true that they have trees 

 standing in grass which thrive and bear good crops, but, unfortunately for the 

 grass theory, their trees, where the ground is carefully tilled, bear much better 

 fruit. They have also trees remaining from blocks of nursery stock, some of 

 which, though standing very close together, produce good crops ; but it would 

 be absurd to argue from this that pear trees should be planted only three or four 

 feet apart, in irregular groups ; yet the argument would be just as good as that 

 drawn from the trees growing in grass. There are well-authenticated instances 

 of trees doing better after grass had been allowed to grow around them than 

 before, and ten, yes, a hundred times as many of trees which have been ren- 

 dered worthless, or utterly destroyed, by permitting grass to grow around 

 them. The conclusion which rational men would come to from these facts 

 would be, not that trees should, in all cases, be planted in grass, but to inquire 

 into the causes of the exceptional cases. 



The Coliseum Ivy. — This very pretty plant {Linaria Cymbalaria) is a 

 native of Italy, and is. said to have been originally introduced into England by 

 means of itJ seeds having been brought in some marble sculptures from that 

 country to Oxford, where it has long established itself on the walls of colleges, 

 gardens, etc., in such abundance as to have obtained the name of Oxford weed. 

 In this country, it is generally cultivated on the walls of green-houses, or in 

 hanging baskets, in which it presents a very graceful appearance ; but we have 

 known it to survive several winters out doors near Boston. It is a plant of a 

 dehcate, trailing character, well adapted for rockwork. A somewhat shaded lo- 

 cality will enable it to endure the winters best. 



Soap Suds for Grape Vines. — Soap suds are frequently recommended 

 for grape vines, and they are a most excellent fertilizer ; but in applying them, it 

 should be remembered that it is possible to have too much of a good thing. 

 Mr. Fuller speaks of the too frequent application of washing suds as a proUfic 

 source of disease in the vines of cities and villages. 



The Winterberry, or Black Alder {Ilex verticillata). — We know of 

 no more beautiful shrub than this, which is indigenous to New England. In 

 autumn and winter the red berries with which the stems are covered render it 

 the best substitute for the holly where that will not thrive. It is worthy of a 

 place in every collection of shrubs. It will succeed best in a moist, peaty .soil. 



