7S Peach GrozL'hig t'ti the Vicinity of St. yoseph, Michigan. 



cheerful, hopeful, and satisfied ; for tlieir fruit catches the eye of the 

 purchaser first, and is sold in the morning, at good prices, while much 

 of that fiom neglected ti'ees remains unsold until late in the dav, and is 

 then sold at any price, to make room for the next morning's shipment. 

 But few thin their overloaded tiees ; that is considered, by most of 

 the orchardists, the curculio's job. Systematic shorteiiitig in is not 

 practised. 



The packages used, when the fi"uit is to be sold in Chicago, are bas- 

 kets. These hold about one third of a bushel, and are well rounded up ; 

 not because the grower desires to give good measure, but because the 

 jfruit appears to a much better advantage, and sells better. 



The covering formerly used for the baskets was pink mosquito bar ; 

 but now notliing but beautifiil red tarletan will answer, costing from 

 three dollars and fifiy cents to four dollars per piece. 



The baskets are now principalh' made of hea\y veneer, turned from 

 white-wood logs, and strengthened \vith hoops, and cost the fruit-grower 

 six cents each. Boxes of the same capacity* are made of the same 

 material, with half-inch boards for end and middle pieces. The}- have 

 heretofore been preferred for shipping long distances by rail, as they can 

 be packed in the car to much better advantage ; but last season a basket 

 was introduced, constructed so that one basket could be set on another 

 without injury to the fruit, by having tvvo staves project far enough above 

 the fruit to support a cross-piece about tliree inches wide, which sustains 

 the baskets resting upon it. 



Should this basket prove of sufficient strength, it will probably take 

 the place of boxes for shipping in the cars. Since packages have been 

 fijrnished so cheap, none are returned. 



The crops since 1866 have been ven,- satisfactor}-. We have had two 

 frill and t\vo moderate crops the last four years. 



SCILLA SIBIRICA. 



For a mass of brilliant blue in the spring garden, this little bulb is 

 indispensable. It blooms about the loth of April, and the flowers con- 

 tinue long in perfection. It is perfectly hardy, though rather apt to 

 rot in a cold, damp soil ; therefore in planting a little sand should be 

 mixed with the soil. 



The bulbs are small, and resemble little hyacinths ; they should be 

 planted in October, and remain undisturbed. They will increase, and 

 soon forai clumps, which will bloom beautifully everj^ spring. R. 



