The Tlirif and Slug. 239 



ble as pears. What a grand fruit we should have, retaining the 

 aroma and intense flavor of the present quince, could w^e add what we 

 have in the dessert fruits ! The papaw, a hardy western fruit, our 

 native custard apple, has also elements of great promise. We must 

 enlarge and civilize the pulp, and reduce the seeds, and surely there 

 would hardly be a more delicious fruit in our states. It is the banana 

 of the temperate zone, but so far has been neglected. The cherry has 

 had its Kirtland, the pear its Van Mons, the strawberry scores of 

 champions ; who will give us our northern banana? There is also still 

 a possibility of a new strain in strawberries — an improvement in the 

 white varieties. Lennig's White is already one of the most delicious, 

 and respectably large, with a decided tendency to bear in the autumn. 

 But it is not a heavy bearer, nor sufficiently uniform in size. A white 

 berry has the advantage of entirely escaping the birds, and this, for 

 small fields, is no trifling matter. 



In flowers also we need a renewed enthusiasm. The verbena and 

 rose begin to ring changes on old forms, with a nice approximation to 

 perfection. When new varieties displace others of equal merit, no 

 progress is secured. But why not open new paths? The gladiolus 

 has apparently no limit to its march to glory. And why not lift the 

 humble dandelion to the side of the dahlia, in size, colors perhaps, and 

 in perfection of outline ? 



Every horticulturist ought to have a small experiment garden 

 where he tries a few select pear and apple seeds, a few grape seed- 

 lings and strawberries ; and also tries his skill at such new varieties 

 and species as I have named above. Having had success in starting a 

 gladiolus of unsurpassed beauty, and a few choice individuals in other 

 families, I am as happy as — well, as all the bulls and bears when 

 stocks go to suit them. 



Adrian, Mich. 



THE THRIP AND SLUG. 



By L. Wyman, Arlington, Mass. 



The Thrip^ or Aphis, looks like the little green fly of the rose-bush, 

 but is considerably larger, of a pale ash or green color. You will find 

 this little rascal generall)^ on the under side of the foliage of the grape 

 vine. It multiplies with exceeding rapidity, and will, if not attended 

 to at once, soon people the whole vine with a colony of thieves, as 



