The Lawn. 277 



take root at the end, they are easily propagated, and can be bought at 

 reasonable rates. 



Another variety is the golden-cap, similar in its habits to the black-cap ; 

 but the canes are of a yellowish color, as are the berries. To the taste of 

 some, they are better than the black-cap ; but the majority prefer the latter. 

 Last year being a wet season, about the time of ripening they were so 

 much like the black-cap, that, if a handful were eaten without being seen, 

 they could not be told from the black-cap. For a market berry they are 

 considered most profitable, being very abundant bearers, and bearing han- 

 dling well. One point decidedly in their favor is the fact that the birds will 

 not touch them, probably owing to their color ; for, whilst the black-caps 

 growing beside them are stripped from the bushes, they are left unharmed. 

 Perhaps the birds are waiting until they show they are ripe by their dark 

 color. 



The purple-cane, a red or purplish raspberry, is excellent for family use, 

 or for market where. they need not be shipped long distances, as they will 

 not bear handling so well as the cap varieties. They are propagated, by 

 some, by division of the roots, and said not to root at the tips. This is a 

 mistake, however, as the tips do root. 



Although the raspberry will not bring so many dollars per acre as the 



strawberry, it is less expense, less trouble, and a surer crop. 



C. C. Miller. 



Marengo, III. 



THE LAWN. 



In the excellent article on " The Lawn," by Charles L. Flint, Esq., which 

 appeared in your last number, it is recommended to sow some grain with the 

 grass-seed, to protect it fronj the sun during dry weather, the first season. 

 According to my observation and experience, this is too much like setting 

 a lion to protect a lamb. The grain, being the stronger grower, robs the 

 grass, and works positive injury to the young lawn. 



If the grass is sown at the earliest moment the condition of the ground 

 will admit, — that is, when it is dry enough to be finely pulverized with har- 

 row and roller, — it will have made sufficient growth, before the dry season 



