928 Critique on fhe Drrpmhcr Nvwhtr. 



New Method of Perpetuating the Plum — By Isaac Keagles. A 

 new contributor and a new subject. While visiting eastern nur- 

 series a few years past, I was particularly struck with the numer- 

 ous blank spaces in the nurserj^ rows containing plum trees. This, 

 1 was informed, was attributable to the great difficulty experienced 

 in budding the plum, when operated like the apple and pear. The 

 bud had the appearance of having grown to the stock, but the 

 union was so imperfect that it had lost its individual property of 

 germinating. Notwithstanding this lack of success, the old prac- 

 tice is still persisted in. The method adopted by Mr. I. Keagles is 

 new to me, and certainly appears feasible, and I am glad to find 

 nurserymen do not place such selfish importance on their little dis- 

 coveries as to keep them concealed for their own emolument. Any- 

 thing that will advance the interests of the nurserymen and fruit 

 growers, no matter how trifiing, should be divulged through some 

 public medium, for the edification of those immediately' concerned. 



Model Cottage — from the pen of the editor. The frontispiece 

 engraving is a perfect gem of ornateness — a cosy cottage nest- 

 ling in the bosom of great trees. Such examples must improve 

 the public taste, and give it proper direction. There are but few 

 individuals in the United States, who, being desirous of building a 

 house, but can conveniently afford to devote $800 for the enter- 

 prise. The beautifully constructed and well ordered house is . 

 the precursory step to the education of children ; and more — it 

 places each peculiar occupant in the true social condition regard- 

 ing one with another. It also enhances the value of real estate 

 almost double the outlay, on which well arranged buildings are 

 erected. The floor plan of your model cottage discloses conveni- 

 ent accommodations, and a thought for diminishing the labors of 

 the housewife. This feature of economising labor in designing 

 the convenience of a cottage house, is frequently overlooked — in- 

 terior, in many instances, being subservient to a favorite exterior 

 exp ession. No one better understood this than Mr. Downing or 

 Lewis F. Allen, who has explained himself in a valuable book on 

 farm architecture. Every man who has in contemplation the build- 

 ing of a home for his especial accommodation at some period of 

 his life, should make himself familiar with the principles of archi- 

 tecture, in order that he may have a judgment of his own to dic- 

 tate the nature of his requirements. Most happily, this condition 

 of knowledge is already making a progress. 



