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Critique on the June Number. — I am glad to hear from the young po- 

 mologists of the West. They have a soil and climate to grow magnificent pears 

 in Southern Illinois. I have seen the fruit; and the growers are justly proud of 

 it. But, in that favored climate, there are some obstacles that much-abused New 

 England is free from ; and I think, that, in the long-run, they will lose more trees 

 by winter-killing there than here. So it is of double importance to select such 

 as are hardy; and Mr. Earle has done a good thing in telling us which ones they 

 are. But what has been the cost to him of the information compressed into two 

 pages which can be read in five minutes ! Let those who read and profit by 

 them, think of that. 



Double zinnias are indeed an acquisition, and no flower-garden should be 

 without them. We commend them, and give them the additional merit of keep- 

 ing well in water in the house, preserving their beauty for weeks. 



Influence of Stock on Graft. — That the stock has an influence on the graft 

 and fruit, I think there can be no question. So many instances have occurred 

 in my experience, that I consider it an established fact. Some years ago, I grafted 

 a large apple-tree — a natural, very early, and very perishable variety — with the 

 common English Russet, than which there is probably no better keeper to be 

 found in the whole catalogue of our winter apples, not excepting the Golden 

 Russet or Roxbury Russet. The fruit produced by this union, however, decayed 

 almost as early in the season as that of the parent stock, and was really worth- 

 less, except for the cider-heap, to which, year after year, it was regularly con- 

 signed. But, Mr. Editor, I would like to ask you if the influence would have 

 been the same in degree, had the grafts been inserted while the stock was still 

 young ; say of three or four years' growth ? 



VOL. VI. 5 33 



