Critique on August Number. — T am glad to welcome Mr. Parry when he 

 comes to tell us about strawberries in New Jersey ; for no one is better qualified 

 to tell. So they have got to change their tactics in New Jersey because they 

 can't compete with Southern growers, though we have looked to them for our 

 supply of early strawberries ; and we must hereafter look to Norfolk. Truly, the 

 Norfolk cultivators are playing the mischief with our ideas of the fruit-season. 

 Well-grown Seckel Pears reached Boston early in August. Then, besides the 

 Norfolk fruit, the papers announce that a car-load of Bardett Pears has been 

 despatched east from San Francisco. But I am running away from Mr. Parry, 

 and I must come back long enough to say that the kind of fruit that will bring 

 the most money in market isn't always good enough for my home-use ; certainly 

 not if it is the Wilson Strawberry. But I am glad to hear so good an account 

 of the Charles Downing, Boyden's Nq. 30, and Kentucky. 



A Day among the Rhododendrons. — And wouldn't I like to have been there 

 too, to feast my eyes on such magnificent masses of rhododendrons and azaleas, 

 and then refresh them by gazing at the perfect lawn, with its groups and masses 

 of pines and hemlocks, with their sliadows lying so softly on the grass ! 



Drainage of Flower-Pots. — Of course, we all expected to hear from Mr. 

 Henderson in answer to Mr. Veitch ; and here he is. Well, one thing is admit- 

 ted on all hands, that plants do need drainage ; and I think it has been conclu- 

 sively proved by actual experiment that a porous soil and a porous pot is ample 

 for a little plant which is to grow in a pot but a few weeks or months : but when 

 it comes to a tree which must remain in its box or tub for years, why, I confess, 

 though Mr. Henderson may call me an old fogy, that I believe it will need some 

 more assistance in the way of drainage. But I have litde fear of his calling me 



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