320 Editors' Letter- Box. 



C. B. W. — Best apples for dwarf stocks. — We have found the following to 

 succeed admirably : Early Harvest, Red Astrachan, Early Sweet Bough, Gar- 

 den Royal, Tetofsky, Rambour Franc, Fall Harvey, Porter, Hubbardston Non- 

 such, Fallawater. The above will be found very beautiful as well as useful. The 

 Dutch Codlin, vi^hich has the most beautiful blossom of any apple, of a very bril- 

 liant color, is worth cultivating on that account ; and the fruit is also valuable for 

 cooking. 



What is the cause of aerial roots on grape-vines ? — Aerial roots are only 

 put forth in a warm, damp atmosphere, and, undoubtedly, this is the exciting 

 cause ; but we do not think that the amount of nutriment absorbed by them can 

 add materially to the strength of the vine, though it may when developed to 

 the extraordinary extent mentioned by Mr. Wilder in our March number as 

 witnessed by him near Savannah. We once examined a very interesting experi- 

 ment by Mr. J. F. Allen, who suspended, under aerial roots, bottles filled with 

 water having various fertilizers dissolved in it. The bottles containing grape- 

 vine ash and cow-dung were speedily filled with roots ramifying in every di- 

 rection. Next to these, a very weak solution of guano appeared to promote 

 their growth : a stronger solution soon destroyed them. 



We have noticed aerial roots on the branches of an Isabella vine in a damp, 

 shady place ; but they are not often seen out-doors in this climate. They start 

 from where the eyes were when the wood was young, and where there are still 

 latent eyes, rather than from the internodes. 



Our young State is developing finely in fruit-growing. I have never seen 

 such apples as our trees tmiformly produce here. They are beautiful and per- 

 fect, and the crop abundant on trees from five to ten years old. Our exhibitions 

 for the last two annual fairs have been very satisfactory, and we hope, next Sep- 

 tember, to make a display at the Pomological Congress that will place Kansas 

 where she belongs, — in the front rank of fruit-growing States. Peaches, also, do 

 well. We were last season surfeited with them all over the State, and Urge 

 quantities were canned. Pears are only beginning to be produced. As you 

 know, there are really but few who appreciate pear-culture ; while, with those who 

 do, it is the fruit which excels all others when enjoyed in perfection. I have 

 seen as fine White Doyennes, Duchesse, Bartletts, Louise Bonnes, &c., in 

 Kansas, as I ever saw either in New Haven or Boston. I am looking for a 

 fine crop this season. Our people are planting fruit-trees by the million, and I 

 have no doubt, that, in less than ten years, your Eastern markets will be largely 

 supplied with apples from Kansas. C. B. Lines. 



ToPEKA, April 7, 1869. 



