4 Retrospcclh'c Vieio of the 



An important subject, and one that is not yet satisfacto- 

 rily settled, which has been treated upon in our last vol- 

 ume, is the sterile and fertile character of several of the 

 larger kinds of strawberries. A reference to the several 

 communications can only be made to show the views of the 

 several writers. Mnch information, however, has been 

 elicited, and their publication has been attended with the 

 happiest results. To the grape cultivator wc cannot too 

 highly recommend the article by Mr. Johnson, of Lynn. 

 We view it as a most excellent paper for the amateur, who 

 is his own gardener. If the diary of the temperature kept 

 up during the progress of the vine is carefully followed, 

 there need be but little fear of success. 



No subject has attracted more attention among English 

 cultivators, during the last year or two, than that gf root- 

 pruning trees. And in order to convey to our readers the 

 best information in relation to the practice, we presented at 

 length the views of Mr. Rivers, who has been so successful 

 in his practice, at page 210 of onr last volume. Much has 

 been written in relation to root-pruning in the gardening 

 periodicals of last year ; but Mr. llivers's article covers the 

 whole ground, and leaves nothing to be desired, to enable 

 an intetligent gardener to adopt his method with complete 

 success. We have, in our prefatory remarks upon his 

 pamphlet, alluded to the value of tliis system of practice to 

 the possessors of small gardens, as it will enable them to pro- 

 duce 100 kinds of fruits, when they now have only 10 or 

 15 trees. 



The destruction of insects injurious to vegetation, is year- 

 ly receiving more attention. Jn our last volume, two com- 

 munications will be found, detailing a method by which 

 the canker-worm is destroyed with case and certainty, and 

 at slight expense : and we would recommend a trial of 

 this method by all who have trees infested by this voracious 

 insect. The rose slug is eflectually subdued by the appli- 

 cation of whale-oil soap, and the Massachusetts Horticul- 

 tural Society have awarded Mr. Haggeston their premium 

 for his valuable discovery. That pest of the plum tree, the 

 curculio, yet continues his ravages; no remedy has yet 

 been discovered to effect his destruction with any certainty. 

 Destroying every plum which falls from the tree, as recom- 

 mended by Mr. Downing, in his article on the Columbia 

 plum (Vol. VIII. p. 90), he believes to be effectual if con- 



