The Canadian Horticulturist. 123 



he thought that in most cases it was best to keep the ground in the orchard 

 covered during the winter time. The vetch and buckwheat are especially 

 suitable, because they draw moisture from the atmosphere, and do not cause the 

 ground to dry out. One person present said he had great success in sowing 

 clover and buckwheat together, the shade of the buckwheat favoring the catch of 

 the clover. Mr. Munson, from Maine, said that, in his State, it was generally 

 necessary to have the sod in the orchard for the purpose of winter protection. 



An interesting address was given by Prof. Waite, of the Department of 

 Agriculture, Washington, on " The Sterility of Blossoms '." He had made very 

 careful experiments and found that the Bartlett, Clapp's Favorite, Winter Nelis 

 and Anjou would not fruit when the blossoms were covered with bags and thus 

 protected from the visits of insects. This proved that these varieties are not 

 capable of being fertilized by their own pollen, and require the pollen of other 

 pears to be brought them by the visits of insects. The Bartlett, especially, was 

 proved, by repeated experiments, to be completely useless in fertilizing itself ; 

 and to cause the blossoms to produce fruit it is necessary to use the pollen of 

 such varieties as Clapp's Favorite, or Anjou. For example, the blossoms of the 

 Bartlett fertilized by Bartlett, were found to produce no fruit at all ; when fer- 

 tilized with the pollen from the Anjou, 77 per cent, yielded fruit, and when 

 fertilized with Clapp's Favorite, 76 per cent, of them yielded fruit. 



Basic slag was referred to by Prof. Fairchild, of the Cornell University, as an 

 article soon to come into the markets as one of the most economical forms of a 

 phosphate fertilizer. In action it is slower than nitrates, and not so easily acted 

 upon by the rain, and it is, therefore, necessary, in using it, to plough it under 

 the ground. It contains only one element, and, therefore, would do its best 

 work in connection with nitrogen and potash. It needs to be applied more 

 freely than superphosphates, perhaps double the quantity. 



Insectivorous Birds. — It is well to remember and protect this class of 

 birds, as they specially benefit the farmer and gardener. The following birds 

 (and the list should be published annually) are to be classed among the most 

 helpful kinds in a general warfare against insects : Robins — cut and other earth 

 worms ; swallows, night-hawks and purple martins — moth catchers ; pewees — 

 striped cucumber bugs ; wood thrushes and wrens — cut worms ; catbirds — tent 

 caterpillars ; meadow larks, woodpeckers and crows — wire worms- blue-throated 

 buntings — canker worms ; black, red-winged birds, jays, doves, pigeons, and 

 chippies — strawberry pests ; quail — chinch bugs, locusts ; whip-poor-wills — 

 moths ; hawks, all night birds, owls, etc., tanagers, and black-winged summer red 

 birds — curculios. There may also be mentioned the following insect pest 

 destroyers : Nut crackers, fly catchers, chimney swifts, indigo birds, chipping 

 and song sparrows, blackbirds, mocking birds, and orchard orioles. 



