26 The Western Pomologist and Gardener. 1872 



nature ; for though nature is generous and tractive, she needs judicious assistance and 

 guiding in order to yield her best fruits adapted to the wants, as well as the luxuries of 

 man. He who merely imperfectly prepares his soil, partially cultivates or heedlessly 

 propagates his plants, and trusts to nature to do the rest, will be sure to fail of obtaining 

 remarkably good crops ; but to him who treats his soil and crops generously, using every 

 care and precaution in the propagation and culture, bountiful rewards are most certain. 

 " He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand ; but the hand of the diligent maketh 

 rich," is one of the sayings of the wise man, and is as applicable to the cultivation of the 

 soil as in any other particular. 



We all understand that the propagation of plants is the starting into life from the seed, 

 or increasing and multiplying them by other means, such as by layers, cuttings, suckers, 

 offsets, etc. All plants may be propagated from the seed, and some of them in no other 

 way known to us ; yet there are many that may be rapidly increased iu other ways. 

 With regard to cultivation, we must be governed by the nature of the plant, adapting it to 

 the various differences and requirements of the plants cultivated ; but there are some 

 general laws governing the culture of all plants, and these must not be overlooked ; 

 neither will it answer to fulfill all the requirements of one essential while we ignore 

 another, but all alike must be complied with. While we thoroughly prepare the soil, we 

 should as carefully select and attend to the seed we sow; if we are negligent as to the sort, 

 genuineness and soundness of our seed, we had as well be negligent as to the other ; for 

 of all the essentials of propagation none equal that of good seeds ; therefore it is of the 

 utmost importance that we should be sure here. How often do we read of, experience, or 

 hear of the loss incurred by sowing or planting poor seed, or seed not true to name or 

 kind. This is of no rare occurrence even among the besta nd most experienced gardeners 

 and culturists, especially where they depend upon the market for any variety ; neither can 

 this be absolutely guarded against, as there is no means of ascertaining except by testing 

 and experiment. For instance, we want a particular variety of early cabbage, we go to 

 the dealer — who may be the most honorable and honest in the world, but does not grow and 

 put up his own seed personally, and call for the particular variety, plant it, and it turns 

 out some very different kind, perhaps an inferior, late variety ; here is vexation added to 

 loss of money, etc., in the result of the crop ; so of cauliflower, carrot, and many other 

 kinds, the varieties of which are not distinguishable to the eye, in the seed. The only 

 sure remedy for this is to groio, save, and care for your own seed personally. This cannot 

 be done in all instances, therefore the next best thing is to purchase of the most careful 

 growers. Go to him and give your orders, or select personally, if possible ; otherwise 

 give very particular, full and clear order, and order from a seedsman known to yourself, 

 or one whose reputation is of the best, and dearer to him than any pecuniary profits of his 

 business. Always be sure to give j'our order early, so there need be no particular excuse 

 on account of want of time or hurry in business. 



ASPARAei7S. 



The Germantown Telegraph says : — "We repeat our doubt that there is more than one 

 kind of Asparagus. The more we hear of the cultivation of the mammoth — a size that 

 we do not covet — the more clear does it appear that it is the result of selecting the strong 

 single roots for planting to begin with, and then plant them in trenches six to eight inches 

 deep, well plied with manure at the sides of the row, and as the manured spires grow, fill 

 in the soil, etc. At least, this is one way of getting the largest we ever saw." 

 The Keutncky Late Strawberry. 



While our markets have been well supplied with Early Strawberries, we have not given 

 so much attention to the large late varieties as their importance would demand, conse- 

 quently good strawberries become scarce before raspberries make their appearance. We 

 were shown some very large, fine strawberries on the 19th of June, by Wm. Parry, N. J. 

 They are called the " Kentucky," a seedling raised by J. S. Downing, of Kentuckj', from 

 Downer's Prolific, which from all we can learn will prove a valuable late variety. — Oar- 

 dener's Monthly. 



