56 The Western Pomologisb and Gardener. 1872 



Cherhies in the Northwest. — Under this head the Farmers' Union (Minn.) says: 

 "It was the opinion of the different members of the State Horticultural Society that 

 the Early Richmond, the Morello, and the Carnation varieties of cherries would grow 

 and flourish like a green bay tree, but in some instances we hear of complaints that 

 fruit will not make its appearance after the trees are in full bloom. This probably is 

 caused by late frosts. There could be a remedy for this however. Mulch the trees heav- 

 ily when the ground is frozen in early spring. This will keep the frost around the 

 roots and of course keep back the trees from blooming so early, and when the blossoms 

 do come the frosts of spring will have disappeared. Mr. J. T. Grimes informs us that 

 the lower branches of his Early llichmond always bear, especially when covered with 

 snow. This fact would seem to require the trees to be protected in the winter. Prob- 

 ably the wrapping of the branches with hay or straw might have a beneficial tendency. 



What Fruits are Most Profitable. — At the late meeting of the Western New 

 Tork Fruit Growers' Association, the question was presented, "What fruits can be planted 

 without danger of overstocking the market?" One member answered "apples," another 

 said "peaches," while a third would plant pears. What a difference ! E. Moody, Lock- 

 port, N. Y., reported the sale of 6.3 bushels of Beurre d'Anjou pears in New York the 

 past season, for .$20 per barrel. Mr. Burnett, of Canada, said the Beurre d'Anjou was the 

 most valuable of all pears grown in Canada. H. E. Hooker had sold Duchess d' Angou- 

 leme pears for $8 per bushel. P. Barry, of the Mt. Hope Nurseries, had sold no better 

 pears of the same varieties for $14 per barrel. Dr. Sylvester said, when he planted an 

 apple orchard twenty j^ears ago, his neighbors told him the market for fruit would be 

 overstocked before the trees came into bearing. Apples sold then for $1.50 per barrel, 

 now much more. A general expression was made in favor of selling all fruit by the 

 pound, as barrels, baskets, and other packages varied much in size and afforded no defi- 

 nite standard. 



Strawberry Growing in 1596. — An old work published in London in 1596, thus talks 

 about the strawberry : " The strawberrie is accounted among those hearbs that grow in 

 the fields of their owne accorde. And the Berries be much eaten at all men's tables in 

 the sommer for the pleasantness of them, which for a more delight in eating they dresse 

 with wine and sugar. The rehearsall of the fame of this hearb needeth not, seeing the 

 same is known to all persons. And it aptly groweth in shadowey places and rather under 

 the shadowe of other hearbes than alone. And the plantes set in gardens will grow unto 

 the bigness of a mulberry, if the earth before in the beds be well dressed, and dilligently 

 tended of the gardener. But the hearbe of itself continueth not above a yeare." 



Have a Bed of Herbs. — No family should be without a well selected store of herbs 

 at all seasons of the year, and no garden is complete without a bed of herbs. Herbs 

 are indispensable both in culinarj' affairs and sickness. A simple dish of herb tea admin- 

 istered at the right time will often save a long fit of sickness, and consequently a physi- 

 cian's bill. Some herbs are perennial, and require replanting only once in several 

 years. The seed can all be found at agricultural and horticultural stores. A good list is 

 as follows : Sweet majoram, marigold, thyme, winter and summer savory, sage coriander, 

 anisseed, rosemary, lavender, sweet basil, caraway and fennel. Thyme, winter savory, 

 fennel, lavender and sage are perennial ; the others require the seed to be sown annually. 



Grapes on Kelly's Isl.\nd, 1871. — A correspondent of the Toledo Blade writes that 

 the grape crop on that island for 1871, not counting the grapes used by the producers 

 themselves, was 1,800 tuns, or 3,600,000 pounds. Most of the crop sold for four cents per 

 pound, the product being $144,000. The number of acres producing this crop was six 

 hundred and forty-four; the gross product per acre, $333.60 ; deduct expenses the net pro- 

 duct per acre was $163.60. The average yield per acre was two tons and three quarters. 

 The crop for 1871 was above an average in quantity but below an average in quality of 

 ^nust. The wine manufactured on the island for 1871, is estimated at 288,000 gallons. Not 

 less than seventy-five tons of grapes were sold for table grapes. 



