82 The Western Pomologist and Gardener. 1872 



But wf re birds of no pecuniary interest to mankind, their songs alone would repay for 

 all damage done fruit and farm crops. The charm they have for the eye, and the rap- 

 ture to the ear, are refinements that tell on llie social natures of all who see them sport or 

 hear their warbling songs. The bny that can recklessly shoot a little feathered songster 

 merely for sport, betrays a void of youthful taste and sympathy, that if unchecked may one 

 day sport with human agonie.s. But were the shell knocked off the full grown man, or 

 what should be man, that is found killing little bird.s, and his principle in form exhibited 

 to sight, it would make you shudder, though you liad the beast in an iron cage. Next to 

 the song of an angel sister is that of a harmless bird, and he who would kill the one for 

 eating a cherry, would, if he could, strip the other naked and sell her robes for a shilling. 

 Of all creation, perhaps the hog has least love for the beautiful and less ear for music ; and 

 thereby we can take measurement of the soul of the man that shoots the painted songsters 

 to save a cherry or a grain of corn — the hog can appreciate food. Could such principles 

 be barreled up, the pork market would be glutted. But as it is, when the principle kicks 

 itself out of the shell, a hog is loose on its own hoofs, and only knows itself as it feels the 

 hog principle throb within. But how long I cannot tell, ere Heaven's flowers and angel 

 sister's songs will break the spell, and charm the hoofs and snout into human tbrm. If 

 you would save the fruit and enhance your farm crops, protect the birds ; and, if you 

 would refine, cherish a love for them, and impress the same upon your children. 



Seedling Potatoeg.—Ttae " Idalfo." 



By W. H. W., Haktfobd Co., Conn. 



For a number of years past there seems to have been a sort of strife among profes- 

 sional and amateur cultivators to see who could produce the greatest number of new vari- 

 eties of potatoes, and this competition has cau.sed, in some instances, a wild excitement 

 and fever throughout communities, resulting in giving the public a large number of 

 different varieties, some good, some indifferent, and others poor, not proving equal to- 

 their first local promise. A new seedling of any kind, fruit or vegetable, should not be 

 offered to the public till it has been impartially tried in different sections, and wide local- 

 ities. A seedling may prove all that heart could desire in one locality, be indifferently 

 good in another, and worthless in still another. 



When a new variety is produced, the propagation or multiplication of it should be 

 healthy, never crowded, which latter is too apt to be the case, and by the time it is fairly 

 disseminated it begins to loose quality in some respect. The Early Rose was a first class 

 potato, but it has partially lost its prestige, and in many localities will soon be discarded 

 for something else. Forcing and injudicious culture have undoubtedly conduced more 

 largely to this result than any other one cause. Why, when we get a promising seed- 

 ling of any kind, can it not be multiplied with regard to the laws' of health, etc. ? Is it 

 because we are of such a grasping nature, in too much of a hurry to be rich ? We now 

 have some new varieties of seedlings presented to us which we hope, the height of the 

 fever being past, may be disseminated and multiplied somewhat more rationally, and that 

 they may prove as hardy, prolific, and of as good quality otherwheres as where already 

 tried. The best and most promising variety that is now before the public for a trial I 

 think will be found the "Idaho." This potato originated from the seed of the "Garnet 

 Chili " in 1866, has been tried in both the Eastern and some of the Western States, and 

 so far has given the most promising results in all respects. They are a white potato, of 

 the smoothest and fairest kind ; nearly round, with few eyes and scarcely sunken ; grow 

 to a large size; boil or cook through alike without any core or watery center; and as to 

 flavor, none could be better; they equal if !iot excel, any potato for eating I ever eat. 

 The vines grow to a medium sine, healthy and of a beautiful green color. The only objec- 

 tion, if objection it can be, that can be raised against them, is they are not an early potato 

 but require about four months to mature from time of planting; they will bear manuring 

 and do the better for it. Prom twenty two single eyes I grew one and one-fourth bush- 

 els last season, most of them of eating size, only a few below table size. With this I will 

 send a sample small one for the Editor of the Pomologist to examine and try. 



