1872 Tlie Western Pomologist and Gardener. 87 



transplanting. A young, healthy plant is better than an old one to plant out. Old plants 

 should be rejected, as they will reward the cultivator with disappointment only. 



Pruning, in this climate, should be done only in early spring. All the old wood, and 

 the weak growths of last year, should be taken away. The strong, young wood produces 

 the finest flowers. In pruning climbing reses, retain the whole length of the young wood 

 and most vigorous shoots, cutting away those which are not likely to bloom. 



Budded Roses arc not as desirable as those on their own roots. The buds are liable to 

 death and accident, leaving only the comparatively worthless stalks. 



Classification cannot be treated on in an article like this, necessarily brief; but I 

 would refer tile reader, not to " Harris on the Pig," but to " Parsons on the Rose." The 

 latter " subject," though having less, has the more agreeable fragrance. We cannot remem- 

 ber to have ever seen a rose that was not beautiful and worthy of cultivation, whether it 

 were the stately Queen of the Prairie, the blushing Damask, the modest and fragrant Tea, 

 or the unique and strangely - marked York and Lancaster. Each have their merits ; all 

 should be grown. 



The rose ever awakens poetical aspirations, and some of the finest eflfusions of our lan- 

 guage are the ofispring of this feeling, which has not been peculiar to any age or people- 



"All Eden bright 

 With these her holy oflTepring, creations of the light, 

 As though some gentle angel. commia8:oned love to bear, 

 Had wandered o'er the greensward and left his footprints there." 



Hale's Early Peach. 



A correspondent of Our Home Journal, writing from Taugipahoa, La., says : " Not 

 until recently was I aware that there were two ' Hale's Early.' But, on looking over J. 

 H. Plattman's descriptive catalogue, I find it is so ; he describes one ripening ten days ear- 

 lier than the older varieties. The tree vigorous and healthy ; an early and abundant 

 bearer; fruit medium size, skin clear, smooth, white, delicately marbled with bright red 

 cheek; the flavor good. This description agrees with the Hale's that I have seen fruited 

 in 1867, and up to this time I could not see any fault in it. Mr. Plattman describes Hale's 

 Early raised in Ohio, fruit medium size, flesh white, first quality ; ripens earlier than the 

 Early York. The serrate Early York will ripen in this district from the tenth to the fif- 

 teenth of June, according to the season. 



The question is, which of the two is the humbug ? There is not the least doubt but one 

 of the two is badly represented. This is a question of importance to those of the North 

 as well as the South ; and, as the planting season is drawing nigh, it would be well for our 

 pomological and horticultural friends to determine which of the two is the grand hum- 

 bug. The pomology of the South is greatly confused and tangled up and needs special 

 attention. There is no doubt but a great deal of wealth can accrue from the cultivation 

 of fruit in the future in the South. 



I will make a few remarks in regard to Hale's Early: I have seen it bear fine crops on 

 light, warm, sandy hill-sides. And if planted at all it should not be planted in low or 

 rich soil; as it will rot. I have tried shortening-in the naked terminal shoots when the 

 fruit was formed, and found it to be of great advantage. The past season it commenced 

 to ripen the twenty-eighth of May ; and all the fruit was perfectly sound. The location 

 alluded to, where the trees are planted, is a hill-side — a mixture of red clay and sand is 

 the nature of the soil. The localities that I have seen it do well in are in South Missis- 

 sippi. My experience runs no further, and I think it valuable for light, gravelly and hilly 

 land, and for its early bearing qualities. The past season, owing to the continuous rains 

 up to the first of July, in Mississippi, only a few of the late varieties ripened or perfected 

 their fruit. Whether to strike it ofT the list of early varieties, is only for those that are 

 thoroughly acquainted with pomology and the various soils of the South to determine. 



Troth's Early is a poor bearer, and I think it would not be advisable to plant to any 

 extent. Early Barnard is a splendid market peach ; ripens early and of a good size. 

 This seems to do well in all parts of Mississippi. 



