1872 TJie Western Pomolngist and Gardiner. 07 



"by the success of the Catawba grape. So far as we have observed, here, the pear lias l)een 

 free from bliglit and disease on the same strata of soil where the Catawba has been free 

 from rot and mildew. Perhaps some of our readers can give more particular and satisfac- 

 tary information. — Associate Editor. 



How to Treat Evergreen Seeda (or Planting. 



A correspondent of the Pomologist and Gardener wishes to know how to treat 

 .evergreen seeds so as to insure their growth. He is informed that no soaking or other 

 preparation previous to sowing is needed it the seed be frqgh and good ; if otherwise, I 

 know no way to restore its vitality. More or less of the seed of the European Larch is 

 always worthless, owing probably to a habit of abortion, as in the ca.se in the Sugar 

 Maple and Tulip tree. If kept a year after separation from the cones, none of it is of any 

 Talue. Seeds of the Pines and Spruces retain their vUality longer, but are best if grown 

 the year previous to sowing. The time of sowiug is as early in spring as the soil is in 

 good condition to work. The surface of the beds should have a mi.Kture of sand, and be 

 o-aked fine. The seeds should be covered not to exceed one fourth of an inch in depth, 

 ■with fine sand or leaf mould and the surface pressed down with the back of a shovel or a 

 light roller. Those who sow largely rake in the seed ; but considerible skill is requisite 

 to do this properly. It is best to mulch the beds lightly after sowing with leaves or prai- 

 rie hay to keep the surface moist until the plants begin to appear, when it should be care- 

 •fully taken oti. Care shoul(l be taken that mice do not harbor near the beds, as they will 

 devour many of the seeds. If properly sown there is little dithculty in making good seed 

 -vegetate. The pinch in raising evergreens from seed is in getting the plants through the 

 first summer. If your correspondent wants information on that point he had better con- 

 .sult books which treat upon the subject. — Arthur Bryant, Princeton, Illinois. 



Guinea Hens vs. the Curcnilo. 



At one of the meetings of our Horticultural Society the subject of small fruits was 

 ■under discussion, and the plum came in for its share of praise, especially the Lombard, 

 of which I have a number of trees. I had the past .season enough plums set for five 

 bushels if they had come to maturity, but that plum pest, the curculio, took them all. 

 Some of the members claimed to have raised plums of this variety all right, and no 

 curculio. Mr. Bouck advanced a new remedy for this pest, and claimed that in 

 his hands it was a perfect success. There is no patent on it and no intricate machin- 

 ery to wind up, or "barks" to turn over and kill, etc., a la Michigan; but it is simply the 

 Guinea hen. He has a hundred, and claims his exemption from the ravages of bugs, etc., 

 I)y their quick eye and motion. If further investigation demonstrates this as a fact, it 

 certainly would pay to keep the "squakars" around, but if I had to keep them and 

 have plums or not keep them, I should take the latter horn of the dilemma. Perhaps this 

 may be worth a small corner in the Pomologist. — Dr. George Warne, Independence, 

 Iowa. 



Why Not Plant Evergreens? — Will not our farmers set out wind-beraks of Ever- 

 greens ? We will furnish Norway Spruce from $25 to $.50 per 1000, transplanted and well 

 furnished with tops and roots. No more danger than Strawberry plants in transplanting, 

 and in 10 years will be ten feet high, with no more care than corn would need, and how 

 many would it need to enclose ten acres? At 4 feet apart, 640 ; at 8 feet apart, 320. Go 

 and measure the diameter or spread of the branches of one of those fine trees you have 

 in the front yard, and then see if 8 feet would not be about the' right distance. And what 

 would you take for a tree or such a wind break, 10 feet high? I will give you $5 for a 

 tree. Try it. Set them out this spring.— G. J. Kellogg, JanesvUle, Wis. 



ISF'One fruit house in Boston sold 261,870 boxes of oranges and lemons during the 

 year 1871, against 169, 431 boxes during 1870— an increase of 93,449 boxes. 



