158 The Western Pomologist and Gardener. 1872 



How TO Eat an Okange. — Brazil is a great country for oranges, and the Brazilians 

 know how to eat the delicious fruit. To enjoy an orange thoroughly, says one of the 

 newspaper correspondents in Professor Agasslz's present expedition, you should eat in 

 Brazilian fashion : You slice a segment ot the flower end deep enough to go completely 

 through the skin ; then replacing the segment, thrust a fork through it to the very cebter 

 of the orange, if the tines are long enough. Holding the fork in your left hand, peel the 

 orange with a very sharp small table knife, slicing all the skin off, the segment at the 

 base of the fork being in this operation a shield to prevent any danger of cutting the 

 left thumb. Now, with two cuts of the knife dissect out the pulp of one of the pockets, 

 and convey it to the mouth. Follow this up, pocket by pocket, and the skins of the 

 pocket remain on the fork, like the leaves of a book open until the covers touch. 



Pride of Mount Hope. — The success of Mrs. Pollock, the geranium, has led hybrid- 

 izers to pay great attention to this class in the hope of rivaling this variety, and the 

 number ot introductions annually is large. Strange to say that out of the whole num- 

 ber originated in Europe, not one has been produced which is adapted to bedding-out 

 in this country. Two years ago we crossed Mrs. Pollock with Beauty, a robust variety, 

 originated, we think, by Mr. Buist. From the seed we obtained a Bicolor, which prom- 

 ises to supply a long-felt want. The plant is of vigorous habit, as strong a grower per- 

 haps, as any zonale. The disc, or leaf-ground is golden yellow, and the color is height- 

 ened in proportion to the heat of the sun. The zone is bronzy red, broad and well 

 defined. The foliage is smooth, of great substance and good shape. For margins of 

 beds, borders, and for edgings, it will prove very useful and ornamental. — Ellwanger & 

 Barry." 



Apples in Minnesota. Ed. P. d O.: — I have a few of the following kinds of 

 standard apples that I have had from two to four years, and they have come through the 

 winters all right : Red Astrachan, Fameuse, Ben Davis, Haas, Colvert, Perry Russett, 

 Red June, Red Romanite, Tallman Sweet, Wagener, Yellow Bellflower, (large red apple, 

 name unknown,) Duchess, and six of the Minnesota Seedlings that have proven good; 

 also Hyslops and Transcendants that are bearing ; also Montreal Beauty, Soulard, and 

 the smaller kinds of the Crabs. Of the above kinds. Red Astrachan, Ben Davis, 

 Fameuse, Perry Russett, Haas and Duchess have blossomed. I think the followng 

 have proved the hardiest thus far here : Haas, Colvert, Ben'Davis, Fameuse, Red Astra- 

 chan, and Duchess. It now looks favorable for a good crop of Plums and all kinds of 

 small fruits. — Mark T. Berry, Minneapolis, Minn. 



Special Horticultural Premiums. — Arthur Bryant, Sr., of Princeton, Illinois, has 

 offered to be given under the direction of the Bureau County Agricultural Society, a 

 premium of $20 for the best ^rove of timber, not less than an acre, planted in spring of 

 1873 ; trees to be set not more than four feet apart each way ; plantation to be examined 

 and award to be made by a committee on field crops in 1873. 



Also, for best collection botanical specimens, not less than forty varieties, by persons 

 under twenty years, specimens to be correctly labelled with the common and scientific 

 names, |5. 



Grape Growino in a Room. — Last year, a member of the Stuttgart Flower Club was 

 successful in raising grapes in his sitting room. He takes a cutting, three or four feet 

 long, with two fruit buds at its upper end, wraps it in moss, leaving the two buds exposed, 

 and coils it in a flower pot, which is then filled with rich loam. The plant is watered 

 with lukewarm, never with cold water, and a little dung may be added, but not much. 

 The flower pot is placed in a sunny position. When the grapes are formed the shoot 

 pruned above the bunch, leaving however two leaves, to maintain the circulation of sap. 

 — Pacific Rural Press. 



The Irish Cup Potato. The editor of the New England Farmer says upon the 

 whole, the " Irish Cup " — or, as it is sometimes called, the " Dover " or " Riley " — is the 

 best potato he has ever known , and he has raised it for twenty consecutive years. No 

 other equals it in flavor or appearance when cooked. 



