128 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



much as any other plant, and lias its root in the ground, though soon after 

 it starts it strikes a new root into the stalk of the flax or some other plants 

 and then the original root dies, so that it appears to be a parasite. 



Name of a Grapevine Insect. 



Dr. Trimble. — The name of the insect sent by Robert Cushman, Paw- 

 tucket, R. I., is called Thrips. I cannot name any remedy. They are all 

 of the same character in a different state of development. As he says, 

 some are white, some brown, some I'ed-striped, and appear to be a sort of 

 flying or skipping louse. Although so small, they injure the vines much. 



"Paradise Stocks — What are They?" 



Mr. Solon Robinson. — They belong to the crab-apple family, and are 

 spoken of as English and French Paradise, in the same connection with 

 wild crab stocks. We don't know the difference, except that cultivated 

 apple scions take more readily upon Paradise than upon wild crab stocks. 

 Large nurseries keep the Paradise stocks for sale. 



White Willow. 



Mr. A. Pittenger, Hancock, West Virginia, wants to know : 

 " If the white willow, about which so much has been said, is suitable for 

 hedging ?" The answer all rests upon what you may understand about 

 the word " suitable." It appears to suit some people^ It undoubtedly 

 suits Mr. Pike, the man who started it, and who paid the expenses of the 

 enormous pufiis given it by some of the papers, as he has realized more 

 than a hundred thousand dollars by the operation. The losses of those 

 who have tried to make a fence of the willow and failed would probably 

 Bum up a million of dollars. If Mr. Pittenger would like to join the happy 

 family, let him at once procure willow cuttings, and go in to win or lose. 



Training Grape Vines. 



The above correspondent says : " I have lately seen a small vineyard, 

 which has been pruned in a different way from any I have ever seen 

 recommended. The vines are trained to stakes, and the same cane allowed 

 to bear fruit but once, and a young shoot kept coming up every year to 

 bear fruit the next. Is this a new way ? 



Mr. Solon Robinson — It is the good old way which has been practiced for 

 centuries. 



Strawberries. 



Mr. C. K. Adams, Ann Arbor, Mich., wants the club to name three or 

 four varieties of strawberries for family use, that will give fruit the longest 

 time, and of the best quality. This has been done repeatedly, but it may 

 not answer at the place named. We would, however, risk our chance 

 upon the following : Wilson, Hooker, Russel, Austin, Bartlet, Triomphe de 

 Gand, Brooklyn Scarlet, and some of the members were disposed to add 

 the " Agriculturist ;" but that was objected to, because not yet sufficiently 

 introduced to the public. 



