206 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



alluvlan soils. It springs up tender rich bunches in February, and the 

 seed on stems four feet high, are ripe in June. Stock are so fond of it 

 they destroy it, except it be protected in August and September. For 

 fifty years I have observed this indigenous grass, and now I gather a gal- 

 lon of seed to test it by culture. I suppose five to fifteen bushels of seed 

 might be had from an acre. If you shake a bundle of it the seed drops 

 off. It grows among paupau, grape vines, the cardiua pink root, May 

 apples, sugar maples, and white walnut trees." 



Dr. Wm. S. Carpenter, of Westchester, presented specimens of rye from 

 Italy. One not hardy — the other as white as wheat — long grain, seed 

 heads beardless, on a long beautiful foot stalk, holding nearly 100 grains 

 each. 



Fine White Smith gooseberries ; fine Brown Bob gooseberries ; Grosse 

 Blanche transparent currants. 



RHUBARB WINE. 



Solon Robinson. — Jacob Woodruff and A. D. Wright, of Ripon, Wiscon- 

 sin, think I have done them injustice in giving the honor to Mr. Gaboon, of 

 originating the manufacture of rhubarb wine. They say that he obtained 

 his information from them. They add : 



" We have been experimenting with the pie plant for six or seven years 

 past, and in 1856 and 1857, made over 1,000 gallons of wine from it. We 

 have had it on sale in New York city about a year." 



I answer, who knew it ? Probably Messrs. Woodruff" & Wright, and 

 some obscure person employed by them to sell the wine. It is possible 

 that they have not yet learned the power and value of advertising. If the 

 value of rhubarb wine, and where it was for sale in New York, were known, 

 a thousand gallons would not remain unsold in any respectable commission 

 merchant's hands a thousand minutes. A wine that can be made as cheap 

 as cider, and as good as first rate sherry, will sell faster than Woodruff' & 

 Wright and Gaboon & Lewis, ever thought of making it, notwithstanding 

 the assertion that the plant will yield 2,500 gallons per acre. 



REMEDY FOR BUGS ON PLANTS. 



Sulphur 3 lbs., 3 lbs. of tobacco stems, 8 lbs. of hard soap, 30 quarts of 

 water ; mix and boil, and add as much more water, and syringe the plants. 



CALIFORNIA STRAWBERRIES, 



it is stated, have been raised that weigh ten to the pound. 



GRAFTING. 



Pare off a spot on the stock, and graft, leaving the end of the graft pro- 

 jecting downward, and after binding them together place the butt of the 

 graft in a jar of water. 



WORMS ON TREES. 



Solon Robinson read a letter from II. M. Dewey, of this city, inquiring 

 how he shall prevent his maple trees from being destroyed by worms. 

 Wra. Lawton. — Cultivate birds. 



