44 



CA JVA DIA N HORTIC UL TURIST. 



Am. Hort. Soc, who defends his posi- 

 tion in the following letter just received 

 from him. 



Sir, — In reply to your favor of No- 

 vember 28th, my opinion is that Clin- 

 ton Grape of the Northern States (tirst 

 brought to notice, in N. Y., I believe) 

 is a natural hybrid between the two 

 species, V. Labrusca and Y. Ripaiia. 

 My judgment is based upon botanical 

 characteristics of the variety itself, and 

 that its pure seedlings sport in the two 

 directions, sometimes producing indivi 

 duals which are decidedly Labrusca- 

 like, at others, greatly like Riparia. 

 The Clinton itself frequently shows on 

 well developed canes, continuous ten- 

 drils (a Labrusca characteristic), and 

 the seeds are much more like Labrusca 

 than Riparia. The shade of green in 

 the leaf, the shape of leaf, erect stamens, 

 etc., pulp of berry, size, etc., clearly 

 point to otiier blood than Riparia, and 

 that in every case Labrusca, as the 

 only other species in that region of 

 country which could impart such 

 characteristics. Truly, 



T. Y. MuNSON. 



Vitality of Seeds. 



9. \V ould you please give a list of seeds 

 showing their respective vitality. 



The following list is given our read- 

 ers on the authority of the Rural Nev) 

 Yorker, as showing their respective 

 vitality. 



Year.s. Years. 



Artichoke . . 5 to 6 Onion 2 to 3 



Asparagus ... 2 to 3 Parsley 2 to 3 



Beans, all Parsnips 2 to 3 



kinds .... 2 to 3 Pea 5 to 6 



Beet 2 to 3 Pumpkin . . 8 to 10 



Broccoli .... 5 to C Rhubarb .... 3 to 4 



Carrot :> to 4 Squash .... 8 to 10 



Cress 3 to 4 Lettuce 3 to 4 



Corn kept on Melon 8 to 10 



the cob 2 to 3 Mustard . . . 3 to 4 



Cucumber .. 8 to 10 Okra 3 to 4 



Egg plant.. . . 1 to 2 Spinach 3 to 4 



Endive 5 to G Tomato 2 to 3 



Leek 2 to 3 Turnip 5 to (j 



Cauliflower . . 5 to 6 Pepper 2 to 3 



Celery 2 to 3 Radish.. 4 to 5 



Chervil 2 to 3 Salsify 2 to 3 



Corn salad . . 2 to 3 Lavender . . 2 to 3 



Anise 3 to 4 Sweet niarjo- 



Balm 2 to 3 ram ' . . . 2 to 3 



Basil 2 to 3 .Summer sa- 



Caraway 2 vory 1 t(j 2 



Coriander ... 1 Sage 2 to 3 



Dill 2 to 3 Thyme 2 to 3 



P«^nnel 2 to 3 Wormwood.. 2 to 3 



Hys-soj) 3 to 4 



Feptilizeps. 



10. What is the value of swamp muck 

 ashes for strawberries and grapevines ? Also, 

 I have quite a quantity of swamp marl, 

 it looks like lime, and seems full of smal 

 shells — some like pin heads. What is the 

 value of it for strawberry plants and grape 

 vines, and what kind of soil is it best for ? 

 Reply by Prof. Panton, Guelph, 

 Ont. 

 Ashes from swamp muck, likely con- 

 tain considerable potash, a very im- 

 portant ingredient in riant f od.— 

 It enables the Chlorophyll of the 

 leaves to perform its functions and 

 thus become an important factor in 

 plant growth. As the plants referred 

 to (strawberries and vines) have much 

 foliage, I think an application of these 

 ashes would be followed by good re- 

 sults. 2. The deposit referred to is 

 marl, quite common in many parts of 

 Ontario. It contains from 70 to 80 per 

 cent, of lime in the form of calcium car- 

 bonate, sometimes small quantities 

 of phosphate of lime, and also some 

 iron, but its chief use is as a lime fer- 

 tilizer. 



Applied to heavy .soil it makes it 

 more workable by giving lightness and 

 looseness to such. It serves as food 

 directly, and indirectly by rendering 

 available organic compounds in decay- 

 ing vegetation. 



Best suited for heavy clay lands, on 

 which it may be applied by the waggon 

 load. 



As a special fertilizer for the plants 

 named, 1 cainiot say that it possesses 

 great value, but as referred to on heavy 

 soil would effect a good physical change, 

 and be followed by favorable I'esults 

 to any plants growing upon it. 



If the bed of marl is lying low and 

 water-soaked (a common condition, its 



