BUDS, BLOSSOMS, FRUJTS. 



45 



cessfully used as a mulch. Wooden boxes or tubs are 

 best suited for its culture, since they retain moisture 

 and do not allow the soil to bake. In fall, when the 

 weather becomes cold, and night-freezes are expected, 

 the oleander should be covered with old carpets and 

 blankets, and by November i stored for the winter. 

 After the plants have finished two years of growth, they 

 may be stored in a cellar. Large plants ought to have 

 their branches tied together, and if too large to stand 

 erect an inclined position must be given, so that the 

 crowns will not rest on the floor. This is to avoid 

 dampness on the foliagS. The soil should not become 

 dry but should be kept moderately moist. As soon as 

 the weather is favorable in spring, the plants should be 

 brought out into the fresh air.— Immanuel W. Schaub, 

 Will Co., III. 



Parsley as a Garden -Edging. — The accompanying 

 illustration represents a path in my garden, 120 feet 

 long and seven feet in width, edged with parsley. (See 

 page 2. ) The picture gives but a faint idea of the beau- 

 tiful and extended view we have. My garden is 30 feet 

 above the river (a branch of the Mohawk), and opposite 

 is a large island; the field in the distance is covered with 

 broom-corn. The mountains are the Helderbergs. ' This 

 parsley edging has proved to be quite a money-making 

 affair. My little nephew has sold, so far, $7 worth, and 

 the season is not over yet, for I notice this morning that 

 the plants are as green and crisp as ever. I wonder that 

 parsley is not more cultivated for the profit there is in it 

 — Miss E. W. Lyon, Schenectady Co., N. Y. 



The Tomato Crop. — Tomatoes have done unusually 

 well in this section this season, notwithstanding the dry 

 weather. I have the following varieties : Mikado, first 

 to ripen, followed closely by Matchless, Ignotum, 

 Chemin, Table Queen, Livingston's Beauty, Dwarf 

 Champion, Shah and Paragon. For good quality and 

 abundance of fruit no one can be disappointed if he 

 plant any or all of these varieties. The Shah and Table 

 Queen, in my estimation, are the best of their class. 

 The Shah has the form and habit of the Mikado, being, 

 distinguished from the latter by its yellow or flesh color, 

 and is of value for preserving. The Table Queen is my 

 favorite, and I think it is the best tomato grown, being 

 large, smooth and solid. Some specimens kept in per- 

 fect condition for more than four weeks. — Henry C. 

 TOWNSEND, N. Y. 



The Ground Mole. — In times past I have been for 

 and against the moles, but just now would favor the 

 extermination, if possible, of the pest. Let me give a 

 mode of capturing them. They like a soft place in 

 winter, and if possible below frost. When the ground 

 freezes over a foot deep, my impression is that most of 

 them are killed. The mode alluded to is to put up piles 

 of weeds or grass, so as to keep the ground from freez- 

 ing under them. Then, in the winter, when the ground 

 is frozen hard, upset these stacks, and dig down where 

 the moles will be found in winter quarters. This I have 

 seen stated is a sure plan to capture them. Have never 

 tried it myself before, but just now these hills can be 



seen on my grounds, to be examined in the winter. This 

 last dry fall I have gone along and pressed down their 

 ridges among my pet strawberry-plants more than a 

 score of times. — S. Miller, Montgouieiy Co., Mo. 



Pruning the Vine. — Six clusters of grapes on a 

 single cane is thought by D. S. Marvin to be unusual. 

 I have several times seen canes bearing six clusters of 

 grapes, but only on one variety, the Eumelan. As the 

 lower clusters on a cane are generally larger, and ripen 

 better, it is well to pinch off the upper ones, leaving 

 only two or three, or, on very vigorous canes, four. This 

 can be done before the vines bloom, aud later after the 

 fruit has set, if there are any imperfect clusters. To 

 relieve the vine of these will also benefit the remainder. 

 In spring, when the young growth is about eight inches 

 long, is the time to begin. Pinch the canes two or three 

 nodes above where the upper cluster shows ; remove all 

 weak shoots, and if the vines are weak, also some of the 

 bearing canes. Do not allow the vine to overbear. We 

 cannot expect as much fruit on a Delaware, Duchess, 

 Brighton or lona as on a Worden, Concord or Bacchus. 

 After the laterals have started, pinch them back to one 

 leaf. Some will ;grow again, and the operation should 

 be repeated. The well-developed, large, healthy foli- 

 age, near the fruit, needs this most. On varieties 

 bearing better on canes of six or eight eyes than on 

 short spurs, two or three canes 'of sufficient length 

 should be allowed to grow before pinching. Vines thus 

 treated will ripen their fruit somewhat earlier, also the 

 wood and eyes, which is very important for the follow- 

 ing season. — C. H. Gerbig. Lackmvanna Co., Pa. 



The Japan Plum. — In looking over my notes made 

 this season regarding the merits of the different Japan 

 plums adapted to this section, I am decided in the idea 

 that the Burbank Japan stands at the head of the list. 

 While several others are very good, and deserving at- 

 tention on the part of fruit-growers, this sort is certainly 

 the best, and will be largely planted when known. H. 

 E. VanDeman, chief of the Section of Pomology, was 

 very pronounced in his opinion as to its value for New 

 York state, in a conversation I had with him a few 

 years since, and I am now sure he was quite right. I 

 shall graft over to this variety next spring what trees I 

 have fit for this purpose. Its beauty, great productive- 

 ness, good quality, and hardiness will insure satisfactory 

 profits.— S. D. WiLLARD, Ontario Co., N. Y. 



Marechal Niel Rose and other Plants. — Mrs.Moh- 

 ler asks whether this rose is hardy in Central Missouri. 

 I would answer from what I know of the climate. No. 

 But there are many things not hardy in a trying climate 

 that can be had by a little care and painstaking. One 

 of the finest Marechal Niel bushes I ever knew was in 

 a very cold locality. The plant was set alongside of 

 the dwelling, near a cellar window. During the summer 

 it was trained on a trellis, and in late autumn was 

 pruned of all weak and stunted growth ; the long canes 

 made that season were carefully preserved, and the side 

 shoots on them spurred in closely. The canes were 

 then removed from the trellis, and carefully drawn into 



