BUDS, BLOSSOMS, FRUITS. 



73 



named. The lists of hardy trees, plants, etc. , embraced, 

 by the plants include nearly all kinds of embellishing 

 material in this line suited to the climate of Chicago. 

 Especial attention is being paid to a unique rose garden 

 to contain not less than 50,000 plants, besides special 

 areas for large groups. This garden will be of classic 

 design, with temples, arbors, archways and trellises. It 

 is recognized that the great mass of people have never 

 had an opportunity of seeing a typical rose garden ; now 

 the time has come, and nothing should be left undone to 

 insure a magnificent display. Rose-plants may be on 

 their own roots, budded or grafted. Those on their own 

 roots must be from not less than 3)^ -inch pots, of the 

 current year's growth ; cr they may be one or two years 

 old, dormant plants. Well-rooted budded plants, with 

 the buds dormant, will be admitted, thus giving an 

 opportunity for showing a greater variety. The above 

 remarks apply to hybrid perpetual and other hardy roses, 

 teas, noisettes and other kinds will require different 

 treatment, and it is suggested that strong plants in five- 

 inch pots be carried over in coldframes to be planted 

 early in the spring of 1893. It is expected that large 

 and substantial premiums will be offered for roses and 

 many other plants, in addition to the awards that will be 

 offered by the National Commission. The Bureau of 

 Floriculture hopes to make such arrangements as will 

 give to chrysanthemums, cyclamen, Chinese and other 

 winter-flowering p r i m u 1 a s , cinerarias, calceolarias. 



amaryllis, Dutch bulbs, narcissus and other winter and 

 spring-flowering plants, a magnificent representation 

 during their season of beauty from November i, 1892 to 

 .April I, 1893. In the case of cyclamen, cinerarias, 

 primulas, calceolarias and mignonette, all the seed from 

 different parties contributing will be sown on the same 

 day ; the same treatment will be given to all ; the same 

 soil will be used ; and at the final potting an equal number 

 of plants from each contributor will be selected and 

 grown together. When in flower it is expected that 

 awards will be made in the order of merit, and all con- 

 tributors will have the privilege of attaching their busi- 

 ness cards and addresses, subject to the rules of the 

 department governing the same. A record of all con- 

 tributions will be kept and credited to the party supply- 

 ing the seeds, etc.; all will be treated in the most con- 

 fidential manner, and such methods will be pursued as 

 will insure perfect justice to all. All seed must be 

 supplied free of cost to the department ; thoroughly 

 capable men will have charge of the growing of the 

 various plants, so that the highest state of cultivation 

 may be developed, and the growing and cultivating of 

 the plants will be carried on without expense to the con- 

 tributor. Seeds in sufficient number should be sent to 

 make it certain that not less than 100 plants of each shall 

 be in good condition at the time of final potting, as by 

 this means a display adequate to the occasion may be 

 insured. — John Thorpe, 



COMMENTS BY READERS. 



[One idea often siigsests another. Here is a pa^e in which all readers are invited to express themselves regarding any matter that 

 has recently appeared in these columns. If you think you know better regarding some point than the writer of some recent article, or if 

 vou think you can forcibly confirm or add to some present or late statement in these columns, the Editor would be glad to hear from you 

 Many such contributions would be welcome each month.] 



Commercial Fertilizers for Fruits. — In the peach 

 and pear orchard I am inclined to prefer commercial 

 fertilizers, because I think the peach less inclined to 

 yellows, and the pear to blight, when treated with them 

 For small fruits, and for the apple orchard, I wouL' iise 

 the barn-yard manure, if I could get it in suffi .ent 

 quantity, aslknow of nothing superior. Butthe trouble 

 is, it can no longer be had in sufficent quantities, and 

 hence the great boom to fruit-growers in commercial 

 fertilizers. Then the barnyard manure is so bulky, that 

 if it must be bought and teamed any great distance, it 

 becomes much more expensive for the same results. I 

 had an unprecedented crop of Kittatinny blackberries 

 andCuthbert raspberries this season, and I attributed the 

 excellent results to a liberal dressing with complete com- 

 mercial fertilizer. I have had good results in my 

 apple and pear orchard from the use of wood-ashes. 

 In my vineyard, also, I used wood-ashes and superphos- 

 phate for two seasons past, and gathered about four tons 

 of Concords per acre. The fruit was unusually large 

 and fine. As a rule. I ase superphosphate or bone- 

 meal for the supply of pnosphoric acid, wood-ashes for 

 potash, and nitrate of soda for nitrogen. — L. Woolver- 

 TON, Out. 



More About the English Sparrow. — The English 

 sparrows made their appearance at my place over 12 

 years ago. Their number varies from year to year, but 

 they have not increased during the last three years, nor 

 have they done me any injury so far as I have seen. 

 Other birds are continually increasing in numbers and 

 kinds, nesting and breeding on my grounds. The robins 

 and cat-birds are troublesome during the small fruit and 

 cherry-ripening period. The sparrowsare theonly small 

 bird we have with us during the winter. I take much 

 pleasure in feeding them. It is more cheerful to have 

 them about. At night they stay in the evergreens, so 

 give no trouble in that respect. The blue-jays do more 

 here to destroy other birds by killing the young and by 

 destroying eggs before sitting than all other birds com- 

 bined. — A. B. Austin, /l/s. 



I always used to regard the sparrow as a useful bird, 

 although I have not often seen them taking insects. I 

 have been watching them rather closely for several 

 years, and they seem to be most happy when they have 

 plenty of prepared food such as small seeds like wheat, 

 garden seeds, etc. I have seen them by the thousands 

 in wheat-fields which they literally threshed, and in- 

 stances came under my observation where they stripped 



