634 



I N D FA LLS. 



medium size, very early, hence it is often profitable, 

 although it takes good culture to get what one might 

 consider a half crop. — W. T. Allen, Jr., Wicoviico 

 Co., Md. 



Three Good Michigan Peaches. — " By the cour- 

 tesy of Mr. C. Engle, of Paw Paw, we have enjoyed 

 the sight and taste of a basket of Engle's Rareripe 

 peaches. The variety is a seedling of Early Crawford 

 and was originated by Mr. Engle, who has done consid- 

 erable work of great value in producing new peaches 

 and grapes. It is very much like its parent in shape, 

 in color of flesh and skin, and in flavor, being certainly 

 its equal in all these respects. But it has the great 

 merit of being hardier and earlier. Mr. Engle began 

 shipping the 13th of August and ceased the 25th. He 

 had 500 baskets which sold for 57 to 75 cents per basket, 

 most of them going at 5o cents. Because of its season, 

 fine quality, and handsome appearance, we know of no 

 more desirable market peach." 



"What is known as the "Early Michigan" peach 

 was originated by J. T. Husted of Lowell, only seven 

 years since, when he called a committee of the farmers 

 together to name two varieties of very promising early 

 peaches which he had just brought into bearing. Sec- 

 retary Brown and several other members of the present 

 Grand River Valley Horticultural society were mem- 

 bers of the committee, and they named one the Husted 

 and the other the early Michigan. They are nearly 

 identical, and are the earliest freestone peach raised in 

 the state. They are both hard and hardy. That is, the 

 trees are not subject to disease or winter killing, and 

 the fruit bears handling and shipment remarkably well. 

 Its beautiful appearance and fine quality were testified 

 to by every member who was at the meeting yesterday. 

 — Allegan [Midi.) Gazette. 



A Curious Olive Branch. — In the summer of 1891, 

 the National Encampment of the G. A. R. met in De- 



troit, and for months previously the city was preparing 

 for the grand event, and vast crowds expected. Much 

 was done in the way of floral adornment, especially on 

 the Island Park, composed of 750 acres. For once, the 

 city fathers were wise enough to appoint for superintendent 



of the park, a real gardener, instead of a politician, and 

 the result was a great increase in flower beds and floral 

 designs, especially for the G. A. R. There are five 

 greenhouses, each 18 by go, and 145,000 plants were sent 

 out to adorn the different parks in the city, and especi- 

 ally for Belle Isle, as the island park is called. Mounds 

 twenty feet high, surmounted by palms, had different 

 symbols around the sides. Ribbon beds, scroll ^vork, let- 

 tering were on every hand. In front of the Casino was 

 the arch of peace, made of alternantheras and echeverias. 

 The arch was first made of boxes and fitted together ; 

 then taken apart, filled with earth, and the five thousand 

 plants put in. Being so high in the air, the earth dried 

 so rapidly, that the arch had to be watered with hose 

 every few hours in very warm weather. The lettering 

 was very distinct, and around the base of each column 

 was coleus, its intense red color set off by the grass 

 plot. But the most interesting exhibit was in the green- 

 house. Florida sent a car load of specimens in the plant 

 line, some of them enormous. Among the rest was a 

 century plant that taxed the strength of the working 

 force on the island to put it in its place among the ferns 

 and begonias. It was labelled, " An Olive Branch from 

 an ex-Confederate." As long as that century plant lives 

 and blooms, Michigan will cherish kindly feelings to- 

 wards Florida. And may it live, in all its twisted ugli- 

 ness, for a thousand years ! Another curious plant that 

 came as a companion was a cactus, shaped something 

 like a human foot. The smaller part was in the ground of 

 a large flower pot and looked like-a heel. The other part 

 spread out, and four round bulgy looking toes grew out 

 of it !— A. L. 



Oonshiu and Kishiu Oranges. — From an interest- 

 ing letter from Kumamoto, Japan, to H. E. Amoore, of 

 California, by him sent to us, we make some notes. The 

 writer was much pleased to learn of the progress made 

 in planting the Oonshiu orange in America. He hoped 

 Americans would learn to propagate and plant this or- 

 ange properly. The Oonshiu and Kishiu oranges, he 

 says, are the best in his country. He thinks it is true 

 that the first Kishiu orange tree was grown from seed 

 brought from Koda, in Higo. The province of Higo 

 has many orange fields of the varieties Koda, Kawa- 

 chi, Oama, and these fruits in quality all excel those of 

 other provinces. 



Onions in the South. — I have been familiar with 

 market gardening in Maryland for more years than I care 

 to acknowledge, but I have never seen any one there sow 

 onion seed in March and transplant them. From time 

 out of mind Silver Skin onions have been grown there 

 from sets raised the previous year and planted in fall for 

 early green onions or in spring for ripe ones, and if any 

 one sows onion seed in March and transplants them, he 

 does what seems to me to be an unnecessary thing, for 

 onion seed sown in Maryland (particularly if Italian) in 

 March, will make a fair crop without transplanting, 

 and would, I should think, make less by transplanting at 

 that time. Onion seed sown in Maryland and southward 

 early in October, and transplanted in February and 



