1882.] 



THE AMERICAN GARDEN. 



187 



Soilla. — E. M., Portland, Me.— "The lovely 

 blue little spring flower" is not Forget-me-not, 

 " but a Scilla, probably S. arncena. It is a charm- 

 ing plant, indeed, blossoming with the earliest 

 days of spring, and lasting longer than Hya- 

 cinths. It is entirely hard}', and improves by 

 being left undisturbed in the ground for several 

 years. The bulbs may bo planted, like Tulips or 

 Crocus, at any time before the ground freezes 

 solid. They thrive iu any good garden soil, and, 

 considering their easy culture and unique beauty, 

 it is surprising that they are so rarely met -with 

 in gardens of amateur florists. 



Hibiscus. — W. R. S. S., Forest, OMo. —Chinese 

 Hibiscus cannot be saved by the drying process. 

 They should be taken up carefully in autumn, 

 planted in as small pots or boxes as possible -with- 

 out breaking the roots too much, watered 

 thoroughly, and brought to a moderately warm 

 room, when many of the flowers will open during 

 the early part of winter. After flowering, less 

 water should be given, half of the soft wood cut 

 away, and the pots stored in a dry, warm cellar or 

 room, watering them occasionally and never 

 allowing them to become dust-dry. In spring 

 prune back into suitable shape and plant in the 

 open ground. 



Protecting Half-hardy Trees. — H. 3., New 



Tork.—The best protection for a half-hardy tree 

 or shrub is a dense evergreen belt on the west 

 side of them. Tender trees suffer generally less 

 from the low temperature of winter than from 

 the changes during spring when the sun starts 

 the sap into circulation, and cold nights following 

 bright days cause it to freeze and burst the plant 

 cells. Small trees and shrubs may be wrapped 

 up with straw or matting, in which case the cov- 

 ering should not be removed before danger of 

 frost is over. Eucalyptus ylobul us, the Australian 

 Fever Gum Tree is not hardy on Long Island, nor 

 anywhere in the Northern States. The best time 

 for pruning shrubs in general is immediately after 

 flowering. 



OUE EXHIBITION TABLE, 

 Niagara.— Through the kindness of Mr. J. S. 

 'Woodward, Secretary of the Niagara Grape Com- 

 pany, Lockport, N. Y., a good-sized basketful of 

 beautiful bunches of Niagara Grapes was placed 

 upon our table. They were of large size and fine 

 appearance, and sweeter even than those we tasted 

 in previous years. What surprised us most was, 

 that they kept so long iu perfect condition. Mr. 

 "W. says iu this regard: They were fully ripe 

 September 15th, but were only cut to-day, Novem- 

 ber 3d, thus showing their great staying qualities. 



Prentiss.— Mi: T. S. Hubbard, Fredonia, K. X., 

 sends a most generous sample of this new white 

 Grape. He says: "The results of the thorough 

 test given it in the original vineyard, at Pultney, 

 N. Y., and in my own vineyards, meet our highest 

 anticipations. With its vigorous habit of growth, 

 fine, delicate flavor, immense productiveness, 

 handsome appearance, firm skin, and its excel- 

 lent keeping and shipping qualities, I claim for it 

 a combination possessed by no other Grape." The 

 bunches and berries were of good, medium size, 

 and the pulp soft- and of great sweetness, remind- 

 ing one of the Rebecca iu its good days. As a 

 perfectly hardy, white, out-door Grape, it seems 

 to offer considerable inducement to the vine- 

 yardist. 



Po'keepsie Bed A bunch of this new Seed- 

 ling Grape was received from the owners and 

 originators, Messrs. A. J. Caywood <£■ Son, Marl- 

 boro, N. T., accompanied by the following card: 

 "We send you a taste of our new wine Grape, the 

 Po'keepsie Red, which has not yet been dissemi- 

 nated. It has taken the first premium, as a table 

 Grape, wherever exhibited. It will hang with- 

 out dropping, until the ground freezes, and 

 always ripens before the 20th of August. We are 

 compelled to send you small clusters, as the best 

 have been used up at the fairs. It has been called 

 the perfect Grape, because nothing unpleasant 

 can be detected in skin or flesh." The variety is 

 a cross between the Delaware and Iona, and par- 

 takes of some of the good qualities of both par- 

 ents. The bunch is very compact, about the 

 size of the Delaware, but of a deeper red color. 

 The berry has no hard pulp, and is about as sweet 

 and delicious as any Grape we ever tasted. 



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