SPROUTS AND SCIONS. 



123 



Air-slaked Lime for the cabbage maggot is often 

 recommended. As an experiment at the New Jersey- 

 station, a quantity of air-slaked lime was mixed with 

 the soil of two rows of a small plot of early cabbage at 

 the time of setting the plants. As the season for the at- 

 tack arrived it appeared that the plants of the plot were 

 all suffering, and an examination made June 18 showed 

 that 12 plants treated with the lime had 66 maggots, 

 v/hile II plants not treated had but 24 maggots, proving 

 conclusively the entire ineffectiveness and uselessness of 

 the application. 



The Common Hoarhound in California assumes 

 the form of a strong, perennial, nearly an evergreen 

 shrub. Bee farmers consider it a nuisance, for where it 

 is very common it at times flavors the honey with its 

 peculiar bitterness, rendering it unsalable. But this 

 same bitter honey has been found to be a most excellent 

 cough syrup, besides being very wholesome, and there is 

 likely to spring up a great demand for it, while the flavor 

 is preferred by some to all other honeys. When we 

 know what the bitter is, we are not afraid of it, and soon 

 learn to like it. — D. B. Wier. 



SPROUTS AND SCIONS. 



Isn't it about time for horticultural writers to stop 

 writing about the ease with which 300 or 400 bushels of 

 strawberries can be grown on an acre ? 



And how about the eternal caution not to plant early 

 varieties of apples for market ' Hasn't this been greatly 

 overworked ? 



But when it comes to such matters as thorough till- 

 age, liberal application of manure, concentration of 

 effort well within the limit of capital employed, eternal 

 vigilance, intelligent packing, honest dealing, prompt- 

 ness, and the like— can we ever say too much in behalf 

 of all of them ? 



Doubtless a good many people have had occasion to 

 regret having too many early apples, because they had 

 too many kinds of them, did not grow or handle them 

 well, or were not handy to a good market. But under 

 the right conditions there is quite as much money in fine 

 early apples as in winter kinds. 



And as to strawberries, while there are few men liv- 

 ing who ever grew 300 bushels of strawberries on one acre 

 in one season, and while it is as diflicult to do it as to grow 

 100 bushels of corn or 1,000 bushels of potatoes on the 

 same area, yet it is a possible achievement, and the I'ate 

 is not unfrequently reached on small areas. 



What I object to, is holding out the idea that it is easy 

 to do such things, even for beginners. It is so far from 

 being easy that multitudes of good, experienced fruit 

 growers have never approached very near to such a 

 crop, and most of them would say it was only theoreti- 

 cally possible. 



All experienced men know that there is a vast 

 amount of exaggeration and misstatement in regard to 

 the care and profit of fruit growing. While up to a cer- 

 tain limit costly treatment with a view to a great crop 

 will pay, we must admit that the risk of heavy loss in- 

 creases often in proportion to the cost. It is hard to 

 draw the line. 



The great bulk of fruit on the market is grown by 

 cultivators of but moderate skill and small means. They 

 get low prices, and make small profits ; but they supply 

 a market in which high prices would be prohibited. 



It is often said that large crops of choice fruit can be 



grown cheaper than the small or moderate crops of 

 medium grade. But if so, why does not the former so 

 increase as to exclude the latter ? 



Knowledge of fruit growing is evidently increasing, 

 and all markets are being better supplied with fruit of a 

 better average grade. Nevertheless, there is still a good 

 deal shipped in, from one point to another, which is 

 even too poor to sell at all. It is astonishing to see 

 what withered stuff is exposed about the doors of the 

 lower class of shops. The dealers may get a little out of 

 it, but how large, or how small, is the grower's share? 



One thing, above all others, should be urged upon by 

 every horticultural writer, not io plant iiiori //lan von i ir/t 

 properly care for. Neglect of this fundamental rule is 

 the cause of so many inferior goods. Every tree, every 

 rod of ground, more than can be well cared for, lessens, 

 instead of adding to the profits of the grower. 



Is any Atlantic slope or interior valley market in 

 America well and sufficiently supplied with those two ex- 

 cellent stone fruits, the plum and the cherry ? They are 

 among the cheapest and most plentiful fruits in Europe ; 

 then why not here ? 



Is it not because we have neglected to improve our 

 native species ' Are we not doing with these fruits as 

 we long did with grapes ? And is not the true path to be 

 followed the same as with the grape, to develop our native 

 species ? 



It may be granted that this is a difficult path for the 

 individual to follow, though a young enthusiast might do 

 much, who would make a life work of it. But now that 

 we have some fifty well endowed experiment stations 

 scattered over the whole continent, what should hinder 

 immediate, intelligent and well organized activity in de- 

 veloping American fruits to their fullest capabilities 

 What is scientific horticulture good for, if not for this ? 



Growing seedlings of all our fruits, both from self 

 fertilized and cross seed, is an easy work of great prom- 

 ise. See what has been done already in this way with 

 the small fruits ! As much is possible with all our tree 

 fruits, if we will put our hands and heads to the task. 



T. H. HosKiNS, M. D. 



Norllicrii }'oriiioiit. 



