THE \ 



thus defeated. It was provided that one hundred scalps 

 must be accumulated before payment could be demand- 

 ed of the state. This provision was made to prevent 

 the measure costing the state any great amount of money, 

 for the reason that few boys would accumulate so many 

 birds ; but it would nevertheless set them at work, and 

 call attention to the necessity of thinning the great 

 flocks. It was indeed at one time reported that the 

 measure had passed, and there was great preparation 

 for trapping the birds among the boys, but their ardor 

 was soon dampened by the failure of this bill in the 

 senate. The statute now gives a bounty for panthers 

 and other wild beasts. There were some idle apprehen- 

 sions about boys mistaking other birds, and killing them 

 for sparrows, but this was an insinuation touching the 

 intelligence of our boys that has no foundation in fact. 

 Until 1887 I could not understand why the fruit grow- 

 ers and gardeners about our eastern cities talked so 

 much about the sparrows, but when I was forced to 

 stand, shot gun in hand, for several weeks over my fruit 

 and garden crops to save them from destruction by the 

 many thousands of sparrows that had been bred in 

 the city of Watertown, I realized all about it. I am 

 glad to concede that the bird has some merits that should 

 not be overlooked. Its presence in winter when our na- 

 tive species of birds have all migrated, is a daily delight 

 to me ; its pugnacity is amusing, but I must confess I 

 cannot enjoy its music, for it consists of a series of saw- 

 filing notes, uttered and reiterated year after year with- 

 out variation, or sign of developmg into genuine bird 

 music. I freely concede that the sparrows to a limited 

 extent are insectivorous during the breeding season, but 

 their insectivorous habits and instincts here have always 

 appeared to me to be more or less a species of dawdling, 

 I have watched them very carefully for years, and once 

 in a while I see them catching and playing with insects, 

 much as a kitten plays with a mouse, idly and for 

 pastime only. There was once a flock of them in my 

 cabbage patch, having great sport with the flea beetle ; 

 but I think the beetles made the sparrows sick, for I 

 have not seen the flock since, but the beetles remained. 



D. S. M.ARVIN. 



Notes by the Way. — When a person describes a 

 signal success in raising a particular vegetable, fruit, or 

 flower, or a collection of them, as of roses and lilies 

 together, would it not be well to describe the soil and 

 mode of preparation ? It may not be as important to 

 us to know that he succeeded, as how we may hope to 

 succeed. 



Look out for Sports ; a red-berried elder developed 

 on one brarith very beautiful cut-leaves, for I think two 

 years ; a plant of common mayweed a pretty double 

 blossom ; and a variegated violet was one of the nice 

 things among our wild flowers. 



What has become of the hybrid bean-peas W. ¥. 

 Massey of Virginia, told about in 1888? 



I bought a hardy hydrangea, or supposed I did : it 

 grew thriftily but did not bloom ; was protected somewhat 



SA Y. 373 



for winter and found rotten at the collar in spring. Why ? 

 Is it hardy as a lilac ? Is the climbing hydrangea hardy? 



Cosmos Hybridits AaA. not bloom ; perhaps the weather 

 was too dry ; will try again, perhaps, and keep in pots 

 till late. 



Moon-Floioer which started nicely from seed was de- 

 stroyed after setting by too cold weather, I think. Moral : 

 don't set out too early. Cut off a bit of skin from the 

 seed before planting and sow under glass. 



If fearful of drouth, set the chrysanthemums where 

 they can have plenty of water from the kitchen. — Mrs. 

 M. P. A. Crozier. 



Condition of the Wine Industry in France. — 



United States Consul Roosevelt at Bordeaux, has been 

 making an exhaustive study into the wine industry of 

 France. The result of his observations are summed up 

 as follows, in a recent report to the State Department; 

 ' ' There is abundant expert testimony that as good wines 

 can be produced in California as in France. Last year, 

 while in the United States, I daily used California claret 

 and occasionally white wine from the same State, and I 

 do not hesitate to say that I found them superior to the 

 same grade of wines commonly consumed here. It 

 must be admitted that France at present produces finer 

 wines than have yet been made in the United States, 

 but this fact is entirely due to years of experience, ex- 

 ceedmg care and the skill employed, and not, as is 

 claimed by the French, to superior advantages of soil 

 and climate. The wine industry in the United States 

 has, owing to its wide latitude, as is attested by pure 

 and agreeable wines produced in Virginia as well as in 

 California, a brilliant future. In view of this fact, 

 there is no reasonable doubt that in time there will be 

 brands of our native wines as famous and as much in 

 demand as those of the celebrated wineries of France 



Higher Education for Florists and Gardeners. — 



Lord Ashburton said. " We are fitting out man for the 

 struggles of life ; we are fitting up a storehouse for the 

 use of a philosopher. Man goeth forth into the world, 

 as a soldier goeth forth into a campaign. His wants are 

 boundless, his means of carriage are small, life is short, 

 knowledge is infinite ; what shall his pack of knowledge 

 contain." Horticulture ought to take its place as one of 

 the leading professions. Every man who pursues horti- 

 cultural work should try to elevate himself ; by so doing 

 he would advance this noble art. " But what shall his 

 pack of knowledge be ?" He should, as a rule, begin at 

 the bottom of the ladder. Study nature, watch how she 

 provides for the growth and maturity of fruits and flow- 

 ers, how some are 'in sunshine, some in shade, some in 

 the bog, some on dry ground. Study the soil, habit and 

 situation of each flower, tree, or shrub that you see. 

 Read all the works upon horticulture you can get. Keep 

 a book, and if you see or hear anything new, make a 

 note of it. Have a scrap book, wherein to put items of 

 importance cut from papers or books, for future refer- 

 ence. Get Cassell, Fetter & Galpin's " Popular Educa- 

 tor ;" there you will be able to learn, without a master. 



