752 



THE V SA V. 



duced the scab, but further observations and experience 

 has led me to conclude that it is in humid, hot weather 

 when the scab runs riot. We had plenty of scab this 

 season, and this winter may kill many of our trees. 



After two years experience on twenty-five acres of 

 apple orchard, I have concluded to abandon the use of 

 London purple on account of its injury to the foliage. 

 1 suppose I shall use Paris green for an insecticide ; and 

 for a fungicide we have tried nothing yet superior to the 

 ammuuiacal solution of carbonate of copper, but have 

 hopes of something better to experiment with next sea- 

 son. The ammonia is a solvent of arsenic, and will, 

 theretore, not make a good compound to act as both in- 

 secticide. and fungicide when used with Paris green. — 

 A. L, Hatch, llhaca, Wis. 



American Chestnuts for Market. — Samples of 

 American chestnuts, superior to those of foreign growth 

 both in size and in flavor, have recently been received 

 at the Department of Agriculture, affording a striking 

 illustration of the results of culture and selection. By 

 these means it is believed that the maturity of the chest- 

 nut likewise may be materially hastened. I^eports re- 

 ceived from various sections of the country indicate that 

 the nut may be best prepared for market by being im- 

 mersed in boiling water for about ten minutes as soon 

 as gathered. Wormy nuts will float on the surface and 

 may be removed ; all eggs and larvse of insects will be 

 destroyed ; and the condition of the meat of the nut will 

 be so changed that it will not become flinty by further 

 curing for winter use, and still be in no wise a "boiled 

 chestnut." The nuts may be dried in the sun or in dry- 

 houses after being placed in sacks in such quantities as 

 to admit of their being spread to the thickness of about 

 two inches, the sacks being frequently turned and shaken. 

 Dried by this method they remain quite tender, retain 

 for a long time the qualities that make them desirable in 

 the fall, and may be safely stored ; but, of course, will 

 not germinate. A bulletin on nut culture is being pre- 

 pared by the Division of Pomology, and when published 

 may be obtained by applying to the Secretary of Agri- 

 culture, Washington, D. C, or to the Division of Pomo- 

 log}', Department of Agriculture. 



Currants and Gooseberries. — In our hands Fay's 

 Prolific currant merits all the praise given it. We 

 had berries as large as early Richmond cherries, and 

 of excellent fiavor. We had a full crop of this variety, 

 as also of White Grape and Red Dutch. They all 

 ripened during the raspberry season. 



Downing, Houghton, and Smith's gooseberries pro- 

 duced full crops. Downing is the heaviest bearer, 

 but the berries on Smith's were of fine size. Crown 

 Bob and Industry have both fruited. The berries are 

 fine, large, and hairy, and so far are free from mil- 

 dew. The Industry is now growing vigorously. All 

 ripened during the raspberry season. — G. G. Groff, 

 Li-ioisburg^ Pt'iin. 



Peaches in Minnesota. — This year the peach crop 

 of Minnesota has been light, but the peaches have been 



large and very finely flavored. When the bloom fell 

 in the spring a heavy crop was predicted, but a cold 

 spell came on and caused the bulk of the crop to fall 

 off. Our native plums were even more severely af- 

 fected than the peaches. In spite of the cold, some 

 peach trees yielded half a bushel of fruit. This shows 

 quite clearly that peach growing here is a success. 

 Look out for Minnesota as a peach-growing state! — 

 Peter M. Gideon, Excelsior, Minn. 



Raspberries. — The raspberry season opened with 

 the Souhegan, June 23rd, two days before the Gandy 

 strawberries were all gone. On my grounds, for family 

 use, and for our local market, I find these four berries, 

 the best I yet know, viz. : for blacks, Souhegan and 

 Gregg, and for reds, Marlboro and Cuthbert. Souhe- 

 gan is the earliest berry, hardy, a moderate grower ; 

 berry medium size, very sweet, with excellent flavor. 

 It is not a heavy bearer. Gregg is about a week later 

 than Souhegan, hardy, a rampant grower ; berry firm, 

 seedy, unless dead ripe, excellent flavor when perfectly 

 ripe. The Gregg is a heavy bearer. The season for 

 Souhegan and Gregg berries extended with me this 

 year from June 23rd to July 19th. 



I am pleased with Marlboro and Cuthbert for a 

 combination. The Marlboro had just about the same 

 season as the Souhegan, being perhaps one or two 

 days later in ripening. On my grounds it proves to be 

 hardy, a moderate and upright grower, not inclined to 

 branch so much as the Cuthbert, and not given to 

 suckering excessively. It is a heavy bearer. The 

 berries are large, firm, but lacking, this year, in flavor. 

 The Cuthbert (Queen of the Market) is a rampant 

 grower, hardy, prolific ; berry firm and of the best 

 flavor. The season for Marlboro and Cuthbert ex- 

 tended with me this year, from June 23d to July 23d — 

 that is for family use. We could not gather for mar- 

 ket during all this time. 



The Hansel! ripened no earlier than Marlboro and 

 seems much inferior to it. We discard it. We also 

 reject Shaffer and Centennial. The Brandywine has 

 not proved hardy, and is rejected. — G. G. Groff, Le^ii- 

 isliiirg, Penn. 



Hybridizing the Wild Crab-apple. — It is a con- 

 ceded point that a man who "never fired a gun," 

 knows but little about military affairs. Now, before 

 turning your correspondent over to the tender mercy of 

 our most noble critic, Mr. R. T. Choke, please to give 

 him another opportunity to show that he has been on 

 the "battle ground " at least, and unless an extremely 

 dull scholar, should know something about P. coro- 

 naria. Southern Minnesota is said to be the northern 

 limit of the wild crab in the United States, and that it 

 is a much hardier tree here, than the same species 

 found in Missouri, the home of the Soulard. This I 

 have proved by actual test. I have resided in southern 

 Minnesota over thirty years and soon after my arrival 

 I purchased eighty acres of land on which were per- 

 haps over a thousand wild crab trees. Some of these 



