169 



neglected very mucli to bring it out for exhibition at 

 our State Fairs. 



As I have said more now than I intended at first, 

 I shall close by .saying, that if we follow the advice 

 given by some of the old books and authors, on 

 planting, culture, &c., we will spend all our time in 

 digging great, deep holes for our trees, trenching 

 the ground, — and, after all is done, raise no fruit. 

 But let us rather take and study the tree or plant, 

 when grown in its natural state, and imitate it, as 

 near as possible, in transi)lanting. From my own 

 experience, I can look back and see where I spent 

 a great deal of money and labor in useless work, all 

 by following the kind of advice given by authors 

 who had, probably, no experience at all in fruit cul- 

 ture : — if they had, it was far from its proper 

 course. 



SULPHUR FOR GRAPES. 



BY C. N., NEWARK, N. J. 



I see, in the Monthly for February, 1867, Mr. 

 Jas. Lamont thinks there is nothing wonderful in 

 Richard Miller growing grapes without sulphur. I 

 agree with Mr. Lamont on that point. I am sur- 

 prised that there are so many gardeners who can- 

 not grow grapes even with sulphur, equal to Mr. 

 Miller. I came to the conclusion that an able grape 

 grower never uses sulphur at all, — for grapes do not 

 require it. 



I often hear of gardeners using from five to twenty 

 five lbs. per annum. Now, if Mr. Lamont or 

 Thompson will call on Mr. Miller, they would see 

 how he grows grapes without sulphur. Mr. Lamont 

 does not understand me. I said there was 20 lbs. 

 of fruit on the vine, and the largest cluster was 5J 

 lbs. Now I shall add that the berries measured 

 from Si to 3| inches in circumference. I suppose 

 there is nothing wonderful in that ! 



Mr. Miller is an excellent gardener, and was little 

 known beyond his garden, before I brought his name 

 before the public. He desires me to say no more 

 about his handiwork ; therefore, I will let him fall 

 back to obscurity, where I found him. 



"Gardeners" spring up like mushrooms, to the 

 great injury of Horticulture. If a man labors in a 

 garden twelve months, next year he turns out a 

 "gardener." 



Mr. A. has a fine range of grape houses, and had 

 excellent crops of fruit. But his gardener was taken 

 sick and left. The successor went on very well to 

 the first of July : at that time he wanted 25 lbs. of 

 sulphur, — for there was a little mildew and a few 

 red spiders on the vine. Mr. A., next day, went 

 to see what had been done with the sulphur, and 



behold ! the fruit, foliage and floor was yellow with 

 sulphur. "What! what," says Mr. A., "is this 

 my grape-house, or the sulphureal regions." This 

 touched the dignity of the gardener. He said "it 

 must be all right for he had book authority for it." 

 He brought a bo k, and there it was, sure enough : 

 "one lb. of sulphur to be strewn over every twenty 

 square feet." 



The above will excite hrimstone gardeners^ but 

 good ones will approve what I have said. 



HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS -A 

 SUGGESTION. 



BY T. T. SOUTHWICK, DANSVILLE, N. Y. 



Horticultural Exhibitions are becoming to be 

 held, annually or oftener in most of our large towns 

 and cities, and at which fine displays of fruit is 

 made. In nearly all cases those bringing fruit for 

 exhibitions select the largest and finest specimens. 

 This is but natural, and is right or proper as show- 

 ing the result of good culture, and in stimulating 

 others to aim to greater perfection. While there 

 is a great deal of good attending all this, there is 

 some harm, for a deception is practiced, and false 

 ideas engendered. 



Since the culture of fruit, throughout the country 

 has attracted so much attention in the ranks of the 

 people, these Horticultural Fairs or Exhibitions 

 are attended by hundreds, and often by thousands — 

 persons frequently going a long distance to attend 

 them. And why do they flock to these Exhibitions ? 

 Certainly from no mere idle curiosity to look at 

 some fruit. But they go to learn. They go. that 

 they may learn to judge of the real or comparative 

 value of the fruits they see on Exhibition, and may 

 be to hear the opinions of professional Horticultu- 

 rists. And just here I would say, that it requires a 

 remarkable clear head in one, to listen attentively 

 to the discussions as held in Fruit Conventions, and 

 not go away with one's ideas sadly mixed up. "A" 

 pronounces some particular variety of fruit on exhi- 

 tion, as being " fir t quality and delicious." "B" 

 claims it is "third rate and hardly fit for the pigs." 

 'A' and 'B' are "Professionals," and the balance of 

 the alphabet, who are not "professionals," are left in 

 wonder, doubt and confusion. 



What is learned ? The shape, size and color of 

 the fruits, — good and important, — but stopping 

 short and of by far the most important lesson, — the 

 eating quality of the fruit. Some specimen may 

 please the eye by its color, size or shape, but will it 

 delight the taste. To the many this question must 

 remain unanswered. 



Books of descriptions are not always satisfactory. 



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