244 



may be put up. If soaked awhile in Tan water the 

 screens will last several years. J 



The Handsomest Shade Tree.— Which is? 

 asks J. A. (7 , of Shippenshiirg, Pa. — We were 

 about to say the Norway Maple when we remem- 

 bered the memorable contest between Juno, Pallas 

 and Yenus, as to which was most beautiful. Paris 

 got himself to a sad scrape with the two former, 

 when he ecided for the latter ; and we have no 

 wish to risk he same fate. There are so many 

 really handsome shade trees, that we will leave it to 

 some of our Lady correspondents to decide which is 

 the best. 



Depth of Grass Roots in Closely Mowed 

 Lawns. — A valued friend suggests to us that our 

 advice on lawn management is founded on incorrect 

 principles. He grants that in trees and shrubs, cut- 

 ting back the green leaves and shoots checks vital- 

 ity, and that the roots of these things so pruned do 

 not extend any farther than the branches are per- 

 mitted to grow. The grass, however, he thinks an 

 exception. It, he believes, is strengthened and not 

 weakened by repeated cutting. Farmers, he ob. 

 serves, turn cattle into their w heat fields in fall fre- 

 quently so that by eating off the tops, the wheat 

 plant may be strengthened and made better able to 

 stand the severity of the winter. 



We know of no more successful lawn maker than 

 the gentleman referred to ; yet we are quite sure 

 that any who will carefully experiment with a few 

 grass plants in a bolder by themselves, will find our 

 statement exac% true^ that the grassroots go down 

 only in proportion as the plant is left uncut. There 

 will be more surface fibres to the continually cut plant 

 — and this is the reason for grazing wheat, to make 

 surface fibres that will help to keep the plant -from 

 being thrown out by frosty — but the uncut grass, 

 instead of making numerous weak fibres, make 

 deep strong roots. We are, howe er, glad to hear 

 the objection. Though we seldom adopt conclu- 

 sions until we have given facts a thorough investi- 

 gation, we do not suppose everything we say will 

 prove infallible, and we want to learn as we go as 

 well as the reader. 



Insect ON the Silver Maple.— >S^. C, Latrobe, 

 Penna., sends samples of insects covering Sil- 

 ver Maples. They are like the ordinary Scale in- 

 sect, but have a cottony appearance. 



It is the grape vine Scale, (Lecanium Vitis). 

 The best way to destroy it is to prune in the trees in 

 winter to the principal branches, and then wash the 

 remaining branches with coal oil and water. 



LiLES. — A Massacliusetts ''Subscriber' inquires the 

 best time and best soil for Lilies, and who has the 

 best collection for sale? 



[Lilies should be planted in October and Novem- 

 ber, about four inches under the surface in a rich 

 sandy loam, and in a place where they will never 

 be liable to become dry, and yet not so wet that 

 water will stand long on the place where they grow. 

 As for the best collection we do not know. As near 

 her own home, our correspondent might try Hovey, 

 or the other large Boston Florists ; or Bliss, of 

 Springfield. If they have not the kinds she wishes, 

 no doubt they will be able to procure them for her.] 



Patent Bights. — A case was recently tried 

 before J udge Cadwallader in the U. S. Court, in 

 Phila. , for an infringement of a patent right. The 

 defence U'as that the Patentee was not the inventor 

 of the idea patented. The Judge decided in favor 

 of the defendant, saying lack of novelty was fatal to 

 a patent. We shall therefore have to withdraw our 

 suggestion that some of our grape geniuses get out 

 a patent for the exclusive right to put soap suds on 

 celery. 



An Evergreen Hedg'e Uninjured by Cattle. 

 — W. S. V. D.Leavenivorth, Kansas, asks : " Have 

 you yet heard from any of your correspondents that 

 the Norway Spruce will be uninjured by cattle?" 



[We have not heard of any and shall be glad 

 to hear of any actual experiment having been 

 made.] 



Plants in Booms.— aS. 31 B., Brooldyn K Y. 

 — The trouble with your plants in winter, comes 

 from the gas lights, we have no doubt. If you 

 could have a glass door or window, forming a sort 

 of enclosed case for your plants they would no doubt 

 do very well. 



Weevil in Peas. — A correspondent in Eastern 

 Tennesse, says: " I wish to go into seed raising, 

 but I am troubled with the weevil in the Peas and 

 Beans. I have been told lately that Landreth 

 scalds his seeds ; you will do me a great favor if 

 you can mfoim me if he does, and at what temper- 

 ature he uses the water and how long he leaves them 

 in it." 



[We do not know of any thing that will destroy 

 the larva of the Pea weevil. If any one has had 

 any experience with scalding, we should be glad 

 to know.] 



