forest and stream. 
^oodhmd, S' am $* r d* tu 
THIS DEPARTMENT 18 EDITED BY W. J. DAVIDSON, BED. 
H0RTI0ULTT7R*!' SOCIETY. 
THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. 
N. Y. 
New York Market, etc., are all good, but for ^general crop 
T 'JS* - for 
der, while in RutaBagas grow the purple toi , 
in preference to any other. 
TOURING a spare hour or two we have amused ourselves 
D readiDg over the various [seedsmen's catalogues for 
the vear and, notwithstanding our experience of over 
twenty-five years, we really feel bewildered over the great 
'variety of seeds offered. To the amateur, the names and 
Jol must be puzzling indeed, and, while “ot d.scourag- 
ing the testing of the many new and perhaps good thing de- 
scribed we now propose to give a list of those best suited 
general purposes, as well as for the garden of limited l extent 
We here draw on Mr. Peter Henderson s tests in his trial 
ground, as well as on our own observations during , the past 
season Taking a catalogue at random as a guide, Conover s 
Colossal Asparagus takes the lead, ami a fino variety it is. In 
Bush Beano, Early Valentine is best for the general crop, 
though Early Rachel is a desirable variety and a few days 
earlier. The Black Wax Bean, though yellow in color, and 
consequently rather unsightly on the table, is solid, stringier 
and of excellent flavor, and is gaining in favor rapidly. Ref- 
ugee is a late variety, and on account of Us thick flesh is 
lately used for pickling. Of Pole Beans, the large Lima 
Btill holds its own, and is the most delicious bean grown. In 
Beets, the early Bassano, closely followed by the deep red 
Egyptian Blood-Turnip, are best for early crops, while the 
L^ng Blood Beet is the best for fall and winter use. A few 
Brussels Sprouts should be grown in every garden ; this is the 
most delicious of all the cabbage-tribe, especially after it has 
caught the first frost, and it is not nearly so much appreci- 
ated as it ought to be. For an early cabbage, the Wakefield 
still stands pre-eminent, though we understand the Early 
Summer is only a week or so later and double the size and 
weight. Winningstadt Flat Dutch and Drumhead Savoy fol- 
low for fall and winter use, with a few Blood-red Cabbages 
for pickling. Cauliflower, in a well-regulated kitchen garden, 
is indispensable; and we find the Erfurt early dwarf one of 
the best for early use. In fall, our markets are full of splen- 
did heads of Cauliflower from the southern part of Long 
Island, probably a good stock of Walchern or Early London ; 
Veitch's Autumn Giant is much praised in England for late 
crops, but our experience with it has been too limited to test 
it thoroughly. If carrots are required— and where are they 
not-take the French Short Horn or Early Horn for early 
use, and the improved Long Orange for the mam crop. 
Many buy their Celery plants in preference to being at 
the trouble of raising them, and they may generally rely 
on getting a good solid Celery if they do so. Turner’s 
Incomparable Dwarf is perhaps the best in cultivation, 
though many prefer the Boston Market, which, from its 
branching habit, is of Uttle use for the New York market. The 
so-called Mammoth Giant, etc., sorts are hollow, stnngy and 
worthless in this climate. Early Sweet Corn is always in de- 
mand, and be who can get his com in a week ahead of his 
neighbor is a bappy man indeed. The Minnesota is the ear- 
liest “ decently large ” sweet com we know of, and for gene- 
ral crop, notwithstanding fine names, keep to a good stock of 
the old eight-rowed a3 the sweetest and most toothsome ; for 
a late variety nothing beats Sto well's Evergreen. As for 
Cucumbers we will leave them to the Onions ; any variety is 
good enough for us, but for pickling try the Early Cluster. 
The New York Improved Egg Plant i? good, while Hender- 
son says the black Pekin is the best flavored ; and in Lettuces 
grow “All the year round,” and Simpson for spring and 
summer use, and Boston Market for winter. Melons, when 
just off the ice, are admired by all in the sultry days of 
August and September. For an early sort take the white 
Japanese, and no variety can surpass the Nutmeg for a gene- 
ral crop. See that they are not grown too near yomr Cucum- 
bers or Squashes. The Red Wethersfield Onion is the Onion 
for the people, and the seed is now exported to England m 
large quantities. Yellow Danvers and the New Queen (white) 
are also desirable, though the former is the best keeper. Some 
five years ago we waded through an interminable lot of Peas 
on trial at Chiswick (London), and after all the varieties des- 
cribed in the report, we found our old favorite (imder half a 
dozen names, however), Dan O’Rourke, at the head of the liBt 
for earliness and productiveness. Champion, of England, for 
general crop is not yet excelled, notwithstanding the many 
claimants for public favor ; while for dwarf sorts, Little Gem 
and Blue Peter divide the honors equally. To those who are 
fond of Salads, Radishes, especially early in the season, are 
always welcome. A cosy, warm comer is the place, and the 
Scarlet Turnip, or new Scarlet Olive-shaped, or French Break- 
fast, the varieties to give satisfaction. For later use the long 
Scarlet, white and black Spanish are in order for those who 
desire them. 
Tennessee Liyk Stock and PouLORY. -The Stock Breed- 
ers’ Association of Tennessee hold them mee m at Naehv 
on the 19th of February. Our correspondent writes 
Several Interesting papers were read JWMjJ of^pes. This ss- 
bly the one npou sheep raising and fanners in the State, and 
soclatlon Is composed ot the most nurchtt8e rs of stock hero 
twaddling motion are very like the duck, but the plumage, shape of 
hSd with Its topknot, resembles the Poland fowl, The other Is a ci ross 
betwem thehuff Cochin China and the Guinea fowl ; in this as in the 
former, "both species are apparent. The etiape T.rZ TtuTcoZl 
like the Guinea fowl, but the plumage and color that of the Cochin 
China. j. p, h. 
XaehmUt, Feb. 81. 
§lt£ H&qttnql. 
fo Correspondents. Those desiring us to 
wUl please take note of and describe the following points In each anl 
tw by the bulb of the thermometer when placed between the body 
andthe foreleg. 9. Give position of kennel and surroundings, outlook 
contiguity to other buildings, and the useB of ihe latter. Also give any 
SECof temperament, movements, etc., that may be noticed, 
gas of Battering, eto. 
FIXTURES FOR 1878 -BENCH SHOWS. 
Boston Kennel Club Show, Boston, Mass., M&roh 26, 27, -28 and 
29 Dr. E. J. Forster, Secretary. 
Baltimore Kennel Club's 8how, Baltimore, Md., Apnl 23, 24, 25 
and 20. L. B. Cassard, Secretary. 
Secretary. 
(FROM OPR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] 
THE ST. LOUIS BENCH SHOW. 
Spinach— We find that the 8avoy-leaved is by far the best 
giving nearly twice the weight of crop on the same space. It 
is somewhat singular that the great value of this variety seems 
to have been overlooked by the market gardeners of New York, 
and they have only recently woke up to it on seeing it Bent in 
by the growers from Norfolk, Va., and other Southern points 
— Heruftrson, in American Agriculturist. 
Tomatoes are a vexed question. One of the best we have 
seen was exhibited at a meeting of the New York Horticultu- 
ral Society last fall, called “Compondie’s Favorite." It was 
early, solid and of excellent flavor. Canada Victor, Arlinton, 
St. Louis, Feb. 23, 1878. 
Editor Forest and Stream : 
In spite of wet weather and muddy streets the St. Louis 
Bench Show, which opened on Tuesday morning and closed 
this evening, has been a grand success so far as patronage and 
enthusiasm are concerned. The interior of the mammoth rink, 
elaborately decorated with flowers and evergreens, presented 
an attractive sight to the thousands of visitors who daily gath- 
ered to see the dogs. The northern and western sides of the 
structure were devoted to sportsmen’s goods ; the southern 
section of the apartment was given up to performing dogs. 
Specimens of the taxidermist’s art were numerous, a deer in 
the clutches of a panther being especially noteworthy. Among 
the prominent visitors from abroad who arrived among the 
first were Col. J. G. Skinner, of the Forest and Stream and 
Rod and Gdn; J. Addison Smith, of Baltimore; Captain J. A. 
Foster, of Virginia-, L. H. Smith, of Strathroy; Arnold Bur- 
ges, of Michigan; Gen. Morgan, of St. Paul; Edmund Orgill, 
of Brooklyn; Young Nicholls, of Syracuse; Gen. Rowett, of 
Carlinville, 111. ; Holabird, of Indiana; Gen. Churchill, of Lit- 
tle Rock; Mr. L. C. Bruce, of New York; Dr. Rowe, of the 
Chicago Field ; Griffith, of Butler, 111.; Patterson, of Florcs- 
sant, and Donohue, of Lasalle. Later came Francis Leisler, of 
New York; Hayes, of Hastings, Minn.; Higgins, of Delaware; 
Dew, of Columbus, O.; Waddell, of Kansas City; Griffith, of 
Butler, 111.; Jesse Sherwood, of Edina; W. J. Farrar, of Tol- 
edo, and a host of others. The Baltimore delegation brought 
thirty-three dogs through in a special car, all reaching here in 
good order. The representatives of the Westminster Kennel 
Club did not get here until Tuesday morning, but had better 
luck than the English entries which reached here Wednesday 
Dight, terribly used up. After many annoying delays on the 
ocean and in New York, Mr. Scott reached here Wednesday 
morning to find that his dogs wpre still twelve hours behind 
him, owing to the carelessness of the express company. The 
irate gentleman accuses railway and custom house officials of 
being very unaccommodating. The Executive Committee of 
the Association postponed the judging in classes in wlinch the 
English dogs were entered until Wednesday morning, but were 
unable to wait any longer; an arrangement, however, being 
made by which Mr. Scott had the right to contest the ribbons 
eld by the rivals of his kennel Somewhat of a shadow wos 
over the .Tow on the 
awards for setters and pointers, Col J- rg 
„ri n r I II Twaddell for spaniels, Chesapeake^, ’ 
7c. D T0e nle Irileuer cl waeone of th.M f d,p™ed 
of aud Elcho's get swept all before them- evay 
Single excopuon. being got by the toon oH 
, Race Juno Guy and Dora were the principal victp - 
£££S. "b". S Bernards, nor Newfonndiands 
“So Superintendent Lincoln by Dr, towe, on be- 
;=. a? 
rSvilie Held trial., carrying off tbo money prize m 
class 1 from such renowned dogs as Lincoln, rui , u e. 
Royal dTo, Rattler, Lark and seven others. Idas superb 
yolg son of Dan and Petrel made the big heart of hi. owner, 
Bryson, glad by bis Success. In the same clws Burges ae- 
fumd first with Queen Mab, Frost and Queen being her pnn. 
Za rival* In the Irish class Elcho won ns was generally 
anticipated, although closely pressed by h» , — g son 
Berkley Many regrets were expressed at Rufus not being 
entered^ Dr. Jarvis having sent the champion out express y 
to meet liis Michigan opponent, Loo II., again secured the 
blue ribbon as the champion bitch, being immeasurably ^su- 
perior to the other entries, barring Fire Fly and Bridget, 
who were very highly commended. Jesse Sherwood s Hupcr 
maintained his reputation as the Champion Gordon ; Farrar s 
Fan carrying off the first prize for bitches in this class and 
also in class 10, but the next day she had to yield the honors 
to Scott’s Floss. Mr. John Davidson had a more than usually 
onerous duty devolve upon him in deciding the pointer 
championship, for which there were twenty-three entries, 
and it is a compliment to him that his decision is unanimously 
approved by owners of the defeated aspirants. Sensation 
was to the fore, while the Birmingham winner Sleaford and 
Stoddard’s Brandy, a former St. Louis winner, secured very 
high commendation. Gillespie’s famoue Fan, as usual, se- 
cured the blue ribbon in this class. Of the smaller sized 
pointers Orgill’s Flake and Waddel’s Jessie secured the nb- 
b The English dogs brought out by Mr. T. H.Scott, of York- 
shire, eleven in all, including one belonging to a friend, dld 
not arrive until a late hour on Wednesday night. They were 
all sadly out of condition, and consequently but five were ex- 
hibited. Pound, a black and white English setter, 2 yrs. and 
4 mos., was pitted against the champion Gladstone, but could 
not reverse the decision. In the imported class Pound wos 
again pitted against Gladstone, Druid and Royal Duke, but 
again failed to reverse the awards, being highly commended, 
however. Pound is by Prince out of Prudence, and has car- 
ried off the blue nbbon at Tavistock and Camberwell in 
England. Mr. Scott bad better luck iu the Gordon setter 
classes. As the best bitcb, Farrar’s three prize winners, Fan. 
Nettie and Nell, contested with Scott’s Nell and Floss, and the 
latter was declared the first prize winner ; Fan, second ; Net- 
tie, third. In class 3 also Floss conquered Fan, thus being 
declared the champion Gordon bitch. The winner is 2£ years 
old by Rock out of Hadzi II. She took first at Brigg, first 
and cup at Selby, and second at Kendall. In Scott’s lot was 
Bow, a fine pointer, 3 yrs., liver and white ticked, by Bony 
out of Luna, who captured the first prize at Exeter and second 
at Islington. Since entered for competition here Bow took 
first and an extra cup in Westmoreland field trial, beating the 
Birmingham winner Bebul ; when shown on Thursday he did 
not compare wtih Sensation, and ranked fourth as against Ster- 
ling’s Sleaford and Lindsay’s Viscount. 
Thursday was a field day for the St. Louis Kennel Club, 
Elcho and Leo, Irish companions, sweeping everything before 
them. Elcho’s handsome son Berkley led off by winning the 
first prize in class 8, imported Irish setter dogs, Stoddard’s 
Bob taking second, and Berkley’s kennel companion, Sting 
11., third; in the same class bitches, first and second prizes 
went to Biddy and Duck, owned by the St. Louis Club, while 
Firefly, the get of Rufus, had to rest content with third 
Elcho, shown with Berkley and Race, secured the Irish seller 
stud dog prize, Burges’ Rufus and Fowler's Ranger being bis 
opponents. In the same class brood hitches, Loo II., will) 
Berkley and Loo III., the latter an extremely promising pu|>. 
2 mos. old, defeated Griffith’s Fan II., Waller’s Fanny Fern. 
Smith’s Bridget and Kramer’s Nelly. With Loo II., Duck, 
Sting II., Berkley and Biddy in St. Louis club also won the 
prize for the best kennel of Irish setters. Smith’s Leicester 
defeated Burges’ Rob lloy, his most formidable competitor in 
the English setter stud dog class; while Demulli, of Iowa, se- 
cured the prize for brood bitches with Pickles. The bes’ 
kennel of English setters was shown by Smith, of Strathroy, 
including the renowned Leicester, Paris, Bronle, Pearl an 
