4=4=2 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[NOTEMBEB, 
svhat horticulturists are doing in California. A monthly 
maybe filled with quotaiions from English and other 
journals, and the reader, unless he sees the title page, 
can not guess, whether it is published in California, Aus- 
tralia, or Timbuctoo. This is not the case with the 
journal in question. There arc people in Los Angeles 
Co., and Southern California generally, engaged in the 
'Cultivation of fruit and other products of the soil. They 
have formed the " Southern California Horticultural So- 
ciety ; " this Society meets, its members talk, and talk 
sensibly, and this journal is their organ, and a very good 
organ it promises to he. We see San Diego represented 
in their meetings. Twenty- five years ago in February 
last, we found ourselves in San Diego ; the only houses 
in the new town were those brought around Cape Horn, 
and were mere coops ; preferring a firm foundation, we 
put up our tents, and set up housekeeping on the solid 
•earth. After a while some one gave us a map of the 
place, and by taking observations, we found that we 
were encamped exactly where the City Hall was on pa- 
per. It is, of course, now a prosperous plac?, and is no 
•doubt most favorable to fruit-growing. 
Ijai"S;e Sqiinslies. — John E. Kightmeyer, 
of Port Jervis, N. Y., claims that he has the " Champion 
Squashes,'' at least of Orange County. They were raised 
"by Mr. Oti awa Moore, and weigh 915 and 123 lbs. respec- 
tively. Either may be regarded as large, and the heavier 
one remarkably so. — But how does Mr. R. know that 
•they are not pumpkins ?— Don't ask us what is the dif- 
ference, as that is a conundrum we " gave up " long ago. 
Preserving- Cliostniats. — Punch's direc- 
tions for "preserving peaches" was to lock the closet 
■door and lose the key," and in preserving chestnuts for 
planting you have to guard against dryness, heat, and 
hoys. If allowed to become dry they will not vegetate, 
and the safest way is to mix them at once with as much 
or more sand, not wet or yet too dry, but as it comes 
from a well drained sand bank, and keep them through 
the winter in a cool place. Worms do not attack the 
ripe chestnuts; the holes are made, not by worms get- 
ting in, but in going out ; the egg was laid when the nut 
was young and soft, and the '^ worms" are already in 
them when they are gathered. 
**Xlie Scroll Sa^vyer."— In an article 
on scroll sawing, on another page, we mentioned that 
the subject already had a literature; since that was writ- 
ten, we have received the first number of a monthly pa- 
per with the above title, published in New York City. 
Mr. RicUeti^s "I^ady Wasliin^. 
toil."— The success of Mr. J. H. Ricketts, of New- 
"burgh, N. Y., in raising hybrid and other new grapes is 
one of the most remarkable incidents in the horticulture 
of our times. We have before mentioned the marked 
excellence of the majority of his new varieties, and 
■would now make a note of one we had not before seen, 
which he has named " Lady Washington." The berries 
are of medium size, the bunch above medium, double 
shouldered, and of the most delicate amber tint 
imaginable; the fruit, while quite sweet, has more 
character than is usually found in grapes of its color. 
11 ofl'ercd in the market the exceeding beauty of the 
fruit would make a sale for it, were it not half so good. 
This, if we mistake not, is the result of a cross between 
lona and Concord ; its foliage is as strongly native as 
that of any wild grape in the woo^. 
Ho^v Ions: tt5I1 Pollen Iceep? — It is 
probable that the length of time for which pollen will re- 
tain its fertilizing properties varies with difl'erent plants, 
as does the vitality of seeds. According to the "Revue 
Horticole," the pollen of Ceratozamia Mexicana, gath- 
ered in ]3fi7, was successfully used to fertilize some fe- 
male flowers in 1372. Of course it must be carefully pre- 
eerred from dampness. 
Orang^e iVfarmalade has lon<^ been a 
favorite adjunct to the breakfast of the writer. It was 
advised during recovery from a long illness, and the 
taste thus acquired has since often been gratified by the 
purchase of the only article then known in our scores, 
the " Scotch Marmalade," made at Dundee. Scotland, 
from bitter oranges imported from Spain. Not long ago 
Col. J. B. Oliver, editor of the '• Florida New Yoikcr," 
who is wide-awake to all that relates to the material 
prosperity of Florida, made us acquainted with the fact 
that orange marmalade was made in Florida. It appears 
that Messrs. Ritchie & Co., experienced makers of the 
article in Scotland, have established a factory in Florida, 
utilizing the wild orange, which has heretofore been 
looked upon as a waste product. Without comparing 
the two side by side, we think that the Florida marma- 
lade is at lea:5t quite equal to the Imnorted. We look 
■upon this manufacture with much interest, as it has 
already appreciably aflfected the value of the wild orange 
groves. Those who have wild orange trees in full bear- 
ing, if they can find a market for their fruit at even a 
low rate, will hesitate to convert them into groves of 
sweet fruit, which, while it will bring a much higher 
price, must be waited for, as it will take at least ten 
years to produce sweet orange trees bearing as abun- 
dantly as the well established wild ones. We wish this 
enterprise much success— and advise our readers when 
they buy orange marmalade to take the Florida in pre- 
ference to the Scotch. 
CSrass for ]>ifi'erent SoUs.— "L. B. 
M.," Elmwood, m. For land that is partly covered with 
timber. Orchard Grass should be chosen; where the land 
ie sometimes overflowed, Red Top is most suitable, 
where it is moist, but not overflowed, try Timothy. 
NevT Zealand Flax.— " Subscriber," at 
Great Salt Lake City. Utah.— Your signature is not legi- 
ble, or we should have replied by mail. The New Zea- 
land Flax, {PhorTnium, tenax)^ in its common and varie- 
gated forms, is not at all rare in greenhouses, and is 
often used in sub-tropical groups for decorating lawns. 
It is hardy in the south of England ; how it will be with 
you can only be learned by experiment. It is generally 
multiplied by division ; in consulting the English and 
French works on such plants, wo find no reference to 
raising it from seed. Seeds of some related plants, if 
kept long, germinate very slowly, and if you have a 
greenhouse, it will be well to sow the seeds at once. If 
you have no greenhouse, the seeds must be kept until 
spring, and, as a matter of precaution, we would mix 
them with twice their bulk of dry sand, and keep in a 
dry place for the winter. The fibre is very strong, hut 
very coarse, and if your correspondent has seen any 
"nearly as flue as silk," it was prepared difi"erently from 
any that we have met with. 
Parasite on O^vls — ** Ketter Direc- 
tion."— Every now and then it happens that while we 
have copi:d an address exactly as given, a letter comes 
back marked, "Returned for Better Direction." This 
does not seem to have much to do with homed owls or 
their parasites, so we will explain. Almost a 3'ear ago 
Mr. O. Terrell sent us a strange looking insect wliich he 
found on the body of a Horned Owl. It being unlike 
anything we had any account of, we sent it to a gentle- 
man who makes a specialty of the class of insects to 
which we supposed it belonged ; he did not know it, and 
forwarded the specimen to Baron Osten Sacken, who is 
distinguished as an entomologist, as well as diplomatist, 
and he at once gave us the name of the insect as Olfersia 
Amertcaaa, with the remark that it was frequently found 
upon owls. Having the name of the specimen, but 
nothing of its history, we wrote to Mr. Terrell and his 
letter came back stamped as above. We take this 
method of informing Mr. Terrell that we did the best we 
could for him, and refer to the case just now— when we 
shall receive letters by the thousand, to enforce upon our 
friends the necessity for always giving their name and 
address in full. We have just now taken pains to reply 
to a letter at length, and find that the only address is 
Brooklyn, and no means of knowing if the writer is 
Mrs., Miss, or Mr. Having spent some time over the letter, 
we at a venture send it to Brooklyn, N. Y., hut shall not 
be surprised to find it "Returned for Better Direction." 
Preparing ISrinc. — "G." When pure 
salt, such as the Onondaga factory filled or the Ashton 
salt is used, it is not necessary to boil the brine. Boiling 
water may he poured upon the salt in a clean tub or bar- 
rel, the water should be well stirred, and when cool, the 
hrine should he skimmed. Enough salt should be used 
to have some left in the bottom of the tub ; the brine is 
then a saturated solution, and as strong as it can he made. 
Xhe Itest "Wlieat CSrowing- State.— 
"E. R. G.," Lancaster Co., Pa. The best spring wheat 
in the country is grown iu Minnesota, and flour from 
Minnesota spring wheat, brings the highest price of any 
flour in the market. Just now the most profitable wheat 
growing is in Central Kansas, where many persons are 
largely cultivating this crop with considerable profit. 
There fall wheat is considered a sure crop. These two 
States just now ofi'er the best inducements for largely 
and cheaply growing these kinds of wheat. 
^'Adamant PSow."— "J. G. D.," Corry, 
Penn.. writes that he is dissatisfied with the " Adamant 
Plow," but does rot say who is the maker, nor which 
"Adamant" plow it is. We feel sure there is some mis- 
take in the case, and that some plow difl'erent from that 
mentioned recently in the ATnerlcan Agriculturist, is re- 
ferred lo, because we have been using one all summer, 
and have lent it to the neighbors so much, that it has 
been in constant usn, and all who have used it agree in 
thinking it to be an excellent plow of very light draft, 
and clearing itself perfectly in all kinds of soil. 
Catalogues Received. 
Catalogues of dealers in all kinds of ai,n-icnltural and 
horticultural stock and materials, form a class of litera- 
ture, that possesses much interest and value. Of late 
years, instead of being a mere ennnii ration of the stock 
for sale, they generally give descriptions of the articles 
ofl'ercd— at least of the new ones, and by presenting the 
author's experience, or methods of culture, are instruc- 
tive, and we often find in them scraps of information, not 
to be found elsewhere. Unfortunately, theycome in those 
fall and spring months, when onr columns are always 
crowded, and we are unable to point out, as we should 
like, the characteristic features of the difFiirent catalogues, 
but must content ourselves with little more than a bare 
enumeration of them. It will save inquirers mnch trouble, 
if they understand that dealers— such as nurserymen, 
seedsmen, etc. — keep all the regular articles in their line, 
and unless we indicate that one is devoted to some spe- 
cialty, it is safe to assume, tliat any of the standard and 
established articles in the line of his business, may be 
had from him. Where a business has several depart- 
ments so distinct that separate catalogues are issued for 
each, the establishment is mentioned under the different 
heads, but whore no separate catalogues are issued, the 
concern is placed under the head of tlie leading business, 
and mention made of the other departments. 
NURSERTMEN. 
Geokgb AcHELis, Wcstchopter, Pa. — A wholesale list 
of fruit and ornamental, including evergreen, trees, etc. 
BnoNSON, Hopkins & Co., Geneva, N. T. — General 
stock, with several specialties, including Russiau and 
other apples of extra hardiness. 
Bush, Son & Meissner, Bushberg, Jeff"cr?on Co., Jfo., 
make a specialty of Iiardy grapes, and their autumn cata- 
logue is a marvel of compact description. 
J. Capps & Son, Mount Pulaski, 111.— General list, in- 
cluding an immense variety of peaches. They also issue 
an annual "Journal," filled with interesting fniit talk. 
S. C. De Cou, Moorestown, N. J., sends a special 
strawberry circular, but lias a general nursery stock. 
Robert Douglas & Son, Waukegan. 111., make a spe- 
cialty of evergreen and other ornamental tree seedlings. 
They raise evergreens on such a lar<:e scale, and offer the 
seedlings at such low rates, that it is cheaper, and much 
safer, for private planters to buy, than to raise them. 
Ellwanqer & BARRy. Rochester, N. T.. have a stock 
so large and varied, that each department requires a 
separate catalogue, and the whole set bon?id togeiher. 
makes a handsome volume. The lists of Fruits and of 
Ornamental Trees and Shrubs are quite up to the time. 
H. M. Engle & Son. Marietta, Pa., send a full whole- 
sale list, and offer three new peaches raised by them. 
W. L. Ferris. Jr., & Co.. Ponghkeepsie. N. Y., offer a 
general stock, with soecialties in small fruits, including 
]\Ir. Roe's new raspheny and gooseberries, which they 
grow under an arrangement with Mr. R. 
Gibson & Bennett, Woodbury, N. J., offer general 
nursery stock, and as specialties the new Ptrawbcrries 
and raspberries of Mr. Felton, which were first brought 
to notice at the Centennial Exhibition. 
A. Hance & Son. Red Bank, N. J., send a full trade 
list of nursery and florist's stock, and special list of 
peaches and strawberries, many novelties in hoth*C 
Hoopes Brother & Thomas, Westchester, Pa., in their 
trade list offer a large assortment in every department of 
nursery stock, with greenhouse plants besides. 
T. S. Hubbard, Fredonia. N. Y., makes a specialty of 
grape vines and wood, but has other stock. 
J. Jenkins, Winona, Ohio, makes a specialty of grape 
vines and forest tree seedlings, and has a general stock. 
R. S. Johnston. Stockley, Del.— A general wholesale 
list, very full in peaches of the newer sorts. 
n. T. Jones. Rochester. N. Y.. offers small fruits of 
all kinds, including the latest introductions. 
Wm. S. Little, Rochester. N. Y., sends his wholesale 
list, which is very full, and includes eeVLTul specialties in 
fruit and ornamental trees. 
I). S. Marvin, Watertown. N. T. — A special list of 
hardy grapes, and intrrestiug, as it gives the origin of the 
different native varieties. 
S. B. Parsons & Sons, Flushing, (L. 1.,) N. Y.— Be- 
sides their retail cataloi:ne. have a wholesale list of their 
remarkable collection, including camellias and azaleas. 
F. K. Phcenis, Bloomington, HI.. Fias a wholesale list, 
full in every department, an"d offers special terras to clubs. 
Thomas Meehan. Germant.own, Pa., offers an immense 
stock at wholesale rates, and makes a specialty of forest 
tree seedlings and seeds. 
E. MooDT & Sons. Lockport, N. Y.— Though establish- 
ed in 1839. the catalogue shows that this vcnefctble nursery 
keeps pace with the novelties. 
William Parrt, Cinnaminson, N. J., besides his regu- 
lar price-list, publishes "Forty Years Among Small 
Fruits," in which he gives the results of an experience 
second, in variety and results, to that of no other. 
J. C. Plumb & Son. Milton, Wis., make a specialty 
of hardy fruits for extreme northern localities, including 
severaloriiiinatedby them. Their advice to planters is 
clear and sensible. 
n. M. Thompson & Son. St. Francis, Wis., deal es- 
pecially in everixreen and forest tree seedlings, including 
the European Larch. Their catalogue is mainly devoted 
to interesting matter on the importance and profit of tree 
culture, and is a useful and creditable production. 
B. P. Tranpou & Co., Humboldt, Tenn., offer fruit 
trees of varieties especially suited to the southwestern 
climate, and ornamental trees and shrubs. 
Leo Weltz, Wilmington, Ohio, has general nursery 
