108 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
L March, 
%Vliat is Service Kerry? 
Master Josie E., writing from Lewis Co.. Mo., says: 
"There is a tree that grows abundantly here, and is call- 
ed *Sams,'or 'Sarvicc' Berry Tree. What I wi^h to 
know is the 2y?t>)}ertiain€ ot the tree, and from what did 
the name 'Sarvis' originate? I 
hope yon will excuse me for 
troubling you, but I could not 
find any one else that could tcU 
mc." — Probably Master Josie 
thinks we arc a long while in an- 
Bwering his question, but his let- 
ter somehow got mixed with some 
other matters, and it only turned 
np just now. To begin with the 
end of your letter, let us say, do 
not apologize for " troubling " us. 
because we do not regard it as a 
trouble at all. and wish every boy 
and girl to feel that their questions 
are gladly welcomed. When they 
ask questions, we know what they 
are thinking about and what kind 
of articles will please them. Bur 
to come to the tree; the name 
*' San'ice " is a mispronunciation 
of Service. The tree that is knoivn 
as " Service-berry "' in the Eastern 
States, and we suppose the same 
one that is so called with you. 
has long clusters of white flowers 
in early spring, and a sweet cat- 
able fruit, somewhat larger than a 
huckleberry. It is also called 
'* Shad-flower,'" and ''June-ber- 
ry"; the berries are very good, 
but with us the trees are so few 
and the birds so many, that hut 
little fruit is left for the boy?. 
Perhaps yon would like to know 
the botanical name of the tree. 
which is At?itlaii€hier Canadensis. 
There is a similar tree in Savoy. 
in Eiu-ope. which the people there 
call Avielander. and that name 
has been taken for the botanical 
one. You will perhaps be sur- 
prised to learn that the Service- 
berry is verj' closely related to the 
apple and pear, but such is tiie 
case. When our European fl!i- 
ccetors settled in this country. 
they gave to the plants they found 
here the names by which they 
knew similar plants at home, and 
we have many plants in this 
country bearing the names of 
those in the old country. thon;:h 
they may be quite diiferent. As in 
England, there was a pear-like tree 
called Ser^' ice-berry, or Service- 
tree— it was very natural for them 
to give the name to a tree that, 
in some respects, resembled the one they knew at home. 
But this does not tell you how the name Service came to 
be applied to the European tree, and that is the funniest 
part of it. The name comes from cervlsia. which is the 
Latin word for beer, because in ancient limes the fruit of 
the European tree was used to make a kind of fermented 
drink, or beer. It is going a long way back you will 
think to find an answer to your question, but yon will 
find that many words in common u?e have their begin- 
ning away back in the past. 
appearance. A close inspection showed that these 
squashes and gourds were grafted ; for instance, a bright 
green kind was cut ofl" when young and had a portion of 
a yellow one of the same size carefully fitted to it; the 
two united, the wound healed over, and the double 
squash grew on ae if nothing had happi-ncd. Several of 
the very first thing required is patience, and this of course 
inchides control of your own temper. If you liavc the 
atiections of llie animal, he will try to please you. but if 
you should so far forget yourself as to get into a passion, 
scold, or even ciff the poor fellow, lie will very likely get 
the sulkii, and pmve a poor scholar. One of the first 
S«rang:e Sqiianlies* 
At one of the grePt horticultural shows held in France 
last season there were some squashes that attracted 
much attention, f ome appeared to be made up of two 
parte quite unlikf one another, and others of three. Be- 
sides squashes, t lere were gourds eh^wing the same odd 
these squashes were figured in a French jotimal, and we 
hare copied one of the pictures, which shows a large 
green variety with a small summer squash apparently 
growing out of its side. This appearance is produced by 
uniting the two when young, by taking off the skin of 
each and binding the two freshly cut surfaces together. 
If you ask what use this i?, we shall have to answer that 
we know of no immediate good that can come from unit- 
ing squashes of different kinds. It is interesting as 
showing that what happens with stems can also take 
place in fruit, for strictly ppeaking, a squash is a 
fruit as much as an orange. Still, when experiments of 
this kind are made, we can never tell what they will lead 
to, and it is possible that some one may find in this a 
hint that wiU show the way to something more useful. 
2Sip ILiearning^ his First Xriok. 
Did you ever notice the great difference there is iu 
dogs? Some are so intelligent and cunning, that we 
hardly care to teach them any tricks, while others are 
only interesting on account of the accomplishments which 
have been taught them, but when not showing off, are 
rather stnpid fellows. Now and then we find one in 
which native intelligence is added to good schooling, and 
Buch a dog is a capital companion. The difference of 
dogs at school, is quite as great as that of children ; some 
will not bu tau:»ht, no matter how much they are coaxed 
and tempted, while others evidently try to do what is 
asked of them, and if they do not understand what you 
want them to do, will look al you with an expression 
which says almost as plainly as words, "try me again, 
please, I think I understand now." In teaching a dog. 
\'j^i.'-;!i.ii.!. 
things to teach a dog, and one which all dogs should be 
taught, whether their education goes any Hirther or not, 
is to lie down when told, and where he is told. This is 
usually easy to teach. Recollect that dogs go by the 
tone, and not by words, and the command to do any 
particular thing, should be given always as nearly as 
possible in the same tone of voice. We n.ilurally say 
'*lay down," in a different tone from "come here." 
Another useful thin g to teach a dog, is never to eat unless 
he is told. After he is properly tanght to He down, 
place his food before him, and do not allow him to touch 
ituntil yon give the word. Always liave the same word 
for this, such as "Take," "Now, sir," or whatever yon 
choose. After a while let the food be before him a 
longer and longer time, until he can be safely left with it 
while you go out of sight. While teaching this lesson, 
only the teacher should foed the dog, and it should be 
repeated evei7 time he is fed. These are nseftil lessons 
instead of tricks. Master Robert is showing Zip one of 
the commonest tricks— leaping through a hoop. Begin 
with a large hoop held low, and gradually increase the 
hight at which the hoop is held, and make it smaller. 
We have seen a dog leap through a hoop so sm.all. that 
you would hardly think it could pass over his body. 
Master Robert has learned one of the secrets of success 
in teaching his doir ; he has somethiuir in his hand with 
which to reward him when he has done handsomely. 
Dogs are generally fond of sugar; they should not have 
too much, as it tends to make them fat. but a lump 
now and then, as a reward for well doing, may be given, 
or a small crackiT will answer. It is not necessary to 
state the many things that a bright dog may be tinght, 
if one will persevere, and a well educated animal will 
rei>ay the trouble his lessons have cost. 
