1863.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
101 
Uncover as boou as the weather becomes settled. 
Goosebenies. — Treat these the same as currants. 
Grapes.— No farm or garden should be without 
this delicious fruit. There are some sorts which 
will do well without extra care, and others which 
will well repay for pruning. See reports of the 
Fruit-Growers' meetings in March number, and ar- 
ticles on page 116. Our special premium of grapes 
will doubtless be the means of introducing good 
varieties to many localities. Where there are late 
frosts it is best to remove the winter covering of 
earth from the vines, and leave them laying on the 
ground until all danger of frost has passed, having 
straw or litter ready to throw over them in case 
protection is needed. Great care is needed in tying 
vines up to the trellis after they have started. Fork 
well-rotted manure into the borders, if not rich. 
Pears. — No garden can be complete without a 
good selection of dwarf pears. They are always the 
pets of the garden, and well repay the care be- 
stowed on them. See January Agriculturist, page 
17, for a list of choice varieties. Trees that have 
been properly grown in the nursery will have but 
one main stem, and be well furnished with 
branches, the lowest of which start from near the 
ground. Before planting out cut back at least one- 
half of the former season's growth. 
Quinces. — Put out cuttings in rich soil. This tree 
is generally left to have its own way, but it can be 
made to grow shapely by proper pruning. * 
Raspberries. — Plant out in rows 4 feet apart, with 
the plants 3 feet in the row. Uncover those buried 
for the Winter, and tie up the canes to stakes or 
trellises. Cut away the canes which fruited last 
year, if not done before. Fork a good dressing of 
manure around the roots, if not in good rich soil. 
Strawberries. — The mulching of straw applied in 
Autumn should be parted directly over the plants. 
New beds may be prepared and planted ; make them 
in good soil, and enrich it with old manure. 
Make the beds 4 feet wide, with alleys two feet 
wide between them. Three rows of plants may be 
put upon a bed of this width. Set them 18 inches 
apart each way, which will briug the outside rows 
6 iuches from tho edge of the bed. The plants, 
when takeu up, should be prepared for planting by 
removing all the dead leaves, and shortening the 
roots about one-third. Spread out the roots evenly, 
and plant as deeply as can bo conveniently done 
without leaving any soil on the crowns of the plants. 
Trellises.— Should be repaired. See page 116 for 
description of a cheap and neat style of trellis. 
Green and. Hot-Houses. 
Fire heat in the green-house may now be dis- 
pensed with during warm days, but will often be 
needed at night. Keep the house open as much as 
possible, in order to prepare the plants for removal 
to the grounds. Hot-houses will need much less 
fire and more air as the weather grows milder. 
Bedding Plants. — The rooted stock should be 
potted off. Cuttings of Verbenas, Ageratums, Pe- 
tunias, etc., may still be made. 
Btdbs.— The hardy kinds that are out of bloom 
may be turned into the border. 
Callas. — Water freely, and turn to keep them 
from drawing toward the light. 
Camellias. — Those out of flower should be kept 
in a growing state. Syringe freely and prune into 
shape. Make cuttings. 
Fuschias will need more water as the blooming 
season approaches. Insert a stock of cuttings. 
Grapes.— These are in such different states of for- 
wardness that no particular directions can be given. 
Those forced early will have the. fruit of a size to 
require thinning. Cut back the laterals above the 
bunches to three leaves. Syringe with water to 
which sulphur has been added, to prevent mildew. 
Insects increase rapidly, and will soon injure the 
young growth if not checked. Uso whale oil soap, 
and other preventives, as already recommended. 
Inarching may be performed on oranges, lemons, 
tfhd other shrubby plants. 
Pruning. — Head back unshapely and feeble 
plants, to induce the formatiou of vigorous shoots. 
Seeds of green and hot-house plants may now he 
sown. Those of tropical countries will need a 
strong bottom heat. Where there is room sow a 
few pots with annuals, or even garden vegetables. 
Shifting. — Plants needing more room may be re- 
potted. Cut away any diseased roots. Dress 
with fresh earth those that do not need shifting. 
Water freely rapidly-growing plants. Cactuses, 
aloes, and other succulents need but little water. 
Weeds and Moss should be carefully kept down. 
Apiary in April. 
Strong stocks of bees need little attention now, 
except to destroy any moths that may have found 
their way into the enclosure. The moth worms 
may be found eurlod up on the floor of the hives on 
cold mornings, whence they are easily removed on 
raising the hive Clean out all tilth, and any clus- 
ters of dead bees about the combs. The bees col- 
lect pollen, and but very little honey at this season. 
If the store of honey in any hive has fallen short, 
put a supply in shallow dishes under the boxes, 
with shavings or chips in it for the bees to alight 
on When short of home rations at tills season, 
bees are prone to rob others. Watch for unusual 
excitement towards evening. A strong hive attack- 
ed will usually defeud itself, especially if tho en- 
trance be contracted so that they can meet the in- 
truders one at a time. Weak colonies 6hould be 
removed at once to a cellar or dark room, until 
after a few warm days, when the poachers will have 
turned to honest pursuits. Stop depredations as 
early as possible ; a successful robbery emboldens 
them to further free-booting It is seldom ad- 
visable to disturb bees already doing well. If 
changes are to be made to movable frame hives or 
otherwise, let it be clone now. Look out now for 
any more hives needed at the swarming season. 
—< ■ ■■ i » 
Strawberry Exhibition. 
AT THE 
OFFICE OF THE AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
$50 in Prizes. 
The Proprietor of the Agriculturist invites Strawberry 
Growers, of this viciniLy and elsewhere, to make an exhi- 
bition of their choice fruit on Thursday and Friday, June 
16th and 19tll.* at the American Agriculturist Office ; and 
to give zest to the exhibilion. offers the following 
PRIZES : 
A— For best 25 approved varieties (one quart each). . . $7 
B— Second prize 4 
C— Third prize S 
D— For best dish of market berries (two quarts of 
one variety.— It will be very desirable to show 
plants with fruit in addition) 3 
E— For second and third best do. do. $3, $2 
F— For largest three berries of one variety, (weight 
and size both being considered) 2 
G— For best New Seedling not before exhibited .. .. 5 
H— For Second Best Seedling not before exhibited .. 3 
1 —For best flavored Strawberries (one quart) 2 
J —For best quart of White Strawberries 2 
K— For best quart Everbearing 2 
L— For best quart of Bonte St. Julien t 
M— For best quart of La Constante 1 
N— For best pint of Princesse Frederick William 1 
O— For best pint of Empress Eugenie i 
P— For best pint of Marguerite 1 
Q_For best quart Fillmore i 
R— For best quart Cutter 1 
S— For best quart of Triomphe de Gand 1 
T— For best quart Wilson's Albany 1 
U— For best quart Hooker's Seed ling 1 
V— For best quart Hovey's Seedling 1 
W-For best quart Victoria 1 
X— For best quart Jenny Lind 1 
Y— For best quart Vicomtesse Hericart deThury 1 
t^ 3 No sample can compete for more than one prize. 
The berries to come in competition for the premiums 
must be upon the tables as early as 11 A. M. on Thursday 
June ISth, and each specimen must be correctly labeled. 
The Awarding Committee will attend to their duties at 
12 M.— The exhibition will not open to the public until 
2 P.M. When the premiums are awarded, the yiames, resi- 
dence, and places of business of the exhibitors will be put 
upon the specimens, and the prize samples designated. 
No Fruit exhibited will be removed before Friday 
evening without special permit. 
The Committee of Award appointed by the Fruit Grow- 
ers' Meeting, will consist of some of the most noted and 
reliable judges of fruits in the country. 
* Should any peculiarity of the season require a change 
to be made in the date of holding the exhibition, notice 
will be given in the June Agriculturist.] 
Small Fruits— Good Varieties. 
Since row inside sheet went to press, the N. Y. Fruit 
Growers' Meeting have finished the discussion, anil 
adopted the following list of small fruits to be recom- 
mended fur general culture: 
Apricots.— Dubois' Golden ; Peach or Moorpark ; and 
as promising well : D'Oulin. 
Cherries.— Belle de Cholsv ; Black Eagle; Coe's 
transparent; Elton ; Eailv Richmond ; Black Tarta- 
rian ; Rockport Bigarreau ; and May Duke. 
Currants.— Large Red Dutch ; Versailles; Victoria- 
White Grape ; White Dutch ; Cherry ; and Black Naples.' 
Gooseberries.— Downing's, Houghton's, and Moun- 
tain Seedlings. 
Grapes Promising Well.— In addition to the list of 
those recommended for general culture, and for special 
localities, (see page 83 of February Agriculturist), the 
following were subsequently selected as the most prom- 
ising: Creveling; Cuyahoga; and Allen's Hybrid. The 
list of wine grapes, after considerable discussion, was 
laid upon the table. 
Plums — Green Gage ; Coe's Golden Drop ; Imperial 
Gage ; Washington, or Bolmar ; Smith's Orleans ; Jeffer- 
son ; Lombard ; and Yellow Gage. 
Peaches.- For Free Stones : Crawford's Early ; Craw- 
ford's Late; Early York ; Bergen's Yellow; George IV; 
Oldmixon Free ; Morris White: Smock's Late; Cool- 
edge's Favorite; Stump; Smock's Free. For Cling- 
stones: Heath; Large White; and Oldmlxon. 
Nectarines.— Downton; Stanwick ; Early Newinc- 
ton ; and Boston. 
Raspberries.— Hornet ; Fianconia; Bi Inckle's Orange- 
Belle de Fontenay ; and Doolittle's Black Cap. 
Quinces.— Orange; Rae's Seedling; and Portugal. 
Strawberries: Triomphe de Gand ; Bartlett; Wilson's 
Albany ; La Constante ; Cutter's Seedling ; and New- 
land's Seedling (also known as the Pyramidal Chili.) 
M 
Containing a great variety qf Items, including many 
good Hints and Suggestions which we give here in small 
type and condensed fonn, for want of space elsewhert. 
'Also Weather.— The season is yery back- 
ward. We had March weather in January and Febru- 
ary, and are now having February weather in March. 
At this date, (March 20,) even in this locality, the ground 
is deeply frozen, and partly covered with snow. Better 
thus, than to have a cold April and May, if so be that we 
do not have frosts and snow then. This late cold weath- 
er has promoted the filling of ice-houses, and is likely to 
have a favorable effect on fruit by keeping back the buds. 
The UTcw Agricultural Bureau.— 
We recently spent a few days at Washington, partly to 
witness the closing proceedings of the Memorable 37th 
Congress, but mainly to look into the personnel, the 
working, and the prospects of the new "Department of 
Agriculture." There is certainly an improvement upon 
anything we have had for several years past. Hitherlo 
there has been both incapacity and want of integrity. At 
present we believe there Is an earnest desire to do the 
best possible for the agriculture of the country. Whether 
there is the needed ability, we shall wait to learn from 
what is accomplished. We have neither time nor room 
for further remarks this month. 
** Vinelancl Lands."-We made a hurried 
visit to this locality, on March 5th, and intended to pre- 
sent a statement of our observa lions, but the great press 
upon our columns compels us to defer any further no- 
tice of the matter until next month. 
" English Wine Plant."— To several 
inquirers. This is merely a Rhubarb plant such as is 
common all over the country. One of the best varfeties 
for cooking or " wine", is the Linnaeus, the seed of which 
we offered freely in our Seed Distribution. The roots are 
offered in our advertising columns by reliable growers, 
at $15 to $18 per thousand, and there is no necessity 
for paying $250 per thousand to traveling agents, for 
roots no better, if as good. The Ohio parlies who 
are trying to get up an excitement on the subject, are 
honest enough to say that their " English Wine Plant" is 
a seedling of the English Rhubarb. We have seen many 
samples of alcoholic liquids made from the juice of the 
Rhubarb, but never a real wine. The great stories about 
its being a "delicious wholesome beverage puiufying the 
blood infallible remedy for Dropsical Complaints," 
etc., will do for an advertisement — on a par we should 
say with the " sarsaparilla syrups" of the past. Before 
going into the speculation, better inquire how much of 
the best rhubarb wine can be actually contracted for with 
responsible parties, at 50 or 75 cents a gallon, let alone $8. 
