1871.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
183 
space between being run over by tbe barrow 
cultivator. By the middle of June.by the action 
of the cultivator, the space between the rows 
of corn was in fine friable condition, and celery 
was planted in double rows (10 inches apart). 
The shade given by the corn was of no injury to 
the celery at this early stage of growth, and as 
the corn crop was sold, so that the stalks were 
cleared off by the middle of August, the growth 
of the celery was not in the slightest impaired. 
The whole transaction was quite satisfactory; 
the corn crop sold (green) for about $600, or 
$150 per acre. The celery, at about $400 per 
acre, which was exceedingly low, not much 
more than one cent per root for every root 
planted. Last year the price would have more 
than doubled that for the same quantity. I had 
forgotten this incident in our market-gardening 
experience, until in reply to one of your readers 
asking what he could best do with a piece of 
meadow so situated, I told him of this, and, 
thinking it might be of interest to many so situ- 
ated, I briefly describe it here. The variety of 
sweet corn used was the " Early Darling ; " the 
celery, the " Incomparable Dwarf." No fertil- 
izer was used, except a slight sprinkling of bone- 
dust for the celery. 
» ■ »«— i ■ 
Self-sown Verbenas. 
L. B. Case, Richmond, Ind., writes : Every 
year, after our verbenas have done blooming, 
we cover the beds with straw or chip dirt ; and 
in the early spring, after digging and working 
the beds, the self-sown verbenas come up in 
great quantities, and none from the greenhouse 
can excel them in size, beauty, or brilliancy of 
color. We have all the intermediate shades of 
color, from pure white to a very dark purple or 
plum color ; indeed, almost black, and often 
some of the finest striped varieties. These self- 
sown seedlings of course are not as early as 
those raised otherwise, but they grow among 
other plants without much care ; and if they 
prove worthless, or in the way, they can be 
easily pulled up, while, if fine, they well repay 
one for their waiting. "We have several times 
had "sports" that were admired by many. 
One of the self-sown seedlings last summer 
had a bunch of flowers on the central stalk, 
pure white, and all the branches starting from 
the bas» also had white flowers, except one 
branch, which had a red stripe in the center of 
each petal of all the flowers, and continued to 
bloom so all summer. 
In the summer of 1869, one seedling had the 
flowers of the central stock half white and half 
of a dark, rich purple ; the line of separation 
being so exact as to cut some of the petals of 
the single flower into halves across the center of 
the bunch, leaving one-half of the bunch pure 
white, and the other half a pure purple. The 
branches starting from the base of the plant 
had either all white or all purple flowers. 
Notes from the Pines. 
It is not in the best taste to obtrude one's 
personal matters, but I would like to say to the 
many friends whose letters remain unanswered, 
and to those who have sent seeds and plants as 
yet unacknowledged, that I was "heeled in" 
about Thanksgiving, and remained there until 
the days of bluebirds and crocuses. For fur- 
ther particulars ask Doctor K. 
Bulbs. — The mention of crocuses reminds 
me to say a word about my bulb-bed. Iu the 
fall of 1869 I had a large variety of bulbs, and 
to try how much abuse they would stand, I put 
them out and let them remain all winter with- 
out any cover. Hyacinths, Tulips, Crocuses, 
Scillas, and a few others, made a good bloom 
the following spring; but all the more delicate, 
Narcissuses, Anemones, and the like, were never 
heard of. Last fall similar things were planted, 
and a light covering of salt hay thrown over, 
and the difference this spring is remarkable. 
My experiment the year before was made with 
the hope of being able to say to those people 
who wish to get along without trouble : " You 
need not cover your bulb-bed; the plants will 
do very well without it." But it wouldn't work. 
Bulbocodium. — I have before said a good 
word for Bidbocodium vemum, and now wish to 
repeat that it is the best, earliest, and altogether 
the most satisfactory spring bulb. It is up and 
away before the slower Crocuses and Snow- 
drops have become conscious that winter is over. 
Anemones and Ranunculuses. — A Ranun- 
culus root looks like a many-pronged tooth, and 
that of the Auemone like something that had 
been trodden upon and flattened past recovery. 
It requires some faith to plant these with a view 
to returns. They both do very well with me 
on sandy soil, with a good covering through 
the winter. There are few things more brilliant 
than these flowers. 
The Cabbage-worm. — Last year the devas- 
tation caused by the caterpillar of the Pieris 
rapes was disastrous; the insects did not injure 
the early crops much, but they came in legions 
for the late ones. This year the early crops will 
doubtless be attacked, as I saw butterflies the last 
week in March. Their chrysalides are found 
in all sorts of sheltered spots. I found some 
upon the under side of the branches of a pear- 
tree. The insect, in all its stages, was figured in 
November last. There are several broods in 
the course of the season, and every butterfly 
killed now is a great gain. While the weather 
is comparatively cool, the insects are less active 
than in the hot summer months, and may 
be more easily caught. Probably persistent 
hunting with sweep-nets is the most promising 
means of destroying the destroyer. 
Cordon Apples. — I have a row of apple- 
trees in horizontal cordon along a garden road. 
The trees were allowed to grow upright last 
year, and are now to be brought down to a 
horizontal wire stretched a foot from the ground. 
One of the neighbors seeing me at work at these 
trees, had his curiosity so much excited that he 
had to come over for a nearer view. The mat- 
ter was explained by a lecture on cordon trees 
in general, and the cordon horizoniale iu particu- 
lar. The thiug met with reluctant approval ; 
but there was an objection — the fruit would be 
down too low, and it would be a trouble to stoop 
for it! It was an odd view to take of the mat- 
ter, but it reminded me that I had not thought 
of fruit at all. I was just growing the trees for 
the fun of the thing, and was getting my full 
reward in making them take the shape I fancied. 
There is a sort of satisfaction in bullying a 
Baldwin or Northern Spy, and making it un- 
derstand that a foot is the highest it shall ever 
get. I am glad to see that Mr. Waring, of 
Tyrone, Pa., is publishing articles on the cordon 
training of peach-trees, in Hearth and Home. 
One can get no end of pleasurable occupation 
out of a few peach-trees thus trained, besides a 
certainty of fruit not to be had in most locali- 
ties, with trees grown in the ordinary manner. 
Sowing Weeds. — In my collection of her- 
baceous perennials there are numerous Sedums, 
or Stone-crops. To my great regret I find this 
spring hundreds of self-sown Sedums, some of 
which are at a considerable distance from the 
mother-plants. These must be taken up and 
burned, or otherwise cared for, or they may 
become established weeds. The Live- forever is a 
Sedum (S.Telephium), aud was first introduced as 
a garden plant. It is now an annoying weed in 
many localities. Indeed it has a foot-hold upon 
the adjoining place. I do not wish to have the 
credit of naturalizing any others of the genus. 
Labels are a tribulation with me. The 
Northampton pencil makes a lasting mark, but 
the label must be smooth, and the rascally 
machine-made things are as apt to be rough as 
smooth. The solid ink pencil makes too little 
show. I have come back to white-lead aud a 
common pencil. This will last much longer 
than will the miserable labels which the fac- 
tories turn out. Who makes a decent label ? 
■ i mmm _» 
Soaking Seeds. 
There are some seeds, such as the Canna, 
which it is necessary not only to soak, but to 
almost cook before they will germinate; and 
those of the Cypress-vine and Globe Amaranth 
can only be successfully started by soaking in 
warm water. These seeds are sown where 
they can be attended to, if they arc likely to 
suffer from dryness, and in these and other 
cases the soaking is necessaiy. We see it often 
recommended to soak the seeds of beets, car- 
rots, and other garden seeds before sowing, and 
we have practiced soaking such seeds with 
good results. Still we find that our market- 
gardeners, who yearly sow large quantities of 
seeds, seldom or never do it. If the ground into 
which soaked and often sprouted seeds are 
placed is in good condition, and should the 
weather remain favorable, all will go well, and 
some days be gained ; but should a dry spell 
come on after the soaked seeds are sown, the 
germination which has started will be checked, 
and the whole sowing be lost. No subsequent 
moistening will resuscitate seeds that have had 
their germination arrested. This objection 
does not hold in small gardens where watering 
can be done without much trouble ; aud we 
would caution those who soak their seeds in 
order to hurry them up, to be careful to water 
them should the condition of the soil require it. 
Early Cucumbers. 
— » — 
Those who have cold-frames or hot-beds from 
which the plants have been removed, can make 
them still further useful in growing cucumbers. 
A hill can be planted under each sash, and be- 
ing protected at night, they will come on rap- 
idly. Cucumbers grown in this manner will 
need care in watering, airing, and covering at 
night; but they will be safe from the attacks of 
insects, and will be enough earlier than those 
grown outside, to pay for the trouble. The sashes 
may be kept off altogether after the middle of 
June. Those who have no glass, can forward 
the plants upon inverted sods. Good sod cut 
into squares of three inches are placed grass-side 
down in boxes, and several seeds sown in the 
earth of each piece. These must be cared for 
just as if they were house-plants, watered, air- 
ed by setting out of a warm day, and protected 
from cold at night and during stormy days. 
When the weather is settled, the squares of 
sod are to be set out in well-prepared hills. 
