222 
AMERICAN AG-HICtTLTUillST. 
[June, 
common meadow, three years ago, in West- 
chester Count}'. They have never had any 
special care, apparently ; they stand in sward 
land, and yet for three years 
in succession, they have 
borne abundant crops. A 
cow-pasture seedling could 
not be more hardy, or bear 
with more uniformity. This 
variety, we are told, does 
very well at New Haven, 
and is comparatively worth- 
less at Hartford. This de- 
pends, we suppose, not at 
all upon treatment or cul- 
ture, but upon the original 
character of the soil. The 
Paradise d'Automne, the 
Muskingum, the St. Ghis- 
lain, pears of exquisite 
flavor, are quite as success- 
ful with ns as the Bartlett. 
In soil that suits them, with- 
out any special manipula- 
tion or culture, we think 
they can be grown with as 
much uniformity and in as 
large quantity. This, we 
think, is true of many other 
pears of the first quality. 
Farmers, and beginners ia 
fruit culture, should not be 
discouraged from trying to 
grow the besU lb <"jieties, by 
the idea that thfcy 1 require 
specially nice treatment. 
They will do better with 
this than without it, as the 
Bartlett will, but they are 
quite as likely to succeed 
with ordinary care. The 
best are quite as likely to 
succeed in your soil and 
climate as inferior varieties. 
Therefore, plant them. A great deal of horti- 
cultural writing is an account of local experience, 
valuable as far as it goes, but it should be dis- 
tinctly stated that they are only individual opin- 
ions. No one man is able to lay down rules 
for the whole extent of this vast country. 
ago, from our contemporary of the Gardeners' 
Monthly, and have practiced it so successfully, 
that we wonder we did not think of it ourselves. 
Propagation by Layers. 
Many plants are multiplied in this way more 
readily than in any other. Indeed, there are 
some plants that will make natural layers with- 
out any help, as they put out roots whenever 
the joints of the prostrate branches come in 
contact with the soil. Among our herbaceous 
plants, the Verbena and squash are familiar 
illustrations. Most of our climbing plants are 
readily multiplied in this way, and one can in- 
crease his stock of Wistarias, Honeysuckles, 
etc., very rapidly, to say nothing of the Grape, 
a plant notoriously of easy propagation by 
layers. With many of our shrubs, such as the 
Wiegela, the present season's growth may be 
layered as soon as it gets firm, as may that of 
roses and many others. Give well prepared 
soil, and if there is likely to be suffering from 
drouth, put over a mulch. Moss is excellent 
for this purpose, and a large flat stone is not bad. 
The necessity for making a cut in the part 
layered, will depend upon the facility with 
which the plant forms roots. If a cut is to be 
made, let it be on the upper side of the branch, 
and not on the under side, as is recommended 
in the older works. The hint we got, long 
THE DUTCHMAN'S PIPE (Aristolochia SijJho.) 
The Dutchman's Pipe. — (Aristolochia Sipho.) 
This is a climber that we very much admire, 
for a fine specimen of it is among the earliest 
plants we remember. Though a native of our 
Northern States, and one that is very valuable 
for covering a moderate space with copious fo- 
liage, it is very little in use in this country. The 
vigorous growth of its twining branches, and 
the luxuriance of its foliage — the heart-shaped 
leaves being often a foot across — make it a val- 
uable plant. Its remarkable flowers, though 
not showy, will attract the attention of the cu- 
rious. They have a brownish-purple color, and 
a shape so singularly like that of a pipe, as to 
suggest its common name. The readers of last 
3'ear's Agriculturist will recollect that the flow- 
er of this plant was cited by Professor Gray 
among those in which the fertilization must, 
of necessity, be effected by the agency of insects. 
The engraving gives a very good representa- 
tion of the flower of the natural size, and of the 
young leaves. This species is found from Penn- 
S3'lvania, southward and westward, but is hardy 
in most parts of New England and Northern 
New York. Though it is readily multiplied 
from cuttings of. the partly ripened wood, our 
nurserymen charge 75 cents a plant, which is 
more than they do for many exotic things. A 
low species, about a foot high, is Aristolochia 
Serpentaria, the Virginia Snakeroot, which 
formerly bad a reputation as a remedy for the 
bite of poisonous snakes, and it is a little re- 
markable that species of Aristolochia growing 
in widely separated countries, have a reputation 
as " Snakeroots." Some tropical species, with 
I very large flowers, are grown as curious orna- 
ments of the Green-house. 
The writer discovered in 
Napa Valley, California, a 
new species, which is called 
Aristolochia tomentosa, in the 
report of the Mexican 
Boundary Survey. It is a 
very vigorous climber, with 
downy leaves, and very large 
flowers. Wo hope some of 
our many subscribers in that 
beautiful Valley, will be so 
kind as to send us some 
roots or seeds of this species. 
Zinc Labels and the Ink. 
Zinc labels, marked with 
an ink containing a salt of 
copper, have long been in 
use, and have great durabil- 
ity. The old ink consisted 
of sulphate of copper, sal- 
ammoniac and lampblack, 
mixed with water. The on- 
ly use of the lampblack is 
to make the ink visible at 
the instant of writing. Our 
friend, Horticola, whose 
hints we have before pre- 
sented, sends us a specimen 
of a zinc label written with 
his ink, which seems to be 
as legible and as indelible a 
label, as one could wish. He 
is very curious in the way 
of inks, and has tried all 
that have been proposed. 
He has finally settled down 
upon a formula, which, re- 
duced to convenient quanti- 
ties to order from an apothecary, is: Sul- 
phate of copper, G grains ; water, 1 ounce ; dis- 
solve, and add sal-ammoniac, 3 grains, and sul- 
phuric acid, 20 drops. This may be used with 
a quill or gold pen, or even with those steel 
pens that have a coating of copper or similar 
metal on them. Zinc, and all other labels, should 
be tied in a manner that will not constrict the 
growing limb. Lead wire answers very well. 
Horticola is very much pleased with his expe- 
rience with a peculiarly dressed leather for 
tying, known among dealers as lace-leather. 
Bed Paint in the Garden. — In looking 
over the proofs of Mohr's work on the grape, 
we notice many little practical hints. Among 
others, he recommends that the handles of 
pruning knives and all other implements liable 
to be lost, be painted of a bright red. The han- 
dles of knives and other small tools are usually 
of a color so near that of the soil, or that of the 
branches of trees and vines, that it is not easy 
to find them, if carelessly misplaced. He also 
recommends the same color for wires used 
for low trellises for vines, etc., as wires of the 
ordinary color are not readily seen by strangers, 
■—• — ■ - c » - — ►-•»■ — — - 
Seeds of Wild Plants.— Those who wish 
to introduce the early flowering wild plants into 
their grounds, should look out for seeds as soon 
as they ripen, and if it is desirable to remove the 
roots, put a mark of some kind near the plant, 
so that it will be seen when the foliage is dead. 
