330 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[SEPTEMBER , 
dry powder thrown upon the mildew would dry 
it up and destroy it. He found dry and sifted 
clay and fiue road dust were equally efficacious 
with sulphur. "Without asserting that the fact 
is proven, the instance above cited shows that, 
in that case at least, the use of dust arrested the 
mildew, and that the matter is one deserving the 
attention of grape growers. The fact that 
some cultivators find that a mixture of air-slak- 
ed lime and sulphur is better than, 
sulphur alone, seems to point to 
the same conclusion. Overbear- 
ing is also a common fault; it 
serves to weaken the vine, and 
while a larger number of bunches 
may be obtained, they will be in- 
ferior in both size and quality. 
In some places there is com- 
plaiut of the failure of the grapes 
to set well, very large clusters 
often having but three or four 
fertilized and growing berries up- 
on them, all the others remain- 
ing abortive. This may be owing 
to heavy rains or cold, and damp 
weather just at the critical period 
of blossoming. "We look forward 
■with much interest to the grape 
harvest this autumn, as the status 
of many of the newer kinds -will 
be better known ; and it is our in- 
tention to keep our readers advised 
of all that is likely to interest them 
in relation to this increasingly 
important branch of horticulture. 
Variegated Pelargoniums. — 
The Pelargouiums,(often calledGe- 
rauiums,-) with variegated leaves, 
are now very numerous, and the 
number is rapidly increasing. 
Some of them have leaves of such, 
beautiful colors that the}' have all 
the brilliancy of flowers. In Eng- 
land, these plants are much em- 
ployed in bedding, and very fine 
effects are produced by them. 
With us their use hi this way is 
attended by very indifferent suc- 
cess, and those who would enjoy 
the beauty of such fine varieties 
as Mrs. Pollock, Sunset, and others 
of that elegant class, must grow 
them in-doors. Our hot sun is 
too much for the delicate foliage 
of these variegated kinds, and 
the leaves soon curl up, and drop off. Be- 
sides this, caterpillars make sad havoc among 
them, and the}' need looking over every day to 
remove these pests. Among a large number 
tried this year out of doors, the most satisfac- 
tory were the Mountain of Snow, which has a 
dark-green leaf with a broad and well-marked 
•white margin, and the Cloth of Gold, the leaf 
of -which is of yellowish green, bordered with 
yellow, the two not very distinctly defined. "We 
hope that some of the more richly colored ones 
will be found that -will endure our summer heats. 
Ketes' Early Prolific Tomato — was ad- 
vertised as being thirty days earlier than any 
other variety — a claim so extravagant that we 
have watched it in widely different localities 
with much interest. H. J. Rudisseli, of Fort 
"Wayne, Ind., grew them in his market garden, 
side by side with the Early York, of Henderson, 
and '.he Eureka, and they ripened at the same 
time with these varieties. The plants were all 
forced in the usual manner, and the first speci- 
mens were picked July 17th. On the other 
hand, Chas. Downing, as well as cultivators 
near New York, finds it to be at least ten days 
earlier than any other variety. Even this is a 
great advance, and had it been put out as being 
ten days earlier than others, instead of thirty, 
the public would have accepted it as a probable 
statement, and have been more disposed to try it. 
the rabbit-foot clover.— (Trifolhon arvense.) 
The Rabbit-foot Clover. — {Trifolium arvense.) 
In poor and sandy soil, and in old fields, there 
is found a plant, the peculiar softness of which, 
with its dull, gray appearance, is very apt to 
attract attention. It has many popular names, 
among which are Rabbit-foot and Hare's-foot- 
Clover, Pussy-Clover, Stone-Clover, etc. Its 
botanical name is Trifolium arvense, and thouo-h 
in its general appearance it is unlike the other 
clovers with which we are familiar, its struc- 
ture in the main corresponds with theirs. It is 
a much branched annual, that grows from 5 to 
10 inches high, and produces upon the ends of its 
branches flower heads that are at first globular, 
but which soon elongate and become cylindrical. 
The engraving, taken from a small plant, gives 
its general appearance. The three-parted leaves 
are quite small, the flower heads being the most 
conspicuous part of the plant. The whole plant 
is covered with silky hairs, and the heads are 
especially soft to the touch. A close examina- 
tion shows to what this softness is owing. At 
the lower left hand side we have given a 
single flower, very much magnified. The 
corolla, which in other clovers is so showy, is 
here veiy small, while the points of the calyx 
are much elongated, thickly clothed with silky 
hairs, and the most conspicuous parts of the 
flower. Though, so common with us from 
Canada to Florida, it was introduced from 
Europe. It can hardly be ranked 
as a troublesome weed, as it is, 
Jike other annual weeds, readily 
exterminated b} r cultivation. 
A "Word for the Ccrrant. — 
It is very strange that so little 
attention is paid to this most ac- 
ceptable fruit. It is easily raised, 
and brings a good price in mar- 
ket, the supply always being short 
of the demand. "We shall have 
something to say about varieties 
and propagation for those who 
wish to make new plantations. 
At present we give the experience 
of the author of ""Walks and 
Talks," for the benefit of those 
who have old and unproductive 
bushes: ''We have had a splendid 
crop of currants this year. There 
was quite a quantity of old bushes 
on the farm when we came here, 
but the worms had stripped off 
every leaf, and they were in a for- 
lorn condition. We set out a 
number of new ones, and in the 
meantime undertook to renovate 
the old ones by pruning and ma- 
nuring. The old bushes have pro- 
duced thisyearfive times as many 
currants as the new ones, and are 
good for years to come. Currants 
bring six dollars a bushel in the 
city, and it would seem that at 
such prices the crop would be a 
profitable one. If you have old 
bushes of good varieties, dig about 
them and clung them. Cut out all 
the suckers except one or two 
that may be needed to take the 
place of the old, decayed branches. 
Keep a sharp lookout for the 
worms soon after the leaves are 
formed. You will find the eggs 
on the under side of the lower 
leaves, and they can be crushed be- 
tween the thumb and finger in a moment. And 
then, especially, look out for the second brood, 
after the fruit is gathered, and serve them in the 
same way. It is here where so many fail. De- 
stroy this second brood, and you will have com- 
paratively few to kill next spring. If any es- 
cape, dust the bushes with white hellebore pow- 
der; but don't forget to destroy the eggs." 
Increase of Forests rx France. — The 
forests in France are under the care of the 
government, and under the new laws for their 
protection, they have increased nearly one 
million of acres. Less than one sixth of the area 
of the kingdom is covered with woodland. This 
is much less than is desirable for the best inter- 
ests of the husbandman. It is estimated that 
from twenty to twenty-five per cent, of a coun- 
try should be covered with forest, in order to 
secure uniformly good crops. Our forests, now 
disappearing at the rate of 3,000.000 of acres an- 
nually, demand the attention of government. 
