148 
August, 1890. 
/ ORCHARD ©RR DEN \ 
: : ^ ' • ' - ^ 
©RCHARD^§ARDEN 
AN ILLUSTRATED MONTHLY JOUR- 
NAL OF HORTICULTURE. 
Devoted exclusively to the Interest of the American 
Orchard, Vineyard, Fruit, Vegetable and 
Flower Garden. 
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Entered at the Post Office at Little Silver as second class 
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LITTLE SILVER, N. J„ AUGUST. 1890. 
CONTENTS. 
Berry Patch. Early Strawberries— Small Fruits in 
California — Strawberry Notes from the Ohio 
Agricultural Experiment Station— Strawberries 
at BufTton, Mo.— Timely Reminders 141, 142, 143 
Books received 152, 153 
Biographical. Prof. F. Lamson-Scribner 149 
Editorial 148 
Flower Garden. Flower Notes lor August— How 
to keep Cut Flowers — Cacti 144. 145 
Fungi. Pear Scab— Tbe Powdery Mildew of the 
Rose 143, 144 
Household. August — A Delicious Dish— A Good 
Tomato Catsup A Cucumber Lunch— Steamed 
Pudding — C. S. Mail — Doilies— Vary the Rou- 
tine— The Needed Rest 153,154 
INSECTS. Strawberry Insects— Saw Fly-Leaf Roll- 
er— An Experience with Rosebugs 151,152 
Orchard. August in the Orchard — Evaporated 
Apples— Room Enough I’p High— The Red Ble- 
tigheimer— TheSopsof Wine Apple— Fast Grow 
ing Trees— The HawkeyePlom 146, 147 
Vegetable Garden. Garden Notes for August— 
Tbe Benefits of Thorough Cultivation— The 
Rattlesnake Watermelon— Timely Hints... 150 151 
Vineyard. Memoranda for A ugusi— Grapes for 
Family Use — Black Rot 147 
It is gratifying to note the increasing im- 
provement in the surroundings of railway 
stations. Flower beds are tastefully laid 
out and planted, and, in many instances, 
shrubberies of quite considerable extent are 
made to fill up vacant space or screen ob- 
noxious views. The agents should be en- 
couraged in this good work which, as a 
means of developing horticultural taste, is 
of much value and is highly commendable. 
Summer is the time to make up a list of 
lieautiful things that it is desired to have 
in one's own grounds, for at that time they 
may probably be seen in bloom and their 
beauties noted. Among the herbaceous 
perennials are many handsome things, de- 
serving of a prominent place among choice 
border plants, now in their full glory. It 
will be found very handy to carry a small 
note book for the purpose of jotting down 
the name and variety of a plant or tree that 
strikes'- oqjf's fancy. Where it can be ob- 
tained may*- he readily ascertained later. 
People are apt to>. meet with many things 
in their rambles the -ftames of which they 
are afterwards sorry to fin'd, ha.ve been for- 
gotten. ' ^ 
The “running out,” as it is termed, pf 
varieties seems to be the certain result o r 
carelessness in propagating and indifference 
to the law of the “survival of the fittest.” 
Prof. E. S. Goff tells the readers of Garden 
and Forest that he procured some plants of 
the Wilson strawberry from Mr. J. M. 
Smith, of Wisconsin, and about the same 
time some of the same variety from a nur- 
sery firm. These were given similar care, 
but the plants from the nursery have been 
already nearly destroyed by rust, while 
those received from Mr. Smith are almost 
free from it. Mr. Smith, as w ill perhaps 
lie remembered, has been remarkably suc- 
cessful with the Wilson, which he still con- 
siders the best strawberry for him, and has 
for years set his new beds only from plants 
taken from thrifty young beds that had not 
yet borne a crop. Is not the failure of other 
varieties than the Wilson due also, in part 
if not altogether, to the enfeebled condition 
of the plants from which they were propa- 
gated? 
Tlie Gov. rnment Seed Shop. 
We have often protested against the con- 
tinuance of the Congressional Seed Distri- 
bution sham by which is wasted annually 
$100,000 or more. There can be no reason- 
able objection to the appropriation of this 
sum or even a much larger one in the legit- 
imate interest of Agriculture, especially if 
in the hands of the Department of Agricul- 
ture, which is the proper party to control 
it, but certainly there should be no money 
to spare for electioneering purposes. 
Upon the reading, in the H. use of Repre- 
sentatives last month, of the items for the 
Agricultural Department, in the Appropri 
ation Bill, among which is one of $100,000 
for garden seeds to be distributed by mem 
bers of Congress, Mr. Kilgore of Texas of- 
fered an amendment that the seeds for dis- 
tribution be sent hereafter to county offic- 
ials. 
The American Florid shows up the ab- 
surdity of this annual gigantic fraud on the 
seed trade in the following amusing man 
ner: Mr. Kilgore has a sanguinary name, 
but he is apparently a pacific person, al- 
though he comes from the Gulf State of 
Texas. He alleges that members of Con- 
gress use the seed of the Agricultural De- 
partment for electioneering purposes. He 
does it himself. The government, he says, 
furnishes seed for distribution, and it is 
human nature for members to distribute 
them to the best possible advantage. So 
far, so good, but Mr. Kilgore complains 
that the department seed willnotgo around 
in his district; that he is able, in fact to 
furnish seeds only to one constituent out of 
every fifteen. Naturally, the other four- 
teen “kick,” and, says Mr. Kilgore plain- 
tively. “I am not able to purchase seed for 
constituents, though I have frequently been 
compelled to do so to meet the requirements 
of the public.” 
Another view of the case was taken by a 
Massachusetts member, Mr. Morse — usually 
known as “ Rising Sun Morse.” He believes 
in the distribution of seed by Congressmen. 
Hl^nvers that the present method of distri- 
bution lias the effect to ally the people more 
closely to their representatives and to the 
government. In reply to the statement 
that the amount of seed given to each farmer 
would cost him only 5 or 10 cents to buy, he 
said, with a splendid burst of eloquence : 
“ It is true that the farmer can go and get 
the seed. That anybody admits, but they 
do not seem as good to him as the seed he 
gets from his government. He plants his 
seed, and all through the summer as he 
looks at them growing he remembers that 
tbe government of the United States furnish 
them to him. He feels that the government 
loves its people; that it feels an interest in 
the success of its agricultural people, and I 
therefore hope that no different method of 
distribution will be adopted.” 
The debate was continued on the lofty 
plane to which Mr. Morse raised it. Mem- 
bers almost tumbled over each other in their 
eagerness to express their affection for their 
agricultural constituents and their eagerness 
to serve the farmers in their districts. Mr. 
Kilgore's amendment was ignominiously 
rejected, and Representatives will continue 
to sow the seed supplied to them by the Ag- 
ricultural Department — supplementing the 
amount when necessary by purchase — broad- 
cast among the farmers of their districts, 
expecting that it will in due time produce 
political influence in the shape of their own 
re-election. 
Detroit International Fair and Expo- 
sition. 
The second annual fair and exposition will 
be held at Detroit,. Mich., from August 26tli 
to September 5th, inclusive. The horticul- 
tural exhibit promises to be large, and to 
greatly surpass the magnificent display of 
last year. 
Society of American Florists. 
The sixth annual meeting of this national 
society will be held in Horticultural Hall, 
Boston, Mass., August 19, 20, 21, 22, D90. 
The railroads have agreed upon a uniform 
excursion rate of one and one-third fare 
upon the “certificate plan:” and arrange- 
ments have been uiade at the hotels for the 
reception of delegates. 
Tbe meeting will probably exceed in size 
and importance any of the p-eceding suc- 
cessful gatherings of this very live body and 
no one can afford to miss it. 
The customary Trade Exhibit will be held 
in Low r er Horticultural Hall. On this sub- 
ject address N. F. McCarthy, 1 Music Hall 
Place, Boston, Mass. 
The Horticultural Exhibition of Plants 
and Flowers of the Mass. Hort. Society will 
be held at Music Hall, Boston, opening on 
the same date as the Society of American 
Florists' meeting. Those who desire to ex- 
hibit here should make prompt application 
to J. H. Woodford. Horticultural Hall, Bos- 
ton, Mass. 
Programmes of the meeting and all nec- 
essary information may be obtained by ad- 
dressing the Secretary, Wm. J. Stewart, 67 
Brom field St., Boston, Mass. 
