Novelties. 
The directors of the N. Y. Agricultural 
Experiment Station communicate to the 
Husbandman the following as their views 
upon the subject of novelties, after another 
year’s tests: 
Each year there is a large number of nov¬ 
elties sent out by the seedsmen. As a rule 
but a very small percentage of them are of 
any value; but they are the source of a 
large revenue to seed dealers. Very often 
old worthless varieties are sent out under 
some high-sounding name and advertised 
extensively. They have a large sale the 
first season and the seedsmen reap a rich 
harvest, but their worthlessness is discov¬ 
ered and there is little or no demand for 
them the second season. We have, grow¬ 
ing in the Station garden, the King Humbert 
tomato, that the Rural New-Yorker ex¬ 
tolled so highly and sent out in their free 
seed distribution. It certainly is unworthy 
of the praise bestowed upon it. It has one 
redeeming trait—the flavor is very good; 
yet there are scores of tomatoes far superior 
to it. The fruit is too small for any use 
except pickling, and there are many others 
that are far preferable for that purpose. 
The skin of the fruit has a peculiar rough 
russet appearance on a part of the surface 
of a majority of the specimens. The Rural 
Bicolor tomato has nothing to commend it 
for general use. It is to be hoped that 
when they send out another tomato it will 
be of a superior quality instead of some¬ 
thing so very ordinary as the above men¬ 
tioned ones. 
The White Plume celery seems to meet 
with much favor wherever grown, espec¬ 
ially when grown in the rich soil of the 
highly cultivated market gardens. It is 
very ornamental upon the table, has a good 
flavor, and its keeping qualities are good. 
The plants are slow growers when small 
and should be of good size before trans¬ 
planting where they are to remain. The 
New Rose celery is somewhat similar to the 
White Plume, as it is very ornamental, 
being of a rose color. I do not think either 
are as profitable to grow as the half dwarf 
varieties unless fancy prices can be obtained 
for them. 
The White Plume does not require the 
banking up that other varieties do to fit it 
for use. The expense of growing is thereby 
much lessened, as the principle cost of 
growing the crop is the expense of banking 
up. Celery of a fair size will sell in the 
market much more readily than a very 
small variety. That grown upon a clay 
soil usually is more crisp and has a finer 
nutty flavor than than that grown upon 
muck. 
The “Top Over” corn sent out but a short 
time since, is said to have the peculiarity of 
the ears topping over and hanging with the 
tip downwards, the cob at the butt of the 
ear being very small, the ear being easily 
broken off when husking. Should it prove 
a good yielder, it may be a valuable acquisi¬ 
tion. More valuable novelties in the line of 
vegetables have been introduced by J. J. 
H. Gregory and Peter Henderson than by 
any other seedsman in this country. Among 
some of those sent out by the former are 
the Hubbard squash, the Mason and Stone 
Mason cabbages; while the latter intro¬ 
duced his famous strains of cabbage and 
celery, also Early Snowball cauliflower, 
which is noted for its reliability for pro¬ 
ducing large, white and compact heads. 
A Sample Box of Writing Pens Free. 
For 5 two-cent stamps to pay postage, etc., you 
can get a fine metallic box of best assorted steel 
pens, one set elegant gold and silver picture cards 
and copy of the Cultivator and House¬ 
keeper; also 14 valuable receipts showing how 
to make best black writing ink for 10 cents a gallon, 
good and cheap artificial hon^y and 12 other f rm- 
ulas worth $5.00 to any one. This offer is mad to 
introduce the pens and the Cultivater. Address 
the Cultivator, Omaha, Neb. Mention this 
paper. 10-11 
'CRAM'S UNRIVALED ATLAS of the WORLD,’ 
THE MOST PRACTICAL & POPULAR 
Atlas of the World 
EVER PUBLISHED. 
Cont ains 200 pages, size, 12x14, elegantly bound. 
Only $3.75 per copy. Over 100.000 copies already sold. 
Agents wanted everywhere. Send for circulars and 
terms. HENRY S. STEBBINS, Publisher, 
264 Wabash Avenue, Chicago. Ill. 
Vapor and Water— 
fresh, salt. Mineral > 
— 6JD 
< c! 
rd, 
ia, 
Centennial Award, 
Medal and Diploma 
against the world. 
Wholesale <t Retail. Old Baths Renewed. 
Send for Circulars. E. J. KN0WLT0N, Ann Arbor. 
Mich. 
