er weather.’’ That last clause settled it. 
For we knew if the ‘‘local rain” happened 
in our section it would be safe to set all the 
plants we wished to. So during the after¬ 
noon extra help was secured and every 
preparation made to hurry forward the 
work if it should rain. The rain came 
about 9 p. m v and we set out the entire lot 
the next day. Owing to the cool, cloudy 
weather for nearly two days afterward, did 
not lose a plant. 
Steubenville, Ohio. 
ROSE CULTURE. 
The following in regard to rose culture is con¬ 
densed from the practices of a successful rose- 
grower: The rose delights in a deep loam, well 
drained aud manured, although it may be seen 
growing thriftily in soils widely dissimi ! ar. 
One should not use so adhesive a soil for a Tea 
or Burbon rose as for more ordinary kinds. It 
always better to modify t he soil according to the 
variety of rose. As a general rule roses should 
be planted in masses, ia situations fully ex¬ 
posed to the sun, and where they will produce 
a fine effect. The rose will be in its prime the 
third or fourth year after planting, after which 
it will not flower so well. A new place should 
then be prepared for a new planting. In plant¬ 
ing always select young and healthy plants; old 
plants should be rejected. Mulching will b* 
found to be indispensible in Summer. It pre¬ 
vents moisture from evaporating too rapidly by 
the formation of a stratum of air in repose, keep¬ 
ing the soil cool and in proper condition about 
the roots. If the soil is not deep, watering will 
be necessary in warm, dry weather. This should 
be done thoroughly, rather than f equently. 
Deep culture should be given, however, for it is 
the deeper series of fibers situated in a proper 
medium that sustains a succession of flowers in 
spite of heat and drought, These beautiful 
flowers amply repay any attention given them, 
and although in some senses they are independ¬ 
ent of careful culture, producing flowers however 
much they may be neglected, yet it is astonish¬ 
ing what a difference may be produced in them 
by a well-directed and tasteful application of 
human skill. Next to soil and situation prun¬ 
ing is of most importance. It requires an in¬ 
timate knowledge of each class of roses to en¬ 
able one to prune them properly. As a general 
rule most roses will flower better if pruned close- 
in Spring. The moss and yellow roses should 
not be pruned so severely. 
VALUE OF COAL ASHES. 
Coal ashes are usually thought of little value, 
and generally thrown away as a nuisance, but a 
gentleman having experimented with them on a 
limited scale, says I am inclined to a different 
view, not that I consider them of sufficient val¬ 
ue to be at much expense in procuring them for 
general use, but fir specific uses I am inclined to 
believe they are worth from $6 to $10 per ton, or 
will be of that benefit when applied. Than wood 
ashes they are undoubtedly less valuable. I 
have found them very useful as a mulch (hav¬ 
ing considerable fertilizing effect where thu 
applied) for currant bushes, gooseberries, frui 
and other trees and shrubs. After their applica 
tion I find that currant bushes are nearly fre 
from the currant worm, and that the bushes r 
main longer in season of bearing; they longe 
retain the foliage fresh and green, and the fruit 
is every way supe. ior to bushes on which no ap¬ 
plication is made. The currants may not mature 
quite as early, but there is very little difference. 
The lateness I account for by the fact that the 
ashes retain the frost longer, holding the plants 
in check from starting the approach of settled 
spring weather, which is an advantage, as late 
frosts then do no damage. 
Spread around peach trees, the effects are sim¬ 
ilar. The ashes should be applied in the fall, 
at the rate of three or four bushels to a peach 
tree four or five inches in diameter, and to other 
■ reesand bushes in proportion—deepest about 
the trunk and sloping away two or three feet. 
In the spring, after the trees have come into 
blossom, spread the ashes over the whole surface 
as wide (or wider) as the branches cover. The 
ashes tend to repel insec's from commiting dep- 
redations— [Rural Record. 
We enter a household where a mother is 
cross and fretful; the whole atmosphere seems 
tainted, and we find the husband and children 
effected with the same spirit. When the mother 
is cold and stern there is a restraint which pre- 
vades the home circle. The children do not con¬ 
fide in her, they have never been taught that 
she cares for any of their amusements. On the 
other hand, if she enters into the pleasures and 
sorrows of her children, they will grow up with 
the idea, whatever iuterests them, interests her 
and she will have the full knowledge of their 
wherebouts from their own lips. 
Look at Reed’s advertisement of Concord Grapes 
on page 24. Every reader of Seed-Time and Harvest 
should send atrial order for a dozen. You are sure 
to be pleased. Satisfaction guaranteed. 
