1G4 
AMEEICAlsr AGEIOULTTJEIST. 
[April, 
A New Early Raspberry—The Hansell. 
The age of a variety of fruit may be said to date 
from the time it is first offered in the trade by tlie 
mirserymaii, though the variety may have been 
euitivated privately forseveral years. Thellausell 
was first discovered iu au uueultivated place upon 
tlie farm of the late 
J. S. Hansell, in 
Burlington County, 
N. J. Tiie character 
of the fruit attract¬ 
ing the attention of 
Mr. H., he propa¬ 
gated the plant, and 
at the time of his 
death in 1881, had 
about ten acres of 
the variety in culti¬ 
vation. The Han¬ 
sell was introduced 
to the pomologists 
at a meeting of fruit 
growers, held upon 
the farm where it 
originated. Parry, 
Collins, Moon, Lov¬ 
ett and many 
others, well-known 
in small-fruit cul¬ 
ture, examined the fruiting plants, and the “sense 
of the meeting ” was expressed as to the good 
qualities of the Hansell. J. T. Lovett, of Little 
Silver, N. J., thus sumed up his opinion; “The 
earliest ripening. The most profitable. Large, 
bright crimson, hardy, prolific, and very firm.” 
To growers of small fruits, a gain of a few days 
only in the earliness of a raspberry, is of great im¬ 
portance, as it has a marked influence upon the 
market returns. The general testimony shows that 
the Hansell is quite ten days earlier in ripening its 
fruit than the Brandywine, and other leading varie¬ 
ties, and the fruit brings the highest prices. After 
earliness, the next most important character is 
hardiness ; it is claimed that the Hansell has never 
been injured in summer or winter. It will be seen 
from the engraving that the Hansell belongs with 
the large varieties, being nearly the size of the pop¬ 
ular Cuthbert, while its firmness and color, two im¬ 
portant qualities in a market berry, are commended 
by the commission men. Unlike many new fruits, 
we ore pleased to state that the Hansell has been 
tested by growing it for market, some six years 
or more before the plants were offered for sale. 
A New Curled Kale. 
The varieties of non-heading cabbage called 
borecole or kale has never become popular with our 
people ; the two or three varieties sold in the mar¬ 
kets as “sprouts” and “German greens” are 
A NEW KALE. 
bought chiefly by Europeans. The plants are 
hardy, and if sown in early fall they will make 
their growth and furnish a cutting very early in 
spring. While we do not regard them as fine for 
the table as are the Savoy cabbages, they are, after 
they have been frosted, superior to any of the solid 
headed cabbages, being of a fine texture and pleas¬ 
ant flavor. Those who are fond of “greens’will 
find kale to give an early supply with but little 
trouble. The market varieties mentioned above 
• are short-stemmed, the leaves forming a tuft close 
to the ground. There are other varieties (some 
of them known as Scotch kale,) of various hights, 
from one to two feet or more. The latest variety 
is one offered this season from France. Its full 
title translates into “Half-Dwarf Green, Extra- 
frizzled Kale.” The leaves, as shown in the en¬ 
graving, are crisped and curled to a degree that 
may well be called “ extra.” The tall 
varieties are sown at the same time, and 
are treated ali through the same as late 
cabbages. The strikingly beautiful 
leaves might be used for garnishing 
large dishes the same as parsley: in¬ 
deed, the plant would be euitivated as 
an ornament were it not for its associa¬ 
tions with the kitchen. Several years 
ago some ornamental kales were intro¬ 
duced in which the leaves were not only 
handsomely cut and curled, but had 
beautiful colors and variegations. Mobile 
none could deny their ornamental char¬ 
acter, and that they were more showy 
than many “ foliage plants,” they did 
not become popular ; they were regarded 
as out of their place. For the same rea¬ 
son the beets with richly colored leaves, 
introduced later, failed to be appreciated. 
-o- 
A Centennial Cotton Exposition is 
announced to be held in New Orleans, 
' J 
La., beginning on the first Monday in / 
December next and closing in May, 1885. '' 
The present year being the centennial 
anniversary of the first exportation of 
cotton from this country, it is proposed 
to celebrate it by a “World’s Fair.” It 
will, besides cotton, include “ all arts, 
manufactures, and products of the soil 
and mine.” This exposition has the approval of 
Congress, and will be under the auspices of the 
National Cotton Planters’ Association and the 
City of New Orleans. The schedule, which shows 
a well-considered list, may be had by addressing 
E. A. Burke, Director-General, New Orleans, La. 
A Handsome Native Shrub.—The Button- 
bush. 
After midsummer the globular white flower- 
heads of the Button-bush are conspicuous in 
swampy places and on the margins of ponds and 
other still waters. The shrub has a wide range, 
extending from Canada to Florida, and westward 
to Arkansas and Texas. It is six or eight, and 
sometimes ten feet in bight; its usually smooth 
leaves, on short leaf-stalks, are commonly in pairs 
on opposite sides of the stem, though they are 
often in threes. The individual flowers are nearly 
half an inch long, tubular, and teianinated above 
by four short teeth. The four stamens arc attached 
to the inside of the corolla near its mouth, and do 
not extend much if any beyond it, while the style 
of the single pistil is mucli protruded. The flow¬ 
ers arc gathered iu very dense clusters or heads, 
whicli are remarkably i-egular in their spherical 
form. The heads are about an inch in diameter, 
though they appear larger on account of the pro¬ 
truding styles, which also gives the clusters a 
lighter appearance than they would otherwise 
have. The flowers vary from pure white to cream 
color, finally turning brow’nish, and are in great 
abundance. The botanical name of the shrub is 
Cephalanthus occldentalis; tlie first, or generic 
name is from the Greek words for head and flower, 
while its specific name indicates that it belongs to 
the western world. Having such a wide range it 
has received other names besides Button-bush ; 
among them Swamp Dogwood, River-bush and 
Crane Willow. We call attention to this na¬ 
tive shrub as one desirable to use in ornamental 
planting. Some of our most showy shrubs are 
found growing iu wet places, and many hesitate to 
transfer them to cultivated grounds, thinking they 
will not endure the change from a swamp to gar¬ 
den soil. This is a mistaken idea. While plants 
as a rule are injured by removal from a dry soil to a 
wet one, most natives of wet soils not only survive 
a change to a dry location, but many seem to 
like their new conditions and improve under them. 
The Button-bush readily adapts itself to cultiva¬ 
tion, and is especially desirable on account of its 
blooming in July and August, when few other 
shrubs are in flower. It is propagated by seeds, by 
layers and by cuttings, but it is easier to transplant 
thrifty young plants from their wild localities, tak¬ 
ing care before planting to trim the top to com¬ 
pensate for the loss of a portion of the roots. 
