300 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[August, 
the stock of plants, the laterals should be al¬ 
lowed to take root at the tips, which they will 
do in September. The number may be in¬ 
creased by throwing 
a little dirt on the 
tips as they show 
signs of taking root. 
The plants may be 
taken up in the fall, 
but I prefer to leave 
them until spring, 
then take them up, 
and trim them back 
to ten or twelve 
inches of the main 
cane. When pruned 
in this manner the 
fruit will be much 
larger,and the plants 
will produce as 
many quarts as 
when the canes are 
left full length. One 
thing should be 
borne in mind,which 
many appear to be 
ignorant of, that 
raspberries of all 
kinds produce new 
canes every year, 
which bear fruit the next, and then die. After 
fruiting, the old canes should be cut out. 
produce results only half as good as claimed for 
them, we shall be satisfied. It is asserted by 
some that there is but one sort of aspar- 
The Deerberry or Squaw Huckleberry. 
On going through our wood lot a few days 
ago, we were delighted to find an old friend 
which we had not seen for years, the 
Deerberry or Squaw Huckleberry, Vaccin- 
ium stamineum. It is a not very com¬ 
mon low bush, two or three feet high, 
and with very spreading branches. Its 
flowers are broadly bell shaped, and not 
unlike those of the Lily of the Yalley. 
They arc borne in great profusion in a 
spreading, leafy raceme, and are succeed¬ 
ed by a greenish, and not very eatable 
berry. The general appearance of the 
plant, as well as the shape of the flowers, 
is so unlike that of our ordinary huckle¬ 
berries that one at first sight would not 
suspect their relationship. The shrub 
when in full flower is both graceful and 
showy, and we propose to try what it 
will do under cultivation. It has a shy 
and wild-wood look about it that would 
be very pleasing in contrast with the 
more prim and formal flowering shrubs. 
About Asparagus. —Despite the rav¬ 
ages of the beetle, asparagus this season 
has been remarkably fine. Mr. J. Lay- 
ton, of Oyster Bay, brought us a bunch 
which well maintained the reputation of 
the Oyster Bay asparagus, and which will 
be hard to beat by the newer sorts. Jacob 
Macclane, of Middletown, N. J., is in the 
market with a new variety, Macclane’s 
Colossal, which is certainly large enough 
and good enough. Then comes S. B. 
Conover with his Colossal, which makes 
one wish his mouth were wider or the 
asparagus smaller. We are glad to see 
a rivalry in asparagus. We have had 
tlse poor, tough and miserable blanched 
sticks long enough, and now these new sorts 
promise us something succulent and eatable. 
We have these new kinds on trial, and if they 
the deerberry —(Vaccinium stamineum.) 
agus, and that the claimed improvements are 
produced by extra manuring. We do not see 
why asparagus, like other cultivated plants, 
should not “break” and give us new varieties. 
At any rate we shall see what these sorts will do. 
Mr. Conover brought us a bunch from some 
plants found growing with his Colossal, the 
stalks of which were slender, and of a peculiar 
Grecian silk —(Penploca Grceca.) 
yellowish green. This pale green variety had 
a decidedly different flavor from Conover’s 
Colossal, which was tried in comparison with it. 
The Grecian Silk .—(Penploca Grata.) 
Among the climbing plants which are worth 
growing, but which 
we seldom see, is the 
Grecian Silk. It is 
a twiner belonging 
to the Milkweed fam¬ 
ily, and has flowers 
and fruit in shape 
much like those of 
our various species 
of Asclepias, though 
differing in some 
minute particulars. 
The plant is a native 
of Europe, but has 
become naturalized 
in some parts of the 
country, it having 
probably escaped 
from cultivation. 
The leaves are very 
smooth and shining, 
and the flowers, of 
the size and shape 
shown in the engrav¬ 
ing, are of a brown¬ 
ish purple color, and 
borne in a loose 
cluster. The pods are smooth, and when they 
burst, liberate the seeds, each of which has 
attached to it a beautiful silky tuft, by means 
of which it is wafted away by the winds. 
--*►—<— -*-«=■-- 
In a Dry Time there is nothing like scratch¬ 
ing. Use the rake or pronged hoe between the 
plants. Do not wait until weeds demand that 
the surface be stirred, but do it because 
it will help the growth of the plants. A 
light, broken surface, will prevent the 
evaporation of the moisture already in 
the soil, and it will attract the dews more 
readily than will a smooth surface. When 
the ground is in proper condition, a 
heavy, sharp steel rake, with long teeth, 
will do great execution in weed-killing. 
The Cannas.— It is a pleasure to see 
them grow. They unfold their broad 
leaves, each larger and more luxuriant 
than the last, with a vigor that is admi¬ 
rable. M. Jean Sisley, of Lyons, France, 
sent us a dozen from his collection, and 
they are of daily interest. They vary in 
color from pale glaucous green to dark 
bronze red ; some have the leaves striped, 
and all are beautiful individually, and 
more beautiful as they are grouped to¬ 
gether. In an article in February last 
by Mr. Sisley, an account is given of the 
origin of some of the new varieties. We 
there made Mr. S. say that the roots 
should be taken up when frost has killed 
the foliage. Mr. S. informs us that the 
improved varieties should be taken up 
before the leaves are killed, as otherwise 
there is great difficulty in preserving the 
roots through the winter. Our climate 
is particularly favorable for the develop¬ 
ment of the Canna, and we hope that 
our amateurs will turn their attention to 
raising seedlings, looking not only to 
striking foliage, but to perfection in the 
flower, which is capable of great im¬ 
provement, both in form and color. We 
hope that the Cannas will become with us, as 
they are in Europe, the most popular of plants 
cultivated for the beauty of their foliage, 
