souri Mammoth, &c., but they have not been 
sufficiently tested for us to speak positively 
of their merits. Among the many that we 
have tried, the following four are the only 
ones that are valuable for market:—Wil¬ 
son’s Early, Kittatinny, Lawton and Dor¬ 
chester. 
extreme Northwest, as well as all the coun¬ 
ty, has obtained a prize, and need no longer 
pay attention to crabs. But we have a faint 
suspicion the influence of the lake waters, 
on the banks of which it is said to have 
sprung, may have something to do with its 
hardihood. 
Certainly it is a beautiful and excellent 
^rbori culture 
HEDGE PLANTS 
OPENING OF FRUIT BLOSSOMS 
The “great thing needful,” with farm¬ 
ers at present, is a good hedge plant, the 
demand for which increases as time moves 
on. I tried to grow the Barberry a few years 
ago, but failed—I suppose on account of mis¬ 
management. I had at llie time, over live 
hundred rods of Osage Orange hedge, which 
1 found required a large amount of trimming 
to keep in anything like good order, it how¬ 
ever makes a good fence when properly 
handled. 1 have, sold andboughl again, and 
my present farm is destitute of anything in 
the shape of hedge. Tl is bottom land and 
anything grows very luxuriantly, rank and 
fast, but especially Osage Orange. In view 
of this fact, I would like to have all the 
advocates of the different kinds of hedges 
give their views and experiences with the 
same, in the columns of the Rural. Let the 
article embrace the whole operation, from 
preparing the seed to finishing the hedge. 
Could the Osage be dwarfed to five feet, or 
even six feet, it would undoubtedly be a 
“great tiling.” As it is, it requires three 
trimmings per annum, in bottom lands, to 
keep it in shape and obviate the nuisance of 
thorns lying around. 
Germantown, O. John H. Stevenson. 
I HAVE been watching the opening of leaf 
and blossom of varieties of Cherry, Pear and 
Peach, during their period of returning life 
and promise; for iu this their period of 
spring bloom 1 think there is not a little yet 
to sway us in our judgment of their values 
as adapted to localities. 
My Rostlczcr pears were in full bloom be¬ 
fore Tyson bad burst the leaf shell; Dutchess 
was in bill bloom before Beurre iVAnjou had 
more than just opened. Hale’s Early Peach 
was the first to open except one or two 
seedlings, which are of no value in fruit; 
Crawford’s Early came next, then Sturtevant 
and Red Cheek, Melocotou, and then Old 
Mixon Free. 
Among cherries, one of my very latest 
ripening sorts was the first to open its blos¬ 
soms, while Early Purple Guigne came with 
Black Tartarian, and then followed Red 
Jacket, which is one of the late ripening 
sorts. Belle Magnlflque opened before Arch 
Duke or Late Duke, and full a week before 
Heine Horteuso or the common Morello. 
Early Richmond and Kirtland opened just 
after Late Duke, and Louis Phillip came in 
two days thereafter. 
1 make these notes from numerous varie¬ 
ties noted, and if others count the point any¬ 
thing, I hope they will communicate. 
Without presuming that the blooming 
period of strawberries has aught to do with 
the period at which they ripen their fruit, as 
it is well known some mature quickly after 
blooming while others occupy a greater 
length of time, yet as I went among my 
strawberry beds to-day, 1 could not but note 
that of Wilson, Downer and Nicanor quite a 
show of flowers appeared. Large Early 
Scarlet, Green Prolific, La Constante, Tri- 
omplic dc (land, Jucunda, and Lady Finger 
had each a few, avhilo Ida, llovey, Lu¬ 
cas, Napoleon HI,, Agriculturist, Kramer, 
Bishop, French’s Seedling, King Arthur, and 
many more, had searce a bloom open. 
Frank Amon. 
Cntnvvha Grapes in .May.—Myself and family 
have to-day feasted on the last of our Catawba 
grapes. XVe put 1 hem Up last fall in a paper box, 
wrapping them in cotton batting, sealing stems, 
(which is, in my opinion, useless, [ think they 
will keep oh well without-) We put up some in 
this wise; were careful not to leave any imper¬ 
fect. ones on the stem, then laid the bunches 
carefully in the box. one layer of grapes, then 
cover the layer with newspaper, until the box 
was titled. The stem* wore not settled. We ale 
the last of those January 23d. They were then 
as plump us when picked from vines and much 
sweeter. Another box was filled with bunches, 
stems sealed, hunched wrapped with common 
newspaper, kept the poorest of any; ate the last 
nf them in March. I would like to hear, through 
the Knew., of 1 lie success of others in keeping 
grapes, their mode of boxing, and the kind of 
grapes which kept best, and arc best to keep. 'Idle 
grapes we Ate to-day were a little withered, but 
very sweet and delicious.— G. W. Pouter, Ham¬ 
ilton, III., May !i. 
triui; in appearance and quality 
between a Wagoner and Esopus 
Spitzenberg, or nearest to Red 
Canada of anything we know. 
The fruit, is medium size, round¬ 
ish oblate ; yellow ground, shad¬ 
ed and nearly covered with 
deej), clear, rieli red, with ob¬ 
scure broken stripes and mot- 
tlings of crimson In sun; a few 
light dots; stalk short, or me¬ 
dium, slender, cavity slightly 
russetted; calyx partly closed ; 
basin deep, abrupt, uneven; 
flesh white, fine grained, often 
stained toward the- apex, tender, 
juicy, lively, vinous, sub-acid; 
core small; seeds long or ob¬ 
long, pyriform, pointed. 
The .Mllding Apple,—A correspondent of the 
Mirror and Farmer, J. 1). I., Farmington, N. H„ 
writeR of “ a remarkably good apple, raised in 
(his vicinity, called the * Mildlng,* and believed 
to be a seedling originating on the Ridge in Nrw 
D urham.” He adds:— “This apple tree Is so 
lmrdy and produces such excellent l ruit for late 
autumn and early winter use, both for cooking 
and eating purposes, that 1 think it it valuable 
acquisition.” 
SPRING PINCHING PEARS 
Yellow Canada Raspberry. —A correspondent 
asks if we know anything of this fruit. We do 
not personally. We believe jt originated with 
Charles ArnoM), Paris, Ontario, and is regard¬ 
ed perfectly hardy. Those who have it pro¬ 
nounce it early iu ripening, very productive. A 
writer in the Canada Farmer Bays “ it is probably 
the only perfectly hardy yellow variety in cul¬ 
tivation, and well deserves extensive trial.” 
Having neglected to winter-prune back 
some of my dwarf pear trees, I have been 
to-day among them, and as the buds arc all 
just opening, I have rubbed olT the termi¬ 
nal bud from such shoots as were getting 
more than their half of position, in order to 
keep good shape; and 1 have also nibbed 
the terminal shoot of some small interior 
twigs. Occasionally I have rubbed away a 
lateral bud whose tendency I thought would 
be to cross some other limb, or to make the 
tree too thick. I shall watch and sec how 
my spring pinching succeeds and practice it 
more if I find it successful. With trees that 
have made an extra vigorous growth the 
last season, I am fully convinced it is a far 
better practice than to cut them hack to one- 
third and one-half of bust, year’s growth. 
Frank Amon. 
THE PERKINS GRAPE 
artifact 
This grape was introduced some years 
ago as a seedling fox grape from Massa¬ 
chusetts. Bunch medium to large size; 
berry large, of a beautiful, pale rose color, 
varying to bronze, very sweet: pulp large, 
rather tough, with a high, musky, or, as it 
is termed, “foxy” aroma. Ripens at Roch¬ 
ester, N. Y., from the middle of September 
till the 1st of October. 
Vine vigorous, very hardy and most abun¬ 
dant bearer. 
In quality, the Perkins, when compared 
with such varieties us the Delaware, Diana, 
Catawba, and others of the first class, will 
scarcely rank above third; yet, on account 
ot its hardiness, earliness, beauty and pro¬ 
ductiveness, will be of value in the more 
northern districts, like that of New England. 
melting llesli, and an agreeable sprightly 
flavor, something like, that of No. 2, j'ot 
distinct. Skin thin, without astriagency, 
will bear chewing. Much superior to Allen’s 
Hybrids, as grown by Mr. Arnold, and free 
from mildew. 
No. 8. Jlmnt ,—Much like No. 2 in bunch 
and berry. Berry about medium size, round, 
black, sweet, with a melting flesh and a lit¬ 
tle more of the frost grape flavor than No. 2. 
Skin also a little thicker, and slightly as¬ 
tringent. This variety ripens the earliest of 
any on Mr. Arnold’s grounds. 
No. 16. Canada ,—Resembles Nos. 2 and 8 
in appearance, but is a little later in ripen¬ 
ing. Berry small to medium, round, black, 
with a moderately linn flesh, yet tender, and 
readily breaking up in the mouth ; flavor, 
astringeney and skin very like No. 8. Mr. 
Arnold assured us that this 16 had not 
reached its full perfection, and that a few 
days more, would greatly improve it. 
We found all the. varieties to have ripened 
their wood well, to be free from mildew, of 
moderately vigorous growth, and we believe 
hardy without 
ASPARAGUS CULTURE 
Tins now popular vegetable is a native of 
the salt marshes of Europe and Asia. The 
seed may be sown either in the spring or 
autumn, in drills about one inch deep, and 
the rows wide enough apart to admit of 
hoeing about a foot. An ounce of seed is 
sufficient for a drill fifty feet in length. Keep 
the soil mellow and free from weeds during 
the summer, und in the fall or succeeding 
spring the plants may he set. out. iu beds, 
about a foot apart each way. The beds 
should be narrow, so as to admit of cutting 
to the center without stepping upon them. 
The plants may be allowed to remain iu the 
seed bed until two years old. Before winter 
sets in, cover the beds with about four inches 
of manure. A good many varieties are 
advertised, with but little difference. Salt is 
an excellent manure for asparagus, and an 
efficient, assistant to the cultivator, keeping 
down the weeds with very little labor.— 
Vick'8 Guide. 
ARNOLD’S HYBRID GRAPES 
Worms in Apple Trees,— Now in your time! 
Do you see that worms’ nest in your tree there ? 
Well, lake your pun, put in a good large charge 
of powder and no wad ; put the muzzle of the 
gun About eight inch or from the nest and tiro. 
Jf it don’t destroy nest and worms, call on me 
for your powder. H. Mima, Pine Valley, N. V. 
Matinleb Cherry Stocks.— Can you inform uu- 
whore I can obtain Mahnlob Cherry Stocks to 
graft on? Is it a fact that sprouts will not come 
up from such stocks ? So asks a correspondent. 
We cannot answer the first question. To the 
second we answer, yes. 
FULLER ON BLACKBERRIES. 
A. 8. Fuller, in the New York Sun, 
gives the following notes on the new varie¬ 
ties of blackberries: 
Wilson's Early. — This is the largest variety 
that we have seen. The flavor of the berry 
is not quite equal to some others, but it 
ripens early, and the plants are wonderfully 
productive, and the berry is firm enough to 
send almost any distance to market. The 
Wilson is rapidlj r becoming a general favor¬ 
ite with the fruit, growers iu New Jersey and 
further South. 
Holcomb. — We understand that many of 
the largest cultivators of the blackberry in 
West Jersey have discarded this variety 
because it was not sufficiently productive. 
Felton. —This is too much like the Wil¬ 
son’s Early to be propagated under a sepa¬ 
rate name. We think the two varieties are 
identical. 
Mason * Mountain .—Very hardy and pro¬ 
ductive, but too small to he valuable while 
we have so many that are larger and better. 
(Crystal White. —This is, as its name indi¬ 
cates, a white berry. In quality it is very 
good, but the berry is rather small. 
It is a very pretty berry for ama¬ 
teurs, but of no value for market, 
Adair'x Claret. —This is another 
V blackberry which may be culti- 
\ voted as a curiosity, but it is of 
\ no great value. The berries are 
\ quite large, and of a peculiar light 
\ claret color, and nearly trauspa- 
\ rent when fully ripe. 
I Fay's Thornless. — We received 
/ plants of this variety last spring, 
/ but they have not as yet fruited 
/ with us. The canes are really 
/ thornless, and we hope the berries 
/ will be equal to the recommcnda- 
/ tion which accompanied the plant; 
* if so, then we will bid good-by to 
all those sorts which have so 
many thorns. We shall eventu¬ 
ally have choice varieties of. the 
blackberry with canes as smooth as a willow, 
and when that time comes the culture of 
this fruit will be far more pleasant than at 
present. 
There are several other new varieties that 
promise well, such as the Sable Queeu, Mis- 
Tree Invlgorntorn.— Mrs. A. It. Warner. New 
Jersey, is respectfully informed that we know 
wliat we are talking about, when we talk upon 
the subject of " tree invigorators," quite as well 
as she does. 
they will prove perfectly 
winter protection in most, if not all parts of 
the Province. We cordially recommend 
them to the notice of all those interested in 
grape culture as well worthy of extensive 
trial, believing as we do, that under more 
favorable circumstances they would com¬ 
mand, both in regard to size and flavor, 
higher commendations than those we now 
give. Mi*. Bauer’s recent and very careful 
experiments have proved them as valuable 
for wine as the best, grapes in the best years 
in Europe. Should they succeed throughout 
our country, as we hope and believe they 
will, there is a great field before them. 
A Diseased Garden.— Will some one tell me 
through the Rural, what is the trouble with 
my garden? Jt ha- been suitably manured and 
worked for years, yet It is all lumps, as Insur¬ 
mountable as rocks, and swarming with huge 
angle-worms. Are they the cause of this state 
of tin- soil ? and how can I destroy them ? The 
land adjoining is naturally mellow and rich.— 
r. ii., (Icniasemga, N. Y. 
Our correspondent says his land has been 
“suitably manured and worked,” Its condition 
as be describes it, does not indicate any such 
thing. If it is lumpy, it is too wet, and has been 
worked too wot. The angle-worms have as 
much to do with the condition of the soil as the 
trout iu a brook have to do with the flavor of 
the water thereof. Drain your land, plow it 
when dry, work it only when it is dry, apply to 
it coarse manure, and plow the same in deep, 
and if you’ve got a sandbank nearby, apply 
sand also, and you will have less trouble with 
lumps. 
RUBBING BUDS. 
I have been among my grape vines. Tlfe 
buds were swollen almost to bursting. I 
rubbed away all useless ones from the 
crowns or near the base of my vinos, and 
then I looked over my canes for bearing, 
and when- the buds were too many and all 
looked healthy, I have, not hesitated to rub 
out; but of course I shall have to go over 
them again iu about a week or ten days. 
Some of my long canes were not sufficiently 
curved in tying, and I found them breaking 
strong at the end buds, while those half way 
down were only a little swollen. I re-tied 
them. 
In the vineyard of one of my neighbors I 
found him rubbing away the last two or 
upper buds on the canes, all the canes being 
trimmed erect. I don’t, know but lie is right 
in his practice, but confess I cannot see the 
policy of trimming a cane two or three buds 
long simply for the labor of rubbing the end 
buds away. My neighbor is an advocate of 
long winter-pruning, leaving plenty of wood, 
but 1 can’t see where he gains, after rubbing 
the end buds, over the practice of close or 
short winter-pruning. I have also just been 
among my newly planted vines, some of 
which when set had such poor looking buds 
I feared they would not start, so left on them 
three or more ; but now as they show it is 
a trifle to rub away, leaving only the strong 
bud to grow. From this on to the middle 
of June is a period needing constant watch¬ 
fulness from vine dressers. 
Frank Amon. 
WEALTHY APPLE. 
Tins is a new variety, said to have been 
grown by Peter M. Gideon, near St. Paul, 
Mushrooms.—“ A Former’s Boy," Springfield, 
Ill., asks how he may distinguish edible from 
poison miishroons. The edible mushroom, when 
it is from eight to twelve hours ohl has beautiful 
pink or ilosh-colorod gilts—That is, the underside 
of the crown is of that color—which have a 
fresh, sweet smell. As it gets older these gills 
turn chocolate color, and it is not so readily dis¬ 
tinguished from the poison varieties. It is rare¬ 
ly the case, however, that the poison varieties 
are found in pastures and meadows, where the 
true mushrooms should only be gathered. The 
former are usually found iu woods; have no 
pleasant smell. If you sprinkle a little salt over 
the inner part—the gills— and they turn yellow 
soon after, they should not bo eaten; if they 
turn black, they may be safely eaten. 
Saltpeter for Plants, —A correspondent in Illi¬ 
nois asks If it is true that saltpeter is of any 
value as an application for plants. A solution 
of it in the proportion of one pound to five 
gallons of water is recommended as an applica¬ 
tion to plants in general, and an agent in the 
destruction of many insects. We have never 
used it, and cannot speak from experience. 
THE WEALTHY APPLE—OUTLINE. 
Minnesota, on the bank of Lake Minnetanka, 
from a seed obtained at a State Fair iu Maine 
about 1855. The tree is stated to be vigor¬ 
ous and perfectly lmrdy, and to have endur¬ 
ed the severe winters since its birth without, 
injury. If it should continue to prove equal¬ 
ly hardy in other portions of the North, the 
The Turnips,—The best gardeners look out for 
the turnip fly about as soon as they sow their 
turnip seed. They use lima, tobacco dust or soot 
mixed with road dust or leached ashes, which 
they scatter over the turnip beds, morning und 
evening, for the first week after sowing the 
seed.— p. 
Over-Cropping Grapes.— The Mississippi Valley 
Grape Growers’ Association recently adopted 
the following resolution unanimously: 
Resolval, That it is the opinion of this Associ¬ 
ation that more vineyards are injured from 
over-cropping than from anything else. 
