\ 
No one who is acquainted with the Scup- 
' pemong, when freshly gathered, will recog¬ 
nize this description us anything but amus¬ 
ingly wide of the mark. 
The North Carolina Farmer attributes its 
deterioration, after being gathered for a short 
time, to the fermentation which follows the 
rupture of the skin which occurs in gath¬ 
ering it. 
Although from this cause it may not be 
adapted to the trade in distant markets, it is 
certainly available as an article of sale in our 
borne trade. I have sent them from an east¬ 
ern town to a friend one hundred and fifty 
miles west, and I know they were received 
and enjoyed as a special delicacy. 
I anticipate the pleasure of sending you 
some this autumn. Mr. Editor, which, though 
not so delightful and refresh 
^rboricnlturt 
0W0 
THE HAUTBOY STRAWBERRY 
FRAGARIA ELATIOR. 
MULCHING. 
To those who have a few grape vines, 
berry bushes, currants, Ac., let us say, mulch 
with green grass or weeds, and cover slightly 
with ashes, the ground having been previ¬ 
ously mellowed. We have tried this and 
are now practising it, and we find it the best 
mulch that we ever tried, decidedly. 
The ground being mellow is a mulch itlelf, 
and a good one, the stirring of it frequently 
adding fertility and moisture. In field cul¬ 
ture nothing is preferable to this, perhaps, 
especially in soil charged with clay and not 
very rich. Lime, mixed with the surface, 
is usually an addition. It lightens the color 
of the soil, and hence abstracts less of the 
rays of the sun, while it takes up moisture. 
This is the case with salt, also. It is a won¬ 
der these deliquescents are not more used 
for this purpose. Salt, (in its impure state,) 
is known to be a great absorbent of moisture, 
That a fruit may be old to science, and 
still not generally known to the masses, is 
fully exemplified In the Hautboy straw bony. 
For more than two hundred years it has 
been cultivated in European gardens, and 
lor nearly, or quite, half of that time in Amer¬ 
ican , but during this entire period, few per¬ 
sons except professional strawberry growers 
have been acquainted with this, the most 
distinct of all the known species. The old 
German name, Jlaurbeer, appears to have be¬ 
come, by corruption, llautboU , in French; 
thence Hautboy, (pronounced ho-boy,) in 
English. The French name signifies high 
wood, or high stems, and refers to the fruit 
stalks, which at first are much longer than 
the leaves, but when both are fully developed 
there will be but little difference in their 
length, and in some varieties the fruit will be 
entirely beneath the foliage. 
The name Hautboy (high wood) lias led 
many people to suppose that this was a 
characteristic belonging exclusively to this 
species, which is not the case, because the 
Alpines produce fruit upon stems even more 
elevated than the Hautboy; and, in fact, 
this is one of the marked djstinctives of that 
species. In many portions of Europe, and 
in this country, the Alpines are called Haut¬ 
boy strawberries; and in a few localities 
even the wild scarlet strawberry ( Fragarla 
Virf/inianu) is known by this name. 
The peculiar characteristics of Hautboy 
are us follows: Calyx reflexed, showing 
what our fruit growers term a. neck; flow¬ 
ers large—at least double the size of the Al¬ 
pine-white, occasionally tinged with pur¬ 
ple; seeds prominent, but slightly embedded 
in a wide, shallow basin; color variable, but 
usually a dull reddish brown or red; flesh 
moderately firm, olton rather dry, with a 
strong, sweet, musky flavor, possessing 
scarcely a trace of what, is usually termed 
strawberry odor. The peculiar musky fla¬ 
vor distinguishes the Hautboy strawberry 
from other species, as much as the flavor of 
the Black Currant separates it from the 
common Red and White sorts. 
Few American people will cat the Haut¬ 
boy strawberry, much less think it worthy 
of cultivat ion, consequently it is seldom seen 
in our gardens. In some portions of Europe 
this strawberry is cultivated, but not to any 
great extent anywhere. 
The berries arc generally of small or ( 
medium size, and of an unattractive appear¬ 
ance. Our illustration was taken from a 
plant, of Rivera’ Royal Hautboy, one of the | 
best sorts in cultivation. The fruit is shown 
natural size as it grows with ordinary cul- ' 
lure. The leaves and size of the plant are 
much reduced. The general appearance of j 
the plant when growing is very distinct • 
from all other kinds. The leaves are of a * 
ing as when first 
gathered, will, I hope, be so good as to give 
you a correct opinion of our favorite, so far 
as to provoke the expression of admiration 
and the acknowledgment of a desire to get 
more. M 
Triumph of Aincrlco Strawberry.— Wo find in 
a report or the. exhibition of the West Jersey 
Fruit Growers' Association of June 10, which 
wo have received from Secrolary Andrews, the 
following concerning this fruit: 
“John Mitchell exhibited very superior speei- 
mens of the Triumph of America. Large, good 
color. Excellent shape and flavor. Measured 
inches in circumference. A seedling origi¬ 
nated near Burlington three years ago, sent to 
market, bringing’ seventy-live cents per quart, 
with others at fifteen cents. Late, healthy 
grower, and as productive as the oilier varieties." 
Turner'* Seedling Strawberries.— At the West 
Jersey Fruit Growers’ Exhibition, June 10, John 
Tuhnkh exhibited his now seedlings found grow¬ 
ing—five named varieties: Turner's Queen; 
great bearer, large. Turner’s Favorite; si rung, 
vigorous, large. Turner's Nonsuch: high foot 
stalk, full; Turner's Prolific; great bearer. 
Turner’s Beauties; handsome, good flavor. All 
looked well and sold high. Now bring fifty 
cents per quart. Hud them In cultivation four 
years. Several other line fruit stems well filled 
from unnamed varieties. 
the matilda strawberry, 
ance of peculiar fragrance so well known to 
belong to the wild strawberry of America, 
{Frar/uria Virginiana.) The foliage is large 
and robust, and the plants apparently very 
productive. We predict that the Matilda 
will be heard of again, and become a suc¬ 
cessful competitor of the prize strawberry of 
1800. 
luscious as the latter. Another point of 
excellence consists in its wholesomeness. 
One who cannot eat other kinds can eat 
this with corporative impunity. It ripens 
rather irregularly, and can t herefore be used 
for a long time. It requires less care than 
any of the cultivated species. This one, 
covering now a large arbor, lias never been 
pruned, except the removal of some dead 
branches. 
The grape is said to be injured by trans¬ 
portation, so that no one can appreciate it 
unless he get it fresh. This peculiarity ac¬ 
counts for the unfavorable opinion formed 
Of specimens exhibited at the New York 
State Fair and Ike New York State Grape 
Growers’ Exhibition. Of these specimens 
the Rural Messenger remarks:—“ Its char¬ 
acteristics are a very thick skin, tough pulp, 
plenty of seeds, and such an outrageously 
strong, 1 catty ’ smell, that n Northern grape 
grower could hardly be persuaded to come 
within testing distance. Judged by our 
standard, it is not worthy of cultivation; it is 
not eatable, &c.” 
The Deane Apple, —The Lewistown, Me., Jour¬ 
nal says:—“ Among the productions of Franklin 
county which are spoken highly of,is the Deane 
apple, known sometimes under the name of tbo 
Nine Ounce Apple. It is described as an ex¬ 
cellent, fine looking and eating apple, of large 
size, and will keep on shelves till February. 
The tree spreads low, and is burdy. It seems to 
be a great favorite among those who cultivate 
it. It originated, we believe, in Temple." 
THE SCUPPERNONG GRAPE, 
otmrilurr 
New Tree Peonins. 
The Seedling Tree Peo- 
nias, originated by Professor J. P. Kiiitland, 
have again attracted large numbers of visitors 
to see their magnificent and rare blooms. It Is 
now about fourteen years since, at the sugges¬ 
tion of Hon. Marshall P. Wix.dkk, Prof. Kiht- 
cand set himself to the task of hybridizing and 
growing from seed tree peon Las, with a view to 
obtain new and distinct colors; as at that time 
the Spaiptlvarica and HanJ.nii were about the only 
tree peonias of any value known. 
Obtaining a plant of Mr. Wrt-tiKit which pro¬ 
duced single flowers, the petals of which were 
dark rosy purple, tbe Professor went at the 
work of raising seedlings, and seedlings of 
seedlings, and now, after fourteen years, has tbe 
satisfaction of showing in his grounds some 
three hundred plants of Tree Peonlas, and 
among them quite a number of surpassing beau¬ 
ty, in size, form and color of the fiower, Some 
of them have now shown their perfect charac¬ 
ter two seasons, and selecting from these four of 
the best and most distinct, he has attached to 
them names. But there are among those left 
two or three others that, when the plants are 
l'ully mature so as to show their fixed character, 
will probably demand an equal place and name 
in the garden of Flora. 
Of those named , Marshall P. Wilder has blooms 
measuring from eight to ten inches tu diameter; 
center very full; petals re volute, irregular; deep 
scarlet at base, shading out to a clear, bright rosy 
red; very distinct, showy and attractive. 
Edrward S. Rand , Jr. hasa large fiower; petals 
a rich carmine at base, shading to a peach blow 
pink, not white; slightly fragrant; very distinct. 
J. S. jyiiwhcrry— Flowers quite large, about 
eight inches in diameter; full center; petals 
broad revolute: rich, deep, rosy pink, shading 
out to the edge Into a peach blow white—a per¬ 
fect beauty, especially attractive to all who ud- 
mire delicate, clear shades. 
F. R. EUlatt—F lowers very large; center full; 
petals revolute; margins deeply lobed; color, 
light peach blow lilac, veined, striped and irregu¬ 
larly splashed with deep purple lilac — altogether 
unique and distinct.—E. 
FENCE OR NO FENCE —HEDGES 
Were “ 
Novice” to traverse the length 
and breadth of France, from Havre to Mar¬ 
seilles, or from Brest to Strasburg, he would 
see so few fences as to conclude that there 
were none in tile country. Each farmer 
takes cure of his own stock, and is not com¬ 
pelled to keep off those of his neighbor. 
This is the case pretty much all over North¬ 
ern Europe. Vineyards, orchards, all the 
fields, are exposed, giving the landscape a 
most singular appearance to one not accus¬ 
tomed to it. Fruits ripen untouched in the 
most public places, where they would be 
stolen In this country long before they were 
fit for use. Nearly all the cattle are stall- 
fed. In Flanders it is claimed that one acre 
of land can be made to support seven bead 
of cattle, by soiling. In this country each 
head requires two acres of pasture. Most 
of the feed in the last case is injured or 
destroyed by trampling or defiling, and much 
of the manure is wasted. Will such a re¬ 
form ever be introduced here, so that the 
producing capacities of our land will be fully 
developed V Very doubtful. For progres¬ 
sive as we pretend to be, our habits are 
really stationary. It is claimed in law that 
the American’s and Englishman’s house is 
his castle, into which none may enter with¬ 
out leave. This fiction, true only in theory, 
if at all, requires a sight of expensive and 
unnecessary fortification to keep of intruders 
which even then do not stay off. 
In giving my views on the hedge question 
I expected to find plenty of dissenting opin¬ 
ions. Nevertheless 1 was determined that 
the hedges should not have it all one way. 
After the experience and impartial observa¬ 
tion of many years, ever since the Osage 
Orange was introduced, it is not likely that 
anything they may now say will change the 
conclusions I have arrived at. I was a hedge 
man once myself, as much so as anybody. 
Now I would not have one on my place, 
as I said before, if it was put there for noth¬ 
ing, and kept up at the same price. They 
are unmitigated nuisances 
THE MATILDA STRAWBERRY, 
Not long since, the New York Fruit 
Growers’ Club offered a prize of $25 for 
tbe best new strawberry, to be exhibited at 
their rooms in this city. The committee 
appointed to make the award was an excel¬ 
lent one, but the gentlemen thus honored 
declined to serve, and a new one was made 
up, which was about as indifferent to the 
welfare ol the public and the exhibitors of 
new strawberries as the first. But to save 
tbe prize, and keep greenbacks from going 
back into the treasury of the Club, our 
neighbor, tbe editor of the Horticulturist, 
came forward, and resolved himself “Into a 
committee of the whole,” and proceeded to 
investigate, consider, taste, ponder and de- 
Agave Americana. — Mr. J. P. McCom.IIMN 
thinks the Rcrai.'s estimate of the number of 
persons who have seen this plant In bloom in the 
United States is too low; for in 1857 lie saw one 
frequently, in bloom in Philadelphia, which 
drew many thousands of persons to see it. 
Propagating Roses.—Mrs. S. A. Smith asl-VJ for 
instructions on propagating roses. If she wifi 
look on page 408, licit al June Cfi, she will find an 
interesting article on that snnject, Meantime 
we shall be glad to publisk -ae practices of others 
having experience. 
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