both. The Royal Anne of this coast is the 
Napoleon Bigareau of your section." 
Pomological Queries.—1. What is the 
best time to trim beu,riue apple trees? 
-• What arc the beat kinds of dwarf and 
of standard pears for the cold winters and 
short seasons of t his country ?—C. F. Tyler, 
Allegany Co., N. Y. 
1. Early spring, before the buds swell, 
or just after the trees have commenced to 
grow, in summer. 
2. For six varieties of standard pears we 
would select for your locality Seekle, Bart- 
let, Belle Lucrative, Sheldon, Lawrence, 
Beurre d’Anjou. For Dwarfs, Louise Bonne 
de Jersey, Duchcsse do Augoulcme, Beurre 
d'Anjou, aud Urbauiste. 
first and second buds, aud leaving the third 
and fourth for fruit. Tko number of fruit 
buds left on the vino must depend ou the 
ago aud strength of the vine. If the vines 
are strong aud vigorous, at three years, from 
two to three bunches of grapes may be al¬ 
lowed to mature on each, without injury.” 
PEARS, NEW AND OLD 
MILDEW ON GRAPE VINES. 
The following interesting communication 
in regard to mildew on grape vines, from 
Dr. William F. Changing, was read at 
the regular meeting of the Rhode Island 
Horticultural Society, on Wednesday even¬ 
ing, the 27th ultimo: 
Washington, D. C„ Feb. 20, 1872. 
Chariot If. Smith, Esq., Secretary of the Rhode 
Island Horticultural Society: 
Dear Sir — I observe that the grapevine 
will be under discussion at the February 
meeting of the Horticultural Society. 
I wish to bring to the notice of the Society 
some very important results in relation to 
the mildew of the vine, both American and 
European, obtained recently by Mr. Thomas 
Taylor, who is conducting the microscopic 
investigation Into the fungoid diseases of 
plants at the Department of Agriculture. 
Mr. Taylor has traced the variety of 
crytfiphe, which constitutes the European 
mildew, through all its stages (oidium in¬ 
clusive) on the European grape vines in the 
conservatory of the Department, and ho 
has found the ripened couceptacle or fruit 
on all parts of last year's growth. If a pieoe 
of last year’s cauo is brought into a warm 
atmosphere, the crysiplie begins to develop 
from tlie seeds or spores. No matter, there¬ 
fore, how cloaoly a vine is trimmed, enough 
wood is left upon it to carry the seeds of 
the mildew over to another year. As a con¬ 
sequence of this discovery, the stems and 
branches of all the foreign grape vines in 
the conservatory of the Department have 
been washed over this winter with a car¬ 
bolic preparation. 
All of our friends who have cold graperies 
may be interested in trying the same ex¬ 
periment. A solution of Hiilphurct of lime 
(as it is popularly called) or of carbolic soap, 
would undoubtedly destroy these spores on 
tlie wood. I would propose whitewashing 
for the same purpose. Mr. T.\ vi.OR suggests 
that the same precaution would destroy the 
eggs of tlirlps on the bark. 
Another observation of interest in rela¬ 
tion In the European mildew is the follow¬ 
ing:— Mr. Taylor found that mildew on 
leaves pressed in a dry book rapidly spread 
and grow. On the suggestion of Mr. Saun¬ 
ders, the experiment of keeping the grapery 
of the Department very dry for a few days 
was essayed. This resulted in so rapid a 
development of the European mildew (Ery- 
slphe Tnokcri) that lie obtained for the first 
time, either in Europe or America, the per¬ 
fectly ripened oouecptacles, or fruit, of that 
variety. It follows that the European mil¬ 
dew is developed by dry heat, while the 
American mildew (another fungus) requires 
moist heat. Our cultivators of cold graper¬ 
ies may take a hint from this. 
But Mr. Taylor’s observations cover, 
also, the history of the American mildew, 
which is chiefly the hotrytls vltlcola. On 
the wood of last year’s growth he finds the 
mycelium or colnveb-lilco branches of this 
pest capable of resuming active growth 
when subjected to warmth and moisture. 
Hero again, whitewashing or solutions of 
sulphurets or Carbolic acid, applied to the 
wood In winter, will destroy the buds of the 
mildew, which are awaiting only the heat 
of another summer to spread over the now 
canes aud leaves. 
There is also an American variety of 
eryslphe which appears so late on the vines 
as hardly to affect the fruit. But this may 
probably injure the buds of the following 
year. Mr. Taylor has found tlie conccptu- 
cles of this mildew ou the wood of American 
vines, under the same conditions as the Eu¬ 
ropean. These, also, can be destroyed by 
washes applied to the vines in winter. 
Accepting this view of the annual propa¬ 
gation of mildew, there is one Other precau¬ 
tion which may bo taken by grape-growers. 
This is to cany off and destroy the last 
year’s leaves and trimmings, which may be 
regarded as storehouses of latent mildew. 
Yours truly, William F. Ohannino. 
FISH CULTURE IN NEW YORK 
Tiie Commissioners of Fisheries for the 
State of Now York are now delivering fish 
and spawn for the stocking of public waters 
within the State, and the following partic¬ 
ulars and directions concerning their 
method of operations may he of general in¬ 
terest to our readers. Mr. Sistii 0keen, the 
State Superintendent, Rochester, N. Y., 
says: 
The impregnated spawn of salmon trout 
and white fish can be sent in October, to 
such places as have conveniences for hatch¬ 
ing it. 
Young white fish are in condition to trans¬ 
port. from the 1st to the 10th of February; 
salmon trout, from, the 10th to the 20th. 
Oswego bass, strawberry bass, white bass, 
rock bass, and a limited number of black 
bass, pike perch or wall-eyed pike aud bull 
heads can be delivered at Rochester at any 
time during the winter. 
Milk cans are used for carrying white fish 
and salmon trout; and milk cans aud pound¬ 
ing barrels, or other clean barrels, are suit¬ 
able for carrying other kiud3 of fish. A 11 ve 
gallon milk can will hold two thousand white 
fish, or one thousand salmon trout; or from 
twenty to one hundred of the other fish 
above named, according to their size. 
The wall-eyed pike, rock bass, white bass, 
black baBS, white fish and salmon trout are 
suited to clear waters with rocky bottoms, 
where the crawfish is to be found, and Os¬ 
wego bass, porch, strawberry bass, and bull 
heads will only live on muddy bottoms with 
(lags and pond lilies. 
It is almost useless to stock rivers which 
overflow their banks and Hood much extent 
of country, as the fish are stranded by the 
receding waters, and get into pond holes, 
where they perish In dry weather. 
All fish should be deposited :ib near the 
head of the lake a? possible, so they will not 
go into the outlet before they become famil¬ 
iar with the waters. The fish should be de¬ 
posited during the night, when most large 
fish do not feed, and will find hiding places 
before morning. 
ii. hunt— which, ho says, "is probably a 
hybrid of Wilson's Albany and Russell’s 
Prolific. Color, bright crimson-scarlet; 
very fine flavor; hermaphrodite; strong- 
growing, hardy plant; very productive; 
fruit, averaging larger than Wilson; flesh 
firm, and of a rich, sub-acid flavor; form 
conical. 
Stump Apple.— Chas, S. Wilson writes 
us that the Stump Apple is one of the very 
best for market, commanding a good price, 
and sells readily. Downing Bays it is of 
medium size, oblate, yellowish, shadod with 
light red nearly over tlie whole surface. 
Flesh whitish, rather firm, crisp, juicy, ten¬ 
der, sprightly Bub-acid. Good. Season, 
September ami October. Supposed to have 
originated in Delaware. 
Jtoekwood Apple, originated by Rums 
Rockwood, Pittsboro, Me., is described by 
the Maine Farmer as " good-sized, oblong, 
with a deep cavity and basin. Color, red 
and yellow, red predominating, dotted; 
texture fine and granular; ilavor, neutral, 
but mild aud decidedly pleasant.” 
Black’s Early Punch,—Dr. Stayman of 
Kansas speaks of Black’s Early Peach as 
earlier than Hale’s Early. Can you tell mo 
where I can get it?— Thomas J. Turner, 
Hampden, Va, 
We cannot. 
MUSHROOM SPAWN 
R. Guthrie asks where mushroom spawn 
can he obtained, price, etc, also if it can be 
kept from year to year. Mushroom spawn 
can be obtained of any first-class seedsman. 
Our New York seedsmen keep it (see ad¬ 
vertising columns for names), and we pre¬ 
sume others do. The English spawn sells 
here at fifteen cents per pound, or eight 
pounds for a dollar. The French spawn 
comes in two pound boxes which are sold at 
75 cents each. 
Henderson, in his “ Gardening for 
Profit,” tells how to make spawn as fol¬ 
lows:—“Take equal portions of horse drop¬ 
pings, cow dung or fresh loam, mix the 
whole thoroughly together as you would 
make mortar, then form it into cakes about 
the size of large bricks; place these on 
edge, under cover, until they become dry; 
then insert, into each a piece of spawn, half 
an inch or so square; let the bricks remain 
until they are quitodry; then spread about 
eight inches of horse dung ov er the floor of 
a shed, on which build the bricks in a pile 
three feet wide by throe feet high, keeping 
the side in which the spawn has been put, 
uppermost; then cover them over with suf¬ 
ficient stable manure, so as to give a gentle 
heat throughout the whole. In two or 
three weeks, the spawn will have spread it¬ 
self through the whole mass of each brick; 
they are then removed to a dry place and 
will retain their vital properties for many 
years.” 
HOW RATTLESNAKES POISON 
T HAVE noticed a number of articles in the 
Rural, New-Yorker in regard to the rat¬ 
tlesnake and his mode of poisoning. During 
the summer of 1870, while engaged in build¬ 
ing an oil rig for the purpose of drilling au 
oil-well at Pit Hole, Penn., there was a 
large rattlesnake killed within a few rods 
of my work. I took some of my carpenter’s 
tools and cut out the fangs, 
of which I have made a 
s ^°toh, and enclose to you. 
There were four—two on 
'wYm. each side. The front ones 
were the largest. I have 
never seen more than two 
in any other snake. 
The fangs were attached to a cup-shaped 
bone, or cap, that covered the front of the 
poisou-Srtck. The fangs being attached to 
this bofle, or cap, forms a good foundation; 
also makes its aim sure, for its course is not 
easily changed. Tho cavity through the 
fang is shown by a dotted line coming out 
about one eighth of an inch from tho point 
on the upper side. There was a email 
groove extending from tho opening nearly 
to tho point, so that when tho fangs were 
thrown into any fleshy subBtnnco, they 
forced tho cap, or bone, back against tho 
sack, forcing the poison through the ori¬ 
fice into tho wound. Also, after the blow 
has been given, and as the snake recoils, in 
so doing it would open the wound, giving 
the poison a chuuce to flow freely to the 
point of the fang before it is withdrawn 
from the wound. 
Fredouia, N. Y. H. N. Tennant. 
P0M0L0GICAL GOSSIP 
“Black Republican ” Cherry from 
Oregon.—On page 30, Rural New-York¬ 
er, January 13, we gave an illustration of a 
cluster of Oregou chorrieH, which was 
called “ Royal Anne." In relation thereto 
Philip Ritz, Walla Walla, W. T., writes: 
“ You have the names of two cherries con¬ 
founded in one. The cherry exhibited by 
Mr. Ferry was the Black Republican, as 
wo have no other oherry on this coast that 
will measure three aud a-ha)f inches in cir¬ 
cumference. Tho Black Republican is an 
accidental Oregou seedling, originated by 
Smith Snellinq, near Portland, Oregon, 
and is, without doubt, tlie largest cherry 
known ill the L iiited States, or in the world. 
It Is as large as a good sized crab-apple, very 
solid, dark red to the seed, and cuts more 
like au apple than a cherry. It Is quite 
late, ripening after all other cherries arc 
about gone. It is au excellent cherry for 
shipping. They grow in such perfection in 
this valley that we expect to ship thorn to 
Minnesota when our North Pacific Railroad 
is completed. This cherry is supposed to be 
\ a cross of the Black Tartarian aud the Royal 
Amie < a * partakes of the character of 
GARDENERS’ NOTES 
Tlie Earliest Tomato.--Four of our 
correspondents ask us to name a half dozen 
sorts of the very earliest tomatoes iu the 
order of their ripening. There are several 
sorts of tomatoes which differ little in time 
of ripening, on the same soil with the same 
exposure and treatment; and yet, in differ¬ 
ent localities, they differ greatly. A gen¬ 
tleman who has tried them, tells us that the 
Early Smooth Red, Early York, and 
Koye’s Early Prolific, differ little, and are 
the earliest varieties known. Orangefield 
Dwarf Prolific Is an excellent early variety. 
Gen. Grant and the Trophy are also early 
in locat ions if treated properly, and are ex¬ 
cellent varieties according to all the testi¬ 
mony we can obtain. 
VINEYARD NOTES, 
The Best Fruit Buds.—the Pacific Ru¬ 
ral Press contains the following as the result 
of its own observations and experiences: 
“That the third fruit bud from the base of 
the past year’s caua throws out larger and 
better developed bunches of grapes than 
either the first or second. The grapes from 
these buds seem also hotter flavored, and 
generally superior to those on tho first aud 
second. In accordance with this hint we 
have adopted the plan of cutting the cane 
at such lengths as to leave the third bud, 
generally, and sometimes the fourth, when 
a good strong one, and then rubbing off the 
NOTES FOR NATURALISTS, 
Taming Moose.—In answer to P. R. S., 
Jeff. Co., N. Y., we may state that, in the 
opinion of those familial' with the habits 
and nature of the moose, they can be tamed 
aud rendered useful If taken before they arc- 
two months old. It is doubted If they cau 
be rendered docile after they are six months 
old. 
