And  now,  Mr.  Editor,  I  hope  yon  will  excuse 
me  for  writing  bo  long  a  letter.  But  this  cannot 
fail  to  be  useful  to  all,  who,  like  your  friend 
Bhaodon,  can  get  no  answers  to  their  querios 
about  the  best  places  in  the  South  to  go  for  the 
loss,  OUT,  Tiiey  woum  not  be  as 
good  or  as  sure  to  live  as  those  raised  under  the 
usual  nursery  system. 
The  hucklebeiTy  is  a  gorid  fruit  for  some  of 
our  enterprising  yomig  hm-ticulturists  to  take 
up  and  impi'ovo  by  scientitle  tuanipulation.  It 
would  be  Well,  however,  for  tlioBc  who  are  in- 
cUned  to  outer  this  (at  present')  umx'.cupiod  hold 
to  make  themselves  thoroughly  familiar  with  the 
different  B|)ecic8  and  best  wild  varieties  in  ad¬ 
vance. 
LETTEK  FEOM  ALABAMA 
Mobilk.  Ala.,  Dec.  21, 18T5. 
Eds.  Rural  New  Yorker  I  have  before  me 
your  paper  of  the  18th  ult.,  and  ray  attention  has 
fallen  upon  the  article  headed  ‘-  Down  South  ” 
—the  diary  and  notes  of  an  ex -editor  seeking 
health.  Now,  it  occurs  to  me  that  there  are 
many  peaple  who.  like  your  Florida  correspond¬ 
ent,  would  be  glad  to  hear  of  some  genial  clime 
where  health,  ploasnre  and  comfort  may  bo 
found,  where  "  foggy  nrarnings  ”  do  not  exist, 
and  where  there  is  not  the  “bold  northeast 
wind.”  that  blows  into  one’s  frame  the  “  chills, 
miasmq  and  malaria,"  “  makes  broncliial  coughs 
lively”  and  “breathing  difticult,”  from  which 
iHE  movement  to  inaugurate  the  P.  of  H.  in 
England  comes  at  a  very  opportune  time  when 
the  mind  of  English  farmers  is  exercised  over 
the  inaction  of  the  Government  on  questions  af¬ 
fecting  farmers’  interests. 
Mr.  C.  8.  Read,  a  member  of  the  Government, 
and  the  only  tenant  farmer  who  holds  a  seat  in 
Parliament,  has  resigned  his  Mu1)t)rdinnte  posi¬ 
tion,  where  he  could  bo  of  little  use,  and  will 
benceforth  act  as  an  Independent  Member  of 
Parliament.  Mr.  Read  has  ninde  almost  as  great 
a  sensation  ns  Mr.  Pmmholi.  did  last  summer  in 
behalf  of  the  seamen.  His  position  as  the  only 
I  representattvo  of  the  large  working  fanner  in¬ 
terest,  as  opposed  to  the  landholders  who  have 
long  controlled  Lords  and  Commons,  is  a  most 
resismsible  »>ne.  He  is  already  one  of  the  most 
p<;)pular  men  in  the  Kingdom,  and  bids  fair  to 
wield  such  an  inflnenoo  as  O’C’DiVNutii  did  forty 
years  ago  as  representative  of  the  Irish  Peasant¬ 
ry.  The  Grange  is  more  likely  to  consolidate  the 
inlluonco  of  EngUsh  working  farmers  and  work¬ 
ing  men,  and  will,  probably,  take  more  active 
part  ill  politics  in  England  than  it  has  done  in 
this  country.  Heretofore  English  fanners,  ex¬ 
cluding  the  landholding  interest,  have  had  less 
political  infliienco  than  the  farmers  of  our  own 
country. 
CI_,IGlvrA.TIS 
winter,  but  will  go,  as  he  went  at  last,  and,  to  use  | 
his  own  language,  “  be  compelled,  in  a  great  de-  i 
gree,  to  go  it  bUnd.  Frank  B.  Clark.  i 
i  iisr  i^oT. 
groonhouse  plants.  It  comes  from  New  Mexico — 
is  remarkably  distinct  and  handsome  in  its  own 
liocnUar  grotesque  way. 
Olittnatis  Alhn  /Vafjna  is  said  to  bo  without 
doubt  the  finest  of  all  the  white  blossomed  va¬ 
rieties,  the  sepals  being  so  broad  that  any  two 
meet  across  the  intervening  one,  and  thus  fT)rm 
a  more  solid  looking  flower  than  we  get  in  the 
case  of  ,any  other  variety. 
Ptnnst'Uin  pulvfuriwn  pkndssbna,  the  so 
called  double  flowctnng  Poinsettia — though  an 
additional  number  of  bracts  is  alone  referred  to 
by  “  double  flowering  ’’—is  still  well  thonglit  of 
and  will  probably  “go  the  rounds.” 
Iria  gigantvn.  In  French  gardens  there  is  an 
Iris  growing  5  feet  high  and  bearing  white  flow¬ 
ers,  striped  with  brownish  yellow  near  the  base 
of  the  outer  segmeiitH. 
CoHRKongN.— In  my  article  ujaiii  “ThoCle- 
matia‘'-«ti  the  phrase-  “we  yet  assert,  tliat  the 
Clematis  Is  the  finest  hardy  plant  in  cultivation  " 
—  the  word  plant,  should  have  been  mnc..  e.  h.  o. 
Ifloricttltiinii 
CLEMATIS  IN  POTS, 
The  accompanying  sketch  from  the  London 
Journal  of  Horticulture  may  give  some  idea  of 
the  excellence  of  those  vines  as  pot  ]jlaiitH. 
Pinching  back  the  young  shoots  as  they  grow 
too  long,  which  forces  tlio  lower  buds  to  break, 
and  confines  Oio  plant  niUu’ij  desired  limits,  is 
the  only  prsciiliarity  of  tliis  form  of  culture. 
(J.  VitievUa  n-ecta  is  a  new  <lwarf  French  va¬ 
riety  less  than  twf)  feet  high  be,aring  blue  flowers 
and  well  iwlapted  to  {xit  culture.  Balloon,  um¬ 
brella  or  oval-shaped  wires,  or  frames  of  any 
kind  according  to  taste  or  convenience,  may  be 
used  as  supports.  Rich,  light  soil— well  drained 
pots,  and  liberal  watering  are  advisable. 
In  view  of  onr  recent  article  upon  the  Clematis, 
further  details  are  nnnecessnry 
SUCCESSFUL  CO-OPERATION. 
Tue  Louisville  Courier  Journal  says  that  a 
Grange  co-operation  store  in  Howarci  (bounty, 
Indiana,  started  with  a  capital  of  ijH.iKM),  paid  up, 
each  Grange  in  tlic  County  voting  thrcctlyout  of 
its  treasury  fibO  and  electing  one  director.  The 
whole  biiHincsH  was  under  the  direction  of  the 
Board,  which  selected  an  agent.  In  a  little  loss 
than  one  year  they  report  a  hiisincBs  of  over 
f  80,000  ami  a  saving  uf  at  least  80  per  cent., 
while  the  whole  oxiienso  has  been  less  than  10 
per  cent. 
1  his  is  about  what  coii  be  done  when  a  sufli- 
oieiit  number  of  members  become  intorestod  to 
create  a  largo  amount  of  business.  But  supimse 
the  sales  ha<l  b<-en  oiUy  *10,000,  the  exiTenses 
would  have  been  Uie  same,  and  a  loss  instead  of 
a  gain  would  have  resulted.  Patrons  contem¬ 
plating  the  estaVJisliment  of  Orange  co-operativo 
stores  Hhoiild  think  over  the  matter  well,  and  in 
no  case  attempt  it  when  from  any  cause  any  con- 
sidcrablo  part  of  the  membership  will  fail  to  siq)- 
ixjrt  it.  One  failure  will  do  more  harm  than 
many  Huccossfiil  ventures  can  do  good. 
^I)f  Ciiiriirii 
INTERESTING  PLANTS, 
ABOUT  SEED  DISTRIBUTION 
(To  E.  8.  C, 
Thunberqia  JInrrimnL  -We  see  this  vino  of- 
feiTsl  as  excellent  for  covering  trellises.  It  was 
described  in  Rukae  of  Feb.  5. 
fAlmiih  PkHnneriatMiih.  -Eli.wanokr  A  Barry 
offer  tliis  Lily.  The  flowers  are  large,  nodding, 
orange  color,  ilark  spots— six  to  eight  feet  high, 
producing,  under  good  culture,  four  lu  six  stems. 
Sonoe7t.ir  du  CorujtTs.- -'lliin  I'oar  was  illus¬ 
trated  ami  described  in  tho  Rural  of  Juno  ,5. 
E.  A  B.  now  offer  it  at  two  and  throo  dollars  each 
according  to  size. 
lUotut’a  nuiniHpuUt. — Mr 
)— Thank  you  kindly  for  yoiu-  ar¬ 
ticle  in  the  Rural  New-Youkek.  It  is  one  of 
those  articloH  tliat  we  need  more  of,  full  of  gixid, 
common  sense.  Vour  siiggestioiis  in  regard  to 
giving  away  seed  are  very  gtssl,  and  if  tho  papers 
would  offer  premlmns  of  seeds,  1  think  they 
would  bo  thoroughly  apiireeiated. 
My  business  takes  me  among  tho  fanners,  and 
I  am  surprised  at  tlieir  ignorance  in  regard  to 
the  modes  of  procuring  seeds  and  tho  great  lack 
of  flowers  lunong  tlieiii.  Not  one  farmer  in  fifty 
has  a  collection  worth  naniiug,  nor  do  tliey  seem 
to  know  bow  easily  ami  liow  cheaply  they  can 
procure  them.  I  have  distribiiteil  a  large  num¬ 
ber  of  catalogues  and  packages  of  seed,  in  order 
to  show  thorn  how  hcautifiiJ  and  cheap  flower 
seeds  are,  and  I  am  pleased  to  learn  that  the  re¬ 
ceivers  of  them  are  very  much  pleased  and  that 
through  them  a  love  for  flowers  is  fostered.  I 
am  particularly  fond  of  the  Bulb  family,  and  1 
make  it  a  rule  after  selecting  my  own  stock,  to 
give  away  all  the  balance.  Another  point: 
Many  of  tho  Bulb  family  multiply  abundantly, 
and  ought  to  be  sold  cheaper  than  they  are ; 
that  would  tempt  many  to  buy  who  do  not.  I 
hojxi  you  will  favor  us  with  other  sensible  arti¬ 
cles-  C. W.  Idell. 
No.  114  Reade  8t.,  N.  Y. 
rainrau  at  aiobilo  for  that  year,  according  to  said 
report,  was  as  follows ; — For  the  spring  months, 
16.21  inches;  siunmer,  28.97;  autiuim,  16.49; 
winter,  11.01.  ’fho  summer  rainfall  is,  there¬ 
fore,  much  grfiater  than  that  of  tlie  other  sea¬ 
sons  ;  and  it  seems  a  providential  blessing,  for  it 
is  tho  summer  season  when  the  rain  is  most 
necdod.  These  summer  rains,  according  to 
Maorv,  are  brought  up  by  the  Houlh  winds  from 
the  Gulf  Stream.  But  these  winds  do  not  al¬ 
ways  bring  rain ;  they  frequently  simply  cool  tho 
air  and  produce  a  luxurious  freshness  in  mid¬ 
summer,  such  as  I  have  never  enjoyed  anywhere 
else. 
The  mean  annual  temperature  at  the  City  of 
Mobile,  according  to  the  Weather  Bureau  reports, 
is  64  deg.,  the  mercury  rarely  fulling  below  30  or 
riaing  above  90,  showing  an  evenness  of  climate 
unsurpassed  in  the  world.  Mobile,  besides  be¬ 
ing  pre-eminently  healthy,  offers,  together  with 
its  fine  climate,  other  advantages  which  should 
be  considered  very  important  by  all  tourists  con¬ 
templating  winter  sojourns  at  the  Soutli.  The 
society  is  hospitable  and  refined,  and  always 
open  to  our  respectable  friends  of  the  North. 
Ite  markets  abound  with  fish,  oysters,  game. 
HOW  TO  MAKE  THE  ORANGE  ATTRACTIVE. 
The  practice  of  Melrose  (iraiigo,  Iowa,  as  re¬ 
ported  in  tho  Patron’s  Helper,  offers  a  goral  sug¬ 
gestion  about  making  the  Grange  attractive, 
which  moans  succossful,  in  many  eases  where 
more  formal  meetings  would  soon  become  tire¬ 
some.  This  Grange  has  no  hall,  but  meets  al¬ 
ternately  at  the  houses  of  its  members.  The 
gatherings  have  a  soda!  character,  and  a  simple 
supper  is  served  after  the  meetings,  always. 
Another  practice  is  to  have  a  question  box  into 
which  any  member  may  drop  such  questions  as 
he  pleases,  on  any  topic  of  interest  to  farmers, 
and  the  master  answers  them  or  calls  on  some 
member  to  Jo  so.  This  also  is  a  regular  custom. 
Bo  tho  members  are  sure,  at  every  meeting,  of 
both  bodily  and  mental  aliment,  of  a  pleasant 
social  gathering  of  friends,  and  of  profitable  com¬ 
munion  together.  This  Grange  never  fails  of  a 
quonim. 
Peter  Henderson 
is  anioiig  the  first  to  offer  this  renowned  carni¬ 
vorous  plant. 
Eidnlia  Japonica—ls  offered  by  Mr.  Wm.  Ben- 
net  as  an  entirely  new  and  very  distinct  grass 
from  Japan,  having  graceful,  rced-like  stems 
four  or  five  feet  higli,  which  are  crowned  when 
ripe  with  light  masses  presenting  the  appearance 
of  ostrich  feathers.  Tho  leaves  are  long  and 
narrow,  striped  with  white  and  green.  Perfectly 
hardy. 
Hibiscus Wm.  Bull  of  London, 
describes  tliis  as  having  flowers  five  inches  in 
diameter,  comiioscd  of  undulated  petals  of  an 
intense  carmine,  paler  towards  base  whore  ou 
each  petal  is  an  oblong  blotcli  of  deep  crimson, 
forming  a  blunt-rayed  star  in  the  center  of  the 
flower.”  Obtained  from  the  Bouth  Sea  Islands. 
iMgerstrcemia  Alba.— Several  of  our  nursery¬ 
men  offer  the  White  Crane  Mvrtle  n,  SAA/11irkflP 
CO-OPERATION  AT  OBERLIN 
CULTIVATING  HUCKLEBERRIES 
MARKET. 
(A.  M.  Van  Auker.) — There  are  several  dis¬ 
tinct  species  of  “huckleberry”  growing  wild  in 
the  Northern  fitates,  one  of  which  is  called 
“blueberry”  in  some  localities.  We  do  not 
know  of  any  experiment*  having  been  made  to 
cultivate  the  huckleberries  for  market,  and 
therefore  cannot  give  you  any  Information  in 
regard  to  profit.  Probably  the  best  way  to  got 
up  a  plantation  of  this  fruit  would  bo  to  begin 
with  the  seed,  raising  the  plaut.s  in  a  mu-sery, 
transplanting  them  once  or  twice  before  final 
planting  for  fruiting.  Of  course,  where  there  are 
