426 
THE  ByBAL  HEW-YOBKEB. 
BEC.  30 
MISCELLANEA.  t 
-  1 
Bee  Flowehs.— We  are  reminJcd  by  Prof.  < 
Beal’s  article  opoti  plants  most  visited  by  bees,  i 
published  in  another  column,  that  the  Anter  1 
Nwae~AivgUaij  attracted  more  bees  than  any  1 
other  flowers  in  our  grounds.  This  Aster,  under  i 
cultivation,  grows  to  the  hight  of  about  six  feet  i 
and  bears  thousands  of  flowers.  From  morning  ' 
until  night  these  were  visittid  by  bees  in  such 
lunobers  that  thei-e  seemed  several  bees  to  tiach 
flower.  The  hum  from  so  many  busy  workers 
and  their  excessive  industry,  as  if  no  time  was 
to  bo  lost  In  gathering  so  ri(!h  a  feast,  so  im¬ 
pressed  the  writor  that,  should  he  ever  establish 
an  apiary,  this  .Aster  would  be  among  tJie  fli'st 
flowers  cultivated  for  its  use. 
Vine  OuvAMEN’rs.-  -Wo  beard  a  lady  of  much 
floral  tasto,  and  a  botanist,  too.  remark  that  for 
vases,  either  In-door  or  out.  she  iireferred  Lyxi- 
■rnai'fda  imimruUana  (l\w  (lolden  Moneywort)  to 
all  other  trailing  vines  and  Smilax  for  the  orna¬ 
mentation  of  the  oousorvatory  iir  sitting  room. 
We  remember  a  rustic  box  elevated  two  foot 
above  the  earth  upon  the  stump  of  a  small  tree. 
The  vine  had  concealed  both  box  and  atumi>, 
flowwi  upon  the  eai-th,  taken  root  and  formed  a 
carpet.  Over  this,  and  reaching  midway  to  the 
ground,  wore  Ti-o(U>itcanlia»,  purple,  variegated, 
green  and  white  lined.  In  the  center,  trained  to 
string*  to  a  circular  wire  two  feet  above,  was 
Kmilax,  which,  having  twined  alxmt  tlio  ring, 
had  fallen  over  so  as  to  meet  and  Intertwine 
with  the  Trnil‘m'anUa».  Himple  as  are  such 
garden  ornaments,  easily  as  they  are  formed, 
they  are  often  more  captivating  (ban  more  pre¬ 
tentious  vases  that  have  been  contrived  and  ar¬ 
ranged  with  all  possible  care  and  no  little  ex¬ 
pense. 
A  Vase  of  I’anhiks.— Wo  saw  last  summer  a 
low,  iron  vase,  two  feet  iu  diameter,  tilled  witb 
Pansies  -bluok  Pansies,  and  tliose  only.  The 
vase  hiul  been  filled  with  leaf-mold  from  the 
woods  and  thoroughly  decomposed  manure.  It 
was  BO  placed  as  to  recfdvo  only  tlio  morning 
sun.  The  only  cai'e  necessary  was  to  prevent 
the  earth  from  drying  out.  on  the  one  hand, 
which  would  at  once  have  made  the  flowers 
smaller,  and  on  Ihe  other,  not  to  give  too  much 
water,  which,  without  increasing  the  size  of  the 
floV'ers,  would  have  uuhiced  a  leggy,  stiaggling 
growth. 
This  vase  was  a  beautiful  success,  and  as  odd 
as  beautiful.  Pansies  need  rich  earth,  shade 
and  moisture  during  our  scorching  summers. 
If  we  cannot  supply  those  requisites,  we  cannot 
have  fine  Pansies. 
Roses  fou  Damp  PLAe.EH.— In  the  grounds  now 
devoted  to  the  IUikal  Nkw-Yokkku  which,  as 
we  cannot  have  all  our  frieuds  visit,  as  wo 
would  wish  to  do,  we  shall  presout  them  with 
several  scenes  from  sketches  made  last  fall, 
though  not  until  after  frosts  -is  a  lake  that  has 
afforded  us  the  opiiortmiity  of  exiierimeuting 
with  many  plants  as  to  the  degree  of  moisture 
which  suits  them. 
A  “Matlam  I'rotter"  Rose-bush  was  planted 
so  that  Its  upper  roots  are  enveloped  in  perpetual 
moisture,  while  its  lower  ones  extend  beneath 
the  water  level.  The  iirst  Huuimer  it  grew  so 
rapidly  that  wo  feared  its  wood  would  not  ripen, 
and  that,  in  conscquonee,  it  would  he  Uilleil  by 
tho  winter.  Not  so.  It  has  since  thriven  as  we 
have  never  known  a  Rose-bush  to  thrive  before. 
- - -  ♦  »  "  '  - 
NOTES. 
hardy  vino  I  know,  and  is  deserving  of  extensive 
culture.  Mk8.  Maiiy  Oi.in. 
Yates  County,  N.  Y. 
The  Rukal  New-Yorkek  has  never  spoken  of 
this  Yine  as  new.  Though  the  roota  are  per¬ 
fectly  hardy,  we  have  had  the  stems  freeze  to 
the  ground  during  severe  winters.  VVe  have 
also  raised  it  from  seed,  hut  never  had  a  seed¬ 
ling  show  variegation.  WTiile  in  the  above  par¬ 
ticulars  we  differ  from  Mrs.  Oi.ix,  wo  are  glad  to 
see  tliat  in  other  respects  she  more  than  cor¬ 
roborates  what  wo  have  said  iu  its  favor. 
t'lK  IJottltrg  |arli. 
LEGHORNS  AND  HAMBURGS. 
A  ROUT  a  year  ago  I  started  a  yard  of  Brahmas. 
Tho’  tine  buds.  I  found  tbein  Wo  heavy  feeders, 
and  tbeir  eggs  large  but  uot  muneroua.  WiKblug 
to  start  again  witli  sniaUer  eaters  and  “  non-sit¬ 
ters.”  I  write  to  iiuphre  of  yon  about  LegliornB 
and  II  am  burgs.  Iho  American  papers  have  a 
great  deal  to  say  of  the  Leghorn  but  tho  foreign 
books  seem  to  stje.akof  the  lIitmburgHas  “every¬ 
day  layers.”  I’lease  enlighten  me  if  poasiblo 
from  practical cx|)eriencal  as  to  those  breeds,  also 
if  not  against  your  rules,  where  or  of  whom  they 
can  1h)  had  and  how  nmeh  1  should  pay. 
C.  E.  Hi'KAouk. 
To  the  lldilor  of  Ote  Gernimdown  Telegraph. 
ANoriiEu  I'RF.TTY  Haiu>y  Yisk.t^I  havo  seen 
a  notice  hi  the  RmuL  New-Yo^rkf-k  of  tho  vino 
Variegated  Ampelopsis,  or  Vititi  lurUrophyUa 
variegcUa.  1  did  not  suppose  it,  however,  to  be 
a  imw  or  rave  production,  as  I  have  bir'  eight  or 
nine  years  old.  I'ermit  mo  to  call  tho  atteiitiou 
of  youi-  readers,  who  are  lovers  of  the  hoauUful, 
to  this  charming  hardy  vino.  It  is  vv’oody  in  its 
nature  and  jointed  like  the  grape,  of  which  1 
Ihiuk  it  must  ho  a  variety;  is  perfectly  hardy 
hei-e,  having  sUiod  tho  severe  winter  three  years 
ago,  growing  on  the  east  side  of  tho  house.  The 
leaves  are  deeply  lohed  and  beautifully  varie¬ 
gated  with  white  and  two  shades  of  green,  and 
often  ill  young  plauls  a  sliado  of  pinlc;  is  easily 
Lteiit  in  shape  as  regards  sijzo  or  ti-aining,  and 
would  be  attractivo  for  greenhouse  or  consenuir 
tory,  as  it  likes  a  pai  LiaJ  shade  to  give  it  its  finest 
markings  or  variegations.  The  fruit  is  aliout  the 
size  of  currants  and  of  various  colors  as  tliey 
mature,  licing  from  an  azure  hue  to  a  very  pale 
blue  and  green.  It  is  very  nine  for  trimming 
the  hair  all  si^aaoiis,  either  iu  blossom  or  fruit. 
The  one  I  have  is  grt  atly  admired,  and  I  have 
grown  it  for  friends  by  layering,  Horn  cuttings, 
and  even  from  seed  as  well,  the  seedlings  coming 
true  in  every  case ;  I  raised  some  twenty-five  or 
■  thirty  the  jiast  season.  It  is  the  most  beautiful 
An  answer  to  your  question  has,  through  press 
of  buHiiiesH,  been  unavoidably  delayed.  Your 
experience  with  Light  IVahinas  is  tho  same  as 
th.at  of  many  other  persons.  Although  they  pos¬ 
sess  some  very  excellent  ijiialitios,  they  are  not 
the  nK>st  iirolitable,  to  Uce])  In  large  numbers 
for  eggs.  Whore  a  person  h.as  room  to  keep 
more  active  varieties,  that  thrive  better  on  a 
large  range,  some  other  hreetls  are  more  prolit- 
ablt!.  In  answering  your  enquiries  as  to  which 
you  should  keep  of  tho  smaller  breeds,  you  can 
best  judge  of  your  own  taste  and  facilities. 
1  will  doserilio  the  iioculiariLies  of  tho  two 
brttods  you  nie.ntion.  American  jiajiera  spouk 
more  of  tho  Leghorns  because  they  ai-eiKiciiliarly 
an  Ainoriean  breo<l.  They  originated  from  fowls 
brought  from  the  shora  of  the  Mi  diterraiiean, 
but  tlio  improvemeutii  made  on  tho  original  stock 
havo  boon  sucli  as  to  make  them  apiicar  en¬ 
tirely  different  hii-ds,  so  they  are  called  an  Amer¬ 
ican  breed,  and  recognized  as  such  iu  •England. 
They  aro  hardy,  and  lay  a  good-sizod  egg,  and 
are  deservixlly  popular. 
There  arc  lliroe  varieties.  White,  lirown  and 
Black  Loghoi  iis.  'I’iio  first  two  are  most  widely 
known,  tho  last  differs  but  little  from  tbo  Span¬ 
ish.  Tho  Wliite  variety  bus  been  tho  longest  es¬ 
tablished,  and  has  proveil  a  valuable  addition  (o 
tbe  farm,  being  good  layers  and  their  eggs  large. 
The  Brown  are  thought  by  most  lancieis  to  be 
hardier  than  the  White,  certainly  their  plumage 
is  richer,  especially  aoioo  strains  that  have  vio-y 
closo-fitting,  glossy  plumage.  They  come  to 
maturity  much  earlier  than  any  variety  of  fowl, 
laying  at  a  very  early  age,  they  aro  also  prolific 
layers  of  eggs,  rather  smaller  than  those  of  the 
former. 
Of  llainhnrgs  there  are  five  varieties,  Silver- 
Penciled,  Silver  -  Spangled,  Golden  -  Penciled, 
Oolden-Spaiiglei  and  Blaok. 
The  great  l«'anty  of  this  breed,  makes  them 
favorites  ;  their  delicate  markings  and  fine  clean 
colors,  of  the  gold  and  silver,  show  to  fine  effect 
on  a  lawn;  a  good  flock,  making  a  grand  appear¬ 
ance  with  their  sprightly  luoveuients,  hmuly 
carriage  and  exquisite  forms.  They  are  always 
iwhuired  |evou  hytliosu  who  take  but  little  in¬ 
terest  iu  poultry,  but  their  popularity  for  mar¬ 
ket  purposes  is  somewhat  injured  by  the  small¬ 
ness  of  their  eggs.  Where  one  wants  to  use  tho 
eggs,  the  Ilambiirgs  combine  not  only  tho  most 
boantifiil  of  birds  hut  best  of  layers. 
'The  Black  is  an  exception  to  others  of  this 
breed  iu  size  of  eggs,  theirs  Ijoiiig  large,  they 
arc  also  great  layer.s  ;  it  is  a  little  surprising  that 
they  are  not  more  popular,  as  records  of  number 
and  weight  of  eggs,  for  a  given  quantity  of  food, 
place  them  high  in  the  list,  us  layers.  It  must 
be  liorne  in  mind,  that  none  of  tlio  llamburgs  or 
Leghorns  hatch  their  own  eggs,  therefore  it  is 
uecossai’y  to  Ueeji  sonio  otlior  kind  to  hatch  and 
rear  the  chicks.  T'hoy  also  requii-0  plenty  of  room, 
or  good  care  iu  confinement,  or  it  stands  to  rea¬ 
son  they  cannot  he  ovory-day  layers. 
11.  Hales. 
died  out.  Gallns  Bankiva,  however,  readily  tc 
breeds  with  the  domestic  fowl,  aud  the  offsprings  T 
are  perfectly  healthy  and  fertile  birds.  In  plum-  oi 
ago  tho  Callus  BanIHra  very  closely  resembles  li 
the  black-breajrted  red  game  fowl ;  and  the  prob-  w 
ability  of  this  species  having  bocu  tho  progenitor  s' 
of  all  our  domestio  bresads  rests  on  very  strong  c 
presurajitive  grounds,  Y’et  it  matters  not  how  o 
long  a  time,  even  many  centuries,  may  elapse,  a 
so  true  is  nature  to  her  laws,  that  she  steps  in  t 
aud  asserts  her  own  prerogative  so  soon  as  e 
human  agency  is  removed,  or  man  neglects  to  a 
maintain  the  variety  his  care  has  brought  forth,  t 
This  is  very  easily  demonstrated  in  tlio  case  of  I 
Pigeons.  No  two  fowls  can  bo  mure  unlike  each  I 
other  than  tho  two  varieties  of  pigeons,  White  1 
Fantails.  aud  Almond  short-facwl  Tumblers.  i 
The  fautail  has  been  bred  in  ludia  for  centu-  • 
ries  aud  was  probably,  thence,  introduced  into 
Europe :  the  almond  tumbler  Ims  been  bred  in 
England  many  years ;  both  of  them  aro  far  re- 
iiiovikI  from  any  resemblance  to  their  bine  rock 
progenitors.  A  few  years  ago  1  hail  an  almond 
tumbler  mate  with  a  white  fautail.  They  bred 
one  jiair  of  young  ones  that  were  white,  witli 
black  and  rod  patches.  I  gave  them  to  a  neigh¬ 
bor,  and  ho  bred  them  together.  I  called  on  him 
one  day  and  he  showed  mo  the  young  ones  ho 
hail  bred  from  my  jiair,  and  to  my  ustoniHhment 
they  closely  rosembled,  in  color  and  shape,  the 
blue  rock  pigeon.  Finding  he  hud  always  kept 
them  confined,  I  was  sorely  puzzled  to  imagine 
what  had  hronght  about  such  a  clunige,  but  bay¬ 
ing  since  road  Teoetmkiek’h  work  on  pigeons  the 
mystery  is  solved ;  as  it  seems  proved  lieyoud 
any  doubt  that  all  our  domestic  pigi^ons  come 
from  tho  common  wild  rock  species,  Columha 
JAvia. 
With  all  tho  variations  of  domestic  fowls  they 
do  not  seem  to  vary  more,  than  pigeons,  if  they 
do  HO  much.  A  similar  tendency  is  found  in 
fowls  to  show  certain  feuthors.  and  every  breeder 
knows  how  dllllcult  it  is  to  keo])  out  such  intru¬ 
sion.  The  nearer  the  varirtiea  of  fowls  aiiprouch 
in  color  to  tho  black-breasted  red  game,  the 
more  easily  are  they  bred  to  feather.  To  begin 
with,  take  Um  Bantam :  the  B.  B.  rod  game  is 
more  easily  bred  to  color  than  its  next  akin,  tho 
dnek-wing  game.  I  jiresiimo  this  is  also  thccaso 
wlUi  full-sized  game.  How  many  duckwings 
have  iucliuatlon  to  brown  on  the  wing !  aud  olive 
,  duckwings  are  hard  to  breed  with  pure  silvery 
hackles ;  yellow  will  k<‘ep  cropping  out  to  bother 
1  the  breeder.  The  aarao  thing  occurs  witli  Hilver 
Gray  and  Dorking ;  cocks  often  have  brown  on 
•  the  wing  bar,  and  tho  hens  are  troubled  with  rod 
on  thiMvings.  Dominiques,  Plymouth  Hocks,  Ac. 
I  wlum  (Tcttitig  old  are  often  inclined  to  yellow  on 
haiiklo  luul  back,  much  to  ihe  disgust  of  their 
I  owners.  Brown  Leghorns  breed  truer  to  feather 
)  (ban  most  varieties,  and  are  hardier  than  tho 
'  White.  This  seems  to  point  to  Uieir  origin,  as 
»  most  of  the  natural  inclinations  to  color  seem  to 
,  bo  such  as  the  game  fowls  show. 
:  I  have  little  doubt  but  that  tho  art  of  breediug 
)  peculiar  poinl-s  is  yet  iu  its  infancy.  It  is  uot 
many  years  ago  that  breeding  for  special  forms 
-  and  colors  was  hardly  made  a  study  of.  Up  to 
,  that  lime  llamburgs  were  all  cither  Mooneys  or 
Creoles ;  Polands  had  simply  small  top  knots ; 
1  Spanish  were  bred  with  small,  white  faces; 
1  Brahmas  and  Cocliius  wore  unknown ;  so  were 
t  White  and  Brown  Leghorns,  Plymouth  Rocks 
-  and  many  otliers.  What  a  chango  has  been 
V  wronglit  in  a  few  years !  What  were  then  cou- 
s  sidered  good  fowls  wonld  not  gain  even  n  mo- 
'  ments  attoutiou  now.  Every  hriKjder  knows 
-  tbat  ho  cannot  often  breed  good  show  birds  until 
-  lie  has  kept  his  sUick,  and  selected  and  bred 
e  from  them  several  times  to  ensure  a  strain  that 
t  he  can  dejieud  upon  to  breed  true.  The  limits 
to  which  lertain  peculiavitioB  can  he  carried  to 
is  be  useful,  aro  bettor  understood  now  than  for- 
y  merly,  Yery  largo  combs  on  Spanish  and  Leg¬ 
it  horns  were  considered  as  ijuite  a  woudiw  iu 
!r  brooding,  and  largo  combs  were  again  and  again 
1,  selected  until  at  last  they  became  sucli  mou¬ 
lt  sti-ositios,  that  judges  at  fans  pass  them  by  for 
ir  birds  with  combs  of  more  limited  size.  Whero 
is  a  monstrous  comb  is  found  tho  poor  hearer  feels 
d  it  to  be  quite  a  load  for  his  small  neck,  aud  he 
1,  looks  heavy  aud  discousolate  under  the  weight 
ir  of  his  ponderous  burden.  H.  Hales. 
to  do  anything  in  our  power  for  so  old  a  friend. 
The  Argus  pheasaut  is  a  rare  bird  and  we  believe 
our  correspondent  will  not  succeed  iu  stocking 
his  place  with  this  variety,  for  reasons  which  we 
will  set  forth  in  a  future  number.  As  we  pre¬ 
sume  our  reader  of  "  ten  years  standing  ”  is  not 
contemplating  the  immediate  stocking  of  his 
country  seat,  we  will  ask  him  to  excuse  our  not 
answering  his  question  at  length,  iu  this  number 
that  wc  may  procure  for  him,  aud  for  the  readers 
of  tho  lloBAT.,  an  illustratiou  of  this  rare  Pheas¬ 
ant.  Meanwhile  we  beg  him  to  aijcept  om 
thanks  for  his  ten  years  friendship,  and  assure 
him  and  all  our  subscribers  that  wo  will  always 
bo  glad  to  hoar  from  old  or  new  readers,  and  feel 
happy  to  answer  such  questions  as  they  may  de¬ 
sire  to  ask  in  reference  to  home  matters. 
IJomologifiil. 
INQUIRY  ABOUT  PHEASANTS. 
BREEDING  FOR  QUALITIES. 
Ik  my  last  article  iu  the  Rural,  Nov.  4th,  on 
breeding  for  qualities,  1  made  the  assertion  that 
not  one  single  animal  has  heeii  shown  as  tho  re¬ 
sult  of  the  crossing  of  two  siRaues  of  animals. 
I  should  have  said  not  a  single  animal  as  the 
result  of  sui;h  crossing  from  a  permanently 
maintained  breed.  Houie  closely  allied  species 
of  fowls,  such  as  Gallus  SoimeralU  and  Gallus 
StanUygii,  havo  crossed  with  the  donmstic  fowl, 
and  a  small  number  of  their  progeny  have  been 
fertile  when  again  crossed  with  either  of  the 
parent  speriea  in  the  Zoological  Gardena,  Tvondou, 
aud  in  ludia ;  hut  after  a  time  they  either  be¬ 
came  BO  sterile,  or  were  so  sickly  that  they  all 
I  AXi  coutomplating  the  stocking  of  my  country 
place  with  some  Plieasauts,  not  for  the  purpose 
of  providing  myself  with  shooting  in  the  fall 
months,  hut  to  beautify  my  lawns  by  placing 
upon  them  some  of  these  handsome  birds.  Can 
von  tell  me  tlie  hesl  method  of  having  them 
sliipijod  to  me.”  Can  you  tell  me  anything  of 
the  Argus  I’heasani  ?  I  havo  becu  making  some 
inquiries  at  the  stores  of  some  leading  fanciers, 
and  little  seems  to  be  known  about  the  bird. 
You  will  oblige  a  reader  of  ten  years  standing, 
by  giving  mo  such  informatiou  iu  the  matter  as 
you  can.  John  A.  Stuison. 
Yonkers,  Deo.  7,  1870. 
Answer.— We  are  always  glad  to  oblige  our 
readers,  and  it  is  a  double  pleasure  to  be  able  to 
KEEPING  PEARS  IN  WINTER. 
Probably  at  no  season  of  the  year  is  this 
delicious  fruit  so  fully  approciatcl  and  highly 
prized  us  during  the  winter  and  spring  mouths. 
Aud  yet  how  many  unwittingly  deny  themselves 
nearly  half  tho  pleasure  that  tho  poar  cau  be¬ 
stow. 
With  a  large  nuuibor  of  those  possessing 
orchards  the  season  for  this  fruit  ends  with  tho 
entrance  of  winter,  while,  with  vei'y  little  trouble 
it  might  he  prolonged  many  mouths.  Two  of 
the  greah^st  oueinies  to  the  keeping  of  fruits  iu 
winter  are  tho  usually  welcome  elements— heat 
and  air.  Keep  those  away  and  tho  battle  is  won. 
Tho  moUiixl  to  be  followed  is  so  simple  that 
every  one  can  practice  it,  and  even  at  this  date 
it  may  assist  in  keeping  until  spring,  fruit  that 
otherwise  would  very  soou  ripen. 
Kolect  oleau  wwalen  or  pasteboard  boxes, 
with  or  without  covers,  aud  line  them  with 
brown  paper,  though  newspaper  will  answer. 
Then  place  two  or  three  Isyersof  iiears  carefully 
In  tho  box -discarding  all  Imperfect  or  bruised 
specimens,  and  cover  with  one  or  two  thickuossoa 
of  paper.  Tho  pieces  of  paper  should  be  some¬ 
what  larger  tliaii  tho  box,  so  as  to  roach  from 
side  to  side  aud  keep  out*  the  air  from  above. 
One  or  two  more  layers  of  pears  may  bo  placed 
in  the  box  in  tho  same  manner,  being  particular 
to  have  the  top  layer  of  paper  quite  large 
enough.  Boxes  oue  or  two  fent  square  will  ho 
round  to  he  a  very  coiivcnioiit  size. 
The  boxoB  should  then  be  plueeil  in  an  unoc¬ 
cupied  room  or  in  an  apartment  of  Uie  cellar 
whero  the  lempoi’aturo  of  the  air  can  be  regulated 
at  will.  Tho  thermometer  should  usually  range 
from  34  to  10 '  above  zero.  1  f  teo  warm  then 
let  in  a  little  cord  air  froiii  outside  as  required. 
Heat  should  ho  guarded  against  as  it  quicldy 
causes  Uio  fruit  to  riiien.  By  this  method 
many  of  the  lute  varieties  cau  ho  kept  iu  excelkut 
i!ouditii>n  until  the  winter  is  past.  1  have  had 
fine  speelmeus  upon  the  table  iu  March  and 
even  during  the  latter  part  of  April.  By  select¬ 
ing  several  varieties,  aud  bringing  a  few  uito  a 
warm  room  to  ripen  it  is  easy  to  havo  ripe  jiears 
all  winter  long.  Ooimneuciug  xvith  BeuiTO 
d’Aujou  aud  Lawrence,  the  old-fashioned  but 
delicious  Ikuirre  d’Aromberg  will  be  welcomed 
as  will  also  Josejiliiue  do  Maliiies,  Easter, 
Beurre  ami  even  tho  much  abused  Vioar  of 
Wakefield. 
The  late  keeping  varieties  of  grapes,  such  as 
the  Dianas.  Gatawbas  may  also  be  kept  until  tbe 
spring  months  in  this  way.  Tho  same  plan  will 
be  serviceable  in  tho  case  of  apples  using 
barrels  or  larger  boxes.  If  a  trial  of  this 
method  is  made,  exclamations  of  surprise  and 
pleasure  that  will  greet  you  from  admiring 
friends,  as  they  see  your  tables  decked  with 
fruit  in  spring,  will  well  repay  you  for  the 
slight  extra  care  that  you  may  havo  taken. 
Walden-ou-the-llucfijon,  N.  Y'.  It.  H.  Haines. 
.  »  ■  — 
IMPRO’YEMENT  IN  THE  QUALITY  OF 
APPLES. 
Not  having  a  winter  supply  of  sweet  apples 
this  year,  tho  last  week  in  Novemhor  i  imrchased 
a  barrel  of  Pound  Sweetings.  I  found  on  testing 
them,  Yvhothor  raw  or  baked,  that  they  had  less 
saccharine  matter  iii  them  than  any  I  had  ever 
f  before  oaten ;  and  iu  fact  wore  bo  watery  as  to 
!  be  quite  insipid.  I  have  a  small  empty  cham- 
l  her  in  my  barn,  and  as  the  apples  seemed  to  be 
:  rotting  rai»i'Uy,  I  took  all  the  sound  ones  out  of 
1  tho  barrel  and  put  each  one  on  the  flotir  of  this 
1  chamber,  so  far  apart  that  they  did  not  touch 
r  each  other.  A  few  days  after  this  tho  weather 
j  became  so  cold  as  to  freeze  the  apples  from  a 
,  quarter  to  a  half  of  the  depth  of  their  siu  face. 
.  1  let  them  remain  thus  about  one  week,  aud 
,  then  began  again  to  use  them,  and  foimd  their 
B  sweetness  so  much  iuereasod,  as  to  seem  another 
sort  of  fruit,  indeed  now  aud  then  oue  almost 
equal  to  the  Golden  Bweetlng  Cau  auy  person 
r  give  me  the  philosophy  of  this  treatment  in 
0  llavor  aud  sweetness  ? 
