4 
style ; they are a crop as corn is, set out in 
rows and cultivated with a horse-cultivator as 
if they were corn or cotton, pear or apple 
trees. The smaller plants, as verbenas, carna¬ 
tions and bouvardias, are hoed, not “ cul¬ 
tivated.” 
* * 
I hope Rural readers have not fallen in 
love with the French style of fruit tree train¬ 
ing illustrated on pages 515, 81*5 and 517 ! Such 
styles may be good enough and useful in 
France, but they are nonsense in' America. 
Here our Summers arc long and warm 
enough to ripen our apples, pears and peaches 
on standard trees; therefore, unless for 
fancy’s sake we have no excuse for such con¬ 
tortions. But many a hundred trees have I 
knifed and coaxed and tied into those and 
other kindred styles ; but never, no, not even 
there, could I believe it good -that work my 
hands had done. Why, the time in labor, 
painstaking and precision requisite to get. 
those trees into that shape, and the years that 
must elapse before they yield a crop of fruit, 
would drive a Yankee crazy ! We want re¬ 
muneration for our pains, and that right 
quickly ; hence our prosperity. 
* * 
But as some readers of the Rural may be 
curious to know the why and the how of this 
training, I will say a few a words more re¬ 
garding it. Some deem it ornamental, but if 
such an unnatural contortion is to them orna¬ 
mental, I pity their taste. It is considered 
useful in bringing the limbs and fruit more 
directly under the influence of the sun, and 
thus hastening maturity and bettering flavor 
iu the fruit, and extra ripening the wood. By 
this means, too, tender trees may be more 
easily protected from inclement weather than 
were they in the form of standards ; and 
peach and other very early-blooming trees 
may, with little trouble, bo protected from 
frosts, cold winds and rains, when they are iu 
blossom, atid thus their fruit crop be ren¬ 
dered doubly certain. Stone-fruit trees are 
usually grown against walls : pours and apples 
as espaliers and cordons in the open garden. 
The accuracy with which the branches are 
disposed on either side is quite as perfect as 
the illustrations show, but to have them so de¬ 
mands great care. By foresight and pruning 
the balance of the tree is maintained, and 
where a bud fails to grow or a defect exists it 
is rectified by introducing a bud or graft. And 
it is a common sight to see a row of espaliers 
whose branches when they meet are “ worked” 
together. Cordons are trees having but one 
shoot, and which are bent over a foot, above 
the ground, so that that shoot runs horizon¬ 
tally ; or it may be a double cordon, which 
means that it is has two shoots extending 
in opposite directions. These cordons are 
used as edgings to garden plots, and are often 
“worked” together so as to represent an un¬ 
broken belt for any length you please. Ex¬ 
amples of fan und palm training may bo seen 
in Eastern greenhouses, where poaches, 
plums or apricots are grown—out-door espal¬ 
iers, in the garden of Henry Winthrop Sar¬ 
gent, Esq., at Fish kill, N. Y.; and cordon 
training at Elwanger & Barry’s nurseries at 
Rochester, JN. Y. 
* * 
But I am quite sanguine regarding the pot 
grape-vines—see Fig’s. 584, 385 and 380. Of 
course only the varieties of the foreign, or 
Vitis vinifera grapes, are worth fruiting in 
pots, as it is an expensive process, In fruit¬ 
ing vines in pots the three ends mostly in view 
are: 1, convenience or economy of space, for 
we can grow them iu any house that is moist, 
light, airy mid warm ; 2, curliness, as by hav¬ 
ing the cones early and well ripened in the 
Fall we can start them much earlier than 
would be advisable in the case of u permanent 
grapery, and have a fruit crop proportionately 
early ; 3, one of the rarest and most tempting 
dessert dishes you can set upon a. banquet 
table is n laden grape-vine growing in a pot. 
Grape-vines for this purpose are grown in 
seven-inch pots, placed within others that are 
10 to 12 inches in diameter, so that when the 
fruits are matured the larger pot, together 
with the eai'th and roots contained within it, 
is removed and only the smaller one, left. But 
after this operation the vines are practically 
useless for further pot use. 
* * 
This reminds me that, early last July, on 
the occasion of a city dinner, a Boston 
gardener sent iu ail Early Crawford peach 
tree growing iu a pot and with some thirty 
ripe peaches on it. The hotel-keeper set the 
tree upon the table, so the guests might pluck 
the fruit for themselves. Next day the gar¬ 
dener received back his tree and $15 for its 
fruit. The curliness of the season was the 
occasion of the high price paid, but the com¬ 
pliments of the guests and the press notices 
expressed the appreciation of the novel dish. 
Leon. 
-»♦» 
REMARKS AND COMMENTS. 
In the Rural for July 30, page 498, I of¬ 
fered a few remarks on the Early Alpha Po¬ 
tato. The editor inquired, “Did they yield 
well 1* In reply I would say, two bushels to 
120 feet of row. 
My experience with commercial or artificial 
fertilizers agrees with “ Horticola’s,” given on 
page 498. In a dry season they are of compar¬ 
atively little value, while during a wet season 
they produce very satisfactory results. How¬ 
ever, where they are applied the crop is sev¬ 
eral days ear lier than that on which barnyard 
manure is used. 
HoUTICOLa, on the same page, says that ex¬ 
cellent early pea, the Alpha, has been uncom¬ 
monly sweet this season. I have noticed that 
the Champion of England has boon very much 
sweeter than usual. I have never tried the 
Alpha, but would say that for a second-early 
I prefer the Champion to any other variety. 
While speaking of peas I would like to in¬ 
quire whether any of the readers of the Rural 
have ever been so successful as to obtain a 
good crop of green peas in the Fall months. I 
have often heard of its being done, but with 
what success I could not say. If any of the 
Rural’s readers can give us any information 
on this subject it would be of interest and 
profit to many. What wo want to know i 8 
the name of the variety best adapted for this 
purpose and about what time to plant it. 
On page 501 of the Rural is an extract from 
the London Garden relating to Rosa rugosa 
and its varieties. Are there more than two 
varieties* I am only acquainted with the 
rosy-pink und the white varieties. 
On Augusts I gathered my Bloodgood Pears 
and carried them into the house to ripen, as 
the fruit of all early pears is so much better if 
ripened in the house. From my one tree, 
which is of medium size, I obtained one bushel 
of pears. The fruit is of medium size, the 
thick, yellow skin being spotted with russet 
dots. On account of these the fruit is not very 
attractive, but, nevertheless, it is of a rich, 
sugary flavor. The tree is of moderate growth 
und is an early and regular bearer. When the 
fruit is about half grown, thin severely, or 
else most of it wil bo rendered small and 
worthless. 
This is what is termed by some an “ off 
year” for apples; but I notice that where the 
trees are properly taken care of, some-varie¬ 
ties are producing very fair crops. Among them 
the Large Yellow Bough is one that is deserv¬ 
ing of attention. I presume it is well known 
to ull pomologists, but to those who are not 
acquainted with it I would say that it is in 
season from the middle of July to tin; 10th of 
August. The tree is of vigorous but moderate 
growth and a profuse bearer. The fruit is 
large, of a rich golden color, with very tender 
flesh and a sweet, sprightly flavor, and on this 
account is much valued for the table. 
While speaking of apples 1 desire to call 
attention to that very pretty and excellent 
dessert variety, the Summer Rose. The fruit 
is of medium size and of a rich yellow streaked 
and striped with red. The tree is of moderate 
growth, but is remarkably productive, and in 
order to obtain fruit of the first quality it is 
necessary that one-half of the crop should be 
removed when it is about half-grown. 
I notice that in some catalogues that beau¬ 
tiful dessert pear, Manning’s Elizabeth, is de¬ 
scribed as ripening about the end of August. 
With me it always ripens from the 5th to 
the 10th. The fruit of this variety is of me¬ 
dium size, of a bright yellow color, with a 
lively red cheek; it has a very sprightly, 
sugary, aromatic flavor, The tree is of slow 
growth, but is remarkably productive. 
Horticola, on page 546, remarks that mel¬ 
ons are very backward and might ripen a 
good crop next Summer, and the same re¬ 
marks are applicable to Lima beans, in this 
locality, at least. It would be of interest to 
know how these crops are at the Rural Farm. 
[Our vines are filled with fruit; but few of 
them will ripen early enough to bo of any 
value. Cold nights and sweet watermelons do 
not go together. We shall have a good crop 
of Limas.—Eos.] 
The Lawton Blackberry canes were all 
killed to the ground during the last severe 
Winter, and those of the Kittatinny were se¬ 
verely injured, over half of them having been 
killed. The surviving canes set a fair crop of 
fruit this Spring, but instead of the berries 
ripening perfectly, a few colored black, the 
remainder turned red, and all shriveled and 
dried up about the l()th of July. Have any of 
the Rural’s readers had any experience simi¬ 
lar to mine ? Now, were the canes so injured 
by the past cold Winter that the severe 
drought of this Bummer rendered them inca¬ 
pable of ripening their fruit, or was it the 
Winter alone that caused the injury ? I no¬ 
ticed this Bpring that the canes appeared to be 
much injured. Have the Taylor and Snyder 
been tried at the Rural Farm, and, if so, with 
what result * [Both. They are hardy and 
productive, though the berries are small com¬ 
pared with those of Kittaninny.—E ds.] 
While speaking of blackberries I desire to 
remark that I have abandoned the cultivation 
of the Dorchester. With me it was anything 
but satisfactory. Tho vines grow to an im¬ 
mense size and produced very small crops of 
small berries. Chas. E. Parnell. 
Queens Co., N. Y. 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL FARM. 
The Tomato Rot. 
SEVERAL of our correspondents seem confi¬ 
dent that it is not tho tomato worm which 
causes the rot in their tomatoes. We do not 
say that it is. But we do say that it is this 
caterpillar that has caused every case of rot 
in our own tomatoes. Wo have watched it 
closely through the season; have seen it move 
from the loaves to the young tomatoes and 
nibble out small pieces, generally near the 
stigma end (or that, opposite the stem), and 
then return to tho loaf. Sometimes tho pest 
would remain upon the tomatoes, eating a part 
—half or more—of the green tomato before 
leaving it. The injured portions in a few days 
turn black; rot begins und spreads, involving 
more or less the entire tomato. In some 
cases the wound heals, leaving a patch of 
brown, rough skin. We ask tho question of 
those whose tomatoes have rotted:—Have your 
plants been infested with those caterpillars ? 
It is quite possible that if not numerous, they 
may not have been observed. The caterpillar 
is so nearly the color of the stems that it is 
often hard to find it, even though directly in 
front of one’s eyes. The leaves which have 
disappeared from the stems and the droppings 
underneath, however, afford a sure indication 
of its whereabouts. 
It would be hasty for us to conclude that 
this or other allied bisects are the sole cause of 
the tomato rot; but we are positive that it is a 
cause and at tho Rural Farm the note cause 
during the present season. 
This insect is known entomologicaliy as 
Sphinx q u i n quo mac u latus or Five-spotted 
Sphinx. It is sometimes called the potato 
worm, though with us it prefers the foliage of 
tomatoes. It reaches its full length—three or 
four inches—and the size of one’s little finger 
by the latter part of August or early in Sep¬ 
tember, and then buries itself in the ground 
whore, iu a few days, it sheds its skin and be¬ 
comes a chrysalis. Here it remains until the 
following Summer when a moth, us shown, 
(Fig. 475), crawls out and flies in search of 
food. Our illustrations, from Harris, (see 
page 668), show the larva, the chrysalis und 
the moth. 
-♦ * ♦- 
ROTTING OF TOMATOES. 
The tomato worm is no doubt deserving of 
reproach for his ravages in the garden, but he 
should not be charged with crimes of which 
he is innocent. He is clearly not guilty of 
causing rot in tomatoes, which has of late 
years teen so troublesome, and 1 think 1 can 
convince any fair jury of his innocence of this 
charge. It hus been said of that notorious ty¬ 
rant, the cruel Judge Jeffries, noted in English 
history as a most unjust judge who coudoran- 
*ed scores of good men and some bad ones to 
undeserved punishment, that, on being assured 
of the injustice of a sentence pronounced upon 
a prisoner, he declared, “Never mind, let him 
hang; the scoundrel deserves it.” So with the 
tomato worm; he deserves death, no doubt, 
although not upon this charge. 
Last year was the first season in winch my 
tomatoes rotted. I grow then only the Acme. 
Three years before I grew Trophy, Hatha¬ 
way’s Excelsior, Little Gem, Canada Victor 
and Arlington. In those years I had no case 
of this rot, but scores of tomato worms, Last 
year I don’t remember seeing a worm on my 
tomatoes, and the present season there have 
been none previous to two or three weeks 
back. But of the early tomatoes i had not a 
sound one, and since a few worms have ap¬ 
peared there are but a few rotten ones. But 
this is circumstantial evidence only, and an 
alibi is hut a poor defence unless it is a perfect 
one, and in this case it is incomplete. But I 
have more evidence to corroborate it. I have 
several times examined the rotted tomatoes 
under a microscope of a power of 460 diame¬ 
ters. Viewed thus, tho cause of the rot is very 
clear. It is evidently of fungoid origin. 1 
have traced it from the beginning, where it 
appeal’s as a mere speck, and whore the tooth - 
marks of the beast should be visible if he wore 
the cause of it. On the contrary, the skin is 
not oven touched, or even diseased, but the 
disease is within it, in the under part of the 
epidermis. Them the white threads of tho 
fungus cun be seen among the cells of tho skin 
and penetrating down the core of the fruit. 
Another specimen is affected on one side and 
the spot on the skin here is covered with well- 
defined cluster cups of an oval form and a 
cream color. A section of the skin show* 
abundant threads of mycelium penetrating be¬ 
tween the colls and growing so rapidly that 
their' increase can be plainly viewed on the 
field of the microscope. A more advanced 
specimen shows cavities under the skin, with 
dark lining of decayed tissue and filled with 
mycelium; the core of the tomato is diseased 
for a quarter of an inch, visibly to the eye, and 
wholly under the microscope. Tho appear¬ 
ance of the skin is much like that of a potato 
affected with ret. in its first stages, when it 
appeal's as black spots upon the skin. From 
this I am convinced that the disease is one 
akin to tho potato rot, which wo all know had 
been charged to worms until the real cause 
was discovered, and I hold the worm guiltless 
of this crime. H. Stewart. 
farm (Topics. 
LASTING EFFECTS OF POTASH AND 
PHOSPHORIC ACID IN THE SOIL. 
J. B. LA WES, L. L. D., F. R. S. 
As regards the lasting effect of potash and 
phosphoric acid when applied to the soil, wo 
are in possession of a great deal of interesting 
evidence. For illustration T will select two 
experiments from the field under permanent 
wheat. In 1844, two plots adjoining each 
other, and containing about two-thirds of an 
acre each, were manured with salts of pot¬ 
ash, soda, magnesia, and superphosphate of 
lime. In 1845, and every succeeding year up 
to the present date, one of the plots, which is 
described as 10 A in the table of my experi¬ 
ments, received an application of ammonia 
salts. 
The other plot, described as 10 B, received 
the same amount of minerals as 10 A in 1844 ; 
and also received the same amounts of salts of 
ammonia between 1844 and 1850, except on 
two occasions, in 1848 and 1*50, when plot 10 
B received minerals without ammonia. The 
only distinction therefore between the two ex¬ 
periments was that plot 10 A received one ap¬ 
plication of minerals, ami six of salts of am¬ 
monia ; while plot 10 B received t hree appli¬ 
cations of minerals and four of ammonia. 
From 1851 to the present time 10 A and B have 
received every year the amount of ammonia. 
The produce of the crop of 1851 was as fol¬ 
lows; 
Bushels. Straw In lhs. 
10 A. 0070 
10 B. 3018 
It is quite evident therefore that at that 
date, the single application of minerals, and, 
the soil itself furnished the crop of 10 A with 
all the potash and phosphate it required. 
In the following year, 10 B showed a 
superiority over 10 A, and this superiority, al¬ 
though a decreasing one, has boon maintained 
up to tho present t ime. 
In order to prove that this superiority is 
due to the two applications of potash and 
phosphoric acid, winch this plot received in 
1848 and 1850, we must have recourse to the 
aid of aualysos. Here I may say that, for 
special purposes, separate analyses of the ush 
of each year's crop are essential, but for 
statistical pur [loses we mix together the ash 
of the crops of 10 years. In the present in¬ 
stance! only possess the analyses up to 1871. 
those of the last ten years not being yet com¬ 
pleted ; the two periods of ton yeais from 
1852 to 1861 ; and from 1862 to 1871 will, how¬ 
ever, furnish all tho necessary information. 
The amount of potash taken away in tho corn 
and straw from 10 A iu 28 years was 700 
pounds, of which 56 pounds were supplied in 
tho manure, leaving 6-14 pounds to be fur¬ 
nished by the soil. 
On plot 10 B, 813 pounds of potash were taken 
off in 28 years, of which 356 pounds were sup¬ 
plied in manure, leaving 456 pounds to be fur¬ 
nished by the soil. 1 do not, of coinse, know 
what will be tho result of the 10 years' 
analyses from 1871 to 1880, but from evidence 
furnished by the previous analyses, it would 
appear probable that at the present time the 
soil of plot 10 B contains about 150 pounds 
more potash than plot 10 A, and should the 
experiment continue in its present form, a very 
long period must elapse before tho potash in 
the two soils can bo equalized. 
A question hero may naturally occur to 
some of your readers, as to how we know that 
the wheat crop in these two experiments re¬ 
quires more potash than it cun obtain from 
the soil. 
Tho answer is supplied by another experi¬ 
ment, plot 13 B, to which potash is applied 
every year, and the result is shown very 
clearly In the following table : 
POTASH REMOVED PER AC RE PER ANNUM. 
10 years 1833-IHfil. Id years 1883-1971 
pounds pounds 
10 A Potash applied onee . il 33 
10 B Potash applied three times.. 33 25 
13 B Potash applied every year... 53 57 
It will bo soon therefore that while the 
potash removed annually from plots 10 A 
and B is rapidly decreasing, in plot 13 B 
where it is applied every year it is increasing. 
« 
