ropes and bunching the dozens tor convenient 
carriage, according to the bargain, to coat me 
five dollars, I found myself, before Christinas, 
free of debt, with all my surplus stuff moved off, 
seeds of the beBt quality for next season's crop 
of vegetables, and one hundred dollars in hand, 
as an encouragement to recommence operations 
the ensuing spring. My garden was plowed, 
rubbish cleared off, strawberries covered with 
leaves from the woods, and grapes laid down, 
the only covering used being a spadeful of earth 
to keep the vines in place. From currants, goose¬ 
berries and grapes we Baved all good cuttings, 
which were labeled, tied in bunches, and covered 
in a shallow trench. 
The experience of the past season had been to 
mo of great value, added to my enjoyment of 
nature, and enlarged my ideas of the dignity of 
labor. The rosy cheeks of the children proved 
the advantage of out-of-door employment in 
physical development, and 1 resolved to profit by 
my experience, and continue the rental of my 
acre on the same terms, with what success I 
hope hereafter to inform my readers, 
class. The flowers are in clusters, like Verbe¬ 
nas ; very double, large, and full, and of a deep, 
rich crimson. 
Altasha. —The many varieties of this shrub, 
their profuse bloom, and great diversity In color 
of flowers, combined with the fact that they are 
in perfection at a time when scarcely any other 
tree or shrub is in blossom, give them promi¬ 
nence in every collection. 
Yavieoated-lf.aved Alleha.— This is a very 
conspicnous variety, having foliage distinctly 
marked with yellow, and producing small double 
flowers of a deep purple color. 
Clematis Jackmanni— This belongs to the 
order of climbing plants, is tbe best known, and 
one of the finest of its class. The plant is a free 
grower, an abundant and successful bloomer, 
producing flowers until tbe time of frosts. The 
flowers are large, of an intense violet purple, and 
remarkable for their velvety richness. 
Clematis lanuginosa nivea.— This is one of 
the fiuest of blooming plants, having great merit 
in the fact that it is a pure white and a per¬ 
petual bloomer, opening its flowers before Jack- 
manni. 
Clematis velctina 
by grafting without losing a crop: influence of 
the stock upon the vitality of foreign grafts: 
novel and easy way of striking cuttings of Roses 
and all sorts of wooded and succulent plants in 
a high temperature ranging from 85 to 100°; 
successful method of preparing ripe-wood cut¬ 
tings on the stock plant in order to make them 
strike roots readily when plantod; erroneous 
theory of trees raised in a northern climate and 
transplanted South, respecting their period of 
blooming and ripening fruit: throwing small 
Orange trees into immediate bearing , influence 
of changing climate on flowers, shrubs, trees and 
vegetables: shrubs entirely hardy in the North¬ 
ern and Middle States that will not stand the 
winters here. 
Before concluding this, let me tell you about 
a pretty freak of nature I witnessed but yester¬ 
day. In passing the garden of a friend (who, by 
the way, has a great hobby for Roses, having 
many varieties to which he adds some every 
year.) my attention was struck by a beautiful, 
large, pure white Rose showing itself prominent¬ 
ly through a bush of a Tea Rose (Adam). I 
thought at first it was a graft or had grown from 
an inverted bud, whicb, however, the proprietor 
denied. After closer examination, wc found out 
that a whole branch sported into that color. The 
opening flow er buds were all of the purest white, 
without the least tinge of red. All the other 
buds and flowers on the bush ol this well-known 
old variety, did not show any sign of variation. 
I am anxious to see if this branch will revert to 
its old type again. Q. Marti. 
A WOMAN’S ACRE 
BY MBS. ANNIE L. JACK 
ABOUT MY CELERY. 
The fascinating guide hook to gardening gave 
such plain and Bimpk- directions in celery culture 
that mistaken were impossible, and in order to 
insure the proper variety I sent to Henderson 
for seed of the ** Dwarf White " he prized so 
highly. By the time my early potatoes were 
cleared off, the ground was clean and dry, and 
was prepared by the harrow, and afterwards 
rows made by the plow, three feet apart, and 
about four inches deep. This 1 have found a 
better system for a novice tliau tbe one now 
adopted of planting on a level surface. When 
all was ready we waited for a shower, and the 
first week in July came several, soft, gentle and 
continuous, just suited for my transplanting. I 
put up my umbrella, tucked up my skirts, put 
on my rubbers and waterproof, and lilted tbe 
plants from their seed-bed, keeping the two 
transplanters, 
with them 
continued in our favor,— 
niug of a very wot season. 
CUTTING OFF STRAWBERRY RUNNERS 
purpurea This variety 
is the darkest-colored of its class. It lias the 
vigorous, free-blooming character of the Jack- 
m&rnn. Tbe flowers are large and of a very rich, 
blackish mulboiTy-purple color. 
Clematis Fair Rosamond.— Distinct and pecu¬ 
liar. The flowers aro fully six inches across, and 
consist ol eight sepals. The color is white, with 
a bluish east, having a light wine-red har up the 
center of each sepal. It is a free grower. 
The list ot Clematis is very extensive, embrac¬ 
ing over a hundred varieties, each having pecu¬ 
liar merits of its own. They form a class of 
plauts of wonderful beauty and attraction, made 
all tbe more attractive by the great diversity of 
methods by which they may bo displayed. “ As 
bedding plants, pillar plants, single plants, in 
tnftBseB, about ruins, rock-work, or among gro¬ 
tesque arrangements of tree-stumps, they are 
equally at home.” They arc worthy of the widest 
dissemination, and will afford unqualified pleas¬ 
ure to the possessor. 
When it is not desired to propagate young 
plants, strawberries should have their runners 
removed several times during the growing sea¬ 
son ; and where half an acre or more is culti¬ 
vated, the trouble and expense are 
j j ■ considerable. The operation is usu¬ 
ally performed with shears, or by 
pinching or pulling off by hand - 
back-aching work, to say the least. 
Both the arrangements shown here 
are to expedite the operation, and 
make it far less wearisome. In Fig. 
1, B is a circular piece of iron, from 
Beven to ten inches in diameter, one 
inch wide, about one-quarter of an 
inch thick at the top and beveled 
to an edge at the bottom; two iron 
. strips, P, P, are welded or riveted at 
I A opposite sides, as shown, and bolted 
to the handle. By placing the cutting 
pJL\ p ring B, around the hill and pressing 
•• - downwards, all the runners under- 
v r neath the edge are instantly severed, 
v _ B Should the soil be bard, or the cut- 
Fig i ting edge dull, a quick thrust with 
the foot upon the rest, A, will do the 
business. By this plan a large patch can be 
freed from rnnners in a few hours. , 
A cheaper implement is shown in Fig. 2. H is 
a circular and thin wheel, of iron or steel, from 
four to six inches in diameter, ground sharp at 
Felicite and Johnnie, supplied 
It was Blow work, but the weather 
in fact it was the begin- 
and when the ground 
waH filled, and the plants all out of the seed-bed, 
1 found that we had sot out over two thousand, 
and all likely to take. But, for example’s sake’ 
I had to discard the umbrella the very first day, 
as poor Felicite, with face and hat soaked with 
the rain, looked longingly towards it, now and 
then repeating, “Je gain toute treinpee” (I am 
wet all over). 
But no cold resulted from our drenching, and 
the plants grew green and strong, as the cooler 
autumn days advanced. The cultivator kept the 
ground clear of weeds until the time for hand¬ 
ling. which I found my assistants quite able to 
do, and a little explanation served to teach them 
to hold the plant firmly in one baud, to keep earth 
out of the heart and prevent spreading. Three 
times of earthing up brought us to cold weather, 
but we still banked it up with a spado, know¬ 
ing that the only place where it could be safely 
housed, in this climate, would be the cellar. 
The growth of the crop was the object of some 
severe criticism by old-fashioned gardeners. Two 
plantings in one season would “ skin the land,” 
and celery without trenches was suro not to be a 
success. Bat grow it did, in spite of the proph¬ 
ets. and all through the pleasant October w eather, 
when everything else was at a standstill, waiting 
to be gathered, the celery seemed possessed of 
some magical power, and grew, and grew, in 
spite of rain, or wind, or occasional frost. So 
the first week in November, when everything 
else was secured, we thought it prudent to dig 
up and store away this mild, nntty vegetable, so 
appetizing in the dreary winter months. Hav¬ 
ing plenty of spare cellar-room, the plants, care¬ 
fully lifted, were packed tightly together, as if 
to grow, no earth except such as clung to the 
roots being necessary. To keep it firm, a few 
boards were pressed closely at the end and sides 
of this novel winter garden, and a wooden pipe, 
about four inches in diameter, placed in the 
south windows of the cellar, to carry off auv 
AMERICAN P0M0L0G1CAL 81)01 ETY 
SIXTEENTH SESSION. 
The American Bornological Society having ac¬ 
cepted the invitation of the Maryland Horticul¬ 
tural Society, the undersigned give notice that 
the Sixteenth Session of this National Associa¬ 
tion will lie hold in Baltimore, commencing Wed¬ 
nesday, Sept- 12th, 1877, at 10 o'clock A. M , and 
continuing for three days. 
All Horticultural, Bornological, Agricultural, 
and other kindred Associations in the United 
States and British Provinces, are invited to send 
delegations aB large as they may deem expedient; 
and all persons interested in the cultivation of 
fruits arc united to be present, and take seats 
in the Convention. 
It is confidently anticipated that, there will be 
a full attendance of delegates from all quarters 
of our country, thereby stimulating more exten¬ 
sive cultivation by the concentrated infc rmation 
and experience of cultivators, and aiding the So¬ 
ciety in perfecting its Catalogue of Fruits. This 
Catalogue includes fifty States and Territories, 
most of which have their columns filled with a 
great amonut of information as to the fruit 
adapted for culture in the respective locations. 
Many of these are yet incomplete : and it is tbe 
object of the Society, from year to year, to fill 
the blanks, and bring its Catalogue nearer to 
perfection. To accomplish this object as fully 
as possible, the Chairman of the General Fruit 
Committee, P. Barry, Esq., Rochester, N. Y., 
will send out the usual circulars of inquiry; and 
it is desirable that these inquiries should be an¬ 
swered at an early day. The various State and 
Local Committees are urged to respond to the 
circulars as soon as practicable. 
The eomiug session will derive a special inter¬ 
est from its location m the midst of the great 
fruit-growing region of the Atlantic coast, and 
also from the fact that it is the first meeting 
held since the expiration of the first century of 
our national history. It is desired, in this con¬ 
nection, that the Vice-Presidents of the several 
States. I erritories, and Provinces, should furnish 
or procure, fts far as possible, short historical 
sketches of the rise and progress of fruit-culture 
iu their respective districts, from then - settle¬ 
ment up to the year 1876, to the end that the 
forthcoming report may give a complete view - of 
the pomological history of the various parts of 
the country. State and local Horticultural So¬ 
cieties are respectfully requested to co-operate 
and aid in this work. 
Arrangements will be made with hotels, and, 
as far as possible, with the various railroad lines 
terminating in Baltimore, for a reduction of 
fare. Wherever possible, it would be best that 
such arrangements should be made by the 
various delegations with roads m their localities, 
as rates made by Baltimore roads will apply 
only to tbeir lines. 
Members, delegates, and societies are requested 
to contribute collections of the fruits of tlieir re¬ 
spective districts, and to comnmnieaie iu regard 
to them whatever may aid in promoting the ob¬ 
jects of the Society and the science of American 
Pomology. Each contributor is requested to 
prepare a complete list of his collection, and to 
present the same with liis fruits, that a report 
of all the varieties entered may be submitted to 
the meeting as early as practicable. By vote of 
the Society, no money premiums will be offered ; 
but a limited number ot Wilder Medals will be 
awarded to meritorious objects. 
At the same time, from Sept. 11 to 14 inclusive, 
EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENTS’ 
• LETTERS. 
From Texas 
It is my opinion that the Hor- 
j ticultural department of the paper is better than 
ever it has been before—at least as long as I 
! have been acquainted with it, uud 1 have four¬ 
teen volumes on file. In fact, the whole paper, 
in my opinion, has greatly improved under the 
new management. Tbe editorials are well chosen. 
I see you are striving your very best to awaken 
general interest in horticulture, and I do not 
doubt but you will suoceed. Your tree and shrub 
election scheme is a good one. 
You ask me to give you uotesof my experience 
iu fruit and floriculture in Texas. I will do so 
willingly, if you think I can offer anything of 
general interest. But as i once stated to you 
before, I am no hand at writiug and know better 
how to U6e the spade aud plow than the pen. 
My vocation is that of a gardener though, hav¬ 
ing only a limited place within the city lines, 1 
try to grow everything that I am able to grow. 
Besides a small experimental vineyard of about 
1,000 plants, 1 have a variety of fruit trees, con¬ 
sisting of Pears, Apples, Plums, Figs, Oranges, 
Lemons. Spare moments I devote to my hobby, 
the flowers, in the cultivation of which 1 am gen¬ 
erally complimented as an expert. I have been 
for some time back very sanguine as to fruit-cult¬ 
ure, such as Apples aud Pears; but the more I 
have dabbled and experimented, tbe more I am 
convinced that this part of the country is entirely 
unfit for this branch of horticulture. Some va¬ 
rieties of Grapes promise well—others are en¬ 
tirely worthless. Among foreign Grapes, there 
is, as far as I am acquainted, only one that holds 
its own. This seems to be entirely naturalized 
here and beats, iu its productiveness and power 
of repelling disease, any of the natives. Thou¬ 
sands of cuttings of this variety have been ex¬ 
ported to France tins winter where, it is said, it 
originally came from, but where it degenerated 
and died out. It would be worth a trial in your 
section of the country. It belongs to the Bur¬ 
gundy class. Berries black, strong bloom- 
bunches large, long, Bhouldered and branched ; 
akin very thin, no pulp, very juicy; taste very 
sweet—in fact, the saccb&riuo matter is too con- 
ktg. 2. 
the edge, and attached to a stick (an old hoe 
handle will answer). If inserted in a slit made 
with a coarse saw and held in place by a rivet, it 
revolves easily. Run it half round the hill iu 
one direction, then as far in the other, aud it is 
done ; you can cut as close to a hill or as distant 
from it as you like. It may also be used for cut¬ 
ting sods in squares, preparatory to being cut 
loose at the bottom with a shovel. 
L. D. Snook. 
A FEW DESIRABLE TREES, SHRUBS, AND 
VINES. 
BY T. O. MAXWELL & BROS. 
Golden Oak (Querents concordia). —Among 
the introductions of late years to the department 
of deciduous ornamentals iu this country, this 
tree aud its coutrast, Quercus purpurea, deserv¬ 
edly take the front rank. Nothing can exceed 
the beauty of its deep-green leaves, richly shaded 
with golden yellow. It is entirely hardy, a rapid 
grower, finely outlined in form. 
PURPLE Oak (Quercus purpurea ).—Equally 
striking and valuable with the above, but iu 
marked contrast in foliage, having leaves of u 
deep, rich purple, which possess the rare merit 
of holding their color well through the season. 
In contrast with the Golden its qualities are most 
admirably presented. It is perfectly hardy, with 
growth scarcely so rapid as the Golden, but pre¬ 
serving uniform proportions. 
WiEirs Gut-leaved Maple.—A variety of the 
Silver-leaved Maple introduced about four years 
ago. Foliage remarkably dissected, growth 
rapid, with sleuder, drooping shoots, giving it a 
very graceful and pleasing appearance on the 
lawn. It is also very desirable for street-plant¬ 
ing. 
Purple-leaved Beech. -One of the best of 
tbe purple-leaved trees, having foliage remark¬ 
ably deep and rich, changing somewhat to a 
greenish-purple to ward autumn. Like all of this 
class, it presents a striking coutrast with trees of 
lighter foliage. 
Paul’s New- Double Thorn.—T he best of its 
