40 
is very little variety throughout the family, pure 
white and shades of yellow being tho only colors 
found. 
In making a selection of Narcissus for the gar¬ 
den, a dozen good varieties will be sufficient for 
quite all of our American amateurs ; yet they 
will find described in alt the floral catalogues, 
from thirty varieties upwards, which they may 
be induced to think necessary to a grand display. 
This mistake must, not bo committed, for if the 
uninitiated were to get suoh a collection, they 
would find three or four without apparent dif¬ 
ference, and disappointment would follow. 
But whatever kinds are selected they will cer¬ 
tainly be of easy culture and perfectly hardy; 
and what is far more to the point—very, very 
handsome. 
The Polyanthus Narcissus are the palm-bear¬ 
ers of the family and those to which we would 
invite speoial attention. They are better adapted 
for culture in pots and dishes of water than the 
others, a point that should not bo forgotten. 
Unlike other Narcissus which only bear one to 
two flowers on a single stem, these produce from 
ten to twenty on a stem from each bulb. When 
desired for house culture in water or pots treat 
as you would Hyacinths, and they will repay 
you ten-fold for your trouble. 
Of the Polyanthus Narcissus possessing spe¬ 
cial merits, we would mention the Golden Eagle, 
a handsome yellow flower, for a brilliant golden 
yellow. Grand Soieil d' Or, a pure white color, 
Bouquet sans-pareil and White Pearl. 
Of the single Narcissus of special merit the 
Poeticus takes the lead, thau which nothing can 
be purer or more beautiful. Close to it we find 
Incomparable and Moachatus. Of the double 
varieties Poeticus flore pleno, Phoenix and Pu- 
milus are extremely fine. 
In cultivating, plant in light, rich loam ; set 
bulbs three inohea deep ; when once planted do 
not disturb for three or four years, as they will 
then flower much strouger. 
El Dorado, Cal. 
leans Champion is in every respect an Isabella 
only some two weeks earlier, and a very good 
grape. 
Now, I hope some of your correspondents may 
be able to clear up this matter. And the grape 
which first received the name of Early Champion 
should be entitled to retain it: while the others 
if worthy of name or perpetuation, should be re¬ 
named, and all left to stand upon their own 
merits. 
Delaware, Ohio. 
of the roots, though some of them had consider¬ 
able of the warty appearance which is evidence 
of the presence of the lice. In fact, it appeared 
that, as a rule, the most rotting ocourred where 
the vines were of rankest growth, and no phyl¬ 
loxera were discoverable on one-half of the vines 
which suffered badly from rot, while some which 
had phylloxera did not have any rot. 
Prof. Cook was present, and gave an interest¬ 
ing lecture on phylloxera, with illustrations. He 
also stated that he found in the vineyard at 
Grosse Isle, an almost total failure of the crop 
from the rot, and the phylloxera on the roots of 
the vineB so in proportion to the rotting of the 
fruit, as to convince him that the insects were 
the chief cause of the disease ; though it might 
be that wet weather and the lack of perfect 
drainage, bad something to do with it- 
Reference was made to the records of the sea¬ 
sons, as made by Mr. Huntington of Kelley’s 
Island, years ago, and his conclusions there¬ 
from, as stated in the Rural New-Yorker of 
Nov. 24, that the rot invariably followed much 
rainfall in June, while a dry June caused ex¬ 
emption from the disease. Some remarks were 
made confirmatory of this theory, and a decided 
majority of the grape growers present seemed 
agreed in the opinion that wet weather was the 
chief cause of rot, and that phylloxera had little 
to do with it. 
Mr. G. W. Campbell read an interesting essay 
on new varieties of grapes, and their ability to 
withstand diseases and insects. In speaking of 
phylloxera, he said he thought this insect was 
doing more harm in many cases than people 
supposed, and that by weakening the health of 
the vines, mildew and rot might be induced. He 
imagiued that the rot, as well as mildew, was 
caused by a parasitio fungus, the spores of 
which were floating in the air aud vegetate when 
resting on the foliage or fruit, whenever the at¬ 
mosphere was in the right state as to warmth 
and moisture. He was convinced that sulphur 
was an effective remedy or preventive of mil¬ 
dew when applied sufficiently early and ofteu ; 
and he had beeu told that some vineyardists had 
found it beneficial in lessening the amount of 
rot. Bnt on the whole, he said, he was iu a hot¬ 
ter condition to receive information thau to im¬ 
part it, on these perplexing topics. 
Much of the failure of the grape crop in Cen¬ 
tral and Southern Ohio, the past season, was 
owing to the injury done to the vines by tho cold 
weather in March, following a mild February. 
As similar damage is often done by the winters 
in this aud more northern climates, tho advice 
was given to prune the vines in autumn and then 
bend them down to the grouud, covering with a 
little earth to bold them in place for the winter. 
It was also recommended that young vines he 
planted where old ones show disease, and that 
tho driest locations be selected, or very thorough 
drainage given. 
Palnesvllle, O. 
Rural ladies. I will give a list of the different 
varieties we have: 
Phlox (mixed), Portulaca (single), Marvel of 
Peru (red and yellow), Balloon Vine, Cacalia, 
Calliopsis, Antirrhinum, Acroclinium. Would 
like in exchangeVerbena, Petunia, Gourds, 
Dianthus, Oatcbfly, Chinese Primrose, Bouquet 
Aster, Ten-Week Stock. 
Please accept our thanks for the seeds yon 
sent. We were much pleased with them. 
Box 2, Union Springs, Cayuga Co., N. Y 
CATALOGUES, &c., RECEIVED 
E. Moonv & Sons. Lockport, N. Y. Semi- 
Annual Wholesale Trade List of the Niagara 
Nurseries, for Spring of ’78. 
They call special attention to the fact that 
their stock of standard pear and apple trees is 
unusually heavy. 
THE NEW ‘‘TUTTLE” KNITTER 
This machine as shown in the illustrations 
here given explains its peculiarity and its points 
of difference from the ordinary circular knitters. 
THE GRAPE PROBLEMS IN OHIO 
M. B. BATEHAM, 
As it was generally known that the subject of 
grape diseases and phylloxera would be pretty 
fully discussed at the meeting of our State Hor¬ 
ticultural Society the past month, a number of 
vineyardists iu various States have written me, 
desiring to be informed as to any new facts of 
interest on those topics, which may have been 
elicited at the meeting. Among these letters is 
onefromthe Consul-general of Germany residing 
at New York, referring to the grave importance 
of the phylloxera question to his natiou, and the 
desire of the vineyardists to learn more about 
the ability of American vines to withstand the 
ravages of the root-lice. 
An interesting letter was also read at our 
meeting, from Dr. G. L. Austin, now a resident 
of Cambridge, Mass,, who has spent nearly five 
years among the vineyards of Germany and 
France, and two in California where his father- 
in-law has been for many years, the owner of a 
large and prosperous vineyard. This letter was 
not written for publication, but I trust I shall 
be pardoned for giving the following portion, on 
“ Phylloxera in Europe 
11 A year ago, this fall, I was among the vine¬ 
yards of the Ouarontes, in France, and in com¬ 
pany with M. Boiteau, made a pretty thorough 
examination of the devastation there going on. 
Since then, M. Boiteau has written a masterly 
brochure on the subject, in which he takos the 
theory that I am prone to accept, that in France 
at least, over-cropping and neglect of the soil 
have contributed in no small degree to the pres¬ 
ent state of things. In tho district where wo 
were, 310 millions of gallons of wine were pro¬ 
duced in 1875, and yet the groat majority (seven- 
eigfiths) of these vineyards have never had a 
cent’s worth of manure for upwards of a decade 
of years. The ground was full of old aud de¬ 
cayed roots, and where the oidiurn had been the 
most prevalent, there was found to be the great¬ 
est degree of injury by the phylloxera. 
“ The baneful results of the insidious work¬ 
ings of the inseot, were most noticeable in the 
month of September, for then the struggle which 
through the summer had been waged between 
the vine and the phylloxera, seems to end in a 
complete victory for the latter; and on a sudden 
the vegetation stops, the leaves curl up, and the 
vine is as dead as if the stem had been cut off 
from the roots. 
“I learn by a letter recently received from M. 
P. A. Magnen of La Grande Marque of Cognao, 
that at the present time, public opinion among 
the French vignerous is divided—some advising 
tho importation of American native vines as 
stocks on which to engraft European varieties, 
while ethers oppose such practice, and claim 
that the phylloxera was brought to France on 
vines imported from America, The subject is a 
very interesting one, and I propose to publish an 
article on it, with illustrations, prepared for me 
in Franoe, iu an early number of the Popular 
Science Monthly." 
There w ere quite a number of Ohio vineyard- 
ists present at our meeting, aud in accordance 
with the request of the Secretary, they had made 
particular examination of the roots of the vines, 
especially whore rotting or mildew had occurred 
the past summer, to see how generally, if at all, 
tho phylloxera were present, and whether there 
was any evidence that the insects were the cause 
of disease, as hail been suggested by Professor 
Cook. 
The reports given showed that iu many parts 
of Ohio, as elsewhere, much injury had been 
done by the rot aud some by mildew, as usual; 
and it was also shown that the phylloxera was 
more generally present in our vineyards than 
had been supposed, but rarely bo abundant as to 
seemingly affect the growth and vigor of the 
vines; nor could large numbers be found on any 
ANNUALS, 
BY WILLIAM FALCONER, 
No country in the world is richer in beautiful 
annuals than is the United States, west of the 
Mississippi, notably California and Texas. In 
the Eastern States our snpply is somewhat 
limited, but once in possession of seeds of tlio 
Western species, it is our own fault if we ever 
afterwards be without them. They are admir¬ 
ably adapted for cultivation in our gardens, as 
they grow readily, bloom freely and persistently 
—at least moat of those I mention do and ripen 
seeds in quantity—some species like Leptosipbon 
androsaceus—a pretty little Californian animal, 
last in beauty but a short time, while Drum¬ 
mond Phlox, Esch8choltzia Californica, Gaura 
Lindbeimeri, Cbrysopsis pilosa, and Gaillardia 
Amblyodon, bloom uninterruptedly throughout 
the summer and autumn. Colhnsias and Nerno- 
philas are prettiest in spring and early summer, 
and Eryuginm Leavenworthii, Aster tanaceti- 
folius, and Amblyodon setigera. are in greatest 
perfection during fall. 
Many sorts as Coreopsis, Eschscholtzia and 
Euphorbia hexagona aud margins,ta, are so 
hardy as to ” self-sow ” themselves freely; 
but it is a neater and better method to gather 
the seeds and sow them when and where re¬ 
quired. 
Nemophila insignis and maculata, Collinsia 
bicolor, Whitlavia grandiflora, Clarkias, Lupinus 
nanus aud densifiorus, aud such like California 
annuals grow stronger and stubbier, live longer, 
and bloom more substantially and lavishly, if 
they be sowu in the fall, September or early 
October, rather than in the spring. So far 
north as New England it is better to sow in a 
cold flame than in the open garden, and get the 
seedlings nice and stubby before severe weather 
sets in. Iu winter cover up a little and transfer 
to the open ground next spring. Over-crowding 
is extremely hurtful to annuals, it chokes them, 
spindles them, kills the half of them, and cur¬ 
tails the continuity of those that are left. 
Therefore, thin rigidly and timely, that is, when 
the seedlings are very young. For fall-sowing 
light nnmauured ground gives the seedlings the 
hardiest constitution, but for spring-sowings 
rich soil is preferable. 
Besides true annualB I have included a few 
plants, as Eschscholtzia and Gaura Lindbeimeri 
that are perennials bnt best treated as annuals 
or biennials, in our northern gardens. Besides 
those already mentioned, the following are 
worthy of nqtice : 
Callirhoe pedata; Cassia Chamiecrista, Part¬ 
ridge Pea; Centaurea Americana, Texas Star 
Thistle; C. A. var. Hallii; Euoharidium con- 
cinnum; Gilia corouopifolia, Cypress Gilia; 
Godetia grandiflora; Limnanthes Douglassi; 
Yesicaria gracilis. 
Fio. 1. 
The machine has one perpendicular needle 
cylinder, used as a base, into which is intro¬ 
duced a conical needle cylinder held in position, 
so that by the rotation of the perpendicular 
cylinder, the needlos in the cone cylinder are 
made to cross these in the straight cylinder 
while both are knitting, thoreby producing a 
band-rib stitch. This cone cylinder, when intro¬ 
duced into the perpendicular cylinder, is supplied 
with needles (being self-operating) taken from 
tho perpendicular cylinder without removing 
the stitch from the same, thus turning the out¬ 
side stitch which was knit on the perpendicular 
cylinder on to the inside of the work, precisely 
as in hand knitting. The inside or conical 
oylinder is so arranged that no more rib stitches 
are made than are desired ; for Distance, if it is 
required to kuit just a few rib or seam stitches 
on the instep of the stocking, this can be done 
and the machine immediately changed back to 
plain work at the will of tho operator. 
THE EARLY CHAMPION GRAPE, 
WHAT, AND WHERE IS IT 
G. W. CAMPBELL, 
I have reason to believe there are three or 
more grapes which have been introduced to the 
public under the above name, and the object of 
the present inquiry is to find out, if possible, 
which of them is entitled to it; and which, if 
any of them, are worthy of general cultivation. 
The first grape bearing the name of Cham¬ 
pion, that I remember to have seen, was at one 
of the meetings of the American Pomological 
Society, several years ago, at Rochester. This 
was, however, a red grapo, but so coarse and 
foxy in character that I regarded it as of no 
value, and I think it has never found a place in 
the catalogue of any prominent viue-grower. 
Another, a black grape, said to have originated in 
Western New York, called Talman, or Tolmau's 
Seedling, closely resembling Hartford Prolific, 
but ripening a week earlier, is also catalogued 
as Early Champion ; but which name it properly 
bears I cannot find out. Now comes another 
Champion, or Early Champion, claimed to be 
distinct from the above, sent out by R. J. Don¬ 
nelly of Rochester, N. Y., and said to ripen two 
weeks earlier than the Tolrnan Champion. One 
would think this was enough in the Early Cham¬ 
pion line ; but I find there is still another from 
New Orleans, La., reports about which Beem 
very much “mixed.” President Wilder, at 
the session of the American Pomological Society 
held in Boston, in 1873, inquired about the 
“ Early Champion,” which he found earlier than 
any other grape, and with little pulp; but did 
not know whence it came. Dr. Bwasey replied 
that a grape called Early Champion originating 
iu New Orleans, was fifteen days earlier thau the 
Hartford, and one of the boat grapes in cultiva¬ 
tion. Mr. Samuel Miller says he prooured 
this New Orleans Champion, and has fruited it; 
and others in Missouri have done the same, but 
all find it so nearly like Ives' Seedling as to be 
undistinguishable from that variety. On the 
contrary Mr Garber of Pa., says this New Or- 
Fig. 2. 
The usual mode of knitting rib top hosiery on 
this machine is to remove every other uoedle (or 
as many as desired) from tho outside or perpen¬ 
dicular cylinder and place them iu the oouical 
cylinder and knit as far as may be required for 
the top of the stocking, aud then change or re¬ 
turn the needles from the conical to the perpen¬ 
dicular cylinder swing the cone out of work and 
go on with the plain stitch for the leg. When 
SEED EXCHANGE, 
My sister and I have a few flower seeds that 
we should like to exchange with some of the 
