Duncan, upon a single year's trial, shows very 
useful qualities as an amateur variety, for which 
purpose its earliness, high quality and large 
size are more important than ability to with¬ 
stand rough treatment. 
|! Early Hudson, with three years’ trial, has 
shown fine qualities as a market variety. The 
plant is strong and healthy, bears the sun well, 
and is very productive. The fruit is large, even¬ 
sized, well colored, firm, and of fair quality. 
Exoelsiob, upon a single year’s experience, 
gives evidence of value of no mean order. I 
doubt its adaptability to market uses; but for 
the home plat, I am impressed with the idea 
that it is worthy of a place at the front, since it 
combines mild, rioh flavor with good size and 
fine appearance. 
French is a vigorous and prolific variety of 
fair quality, of fine size and appearance, but 
lacking in firmness. 
Frontenac is understood to be a descendant 
from Russell’s Prolific, under the hand of the 
originator of that variety—the late Harvey Rus¬ 
sell. The plant is vigorous, and the few speci¬ 
mens of fruit from plants of last spring’s set¬ 
ting, give indications of good size and quality. 
The flowers are pistillate--a fact which militates 
agaiust its prospective value. I am not aware 
whether or not it is yet offered for sale. 
Golden Defiance is a fine late berry which, 
a few years since, would doubtless have attract¬ 
ed considerable attention; but the avalanche of 
new and wonderful sorts at the present time 
urged upon the attention of the public, seems 
likely to leave this in the background. 
Grace is clearly only an amateur variety. 
Although the quality is good, the plant lacks 
vigor. So far as I have been able to observe it, 
it shows but faint signs of being able to make 
its way to the popular favor. 
Great American has done almost nothing 
with me this season; but, as I hear the same 
oomplaint from localities in which it has hereto¬ 
fore proved successful, I await further experi¬ 
ence, supposing that with me, as elsewhere, its 
ill-sucoess may be due to an unfavorable 
season. 
Late Prolific was received by me without any 
qualifying designation. There are so many 
Prolifics that 1 am in doubt whether or not it is 
identical with any one of those favored with a 
prefix. I suspect that it has too many competi¬ 
tors for popular favor to be able to win its way 
to a prominent position. 
Major McMahon, as grown in light soil, 
Beems to lack vigor, and the stemB are short, 
leaving the fruit directly upon the ground—a 
serious fault; but it is so productive, and the 
fruit is of such fine size and quality, and is so 
abandant, also, that I regard it as a variety of 
much promise. For a near market it seems to 
be firm enough to endure the requisite handling. 
Matilda is muoh after tho style of Early Hud¬ 
son, and, like it, possesses valuable qualities as 
a market variety. 
Monarch of the West has now been gene¬ 
rally tested in this region, and has acquired ex¬ 
tensive popularity. Although somewhat elon¬ 
gated in form, and liable to the charge of some¬ 
times coloring imperfectly at the tip, its firmness, 
good quality and large size, together with the 
vigor and productiveness of the plant and its 
oapacity to adapt itself to both light and heavy 
soils, supply an array of recommendations that 
seem quite likely to place it in the front rank as 
a variety suitable for both market and homo use. 
Romeyn’s Seedling possesses qualities, both 
of plant and fruit, very similar to Champion, to 
which it is nearly or quite equal in productive¬ 
ness. It is, however, considerably more acid 
than that variety and perhaps somewhat less 
firm. 
Russell’s Advance iB also said to be the re¬ 
sult of a cross, under the hand of the late Harvey 
Russell, between the old Russell’s Prolific and 
Triomphe do Gaud. My plants were put out 
only last spring, and, allowing for this fact, the 
little fruit the plants have been allowed to bear, 
impress me favorably with the variety. It is 
hermaphrodite. 
Seneca Chief was, so far as I am informed, 
first disseminated by parties at Kalamazoo, 
Michigan, jointly with the America, and is said 
to have originated from the same source. It is 
somewhat popular here as a lato market sort; 
for which purpose the vigor of the plant, and 
its great productiveness, together with the 
Bize, color, quality and firmness of the fruit, 
especially adapt it. So far as I have observed, 
it is at home iu both light and heavy soils, al¬ 
though the finest crops I have known have been 
grown upon the latter. 
Seneca Queen iB yet another result of Mr. 
Russell’s cross of the Russell’s Prolific with 
Triomphe de Gand, and is equally vigorous and 
promising. The quality of the fruit is good; 
but we need at least another year's experience 
with it, to warrant a conclusion from personal 
observation as to its probable value. 
Springdale is, to my apprehension, promis¬ 
ing as an amateur variety, for which purpose it 
possesses special qualities ; but farther trial is 
requisite to determine its measure of success 
here. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
Star of the West is entitled to further trial. 
So far, my experience with it, in an unfavora¬ 
ble season, fails to warrant the commendations 
bestowed upon it in other localities. 
Sterling, alBO, is yet too recent an introduc¬ 
tion to have fully shown its qualities with me. 
Unless large allowance be made for the unfa¬ 
vorable character of the past season, I must 
assume that this, too, has been over-praised, or 
otherwise that our soils or climate are not to its 
liking. 
Marvin. —A few days since a gentleman of 
this name, residing in Clinton County, Michigan, 
called on me with specimens of several varieties 
of strawberries preserved in liquid. Among 
them was one originating with him, which was 
of such fine size, and even in its preserved state, 
gave such decided indications of valuable quali¬ 
ties that, at my request, he Bent me a few plants 
for trial, together with a history of its origin, 
from which I extract as follows : 
In the spring of 1874. this seedling, among 
others, came up where a box of berrieB—either 
Wilsons or Jucrindas—had, the year before, been 
spilled. The parent plant fruited in 1875- The 
fruit was larger and finer in 1876, and proved to 
be very late. In 1877 and 1878 it produced well 
and attracted great attention. Tho berry com¬ 
bines the qualities of the two supposed parents 
above named, and is, in some respects, an im¬ 
provement on both. It resembles the Wilson 
in its bearing and shipping qualities, and holds 
its size through the season better. 
Mr. Marvin says in conclusion : “ It is : 1st, 
The largest in average size of any berry that 
grows ; 2nd, It will bear more berries, in num¬ 
ber, than any of the large varieties; 3d, It is the 
latest berry grown ; 4th, It is as desirable for 
shipping as any known ; 5th, It is very fine- 
flavored, and tho plant is a luxuriant grower.” 
I suppress tho full address of the originator to 
save him unnecessary correspondence, as I am 
given to understand that, at least at present, be 
has no plants to be disposed of. I am promised 
next year, specimens of the fruit in its season, 
when I may take occasion to speak of it from 
personal observation. 
-- 
THE IDEAL STRAWBERRY. 
From a private letter from Secretary Gar¬ 
field, we take the liberty of extracting the 
following—forcible as it seems to us—remarks : 
“I wish the men who are at work improving 
the strawberry would have an ideal berry in 
view, and work toward perfection iu something 
better than mere Bize. For the home or family 
use we need not look very much to the firmness 
of the berry ; but we want fair size and the best 
quality we can secure iu the fruit, and to this 
should be added a comeliness of form and bight 
of color that will attract the eye of an artist. 
The newer berries are lauded principally for 
their size, as if this were the main considera¬ 
tion. I like size ; but when quality is sacrificed, 
magnitude is below par. The strawberry is a 
luxury, and I believe in combiuing in it as many 
good qualities that please the senses as we cau 
get. 1 get just as much eye satisfaction out of 
a fruit as out of a flower. The other day I 
found, in Mr. Parmeloe’s orchard at Old Mis¬ 
sion, the most beautiful specimens of Red 
Aetracban apples that I over saw. I brought 
them home and placed them on the mantle shelf. 
They were as delicious as they were beautiful, 
and I was laughed at by my family for leaving 
them until past prime for eating. Bnt I had 
greater pleasure in the lengthened eye-satisfac¬ 
tion than I would have enjoyed in gratifying tlie 
taste. So in strawberries: it seems to me in 
many of the newer sorts we have neglected the 
real eleaients of beauty, in getting size simply, 
or flavor simply. 
One point more is not thought enough about, 
and that is, *• What constitutes the best flavor ?" 
Almost all will bit upon the same form as the 
ideal, but just what gives the beat flavor is not 
thought about so much. My own impression is 
that the acid of the strawberry is not given 
enongh credit. People make wry faces and cry 
“ sour berries!” when the sour in a well ripened 
berry gives it the tone. The fact is that the 
firm berries are those which are the longest 
ripening throughout the mass, and the market 
berries are decried as sour when they are simply 
green and not modified by perfect ripening. 
Grand Rapids, Mich., Aug. 30,1878. 
g,rboricElturaI, 
ARRANGEMENTS OF SINGLE TREES. 
Single trees or shrubs are the great sources 
of variety in a garden or lawn where the sur¬ 
face is flat and without any other objects of 
note, and, moreover, they are, when judiciously 
disposed, valuable additions to a surface natu¬ 
rally varied by undulations. The great art in 
patting down single trees, is to dispose them so 
as to form groups when Been from a distance, 
and yet so as to produce variety on every change 
of position of the spectator when near. To 
plant them thus judiciously requires much 
thought and attention, and in cases where the 
finest ^results attainable are desired, an ex¬ 
perienced landscape gardener should he con¬ 
sulted. 
The kinds of trees and shrubs thus employed 
may be varied at pleasure, provided some atten¬ 
tion be paid to tho general effect intended to be 
produced, and to the prevalence of one general 
form or character or disposition of trees or 
shrubs in one place. ThuB, if conical trees be 
distributed equally, or injudiciously, over the 
grounds, along with round headed trees, they 
will produce great sameness; but if conical 
trees prevail in one place, drooping or weeping 
trees in another, ronnd-headed trees in a third, 
and low-spreading varieties occupy another 
site, many distinct characters will be produc¬ 
ed, and this will be ranch more interesting to 
the beholder than one continuous group of 
mixed trees of various habits. The same 
general rules apply with equal force to orna¬ 
mental shrubs. 
In planting single trees, care should be had 
to the proper soil: they should always be plant¬ 
ed in prepared soil raised in heaps, a foot or 
more above the general surface, so that after a 
year or two, when the earth has settled, as it 
will to a certain degree, the tree may stand on a 
little hillock. The trees, before planting, should 
be ten or twelve feet in hight, with trunks three 
or four inches in diameter at the surface of the 
ground. W. 0. L. Drew. 
El Dorado, Cal. 
®jj£ |)oultrj) garb. 
POULTRY BREEDING-No. 5. 
A. M. VAN ATTKEN. 
CHICKEN COOPS. 
Next in order is a description of a chicken 
coop, and, Bince while describing only my own, 
some might accuse me of plagiarism, I will copy 
H. H. Stoddard’s description and avoid all risk. 
“ A chicken coop must be adapted to warm 
and cold weather, and especially to rains, be 
easily cleaned and made rat-proof, nights. 
The old-fashioned triangular pattern secures 
all this, and also gives the small chickens a 
chance to escape uuder the eaves from the feet 
of the hens. The size proper to accommo¬ 
date a double brood is 2J^x3>^ feet upon the 
ground, with roof three feet from oaves to 
peak. A bit of scantling is fastened to each 
roof for a handle. The door is hinged to open 
upwards. There is at the rear a small door that 
will allow chickens to pass but not grown fowls. 
An opeuiug for ventilation is made near (he 
peak, and covered with wire cloth. Take inch 
boards, nail them Btrougly, planed side up, to 
the oleats, and clinch. Let each end of both 
cleats project three inches, and the outside edge 
of each, two inches. This is the movable floor, 
and must be of such size that the coop shall rest 
entirely on the cleats. Then, when the doors 
are closed, all rain is shed outside of the floor. 
When the doors are closed at night, leave the 
large one ajar, half an inch to an inch accord¬ 
ing to the weather, for the admission of air, and 
fasten it with wooden pegs stuck in holes in 
cleats—a precaution that will make the coop 
rat-proof. 
“Once a week, after opening the small door 
and letting the chickens out, slide the coop 
slowly, lengthwise of tho cleats, out of the way; 
then scrape the floor thoroughly and give a 
sboveful of dry dirt, and replace it. 
“ When the hens are removed from the 
chickens, the latter huddle together on the floor 
for some weeks; but when old enough to peroh, 
the box is placed upon the movable floor and the 
coop placed upon the top of tho whole—the box 
beiug of such size that the sides aud eaves of the 
ooop overlap sufficiently to shed rain. The box 
has two perches permanently fasteued to it. 
This roost is perfectly rat-proof, and a bushel 
or so of dry dirt keeps it clean." 
I also prefer to haye. iu addition to Mr. Stod¬ 
dard’s “flxins,” a small door near the peak of 
the ooop, on the back side, for reasons shown 
hereafter. Ab to 
FEEDING CHICKENS, 
my plan is not so complete aB others, but as it 
raises tine chickens, I am satisfied. When first 
taken from the nest, I feed the yelk of hard- 
boiled eggs, chopped fine, one egg for each ten 
chickens, at each of the three times they are fed 
every day. For four days this feed is kopt up; 
then I feed scalded corn-meal or boiled potatoes, 
with corn aud oatmeal ruaBhed with them while 
hot. 
For a drink, I give the chicks skim-milk, if I 
can get it, and if not, pure water. For the first 
week the chickens are fed in dishes on tho floor 
of the coop; after that their feed is plaeed away 
from the ooop, and on rainy days I use the box, 
with some loose boards over it, to feed iu. The 
feed and water for tho hens are put iu cups 
bung to the ooop, out of tho reaoh of the 
chickens. I feed my chickens three times a day 
till they aro ten or twelve weeks old, after that 
only twioe. 
I never separate the sexes, for I sell off the 
cockerels as soon as they are large enough to 
make broilers, and they do no harm before that; 
those I wish to keep I put somewhere by them¬ 
selves as soon as they begin to make trouble. 
SEPT. 44 
For lice, I put a drop of oil on the head of each 
chicken when taken from the nest; and, when 
they are older, if one appears badly off or poor, 
I catob it and put some kerosene on its head 
and under its wings. To prevent gapes, I al¬ 
ways give fresh water or skim-milk, and the ail¬ 
ment is unknown here. Cholera I never had a 
oase of, for by keeping a few rusty nails in the 
water. I think it is kept off. The iron iu the 
water also gives the Brahmas more strength of 
bone, which their large bodies require, and I 
have but few fowls going aronud on their sec¬ 
ond joints in the fall. By this plan of feeding 
aud of shutting up my chickens at night, I do 
not lose one chick in twenty of those batched. 
-■—»■»■»■-- 
Poultry Record. —The following is my egg 
record from March 1st, 1878, to September 1st: 
Number of hens, 44: breed, White Leghorn, a 
few crossed with Light Brahma to sit. Their 
feed consisted of three quarts of buckwheat; 
corn, or oats, twice a day, from March 1st to 
May 1st. From that time on two quarts once a 
day, with old plaster and running water at 
hand, and an unlimited range for foraging, 
which they have taken advantage of. My f owls 
are not poor on this fare, but would make a 
presentable appearance if dressed for market. 
Probable cost of feed, 88. Eggs, sold 227 doz., 
eggs used in family, 74 dozen; eggs set, 1% 
dozen, total, 308}£ dozen. Proceeds of eggs at 
II cents per dozen, less feed, $25.94. 
I have tried other breeds, but consider the 
Leghorn the model fowl for the farmer. I have 
hatched chicks from other breeds, the present 
season, bnt lost them all from disease, which the 
Leghorns only wore able to withstand. Their 
only faults I have found are the requirement of 
warm quarters in winter, in order to produce 
eggs plentifully, and their liability to do damage 
in gardens, grain fields, etc. If any one can 
beat this on tho same care and feed, let’s hear 
from him. Anon. 
Ithaca, N. Y. 
WHAT OTHERS SAY. 
Dis-horned Cattle. —In the London Agricul¬ 
tural Gazette, Mr. J. J. Mechi says that he pur¬ 
chased two lota of theso animals, supposing 
them to be home-bred polled cattle, and every 
farmer who saw them concluded they were so ; 
but ono day au Aberdeen farmer of 800 acres, 
who fattens 260 cattle annually, said that they 
were Irish, and their horus had been removed, 
and that it was a common Irish practice to re¬ 
move the horns from their well bred cattle in¬ 
tended for the English markets. He also said 
that as an extensive buyer of Irish cattlo, if they 
came to him horned, he removed the horns, find¬ 
ing it advantageous to do so; and Mr. Mechi 
quite agrees with him; for, unlike the Irish cattle 
generally, he finds them quiet, good-tempered, 
and good doers. He saw that a dealer was heav¬ 
ily fined for cruelty iu removing the horns, and 
asks would not this rule apply to castration and 
cropping of tails from sheep ? The matter, he 
thinks, requires ventilation. The absence of 
horns is certainly a considerable advantage to 
agriculturists. 
Gardens and Gardening— “ I am extremely 
desirous," sayH the ex-Premier of England, Mr. 
Gladstone, in his recent speech, " that this pur¬ 
suit should be propagated and extended among 
you. I love it for its own sake ; it is delightful 
to see the country smiling with cottage gardens; 
it gladdens the eye and it gladdens tbe heart. 
Unfortunately, a great many of onr modern 
pursuits teud to make this earth, w hich God has 
made so beautiful, abominable and ugly. Now, 
a garden, besides beiug beautiful itself, is a sign, 
a symbol of good habits; for example, iu tbe 
first place, those who keep their gardens tidy and 
nice will try to have their houses tidy aud uiee ; 
and if a house be poor, much depends upon those 
who inhabit it, for a poor house inhabited by a 
tidy woman is often more eligible than a supe¬ 
rior one inhabited by ono who is not tidy. You 
know how important it iB that a house and 
everything about it should be tidy—how muoh 
it has to do with tho peace and comfort of a 
family." 
In behalf of Horses. —Mr. Craudoll says, in 
his department of the Weekly Tribune, that a 
horse-owner, favorably circumstanced, may save 
bushels of oats nowadays, aud a goodly Per¬ 
centage ou tbe blaoksratih’s bill, by making the 
stable dark so that the flies do not torment the 
horses. If the stable has blinds which can be 
readily closed in tbe daytime, well; if not, cloths 
huug up before the windows, which would shut 
out the suulight, would answer as a substitute. 
Stamping to boat off flies is wearing to horses 
and loosens their shoes and often breaks their 
foot. It strains the cords and produces splints 
and puffN. A cheap blauket of cotton doth will 
protect the body of a horse aud pay for itself in 
a week, especially when horses aro plowing or 
working at anything in the sun. Rubbing them 
over with smart-weed or walnut leaves or tansy 
or kerosene will keep flies off for a day , only a 
fow drops of tho oil must be used or tbe bair 
will be injured and the Bkin made sore. Blank¬ 
ets are the best. 
