JAN.40 
plant that few on first acquaintance would 
class with Maples. Those kinds, however, 
have been either spokeu of before or pos¬ 
sess little value for the lawn planter if, 
indeed, they are practically attainable ; cer¬ 
tainly in several cases they are not- I should 
perhaps say that all Maples here spoken of 
as among the ottier Maples are worthy of dis¬ 
tinguished single positions. Since they are 
chiefly small trees, they may be also placed on 
the outskirts or in the middle of shrub groups. 
Thus you perceive that the otfier species and 
varieties of the genus Acer (may I not say of 
all genera P) have, in very many cases, an or¬ 
namental value not to be neglected, or even, 
perhaps, BOt below that of our best known trees. 
lomo logical, 
THE DAVENPORT APPLE. 
Among the uew and excellent apples, which 
deserve the attention of the public, is the 
Davenport here illustrated. In the latter part 
of November we received two specimens of 
this apple from the veteran pomologist, Mr. 
Charles Downing, wbopronouncos it “very fine 
as an eating apple and valuable for family 
use." Mr. Downing’s attention was first called 
to this new apple by Joseph Davenport, of 
West Hartford, Conn., who Informed him that 
It originated on the farm of Rev. Edward 
Davenport, of Colerain, Franklin Co., Massa¬ 
chusetts. The tree, be said, is a moderate 
grower, forming a round, spreading head, and 
bearing very abundant crops in alternate years. 
The apple is a russet, and, as will be seen in 
the engraving, it is somewhat below medium 
in sisse. Flesh delicious, tender, juicy, sub- 
aeid; season, October December. Its russet 
color aud small size will likely prevent it from 
ever attaining popularity as a market apple; 
but for home use it deserves to be appreciated 
by all lovers of good fruit. 
INDIANA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
The Nineteenth Annual Session ol the In¬ 
diana Horticultural Society was held at Dublin, 
December 10, 17, aud IS. The meetings were 
well attended and the proceedings the most 
interesting the Society ever had. The first 
meetiug, as is usual, was occupied by an ad¬ 
dress of welcome with a response by the pres¬ 
ident, reports of the oiUcers, amt appointments 
ol special committees. 
The evening session was opened by an ad¬ 
dress on the care of orchards and profit of 
fruit-growing by Dr. A. Furnas, lie preferred 
a western slope on soil that will produce an 
average crop of corn or potatoes, lie prepares 
the ground as if lor corn, digs boles large 
enough to take in the roots without crowding, 
aud prefers a two-year old tree, lie u not so 
particular about the top, but wuuts plenty of 
roots. Ho plants most varieties two rods 
apart; but some varieties, such as the Wag¬ 
oner, Jersey Black and some others, it would 
do to plant much closer. For the first five or 
six years fie cultivates in corn or potatoes; 
then sows m grass and turns ou fiogs. He 
thinks a erop of oats injurious. He prunes in 
sugar-making lime for wood and in August for 
fruit aud recommends the root-pruning of 
unproductive trees, lie says, do uot plant too 
many varieties; the present market demands 
a large red apple; plant regular bearers and 
trees that bear early. He knew an orchard of 
Ben Davis of which the fruit the eighth year 
utter pluuliug, sold for $2.40 per tree, lie 
spoke favorably of Rome Beauty, Smith’s 
Cider, Indiana Favorite, and Maiden's Blush. 
The address was followed by a very interest¬ 
ing discussiou participated in by N. Obmer, of 
Ohio; C. U. Coryell, of Michigau, aud others 
ou the effects of the warm temperature duriug 
the fall mouths on the keeping of fruit. Some 
suved their apples by picking them early and 
covering them with straw or corn-stalks; 
some who in former years succeeded by pick¬ 
ing aud putting them iu barrels and leaving 
them lying under the trees, lost most of their 
fruit by so doing this year. 
The meetings of the secoud day were mostly 
occupied by reports of which the presideut, 
Sylvester JoliUBon, umde u very interesting 
ouo of the late meeting of the American Porno- 
logical Society. J. C. Ratliff, delegate from 
this society to the late meeting of the Michigan 
l’omologleul Society, gave a very interesting 
accouiiL of the proceed lugs of that body. Re¬ 
ports of Hon. J. D. Q. Nelson, Wallace Kagan, 
Dr, S. S. Boyd, and D. 1£. Hoffman, members 
of the State Fruit Committee, showed that the 
last seasou on the whole was a favorable oue 
—os there was a largo crop of small fruits 
aud grapes and au average crop of pears and 
apples; the latter however did uot keep very 
well. 
The meetiug in the evening of the second 
day was opened by an address on Ornithology 
by Prof. A. W. Bray ton, who had a very large 
aud interesting collection of specimens for the 
inspection of the members. He commenced 
by stating that we had during the year about 
THE BUBAL N£W-¥0BKEB. 
280 species of birds in the State, of which 
about 150 made it their breeding grounds. 
Some 25 or 80 remaiued during the year and 
the rest simply went across the State in their 
annual migrations. 
Dr. John A. Warder, of Ohio, delivered a 
very interesting lecture ou Entomology—he 
closed his address by referring to a favorite 
topic of his—the Catalpa as a timber tree, and 
showed some of the wood which had been ex¬ 
posed to the weather during 07 years and still 
remained sound. 
and cut In two horizontally, makes a very 
convenient covering. tt The lower part remains 
in place round tbe tree, and the upper is lifted 
to expose the leaves to tbe sunlight in mild 
Weather, and shut down on threatening even¬ 
ings as easily as the lid of a truuk. Two super¬ 
imposed boxes can be used for a taller plant. 
The Worden and Champion (Talmnn) Grapes. 
In order to compare the merits of these 
two varieties with others better known, I have 
ripe, they are not good for human food. Plant¬ 
ed at the same time with Lima beam}, they will 
ripen first. The seed of the first crop ripens 
iu time to allow the planting of a second one. 
The Lady Pea is small, nearly white, and when 
dry, is much used for the table. Tbe Sugar 
Crowder is much larger and more prolific than 
tbe Lady, and, like it, is much esteemed for 
table use. It is a climbing or trailing sort. 
Tbe Black Pea is used for feeding Btock. It is 
a vigorous, strong grower. Tbe Clay Pea is 
also a strong grower and prolific. The seed of 
There was a large number of very interest¬ 
ing papers read. One by Mrs. E. Boyd de¬ 
served notice; but want of space forbids it, 
and I will close by referring to the fruit oq 
exhibition, which consisted of 546 plates of 
apples, two of grapes, and six o( peais. 
Tbere was also a fine lot of potatoes, corn, 
dried aud canned fruits, and a very well 
executed bust made out of gilt-edge butter. 
D. E. u. 
For other reports of Industrial Societies, see 
page 29. 
-- 
Ikon fok Peak Bligut.—N oticing lately 
several recommendations of “iron as a fertil¬ 
izer ” and “ salt for pear blight," calls to my 
mind tbe following :—Some eight or ten years 
since 1 found tbe blight had attacked a tew 
dwarf pear trees on my ground. This was tbe 
kind of blight in which tbe young wood sud¬ 
denly turns black. I applied to the surface ol 
tbe ground, under tbe trees, a strong solution 
of sulphate of iron (copperas) several times 
till the soil was of a yellow color, pruned se¬ 
verely all the affected wood, aud have never 
seen auy blight tbere since. 1 would uot state 
that iron will cure pear blight iu all or auy 
eases, or even that it did so iu Ibis ease, but I 
should most certainly apply the same remedy, 
should blight occur again ou my premises. 
Muskegon Co., Micli. s. b. p. 
ortirultnral 
♦ 
COVERING TENDER SHRUBS, HYBRID 
PERPETUAL ROSES, ETC. 
If we could dejieud upon snow lying through 
all the freezing weather of our bitter winters, 
we should need no other covering for plants, 
for there is no better shelter than the snow, at 
least as long as it has some two or three Inches 
of depth over the plants to be guarded, and as 
loug as it remains open aud cellular. Then it 
prevents tbe soil warmth radiating off into 
space, just as dry ashes, or dry sawdust, or 
tan, or chaff, or wool, or the like open aud 
cellular matter, will prevent radiation back 
into a heap of stored ice. 
But some very charming and desirable beau¬ 
ties of our yards can uot be bent down like a 
vine so as to lie under tbe snow, aud a com¬ 
mon recourse is to wrap them with straw. 
This makes a lawu look ghostly through the 
long winter, adding to the uuiversal whiteness, 
when the snow Bheet everywhere helore us 
makes one long for some soft color, some bit 
ol green or neutral color to rest tbe dazzled 
eye. Where they can be had,branches of Hem¬ 
lock Spruce or other evergreen, answer well 
aud look well; tbe leaves will uot drop uatil 
the hot sunshine of April burns them oft. Gen¬ 
erally a mere screen against tbe direct blast of 
the wiud aud impact of the March sun upon 
frosted leaves or shoots is sufficient. Plants 
easily broken should have a few stakes set in 
round them before tbe ground freezes, to be 
tied together in a point above the summit of 
the elosed-in shrub. Evergreens, such as tbe 
Japan Euouymus, etc., should not be quite de¬ 
prived of light or air ; their thickest shielding 
should be ou the south aud west sides. Au 
empty Hour sack of tough bulf paper makes a 
ready aud perfect covering for deciduous H. 
P. Roses, etc. If there is danger of the snow 
being whirled away from over the roots, a lit¬ 
tle litter should cover them to retain snow and 
aid its useful service. 
For protecting a low, teudor tree, such as a 
Fig, or an Orange, or a Tea-rose, from the first 
autumn frosts, lu order tfiut it may retain its 
leaves longer and ripen its wood uud bark bet¬ 
ter before being covered or transferred to the 
cellar, a large store box, open at the bottom 
made tests from grapes grown in the same 
vineyard, with tbe following results: 
Delaware. 
IniibeUu . 
Concord. 
Worden. 
Champion. 
Per ct 
8ujrar. 
Per ct. 
Acid. 
21.0 
1.2 
16.0 
1.7 
16.0 
1.6 
17.(1 
1.0 
10.0 
0.9 
All were picked iu good order, well ripened, 
except the Champion which were over-ripe and 
considerably shriveled. My samples of these 
were picked Oct. 9th, long after the time when 
they should have been marketed. This would 
deduct from the acid, aud add to tbe sugar, but 
with this ad vantage they fall a little over one- 
third below the Concord iu quality, and stand 
below good apples in the amount of sugar they 
contain. The Wordeu has oue per cent, more 
sugar than the Concord, and has one-half per 
cent, less acid, consequently they will taste bet¬ 
ter to the average eater. Nelson Ritter. 
#flb (Crop. 
TE0SINTE.-A CAUTION. 
Nov. 2d, 187S, we reported our trial of this 
plant. Since that time it has boon talked about 
first by oue journal, then by another all over 
tbe country—all, for the most part, based upon 
what it bad done in warm climates. We hope 
tbere is no danger of another *• Pearl Millet" 
excitement over Teosiute for this or u more 
northerly latitude, since we think we ean 
assure our readers that our seasou is entirely 
too short for it aud that it ean never prove as 
valuable for green lodder as corn. To help 
nip auy such danger iu the bud, however, we 
reprint what was stated ia the article above 
referred to: 
“Among novelties sent out by Vilmorln & 
Co., of Paris, France, last year was Teosintc 
(Reaua er Euehlaana luxurians), a fodder 
plant resembling corn in its stalk aud leaf. 
Our seed was sowu May 15. It was, like tbe 
Pearl Millet, slow to germinate and slow to 
grow uutil late in the summer wheu the rate 
of growth was very like that of coru. Oct. 
12, when the leaves had been somewhat with¬ 
ered by frost, oue of the lurgest plants was cut 
aud fouud to weigh teu pounds. It measured 
five feet in bight and consisted of seventeen 
stalks. These stalks were thicker, softer, the 
juice sweeter thau those of corn. There were 
more leaves also aud they were broader aud 
more tender. It is a perennial plant iu its 
uative homo, Central Americu, where its stalks 
are cut oft and fed to cattle, new shoots ugaiu 
growing Horn the roots. Those plants which 
we cut back, made very little growth after¬ 
wards. The very large tender leaves, the 
heavy succulent stalks aud their sweet Juice, 
and the luxuriant growth of the plant duriug 
hot weather, might warrant a trial of Teosiute 
in our more SouLhern States." 
Iu the same uumber we gave a very good 
illustration of the plant, also takeu, as we 
remember, from a cut which was sent to Mr. 
W. H. Carson by Vilmorin & Co., or redrawn 
from the latter's catalogue, we are uncertain 
which. 
-- 
Cow Peas. 
Messrs. J. M. Thorburn & Co., say they have 
received tbe following information on this 
subject;— 
The Specked and Whip-Poor-Will are the 
favorite varieties in general use, being the 
earliest uud most prolific. The crop is easily 
gathered as it is not inclined to climb or trail, 
the growth being like that of snap or bush 
beans. The pods when green aud tender can 
bo used, like snap beaus, for tbe table, or when 
green shelled for the same purpose. Wheu 
this sort will not decay in tbe ground during 
winter, that wbich may fall from the vines 
coming up freely the following spring. This 
variety is nsed only for feeding stock. As seen 
above, some varieties are good for human 
food and all are valuable for feeding stock, 
either shelled out or left on tbe vines to be cut 
and cured as hay. They will grow on poorer 
soil than any other crop, aud afford a larger 
amount of vegetable matter which may be 
turned under to enrich the soil. Growing so 
rapidly and luxuriantly, they completely 
smother out all growth of grass and weeds. 
They are planted the same time as snap beans 
and cultivated tbe same, except when wanted 
to be turned under. 
latrjj gjittsiiattiiTg. 
HENRY STEWART. 
The Cow.; 
Butter making begins with the cow ; one 
cannot make tbe best butler from a poor cow 
There are cows from which tbe best dairy¬ 
men and dairy women will fail to get good but¬ 
ter, especially iff tbe winter time. One may be 
sure of success if be has a good pure-bred or 
grade Jersey or Ayrshire or Guerusey cow, and 
some native cows will make equally good but¬ 
ter. But some will not, and tbe best of them 
are improved by a cross of either of the above 
pure breeds. The dairyman, then, who would 
excel iff producing flue butter in the winter 
time should weed out from his herd every cow 
whose cream is white or specky, or apt to 
become bitter, or that may sometimes foam in 
tbe churn. Ho should also have fresh cows, 
for the cream from a fresh cow will be of a 
much higher color thau that from a farrow 
cow, or even from one that has been milking 
three or four mouths. Having made a selection 
of cows, the next tkiug iu order is to feed them 
on tbe right food, to secure firm, bard, yellow 
butter, having the waxy grain aud high nutty 
liavor so essential. 
The Food. 
The food has a moat important effect on the 
quality of the butter as well as tbe quantity, 
and both tbe selection aud tbe quantity of food 
given deserve consideration. A lew tests of 
foods made by tuysulf personally, without any 
intervention of a hired man, and in which the 
feed was given, the cow milked, the milk 
weighed aud skimmed, and the butter churned 
aud weighed by my own hands, may be given. 
In February last my cow, Minnie, was fed upon 
tbe usual radon of 10 pounds ol meal of corn, 
oats and wheat bran ground together; to this 
were added six pounds of palm uut meal daily. 
Feb. 1st to 7th the cow gave 164 pounds 
of milk which produced eight pounds of but¬ 
ter; Feb. 8 to 14, the milk was 191$ pounds and 
the butter 9} pounds j Feb. 15 to 21, tbe milk 
was 104 pounds, aud the butter 10$ pounds; 
Feb. 22 to 28 the milk was 198$ pounds, aud 
the butter was 12 pounds; the meal was dis¬ 
continued because the butter deteriorated 
in quality somewhat. 
A test with cotton-seed meal gave tbe follow¬ 
ing results A two-year-old Ayrshire cow, 
Bolivia, fed previously ou 10 lbs. of corn, oats 
aud bran meal daily was given four pounds of 
cotton seed meal. The yield was as follows : 
Milk. 
Nov. 1 to 7.126 pounds. 
" 8 14.lay 
“ 15 21.138 “ 
" 23 28.133 
Butter. 
t>S pounds. 
7* " 
7* “ 
7 10-16 “ 
The color of the butter and flavor were much 
improved by the cotton-seed meal. The last- 
mentioned yield of butter is still maintained. 
