NOTES AND COMMENTS. 
I see by the Rural of March 1st, that the 
Editor gives the results of Lis experience with 
Bliss’s Triumph Potato. Did the viues ever 
flower with him. and were they of healthy 
growth? We made no note as to their bloom¬ 
ing. It was with us very early and of fine 
quality. The tubers averaged of uniformly 
fair size, and the yield, considering the poor 
land iu which they were raised, was pretty 
good.—E ds ] I am aware that this variety 
has been highly praised by many, but my ex- 
pe-rience with it has been very unsatisfactory. 
With me, when the vines were about half 
grown the leaves began to turn black, and the 
edges shrivel up; this condition gradually ex¬ 
tended throughout the entire plant, and upon 
digging them, the tubers proved to be only of 
the size of marbles. Repeated trials produced 
the same results, so I was forced to abandon 
the cultivation of this variety. 
If 1 were confined to the selection of one va¬ 
riety of tomato, for general cultivation, I 
would select Livingston’s Perfection. 
Clematis Jackmanii (page 183) is a grand 
variety, but if I could have only one clematis 
it would be C. Flammula. A few of the most 
distinct and desirable hybrid varieties are 
Lady Londesborough, with silvery-gray flow¬ 
ers; Lord Mayo, with rosy lilac; Purpurea 
elegans, with deep violet-purple flowers, and 
Robert Hanbury, light blue; the Gem, with 
its deep shades of lavender, violet and purple, 
and William Kenneth, the lavender-colored 
flowers of which attain an immense size. 
These clematis do best when given a deep, 
rich soil and a sunny situation, and when well 
established, they will grow rapidly and flower 
profusely. Thou- gorgeous flowers, often 
measuring from five to seven inches in dia¬ 
meter, when seen among the foliage, bear 
a stronger resemblance to some tropical but¬ 
terflies than to the flowers of a plant. 
Pelargonium, Fred Dorner, is one of the 
prettiest and most distinct of the (so-called) 
Lady Washington type of geraniums, and on 
account, of its almost perpetual flowering 
habit, and neat, compact manner of growth, 
is an excellent plant for the window garden. 
It is also very desirable for cut flowers or for 
decorative purposes. The flowers are pro¬ 
duced iu trusses of from eight to ten flowers, 
which are of good size and shape, of a car¬ 
mine-crimson color marked with maroon- 
crimson and edged with white. As it is a 
plant easily increased and grown, I am in¬ 
duced to call attention to it, for I do not think 
it is as extensively known as its merits deserve. 
To Messrs. Hal lock & Thorpe we are indebted 
for the introduction of the rose. Queen’s Scar¬ 
let. It is evidently a sport from the well- 
known Agrippina, as it is of the same strong 
growth and free flowering habit In this lati¬ 
tude it is perfectly hardy, if given a slight 
protection during the winter seasou, and as 
it is a most continuous bloomer, it can be re¬ 
commended as a true ever-blooming rose. The 
flowers are quite double, and average about 
three inches in diameter. In color they are of 
a light velvety crimson, passing into a light 
scarlet with age. 
If any readers of the Rural contemplate 
purchasing dahlias this season, let them try 
any, or all, of the following-named varieties, 
and at the end of the season report the result: 
Criteiion, Golden Bedder, Gluwiug Coal, 
Le Phare, Miss Dodd, Othello, Pearl. Give 
them a moderately enriched, deep soil, and a 
sunny position, in order to enable them to 
develop their full beauty. 
A correspondent asks for the names of six 
of the most desirable varieties of winter- 
floweriDg begonias. I name Incarnata, Ingra- 
mii, Rubra, Saundersonii, Hybrida multiflora 
and Sohmidtii. But then there are other 
varieties that are really indispensable iu 
any good collection, viz,: Weltonii and its 
white form; Odovata, with white sweet- 
scented flowers, and Riehardsiana, with 
finely cut leaves and pure white flowers. 
Then there is the beautiful trailing B, glauco- 
phylla scandens, while B. palmata, subpeltata 
nigra and argyrostigma Vetcbii will be found 
to be very desirable additions on account of 
their singularly beautiful foliage. 
For market purposes the Early Ohio Potato 
will be found to be the most profitable and 
productive curly sort: while forlatenud winter 
use, one cannot find a better variety than the 
White Star, lit is a line keeper. A barrel 
opened April 11, was found to contain not one 
decayed tuber; neither were they in the least 
sprouted.—E ds]. 
this season, do not forget to plant two or more 
Wiegela nana variegata, for it is one of the 
most beautiful ornamental shrubs in cultiva¬ 
tion, and is, moreover, perfectly hardy. 
CHARLES E. PARNELL. 
CATALOGUES, ETC., RECEIVED. 
Fruit List arranged aud tabulated by J. 
T. Lovett. A pamphlet containing a list of 
the fruits now- most popular iu New Jersey, 
giving season of ripening, color and synon¬ 
yms; also, a list of counties, and whether 
grown for family use or market therein. We 
suggest, what to usseemsagreatimprovement 
for future issues, that by stars or uumbers, or 
some other means, the report from each couuty 
should show- the estimation in which the fruit 
is there held. We suggest, that five be taken 
as a maximum, that the uumbers from one to 
five, be used to show the popularity of a fruit. 
Apply to Mr. Lovett, Little Silver, N. J. 
Janesville Hay Tool Co., Janesville, 
Wis. Circulars showing construction aud man¬ 
ner of working of Striekler’s Dead Lock Hay 
Elevator and Carrier; also single and double 
harpoon hay forks: This carrier is made with 
large wheels which run on a wooden track 
suspended on iron rods from the rafters in the 
peak of the barn, causing it to run very easily. 
The track extends the entire length of the 
barn, and the carrier will run either way 
from the floor without taking from the track, 
or reversing. It is guaranteed to give entire 
satisfaction. Send for circular, and learn how 
much easier it is to unload hay by horse-power 
than by hand. 
Planters’ Hoe Co., Troy, N. Y. Illus¬ 
trated circulars., describing the Herrington 
Potato Digger. This machine is made on an 
entirely new principle, being so made thattbe 
vines are first straightened and laid so as to 
pass through the digger without clogging. 
The digger is instantly adjustable by the ope¬ 
rator, aud scoops the entire hill, passing it 
through a sort of cradle made of long, flexi¬ 
ble steel rods. This cradle is kept rocking, or 
shakiug from side to side, effectually separat¬ 
ing the potatoes and soil, leaving the former 
in a compact row directly belaud the ma¬ 
chine. The vines are caught by a pair of 
steel prongs aud kicked clear of the potatoes, 
and throwu out of the way. We saw one of 
these machines last Fall at the N. Y. State 
Fan- in practical work, and were quite con¬ 
vinced that a successful potato digger had at 
last been invented. Send for circulars and 
study it for yourself. 
Proceedings of the New Jersey State 
Horticultural Society at its Ninth An¬ 
nual Meeting, held at Camden, January 22 
to 24, 1SK4. This report contains much infor¬ 
mation very valuable to the practical fruit 
grower, and particularly to the beginuei* cl¬ 
one contemplating engaging in that occupa¬ 
tion. We especially like it because it contains 
such full reports of the discussions. These w-e 
think by far the most valuable part of nearly 
all horticultural meetings, aud they should be 
more fully reported. One thing in this report 
greatly surprised us, aud that was rhat such a 
prominent fruit-growing State as Now Jersey 
should only number 120 members iu it3 horti¬ 
cultural society, when it should have at least 
1,000. Suppose it had 1,000 paying members; 
the amount then received w-ould justify the 
employment of a stenographer and the publi¬ 
cation of a verbatim report of all discussions. 
Fruit growers Of New Jersey, awake to your 
interest! Rend one dollar to the Secretary, 
E. Williams, Montclair, N. J., and become a 
member aud receive this report. 
Sorghum, its Culture and Manufac¬ 
ture, Ecououiially Considered, as a Source of 
Sugar, Sirup aud Fodder. By Peter Collier, 
Ph. D. Robert Clark & Co., publishers, 
Cincinnati, Ohio. 8vo. Price, 83. A finely 
printed, handsomely illustrated, w-ell bound 
book of 570 pages, being a complete epitome 
of the knowledge obtained by research, in¬ 
vestigation and experiment, by Dr. Collier, 
at Washington aud elsewhere since his ap¬ 
pointment as Chemist of the Department of 
Agriculture in 1877. A hurried perusal con¬ 
vinces us that itisau indispensable companion 
for every one who proposes to work success¬ 
fully in developing this new, promising aud 
much-needed American industry—an indus¬ 
try which is very likely to succeed and to 
furnish Americans a full supply of American 
grown sugar. The w ork contains all that is 
known by everybody anywhere on the sub¬ 
ject of sorghum culture and sorghum sugar- 
making, from the fitting of the ground and 
sowing of the seed, to the clarification of the 
sugar. Rent any where by mail, post-paid by 
the publisher, on receipt of price. 
Annual Retort of tuk Michigan State 
Horticultural Society for the year 1883, 
This, the thirteenth annual report of this wide¬ 
awake State Society, is a volume of over 500 
pages, compiled and edited by the indefati¬ 
gable Secretary, C. W. Garfield. Over 300 
pages are devoted to a full report of tbe papers 
aud discussions of the various meetings of the 
State Society, which are always well attended 
and very lively and interesting. About 100 
pages are filled with tbe Secretary’s “Portfo¬ 
lio,” containing many original articles by 
some of the best writers, together with the 
cream of many of the best uewspaper arti¬ 
cles selected aud gathered with much care aud 
labor. Michigan is doing much for horticul¬ 
ture, aud her people are making more progress 
in this direction than those of any other State. 
We cannot better show the spirit that actuates 
the State Society than by quotiug from the 
Secretary's annual address: “We must notlet 
the ornameutation of our school grounds stop; 
we must continue our aid to our branch socie¬ 
ties; the annual exhibits must maiutaiu their 
high character, and our reports must be the 
very best that are issued. All this means 
study, labor, interest, enthusiasm, and the use 
of money. We should not let a year go by 
without emphasizing some feature of our work, 
so as to make it felt at home aud abroad. 
Wherever there is a man ora community that 
our association can help, the assistance should 
be given even before it is asked. We must 
maintain Michigan at tbe front as a State in 
which it is good to build a home.” With such 
a spirit filling the Society, how can it fail? 
This volume is sent, post-paid, to every mem¬ 
ber of the State Society, whether a resident 
of Michigan or not, and the payment of one 
dollar makes a member, and this report, if 
often and carefully consulted, is certainly 
worth more than the fee. 
Carp as Farm Fisn.—Prof. Shelton, in 
his report of the Kansas Agricultural College 
for 1883, gives his experience with carp as 
farm fish. Tt began in April of 1881, when 
some 30 young fry of Scale Carp were received 
from the United States Fish Commissioner at 
Washington. These were placed in a shallow 
pond, having a superficial area about 12 by 
30 feet, which had been hastily excavated for 
their reception. They were occasionally fed, 
sometimes at intervals of two or three tlaj’s. 
but often as many weeks would elapse without 
anv food having been supplied them by arti¬ 
ficial means. The febd used was scraps of 
bread and other vegetable food from the 
table, and occasionally corn-meal mush, pre¬ 
pared especially for them 
From the time the fish were placed in the 
pond, they were rarely seen. Pieces of bread 
thrown in the pond would bring them to the 
surface, but their favorite position seemed to 
lie near the bottom of tbe pond, the mud of 
which they seemed to be almost continually 
turning up. In the Summer, the pond became 
greatly reduced by evaporation until it held 
water scarcely six inches deep. Neverthe¬ 
less, aud although the pond was absolutely 
devoid of grass and other ordinary vegetable 
growths, the carp thrived, and grew amazing¬ 
ly. Their growth is shown by the following 
figures: 
DATE OF WEIGHING. 
Length 
olearp, 
laches. 
Weight 
ofcnrp, 
ounces. 
April. 1881. 
2 
13 
IS 
24 
\ nrll 1R82. 
24 
18 
40 
October! i883... 
18 
40 
tainly be carried away by the first freshet. If, 
on the other hand, an uncontrolled flow of 
water enters the pond, there is danger from 
the entrance of such enemies as minnows, 
sunfish, snakes aud turtles. The pond, or ponds 
—for there ought to be at least two, one for 
breeding aud the other for store fish—should 
be generally shallow, abounding with deep 
holes. 
2. The enemies of carp in Kansas arc chiefly 
the various predaceous fishes, turtles, suakes, 
wild ducks, and the bird known us tbe king¬ 
fisher. The tinny enemies of carp must be 
kept away by n wire gauze, intersecting the 
stream feeding the pond. The turtles may be 
caught with fish-hook and line, aud the gun 
will be fouud efficient against turtles, snakes 
and birds. Of all the enemies of carp, turtles 
have proved by far the most dangerous. 
8. If the pond abounds in grass, flags or 
weeds of any kind, the fish will not need to bo 
supplied with food. But even where the pond 
furnishes good feeding grounds for the fish, 
a regular artificial supply of food will aid in 
giving them early and rapid development. 
There is much dispute about the eating qual¬ 
ities of carp. By some it is claimed that carp 
are equal to salmon or trout in edible quali¬ 
ties, while others pronounce them to be totally 
inferior in flavor and quality. Probably the 
treatment the fish have received, and more 
especially the character of the soil underlying 
the pond in which they have been kept, their 
ago aud mode of cooking, all influence their 
quality, and thus produce these divergent 
opinions regarding them. Carp have not 
proved at the college to be the best-flavored 
fish, but they are greatly superior to buffalo 
fish, catfish, and most native fi-h, in quality 
and flavor. They are a bony, tolerably firm, 
fat fish, and the flavor, while quite pronounced, 
is not disagreeable. They will, he thinks, 
prove a welcome addition to the daily fare of 
most of the Kansas farmers who give them a 
trial. 
It is to be presumed, from what Prof. Shel¬ 
ton says, that the carp of the Rural pond have 
escaped or will escape, since it overflows 
moderately always,aud violently during fresh¬ 
ets. _ 
Wood of Diseased and Healthy Peach 
Trees. —P. M. Anger, the State Fornol- 
ogist of Connecticut, sent two samples of 
peach wood, the one diseased with yellows, 
the other healthy, both of the same variety. 
Prof. Johnson finds that 10,000 pounds of 
diseased twigs contain 
5.2 pounds more silica, 
1.8 pounds more oxide of Iron, 
1-1.5 pouuds less lime, 
5.7 pounds less magnesia, 
8.1 pounds less potash, 
0.3 pounds less soda. 
0.0 pounds less phosphoric acid, 
2.4 pounds less sulphuric acid aud 
.2 pounds less chlorine 
than the healthy twigs. The diseased twigs in 
this case, thus manifest, as compared with the 
healthy oues, a poverty of all the. ash-ingre¬ 
dients, the first two alone excepted. 
A good way to cure hams, according to a 
writer iu Farm aud Home, is to smoke a barrel 
for some four days; then pack in the hams and 
shoulders with salt: then cover with a pickle 
and cover tightly, so as to keep iu all the 
smoke scent. In a few weeks they will be 
ready for use. Keep covered with brine and 
use when you wish. He has done so for 
24 years and never had a poor ham yet. 
FINALLY. 
It is seen that no growth was mude iu either 
winter season, or during the whole of the year 
last past. This latter fact is probably ex¬ 
plained by the circumstance that the fisli bred 
enormously during the year, and were badly 
crowded in ponds containing but little veget¬ 
able growth. 
In the Summer of 1881 a second and deeper 
pond was dug, which has since been used for 
the winter-quarters of the fish. This is about. 
30 by 80 feet and holds, when full, a depth of 
three feet of water, an amount which experi- 
rience has shown to be sufficient to prevent the 
complete freezing of all the water in the pond 
iu that place. During the entire \\ inter the 
pond was, apparently, u solid mass of ice; 
and although during the past Winter, by an 
accident to a sluice, the water drained out 
from beneath tbe ice, leaving scarcely six 
inches of water in the pond, no harm came to 
the fish. 
At one year old the carp bred, but the in¬ 
crease was slight. During the Summer of 1883, 
however, they increased enormously, the pro¬ 
duce numbering thousands, which iu many 
cases were four inches in length before Fall. 
Prof. H. emphasizes a few of the considera¬ 
tions that must be hooded by the beginner who 
would bo successful in carp-raising: 
1. The supply of water for the pond must 
be under perfect control. If the pond is sub¬ 
ject to overflow, the carp will almost cer- 
Puck remarks that culture is good; but 
that no amount of culture will make the cab¬ 
bage blossom like tbe rose. 
Wouldn't it be well for you now to make 
up your mind whether you intend to encour¬ 
age horse-racing, gambling, and liquor-selling 
at the agricultural fairs?. 
Prof. Shelton thinks tliut no grasses for 
Kansas can surpass the native sorts in ability 
to withstand droughts and the depredations 
of insects, aud ho doubts if any grass knowu 
equals them iu nutritive qualities aud the 
amount of feed furnished during the summer 
months... 
Among the tame grasses and clovers he re- 
commouds, tukcu in the order of their value, 
Alfalfa, Orchard Grass, Red Clover, Tall 
Meadow Oat Grass and English Blue Grass... 
Prof. Shki.ton condemns Johnson Grass 
(Sorghum balapense) for Kansas for the rea¬ 
sons that (1) it is oue of the latest to appear 
in Spring; (2) it is apparently destroyed by 
severe Winters, and (3) the quality of the 
grass seems to be inferior—stock do not relish 
it. This grass is just now being widely ad¬ 
vertised, under the above and otber names, 
by circulars through the mails, and iu agri¬ 
cultural papers, as well as in the weekly 
“ farm edition ” of political papers. 
The Black Mulberry and Downing’s Ever 
If any of you plant auy ornamental shrubs 
