ripeness makes them all right outside, but the 
germs of some have already been destroyed. 
[Thanks.—E ds.] 
* * * 
Yes; we succeed in growing cabbages from 
leaf cuttings, but I fear this method of propa¬ 
gation will never have any practical value. 
The sections root very promptly, no matter 
from what part of the head they are taken: 
but it takes two-and-a-lialf to three months 
for the bud to start. All of this time, the 
slips are subject to dampening off and the 
attacks of aphides, and but a very small per¬ 
centage of them ever form buds. 
* * * 
The Rural criticizes our opinions as to the 
flavor of different raspberries. I wonder 
whether it made a more thorough test! I bad 
a basketful of each kind set on the table 
before me. The Early Prolific seemed poorest, 
so I took this for the standard, 1 lurt tasted 
a few berries of this sort, then of another, 
comparing the two, and making my notes. I 
tasted tiie standard agaiu mid then a third va¬ 
riety, and so oh. Where the flavor of tw o 
seemed to have a close resemblance, I tested 
these with each other. In cases of doubt, I 
called in a second party to decide. But we 
are all fallible. fTrue.— Eds.] E. s. GOFF. 
America, Mrs. Gubbins, Zephyr, and .Tames 
Y. Murkland. 
Queens, N. Y. 
growth, to say nothing of their far superior 
flowers. 
The only insects to which chrysanthemums 
are subject, are the Black Aphides, and these 
can be easily removed by dusting the plants 
with tobacco dust; and if. as occasionally 
happens, the common white mildew attacks 
them duriug wet weather, it can easily be ex¬ 
terminated by dusting them with sulphur 
while they are wet with dew. 
There are so many varieties in cultivation, 
that it is vei-y difficult to make a selection ol' 
the most desirable; but as a guide to those 
plants had done blooming, and only a few of 
the latest varieties would justify me in keep¬ 
ing them longer, even in a green-house. The 
muslin was sewn i .to large sheets, one for 
each side and to meet past the ends, and one 
for the roof and to overlap a little. In fine 
weather 1 removed the muslin, and replaced 
it at night and, in the event of rain, high 
wind or frost, kept it on in the day time. A 
few degrees of frost for a brief time will not 
materially hurt chrysanthemum flowei-s. The 
muslin will not exclude a severe frost, especial¬ 
ly if accompanied by wind. The cloth, iu 
tight, sheets throws off the rain pretty well 
But wind is hard against it, It often Is a 
difficult matter to save the muslin from being 
blown off or torn off by winds, and as we well 
know, November is not the calmest month in 
the year. _ ^ _ 
THE CHRYSANTHEMUM AND ITS CUL¬ 
TURE. 
I have one fault to find with the Rural. 
though I do not. know how to suggest, a rem 
1 DO not know of any class of plants that 
are so easily grown or require so little care 
as the chrysanthemum, and I often wish I 
was in a position to insist that every lover of 
plants should have at least a few dozen chrys¬ 
anthemums. As generally cultivated, this 
plant is not very handsome for pot use; for, as 
a rule, it is planted in the mixed border and 
left to take care of itself, and when the time 
of flowering arrives it is found to be ill-shaped 
or else partially broken, certainly well enough 
to supply cut flowers, but uot at all adapted 
for decoration or exhibition purposes, or for 
use as a pot plant. 
Now if we would obtain nice specimens we 
must give them a proper place in which to 
grow and develop during the summer season, 
and I insist on their being given a properly 
prepared border of their own. Let this be 
prepared by digging trenches to the depth 
of at least two feet (if deeper so much the 
better) and at the same time woi’king in, 
thoroughly a good supply of well decomposed 
stable manure. Do not be afraid of using too 
much manure, as the ground can scarcely be 
too rich. The border being properly prepared, 
the next consideration is the planting of the 
young plants, w^tth should be done about the 
first of May. f l^fcshould be planted in rows, 
about three feet apart each way. and in order 
to prevent them from beiug broken off by the 
wind, a stout stake should lie placed by each 
to which it should be loosely tied as soon as 
it is large enough. About the first of June 
the plants should have the center shoot or 
shoots pinched out in order to induce them to 
branch freely and in a few weeks there will 
be from six to eight strong shoots, which also 
must be pinched back as soon as they are 
about four or five inches in length, and this 
pinching back must be continued whenever 
necessary until the first week in August, when 
all the shoots must be left to grow. 
During the summer season the plants must 
be loosely tied to stout stakes in order to pre¬ 
vent them from being broken off by the wind, 
and at all times they should be well cultivated 
and kept clean and free from weeds. In dry 
weather they should lx? frequently and thor¬ 
oughly watered. Never permit them to suffer 
in the least for water. About the middle of 
September they should be carefully taken up 
aud potted, using pots proportionate to the 
size of the plants. Drain them well and use a 
compost composed of one part, of well decayed 
manure aud two pai-ts of well decayed sods. 
When first potted, water thoroughly aud place 
in a shady situation for a few days or until 
they have taken hold of the soil, after which 
they can be fully exposed to the sun until 
there is danger of frost, when they should be 
brought inside, but do not. give them any more 
fire heat than is sufficient to keep out frost. 
After they have been potted, keep them well 
supplied with water, eveu if it has to be given 
three or four times a day, and it is well to 
give them, two or three times a week, some 
liquid manure water (guano water being the 
best), and it should be given in the proportion 
of an ounce of guano to three gallons of 
water. 
After the plants have ceased flowering, they 
can lie removed to any cool position, such as 
a cellar where some light can be admitted, 
and where they can be kept in a dormant 
state until about the first of April, when they 
can be brought into a light, warm situation 
and started into growth, and just as soon as 
the shoots are of sufficient length, cuttings 
should lie taken. These, if placed iu sand in 
any warm situation, will root in a short time, 
when they should be potted off into three-inch 
pots and carefully grown until the weather 
has become settled, when they can lie planted 
out in the chrysanthemum border. 
Some attempt to carry over the old plants 
for another season’s bloom, but, as ft general 
rule, I do not advise the attempt, as young 
plants are so easily obtained, and they prov 
to be of better habit and more vigorous 
fvorn thc|luval'£ ^avm 
FEEDING LAMBS. 
From Nature. Fig. 38. (See first page.) 
edy. It habitually prints good articles on both 
sides of its leaves, so that, we who make scrap¬ 
books must either subscribe for two copies, or 
else lose many good things that we would 
gladly keep. 11 Preserve the whole paper,” 
you will say. Too bulky. If we preserved 
all the good newspapers, we should soon have 
to build a house to hold them,—[This may be so 
with a few who take a number of papers ;but uot 
in the case of the vast majority of people.—E ds.] 
LILIE BURGESS 
who contemplate cultivating the chrysanthe¬ 
mum for the first time, I enumerate a few of 
the most distinct*. 
Twelve Japanese: Julius Scharff, Mrs. M m. 
Ban*, Elaine, Fantasee, Grancliflorum, Kata- 
kana, La Frizure, M Castol, Juvena. Riche 
Bouquet, The Sultan, and Triomphe de la Rue 
de Chatelets. 
Twelve Chinese: Virginalis. Temple of Solo- 
man. Prince of Wales, King of Crimsons, 
PITTI SING. From Nature. Fig. 40. (See first page.) 
Hi * * 
The Rural is annoyed by pea-weevils. Iu 
making crosses it is easy to tie a bit of mos¬ 
quito nettiug around the young pods as soon 
as they commence to enlarge. Last season, I 
preserved the second crop of a very promising 
cross by inclosing the whole row in mosquito 
nettiug as soon as the plants commenced to 
bloom. The cost is slight, where there are but 
few plauts to cover, and it saves every pea. 
L’Africaiue, Golden Beverly, Dr. Sharpe, 
President Wilder, Refulgeus, Faust, Felicity, 
and Lady Talfourd.. 
Twelve Pompone: Bob, Fimbriata, Mdlle 
Marthe, Lucree, Golden Mdlle Marthe, Perlo 
des Beautes, Salameu, Sanguinemn, Souvenir 
de Jersey, La Vierge, Amaranthina, and 
Model of Perfection. 
Twelve Single: W. Falconer, Septimus Lyon, 
Rosalind, Pyrethrum, President Arthur, Peter 
Henderson, Mrs. C. L. Allen, J. W. Chambers, 
