1849. 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
181 
should construct a furnace, which, with the principle of 
the airtight stove, should combine cheapness, efficiency, 
and economy in fuel. The demand for such an article 
is unmistakeable. W. R. S. 
Renovating Pear Trees. 
What is the best remedy for a pear tree that former¬ 
ly perfected its fruit beautifully, but which for three 
years has cracked-—is gnarly, hard, small, and imper¬ 
fect in every respect? Tree thrifty, and to all appear¬ 
ance healthy. Is the flowering locust likely to sour the 
ground, by its roots or shade, so as to injure the pear 
tree—standing within twenty feet ? The variety came 
to us as the Bachelor —not described in books—fruit 
much like the Bartlett, in shape and flavor, but a little 
Smaller. A. J. Keeney. .Erie, Mich.. Feb. 1849. 
Frequent similar cases have occured, where the pear 
tree has grown thriftily, but the fruit has been worth¬ 
less, It appears to be caused either by a natural defi¬ 
ciency or disproportion of some ingredient in the soil, 
or by the exhaustion of certain portions existing per¬ 
haps scantily at first. The fruit and the wood, differ¬ 
ing in delicacy or susceptibility, as well as in composi¬ 
tion, is the reason why the tree will often grow well, 
while the fruit fails. 
Such trees have been renovated and made to yield 
good crops of fair fruit, by digging, at a few feet dis¬ 
tance from the tree, a circular trench, say a foot and a 
half deep and three or four feet wide, and filling the 
space thus made, with rich fresh soil and turf, inter¬ 
mingled with a bushel or so of blacksmith’s cinders, a 
few bushels of ashes, and two or three pecks of ground 
or crushed bones. This should be done in autumn or 
spring, the former being rather the best. An admix¬ 
ture of a bushel or two of charcoal with these ingredi¬ 
ents, has been adopted in some successful instances, but 
it is probably of no essential advantage. 
The Osage Orange as a Hedge Plant. 
The past winter was one of unusual severity in west¬ 
ern New-York. Many hardy roses lost half the growth 
of the previous summer. Plants of the Osage Orange 
of five or six years, were but little injured. Young 
plants suffered more. Upon a dry subsoil, and a some¬ 
what elevated situation, there can hardly be a doubt of 
the superior efficiency and permanency of this hedge, 
wherever the climate will allow. W. R. S. 
Mildew on Gooseberries. 
In answer to frequent inquiries on this subject, we 
eopy the following furnished by a correspondent to a 
late number of The Horticulturist :■— 
11 Early in the spring of 1844, I purchased at auc¬ 
tion a dozen bushes of the best English varieties of 
gooseberry, stated to have been imported by Kenrick. 
These were set out in good rich soil. I also transplant¬ 
ed to the same situation several larger bushes, of a 
small red variety, received from a friend a year or two 
before. In common with cultivators of this fruit in my 
neighborhood, I was year after year, doomed to disap¬ 
pointment in the fruit produced. Although, from the 
bushes of the smaller variety, last named, I annually 
raised a few very fair and fine flavored berries, the 
former yielding not an eatable fruit,—being, when about 
half grown, so covered with mildew , as is frequently 
the case in this climate, that a red variety could not be 
told from a white or green one. 
Partly from the information obtained from The Hor¬ 
ticulturist and other sources, and partly from my own 
reflection, I was led to try early and close pruning, and 
the application of a mixture of unleached wood ashes 
and salt, to the surfaoe under the bushes. Thus: about 
the 1st of March, and before the buds have much swol¬ 
len, cut off the larger half, and in some cases, two-thirds 
of the new growth, and when too thick, thin out some 
of the branches, so as to give them handsome open 
heads. When the frost is fairly out, and the ground 
cleared off about the bushes, apply to each one quart 
of unleached wood ashes, and one table spoonful of 
coarse salt, well mixed; spread evenly on the ground 
under each bush, over a space of one foot or more in 
diameter, according to the size of the bushes. About 
midsummer, add half the quantity for renewal. 
I claim nothing original in my experiment, but know 
that it has succeeded admirably the two last seasons.— 
affording me an abundance of fine fruit, entirely free 
from mildew, on all the bushes, which are of seven dif¬ 
ferent varieties. My method of cultivation may not 
succeed in all situations and seasons; but if lovers of 
the gooseberry will try it, before discarding and throw¬ 
ing away their bushes, as some of my neighbors have 
done, I think they will be fully remunerated for their 
pains.” 
Planting Fruit Trees. 
<l Will it answer to plant trees in grass ground ?” 
This question which has been answered for the thou¬ 
sandth time, is still propounded frequently; and with 
an interest which implies, that a great saving of labor 
may be effected, and full returns for the expenditure 
received, though the planting be indifferently performed, 
and the subsequent care neglected. If the ground has 
been deeply plowed, the “ putting out” is soon accom¬ 
plished, and if all is properly performed, the growth 
and value will be increased ten fold. A neighbor set 
out some apple trees in turf; soil deep and rich. At a 
few rods distant, he planted others, which were kept 
under cultivation. In his own language, “The last were 
as big as his leg, the first but little larger than when 
taken from the nursery.” An extensive fruit dealer 
once called my attention to the difference between that 
part of his peach orchard which had been plowed, and 
that in which it had been omitted for the present, year on¬ 
ly. The deep green leaves and vigorous growth of the 
cultivated part, contrasted strongly with the other, altho’ 
to the casual observer, both would appear in good con¬ 
dition. W. R. S. 
Hyacinths, &c. 
The following is an extract from a late letter of a dis¬ 
tinguished florist of this State, in relation to this beau¬ 
tiful bulbous flowering plant:— 
“ There is a great difference among Hyacinths. Tb» 
size of the raceme is a most important part. If the 
flowers are few, and scattered along the scape, the 
plant is generally of small value; but numerous and 
crowded flowers make the best appearance. I have 
some of extraordinary beauty. The bulb importers say 
that Hyacinths soon degenerate in this country; and it 
may be so where they are neglected; but a few years 
ago, I bought a number at Philadelphia and Mew-York, 
that are quite as fine as when I first got them ; and I 
have had several for many years that show no sig7is of 
degeneracy. Dr. T--called the other day, and ad¬ 
mired them very much. He lost most of his splendid 
kinds last summer by the rotting of the bulbs. They 
ought to have been taken up. Some kinds of bulbs, as 
the Crown Imperial, and some species of Narcissus, are 
very liable to rot in summer, unless the soil is trodden 
down over them to keep out the wet.” These remarks 
were applied to heavy soils, and are doubtless applica¬ 
ble to all on which the water does not immediately 
drain off. 
“ The seeds of Cyclamen liedercefolium have germi¬ 
nated, and the young plants along side the old ones ap 
