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ANNUALS, Kennebunk, Me. — Plant portulaca all over your bulb-bed, and it will sow itself, and come up year after year. The roots do not go deep enough to injure the bulbs, nor do they exhaust the ground. When killed by the frost, clear off the plants, and give a top-dressing of well-rotted manure previous to covering the bed for the winter.

If you get a good strain of seed, you will have a bed shining with the most gorgeous colors.

IDEM. Tagetes signata pumila, a dwarf marigold, is the best yellow bedder. Calceolarias are very pretty; but they do not stand our sun, and soon grow ragged.

HENRY, Hartford, Conn. - Your tree is Virgilia lutea, sometimes called yellow-wood; one of the rarest and most beautiful of our indigenous trees. It is a native of the Middle States. It grows rapidly when in a congenial soil, but seldom blooms until quite large.

Can good crops of strawberries be obtained next year from beds set out in August? It depends somewhat upon the weather when the plants are set. If the weather should prove very dry, the plants would not get a start so as to produce much next year. We have lately seen a very fine crop of large fruit produced from plants set last August. We planted, last year, the 10th of July, and secured an excellent crop this year. We generally prefer spring-planting.

SUBSCRIBER. At what time in the year should fruit-trees be pruned at the root to make them produce fruit in place of rank growth of foliage, the trees being principally pear-trees? - The work may be done in autumn after the trees have shed their leaves, or early in spring before the trees have begun to swell their buds. Should prefer autumn. Dig a trench around the tree a sufficient distance from the tree, and cut off all the roots with a sharp spade or knife; and then fill in with some well-decayed manure mixed with loam, and fill up the trench again. By this process, the luxuriance of the tree is checked, and fruitbuds are formed. It is a good method to practise, especially in small gardens.

W. H. H., Alexandria, Va. — Where can I procure whale-oil soap? and what is the price per pound? It can be had at any horticultural or agricultural warehouse, or of any seedsman in Boston, and probably in any of the principal cities. The price in Boston is fifteen cents per pound.

Some persons recommend planting evergreens in August and September. Is it a good time to plant them? - Evergreens will live planted in autumn; but spring is far better. We remember planting quite a lot of Norway spruce and American arborvitæ, two hardy evergreens, in autumn; and they suffered so severely during the winter and spring, that nearly every one had to be replaced; and the few that were left were cut out considerably, presenting a ragged appearance. We do not advise fall planting of evergreens at the North.

Has the tobacco-soap introduced by Mr. Jacques of Boston proved to be a good thing? Yes: much more agreeable to use in the parlor or greenhouse, and quite as effective as whale-oil-soap. An excellent article.

Has the Agriculturist Strawberry met the great expectations of those who bought it at high prices?— We think not, fully. It is large, some berries measuring five and a quarter inches in circumference: it bears very well; but the quality is second-rate. We are aware that this matter of taste is one that can- not be controlled or argued. Some will declare that Wilson's Albany is the best strawberry that can be had, while others are equally confident that it is not worth raising for home use. We confess ourselves to be among the latter

class.

How can I best keep the birds off my vineyard? For several years, the robins and other birds have taken all my cherries, a large share of my strawberries, raspberries, and other early fruits; and, when the grapes ripen, they come into the vineyard by hundreds, destroying nearly the entire crop. The law prevents my shooting them, and I don't know what to do. Can you give me any advice in the matter? - The evil complained of by our friend is a serious one. The robins have become very numerous, especially in the States where they are protected by law; and are really a great nuisance to the fruit-grower. The good they do does not compensate for the damage they cause, in our opinion. It is not well settled how useful the robin is in destroying insects injurious to vegetation; but the growing opinion is, that they do very little in that direction. This may not be true of the other birds that trouble your early fruit. The robin, we believe, is the only bird that injures the grape crop. If the law prevents you from shooting the birds, the only alternative left you is to frighten them off some way. Strawberry-beds may be protected by nets laid over, so that the birds cannot get at the fruit. The best plan we can suggest in regard to the vineyard is to keep one or more boys, or even girls, that can be hired cheaply, to frighten them off, either by clapping two sticks together, or by the use of a watchman's rattle, that makes a noise they do not enjoy. The owner of a vineyard remarked to us the other day, that he adopted this plain, and it was a good investment of his money. Try it.

MISS E. A. F., Jackson, Mich.—The enemies of your rose-bushes are of sorts unpleasantly familiar to rose-growers in this country. One is the leafhopper, popularly called the thrip; and the other, the rose-slug. A solution of whale-oil soap is a good remedy. It must be applied thoroughly with a gardensyringe. You had better, however, use Jacques's tobacco-soap instead, as it is less disagreeable, and more effectual. If you cannot get either of these, syringe with strong soap-suds made with common soft-soap. Two or three good applications will kill all the slugs. You must attack the leaf-hoppers on a cold morning, as the warm sun makes them too active. They cannot endure a good wetting with tobacco-soap.

MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

JUNE 22.

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The show at the rooms of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society was very good for the season. Peaches of two varieties were shown by C. T. Holbrook; fine Muscat of Alexandria, and other grapes, by M. H. Simpson; Hovey's Seedling Strawberries, by George Hill. J. D. Hovey exhibited BufTalo Seedling, Rippowam, and Agriculturist Strawberries. Cherries from Joseph Breck. F. Parkman had a splendid show of roses, of many varieties. Cut flowers were exhibited by James M'Tear, E. A. Story, George Crafts, F. Parkman, W. C. Strong, H. Vandine, and N. Washburn. Beautiful baskets of flowers, prepared by Miss Story, Miss A. C. Kenrick, Miss S. E. Westgate, Mrs. S. B. Joyce, Mrs. C. B. Chase, were on the tables. Peas were showed by James Comley, J. B. Moore, and C. H. Laughton.

The following prizes were awarded for herbaceous pæonies, postponed from last Saturday: For the best ten named varieties, to Hovey & Co, $5; second best, to Joseph Breck, $4.

Baskets of flowers were shown by five different contributors. The first prize was awarded to Mrs. S. Joyce; second, to Mrs. C. B. Chase.

Cut flowers were unusually fine. The first premium was awarded to W. C. Strong of Brighton; second, to Francis Parkman of Jamaica Plain; third, to George Craft of Brookline. Good displays of cut flowers were also made by James M'Tear, E. A. Story, N. Washburn, John A. Kenrick, and Henry Vandine.

In the vegetable department, the display was small. J. B. Moore of Concord took the first prize for the best peck of Carter's first crop peas; the second prize was awarded to Mr. C. H. Laughton of Dorchester, for Tom Thumb; third, to James Comley of Lexington, for Carter's First Crop.

ROSE AND STRAWBERRY SHOW.

JUNE 25 and 26.

This is quite a prominent exhibition with this society; being held on two days, Tuesday and Wednesday. Liberal premiums were offered, and the display was large and fine; in the department of roses, never better. F. Parkman led off with more than two hundred varieties of this queen of flowers. He raises just as good ones as he writes about in his admirable book on the cultivation of roses. Other contributors brought roses in great abundance, of most excellent quality; among whom were Hovey & Co., Walker & Co., Mrs. T. W. Ward, Edward Flynn, W. Heustis, E. Stone, James M'Tear, E. Wason, and H. H. Hunnewell. Cut flowers in great profusion from H. H. Hunnewell, James Nugent, E. A. Story, C. B. Brigham, James Comley, W. C. Strong, Joseph Breck, and J. G. Chandler. Large and fine assortment of Paisley Pinks from Hovey & Co. and E. Wason; Gloxinias of unequalled beauty, from Mrs. T. W. Ward; large collection of Plants from Hovey & Co. The show of roses and other flowers was very satisfactory. Strawberries were shown in abundance. James Comley had six varieties, among which were fine specimens

of Lennig White; W. P. Walker, Triomphe de Gand, of which thirty-seven berries filled a box; Mrs. Ward, Hovey's Seedling and Triomphe de Gand; J. C. Park had five sorts, - Jucunda, Cremont, Agriculturist, Hovey's Seedling, and Triomphe de Gand; Warren Heustis, Agriculturist; George Hill, Hovey's Seedling and Brighton Pine; J. W. Foster, four boxes Triomphe de Gand, good; Hovey & Co., five varieties strawberries; C. E. Grant and J. P. Langworthy, cherries.

The following awards were made:

June Roses. Class 1, — first prize, $6, to Francis Parkman; second do., to Hovey & Co. Class 2, first prize, $3, to James M'Tear; second do., $2, to James Nugent; third do., $1, to Joseph Breck. Class 3 (Hardy Perpetuals),— first prize, $6, to J. Chaffin; second do., $4, to Francis Parkman; third do., $3, to Hovey & Co. Class 4,- first prize, $3, to C. J. Power; second do., $2, to Francis Parkman; third do., $1, to James M'Tear. Class 5 (Moss Roses), first prize, $4, to Francis Parkman; second do., $3, to Hovey & Co.; third do., $2, to James M'Tear.

Tender Roses. — Class 1, - first prize, $5, to James Nugent; second do., $4, to James M'Tear.

General Display. - Class 1,-first prize, $6, to Francis Parkman ; second do., $5, to E. Stone; third do., $4, to John Chaffin.

Cut Flowers.

First prize, $5, to H. H. Hunnewell; second do., $4, to Hovey & Co.; third do., $3, to Joseph Breck.

Basket Flowers. - First prize, $2, to Mrs. S. Joyce; second do., $1, to Mrs. E. M. Gill.

Hand Bouquets.

Hovey & Co.

Native Plants.

First prize, $4, to Hovey & Co.; Table Bouquets, $4, to

First premium to Mrs. M. E. Carter, $3.

Gratuities. James M'Tear, $3, and E. Wason, $2, for Paisley Pinks. Hovey & Co., collection of Pot Plants, $20. Mrs. T. W. Ward, Gloxinias, $8. Edward Flynn, dish of Roses, $3. Hovey & Co., do., $2. Warren Heustis, do., $2. Mrs. T. W. Ward, do., $2. Walker & Co., do., $2. Hovey & Co., Pinks, $2. J. W. Brooks, Cut Flowers, $2. James Nugent, do., $2. William Cairns, do., $2. Walker & Co., E. A. Story, W. J. Underwood, J. M. Manning, J. G. Chandler, Henry Vandine, Sumner Downs, C. J. Power, Elbridge Wilson, N. Washburn, $1 each, for displays of Cut Flowers. Miss S. E. Westgate, Miss A. C. Kenrick, Miss S. W. Storer, $1 each, for baskets of roses. J. A. Kenrick, Magnolia Macrophylla, $1. Francis Parkman, Seedling do., $1. J. J. Dixwell, Styrax officinale, $1. W. H. Halliday, Wardian Case, $3. James Comley, ties of Fuchsia, $1.

Renewals. Eliphalet Stone, Roses, $1. C. J. Power, do., $1. A. Farrier, four Bouquets, $1. Sumner Downs, Cut Flowers, $1. William Wales, Maréchal Niel Rose, $1. Miss S. E. Westgate, basket, $1. Hovey & Co., Cut Flowers, $2. For the best four varieties of strawberries, first prize, $25, to J. C. Park, Somerville. They were the American Agriculturist, Triomphe de Gand, Jucunda, and Cremont. For the best four quarts of strawberries of one variety, a silver cup, valued at $25, to George Hill, Arlington.

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HITHERTO We have spoken of the more noticeable of our spring-flowers. They differ little in kind, and time of blossoming, from those of the Eastern and Northern States. It is during the summer months that our flora, in its normal conditions, exhibits its peculiar characteristics. These are shown not so much in more numerous species or novel forms as in their richness and abundance, the vigor of growth, the brilliancy of coloring, and the amplitude and vastness of groups and masses.

And here it seems futile to speak of our midsummer plenitude of flowers to those already familiar with these scenes; and, to others, language is poor, and words quite inadequate to impart proper conceptions of these floral pictures.

In passing through so extended a field of observation, our remarks must necessarily be brief, and limited to plants and flowers of more striking habits, or possessing some special interest.

What shall we gather, this first week in June, for the flower-stand and the bouquet? Let us go to that spreading patch of silverwort (Potentilla

VOL. II.

17

129

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