believe this end attainable, and consider the hybrids as one step towards its accomplishment. I have recrossed them with the Monthly Alpine, and other varieties having a tendency to bear an autumn crop; and shall probably repeat the operation with the second generation of seedlings, if necessary. I think this continued infusion of the ever-bearing quality must finally produce the desired result.

The last year, I fruited a thousand new strawberry seedlings; and have a collection of five hundred or more, which will fruit this season for the first time. I have also several thousand young seedlings which were raised last year. All of these seedlings were produced by crossing the best varieties in cultivation, and recrossing my best seedlings with each other and with the largest native and foreign varieties known. I raise no seedlings according to the Van Mons plan, having failed years ago in producing any thing of value by that method. I was thereby led to adopt the true system of producing new and improved varieties of fruits. If I have learned any truth concerning horticulture by experience, it is that the cross-breeding of varieties will produce results far superior to those which can be obtained by the Van Mons method.

ROCHESTER, N. Y., April, 1867.

Facob Moore.

NEW APPLES.

SAWYER. - In the month of April, there was received from N. J. Colman, Esq., editor of "The Rural World and Valley Farmer," of St. Louis, Mo., a box of beautiful apples. They were reported to have been procured from Mr. Amos Sawyer of Hillsborough, Ill., who asserts that this variety was grown from the seed of the Winesap, which it resembles slightly in shape, and from which it differs in other respects.

The tree is said to be vigorous and of upright habit, and a very early bearer. It is now but six years old, and has produced three crops of fruit. The apples hang well to the twigs.

The fruit, as received, was in very good condition, of full medium size, conic, truncated, regular; surface smooth, waxy yellow, with a faint blush of crimson; dots small, scattered, gray.

Basin deep, abrupt, regular; eye rather large, somewhat open; calyx reflexed.

Cavity medium, acute, wavy; stem of medium length, slender.

Core small, closed, irregular, meeting the eye; seeds numerous, plump, dark, rather small; flesh yellow, breaking, tender, juicy; flavor sub-acid; quality good. Use, table and market; season, April, "keeping till July."

This is certainly a very beautiful and attractive apple, and, when tested in other localities, bids fair to become a popular fruit, on account of its quality, appearance, and keeping. It was described in Colman's "Rural World" for May 1.

Diagnosis.- Class II., order I., sect. 2, sub-sect. I.

NELSON. This long-keeping variety was exhibited before the Illinois. State Horticultural Society last December, at Champaign, when it was too green and immature to give any idea of its quality. Mr. W. T. Nelson of Wilmington, Ill., has since sent me specimens of this fruit; which is certainly a rich, long-keeping, sweet baking-apple, different from any thing. with which I am acquainted. Mr. Nelson has not been able to trace the history or origin of the variety which is here described with his name.

Fruit of full medium or large size, globular-oblate, regular; surface smooth, dull green, becoming yellow, and sometimes bronzed with dirty. brown; dots scattered, minute, dark, with white bases in the immature fruit. Basin small, uneven; eye medium, closed; calyx reflexed.

Cavity medium, acute, regular, green; stem rather long, slender.

Core medium, regular, closed, clasping; seeds numerous, plump, brown; flesh greenish-yellow, firm, fine-grained, juicy; flavor sweet; quality good. Use, baking and table; season, May to July.

Diagnosis.-Class I., order I., sect. I, sub-sect. I.

DAVIS'S SWEET.-This fruit was forwarded by Mr. W. K. Tipton of Jerusalem, Monroe County, O. It is believed to be a seedling of that county, and originated thirty years ago. During that time, it has so won the affections of the people, that it is extensively cultivated; but its unattractive appearance will prevent its being generally admired as a marketfruit, for which its vigorous habit and great productiveness would especially adapt it. In baking, it cooks soft; though its thick skin does not burst like a codling.

Fruit of medium size, "uniform," globular-oblate, sometimes rather conical, regular; surface yellow, shaded with mixed red, splashed crimson, not smooth; skin thick; dots numerous, large, gray or fawn-color.

Basin small, abrupt, russeted; eye medium, closed.

Cavity medium, acute, regular, brown; stem long, slender.

Core medium, regular, distinct, and green, clasping the eye; seeds few, plump, brown; flesh yellow, fine-grained; flavor rather sweet, rich; quality rather good. Use, market and kitchen; season, from April to July; will keep for fifteen months.

Diagnosis.

Class I., order I., sect. 1, sub-sect. 2.

CLEVES, O.

John A. Warder.

GRAFTING THE GRAPE-VINE.

WHEN this process takes kindly, it is of much advantage to the grapegrower. Vines of questionable value may thus be quickly replaced by other and better kinds. A weak or slow-growing variety, grafted into a thrifty stock, will, if the union is successful, generally produce a much more vigorous growth than the original. The Delaware and Rebecca vines for instance, under ordinary culture, are, in a majority of cases, feeble growers. It is not uncommon for grafts of these varieties to make a growth of from ten to twenty feet in length by from an inch to an inch and a half in circumference the first year. With the stronger-growing kinds, such as Rogers's Hybrids, Diana, &c., a much larger growth is often obtained.

According to popular belief, the stock has an influence on the graft. If this theory is correct, there may be other advantages in this process, such as hastening the maturity of a late variety by grafting into a stock that is early. Possibly one or two weeks may in this way be gained in the ripening of that excellent late grape, the Catawba; or, on the same principle, the Delaware, Clinton, and others of the species Vitis æstivalis, may be made to produce a much larger berry by grafting into the Mammoth Native, Union Village, &c. Experience, however, does not seem to confirm these latter statements; but that a shy bearer, or an inferior variety, by grafting, may be changed in one or two years to a bearing vine of good quality, or

that a feeble grower can be made more vigorous by grafting into a stronger stock, is not doubtful.

It is the large percentage of failures that occur in grafting the vine, the uncertainty of a successful union between the stock and the graft, if any thing, that makes the utility of this process doubtful.

Some cultivators advise late fall as the best time for grape-grafting; others say very early spring is best; June is also recommended. Failures and successes have followed grafting at each of these periods; but, with good and well-ripened scions that have been properly kept, the middle or last of June has proved to be a more favorable time, according to the experience of the writer, than either fall or spring. The vine is then in active growth, the sap thickens rapidly, and there is less danger from the stock's bleeding. Grape-grafting is not a new process, and is only briefly alluded to here for the benefit of those who wish to experiment. It is easily performed by any person who is "handy" with edge-tools. Probably any of the forms used to bring the scion in contact with the stock may answer; but the common method of cleft-grafting has been quite as successful as any other. It is simply to cut an established vine down to about two or three inches below the surface soil; then to split the stock, and hold it open with an inserted wedge till the scion is fitted. The connection between the barks should be quite perfect, that they may join and assimilate. Scions usually have from one to three buds; and, when set, the lower bud is outward. With small vines, the scion is bound or tied in with a strip of matting or string that will easily decay; but, with stocks of half an inch or more in diameter, merely pressing the earth up firmly is considered sufficient, if the junction is good. When the earth is again replaced, a few shingles, or, what is better, an inverted flower-pot is temporarily set over the graft to shield it from the sun. Finally, suckers coming from the stock are removed as they appear; and although the graft may not start till late in July, if it keeps fresh, the prospects of success are not discouraging. George Lincoln, Fun.

HINGHAM, MASS.