it must be put on hot, there will be almost invariably some of the wax found in the fruit when it is eaten, which does not particularly improve the flavor. I have found common putty to answer the purpose very much better. It requires no heating, is no trouble to use, and never leaks through into the can. When wanted for use, the cans are easily opened; and after sealing, and standing to become cold, the name of the fruit, and the date of putting up, can be easily written with a lead pencil on the putty. If it be desired to keep the putty on hand, it should be put in a cup with enough water to cover it.

The Apple-crop in Northern Illinois is unusually heavy, many trees breaking down beneath their loads. Being so full, of course the fruit is small, as most fruit-raisers are too tender-hearted to thin out their fruit. Another trouble is, that most kinds are somewhat scabbed or blotched. One orchard of Red Junes, that have heretofore brought the highest prices, were this year made into cider. As to the reason of their being so blotched, I have no theory to offer, except that it was probably, as the old lady said, the weather. The like may not occur again for many years. Pear-trees have borne well, and it is a wonder that so few are planted. I saw two young Flemish Beauties from which the owner told me he had taken two bushels each. Would not an acre of such trees be a paying investment?

C. C. M.

NEW GRAPES. - A few years ago, and there were only two good hardy outdoor grapes known: now there are scores; and the number is increasing so rapidly, that it is really almost impossible to keep up with them. Go where you will, into any garden or nursery of any note, and you will find tens, hundreds, or even thousands, of seedling grapes. The careful experimenter has resorted to the use of the camel's-hair brush, and hopes to produce a cross between some favorite varieties that will utterly eclipse all cthers. Now, it will be strange indeed, if, among all these new varieties, some good ones are not found, possibly possessing all the good qualities we have ever desired in a grape. There is room enough yet, and a wide field open before all who would enter upon this interesting work. We have very few grapes that can be safely recommended for general cultivation.

We have many varieties of pears, with a very wide range of flavors; and it should be our aim to extend the list of grapes until we get some suited, if possible, to each locality throughout our extended country. There seems to be something lacking in almost every variety now before us; and the grape for the million is yet to be introduced.

We are occasionally delighted to hear that such a person has a new grape that is far superior to all others: but when we come to see or taste it, or, what is better, to fruit it, we find that we have paid our money for that which does not satisfy us; and we turn and look in another direction, and go through the same process many times over without any satisfactory results. Once in a while, some old and well-known variety is trotted out under a new name; and the public are cheated either designedly or ignorantly by the originator, or some person to whom he may have sold his stock. But let the work go on until we have secured the desired results.

FALL AND WINTER TREATMENT OF STRAWBERRIES. - All strawberry-beds should be carefully weeded in the fall; for, if neglected then, a large crop of weeds, stimulated by the manure used for the good of the strawberries, will grow and flourish early the next spring, to the great injury of the crop of berries. Chickweed and shepherd's-sprout are among the nuisances that so trouble the fruit-grower, especially where he attempts to raise this fruit on old land. After the beds have been carefully looked after in this respect, then they should receive, just as the ground freezes up, a covering of coarse horse-manure, straw, sedge, meadow-hay, or even evergreen boughs, to protect them during the winter. It sometimes happens that snow comes, and remains all winter, and is sufficient protection for all the plants it covers; but this cannot be counted upon, and so the safest way is to cover artificially. Peach-trees would be greatly benefited by some such protection; certainly at the North and West, where the peach-crop often fails from exposure.

POUND OR UVEDALE ST. GERMAIN PEAR. This pear grows to the largest size, often weighing a pound and a half or two pounds. It is a great bearer, and the fruit is most always fair. It colors up yellow when ripe, with a reddish cheek. The flesh is solid, and it is an excellent winter-cooking variety. hardy and vigorous; and the fruit, though very large, hangs well.

The tree is

HUNT'S RUSSET. This apple originated in Old Concord, Mass., on the farm of a Mr. Hunt, and has an excellent reputation in that goodly town. The fruit is of medium size, and rather conical in shape; russet with red and greenish yellow on sunny side. It keeps all winter, and has a very excellent sub-acid flavor. Some prefer it to the American golden russet, which it somewhat resembles. Good bearer.

TO PROTECT TREES FROM MICE. - Some years ago, we adopted a cheap and yet successful plan to prevent field-mice from injuring our apple-trees. We cut birch-bark, and put it round the tree near its base, and let it curl up and hug to the tree. Not one was injured where the bark was used: they will not gnaw through it, as we believe. We have known tin used in the same way, and it answered an excellent purpose. Others adopt the simplest way of all, tread the snow firmly down around the tree soon after it falls, and thus form a barrier against the mice. Again: where the trees are small, and stand in ploughed land, the earth can be so heaped up about the tree as to furnish no harbor or retreat for this little enemy. When small trees stand in the grass, if any are allowed to do so, one of the above plans should be resorted to, or the trees may suffer.

GRAPE-CUTTINGS. These should be secured before the wood has been frozen much, cut into convenient lengths, and covered up in earth, unless they are wanted to start early in the propagating-house. Only the well-ripened wood should be saved for propagation. They may be buried in the ground or cellar, or any place where they will keep fresh, and, before being used in the spring, cut into single eyes, or such lengths as are preferred.

ST. GHISLAIN PEAR. - We have received specimens of this nice little pear, raised in Bangor, Me., where it flourishes well. Though it is of foreign origin, yet it seems to be well adapted even to the northern portion of the United States. It is a fruit of the first quality, quite juicy and sprightly. It is rather small to be popular as a market variety, but is an excellent one for home use. The tree is a good grower and bearer. Season, September.

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KEEPING VEGETABLES. Those intended for table-use through the winter should be so cared for that they will not shrivel, but retain their freshness even until spring. Turnips, beets, carrots, parsnips, and the like, may be covered with sand, and kept fresh. Many vegetables are nearly ruined by being stored in cellars heated by a furnace. This should never be allowed. It is better never to store such things in a cellar under a house, but in a cool place, either under the barn, or elsewhere convenient to the house. The cooler they are kept, the better, if they do not freeze.

WOOD-ASHES FOR STRAWBERRIES. There is no better fertilizer for strawberries than ashes. We remember that one of the best crops we ever had was raised when the only manure used was wood-ashes. All soils will not alike be benefited by such an application; but it is always safe to use ashes in connection with other manures. If ashes only are used, there are fewer weeds, as no seed can be introduced by the manure.

WINTER PROTECTION. - Many of the shrubs, plants, and vines in our gardens and on our lawns are not perfectly hardy, but need, and should have, some protection in winter. Plants near the ground may be covered with leaves or hay; but shrubs and climbing vines will need different management. When evergreen boughs can be had without much trouble, they may be used to good advantage. This work should, if possible, be done before the ground freezes, so that the ends of the boughs may be stuck into the ground to keep them in place during the winter when this cannot be done, they will need to be tied together to keep them. Some who cannot readily get such boughs may get straw more easily, and it can be used to equal advantage. Bind and tie it around the plant in such a way as to protect it both from the extreme cold by night and the heat of the sun by day. It is not generally the extreme cold that kills the tender or half-hardy tree or plant, but the alternations of heat and cold. Then, when so protected, the plants are less liable to be broken down by sleet, snow, and ice, which often greatly injure them.

CUTTING SCIONS. Many good grafters prefer to cut their scions in early winter, before there has been much severe cold weather. It often happens that scions left on the tree until spring, will, when cut, show the pith of the scion quite black; and sometimes the wood itself is injured by the severity of the weather. Such wood should not be used; for many of the grafts will fail, however skilful the person may be who sets them. If cut in the fall, they should be kept fresh, either by burying in the earth where the water will not stand, or in moist earth in the cellar.

FORCING CUCUMBERS. We are often inquired of concerning the growing of cucumbers under glass. Years ago, it was of little use to attempt it, except on a small scale, merely to supply one's own family; for there was no sale for them but now it is quite different, as there is a demand for them all through the winter. It requires great care to raise nice ones, such as will suit the market; and it is only by years of experience that one can become expert in the business. A border or bed should be prepared, say eighteen inches deep by three feet in width, in which to plant the seeds; and under it should run a teninch pipe, heated either by hot air or steam, so that the temperature may be kept up from eighty-five to ninety degrees by day, and as high as fifty degrees at night. This border should be made up of about one-half of common garden-soil, the other half of old well-rotted cow-manure, with some bone-dust or fish-guano. From the time the plants make their appearance, they will need watering occasionally, — once a week or oftener, according to the weather; and, at such times, manure-water may be used to advantage. Hen-manure or ground fish are excellent substances for such a purpose; but care must be used lest the solution be too strong. As the plants grow, train them to the rafters of the house. The cucumber has two persistent enemies with which the grower must contend, -the red spider, and black and green aphis. The treatment for the former is to syringe with water, and do it often; the oftener, the worse for the insects. The latter insect may be killed by fumigation; and after that process, say the next morning, thoroughly syringe the plants. These operations should be repeated as often as necessary to keep the vines free from vermin. In order to have the fruit set well, it is necessary to have the pollen supplied artificially to the female flowers; and this may be done either with a camel's-hair brush, or, what is better, by picking off the male flowers, and scattering the pollen over the female. The more rapidly the fruit is grown, the better it is. They grow to great size if well treated; though this is not desirable, as cucumbers of medium size sell the best. Among the best varieties are Conqueror of the West, Prize-fighter, and Carter. When this crop does well, it is quite profitable.

RAISING NEW PEARS. Nothing is easier than to plant the seed of the best varieties of pears, and get new sorts, many of which will be equal if not superior to the parent. If seed be selected from fruit raised in an orchard, when natural hybridization takes place, new varieties possessing the good qualities of two or more kinds will be likely to be produced: sometimes they seem to be an almost reproduction of some favorite sort. We have just seen a pear, said to be from the seckel, which is like the parent in every respect, except in form, which varies slightly. We believe no one could recognize the difference in flavor. It is well known that gripes have been sent out as new varieties that proved to be so nearly like the parent, that no one could tell the difference. In other cases,

as with the Clapp's Favorite Pear, the influence of both parents may be distinctly seen. The old theory of Van Mons has been practised for many years, and few good results have followed; while some who have sown but comparatively few seeds, like Mr. Francis Dana of Roxbury, have raised many varieties, some of which will take the first rank among the best American pears. There is no

particular art about it. One has only to sow the seed of good fruit, all the better if it comes from where many trees are grown in the same neighborhood, and the best results will follow: not, of course, that many can be produced that will at once take the place of those now in cultivation; but good sorts can be obtained. Many of the best fruits now on the list are chance scedlings that have been so produced. The Seckel, Bloodgood, Fulton, Tyson, Collins, and a host of others that we could name, are chance seedlings; and, if such have been so produced, why may not others as good or better? We believe that the work has but just begun, and that year by year new pears will be added to the list, such as will even surprise the veteran pomologist. We are confident, from our own experience and success, that what we have said in relation to the ease with which new varieties may be obtained is strictly true.

THE CREVELING GRAPE. - This is one of the most refreshing grapes on the list, though not of the very highest quality. Its general reputation is looseness of bunch; but, under some circumstances, it produces very handsome bunches. Unfortunately, in some localities, it is inclined to lose its leaves by mildew, when the fruit fails to ripen. It ripens, when the foliage remains healthy, as early as Hartford Prolific, and is a very much better grape. In some localities, it is not a valuable market-grape, on account of its tendency to produce straggling bunches.

We have received from a subscriber in Vineland, N. J., a photograph of a Vicar of Winkfield dwarf pear-tree, bearing many specimens of this well-known variety.

There is much difference of opinion as to the value of this pear, and also as to its quality. We have eaten it when it was quite good, and again have found it worthless. The exposed specimens that color up on the sunny side are usually very good for cooking, and fair for eating. It is a hardy tree, though somewhat liable to fire-blight, and an enormous bearer; does well on quince or pear; fruit keeps well, grows to large size, and, on the whole, in many localities is well worth growing.

PRUNING GRAPE-VINES. There is no better time to attend to this important work than in November and December. When the vines are to be laid down under the earth, the pruning should be done by the first of November, so that the cuts will have time to dry before the vines are laid down. We have noticed, where the vines were laid down the same day they were pruned, that, when lifted in spring, they bled as though the wounds, or cuts, were fresh. When wood is to be used for propagation, it must be cut off before the extreme freezing weather has injured it. Some varieties need very much more pruning than others. Those inclined to make wood too freely should be pruned close. We have often trimmed so as to leave but a single bud for fruit; and, in some instances, we have cut so as to have the plant push a dormant eye. During the following year, the vine will not bear much fruit; but it will become strong, and better prepared for the succeeding season. In fact, many of the vines in the country are over-pruned and over-fruited, and they need rest and less severe