BIRDS AMONG FRUITS. For many years, there has been much complaint among fruit-growers at the East because of the damage done to the fruit-crop by robins and other birds. The strawberries suffer severely, and many dollars are lost to the gardener because of the birds. The cherries suffer badly, as well as the early pears, raspberries, and other fruits. When the grapes are ripe, whole flocks of robins can be found about the vineyards, where they destroy an immense quantity of this valuable fruit. We find that the fruit-growers of the West are not exempt from this evil; for many complaints come to us from that section of country. Some owners estimate their loss at fifteen or twenty dollars a day during the season of ripening fruits. The depredations have not been committed by the robin alone; but orioles, jays, thrushes, and catbirds have each taken their part in the general destruction. It cannot be denied that some of these birds are a benefit to the fruit-grower, and should not be destroyed; but we have not much to say in favor of preserving the common robin. In some States, this bird is protected by the law; the wise ones who yearly assemble to regulate the laws having decided that they should be protected. We have reluctantly come to a different conclusion, and do not hesitate to advise the destruction of the robin. This is the only effectual way of getting rid of them; though they may be kept off if boys are employed and located about among the strawberry-beds and in the vineyards with watchmen's rattles, or two pieces of wood to strike together to make a noise and frighten them off. It has become a serious question with fruit-growers as to what shall be done with the birds.

APPLES FROM NOVA SCOTIA. We lately saw a box at the rooms of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, containing specimens of fifty-four varieties of apples; most of them being fair and handsome, and equal in size and quality to those grown in any part of the United States. Some of them were old and well-known varieties, including the Baldwin, Rhode-Island Greening, Gravenstein, Hubbardston Nonesuch, Golden Russet, Minister, Dutch Codlin, Porter, Tolman Sweet, Roxbury Russet, and others; while there were a few that were new to us, being seedlings, and having only a local name and reputation. We understand that they have a very flourishing Fruit-growers' Association at Cornwallis, N.S., where these apples were produced. We are glad to know that our neighbors have made so much progress in horticulture.

Keeping Vegetables. Sink a barrel two-thirds of its depth into the ground (a box or cask will answer a better purpose); heap the earth around the part projecting out of the ground, with a slope on all sides; place the vegetables that you desire to keep in the vessel; cover the top with a water-tight cover; and, when winter sets in, throw an armful of straw, hay, or something of that sort, on the barrel. If the bottom is out of the cask or barrel, it will be better. Cabbages, celery, and other vegetables, will keep in this way as fresh as when taken from the ground. The celery should stand nearly perpendicular, celery and earth alternating. Freedom from frost, ease of access, and especially freshness, and freedom from rot, are the advantages claimed. G. S. G.

CULTURE OF THE TREE-PEONY AND ITS VARIETIES. - -Tree-pæonies are among the most beautiful of hardy shrubs, and are great ornaments to the flower-garden when in bloom during the month of May. They are not, however, grown so generally as their very great merits entitle them to be. The reason is, that many persons think they are not sufficiently hardy to endure our severe winters. A strong, rich soil, with plenty of moisture during the growing season, has generally been recommended as best adapted for them. They will grow very well in such a soil; but if the subsoil be of a retentive nature, and the situation low and confined, the young wood and buds will not get properly matured in unfavorable summers, and they will, in consequence, suffer more or less should severe winters follow.

The tree-pæony and its varieties will succeed well in the open border without any protection whatever, and without any particular preparation of the soil, if only the subsoil be dry. The best time for planting them is towards the end of October or beginning of November, or, indeed, in early spring, before the buds break; but, with care, they may be removed at any time, except, perhaps, while in flower. With a little management, they force well, and are very useful for decorating the conservatory in spring.

They are increased by cuttings taken off in August, or in the early part of September, with part of the wood of the preceding year attached, and planted in a sheltered situation where they will root freely. They may also be increased from single eyes, like vines; also by layering, and by dividing the old plants.

If the tree-pæony were a new plant, how much would be thought of it! and how eagerly would it be sought after! But, because it is an old plant, it is neglected.

FISH-GUANO. —Among the many special manures that are offered for sale at certain seasons of the year is the article of fish-guano, or, more properly, ground-fish. The oil has been expressed from the fish, leaving the residue quite dry, and easy to manage. It should either be composted with loam or muck, and allowed to remain for a time; or it should be mixed with water, and used as a liquid manure. When applied in its raw state, it burns every thing that it touches: even grass will not stand the heat. It usually costs about eighteen or twenty dollars a ton, in barrels, delivered in the cities. At such a price, we think it a good thing to purchase for grass-land and for some other purposes.

IRON FOR PEAR-TREES. Some years ago, there was quite a rage for putting old iron, in some form or other, about pear-trees. Some used iron filings quite plentifully, much to their disappointment. Of late, however, we have heard but little about this iron business; and we conclude that the advocates of this theory have found, that, in practice, it was of no value. It is very much like the notion of driving nails into the trunks of peach-trees to prevent the disease known as the yellows. Can anybody give any facts in favor of the use of iron for pear or other trees?

THE WHORTLEBERRY TOMATO. A few seeds received last spring from New York, under the name of the "Whortleberry Tomato," proved on trial to be no other than those of the Black Nightshade, Solanum nigrum.

The plant is far from being new, though appearing under a new name. It abounds as a weed in many localities, particularly in the vicinity of old gardens ; usually appearing in neglected spots, where, among waste and rubbish, it probably finds protection in the early stages of its growth from the ravages of the ground-flea, to whose palate its thin and delicate leaves appear to be peculiarly inviting. So persistent are the attacks of these insects, that in the open ground its cultivation is always attended with much difficulty; the young plants being frequently completely defoliated, and sometimes entirely destroyed.

The stem is about three feet in height, open and branching. The leaves are of medium size, thin in texture, and rarely perfect; a large proportion being more or less perforated or eaten on the borders by insects. The fruit begins to ripen soon after midsunimer, and continues to form and ripen till the plants are destroyed by frost. It is produced in moderate abundance, in small drooping groups or clusters of four, five, or six together; and is of the size and color of the whortleberry; whence, probably, the name. The pulp is quite juicy, and somewhat sweetish to the taste; but it possesses withal a certain mawkish insipidity, that renders it any thing but agreeable.

Few plants have come under my notice respecting the history and properties of which authors are so much at variance. Many of the best European botanists describe it as a native of America; while Bigelow and Gray assert that it was introduced into this country from Europe.

Many scientific writers also regard it as possessing deleterious properties. King, in his "American Dispensatory," says that from two to three grains of the leaves infused in water will produce a copious perspiration; and adds, that “the berries are poisonous, causing torpor, burning in the stomach, fever, nausea, stupor, and insensibility."

On the other hand, seedsmen include Black Nightshade, alias the "Whortleberry Tomato," in their catalogues of seeds, classed as a spinaceous plant; and it has long been grown, and to a limited extent used, as a table esculent, like spinach. M. Dunal states, as "the result of numerous experiments, that the berries are not poisonous to man or the inferior animals ;" and also adds, “that the leaves are consumed in large quantities in the Isles of France and Bourbon as food, having been previously boiled in water."

I am inclined to think, that while a solution of the leaves, or their use in a green state, might be followed by unpleasant results, when cooked and used as spinach the plant would prove not only harmless, but even palatable. So far as regards the fruit, I have tasted and eaten without experiencing in the slightest degree any one of the long catalogue of ills predicted for those who might be tempted to such an indulgence.

In my opinion, the plant has really little merit, however inoffensive. Its cultivation is too difficult, and it is too unproductive, to become a substitute for spinach ; and there is little in the size, quantity, or quality of the fruit to commend it to public favor. Fearing Burr.

HINGHAM, March 1, 1868.

HOW CHERRY-TREES SHOULD BE GROWN. - Years ago, it was just as easy to raise a good crop of cherries as to raise a good crop of apples. We remember, when a boy, we made good wages picking this fruit at fifty cents the bushel, the trees gave such an abundant crop. Several years ago, a change seemed to come over the cherry-trces. When grown too rapidly, they burst their bark in many places, permitting the gum to exude in abundance; and, finally, the limb or branch would die. Warts, also, became numerous, and did considerable damage; the curculio began to destroy the cherry as he had already the plum; and, lastly, a severe drought, followed by a severe winter, seemed to give the finishing touch to many of the cherry-trees. The remedy for the first trouble, we believe, is within our reach. We remember, some years ago, a neighbor bought a hundred cherry-trees, and set them out in an orchard, and began to manure, and treated them in this respect as he had done his apple-orchard, which was in a very thriving condition. In a year or two, many of the trees burst their bark, turned black, and parts died; and this continued until three-fourths of the whole were either dead or nearly so, being quite worthless. It was evident to the farmer that he had killed his trees by kindness: and he stopped manuring, and sowed his land down to grass; and this saved them. What would do for the apple-tree would not answer for the cherry. We know another orchard, now some years old, that we set out for a neighbor, where the trees have been kept in grass ever since the second year after they were set; and these trees have made a good, sound, healthy growth each year, and latterly, even for ten years past, except a single year, have borne good crops of fruit. There is not a more healthy cherry-orchard in the country. These trees have never suffered by the bursting of the bark, nor from warts. The best trees may be so forced in growth as to become tender and diseased, and in a short time worthless, as Neighbor Jones's trees did. We are perfectly sure that all who have been troubled by diseased cherry-trees, will, if they adopt the plan we have referred to, soon see the beneficial effects of it, and, though they may have to wait longer for fruit, will succeed in saving their trees.

NOTES ON SOME OF THE EARLY APPLES. The Early Harvest is one of the best of the early apples, ripening the last of July or the first of August, but, unfortunately, requiring very high culture, and, when not receiving it, growing knobby, and of poor shape. It is of excellent quality, either for cooking or the dessert; and no garden can afford to be without it. Tree a moderate grower. Red Astrachan.- This is a beautiful red apple, having a bloom like a plum. The fruit generally grows fair and of good size. It is most excellent for cooking, but rather acid for the table, though esteemed by many for this purpose. Flesh very white. Tree an upright and good grower. Said to be a native of Sweden. Well worthy of cultivation.

Early Sweet Bough is one of the earliest and best; though a sweet apple is not considered so valuable for general purposes as an acid fruit. It is a rich, sweet, and excellent dessert-fruit, yellow when ripe. Ripens in July and August. Tree a moderate grower and good bearer. Fruit generally smooth, and rather large. A desirable variety.

THE HATTIE GRAPE. From time to time, new seedlings are brought out, some of which have a run for a short time, and are no more heard of. Others are found suited to certain localities, and are there planted: but occasionally a new and quite promising sort appears for a season, and then for a time is lost to sight, some, from the grower becoming discouraged because his pet did not receive first praise; others because of the removal of tree or vine, throwing it out of fruiting for years, or possibly out of existence by death. Some years since, N. R. Haskell, Esq., of Monroe, Mich., sent me several varieties of grapes for an expression of my opinion as to their value; and among them was one under the name of "Hattie,” which appeared so promising, that I then made a drawing and the following description, hoping the next season to again see the fruit; but, up to this time, I have never met with it. The bunch was loose; but, as it was the first season's fruiting, I concluded that would be remedied by age. The beauty of the fruit was such, that I do not like to lose sight of it; and, as I believe cuttings of the vine were distributed by Mr. Haskell, I now introduce it, hoping some grower may have fruited it, and be prepared to speak of it.

Description.

Grown from seed of the Michigan or Catawba; fruited first time in 1861; foliage similar to Catawba, but not as large, of a peculiar yellowish-green; wood light pale-brown; bunch medium, four to four and a half inches in length, not shouldered, rather loose; berries round, slightly oval, mediumsized, uniform; skin about same thickness as Catawba ; color bright, clear red, translucent in the sun, with a fine white bloom, very beautiful; peduncles and foot-stalks long; flesh light pale-red, apparently, when cut in halves; but, when pressed out from the skin, it is a clear white, with little pulp, pleasantly vinous. Ripens with Concord. F. R. Elliott.

VARIETIES OF LETTUCE. "The London Gardener's Magazine " describes forty-eight varieties of cabbage-lettuce, and sixteen varieties of the cos-lettuce. A selection of the best varieties is as follows, Early White Spring, White Tennis-ball, Crisp Small Early, Stone-Tennis, Berlin White, Neapolitan, Stonehead Frame, Drumhead, and Crisp German, of the cabbage sorts; and Florence, Paris, and Bath, of the cos varieties.

TREE-PEONY. In making selections for shrubs this coming season, no one should leave out the tree-pæony. It is perfectly hardy; and, now that there are so many shades in flower, there is no reason for its omission in forming a mass of it alone. A good, strong soil is desirable for it; but in no case must it be placed where water stands at the roots during a wet fall or winter, because it results in a loss of all the flower-buds and of some length of wood. A moderately dry soil, but rich, suits it best. F. R. E.

ASSOCIATION. -There is much in association: but we confess we should have been some time ere we should have taken the Belgian one to mind; viz., that a bouquet composed of hot-house flowers only is illustrative of a warm reception.