character, and that it involved his credit and reputation as a grape-grower, points on which it is well known he values himself more than in all things else, and which he is doubtless prepared to defend, to his own satisfaction at least.

So far as my knowledge extends, my views are mainly in harmony with those expressed by Dr. Grant. His criticisms upon varieties, his well-considered and nicely-drawn formulas, it is scarcely prudent for persons of limited attainments in this delicate and intricate work to attempt to improve.

With the great merit of the Iona Grape I was early impressed, and each succeeding year has added new proof of its paramount value. It is, beyond all question, in quality, the finest grape yet grown; and, where it succeeds (limits less narrow, I am confident, than many have supposed), it is bound to take the lead of all others until a better variety (and may it soon appear!) is brought

out.

The grape-growers who met at Canandaigua, as well as others in different sections of the country, are bearing renewed testimony of their appreciation of this splendid grape; nor will their zeal abate on account of the views expressed in Mr. Caywood's communication. Mark the prediction: every well-developed Iona plant offered will be purchased and planted the coming spring; and the same result will be realized the following year, unless more than three times the number propagated the past season are thrown upon the market.

I cannot indorse Dr. Grant's views regarding the hybrids grown by Mr. Rogers.

So far as the value of the grapes is concerned, it is of no importance whether they are crosses, yea or nay: their inherent properties constitute the measure of their value. Nor, in my view, does their claimed affinity to a foreign family add any thing to their merited fame in the opinion of intelligent cultivators.

For the interest of grape-growers, it would be a great satisfaction to be assured that Dr. Grant is right; for if the results secured by Mr. Rogers in the instance of his fifty varieties, all eatable, if not particularly desirable, are available without hybridization, then assuredly may we look for new and valuable varieties in abundance.

This point settled in accordance with Dr. Grant's view, the day of five-dollar grape-vines, however exalted their fruits, is numbered; and the strife regarding the relative merits of new varieties will at once cease for lack of the needed stimulus, the fancy prices heretofore so readily obtained. But certainly the fact that No. 4 or 15, or their more admired sister Salem, are hybrids, adds not a whit to their actual goodness.

"The rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

Nor is it of any consequence whether the Iona and Israella (and the six or seven less desirable sorts produced from the same planting of seed, all of them, in my opinion, better than the Walter, though none of them have been "sent out") were grown under a trellis, from the cast-off seed of the Catawba, as Mr. Caywood asserts Dr. Grant told him they were, or in the manner they are well known to have been, — from seed carefully selected, and grown with nice attention.

It is to be regretted that this wrangling spirit has found a lodgement in the sanctified field of horticulture. However, it is a satisfaction to know, that, in a soil so uncongenial to its expansion and thrift, it may readily be eradicated. In conclusion, I will only add, that, for one, I desire to take no part in the disputes arising between propagators, further than to canvass their views, and examine the evidences upon which their opinions of the merit or demerit of the candidate under inspection are founded. And yet I deem it but fair to state that a large majority of the grape-growers of this country regard Dr. Grant as one of the most earnest and intelligent workers in their ranks; and that, from their verdict, it would also appear that he has done more for the advancement of grape-culture in our country than any other. And I desire further to state, that, however he may be prejudiced in favor of his own seedlings, I regard him as the best "taster" and the most competent judge of the relative merit and value of the different varieties of grapes, of all the cultivators with whom I am acquainted.

I do not make these remarks to exalt Dr. Grant, or to rescue his character, personal or professional, from the attack of Mr. Caywood; for it is manifest that in neither has he suffered any considerable damage.

NORTH EAST, Penn.

W. G.

THE WINTER-Dressing of Asparagus-Beds. — I never could quite understand why gardeners in private establishments, and those who have the management of market-gardens, should so widely differ in their practice of the winterdressing of asparagus-beds. The former generally, either late in the autumn or at the commencement of the winter months, wheels on to his beds a quantity of decayed manure, which is thickly spread over the whole surface: he then begins to square them by digging from the alleys or trenches between the beds a quantity of soil, by which he makes the sides firm, with an even slope towards the bottom of the trench. The loose soil is strewn over the dung on the top of the bed. When the sides are finished, the trenches between the beds are filled with plenty of rotten manure, into which, in the growing season, the roots of the asparagus find their way. Early in the spring, the beds are lightly forked, a portion of the soil going towards filling up the alleys: thus, in some degree, the beds are lowered. With the market-gardener the practice is different. He makes good the sides of his beds in the spring; and, instead of reducing the quantity of soil, he adds to the top of his beds: thus their depth is increased. The only rationale I could ever arrive at respecting the opposite systems of culture was, that the market-gardener, in order to obtain the asparagus in a fit state for the market, must have each stalk of a certain length, otherwise he cannot tie them into salable bundles: therefore it is essential that there should be an extension of its growth under the ground; because, when it reaches a few inches above the surface of the soil, it must be cut, or the heads would soon become unfit for table. With a gardener in a private establishment, the length of stalk is not of so much consequence, because they are sent to the kitchen in a loose state; and therefore a very little more than the length of the salable portion is required for that purpose. Gardener's Magazine.

HOW TO GROW LILY OF THE VALLEY IN POTS. Plant the crowns in good rich sandy loam in February or March, tying about six or eight of them together, so as to keep them compact, in order that they may go into the pots without disturbing the roots or the soil much. Water them occasionally through the spring and summer with weak liquid manure, taking great care to give enough at a time to reach the lower roots.

When the leaves decay in autumn, they may be potted, and plunged in coalashes, until required; or they may be potted as they are wanted to be placed in heat. The plants may be had in flower at Christmas; but the leaves will not come freely until the third week in January. I always place mine on the shelves in the different houses; and they get no more attention than a drop of water as they require it.

The main point in their cultivation is good summer treatment. They must have well-trenched, rich soil; and must be supplied with abundance of water while growing. One or more patches may be put in a pot, in which they should be set as closely as they can be got together.

The Convallaria majalis variegata is a very useful variety, on account of its golden-striped foliage, which is ornamental as well as its flowers. Gardener's Chronicle.

W. H., in

LARGE PROFITS IN STRAWBERRY-CULTUre. At a recent meeting of the Western fruit-growers, held in Cincinnati, O., Capt. Anderson, who is largely engaged in the cultivation of strawberries for market, stated that he had raised as high as seven thousand quarts to the acre; that, under some circumstances, he had averaged one quart to the plant; and that they would realize from $2,000 to $2,500 per acre. He farmed in the stool system, and planted two feet apart each way. — Rural American.

[One of our dreams is, that, when we can see our way clear, we shall set out an exact acre, neither more nor less, of good land, with some productive kind of strawberry planted in hills, mulched and well cared for, and then keep an accurate account of the product.

We have results enough to quote from garden-beds and small patches; but we are ambitious to raise with our own hands, and see with our own eyes, the maximum crop that can be got from one acre by high cultivation, trimming the runners, and deep mulching.-Ed.]

HORTICULTURE IN WEST VIRGINIA. On the 26th of December, a horticultural society was inaugurated at Wheeling, West Virginia, under very favorable auspices. It is to be known as the "Eastern Ohio and North-west Virginia Vine-growing and Horticultural Association." Thomas Hornbrook, an intelligent and enterprising horticulturist, is president; and Lewis Baker of Elm-Ford Fruit-Farm, secretary. At the meeting on the 26th, fine specimens of grapes and apples were exhibited; and samples of wine of the vintages of 1866, 1867, and 1868, from the Catawba, Isabella, Ives's Seedling, Delaware, Creveling, and Concord, were presented and tested. Over a thousand acres of vines were represented at this meeting.

THE CLARKE RASPBERRY. Henry Thacker, the horticulturist of the Wallingford (Conn.) Community, having seen a quarter-acre field of the Clarke Raspberry alongside of Franconia, says, “The contrast was very striking. While the foliage of the Franconia was suffering severely by the heat and the dry weather, the Clarke was looking remarkably fresh and healthy, and thor oughly loaded with handsome, perfect berries. The two varieties, I was told, are treated alike in cultivation, with the exception that the Franconia is laid down and covered during winter, and the Clarke is not. Three important points in the Clarke Raspberry may be considered as pretty well established; viz., the hardiness, productiveness, and uniformly fine flavor of its fruit. Mr. Augur was selling the Clarke berries for fifty cents a quart in the New-Haven market, Franconia at forty cents, and Doolittle Blackcap at twenty-five cents."— Ohio Farmer.

IOWA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. - Officers elected for 1869. — Capt. James Matthews, president, Knoxville; Suel Foster, vice-president, Muscatine; D. W. Adams, secretary, Wauken; David Leonard, treasurer, Burlington.

THE Editors of "Tilton's Journal of Horticulture" cordially invite all interested in horticulture and pomology, in its various branches, to send questions upon any subject upon which information may be desired. Our corps of correspondents is very large, and among them may be found those fully competent to reply to any ordinary subject in the practice of horticulture. Any questions which may be more difficult to answer will be duly noticed, and the respective subjects fully investigated. Our aim is to give the most trustworthy information on all subjects which can be of interest to horticulture.

We would especially invite our friends to communicate any little items of experience for our "Notes and Gleanings," and also the results of experiments. Such items are always readable, and of general interest.

We must, however, request that no one will write to the contributors to our columns upon subjects communicated to the Magazine.

Any queries of this nature will be promptly answered in our columns. Anonymous communications cannot be noticed: we require the name and address of our correspondents as pledges of good faith.

Rejected communications will be returned when accompanied by the requisite number of stamps.

J. G., Amherst, Mass.- Having heard a great deal about the Rose Potato, I wish to ask if it is as good for the table as the Goodrich Early, Harrison, and Garnet Chili. Is it free from the potato-rot? Does it yield so much more than other varieties as to make it worth so much as they ask for it? Is it as early as has been claimed?. It is a good table-potato, - far better with us the past season than either of the sorts named. It was generally free from rot, ex

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