firmest. After the meeting, a gentleman who had both varieties in bearing told me he thought the Naomi more productive and superior as a market-fruit.

At the meeting of the State Horticultural Society at Columbus, last December, there was a discussion on raspberries; and, information being called for respecting the Naomi, Col. Richmond of Sandusky, who is an extensive fruit-grower, said he was very much interested as one of the committee who inspected the raspberries around Cleveland the past summer; and, in reference to the raspberry which they called the Naomi, he was in some doubt in regard to the correctness of the name; for he and some of his friends had plants procured as Naomi from the headquarters of that variety, as they supposed, and the fruit is not at all equal to what the committee found at Mr. Hall's and on a small portion of Mrs. Wood's grounds and Mr. Elliott's: and he would say of Mr. Hall's Naomi crop, that it exceeded any thing that he had before seen in this country or in Europe; and he had made the small fruits a study for many years, travelling thousands of miles to visit the most noted growers, and observing all the fruits in the markets. He was satisfied that Mr. Hall's plants had received no extra care or cultivation, and no winter protection.

Mr. Elliott gave the history of the Naomi in substance as in this article; and in reference to the confusion as to the true sort, referred to by Mr. Richmond, he said there had been inexcusable negligence on the part of those having the care of Mrs. Wood's grounds, in not taking pains, years ago, to separate the Naomi plants from the inferior seedlings growing with them, and which obtained such ascendency in number, that, in procuring a hundred plants for himself, he afterwards found only ten or a dozen of them genuine hence it was possible that some others got none but the spurious. In reply to the inquiry as to the difference between the Naomi and Franconia, Mr. Elliott said he had both varieties in his grounds; and while there was much resemblance in the fruit, and he thought the Naomi was probably a seedling of the Franconia, there was quite a difference in the superior hardiness of the plant of the Naomi, by which it was able to withstand the winters of Northern Ohio, while the Franconia, like the other foreign varieties of its class, needs protection. M. B. Bateham.

NOTE. Having received the above communications on the Naomi Raspberry, each from a correspondent of the highest authority, and each of which would be entitled to entire confidence were it not for the other, we have thought the best course we could adopt would be to publish both articles entire. EDS.

BORERS.

Our method of destroying the apple-borer when he is in the tree too far to be reached with the point of a knife or wire: Take a piece of half-inch lead pipe, say three feet long; bend one end to nearly right angles, and fit the same to the borer's hole, the main length of the pipe standing perpendicular; place a tunnel in the top end, and fill the pipe with boiling water: the borers will soon be dead, while the tenderest tree will not be injured by the process. MEREDITH, N.H.

S. A. Ladd.

THE VERBEna Disease. In the March number, your correspondent, Mr.. A. Veitch, seems to be in doubt as to the cause of this disease, and asks for information on the subject. Long experience in the cultivation of the verbena has given me ample opportunity for observation, which has led me to the conclusion that the predisposing cause of the disease is debility in the plant; which condition invites the attack of a microscopical insect, producing the black and crisped appearance which we call "black rust."

Of the presence of this insect any one can satisfy himself by subjecting a portion of an affected leaf to a microscope having a power of three or four hundred diameter: the insect will be plainly seen, having the appearance somewhat, and the motions, of some varieties of water insects.

I have said the predisposing cause is debility, or lessened vitality of the plant: this debility may be caused by uncongenial or exhausted soil, or by violent change of temperature or moisture; in short, any thing that will check growth, and impair the vigor of the plant. In my recent work, “Practical Floriculture," in alluding to this subject, I mention an instance that came under my observation last fall, which of itself proved most conclusively that a lessened vitality of the plant invites the attack of this insect, which produces the effect we call "black rust." In September of last year, I had a lot of about five hundred heliotropes in fine healthy condition, growing in two-inch pots. Requiring a por tion of them to be grown larger, about one-half of them were shifted into threeinch pots these were kept side by side with the unshifted half, and treated in all respects the same. Those shifted grew vigorously and strongly, while the unshifted remained comparatively stunted; and, in two months after, they began to show unmistakable evidence that the insect was at work; and an examination by the microscope revealed them on every plant: while, on those that had been shifted, not a sign of rust, nor an insect, could be found.

:

For a similar reason, we find, that, when we plant out our verbena-plants in May, by August they get exhausted in producing flowers and seeds, the vigor of the plant is lessened, and the condition inviting the insect is again present. Our practice, then, to remedy this, is to crop off all the flowering-shoots, fork up the soil lightly in and around the plant, and top-dress with a rich compost (rotted manure and loam in equal parts) to the depth of two or three inches: in this new roots are quickly formed, developing a healthy growth, which gives us the necessary soft and healthy shoot that we use for propagation in September. This is our summer treatment: that for fall and winter entails the same conditions. The cuttings first are taken soft and succulent, never allowed to wilt, potted at once when rooted, and cared for throughout, so that the root is never allowed to get hard by drying, or the sap checked by any sudden change of temperature. To avoid this, to the best of our ability we keep as near an average temperature of 40° at night as possible; giving ventilation at all times when practicable. In addition to this, all our verbena-houses are fumigated by tobacco at least twice each week. Although tobacco-smoke, I know, will not directly destroy the verbena-mite, yet I am of the opinion, that, if you start with a healthy stock, it will never exist to injure if fumigation is persisted in twice a week. Such is my own experience, where for the last fifteen years I have grown from

fifty thousand to two hundred thousand verbenas annually, with hardly a vestige of this disease to be seen in all that time; while my neighbors on all sides of me, having the same atmosphere, and using the same soil, have, in a majority of instances, utterly failed, and for no other cause, in my humble opinion, than having been neglectful in using these precautionary measures.

This class of insects is by no means confined to the verbena or heliotrope : it no doubt infests hundreds of different families of plants. With but a limited examination, we have found it on calceolarias, chrysanthemums, phloxes, pelargoniums, lantanas, pentstemons, and petunias. Whenever the "buzzly" or crisped appearance of the shoot indicated disease, an examination by the microscope revealed the presence of the insect. Peter Henderson.

BERGEN CITY, N.J., March 20, 1869.

EARLY PEAS IN POTS. - Having the advantage of a great length of glass wall-covering, I made trial of all the earliest peas in cultivation, and took means to have them true from the raisers. They were all sown on the same day, in the same sized pots, soil, and situation. The varieties were Carter's First Crop, Sutton's Ringleader, Dickson's First and Best, Taber's Perfection, Dillistone's Prolific, and Sangster's No. 1. The First Crop and Ringleader showed flower at the same time; Taber's Perfection and Dickson's First and Best were two days later; Dillistone's Prolific was evidently spurious, for it was a week later than the other in flowering; and Sangster's No. I was the last. The first dish was gathered from Carter's First Crop and Ringleader; for they are identical in growth and earliness. Dickson's First and Best, and Taber's Perfection, were only two days later in furnishing their first picking. Sangster's No. I and Dillistone's Prolific were eight days later.

The results were as follow: First Crop and Dickson's First and Best averaged only three and four peas in a pod, and came in nearly all at once. By far the best podder and forcer was Taber's Perfection; for it averaged four and five peas in a pod, which were of good size and well flavored. The sorts I had for Dillistone's Prolific were similar to Sangster's No. I; for they were both ready at nearly the same time, and resembled each other in the size of the pods and in growth.

I had a long, low pit filled with Maclean's Little Gem, which produced by far the finest and earliest peas I have ever grown in May; in fact, the pods and peas were as large as those produced in summer, and quite of the Marrow flavor. For the future, I intend discarding all the tall early peas for forcing, and only using Little Gem and Tom Thumb, with Advancer for the tallest variety. W. Tillery, in Florist and Pomologist.

EARLY VEGETABLES. It is stated that the growers of early vegetables in Cornwall, Eng., had great success last year. Upwards of three thousand and six hundred tons of broccoli were sent out of the country during the season. The consignments of potatoes were also unusually large, and the crop was the best and most forward that had been known for nearly a quarter of a century.

EARLY ROSE POTATO. -We hear numerous complaints, that potatoes purchased last season as the Early Rose proved to be spurious. The high prices which were paid, and the ready sale, were temptations which it appears some dealers were unable to withstand. Efforts for redress are rarely successful enough to compensate for the cost and vexation attendant; and those who have been deceived will generally be compelled to make the best of their bargain.

Any honest dealer, however, under such circumstances, would be willing to inform his customer as to the source from whence his stock of Early Rose potatoes had been procured, and in so doing might satisfy him that the transac tion was an honorable one. If he declines to do this, then a suspicion of unfair dealing would be justly awakened; and we think no complaint should be made if the facts of the case, as well as the name of the party, were made public.

We advise our readers to be cautious with whom they deal. Purchase your plants, roots, and seeds of an honest, reliable man; and such may be found in any city or village. We know of nothing so dear as cheap seeds. Rare seeds have a standard of value as well as those kinds with which the market is fully supplied; and, when any are offered much below the prices of our first-class seed-warehouses, there is a doubt, either as regards their vitality or genuineness. F. B.

MESSRS. EDITORS, I lately noticed an article in “The American Farmer,” published in Baltimore, with the title of "New System of Growing Roses," and credited to your Journal. I fully agree with the writer, that it is a great improvement on the old practice of close pruning: nevertheless, the "system" proposed is nothing new, whether found in French, English, or American works; as I adopted it in 1826. I even carried it farther than is stated in the above article. At the above date, I laid out a new flower-garden, and wanted to introduce something new and novel. Having two or three figures for roses, the idea struck me of treating them as above described (I had never seen any thing of the kind), and with the addition of covering all the bed with fine moss from the woods, then pegging them down closely on the moss. When coming first in sight of the bed, nothing could be seen but moss and vigorous young wood; but, upon getting nearer, you found the moss completely covered with fine clusters of large, healthy roses. I treated my moss-roses and all alike, and with good success, they being admired by all who saw them.

FEBRUARY, 1869.

F. C.

MR. EDITOR, It seems to me that the only advantage sought in letterspatent for new plants is already within the reach of every originator of a new fruit or flower or vegetable. The advantage hoped for, I assume, is a temporary monopoly in favor of the originator; and I think he may enjoy it without any patent-law.

If Mr. Smith produces a potato which will mature tubers as big as a gooseegg in thirty days from planting, the public is willing to send orders for Smith's Seedling to Mr. Smith in all cases, though he sells his potatoes for their weight in gold, and somebody else sells the genuine seedlings for their weight in silver;

for the public has every confidence that the originator will not send them any thing but the genuine. Here, sir, I think, is Mr. Smith's chance for a monopoly. He must propagate his own potatoes, and sell at reasonable prices.

I would not be understood to doubt that every man has an abstract right to his new fruit. Certainly he has, if he has a right to his novel and useful mechanical device, or chemical combination, or quack medicine, or book. But I very much fear that some of our horticulturists will weary themselves to procure a patent law which will benefit no one but a new spawn of patent-solicitors.

D. M.

RUSSIAN Sunflower. In the size of the flower of this new variety, as well as in the general character of the plant, we have been somewhat disappointed. We have seen the common sunflower nearly as large, and the plants quite as tall and sturdy, as those of its Russian relative. The seeds, however, are shorter and thicker, and we think an improvement, did they fill out as well and ripen as fully; which, we are sorry to say, they do not. It is possible that the dry, sultry character of our climate may not be favorable for their perfection; and it may be that it will succeed better after it has been grown with us for a few years.

In Russia its success appears to be complete, and its cultivation quite general. A correspondent of "The Gardener's Chronicle" states that "the seeds form an article of extensive consumption, and that they produce some thousands of roubles every year. In the more southern parts of the country especially, the habit of eating these seeds is almost universal with high and low. Wherever you go, early or late, you continually hear the cracking sound which is produced by breaking these seeds between the teeth. On holidays especially, when people have nothing to do in the way of labor, sunflower-seeds are in every hand, and the walks in the gardens and other places are literally covered with the husks. About a pint of sunflower-seed sells at a penny, and a great many poor make a small trade of it; but all who have a plot of ground grow enough for their own wants, even if they grow nothing else."

Referring to this subject, a correspondent of "The Country Gentleman " states that a gentleman from Cambridge, Mass., while travelling for pleasure in Russia, made a sojourn of a few days at St. Petersburg, where his attention was attracted to a number of persons offering sunflower-seeds for sale in the streets. He found that these seeds were large and sweet, and that they were sold and eaten as generally as pea-nuts are sold and eaten in our cities here. It occurred to him that seeds of this size were rarely if ever seen at home; and some were purchased, brought to this country, and distributed. The piants generally grew very well; and though in less favorable situations the flowers did not attain a large size, yet the seeds ripened fully.

We would only add, that, while we do not expect the sunflower will be grown with us to any considerable extent on account of the value of its seeds as an esculent, the plant is so prolific, and the uses of the seeds for economical purposes are so various, that we consider their production worthy attention.

F. B.