large size, new fruit crowns are developed lowed to run to seed. From the seed dropped, each year, and the plants last in good bearing volunteer plants have sprung up after the condition as long as they are well cared for, Yet and the ground furnishes sufficient nourish-ground was planted with cucumbers and melment to produce full crops. The only objec-ons. We have taken no precaution to drive off tion urged against this method, is on account the bugs, and we have wondered, when examof the expense of keeping off the runners. if the labor of resetting every three years be taken into consideration, and an accurate account of all the expenses on the usual system of letting the plants run together in masses, be kept for a series of years, and compared with the expense of a similar plot kept in hills, the difference in their cost will not be as great as might be supposed. If the plants are to be allowed to run, the beds should be narrow, and separated with walks, from which the weeding and picking may be done. VARIETIES. The hermaphrodite varieties are the only ones which have any special claims on ordinary cultivators. Of these, Wilson's Albany is now most widely known, and will probably give for common care, the most and largest fruit of any well-known berry. The Iowa is probably the most hardy variety, and quite equal to the Wilson in productiveness. It is disseminated through the country under many names, and wherever planted and reasonably cared for, is sure to fruit well. There are many other varieties which do well, and should claim a share of attention. The most promising of these is the Triomphe de Gand, which has been described in these columns, and which bids fair to become quite as widely known as the two first named varieties. We perceive that from all quarters the attention of fruit-growers and amateurs is being turned to it.-Christ. Advocate. Important if True. If it should prove ening the plants, why "stripy" was not among "In one of your late numbers there is an inquiry as to the use of your planting radish seed in the hills for water melons and canteloupes. They accomplish a threefold purpose. Firstly, by planting two or three dozen radish seed separately over a hill for melons, the striped bug is furnished with abundant food suited to its taste, and the melon plants are saved.— Secondly, the leaves of the radish afford shade to the ground whereby it is kept from "baking" after a rain, and therefore the melons grow faster. Thirdly, you have a good crop of nice radishes at a time when they are very acceptable. "Care must be taken not to remove the radishes for the mere purpose of giving sun to the young melons. The bugs will attack them at once if that course is taken. "Last year two of my neighbors removed the radishes soon, as they were not fond of them, and in a few days the melon plants had entirely disappeared. Pull them out as they get large enough to eat, or when the vines begin to run; by that time the bugs are willing to let them alone, as they get too hard for their use." The striped bug is considered one of the greatest pests of the garden-devouring the melons, cucumbers, &c. Hundreds of expedients have been proposed to get rid of his striped lordship. We have tried every thing we have seen proposed, even to putting coal tar round the hills. Boxes with glass or musA NEW GRAPE ENEMY.-In 1860 we discovlin covers are too much trouble. The best ered among our grapes a destructive enemy thing we ever tried was a thin layer of cotton which we had not heard of before-a dark batting placed over the hills. This, however, green bug-which about the middle of May laid its eggs upon the leaf, and these eggs, by is troublesome, as it is liable to get wet and the latter part of the month, produced a slug, lose the elasticity necessary to permit the which preyed fearfully not only upon the leaf but upon the fruit blossoms. The leaves they growth of the plant. This season, however, would eat half up, and whenever they attacked accident has furnished us with an apparent the blossoms, there would not be much of them safeguard against this insect fillibuster. The left. We have seen them almost buried in the blossoms, utterly destroying them. Thus far garden which we now occupy has been much this season, however, they have been very few neglected formerly, and the radishes were al- in number, and done no material damage, and we belive the crop is pretty secure against bearing enormous crops of beautiful, fair fruit, them. We dislodged the bug by applications regularly. Tree, spreading-shoots dark colof whale-oil soap water, which destroyed those which it touched, and we believe kept others ored, moderate grower, and second size tree in away. It also destroyed the slugs when they the orchard. Elliott says, size medium; form could be got at. We used a sponge to sprinkle roundish, somewhat flattened; color, greenish with, as being better than a syringe, it wasting less of the solution, and requiring only one hand, while the other could be employed to turn up the vines, &c. The crop of grapes in this region never promised a more abundant yield than it does now. We think there is twice the amount of embryo bunches upon our vines that we ever saw before. Beside all the vines wear an unusually vigorous appearance.-Ger. Telegraph. Fameuse, (Synonym, Snow-Pomme de Neige.) An apple tree that has been thoroughly tested, and found to withstand the climate: the extremes of heat and cold apparently not affecting it; is a treasure whose value is not too easily told, or searched out in Wisconsin soil. Such is the Fameuse-not found wanting in hardiness or productiveness-with a flavor, which to most, is delicious; and "good" enough, so that it can hardly be dispensed with by any. By a combination of such qualities, it has worked itself into public favor till it has become an exceedingly popular variety, and not in the least unworthily. Origin, Canada: Found well adapted to Northern localities-either prairie or timber yellow, mostly overspread with pale and dark rich red; stem slender; cavity narrow; calyx small; basin, shallow, narrow; flesh remarkably white, tender, juicy, with a slight perfume; core, close, compact; seeds, light brown, long pointed. Season, October to January. Here it matures a month earlier, forming a fall and early winter sort. All MADISON, Wis. Liquid Grafting-Wax. Mr. L'Homme-Lefort (or, as others spell the name, Lhomme-Lefort) invented, not many years ago, a grafting composition, which, when generally known, will, no doubt, supersede all others now in use, either for grafting purposes or for covering wounds of trees. It is very cheap, very easily prepared, and keeps, corked up in a bottle with a tolerably wide mouth, at least six months unaltered. It is laid on in as thín a coat as possible by means of a flat piece of wood. Within a few days it will be as hard as a stone. In addition to all the advantages indicated above, it is not in the least affected by the hot sun of our summers, nor by the seIvere cold of our winters; it never softens nor cracks when exposed to atmospheric action or changes. A single instance which came under my own observation, will suffice to show this clearly. In April last the bark of a doubleflowering peach tree had been destroyed by some goats several days before I noticed the mischief. There was hardly a place as far up as the goats had been able to reach, where any bark was left; the few remaining particles were in no connection whatever; the wounds were rough, and had already turned brown by an exposure so long continued. Although I despaired of the possibility of saving the tree, yet I determined to try it by an application of the fluid grafting wax of L'Homme-Lefort, which I had just purchased for the first time. The result is surprising. The tree is as vigorous as ever, the wounds having healed over under the cover of the hardened grafting wax, which, after the lapse of so many months, sticks as firmly to the tree as if laid on a few days ago. As long as the inventor kept the preparation secret, it was sold at very high prices. Even now it is unknown to many; I feel, therefore, induced to give the recipe, as follows: Melt one pound of common rosin over a gentle fire. Add to it an ounce of beef tallow, and stir it well. Take it from the fire, let it cool down a little, and then mix with it a table spoonful of spirits of turpentine, and after that about seven ounces of very strong alcohol (95 per cent), to be had at any druggist's store.The alcohol cools it down so rapidly that it will be necessary to put it again on the fire, stirring it constantly. Still the utmost care must be exercised to prevent the alcohol from getting inflamed. To avoid it, the best way is to remove the vessel from the fire when the lump that may have been formed, commences melting again. This must be continued till the whole is a homogeneous mass similar to honey. After a few days' exposure to the atmosphere in a thin coat, it assumes a whitish color, and becomes as hard as stone, being impervious to water and air. The editor of the Horticulturist adds: A good liquid grafting wax has long been a desideratum. We have seen the above as used by "Horticola," and are much pleased with it. It is better than the shellac preparation, and is much cheaper. It is an admirable preparation for covering wounds in trees.-Cal. Farmer. SURFACE OF GARDENS. In the fine surface soil of old gardens, the seeds of a multitude of plants, as well as many insects, or their ova, find a lodgment. In order to get rid of them effectually, it is a good plan to collect all the rubbish of the garden in the spring, together with the prunings from trees, and brush and weeds from pastures, and burn them on the ground. The limbs of the fir, spruce or hemlock, which many can command in any quantity, or indeed, any combustible material of little value otherwise, will answer as fuel for this purpose, and add also to the fertility of the soil by the ashes it leaves behind. But, of course, this can only be done on that portion of the garden where there are no perennial plants, unless the soil be scraped away into little heaps, burnt over and returned to its place. This would save a great amount of weeding, and destroy many insects-so that the operation may be found profitable in a great many cases.-N. E. Farmer. How they raise Strawberries in Southern Illinois. The following letter was read by Solon Robinson at a meeting of the American Institute in New York. It is written by Dr. Meeker of Southern Illinois. It details the manner in which strawberries are raised for Northern markets. We publish it in order that our farmers may know how easy it is to raise a crop which will prove more profitable than wheat, even if they are sold as low as six pence a quart. It is decidedly the best practical article we have seen on the subject, and although lengthy, we desire to place it before the readers of the FARMER, for the benefit of those who are seeking information on the subject.. Q. CAIRO, May 14, 1862. Strawberries are very nice, and at this season of the year people eagerly listen to whatever is said about them, particularly if there is even a remote prospect of their getting any. Though they are mostly seen in cities, they are raised in the country; but country people seldom see them, and our farmers may be compared to the Spaniards of Old California, who had no idea that they lived in a land of gold. The longing of children and young persons, and even of men and women, for this fruit is general-some make journeys of miles in wagor that they are all gone. ons or on foot, often to find scattering berries, strawberries. A town of 2,000 inhabitants will buy, annually, one hundred and fifty dollars worth of towns in our country, and half as many towns There are, probablý, 500 such much larger. There are at least a thousand farmers who would supply the want of these towns with strawberries if they knew how to raise them. I am going to tell them how. Five years ago I set out an acre of strawberrics, and for three years I could not get enough for my family. The public shall have the benefit of my experience at the cost of this paper, while the cost to me has been more than I am willing to tell. Wealth and refinement are the fruits of long labors, of many disappointments, even of broken hearts. Our present world has grown out of the wreck and ruin of a former world. Let every one hasten, before he too lie in ruins, to impart what will be useful to others-what, to obtain, cost him more than, when young, he thought himself worth. The Kinds to Raise.-For market purposes, and for distant shipments, no variety is equal to Wilson's Albany. For productiveness it far excels. It is sour, unless dead ripe, but people in cities have money and can buy sugar; besides, people who cannot tell scum from cream, are not likely to be particular, nor will they much care for anything but looks. Being sour, it is not easily hurt by frost; and for size, hardness, or weight, it is celebrated. For family use, the Hooker is superior, and it is nearly equal to the Wilson for other qualities, but for the first year, it requires more care. Neither of these require any attention regarding sex. I doubt whether any berry, except the wild one, has the exquisite flavor of the Hooker. There are several new varieties, but except for family use, I doubt whether they are equal to either of these. Fine fruit is almost always soft. Some varieties are earlier by a few days, and only by a few days. During these few days, one can eat a great many strawberries in anticipation, and they are very good this way. Garden Culture.-A garden is supposed to be well plowed; but never mind whether it is or not. Take your spade and dig up the ground as deep as you can, where you would have your strawberries, and make it fine. Plant in the Spring; but you can plant in June or July even, if you take great pains. For fear dry weather may follow planting, puddle the roots; that is, dip them in thick mud so as easily to make a lump or ball of moist earth around them. They will hardly grow when taken up with a solid lump around the roots. The way to take up the plants is to dig deep around them, bringing up all the roots you can; then, you shake out all the dirt, then puddle them (they can be transported far this way); and if they are set out immediately the roots will swell out, and little fibres will start in a few hours. When set out in April or May, in latitudes north of 40°, and if the ground is moist, little care is required; but if planted later, they should be put in holes, well watered, and covered with some litter to protect them from the sun. raise their roots. If you neglect this last direction you will not lose much. It is a good thing to put a little straw over them during the Winter; it is, perhaps, important if you have hoed them clean, but where the weeds have been mowed, these afford sufficient protection. Having followed these directions, not in part, but wholly, you cannot fail to have a fine crop of strawberries. The plan now is, after picking, to thin them out to the original number, retaining the best plants, and thoroughly loosen the ground and start again with clean beds. Mind now, I am speaking only of the Wilson and Hooker plants, though other varieties are treated in the same way, but I have nothing to say about them. If you should set out 200 good plants you will have all your family can use, let it be ever so rich in numbers; if you set out 500 plants you can give a good many to your neighbors; in which case you will have many visitors, some of whom you will be very glad to see, some of them you scarcely know, and some have let a long time pass since they called on you. If you have girls, their beau will pay them additional attention; if you have boys, you will be astonished to see how many girls they have taken a fancy to, or who have taken a fancy to them. You will find also there are very many sickly persons, far and near, on whose stomachs nothing will sit but strawberries. Beside all this, you will have become a gentleman and a man of taste; instead of hard stories being told about you, it will only be whispered that you are a little old or cross now and then, and everybody will think you the finest man in the neighborhood. Field Culture. For a next year's crop, take a piece of your own land, for your own land Plant in rows, three feet apart, and from one will always do better than rented land, and to two feet in the row. Let the rows be ridges during the Summer plow it well once a month, a foot high, because, by this means they will and, if it is inclined to grass, harrow it thornot wash the soft dirt around them and smoth-oughly, so as to tear every sod to pieces. By er them, and because in Spring the water will settle in the furrows, and thence ascend to the roots, for no plant needs water more than the strawberry through the flowering and fruiting season. By this process you will have more and larger fruit than by the flat culture. I think the flat culture for any kind of fruit highly objectionable in many important points. During the Summer you may hoe them as often as you please. They certainly should be hoed just after picking, never while in blossom or bearing fruit. The more you hoe during the Summer, the more the weeds will grow, and this, with increased rapidity, as the season advances. If, however, the weeds should get a start of you, or should you become discour-land is better than low land, and hilly land is aged, do not think you will have no strawberies, but do this: when the weeds get ready to go to seed mow them down with a scythe, and late in the Fall, perhaps very early in the Spring, take a strong garden fork and slightly plowing well I mean plow as if you would like to get down to the centre of the earth; plow as if you were a soldier in battle, and determined to conquer barbarism and crown freedom. But I should say, if it is clover land, don't touch it; grass you can kill, clover you cannot, and it will come up and ruin your plants. Here, in Southern Illinois, grass grows with reluctance, and I have seen a gentleman take a visitor over his lot to show him his grass, and occasionally both would be on their hands and knees. Sometimes they would see it. This is the kind of land for strawberries, and it is superior also for any other kind of fruit. Strawberries require a fair, I might say extra fair, soil. High good. The very best is thin new land, or old worn out land well manured, with no clover seed in it. But let the soil be what it may, plow deep and often through the Summer. A very good way to raise strawberries is after an extra crop of potatoes, which have been kept entirely clean through the Summer and Fall. All you will have to do with such ground will be to plow it up as early as you can in the Spring. scythe, mow them down, and leave them where they fall. It will be found there are few or no weeds where you last plow, and that what weeds there are, started mostly in the Spring. Fall weeds you will not see. It requires frequent hoeing and plowing to bring them up. I should greatly prefer, late in the Fall, to spread over them a light covering of straw, not so much for protection, for they will do well enough, as to furnish a clean bed for the berries, and, in particular to keep the ground moist, in case the Spring should be dry. From the benefits they receive from straw, and from the fact that so few apply it, I suspect that strawberries were successfully cultivated in remote ages, and hence that name. Virgil mentions strawberries, but they must have been wild ones. The Romans were not given to fruit-raising, nor are slaveholders any 'where. They had no cherries till Lucullus brought them from Asia. As for giving them what is called a mulching of straw, that is, so much that any part of it is to be removed in the Spring, I think it likely to do more harm than good. During the Winter, get your baskets or boxes, and such side boxes and packages ready. We use here quart hoop boxes, some with For pickcovers, some not. I prefer covers. ers engage married women; if they are a little cross at home, so much the better, they will be more active. Handsome girls won't do, and children I would not have, for though they do well for an hour or so, they soon get so that they cannot work, being troubled with a kind of bloat. Active boys, twelve or fourteen years old, are very good, they do not bloat so Suppose, now, every thing is ready, commence by throwing up ridges from 3 to 4 feet apart. Our ridges are a foot high-for this purpose I would take a yoke of cattle and the heaviest plow I had, get good plants, and set them on the ridges, 18 inches apart. Usually, they will bear enough the first year-that is, two months after planting, to pay you for all your labor. After picking, run between the rows with a flirting, one-horse-turning plow, throwing the dirt towards the plants. It will cover some of the runners, and all the better, for they will take root in the soft soil and grow finely. Plants set out in the Spring are worth double what they would be set out in the Fall; for they commence immediately to grow, they require no puddling or watering, and every one will grow. Set in the Fall, many of them are heaved out by freezing and thawing, and, being in their weak state, they are subject to all the various changes of the unfavorable Winter. As regards the treatment now to be pursued there is a diversity of opinion. Those who are anxious to do great things, and who are determined to do them, will set the plants thickly, cut off all the runners as often as twice a week, and hoe well during the Summer and Fall. They are going to show how to raise strawberries. Very good. One faithful man can keep an acre clean; he cannot do more, and his labor is worth a hundred dollars. A quarter of an acre is as much as a single handed man, with other fruit to attend to, will be able to work; and even with only this amount, in nine times in ten, he will give up in despair before the season is through, and let the weeds grow. Having myself hoed them as much through the Summer as my strength and patience would permit, and having neglected to hoe at all, I have to say as the result of my experience, that hoeing does little or no good. Facts are what we want, not theories. I have over an acre of strawberries now in full bearing, and entirely free of weeds, into which I did not take a hoe all last season. I will grant that by hoeing When you get through picking, come on you may show a limited number of fine plants; with your heavy plow; tear through the ridges but after all, I can show as great a number of and make new ridges across the field; the old as good plants, where I do not hoe, and beside, plants will send runners over the fresh earth, have thousands of second and third-rate plants and the next Spring sees you with another which will yield in the aggregate many bush-crop. So, indefinitely, shall you raise strawels. Where plants are thick, it is impossible berries; and as easily as you can corn. to hoe them. I come, then, to this conclusion, that I can raise as many strawberries without hoeing as I can with hoeing; if I wanted to boast, I would say double the number, and perhaps state nothing but the truth. I have but to add to my directions, that after I go through the strawberries with the onehorse plow, I do nothing more till the weeds get ready to go to seed, when I take a strong bad. As you go through the rows of scarlet richness, you will see the advantages of ridging; for, from the crest of the ridge down into the gutter, they are full; and where there are litthe precipices, see how thickly they hang over the edges! You will also see that in places where the ground is of a dead level, caused by washing, or other means, they are not so good; sometimes they do not bear at all. benefits arise from tile-drainage, are derived by ridging. Whatever Fifty Now, how much as everybody says who expects to pay or to receive money. Two hundred bushels are said to grow on an acre. bushels should content you. Still men come forward with, "So many feel this way, so many that, then so many quarts, consequently, so.. many bushels, hundred bushels to the acre." Farmers cannot always draw prizes. The great trouble with everybody is they have |