The Portland daily press., 1879-06-17
AGRICULTURAL.
Orchard and Garden Notes.

If you have dead or decaying tree in your
grounds, don't cut it down, but save the old
trunk and embellish it as an ornament. Few
objects are more attractive than such an old
tree trunk, draped with some pretty hardy
climber, the Virginia creeper being especially
desirable for this purpose. We have in mind
now two or three such gardens, where these
old pillars, covered with this beautiful climb
er, are among the finest objects. Don't be
in haste, then, to clear such things from the
ground, but study to see how attractive and
novel the grounds may be made by their pres
ence.
At one of the experience meetings. of
the Missouri Horticultural Society, not long
ago, several members gave details of their
mistakes in fruit growing, and prominent
among them were those relating to the grow
ing of 40 many varieties of apples and pears.
Several members said they had made the
mistake, in commencing their operations, of
attempting to cultivate too many kinds; and
this is mistake which many people East as
well as West fall into. 1t is very commend
able for wealthy growers to cultivate and
test great many sorts, that the smaller
growers may have the benefit of their knowl-
edge and experience. But for profit, for the
market, or for family use, growers of apples
and pears will, after all their trials, settle
down upon few leading varieties, which
which they will derive satisfaction and profit.
There are few good old-fashioned plants,
suitable for out-of-the-way corners Of the gar
den, which should be given place; and we
suspect if such plants are put promiscuously
into these places, they will afford much graft
fication all Summer, and fillup in good way
what might otherwise prove an "eye sore"
Among these plants we name the sunfOwer,
hollyhocks, centaureas, nasturtiums, sweet
Williams N "a &c oil
plan to have ''promiscuous'' bed or border
along some rear walk or in an obscure place.
When you get through sowing the named
varieties of ANIMALS, mix togetherthe seeds of
all those left, or parts of papers, and SOW
them in the retired places suggested. twill
form pretty spot, and altogether be quite
novel and interesting.
The Ben Davis apple, which is not an es-
teemed sort here at the East, being poor in
quality though very snowy apple, is one of
the most profitable varieties for orchard cul-
ture in Illinois, the State Horticultural Socie-
ty giving it this character: SIT comes into
bearing soonest, is an annual bearer, keeps
well, bears rough handling, can be shipped
to tropical climates, is the most sought after
in the market, sells the readiest and COM
mands the highest price, of any variety
grown in that State, and stands ahead, for
profit, Of any apple in that section of the
West. 1t would be hard, We imagine, to
heap longer list of desirable qualities upon
a poor apple than is done in the above in
stance, and it shows how changeable and sub
ject to what capricious laws is this matter of
character or desirableness in fruit.
Few plants of the vegetable garden are so
much influenced by the soil upon which they
grow as the tomato. Even the same variety
transported from the same frame to soil Of
different character not a quarter of mile
anart has bnnO known tn hn ohanCa6 IN
size, shape and color as in the market to be
taken for distinct and different sorts, and
this, too, when the amount and kind of ma
nure applied and mode of culture have been
as near as possible alike. Careful market
gardener s, who have noticed this popularity,
regard quite strong clay or gravelly soil as
suiting the tomato better than an open, light
soil, as it is upon soils of the former class
that they attain the largest size and fairest
form and color. 1t is more true of the toma-
to than of most other vegetables that the seed
should be'often changed from one locality to
another, where gardeners raise their own
seed.
In Texas persimmons grow very large, at
least two inches and half in diameter, and
what is quite unusual, they ripen during the
last of August or the first of September, re-
quiring no frost to ripen them. The black
or dark purple persimmon is beautiful,
small-leaved evergreen.
lady correspondent of the Gardeners
Monthly gives hint about dressing up
'leggy' potplant Portable decorations, which
our readers would do well to try for an occa-
sion. If the plant is pretty of itself, either
in flower or foliage, but bare and unsightly
between the foliage and the pot, it may be
trimmed up by attaching flowers, rare buds,
ferns, geranium leaves, dried grass, everlast-
lngs, etc., to the stem in such way as to
hide if and af tho mo 10
very pretty. This hint as to how it may be
done is sufficient; our lady readers can carry
it out to their own satisfaction, we are sure.
1t should not be forgotten that powdered
white hellebore is the best remedy that can
be used for the destructive rose slug. Dis
solve one-eighth of pound in a bucket of !
water, and apply with garden syringe. 1t
will clean the foliage, and give the leaves a |
green, healthy appearance. -Boston Cultira-
tor.