Walter Elder

This well-known Philadelphia gardener and horticultural writer died on the 15th of March, somewhat unexpectedly, though advanced in years. He was a native of Scotland, and an enthusiastic lover of his profession. Some thirty years ago he issued a practical work on gardening which had a wide sale, and nothing gave him more pleasure than to freely give the results of his wide experience for the benefit of others.

First Annual Report Of The Chief Executive Vlticultural Officer Of The State Vl-Ticultural Commissioners Of California For The Year 1881

California has an important industry in her vineyards, and these reports, published by the State, are issued as aids to vineyard progress. Besides the copious notes suggested by every day experience in California, this volume has translations of valuable French works relating to the vine, so that the California grape-grower may profit by whatever is happening in the Old World as well as in his own home. The volume contains one hundred and ninety-two pages.

Report Of Michigan State Pomological Society

From Chas. W. Garfield, Secretary, Lansing, Mich. Near five hundred pages of extremely interesting matter. This is the seventh annual one, and published by the State.

Double Tuberoses

These often degenerate. Just why they do so has not been clearly demonstrated. The single ones, however, have -this advantage, they flower nearly two weeks earlier than the double ones.

A Grafted Rose

At a recent meeting of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, William H. Spooner, chairman of the flower committee, called attention to a plant of General Jacqueminot rose, exhibited by Jackson Dawson of the Arnold Arboretum. It was grafted a year ago upon a Japan rose, and now has twenty-five blossoms and buds.

The Japan Snowball

Hardy as the Viburnum plicatum appears to be almost everywhere, a correspondent from Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, reports that it was killed to the snow line last winter.

Decorated Napkin Rings

At a dinner party given by my employer, the most admired decoration was floral napkin rings. The rings were formed of loops of the green wire used in making artificial flowers; through the loops sprays of smilax and stems of cineraria blooms were twined. They were very pretty, and were nearly all carried away by the guests as souvenirs.

Tobacco Water For Insects

W. H. Spang-ler in Vick's Monthly, believes that tobacco tea, occasionally syringed over infected plants, is a far better insecticide than tobacco smoke.

Rose Madam Gabriel Luizet

At the April meeting of the Germantown Horticultural Society, Messrs. Lonsdale & Burton exhibited cut blooms of the new hybrid perpetual rose Madam Gabriel Luizet. This is the one which was pronounced by foreign growers the best of all the roses of recent introduction. In color it reminds one of the well-known La France, is exquisitely sweet scented, and the exhibitors claim it to be an excellent one for forcing.