Beet, Reine Des Noires

It is long since we have been able to make known a variety of beet uniting, in so high a degree, the useful and the agreeable. This beet possesses an ample, very ornamental foliage, of a remarkable intensity of coloring, with a deep rust color predominating. The root is pyriform, medium large, very regular, and almost buried. The color of the flesh is dark red, approaching black. - Revue Horticole.

Black Walnut Plantations

S. B. Conover, on page 308, speaks of black walnut plantations as something new - he "recommends land owners and farmers to turn their attention to growing black walnuts." The recommendation is good, for it may reach many who have not considered the matter, and the details for planting are also excellent; but the idea is not new, and has been extensively acted on in the western states, where many quarter-sections have been planted to walnuts in the last five years. - J. H. McF.

Black-Knot

Robert Manning finds the Prunus myrobalana, some of the varieties of which have lately been recommended for planting as ornamental trees, exceedingly subject to the black-knot, and he advises caution in planting them.

Blackberries

Blackberries should be picked and packed nearly the same as strawberries. They are shipped in quarts or long pints. Great care should be taken to keep out all bruised, soft, or mashed berries. Packages must be well filled, to allow for shrinking.

Blackberries #1

The seasoned opened with the Lucre-tia dewberry, July 5th. This is a vigorous growing plant, but the fruit has not equalled wild specimens I have often collected in Pennsylvania. On July 12th the Erie and Early King were beginning to ripen. Both these varieties promise well, though this being their first season to fruit on my grounds, I cannot properly judge their fruit. - G. G. Groff, Lewisburg, Pa.

Blond Giant Lettuce (Blonde Geante)

This lettuce is certainly one of the best for the summer and is fast becoming a favorite with the market gardeners at Halles.

Its foliage is curled, almost golden in color. The head is high, large, and very hard. This variety resists heat well, and is slow to produce seed. It is also called:

Chou De Naples Blonde

Revue Horticole.

A Bong Of Roses

Roses red and roses white, In the garden, glowing bright, Growing in the sod, clear light

Of the sunshine golden - Surely, never flowers more fair, With their dainty fragrance rare, Ever blossomed anywhere-;

E'en in Eden olden!

As we watch them hour by hour, We can fancy every flower Is the velvet, perfumed 'bower

Of an elf or fairy; But, tho' look whene'er we may At dewy eve or dawn of day, Ever are the elves away

From their dwelling airy.

Roses red and roses white. Opening in the sunshine bright. Ever beautilul to sight -

Of Love a graceful token I While velvet leaf and foliage green, Most perfect workmanship e'er seen, To all who see, God's love may mean,

Tho' not in language spoken.

- F. A. Reynolds.