Fresh Flowers

We cannot make a hedge so tight

About the flowers we plant and prize,

But some wild bird with canny eyes Shall see, and wing a happier flight.

As soon as one red bud shall ope, The eager fingers of the breeze Will bear new perfume through the trees,

Or down the hill, or up the slope.

Then some who pass with hurrying tread, Shall think of childhood's happy round Within some far-off garden ground,

And, musing, see no clouds o'erhead.

And those who gaze into our face Shall know, though reading not its name, That we have found than gold, than fame,

Something more full of joy and grace,

And straightway seek with strengthened powers

The hopes which, baffled, early fled.

The living where the sod looks dead, To find and keep new cheer, fresh flowers.

- Charles N. Sinnett.

Fruit Estimate For 1890

The average of the fruit crops in western Austria, Germany, Switzerland and France for the year 1890 has been estimated as follows: Apples, medium to poor; pears, good to medium; prunes and plums, medium to poor; apricots, medium ; peaches, medium; cherries, good to medium ; nuts, good; chestnuts, good; grapes, good to very good. - Garten-und Blumenseitung.

Fruit In Spain

When a Spaniard eats a peach or pear by the roadside, wherever be is, he digs a hole in the ground with his foot and covers the seed. Consequently, all over Spain by the roadside and elsewhere, fruit in great abundance tempts the taste, and may be picked and eaten by anybody. This fruit is a great boon to tired and thirsty travelers. - The Garden.

Our reports tell of fruit everywhere, but the tale is that while there is not plenty, comparatively few of the many kinds of fruit cultivated this year are giving more than half or a third of an average crop. Apples lead the way as the best fruit crop of the year, and are considerably below a fair average. Plums are at the bottom of the scale, and may be pronounced a complete failure. - The Gardeners' Magazine.

Fruit Inducements In Oregon

Each year sees a steadily increasing consumption ; and as many of the foreign fruit producing centers have reached their utmost capacity of production, it is left for these newer sections, among which the Pacific coast - and especially the favored northwest valleys - is foremost, to furnish the increased amount required. There is no danger of overdoing this matter. Only about one man in every ten that has any inclination towards fruit culture will make a success of it - simply because it requires more skill, tact and forethought than they are willing to give - so that to the earnest, industrious man who can "stick" through the first five years while the orchard is starting, give it good culture and not starve it by taking off other crops, it offers an exceptionally bright opening. - Professor E. R. Lake, in Corvallis (Oregon)

Gazette.

Fruit Notes

Nut Culture is constantly enlarging. In many parts of the country it is profitable, and it is always interesting. Every fruit-grower should include a few nuts in his spring plantings. Good things to try, in various parts of the country, are walnuts, chestnuts, pecans, filberts and hickory nuts.

Those who get Good Crops in the face of difficulties are almost sure to make money, because the majority of people fail. ' The average farmer or fruitgrower," writes J. F. C. Hyde, " became discouraged by the curculio and black-knot, and no longer attempted to grow plums, while the few who were able to do so obtained large prices for their fruit".

Identical

The First Season Strawberry is Gandy (Gaudy's Prize). Essentially the same cut answers for both varieties. But such impositions are common.