REFORM in nomenclature of varieties makes little progress. The blame for the trifling results is commonly laid at the door of committees or men having the matter in charge, but it is oftener chargeable to hostility on the part of the trades. To institute a reform in the names of varieties demands a strong sympathy for the movement among all dealers and introducers. It means that plantsmen desire to adhere rigidly to rules of priority, and that they abstain from the use of fustian, bombast and misrepresentation in the names they employ. Numbers of dealers are not desirous of taking this step; in fact they are hostile to it, although, from the nature of the case, their hostility assumes the outward form of indifference. Here is, undoubtedly, the reason why the trade organizations cannot push the reform more vigorously. No better proof of this is needed than the fact that these attempts at reform usually originate with disinterested parties and are pushed to completion by organizations distinct from the trade societies.

We understand that there are difficulties in the way of correct nomenclature wholly aside from the indifference and opposition of those who, in the end, would be most benefitted by it. There are few among us yet who have sufficient knowledge of species and of plant variation to attempt a permanent reform. This is particularly true, perhaps, in ornamentals. Study can overcome these difficulties, however, but hostility must grow old and die.

But the foundations are laid. The work of the American Pomological Society is inspiring, notwithstanding the fact that few dealers and catalogues adopt it. The endeavors of this society have commanded attention largely because correct lists of names have been printed in the fruit catalogue, and so have been kept before the public. An actual list of names must attend all efforts of this character, for reform does not come from talking about it, nor from formulating bare rules.

The Society of American Florists is also making progress, although its work lies in synonymy rather than in nomenclature proper. But the results of its labor, under its energetic chairman, must have a wholesome moral effect.

The most complete and sweeping reform ever attempted is in the names of garden vegetables, a movement which began and ended within a single year. The name of every vegetable known to be sold in the United States is passed upon, and the full revision is printed. The work attracts little attention now, but the time will come when that list will be appreciated. But we do not look for it soon ; the trade must be purged before reform can thrive. When the catalogues have burned themselves up with their flaming colors, we shall hope to resurrect from their ashes a thing of greater substance.

FAIRS, as we understand it, were first designed as places of barter. They were the easiest and almost the only way of bringing together the producer and consumer. But things have changed, and mere trade is but one of many features of an agricultural fair. We fear that the fair has lost individuality in these modern days. It is little more than a conglomerate show without directness - except to make money for the management. It has been vaguely hinted - and some have even declared it aloud - that in this century the fair should be an educational institution, that its one paramount endeavor should be to instruct the farmer in best methods, best fruits, best stock and best tools.

Bat big pumpkins, big apples, big cabbages are not educational. When will bur premium lists cease to offer bounty for bigness and grossness ? Or when will judges learn that size does not mean "best?" We once - when we were fortunate enough to be a judge - pinned a blue card upon what we thought to be an extra fine lot of celery, whereupon a wild-eyed competitor demanded the reason, with the declaration that his celery was the biggest in the hall!

Why can we not have prizes for some such entries as these ? - best collection of winter vegetables; best fruits or vegetables for clay or sandy lands; best collection of plums or peaches for distant markets ; best collection of apples, with methods of handling, for exportation; best collection of flowers for fall ornamentation, and the like. Here is an endless opportunity to increase the attractiveness and value of a fair. Of course this means that judges must know their business, and this may be so strongly opposed to the policy of fairs as to render our suggestions worthless. It is a common thing to hear a judge remark, when complaint is made, that he knows nothing about fruits, for he is a tree-agent, or a stock farmer, or what not. Then why was he a judge ? Judges appear to be minor considerations; they are picked up from the crowd at the last minute, and if one of them should protest that he knows nothing about "fruits and posies," the superintendent of the division jogs him knowingly and whispers, "Never mind, I will stand by your decision." The only radical departure from this abuse with which we are acquainted, was that of our own case, above mentioned, for in this case the fair not only secured a competent judge - although we did get a little mixed on the difference between a sweet pumpkin and a calabash - but he was notified two hours before the opening of the fair that he should serve, and he was given a complimentary ticket - admit one - for judging the fruits and vegetables and flowers, and with a request to look into the poultry department and to make a "good report " in the journal!

THE tree agents - poor souls ! - have been much discussed of late. No end of unsavory epithets have been heaped upon them, and their ways of doing are said to be scandalous and libellous. And yet only yesterday one of them called upon us, and in answer to our query - ignorant clown ! - declared that business is good, and never once intimated that farmers think him a guy 1 And his conversation gave us every assurance that in spite of all this fuss he will go right on selling his delicious impossibilities. And he sells them in the same region year after year. His sample-card of paints - known erstwhile as a plate-book - has long since become thumb worn and old, yet the farmers over on the hills never tire of looking at it, and never cease buying. And the more impossible the fruits the faster they sell !

And whom shall we blame ? - the tree agent for selling what the people want ? - and thus snatch a yearly pleasure from the grain and stock farmers over on the range ? No ; we would not deny any bright anticipation to country life! If we are going to purge the tree agent, let us begin on his patrons. A while ago a correspondent, who signed himself an M. D., sent us two plum leaves and asked us to tell him what variety they were. " I bought the trees of an agent,"he wrote" who said that they are a new and valuable sort called the Lombard. I paid $16 for two trees." By all means send more agents to that man ! If we were not so busy in our sanctum just now - all the assistants have gadded off to the country - we should pack our kit and go ourselves.

Late in June early potatoes began to be shipped to eastern markets from California. ...

California horticulturists are making great preparation for the representation of the State at the World's Fair.

We shall have a heavy crop of apples, and some plums and cherries. - T. H. Hoskins, M. D, Northern Vermont, June 30.

In some parts of California, particularly along the Santa Maria river, grasshoppers are reported as seriously injuring grapes.

Orchard Fruit crops in New York are very poor. Apples are almost a total failure, and the same may be said of peaches. Pears and quinces are a partial crop.

Cabbage growing is apparently one of the coming industries of southern California. A car load was recently shipped to the Mississippi valley from San Diego county.

The fifteenth anniversary meeting of the New Jersey Horticultural Society will be held at Rutgers college, New Brunswick, Monday, Sept. 22nd, Charter members are particularly solicited to attend.

In Western Michigan, the noted fruit region, apples will be a fair crop, pears and plums light, and peaches very light, except in Mason and Oceana counties in the northern portion of the peach belt. Small fruits are giving large crops.

In California "there will be a good crop of peaches of fine quality ; a fair crop of pears, but more or less damaged by blight and showing mold and rust. The crop of apricots throughout the state will be large, that of plums only medium, while as to prunes it is safe to calculate on about two-thirds of a crop." - California Fruit Grower.

The American Wild Flower Club intends to make a complete exhibition of native American flora at the World's Fair in 1892. A pamphlet descriptive of the:

In Southern Illinois, all tree fruits will give light crops, partly because of the depredations of insects. Blackberries and raspberries are giving very large crops. Strawberries were abundant - too abundant - and poor, and poor prices were obtained. Prices ranged, per crate of 24 quarts, from 25 cents for peddlers stock, to $2. The early season was very wet, and when picking came on it was hot, both together causing soft berries.

At the May meeting of the Dutch Horticultural Society (Holland), first prizes were given for Odonto-glossum vexillarum, 0. Cervantesii liiacina, Cattleya Schra-deriana, and a collection of Tulipa Billietiana. Honorable mention were given Vanda teres, V. tricolor for-mosa, Dendrobium mesochlorum, Cattleya Mossia, collection of orchids containing Cattleya Skinneri, C. Wal-lisii, Oncidium Kramerianum, 0. concolor and Angracum Ellisii, collection of Narcissus, collection of early irises of 42 kinds, collection of Darwin-tulips, and Lilium Thomsonianum. Special mention was also made of Vanda suavis and Primula veris.

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