The Dogs Of London

A market gardener near London contracts for all the stray brutes taken up and killed by the dog-catchers. During the summer months his receipts of dead dogs exceed a thousand a week.

Stock For The Apricot

In France the apricot is grafted on almond stocks. The Royal is the most popular early variety for market.

Bleaching Celery

W. H. Benjamin, of Bridgeport, Conn., ties newspapers around celery, and blanches it better, easier, and cheaper, he says, than by earthing up.

Early And Late Peas

As a general rule there is no struggle as to who shall be last in the race. To be first is to be best. But in the case of the pea there is much rivalry in England as to which shall be latest of all. This is not thrown to the author of all evil, as the "hindmost" in everything else usually is.

Forcing Strawberries

"S. M. J.," Toledo, O., writes: - I wish to ask if any readers of the Monthly have had experience in raising strawberries under glass or in what you would call cold frames or house? I have just built a house covered with glass, on posts set in the ground, that contains 830 square yards for raising lettuce, and think it will produce strawberries, to perfection".

Crossing Species Of Strawberry

There is a general impression that in cross-fertilizing or hybridizing strawberries, the pollen of the Alpine strawberry, Fragaria vesca, will not prove operative on any other species. Mr. Bennett of Trenton, informs us that he has had evidence to the contrary.

Hop Culture

"J. J.," Mitchell, Indiana, asks: "Can hop culture be made a success in this climate? If so, where can I get information as to culture?"

[We have seen hundreds of acres in the northern parts of Michigan and Wisconsin, most likely profitably growing, but we do not know of any work especially devoted to hop culture. - Ed. G. M.J

Spanish Chestnuts North

A correspondent from Buffalo, N. Y., says: '"S. A. W.' asks if Spanish chestnuts would grow as far north as latitude 42 1/2°. We are so near (about 42 3/4°), that it may be of interest to know that they are not hardy here. Of two importations we did not succeed in growing any above three feet. They were planted on sandy soil, but fully exposed. If sheltered would probably do better".

Zygophyllum

When giving the illustration at page 121 last month the pretty orchid Zygopeta-lum was misprinted Zygophyllum.

Ptelea Aptera

Some few years ago there was quite an excitement in regard to a substitute for the Hop, in Ptelea trifoliata, the seeds of which, used as hops, obtained for it the name of "Hop tree." There is another species, in the far west, Ptelea angustifolia; and now Dr. Parry describes a third species, from lower California, under the name of P. aptera, the name from the seeds having no wings as in the common species.