Mr. Hovey makes a good point in the Rural New Yorker, that when people talk of abandoning pear culture on account of the fire blight, we have only to look at the abundance of fruit everywhere, and the low figures they often bring.

Potatoes are just as cheap and as abundant as ever they were before rot attacked them, or the beetle ate them up. As Mr. Hovey's paper suggests, these troubles seem to be sent in order to frighten the faint-hearted out of the field so that the more persevering shall have a greater reward.

Improved Saur Kraut - To many there can be nothing possible that could improve a dish of saur kraut; but an exchange asserts it is possible, and declares that it may be in this way :

"Six pounds of saur kraut, boiled till tender in water, with a half pound of butter (an earthenware or a porcelain lined pot, closely covered, is the best for this purpose). When it has boiled quite tender, the kraut should be put in a sieve or strainer to thoroughly drain. Meanwhile put into a saucepan a quarter of a pound of butter, a tablespoonful of flour, and a pint of sour cream. When this boils, it is to be poured over the kraut and well shaken together. The oysters are to be stewed slowly, with only the addition of a little pepper, in their own juice. About twenty-five oysters should be allowed to each pound of kraut. It is then to be arranged in the dish, a layer of saur kraut and a layer of oysters, alternately, and their juice poured over all, and served very hot".