A New Species Of Grape, And The Scuppernong

Recently I have identified a distinct species of grape, first discovered in Florida by a Mr. Halsey, about 1830, and sent to Rafinesque who described as follows :

Close Planting Of Grapevines

How theoretical reasoning is often upset by practical experience is well illustrated by California grape growers. The late Mr. Briggs thought that vines planted 12 feet apart would make better fruit than closer, but it is found by results that when closer planted the saccharine matter is increased.

Potato, Charles Downing

New and promising potatoes continue to be born, but hope seems too often to get an early frost that blights it in the bud. Charles Downing is the new star in the East. It is said to be as early as Alpha, productive as White Elephant, and as agreeable as Snow-flake. " Long may it wave".

Endive Celery

A kind of celery that grows in dense tufts like Endive has appeared in France. The leaves are so numerous, and grow so thickly together, that they shade the leaf stalks, and the plant is thus self-blanching. It could probably be aided in this by tying a little, or placing a board over as in endive.

European Larch In Massachusetts

At a recent meeting of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, Mr. O. B. Hadwen said that he set out some larches for ornament, and twenty-six years after he wanted twenty sticks of timber 8 inches by 10, and could not get them except by resorting to his ornamental trees, and accordingly cut out alternate trees. The larch makes very stiff timber, which cannot be sprung.

Sea-Weed Paper

Paper from seaweed is a growing industry in France. It is so transparent that it has been used in the place of glass for windows. Making paper from sea-weed is said to be a flourishing art in Japan.

Blueberry Plants

By an illustration we note that some "Blueberry" plants, extensively advertised in the agricultural magazines, are not of the Vaccinium or Huckleberry family. The plant is the dwarf June-berry of the West, a very good fruit to have, but not the one the buyers expect to get. Botanically it is Amelanchier alnifolia.

Immediate Results In Cross-Fertilization

This subject is still one of interest, judging by our exchanges. In the Farm and Garden, Dr. Ayres, of Urbana, Ohio, instances in proof of immediate influence, varieties of apples not usually russetted, producing fruit covered with russet. But this simply proves a "freak of nature," and is well known to have no relation whatever to "cross-fertilization" or to pollen influence in any way.