Vriesia Hieroglyphica

This is one of the most remarkable of variegated or foliage plants. It belongs to Bromeliaceae or pine-apple family of plants. The leaves are in shape like short and blunt pine-apple leaves, but are continually cross-barred with brownish violet figures that have some resemblance to ancient hieroglyphics, whence its specific name. It seems to have been introduced into Belgian gardens from Brazil.

Prolonging The Pear Season

A rose by any other name will smell as sweet, says the poet; but there appears to be often the same smell when it is not a rose, if what we read about the Bartlett pear in a London paper be true. This pear is known as the Williams' Bon Chretien there, and, so we are told, it is so popular that long after its season is over the dealers sell other kinds under that name, and the poor imposed-on Londoners do not know the difference. An American could hardly be fooled so easily.

Eating Fruits

Green's Fruit Grower quotes the views of eminent medical authorities about eating fruit, and of others equally eminent about not eating it; and concludes that if we are to follow the contrary opinions of the modern "medicine man," we shall very soon bring up in a lunatic asylum.

Profits Of Melons In Persia

The Persians and other Asiatics are very fond of melons. It is regarded as the most profitable crop by the gardeners of Khiva. They get from 10,000 to 14,000 from an acre. They sell at about $2.25 per 100; and the net product is generally about $300 an acre - pretty good for a country where a little money goes a great way.

The Bearing Year Of Apple Trees

As well known, many kinds of apple trees bear only in alternate years. By persistence since 1876, in picking off apple flower buds, Mr. Asa S. Curtis, of Stratford, Connecticut, induced a tree of Rhode Island Greening to bear last year, when it should have borne the year before.

Rot In The Fruit Of The Tomato

Rev. M. J. Berkely finds that the rot in the tomato is caused by the same fungus that attacks the potato tuber - Perenospora infestans. As with the potato, the disease is less troublesome in America than in England.

Daniel Boone Strawberry

Mr. Little, at one of the meetings of the Fruit Growers' Society, of Ontario, Canada, said it was so large with him that thirty berries filled a quart.

Dana's Hovey Pear

In a letter of Mr. Charles Downing, recently published in Green's Fruit Grower, he says if he were planting pears for market, and found it desirable to plant Seckel, he would take Dana's Hovey instead. It is larger and richer, and has better foliage than any pear he knew. It ripened with him all through the month of December.