Ornamenting A Grape Dish

The Philadelphia Public Ledger advises to set purple and gold flowers around the black and white grapes in the dish.

The Large Vanda Sanderiana

At a recent sale of orchids in New York interest centered in a beautiful specimen of the Vanda Sanderiana, said to be the largest in the world. It was brought from India in 1880 to London, and sold to the late Mrs. Morgan for 400 guineas. At the Morgan sale it was purchased by Mr. Osborn for $900. It sold for $470.

Another Large Sago Palm

Though not exactly west of the Mississippi, it is so near the line that it is worth noting, that the Memphis Floral Co. have two Sago Palms, on one of which at the present time there are one hundred and one leaves.

Purple Beech Leaves With Cut Flowers

The Philadelphia Public Ledger says:

"The leaves of the copper beech are made up with corsage bouquets of Niphetos roses. Sheaves of roses, tied around with their natural stems like a standing sheaf of wheat, are the newest fancy for center piece decoration to the table".

Foreign

Muscat of Alexandria, Muscat Hamburgh, and Black Hamburgh.

Early Peaches, P. 268

When Amsden's June, Alexander, etc., were first offered, it was claimed that they would not rot like Hale's Early, but I have a nice thrifty tree of the Amsden, large enough to bear a bushel, and did not save a single peach from it. E. Rivers is claimed to be free from rot, but a neighbor says he planted quite a number and all the fruit rots.

Early Pears

Doyenne d'Ete is planted here for very early and is better than Madeleine. Osband's Summer is much better than either, but a little later, and B. Giffard still a little later but very much superior in flavor, but a slow and uncertain grower. If the Wilder is equal to Giffard in flavor, as early as Doyenne de Ete, and larger and at the same time succeeds generally, it will be a very great acquisition, but only a few varieties do this, and the majority are only of local value.

Tap Roots

Mr. Douglas' excellent article deserves a careful reading, and there are some points which should be especially noted by those who think spontaneous growth occurs where no seeds could exist.

Weight Of Beurre Diel Pears

At New-castle-on-Tyne, in England, fruit was produced last year of this variety weighing 29 ounces.

Collar Grafting Apple Trees

Mr. D. W. Cozard, of La Cygne, Kansas, is a warm advocate of crown or collar grafting seedling apple trees. This takes the whole seedling root, and not merely the piece of root into two or three as usually divided.