Apple Blossoms

There is a peculiarity in the flowers of apple trees which I have not heard mentioned by observers or noticed in books. Each flower bud almost invariably produces a cluster of six flowers, one of which is a robust flower in the center of the cluster, and this flower is nearly pistillate; in a circle around this are the five others, which are more feeble and a lighter shade of color than the center one; these five are nearly staminate, and attached to the side of the little bulb, while the base of the stem of the pistillate flowers in the center, and these five drop off as the center one matures into an apple. This fact is a pleasant one to investigate; perhaps some good may come of the investigation. - Mark W. Stevens in N. Y. Trib.

Apple Budding

Will you or some of your correspondents please tell me how it will do to make dwarf apple-trees by budding Paradise apple on standard and then working apple on the Paradise again? I have some now budded with Paradise, and would like to have the advice of some one who has had experience before working good fruit on them.

J. B. R., California.

[Have any of our correspondents had any experience? Many thanks for the " Camas" and "Wappatoo" seeds. - Ed. H].

Apple Crop In Minnesota

June 23, Mr. John Hart, of Winona, writes us concerning the fruit prospect in that region: "lam sorry to say that the hopes of a fair apple crop in Minnesota this season are blasted; May 24th, apples and pear trees were in full bloom and promised well till the 29th, when we experienced a heavy fall of rain followed by a heavy frost on the morning of the 30th, which killed two-thirds of the trees. Sorts hitherto considered both hardy and tender, fared alike, for Duchess of Oldenburg did not seem to come through the freeze any better than varieties considered tender. I have four trees that escaped unhurt, I do not know the variety, but think they are the Early Pennock. If my life is spared till the apples are ripe, I shall surely send you a few specimens so as to learn from you of what variety they are - for I think after passing through the trying ordeal of the last winter and spring freeze, it must be of a sort that will do to tie to."

Apple For Profit

We copy the following from the Alton (111.) Horticultural Society's meeting of November 7, 1867:

"J. E. Starr asked what one variety of apple was best for profit on a lease of fifteen years. Several sorts were named on a ballot being had. 'Gilpin' was the first choice, and 'Wine Sap' next".

We hardly dare to make a comment, for we have great belief in progress, but this brings us right back to Cox in 1816 - and is only one more proof that "some old things are as good as new".

Apple Trees Killed By Potash

Medicines in excess become poisons. The New England Farmer mentions the case of an orchard of one hundred and six thrifty Baldwins, that were washed with a solution of a pound of potash in a gallon of water. The owner found in two days that he had killed the whole of his beautiful and valuable trees. Soap suds or ashes in water, are strong enough. Guano is an excellent tiling for trees, and salt is sometimes good, but it is one of the easiest things in the world to kill trees with them in excess.