Raising Seedling Ferns

Take pots or pans and fill them half full of rough pieces of crocks; then take fibrous peat, break it roughly, and thoroughly incorporate with an equal proportion of sphagnum moss.. Fill the pans or pots about two inches above the level of the rim and make it firm. When the compost is properly moistened, take the fronds of the varieties desired and shake them over the compost, and draw the hand up the underneath side of the fronds to dislodge the sposes. Cover in the bell-glass and stand the pots or pans in water in a shady place. - Ibid., p. 148.

Raisins From California Grapes

E. O. Jeffers, of Visalia, California, has experimented with raisin making from the foreign grapes of California.

"I gathered and spread on scaffolds in the sun, about the middle of September ; after they are partly dry, I put loosely in large boxes under cover to finish drying ; in about six weeks they were dry enough to box.

The Rose of Peru averaged this year about forty pounds to the vine; it took three pounds of green grapes to make one of dry. The Fi her Zagos averaged twenty-five pounds to the vine, and it also took three pounds of green to make one of dry. The Muscat, of Alexandria, averaged ten pounds to the vine, and took only two pounds to make one of dry.

Raisins In Utah

Even Utah aspires to the same honors as' California in producing raisins from grapes. They have been grown at St. George, Southern Utah, by Elder Bentley, of the Mormon church, who says they can be produced for as low a price as the foreign raisins can be imported. They are from the Fiber Zagos, a Hungarian grape, which makes an excellent raisin, and equal, if not superior to any that find their way to the American market.

Rambo

Was pronounced first rate, especially in central parts of the State. Dr. Warder said it was good at the south, but ripens early, becomes dry, and does not keep as well as at the north. Recommended unanimously.

Random Notes On Pears

A few observa-tions made during a short visit to some of the eastern gardens, may prove interesting to the fruit-growing readers of this journal.

Ransome's Patent Stone

It is said that specimens of this material have been exposed to the weather for twelve years without the least appearance of decay or deterioration. From what has been stated it will be evident that the patentee, by varying the fineness or coarseness of his sand, has the power of producing all varieties of artificial stone, from fine sandstone to the coarser millstone grit. In short, the uses and modes of applying this stone are endless. We have statuary of it, vases of elegant shape, kerb stones, fountains, and a variety of other objects, all of an ornamental character, for which it is well suited. Austin & Seeley's flower baskets, tazzas, and vases are beautiful works of art, especially the former, some of which are of unusual size. Having been filled with flowers and placed on one of the broad gravel walks, they produced a singularly rich effect. One or two light-looking handsome vases, and other 'decorative objects made of cast-iron painted cream-color, are in use.