The Improvement Of Gardeners

There is nothing like association for improvement in anything worth improvement at all. The great difficulty in the way of association in this. line, is the jealousies and rivalries of our gardeners. They are mostly foreigners, and although clever men apart, have too much of the spirit of the " Fardowners" and " Cork-onians," when brought into competition. I don't mean to say anything offensive, my good friends; but I know a dozen excellent gardeners - all " old countrymen" - in my neighborhood, clever, honest, upright men, all; but they are too jealous of each other to associate and mutually improve. Shake hands, and come together. You'11 all be the bet" ter for it. Jrfrreys.

Improving Whitewash

The grounds of a beer-barrel added to quicklime and water will greatly improve it for a wash. Tallow added to, and stirred up with the lime when slacking, will render the wash more durable. - K.

In The Green-House

It is policy to look over the plants regularly, to see that none are in want of water; and when giving water, be careful that it is tepid warm. On clear, sunny days, when the sun carries the temperature up above 60°, we like to give air, but always close the ventilator in time to retain for the night as much of solar heat as possible. It is better for the plants, besides being economical. All the cacti should be kept in the warmest and dryest part of the house. If the green fly get numerous, fumigate, or if only on a few plants, dust with snuff. It is a good time to prune now, while plants are comparatively dormant.

In-Heading

I have followed the practice, which has obtained with careful growers, of pinching off the first blossom buds, which undoubtedly adds to the increase of lateral shoots the vigor of the whole plant, and the size of the fruit.

Inconnue Van Mons

Form - oblong-pyriform. Size - medium.- Stem - long, rather slender, one inch or more in length, and set without depression. Calyx - open, in abrupt, rather deep basin, frequently without segments. Color - dull pale green, over-spread partially with traces and dots of russet. Flesh - melting, buttery and fine. Flavor - pleasant, good, resembling a little the Glout Morceau, but without astringency. Szason - December to February, keeps well. Quality - "very good," and will probably prove. to be an excellent late variety.

It succeeds well on the quince stock, and from which the fruit is much larger and finer than from standards.

Increasing The Size Of Fruit

While the fruit is swelling, the size of raspberries and strawberries may be increased by thinning out the number on a cane or plant, removing all suckers or newly-forming attached plants, and watering occasionally with manure water.

Indiana Farmer

We failed to get the Indiana Farmer just right last month, though the paper itself is right enough. It is issued every two weeks instead of four, at $1 a year. J. N. Bay, editor and publisher, Indianapolis, Ind. Messrs. J. A. Nash, R. Owen, W. H. Loomis, and L, Bollman, corresponding editors. The Great Western Farmer is issued weekly from the same office, at $2 a year. The Farmer for the new year is very much enlarged and improved.

We shall be glad to correct any mistakes or supply any omissions made in our published list.