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2 From tte r» to« * Qantoner. Roses and their Culture. NI'MUBK riIBIK. In grading weak growing varieties we u*e a very small piece of root of some of the robust and growing kinds. Such as Mme. de Trotter; give the graft a long standing cut, and allow at least half an inch of the cut portion to remain uncovered by the bevel of the root; this will help the graft in throw- ing out roots at that point. The fol lowing Winter the plant can be taken up and the Stock root cut off. Still if this is left, there is but little danger of it throwing out suckers, providing a suitable variety has been used for stock. In tl.is manner wc can grow very strong plants of the otherwise weak growing kinds and still have them upon their own roots. Some varieties, however, seem to adapt themselves so well to the roots of Mme. de Trotter, that they seldom free themselves, but never have we known them to throw out suckers. The practice of budding roses should be avoided as much as possible, especially if plants are raised tor sale, as we have scarcely a single species commonly used for stock, that will not throw out suckers. In cases of newly introduced varieties, which it is desirable to propagate without delay, building is, however, the speediest method. Most of our roses can be propagated from cuttings, either in open ground or under glass. The varieties of Hybrids devoid of thorns are,however, less successful than those showing these appendages, and nearly all varieties with short jointed wood strike readily from hard wood enttiugs. Prepare the cutting from well matured wood, cut six inches long and plant out at this time in well prepared soil. In scr^kecutting up ..if. the manures sucfi as fresh stable compost should never be used in preparing the land destined for the cuttings. i Many varieties, however, of which cuttings of mature wood and of suffi cient length for open ground planting cannot he taken, eau be propagated from short cuttings of a couple of inches in length by inserting them along the edges of a flower pot filled with a compost of half leaf mould and half good garden soil, the top covered with white sand. These must he kept in a sheltered place, such ns mi ordinary cold frame, and watered moderately.— When rooted they can be repotted siugly and when sufficiently strong put out in open ground. Another method of propagating is from what is com monly .termed Greenwood cuttings, which are taken from the new growth. These however, require some ex perience to ensure success and arc generally made in the month of Feb ruary or March. To grow Greenwood cuttings successfully the stock plants must bo potted in the Fall and forced ill vegetation as early in January as practicable. This method requires a good greenhouse and much attention and is not, advisable unless new or scarce varieties need increasing at a time when other methods cannot he practiced. . Another method is Layering which can be performed whenever the new growth of the plant is of sufficient size and maturity. Loosen the soil around the plant, take a suitable branch and remove the leaves from the base to within a couple of inches of the top. Make an incision by slitting the stem one to one and a half inches so as to form a tongue. Bend the shoot and slightly twist it to allow the tongue to be brought at a right aide with the stem. Insert the bended por -1 tion in the earth four inches at least and BANNER OF THE SOUTH AND PLANTERS’ JOURNAL. press the earth firmly around it If the weatLr is dry, a slight mule*) is ad visable All roses having many thorns emit r*pts much more freely than those without thorns, these latter often pro duce oiqj cellular lumps at the end of the tongse especially if the weather is dr/. Wien practicable it is therefore advisable'to water the layers occasion ally. Plants grown from Jjard wood in open groundeither from cuttings or lay era, are much more desirable than those grown from softwood; they are more robust and able to stand our hot Sum mer weather. The many causes of failure we seo here with imported roses are due simjtly to the fact that they have been propagated from half ripened wood and under close heat. When our first warm weather appears the plants suffer and often die out before August. Our climate is not suited to liigli standard Roses, which are so generally esteemed abroad High naked Steins are soou scorched by the sun and seldom last beyond a couple of Summers. The best form which our garden roses can be cultivated in isdlie ordinary bush, emit ting branches from the base and shading the whole plant. We would hero urge the importance of annual prutlhg which is as essential to good flowers as pruning the grape vine is es sential to the production of large and perfect bunches of fruit. January is in our climate the most desirable month to prune roses. Select sonic of the strongest shoots of the preceding years' growth and cut these down to three or four buds, or in other words four to six inches trom the ground.— Remove all the small branches which never will produce a good flower.— Weak varieties t an be pruned severely and wriHi more advantage than those of pruned so much. In pruning, regard must be bail to the object in if many flowers are desired and without regard to their size and perfection ot form, then prune moderately, but it a few flowers of the largest size and greatest perfection are expected, then prune closely; above all avoid crowding the plant with useless wood. Climbing roses need different prun ing, :»s the main stems are permanent, the ride shoots should be pruned back to two or three inches annually. Moss roses, especially the Spring blooming varieties, sljquld be pruned less severely than Hybrids perpetuals; when their bloom is over prune mod erately and allow them to form wood for the ensuing yea re' flowering. Roses in general thrive best in a deep sandy loam enriched with stable manure. Frequent stirring of the sur face of the soil will benefit them great ly. An annual application of ttjaimre, and especially in a liquid form will amply repay the trouble. Seeds and Plants by Mail The following remarks on the above subject are clipped from a recent num ber of Hearth and Home. They are peculiarly applicable at this season of the year, when every one who is pos sessed ot a farm or a garden should be making up their list ot the necessary seeds for vegetables and flowers. Apropos to this subject, we again caution our readers to exercise all pos' sible care in the selection of their seeds and to purchase from none but re sponsible dealers. There are few branches of commerce that ofter such inducements for the practice of fraud and imposition, as is presented to the dealer in seeds. An established and responsible nurseryman or seedsman, values his reputation too much to allow an inferior article to leave his establish rnent, but, unfoitui ately, in this busi ness, as in all other I, irresponsible deal ers have crept in, vho by dint of ad vertising and brass succeed in [(aiming off worthless artk; «s upon their too credulous patrons. Our advertising columns and Nuijiserymen’s Directory ;ire a safe guide to the inexperienced in such purchases. In most cases the proif of the seed Lan be tested only by a similar process has to be resorted to improving the pudding; a more vil lainous fraud is scarcely conceivable than that of wilfully jailming off upon the uninitiated, old reeds whose vitality has departed, or the adulterated trash that such marvellous results are so fre quently promised from the cultivation of: Many are not aware of the great benefit to be derived from the cheap postage on seeds, plants and cuttings. Any one can have plants, |po matter what distance they live from a nursery man or almost as easily and cheaply as thongh there were some body that produced them in their own place of residence. There are a great many lovers of floriculture, living at a distance from * florist, who would like to have at letst a few plants with which they might ornament their homes, were it not for the fact that the express charges, did the plants arrive in safety, on tit; few they could affo.d, would mnountjto two or three times the cost of tht plants. Such person can appreciate and enjoy the privilege of sending plants by mail. This mode of shipment opens anew field to florists, for they can reach a class of customers they were unable to before, and although the orders would be small, yet the number of them would be apt to be large. They can send plants at their retail prices and pay the postage, which amounts to but little; thereby giving their patrons stock at as loljr a rate as they would be apt to get it, were they to buy of the dealer in person. .1.1 1 inrira saying that all plants, even of the more tender sorts, can be forwarded to the most distant parts of the country with out injury. The best plan for wrap ping is this : Spread a thin layer of dry moss upon a sheet of paper, and after having washed the dirt from the roots of the plants, place them upon it in layers, putting moss between.— When you put in place all the plants you desire to send, place another thin layer of moss over them, and com mence at oik side of the paper and roll up the inos| and plants very tightly, then wrap kith oiled silked or oiled paper, to wop the moisture in the package, ail afterwards cover with paper upouwhich you can write the address, 'lie firmer the package is rolled, if \\f h sufficient moss, the less liable the [puts are to break or be in jured by nigh handling. It is better to use dryjnoss and dampen the roots because is not so much danger of getting thqi too wet and causing de compositioi; besides, the dirt has to be removeqfrom the root of the plant, and is donation; safely with the use of water. By the use of dry moss and damp rootsihe moisture is just where it ought take, while in using damp moss the fdlaii is apt to be kept just as wet as tie toots, and decay is very apt to folio? 1 The postige on plants is two cents on each font ou tes or fraction thereof, packages not to ixceed four pounds in weight. The pit office law requires that all pfekais coming under this rate shall lpve le nature ot the con tents distinctly arked on the outside. Plants tjat re received by mail , should be Ilia and for a day or two ' after being set t. Wholesoxxe j of Apples. —Haw mel low apples Jire Igested iu an hour and a half, while ioill cabbage requires five hours. Th< mcthealthf'ul desert that can be placed u jin triable is a baked apple.— If eaten frepienlat breakfast witu coarse bread and bitter,ithout meat or flesh has an admirablt effehn the system, often re moving eoistipap, correcting aridities, and cooling off fcbrile conditions more effectually lhan 1 u.ost approved medi cines. Lielig saathey prevent debility, strengthen digest! correct the putrefac tive tendencies, ofurogenous food, avert scurvy, and strengta the power of pro ductive labor. \ Pruning. The following remarks upon Pruning appeared in a late number of that excellent4emi monthly, the farmer <t Gardener. They are particularly ap plicable at this season.- We consider this one of Uk> most important as well as necessary opera tions in the culture of fruit trees, and yet how little are the principles of rational pruning understood and carried out! Its objects are manifold, and re quire to be separately treated in order to elucidate the several ]>oiiits ot the subject. There exist fundamental principles in pruning, which are based upon vegetable physiology, and when well practiced they regulate the pro duction of fruit as well as promote the health and longevity of the tree. The influences of the climate of our Southern States upon the vegetation of trees are peculiar to this zone. W<■ find that although the general princi ples which govern the art of prating 1 are admissible in the main, there arc certain modifications absolutely neces sary as regards our section. We must remember that we have here to work to produce shade, whereas in adder regions (and thence come unfortunate ly all the printed precepts of the art) the object ot the operation is, in most instances, intended to give as much sunshine to the tree as possible. A tree left entirely to itself fmm its origin will assume such shape and pro duce such cro|>s as tend solely to the preservation of the specimen ami the perpetuating of the species. We modify the natural growth when prun ing with a view to utilize all the pro-1 ducing capacities, and hence destroy the natural economy of tm tree so far as to cause an abnormal production of! fruit. It is therefore most important that we understand the particular habit and growth of each class ot fruit trees to guard against the deterioration of the tree by defective pruning. This brings us to the fact that each class of fruit trees requires a particular njethod iu irina (nUHBiw. 1 ,o OKXF.ItAI. PKIXCIPI.es. Ist—To distribute the sap equally upon all parts of the tree. Wc will take the body of the tree from its incipient start from the seed as the main axis of the whole structure. Through this the whole nutrition ot branches, leaves aid fruit takes place. It is the main channel that conveys life and growth to the individual. I? should, therefore, end as it commences, always the point from which all the branches radiate. If the main stem has been allowed to remain undivided the health, vigor and symmetry of the tree can he preserved much longer than if the stem is divided by forking, (commonly called), if we are aljowed the expression. It is obvious that the pyramidal is the most natural form a tree can be made to assume, as iris at the same time the most conducive to health and, consequently, fertility. From this we have regular distribution of the sap ; the lower branches being nearest the fountain of nutrition, re ceive a larger supply than those above, and extend, therefore, at more length. The first, being equally distributed, will not only be of more uniform size, but prevent the overweighing of one portion of the tree and keeps it in equilibrium. No splitting off of over burdened branches will lake place and destroy the symmetry of a favorite tree. Heavy wind will not prostrate it, from the fact that the root grmeth, being similar to the growth of the top, the roots also radiate and brace the tree from all sides equally. As mentioned, the fruit being equally distributed will not force an undue allowance of sap to the particular part of the tree where there is an unequal proportion of fruit, and thereby rob the other portions of the necessary sustenance. ~nd—Pruning to Improve the Shape of a Tree. This applies to fruit trees of all classes. Its object is to correct any tendency of a branch to outgrow another, to preserve as much as possi ble a symmetrical form, always havino in view the future yield of fruit which rational pruning Is intended to help bring to perfection. 3 Direct the grmeth from one part of the tree to another. In many cases this is required to equalize the growth and preserve sym metry. A tree should have the diame ter ol its branches, proportionate with its height. Hence cutting off the leader will cause the lower branches to extend farther and equalize the structure. The same effect takes place when a branch that outgrows another is shortened in. 4 th—Pruning to Renew Growth. This is often needed to rejuvenate trees that have become stunted or re main stationary from age, neglect or exhaustion. In peach trees, annual pruning to obtain anew growth of wood is of absolute necessity as the fruit is produced on the previous years’ wood. In grape vines it is still more essential as the fruit is produced upon the years' growth. Old apple and pear trees are often brought back to fruitful ness by a severe cutting away of a por tion of their branches ; ibis induces new growth which, after a year or two, forms fruit trees and brings the tree to fertility again. , It is a well known fact that when an tree is thus cutback in its branches anew growth of roots is likewise formed oth—Pruning to produce or reduce Fruitfulness. Many trees that have been severely pruned are apt to make a rapid and vigorous growth of wood thereby pro ducing little or no fruit. This tenden cy can be checked by Summer prun ing, although in this climate it must be practiced with great caution. This Summer pruning impedes the circular tion of the sap and forces the young shoots to form fruit buds. Trees that have a tendency to form too much 1 wood should not receive a close prans ing, the shoots should merely be tap ped and not reduced to one-third of the years’ growth if the reverse is tq be desired. Root pruning is also practiced to induce the tree to produce trait; this should be done during the Winter months but never while the tree is in active generation. Pr.r/r matter whether your farm is small tent until you have an ‘‘VVc do not advise farmers indiscriminate ly, ’ says. The Countryman, ‘‘to undertake to raise fruit for market. Each one should judge for himself as to the feasibility of such an enterprise. But we do say- to every farmer, raise fruit, or try to do so, at leest for the use of your own family. It will largely pay in pleasure and in health, if you never sell a dollars worth. In selecting varieties, choose those kinds that usually do we l ! in_ your locality. Deal, if possible, wita reliable fruit-tree dealers, rather than with agents who are strangers to you. And don’t set out an orchard under the delusion that setting out the tree* will be about all lue work that will be necessary. In this nay of many enemies to fruit and fruit trees, it may- be said thaUenternal vigilance is the price of fruit. Land devoted to fruit trees need not to be worthless to the owner. Some valuable crops can be raised m the orchard almost until the trees become old enough to bear: and by the time they reach bearing age, in this case, they will probably be a market close enough. But, as we said above, if you never sell a dollar's worth of fruit, your orchard assuredly will, if properly attended to, pay you and vour family, in health and comfort, for all vour labor and expense. ” • '™ El> -Week Seed.— A writer in the Prai- Parmer , who dates his letter at Danville, Aew t ork, says that be is informed, through a very worthy and reliable source, that there has recently been made from France a ship ment to this country of dyed apple seed. 1 his seed has been dyed to resemble pear seed, and will doubtless lie offered for sale at a taking price. He adds : This stained apple seed dodge is an old one, and it has been practiced suc cessfully on nurserymen in this country, and even on old nursery firms in Europe. Deem ing it due to the public that they should lie put on guard against such swindling opera tions, I send tins hasty- note. ° mon? , says Dr. HaH, ‘-are °“ C ° f , hc ” 10 f nutritious, healthful, and detestable articles of food found in our mar ket IV e never ate one to our knowledge, expect to ; we can smell them a mile off, perhaps A few grains of coffee, eaten immediately afterwards, or a teal swalled removes at fjdor of the breath. If onions are half boiled, and the water thrown away, and then put into soup to be boiled ‘done’ the odor will be but little noticed.” Thb Teeth —Horace Walpole wrote : Use a little bit of alum twice or thrice a week no bigger Ilian half your nail, till it has all dissolved in your month, and then spirit out. This has so fortified my teeth that they are strong as the pen of Junius.— 1 learned it of Mrs. Hrosvenor, who had not a speck in her teeth, until hes death.”