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Tree Culture—Acclimatization ;
Cliarles M. Ilovey w rites an interest- !
ing article to tlie Massachusetts Plough
man which contains many valuable sug- ;
gestions to tree planters. He remarked
in a former article that all the attempts j
to acclimate in the E ist the trees of the \
Pacific coast have ended with total '
failure, which brings us to the subject
of acclimatization, one which has attrac
ted a great deal of attention, and the
^formation of societies for that especial
object, notably that of Paris. But so
far as any facts have l>een ascertained,
without a single practical result.
We are all familiar with numerous
trees and shrubs which have been culti
vated abroad beyond the memory of any
one which remain through the hundreds
of years the same to-day that they were
at the ea.l est period of which we have
any knowledge. Take for instance the
peach free. We know not just liow r
many millions have been produced from
seed in our own country ; but we do
•know*it reaches into the hundreds, yet
the ch to-day is no hardier than it
was a hv n( j re( i years ago, and notwith
standing the fact that the trees have
fown from seed produced from
to Florida and west to the
: coast. There have been varieties,
as double-flowering varieties, some
[them direct from China, weeping vari-
and kinds with purple or dark-
kred foliage, but the hardiness, of
ltree remains precisely the same;
jrtain in our climate, and
destroyed by any excep-
No better test could be
fe futility of the attempt to
ltly tender tree quite hardy
whether from a colder
warmer region. Varieties are endless.
We have white-fleshed peaches and
yellow-fleshed peaches, and varieties of
fevery shade of excellence, but no addi
tional hardiness.
Another instance is the Rhododen
dron (R. arboreum) and pontic azalea
(A. pontic), the former from the high
elevation of the Himalaya mountains,
was introduced to England years ago,
and cultivated as a greenhouse plant.
" It is still precisely the same, or not
even resisting the winters of the Eng-
51 lish climate, only in the warmer places
ton the southern coast. But when our
pative, R. (Jatawbiense, was introduced
hnd fertilization effected between the
two, then came a 1 greater or less degree
M hardiness; and cross fertilization be-
fveral kinds have produced
Iperb varieties, some of which
re nearly or quite hardly in our severe
late, but the large portion only half
ly. The original R. arboreum, and
the seedlings obtained from it pure,
•'thout admixture of the American
■ecies, art) still only half hardy plants,
.’he pontic azalea is the same; in our
svere winters it loses its flower buds,
|ust like the peach, but after mild win-
flowers freely. It was only when
our native nudiflora and calendulacca
were introduced and fertilized with the
pontic, that that superb race was ob
tained known as glient azaleas.
Looking among California trees we
And the same effect, except in one soli
tary , case. The well known Chinese
jr vitae (Thuja senensis) is not hardy
our climate, or one of its varieties
■known as Thuja aurea. It is true they
live along for some years, but the
idles are more or less killed and so
injured that they are anything but orna
mental. The Araucaria imbricata, that
I very remarkable tree, lias resisted all
Nattempts at acclimation in our climate,
I notwithstanding the fact that the seed
[asgatheied from trees where the snow
deep; nothing short
Section could keep them
which Mr. ltobin-
ly is indeed a hand-
.luable tree, and it is
it has not yet been
mglily hardy only in one
[ough the author characterizes
interesting and valuable
recently introduced
,nd “its intro-
very beautiful specimens which ora
rnent his -group of coniferous trees.
Experiments with the Douglass fir in
Massachusetts should be conducted
with much caution, for I fear that the
attempt to acclimate it would end like
other Pacific Coast trees—an utter
failure. Still I would not wish to be
considered as discouraging such at
tempts, but that no extensive planting
should be made until we know some
thing more of its hardiness in our severe
limate.
The great trees of California (Se
quoia gigantea) have not yet been
found to succeed in our climate,
though seeds taken from the highest
recorded elevations have been tried. It
is, or should be, the object of the
Arnold Arboretum to try these experi
ments, and give the public the ad
vantage of the patient endeavors of
its professors, the skill of its garden
ers and the best opportunities of
general culture (not special care and
protection), to ascertain the exact
hardiness of this and other trees, of
which a list is given for Massachusetts.
The numerous losses I have made in
the attempt for nearly half a century to
acclimate all the coniferous trees of
which there was any hope of succeed
ing, judging from their adaption to the
English climate, induce me to utter a
word of caution to all cultivators (who
have not the wealth to experiment) to
plant them sparingly, and not plant at
all unless they have a subsoil as dry
and localities as fortunate as, those of
Mr. Hunnewell.
The Capressna Lawson ina is an ele
gant tree, and fortunately, owing to
three or four' successive mild winters,
our trees attained a size large enough to
perfect seeds. These we planted and
a handsome lot of plants obtained, one
of which I selected as an erect and dis-
sinct variety with glaucous or bluish
foliage (C. Hovey), but after caring for
it in the best manner four or six years,
it failed to stand our severe winters.
“For more than one hundred years
public spirited citizens have been ex
perimenting with exotic trees, in dif
ferent parts of the country ; and if we
know now what trees to plant and w r hat
to omit, it is because such experiments
have been made.’’
This is certainly true of the last fifty
years, but we have gained but little
knowledge, and from the exceptional
causes of location, soil treatment, etc.,
we can add but very slowly to our
fund of information trustworthy enough
to plant extensively all that are so often
commended as hardy.
Chestnuts
and Chesnut
in Italy.
Trees
Signor Schira, Inspector General of
Forests, in an interesting report says
among other things that the famous
chestnut tree on Mount H2tna, which
still lives, measures 04 metres in cir
cumference at its base. Its age is esti
mated differently—some attribute to it
4000, some 2000 years, and recent stu
dies give it at least 800 years. There
are some other famous chestnut trees
in Italy, notably one in Montamiata; in
Tuscany. The deplorable custom of
late years of destroying the forests has
deprived Italy of many noble chestnuts,
but it is to be hoped they will be pro
tected by the new scheme of the Minis
ter of Agriculture for re wood ing the
denuded mountains. In the north of
Italy the chestnut grows at an altitude
of from 400 to 900 metres above the
level of the sea; in sunny situations
even at 1200. In the south the zone of
growth is between 500 and 1200 metres
above the level of the sea.
Almost all the Italian provinces culti
vate the chestnut, these trees occupying
a total superflce in Italy of about 469,-
114 acres. The most are found in the
provinces of Lucca, Sondrio and Genoa,
In Lucca, for example, 182.52 per tlufh-
sand acres of the territory are occupied
by the chestnut. The total annual pro
duce of chestnut (fruit) is about 5,768,-
430 quintals. Those of Cuneo are best
both for quality and quantity. Tho ex
portation is about 70,000 quintals, at a
of about 2,000,000 francs. There
ethods of preserving the
the chestnuts to
drying them
Fashionable Fancies.
In Paris shoes and stockings must
match the dress.
Velvet basques grow more and more
in popular favor.
The new muslins are soft-finished,
without any starch or size.
Sun’s veiling will continue a stand
ard material for summer wear.
Ashes of roses has made its appear-
j ance among the aesthetic colors.
Irregular points called coques’ combs
edge the new Ottoman ribbons.
Beaded fringes figure largely among
importations of new trimmings.
Linen collars are straight clerical-
bands, fastened with a jew r eled button.
Birds and fruits form a part of the
design of many of the dressiest sateens.
Robe dresses with embroidered
flounces appear among spring importa
tions.
The transit of Venus design is one
of the new r patterns seen on spring sa
teens.
New sateens appear iri the fashion
able and aesthetic colors so popular at
present.
Fur capes and colors are fastened
with long ribbon strings tied in*a full,
flowing bow.
Rhine pebbles, set in silver, form
very handsome combs, ball-bars, dag
gers and crescents for the hair, and are
n uch worn for evening.
A large rosette or bow of velvet rib
bon, with a square or horse-shoe buckle
of Strauss pebble, is worn on the left
side of the dress just below the waist.
Crushed strawb rry, cerise, scarlet and
garnet shades are worn with black satin
dresses.
Wide flounces of antique lace, and
laces of every description which have
been out of style for years—Chantilly,
Honiton, Guipure, Flemish point and
the like—are this season revived, and
are used to drape courtly dinner and
reception dresses for the^stately dames
and dowagers.
Water repellant silk, which is neither
spotted nor rendered flimsy by water, is
the latest novelty in silks. It comes in
all shades, for day and evening, and
will, no doubt, achieve a great success
for watering-place toilets. The silk is
soft twilled fabric, something like
surah.
Heads of Limoges enamel, mounted
in silver setting, are the latest French
fancy for brooches, wherewith the fash
ionable young lady fastens her large,
bright-hued gypsy ’kerchief of silk,
which she arranges over her dainty
shoulders, and knots in front low on
the corsage.
•
Wide and full jabots of coquille
ruches of lace, reaching from the throat
to the hem of the dress and al3o down
the side seams of the front breadths, from
half way up the length of the seam to
the bottom of the skirt, are seen upon
newly-imported house robes ol'cashmere
and vigogne.
Society girls have little flat satchels
of silk or satin, delicately scented, and
decorated with a bit of their own hand
painting, either floral or comical. These
they suspend from the waist by a knot
and ends of narrow ribbon. Into this
case they slip the card on which is
printed the order of dancing. Down
the pack of the case are fastened small
loops of ribbon, which serve to hold a
tiny pencil.
A stylish house dress is made of dark
Russian gray cashmere. The skirt is
laid all the way down in hollow plaits
devoid of trimming. The bodice is
pointed, front and back, the paniers are
arranged in heavy plaits, rounding over
the hips mid joining the lightly puffed
drapery in the back. The front of the
bodice, the edges of the paniers, and
half the length of the long, close sleeves
are trimmed with an elaborate pattern
in braidwork
For The Curious.
The highest range of mountains is
the Himalayas, the mean elevation
being estimated at from 10,000 to 18,-
000 feet.
loftiest mountain is Mount
Guarisanker, of the Hima-
an elevation of 29,-
sa level.
vorlti L the
The largest city in the world is Lon
don. Its population numbers- 3,020,871
souls. New York, with a population of
about 1,250,000 comes fifth in the list of
great cities.
The largest theatre is the New Opera
House in Paris. It covers nearly three
acres of ground. Its cubit mass is 4,-
287,000 feet. It cost about 100,000,000
francs.
The largest suspension bridge will be
the one now building between New Y r ork
and Brooklyn. The. length of the main
span is 1,595 feet six inches; the entire
length of the bridge is 5989 feet.
The loftiest active volcano is Popo-
cat epeti— “ smok in g mo un tai n ’ ’—t h i rty-
five miles southwest of Puebla. Mexico.
It is 17,784 feet above the sea level and
has a crater three miles in circumfer
ence and 1,000 feet deep.
The largest island in the world, which
is alro regarded us a continent, is Aur-
tralia. It is 2500 miles in length from
east to west, and measures 1950 miles
from north to south. Its area is 2,984,-
287 square miles.
The greatest thing in the world is the
Falls of Niagara; the largest cavern,
the Mammoth Cave of Kentucky ; the
largest river, the Mississippi, 4000 milts
in extent; the largest valley, that of
the Mississippi, its area 5,000,000 square
miles; the greatest city park, that of
Philadelphia, containing 2700 acres;
the greatest grain port, Chicago ; the
biggest lake, Lake Superior; the longest
railroad, the Pacific railroad, over 3,000
miles in extent. The most huge mass
of solid iron is Pilot Knob, of Missouri,
height, 250 feet, circumference, two
miles; the best specimen of architec
ture, Girard College, Philadelphia ; the
largest library is the Bibliotliique Na
tional, in Paris, founded by Louis NIY. ;
it contains 1,400.000 volumes, 300,000
pamphlets, 175,000 manuscripts, 300,000
maps and charts, and 150,000 coins and
medals.
The largest span of wire in the world
is used for a telegraph in India over the
river Kistnah, between Bezorah and
Sectanagrum. It Is more than 6000
feet long, and is stretched between two
hills, each of which Is 1,200 fvet high.
Oaths of all Nations.
The Forms of Oaths In Foreign Leg
islative. A seem biles.
The following summary of the forms
of oath hi use in foreign legislative
assemblies Is extracted from the reports
received at the British foreign office in
New York :
Bavaria—I swear * * *
So help me God and 11 is holy gospel.
Denmark—I promise and swear
* * So help me God and
His holy word.
Greece—I swear in the name of the
holy and consubstantial and invisible
Trinity.
Hesse Darmstaat—I swear * *
* * So help me God.
Saxe-Coburg and Baden—I swear.
So help me God.
Holland—I swear. So help me God.
Portugal—I swear on the holy gos
pels.
Prussia—l swear by God, the al
mighty and omniscient * * *
So help me God.
Saxony—1 swear by almighty God.
Servia—I swear by one God and all
that is according to law most sacred
and in this world dearest. * * *
So help me (?od In this
and that other world.
Spain—After swearing the deputy on
the gospel, the president says : “Then
may God repay you ; but [if you fail,
may He claim it from you.”
Sweden and Norway—I (president
or vice-president only) swear before
God and His holy golpelj * * *
I will be faithful to this oath as sure as
God shall save my body and soul.
Switzerland—In the presence of
Almighty God I swear * * *
So help me God.
United StateB—I do solemnly swear
* * * So help me God.
In Bavaria, non-Christians omit the
reference to the gospel. In Holland and
the United States, alfirmation is
optional. In Prussia and in Switzer
land, alfirmation is permitted to those
who object on religious grounds to the
oath. In Austria, a promise is in
eveuM^^^tmtiiuted for an oath. In
Wonders of the Yellowstone.
.James Carroll, a well known citizen
of Helena, Montana, recently made a
remarkable discovery in the Yellowstone
Park. He says : “ While waiting for
many companions, I dismounted and sat
down on a rock with my Winchester
lying across my knees. Around me was
a scence of grandeur. I w-as in a deep
gorge which led down into the valley.
On each side the gray cliffs towered to a
magnificent height. Behind me was the
steep path down which l had come
through a thick growth of stunted
pines, while in front of and below me
was the gorge (a quarter of a mile wide,
perh aps), its bottom covered from the
foot of one cliff to the other with a
heavy growth of timber. After resting
awhile I stood up and listened, expect
ing to hear my friends approaching.
But not a sound met my hear. The
stillness was so deep that a feeling of
uneasiness came over me, and l attempt
ed to call out to my companions. But
although I opened my mouth and went
through all the details of a good, lusty
yell, not a sound oould l make. I tried
again, and with the same result. I
couldn’t understand it. My horse,
which had been standing quietly by me,
noticed a movement of the bushes near
by, and probably thinking her equine
friends were near,attempted a ‘ whinny.’
It was a sad failure, for she could not
make a sound. She was evidently as
much astonished as I, and became un
easy.
“I was on the point of mounting and
starting back up the mountain, when a
fierce-looking wild animal of the panther
tribe stepped out of the bushes within
about thirty feet of where I was stand
ing. It saw me instantly and stooped
to spring at me. I hastily brought my
gun to my shoulder and—fired, shall I
sayil No. I pulled the trigger, but
there was no report, although the
smoke puffed out the end of the gun
and the wild beast fell as if struck. It
immediately jumped up and hobbled
into the brush, but leaving a trail of
blood behind it. I was now confirmed
in my former suspicion that I was in
land of enchantment, and although
at all superstitious under ordinay
cumslances, I would not have. bu
prised now to see the devilj
out from behind a rock_
got on my horse and^
path.
“ In about a In
companions, wli^
together trying
but although
ing at the to],
really as du^
I felt that i
likely as nol
not help lau*
grimaces, ancf^ec^^WB^BTom their
efforts at making themselves heard.
They were pretty badly frightened, too.
I passed by them, and beckoned them to
follow me back the way we ha^ eome.
No attempt was now made at conversa
tion. After going a quarter of a mile
in silence I lost my way. One of my
comrades, who seemed to think he 1
the way back to the trail, came up close"
to me, and bending over so that his
mouth was close to my ear, with ’a
superhuman effort yelled, ‘Let me
lead 1’ His shout nearly bursted my
tympanum. We had got out •£ the
charmed air.”—Helena Herald.
The \||©r8t Actor.
Some years ago an actor applied to
Lester Wallack for an engagement for
himself and wife, stating that his lady
was capable of playing all the first lines
of business, but, as for himself, he was
“ the worst actor in the world." They
w( re engaged to support Wallack, and
the lady answered to the character which
her husband had given her. The gen
tleman having the part of a walking
gentleman set him for his first appear
ance, he asked Lester indignantly how
he could put him in such a paltry part.
“See,” said the smiling Wallack,
“here is your letter, stating that you
were the worst actor in the world.”
“True,” replied the observing actor,
“when I wrote that letter I had not yet
seen you act.” He was cast a little
higher—from the tip of tho irate Les
ter’s boot.—Cincinnati Inquires
For a mare with scratches: Give
her one of the following balls evi
day for three days, then two a week:
loes. two ounces; nitrate
At