Late Chrysanthemums

About two years ago I got a dozen chrysanthemums from Mr. Henderson; amongst them was one the label of which I lost. It did not flower that year, but the next year it bloomed about Christmas. Last year I kept my chrysanthemums in the cold-frames under double sashes until the middle of November. As a result it is blooming a month later than usual, January until now (February 20), and the plants have now from one to two dozen buds and blos-some on them. The plant is erect in growth, rather tall growing; the flowers when half open are discolored in the center, but when fully open are pure white. It is a Japanese variety ; does not take a very large pot, about an eight inch pot being large enough. I have another white variety which bloomed in November, and now it has a second crop on, some two dozen blossoms and buds ; it is of a trailing habit and low growth. If any of the readers of The American Garden have had a like experience I would like to know. - J. Bebbington, Nebraska.

Law Against Killing Insect Foes

You are certainly in the wrong here (page 432, Dec). It is only necessary to point out the danger to convince you that the practice of spraying fruit trees is criminal. Man consumes the honey which bees gather. It follows that if the honey contains arsenic it is liable to cause death to human beings. The party putting the arsenic where bees must get it is guilty of a crime. There is no question about that. Bees have more rights than quadrupeds, for man can not control them. There are thousands of swarms in woods and rocks just as liable to take the poisoned nectar as the bees kept in hives by man. You will have to see this question from a bee-keeper's standpoint before you can pass judgment upon it rightly. We have laws enough now to convict any man who poisons the blossoms visited by bees. Let the sprayers beware! The first man caught spraying trees in full bloom will be prosecuted. - H. O. Kruschke, Juneau Co., Wis.

Laws For The Protection Of Vineyards

A decree has lately been issued in Switzerland, making the treatment of vines for mildew obligatory. The enforcement of the law is in the hands of the Department of Agriculture, from which source also instructions proceed. Upon the failure of the grower to comply with this law, the authorities are to conduct a spraying at the grower's expense ; the failure furthermore subjects the grower to a fine of from $2 to $18. - F. D. Chester.

The Le Conte Pear

Parker Earle writes that in the south this year "the Le Conte pear bore heavily wherever planted, and it shows some market value, but its quality runs exceedingly low".

Leaf Spot Of The Rose

In the report of the Department of Agriculture, 1888, Mr. B. T. Galloway describes the above disease of rose leaves. The trouble must not be confounded with the black spot, caused by an entirely different fungus (actinonema). In this latter case the spots are always black from the beginning, and with no reddish tinge. In the present disease the spots are red, or black with a reddish border. As the spots increase in size, the centers become light brown or even grayish. The disease is due to the fungus Cercos-pora roseacola. As a remedy, prune severely and burn all diseased parts. Keep the ground loose and set out in dry airy situations. - Fred'k D. Chester, Del. Expt. Station.