I find in turning over the leaves in memory's pages there are a few things that may be worthy of preservation; for he that loves to ramble in Flora's kingdom will find objects of interest and admiration continually, and in the choice gifts of fruit, flowers and trees find an ever-pleasing study. How bright was the anticipation as the warm days of early summer ripened up the first and most welcome fruit, the strawberry, that many of these highly-praised new berries would be tested. We had a fine feast it is true, but the clouds withheld the blessed rain and our hopes were not fully realized. While we must continue to try new kinds, such is the impulse of all lovers and growers of fruit to obtain something better than we now have, I think those who have in bearing the Charles Downing, Cumberland Triumph and Sharpless may rest satisfied, and let others prove the new and highly extolled varieties until they really discover the best strawberry on earth which I think, when found, few will believe in. Following the strawberries come the cherries. But the black knot killed or severely injured most all the twenty or more varieties we had a few years since, only the Downer's late escaping. I find this variety for us is worth much more than any other.

It ripens late and bears abundantly; is healthy and long lived, a most excellent fruit for the table or for canning, and not least, the birds having freely partaken of earlier ripening kinds, kindly leave Downer's late for us. It does not crack or rot on the tree like many varieties. Raspberries, too, are claiming much of the attention of fruit growers; we find several new names as competitors for the best, largest, most productive sort, and if improvement continues as it has done for the last ten years, we will approach very near to perfection. I have in cultivation the New Rochelle and Caroline seedlings of S. Carpenter, of New Rochelle. The former is a strong and rapid grower, a very abundant bearer of large purple fruit of the cap family. The flavor is equal if not better than the Philadelphia. They are growing on a light, sandy loam, and the two last summers were hurt by the severe drouth.' On heavy soil and near where it originated on the farm of Wm. S. Carpenter, they were marvels of productiveness.

With us they are far more profitable than the Philadelphia, Bristol or Brandywine. But after three or four years trial we prefer the Caroline. It is a beautiful yellow cap, in no wise resembling the Brinckle's orange, so far hardy, continues a long time in bearing, and while other varieties were dried up by the dry weather it scarcely affected the Caroline. It has a mild, pleasant, but not rich flavor like the B. orange, and is the poorest variety to can that we have tried. I do not wish to disparage any of the new varieties before the public, but for family use and near market would like to see these two sorts more extensively tested. Cuthbert growing in the same patch were not half as productive, perhaps owing to allowing the suckers to grow so as to have a stock of young plants. In beauty, size and excellence of fruit it is good enough, but we must recollect that some varieties succeed admirably on clay soil, or when the rocks are slowly disintegrating, furnishing new food for the plants, as is the case in Westchester and Orange Counties in the State of New York, or on the rich prairies of Illinois; and on our sandy soils they are very inferior and the grower sadly disap-pointed.

I will say but little about blackberries. A few years ago we destroyed a half acre of Lawton because they were frequently winter killed, and planted Kittatinnys. We missed it. Lawtons were the best, Missouri mammoth was better, and now we hope the Snyder and Taylor will be good and hardy.

My experience with grapes has been the great liability from the ocean exposure to promote the growth of fungus; that Concord is the kind and most to be depended upon. Vines of Martha, Brighton and Worden trained against a building are growing and bearing nicely, and better than the Concord under the same condition.

What an interest is awakened about the old despised Sand Pear. We have had one for forty or more years, a beautiful tree, bearing every other year a large crop of pears, and scarcely noticed except by a hungry urchin tempted by the yellow fruit to taste, and soon throw it away with a wry face. Now sand pears or their offspring are all the go. The seeds are precious, too. If the Keiffer's Hybrid should prove too near a relationship to its parent for an eating pear, still it will be valuable for cooking, and it is such a satisfaction to see a tree grow so rapidly and strong as they do, and bear so soon, too. We use or give away our sand pears, for there is no kind equal to them for pickling. The trees are ornamental, too, especially in the spring. Last year we had a nice crop of Japanese sand pears. They are of a russet hue, very productive, and in quality like the Chinese; in shape like the Buffum.

When inquired of as to what is the best pear in all respects to plant in this section, I answer the Bartlett. And what next for profit? The Mer-riam, as a profitable, reliable pear, is continually growing in favor. I am aware it is but little known or planted, but so many of the largest and best have and are failing that one not so high-toned that will stay with us, grow fast, and hold its abundant leaves until killed by frost, bear abundantly of fair-sized and good fruit, keep a long time in ripening, is certainly a desirable variety, which no other sort of over one hundred kinds we have grown will do. We have not been visited with the pear tree blight, and cannot speak in regard to that. I think the Manning Elizabeth the best pear that ripens before the Bartlett.

It is singular to note how different some varieties are from other sorts in the same orchard. We once planted five Beurre Bosc trees in the same orchard with the Merriam Boussock, etc.; the Bosc all dwindled and died, and the fruit worthless, while near us, where there is clay subsoil, they are the finest of pears. The purchaser should make inquiries about the soil certain varieties succeed in ere he makes a selection.

For nearly fifty years we have been waging war against the cucumber beetle or striped bug, but after trying many ways, some quite troublesome and expensive too, I recommend the planting of one or more seeds of the Hubbard or Boston squash in melon hills, and as the beetle is very fond of the squash plant, they may eat them first and satisfy their hunger; then pull them up when the danger is over. The surest method, I think, is to plant fifteen or twenty seeds in a hill, and as soon as they peep above the earth dust a little superphosphate around and near, but not on the plants. This will make it unpleasant for the beetle, and they soon quit. It may be necessary to repeat the dose lightly two or three times, as the rain may prevent the escape of the ammonia; and there is this advantage over tobacco dust, hellebore, sulphur, etc, it will cause them to grow rapidly, even if the bugs do not come. A frequent inspection is necessary, for they need it.