THE MELON PEACH AND ITS POSSIBILITIES.

MRS. A. G. LONG, EXCELSIOR.

Many of you no doubt are familiar with what is called the melon peach, but are perhaps not aware that the possibilities in its use are almost as varied as that of the peach or apple.

While we have got a great abundance and surplus of fruit in our household, the melon peach has come to stay as much as the straw. berry. The fruit resembles an orange in size and color; the taste is somewhat like that of the muskmelon, but it is slightly acid. It is very easily grown and is exceedingly prolific. It responds to the same culture as that given the melon and cucumber; however, the hills may be planted closer, say about four feet each way. It ripens its fruit about the first of August, and this past fall, by covering lightly with marsh hay on cool nights, we extended its season to the first of November, a period of three months. The vine is so prolific that the fruit almost touches one another. One year we picked from a plat of ground containing thirty six square feet three bushels of ripe fruit. In this connection it might be mentioned that the fruit is not thoroughly ripe until it detaches itself from the vine.

Now as to its uses on the table. When thoroughly ripe it may be used as a sauce in a raw state, by peeling and removing the seeds, then cutting into thin slices, adding sugar and letting it stand a half hour or more, eating it with or without cream, as desired.

It also makes very delicious pies, which may be improved by the addition of a little lemon extract, or, better still, by a few thin slices of lemon.

For sweet pickles and mangoes it is unsurpassed, and is treated in the same way as other pickles, which is a matter familiar to all good housewives.

It is excellently adapted to the making of preserves. The addition of several lemons, thinly sliced, to each pound of fruit enhances its flavor. About a year ago we sent a two quart jar of preserves to a friend without telling her of what they were made. A short time later, a member of her family being ill, a consultation of physicians was held at the house. They were invited to dinner, and the melon peach preserves were served for dessert. No one at the table knew what they were made of, but the doctors attested to their excellency by committing a breach of table ethics in asking for a second dish. It is also a good fruit with which to effect a compromise with the small boy, since when it is fully ripe it is relished by him eaten out of the hand, and the bushels of green fruit left at the close of the season serve him admirably as cannon balls in playing war.

To the dwellers on the prairie, or in places where soil or climatic conditions deny him the pleasure of growing fruit, the melon peach is something that may to a great extent take its place, and it is well worth a trial, even by those who are blessed with an abundance of fruit.

Calendar for September.

O. M. LORD.

The new strawberry bed now needs careful attention. Excessively warm weather with frequent showers has pushed the runners vigorously, and the weeds and grass are not behind in growth. Among the trees and bushes, we have been forced to resort to scythe cultivation. We do not highly recommend this method, as more or less weeds will go to seed, adding to the work of next year. The berries are all gathered, and no cultivation except among strawberries is needed. Cultivation late in the season stimulates new growth, which is liable to winter-kill.

It is a paying business to gather and feed out or destroy fallen fruit. Apples and plums have fallen before ripening in this vicinity much more than usual, largely owing to the prevalence of insects. Prof. Pammel says the fungous diseases can be controlled by carefully destroying infected fruit that sometimes remains on the trees all winter, maturing and scattering their spores to attack the next crop.

As predicted last spring, a good many apple trees have finally died from the effect of the cold last winter. Where they have been allowed to stand the vitality is gone, but where in many cases they were cut back severely the roots are sending up vigorous growth, which should be allowed to stand till next spring before trimming. Trees so grown may not be symmetrical, but will often produce fruit in abundance before young trees can be brought into bearing. The effect of the last winter's cold was so variable and peculiar with different varieties, that we are still at a loss to know what to recommend. Some varieties that have generally been considered tender came through all right, and some counted as hardy died. We can, however, give one general rule applicable to most varieties. Where trees fruited heavily last year they suffered most. My old Walbridge that have fruited since 1884 are dead, but young trees that did not fruit last year are unhurt. Mr. Philips, of Wisconsin, however, makes a significant statement in the last "Wisconsin Horticulturist." He says if he were to plant another orchard and could have but one apple, it would be the Wealthy. I would like to dwell on this subject, but as it will be thoroughly discussed at our next meeting, it may not be profitable to say much here, but there is food for thought among those who would buy trees this fall.

The exhibit at the state fair will be another source of information that will be invaluable to those who would plant trees.

It is an open question whether it would be better for us, on low priced land, to adopt the methods of successive crops in garden and

fruit culture that the people of the east, on high priced lands, are obliged to make use of to make it pay. Their system evidently keeps the ground cleaner and in better shape, requires more expensive hand labor, but they invariably get better prices for their products. The value of our land need not be considered, so that all plants can be grown further apart and more reliance placed on cultivating with horses. This applies with equal force, whether a small area is to be grown for family use or on a larger scale commercially. In either case it is certain that care and clean culture pays best.

Fall setting of fruits is largely practiced in the south, but in this latitude spring setting is preferable for all kinds except black and red raspberries. Too much stress cannot be laid on the thorough preparation of the ground for any variety of fruits. Plowing this month and smoothing down to start the weed seeds into growth, by help of the September rains, will accomplish more at this time than later plowing or delaying till spring; besides, if the soil is naturally heavy, fall plowing will tend to ameliorate it.

During this month it will be necessary to gather and preserve seeds that would otherwise be injured by freezing. The principal points to be observed are to gather when fully ripe and when dry,and to preserve from dampness and mice. Apple seeds and the stone fruit seeds may be put into sand and wintered out of doors, and should be kept moist. For the stone fruits dry freezing will not do, as the shells will not then crack open. The planting of seeds for fruit should be attended to if we expect to reap much permanent benefit in growing it.

PRESSING PLANTS FOR COLOR.-All plants will not keep their color when pressed, but a large number will if they are carefully placed between papers that are thoroughly dry and quite porous. Nothing should be used which is glazed, and it is best to have a number of sheets between the specimens so they can dry without being changed at all. When smoothly arranged, put in a press, if one has such a thing, and gently apply pressure until you have a hundred or two hundred pounds. Without a letter press one can use a smooth board to lay them on and another over them, using stones or bricks, or any heavy thing to press them. But to save good specimens the pressure must be great. Plants that are juicy should not be put in with others, and layers of cotton between the papers is a great help. When about dry, then change to fresh papers. Dry the damp papers before using again. To mount them, white paper can often be obtained where newspapers are printed. Use a single sheet or one folded once, putting the plant inside. Take white gum arabic and dissolve in a bottle; put in whole cloves to preserve it; this makes excellent mucilage. Cover a piece of paper, and when dry cut into narrow strips and fasten down the stems of the plants onto the paper. At the bottom write the order and particular name with place where found and date of finding.-Helen L. Norton.

Secretary's Corner.

A CORRECTION.-For the word "planted," first word on the seventh line, page 295, August number, read “fruited." This correction,suggested by the writer of this excellent paper, explains away a propo- · sition which perplexed the proof reader considerably.

A MINNESOTA JUDGE FOR APPLES AT THE WISCONSIN FAIR.-Mr. Clarence Wedge, of Albert Lea, has been appointed judge of apples at the Wisconsin state fair, which meets in Milwaukee, September 11-15. Minnesota retaliates by enlisting the services of A. J. Philips, secretary of the Wisconsin society, for a similar purpose at our own state fair.

THE AMERICAN ROSE SOCIETY.—An organization under this name has just been perfected, with Wm. C. Barry, Rochester, N. Y., president, and Paul Pierson, Scarborough, N. Y., as secretary. The life fee is $50, and annual fee for active members, $3, for associate members, $1. The annual meeting and exhibition of this society will be held the fourth Wednesday in lent.

PLANT SIBERIAN SEEDS FOR BUDDING.-Prof. N. E. Hansen has prepared for this number an article on root-killing, and in a letter to the writer he speaks of the necessity of our planting the seed of Siberian crab for budding. This article appears on the first page of this number, and will bear close reading. Save and plant a few Siberian crab seeds in accordance with his suggestion.

A THRIFTY ORCHARD.-J. A. Howard, of Hammond, has a thrifty orchard that is doing itself proud this "off year." He says, "I will have 700 or 800 bushels of apples this year with scarcely a worm in one of them. My Duchess trees are loaded. Apples are dropping the least I ever saw them-even the Wealthy does not drop.

PROFESSOR HAYS IN ENGLAND.-Our readers will be interested in the article published in this number from the pen of Prof. W. M. Hays, of the Minnesota State Experiment Station, in regard to the Royal Horticultural Society of England. Upon his return we hope to hear from him further on this interesting subject. He is making an effort to secure the reports of this society for our library.

THE MISSOURI FRUIT CROP.-The secretary of the Missouri Horti. cultural Society sent out August 1st, 500 requests as to the condition of the fruit crop. The returns from this indicate the average of the state for marketable apples to be about one-fourth of a full crop. This is rather discouraging for a state that makes fruit growing so important an interest. The Minnesota apple crop promises to be not far from the same average percentage.

ARE. YOU COMING TO THE FAIR?-This number will reach our members too late probably to influence the exhibit in our department this year, but not too late that you should visit the fair, if for no other reason, for the opportunity it affords to study the fruit development of the state as exemplified in the horticultural department. Come to the state fair and make the horticultural building headquarters. You will feel at home there and receive a most cordial greeting.

WHO GOES TO THE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY MEETING?-A number have spoken to the writer of attending this meeting of the American Pomological Society in Philadelphia, September 7th and 8th. As the rate there is very low,on account of the G. A. R. meeting, some old soldier who is a member of this society or, conversely, some member of this society who is an old soldier, should furnish us a delegate to this gathering. It will be a great meeting. Don't forget to notify the secretary if you are going.

PROSPERITY OF THE MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.— A note from Jacob W. Manning, Reading, Mass., a life member of this society, who has often met with us, says that the Massachusetts Horticultural Society pays out over $7,000 annually in premiums, and a new hall is in process of construction by them to cost $300,000. It is believed the society is worth a million dollars, estimating the value of the old hall and site at $700,000. Heretofore, the Philadel phia Horticultural Society has had the finest hall in the country.

FROM OUR TEXAS MEMBER -Amasa Stewart, of Lemarque, Texas, one of the best known of the old members of this society, has done better than some of the resident members in sending in the report on fruit asked for. He says that apples do not succeed well so far south as that, though they do well in north Texas. Neither do crab apples succeed there. Plums, pears and peaches, however, are the great crop. It is also a good strawberry and blackberry country, though currants and gooseberries do not stand the long summers. We hope to greet this old member again at some annual meeting not too far off.

THE FOREST RESERVE MOVEMENT.-The movement to establish a large forest reserve in the pine woods region of this state is rapidly gathering force and has culminated lately in a strong organization of almost national character perfected at Chicago, of which President Northrup, of our state university, is president. The area of land under consideration for this use comprises a very large tract of undefined size in and about the head waters of the Mississippi river. A visit to this locality by the friends, in force, of this movement is contemplated this fall and is likely to result in a crystallization of purpose. The trend of public sentiment is evidently setting strongly in the direction of forest protection both for public and private domain and likely soon to bring about valuable practical results. The sympathies and services of this society are heartily enlisted in all this work.