Acclimation

It does not seem to be generally understood that there is certainly something in acclimation, though just how far may be a question. It is often argued that the potato is just as susceptible to injury from white frost as it was 300 years ago.; but then there has been no attempt at selecting hardier varieties. In nature, selection of this sort goes on, the weakest not surviving when hard times come. The Douglas spruce of Colorado is undoubtedly the same as the Douglas spruce of the Pacific. They are descendants of the same originals, yet the former will endure much more frost than the other. No one can explain just how this was brought about, but the fact of acclimation remains all the same. I have recently had a similar instance in relation to Magnolia grandiflora. Plants from Virginia seed are fairly hardy in Philadelphia, while those from further south never live. - Thomas Meehan.

Algerian Locusts

The unseasonable weather of the past winter has had a malign result in Algiers and Tunis, for the locust pest threatens to be more terrible than ever. The insects put in their appearance discourag-ingly early, being already at work in February, notably in the province of Constantine. The Algerian officials have made arrangements, as in the two past years, to attack the enterprising locusts, tooth and nail, from the beginning of their egg-laying. - W. H. W. C.

Alpine Plants. F. G. J

There are plants found growing at high elevations, not necessarily in the Alps, as the name would imply. Many of them are very beautiful, but cannot be grown in a sunny exposure. A shaded rockery, where there is plenty of moisture, is what they require.

Amaryllis, J. R. Pitcher

B. F. Williams, the well known grower of rare plants, has named one of his seedlings after our enthusiastic orchid grower, J. R. Pitcher, esq. We are pleased to see his name associated with so beautiful a flower, which is described as follows : "There is something very striking in the color of this garden variety. One need not look inside the flower to see this color, for both sides, including the tube, may, for the want of a better term, be described as of a rich crimson red. The tone is exceedingly dark, so that, on the whole, the variety is notably distinct, notwithstanding the number of kinds in cultivation".

An American Knapsack Pump

B. T. Galloway, chief of the section of plant pathology of the Department of Agriculture, announces that he has completed arrangements by which a cheap and serviceable knapsack pump for the application of fungicides is to be put upon the market by an American manufacturer.

And So Ho Will

"If I can tide matters over until after Christmas I will be all right," said the lumberman.

"Oh, Yule tide it over all right," replied his confident wife. - Rochester Post-Express.

Minnie - "Mr. Rink actually proposed to me last night. I never was so surprised in all my life I"

Mamie - "You needn't have been. His sole ambition is to be thought eccentric" - Terre Haute Express.

She - "You are such a solitary man, Mr. Silby, I should think you would get lonesome".

He - "Oh, no; I enjoy being by myself".

She (thoughtfully) - "I don't see how you can." - Burlington Free Press.

No Chemicals.