Pennsylvania State Fair

The premium list for this fair, to be held at Harrisburg in the fall, offers cash premiums amounting to $5,059, ranging from $100 down to $1. There are also embraced in the list thirty-one silver cups and goblets, eighty-three silver medals, and a number of bronze medals.

Col. Wilder has been making another excellent speech at the celebration at Dorchester. There can be no possible objection to this, but it would be very agreeable to his friends, if he would put pen to paper more frequently also on the subject he is so capable of enlightening us upon - Horticulture.

Pentsiemon Jaffrayanus

A fine hardy or half hardy herbaceous perennial allied to F. speciobus. The leaves are glaucous, entire, the lower ones spatulaie; the flowers in long terminal panicles, large bright blue, stained with deep red at the base of the tubes. It is a charming plant. California.

Peppermint In Michigan

The Detroit (Mich,) Democrat says: "There is more peppermint grown in St. Joseph county, Michigan, than in any other locality in the Union. It is the staple product of one town. The oil is extracted and sold at $4,50 per pound. An acre will yield from fifteen to twenty pounds, making a very profitable crop".

Perennials

This present (October) month is one of the best for transplanting and dividing perennial plants; and as flowering perennials are among the easiest cultivated in forming a flower garden, and abound in great diversity of foliage and color of flower, they should be freely planted in every garden. Prepare the ground by digging it fully one foot deep, and mingling - unless already rich - a quantity of well-decomposed manure or compost. Obtain the plants from a reliable dealer - order good strong roots - plant them carefully, and then spread a light covering of coarse straw manure, say two inches deep, over all for winter protection.

Perennial Phlox

The ladies who have abundance of room in their gardens, will not be apt to overlook them the coming season. Here is a list of the best varieties worthy of culture: Admiral Heinneis - Bright rose; deep carmine centre. Ball of Fire - Dark crimson; finely formed flowers. Cross of St. Louis - Lilac and white striped. La Candeur Pape - White ; crimson eye. Madame Rollison - Bright crimson. Madame Mason - Lilac, with white centre. Mrs. Punch - Salmon scarlet; dark eye. Eosedale - Deep rose color; violet eye ; immense truss. Surprise - Large cherry-red centre; outer edge pure white, shaded with scarlet; extra.

Perennial Plants

The value of perennial flowering plants in every garden we have repeatedly touched upon, and urged as perhaps the greatest of any that make up the flower garden. We now say, make your arrangement for planting them this fall. Select out your list, send your order to a reliable dealer, dig deep and thoroughly manure the ground with well-rotted manure, adding, if you can, sods at the bottom, and plant in October.

Perfect Nonsense

The horticultural editorial genius who penned the following sketch was either a natural horn fool, or else lived in u moonshine " too much. The idea of growing best in cold weather! " Delicate flower! " " Fragile!" "Star reflectors!" " Perfumes! " Whew! Carry us out!

" The California hop vine has the singular habit of only growing in winter. The cooler the weather, the better it thrives; and on clear, frosty nights, it sometimes grows an inch in five hours. It bears beautiful, snow-white flowers, something like tuberoses, only much more fragile and fragrant. Ladies wear them with diamonds at evening parties. They wither in daylight, and open only at night. When the mercury is lowest, and the stars are almost reflected on the crisp, shining snow, then this delicate flower opens its petals and fills the frosty air with its perfumes."