This section is from the book "The American Garden Vol. XI", by L. H. Bailey. Also available from Amazon: American Horticultural Society A to Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants.

Mcmahan's White Apple

The Prairie Farmer says that the apple that attracted the most attention, among the multitude of fine varieties at the late horticultural convention in Madison, Wis., was McMahan's White. Mr. A. L. Hatch, of Richland Co., Wis., raised 300 bushels of this variety last year, and pronounces it the most profitable of apples, in the long run. During the late series of severe winters he has not lost a single tree by severity of weather. It is said to be of Wisconsin origin, a lady having brought the seed from Ohio and planted it in Richland county. How it come to be named McMahan's White we did not learn. Mr. Hatch introduced the apple, and has disseminated it somewhat. The apple list of the American Pomological Society for 1889, double-stars it for Wisconsin and Iowa. The apple is described as large, round-obovate, color yellowish-white, quality good, flavor pleasant sub-acid, flesh white and very tender.

Melon Vines Dying

Musk-melon vines which look well in the morning often wilt during the heat of the day, and revive at night. They behave in this way for several days and then die. In the soil I find hundreds of little white maggots, but I am not sure that they are the cause of the trouble. Transplanted plants have never suffered in this manner. Can some one explain ? - George Doerr.

Metallization of Flowers

Wash the flowers carefully, soak them some moments in a concentrated solution of gallic acid, then plunge them in distilled water, containing one fiftieth of its weight of azotate of silver. The gallic acid, with which the flowers are impregnated, reduces the silver salt. The silver retains its metallic luster and adheres firmly to the flower. The operation should be repeated until the flowers have a fine silver tint. - La Nature.

Michigan Peach Prospect

Late advices report that in most parts of the famous Michigan "peach-belt, " the prospects are good for a fair to good crop. The blossoming is comparatively light, but this means less thinning of fruit and finer peaches. Early in the season it was reported that the freeze of early March, following a very warm February, had destroyed the whole crop, but the injury is not so great as was feared.

A Mighty Handy Thing

This is the opinion of the few who have used the "wire peg" shown in the illustration. It is an English invention, whether patented or not we cannot say, and is sold there for about 25 cents a hundred. It is made of heavy galvanized wire, but could be made of telegraph wire or even a lighter kind for smaller plants. It is far superior to the wooden peg used for layering, and not much if anymore, costly. The lighter grades of galvanized iron would answer admirably for pegging down young roses for winter. In heavier work, like layering grape vines, a heavier grade of wire would be necessary.

Mimusops Elata (Sapotaceae)

The cow-tree of the Amazon. Herndon says it is called there cchenique, and that the fresh milk was used as a food and a beverage. As brought to him, it had a foamy appearance as if just drawn from the cow, and looked very rich and tempting. It, however, coagulates very soon, he says, and becomes as hard and tenacious as glue. Bates says the milk is pleasant with coffee, but has an slight rankness when drank pure. It soon thickens to a glue which is exceedingly tenacious. He was told that it was not safe to drink much of it. Wallace says the milk exudes in abundance when the bark is cut; it has about the consistence of thick cream, and but for a very slight peculiar taste could scarcely be distinguished from the genuine product of the cow. Another authority gives the name of the tree as the Massaranduba.