1885.] LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. 319 



l^ETTERS TO THE ^DITOR. 



OAK-PLANTING. 



STR, — I have much pleasure in answering your correspondent 

 ''W. S. 0." (May number, p. 62) regarding the above, in the 

 rotation in which his nine queries occur. 



1. One bushel of acorns to 25 feet in length of a 4-feet wide bed. 

 Cover 1^ inches with free loose soil. 



2. Two years. 



3. Yes. About one-half, much depending, however, on the 

 growth of the plants, whether luxuriant or not. 



4. Two or three years. Three to four feet. 



5. Yes, straggling side branches or rival leaders should be pruned 

 off when noticed. 



6. Yes. 



7. This plan is preferred by some, but we always advocate 

 pruning with a sharp instrument. Yes. 



8. Yes, if they require it. See answer to ISTo. 5. Yes, 

 unpromising oaks in the nursery border frequently turn out well 

 when planted permanently. 



9. Not generally. They will be all the better of a couple of 

 years' training in the nursery. A. D. Webster. 



Penriitx Castle, Koktii "Wales. 



THE BLADDER-NUT TREE. 



SIE, — Am I right in naming the enclosed spindle tree. It has 

 been the cause of a considerable amount of discussion amongst 

 gardeners, etc. in the garden where it grows. The bush stands 

 about 18 feet high, growing in what may be called alluvial soil 

 in the valley of the Wye. Numbers of our laburnums and bird 

 cherries have suffered very much from the drought, and I am afraid 

 some of them have been killed outright. The foliage upon them is 

 completely dried and shrivelled up, and they present a mid-winter 

 appearance. G. D. 



[The specimen you send, not a very good one, is one of 

 Staphylca pmnata, the bladder -nut tree. The height mentioned 

 by Loudon as that to which the tree generally grows is from 6 to 



