80 THE FLORIST. 



then a pretty sharp frost. [We have had here dense fogs and ice in 

 the roads. Keen is a little burnt in its droopy leaves ; Victoria and 

 Carolina S. are hardly affected ; Ananias Lecoq is not at all affected, 

 its leaves are thick, well formed, and of a beautiful lively green ; its 

 crowns are fine, and it is altogether the best plant I ever saw. From 

 its fine constitution, it must' be a forcer. W. F. R.] 



I am now busy in placing my first Strawberries in pots for forcing. 

 I shall tell you something about them hereafter. The Florist is read 

 by many persons in France ; and our French horticultural papers 

 frequently give extracts of the same, namely, the Journal of our Paris 

 Society. 1 intend writing a little pamphlet on the cultivation of Straw- 

 berries, both out of doors and forced ; but I doubt whether I shall have 

 leisure to do so before next winter. I should like to give in the same a 

 description of all known sorts ; but I want to test many of them next 

 season, in order to be sure of what I write. Unfortunately, the two 

 last seasons cannot be counted, as regards Strawberries, owing to the 

 extreme drought and heat [1 put on about (500 buckets per week. 

 W. F. R.], the greatest enemies to Strawberries. The grub of the 

 common May bug besides did sad havoc. [Give the plant soot in 

 February. W. F. R.] This year, however, we shall be free of that 

 plague, and my plants, having grown strong, I shall be able to study 

 their respective merits at ease. I shall give myself the pleasure to 

 send you, in due time, a descriptive catalogue of all the sorts. A.nd 

 you are at liberty to make any use you like of it ; and also to ask me 

 freely for any sort you may consider of interest to you. 



In my next letter I shall give you an exact description of the new 

 California, with my views as to the future utility of this extraordinary 

 sort. You may depend upon getting some plants of the same. 

 [Monsieur Gloede is, like Mr. N., a man of the right sort. W. F. R.] 

 I shall have some trees from Mr. Rivers, when you may send, by this 

 opportunity, the plants you kindly offer me. 



I remain, Rev. and dear Sir, yours, most respectfully, 



Ferdinand Gloede. 



Without my interpolations, I think this letter will much interest 

 Fragrarians. W. F. R. 



SPERGULA PILIFERA— A SUBSTITUTE FOR GRASS. 



Spergtjla pilifera, in its style of growth, is a neat dwarf hardy 

 perennial tufted alpine plant, forming close compact wiry Grass-like 

 stems, from a quarter to half an inch in height, at first erect, after- 

 wards decumbent, clothed with closely set green bristle-like leaves, 

 which, by permanent growth and occasional rolling, forms an unbroken 

 level velvet-like surface of the richest conceivable verdure, remaining 

 uninjured in severe drought or intense cold, and assumes the same 

 beautiful verdurous tint during the winter months as in summer. The 

 seedling plant of this highly interesting object starts into growth with 

 a single unbranched perpendicular radicle or root, and afterwards 



