62 THE FLORAL WORLD AKD GARDEN GUIDE. 



aspect, in which I intend to place places. Would you kindly name a few evergreens 

 that would do there ?" Tliese are the very words, and we are puzzled to know what 

 to make of them. If the evertrreens are to be out of doors, the best will be Biixus 

 rotundifolla, TImja Ja-ponica, small plants of Cedrus deodara, and a few neat varie- 

 gated Hollies. If iniloors, the following are suitable — Coronilla glaucay Cytisus 

 racemosa, Oleafragrans. For a nice weeping tree for the position you describe, 

 plant either Sophora Japonica pendula, or SaUx Americana pendula. If you want 

 a third name to choose from, Ulmus viminalis is suitable. For a town garden, S, 

 neat half-pendulous L iburnnm is not to be despised. 



P. B. — We really cannot undertake to provide the index you propose. It would 

 probably be purchased by only half a dozen persons, and if so would entail a heavy 

 loss. 



Crito. — Your first letter contained a number of queries relating solely to matters 

 of law. It cost us much time to read that letter, and it was set aside with the 

 intention of submitting it to a person skilled in the law for reply. In due time it 

 was discovered that to furnish a categorical reply would be to play the part of legal 

 adviser, at expense to ourselves, for the benefit of a single individual. We respect- 

 fully decline to consider the case any further, and refer you to your oivn lawyer. 

 Your second communication was accompanied with a parcel of leaves of trees. 

 These certainly are in our way, and would have had attention long since if circum- 

 stances had permitted. But here again we do not hold ourselves responsible, 

 because we have said again and again that we will not name plants from mere 

 leaves, for the simple reason that it is impossible. We have hundreds of imperfect 

 specimens sent ; if we were to labour over them as the senders desire, we shotdd be 

 dead in a (q\v months. We profess to know something about plants, but we avow 

 that we are not conjurors. However, your leaves shall be examined with care as 

 soon as health and lime permit, and as far as we can make them out you shall have 

 their names. But we plainly repudiate all responsibility respecting them. In the 

 same parcel was one flower, — the name of that is Carlina acaulis, the " stemless 

 thistle." Tliis is a scarce, curious, and most interesting plant, spreading over the 

 ground a mass of bold leaves like a throne, on which sits a large yellow flower with 

 parchment-like ray.s. It may be likened to a star on a cushion. 



Dendrobium moniliforme. — J. P. Haslam. — The colours are usually light blue 

 I and white, but there are varieties with pink and white fl.owers. 



Pruning Nut Trees— ^. P. — The reason your trees are barren is probably 

 owing to nt^giect of pruning. When trees have been thus neglected it requires some 

 years to restore them to fruitfulness. The proper system of pruning nut trees is that 

 which gardeners call "spurring." To restore old trees to bearing, the Kentish 

 method is to select a sufficient number of main branches, sufficiently far apart to 

 admit light to all parts of the tree, and removing all other principal branches by a 

 clean cut at the base. Then tbe side-shoots are cut ofi" nearly close, leaving only 

 two or three buds to each. But a few side-shoots maybe left their full length if they 

 are situated in any part of the head that wants filling up. The next season all the 

 young shoots must be cut off nearly close to the point they spring from, and all 

 strong leaders must be shortened. In the third year of the process several small 

 shoots will arise at the base of the side branches which were cut off the preced- 

 ing year, and Piom these shoots the next year's fruit may be expected. The usual 

 time for pruning is February. 



Books. — R. B. — Any bookseller can obtain what you want. The Editor of 

 the Floral Would does not trade in books or seeds. On the subject of vine culture 

 nothing better than Mr. W. Thomson's book, published by Blackwood, price ds. 

 On Pines, Mr. D. Thomson's book, same publisher, same price. On roses, nothing 

 to equal the " Rose Book," price Ss. On Biitish Ferns, Moore's Handbook, 5s. Ou 

 management of small gardens, the " Town Garden," 3s. Qd. 



S. J. Bullenhead. — l, Cystopteris fragilis ; 2, Pteris arguta ; 3, Lastrea dila- 

 tata, perhaps ; but being immature specimens, cannot say for certain. 



Seedling Roses. — Henry Lamb. — The usual way of dealing with rose seed is 

 to put the hips (berries) in sand all winter and spring, to clean the seed from the 

 rubbish, and st)w it. But a much simpler way is to beat the seed out, or separate 

 it from the fibrous matter in which it is imbedded, and sow it in the same way as 

 any other seed. As the ordinary method is not the best, we propose to say a few words 

 more on the subject. Suppose the seed left on the bushes till the end of the year, 



