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TO COEEESPONDENTS. 



Bebberries. — J. J. Littlebourne. — The nurseryman to whom you refer ought 

 to be able to settle the question whether your plant is or is not B. NepalensiSy 

 as he has been so long acquainted with it, and has seen it in flower. "We had seeds 

 of unnamed Berberis species, through the Horticultural Society, some years ago, and 

 got up some plants, which, however, were destroyed by frost before they flowered. 

 Your doubtful plant may be one^of that series, for the distribution was extensive. 

 Nevertheless, we cling to the belief that it is Xepalensis, and shall be glad to see it 

 when in flower. Accept our best thanks for the specimens forwarded. 



Geranium ph^um. — N. C. L. — Your pretty plant is Geranium phgeum, the 

 Dusky Crane's Bill, well worth a place in the flower-garden, and thriving best in a 

 sandy soil and a shady situation. It is a British plant, and quite common in the 

 mountainous parts of England and Scotland. 



Vines on Walls. — A. B. — Let your vine grow pretty much as it likes. You 

 need not be anxious about the pruning of it at present. Over-anxiety about the 

 pruning of vines leads to a good deal of mischief. Train out all the shoots, so that 

 their leaves are fully exposed to the ligbt, and your vine will acquire strength for 

 future fruiting. 



Tricolor geraniums. — S. Steevens. — "We have seen every variety that has been 

 named and exhibited, not once or twice only, but again and again ; and to pro- 

 nounce which is best of them all, we confess is beyond our power. Moreover, the 

 newest varieties cannot be obtained at less than from two to three guineas per plant, 

 and a plant at such a price has only two or three leaves ; so very few of our readers, 

 we apprehend, need be immediately anxious to know which is the best. During the 

 next few weeks we expect to visit all the nurseries where good collections are kept, 

 and also a great many of the best private gardens, and the results of our inspections 

 and comparisons shall be given in the next number. As you make particular men- 

 tion of the splendour of Mrs. Pollock, as a bedder, we feel bound to say that, in our 

 opinion, this variety is very inefi'ective out of doors. G-oldfinch, Luna, Cloth 

 of Gold, and Golden Chain, are far more telling ; the first-named especially is most 

 brilliant. 



Grass Lawns. — C. C. C. — "We have had many such queries as yours, and we 

 have only to reply that if the proper means are persevered in, grass-plots and 

 lawns may be made green and elegant anywhere. If daisies grow, and grass does 

 not grow, we may be sure the soil is worn out. The best dressing then is guano 

 or superphosphate of lime. If the grass is killed by trees overhanging, the bare 

 places may be planted with a moss-like weed called Sagina jprocumhens, which soon 

 forms a beautiful green velvety surface. If the soil is hot, and the grass perishes from 

 drought, trial may be made of the medicinal camomile, Anthemis nobilis, which is 

 an excellent lawn plant, vividly green, bears trampling and rolling, and spreads fast. 

 Thus, you see, a person determined to make a grass-plot may have many methods to 

 choose from. We have learnt by experience that good turf, transferred from the 

 country to town, never thrives j therefore, in selecting turf for a town-plot, do not 

 travel far for it. 



Thinning Grapes. — C C. C. — Grape-growers should bear in mind a simple rule 

 that has been again and again given in these pages, and that is, always to remove 

 the smallest berries when thinning the bunches. These small berries should be re- 

 moved first, and should be all removed ; for if left they never attain full size, and 

 are simply in the way of the swelling of the large berries, and rob them of the sap 

 they want. When thinning, care should be taken to avoid touching tbe berries ; the 

 bunch may be held, and the scissors may be plied in amongst the berries, and yet not 

 one left to swell need be touched at all. Sometimes contact with the beard or even 

 the garments of the operator will cause the berries to rust. The grapes on your 

 Chasselas crack in consequence of the dryness of the border. Soak the border 

 three several times while the berries are swelling, and cease to water after they 

 begia to ripen. 



