52 THE GARDENER. [Jan. 1879. 



only. It is also requested that writers forward their name and address, not for 

 publication unless they wish it, but for the sake of that mutual confidence 

 which should exist between the Editor and those who address him. We decline 

 noticing any communication which is not accompanied with name and address 

 of writer. 



T. L.— You will find a paper on Tuberoses in our present issue, which, we 

 hope, will meet your case. 



John Forbes. — Monocha>tum ensiferum, a beautiful greenhouse plant. 



An Old Subscriber.— To ripen Vines, heat, light, and dry air are the 

 necessary agents, and not cold. Moderate frosts will not injure well-ripened 

 Vines, but our own practice is never to expose Vines to more than a few de- 

 grees. 



J. H. — An article on Violets in pots for winter use will appear in our 

 next issue. 



J. S. K. — No. 1, Euonymus latifolius ; No. 2, Euonymus japonicus ; No. 3, 

 Berberis, — but we cannot say which. To a great extent we are compelled to 

 guess-work in the case of specimens sent to us as you have sent yours. If 

 you will send again packed in a little damp moss, in a tin box that the post- 

 man cannot smash, we will be able to judge more correctly. Send larger 

 specimens. 



C. S Your questions would require a whole treatise on Melon-culture to 



do them justice. We prefer a half-span pit running east and west, with a bed 

 of soil about 3 feet wide, with two rows of pipes under it for bottom-heat, and 

 — for ripening Melons not earlier than August — 3 rows of 4-inch pipes for top- 

 heat. The pit should be high enough to give plenty of head-room without the 

 head coming in contact with the hanging fruit. Sow at the middle of May 

 and again in June. Try Golden Perfection and Dell's Hybrid. 



J. K. — It is entirely impossible for us to state what breaks the leaves of 

 your Yucca, because they may get broken in many ways. A man, or some 

 animal, or the wind, may do it ; but from anything you tell us we cannot 

 guess which of them does it. 



L' Allegro. — No. 5, Sericographis Ghiesbrechtiana. We cannot undertake 

 to name varieties of florist flowers. 



A Lover of Flowers. — Almost any nurseryman can supply you with 

 Gynesiums. We never recommend nurserymen or tradesmen in these pages. 

 ' Botanical Names for English Readers ' may, perhaps, suit your purpose, and 

 i Treasury of Botany. ' 



Co. Down. — At the office. I. & W. Rider, 14 Bartholomew Close, London, 

 or from any bookseller, price Is. 



G. F. — The circumstances you describe must be the cause of your Grapes 

 shrivelling so very prematurely. The cold and wet paralyses their whole sys- 

 tem, and they are never properly ripened ; and Grapes not thoroughly rip- 

 ened cannot and never do keep long without shrivelling. Get rid^of the wet 

 thoroughly, and, other things being equal, your Grapes will ripen properly. 

 Allamanda Hendersonii is a very free bloomer, and will suit your purpose. 



We will be glad to receive note of the lowest temperature registered by our 

 correspondent since December 1. On December 20 it was 28° below freez- 

 ing at Drumlanrig. 



ERRATA. 



At page 542 of last month's 'Gardener,' 24th line from the bottom of the 

 page, for " One could not but admire," read " One could not admire." 



At page 543, 13th line from the top of the page, for "enormous plates," 

 read "common plates." 



At same page, 10th line from the top of the page, for " the Gladioli coming 

 from England," read "the best Gladioli," &c. 



