editor's table. 



Answers to Cokrespondents. — (B. W.) Your plant is Dictamnus, an ancient name of 

 wliat is now supposed to be the Origanum dictamnus ; Fraxinella, in allusion to the similarity 

 between the leaves of the plant, and Fraxinus, the ash. The whole plant, especially when 

 gently rubbed, emits an odor like that of lemon-peel, but, when bruised, it has something 

 of a balsamic scent. The fine scent is strongest in the pedicles of the flowers, which are 

 covered with glands of a rusty-red color, exuding a viscid juice or resin which exhales in 

 vapor, and, in a dark place, may be seen to take fire. The root furnishes an opiate and 

 drastic. 



Mr. Editor : Not the least valuable part of your periodical is that devoted to answering 

 the questions of correspondents. Those answers are often useful to others than those who 

 make the inquiries. Encouraged by your success in assisting other inquirers, and acting 

 on the principle that editors are presumed to know eveiy thing, I will propound a few ques- 

 tions on subjects on which I desire to be enlightened. 



I have in my yard a place which would be a good jDosition for a large and showy tree ; 

 but it was formerly the cellar of a house, now filled up with the stone, and sand, and lime- 

 mortar, which were thrown into it when the house was pulled down, and covered over with 

 about a foot deep of earth. Now, what tree would thrive there ? I would prefer an ever- 

 green. Would the Deodar Cedar do ? (1.) 



Should larches be trimmed up, or should they be allowed to branch from the ground ? (2. ) 



At what distances should Norway spruces and hemlocks be planted apart ? (3.) 



A Subscriber. 



(1.) The larch would do better in such a situation than any other tree. It would suit 

 the Deodar Cedar very well, provided you are in a region where it is hardy. For a grape- 

 vine, it would be excellent. 



(2.) If you grow the larches for the sake of their timber, judicious pruning will be of 

 service to them. If required for ornament, we would not " trim" them ; but that is a matter 

 of taste too often spoiled by observing the city trimmers. 



(3.) With what view ? If for a hedge, two feet and a half apart is quite near enough ; 

 nearer, they starve each other. 



(W. B. M.) The seeds sent you from the city of Mexico, under the name of the "Hand 

 Plant," is known to botanists as Cheirostemon jjlatanoides, and grows there to a large shade 

 tree. Its English name is derived from the shape of the flower buds, which, in their re- 

 semblance to the human hand, are remarkable. If you do succeed in raising the seed, you 

 will find no gi-eenhouse large enough to hold it, and we can afibrd you no encouragement 

 in the hope that " it may prove hardy here." 



J. Jay Smith, Esq. — Dear Sir : A Washington letter-writer in the Traveller, comparing 

 the Chinese sugai'-cane with that grown in our Southern States, and referring to the mode 

 of propagating the latter (by cuttings), says : " In the case of all plants propagated by cut- 

 tings, there is a constant deterioration ; so that, in many parts of the South, the growth of 

 cane is not over two-thirds what it was some years ago, and that on an equally fertile soil." 

 Is this principle correct ? If so, what is to become of our quinces, and some other trees 

 l)ropagated mainly by cuttings ? R. J. B. 



The principle is not correct. Some years ago, it was supposed so by some physiologists, 

 because some kinds of plants were showing signs of decay that had mostly been propagated 

 that way. We might with as much reason say, " all the American buttonwood that we 

 have seen diseased were seedlings ; therefore there is a deterioration in all plants raised 

 from seeds." Is the deterioration noticed in western districts once famous for their wheat 

 crops, to be attributed to its being always a seed crop ? We sometimes jump at conclusions 

 when it would be safer to travel slower. 



Ly^t — 



