was prcselfitcd to view ; and certainly the coiip (Peril was most encbantinp. The 



Vurii'iralod Alyssmii was very extensively used next the Grass, but in mljoining 

 walks l»lue Lobelia was iutrodneed. The following is a very nice ribbon: 

 IJat'k row — Dahlia Zelinda, maroon; Calceolaria Kayi, oranp^e ; Verbena Tweed- 

 iana, scarlet; A'ariet^atcd Alyssuni, white. Another very nice jtaltern was: 

 15ack row — I'entstcmon f!;entianoides coccineuni, Scarlet and White I'hlox mixed, 

 scarh't and while ; Calceolaria Kayi, oranjz'e ; Geranium Ttjni '^^riiunib, scarlet; 

 JiOiiclia ramosoides, blue ; Alyssuni, Variegated, white. 



In gardens of strictly architectural design, jdain and variegated Hollies, ])lain 

 and variegated shrubs of all kinds, hardy Heaths, and numy hardy American 

 shrubs, oiler great facilities for the ribbon system; and I doubt not before many 

 years pass we shall sec such ribbons planted extensively. The i)Ianter, however, 

 of a ribbon must not stick in his jdants at equal distances, and think the ribbon 

 will come without further trouble. The line of demarcation of each color must be 

 strictly preserved, for if the various lines of color are allowed to intermix, the 

 effect, and, in fact, intention, will be marred at once. It is upon keeping the 

 various lines of color perfectly independent of each other, touching but not inter- 

 mixing, that the whole success of the system hinges; and those who cannot de- 

 vote sullicieut attention to that particular, had better not attempt the ]>lan. 



A. P. W., in Cottage (Jardener. 



THE TRUE THEORY OF GRAFTS. 

 by logos, philadelphia. 



Editor of the Horticulturist — 



Bear Sir : A paper headed as above, in the December Ko., has very much 

 interested me, as it confirms me in the same idea which I have held for some 

 time. I must tell you that I am one of those who care little to know how any 

 operation in this lousiness is performed, unless they can at the same time be 

 permitted to know the reason why. Believing that there are many such among 

 your readers, I make no apology for endeavoring to keep the subject before them. 



That each cell must have its own inherent poicer of secretion, has often struck 

 me. I once saw a white Muscat of Alexandria grape, grafted on the end of a 

 cane of the black Hamburg. It of course always bore white Muscat grapes, in 

 every shade of color, every form, and every peculiarity of taste the same as other 

 Muscats not grafted ; yet all its sap had to be drawn through the cells or sap 

 vessels of the Hamburg. If the first had the power of forming its own peculiar 

 secretions so as to retain its exact distinctiveness, why should the wood-producing 

 principle be deemed an exception ? 



If ^oood was formed, corporeally, from above doionwards, would it not in time 

 so encase the wood of the stock, that when a shoot sprung out of what was once 

 the stock, it would be of the same character as the scion? For I have never 

 understood that physiologists believe that the bud or eye producing shoot, pro- 

 ceeds, in all cases, through from the pith, as the heart or pith of trees is often 

 dead and rotten many years before the outsides begin to decay. 



Satisfied that the true theory of grafting is now settled, I give the following 

 chip for what it is worth, in return for the information I have received : — 



Two years ago I received a lot of pear grafts from a distant friend. They were 

 buried in the ground at the ends, so as to preserve them a few weeks till the 

 season was further advanced. When that came, the closest search could not find 

 them. In July, while budding pears, I "ran against" these grafts. They appeared 



