Rochester, N.Y., February 27, 1857. 



The Horticultural Society of the Valley of the Genesee, held its annual meeting, in this 

 city, on the 6tli inst. The following officers for the ensuing year were unanimously elected : 

 President — Wm. A. Reynolds. Vice-Presidents — Austin Pinney, Zera Burr, H. C. White, 

 Selah Mathews, Geo. Ellwanger, H. N. Langworthy. Recording Secretary — C. W. Seelye. 

 Corresponding Secretartj — H. E. Hooker. Treasurer — J as. H. Watts. The meeting was very 

 spirited, and we expect the exhibitions of the Society, during the coming season, to excel 

 any previously made. 



News has just reached our ears of the death of our esteemed friend and associate, James 

 H. Watts. He died last evening, February 26, of typhoid fever, after a very short illness. 



C. W. Seelye. 



To J. J. Smith, Esq. 



Editor of the Horticulturist. — Dear Sir : If you will allow me the requisite space at 

 your " Editor's Table," I should like to inquire whether any of our public-spirited cultiva- 

 tors of greenhouse j)lants, have yet introduced — or tried to introduce — living specimens of 

 a remarkable tree known as the Snake-Nut-Tree of Guiana. Specimens of the nut — so 

 curious for the striking resemblance of the kernel to a snake coiled up — are occasionally to 

 be met with ; but I have never seen, nor heard of, a living plant in any of the rich collections 

 in or around Philadelphia. Germinating seeds, and young plants, might surely be brought 

 hither in Ward Cases without diificulty ; and a sight of the growing trees would be a most 

 interesting treat to the botanists and lovers of vegetable rarities. May we not hope that 

 some of our enterprising gardeners or amateur florists will take measures to afford us such 

 a treat at an early horticultural exhibition ? The tree is indigenous on the banks of the 

 River Essequibo, and its tributaries in British Guiana, and specimens might doubtless be 

 readily procured through persons trading to that region. There is a brief but interesting 

 account of it, by R. H. Schomburgk, in the fifth volume of the Annals of Natural History. 

 Endlicher, also, in the First Supplement to his Genera Plantarum, has given its botanical 

 character after Schomburgk, Ae^Zewts/w^ the English name — Snake-Nut — into the generic one 

 of Ophiocaryon. Trusting that we may yet have an opportunity to look upon such a 

 curiosity, I am, very respectfully, W. D. 



West Chester, Pa., Feb. 7, 1857. 



The Downing Camellia. — An inquiry respecting this Camellia has elicited the following 

 from the President of the Brooklyn Horticultural Society : — ^ 



New York, Feb. 19, 1857. 

 J. .Jay Smith, Esq. — Dear Sir : In relation to the Downing Camellia, I have been informed 

 by Mr. Ranch that he had communicated to you in relation to its distribution ; presuming 

 that he had done so renders it unnecessary to advise you. The circumstances in relation 

 to the Camellia are these : The late N. J. Becar, of several seedlings, considered this his 

 best, and prized it most highly, as one that would be an ornament to our present varieties ; 

 and when he had determined to part with the stock, he named it the Downing (after his 

 particular and lamented friend) ; and left it with me to obtain fifty subscribers, at ten dol- 

 lars each, presuming that he had fifty plants, which would realize five hundred dollars. 

 This sum was to be applied for the purpose of obtaining three portraits of Downing, to be 

 presented to the Philadelphia, Boston, and Brooklyn Horticultural Societies, observing at the 

 time, that he wished to " present these Societies with some appreciation of the good feeling 

 that had been tendered him." His widow being aware of the arrangement that existed 

 between Mr. Becar and myself, authorized me to carry it out in the manner referred to. 



