EDITOR'S TABLE. 



To THE Editor of the Horticulturist: Noticing in your valuable magazine, of tte pre- 

 sent month, an advertisement for the sale of the Becar seedling camellia, A. J. Downing, I 

 was much surprised that so rare and truly beautiful an acquisition as this certainly is 

 (doubtless, by all odds, the finest American or any other seedling camellia ever raised), 

 was not more generally advertised ; of coui'se it was in the Horticulturist, and why not in 

 Hovey's Magazine, Country Gentleman, i?-c., that all readers might have an opportunity of 

 trying for, if not all able to procure so rich a floral treasure ? For mj part, I think it very 

 clumsy management on the part of those to whom the matter was intrusted (which by no 

 means is intended to include Mr. Ranch, the worthy agent and good florist). A drawing of 

 it ought to have been taken when in flower last winter, and by that accomplished flower 

 artist, Mr. Wakeling (now somewhere within hail, even in this wide country), the prints 

 carefully colored, and published as the frontispiece of your number simultaneously with the 

 advertisement. Q. Q. 



N. J., March 26, 1857. 



MiLFORD, Conn., April 15, 1837. 

 J. J. Smith, Esq. — Sir : I transplanted some tulip-trees, two years ago, with such success, 

 that I wish the readers of the Horticulturist to know how it was done. In June, when the 

 trees were in full foliage, I selected trees — say six or eight feet high, growing in turf ground. 

 I took them up with the sod around the roots. I then pinched off all the leaves, and planted 

 them without shortening in ; they soon threw out new leaves, and are now thrifty growing 

 trees. I have also found no trouble in transplanting our native hemlocks, by taking them 

 up with the earth unbroken around the roots, which is easily done when they do not grow 

 among the rocks, as they always throw out a network of roots on the surface, and, with 

 proper care, they can be taken up without exposing the roots. Should the earth fall oflf 

 from the roots, throw away the tree ; you cannot save it. 



Yours, truly, G. C. 



Treddle Spade. — Subjoined is a sketch of my treddle spade. It is a most useful tool for 

 raising trees, so powerful as a lever, and most convenient for root pruning ; for, although it 

 does not cut cleanly, I find that the roots that are cut with it heal more quickly. It is 



curious to see, in rural matters, such tenacious customs' as one often finds. My men, a 

 large body (seventy or eighty) of " 'cute" laborers, will not use a garden spade ; they call 

 them, for nursery purposes, " old women's tools." The blade of the treddle is eleven inches 

 long, eight inches wide at top, and six inches at Isottom. From top of haft to blade is two 

 feet three inches ; entire length, three feet two inches. About four inches of lower part are 

 of steel, so as always to be sharp. Tuos. Rivers. 



Dexter Snow's Verbenas. — We have the following note from Mr. Snow, and are pleased 

 to record such success. Tho idea of taking up a simple popular plant, and devoting exclu- 

 sive attention to it, was new, and deserved to succeed. His letter is as follows : — 



CnicoPEE, Mass., May 19, 1857. 



" I forward you a box of one hundred varieties of verbenas, for the purpose of showing 

 you I have some line ones, and that you are not assisting and countenancing a humbug ! 

 Your notice in the March Horticulturist has been a great assistance to me, and has done 



