editor's table. 



ns that Borch raised Tuber Borchii from the sporoidia about the year 1780, and the growth 

 of the common Truffle has been attempted with more or less success. Your correspondent 

 takes it for granted that your readers are aware of its locality, since he does not state how 

 or where it was found, on or under the surface of the ground. 



I am led to make these remarks from the fact, that, in my botanical rambles, I have, on 

 several occasions, met with a species of fungi, on the edge of woods in old pastures, of 

 enormous size, lying close to the ground, in appearance like a loaf of home-made bread, 

 having a firm white flesh internally. I am not now prepared to say, whether a species of 

 Agaricus, or allied to the Borista gigantea of Europe, is edible, not being particularly inte- 

 rested in fungi, and always suspicious of them as food, in consequence of the resemblance 

 of poisonous and wholesome species. I would not question the ability of the Professor of 

 Chemistry of Georgetown College to discriminate and judge correctly, yet deem a fuller 

 description needed to enable the readers of your journal to judge for themselves. 



Yours, respectfully, Jacob Stacffek. 



P. S. — Respecting the Buckwheat-Tree (Cliftonia mylocarium'), it may not be amiss to say, 

 that Prof. Darby describes it, in his order, Ericaceae, next to Elliottia. Both these plants 

 Lindley includes with Cyrilla in his order Cyrillaceae, among the Berberal alliance. 



You say, a tree in blossom is figured in Nuttall's Supplement to Michaux^s Sylva. A few 

 years ago. Rev. Dr. J. G. Morris, of Baltimore, presented me with a large collection of 

 Florida plants, unnamed, over which I have frequently puzzled myself, with the aid of 

 Lindley and Loudon's Encyiplopcedia. I found a branch of the tree in question among them, 

 and send you a sketch, taken from Lindley 's late work (illustrated), thinking it might give 

 you some further idea, as the name Cliftonia seems to be obsolete. 



[Nuttall was our authority. Your drawing agrees with his. — Ed.] 



Mr. Caleb Cope's beautiful place was sold, as advertised last month, for seventy thousand 

 dollars — a price below its estimated value, and scarcely the price the land was worth with- 

 out the extensive green, hot, and grapehouses ; and, while we write, the sale of the plants 

 is proceeding. There is something melancholy in the dispersing of such a family of rare 

 and curious productions, of whose prices we may have something to say next month. Mr. 

 Cope has deserved well of his fellow-citizens ; his enthusiasm kuew no bounds, and his 

 plants and fruits will be greatly missed from our monthly and yearly exhibitions. Let us 

 hope that his successor, Mr. G. H. Stuart, will be equally active and intelligent in the 

 pursuit. 



Fkpix, — -^e have rarely seen so great a display of fruit blossoms as during the past 

 month. Apples, pears, and cherries, promise most abundantly. We had, at some points 

 around Philadelphia, a hail-storm, of a few minutes' duration, on the Ifjth, but it did little 

 or no damage. As a general rule, though the ground has been wet for the farmer, April 

 has been a propitious month for the gardener, whose labor, postponed to a later period than 

 usual, is likely to be largely rewarded. Strawberries are rapidly approaching perfection in 

 this latitude, and we hope to report on a favorable crop. 



The Cotton Planter says of the Herbemont Wine : "Our friend. Dr. Boling, of this city, 

 presented us, the other day, with a bottle of his Herbemont Wine, of the vintage of last 

 year. To our agreeable surprise, we found it fully equal to the very best bland Madeira — 

 a perfectly delightful table wine, soft and velvety ; the color, a most beautiful amber, with 

 all the aroma of the luscious, highly flavored Herbemont. Tliis grape is one of flattering 

 promise here, for a very superior article of table wine. We hope Dr. Boling will have some 

 of this wine on exhibition at our next State Fair; if so, look out! ye Catawba amateurs !" 



