off to advantage. Clip again early in September, as before, in moist weather, and the plants 

 will put ou a frosh appearance before winter. 



Strawberries. — I have always regarded the distinction of the sexual character of the 

 strawberry as being important in selecting plants for a successful bearing plantation. 

 Wishing to plant, I went to the Cliffton Nurseries, near Cincinnati, and procured of one of 

 the proprietors a small lot of plants, consisting of McAvoy's Superior, Uurr's New Pine, and 

 Large Early Scarlet. At another place I procured Hovey's Seedling. I also visited Mr. 

 Longworth's garden, where I received some of Longworth's Prolific. Now, there are five 

 kinds, and how did they turn out ? I planted them in sejiarate rows. Hovey's Seedling 

 and McAvoy's Superior, both bore pistillate flowers, as I expected. The row that was to be 

 Large Early Scarlet, instead of bearing staminate, also bore pistillate flowers. The row of 

 Burr's New Pine bore part pistillate and part staminate, and, the strangest of all. Long- 

 worth's Prolific (hermaphrodite) bore all pistillate flowers. Now, we do not like to accuSe 

 nurserymen who profess to do business on correct principles of dishonesty or stupidity. 

 But Mr. Longworth's own favorite Hermaphrodite — what shall we say ? Has it changed 

 sexual character, or is there a mistake in his own garden tliat his head gardener is not 

 aware of. Who can explain ? 



In forcing the strawberry under glass (there being no insects to carry the pollen from the 

 staminate jilants to the pistillate), it is a burdensome task to have to do it by hand ; will 

 the Hermaphrodite therefore fructify, having both organs perfect ? If the editor will append 

 a note of explanation, he will confer a favor on a subscriber and a tyro in horticulture. 



C. Lego, M. D. 



It is of considerable importance to regard the scxiial differences of the strawberry. A 

 pistillate strawberry plant will produce fruit occasionally when quite beyond the reach of 

 pollen from the staminate, but, only so far as our observation goes, when the plants are in 

 very favorable circumstances, and even then, are usually deformed, and inferior in size to 

 properly fertilized specimens. 



There is usually a considerable degree of constancy in the sexual character of the straw- 

 berry, but there is nothing improbable in the idea of its changing occasionally ; no part 

 of a flower is so liable to change its form as the stamen. A pistillate blossom is nothing 

 more than a hermaphrodite, with the anthers abortive, which nature evidently intended 

 should be fully developed if circumstances should so favor. As a rule, regard the sexes as 

 constant, but be prepared to admit the exceptions. 



(W. E.). The best American book on insects is, undoubtedly, Harris's— published in 

 Boston. Fitch's Reports, published at Albany, are also valuable, and Westwood may be 

 consulted with advantage. For the birds of America, Wilson and Nuttall. The prices you 

 must ascertain from the booksellers. Wilson's great work may be procured in octavo. 

 Audubon, we need scarcely name, as you must be familiar with its value. 



(A Lady Subscriber, Virginia). Ferns will probably be your best plants for rock-work, 

 provided it is shady and moist. Tlie new vervain-leaved verbena, Imperatrice Elizabeth, 

 is admirably adapted, as are the other kinds also. The beautiful little ivy-leaved antir- 

 rhirum, called the Wandering Jew, will grow well, and be highly ornamental. Vines of 

 many kinds should be mixed among the other plants, such as are known and accessible. 

 The " Clover Hill Seedling Strawberry'' is not cultivated yet for sale, that we have heard of. 



'■ The Most Magxikicext." — We scarcely can say, but, as we write, we are inclined to give 

 the preference to the leaf and flowers of the Magnolia macrophylla (large-leafed Magnolia) 

 as the most magnificent objects in the floral adornments of June. Specimens from this 

 perfectly hardy tree are before us — the flowers literally as large as a bucket ; the tree from 

 which they were taken is twenty-five years old. 



