EDITOE'S TABLE. 431 



Trees and Plants of Florida. — la the Horticulturist for August I notice that a Louisiana 

 correspondent takes me to task for certain alledged errors of statement (in the April number) 

 concerning the trees of Florida. As a resident of tlie South, he is to be presumed more compe- 

 tent to speak in this matter than I, a sojourner of two winters only. He will notice, also, that I 

 said in the preface to ray article, " I do not aim at special accuracy, or fulness of detail," <fec. ; 

 and yet, I think he has magnified my errors. 



My statement tliat the Magnolia grandifora puts forth new leaves, and that it blossoms in the 

 month of March, is substantially correct. In the vicinity of Jacksonville, during the last half of 

 the month, 1 obsei'ved, daily, the falling of old leaves from the Magnolia, and the growth of new 

 ones; and I watched with great interest the coming out of the beautiful, white, downy flower- 

 buds, until the last few days of the month, when, being obliged to leave the country, I plucked 

 several fine specimens to press and carry to the Iforth. I have now before me several of these 

 clusters, showing the young leaves, and the flower-buds, as large as a full-grown butternut. 

 Besides, as I was speaking of Florida as a State, and not of its northern part, where Jacksonville 

 is situated, and as I had been often told by Floridians that vegetation in the middle and southern 

 parts of tlie State is a fortnight earlier than in Jacksonville, I tliought myself justified in saying 

 that the Magnolia flowers in March. 



Let me beg a little mercy, also, for the statement that at this early period, " trees of all kinds 

 put forth fresh leaves." The Black "Walnut and the May Hickory, of which Mr. Lawrence 

 speaks, I never saw ; but having noticed that such deciduous trees as the Mulberry, the Peach, 

 the Pride of China, the Soft Maple, the Eed-bud, the Cypress, the Gum tree, the White Locust, 

 the Wild Cherry and Plum, several varieties of the Oak, and other trees whose names I was 

 ignorant of, wei-e in full leaf, some of them in February, and all of them in March, I thought it 

 correct to say as above ; I did not see a leafless tree in the latter part of March. 



As to the Pomegranate, if my friend means to say that it does not blossom in March, I can only 

 reply that I saw an abundance of its flowers during that month, and that I have now in my 

 portfolio a perfect blossom which I gathered in that month, and pressed for preservation. 



As to "tlie little brown flowers of the long trailing moss" appearing in March, I reply by 

 sending you a specimen of the flower and the moss, which I gathered during March. Tlie flower 

 is, doubtless, a darker brown at present, than wlien it was first plucked. 



I can not but think that the climate of "Laurel Hill, La.," is colder than that of Florida. I 

 trust, also, that the large-heartedness and courtesy of the Southerner will pardon the seeming 

 errors of my first paper, and the freedom of this reply to his strictures upon it. A. D. G. — 

 Clinton, N. Y. 



CcLTURE OF Tomatoes. — For several years I have taken special pains in the cultivation of a 

 superior kind of tomatoes. They are very large and smooth, perfectly solid inside, and of the 

 finest and richest flavor. Their reputation is firmly established here and wherever else they are 

 known. I received, last evening, a letter from a gentleman in Brooklyn, in your State, requestino- 

 some practical directions about trimming and training them. The following is a copy of my reply : 



The laterals, as they ap^jear, should be taken oflf from the tomatoes up to the first blossom bnd. 

 When they have reached the height desired, they should be shortened in. This is done by nipping 

 ofi" the terminal buds. A trellis upon which to train them is readily made by setting stakes behind 

 each row slanting very considerably backward. On these, lath may be nailed about a foot apart, 

 or wires may be stretched. Each branch of the tomatoes will need to be tied at first, but after- 

 wards it will be sufficient to run twine from stake to stake in front of them. Mine have been 

 trimmed and trained in tliat manner for many years. They are now about six feet high and have 

 been shortened in twice. They are as healthy, and thrifty, and full of fruit as one could wish. 

 The fruit or vine thus treated is as much superior to that obtained witliout trimming or training, 

 as is tlie ricli, luscious peach from the topmost bough to the green and tasteless specimens from 

 the middle or shady side of the trees. Cuarles Roisinson. — New Haven. 



