OPEX LETTERS. 



in a cool greenhouse, or room, near the 

 glass (the air of the living room of a 

 dwelling is too hot and dry), and the 

 foliage sprayed daily until the buds 

 burst. 



After blooming, pick off the seed- 

 pods, and when danger of freezing is 

 past, plunge the pot in full exposure to 

 the sun, with coal ashes beneath to pre- 

 vent the work of earth-worms. Pinch 

 back straggling growths to keep the 



head symmetrical, and spray freely every 

 day during hot dry weather, with a 

 decided under-cut. 



The above treatment should place 

 the plant in original export condition, 

 and if wintered in a cool moist atmos- 

 phere, well aired, and sprayed on bright 

 days, the results of the first season may 

 be repeated ; after which treat as before, 

 transferring to a larger pot if needed. 

 H. H. Groff. 



% ®pef7 I^ertep?. % 



Nelumbium Luteum. 



Sir, — In mentioning the Ndumbium luteum 

 in November number, a very important habi- 

 tat, viz , shores of Lake Erie, Province of 

 Ontario, was omitted. N. sptciomm is natu- 

 ralized in ponds in New Jersey. 



J. M. D., Hamilton. 



A Glimpse of Spring. 



Sir, — On the 11th day of February, I 

 picked my first Snowdrops. What wonder- 

 ful little flowers, for, about the 11th of Janu- 

 ary, the ground was bare and not a sign of 

 growth ; then came eight inches of snow, and 

 uuder that mantle the little plants first made 

 a growth of leaves about one inch in height, 

 and then a little tender green stem starts up, 

 carrying with it a small drooping bud, and ais 

 it forces its way through the snow the bud 

 increases in size, till the stem is about three 

 inches long ; by that time the bud is as white 

 as the snow, something in the shape of a small 

 hazel nut. In a short time after they were 

 placed in water, each flower burst open, per- 

 fect emblems of modesty and purity. Dear 

 readers, if you have no Snowdrops in your 

 gardens, do not let next fall go by without 

 planting out a few dozen bulbs. 



C. J. F., Soulh London.. 



The Florida Velvet Bean. 



Sib, — I send you herewith sample of the 

 new Florida product — the wonderful Velvet 

 Bean. Up to two years ago it was grown 



here in a limited way, mainly as a trellis 

 shade ; but afterwards, it being discovered 

 that it was invaluable for all kinds of stock 

 as a forage, and a phenomenal fertilizer for 

 Orange and other fruit trees, and for the soil 

 818 well, it has been grown in a larger way 

 since that. 



There is nothing yet discovered that is all 

 in all, 30 valuable a crop as this, for fanners 

 to raise. It being an air plant it will do well 

 in most any kind of soil, in any of the States, 

 north or south, that will grow corn, and no 

 fertilizing is necessary. The forage — the foli- 

 age and vine — coming from this bean is a mar* 

 vel and a wonder. 



To plant in rows four feet apart will pro- 

 dace a solid mass of vine and foliage to the 

 depth of fifteen to twenty inches, covering 

 the entire surface of the ground. 



Beside the vine being a valuable fertilizer, 

 forage, shade and mulch, you will ask, Is it 

 also prolific in fruit ? I answer. Yes, empha- 

 tically so. From the hill the vine runs out in 

 all directions like the watermelon, ten to 

 twenty feet. It begins to fruit at the hill 

 like the raisin grape, thence along the entire 

 length of the vines at intervals of ten to 

 twenty inches, pods in clusters of from ten 

 to twenty appear. Therefore the fruitage 

 must be immense. 



From twenty to thirty bushels of shelled 

 beans is a modest estimate, from an acre of 

 ground, average crop. I speak from experi- 

 ence, as I have just harvested nineteen acres 

 of as fine a crop as ever grew. 



Plant early in spring in rows four feet 

 apart, or drill in furrow, and cover with 

 plow, as you like. From three to five beans 

 to the hill is the right amount of seed. If 

 drill and cover with third or fourth furrow, 

 put in sixteen quarts to the acre. Cultivate 

 and keep clean until vine begins to fill the 



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