320 Editor's Letter- Box. 



I HAVE a natural curiosity on hand, in the shape of an onion grown from seed 

 sown in the spring, which produced a fine bulb and seed-ball at the same time. 

 I have preserved the seed, which is of an excellent quality, and shall plant it an- 

 other season, and shall watch with a good deal of curiosity for the result, as to 

 whether here, as elsewhere, " like produces like." 



Yours truly, W. T. C. 



Hamburg, N. J., November 17, 1S69. 



[The occurrence described above is not unusual with biennial roots, such as the 

 beet and carrot, but is less common with the onion. If the growth is impaired 

 by drought, or any other cause, and afterwards resumed, they are very apt to run 

 up to seed. New varieties are produced in this way, as the seed is more apt to 

 vary than when produced the second year, especially if there are several varieties 

 growing near together. — Ed.] 



Mr. Editor : I have seen in the columns of scientific papers an account of a 

 method of grafting strawberries on roses. Have you ever seen this operation 

 performed ; and what is your opinion of its possibility ? L. R. 



We have never seen the operation, but we have seen the account of it. It is 

 not grafting at all, but simply training a strawberry runner up the stem of a rose- 

 bush, when, if neatly done, the plant which forms at the end of the runner might, 

 provided it was not too closely examined, present the appearance of a graft grow- 

 ing out of the rose-bush. It is true we are told that the roots of the strawberry 

 plant are cut off, and the plant grafted into the stem of tlie rose-bush ; but it is 

 simply impossible that they should unite, as any one who is disposed to do so 

 may convince himself by a very few trials. 



Mr. Editor : Can you inform me whether the various fungous growths which 

 infest the skins of apples and other fruits are injurious when taken into the stom- 

 ach in eating the fruit ? V. Z. 



[We have never known this question raised before, and we certainly never 

 knew an instance where injury was even suspected to have arisen from this 

 cause. Every species of fungus seems to have its favorite nidus, and we advise 

 our correspondent to dismiss all fear that those which thrive on the skins of ap- 

 ples will propagate on the coats of his stomach, and to enjoy his apples as much 

 as he did before ever hearing of fungus. — Ed.] 



