126 Editors' Letter- Box. 



N. T. H., Abington. — No. i is Lilitwi timhellatiDii. No. 2 is Lilium Mar- 

 /^^g-^w «/^«7«, or white Turk's-cap Lily. Leaves of "plant with blue blossoms 

 the last of May " not received. 



F. ^L B., Vineland, N.J. — Have sent insects to our entomologist for identi- 

 fication. We do not know " Schuyler's Large Apricot." Tell us what you can 

 about it. 



Importer, New York. — The duty of thirty per cent levied on imported 

 trees, seeds, plants, and shrubs, is a specimen of unwise legislation and taxation. 

 It amounts, as you say, almost to a prohibition. Every tree, plant, flower, or 

 seed introduced (except, perhaps, Patent-office importations under the old regime) 

 is of direct benefit to the country, and such importations should be encouraged in 

 every way. The Massachusetts Horticultural Society, by a committee of some 

 of its most influential members, have petitioned for a repeal of that duty ; and a 

 clause in the new tariff will exempt such importations not intended for sale. 

 This is well as far as it goes ; but v^t are in favor of the largest liberty in this 

 respect, and believe that all importations of trees, shrubs, plants, and seeds, 

 should be admitted duty free, on the ground that a contrary course is prejudicial 

 to the true interests of horticulture. 



Spring Bulbs, Pittsfield. — Plant crocuses : they will give you full satisfac- 

 tion. Once planted in good garden-soil, they require no further care, but grow 

 better year by year. For varieties, take Caroline Chisholm for white, Cloth-of- 

 Gold for very early yellow, Mr. Vraght for dark blue, Samson for light blue, 

 Large Yellow Dutch for later yellow, Scotch for very early white. 



These are all very hardy and very good. If greater variety is wanted, add 

 Ida Pfeiifer, white striped with mauve, — a very beautiful kind ; Othello, dark 

 purple ; Albion, blue and white ; and Sir Walter Scott, lilac-striped. 



We hope to give an article on crocus-culture in our October number. 



C. O., North Vassalborough, Me. — In the last number of "The Journal of 

 Horticulture," one of your correspondents speaks of having the " Thomas " Plum. 

 I have several times attempted to procure that variety, but without success. 

 Can you inform me of a nursery where I can find it? — If any of our subscribers 

 have the " Thomas " Plum, they will confer a favor by making the fact known. 



Westerner. — Will you please inform your readers which of all the varieties 

 of pears show the best crop of fruit this year ? As we had a very hard winter, and 

 many sorts were injured, it seems to me that it would be well to know which are 

 the most hardy. — It is true that we not only had a very peculiar and hard winter, 

 but that the previous summer and autumn were such as to leave the trees in bad 

 condition to withstand the winter. It is true that many varieties of pears show 

 no fruit this year, and most others will not yield half a crop. Those that prom- 

 ise most with us are Doyennii, Boussock, Buffum, Swan's Orange, Belle Lu- 

 crative, St. Michel Archange, Vicar of Winkfield, and Paradise d'Automne. 



