1 90 Editors' Letter- Box. 



would nevertheless seem to us desirable, even at the high price asked. But, first, 

 some competent, reliable horticulturist would have to tell us something about 

 this pretended celebrity. Has its fruit been exhibited, and pronounced worthy ? 

 If so, by whom .'' Bushberg. 



A. C. M., Vineland, N.J. — It will not pay you to raise mulberries for market, 

 simply because there is no demand for the fruit. The best variety is Downing's 

 Everbearing, the fruit of which is large and fine. The common red, black, and 

 white mulberries are good ornamental trees, but of little value for fruit. 



F. C. F., Newburyport. — The following are very fine varieties of tender In- 

 dian azaleas : President, Entendard de Flanders, Gleastanesii formosa. Due de 

 Nassau, Exquisita pallada. 



A. B. U., Newton. — Rhododendron niaxiimim is our native species, and is 

 hardly worth cultivating. Though indigenous, the flower-buds are often killed 

 in severe winters, and the foliage is always dull and lustreless. 



The fine varieties you have seen at the horticultural exhibitions are not to be 

 found in the woods : they are garden hybrids, and must be purchased from 

 nursery-men, or imported from England. 



You cannot grow rhododendrons unless you prepare a bed for them. In the 

 January (1868) number of " The Journal of Horticulture," you will find full 

 directions both for soil and culture. 



W. C. M., Andover, Me. — Stella, Lady Cullum, Glow, Herald of Spring, 

 Mrs. Pollok, Madam Vaucher, Countess Tyrconnel, and Lord Palmerston are 

 fine zonale geraniums. There are hundreds of other species, — many good, more 

 worthless : it would be very foolish to attempt to make a " complete collection." 



I. L. S., Colebrook, N.II. — The fruit sent is the native plum {Prtimis Ameri- 

 cana), a very pretty fruit. It is of little value, however, except for preserving. 



G. W. W., Lancaster, Mass. — The flower sent is Stephanatis Jloribimda, a 

 very fine hot-house climber. 



Idem. — The Gerandias are not " susceptible of cultivation." If you trans- 

 plant them, they linger a year or two and then die. 



While there are many of our native plants which thrive and even improve in 

 cultivation, there are others which thus far have resisted all attempts at cultiva- 

 tion. We shall be glad to learn the result of your experiments. 



Names of Plants. — Young Botanist. — No. i. Ilex opaca, the American 

 holly. No. 2. Neviopanihes Canadensis (you should send leaves and not the 

 mere berry ; however, in this case it was sufficient). No. 3. Isanthus cceruhus, 

 false penny-royal. No. 4. Apids tnberosa, ground-nut. No. 5. A garden variety 

 of Potentilia, probably P. atrosanguinea. 



