Editors' Letter- Box. 317 



Miss E. M. B., Hartford, Conn. — It is very easy to keep your croquet-ground 

 in good order. The treatment at this season is to mow it close, and top-dress 

 with well-rotted stable-manure. Early in the spring, rake the ground clean : and, 

 during the summer, keep the grass well cut ; as often as once a week will be 

 sufficient. Any coarse-growing grass should be cut out : fine grass and white 

 clover make the best sod. 



An Inquirer, Worcester, Mass. — Low's "Ferns," eight volumes octavo, and 

 " New and Rare Ferns," one volume octavo, published by Groombridge, London, 

 1865, will give you colored illustrations of all the plants you mention. As an 

 elementary volume, "Ferns British and Foreign," by John Smith, London, 

 Robert Hardwicke, 1866, will be of service. 



Mystic River. — You cannot succeed in fruit-growing unless you are will- 

 ing to give attention to it. Trees will not do well unless well cared for. We 

 can tell you how best to direct your care, but not how to succeed without care. 

 " What is worth doing at all is worth doing well." Tell us what you wish to 

 plant, how much ground you have, and we will tell you how and wiiat to plant, 

 and the most economical culture. 



In answer to many inquiries, we reply, that we honestly believe the President 

 Wilder Strawberry to be all we claim for it. Our editors have seen it in every 

 condition, and know its value. We believe it will more than answer all expec- 

 tations. 



Parlor Plant. — Your plant is Pittosporum Tobira. It is a good house- 

 plant, thriving with very little care, and usually flowering freely. The blossoms 

 are white and very fragrant. Give it rather a large pot, and plant it in a mixture 

 of peat and loam. 



There are other species ; but they are seldom seen in cultivation. 



A. M. Dunbar, Boston. — You have been deceived, but have plenty of com- 

 pany. The bulbs you have bought, and paid such high prices for, are probably 

 of little value, and are certainly not what you have bought them for. Last autumn, 

 a number of Germans travelled through New England, selling bulbs for which 

 they manufactured names to order. They supplied blue tulips, red crocuses, 

 scarlet narcissus, and other novelties, to the ignorant, at good prices ; and even 

 imposed upon the knowing ones by selling good bulbs of poor varieties for new 

 and choice kinds. 



We are sorry to hear they are in the field again. Make a rule only to buy 

 of responsible dealers, and you will find your bulbs true to name and descrip- 

 tion. 



C. B. Montane, Cleveland, O. — Persimmons {Diospyros) can be cultivated, 

 and would doubtless improve if seedlings were raised from the best wild varie- 

 ties. Experiment in this direction is worth trying. 



