Editors Letter-Box, 383 



Country Girl, Berkshire. — Your suggestion is a good one. Mr. Rand 

 will probably give some notes on the cultivation of native plants in an early 

 number of the magazine. He has many of our finest indigenous plants in suc- 

 cessful cultivation. 



Idem. — Perhaps we have somewhat neglected parlor-plants; but, in our 

 present number, you will find we atone for the omission. It is difficult in our 

 limits to just meet the wants of all of our many tliousands of subscribers ; but 

 we trust in every number to give much which may be useful to each. 



Viola. — Cover your violet frames with sashes, and these, as the weather 

 grows colder, with mats and shutters. Keep out the frost, give light and air on 

 every warm day, and you may gather violets all winter. 



X. M., Skaneateles, N.Y. — If you wish rhododendrons, plant fine hardy va- 

 rieties. The native R. maximum is only of value for variety, and for blooming 

 a little later than most kinds. In beauty, it bears no comparison to the varieties 

 of Catawbiense. For culture, see article in our February number. 



A SuRSCRiBER, Burlington, N.J. — We cannot tell 3'ou what pears will do 

 best with you, unless you give us more information. 



Your best plan is to plant those varieties which tlie experience of your neigh- 

 bors has shown to succeed best in the vicinity. You can easily try experiments ; 

 but your main planting should be of those which you know will do well. 



TvRO, Troy. — The flowers you enclose are those of the common single 

 English violet, Viola odorata. It is not unusual for it to bloom in the autumn ; 

 in fact, it always does, and will give you flowers all winter if you protect it from 

 frost. Viola cornuta is hardy. Viola lutea is tender. 



There is an apple-tree growing on the grounds of one of my neighbors, one 

 of whose limbs, about two and a half inches in thickness, was accidentally stripped 

 of every particle of bark, for a space of about four inches, several years since ; 

 yet this limb has continued to grow ever since, made at least six inches of wood 

 last year, and is now robed in green foliage, though it does not manifest the same 

 amount of vigor as the rest of the tree. I examined the limb myself, and found, 

 on cutting intc the pe<"led part, that the outside wood was dead and dry. Have 

 you ever iieard of a similar occurrence ? and I'.ow do you account for it 1 



North Lima, O. SaDcUcl Rail. 



[We have never noticed such a case. We have frequently known a branch 

 to go through one season as tliough nothing had hap[)ened to it, and then die. 

 If any of our readers can explain this case, let us hear from them. — Ed?^ 



Amateur, Worcester. —- Tlie seedling y/^iT/'j-/^ sent is worthless : there are 

 hundred ■ of better varieties. Try again. 



