122 Editors Letter- Box. 



Alton Horticultural Society. — We are in receipt of the report of the 

 May meeting of this energetic and flourishing society. The plan of meeting at 

 the residences of the members, and practically studying horticulture, is one 

 which, if generally adopted, would much increase the interest in the cause, as 

 greater emulation would thereby be excited. 



It is a friendly rivalry in the study and practice of horticulture which pro- 

 vokes to increased exertion, and aids the good cause. 



Wilson. — You are perfectly right in planting the Wilson Albany Straw- 

 berry : there is no one variety, which, as a standard sort, will give you more satis- 

 faction. It is thoroughly hardy, an enormous bearer, and stands drought as well 

 as any you can grow. In flavor, the berries are not up to the standard, and they 

 need more sugar than many kinds ; but you can grow twenty berries of Wilson 

 where you will get one of any other kind, and the berries will average large size, 

 and the first one be very large. As a market-berry, its dark color is against it ; 

 yet from its firmness, which renders its transportation easy, it will always be 

 popular and salable, and its great productiveness renders it very profitable. It 

 is worth, for general culture, any dozen of the new varieties with high-sounding 

 names, which may do well in England or France, but which are totally unsuited 

 to our clinnate, and many of which, if you pare off" the red skin, have a white 

 berry, with no more taste than a raw turnip. 



Plant the Wilson, and do not be frightened by the denunciations of learned 

 societies or amateur fruit-growers. 



E. L. M., Syracuse, N.Y. — You can grow some ferns in rooms most suc- 

 cessfully ; but they are only the more common kinds. Many of the more delicate 

 and beautiful require constant moisture, and some a very high temperature. 



The chief difficulty, however, in fern-culture in the parlor, is the want of 

 moisture in the atmosphere. Where a house is heated by a furnace, the air is 

 often thoroughly dried and burned up, from passing over surfaces of heated iron ; 

 and, in such an atmosphere, ferns will not grow. If evaporators are used, more 

 moisture is obtained. Heating with steam gives a moist atmosphere ; and, by 

 means of open fire-places, a healthy amount of moisture is obtained. Close 

 coal-stoves are, if possible, worse than furnaces. 



W-e have grown Pteris hastata, P. Cretica alba lineata, P. serrulata, and 

 several kinds of maiden-hair {Adiajitum), in perfection, in china fern-pots on 

 the centre-table ; and plants set out last November are improving every day. 

 The great secret is to secure good drainage. Perhaps, however, a Wardian 

 case would be more satisfactory for your purposes. 



C. E., Alton. — There are many ornamental flowering-shrubs that will answer 

 your purpose. Lilacs, syringas {Philadelphus\ weigelia, deutzia, Cydonia Ja- 

 Po7iica or Japan quince, and the many shrubby spireas, the dwarf magnolias, 

 fringe-tree, smoke-tree, all fulfil your requirements ; and, in planting any, you 

 cannot go far astray. If you wish more particular directions, state the exposure 

 and situation more fully. 



