124 Editors^ Letter -Box. 



Henry, Detroit. — We have not succeeded with the Northern Spy Apple as 

 a dwarf. The trees grow well ; but we get no fruit. The variety is of peculiar 

 upright growth, and may be known as far as one can see it. It blooms and 

 leaves out at least a week later than other apples. 



It does not seem to us suited to the paradise stock. In fact, as an apple, it is 

 not profitable for general planting, as it is very late in coming into bearing, and 

 rots badly at the core. 



One Gravenstein, Hubbardston Nonesuch, or Washington, is worth a dozen 

 of it. 



Idem, Boston. — The small ants in the garden, unless very numerous, will 

 do no injury. We have often seen plants thriving in the midst of a city of ant- 

 hills. The ants do not disturb the roots, nor do they feed upon them. Their 

 food is both animal and vegetable ; but the latter portion is usually small seeds 

 and grain. If you wish to get rid of them, sprinkle Peruvian guano over the 

 holes : a very few applications will drive them away. 



I. H., N. Hempstead, L.I. — The Tartarean Maple is a very pretty tree, and 

 generally succeeds very well. It is perfectly hardy. We do not, however, con- 

 sider it as one of the best of the family for universal planting, as there are many 

 better and more ornamental. If you give yours the ordinary treatment of orna- 

 mental trees, there is no reason why they should not thrive. 



Ditto. — Your experience with Tritomas is by no means peculiar ; but you 

 need not have covered so deeply. Throw a few bushels of dry oak-leaves over 

 each plant the last thing in the autumn, and protect the crown of the plant from 

 wet, and they will stand the winter perfectly. Even young seedlings survived 

 last winter with us. 



A. C. B., Pittsfield, Mass. — The varieties of Gladiolus Gandavensis are not 

 properly hardy ; though we have had some even of the fine varieties, such as 

 Mars, Isoline, and Rebecca, stand out uninjured. The safest way is to house 

 them as you have heretofore done. G. Nataleitsis and the type Gatidavensis are 

 precariously hardy, sometimes surviving, oftener being killed. 



The hardy gladiolus, so called, are G. co/nmunis and Byzantium : these are 

 planted in the autumn like Dutch bulbs, come up in the spring, and flower in 

 June. They are not very ornamental. 



Viola. — You are right. The coloring of the leaves is not produced by frost: 

 it is only the ripening of the leaf. Frost is injurious to the beauty of the autum- 

 nal foliage ; and, when severe frosts come early in October, our autumn scenery 

 loses half its charm, from the absence of softer coloring and delicate dyes. A 

 woodbine or Virginia creeper in a dry soil will often ripen its leaves, and perfect 

 the most gorgeous colors, early in September, when the same plant in a damp 

 situation will retain its leaves perfectly green until shrivelled up by the severe 

 frosts of November. 



