Editors Letter- Box. 189 



■ A. L. S., Springdale P. O., Utah. — The flowers came in good order : all are 

 species of penstemon, except Nos. i and 9. On these, as well as on the names 

 of the penstemons, we will report in a future number. 



The colors are very fine, and seeds would be acceptable. They will probably 

 prove too tender to be treated other than as bedding-plants with us in New 

 England ; being wintered in a frame, and planted out to bloom in summer. In 

 the Middle States, they would prove hardy. The Howers are all good ; some 

 very fine. 



C. L. M., Vineland, N.J. — Thanks for the information. The roots are 

 probably what we stated ; though why they should be there, we cannot say. 

 We call tliem " roots " oaly for want of a name : we have expressly stated be- 

 fore they are not true roots. 



A. L. B., Lee, Mass. — The seeds of Cobea scandens do not vegetate freely 

 unless planted sideways. As you planted them in the open ground, there would 

 be no chance of their making blooming plants in one season, even if they had 

 come up. You should have obtained a plant from some greenhouse, or planted 

 the seed in a pot in a hot-hed. It is a very rapid climber when once established. 

 The variety with variegated leaves is very pretty. 



Names of Plants. — A L. B., No. i, Dictamnus fraxmella j No. 2, Da- 

 vallea bnUata ; No. 3, Delpliineiim Hendersoni ; No. 4, Clematis erecta. — Sub- 

 scriber A., some kind of acacia ; B., Acacia cidtrifonnis ; C, Achimenes longi- 

 folia ; Y)., Marven. Your plant \s Ipomea coccinea : the cypress-vine \?, Ipo- 

 inea qiiamocUt., or Quainoclit coccinea., a very different plant. 



Maud Muller. — The Siberian pea-tree is, botanically, Caragana. There 

 are many species which you will find fully described in Loudon's " Arboretum." 

 That most commonly grown is C. arborescens, which forms a tree of the second 

 class, with pea-shaped foliage and yellow flowers. The species are all hardy, 

 and merit a place in the shrubbery. There are many trailing species, which, 

 grafted as standards, make pretty weeping trees. 



A. C. H., Newport, R.I. — It is nothing remarkable for the white thimble- 

 berry to root at the ends of the new shoots. In fact, the best way to propagate 

 the plant is to bury the shoots, when roots will come out every few inches, and 

 you can have plants by the hundred. Let them remain buried, however, until 

 next spring, when each tuft of roots will send up a shoot and make a plant. 



Pursue the same plan with your black-cap raspberries. 



Margaret, Nashville. — There are rose-colored and double lily of the valley, 

 also a variety with variegated foliage ; but none equal, in grace, purity, and beau- 

 ty, the common single variety. 



The lily of the valley is a native of this country as well as of England. It 

 was discovered by Nutall, lost, and finally, a few years since, rediscovered. 



