Editors Letter- Box. 249 



E. G., Newburyport, Mass. — What causes my pear-trees to shed their leaves 

 in midsummer ? — There may be several reasons ; but it often happens, unless 

 the orchard is well drained, that, in such a season as we have had, there would be 

 too much water about the roots. The trees would have wet " feet " for days or 

 weeks, and that would be sufficient to cause the loss of the leaf. If your orchard 

 is not thoroughly drained, have it done, and you may see a change for the better. 



Subscriber, New London, Conn. — I have for years past been very success- 

 ful in the cultivation of the egg-plant ; but this year they have proved a failure. 

 Very little fruit has set ; and, of that little, some has rotted. Is it because of the 

 wet weather ? — Yes. Your experience is similar to that of hundreds of others 

 this year. The evil effects of too much rain is not confined alone to the egg- 

 plant ; but almost every kind of fruit and vegetable has been unfavorably affected. 



E. S. B., Davenport, lo., asks " if it may not be possible that the pear-blight 

 is really death from old age ; " and " who ever heard of a blighted seedling .'' " — 

 We answer, that we do not believe it possible that old age is the cause of the 

 blight in pear-trees ; for many young trees, even seedlings not a dozen years old, 

 have been destroyed in this way. This we have seen and know. The blight is 

 almost sure to appear on the thriftiest trees ; which leads many to believe that it 

 is caused by the winter. The tree, making a late growth, is caught before it is 

 fully prepared for the rigors of the winter, and is injured ; and the next spring 

 and summer the damage appears. In a similar manner, several years ago, nearly 

 all the Baldwin apple-trees in some sections of the country were killed. The 

 remedy may be the same as has been successfully applied to the cherry-tree to 

 prevent disease, — planting in poorer land, or using less manure : and, if nothing 

 else will check the growth, sow the land to grass ; though this latter plan is not 

 highly approved by good horticulturists. 



A Subscriber, New Haven, Conn. — You will never make grass do well 

 under such a thick growth of elms. The roots of the trees exhaust the soil, 

 and run to a great distance. From your description, we cannot recognize the 

 grass you mention : if you will send us grass and flower-stalk, we will name it 

 for you, and tell you how to procure it. Why not plant the space under the 

 elm-trees with hly of the valley ? They will grow well, and cover the ground 

 with green from May to November, and give a few flowers in spring, if there is 

 not too much shade. Or, if you need a lower growth, try periwinkle or money- 

 wort {Lysiinachia niimimilarid) ; the former with blue or white flowers in May, 

 the latter with yellow flowers in June or July. 



Idem. — The pit you propose will keep your tea-roses through the winter; 

 but we should advise the covering of oak-leaves. Why not put in a small stove, 

 and have roses all winter ? There is no greenhouse which will give so much 

 flower and such general satisfaction as a well-managed rose-pit. After the 

 plants get well established, you can gather roses every day from January to De- 

 cember. The care and e.^pense are very little, and the pleasure is very great. 



VOL 11. 32 



