256 Editors^ Letter- Box. 



I. S. S., St. Paul, Minn. — Your only way to ascertain whether plants are 

 hardy with you is by experiment. Of course, there are many plants which you 

 know to be hardy, and even a larger number which you know are tender. But 

 between these two is a large class of the hardiness of which you are uncertain. 

 It by no means follows, that, because a plant comes from a cold country, it is 

 hardy in a place farther south. Many plants stand the winter of Canada, and 

 are winter-killed in New England. Many of the so-called " Alpine plants " are 

 perfectly hardy on the mountains, but perish in the winter in the gardens in 

 England. This is due to the protection afforded by the snow during winter in 

 their native habitats, which defends the plants from severe cold ; acting as a 

 blanket, and keeping them warm. Again : many plants, which no degree of steady 

 cold will kill, perish if under the alternate freezing and thawing of our winters. 

 Plants hardy on the north of the house are killed on the south ; and, as a general 

 rule, the winter sun does more injury than the cold. Herbaceous plants and 

 bulbs perish by thousands after an "open winter." 



From all these facts, you can draw your own deductions, and experiment with 

 those plants which give best promise of success. If killed on a southern expo- 

 sure, try a northern, and protect crowns of the plants and bulbs by a covering 

 of litter in the autumn. If we can assist you further in any particular experi- 

 ment, write to us. 



A. Mears, Albany. — You can cultivate all our native asters and golden-rods ; 

 and they all improve by cultivation, increasing in the size of the stools and flow- 

 ers. On the other hand, the gerardia you will find very difficult of domestica- 

 tion. It will grow for a year, and then die out. We hold the theory, that it is 

 semi-parisitic. 



Old Times, Hartford, Conn. — We agree with you. Many of the old-fash- 

 ioned flowers have never been excelled, and should be more generally cultivated. 

 Give us an article on the subject : we should be glad to call attention to the 

 facts you mention. 



Old and New. — Graft your seedlings on old stocks : they will fruit sooner, 

 and you can tell whether they are of any value. 



Dwarfs, Watertown. — Plant dwarf-cherries and plums by all means. We 

 propose at an early day to give an article on the subject. Plums thrive on 

 dwarf stock, and are much more easily protected from the curculio. 



H. L., New York. — Your plant is Motiotropa taiijlora^ Indian-pipe or corpse 

 plant, not uncommon, and a very handsome as well as peculiar plant. 



