320 Editors Letter- Box. 



A. B. M., Boston. — The bulbs sold at auction are generally the refuse of 

 Holland dealers ; yet we have bought very good bulbs, which gave us great 

 satisfaction, at auction. 



If you want only a lot for show in the garden, and care nothing for fine varie- 

 ties, such as you have bought may give you good bloom. In planting, do not mix 

 colors or varieties ; for a mass of one color is most effective, and different varie- 

 ties bloom at different times. 



In reply to your last question, it is best to plant bulbs early in October, that 

 they may make a good growth of roots ; but they may be planted until the 

 ground freezes, and we have even known them to do well when planted in holes 

 made with a crowbar after the ground was frozen hard. 



A valued contributor from Elgin, 111., writes as follows : — 

 " In one of my plant-hunting rambles the past summer, I had the good luck 

 to find a new species oi Petalostemon. It is very pretty in leaf and flower, and 

 shows to advantage among its graceful congeners. I sent dried specimens and 

 seeds to Prof Gray. He writes, ' It will go in the new issue, next winter, of my 

 new edition of " The Manual," under the name of P. foUosus? 



" In the August number of the Journal, several good things are mentioned 

 which do well for edging or border for a flower-bed. Let me mention another 

 (periwinkle, Viaca minor), which for many years has given me more satisfaction 

 than any thing else that I have tried. Set small sprigs with rootlets along the 

 line of the border, three or four inches apart, early in the spring ; before the 

 end of the season, we have a handsome ribbon of green (evergreen), which, with 

 its annual profusion of blue bloom, will please us well year after year indefinitely. 

 Sometimes it is effective as an edging for walks. We do not weary of it ; and 

 it is easily managed, only requiring one or two annual clippings : this will effect- 

 ually control it." 



We have received from an always-welcome correspondent in Madison, Wis., 

 an interesting account of the Wisconsin Agricultural Fair, which we would 

 gladly publish did our space admit. We extract the following interesting 

 note : — 



" Several new seedling grapes attracted attention. Of these the most worthy 

 was the Janesville, shown by C. and I. H. Greenman of Milton, of which I enclose 

 a photograph. This grape is perfectly hardy, a great bearer, and ripens early 

 in August, — fully two weeks earlier than any other variety. Last year, the 

 bunches exhibited at the State Fair were quite shrivelled, having been allowed 

 to hang on until the exhibition." 



No department seems to have been neglected ; and the admirable address 

 delivered by Prof. Chadbourne, lately of the Massachusetts Agricultural College, 

 but now of Wisconsin University, was a fitting conclusion of this interesting 

 and successful exhibition. 



I. B., Belfast, Me. — The pear you send is Beurr^ d'Amanlis ; a great bearer ; 

 fruit large, but not first-rate. 



