254 Editors Letter- Box. , 



The following communication has been handed us by Prof. Gray: — 



Dayton,, O., Dec. 31, 1867. 



Prof. Asa Gray. Sir, — With this you will receive a portion of a plant which 

 has lately exhibited a curious freak of nature. It has been cultivated here by 

 many persons for several years, and has never been known to bloom when grow- 

 ing in soil ; but, in the latter part of October, the vine was cut down and carried 

 in the house, and hung up over picture-frames on the wall in a room, where, 

 until lately, there has been no fire. In about three weeks it commenced to bloom, 

 and has put forth fresh flowers ever since. It has been in bloom now for six 

 or seven weeks. The leaves that were on when the vine was cut wilted and died ; 

 but fresh leaves and smaller put out, and the vine also grew in length. The 

 vine is known here as "water or glacier ivy." Have found it to belong to the 

 compositas, but cannot trace it farther. 



I would be much obliged if you can give me the botanical name at your 

 earliest convenience. Yours truly, Louis H. Brown. 



[The plant is what we call " German Ivy," — the Seiiccio scandcns I take it to 

 be.] A. Gray. 



We publish with pleasure the following extract from a letter from an esteemed 

 correspondent : — 



" Pray do correct your contributor, who says (p. 327), 'The first fern-cases 

 made and brought before the public were at the great World's Fair in England 

 in 1 85 1. They were simple glass-shades,' &c. If Wardian cases are meant, the 

 first account of them, and of that mode of cultivation, was published by Mr. 

 Ward, in the ' Companion to the Botanical Magazine,' in 1 836 ; the first edition 

 of his book on the subject, in 1842." 



G. R. M., North Pass Island, Lake Erie. — Has the Pemberton Pear, figured 

 in the November number of the Journal, been grown as a dwarf? — We think 

 not. Of whom can trees or scions be procured .'' — There are no trees for sale. 

 B. T. Wells of Boston advertises, in our advertising pages, scions of this sort. 

 Where can Italian dwarf peach-trees be obtained ? — Of Hoopes Brothers & Tho- 

 mas, West Chester, Penn. Where can I procure a small lot of borage-seed ? — 

 Washburn & Co. of Boston have it. Any of the principal seedsmen will fur- 

 nish it. 



R. B. E., East Bridgewater, Mass. — The season in Massacliusetts is rather 

 short for tuberoses to bloom in the open air from bulbs planted in the border in 

 May. The flowers are liable to be cut off" by the autumn frosts. If started in 

 pots in a hot-bed about May i, they may be turned out into the border, and will 

 bloom strongly in September. For directions, see Rand's " Flowers for the Parlor 

 and Garden," which we have sent as ordered. 



Lowell. — A chce nia malvaviscus m'a.y he found at any greenhouse. Send 

 to Washburn & Co., 100 Tremont Street, Boston, who can probably find you a 

 plant. Price fifty to seventy-five cents for small plants. 



