3i8 Editors Letter- Box. 



W. E. C, Plattville, Grant County, Wis. — The ivy-leaf sent is infested with 

 common scale. On the upper ^ide, the insect is Coccus Testiedo,X\\G. turtle-scale ; 

 while on the lower side we find the oleander-scale, — Aspidotus Nerii. The 

 remedy is very simple : Wash the leaves with strong soap-suds, scrubbing them 

 with an old tooth-brush ; or else touch the insects with a camel's-hair pencil, 

 dipped in kerosene. 



The green worm that eats the buds of your roses is probably the larva of 

 LoxotcBiiea Rosaceana (Harris). 



Species of Tortrix also infest roses, and destroy the buds. The only remedy 

 is hand-picking. 



Mrs. Anna C. C, Manchester, N.J. — i. Cuttings of Dahlias will produce 

 the same flowers as those of the variety from which they are taken. 



2. Dahlias raised from seed produce new varieties. 



3. Sow dahlia-seed in early spring, in pans with gentle bottom-heat. 



4. Small tubers will be produced the first year. 



5. It will not perceptibly injure your dahlia-roots if the plant is allowed to 

 ripen seed. 



6. It will not injure them to bloom freely ; but you will not get fine flowers 

 until the nights begin to be cool. 



7. Sow gladiolus-seed in shallow pans in a frame ; grow them in seed-pans 

 one year, and plant out the second : they bloom the third year from seed, with 

 common culture, but may be forced to bloom sooner. 



8. The small gladiolous-bulbs produce the original variety. 



9. Sow flower-seeds from April i to the middle of May, in the house or 

 frames. 



10. The varieties of dahlias run out after a time. 



11. The original plants are not affected by being planted close together ; but 

 the seed may be affected. 



12. Do not take the dead leaves from your strawberry-plants : they do no 

 harm, and are scSon hidden by the new foliage. 



H. L. S., Utah. — There is no plant known to our gardens by the name of 

 " Magnolia ever-blooming narrow-leaved catalpa." The magnolia and catalpa 

 are very different plants. As you describe it, the flower must be very handsome. 

 It certainly is not a magnolia, and probably not a catalpa. Send the leaves and 

 flowers, and we can probably name it for you. 



I. S. M., Philadelphia. — Mr. Rand has the article on "Flowers in City 

 Yards " in preparation. 



Idem. — A flock of turkeys do much to destroy grasshoppers. Thanks for 

 your fruit-gossip. A peach weighing a pound would be a good-sized fruit. 



I. W. N., Cambridge City, Ind. — The grass sent is Imperata saccharifolia. 

 It is hardy, and makes a very pretty clump in the flower-border. 



