Editors Letter- Box. 319 



\V. B. C. asks " where a strawberry known as Beard's Seedling can be pro- 

 cured ; at what price ; and whether it is the same or similar to the variety known 

 as Burr's New Pine. I am unable to find it in any catalogue to which I have 

 had access. A full description would much oblige," &c. — We have never heard 

 of the variety. If any of our readers can give the desired information, we should 

 be pleased to hear from them. 



W. S. writes us in relation to the Hebe Pear, a new variety, said to be of large 

 size and good quality. Specimens have been raised that weighed twenty-eight 

 ounces. It is a seedling of South Carolina, where it ripens in November and 

 December, a winter pear. It is said to be beautiful in appearance. We hope to 

 be able to procure specimens next fall from which to make a drawing. New 

 fruits should always be indorsed by some pomological or horticultural society. 



D. G. A., Alton. — My apple-stocks that I wish to graft are rather small, say 

 half an inch to an inch in diameter. Would it be better to cleft or splice-graft 

 them ? — Should splice or whip graft all the smallest stocks, certainly. We often 

 change the entire head of a tree eight or ten feet high by splice or whip graft- 

 ing, thus preserving the form and symmetry of the tree. 



A. B. M., Dayton, O. — The " early blue grape hyacinth " is Muscari race- 

 mosus : the true grape hyacinth, M. bofroyoides, is a later bloomer. There are 

 white, pearl-color, dark-blue, very dark-blue, and light-blue species and varieties ; 

 but we have never seen a pink one. 



Subscriber, Fitchburg. — The sprig of heath you send is Gypsocallis carnea. 

 You will find it in nursery-men's catalogues as Erica carnea. Cover it with pine- 

 needles in winter, and it will bloom freely about the first of May. It makes a 

 very pretty companion to Epigcea repens. 



Malden Highlands. — Certainly you can cultivate the "Mayflower" {Epi- 

 gcea repens). Transplant it in the sod, and grow it in loam, peat, and sand, where 

 it is not exposed to the full heat of the sun in summer. There is no real diffi- 

 culty ; and the idea that you cannot cultivate it is a popular fallacy. 



I. L. M., Skaneateles, N.Y. — Czar and giant violets are very fine, and a great 

 improvement on all the other violets. Queen of violets is a double white, large, 

 but not worth growing. We have tried them all. Viola lutea will probably 

 require frame-protection, as does Viola cormita in most situations. 



Florist, Cambridge. — The plant is Rhododeitdron danrizan, one of the 

 earliest and best flowering shrubs, perfectly hardy, and always in bloom by 

 April 25. 



C. P. A. — I have Triomphe de Gand strawberry-plants set : shall I let them 

 run, or keep them in hills ? — Keep them in hills, certain : cut off" all the runners 

 as fast as they appear. 



