Editors Letter- Box. 383 



K., Newton. — Having had some little experience with the Cupressiis Law- 

 soniana, I wish to inquire how it has generally stood the past winter in this sec- 

 tion. I regret to say that two stout plants that I have had three years, although 

 thoroughly enveloped by cedar-branches, have been badly injured, if not totally 

 destroyed. A few plants about two feet high, protected thoroughly in the same 

 way, have lost their foliage totally, and are probably killed ; while from seventy- 

 five to a hundred of the size of the latter were laid flat on the ground, and cov- 

 ered very thickly with cedars and arborvitass. A large portion of these have been 

 badly injured : a pari may, perhaps, be saved uninjured ; but I very much fear 

 that this beautiful "evergreen glory" will not be sufficiently hardy for this 

 climate. K. 



[Will our friends in different sections of the country give us the result of their 

 observation or experience with this evergreen ? Evergreen-trees of various 

 kinds suffered more last winter than they have for many years before. — Ed. 



Pyrus. — My Doyenne du Cornice pear-trees seem to be injured by the winter. 

 The twigs, or new growth, have turned black, and will die. Is this variety liable 

 to this trouble ? — We have heard such complaints concerning this otherwise 

 excellent variety. Some cultivators declare that it is entirely free from such 

 trouble in their grounds. It is a most excellent pear. 



W. K. G., Utica, N.Y. — I have seen some talk in the papers of late about 

 thornless blackberries. Can you give me any information .'* — We know that 

 the catalogues speak of Newman's Thornless Blackberry ; but we know noth- 

 ing about it. We have heard of another, which is said to be very large and fine, 

 called the Wachuset. Mr. Dodge of Fredonia has one that is perfectly thorn- 

 less, the fruit of which he claims is equal in size and quality to the Lawton. 

 We have heard of another, that originated in the town of Weston, Mass., that 

 is very hardy, withstanding the winter perfectly, and has but very few thorns. 

 It will be a great comfort, surely, if we can have blackberry-bushes without thorns. 



Cambridgeport. — It is quite a common practice in our neighborhood to 

 cut back pears very severely every fall or spring. Do you approve of such a 

 course ? — We should prefer not to do it. We think it would be better to have 

 fewer trees, and give them room. One reason why the trees are so cut back is 

 that they are planted so near together, that, unless this is done, they would soon 

 run together, and the branches interlock. We have seen pear-trees in gardens 

 so trimmed as to appear in summer like a green round shaft, some three feet in 

 diameter, rising perhaps fifteen feet. It involves a great deal of labor, and we 

 think the plan not worthy of imitation. 



ViTis. — My grape-vines are three years old, and will bear this year. Not 

 having had experience, I hardly know how much they ought to be allowed to 

 bear. What do you say ? — We cannot say certainly ; but we can and do say 

 most emphatically. Don't let them over-bear. If they are strong vines, it would 

 not hurt them to carry six pounds of fruit. 



