Editor's Letter-Box. 287 



G. S., Manchester, Vt. — Verbenas are propagated by cuttings, which should 

 be in such condition that they will snap on being bent. The best plants come 

 from cuttings put in about the first of April. On a large scale they are 

 propagated in houses built for the purpose, with broad benches, on which is 

 placed two or three inches of sand ; and in this sand the cuttings are stuck. 

 Hot water-pipes or flues underneath the bench supply bottom heat. On a small 

 scale they may be rooted in saucers or plates of sand, which are to be closely 

 filled with cuttings, and placed in the parlor window, the sand being kept con- 

 stantly saturated with water. As soon as rooted, they must be potted, and then 

 must be shaded, so as to become gradually inured to the sun. When rooted in 

 the pots, they should have plenty of air, but need not be kept very warm. The best 

 way of keeping the black rust from them is to grow them strong and vigorous. 

 Frequent fumigations with tobacco will keep off the aphis, or green fly, and will 

 also help to prevent the rust. It is of little use to attempt to pot old plants or 

 layers ; it is much better to take cuttings in the fall, which, if well grown, will 

 make plants affording plenty of cuttings for spring propagation. The verbena 

 requires to be kept growing, and therefore cannot be preserved over winter in a 

 cold frame or cellar. The plants must not be watered too freely, for their native 

 habitat is on dry hills, and keeping the plants soaked with water causes disease. 

 The plants are sold in spring for about a dollar a dozen, and when only a few 

 dozen are wanted, they can be bought much cheaper than they can be raised. 



T. H. G., St. Catherines, C. W. — The term "hill," as used in regard to straw- 

 berry growing, does not imply a mound of earth like a potato hill, but only a 

 plant set separate from others, and having all the runners cut off", the ground 

 being kept level. Such plants form several short stems, and throw up a large 

 number of fruit stalks, forming what is called a "stool." There are certain 

 varieties, like Hovey, whose habit is to throw out only a few fruit stalks, which 

 are not adapted to this method of cultivation, but do better in beds, while varie- 

 ties which " stool well " — that is, form large plants, with many fruit stalks, like 

 Jucunda, Wilson, and Boston Pine — produce more and better fruit, and do not 

 require resetting so often when grown in hills. See Mr. Draper's article in our 

 Vol. VIII., p. 267. 



Mrs. S. E. B., Clear Creek, Galveston Co., Texas. — Since we received your 

 Inquiries, we have heard of one or two other persons who have attempted to 

 raise Hoyas from leaves, with precisely the same results as in your case ; and 

 we do not think there is any hope of their ever developing buds and making 

 plants, but if you plant a leaf with a bit of wood, and a single bud at the base, 

 you will have no difficulty in getting a plant. 



S. T., Boston. — The paragraph on page 234 is not quite clear, but we under- 

 stand it to mean that the secondary shoots or the main branches of the tomato 

 plants are pruned out when they show no fruit, or the ends are pinched off" when 

 they show fruit. If this is not correct, we trust Mr. Robinson will take the 

 trouble to set us right. 



