The EJitors of "Tilton's Journal of Horticulture" cordially invite all in- 

 terested in the various branches of horticulture to send questions upon any 

 subject on which information may be desired. Our corps of correspondents is 

 very large, and among them may be found those fully competent to reply to in- 

 quiries in regard to any ordinary subject in the practice of horticulture. Any 

 questions which may be more difficult to answer will be duly noticed, and the 

 respective subjects fully investigated. Our aim is to give the most trustworthy 

 information on all subjects which can be of interest to horticulturists. 



We would especially invite our friends to communicate any little items of 

 experience for our " Notes and Gleanings," and also the results of experi- 

 ments. Such items are always readable, and of general interest. 



We must, however, request that no one will write to the contributors to our 

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Anonymous communications cannot be noticed : we require the name and 

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Rejected communications will be returned when accompanied by the requi- 

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Albany. — The " Italian Sunflower " which is said to be so extensively cul- 

 tivated by the farmers of California, is probably the Helianthus tiiberosiis. It 

 produces a tuberous root, which is eaten pickled, or raw as a salad, or boiled as 

 a substitute for potatoes. Improved varieties have been produced, some of 

 which are nearly equal in quality to the potato. The tubers will remain sound 

 in the ground through the winter, sending up new plants in the spring, and 

 hence the roots sometimes become troublesome in gardens, and it has also be- 

 come wild in fence rows. The name of Jerusalem Artichoke, by which it is 

 also known, is a corruption of the Italian name, Girasole, or Sunflower. It is 

 closely allied to the common sunflower. 



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