350 Editor's Letter-Box. 



S. T. — Whatever may have been told you of the White Seeded Wax Podded 

 Bean, described and figured in our January number, by seedsmen who had not 

 got it for sale, there is certainly such a variety, for we have raised it the past 

 summer, and can testify both to its beauty and excellent quality. The seed 

 was scarce last spring, but will be more plenty another year. 



W. H. B., Plattsburg, N. Y. — The specimens of crabs came duly to hand. 

 The fruit is of good size for a crab, though not the largest. The quality did not 

 appear to us to be superior, but we would like to test it again another season, 

 and any others of your seedlings which maybe in fruit. The stem is very short 

 for a crab, but we did not notice any other peculiarity about the fruit. 



J. M. W. — We have noticed that the old speUing, cion, is coming into use 

 again instead of scion. We know of no reason for the change, except that it 

 saves writing one letter. 



Q. Q. — The plant cultivated in the Southern States under the name of 

 "tanyah," is \\-\QColocassia esculenta, or Caladiujn esatlentum. It is cultivated 

 in northern gardens for the sake of its enormous foliage, which is very ornamen- 

 tal ; but the root is tender, and must be taken up in autumn and protected from 

 frost. We have seen the roots for sale as an esculent vegetable in a southern 

 market, but have never tasted them. They are said to be as nutritious and pala- 

 table as the common potato. The root is about the size and shape of a French 

 turnip. 



W. W. H., Rutland, Meigs Co., Ohio. — We know of no means of destroying 

 the black locust other than by persistently grubbing them up like an}'- other tree ; 

 but the habit of the locust of sending up suckers, makes it more difficult to ex- 

 terminate them than most other trees. The grubbing will be most efi'ectual if 

 performed in the month of August. A sufficient quantity of salt to destroy the 

 locusts would probably destroy everything else. 



T. P. S., Salem, Mass. -^ Orchids cannot be cultivated as parlor plants. 



O. V. — The white " vegetable eggs " which you saw at the horticultural exhi- 

 bition, are not the fruit of the " Egg Plant," as it is commonly called {Solanum 

 7nelonge7ia), but a species of gourd, and consequently allied to the squashes and 

 melons. It is not eatable. The Egg Plant is allied to the potato and tomato. 

 There is a white variety of it, but it is less esteemed than the purple, and less 

 frequently seen. 



P. A. L., New York. — The reason why the seed of double portulaccas and 

 other double flowers is so scarce and costly, — though they have been introduced 

 a number of years, — is, that they are double, that is, some of the organs whose 

 office is to perfect the seed, have been transformed into petals, and hence the 

 quantity of seed produced is very small, and must command a high price. 



