1 86 Editor's Letter-Box, 



EDITOR'S LETTER-BOX. 



A Subscriber. — Fifteen vines for a cold grapery, — eight black Hamburg, 

 one white Chasselas, one rose Chasselas, one Wilmot's No. i6, one Wilmot's 

 black Hamburg, one Cliasselas musk, one flame-colored Tokay, one goldeu 

 Hamburg. We give a list comprising the greatest variety ; but, of all grapes, the 

 black Hamburg and its varieties succeed best, and give greatest satisfaction, in 

 a cold grapery. 



A Subscriber. — In glazing a greenhouse-roof, shall I lap the glass, or but it ? 

 Our experience has shown that it is better to lap the glass : it makes a tighter 

 and stronger roof. 



L. F., Pennfield, N.Y. — Hyacinths should be placed in the glasses about the 

 end of October, kept in the dark until the glass is half filled with roots, then 

 removed to a sunny window. The time when they will throw up the flower-stem 

 depends much upon the temperature of the room and of the water : they sel- 

 dom bloom before the loth of January, however. The room may be kept at the 

 ordinary temperature of a parlor, say 65° Fahrenheit. At night, the glasses should 

 be removed from the window, that the water may not be chilled. As the water 

 evaporates, the glass should be filled up ; but it is not necessary to change the 

 water, unless it becomes foul. A small piece of charcoal in the glass will keep 

 the water sweet. Hyacinths in water bloom weaker than when planted in earth, 

 and are not as satisfactory. Soft water only should be used for refilling, and it 

 should be of the temperature of the room. 



R., Worcester. — The double hepaticas are as hardy as the wild varieties, but 

 are not very easy to procure in this country. You will find them in florists' cata- 

 logues ; but they rarely can supply them. The best way to get a stock would be 

 to import them. They cost in England about a shilling a root. As the plants are 

 impatient of removal when in growth, and seldom survive losing all the young 

 leaves, it is better to import them in the autumn than the spring ; as, if imported 

 in spring, the young leaves grow in the case, and damp off. If, however, you 

 send for them in September, they will reach you late in November. They will 

 usually be in small pots or with good balls as they have been turned out from 

 the propagating pot. Put them at once in pots of the same size, and give a 

 gentle watering to moisten the plant; then winter them in a cold-frame. In early 

 spring, uncover them, and set the plants in the border where they are to remain. 

 They are impatient of division, and look best in large clumps. The proper time 

 to divide for propagation is as soon as they have done blooming. The double- 

 red is the most common, and is a little gem of a flower ; the double-blue is 

 rather a larger growing plant, with flowers on longer footstalks ; the double- 

 white is very rare, if, indeed, it is not lost to cultivation. The single varieties 

 of our woods do well in the border. H. angtdosa is a very fine species, with 

 large blue starry flowers ; recently introduced. All the varieties are valuable, 

 and we know of no prettier plants for the spring garden. 



