Editors Letter-Box. 251 



We owe an apology to some of our readers who failed to receive the March 

 number as early as usual. The full number of copies was printed ; but, owing to 

 increased demands, our supply fell short, and we were at once obhged to put an 

 extra edition to press. This, however, will not occur again, as we have largely 

 increased our edition, and we trust to supply promptly every demand. 



Japan Lilies. — The best soil is rich loam with leaf-mould and sharp sand : 

 they bear higher culture than most lilies. They do not degenerate, but increase 

 rapidly, with good culture. They are hardy, and require no winter protection, but 

 are benefited by a covering of manure in the fall, to be forked into the bed in the 

 spring. Grown in pots, they are very ornamental, and can be successfully forced. 



E. I. F. — A correspondent in Painesville, O., informs us that he cultivates 

 the trailing arbutus {EpigcEa repens) successfully. As a spring flowering-plant 

 for earliness, beauty, and fragrance, it has no rival. Other early spring-flowers 

 of that region of Northern Ohio are Spring Beauty (Claytonia Virginica), Har- 

 binger of Spring {Erigenia bulbosa), Corydalis aurea, Moss Pink {Phlox 

 sttbulata). 



At a meeting of the Warsaw Horticultural Society (Hancock County, 111.), 

 President A. C. Hammond exhibited six varieties of apples, on which he took a 

 premium as the best six varieties of winter apples, every thing considered. At 

 the request of Mr. Gregg, he numbered them from one to sLx, in the order they 

 come, in his judgment, as to profit, and time of ripening. 



Profit. Ripening. Bears. 



Ben Davis No. i 5 early, regular, abundant. 



Wine Sap 



Rawles Janet . . . . 

 Hubbardston Noneauch 

 Rome Beauty . . . . 

 Peck's Pleasant . . . 



2 c '* 



3 4 " alternate years. 

 41 " regular " 



S 3 " well. 



62" " abundant. 



Mr. Hammond said there were no other winter apples that would class with 

 the above six varieties for general good qualities. 



The society was much exercised upon the question of birds vcrsiis fruit ; and, 

 in spite of many eloquent pleas made for the birds, the general opinion seemed 

 to be, that some kinds of birds were especially destructive to the fruit crop, and 

 that their destruction was a necessity. While protection to all birds indis- 

 criminately is unwise legislation, those species which are really beneficial 

 should be encouraged, and protected by the most stringent laws. While wrens, 

 sparrows, linnets, and most small birds, are eminently useful, we imagine few 

 fruit-growers are enthusiastically favorable to robins and cat-birds. 



We again call the attention of our readers to our offer to answer any questions 

 through our columns upon subjects connected with our province. Our facilities 

 for this are very large, as our editorial staiT comprises gentlemen fully conver- 

 sant with horticultural operations in all the various branches. Our wish is to 

 communicate information ; and for this we shall ever endeavor to offer every 

 facility. 



