320 Editors Letter-Box. 



A Subscriber. — The articles on City Gardens, of which the second appears 

 in the present number, will answer your questions. 



George, Andover. — Your plant is Daphne cneonnn, an old inhabitant of gar- 

 dens, but recently brought prominently to notice. It is hardy certainly as far 

 north as Boston, and thrives in good garden-soil. The foliage is evergreen. 

 There is a variety with variegated leaves. 



I. D. — The "native heath" is a variety of heather {Calhma vjilgaris). 

 For the history of the discovery and the controversy, see " Silliman's Journal," 

 and "The Journal of Boston Society of Natural History," passim ; also Transac- 

 tions of Massachusetts Horticultural Society for 1861. There is a heath, hardy 

 in New England, Erica herbacea, and the variety carnea, blooming in May, and 

 thrivintr in a rhododendron-bed. 



o 



A. C. R., Gambier, O. — Plants seldom thrive outside a sunny window in sum- 

 mer if planted in pots ; for the heat of the sun upon the pot is so great, that the 

 roots become dried. The best plan is to put a box outside the window, and plant 

 bedding-plants or seeds early in May : these will make a good growth before 

 mid-summer, and generally bloom well. Climbers trained upon strings to the top 

 of the window make a pretty show. For bedding-plants, we recommend he- 

 liotropes, gazanias, verbenas, and scarlet geraniums ; of climbers, canary-bird 

 flower {Tropaoluin peregriiuun), cypress-vine {Ipomca qita/noclit), iMan?-andia 

 Barclay ana, and the varieties of nasturtium {Tropa;olu)n 7niiiiis') ; of annuals, 

 mignonette, sweet allyssum, or any other free-blooming, low-growing plants ; of 

 bulbs, Jacobean lily {Amaryllis formosissimus), tiger-flowers {Tigridia pavonia 

 and concliiflora), and perhaps some of the more dwarf varieties of gladiolus. 

 The one thing to be avoided is crowding : that requiring most care is watering. 



1. G., Dorchester. — The new violets of which you have heard are of English 

 origin, and are probably seedling varieties. They are the Czar, large, dark pur- 

 ple, fragrant, — a Russian violet ; queen of violets, very large, double white ; 

 giant, somewhat resembling czar ; king of violets, very large, double, blue. 

 Some of these may be obtained of florists in this country ; though of course, like 

 other new introductions, they are of high cost. 



