Editors Letter- Box. 383 



C. L. M., Vineland, N.J. — The yellow thread-like masses which you enclose, 

 as found in an old garden, seem to" be some form of Usnea : the only thing which 

 would conflict with this is their being subterranean. That they are not roots, 

 you can readily see by breaking them. All roots have some woody tissue, which 

 these have not, being homogeneous in substance. They are evidently of lichenose 

 growth. Investigate further if you please, and report whether they are found in 

 masses, or threading the soil. They cannot be beneficial ; and, though we can- 

 not certainly pronounce them injurious, we should prefer not to have them in a 

 garden. 



We are in receipt of reports of the meetings of the Alton (III; Horticultural 

 Society, which show the progress yearly making in floriculture and pomology. 

 The reports have the ring of true metal about them, and show that the members 

 are active, wide-awake, and earnest, zealous in experiment, and ready to commu- 

 nicate for the information of others. 



With such elements, success is certain ; and that the future may amply fulfil 

 the bright promise of the present, is our earnest wish. Many Eastern societies 

 would improve in usefulness, if, like the Alton Horticultural Society, they would 

 hold regular meetings for discussion, and the reading of essays, in which every 

 member is expected to take a part. 



B. T. writes us as follows : " I made a little experiment last year with peas, 

 planting some two or three inches, and otJiers five incites deep : the result was 

 in favor of the latter, which yielded threefold more than the others, and con- 

 tinued in bearing twice as long." 



Experience will generally confirm the truth of this. The general mistake is, 

 that peas are not planted deep enough. They may, however, be planted about 

 three inches, and hilled up as they grow. Sweet-peas, planted and treated thus, 

 give ten times more bloom than when grown as they ordinarily are. 



Dr. Benjamin F. Ling, in an essay read before the Alton Horticultural Soci- 

 ety, writes as follows (and truer words were never written) : — 



" One point only will I make on this branch of horticulture ; viz., that the 

 time of day for cultivating gardens is important : the reasons why may be left to 

 science. All of the vegetables of the garden may be cultivated at any hour of 

 the twenty-four forming the day, except beans ; and generally for their benefit. 

 If beans are cultivated when there is moisture upon their leaves, the earth ad- 

 heres to them, and they rust ; or they are killed in part or outright, according to 

 the amount of dirt upon their surface. Not so with other plants. If you wish 

 to succeed, and have the garden pay a rich reward for all of your labor, in dry 

 seasons as well as wet, trench deep ; manure moderately every year to the point 

 just alluded to ; work the ground while the dew is upon it, witli the exception 

 above noticed. I know of no plant that we depend on among those of the gar- 

 den that is not made much better in quality, and more productive, by working the 

 ground when it is moist with dew. When you have thinning of plants to do, be 

 up early in the morning, as soon as you can see, and go at it ; and, as far as you thin 



