Editors^ Letter- Box. 



0^53 



With the July number, the second volume of the Magazine begins ; and, from 

 the articles already in type, we can promise that there shall be no falling-oflf in 

 interest ; but our aim will ever be to improve. 



We publish with great pleasure the following extracts from a letter from an 

 esteemed correspondent. The evil is widespread, and calls for correction. 

 Not only in catalogues are names misspelled ; but, at the exhibitions of our 

 leading horticultural societies, plants, flowers, and fruit are often incorrectly 

 marked. 



" Messrs. Editors, — I write to solicit your aid in correcting a grievance. 

 Incorrect spelling is offensive wherever it occurs. Why, then, should publica- 

 tions connected with the culture of flowers be allowed, without a protest, to 

 misspell the names of plants ? 



" I lately received a catalogue of greenhouse and bedding plants, and a very 

 creditable catalogue too, for the number and character of the varieties, but which 

 was marred by more than three hundred words incorrectly spelled. The com- 

 mon specific name '■ Corymbosum'' was '■ Coromboysium j'' '■ Shoenbrzcnn'' was 

 *■ SJioembranunj'' ^ Farfughan grande^ \v?is ^ Farfiigian Gra7tdee,'' and ^ Dte- 

 lytra' was ^ Dyaletria,^ ' Dielyiria'' and ^ Dyalctra? I am sure, if nursery- 

 men and florists understood the unfavorable impression which is produced by 

 these errors, they would strive to be correct. 



" There is another usage, not so offensive as incorrect spelling, but still one 

 which needs correction, — the quite common error of commencing the specific 

 names of plants with capital letters. 



" Generic names should commence with capitals : specific names should not, 

 unless derived from some proper name ; thus, Ageratum coeruleum, Ageratum 

 Mexicanmn. 



" Then again, when Latin systematic names are \\\q specific names, they should 

 always agree m gender with \.\\t generic name. It is common to see Ageratum 

 Mexicana for Mexicanxm, Alyssum co?npactA. for compact\3U. 



" Will it be said these matters are of small consequence ? I cannot think so. 

 These errors, so easily avoided by care, give bad impressions. Catalogues of 

 beautiful plants and flowers should not offend good taste ; and I cannot but 

 think, that, when they do offend, the interest of the proprietor suffers. 



" Will you direct, in your own good time, attention to this matter, and aid in 

 its correction ? " 



W. H. P. — We cannot understand the cause of your failure. An egg- 

 plant treated like a tomato, to which indeed it is own cousin, seldom fails to do 

 well. The trouble must be in the seed : the best are the large purple and black 

 Pekin. Get seeds, or, better, plants, of the latter ; give them rich soil, a warm, 

 sunny place, and do not let them suffer from drought ; and you cannot fail to 

 have fruit. If you require any quantity, however, you must have plenty of plants. 

 Each plant can mature but one or two fruit ; and, when these are well set, it is 

 better to pinch in the plant, and throw the whole strength of the plant into the 

 fruit. 



VOL. I. 45 



