380 Editors Letter- Box. 



T. T. S. writes as follows, " A pine-tree near this place was girdled twenty 

 odd years ago : below the girdle, the tree is the same size now as when girdled ; 

 above, the trunk is double size. The tree is still alive." — We have known trees 

 that we girdled to live one or two years, but are surprised to hear that one should 

 live for more than twenty years. 



R. M. W., Towanda, Penn. — How can strawberry-plants best be propagated 

 in hot-houses or hot-beds, during the winter months? — Let the plants to be 

 propagated from be set in the earth, or in large pots, and, as they make runners, 

 place every embryo plant in a small pot, and cover it a little, and it will soon be 

 well rooted, and so on. We have known them to be allowed to run in the hot- 

 bed and root as out of doors. 



Muscatine, Io. — I never saw a better prospect for fruit at this time (May 6). 

 Season late ; pear and cherry in bloom ; apples budding very full. We have 

 had some warm days, but to-day it is cool. Grass and small grain in fine con- 

 dition ; corn-planting is brisk this week ; land in good condition. The heavy 

 rains at the East four days ago did not reach us. Suel Foster. 



The Barcelona or Sicily Nut. — We wish to make some inquiries re- 

 specting this nut, a specimen of which we have just received from Mr. L. Jen- 

 ney, jun., of Fairhaven, Mass. It is a species of the filbert, larger and more 

 oblong than those usually seen in our markets, and of most excellent quality. 

 Mr. Jenney describes the tree or shrub as yielding abundantly, and pronounces 

 it an " agricultural wealth." We have never considered the filbert sufficiently 

 hardy for the climate of New England, or the cooler sections of the United 

 States ; but this variety is represented as having sustained no injury from a tem- 

 perature of nineteen degrees below zero. If such is the fact, it must be an ac- 

 quisition. Will any of the readers of the Journal furnish us with additional 

 particulars, or give their experience in its cultivation ? F. Burr. 



X. — What are the best labels for fruit-trees ? — Plain zinc, written on with 

 a common lead-pencil, as discovered by Mr. Wilder ; no troublesome sal-ammo- 

 niac or any other ink being needed. They write better if spread out of doors 

 for a few nights so as to be slightly roughened by the action of the dew. If the 

 writing appears defaced, it can be made plain by rubbing with a wet finger, even 

 after years of exposure to the weather. They should be fastened on with 

 copper wire. 



G. T. Roberts, Station K., Manhattanville, New- York City, would like to 

 know how to plant mushrooms, and where the spawn can be obtained. — If you 

 had read the March and May numbers of the "Journal of Horticulture," you 

 would not be under the necessity of asking this question. However, it is not 

 too late to subscribe now ; and you will find at pages 177 and 291 an answer to 

 the first part of your query, and this notice will undoubtedly bring^you offers of 

 the spawn from those who have it for sale. 



