382 Editors Letter- Box. 



VV. H. Hayward, Anamesee, lo., has understood that a grape-seed, of 

 whatever kind, if planted, would always produce a grape, if the vine was a 

 bearer, similar to those growing wild in the locality where it was planted ; and 

 such has always been his experience and observation. And he mentions several 

 instances where this is supposed to have happened, and wishes to know how it 

 is that the seed of a grape hybridized while in flower produces a vine the fruit 

 of which is unlike the fruit of the wild vines in the neighborhood. — Most of the 

 cases mentioned by our correspondent may be explained by the well-known ten- 

 dency of all cultivated fruits to return to the wild type. But in regard to the 

 grape said to have been produced in Franklin County, Mass., from the seed of 

 a raisin, and to resemble the wild grapes of that vicinity, we think there must 

 be some mistake. We suppose the raisin grew in Europe, where it could not 

 possibly have been fertilized by the pollen of our native grapes ; and, under 

 such circumstances, it is impossible for a seed of the European species to pro- 

 duce a vine of any of the American species. But when a grape is hybridized 

 as described in our May number, a new element is introduced. The pollen 

 which fertilizes the seed imparts to it more or less of the peculiar characteristics 

 of the different variety from which it was taken. It is only in this way that the 

 seedlings mentioned by our correspondent could have been modified by the vines 

 growing in the neighborhood where they were raised. 



V. M. H., Jefferson, O. — We regret to say that the pansy sent is neither 

 rare nor in any way remarkable. It may look well in the garden ; but a package 

 of mixed seed of the lighter colors would give dozens quite as good. 



Semper, Cumberland, Ind. — Your hints on tropical plants give us nothing 

 new, except the experience that fresh cow-manure applied to cannas in a liquid 

 form throws them into profuse bloom. Write out for us your experience in bed- 

 ding out caladiums ; giving varieties, situation, height the plants attained, size 

 of foHage, &c. It is a subject on which information is needed. 



The tropseolum buds often fail to expand in the short days, owing to a want 

 of light and heat. If you had not cut down the plant, you would have had flow- 

 ers enough as soon as the days grew longer. 



Idem. — Use common hydraulic cement for your aquarium, if a large one. 

 If small, and of glass and stone, set the glass in white lead. 



Idem. — \^ Bignonia [Tecoma more i^ro^trXy) grandijlora hardy with you.'' 

 Are you not rather far north for it ? — Where not winter-killed, it blooms freely 

 as soon as the plant gets age. 



Idem. — Camellias Sarah Frost, Lady Hume's Blush, Wilderii, Fimbriata, 

 Alba plena, Landrethii, Imbricata, and Doncklerii are all good bloomers. 



D. S. Hampton, Macomb, 111. — The "evergreen shrub of which you sent us 

 a leaf is Euonymus Japonicus. 



