384 Editors' Litter- Box. 



W. S. H., Roxbury. — Magnolia Soulattgiana is a hybrid between J/, con- 

 spicua and M. purpurea. It blooms later than the former, and is more hardy 

 than the latter. There are also other hybrids and many seedlings from these 

 two varieties. They differ chiefly in the shade of purple and the markings of 

 the flower. M. speciosa is the best, M. Norbetiana the darkest colored ; M. 

 Lenne is a new French variety with large, pinkish-purple flowers, which with us 

 has survived the winter uninjured. All these should be budded on M. acutni- 

 nata as a stock : they thus become hardier, of taller habit, and more vigorous 

 in growth. 



A Novice. — Names of Plants. No. i, Fothergilla alm'foliaj No. 2, leaf 

 of a Corydalis. We cannot tell species by a leaf ; but yours is probably C. nobilis. 

 Is the flower yellow tipped with black ? No. 3, Trilliuvi sessile, a Western 

 species. 



Creeper ? Hudson, N.Y. — Clematis montana is annually killed to the ground 

 with us, though we believe Mr. Parkman (our best authority on the clematis) 

 considers it hardy. The best clematis is Aziirea grandijlora, and for a lighter 

 color, Sophia. Passijlora coerulea is not hardy with us. 



A Puzzler, Worcester. — The plant which you have seen " with little trum- 

 pet-like yellow flowers and bracts of rich mauve color," is doubtless Bougain- 

 villea glabra, not a new plant, but one whose true culture has only recently been 

 discovered. In our vicinity, Mrs. Ward of Canton has flowered it magnificently 

 in her greenhouse, and often exhibited it at the rooms of the Massachusetts 

 Horticultural Society. 



There are other species, B. lateritia, with brick-red bracts, and B. speciosa, 

 with rich mauve, and the best of this lot. 



They may be flowered perfectly well in a large pot, and need not be planted 

 out. 



Sunday Walk, Gambler, O. — The pink flower is Claytonia Virginica, or 

 Spring Beauty. The blue were all tumbled to pieces ; but the remains are He- 

 patica triloba, or Squirrel Cups. 



Englishman, New Bedford. — Medlars are not worth planting for the fruit ; 

 but are a pretty, low-growing tree, and are very showy when in flower. 



Querist, Jamaica Plain. — William C. Strong, Brighton, can probably supply 

 plants oi Exochorda {Spired) grandijlora. It is one of the most beautiful hardy 

 shrubs. 



