Editors Letter- Box. 191 



a frame ; and, on the approacli of winter, they should have some coarse manure 

 or litter thrown over them. The rest of the seed will come up in spring. Or 

 the seed may be sown in boxes in the greenhouse in winter, or in the open air 

 in spring. 



The inquiry, m our August number, as to the hardiness of the Downing Mul- 

 berry, has brought out the following notes from two widely-separated parts of 

 the country, for which we thank our correspondents. We are also informed 

 by another of our friends, that it does not succeed with him, and does not think 

 it will generally escape without injury from the winter near Boston. 



To the Editor of " The Journal of Horticuhure : " — 



I HAVE a tree of Downing's Mulberry, now in its tenth year from planting. 

 When first planted, its growth was luxuriant ; and the wood, which was not well 

 matured, was killed by the winter. 



I regard it now as perfectly hardy ; bearing, without injury, a temperature of 

 twelve or fifteen degrees below zero. 



I do not regard it as ever-bearing. It produces one crop., like any mulberry ; 

 though its berries ripen in succession, lasting, perhaps, two months. 



It appears to be a sure and regular bearer ; its fruit commencing to ripen at 

 the middle of July. Its value, in my judgment, is not in its use as a dessert 

 fruit (it is too sharply acid), but as a fruit for cooking. A pie made of it is the 

 ne plus ultra of all berry-pies. My tree has split at one of the main forks ; and 

 I secured it by a bolt. I observe another indication of an approaching split, 

 which will need care. If this is a common habit of the tree, those who culti- 

 vate it should by careful training obviate the tendency. 



Early Rose Potato is with me a splendid success. It is early, productive, of 

 fine form, and uniform size ; and, in quality, it leaves nothing to be desired. 



Truly yours, H. C. Beardslee. 



Painesville, O., Aug. lo, i86g. 



I PURCHASED, some five or six years since, three trees of the Downing Mul- 

 berry, all of which are dead, though I cultivated them with care. On the north 

 side of our estate, the garden is protected by a belt of evergreen-trees, some 

 twenty-five feet high. The mulberry-trees were planted south of the evergreens, 

 a location supposed to be favorable for tender trees and plants. One tree died 

 the year after transplanting, another the third or fourth, and the last this year. 



Cambridge, Mass. jO- ^- -J- 



Has any one ever grafted the pear on the shad-bush ? {A melanchier Cana- 

 densis^ — They are closely allied ; but, the shad-bush being of small growth, 

 the union would dwarf the pear. 



Sub-Tropical, Albany, N.Y. — The best new cannas are Marichal Vaillant, 

 Depute Henon, Daniel Hoienbretik, Edouard Warren., and yeatt Vandael. 

 Thev are magnificent in foliage and flower. 



