Editors Letter -Box. 255 



The President Wilder Strawberry. — I made a visit to Mr. Wilder's 

 grounds last month to see tiiis "wonder " in fruit ; and I was more than pleased 

 with its appearance. It certainly is all that is claimed for it. Should it prove as 

 well on different soils as in Dorchester, it must eventually supersede any straw- 

 berry in cultivation. Very truly yours, James Draper. 



WoRCEbTER, Mass., Aug. 25, 1869. 



Mr. Editor, — Thinking it might be of interest to some of the readers of 

 your valuable Journal (which comes to me regularly) to know that we sometimes 

 raise potatoes in Kansas, I will give you a statement of my success with the Early 

 Rose. I planted last spring, in my garden, a quarter of a pound ; during the 

 summer, gave them no extra care ; and have just dug thirty-one pounds and 

 a half of as fine potatoes as I ever saw. I am satisfied that the Early Rose is a 

 success. Yours, &c., R. A. B. 



ToPEKA, Kan., Aug 19. 



E. A. L., Williamsville, N.Y. — The calla-lily {Richardia cethiopica) will do 

 well in the water of an aquarium in summer. Other suitable plants are LimiiocJia- 

 ris Humboldtii, a charming plant, with floating leaves, and canary-yellow flowers 

 with dark purple centre, somewhat resembling a water-lily, and as large as a sil- 

 ver dollar. NymphcEa cmrulea is the blue water-lily of the Nile, one of the 

 most beautiful of flowers, and delightfully fragrant. The white water-lily {N. 

 odorata) also does well. 



Aponogeton distacJion is a very interesting aquatic from the Cape of Good 

 Hope. Flowers white with black, and fragrant. There are also other species. 



Many of our common native aquatics do well in aquaria, and seem to change 

 their nature and become more delicate in growth. This is especially the case 

 with the pond-weeds {Potatnogeton), which become very beautiful objects. 



The river-buttercup {Raminctiliis Purshii) is a very pretty plant. 



The pickerel-weeds {Pontederia) are all easily grown. 



Picking Pears. — S. P. — It is generally recommended to gather pears when 

 they part freely from the tree ; but, if you wait until then, you will be apt to be 

 too late for most kinds. They should be taken off as soon as it can be perceived 

 that their hold on the tree is loosened. 



Mrs. E. C, Claremont. — Save seeds of asters, zinnias, and like flowers, from 

 the outer rows : you thus get finer flowers. You must save seed from single 

 gillyflowers, as the double do not produce any. If you get a good strain, a large 

 proportion will produce double flowers. 



" Grandfather Long- Legs " will not hurt your geraniums. 



Frank. — Both your Japan and golden lilies are probably in unsuitable soil. 

 They should have good loam with admixture of peat and sand, but will thrive 

 in good garden-soil if not too close. They are easily grown ; but L. auratum is 

 better for frame protection in winter. 



