3i8 Editors' Letter- Box. 



S. C. B., Windsor, Vt. — Your snapdragon-seed will probably not produce 

 the same colored flowers ; as you have grown ail the colors together, and they 

 have probably mixed. The flowers you send are very good, and seed is well 

 worth saving. Your seedlings may even be finer than the present plants. You 

 can perpetuate the old varieties by cuttings. 



X. — In packing specimens of choice fruit for transportation, use glazed wad- 

 ding in preference to common batting; or else wrap the fruit in soft paper, so 

 that the cotton shall not adhere. Be sure to press the cotton firmly around the 

 fruit, so that there shall be no friction. The fruit and packing material both set- 

 tle down in transportation ; and the packing should be elastic, and firmly pressed 

 in, so to avoid the possibility of friction. If the quantity is large, there should 

 be a separate compartment for each specimen, especially for each bunch of 

 grapes. Fruit sent to us for examination, or to ascertain the name, often arrives 

 in such damaged condition, that it is impossible to judge of it ; but, if properly 

 packed, it comes in perfect order. 



A New-Comer, Boston. — The "pretty variegated green, red, and white 

 grass " you saw at the Horticultural Exhibition was doubtless Panicutn varie- 

 gatumj a very pretty and desirable plant, and easily grown. 



The variegated abutilon {A. TJiompsoni) is a lovely plant, and will doubt- 

 less do as well and bloom as freely in the parlor as A. striatum, which it nearly 

 resembles. 



Strange Bulb, Verona. — Your " crocus " which is blooming now (October) 

 is not a crocus, though sometimes so called, but ColcJiicuin aiitiunnale. It is 

 perfectly hardy ; blooms in the fall ; then in early spring sends up a mass of green 

 foliage, and ripens its seed. There are white varieties, and many of different 

 shades of purple ; also single and double varieties, and other species of which 

 C. byzantiicm is the best. 



Farmer, Pawtucket. — We should not advise you to apply special manures, 

 such as guano, &c., in the autumn. Much would be lost by the winter. Use 

 them in early spring, spreading them on the late snow. 



Mary C, Hartford, Conn. — Names of good and cheap hyacinths for water: 

 La Candeiir, single white ; Charles Dickens, single blue ; Amy, single red ; 

 Garrick, double blue ; La Tour d^Auvergne, double white ; Emma Livry, single 

 yellow ; Sia?n, black. 



Cani^a. — The leaf and flower you enclose are those of the common Indian 

 Shot {Canna indica). If, as you say, you bought the seed for that of a fine va- 

 riety, you were deceived. Our experience is, that the canna-seed sold seldom 

 comes true to name. The last few years have witnessed a great improvement in 

 this plant : not only is the foliage larger, but the flowers are often very large 

 and showy ; and they promise to be among the most desirable of garden-plants. 



