384 Editors^ Letter-Box. 



Ira a. Maver. — The plant of which you send leaves and berries is Sapin- 

 dtis saponaria. It is an evergreen shrub, attaining a height of about twenty 

 feet ; native of the West Indies, and was introduced to cultivation about 1697. 

 The flowers are green and white, followed by bunches of orange-berries, which 

 are very ornamental. The name of the genus is an abbreviation of Sapa Indicus 

 (Indian soap), in allusion to the use of the berries, which contain a strong sapona- 

 ceous principle, make a strong lather, and are used for washing. The berry is, 

 however, somewhat acrid, and in time destroys the fibre of cloth. The plant is 

 hardly worth growing under glass ; but, wliere hardy, is very ornamental. 



Subscriber, New Haven, Conn. — Tea and Noisette roses in the border of 

 a rose-pit should be closely pruned the last of October, when the sashes are put 

 on the house. Moderate lieat should be given as the nights become frosty ; 

 which, being gradually increased, will cause them to give plenty of flower about 

 Christmas, when flowers are in most request. 



After the bloom is out, prune moderately to start the plants again into growtli, 

 and give waterings of weak liquid-manure. This will insure plenty of bloom in 

 March. 



Prune again in spring ; take off sashes, and let the plants make strong sum- 

 mer growth. We have found it advantageous to pinch off summer bloom. The 

 border of a rose-pit should be made very rich with well-rotted manure ; and 

 waterings of liquid-manure should be frequently given when the plants are in 

 full growth. 



Very double roses are not as advantageous to grow as other kinds, as they 

 seldom open well in winter. In a well-managed rose-pit, there should be plenty 

 of bloom from December to May. 



D. — The specimen of plant from Georgetown, Colorado, is the Berberis 

 aquifoliu/n, or Mahonia, well known in our gardens as an ornamental shrub. 

 It was introduced here from Oregon. 



R- G. — The earliest of Rogers's grapes are Massasoit (No. 3) and Lindley 

 (No. 9). 



A. M. H., Boston. — We shall soon give an article on the Solanum as a 

 decorative plant. 



