220 THE FLORIST AND 
cultivation of fruit in our climate, has led to the adoption of much erro- 
neous practice. 
The best time for general pruning is a mooted question among intel- 
ligent men. But my own belief is that the proper time, in this climate at 
least, is in June and July, when the leaves have attained their full size, and 
are in full health and vigor, and are elaborating an abundance of sap. In 
this state, a fresh wound will commence healing at once. New bark is 
rapidly formed to cover the wound. It is the descending sap from which 
the new bark as well as all the other tissues of the tree is formed. When 
this sap, properly elaborated in the leaves, is not furnished in the formative 
vessels, no new growth of any kind is effected. Hence it is only when the 
leaves are in a condition to perform their proper office, that the new growth 
necessary to effect the healing of a wound can be accomplished. J. R. — 
New England Farmer. 
A NEW VEGETABLE. 
The first substantial result of the Gadsden treaty purchase from Mexico, 
is the promise of a vegetable known as "Ammabroma Sonorse," or the 
Sand Food of Sonora, which is said to abound in the acquired territory. 
It is described as a parasitic plant, with a large and fleshy root. It is cooked 
by roasting on hot coals, and it much resembles the sweet potato, having a 
great deal of saccharine matter in it. It may also be dried and used for 
the table, and it is in this way alone we can hope to taste it, for Professor 
Torrey, who has examined it, thinks it cannot be grown out of Sonora, 
unless the root to which it attaches itself can also be transplanted. 
For the benefit of scientific readers, we add that Professor Torrej^, as 
the result of his examination of the Ammabroma, finds it to constitute " a 
new genus of the small group or family, represented by the little known and 
anomalous Carollaphyllum of Kunth and the Pliolisma of Nuttall ; in the 
floral structure and the scales more like the latter, from which it is distin- 
guished by its woolly plumose calyx, and its singular cythiaform inflo- 
rescence." These are hard words to swallow, but Mr. A. B. Gray, who has 
tried the vegetable, found it not at all hard to take, and thinks that it may 
become as much of a favorite on the table as the sweet potato or asparagus. 
It is for this great prospective vegetable that the United States Govern- 
ment has paid ten millions of dollars, and we hope hereafter there will be 
no further question of the wisdom of our diplomac3^ — Pennsylvania Farm 
Journal. 
