1854. 
THE CULTIVATOR 
57 
The Corymb-flowered Habrothamnus. 
Habhothamnus corymbosus.- —This plant, like II 
elegans , is a native of Mexico, hut not so striking or 
so well adapted, where only a few plants are cultiva¬ 
ted, as that species; still, in an extensive collection, 
with good cultivation, it is worth growing. The plant 
has a vigorous erect habit, producing its flowers in a 
terminal corimb, funnel shaped, gradually widening 
upwards, and forming a pitcher-like appearance; the 
color is a deep rose. 
Owing to its vigorous habit, it should not be too 
much stimulated either by soil or watering; otherwise 
the culture recommended for the H. elegans will an¬ 
swer for this. 
It is said to do well planted in the open border, as a 
specimen plant. For this purpose it should be planted 
out as soon as all danger of frost is over. In a loamy, 
gravelly soil, it would doubtless form an attractive 
feature in a flower garden. ■ E. S. 
Mulching in Winter. 
We were surprised to observe a few weeks ago this 
pratice recommended for trees by one of our best hor¬ 
ticultural writers ; and several others of lesser magni¬ 
tude, have implicitly followed his example and repea¬ 
ted the recommendation. 
Instead of mulching for winter, we should rather' re¬ 
commend the careful removal of all the material used 
for this operation, in the autumn or some weeks before 
winter, if composed of straw, litter, or any substance 
affording shelter for meadow mice. We have known 
very serious loss from a neglect of this timely removal. 
We presume the object intended by the recommenda¬ 
tion alluded to, was to protect the roots from the severe 
cold of winter; an object which may be attained, so 
far as newly transplanted young trees are concerned, 
by forming a mound of earth over the roots. Such a 
mound, even if only eight inches high, and but little 
more in breadth, will perfectly exclude mice from win¬ 
ter attacks, as we have proved in thousands - of instan¬ 
ces, without a failure. 
A Hardy Dwarf Orange. 
There is a little dwarf tree of the orange tribe (Git 
rus japonica ,) which has been lately introduced from 
China, which, although too acid for eating fresh, may 
prove valuable for culinary purposes, especially as it 
possesses a very unusual quality for this tribe of trees,, 
namely, that of entire hardiness for the middle arid 
most portions of the northern States. 
The fruit is about the size and shape of a large Eng¬ 
lish gooseberry, has a sharp acid pulp, and is much used 
by the Chinese for preserving. We have no doubt that 
it would be found especially valuable to give flavor to 
other preserved or dried fruit. The tree grows in Chi¬ 
na to a height from three to six feet, or a little larger 
than our currant bushes, and is described as being very 
productive. The fruit ripens late in autumn, and forms 
a handsome contrast with the clear green leaves, which 
are smaller, thinner, and narrower than the'common 
orange. — n *—- 
Strawberries in Winter 
It. G. Pardee, of Kbw- York city, well known to our 
readers as our correspondent formerly residing at Pal¬ 
myra, N. Y., writes as follows, under date of Dec. SO, 
1853: “We have strawberries in Thorburn’s window, 
taken from C. F. Peabody’s garden in the open ground 
in Columbus, Georgia, on the 20th Dec. instant. The 
plants, fruit, and earth, were transplanted into a large 
pot of earth, and that enclosed in a basket and sent by 
express, so they arrived in as perfect order as grown 
in the garden. Ripe and green fruit in all the differ¬ 
ent sizes and ripeness—large, fine Hovey’s and Early 
Scarlet,—looked luscious enough in this day of snow 
and frost” 
Will our esteemed correspondent please furnish us 
the mode of treatment by which this remarkable result 
has been attained 7 
