279 
THE LETTER-BOX. 
[A correspondent has favored us with the following, which, as it involves 
a question of much importance, we insert entire, that previous to our making 
any reply we may elicit a few remarks from some of our correspondents 
who may have witnessed this curious but not uncommon phenomena; 
satisfied that we cannot do better at this season than call particular atten¬ 
tion to it.] 
Sir _A friend of mine has got a remarkably healthy and vigorous grow¬ 
ing plant upon a southern exposure, of the yellow rose called multiflora; 
every season it has a great number of flower-buds, none of whichever 
expand ; they grow to a large size when the green leaves or calyx drop 
down, but the petals never expand; can you or any of your correspondents 
inform me of anything that can be done to it in order to rectify the above 
defect ? In so doing you will oblige your obedient servant, 
W. BANKIER, 
Glasgow, 38, George Square : 29th Oct. 1842. 
Florista. We cordially agree with our correspondent that experiment 
is the soul of amateur operations, but it unfortunately often happens to be 
the grave of his hopes, simply because it is too frequently overdone, espe¬ 
cially in the use of artificial manures. In the application of salt, nitrate of 
soda, guano, and such strong stimulants the greatest caution is necessary. 
The first two are useful if applied moderately, but guano, we believe, (so 
far as our experience goes) to be of too strong a nature to admit of its being 
used in pot culture. A quarter of an ounce of nitrate of soda dissolved in 
a gallon of water would be far too strong for either geraniums or calceolarias. 
The same quantity of nitrate in four gallons of water would be sufficient to 
begin with, and may be applied once a week from the end of February. 
A Lady. The following plants are of easy culture, and will afford a con¬ 
tinuous bloom in a greenhouse nearly through the whole year: Acacia 
armata Azalea indica alba and lateritia, Chorizema varium cordata and 
Dicksonii, Epacris impressa, grandiflora, and nivalis. Genista canariensis; 
Sollya heterophylla, Manettia glabria, Boronia serrulata, Pimelea decussata, 
Coleonema tenuifolia, Primula sinensis, Fuchsias, Salvias, Pelargoniums, 
Calceolarias, and Chrysanthemums in varieties may be added. 
An Amateur. To your collection of Ericas we advise you to add E. 
Aristata, Massoni, Boweana, Eximia ampullacea, Ilartnelli, Grandinosa 
Ventricosa superba, trossula, and elegans. 
