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With the July number, the second volume of the Magazine begins; and, from the articles already in type, we can promise that there shall be no falling-off in interest; but our aim will ever be to improve.

We publish with great pleasure the following extracts from a letter from an esteemed correspondent. The evil is widespread, and calls for correction. Not only in catalogues are names misspelled; but, at the exhibitions of our leading horticultural societies, plants, flowers, and fruit are often incorrectly marked.

"MESSRS. EDITORS,I write to solicit your aid in correcting a grievance. Incorrect spelling is offensive wherever it occurs. Why, then, should publications connected with the culture of flowers be allowed, without a protest, to misspell the names of plants ?

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"I lately received a catalogue of greenhouse and bedding plants, and a very creditable catalogue too, for the number and character of the varieties, but which was marred by more than three hundred words incorrectly spelled. The common specific name Corymbosum' was 'Coromboysium;' Shoenbrunn' was 'Shoembranun;' 'Farfugium grande' was 'Farfugum Grandee,' and 'Dielytra' was 'Dyaletria, Dielytria' and 'Dyaletra.' I am sure, if nurserymen and florists understood the unfavorable impression which is produced by these errors, they would strive to be correct.

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"There is another usage, not so offensive as incorrect spelling, but still one which needs correction, the quite common error of commencing the specific names of plants with capital letters.

"Generic names should commence with capitals: specific names should not, unless derived from some proper name; thus, Ageratum cæruleum, Ageratum Mexicanum.

"Then again, when Latin systematic names are the specific names, they should always agree in gender with the generic name. It is common to see Ageratum Mexicana for Mexicanʊм, Alyssum compacta for compactUM.

"Will it be said these matters are of small consequence? I cannot think so. These errors, so easily avoided by care, give bad impressions. Catalogues of beautiful plants and flowers should not offend good taste; and I cannot but think, that, when they do ofend, the interest of the proprietor suffers.

66 Will you direct, in your own good time, attention to this matter, and aid in its correction?"

W. H. P. We cannot understand the cause of your failure. An eggplant treated like a tomato, to which indeed it is own cousin, seldom fails to do well. The trouble must be in the seed: the best are the large purple and black Pekin. Get seeds, or, better, plants, of the latter; give them rich soil, a warm, sunny place, and do not let them suffer from drought; and you cannot fail to have fruit. If you require any quantity, however, you must have plenty of plants. Each plant can mature but one or two fruit; and, when these are well set, it is better to pinch in the plant, and throw the whole strength of the plant into the fruit.

VOL. I.

49

A SUBSCRIBER. I have a tree that has been injured on one side of the trunk by being run against, and there is a large wound in consequence. Will you tell me how to treat it? Cover the wound with a composition of clay and horse-dung, and bind a cloth over all. If the wound is a small one, wax will answer a similar purpose. The same remedy will answer when trees are injured by the winter, or are scorched by the hot sun of summer, producing a wound. A healthy young bark will soon be formed over such scars by using the composition spoken of.

I. O. U., Portland, Me.-Will pear-trees bear severe pruning and shortening in? and is it a profitable course to pursue? Yes, they will bear it, and give good results, but would not be profitable, except possibly in small gardens, where it is important to get a good many varieties on a small space. The trees may be trimmed in several forms, wine-glass, cone, and column.

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TWO OPINIONS. Is the Wilson's Albany strawberry worth growing? — Not for home use it is too poor and acid. It is uncertain. Under favorable circumstances, it pays very well; none better. Some would plant the Wilson for market in preference to nine-tenths of the strawberries now cultivated.

SMALL FRUIT, West Cambridge. Should strawberries be sent to market with, or without, the hulls? in baskets, or boxes? They bear transportation better if sent to market without being hulled; and this mode is becoming more popular every year. Boston style is hulled, and in boxes. Our friends in Jersey send in small baskets. We think the former preferable for New England.

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A WELL-WISHER. — In transplanting large fruit-trees, would it be best to shorten in? How about mulching and staking trees, or placing stones about them? It is well to shorten in trees of some species when transplanted. Should not do it with cherry-trees; should never transplant a large peach-tree; but, with pear and apple trees, we have no doubt of its utility: should prefer to mulch. Staking may be resorted to sometimes when the top of the tree is large, and holds a good deal of wind. Stones placed about the tree answer a similar pur

pose. We have an article on staking trees, in press.

A BEGINNER, out West. In the summer-cultivation of the grape, would you plough among the vines?—It is better to avoid the plough near the roots; for there is great danger, that, by its use, many roots would be destroyed. Use the cultivator mostly.

MARCUS, Bellows Falls, Vt. How late in the season will it do to plant strawberries? The last of April, or first of May, is the best time of the year; but if the weather is favorable, and care is taken, they may be planted as late as July, and give fair results the following year. Fall-planting is not profitable at the North.

A. L. B., Lowell, Mass. You will find the pawpaw advertised by Parsons & Co., or Prince of Flushing, L.I.; or it may probably be obtained of any nurseryman in the Middle States, price about fifty cents. It is neither a pear nor an apple, nor has it the most distant relationship to either. The fruit with you would not be worth much, as our autumn suns are not warm enough to bring it to maturity; but the foliage is fine: it makes a very handsome ornamental shrub, and the flower is pretty.

A friend writes from Ohio, "One of the wild sunflowers of Ohio has tuberous roots similar in appearance and in flavor to the roots of the Jerusalem artichoke, the Helianthus doronicoides of Gray's Manual, which is probably the original of the artichoke."

C. L. M. — The "best green for bouquets" is not a very definite expression, as different plants best serve the purpose at different seasons, and different styles of bouquets require different "green." That in most common use in the vicinity of Boston is the Lycopodium of the woods, and the ink-berry (Prinos glaber). Kalmia latifolia, or mountain-laurel, is somewhat used, as is also box and other evergreen shrubs.

For hanging green, smilax and maurandia are most used; but any weeping or trailing plant may be employed.

For delicate green, sprigs of diosma, myrtle, and melalauca, are generally employed.

C. L. M. — Cucumbers and musk-melons, if planted near together, will mix : this will not, however, affect the fruit, but only render the seed worthless.

W. P. H., Harrisville, Penn. — In your ill success with ranunculus and anemones, you are not alone. Our climate is not suitable for them, and you are far more likely to fail than to succeed. In the first place, they usually rot in the ground if planted in the autumn in the garden; and any that survive are generally killed by the hot sun. Your failure, however, was probably owing to too close a soil. In England, the preparation of the soil for ranunculus is a work of years.

The soil for both should be good and light; though the ranunculus likes a stiffer soil than the anemone. The bed must be well drained; and, during growth, the plants must not be allowed to suffer from drought, and should be shaded from scorching sun.

Your trouble with those planted in pots came from their damping-off, as the roots were too cold, and the tops too warm.

They are frequently grown in the greenhouse, but are never so fine as when wintered in a cold frame. Roots of anemone kept till spring will probably be worthless. The ranunculus possess greater vitality; and if they have not been kept in too dry a place, or moulded from too much moisture, will probably grow. You will find full instructions as to soil and management in "BULBS," published at this office.

The Editors have valuable articles on hand upon prairie-flowers, Wardian cases, lily-ponds, cross-bred strawberries, staking trees, evergreens, and many other interesting subjects: these will, we trust, in a great measure, appear in the July number; but for all delays we must ask the indulgence of our correspondents, assuring them we are not unmindful of their many favors, and thanking them for many kindnesses received.

A subscriber, under date of New York, May 1, writes to the publishers, complaining of the want of articles on the treatment of fruit-trees in our Journal. Such articles will appear from time to time, and our endeavor will be to neglect no interest.

If subscriber will, over his own name, communicate any suggestions to the publishers, they will be thankfully received; but anonymous communications merit no notice.

IGNORAMUS, Buffalo, N.Y. Is it an advantage to mulch strawberries? If so, what would you use for that purpose ? There are benefits to be derived from mulching the strawberry: it prevents the fruit from getting down into the dirt; it protects, to some extent, from drought; and it prevents the weeds from growing. Some use spent tan to mulch ; others, chopped hay or straw. Should prefer the latter. Pass meadow-hay through the hay-cutter, and it can then be worked in among the plants nicely.

SEEDLING.

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How soon will grape-vines raised from the seed give fruit?About the fourth year, if they are well treated.

FRUITIST, Newburyport.

Will you please name some of the best summer and fall apples for market? - Williams's, Sweet Bough, Dutch Codlin (for cooking), Red Astrachan, Washington, and Gravenstein.

ALTON (ILL.) HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

THIS Society met at the residence of John M. Pearson, Monticello, on Thursday, Jan. 3, 1867; W. C. Flagg in the chair. The election of officers being in order, John M. Pearson was elected President. A committee to nominate the remaining officers was appointed, consisting of Messrs. Hull, Long, J. E. Starr, Huggins, and M'Pike; who presented the following report, which was adopted by a unanimous vote:

Vice-Presidents, D. E. Brown, H. G. M'Pike. Secretary, J. E. Starr. Treasurer, B. F. Long. Executive Board, E. S. Hull, H. G. M'Pike, W. C. Flagg, J. Burton. Chairmen of Standing Committees, — Orchards, -W. C. Flagg. Mrs. J. M. Pear

Vineyards,

D. Stewart.

Fruits, E. S. Hull. Flowers,

son. Vegetables, - E. A. Riehl. Entomology, -J. Huggins. Botany, - Mrs. E. S. Hull. Ornithology, W. E. Smith.

Dr. Hull reported on the vineyard of J. E. Starr. This vineyard contains by far the largest collection of grapes yet planted in this region; but, not being within convenient distance of our regular Vineyard Committee, it has received but casual observation from them. I have, therefore, consented to give the impressions of two days spent in it during the time of ripening, gratifying the pleasure of sight and taste. The most prominent varieties cultivated are the following:

Rogers's Hybrids, No. 1. — A late grape; the leaves much injured by the shade of trees. The maturity of these grapes doubtless was retarded by the proximity of forest-trees. These consume the gases in the atmosphere, and thus starve the vines.

No. 2.- Vines healthy. In bunches, berries, and color, it resembles the Concord. The grapes, with the exception of a few scattering berries, were hardly ripe; skin thick; a highly spirited grape, of good quality.

No. 3. Strong grower; foliage coarse; bunches loose, about the size of Catawba; berries one-third larger, of a dark amber; quality nearly or quite equal to the Delaware.

No. 4.

-Should this grape continue to prove nearly as productive as the Concord, its abilities to resist disease, its great productiveness, and the superior quality of its fruit, combined, will make it one of the most desirable dessert grapes. To our thinking, it has just the right blending of sugar and acid to suit the majority of tastes. Bunches of medium size; berries large, purple; ripening evenly.

No. 5.-Vines vigorous; bunches of medium size; berries large; Catawba flavor.

No. 9. Canes of medium strength; foliage thick; healthy; a good bearer ; bunches rather above the medium size; berries loose; color of Catawba. From the thickness of its skin, it ought to keep well, and bear distant transportation. Quality very good.

No. 13. Strong grower; bunches small and loose; berries medium to large; slightly foxy; tough; seeds large; hardly as good as Concord.

No. 15.1 Mr. Rogers, I believe, considers this his best number yet sent out. In canes and fruit, it is about as vigorous and productive as the majority of the Rogers's. Hybrids quality best. To our taste, it would be preferred to either of the others but for a slight unpleasant flavor about the skin; pulp a little hard. The slight roughness about the skin, and firmness of pulp, were, we think, due to the overcropping of the vines, as we found specimens free from both.

No. 38. A high vinous, spirited grape, with excess of acid; bunches small, compact; berries medium to large; color purple, covered with a thick bloom. This and others of Rogers's seedlings, in foliage, are closely allied to the Concord. The leaves, though not quite so large, are as thick, and seem to resist the attacks of thrips as well as that celebrated sort.

Rebecca. Here as elsewhere in this region, under vineyard culture, it is worthless. Mildew and thrips defoliate the canes.

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