SELMA. In my garden are several very thrifty pear-trees, of good size, that have been set more than ten years, and yet have not given a single specimen of fruit. I have got almost out of patience, and want to know how I can make them bear something?- Some varieties are much longer coming into bearing than others the Urbaniste is one of this class; the Dix is another, even more tardy in fruiting: while on the other side is the Bartlett, that bears too young and too much. If your trees have room to spread, let them grow: they will begin to bear when they get ready, and be able, on account of their large size, to give good crops. If you really need the fruit, or find they have already taken as much room as you can spare for them, then check their growth, and thus. cause them to make fruit-buds for the following year. Some prefer to accomplish this result by root-pruning, and thus check the luxuriance of the tree. If this is resorted to, let it be done with some caution, and in the fall or early spring, before the trees have started. After a trench has been dug far enough from the tree to leave what roots will be needed to support it, then fill in some manure, and cover up again; and, if the operation be properly performed, good results will follow. Another way is to bend down the branches, and keep them so bent for a month or two, that the growth of the tree may be checked. Pinching in the new wood all over the tree has a similar effect; induces the formation of fruit-buds; and, the following season, you may expect a crop. When once the trees begin to bear, they will continue fruitful, as a general thing. We have seen dwarf pear-trees treated very much like a grape-vine, trimmed back to mere spurs, and so pinched in during the whole growing season, that the tree had little else to do than to mature its fruit, and form buds for the next year's crop.

MRS. J. A. P., Darcyville, Haywood County, Tenn. - Beard's patent glass houses are not yet for sale in this country, and we are unable to furnish items of cost. We have written to England for information, and shall be able to furnish full answers to all inquiries. If the statements of those well qualified to judge are to be relied upon, the introduction of these houses will work a revolution in greenhouse architecture.

What do you mean by "portable greenhouses"? In England, they have greenhouses which can be erected in such a manner as not to become fixtures, and which are moved away by the tenant at the expiration of the tenancy. They are not to be procured in this country; but we can obtain information if you desire it. It would, however, be a very expensive thing to import a greenhouse at the present price of exchange and the high duties; and, when obtained, it would be unsuitable for our climate, as the pitch of the roof would not be the best for our sun.

IDEM. You can procure slips or cuttings from any greenhouse. Write for what you wish, and you can receive them safely by mail, done up in oiled silk. Young plants can also be easily sent in this way to any part of the country. Under the present postal law, bulbs, plants, cuttings, seeds, grafts, are carried by mail for two cents for each four ounces, or less quantity. The contents of the package, whether seeds, bulbs, et cætera, should be marked on the outside.

J. C., Springfield, Mass.- Had I better lay down my grapes in winter? I have covered them for several years, as I did my raspberries, but have not been able to see any good results.

We should advise our friend to lay down the most tender varieties, such as the Allen's Hybrid, Adirondac, Rebecca, and others that are equally tender; but leave up the Concord, and others that are equally hardy. Sometimes we think there may be great advantage derived from thus covering in winter; while, in some seasons, no good, and possibly positive harm, results from such a

course.

WARDIAN CASE, Newburyport, Mass.-There is no American work on ferns; but many published in England include most of our species.

One of the best is Lowe's "Ferns," eight volumes octavo, with many hundred colored plates, and one volume supplement, "New Ferns." Hooker has published some elegant works on ferns, which can be imported. John Smith, ex-curator of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in 1866 published a volume of about four hundred pages, called "Ferns, British and Foreign," which is a very useful handbook. The fronds you enclose are, 1. Pteris Cretica albo lineata. 2. Asplenium ebeneum. 3. Platycerium alcicorne. 4. Gymnogramma Peru

viana.

ROBERT BELL, Baltimore. -- We think it most likely that all of Jackman's new clematis would prove hardy with you; or, at the most, only require to be covered with earth in the winter. Mr. Jackman's plan of cultivation is (as we learn from a recent English paper) to cut the plant down to the ground in early spring, which causes the production of vigorous shoots, which are covered with bloom in the latter months of summer. The two best known of Mr. Jackman's seedlings are C. rubro violacea and Jackmani. Most of these seedlings flower profusely on the new wood, and thus require a different mode of culture from Clematis azurea grandiflora, Sophia, Helene, and montana.

ADAM'S NEEDLE, Burlington, Vt. The only yucca which is perfectly hardy in New England is Y. filamentosa, - the one you have, as we judge from the leaf sent. There are many others, some very beautiful plants, which may prove hardy, and on which we shall report after another winter's trial. There is a variegated variety of Y. filamentosa, which is very beautiful, but somewhat

rare.

A SUBSCRIBER, Boston. - The name "carrion-flower" is applied to various species of Stapelia; but the plant you describe is Smilax herbacea, to which this name is given from the fetid odor of the flowers. The plant itself is very pretty, as are all of the Smilax family; but the odor, when in bloom, is disgusting.

A. M., Worcester. — Your seedling camellia is very good, but not sufficiently distinct from other whites to merit special notice.

Dix, Ill. — Some years ago, I purchased a lot of pear-trees at the East, and among them were half a dozen of the Dix. These trees were all treated alike, and have made great growth; and most of them have now come into bearing. The Dix Pear has never given any fruit, but grows well year after year. My patience is nearly exhausted. Please tell me what I shall do with it? — Wait a little longer. If you have plenty of fruit from the other trees, you can well afford to wait for the Dix, which is well known to be one of the most tardy bearers of all our varieties. If it does not crack with you (and we presume it does not), you will feel yourself amply repaid for waiting when you enjoy, as you will by and by, its rich, luscious fruit. If it is a long time coming into bearing, you may reasonably expect it will live and flourish for many years.

ONE WHO VALUes the JournaL, N.Y. — It is very easy to have violets all winter. The plants must be healthy, and well established in the autumn, and must be kept from frost all winter. "Flowers for the Parlor and Garden" will tell you all about it. We also propose a series of articles in the Journal upon forcing flowers in frames for winter-bloom.

BULB, Dorchester, Mass. The bulb you bought for Iris pavonia is usually known as Vieusseuxia pavonia, or glaucopis; but the common name is Peacock Iris. The flower is very beautiful; white and vivid blue. You were right in not planting it out of doors: it is not hardy. In the greenhouse, it blooms about March. It will do well in the window as a parlor-plant.

QUINTIN, Richmond, Va.- A parasite is a plant growing upon some other plant, and deriving nourishment from its juices. An epiphyte is a plant growing upon another, but only using it for support, deriving no food from its juices. A large proportion of mosses and orchids are epiphytes.

M. B. F., Buffalo, N.Y. — Mr. Rand's book on greenhouse-plants will not appear at present. The labor of writing such a volume is very great; and, as it is the author's endeavor to make it as perfect and comprehensive as possible, its publication will be somewhat delayed.

QUERIST, Troy, N.Y.-Gloire de Dijon is a tea-rose, and Souvenir de la Malmaison is a Bourbon. You will find every possible information on the subject in Parkman's "Book of Roses," published at this office.

W. C. A., Madison, Wis. - Is it true that Rogers's No. 22 and Salem are one and the same thing?- We have never fruited the Salem; but we are assured by one of the very best judges, who is perfectly familiar with all the Rogers numbers, that the 22 and Salem are identical.

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J. B. M., Dayton. — The article on rhododendrons, in the present number, will answer all your questions. 'American plants," so called, all do well under the same treatment. Shall be glad to have your experience.

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W. N. B., Salem, Mass. I find the Stevens's Genesee Pear put down in the books as first-rate, while with me it is nearly worthless. Can you give me any explanation of the mystery?—Downing, in his fruit-book, says, This admirable pear, combining in some degree the excellence of the Doyenné and Bergamotte, is reputed to be a seedling," et cætera. Again: "Flesh white, half buttery, with a rich aromatic flavor, somewhat like that of Gansel's Bergamotte." We have never been able here in Massachusetts to get it fit to eat. It is never even half melting, while it has the very bad habit of rotting at the core. Of some thirty or forty trees we set out in our orchard of this variety, not one remains. We have grafted them all to some better kind. There are, doubtless, parts of the country where it does much better.

PORTLAND. The Catillac was strongly recommended to me as the best baking-pear on the list, and I set out three trees. Of these, two have been winter-killed, as I believe. Is it tender? What pear can I set out to take its place?

It is inclined to be tender; its wood is soft and spongy, and does not seem to withstand the winter well. It is a splendid stewing and baking pear; none better that we have ever seen. The Pound, or Uvedale's St. Germain, is a very fine, large pear, and much esteemed for cooking in various ways. It often grows to a very large size.

MARKET-GARDENER.

Several years ago, I saw in the market some fine cabbages called the Drumhead Savoy: can you give me any information about this variety? Yes: we raised it for several years. It is claimed as a cross between the Green-globe Savoy and the Drumhead, and resembles the former somewhat in the curl of the leaf and quality, and the latter in form and size. It is a good cabbage, but not equal in quality to the smaller and finer kinds of the Savoy. A good market sort.

S. S., Newton, Mass. - Is there any benefit to be derived from covering strawberry-beds in winter? We think so. It depends very much on what kind of a winter it is. If there should be but little snow, and a good deal of freezing and thawing, then it would be a decided advantage to cover; but if you could be sure that there would be snow that would keep them covered all winter, then there would be no need of artificial covering.

N. E. G. How shall I manure my pear-orchard?—In the fall, either by putting the manure around the tree in a heap, or by spreading the same late over the ground, and ploughing it in. It is best to avoid putting any unfermented manures in direct contact with the roots of trees; but spread or pile it on the surface, and let the rains wash its virtues down about the roots.

YOUNG FLORIST, Pittsburg, Penn. - You will find all the information you need about cyclamen in our last volume. The flower is a very beautiful one, and well worth any care and attention.

R. B. B., Elkhorn, Ill. — The cause of the falling of the buds of your camellias was want of moisture in the air. Some varieties seldom or never perfect their flowers in a parlor; and many drop the buds in the greenhouse if the atmosphere is too dry. It is a good plan to supply moisture by small sponges placed on the branches, below the buds, which are thus kept in good condition, as the sponges can be wet as often as they dry by evaporation. There is a possibility that your plant fails to bloom from want of fresh soil, or from being diseased. We cannot speak certainly from the meagre information you give.

X., Suffield, Conn. As you suppose, the fruits are medlars. They are of little if any value, and are not ripe till they are rotten. The bush or tree is rather ornamental in foliage, and very showy in flower. Every spring, those in our garden are masses of white bloom: the fruit we never gather. Treat the plants the same as you would a quince. There are several kinds to be procured at any large nursery.

IDEM. - Your daphne probably needs repotting. Take in from the pot; remove carefully all sour, old soil, thus reducing the ball, but being careful not to injure the roots; then repot in fresh sandy loam. It should bloom about Christmas, and will then begin to grow. Prune after blooming. Grow the wood well; for on a strong growth depends your bloom for next year.

IDEM. - Diseased Leaf.

The leaf you send appears to have little on it. A few small specks seem to indicate mildew, caused by a close, damp atmosphere. Syringing increases rather than cures mildew. Dust the plants with fine sulphur, and give a dryer atmosphere.

M. B. A., Chicago. — Ask for any information you need, and we will do our best to supply it. We can hardly be expected to know each particular want; though we do our best to meet the wishes of all.

A. C., Providence, R.I.—Will a cranberry-plantation be greatly benefited by flowing in the winter?—Yes, we think it will, and that it should be done whenever it can be without too much expense. It is better to have it so arranged that you can flow it any time, winter, spring, or summer.

C. M. B., Newton. - Berberis Darwini is precariously hardy; often winterkilled. Skimmia Japonica will stand the winter, but is often injured. Massachusetts is probably the northern limit of the culture of these plants.

A. S. C., Templeton, Mass. cannot make the ground too rich. plants.

Manure the rhubarb heavily this fall. You
In the spring, fork in the manure round the

Top-dress your asparagus-beds now, and salt now, or in the spring, time, at either season, when the ground is not frozen.