"L. B. C," Richmond, Ind., writes: "In my yard stands an old dying cherry tree that has produced a few flowers during the past two weeks. I have often seen fruit-trees bloom in the fall, but in the middle of summer, it occured to me, it was an unusual circumstance; how is it? I enclose you a single flower I just picked for your edification."

[We may get some clue to these curios by noting other things. For instance, if a large pear tree lose its leaves early in the autumn, either by caterpillars, or by leaf blight, it is almost certain to bloom before winter and not wait till spring as it should do. Again, if a horse-chestnut loses its leaves in the same way, it will also bloom in the autumn, instead of waiting for its regular time. We see that we are getting near the ability to generalize, when we consider these things - but yet we cannot quite reach the disturbing cause. We can only say, when a flower appears out of season, that it has been retarded or accelerated, as the case may be. - Ed. G. M.]