In the August Horticulturist I find I have written, in describing a visit to Mr. Lawrence's houses, thus: "Here are to be seen peach trees growing in wire baskets, surrounded with moss, and trained in every imaginable shape." To this assertion I find a " Close Observer" has taken exception. I certainly did see peach trees growing in wire baskets, surrounded by moss, and that there should be any thing extraordinary in that statement I can not imagine: the trees I supposed every one would take for granted were grown in the earth in the baskets, and only surrounded by moss on the tops as a mulch. Why a peach or plum tree can not be as well grown in a wire basket of suitable dimensions, with a certain quantity of earth, as in an eleven-inch pot, I can not understand. I have no interest in Mr. Lawrence or Mr. Lawrence's gardener, nor do I know that I shall ever meet again with either. The description was furnished for the purpose of showing how much can be done with pot trees, in which I am particularly interested.

I did not examine Mr. Chamberlain's vine baskets closely, for I know that a pot vine can be as well fruited in a wire basket as in an eleven-inch pot, and why Mr. Chamberlain should find it necessary to tie on grapes to his baskets, (as your writer intimates and asserts he has done,) I do not know. That he may have done so I do not deny, but I do assert that it was not necessary for 1dm to have resorted to any such means, as a strong pot vine can be successfully fruited in a basket. I have never been distinguished for going about the world half asleep, as your correspondent would have your readers believe, nor has my veracity ever been before questioned. Others, fortunately, saw the turtles and frogs, so that your correspondent's sneers in relation to them are unnoticed. Mr. Chamberlain's success as a gardener has made many jealous of him; it is possible that the originator of the "Second Bar+num" may belong to this group.

[We are glad to hear you speak again, Doctor. We do not understand "A Close Observer" as questioning your veracity; that we should not have permitted; but he does seem to think that your eyes were not wide open. The case, as we understand it, from "A Close Observer's" article, and the one copied into the Cincinnatus, stands thus: Mr. Chamberlain is said to be able to grow Grapes, Peaches, Plums, etc, in a cup of charcoal surrounded with moss, (not in a basket of earth surrounded with moss, as you put it,) better than they can be grown in the ordinary way. We know that plants will grow in pure charcoal, but that fine grapes, etc, can be matured in a small cup filled with charcoal, sand, and water, is another thing. "A Close Observer" says it is not done. We hope Mr. Chamberlain will be able to show that he is not understood, and that no deception has been practiced: we can really perceive no motive for it. - Ed.)*