P. B. Mead, Esq. - Dear Sir: I think many would like to indulge in the above, who are deterred by the fact that plants generally do not thrive if kept continuously in living-rooms. Even when, by extra care, they are got to do so, there is always necessarily a portion of them out of bloom, which are not desirable there, and would be better away in a proper place. I propose that the gardeners tend plants, calling around at intervals to take away those not in order, and return those that are. If they did this, people would buy the more permanent and expensive plants, which now they will not; if they get any they purchase the cheap ones, and when they get out of bloom, throw them away. Or the gardener could own plants, agreeing to furnish a certain number per season. I think they could largely increase their trade by either or both of these methods.

As you remarked some time back, the common stands are very objectionable; they should have troughs, in which the pots could be bedded in Band. In connection, I would call your attention to Mr. S. B. Parsons' proposition, to roof city houses with glass; this would give a good greenhouse in any aspect, not perhaps in the most desirable place, but certainly better than none. Brooklyn.

April 15, 1960.

[Always glad to hear from you, Brooklyn. Your suggestion is a capital one, and would open a source of pleasure to many who are now deprived of it There are a few such houses in New York as Mr. Parsons suggests, and they answer the purpose well. - Ed].

Mr. Editor:- When I was superintendent of the Nurseries of the Institute Royal Horticole de Fromont, near Paris, M. Soulange Badin, proprietor and director of the said institute, received from Dr. Guillemin, our Professor of Botany, in the year 1884 or 1835, four tuber-eul«*s of Solatium Montnum, (?) with the following letter:

" I 6end you, my dear friend, four tubercules, extremely precious. They have been given to me by M. Dorbigny, who received them from M. Fontaine, Chirurgien Major of the Griffon, commanded lately by Captain Dupetit Thouars. This traveller gathered them at the summit of the mountain of San Lorenzo, near Lima, at 600 fathoms in height, in a sandy soil and humid atmosphere. I think these tubercules are those of the Solatium Montanum, (Lin.) figured by Father Feuillte Ruitz and Pavon. This Solanum is quite distinct from the Solatium tuberosum; the tubercules are not lateral like those of the potato.

" M. Fontaine assured me that they were very good to eat, with the savour of the bottom of the Globe Artichoke; and, besides this, that they were aphrodisiacal in quality, which makes them recherched by the old bachelors of Valparaiso, who plant them in their gardens. This gives the explanation of the rarity of the specimen reported by our traveler. If this property is confirmed, I have no doubt of the same success at Paris".

Only one root began to grow, and died a few days after. At the Jardin des Plants of Paris, they have met with the same ill success. C. More.

[The above contains some very interesting facts. The quality imputed to this tuber we have no doubt is purely imaginary. A tuber, however, with the flavor of the Globe Artichoke, might be regarded as a luxury. Can any of our readers furnish further information in regard to it? - Ed].

Dear Sir: The note of inquiry which we had addressed to you on a former occasion was mainly in regard to a remedy against the ravages of mice on our osage orange hedges; that if some available remedy can not be instituted, we shall have to abandon this beautiful and otherwise excellent fence in this vicinity. They injure this hedge by girdling the roots..

Olney, Pa.t Feb. 16th, 1861. Respectfully yours, P. G. Bertolet.

P. S. - Will the ammoniacal exhalation of horse manure, placed under plum trees, prevent the ravages of the curculio? and when is the proper time for its application, spring or fall?

B.

[Your first note was lost in the fire, as we wrote you. This one, after a long tour, was placed in our hands by Prof. Lane, of Middletown University. How this happened, Uncle Sam might be able to tell; but he is probably too busy just now. Your annoyance from mice is a very serious one. If a space on each side of the hedge, and close up to the stocks of the plants, is kept well cultivated and free from weeds and grass, the evil will be greatly lessened. Costar's Exterminator (as well as Lyon's Pills) is a good remedy, used according to directions; but it is a deadly poison, and if eaten by your poultry or domestic animals, will be sure to kill them. You must judge of the safety of using it. A number of remedies have been recommended, but we have no personal knowledge of any except the above. Try this before sacrificing your beautiful hedge. The ammoniacal exhalation of horse manure will not prevent the ravages of the curculio; but if you wish to try it, you must apply it just before the blossoms begin to fall, and renew it from time to time till the plums are as large as hickory-nuts; if any get to that sice under this treatment This, however, has been sufficiently tried with-out success.

Try the sheet recommended in our last number; that, to a great extent, is sure though troublesome Try, also, Mr. Cumings's remedy and the Gishurst Compound, not as cures, but as preventive*. Begin when the plums are no bigger than peas, and repeat from time to time during the season. Try, again, Mr. King's tar remedy in our last, and report the result to us for the benefit of others. Here is a chance for you and others to do good, if you have the inclination and time, - Ed.