Improved Lemons

Geo. C. Swan, of San-Diego, California, sends a sample of a seedling lemon which he names the "Olivia." It is very juicy, and thin-skinned, and these are good points in a lemon. Large quantities of Califor-nia lemons now appear in the Philadelphia mar-kets from Southern California, and their improvement becomes a good object.

Ericine

This new coloring matter is so called because it is made from the wood of the Erica, or European Heath. It is also now made from Poplar wood. It dyes a beautiful yellow.

The Difference In The Catalpas

The Western Rural tells a correspondent mat the " tender" Catalpa is " tender in the west above forty degress," - and that the " hardy" Catalpa is "hardy up to forty degrees".

Deciduous Trees In California

Refer-ing to a statement by a correspondent of the Gardener's Monthly, the California Horti-culturist says, in some parts of San Francisco deciduous trees have done well, and names Locust, Walnut, Maple and Ash as among the successful kinds.

Batchelor's Buttons

People who hanker after easy common names, should be those with plenty of money to spare. Then they can send to their seed stores for " Batchelor's Buttons" and get Gomphrena globosa, and then send to England for Batchelor's Buttons and get a lot of double Buttercups. Whenever he reads of Batchelor's Buttons he can keep on sending his money, and get something fresh every time.

The Atamasco Lily

A leading English horticultural journal gives this as the popular name of Camassia esculenta. It belongs really to Amaryllis Atamasco.

Progress

We must take the editor of " Progress " to task. He "wants to know" why no means are taken to produce a supply of mushrooms in this country. His reading has not perhaps extended to the Gardener's Monthly or to the proceedings of the Germantown Horticultural Society. We are happy in the announcement in this number that preparations are in "progress," and that the topic is not new. Tons upon tons are sold every day in Paris, and so will it is hoped, be here ere long.

Illustrated Catalogues

These are now so common and so beautiful as to be generally beyond criticism, - but once in a while we notice some surprising ones. Here is one of the very highest firms before us, in which something like a huge tobacco plant does duty for "mustard," and a sort of young kidney-bean is the " cress." The "corn salad" may be all right, though it could be used on a pinch for an over-grown mullein. The '• endive" if inverted can be used some time as a swallow's nest!