Under this title a correspondent in April Gardeners' Monthly says the seeds of Nigella are used in flavoring bread and refers to the " ragged lady" as the common name. The N. sativa was in somewhat common culture in this part of New England fifty or sixty years ago under the name of "garden spice " or " nutmeg flower." The seeds were of a brownish color, abundant, and used for flavoring apple pies and cakes. The flowers are less conspicuous than those of the Damascena, yet it still is more worthy of a place in a collection than many of the new-comers. Don's Gardeners' Dictionary says : "Formerly the seeds of N. sativa were much in use as a carminative stimulant and errhine, but this medicine is becoming deservedly obsolete. They are still used in some parts of Germany and Asia, in cookery, instead of spice, being a pleasant aromatic. They are said to be extensively used in the adulteration of pepper, as well as those of N. arvensis. The leaves are also sometimes used." He calls it the "Cultivated Fennel Flower," and gives the year 1548 as first record of its cultivation.

I well remember this plant as cultivated in the garden of my mother and grandmother, and it always formed a part of the stock of garden seeds which were always home-grown.

West Cornwall, Conn.