It is a wonder to me, why some horticulturist has not preceded me in introducing this very desirable shrub to the general public. My attention was first drawn to it, in its native haunts on the Neuces river, in Southwest Texas.

A broad-leaved evergreen shrub, never attaining a height of over 6 feet, with leaves even more silvered than the Deodar, with such a profusion of purple flowers at short intervals, during the entire growing season. I know of no shrub more capable of bright effects in ornamental grounds. Like privet, box, or pittosporum, it can be sheared to any desired form and compactness. Also, I find that its blooming qualities are not at all impaired by severe shearing. Whether sheared to a globular, pyramidal, conical, or any other form suggested by the fancy, the contrast afforded by this Leucophyllum with the various shades of green, imparts an element of beauty to a landscape, that is but feebly imitated by any other shrub in use. It would make a fine border to a carriage drive.

As in its native habitat it is found only upon soil so calcareous as to be quite barren, it has been naturally presumed that it would not flourish in the better soils sought by the horticulturists. But experience proves that it will succeed in any good soil that has proper drainage. I have it in a rich sandy loam, where it outgrows any specimen that I ever saw in its native home. In fact, soil and culture seem to help it as much as they do any other plant.

I find no difficulty about transplanting it. I have not done with my experiments in its propagation. I get my supply from the natural thickets, about eighty or ninety miles below us in* Southwestern Texas.

I do not know how far north it would prove hardy. Perhaps the Editor of the Monthly can tell us. I should not be surprised to learn that it would be successful as far north as Philadelphia. I have never seen even the tenderest terminals injured by the coldest snaps to which we are subject in Southern Texas.

The leaves are valued by our Mexican neighbors as a medicine, on account of their marked effect upon the respiratory organs.

Nursery, Victoria Co., Texas.

[The Mexican name of this plant, Mr. O. informs us, is pronounced "Sanesa." This signifies "the tree that is of the color of ashes," that is to say, silvery gray. The botanical name has ihe same meaning, and is from the color of the leaves. This name will be considered a hard name, and only for the fact that the people who give common names to plants, have not the slightest respect for the writer who trespasses on their prerogative, it might be suggested that " Silver bush " would be a good common name for it. " Silver tree " will not do, as that is already appropriated by an African tree, Leucadendron ar-genteum.

The plant belongs to the natural order Scrophu-lariaceas, and to a section that seems to have its central home in the islands of the South Pacific, from whence the shrubby Veronicas come. They will hardly thrive so far north as Philadelphia, though we know of no actual experiment having been made. But there is no reason why Southern gardens should not be ornamented by this beautiful shrub. - Ed. G. M].