"Inquirer" says : "In your very interesting note on the history of the potato you refer to the potato having had its first great impetus in cultivation given to it by a body of gardeners known in Germany as the Confraternity of St. Dorothy. I have always been interested in the historic associations which trades and peoples have with ancient personages, but am at a loss to know what gardeners have to do with St. Dorothy. We know why St. Patrick, St. George and St. Andrew have a place in the hearts of Irish, English and Scotch people, why St Crispin is honored by shoemakers, and St. Cecilia by musicians, but none of the Encyclopedias give me any clue to this association of gardeners with St. Dorothy. If the Editor can enlighten the reader, I believe more than this ' Inquirer ' would be thankful".

[We cannot answer this question to our entire satisfaction. There may be something in German or French tradition, outside of written history, which only some intelligent French or German gardener could explain.

There is however a legend connected with Dorothy, familiar no doubt to those who love ancient history, which may give some clue to the information "Inquirer" desires.

She appears to have been a native of Caesarea, a Cappadocian city subject to Roman power, and the centre of early success in the propagation of Christianity. Two other celebrated Saints, Basil and Gregory, were also Caesareans. Dorothy, according to the legend, was one of the earliest converts, and lived some time before the year 300. She adopted the life of a celibate, which, for some reason not clear from the story, angered the Governor of the city, and she was imprisoned. Here she was visited by a young man named Theophi-lus, who endeavored to gain her hand. She put him off by asserting that she was already engaged to a heavenly spouse. He desired tangible evidence of the fact. She prayed to Jesus to make fruits and flowers miraculously appear, and the Saviour at once answered her prayer. She gave him these heaven-born fruits and flowers, and he was so convinced of their celestial origin that he not only withdrew his suit, but became a convert to Christianity.

One who could obtain fruits and flowers in that way surely deserves to be a patroness of gardeners.