(S. W. Johnston.) The Magnolia Michauxii of some catalogues is the Magnolia Macrophylla, certainly one of the most beautiful of ornamental trees. It was named after the elder Miohaux, and we have always regretted that the modesty of his son concluded to continue the designation given by the father, and which it will now retain. Notwithstanding its great merit and oriental character of leaf, it continues to be rare, as do AT. cordata and M. curiculata, two of our best ornamental trees, from the difficulty of procuring seeds.

(Subscribes, Leesburg, Va.) The best work on the kitchen garden ever printed in America, is McMahon's, of which a new edition appeared lately in Philadelphia, from Lippincott, who rarely advertises.

Dear Sir: I have a number of oak-trees, valuable from their size and position, suffering from decay in the trunk near the ground. Can you tell me what will arrest this? (1.) Will you also name some reliable work on the flower gardens, suitable for a beginner, containing plain, practical information? (2) and oblige Tours, respectfully, A Subscribes.

Balt, County, Md.

(1.) Clean out all the dead wood carefully, and fill the cavities with moistened Roman cement; this sets at once, and will keep out the malign influence of moisture, the great destroyer. Trees thus treated will often survive a long time.

(2.) Mrs. Loudon's Treatise, edited by Downing, we have found a very valuable book of reference. Brook's, published in Boston, is also very useful.

"The Proper Expression of Rural Cemeteries," shall have a place in our next volume.

The Plan of a House, from Michigan, shall receive early attention, if possible.

Many correspondents whom we would fain have a chat with, must wait on the Index till next month.

Answers To Correspondents #1

(B. W.) Your plant is Dictamnus, an ancient name of what is now supposed to be the Origanum dictamnus; Fraxinella, in allusion to the similarity between the leaves of the plant, and Fraxinus, the ash. The whole plant, especially when gently rubbed, emits an odor like that of lemon-peel, but, when, bruised, it has something of a balsamic scent. The fine scent is strongest in the pedicles of the flowers, which are covered with glands of a rusty-red color, exuding a viscid juice or resin which exhales in vapor, and, in a dark place, may be seen to take fire. The root furnishes an opiate and drastic.

Mr. Editor: Not the least valuable part of your periodical is that devoted to answering the questions of correspondents. Those answers are often useful to others than those who make the inquiries. Encouraged by your success in assisting other inquirers, and acting on the principle that editors are presumed to know everything, I will propound a few questions on subjects on which I desire to be enlightened.

I have in my yard a place which would be a good position for a large and showy tree; but it was formerly the cellar of a house, now filled up with the stone and sand, and lime-mortar, which were thrown into it when the house was pulled down, and covered over with about a foot deep of earth. Now, what tree would thrive there? I would prefer an evergreen. Would the Deodar Cedar do? (1).

Should larches be trimmed up, or should they be allowed to branch from the ground? (2).

At what distances should Norway spruces and hemlocks be planted apart? (3).

A Subscriber.

(1.) The larch would do better in such a situation than any other tree. It would suit the Deodar Cedar very well, provided you are in a region where it is hardy. For a grapevine, it would be excellent.

(2.) If you grow the larches for the sake of their timber, judicious pruning will be of service to them. If required for ornament, we would not "trim" them; but that is a matter of taste too often spoiled by observing the city trimmers.

(3.) With what view? If for a hedge, two feet and a half apart is quite near enough; nearer, they starve each other.

(W. B. M.) The seeds sent you from the city of Mexico, under the name of the " Hand Plant," is known to botanists as Cheirostemon platanoides, and grows there to a large shade tree. Its English name is derived from the shape of the flower buds, which, in their resemblance to the human hand, are remarkable. If you do Succeed in raising the seed, you will find no greenhouse large enough to hold it, and we can afford you no encouragement in the hope that " it may prove hardy here".