What 1 have seen of McAvoy's Superior and Russell's Prolific leads me to believe they are distinct; but I doubt if McAvoy's Superior and Buffalo are so. C. Downing once told me the two latter were the same. The Buffalo I consider worthless.

Messrs. Woodward :

Your remarks on "Street Shades," in your number for December, recalls the statement made to me, about thirty years since, by Col. Henry Rutgers, of New York. that, in passing through Bethlehem, Penn. during the Revolution, he was surprised at seeing two apple trees at the edge of the side walk loaded with fruit, within reach • of every one passing. He dismounted, inquired for the owner, and, with his permission, picked off a couple, in order that he might say he had done so.

I informed him that the same, or similar trees in the same position, still produced crops that were untouched by the public. Since that time, large iron-works have been established on the opposite side of the Lehigh, the people are no longer exclusively Moravian, and it is probable that the rights of the owner are not respected as formerly. Also: It is a practice among the German farmers in Pennsylvania to tie a wisp of straw around one or more cherry trees, to indicate that any stranger may freely enter the enclosure, and help himself from any other tree.

B. A

Passaic, N. J.

Cuttings of house plants, as geraniums, fuchsias, verbenas, etc, such as every one wants, may easily be grown in the house. One of the best materials for the purpose we have found to be clear fine charcoal dust, about like fine sand in the size of the grains. Use a common earthen crock; see that it has good drainage; then fill to within half an inch of the top with the charcoal, putting your cuttings in all around and near the edge, with about two buds in the charcoal and one bud out. If you can, get a little piece of hanging moss from the woods, and lay it over the whole, letting the cuttings protrude through it, and letting it (the moss) hang down all over the sides of the crock. Set it on the mantelpiece, or on a little bracket shelf in some part of the room where its height will add to warmth, and at same time, if you can, near the light; water once thoroughly, and afterward just enough to always keep it moist, but not wet. The object of the moss is to make the crock ornamental for the time being, and at same time serve to keep a more even condition of moisture on the outside.