Dear Sir: Very few persons appear to know the value of the sponge in a green-house. I mean for the purpose of washing the leaves of all those plants with leaves broad enough to admit of it. I took the hint some five years ago from a neighbor, the most successful plant grower I ever had the good fortune to know. His plants were always so especially fresh and healthy, that I was for a long time puzzled to understand his secret, and he always declared he had no secret. But-early one morning I caught him with a pail of clean water, slightly warm, by his side, sponging off the leaves of all his choice plants. I said to myself, "I have it." I did more; I went home and practiced it. My plants soon showed by their new aspect, that I Was not wrong in believing it the real secret of my neighbor's success. They began to look brighter, healthier, and grow and bloom better than my utmost care had ever been able to make them do before. And now, strangers always ask the same question when they see my plants, that I used to ask my neighbor. My answer is, " use the sponge." The pores of the leaf get filled with fine dust - and the plant chokes. Syringing does not wholly remove it the sponge does.

Yours, An Amateur. New York Dec. 16, 1851.