I much fear that I intrude myself too often upon the attention of readers of Gardeners' Monthly, but this time I hope I have something of an experience to relate that will prove interesting.

This is my second season attempting to raise the bulbs by field culture for trade. In my eager readings, principally Peter Henderson's " Practical Floriculture " and " Field and Farm Topics," it is impressed upon us that failure to get bulbs to flower comes from their having been kept in too low a temperature in winter; that the flower germ was killed without injuring the bulb otherwise. My first attempt was an inglorious defeat. Quoting a purchaser of a few thousand bulbs, he says, " Pardon my frankness, it is meant in kindness, but out of nine lots purchased from Southern raisers yours was by far the sorriest lot of all." This damped my ardor somewhat, but I was not conquered, but determined to try and yet again try to see where the secret lay; was much exercised in mind to find sufficient quarters to store my excessive numbers of undersized bulbs and sets for next season's experiment. I had finally engaged a kind friend to store them in the large basement of a public institution, viz.: "Asylum for Blind, Deaf and Dumb," which is heated from garret to cellar by steam, but failed to get them there in time to avoid the intense cold of January and February, 1885, so unexpected and altogether unusual.

Suffice it that our outdoor thermometer registered 10° below zero on five different days, and repeatedly down to zero, which effectually killed any expectation of having any sets or bulbs left, as they were only bagged and barreled and then placed in my basement, a place with every glass window up, as in summer, and cold as - well, say charity, for brevity. In early March I ordered my man servant to go in, take them out and haul outside of the village to throw away, as already they were causing quite an offensive odor to exhale therefrom. He came with the report that there were great quantities not dead and rotting but already sprouting. I therefore had those separated from the bad and hopefully went to work to try again. I had previously been advised by a kind friend to replant those undersized bulbs, deep, and would then obtain the size required for trade purposes, which advice I accepted only in part, and here is the gist of my article. Those identical small bulbs that passed through such a terrible freeze are now in quantities in flower, with many more showing the flower bud shooting up.

I had no hopes of getting any flowers from these frozen bulbs, and ordered from another raiser 300 bulbs for my own garden, and these small undersized bulbs now have as long stems and as fine flowers as those purchased. Who can and will explain the why and wherefore of this? Is it a freak, or are others mistaken? I ask only for information. Spartanburg, S. C.

[Facts of this character are of great value to the cultivator, and the thanks of tuberose growers are due to the lady for so kindly furnishing them. Too often explanations are taken for granted by a whole community that should never have been accepted; and again explanations are received as covering the whole ground, that are only partially true. Now in regard to the belief that tuberoses kept in a low temperature during winter will not flower the next year, we think there has been some foundation for this belief. It is said that the flower germ is formed in the tuberose bulb before it goes to rest in the fall; that if it is dug before it is inclined to rest naturally this embryonic formation does not occur. If such a bulb is planted in spring it starts at once to leaf growth and makes no flowers. But if a bulb that has not formed the embryonic flower be placed in a warm place it will go on and form the little germs of blossom, though the bulb is not growing in the ground. This has been our understanding of the value of warmth in winter to a dry tuberose bulb, and not that the germ rots under a low temperature. If this view be correct it will be readily understood how a bulb may be kept through a very low temperature all the winter and yet flower in spring.

If it had formed the embryonic flower before storing, it would not need the higher ternperature to bring the flower on. We give these views with some hesitancy, as it would be far preferable to have actual facts from those who, like Mrs. Thomson, are observing and have wide experience. - Ed. G. M].