While visiting at Belleview, Florida, in February last, I saw in the garden of Mr. James Pen-field half a dozen grape-vines of the exotic varieties that were alive to the tips of the shoots, and this without the slightest protection. In this vicinity, as well as elsewhere in many sections of the State, the thermometer had previously showed a temperature of 180 for three days. The soil was the poorest in that vicinity, and the vines had made but a feeble growth. Orange trees of one and two years were many of them killed, it being particularly true in impoverished soils or where the land was naturally poor. I have not as yet been able to account for the escape of the vines, except on the theory of bottom heat, the temperature of the water from the wells - from 30 to 70 feet deep - being uniformly 650. With the great amount of moisture in the atmosphere I do not see how the exotic grape can escape mildew, even with the temperature and soil in a proper condition for healthy plant growth. I should be pleased to read of any experiments with the Hamburgh or the raisin varieties. The great error in Florida fruit culture just now appears to be in trying to raise tropical fruits in a semi-tropical climate.

Many of the people there resident are so because of the danger of living North, and their hopes, and many times their income or livelihood, depend on the fruit crop. It is simply cruel, then, to hold out hopes of success when the fact is that it is almost a lottery. In short, it is gambling with nature.

In the above I do not refer to orange culture. Pine-apples were killed by the acre, and when they had the best protection it was possible to give. This was at Eustis, and in the heart of the lake region. Florida is a State of great possibilities, but it will not do to rely on Providence too much. The climate will always make it a proper, popular and indispensable resort for the well and wealthy, as well as invalids in the winter, and when touched by the master hand of the gardener and florist will, in twenty years, in brilliant floral beauty rival any spot on the globe. It must not be supposed, however, that it will be the home alone of the wealthy, for the industrious poor man can get a living here with less labor than at the North, for his wants are less. But I fear that I will weary the reader. Brockton, Mass.

[The Editor may be permitted to endorse these suggestions. Tropical plants should only be experimental, and the experimenter should be one who can afford to lose. The orange and lemon are not tropical fruits, but sub-tropical, and of course just suited to a sub-tropical climate like Florida. We should rather pin our faith on a crop of tea leaves than on a crop of pine-apples.

The atmospheric moisture is just what suits the foreign grape. It is the atmospheric moisture which makes a cold grapery so successful, when the plants do not thrive in the open air. The exotic grape thrives tolerably well in Canada - though so much further north than Philadelphia, where it will not thrive at all - because the Canadian atmosphere is more humid. - Ed. G. M].