In the note of explanation to your Frontispiece, in the July number, you state the plate to be taken from a plant in the collection of Mr. Humphrey, Brooklyn, who has the "original stock; " and as it is found there "an un-bapiized heathen" you stand godfather for it, and give it the name of Spiralis rubra, which is all very good, if it had never been presented at the baptismal font before; but this same Camellia is not such a youth as you seem to suppose.

An amateur in the vicinity of New York, an ardent admirer of rare plants and good specimens, added to his collection several years ago a splendid plant of the Camellia in question, he believing it to be the "original and only stock," (I have seen more "original stocks " of it since,) named it Cochlidea, which means a spiral staircase, and as such freely distributed it among his friends, and it is now to be found, under the name of Cochlidea, in many of the private and public collections around New York, in those of Peter Mackenzie and Son, and Robert Buist and Son, of Philadelphia; also in some of the more extensive nurseries in Europe.

I am led to make these remarks, hoping to save some of your readers the disappointment of buying one plant under two names. Unde.

[Let us first thank our correspondent for the information that the Camellia in question has been by somebody named Cochlidea, so that hereafter we may be in no danger of buying the same plant under two names -, next we propose to state a few facts within our personal knowledge. We have made no statement which could lead any body to the conclusion that we "supposed " this Camellia to be a "youthful " plant; on the contrary, we stated that it was raised by Mr. Becar some time before he died, and we all know that he has been dead several years; notwithstanding, it may still be called, so far as the horticultural world is concerned, a new Camellia. Now it so happens that for many years before Mr. Becar's death we were on the most friendly and intimate terms with him, and a frequent visitor at his house, and this and his other seedlings were a frequent topic of conversation; what they should be named, how sent out, the best mode of raising the Downing fund, and similar matters, were often discussed; in short, we have an intimate knowledge of these Camellias and Mr. Becar's plans up to the time of his death.

That the Spiralis rubra was not named A. J. Downing was determined by an eminent florist still living in New York, he, as well as ourself and some others, considering the latter the best, Mr. Becar leaning to the first; but it was a remark made by the gentleman referred to that determined the point. Now we know that Mr. Becar suspected that a plant of the Camellia under consideration had got out of his house without his knowledge, and it may turn up somewhere else under still another name. We do not deny, of course, that the particular plant referred to "by Unde may have been named by the amateur to whom he alludes; but this Camellia was certainly never presented at any legitimate "baptismal font" until we gave it the name of Spiralis rubra. It is altogether a mistake to say that we found it an "unbaptized heathen;" it was in danger, however, of having a very heathenish name attached to it. As Mr. Humphrey's plant came from Mr. Becar's collection, it was proper enough to call it original stock. Unde says, "it is now to be found under the name of Cochlidea in many of the private and public collections around New York." This is somewhat remarkable.

We have for more than half our life been familiar with nearly all the public and private collections around New York, and it is only within the past two years that we have seen it in two or three private collections, and in none of them under the name of Cochlidea, to the best of our remembrance, though we may be mistaken in one single instance. Two or three florists in Brooklyn have had it for a couple of years past, but called it, like some others, the Screw. Messrs. Buchanan, Bridgeman, Hogg, Reid, etc, are our principal Camellia growers in New York, and it is not now, and never has been in their collections under any name whatever. How extensively it may be distributed in Philadelphia, we do not know; but whoever has it ought at once to adopt its legitimate name of Spiralis rubra. - Ed].

A Correction #1

In Mr. Sargent's article on Evergreens, the heading should be 1861-62 instead of 1862-63. The article went to press before the correction reached the printer.

The Market Book, containing a historical Account of the public Markets in the Cities of New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Brooklyn, with a brief Description of every Article of Human Food sold therein, the introduction of Cattle into America, and notices of many remarkable Specimens. By Thomas F. De Voe, Member of the New York Historical Society, etc. In two volumes. - Volume 1 of this work has lately been published, and is in many respects a remarkable production. Going back to the earliest period of the settlement of this city, it gives the origin and progress of all the market places, together with a detailed account of the manner of doing business, the habits, customs, and laws of the people through many generations, historical reminiscences of all the prominent market people and dealers, and a full and faithful history of all events and places in any manner relating to markets or market business. As a part of the history of the City of New York, it deserves more than usual attention, covering, as it does, a field hitherto unexplored; and the fund of biographical lore and anecdote with which it is liberally interspersed, makes it one of the most readable books of the times.

To the old New Yorker it must be of great value and interest, and many of the aristocratic leaders of the present generation can not fail to trace back their lineage to some of the many hundred names among the honored class of butchers. As a historian, Mr. De Voe is accurate and truthful, and the whole work shows a labored research; undoubtedly a labour of love, yet one that has required close application and a deal of hard work. We shall welcome with pleasure the appearance of the 2d volume, but sincerely hope that it will not end the historical writings of such an agreeable and instructive writer.

Correction #1

The name of the pear given in our December number as Dorson, should be Dorsoris.