480 Qiieries and Ans'wers, 



" Lagetta lintearia, producing the lace-bark, is a tree, the wood of which is 

 white; its leaves are about 4 in. long, and 2\m. broad near the base where 

 broadest, having one middle and several transverse ribs of a yellowish 

 green colour, shining, thick, and smooth. The outer bark is smooth, light 

 brown or grey, and striated ; the inner is solid and white, of a very fine 

 texture, tough, and divisible into several coats or layers, which may be 

 drawn out into thin webs resembling lace, and have been actually worn as 

 such. King Charles II. had a cravat made of it, which was presented to 

 him by Sir Thomas Lynch, then governor of Jamaica. It is there prin- 

 cipally used for ropes ; but would undoubtedly make fine paper if properly 

 prepared. Native of Jamaica, where it is called Lagetto, or lace bark tree ; 

 and of Hispaniola, where it is termed Bois Dentelle." — Martyn's Miller's 

 Dictionary^ under 2>aphne Lagetto^ the name of the tree in old nomen- 

 clature. — J. D. 



Retrospective Meteorology. — The following passages occur in Tacitus's life 

 of Agricola (cap. 12.), and are related of England: — " The sky in this 

 country is deformed by clouds and frequent rains j but the cold is never 



extremely rigorous The soil, though improper for the olive"and vine, 



and other productions of warmer climates, is fertile, and suitable for corn. 

 Growth is quick, but maturation slow ; both from the same cause, the great 

 humidity of the ground and the atmosphere." Are not these passages, 

 written almost 1800 years ago, a proof that no great alteration has taken 

 place in the soil or climate of England? — W. P. S. March 6. 1831. 



Frost. — Sir, I have elsewhere observed (p. 35.), when speaking of the 

 severe weather which occurred early in April, 1830, that " the effects of 

 the frosty nights on trees seemed to diiFer according to circumstances, and 

 to be most destructive in the lower situations." Several instances oi^ the 

 same kind presented themselves to my notice this season, during the frosts 

 which prevailed in the month of May. The gooseberries and currants 

 were in some cases much injured in gardens which lay low, while those in 

 more elevated situations escaped unhurt. Many of our native plants were 

 cut oWy as, e. g. JSquisetura arvense, Aspldium jFllix mas* and aculeatum, 

 /Scilla nutans, &c. ; all of them lovers of low ground. But not only were 

 the late frosts most destructive in low situations; they seem also to have 

 had a much more injurious effect on vegetation within a few feet of the 

 surface of the ground than they had as many yards above it. And of this 

 I was struck with a remarkable instance in a wood in this neighbourhood, 

 which consists chiefly of oak. For the space of several acres, I observed 

 the opening foliage of the underwood oak, to about 7 or 8 ft. from the 

 ground, entirely cut off by the frost, though the bushes were, of course, 

 much sheltered by the overshadowing boughs of the poles and trees above 

 them ; while, contrary to what might be expected, the foliage of the poles 

 and trees themselves, which were exposed to the atmosphere, but elevated 

 some yards above the underwood, remained unaffected. In the case also of 

 single oak trees, in other situations, I observed the foliage of the lower 

 boughs to be cut off by the frost, and that of the head and higher branches 

 to be unimpaired. Is this usually the case ? and how is it to be accounted 

 for ? It has been suggested to me, that these spring frosts prove most 

 prejudicial to vegetation at that distance from the surface of the ground 

 to which the fogs extend which often accompany them. Yours, &c. — 

 W, T. Bree. Allesley Rectory, June 1. 1831. 



* I remarked, in several instances, that one patch of fern was cut off, 

 while another of the same species, on the same bank, and only a few feet 

 distant, was not affected ; and even one frond was killed, and the remainder 

 on the same root escaped without the least injury. 



