Notes and Queries. 509 



Lime-tree Wood. — It is not the case that lime-tree ^YOod kills bees 

 unless you really want to kill them with it, by taking a good stout lime- 

 tree bough and belabouring the poor "busy bee " to death, as we used to 

 serve the wasps and their nests when at school, or in some other similar 

 way. There are few flowers or blossoms that bees are fonder of than those 

 of the lime-tree, or from which they extract more lioney of a better quality. 

 —A.B. 



Osiers. — In reply to "H. S.," the l)est sort of osier to plant is Balic 

 viminalis. The proper distance apart, 2 feet 6 inches each way. Osier 

 cuttings vary in price, according to the locality. I have purchased in 

 Norfolk strong cuttings of two year old shoots at lis. per 1,000. — D. D. 



Birch Felling. — In Scotland the best month or months for cutting 

 birch of any age is from the beginning of November to the end of February. 

 The young twigs or branches are then cut and tied up into bundles of 

 about six inches through at the tie, and are in good demand for 1)rooms or 

 besoms for sweeping streets, &c., and reaUze from 2s. to 2s. 6d. per dozen, 

 delivered in Leith, Edinburgh, or Glasgow. Bass brooms are now super- 

 seding birch. It is seldom there is any difficulty in getting a good crop 

 of birch coppice. — A. B. 



Composition for Preservinci Trees from Hares and Rabbits. — 

 Sir, — In reply to " A. B." (see page 440), I beg to inform him that I have 

 used Davidson's Composition successfully for protecting young fruit and 

 forest trees from the depredations of hares and rabbits. It is perfectly 

 safe, and not at all injurious to the growth of the plants, and is not easily 

 washed off by heavy rains, and can be expeditiously put on by an active 

 man. Thoroughly stir up the composition in the cask before using it ; 

 then take a suitable quantity in the hand and rub it well over the stems of 

 the plants, drawing the lower branches of the trees also through the ha'id, 

 as high up as they are within reach of the hares and rabbits. The com- 

 position can be had at Messrs. R. Davidson and Co's., Shore, Leith, in casks 

 from 12s. Gd. upwards. — D. D. 11. 



Bitter "Willow.— Would any of your valued correspondents say 

 whether they are able to recommend the bitter willow as a hedge plant ? 

 I am told its shoots are never eaten by stock, and that they are readily 

 saleable for basket purposes ; but T should doubt as to how far it would be a 

 sufficient resistance to heavy cattle. If any of your readers, who can speak 

 from experience, could kindly give me some information on the subject, 

 they would confer an obligation. — Subscriber. 



VOL. I 2 N 



