\_7''he Editor requests the assistance of Readers in ansivering Queries, so 

 that the usefulness of this Department may he maintained.'] 



Squireel Traps. — In answer to Mr. Taylor's inquiries as to the best 

 way to trap squirrels, page 659, I remember having seen them caught 

 successfully several years ago, by small wire snares fixed on the top rail of 

 an ordinary post and rail fence, surrounding the plantation. A pair of pit 

 sawyers working near the place w^atched the snares, and took the squirrels 

 out alive, and sold them in the nearest town. As they are fond of running 

 on a fence, I imagine, if there was no fence near, that a few stakes driven 

 down, and some small larches split and nailed on the top in the plantation, 

 and the snares fixed on, would be a successful way to catch them. — 

 W. TOMLINSON, Tullamore. 



Plants to gkoav under Beeches. — " An Amateur " (page 792) will 

 find the Silver Fir grows admirably under large Beech trees. They 

 grow freely under shade, and are not in the least injured by the drip from 

 above. Yew and Holly are also suited for grooving in the same situa- 

 tion, but they are slow of growth compared to the Silver Fir. — 

 J. "Webster, Gordon Castle. 



In reply to " An Amateur," page 792, 1 may state that the Revue de 

 V Horticulture Beige mentions that Boxwood, Yew, and Rihes Al^Jinum 

 are the best plants to cultivate in shady places under trees, stating also 

 that they are not subject to be attacked by rabbits — a matter of great 

 importance in rearing under-cover. — P. D. M. 



Barking Standing Oaks. — In answer to " Flying Scotchman's " 

 inquiry as to whether any advantages are to be derived from barking 

 standing oaks (see page 792), I beg to inform him that I have had occasion 

 to perform that operation in instances, I presume, similar to that he 

 observed, where the trees are either in hedgerows adjoining a field of corn, 

 or in the midst of such a field. The tree is barked and topped at bark- 

 peeling time and cut down till after harvest. By this means much less 

 damage, if indeed any, is done to the corn by carting the bark and tops 

 away at that time, than would be occasioned by felling the tree and allow- 

 ing it to lie among the growing crop. I may add that by many the 

 timber is considered of better quality and more durable when cut down in 

 autumn than felled when the sap is rising. — E. C. M., Yorks. 



