i8yo.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 383 



at our July fair at £10 each. Horses are quite a drug, and many a useful beast 

 will find he has to take a premature journey to the dog-kennel ; and in localities 

 where the small and poor farmer lives, it is pitiable to hear the cattle lowing for 

 food and water. It is but little less sad, too, to see the stalwart labourer going 

 from farm to farm to seek for work, to find no haymaking, no turnip-hoeing, no 

 job to be done. Yet ' drought ne'er brought dearth to Old England ' is per- 

 fectly true even now. The wheat is splendid, the barley and oats are good, and 

 the hops and fruit were never better ; evergreens and forest-trees make the 

 scenery and gardens as beauteous as ever ; whilst Roses, flowers, and almost every 

 delicate plant, not exoepting the tender stinging nettle, never were more free 

 from blight. Here we may remark upon the absence of insect life this year, 

 and particularly of slugs and worms, to the great complaint of poultry-rearers. 

 The swallows and martins are as scarce this summer as last, the vigorous swift 

 being almost the only representative of this tribe. Not less remarkable is it to 

 see the blackbirds and thrushes resorting to the berries left upon the hollies, just 

 as in mid-winter ; and who can begrudge them a little garden fruit ? All kinds 

 are plentiful, and if genial rain had only come in spring, or in June, perhaps, a 

 more fruitful and abundant year of everything never would have been known. 

 Let us be thankful we are not worse off than we are, and if this drought has 

 indeed extended to all four quarters of the globe, consider how many there are 

 suffering by famine whilst we are blessed with plenty. — I. F. S. (Hereford, July 

 11, 1870.)" 



Ants' Nests in Garden Paths and Borders. — I have found a very effectual 

 remedy for the annoyance of ants nesting in the garden paths and borders. A 

 strong solution of carbolic acid and water poured into the holes kills all the ants 

 it touches, and the survivors immediately take themselves off. Care must be 

 taken in its use, as it destroys animal and vegetable, as well as insect life. — 

 F. M. G. 



Strawberry, Dr Hogg (A. E.) — Thanks for the fine examples of this splendid 

 Strawberry. We have frequently met with it growing in gardens, and every one 

 speaks of it in the highest terms. We should certainly advise you to make it one 

 of your main crop varieties. 



Vida Blue Perfection (A. B. C, Luton). — The difference between what you 

 term the " two supposed varieties " is an assumed one ; there is no difference. 

 Its origin is at present involved in mystery. Though claimed to be a seedling of 

 recent date, it has been found in somewhat obscure districts, where it has been 

 for several years past. Later in the season it will come very fine indeed. 



Mushroom- Culture Out-of-Doors. — 1. Preparation of the manure : It is 

 of vital importance to let the rank steam out. When you get the manure from 

 the stables, throw it into a round heap, and give a good watering with manure- 

 water. Let it lie till the third day, then turn over, and give another shake up. 

 When well sweated, which will be in three days, another turn will be necessary : 

 it will then be ready for use. 2. Making the bed is of secondary importance. 

 Mark out the bed 3 feet wide at bottom, and of course of whatever length you 

 have manure for. Put the dung on in layers of 6 inches the whole length of the 

 bed, and spread out at the rate of four shovelfuls of dry soil to every barrowful 

 of dung ; tread down by stamping on it as the work proceeds, until you get the 

 required height ; then clap the bed all over with the back of a light spade, draw- 

 ing the spade downwards at every stroke, to, as it were, seal the bed. Cover up 



