Queries and Answers. 541 



" bungling," and exposed in italics, because I happened to say, without due 

 accuracy, that I had seen the mother-bee hnfing an egg in several of the cells, 

 •where, of course, I should have saiil depositing an egg in each of several cells. 

 I have no inclination to dwell on this small criticism, nor to be at the pains 

 of vindicating my " crude production," or the justice of designating as "rank 

 folly " the attempt to destroy the natural instinct of bees. Such peevish 

 censures will reflect no credit on the writer ; and, for my own part, being 

 much more solicitous to promote sound knowledge on the subject of bees, 

 than either to attack others or defentl myself, I am content to leave my 

 communications to the impartial judgment of your respectable readers. — 

 John U'ighton, Gardener to Lord Stafford. Cossey Hall Gardens, Aug. 18. 1838. 



Rhubarb Jelly and Jam. (p. .395.) — I see, by the last Number of the Gardener's 

 Magazine, that Mr. Joseph Johnson of Northenden, Cheshire, is giving him- 

 self much uneasiness about the rhubarb jelly, and evidently wishes to be 

 considered the original inventor of it. He maybe; but I do not see what 

 right he has to say that I got the hint at Manchester. Such was not the case. 

 Indeed, I never heard of such an article till June, 1837, when we were making 

 trial of a tart of Buck's new early scarlet rhubarb, the juice of which was quite 

 as high-coloured as that of red currants. Finding this, I suggested the 

 making a trial of it as jelly, which was done on the I6th of June, 18.37. After- 

 wards, it was tried in the form of jam ; and both turned out uncommonly well, 

 and in both instances the colour was preserved fully as rich and clear as that 

 made from red currants. On the 20th of October, 1837 (three months after 

 the date of the paper noticed in your Magazine, July 19. 1837), I visited 

 Manchester ; and some rhubarb jelly was then shown me by Mr. Campbell, 

 probably the remains of the jar given him by Mr. Johnson. The sample 

 shown was made with green rhubarb and brown sugar ; and I suppose it was 

 from this frightful specimen that Mr. Johnson supposes that I was led to the 

 making of it. If so, I beg to inform him that he was never more mistaken. 

 I was lately informed by a gentlemen from Shetland, and which I state for 

 Mr. Johnson's information, that the practice of making jelly from green 

 rhubarb has been carried on there for many years ; as, unless the seasons are 

 fine, no other preserve can be made. 7. M'Kab. Edinburgh, Aug. 20. 1838. 



[Mr. M'Nab sent us, with this communication, pots of both the jelly and 

 the jam. The latter was most excellent, having a beautiful colour, and a 

 fine flavour : the former was equally good in colour and flavour, but it had 

 not formed a jelly, being of the consistence of rich syrup. — Cond.'\ 



Art. VI. (Queries and Ansivers. 



Gas Tar not injurious to Trees, (p. 395.) — In reply to the enquiry' of W. re- 

 specting the efl^ects of gas tar, I beg to inform him that I have reason to believe 

 gas tar is not injurious to trees ; on the contrar}', that, in particular cases, it 

 would seem to be rather beneficial than otherwise. On making a similar 

 enquiry of a superintendent of some gas-works, he took me into his garden 

 to show me some apple trees to which the tar had been applied, as he informed 

 me, merely for experiment, the trees having been in the last stage of disease. 

 The trunks of these trees indicated the existence of a very active state of 

 disease prior to the application of the gas tar; but they were producing young 

 wood of the greatest apparent health and vigour. I saw them when the tar 

 had been applied in some cases three years, in others two years ; and the 

 owner was about to apply it to all the trees in his garden. Having an apple 

 tree in my own garden, very much affected by what is commonly known as the 

 American blight, which had burrowed into the bark, and was evidently affecting 

 the health of the tree, I applied the gas tar with a brush freely into every 

 unsound part of the bark. The insects were, in a few days, destroyed ; the bark 

 threw out granulations soon afterwards, and, in the course of a year, became 



