92 Queries and Aiisxiers. 



odd character; and, havin<; drunk rather too freely, went out, as it is sup- 

 nosed, to turn over some hot (hiiii; wliich was in preparation for a cucum- 

 ber bed ; and liaving either fallen down, or laid himself along the dnng to 

 rest, he was found next day on his face, (juite dead. He lived alone; 

 but nevertheless left a sort of will, in which he heciueathed his body to 

 the sur<'eons, on condition that they returned his l)ones, when they had 

 done witli tiiem, to be ground into hone manure for his own garden. Ob- 

 serve, I do not vouch for this, though it is reported among his friends, 

 and 1 believe it to be true. It is almost needless to say, that his relations 

 paid no attention to his request. He was buried in the usual manner, 

 but where I cannot exactly say. — Jo/m Maclaggan. LomUmdcrrt/, August, 

 18.3). 



We insert the above query more on account of the drawing (/g. 35.) 

 than the notice of a drunken gardener. Notwithstanding the names at 

 leno-th, we cannot help having doubts as to the authenticity of the facts. 

 We have certainly seen eitlier an engraving or a house something like the 

 drawing sent ; probably in some book. — Cond. 



A Machine for hcw'mg Stones hy Steam was invented by Mr. James 

 Milne of Edinburgh, two years ago; can you, or any of your readers, in- 

 form me if it continues to answer, and whether it would apply to basaltic 

 or "ranitic rocks ? If so, it will be of immense use in this country. — 

 7. W. New York, Sept. 1831. 



A would-be Suburban Gardener. (Vol. VH. p. 720.) — Should no one 

 better able than myself furnish the information desired by A woidd-be 

 Suburban (iardener, I will, in a future Number, endeavour to do so. I 

 should, in that case, like to occujiy a page or two, to give a list of orna- 

 mental plants, and a few hints respecting their culture, which, if attended 

 to, would preserve A would-be Suburban (iartlener, ami many others, 

 from the frecjuent ilisappointments to which they are now exposed ; and 

 which, no doubt, tcntl to destroy their zest for ganlening pursuits. I am. 

 Sir, yours, &C. — Williani Boi/ee. Ruclianiptou, Dee. 28. 1831. 



A Gru/)-worm is making sad havoc among my strawberries, intended for 

 next year's forcing. Can you or any of your readers inform me through 

 the Gardener's Magazine, how it may be destroyed ? — Jo/in Stovdd. 

 Petworthy Nov. 1. 1831. 



History of the Lombardy Poplar {Vopulus di/atdta). — Sir, In your last 

 Number (Vol. VII. p. 71().), J. D., speaking of the wood of the Lombartly 

 poplar, observes that it " is remarkably light when dry, and is usually but 

 lightly esteemed: for in-door purposes it is, however, said to be excellent. 

 Hence the following coui)let appertaining to it : — 



* Though heart of oak be e'er so stout. 

 Keep me dry, and I'll sec him out.' " 



I cannot speak from experience of the timber, but have always heani it 

 represented as the most wortiiless of woods. The above couplet, or one 

 to the same eH'ect, I have often heard applied to the Spanish chestnut ; but 

 it cannot, I think, have been originally intended to apply to the Lombardy 

 poplar, because the coiq)lct itself is of far ni jre ancient date than the 

 period of the introduction of that tree into this country. .J. D. s|)caks 

 also, thou'di he s|)eaks donblfully, of the value of [loplar wood on account 

 of its "i'Miiting very slowly." (Does he say this of po|)lar timber in general, 

 or does he coniine the remark to that of the Loml)ardy po|)lar in parti- 

 cular?) [.I. D's remarks were rural traditions transcribed, wliicii his ex- 

 perience neither enables him to negative nor confirm : they related to the 

 timi)er of po|)lars generally, or rather to the British species, P. nigra, dlba, 

 anilcanescens.] This is the character also of other speciesof poplar,espccially 

 the abele (/'. :'ili)a), of which wood, or of the /Vipulus canescens (lam not 

 sure which), grown upon the estate, the chamber Hoors of the present man- 

 sion at Newbold Comyn, near Leamington, are constructed. They are of a 



