246 Qiieries atid Answers. 



bark which lay under the trees, and the ragged uneven edge of the bark 

 on the trees, I at once concluded that it must be tiie work of some 

 vermin ; and my suspicions very justly rested on the squirrels. A strict 

 watch was kept, until a squirrel was seen tearing the bark oif a fine beech, 

 in stripes of from 2 to 7 in. long. The question then was, how to prevent 

 the further spoliation of the trees ; and for that purpose I made a mixture 

 of tar and grease, with which I had all those trees anointed on which the 

 squirrels had commenced their destructive operations. However, I could 

 not tell that it did much good, as, when under-bark grew firm, they desisted 

 entirely. This was about the middle of July. 



Upon the whole, there were above 100 beech and hornbeam trees barked 

 all round, from 3 to 6 ft. in height. It appears to me, that the object of 

 the squirrels was to procure the tender under-bark as food ; but of this I 

 am not certain, and should therefore be glad to have the expei'ience and 

 opinion of others upon this subject. I am, Sii", &c, — IVdi. Jf'j/ii?ie. Bays- 

 water, March 14. 1831. 



Urania sj^ecwsa. — Can you or an}' of your readers inform me whether 

 this noble vegetable has been seen m a state of nature by any English bo- 

 tanist? — Mjistpiis. Jan. 1. 1831. 



T/ie Genus ^nca. — Sir, In looking over the list of J?ricae furnished to 

 3'ou by Messrs. Rollinson, together with the months in which they flower, 

 and also Mr. Dunbar's list, I find the former to consist of little more than 

 half, and the latter wanting upwards of one hundred, of the number pub- 

 lished in Sweet's Catalogue: may I therefore beg to ask, through the 

 medium of your Magazine, if the lists furnished by these gentlemen com- 

 prise the whole of the sorts worth cultivating ; or if there are any, not no- 

 ticed in the above lists, that it would be desirable to possess in a collection, 

 and also where they are likely to be procured ? 



I do not observe £'rica tortuliflora in either of these lists, or in Sweet's 

 Catalogue, 1st edit. : as I have no opportunity of seeing the second edition, 

 may I also request to be informed if it is one lately introduced, or has it 

 been sold to me under an improper name ? I cannot but express my sur- 

 prise that this most delightful and interesting genus is not more extensively 

 cultivated. In how few collections of plants do you find the i'rica ! and 

 yet I know of no genus where you have so much variety, both with respect 

 to flower and foliage ; indeed, there is not a month in the whole year that 

 you have not very many of the species in bloom. I can only account for 

 this indifference to a genus so much deserving of attention, by the sup- 

 posed difficulty of cultivation ; this, I think, is more imaginary than real, 

 which a very little experience will prove. It is perfectly true that some 

 of the species are very apt to go off; but there are a great many, such as 

 the vestita, ventricosa, ampullacea, and several others which I could 

 name, that are as easily kept as any plants I know. I would therefore most 

 earnestly recommend to those who have green-houses, to begin with a few 

 of the more hardy sorts : should any of your readers be induced to follow 

 my advice, they will, I have no doubt, be soon disposed to extend their 

 collection, and will find ample reward for any expense or trouble, in the 

 additional favour which this genus never fails to find in the eyes of all lovers 

 of plants. 1 am, Sir, <S:c. — E. London, Jan, 6. 1831. 



Indigenous 'E.riccc. — I should be greath' obliged to any one who would 

 inform me how many JS'ricas are natives of England, and favour me with 

 their names, and short descriptions. — G. J. P. Xov. 4. 1830. 



Voljgala vulgarh of different Colours. — I find on a neighbouring com- 

 mon the Polygala vulgaris ; the flowers are of four different colours, viz. 

 dark blue, light blue, red, and white ; the leaves are a darker or lighter 

 green, in proportion to the darker or lighter colour of the flower. Are 

 these four difft:rent varieties ? or are they all the same ? If so, what is the 

 cause of the change in colour ? — Id, 



Propagation of Thunbergva. aluta ; in reply to "A Constant Reader." 



