378 Queries and Ans\>oers. 



feelings of justice will allow that I have much to complain of in that 

 article. 



In consequence of the great rapidity of circulation caused by the ther- 

 mosiphon, J. have been obliged to turn my mind to the construction of a 

 new forui of furnace and boiler ; and I have at last succeeded, even beyond 

 my expectations, with regard to eifect and saving of fuel. One of those 

 boilers is erected here, and two or three in Barnstaple ; and I very much 

 think that this furnace will be found the best for steam engines of any yet 

 known, in which the fire is not urged on by artificial means. A beautiful 

 model of it has beer, made for Earl Fortescue ; and I intend to send you 

 homely drawings (or rather sections) of it soon, which may be prepared 

 for the Magazine should you think them worthy of your notice. I am, Sir, 

 &c. — Thomas Fowler. Torrington, Devonsliire, April 21. 1831. 



Ml'. Fowler appeals to our feelings of justice. We have turned to the 

 passage to which he refers, and cannot find the slightest ground for an 

 appeal of any kind. As to his patent, after the publications of the Marquis 

 deChabannes, we cannot conceive what ground there can be for one, either 

 to Mr, Fowler or to any body else. However, we do not pretend to under- 

 stand the patent laws ; all that we pretend to do is, to note improvements 

 as they are brought before us, whoever may make them, and whether they 

 are " patented " or not. We have acted in the case of Mr. Fowler and 

 Mr. Kewley with perfect candour, and as we think we should do again 

 under similar circumstances. The drawings and sections of the furnace 

 we shall be happy to receive and publish. — Cond. 



Erratum. — Sir, In my paper on Peach trees, p. 241., the word 

 " decayed," in line 16., is one substituted by you for " plethoric," the 

 latter being the word used by. Sir, yours, &c. — John Pearson. Kirilet 

 Gardens, Ajnil II. 1831. 



Art. VI. Queries and Ansxvers. 



Chloride of Lime. — Some time since, it was said that chloride of lime 

 applied to plants produced very remarkable effects. Can you point out 

 where any satisfactory information can be obtained on that subject ; stating 

 the time and quantity to be used, and the precautions to be attended to ? — ^^ 

 B. Sevan. Leighton, Feb. 7. 1831. 



What is the Name of an Insect, or is it one, which dissects the Leaves of 



Pear Trees, leaving only the veins and the epidermis of the lower surface 



of the leaf, the insect preying on the upper surface of it ? It has a kind of 



gelatinous appearance, and emits a disagreeable scent when crushed, which it 



is with a slight touch. It is nearly the colour of a leech, and is nearly of the 



shape and size of the figure, {fg- 71.) Was it produced from a small scale 



of a brown colour, and pointed at both ends, less than half the 



71 size of a seed of the common flax? Perhaps this, if published, 



^^^ may elicit the name of this pest, or produce an account of its 



^'~^^*' metamorphosis. Now, should any one be annoyed with this 



thing, and wish to destroy it, I will give you an account of the 



method which I tried with success. As soon as the creatures made their 



appearance, I took an old pepper-box, and put some fresh slacked lime in 



it, and powdered them over with it, which was certain death to them. 



Then, for the scale, I took an old knife, and scraped it off the old shoots, 



anointing the shoots afterwards, but not the buds, thinly with train oil, 



and by that means got clear both o'l scales and insects. I am, Sii-, &c. — ^ 



Wm. Hurst. Wandsworth Road, Feb. 1831. 



The dcvourer of the leaves is tlie larva of one species of insect : the 



