508 Queries and Aiistioers. 



the treC) in its interna] structure, or in its connection with or dependence 

 on the elements on which it lives ? Again, does the case of a plant of 

 strawberry, established and putting forth stolons, apply to a large 

 hard-wooded tree, just transplanted ? or, is applying the circumstances 

 of the one to the other any better than what logicians call " the logical 

 vice" of reasoning from one thing to another ? or does it amount 

 to more than analogy ? As to pruning and doctoring trees and plants, 

 I have a natural antipathy myself to all unnatural operations j but, as I 

 am and profess to be r^c more than a novice, I shall obtrude no opinions 

 on yourself or your readers ; but if any of your numerous, able, and 

 enlightened correspondents will condescend to lighten the darkness that 

 still (to me) broods over these subjects, they will confer a favour on. 

 Yours, &c. — Wamba, the Son of Witless. Surrey, Nov. 16. 1830. 



Our Queries on tlie Machh-a awantiaca (Vol. VI. p. lO-i.) ansivered. — 

 Sir, In consequence of your desire to be informed more particularly 

 respecting the Maclurcr, I wrote to the delegate in congress, A. H. Sevier, 

 from the territory of Arkansas, where it abounds, and he promptly answered 

 my letter. He says : — "I never knew the fruit to be used as an article 

 of food. The timber is valuable on many accounts. It is, perhaps, the 

 most durable wood in the world, and, I think, for ship-building preferable 

 to the live oak. It is also valuable for furniture, being capable of receiving 

 the finest polish, and, when seasoned and exposed to the air, it assumes 

 a complexion not unlike mahogany. It is also an esteemed dye-wood. One 

 of its trivial names is yellow wood. From its toughness and elasticity 

 the Indians make their bows of it ; and hence it is also called bow wood." 

 In the report of Messrs. Dunbar and Hunter of their voyage up the Red 

 River and Washita, they say, " the colour of the fruit, which had fallen be- 

 fore maturity, though it appeared faded, still retained a resemblance to pale 

 gold." The tree, in its native soil, when laden with its golden fruit, nearly 

 as large as the egg of an ostrich, presents the most splendid appearance j its 

 foliage is of a deep green, resembh'ng the varnished leaf of the orange tree, 

 and no forest tree can compare with it in ornamental grandeur. It is deci- 

 duous ; the branches are full of short thorns. Niittal saw trees in the Ar- 

 kansas territory 12 and 18 in. in diameter, and between 50 and 60 ft. high. 

 {Travels, p. 118— 158.) —J. M. Philadelphia, March 6. 1831. 



Destroying Insects by Steam. — About twenty years ago, one of Sir 

 Joseph Banks's hot-houses at Spring Grove was fitted up with steam-pipes 

 instead of the common flue ; and with proper valves to allow the escape of 

 steam when wanted, for the purpose of refreshing the plants. The plants 

 were completely covered with the insects called the white bug; but after 

 steaming the house about fourteen days (not with any idea of destroying 

 the insects) they wholly disappeared. From this circumstance I was 

 induced to construct the apparatus of which you have heard. This inven- 

 tion was described to the Society of Arts here, about the end of its last 

 session in 1830; but I am not aware of its report having been read. I 

 may mention to you, that even although steam from water should be found 

 ineffectual or tedious in its operation, 3'et, were it possible to destroy the 

 insects by aqueous poison, it can be applied only in the form of steam. — 

 James Grieve. Edinburgh, Nov. 4. 1830. 



A Residence in Devonshire, (p. 244.) — [We insert the following, in 

 consideration of the pains taken by J. G. C; but we must decline any 

 future communications, as irrelevant to our object. Cond.'\ Dawlish, Teign- 

 mouth, Starcross, Exmouth, have an increase of price in the season ; other- 

 wise the same report might serve for these places in regard to provisions 

 and houses. Torquay is the resort of the nobility. The Dart and Teign 

 rivers are within five miles of each other, and supply the salmon, salmon- 

 peel, and trout. Rent of a house, consisting of four rooms on the ground 

 floor, six sleeping rooms, kitchen, wash-house, garden, and five or six 



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