188 Queries and Answers to Queries. 



now to trouble you with this letter, is not for the sake of my name ap- 

 pearing in your valuable pages, but to set forth some of the qualities of 

 the poor animal. I have always kept one in each of my cucumber and 

 melon frames, in the manner your correspondent states, and always found 

 them to answer the intended purpose. Their food consists chiefly of winged 

 insects, particularly beetles, which they devour with great avidity, though 

 without teeth, having great strength in the muscles of the jaws. They are 

 likewise very fond of grubs, and devour great numbers of them where they 

 lie near the surface, removing the surface with their snout to get at them. 

 Were the occupiers of land generally aware of this sufficiently, they would 

 not suffer the poor animal to be treated as it too often is ; for notwith- 

 standing its being one of the most useful of animals, it is often treated in 

 a way at which humanity shudders, by wanton boys and illiterate fellows, 

 from the most absurd idea they have that it is ugly and poisonous, and will 

 sometimes spit upon them ; and from the most abominable superstition, 

 that if it comes into a house it is ominous, and forbodes some calamity that 

 will happen, without ever considering that the poor creature owes its 

 origin to the same Universal Parent with ourselves, and that He adapted 

 its nature to its manner of living, as well as that of all other creatures. 

 The utility of the toad is, I believe, generally known to gardeners, and by 

 them it is treated with kindness. If you should deem this any way worthy of 

 your notice, so as to procure them more respect from others, by giving it a 

 place in your pages, you will confer on me a lasting obligation. 



There are many kinds of birds which may be kept in gardens, for the 

 purpose of destroying slugs. If agreeable to you, when I have leisure, I 

 will give you a line or two upon thera. I am. Sir, &c. — D.French. 

 Harlow, March 29. 1828. 



Our correspondent appears to us to be exactly that sort of naturalist, 

 and feeling benevolent man, which we should wish every gardener to be. 

 Those of our readers who recollect his remarks on sparrows (Vol. II. 

 p. 121.), will unite with us in requesting Mr. French to let his brethren 

 see his name in our pages as frequently as possible. — Cond. 



'PcBoWa Woodf6rd\a. — Can you inform me if this is a variety or a dis- 

 tinct species ? I have cultivated it for some years, but have never seen 

 the flower. — D. F. Carlowrie, March 17. 



The Genus Phlox. — I have heard that a monograph of this genus was in 

 preparation ; can you inform me if it is published, or how it is to be pro- 

 cured, or what is the best substitute for such a monograph, or the nursery- 

 man who has most sorts of Phlox for sale ? — Id. 



The Ddhl'xa, in answer to Mr. Hawkins, of the Haw. — Respecting the 

 derivation and pronunciation of the name of that most beautiful and noble 

 flower the Dahlia, I beg to observe that, to the best of my belief, the first 

 of that species introduced into this country, was presented to Lord Holland 

 by Professor Dahl, a Swedish botanist. Hence, without doubt, its deriva- 

 tion ; it being named, very naturally, after its introducer, as is generally the 

 practice in such cases. From the above, I think that the correct pronun- 

 ciation must obviously be dal-ja. I remain, Sir, yours, &c. — Carolus. Cam- 

 berivell, Feb. 1828. 



Varieties of the genus Citrus. — Sir, Permit me to request, through the 

 medium of your interesting Gardener's Magazine, that your intelligent cor- 

 respondent An Amateur (Vol. III. p. 272.) will be so obliging as to in- 

 form me whether the Sweet Shaddock, the Forbidden Fruit, thePompoleon, 

 the Sweet Lemon, and Sweet Lime are really to be obtained in this country, 

 and if so, where they may be procured; for I am well aware of the difficulty 

 of obtaining sweet fruit from plants raised from seeds or pips. I beg also to 

 enquire in what respect the fruit of the Pompoleon differs from that of 

 the Sweet Shaddock ; and that An Amateur will likewise be so obliging as to 

 inform me whether he is acquainted with a fruit of the genus Citrus, called 



