118 Answers to Queries, and Queries. 



Downton Castle and Gardens. — Could you, or any of your readers, give 

 me some account of the grounds and gardens of the distinguished president 

 of the Horticultural Society? Of the picturesque beauty of Downton, I 

 have formed a high opinion from Mr. Knight's poem, The Landscape, and 

 your Encyclopaedia ; but I have read nothing of the kitchen-garden, and 

 am very curious to know how it is cultivated ; whether Mr. Knight's 

 practice is as good as his theories are correct and plausible ; or whether, like 

 most other writers, he excels only in that character. What makes me the 

 more anxious on this head is, some remarks on Mr. Knight's theories, and 

 on his practice, which I lately heard made by a distinguished vegetable phy- 

 siologist and botanist in the Jardin des Plantes in Paris, in company with 

 an eminent English botanist, latety and for some time resident there. — 

 S. T. P. May 16. 



We visited Downton in 1804, and again in 1809, and can bear testi- 

 mony to the grandeur and picturesque beauty of its scenery ; but it had 

 not then become the scene of horticultural experiment. We understand 

 Mr. Knight keeps no regular gardener, and, if so, it is not very likely his 

 garden will -be in very high keeping ; it may, however, bear good crops, 

 and it unquestionably is a scene of great interest. We shall, therefore, 

 feel obliged to any reader who has lately been there, or who lives in that 

 neighbourhood, and sees Downton gardens occasionally, to comply with 

 the wishes of our correspondent. — Cond. 



The turnips 1 transplant are the common, not the Swedish. You ask, 

 " But do they bulb freely ? " I answer, in my own words, " Nothing can 

 succeed better, or produce finer roots." — Rusticus in Urbe. 



Rare Species of Iris, Sfc, — Where can the following species of Iris, &c. 

 be purchased, and at what price? — D.F. Edinburgh, May 18. 1827. 



1. 7'ris arenaria of Bot. Reg. 9. Tris longispatha, Bot. Mag. 



ventricosa. 



— - sub-biflora, Bot. Mag. 



Nepalensis, Donn's Prod. 



reticulata. 



Monnieni, Decandolle. 



amo? v na, Redout^, Lil. 



i?emerocallis disticha, Bot. Reg. 

 Tulipap^coK,) s HJiriL 

 altaxca, J ' 



Application of Steam to Forcing-houses. — 1. Is it necessary or expe- 

 dient that houses heated by steam should also be furnished with common 

 fire-flues ? 



2. What is the absolute expense of fitting up a house (such as would re- 

 quire two common flues) with steam apparatus ? 



3. What is the comparative expense of fitting up steam apparatus and 

 fire-flues ? 



4. Is there any saving of fuel when steam is used ? 



5. Supposing the original expense of the steam apparatus the greater, 

 does the saving of fuel compensate the increased interest of the outlay ? 



6. Is there any saving of time in the case of steam apparatus ? 



7. For what length of time can the boiler be left to itself in very severe 

 weather ? 



Simple as the above queries may probably appear to some, answers to 

 them from men of experience would be of very considerable interest to me, 

 and probably to many other of your readers. — 2V. Edinburgh, April 2. 



2. 



flavissima of Jacquin's 



10. 





Icones, 220. 



11. 



5. 



brachycuspis of Bot. Mag. 



12. 





vol. xlix. 



15. 



4. 



Ruthenica var. of Bot. Mag. 



14, 





vol. xxviii. 



15, 



5. 



Bohemica. 



16, 



6. 



Caucasica. 



17. 



7. 



Iberica. 



18. 



8. 



lu.te"scens. 





