378 Answers to Queries, and Queries 



journey, for the sole purpose of gathering its seeds, of which a pint was 

 procured, and sent in small parcels to all the botanical cultivators in this 

 country I then knew. I described it in a Sicilian periodical journal, under 

 the name it now bears ; but it appeared in the Botanical Register with this 

 as a new name, and something is said, I believe, (for I have not the book,) 

 about its coming from Smyrna. Is this locality authentic? It will be 

 interesting to know this on more accounts than one. It is related that 

 Tournefort discovered a particular plant on a certain spot in one of the 

 Greek islands, but which never occurred to him again during all his travels. 

 Dr. Sibthorp, who explored the same countries, found the plant on the 

 identical rock indicated by Tournefort, but never again. We can scarcely 

 believe that such fixed limits of existence can actually be circumscribed 

 in nature ; yet, until it is disproved by facts, we are bound to believe it ; 

 and the theory would be very much strengthened if what is yet known of 

 Z/dthyrus grandiflorus placed this plant as an additional example. — William 

 Sivainson. Tittenhanger Green, near St. Albans, Herts, Oct. 20. 1827. 



If your Iris correspondent will favour me with his address, as we culti- 

 vate the same plants, it may lead to mutual benefit. — Id. 



Garden, Hot-houses, and Pits. — I am about to make a new walled gar- 

 den of very nearly two acres within the walls. The situation is a bank 

 gently sloping from west to east ; the shape an oblong square ; the soil at 

 the upper end (west) peaty, but well drained, and about 6 ft. deep ; at the 

 lower end only 13 or 14 in. deep, with a hungry clay subsoil. The whole, 

 till last year, was woodland. What is the best method of bringing such 

 soil into garden ground ? I wish also to know the best plan for pits to be 

 heated by steam or hot water, for raising pines or melons ; and should be 

 glad, if, through your Magazine, I could be furnished with a plan for them 

 of sufficient size to enable me to raise from three to four hundred pines 

 in the year. What is the best aspect for the pits? and what would the 

 probable expense amount to ? The whole to be of thoroughly good and 

 substantial work, and where labour and materials are expensive. — H. iVo- 

 vember. 



To H. and other correspondents who are in immediate want of plans, 

 or other practical assistance, we can strongly recommend our talented and 

 experienced contributor, Mr. Main, of No. 6. Union Row, Queen's Elm, 

 Chelsea. Mr. Main has had great experience both in agriculture and gar- 

 dening, and is well qualified both for designing plans of gardens, hot-houses, 

 plantations, pleasure-grounds, &c, and directing their execution. — Cond. 



Scotch Pine. — It is said in Lambert's Genus Pinus, ' that the Scotch pine 

 will always flourish best when planted in earth where the turf has not been 

 moved ; from not attending to this, the tree often becomes defective and 

 unhealthy." Does Mr. Lambert mean by this, that holing is better than 

 trenching for the Scotch fir ; and does the same observation extend to the 

 other species of pines and firs? — G. W. June 19. 1827. 



Collection of the Pine and Fir tribe. — Can you inform me in what gen- 

 tleman's gardens or plantations I may find the various sorts of fir trees and 

 pines bearing cones at the best advantage ? I want to make an arboretum 

 of them from undoubted seed, and to observe the growth of the plants. A 

 list would be valuable, and of the sorts in each garden, — Id. [See the 

 account of Dropmore, p. 257.] 



Bosirichus Piniperdits, and Scolytus destructor. — Have any attempts been 

 made to destroy these insects on the elm by the use of glutinous mixtures 

 on the trees? The latter insect I observe to be very embarrassed in its 

 motions by any fluid, even by water : and if any cheap mixture could be 

 found which would retain its dampness and tenacious property for some 

 time in the open air, I think it probable that a few locks of wool dipped in 

 it, and stuck by it to the trees, would entrap a large proportion of them, as 



