380 Answers to Queries, and Queries. _ 



necessary care of the tree to maturity ; the title of any book containing 

 practical information on this head; its cultivation in "the climate of the 

 northern half of England, if such is to be obtained, will be acceptable. 



Your future pages will be examined in the hopes of finding some useful 

 practical information, sought for in the present instance, by some who have 

 the opportunity to plant on an extensive scale. — J. S. S. Wales, Nov. 27. 



The Italian variety of the white mulberry, ilforus alba var. Italica, is 

 acknowledged to be the best variety, and plants of it may be obtained at 

 Loddiges, Hackney, and other nurseries. Any soil that will grow the com- 

 mon whitethorn vigorously will grow the mulberry vigorously also ; indeed, 

 there is no particular soil or skill required to grow it, either as a tree,- or as 

 a bush to be cut down every other year as in Italy. If the success of the 

 silk manufacture depended merely on being able to produce mulberry leaves, 

 silk might be produced as extensively in Europe as flax; for the mulberry 

 being a deciduous tree late of expanding its buds, and producing its shoots 

 rapidly in the warm season, it thrives almost as well, and is as productive, 

 as far as leaves are concerned, in Sweden and Russia as in France and Italy. 

 — Cond. 



Breaking Tulips. — I have many books on horticulture, and amongst 

 them is The Dutch Gardener, or Complete Florist, by Henry van Oosten. It 

 was translated into English more than one hundred years ago. The author 

 treats largely on the most beautiful flowers, and is very communicative even 

 to the vulgar, until he comes to the article of " breaking tulips, and bring- 

 ing them to perfection ;" and, from his own account, he did intend being 

 as explicit on this subject as he had been upon others ; but, after consulting 

 Virgil and the learned Bacon, and receiving a hint from a " divine genius," 

 he resolved to communicate this sublime mystery to none but " knowing 

 artists." To them the secret is revealed in the following mysterious lan- 

 guage : — 



" If you increase the strength of your mother by feeding her with the 

 ashes of her bones and the substance of her father, then you will possess 

 the land of promise, wherein udders of milk shall be, and rivers of wine, 

 and other liquors of several colours shall flow across. Many rocks of gold 

 shall be dispersed therein, and the ground shall be filled up with oysters, 

 that shall discharge their red carmasin on the ground, and bring their 

 purple to light ; and if you will follow the fashion, the milk of the udders 

 shall be turned into liquor of saffron, which shall give you golden flowers." 

 {Dutch Gardener, p. 185.) 



Now, Sir, ever since you sent forth that learned book, the Encyclopcedia 

 of Gardening, we have been steadfast in our faith of your being a " knowing 

 artist." We therefore humbly request you, or some of your " right know- 

 ing" correspondents, to favour us with a literal version of this sublime 

 communication of Maister van Oosten. We confess we are but novices 

 in the arts of Flora, but we are very solicitous of farther instruction. I 

 am, Sir, yours, with more than usual civilities,' — Floristicus. Nov. 29. 1827. 



Iridece vercc. — With what aspect, and in what soil, do the majority of 

 the hardy Zrideae best succeed ? Are there any species of true Iris found 

 in southern Africa or in tropical America? I believe not. — W. S. Oct. 29. 



To rot Weeds and Leaves. — What is the best process of converting gar- 

 den refuse, as weeds, &c, into manure ? and what the best for turning dead 

 leaves into a nutritive vegetable mould? — Id. 



Pears on Quince Stocks. — What is the reason why the following varieties 

 of pears will not take upon the pear-shaped quince, viz, l'Echasserie, 

 Doyenne Gris, Muscat d'AUemande, Royale d'Hiver, and Sylvange? We 

 have already made many trials in every manner without success. They 

 take and grow for a little time, and then die off — N. A. B. Bolwiller, on 

 the Rhine, Nov. 5, 1827. 



