492 Answers to Queries, and Queries. 



to the conjectures of so very intelligent a cryptogamic botanist as Mr. 

 Baxter. — Cond. 



Protecting the Blossoms of Peach Trees by Fern. — Amateur of Berkham- 

 stead's query, as to the proper mode of using fern for protecting fig trees, 

 may be considered as answered by the following communication : — *' Just 

 before the buds begin to expand, I collect a quantity of the Aspidium acu- 

 leatum, Smith Fl. Brit. ; the stalk of the frond I introduce into a shred, 

 and the point of it is brought to the point of the shoot ; it is there wound 

 once or twice round the nail near the point of the shoot, taking care to 

 reserve an inch or two of the point of the frond to be turned in between 

 the point of the shoot and the wall, which is a sufficient fastening, if pro- 

 perly done. A tree, when covered in this manner, has at a small distance 

 the appearance of being in full leaf. As soon as the fruit is set, the fern is 

 taken off, to prevent injury to the young foliage by confining it. This is a 

 neat, light, and effectual covering, which I have practised these last ten 

 years." — Win. Hurst. Hitcham Gardens, Nov. 2.3. 1826. 



Cutting over young Forest Trees, (p. 119.) — In reply to Mr. Thonville, 

 who wishes to know about the proper season for cutting over young trees 

 that have become stunted in growth. During these four years past I have 

 planted a good deal, and the greater part on chalk subsoil, and I have been 

 under the necessity of cutting over a part of the young trees, partly from 

 being eaten with hares, and partly from not having grown well. I have 

 cut ash, beech, elm, sycamore, some the first year after planting, and some 

 the second ; those cut the second year after planting made the strongest 

 shoots. 1 have cut the first and second week of April, although I think 

 that rather too late for elm and sycamore. I have cut young oak trees 

 over about the end of April, and have found them do well. Although I have 

 cut beech over, I have scarcely got a good shoot from their stools. Ash, 

 elm, sycamore, oak, and Spanish chestnut, I have found do well after cutting 

 over. In performing the operation, my men use a cleft stick in the left 

 hand to hold the tree off them in the operation of cutting : putting the 

 stick close to the surface of the ground, and the tree coming into the cleft, 

 the person with his right hand cuts the tree in a slanting direction, about 

 half an in. above ground; the left hand pushing gently at the time of cut- 

 ting, makes it cut clean, without being in any way split or fractured. How- 

 ever, I would advise that trees should not be cut over until the second year 

 after planting; for I have seen some trees that appeared sickly during the 

 first year after planting, that have taken hold and grown away afterwards, 

 but such were generally in good soil. 1 have even a proof at this time of 

 trees getting away well the third year, although they were a little stunted 

 the first two years. I find cutting over quick wood plants, the year after 

 planting, an excellent method for making them push strong and bushy. — 

 Quercus, Oct. 1827. 



Primula sinensis. — A Constant Reader wishes to know how the Pri- 

 mula sinensis may be increased. I have raised this year above 60 plants from 

 seed. I recommend the plants from which seeds are to be saved, to be 

 placed on a shelf in the green-house, and as soon as ripe the seeds should 

 be sown, by which means you will have well established plants before winter. 

 Sow the seeds in a shallow box, and transplant them as they become too 

 thick. Having plenty of young plants, I have just put six into the open 

 ground to try if they will stand the winter, placing little glasses over them 

 at night. I have had six old plants out for about three months, which have 

 done well ; but, being a second bloom, the flowers are not so large ; indeed 

 they are the plants from which the young ones have been raised, and were 

 turned out after the seed was gathered. — Z. Nov. 5. 1827, 



