Answers to Queries, and Queries. 493 



Forming a new Garden. (In reply to W. M., Vol. II. p. 254.) — I will 

 endeavour to give what information I can from experience in a similar 

 case ; but first I must warn W. M. of the comparatively immense expense 

 attending the forming and tilling a spot of earth such as he has named. 



About four years ago I first began to improve a small spot of earth, partly 

 composed of the strongest clay I ever saw; it cut out just like new cheese; the 

 extent of the spot operated upon was 128 ft. by 15 ft. I first digged into 

 the surface six large loads of small chalk rubbish from the limekiln, about 

 the same quantity of sifted coal ashes, and a good dressing of dung ; it was 

 frequently digged and turned for the purpose of breaking the clods and 

 rendering it friable ; and being compelled to repeat the digging frequently, 

 I was obliged to sacrifice many crops by getting them off the ground before 

 they were properly matured. In the beginning of last April, I could not 

 begin before, on account of the wetness of the earth (it was not soil yet), 

 I trenched it 2| ft. deep, took out the bottom, and turned down the top 

 improved soil ; digged in about four loads of screened brick rubbish, and old 

 mortar from an old building, about two large cart loads of screened coal 

 ashes, and a good dressing of dung ; and it is not at present much more 

 than half tilled. So much for the indispensable trouble, labour, and expense 

 of improving a spot of ground only measuring 1920 ft. superficial, and con- 

 taining only 4800 ft. cubic measure. 



I am satisfied that W. M. cannot proceed in any other way with equal 

 advantage, if the earth is of the strong nature he represents it to be. If 

 he makes patchwork of it, by doing a bit at a time, it will never be 

 clone, or rendered into a good friable soil while he lives. I must caution 

 W. M. not to use any road sand, I mean the scrapings of country 

 roads ; for although this is, under some circumstances, sufficiently friable, 

 yet nothing binds harder in a moist situation when pressed by the feet, 

 and this is unavoidable in performing the various operations of garden 

 culture. From the foregoing facts and observations it may be learned, 

 that no man can expect to do more than barely make a living upon a farm 

 that is on a strong clayey soil, as one of only a moderate extent would 

 swallow up a large fortune in an attempt to change the surface of it, if it 

 were only to the depth of one foot. 1 herewith send you a sample of the 

 earth in its improved state. [Red clay, as hard as sand stone.] — W. Green, 

 jun. Stepney. 



A large brown Grab. — Could you give us any information how to 

 destroy the large brown grub, that is so destructive in the summer to the 

 potatoes and other vegetables ? We suffered severely by it last winter, 

 and I see there are numbers of them still alive, now we are digging the 

 ground. I tried salt, lime, soot, tobacco liquor, &c, last summer, with no 

 effect. — Walter Lee. Bristol, Feb. 1 82 6. 



Destroying Insects by Toads. — Many gardeners constantly put a toad 

 into their cucumber frames, merely giving him a pan of water, and they 

 find that he clears their frames of slugs and millepedes, or wood lice. It has 

 always been my opinion that toads live on slugs, as they never move out 

 till the evening, when these creatures also are on the move. Can any of 

 your correspondents inform me if this really is the case, to their certain 

 knowledge ? — Rusticus in Urbe. January. 



Wire-worms. — I am teased to death with the wire-worm in my garden, 

 which seems to revel on the irideae, pinks, lobelias, and plants of that 

 character. I have tried lime, sulphur, salt, potash, soot, all which kill 

 them, it is true, but the quantity required would prove a worse remedy 

 than the disease. With a coat of mail like Achilles's, this grub resists every 

 ordinary application, and effects his purposes in security. Do you know of 

 any remedy ? I have seen two or three queries in the Magazine, but no 



