Queries and Answers. 223 



has taken in from its commencement), 1 cannot ascertain who are the official persons to apply to 

 Perhaps this hint (if you think it worth insertion,,, will induce the secretaries of provincial societies 

 to send their names and addresses. I am, Sir, &c — IV. G. Ashton, Honorary Secretary of the 

 Cambridgeshire Horticultural Society. Bridge Street, Cambridge, Dec. 11. 1829. 



If all the secretaries of British horticultural societies will send us their names and addresses on 

 or before the 1st of May next, we will publish them in an alphabetical list in our June Number 



— Cond. 



Provincial Horticultural Societies. — Is the Editor of the Gardener's Magazine 

 in possession of any copies of the rules of provincial horticultural societies ? if so, has he a suffi- 

 cient number to collate, and from the collation can he not show, better than by a letter from W. 

 an original subscriber, the fundamental principles on which those institutions are in general 

 founded ? Or, if W. sends his opinions, can the majority of rules be tried by them, without such 

 a previous collation. IV. is convinced that much money is squandered by the societies in prizes 

 not given solely to skill and merit, because not regulated by fair competition among individuals in 



circumstances strictly similar, or for objects of sufficient importance in a national view W 



Feb. 11. 1830. 



We entirely agree with our correspondent, that much money is squandered by horticultural 

 societies, of which the recent disclosures at the London Horticultural Society afford proof suffi- 

 cient ; but we have neither leisure nor inclination to enter on the subject of their reform farther 

 than in a general way. — Cond. 



A Chimney -sweeping Apparatus. — It is common about London to bringdown, 

 or drive out by the chimney-pot, the soot of the chimneys of furnaces and boilers, by discharging 

 a gun in them. Might not chimneys in general have the soot driven out at the top by discharging 

 condensed air in them below ? If a proper condensing machine were procured, the soot of the 

 throat of the chimney swept down by hand regularly once a week, and afterwards the conductor 

 from the condensing machine introduced, might not the remainder of the soot be blown out by 

 the chimney-pot ? If not blown out, it would be loosened and fall down ; and, if one operation were 

 not sufficient, two or three might be used. Possibly some sort of puff or brush might be blown 

 through. — C. May 1829. 



Healing by Hot Water. — I observe, in Vol. V. p. 544. of the Gardener's 

 Magazine, an improvement in the mode of heating houses by hot water, made by Mr. VVeekes 

 which appears perfect, if the steam or vapour from the hot water in the tube or broad plate can 

 be confined. Whilst reading this, it occurred to me that you, or pet haps your ingenious corre- 

 spondent, Mr. Bierly of Swansea, might be able to inform me how heat may be effectually cut off 

 in the hot-water system, where one boiler serves for two houses. The valve I have made use of 

 in my reservoir for that purpose was lined with leather, which soon was found faulty, and lead was 

 substituted but does not answer the purpose. 1 have a similar valve in my boiler, to stop the 

 circulation at pleasure. I put up my apparatus under the directions given in your Magazine, with 

 the assistance of a common bricklayer, and a very clumsy hand from the foundery where I ordered 

 my castings ; this man could not secure the joints of the cylinders, which here and there still leak 

 though he has made two attempts to stop them. About twelve months ago, I noticed, in your 

 Magazine, an account of a patent taken out by some person at St. Albans, for heating walls ; Ialso 

 noticed it amongst the lists of patents to be taken out in the Journ d of the Arts and Sciences, but 

 hitherto no specification has, 1 think, appeared. Is it your opinion that hot water could be in- 

 tended by the individual in question ? and do not you think that I could, by lateral pipes from my 

 boiler, heat a wall of 20 or 30 ft. in length, constructed for the purpose? [Doubtless.] My vinery 

 is only 42 ft. in length, with a glass division, the cylinders 4| in. diameter, and the boiler and reser- 

 voir capable of containg 18 or 20 gals. I have no doubt in my mind that it might be accomplished 

 but an effectual valve or stop-cock is necessary, and I should esteem it a favour if you could give 

 me any assistance in accomplishing this object. I am, Sir, &c. — William G. Walmesley. The Flats, 

 near H'igan, Oct. 26. 1829. Apply to Mr. Cottam. — Cond. 



Water Rats. — Sir, If any of your correspondents would point out a good 

 mode of destroying water rats on pond heads, it will much oblige a subscriber to your Magazine 

 if you will insert it in the next Number. — A. B. April 25. 1829. 



Sayings as to Bees. — Is the following current in any other county than Norfolk ? 

 A flight in May is worth a load of hay. 

 A flight in June is worth a silver spoun. 

 A flight in July is not worth a fly. 



— Samuel Tyssen. Narborough Hall, near Swaffham, Norfolk, Feb. 1. 1S29. 



The Wood-louse devouring Nectarines. — I had this season a fine young red Ro- 

 man nectarine, upon which an excellent crop of fruit set. Just as they were beginning to soften 

 they were attacked by numbers of a kind of insects which are known in Scotland by the name of 

 slaters (the woodlouse, or Oniscus). These insects almost invariably attacked the fruit near its 

 stalk, and devoured a great portion of its pulp, which shortly after shrivelled, and dropped off with- 

 out coming to maturity. By this means I lost almost the whole crop of beautiful fruit. Although 

 I hung up bean stalks, I could not entrap any of the insects, which always retreated to the cre- 

 vices of the wall on being disturbed. I shall feel much indebted to any of your correspondents 

 who will point out a method of preventing such damage occurring in future. — John Ferme. Had- 

 dington, Dec. 16. 1829. 



The Caterpillar onthe Oak Coppice. (Vol. V. p. 610.) — Sir, I should think it must 

 be the caterpillar of the Phala^na viridana (see Albert's Hist. Inst., pi. 72. under fig.), that made 

 6uch havoc on the leaves of the oak coppice, as related by Mr. Owen (p. 610.) ; and the moth, Mr. 

 Owen saw, the insect in its perfect state. Whether fumigation in severe frosty weather, in the 

 depth of winter (taking care that the fire is extinguished before night), under the trees, or in the 

 early part of the spring, would destroy the eggs or not, I leave to the consideration of those rnuch 

 better qualified to inform the enquiring mind, and thus advance the progressive state of know- 

 ledge from minute objects to those of greater importance and benefit to mankind. — Thos. Haw- 

 kins. The Haw, near Gloucester, Oct. 21. 1829. 



Caterpillars. — What will destroy those common ones which infest gooseberry 

 . and currant bushes? I have tried very strong lime water, lime, and tobacco water, soot, soap, 

 suds, sulphur, and ammoniacal liquor, but all failed. — J. M. Brighton, Nov. 1829. 



There must be some mistake as to the strong lime water ; for we can affirm, from almost daily 



