Queries mid Answers. 233 



collections, but not plentifully ; the Otaheite has not long been known in tnls country, not is it 

 of much consequence if it had never been known at all. I tasted one lately at a meeting of the 

 Horticultural Society, and, though a handsome fruit, the flavour was little better than that of an 

 early Dutch turnip. This fact was observed by several persons then in the room, though I have 

 no doubt that the flavour was much deteriorated by its culture, as the Secretary remarked that 

 it had been ripened in a very low temperature, and that it was found to be much heightened in 

 flavour when subjected to the above low temperature. Plenty of air and heat is necessary to the 



should prefer the Jamaica, which is a very high-flavoured fruit, good at all seasons, fruiting freely 

 very juicy, and remarkably heavy for its size. If well grown, it generally attains to from 3 to 4 

 lbs. weight. If C. F. W. had wished five sorts, I should have included the Queen, the acid 

 flavour of which is much admired ; besides, it is by far the best to be placed in the hands of a 

 novice, being a very free grower, early fruiter, and of more easy culture than any other variety 

 But this and all other kinds of pines should be grown separately ; the Queen to come in first 

 then the Enville and Providence, and then the Antigua and Jamaica. These sorts will supply 

 the table till Christmas. But let me not be understood to say the Antigua and Jamaica should 

 be ripened in autumn, as the best season is from thejlst of July to the 1st of October ; but they are 

 better winter pines than any other. The Queen seen by C. F. W., with a small crown, may have 

 been the Ripley ; but the size of the crown is a poor criterion to judge by, as all kinds of pines 

 will bear crowns of various sizes. I cut an Enville pine, in 1826, which weighed 7| lbs., 16 oz. to 

 the pound, with a remarkably small crown. In the same pit were others weighing not more than 

 1§ lb., with crowns extremely large. The Ripley has generally a small crown, with the spines on 

 its leaves bent inwards, and is the improved variety of the Queen, and the best kind of pine for a 

 beginner to cultivate. I wish C. F. W. to know that I am aware there are some very eminent 

 pine-growers in his county, from whom he may obtain much better information than I am able 

 to give on the culture of the pine-apple ; and although this fruit is now very generally grown 

 the best method of its culture is as generally very little understood ; indeed it is astonishing to see 

 the difference in the appearance of pines in visiting gardens in a district of a few miles. Wishing 

 C. F. W. success in all his horticultural pursuits, I beg to say that I shall be always, most ready to 



answer every question he may ask on the culture of fruits, flowers, and vegetables. ' Yours &c. 



James Housman. Sept. 1828. 



The Culture of Ginger, with the best receipt for preserving it, and the season of 

 the year when it is fit for that purpose, is much desired by — C. M. Dec. 5. 1829. 



We shall be glad to hear from Mr. DufF, or some other correspondent, on this subject. Cond. 



Failure of Early Charlton Peas. — Sir, I am not certain whether what I am 

 about to propose is a very foolish question, or whether;it is a question for the learned ; but of 

 this I am certain, that it is rather a serious matter with me ; and I therefore beg that you will be 

 so indulgent as to allow it to occupy a spare place in the next Number of your Magazine, whereby 

 I doubt not we shall ascertain its true weight. 



On the 13th of last January I sowed some Early Charlton Peas, on a tolerably rich, dry, well- 

 tempered soil ; on the 6th of February I sowed some more of the same sort adjoining the first, and 

 other sorts adjoining these ; shortly after I began to think the first-sown ones long in coming up, 

 examined them, and found them rotten in the ground. I then examined the second-sown Charl- 

 tons, and found them in the same state. The other sorts were coming as well as ever peas did, and 

 ultimately brought an excellent crop. Now, the question is (seeing that the Charltons had equal 

 advantages with the other sorts), what is the most probable inference to be drawn from the failure 

 of the Charltons ? that it was an improper sort to be sown at that season ? or that the seed was 

 bad ? I think I may as well tell you, that I found it necessary to mention the failure of the 

 Charltons to my master, and the most probable cause (as I thought), that they were old seed. 

 My master happening soon after to meet with the seedsman, mentioned the affair to him, and he 

 pronounced me " the most ignorant man in the ivorld," for supposing that they were old seed. 

 He stated the failure to be caused by " the sudden changes they were subject to feci at that season" 

 heat and cold, drought and wet, &c. &c. I was very much surprised to learn that my master ere. 

 dited this statement; and, of course, he doubted mine. He, being an upright man, detests an 

 imposition, and doubtless thought himself imposed on by me, in one shape or other; he men. 

 tioned to me the seedsman's reply, which caused some unpleasantness between us. I" disputed 

 the truth of the seedsman's philosophy, and shall continue to do so, until I see it either supported 

 by facts, or demonstrated by philosophical truths. I trust that your readers will either correct or 

 confirm my opinion, for I am always glad to learn, and beg that you will favour me with your 

 opinion on the matter, in some spare corner of your next Number, which will greatly oblige, Sir, 

 yours, &c. — Pisum. Nov. 10. 1829. 



Comparative Advantages of Smoke and Hot writer in heating Hot-houses . — Sir, I 

 have for some time employed myself, preparatory to building a range of forcing-houses, in enquir- 

 ing as to the comparative advantages of the old smoke flues, and the recently introduced system of 

 hot-water pipes. The opinions of the most experienced horticulturists are so equally divided and 

 opposed regarding these two methods of generating heat, that I feel quite perplexed which to 

 adopt; and therefore take the liberty of addressing this letter to you, in hopes that, through the 

 medium of your Gardener's Magazine, you will be kind enough to communicate either your own 

 sentiments on this subject, or to request some of your numerous contributors to favour the 

 public and myself with a comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of both systems. I 

 ought, perhaps, to mention the opinion given to me by one experienced gardener, who has been 

 for some time working houses on both constructions, that hot water causes a decidedly more 

 luxuriant growth of wood and larger fruit, but that the flavour is always inferior to what is 

 grown in houses on the old principle. He believes the pipes are perfectly air-tight, but has never 

 used a hydrometer, and on that account the accuracy of the comparison may perhaps be ques- 

 tionable. You will also, I think, be conferring a benefit on the public, by a paper respecting the 

 application of hot water to the growth of melons, cucumbers, early potatoes, &c, in pits, accom- 

 panied by a plan. In districts where coals are plentiful, the annual expense (independently of the 

 first cost) would probably be considerably less than the use of fermenting horse-litter, and tend 

 much to prevent the disagreements between the gardener and farmer, which in all establishment 

 too frequently occur. I am, Sir, &c. — R. H. R. Feb. 24. 1830. 



The result of what we see and hear is, that the mode of heating by hot water, whether in stoves, 

 forcing-houses, green-houses, or hot-walls, is decidedly preferable to steam or smoke flues, or any 

 other mode hitherto in use. For hot-beds we do not say that hot-water is superior to dung, but 

 we think it-at all events equal to that material. — Cond. 



