550 Effectual Method of hilling Wasps. 



ling tulips, carnations, pinks, auriculas, and polyanthuses, yet 

 nothing has been done to any extent in the culture of the 

 ranunculus, though it excels all other flowers in the symmetry 

 of its shape, and in the brilliancy and variety of its colours. 

 A bed of choice ranunculuses presents one of the most attrac- 

 tive objects Nature can exhibit in her gayest mood. There 

 you behold black, purple, and violet of every shade, mingled 

 with others as white as snow. There you see crimson, red, 

 and rose of various tints ; orange, yellow, and straw of every 

 die. Many are striped as distinctly as the carnation, some 

 are red and white, and others scarlet and gold. Numbers are 

 edged like the picotee, having white, buff, or yellow grounds. 

 Others are shaded, spotted, and mottled in endless variety. 

 The sight of such a collection instantly fills the spectator with 

 admiration and delight. I am, Sir, &c. 



Walling ford. Sept. 1. 1830. Joseph Tyso. 



Art. IX. A simple and effectual Method of killing Wasps. By W. 



Sir, 



In your Magazine, last year, you gave several very good 

 methods for destroying wasps (Vol. V. p. 277. 332. 4-38.) ; 

 but the method I by mere accident found out, the other day, 

 is still more simple and effectual than any of those you have 

 mentioned, and the whole operation does not take a minute. 



My plan is this : — When a wasps' nest is found, I take 

 about half a pint of tar in a pitch-ladle, and run part of it 

 into the hole where the nest is ; put the remainder of the tar 

 round about the mouth of the hole, and the job is done. All 

 the wasps that are in the nest are caught in their attempt to 

 come out, and those that are out are caught in their attempt 

 to go in : so that none escape. If the nest should be in a 

 place where the tar will soon get dry, it may, perhaps, be 

 better to put a little more tar round the hole the following 

 day ; as, in general, there are a great many of the wasps which 

 are out all night, and when the tar is dry it will not catch 

 them. 



It is not necessary to dig out the nest ; and the tar may be 

 applied at any time of the day, even when the wasps are most ' 

 busy. 



Within the last week I have destroyed above twenty nests, 

 and the wasps at no time made any attempt to sting. 



I am, Sir, &c. 

 C , near Winchester, Aug. 24. 1830. W. 



