Queries and Anstvefs. 243 



mode of addressing them or theii- employers, and stating that we should be 

 most happy to receive descriptions of the gardens and residences named, and 

 of such others as may be deemed worthy of notice. It would be very desir- 

 able if, in addition to descriptions, such bird's-eye views of the residences 

 could be sent us as are given in the Encyc. of Gard. p. 71., and p. 371., 

 fig. 352, second edition. As such views can only be prepared by a clever 

 artist, it is not expected that gardeners can supply them ; but we trust 

 some of their masters will not consider it too much to render this service 

 to the gardening world. The descriptions or views and maps will be first 

 given at length in this Magazine, and afterwards abridged and inserted in 

 the statistics of the Encyc. of Gard. — Cond. 



Specific Gravity of Fruits and Roots. — Doubtless some of your readers 

 have tried the specific gravity of various kinds of fruits and vegetable 

 roots; I presume a table of this kind would be very acceptable. — 

 B. Bevan. Leigkton, Feb. 1. 1831. 



Undoubtedly, and we should be greatly obliged to any correspondent 

 who would supply information of this kind. — Cond. 



Preserving Botanical Sj)ecimens. — I should be greatly obliged to any 

 one who would inform me, through the medium of the your Magazine, of 

 the best and most economical method of preserving botanical specimens. — 

 G. J. P. Nov. 4. 1830. 



The best plain short Treatise on Gardening. — A short time ago, one of 

 my acquaintances wished to know if there was any plain and short treatise 

 on the simple elementary parts of practical gardening ; such as might enable 

 very young persons, without any other guide, to cultivate a small spot 

 of ground. Such a work would have a twofold value, it would give an 

 inducement to young persons for taking healthful and rational exercise, 

 and produce at the same time a taste for reading. Such a treatise may be 

 considered below the notice of a professed gardener ; but would doubtless 

 be well received in the country. — B. Bevan. Leighton, Feb. 7. 1831. 



Mawe's Every Man his own Gardener, or Cobbett's English Gardener^ 

 may be referred to. — Cond. 



Porcelain Labels. — In Part II. of your Illustrations of Lmidscape-Gar- 

 dening, you mention what I think a very ingenious plan for placing 

 porcelain plates in sunk panels, on the tops of brick-like wedges of terro- 

 metallic composition. Are you aware of the best mode of writing and fixing 

 the names on the porcelain plates ? 1 recollect asking Mr. Duff some years 

 ago how this was done, and I think he told me that the generic names, which 

 are black, were written with Indian ink mixed with spirits of turpentine ; and 

 that the specific names, which are red, were written with Venetian red and the 

 same spirits. These labels I understand did very well in the green-house ; 

 but in the stoves the heat and moisture obliterated them. I believe there 

 is a better way of fixing the names, independently of the mode adopted by 

 Mr. Boursalt of burning them in ; but with this mode I am unacquainted. 

 Perhaps some of the china manufacturers could inform you. By the way, 

 I think you ought to give a panoramic view of Britton Hall in your 

 Illustrations. The noble domical hot-houses, and the gardens rising one 

 above another, would form one of the finest things of the kind I know. 



— F. N. B. Newark, Jan. 1831. 



We sent to Messrs. Spode, from whom we have at diiFerent times pur- 

 chased china labels and other articles; but they declined giving us the 

 information requested. We have no doubt there are other china manu- 

 facturers disposed to act more liberally ; and we should be glad to receive 

 the information sought by our correspondent. — Cond. 



Pump for raising Cow 'Urinefroin a Tank into Carfo. — Which is the best 

 kind ? Buchanan's, Siebe's, or whose ? Where can the best be obtained ? 



— A Constant Subscriber. Durham, Jan. 31. 1831. 



R 2 



