Queries and Anstsoers^ 725 



to Messrs. Austin of the New Road, 15 guineas ; and I would beg to ask, 

 through the medium of your Magazine, your friend Walter Newall, Esq., what 

 such a fountain would cost in Dumfries ? I can only say, if it cost no more 

 than the artificial stone fountain, it will evidently be preferable because 

 incomparably more durable. Perhaps Mr. Newall could send you some 

 drawings of vases, sundials, and other garden ornaments, with their dimen- 

 sions, and their prices at Dumfries. — 0. P. Q. DorMng, Oct., 1831. 



Plan of a Flower-Garden sent for our Opinion. — In consequence of the 

 notice which we gave (p. 407.), some plans have been sent us for our opi- 

 nion ; and one or tv.'o for our opinion and a plan for remodelling, with no 

 alteration in the walks or trees. One of these plans, by permission of the 

 proprietor, we now submit (jf%.]30.) ; and we publish it as an exercise for 

 the talents of young gardeners in laying out grounds. What we should 

 wish is, first, opinions as to the defects or beauties of the plan, stated in 

 few words (say, not exceeding a quarter of a page of this type) ; and, 

 secondly, plans of the same size as the engraving, for altering or remodel- 

 ing the beds in the plan submitted. The writing must be distinct, and 

 the plans neatly drawn, but not coloured, in the same style as the engraving. 

 (fig. 130.) All the information requisite to be given on our part is, that 

 the surface is perfectly flat, without any distant prospect ; that no water 

 will be admitted, nor ornamental buildings ; that the building represented 

 in the left-hand corner is the dwelling-house ; and that, to give an idea of 

 the scale of the whole, the walks are 6 ft. wide. For the best opinion, we 

 shall give Part I. of Illustrations; for the second, Elementary Details of 

 Pictorial Map-Drawing; and, for the third, the Cottage Manual. For the 

 best plan. Parts I. and II. of Illustratioiw ; for the second, Le Bon Jardinier, 

 or some book of equal value ; and, for the third, Tuempierre's Popular Lec- 

 tures on Natural History and the Sciences. Opinions and plans to be given 

 in before the 1st of May next, each with an assumed signature. — Cond. 



The Balm ofGilead Fir does not grow to any size, or come to maturity, 

 in this country. What can be the reason of this ? It dies off sooner or 

 later in all soils and situations, and it has a singular manner of dying ; i. e. 

 the sap forming blisters in the bark. What says Mr. Gorrie to this ? He 

 certainly has pointed out the principal cause of the rot in the larch, viz. " that 

 the rotting roots of the Scotch pine form, at least, one powerful agent in 

 promoting this disease," &c. From having never seen a promising second 

 crop of larch or Scotch pines, I have been led to suppose that the soil 

 had been exhausted, by the former crop, of the proper nutriment for any of 

 the pine tribe. — W. T, Aberdeenshire, Jidy, 1831. 



The fittest Plants for a Hedge required to be at once usefid and ornamental. 

 — I have a desire to plant a hedge which shall be at once ornamental and 

 useful, as a garden hedge, there being some, though not any very great, 

 danger from cattle. I have been thinking that I might effect this by plant- 

 ing privet and roses at intervals : the roses would be to the privet v/hat 

 brambles are in common hedges. What sorts are the best ? There is the 

 jRosa indica, which grows very long, and would ^oon increase ; there is also 

 a Nepal white rose, which blossoms in bunches of small white flowers in 

 the autumn, and is nearly evergreen. Do you think that they would answer ? 

 Or what would do better ? I fear they are hardly thorny enough. — X. Y. 

 London, Aug. 29. 1831. 



Ivy-clad Timber. — Our excellent friend and correspondent, Mr. Bree, 

 indirectly asks (p. 233.) whether we deem ivy harmless or hurtful to the 

 trees it entwines. We defer our answer, for the pleasure of announcing 

 that another valued correspondent is preparing for publication a work on 

 British timber, in which the benefits and injuries arising to timber from ivy 

 will be fully discussed. We are promised an extract on this subject, either 

 from the sheets or manuscript of the work. — Cond. 



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