Qtieries and Answers. 731 



fruit is oflP. I Iiave been told by a friend that it is the effect of the sea air 

 after uncovering, but I can scarcely think it. I shall feel obliged to your 

 readers if they can assign any other cause. If I live and continue here 

 another season, I shall not uncover so early, and if desired I will com- 

 municate the result, lam, Sir, &c. — J.D.P. Feb. 16. 1829. 



We shall be happy to hear from our correspondent on this or on any 

 other subject. — Cond. 



Canker in Apple Trees, in answer to W. G. W. (p. ill.) — Sir, I would 

 advise W. G. W., after taking out all the cankered wood, to use the fol- 

 lowing composition : — Take fresh cow-dung, quicklime, and wood ashes, 

 of each an equal quantity : to them add a Httle sulphur, with a sufficient 

 quantity of urine to make it of the consistence of paint; and, having mixed 

 the whole well together, then, with a painter's brush, wash the trees well, 

 taking care not to miss any of the parts which are infested. I have tried 

 it on several trees in my orchard, and have found it to answer perfectly. 

 I am. Sir, &;c. — An Amateur. 



Apple Trees for an Orchard. — Sir, In reply to your correspondent, 

 J. S. L. (p. 111.), I can strongly recommend the following apples: — The 

 Nonesuch and the Newtown Pippin as autumnal fruit, and thePome-roy, 

 Brandy-apple, and the Ashmead's Kernel, all of which are good in the 

 winter and spring. The last three apples are, I believe, natives of Glou- 

 cestershire, and are to be had at the Gloucester nurseries. There are no 

 finer apples than these. — C. Lawrence. Cirencester, March 12. 1829. 



The Frankincense Pine {^hms Tes'da). — Has any of your readers seen 

 this pine with suckers, as I have heard it said that it throws up these when 

 cut over by the surface. — J. D. C. 



The Coccus ovatus. — Sir, In Vol. IV. p. 189. a reader wishes to know 

 what will kill the Coccus ovatus. I beg to inform him that I had some, 

 choice apple trees against a wall, which were much troubled with them, 

 when I thought of the following simple remedy : — I unnailed the branches 

 and poured boiling water (though I would recommend soap-suds in pre- 

 ference) on the trees, and thus effectually killed the insects which were 

 under the shreds. I doubt whether it would not injure the buds of 

 peaches, nectarines, and apricots. I have not tried it for the American 

 bug, but I think it would succeed. In cases of canker I find it best to head 

 down and scrape and clean the stock well, and then dress it well with soap- 

 suds and sulphur. I am Sir, &c. ■ — J. Haythorn. Wollato7i, Jan. 7. 1829. 



Cabbage Plants bitteji ojf. — If a Surrey reader (Vol. III. p. 381.) will, in 

 a morning, remove the soil an inch or two deep round the stems of his 

 cabbage plants which have been bitten off the preceding night, he will 

 almost invariably find the enemy in the shape of a dark muddy-green 

 caterpillar or grub, varying in length from 1 in. to IJ in. This plan, if 

 followed up, will certainly tend materially to lessen the evil he complains of, 

 and prevent an immense increase the following season. I do not ap- 

 prehend that wire worms attack the ^rassica tribe. Perhaps some of 

 your readers will favour us with an entomological description of the 

 before-mentioned caterpillar. I am Sir, &c. — A Florist. Feb. 8. 1828. 



Heaths and Ferns. — I am glad to see two papers in a late Number 

 on Heaths and Ferns, and would be glad if any of your correspondents 

 would inform me of any nursery in which these tribes are cultivated to a 

 considerable extent, as I want a supply of each. Mr. Housman gives a 

 list of ferns, which he says are to be had at " the Liverpool Garden." 

 The Liverpool Garden is, undoubtedly, the Botanic Garden, though I 

 presume he does not refer to that, as I conceive nothing is sold there. [On 

 the contrary, we believe ferns and other herbaceous plants are sold.] I am 

 quite at a loss to account for the great difference in prices at various 

 nurseries. I was furnished with a list of ferns and the prices per plant, 

 some weeks ago, by a nurseryman, being from os. to Is. each, which ap- 



