Qiieries and Answers. 121 



but whoever tries the above experiment, 1 could wish them to take care 

 that the poor toad is not shot along with the sparrows, for I do not know 

 a more useful animal in a garden than it is. Incapable, in general, of doing 

 any harm, it does a great deal of good : its food consists entirely of insects, 

 many of them noxious to vegetation, and for taking which the toad is fur- 

 nished with a tongue of a peculiar conformation, which it darts out on the 

 insect, and suddenly draws it in with it quicker than can be calculated. 

 With regard to the sparrows, much as they are in general execrated, they 

 are, notwithstanding, productive of much good. During the time of their 

 breeding season, vegetation teems with numberless caterpillars of different 

 sorts, and other noxious insects, which they labour to destroy, for it is on 

 them they bring up their young ; and I always take care not to have the 

 nests round my cottage destroyed. Much might likewise be said in favour 

 of many other birds, that are by farmers and others but too generally deemed 

 injurious ; but I fear, Sir, I have already trespassed too long on your valuable 

 time. [Not at all, the account is most interesting.] — I remain, Sir, &c. 

 " Harlow, Oct. 28th, 1826. D. French." 



Black Insect on Cherry Trees. — " Sir : Your correspondent, W. B. B. 

 Sanctuary, Devonshire, in vol.i. p. 359. of your Magazine, wishes for 

 some remedy for the black fly on his cherry trees. Query, have the roots 

 of his May Duke against the south wall been injured by digging or other- 

 wise? If not, if he can procure a good barrow-full of fattening hog's dung, 

 (this is the season to get and apply it,) let him lay that on the surface of the 

 ground at the roots of the tree. I have seen surprising effects of "that manure 

 on cherry trees. S. L.'s answer at page 464. is, I think, excellent, and with 

 respect to his treatment of peach and nectarine trees, though I have not 

 used his wash, I use a small brush made of heath, and after unnailing the 

 tree, the wall is well brushed with this instrument, and not a single shred 

 used again, nor suffered to lie under the tree. Should you consider any of 

 these remarks worthy your notice, they are much at vour service. 



" I am, Sir, &c. 

 " Hitcham Gardens, Nov. 25d, 1826. Wm. Hurst." 



Black Insect on Cherry Trees. — " Sir : Seeing in vol i. p. 359. of your 

 Gard. Mag. an answer to W. B. B. concerning what is generally called the 

 black blight, I beg leave to say that the remedy there suggested^will 

 neither effectually destroy nor prevent the increase of these enemies of 

 the peach, plum, and cherry tree. Where the trees are much affected, or, 

 if I may use the term, habitually so, it might be worthy of the attention of 

 some of your scientific correspondents to spare some of their leisure 

 hours on that particular, for the benefit of their more humble fellow- 

 labourers in the vineyard. I am, Sir, &c. G." 



" Dec. 8th, 1 826." 



Be/use Tobacco, Tobacco Paper, or Tobacco Water, for destroying Insects. 

 G. R. is informed that these may be had at the shop of John Lloyd and 

 Son, 77. Snow-Hill, and of various other tobacco and snuff" manufacturers, 

 at the price of 4s. per lb., Is. ed. per lb., and 1*. 6d. per gallon. 



System of cropping Gardens. — " What I should like much to see intro- 

 duced into your useful Magazine, is some hints respecting a general system 

 of cropping a kitchen-garden. If you look round a little you will see a 

 great deal of patch-work, and little regulation in general. I grant that the 

 same end may be answered for the present, but ultimately a regular system 

 must prevail "in all things. If this subject be not taken up by some more 

 competent hand, I shall some day try something of the kind. 



1 « I am, Sir, &c. G." 



We earnestly invite our correspondent to do so soon. Properly treated, 

 few subjects are calculated to be so useful, both to the gentleman's gar- 

 dener and the cottager. — Cond. 



