Queries and Answers. 123 



of a sort which I had never seen before.' This description of the situ- 

 ation may be sufficient to excite enquiry, though not to discover the very 

 place, perhaps : but we can hardly suppose that the rose was confined to 

 one garden, most probably it is generally cultivated through that district. 



" In acclimating plants from China, we have succeeded so well, that I will 

 not despair of seeing the Nymphasa nelumbo, the red water lily of 

 China and the Ganges, growing in our ponds. The first situation to be 

 tried is so near the spring head that the water never freezes. The experi- 

 ment should be made in different waters, some running over gravel, others 

 over chalk, loam, or bog-earth. Some one of these soils might suit the 

 plant, when any of the others would not : but, if it tailed in all, then we 

 might suppose that it died from the cold. But as we know that water is 

 much more equal in temperature than earth or air, I cannot but think that we 

 might succeed. Suppose the experiment were first tried in Devonshire, or 

 in Ireland, where the winter is much more mild than with us. If the plants 

 grew, we should be able rapidly to increase them, and disperse them over 

 the kingdom. Like our own white water lily the leaves would fall off in 

 the autumn, and the root would be at rest during the winter. Had I the 

 opportunity I should certainly make the experiment. When the superb 

 oriental garden at Brighton is brought to perfection, I hope they will intro- 

 duce the beautiful fire-fly of Portugal and Naples; half an acre inclosed 

 with glass, and 60 feet high, would give ample space for these splendid and 

 harmless insects to breed and enjoy life. Sir, your well-wisher, 



Rosticus in Urbe. 



" To feed Pheasants, Blackbirds, and Thrushes in the winter, nothing is 

 better than boiled or roasted potatoes. — R. in U." 



Trottel Plant. — " In the Farmer's Calendar a plant is mentioned of the 

 name of Trottel, said to have been brought from Labradore, and to have been 

 cultivated near Greenock and at Bristol ; it is said to be of the potatoe 

 kind, to be planted in August and September, to grow rapidly all the win- 

 ter months, to be hurt by no frost, and to come to maturity in the spring 

 months. What is it? Is there any such thing? — R. in U." 



No. The story of the Trottel plant, or Trottel root, was a hoax 

 played off in 1823, on the editor of the Monthly Magazine. — Cond. 



" The Aster Argophyllus ; or, Mtcs/c Plant of New Holland, past the win- 

 ter of 1816, 1817, without any kind of shelter in Mr. A. Thomson's nur- 

 sery at Mile-End : what is become of it ? Is it found to be hardy ?" 



It was killed to the ground in 1819, 1820. The plant, however, will stand 

 the winter in cold pits. — Cond. 



A Lamp for keeping the frost out of a small greenhouse is inquired for by 

 Mr. Isaac Strebling of Mistley, Essex. We have heard of such a lamp, but 

 cannot ascertain where it may be purchased. Any sort of oil or grease may 

 be burned in the saucer of a flower-pot, and a large pot, supported on two 

 bricks, whelmed over it. This we have tried in a pit with success. In 

 Mech. Mag. vol. vi. p.315., a lamp for heating smoothing-irons is described, 

 which might do. — Cond. 



Turning in Green Crops in Bloom. — To X. X. This practice, which was in great 

 repute among the Romans, is supposed to be rather neglected by the moderns. The 

 former people used the lupine. The plant in most general use at present is the 

 buckwheat, of which two, and sometimes three crops, may be ploughed down 

 in one season. Sown in March, it will flower in May; ploughed down 

 and the same ground re-sown, the plants will flower in two months, say 

 on the 1st of August ; again ploughed down, and re-sown, the crop will be fit to 

 be turned in on the 1st of October, in good time for sowing rye or wheat. Co- 

 lumella says, " If lupines are sown in a poor soil, and covered about the 16th of 

 September, and when they have grown to a proper height turned into the land with 

 the plough or spade, they will discover the qualities of the very best manure. On 



