Answers to Queries, and Queries. 249 



public libraries, and for all other classes at the usual charge, would be of 

 immense use ; and so convinced are we of this, that if the Horticultural 

 Society do not establish some such library, we shall endeavour to procure its 

 establishment. Such a library would not interfere with private garden 

 libraries, for the expense of carriage would be an effectual barrier to its 

 being made use of by working gardeners at any distance from the depot. But 

 such libraries in all large towns would be of the greatest use to their inha- 

 bitants, and those in the vicinity. We recommend their formation to all 

 whom it may concern. The sooner reading is rendered a necessary of life 

 among all classes the better. 



Presents of Books received to be presented to Garden Libraries : — J. P. 

 Burnard, Esq. 5 vols. R. S. 1 vol. A Lady, a French Dictionary and 

 Grammar. J. P. Masey, 10 vols. " as a mark of approbation, but not to 

 be estimated by their value ;" also, by J. P. Masey, a case of French 

 Tables, " to be given to any gardener who is endeavouring to acquire the 

 French language, with the intention of travelling on the Continent for pro- 

 fessional improvement." Anon, a Gunter's scale, and a few old school 

 books. 



Books distributed : — 5 vols, from J. P. Masey to No. III. G. L. second 

 class. 



Value of Books. — In the want of books which the late Miss Benger, 

 author of Memoirs of Mrs. Hamilton, and other meritorious works, suf- 

 fered, she informed Miss Aikin, that it " was her common practice to plant 

 herself at the window of the only bookseller's shop in the little town which 

 she then inhabited, to read the open pages of the new publications there 

 displayed, and to return again, day after day, to examine whether, by good 

 fortune, a leaf of any of them might have been turned over." — Ltt. Gaz. 

 Every circumstance of this sort ought to be turned to profit by the young 

 gardener : first, let him be thankful to his master for the use of books ; 

 secondly, let him show this thankfulness, by assiduity in their study and per- 

 usal ; and, thirdly, let him reflect, that, however arduous his desire of know- 

 ledge, it can hardly surpass that of Miss Benger. 



Art. VI. Answers to Queries, and Queries. 



Finlaysoii's Harrow and Grubber. — R. W. of Northampton having seen 

 in the Times newspaper some account of " a new implement which has 

 been used for stirring up the surface of the ground in Hyde Park," is de- 

 sirous of knowing what it is, our opinion of its value, and whether it be 

 described in our Encyclopaedia of Agriculture. 



In the first place, as to what it is, it may be described as a harrow com- 

 bining a grubber or cultivator. The advantages which it possesses over 

 other implements of the same kind are thus related by the patentee. 



" First, From the position by which the tines are fixed, their points C^g-. 66. a a a a a) hanging 

 nearly on a parallel to the surface of the land, it follows that this implement is drawn by the 

 least possible waste of power. 



" Secondly, from the curved form of the tines, all stubble, couch, &c. that the tines may encoun- 

 ter in their progress through the soil is brought to the surface, and rolled up to the face of the 

 tines, when it loses its, hold, and is thrown off, (at bbbbb) always relieving itself from being 

 choked, however wet or foul the land. 



" Thirdly, the mode by which this harrow can be so easily adjusted to work at any depth re- 

 quired, renders it of great value ; this is done as quick as thought, by moving the regulator (c) 

 upwards or downwards between the lateral spring (de) ; and by each movement upwards into the 

 openings (fghik) ; the fore tines (J. Ill) will be allowed to enter the soil about an inch and a 

 half deeper by each movement into the different spaces, until the regulator is thrown up to (e), 

 when the harrow is given its greatest power, and will then be working at the depth of eight or 



