252 



Answers to Queries, and Queries. 



India from which it appears to be deservedly held in high estimation by the 

 natives of that country. And it must be matter of regret to every lover 

 of agriculture and rural economy in this country, if this valuable plant lias 

 ever had a fair trial, that it cannot be acclimated in England, where it 

 roisht probably yield 'both profit and pleasure to all its admirers. Cap- 

 tain R says, " This is probably one of the most common, useful, and beau- 

 tiful grasses in this (India), or any other country, and it is held in high 

 veneration by many tribes of Hindoos. A natural velvet carpet may at 

 any time be formed of this elegant grass in the space of two or three 

 weeks, by merely chopping it in pieces, and sprinkling these mixed with 

 earth on prepared ground. In this way the banks of rivers, public roads, 

 fortifications, ditches, garden-walks, and marginal borders, are frequently 

 prepared in India, upon principles which unite expedition, elegance, and 

 strength in one verdant sward, which, to people unacquainted with the 

 rapidity of vegetation in these climes, has almost the appearance of en- 

 chantment. (See a Brussels' practice, p. 227.) — Perhaps Mr. Sinclairor 

 some other of your correspondents can give farther information respecting 

 this erass, and the name whereby botanists distinguish it. 



" I am, Sir, &c. n S. Lauder. 



" Glasshampton Garden, near Worcester, Nov. 8tk 1826." 



The doub-grass is the Cynodon dactylon, Eich., Creeping Dog's-tooth grass ; (Panicum dactylon, 

 E B 850 Creeping panic-grass.) A. B. Lambert, Esq. (Trans. Lin. Soc. vol. vi.j first pointed out 

 fhe identity of ItheVanicum dactylon (fig. 68.) with the doub-grass of the , Hindoos. The se«|p 

 this highly-celebrated grass in India were communicated to the Duke of Bedford, from the i.a»t 

 Indies, by the Marquess of Hastings. The seeds were sown in the experimental grass garden at 

 Woburn Abbey, where they vegetated readily, and 

 produced plants which flowered the second year from 

 seed. These perfected seed in the month of October, 

 and the plants raised from this seed the following spring 

 differed in no respect from those the produce of the 

 Indian seed. Sir William Jones observes, " that every 

 law-book, and almost every poem, in Sanscrit, contains 

 frequent allusions to the holiness of this plant ; and, 

 in the fourth Vede, we have the following>ddress to it, 

 at the close of a terrible incantation : ' Thee, O Dar- 

 bha ! the learned proclaim a divinity not subject to age 

 or death ; thee they call the armour of India, the pre- 

 server of regions, the destroyer of enemies, a gem that 

 gives increase to the fields : at the time, when the 

 ocean resounded, when the clouds murmured, and light, 

 nings" flashed, then was Darbha produced, pure as a 

 drop of fine gold.' — Again, ' May Darbha,>hich rose 

 from the water of life, which has one hundred roots, 

 and one hundred stems, efface one hundred of my sins, 

 and prolong my existence on earth for one hundred 

 years !' " (Hortus Gramineus Woburnensis, p. 292.) 



Strawberries.—" Sir— As I prefer strawberries to almost every other fruit, I should much wish 

 to have a small, yet choice selection ; namely, two sorts for the earliest crop, two for the main- 

 bearing crop, two for the latest crop, and about two or three for size and fancy. My object is 

 to prolong the season for bearing as much as possible. There are two requisites which I never 

 mean to overlook,— good bearers, and fine flavour, not merelv for show, but for use, especially for 

 the main crop. 1 presume March is the best time for setting'the plants ? — B. C." 



Early Crop. — The Duke of Kent's Scarlet, and Grove End Scarlet, are both exceedingly pro- 

 ductive, and ripen a few days sooner than the Old Scarlet, to which, however, both of them yield 

 in point of flavour : the Grove End is probably better flavoured than the Duke of Kent's Scarlet. 

 The Roseberry is an excellent bearer, and the flavour is tolerably good. The American Scarlet is 

 the latest of those deserving cultivation, with the exception of Alpines. 



For the main-bearing Crop, Keen's Seedling, and the Old Pine ; the Downton, although inferior 

 to the Old Pine in flavour, merits a place in a select collection. Probably the best for size and 

 fancy is Wilmot's Superb. To complete the selection, B. C. may add the Prolific Hautbois and 

 'the Red Alpine. The best place to procure the foregoing plants genuine is at the London H. S.'s 

 Garden ; next to that, Mr. Wilmot's at Isleworth, or Mr. Knevett's at Turnham Green. Few 

 nurserymen now cultivate strawberries, since so many have been distributed by the H. S. In 

 clayey loam, March is the best time to plant ; but having the ground thoroughly prepared is of more 

 importance than adhering to a week, or even a month in planting. — (J. B, bee. 20th, 1826.) 

 From this communication, and Vol. i. p. 421., B. C. will be able to decide. 



Improving the Alpine Strawberry ; in reply to R. S., (Vol. i. p. 471.) It is not unusual to see 

 Alpine strawberries of a tolerable size when carefully cultivated. Several attempts have failed 

 to improve them by cross impregnation.'and, although they are invigorated from seed, it does not 

 seem to be of long duration. — {J. B., Dec. Wth.) 



