Answers to Qiieries, and Queries. 253 



Laying out and planting small Gardens. — " Sir — I am extremely pleased with your Maga- 

 zine, and doubt not it will do much good, particularly if you continue to devote a fair proportion 

 of its pages to the consideration of such subjects as will be generally useful to the middling classes 

 of society, through whom they are more likely to be made generally known among the poor than 

 by their more opulent neighbours. 



" The Clergy, I doubt not, you will find powerful supporters, and they will readily communi- 

 cate useful knowledge as you supply them. Permit me to request information on a subject that 

 will be useful to thousands" besides myself. 



" When gardens are not originally laid out and planted by intelligent persons, there is little or 

 no attention paid to the kinds of fruit-trees, nor are they so selected as to ensure a succession of 

 fruit through the greater part of the year, and in consequence there is a short feast, followed by a 

 very long fast. This is a tender subject for me, my predecessors having left me six large pear 

 trees ; viz. three Chaumontel, and three Swan's Egg. 1 have certainly an immense quantity of 

 fruit, but they come in and go out nearly at the same time. An equal number of trees of different 

 kinds, properly selected, would supply me handsomely for some months. The same judgment has 

 been displayed in apple trees. 



" If you could furnish a plan for a moderate-sized garden, and add a list of the best apples 

 pears, plums, cherries, grapes, &c, you would render incalculable service to a large proportion of 

 persons possessing gardens. 



■'* I should like to know the kinds of pears you would recommend for budding or grafting on 

 standard trees, as I purpose to do so to some extent, and vary the produce of my present trees. ■ 



" I am, Sir, &c. Zig Zag!"" 



" Forest, Dec. 16th, 1826." 



The following pears will succeed as standards about London : perhaps grafts of some of the 

 sorts may not be easily procured without sending to Brussels, which, however, can be done 

 through any London nurseryman. The selection is made chiefly from above 200 sorts, character- 

 ised by Parmentier (Hort. Trans, vol. v.) as very good, (v. g.) ; good, (g.) ; and moderate, (m.) 

 The great value of the selection is the circumstance of all the sorts ripening as standards, at least 

 in the climate of London. Those marked (*) we have tasted, and know to deserve the characters 

 given by Parmentier and Mr. Braddick. 



July. Muscat Robert, (m.)* Gros Muscat, (g.) Winter. Josephine, (v. g.) Poire Canning, (v.g.) 



Aug. Epine verte d'et<§, (g.) Jargonelle, (v. g.) * Dec. and Jan. Gloux Morceaux, (v.g.)* Roi de 



Autumn. Bergamotte Silvange, (g.) * Beurre Rome, (g.) 



rouge, (g.) * B. verte, (g.) Jan. BezijVaat, (v. g.) Louise Bonne, (g.) * 



Sept. Bergamotte Paysans, (v. g.)* Rousselet de Jan. and Feb. Passe Colmar, (v. g.)* P. C. gris, 



Rheims, (v. g.) dit Precel, (v. g.) * 



Sept. and Oct. Fondante d'Havay, (v. g.) Bon Feb. and March. Orange d'hiver, (m.) l'lncom- 



Chretien d'etd, (g.) * municable, (m.) 



Oct. Fondante de Brest, (v. g.) Epine d'hiver, March. Duchesse de Mars, (g.) 



(g.) March and April. Gros Romain (m.) Berga- 



Oct. and Nov. Beurre 1 Spence (v.g.) * Marie motte de Paques, (?/z.)*Beurre Ranee, (v.g.)* 



Christien, (v. g.) * April. Fondante Batave, (g.) la Favorite, (g.) 



Nov. Beurre Capiaumont, (v. g.) B. Crappaux, April and May. Muscat Allemand, (m.) Bezi de 



(v.g.) B. d'Afflighem, (v. g.) Marie Louise, Caissoy, (g.) 



(v.g.) Napoleon, (». g.) * Urbaniste, (v. g.) * May and June. Bergamotte de Pentec6te, (g.)* 



Dec. Beurre Diel, (v. g.) Pastorale, (g.) Present Ramelier, (m.) 



de Malines, (v. g.) * 



With respect to the plan of a garden, so much depends on situation and local circumstances, 

 that we fear we could be of little use to our correspondent, unless we had the data and desiderata 

 of his case ; but we shall consider what can be done, and we invite our contributors to do the same. 

 We may take this opportunity of stating, that we can at any time refer such of our readers as may 

 desire it, to contributors, or good practical gardeners, who would be happy to be employed at a 

 moderate charge to give plans for gardens, or to lay out grounds in any part of the country. 



A selection of dessert apples, cherries, plums, &c. for a small garden is much wanted. We could 

 supply it from the published lists; but as we could not add much to what is already in our Ency- 

 clopaedia, we would rather see it done by some experienced gardener. We should like to have 

 lists for the Orkneys, Cornwall, and all the intermediate climates : Mr. Robertson of Kilkenny 

 can supply us for Ireland. We have given the above list of pears without hesitation, because, 

 the good sorts being mostly new, we, through our friends Mr. Braddick and Mr. Oldaker, know as 

 much about them as many practical gardeners. The knowledge of French and Flemish pears is 

 but in its infancy ; in proportion as it spreads, the enjoyments of the dessert will be increased and 

 prolonged. 



Select Gooseberries. — "I have many large and good sorts of gooseberries ; but the following 

 kinds are the most useful, and I consider the number sufficient for a small garden. 



" Isaac Oldaker." 

 Bumbullion ; small yellow, used for bottling. Alcoclc'sDuke of York ; rough red, large and 

 Keen's Seedling ; rough red, grows dwarf. fine. 



Warrington ; rough red, grows upright. Cheshire Lass ; rough white, early and large ; 



Lancashire Lad; rough red, very large and the best I know for gathering green for tarts, 



fine. as it comes earlier to a size sufficient for that 



purpose than any other gooseberry. 



The whole of our correspondent's desiderata, and especially the lists of fruits, we recommend 

 to practical readers and contributors. — Cond. 



Dissecting Leaves. — " Sir — I wish to be informed by what process leaves can be dissected. The 

 general method is by keeping them under water ; but I imagine there must be some quicker 

 method of decomposing the green part. I have lately seen very perfect specimens both of leaves 

 and flowers, or rather parts of flowers. I have the honour to be,_&c. 



" Rectory, Milton Bryant, Woburn, Bedfordshire." " J. F. Mansfield." 



The most beautiful specimens of dissected leaves which we have seen were prepared by Mr. 

 Crowe of Kensington, (p. 232, and part iv.) ; but aa he makes it an object of profit, he declines 



