92 Queries and Answers. 



odd character; and, having drunk rather too freely, went out, as it is sup- 

 posed, to turn over some hot dung which was in preparation for a cucum- 

 ber bed; and having either fallen down, or laid himself along the dung to 

 rest, he was found next day on his face, quite dead. He lived alone; 

 but nevertheless left a sort of will, in which he bequeathed his body to 

 the surgeons, on condition that they returned his bones, when they had 

 done with them, to be ground into bone manure for his own garden. Ob- 

 serve, I do not vouch for this, though it is reported among his friends, 

 and I believe it to be true. It is almost needless to say, that his relations 

 paid no attention to his request. He was buried in the usual manner, 

 but where I cannot exactly say. — John Maclaggan. Londonderry, August, 

 1831. 



We insert the above query more on account of the drawing {fig. 35.) 

 than the notice of a drunken gardener. Notwithstanding the names at 

 leno-th, we cannot help having doubts as to the authenticity of the facts. 

 We have certainly seen either^ an engraving or a house something like the 

 drawing sent ; probably in some book. — Cond. 



A Machine for hewing Stones by Steam was invented by Mr. James 

 Milne of Edinburgh, two years ago ; can you, or any of your readers, in- 

 form me if it continues to answer, and whether it would apply to basaltic 

 or granitic rocks ? If so, it will be of immense use in this country. — 

 /. W. New York, Sept. 1831. 



A would-be Suburban Gardener. (Vol. VII. p. 720.) — Should no one 

 better able than myself furnish the information desired by A would-be 

 Suburban Gardener, I will, in a future Number, endeavour to do so. I 

 should, in that case, like to occupy a page or two, to give a list of orna- 

 mental plants, and a few hints respecting their culture, which, if attended 

 to, would preserve A would-be Suburban Gardener, and many others, 

 from the frequent disappointments to which they are now exposed ; and 

 which, no doubt, tend to destroy their zest for gardening pursuits. I am, 

 Sir, yours, &c. — William Boyce. Roehampton, Dec. 28. 1831. 



A Grub-worm is making sad havoc among my strawberries, intended for 

 next year's forcing. Can you or any of your readers inform me through 

 the Gardener's Magazine, how it may be destroyed ? — John Stoveld. 

 Petworth, Nov. 1. 1831. 



History of the Lombardy Poplar (Popidus dilatdta). — Sir, In your last 

 Number (Vol. VII. p. 716.), J. D., speaking of the wood of the Lombardy 

 poplar, observes that it " is remarkably light when dry, and is usually but 

 lightly esteemed: for in-door purposes it is, however, said to be excellent. 

 Hence the following couplet appertaining to it : — 



' Though heart of oak be e'er so stout, 

 Keep me dry, and I'll see him out.' " 



I cannot speak from experience of the timber, but have always heard it 

 represented as the most worthless of woods. The above couplet, or one 

 to the same effect, I have often heard applied to the Spanish chestnut; but 

 it cannot, I think, have been originally intended to apply to the Lombardy 

 poplar, because the couplet itself is of far m ire ancient date than the 

 period of the introduction of that tree into this country. J. D. speaks 

 also, though he speaks doubtfully, of the value of poplar wood on account 

 of its "igniting very slowly." (Does he say this of poplar timber in general, 

 or does he confine the remark to that of the Lombardy poplar in parti- 

 cular ?) [J. D's remarks were rural traditions transcribed, which his ex- 

 perience neither enables him to negative nor confirm : they related to the 

 timber of poplars generally, or rather to the British species, P. nigra, alba, 

 andcanescens.] This is the character also of other species of poplar, especially 

 the abele (P. alba), of which wood, or of the Populus canescens (lam not 

 sure which), grown upon the estate, the chamber floors of the present man- 

 sion at Newbold Comyn, near Leamington, are constructed. They are of a 



