Queries and /hisvoers. 737 



Which is the best Plan for a Fruit-room ? — Sir, There is one very requi- 

 site appendage to a garden, which, notwithstanding all that is written on 

 subjects connected with gardening, seems to have in a great measure 

 escaped observation ; I mean, the fruit-room. It may seem strange, but 

 it is nevertheless a fact, that I have never in my life seen a fruit-room that 

 gave me any thing near satisfaction ; and it is really somewhat strange that 

 about many splendid gentlemen's seats, where you would suppose in- 

 vention had been exhausted, they are yet sadly deficient in this particular. 

 I abstain from remark upon any existing fruit-room, and from any sugges- 

 tions on their improvement ; my object being to call the attention of 

 yourself and correspondents to the subject, and I should feel gratified, 

 and possibly so would many others, if you yourself or any of your nume- 

 rous and able contributors, would so far turn their attention to the subject 

 as to furnish the' Gardener's" Magazine with some useful information or 

 useful designs. The structure of such a thing as a fruit-room must, of 

 course, in most places, be in some degree modified by local circumstances ; 

 but, I confess, were I desired to set about erecting one, I should be very 

 much at fault. I have sometimes hardly known whether to laugh or be 

 sad at seeing, about the offices of splendid mansions, the store fruits of 

 the season huddled away in filthy holes, often over the ceilings of stables, 

 &c, among dust and cobwebs ; and in heaps (when blessed with plenty) that 

 would lead a casual observer to believe that speedy decomposition was 

 the object in view, and, with all this (absurdly enough), the poor wight of 

 a gardener is expected to supply the family with well-preserved wholesome 

 fruit. All I can say is, that such things ought not to be; and, if you, Sir, 

 and your coadjutors, will contribute your efforts, I do not despair of seeing 

 a beneficial change in the bestowing of fruits for winter use. I am, Sir, 

 yours, — J. Hislop. Ashtead Park, Aug. 23. 1832. 



A double-flowered Almond Tree. — I have now in flower a double- 

 flowered almond tree, whose blossoms have the appearance of roses. I 

 received the tree from North America, about three years ago. — M. SauL 

 Sulyard Street, Lancaster, April 18. 1832. 



The double-flowered peach tree is well known in English collections, 

 but we have not previously heard of the double-flowered almond tree. 

 Calling it emphatically a " tree " renders it impossible that that elegant 

 double-flowered little bush the Jmygdalus pumila, or double dwarf almond, 

 can be meant. — J. D. 



Double Flowers on Kirke's Emperor Apple. — Sir, I have had large 

 double flowers produced on Kirke's Emperor apple. They were produced 

 on the young snoots of this season that had extended to 6 in. from the 

 branch, and were bearing four leaves. The flowers were double, large, 

 3 in. across, and appeared, at a distance, like large double white roses. 

 They have produced no fruit. Is it common for new young shoots to pro- 

 duce flowers after shooting to the length of 6 in. ? Were these double- 

 flowered shoots taken off' in the autumn, and ingrafted in the spring, would 

 thu double-flowered variety be thenceforth perpetual ? — M. Said. Lan- 

 caster, Jidy 8. 1832. 



A Kind of Beetle destructive of Grape Vines. — Sir, I have a species of 

 beetle which has annoyed me, more or less, since 1809. My attention 

 was then first called to it by having a row of vines, thirty-two in number, 

 planted inside a vinery, totally destroyed by their roots being eaten off by 

 it. It feeds on the root of the vine in winter, and on the young shoots 

 in summer. When feeding on the roots it takes the form and colour of the 

 worm or grub [larva] which we find in filberts ; and, previously to feeding 

 on the shoots, assumes the beetle form : I intend to send you specimens 

 in this latter state. I am, Sir, yours, &c. — W. Z. Sept. 24. 1832. 



Vol. VIII. — No. 41. 3 b 



