] S-t Queries a7id Ans^wers. 



in its general greater robustness. To which, then, of the species of bota- 

 nists is this common double-flowered kind referable ? I know not, and 

 shall be right glad to learn. There is also a sub-variety of this double- 

 flowered variety, and the sub-variety is of great merit. It emanated from 

 Mr. Wood, nurseryman, Huntingdon, who observed it in a bed of the com- 

 mon, distinguishing itself from all its neighbours. It has since kept con- 

 stant to its characters ; which are, a height nearly double that of the old 

 variety, and branched laxer racemes : so that it is altogether a more 

 showy, airy, graceful plant. — .7. D. 



Capahility in the Herbage of the DiicJciueeds (^hemnce^ to resist Rotting. — 

 Sir, I sent you, some time back (Nov. 26. 1832), and without an explan- 

 ation, a moss of dried Lemna, or Duckmeat (chiefly Lemna minor) : let 

 me now say that it was for the purpose of showing you its power in 

 resisting decay. The specimen in question I picked out of a border in the 

 garden, shortly before I sent it you ; and it had been wheeled into the 

 garden along with dead leaves sufficiently rotted down to make a border 

 for flowers, in November, 1830. The Zemna must have been gathered 

 from the pond along with other aquatic plants (Potamogeton), at the very 

 least, so long ago as the summer of 1828, and probably 1827. The 

 potamogetons, and the dead leaves of the same autumn, were, as I have 

 said, sufficiently decayed to make soil for horticultural purposes in Nov. 

 1830, but the iemna remained in the state you see it, and I can still find 

 other specimens in the same border in as good a state. How comes this 

 little minute plant to continue undecomposed so long after the leaves of 

 all kinds of trees, and its brother aquatics, have been converted into soil ? 

 The aquatics, &c., when gathered, were laid in a heap to rot. — W. T. 

 Bree. Allesley Rectory, Jan. 10. 1833. 



What is the best Method of preserving Walnuts, so as to have the 

 kernel as fresh as at the time of gathering, and yet in a good dry state^ 

 and without the shells becoming mouldy? — E. S. Oct. 23. 18.32. 



A trailing Species of Plum, near Montreal. — Sir, We have a singular 

 kind of plum, near the Island of Montreal, found generally in an island 

 exactly opposite the town of Montreal, called the He a Pierre (Stony 

 Island), which is always under water in the spring. It is a creeping plum ; 

 and sometimes a single tree will cover a space of ground equal to 8 ft. 

 square. It never raises itself from the ground; and when in blossom forms 

 a very pretty sight. Attempts have been made to force it to grow upwards, 

 but without success ; the branches growing over the props, and seeking the 

 ground again. Do you know any thing of this species of plum ? — A. P. 

 Hart. Montreal, Nov. 5. 1832. 



Specimens of the plum dried when its flowers are in perfection, again 

 when its leaves are so, and again when its fruit is ripe, so as to supply 

 perfect branches, leaves, flowers, and fruit, would enable some botanist in 

 England to answer our correspondent's query satisfactorily. — J. D. 



Bark Beds. — Sir, I should be glad if some experienced gardener would 

 give, through the medium of your Magazine, some good directions for 

 managing bark beds ; and, in hope of inducing some one more competent 

 than myself, I shall give you what has resulted from my own expei'ience 

 during several years. My bed is made in a brick pit, 9 ft. long, 3 ft. G in. 

 broad, and 6 ft. deep; and contains more than two waggon loads of tanner's 

 bark. At first, I made the bed in March, of bark exposed two or three 

 days to drying winds. This heated sufficiently for a time; but when I re- 

 moved it, in September, 1 found a large portion of the tan quite dry and 

 perished, by a whitish mould, retaining no heat whatever. In the centre, 

 and towards the bottom, there was moisture, and about 75 degrees of heat. 

 I then renewed the bed by two thirds of fresh tan, just as it came from the 

 pits, without drying, and mixed it with another of the freshest old tan. In 



