378 Queries and Afisiaers. 



high, moist temperature, where each miniature, glossy green, lance-leaved 

 bush was surmounted by a gorgeous crown of white, formed by one, and 

 sometimes two of the well known, large, snow-hued, exquisitely fragrant 

 flowers. — J. D. 



Extirpating Daisy Plants from Turf. — Sir, I had hoped to see, before 

 this, an answer to a query proposed by J. (Vol. VI. p. 615,), respecting 

 a remedy for destroying daisies; but, as no one has attempted it, I shall 

 endeavour to lay before your readers the only method I am acquainted 

 with. In the month of March, let the turf be pared off to the thickness 

 of about an inch, and, when dry enough, let it be thrown in heaps, and 

 burnt : afterwards let the ashes be thrown regularly over the surface ; then 

 procure some fresh grass seeds, and, having sown them, let them be well 

 raked in; then, if any daisies appear, they may be taken out with a spud, 

 as you suggested : but to talk of destroying them by this means, in such a 

 case as that mentioned by your correspondent, reminds me of a plan I 

 once read of (I think) in the Fai-mer^s Journal, to destroy ants, which was 

 not only sure to effect their destruction, but also to find emploj'ment for 

 all the poor people in the parish ; a thing very desirable at the present 

 time, as labourers are so very plentiful. As near as I can recollect, it was 

 this : set as many persons on as you can procure, even if they have only 

 one hand ; let them sit down by the side of the hillock, and catch the 

 little insects as they come up; let them be paid by the thousand, and 

 appoint some of the most honest among them as overseers, in order that 

 they may not cheat in the number. To return to the daisies, if the 

 piece of turf be small, it may be removed, and some that is free from 

 daisies laid down in its stead. It may not be amiss here to mention the 

 cause of so many daisies being often seen. It is usually occasioned by 

 gentlemen not allowing a sufficient number of men to mow the grass 

 before the daisies go to seed; for, if a few only remain to drop their seeds, 

 they will soon spread, and spring up all over the lawn ; and, as they also 

 propagate by the root, a small plant soon becomes a large bunch. The 

 truth of this observation may be seen, by noticing a single plant by the 

 side of a walk, if left undisturbed ; when the parent and offspring will show 

 themselves like a hen with her chickens all round her. — O. 



In cultivating Carnations, is any injury likely to accrue to them from 

 using iron stakes to support their flower-stems ? That is, as iron is ad- 

 mitted to act injuriously on the physiological system of plants, which 

 imbibe a portion of its properties through their roots ; has any one 

 witnessed an observable injury produced on plants of carnations, from 

 iron stakes designed to support their flower stems fixed in the soil about 

 their roots ?— i?. H. Cambridge, March, 1833. 



Information asked on cultivating and fruiting the JMangosteen (^Garcinia, 

 Mangostana jL.). — Sir, In Vol. II. p. 223., M. Soulange Bodin mentions 

 that the mangosteen had fruited in a stove of M. Boursault's ; and in Vol. 

 IX. p. 150. you mention that, among the rarities contained in one of the 

 stoves of that gentleman, there was Garcinia Mangostdna. Now, I wish to 

 know whether, or not the plant has ever produced its fruit again ? whether 

 or not it did so in tolerable plenty ? and whether its treatment was at all 

 peculiar ? Was or was not the plant trained on a trellis, and what was 

 its height 'i — J. B. May 6. 1833. 



We hope our friends in France will supply to our correspondent, who 

 is attempting the culture of the mangosteen in Britain, all the information 

 in their possession. — Cond. 



What are the best Methods of raising Salads in the Winter, and Mushrooms 

 all the Year f — Sir, Could any correspondent do a greater service to 

 English gardeners, than communicating, for their use, the best descriptions 

 of the French mode of raising salads in the winter, and mushrooms 



