722 Queries and Answers. 



the cheapest in the end. One advantage of using the saw is, that the 

 roots of the stool are not shaken by it, as they are by the stroke of the 

 axe ; and taking out a piece of the bark, or ringing as.it is termed, in the 

 early part of the winter, is also advantageous, in as far as, before the top 

 is cut off, the bark is firmly united to the wood of the stool ; by means of 

 which there is no shrinking, as is the case when the bark and wood are 

 cut at the same time and the sap is rising. Consequently there is no 

 opening between the wood and bark for the lodgement of rain-water, or 

 moisture of any kind, to cause the stool to decay. I am, Sir, yours, &c. — 

 James Munro. Brechin Nursery, Oct. 1833. 



The Box Tree. — As the wood of this tree is now greatly in demand for 

 the wood cutters (see Penny Magazine, supplement for Oct.), how far 

 would it be worth while to make plantations of it in those parts of Eng- 

 land where it is understood to have been formerly abundant ? How 

 many years would the tree require before its trunk became fit for use ? 

 Would it be advisable to try the Balearic box ? — E. H. Green. October, 

 1833. 



Pumping. — What disease among larch trees is meant by this term, used 

 in p. 553. ? — W. T. Bree. Allesley Rectory, Oct. 19. 1833. 



The Female of the Lomhardy or Turin Poplar {Vopulus dilatdta L.). — 

 Has it yet been established in this country ? In 1830 it was in Vol. VI. 

 p. 419.) stated that M. C. A. Fischer, of the Gottingen botanic garden, 

 had succeeded in finding one female ti-ee amongst many thousand male 

 ones around Gottingen, and that he had sent cuttings of it to the Botanic 

 Garden at Bury St. Edmunds, which had failed to grow. — C. M. W. 

 London, Sept. 10. 1833. 



On cidtivating Xanthochymus fmctoi'ius Jlox., in relation to the Question on 

 cultivating the Mayigosteen, ashed in p. 378. — J. B., in asking, in p. 378., 

 for information on the method of so cultivating the mangosteen in Europe 

 as to cause it to produce fruit, refers to your mention, in p. 150., of the 

 mangosteen's being in cultivation in M. Boursault's collection. You have 

 joined J. B. in requesting some facts on our mode of training this plant, 

 which I readily communicate ; but it unfortunately happens that the plant 

 you have mentioned as the true mangosteen (Garcinia Mangostdna L.) is not 

 that species, but the Xanthochymus tinctorius J?o.r.,figured in Roxburgh's 

 work. The Plants of the Coast of Coromandel, t. 196. With regard to this latter 

 plant, M. David, of whom you have spoken in p. 147., has communicated to 

 me the following facts : — His tree is growing in a round box, 18 in. in dia- 

 meter, plunged in a bark bed in the stove. The soil which agrees with it is 

 pure heath mould, or rather heath mould, mixed with common garden soil, 

 or turfy loam. The plant is 5 or 6 feet in height, and is devoid of branches 

 for 2 or 3 feet up ; the branches then commence, and form a rounded head, 

 of no very great circumference. It is not upon a trellis. The stem at the 

 bottom is not so thick as my wrist. The plant bears fruits as large as fine 

 green gage plums (belles Reines Claudesy, either single, or more frequently 

 united in twos, threes, or fours, and with flavescent flowers. It has 

 borne fruit for several years, and receives no particular treatment. It 

 is necessary that it be kept in a hot and moist atmosphere, in a good 

 hot-house J but, above all, the roots of the plant should be constantly kept 

 very warm. If the heat of the tan be weakened, or if the plant be kept 

 any time out of the tan, it is immediately perceivable by the foliage. The 

 fruit, M. David states, is delicious, and always cool, although gathered in a 

 very warm atmosphere, and eaten immediately. M. David has raised 

 several plants from the seed of his tree, which appear to be as vigorous as 

 their parent. He has now two about 18 in. in height, both of which are 

 thriving very well. — L. L. L. Paris, July 6. 1833. 



