242 Queries and Answers, 



Art. VI. Queries and Answers. 



TRAINING the Branches of Espalier Trees downwards. — I shall feel obliged 

 to any of your readers for their opinions on the following suggestion, as to 

 planting standard apple and pear trees behind espaliers, and training the 

 branches down over the front. Would it have the effect of increasing the 

 fruitfulness of the trees by the inclination of the branches downwards ? — Jas. 

 Mitchinson. Pendarves, March 20. 1834. 



Training Trees on Trelliswork arched over the principal Walks of a Garden. 

 — Would it not be making the most of a garden, to have trees trained to trellis- 

 work over the middle and cross walks ? Suppose standards were planted, 

 their branches might be trained over to the side opposite to that of the stem 

 and roots, which would give an inclination downwards, the real effect of 

 which I should be glad to be informed of ? Would not iron bars, an inch 

 square, fixed in stones, and placed at proper distances, with cross-bars from 

 one upright to another, as stiffeners, and small rods of a quarter of an inch in 

 diameter, put through holes at about 8 in. distance, make a very light and cheap 

 trellis for this purpose ? It would also be very durable, if kept well painted. 

 — Id. 



The Wyken Pippin Apple. — I think I have heard that this favourite apple 

 was raised from seed in the neighbourhood of Coventry, and that every cottage 

 garden in that part of Warwickshire has a tree or two of it growing in it. Can 

 any of your readers tell me if this is correct, and where the parent tree is to 

 be found ? The tempestuous wind at the beginning of last September blew 

 down the finest old apple tree in this nursery ; the stem of which measured 

 more than 5 ft. in girth ; its branches extending many yards. We suppose 

 this tree to have been about eighty years old ; it was a Wyken pippin ; and 

 plants from it were easily distinguished by their peculiarly upright growth 

 when the trees were young, and by the flatness and spotted yellow skin, with 

 a rich aromatic flavour, of the fruit, when it was ripe. — T. Rivers, jun. Saw- 

 bridgeworth Nursery, Feb. 1834. 



[In the second volume of this Magazine (p. 486.) our correspondent will 

 find all the particulars of which he desires to be informed.] 



Packing Grapes, (p. 84.) — The following is the mode of packing grapes 

 which I adopted with success for many years, having to send them nearly 

 three hundred miles. A box having been prepared, a bed of clean wool, well 

 separated, was laid in the bottom, on which a layer of grapes was placed ; each 

 bunch being separately enveloped in tissue paper. A portion of wool was 

 then introduced between each bunch, and all the interstices filled up with it, 

 and then a layer of wool put over the top. For a second layer, a small ledge 

 of wood was fixed at each end in the box at the level wanted, and a thin board 

 made to fit in easily, so as to fall down upon the ledges ; in the board there 

 were two finger-holes made with an inch centre-bit ; and the board, being fixed 

 down upon the ledges, with a couple of small brads at each end, driven in 

 half-way, a second layer of grapes was laid in as above, and so on for a third 

 layer, if wanted. I think Mr. Wilson will find the above method of fixing in 

 the separation board an improvement upon his mode ; at least I preferred it, 

 after trying both ways. The finger-holes I also found very convenient for 

 getting out the board, after drawing the small brads with a pair of pincers. In 

 cases where wool is an object, or may be thought too expensive, moss well 

 dried, cleaned, and thrashed, will be found a tolerably good substitute ; but 

 the superior elasticity of the wool renders it preferable. — T. Ridger. Short- 

 grove, Feb. 1834. 



The Cornish Hollick. — There is an Allium grown in some of the cot- 

 tagers' gardens in Cornwall, which is commonly called there hollock, or 

 hollick, and the tops of which are used by the common people for making 

 pies. I should be glad to know its botanical name ; also the botanical name 

 that is attached to the variety of Allium Cepa, called the potato onion. — 

 T. Rutger. Short-grove, Jan. 1834; [As to the latter, A. Cepa var. aggregatum.] 



