Queries and Answers. 161 



way, I am indebted for a knowledge of the recipe before recommended. It is 

 this: — "In answer to your question respecting my pines, I am happy to inform 

 you, that all my succession plants are now quite clean, and are growing as well 

 as I could wish them. In destroying the insects, I was obliged (from the 

 want of pit room) to deviate a little from what was my practice when you 

 were with me, inasmuch as I was obliged to attempt their destruction in the 

 pine-stove ; and in that I have succeeded as well as I could wish. The follow- 

 ing was the plan taken. I syringed the plants three times a week with soap- 

 water heated as usual, I kept the axils of the leaves filled, and the front path 

 of the stove flooded with soap-water ; and I kept the house as warm as I could 

 consistently with the proper management of the vine. This treatment was 

 continued for upwards of a month ; and I now believe there is not a living 

 insect on any of the plants." I shall not add any thing to this corroborative 

 statement, further than to say, that the plants, when I saw them in August 

 last, bore as extensive marks of the insect as I ever saw : in fact, the leaves re- 

 sembled those of J/(C2<6fl japonica, so far as regards spots, more than pine leaves. 

 I am sorry I have not the leave of my friend to make his name public ; I, how- 

 ever, for the satisfaction of yourself, give his address, and you can inquire 

 whether my statements are correct. With reference to J. B. W. knowing an 

 instance of more than one published remedy failing, I do not doubt it; neither do 

 I question the correctness of his statement, of four different gardeners in succes- 

 sion, for forty years, vainly endeavouring to extirpate this insect : but these fail- 

 ures, probably, were not the fault of the recipes, but arose from some error in the 

 application of them ; or, if they were bad, J. B. W. must not thence infer that all 

 recipes are the same. I know an instance myself of a gardener, in one of the 

 midland counties, who has failed for upwards of twenty years in his attempts 

 to extirpate this insect ; and to a question that was put to him by an acquaint- 

 ance of mine, he answered, that he had grown as good pines as his neighbours 

 with dirty plants, and he did not think it worth his while to trouble himself 

 any more about cleaning them ; and, perhaps, added he, " some other person 

 will get them by and by, and then he can clean them." 



As respects the rather invidious thrust which J. B. W. makes at my having 

 sojourned in a country " prolific in the white scale," however sarcastic it may 

 appear in the eyes of its author, it is, perhaps, beneath notice. I may, how- 

 ever, just observe, that the fortunes of all men are not alike. Some young 

 men, in acquiring a knowledge of theii* profession, have to plod as journeymen 

 for many years, and in that time may pass through six, eight, or even more 

 gardens, in all of which they may possibly see more or less of the white scale j 

 while others, more fortunate, after having served their apprenticeship (or even 

 before that is expired), may, through the patronage of some influential friend, 

 be recommended to a nursery, or to horticultural or botanical gardens, and, 

 after remaining there for a short time, then, as if by magic, be wafted across 

 the country into a master's situation. 



In taking leave of J. B. W., I wish it to be understood, that I am actuated 

 by no personal motives in continuing the discussion. I am as open to con- 

 viction, and as anxious for the truth, and nothing but the truth, to be stated, 

 as he possibly can be. I do not, however, fancy fighting with a shadow. 

 I shall, therefore, expect J. B. W., in his next letter, to come from behind the 

 pale of an anonymous signature, and, fully and fairly before the public, to give 

 his name and address, and then I will do the same, and, at the same time, in- 

 form hiin of other recipes that luUl destroy the scale ; but, should he not think 

 proper to do this, here my labour on this subject will cease, and I shall remain 

 L. 0, L. Ch'mvick Gardens, Nov. 2. 1835. 



Art. III. Queries and Ansivers. 



The inherent Poiuer of Soils to convert Foreign Substances into their oivn 

 Nature. — I do not recollect reading in your Magazine any thing upon the 



