Qiieries and Ariswers. 495 



called them. They are large, white, mealy potatoes, of excellent flavour, and 

 for roasting superior to any I ever tasted. I remember, in one year (a most 

 favourable season, when the land was also in an excellent state), that these 

 potatoes averaged 1 lb. each. Some weighed 22 oz., and few less than 12 oz. 

 I shall have great pleasure in sending W. M. a few from my growing crop, if 

 he will favour me with his address. 



The present season seems to be unfavourable : there are far too many gaps 

 in my field. I have dug in several places, but have found no trace of the 

 potato or set. — R. L. July, 1836. 



Erratum. — In p. 483. line 18. of a few copies, delete the words " reversed 

 hairs." 



Art. V. Qiieries and Anstvers. 



Destruction of Crickets, (p. 376.) — It is, perhaps, not generally known, that 

 birds will destroy crickets. Major mentions an instance, where a sparrow 

 had become sufficiently familiar to enter a kitchen, of its carrying off a large 

 cricket (JMajor on Insects, p. 231.); and there is no doubt but that other 

 birds would do the same. — J. C. Wimbledon, July 5. 1836. 



Destroying Crickets in Hot-honses. (p. 376.) — The effectiveness of the method 

 mentioned by you of destroying them by drowning in a basin of water baited 

 with crumbs of bread, I have frequently witnessed. Crickets with me are 

 favourites, and my old chimney is a favourite residence of theirs. By the side 

 of my fireplace I have a copper fixed, which is seldom used but on washing 

 days : into this copper a number of them, owing to the lid not fitting verj' 

 tight, find their way, and cannot get out without help. From this circum- 

 stance it is evident that any glazed vessel sufficiently deep would answer the 

 purpose; and, no doubt, if baited with food, such as crumbs of bread, it would 

 be more effective. They could be instantly killed by boiling water from a 

 tea-kettle. By boiling water from a tea-kettle, poured on ants' nests, the 

 ants are instantly destroyed. I have found it to have the same effect in de- 

 stroying the wood bugs [woodlouse, or pill millepede. Armadillo vulgaris Latr., 

 and, perhaps, Porcellio scabra Latr., occurs too] when poured from the spout 

 into the breeding-places (behind those blocks in the corners of garden frames 

 which support the boards), and to any crevices to which it can be applied. 

 By having the water boiling, the insects are dead in a moment, without one con- 

 vulsive struggle. — J. Denson, sen. Waterbeach, Cambidgeskire, July 20. 1836. 



Tkrips destroyed in Cucumber and Melon Frames, without Injury to the Cu- 

 cumber or Melon Plants. — Take 4 oz. of tobacco, ^oz. of the flower of sulphur; 

 mix the sulphur with the tobacco, and smoke the frames with it, with bellows 

 and tube, in the usual way. The sulphur must be well broken, and well mixed 

 with the tobacco. Any leaves which happen to lie on the soil should either be 

 propped up with sticks, or taken off. — Agronome's Nephew. June 21. 1836. 



A gardener, who has been much troubled with the thrips, assures us that 

 he once filled his frames with the smoke of sulphur alone, to such an extent, 

 as to kill the plants ; and that on the following day he observed many of the 

 insects still alive on the dead leaves : perhaps the tobacco may add to its 

 efficacy. — Cond. 



Destroying the Scale on the Pine-Apple, (p. 375.) — Allow me to request your 

 correspondent L. O. L. to favour me with a correct answer to the following 

 simple questions : — 



1. Is L. O. L. sure that the pines of his " friend," in Bedfordshire, to which 

 he alludes, were entirely clear of the white scale at the time he reported 

 them to be so ? 



2. Is L. O. L. sure that they are clear " even now ?" 



3. What may be L. O. L.'s reasons for not publicly giving the name and 

 address of his friend? His friend surely can have no objections that his name 

 be publicly known, if he has been so successful in clearing his pine plants ! 

 But Mr. L. O. L. informs us that he is sorry, very sorry indeed, that his Bed- 



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