Queries and Ansiicers. 555 



you will be able to induce him to send you an account of his management of 

 fruit trees. He recommends tiles for the surface of the border, instead of the 

 stones alluded to by Mr. Errington. I had ocular demonstration the other 

 day of the good effects of preventing fruit trees from getting their roots into 

 a bad subsoil. At Riccarton, the seat of Sir James Gibson Craig, Bart., all the 

 wall borders, except ( I think) the east and west aspects, are paved with rough- 

 dressed stones, raised very near the surface at the wall, and sloping to the 

 depth of 2 ft. at the walk. The trees on the borders thus treated are vigorous, 

 and without a decaj'ed leaf; while those planted in the common way are more 

 or less mildewed. This struck me the more forcibly, as all our trees in this 

 neighbourhood on cold and retentive subsoils are, this season, through want 

 of sun and excess of moisture, covered with mildew, insects, and disease ; 

 while the trees at Riccarton are in high health and beaut}'. Every thing con- 

 nected with the garden bespeaks a spirited proprietor, and a skilful gardener 

 in Mr. John Young. — William Henderson. Oxenford Castle, near Edinburgh, 

 Aug. 1836. 



Soot and Ashes as Manures to Laivns. (Vol. II. p. 470.) — I have never been 

 able to apply soot so as to give quite satisfactory results ; but have applied 

 coal ashes very successfully : if on rather stiff soils, without any admixture; 

 but if on more sterile or gravelly soils, with the addition of one half of fine 

 garden or vegetable mould. The coal ashes must not be those from hot-house 

 furnaces, but house ashes finely sifted. The first mowing will be a little 

 troublesome ; but the grass roots seem to delight in the small porous particles 

 of half-burnt cinders of which this mixture is composed ; nor will worms 

 work much where this is applied. I need hardly add that thorough raking or 

 bush-harrowing is necessary, and I always add a little of the following seeds: 

 i^estuca duriuscula and ovina, yigrostis stolonifera, and Trifolium minus. — 

 William Henderson. Oxenford Castle, near Edinburgh, Aug. 1836. 



Objections to Pruning. — Mr. Ward (p. 407.) objects to pruning, and yet 

 says, " by cutting out in the process of thinning all those branches which are 

 of a contrary description, you may obtain a due selection of the wood-producing 

 stems." This surely is to recommend pruning. The fact is, by taking out 

 every year not less than three, or more than five, of the largest and strongest 

 branches of every tree, beginning always at the top, and cutting them quite 

 close to the stem, you greatly enhance the growth of the leader. In short, 

 any fool can plant a tree; but it requires a man of some science to raise 

 timber. Suppose only four branches are removed annually, in 20 years 80 large 

 branches are taken away, which would add to the bole both in length and 

 girt; letting in sun and air to the plantations; and preventing the extending 

 branches of hedgerow timber from injuring the corn and grass, and excluding 

 the light and wind from the roads. — Anon. Cambridge, Aug. 1836. 



Art. IV. Queries and Anstvers. 



Av' CVB A japonica refuses to grow, or to live, when planted near the stone 

 sinks of a drain in the garden of a friend of mine: what is the probable cause 

 ot this circumstance ? — B. B. S. 94. Great Russell Street, Sept. 1. 1836. 



Frogs luill eat Wasps. — Is this generally known ? — Id. 



Two Crops of Grapes in one Year. — Perhaps your correspondent, Mr. J. 

 Waldron (p. 336.), will oblige us with a more particular detail of his mode of 

 producing two crops of grapes in one year; and also, if there are any parti- 

 cular sorts which he can recommend, his method of cutting, and the like ? — 

 J. Watt. Colchester, August, 1836. 



Coal Siftings are used for laying on garden walks in many parts of England, 

 near collieries. Is there anything that will make them bind? Rolling has. 

 no effect. At present it is impossible for a lady wearing light-coloured shoes 

 to walk upon them, without getting her shoes soiled. — J. P. Dudley. 



