Queries and Answers. 605 



This, however, is only negative evidence, and might be met by L. O. Z.'s 

 broadly asserting that he has had " ocular proof" that the white scale may be 

 killed by several of the remedies now in use. Few gardeners have been so 

 fortunate as L. O. Z. ; few, indeed, have had, or would desire to have, more 

 than one opportunity of ridding their pine plants of this pest : but it seems 

 that he has sojourned in a country which, whatever else it may be capable of 

 producing, is most prolific in the white scale. 1 think, therefore, that, for the 

 satisfaction of myself and others, he ought clearly and explicitly to detail the 

 ^yhole of the different processes to which he alludes. I am open to convic- 

 tion ; and, as truth is my object, will readily confess myself in the wrong when 

 L. O. Z. has proved me to be so ; but at present, in spite of hot water, I con- 

 tmue sceptical. — J. B. W. September 5." 1833. 



Art. II. Queries and Anstvers. 



The Botanic Garden of Edinburgh in 1682. — " The physicians of Edinburgh 

 were incorporated in 1682 by Charles II., and have their college, with hand- 

 some gardens, in the Fountain Close, near the Nether Bow. Here is also an 

 excellent physic garden, on the north side of the city, between the east end of 

 the North Loch and the College Kirk, which lies very low, is extremely well 

 sheltered from the north and east winds, and abounds with simples and exotic 

 plants. Here also silk worms are bred. Dr. Alston, the professor of botany 

 in the university, has also another physic garden on the north side of the outer 

 court of the palace of Holyrood House, which contains a vast variety of curi- 

 ous plants." (Gent. Mag., vol. xv. p. 690.) Can any of our i-eaders inform us 

 if there are any trees or shrubs still existing in either of these gardens, which, 

 from their size or age, are supposed to have been planted by Dr. Alston ? If 

 so, what are their names and dimensions ? — Cond. 



Culture of the Vine in Australia. — Of all our colonial possessions, Australia 

 seems the most likely to become eminent as a wine country, and it is desirable 

 that the public should be furnished with some account of the progress of the 

 culture of the vine in our Australian colonies. I see from advertisements in 

 New South Wales papers, that vineyards, containing some thousands of vines 

 in full bearing, are attached to most farm properties j but I do not see colonial 

 wine in the list of home produce in the price-currents. The interesting work 

 of Mr. Busby, who travelled through France and Spain to observe the mode 

 of cultivating the vine in those countries, for the philanthropic purpose of in- 

 troducing an improved mode of culture into Australia, has rendered the success 

 of his exertions an object of general interest. Mr. Busby is, I believe, at pre- 

 sent in New Zealand ,• but pei'haps Mr. Shepherd, to whom Australian horti- 

 culture is under great obligations, ^ould supply the information. 



An account of the mode of culture of the vine in Australia, of the necessity 

 for trenching * and irrigation, of the kinds that are the most approved, of the 

 quality of the wine, and the prospects of the colony as a wine country, would 

 be gratifying to many, as well as to — Cicestriensis. Ajtgust 6. 18.35. 



The Canker on Cucumber Plants. — Among the most useful and experimental 

 remarks given in your Magazine, I do not recollect seeing a remedy for that 

 destructive disease the canker in the cucumber. This disease is prevalent, and 

 most ruinous to some cultivators, during the winter months ; yet no one has 

 informed us in your Magazine how it is to be removed. Should this meet the 

 eye of any gardener who has practically proved a cure, by detailing his method 

 through your Magazine, he will render a very great service to the public, and 

 to none more than to — Charles Shuttleworth. Broxbourn Bury, September 30. 

 1833. 



* Dr. Lang, in his recent work on the colony, states that the utility of 

 trenching is a disputed point among cultivators. 



