Queries and Answers. 303 



Art. V. Queries and Answers. 



Fitzwalters known also by the name of the Round House, was situated 

 opposite the nine-mile stone on the London road, in the parish of Shin- 

 field. In 1301 the estate was the property of Robert Earl of Fitzwalter. 

 The mansion, now destroyed, was built by Mr. John Morecroft, in the 17th 

 century, after an Italian model, and was an object of general observation and 

 curiosity, being of an octagon form. Notwithstanding this singular shape 

 each floor contained four square rooms ; the centre of the house was occupied 

 by the chimnies ; and staircases filled up two of the intervening spaces between 

 the square rooms, while the remainder formed small triangular apartments, 

 devoted to dressing-rooms, closets, &c. The interior was built chiefly of 

 timber, the girders being of very large dimensions. Fitzwalters was many 

 years the property and country residence of Mr. T. Wright, the banker, of 

 Henrietta Street, of whose representatives the late Mr. Hall, grandfather of 

 the present possessor, purchased the property. (Chelmsford Chronicle, as 

 quoted in the Times, March 30. 1839.) 



I should be greatly obliged to you, or to any of your readers, for a refer- 

 ence to any source from which I could procure plans, elevations, and sections 

 of the above-named mansion ; a friend in North America having it in contem- 

 plation to erect something of the kind in a very elevated site. — T. S.W. London, 

 April, 1839. 



Kolreuteria paniculata and Liriodendron Tulipifera are said not to be at- 

 tacked by insects in this country, and the reason assigned is, " the absence 

 of the insects which prey upon them in their native countries." I find this 

 statement made by Dr. Robert Dickson, F.L.S., in a series of papers written 

 by him in the Church of England Magazine, entitled Natural Theology of the 

 Vegetable Kingdom, and they occur in the third volume. Not having been 

 aware of the above facts with respect to the two trees named, I shall be glad 

 to know how far the experience of others of your correspondents agrees with 

 the statement. It would also be interesting to be informed whether Dr. 

 Dickson has made the statement on his own authority, or whether he can give 

 chapter and verse for it. — Clericus. London, Dec. 1838. 



Grevillea. vosmarinifolia. — In Paxton's Magazine of Botany, vol. iv. p. 47., 

 published in 1837, it is stated, that Grevillea 7-osmarinifdlia has been found to 

 be completely hardy in the Epsom Nursery. Has it stood the winter of 

 1837-8 ? — J. A. B. January, 1839. 



The Leek Gros-Court is said to be a monstrous variety of leek, cultivated by 

 M. Duvillers in the neighbourhood of Paris. It seems to be a perennial, 

 because, when cut over, it soon springs up again. It is said to be found also 

 at Rouen, where it produces stems 13 in. in circumference. Its duration 

 is said to be only three years. It ripens seeds, which reproduce the same 

 variety. M. L. La Croix, a partner in the house of M. Vilmorin & Co., says, 

 it is almost the only leek cultivated at Rouen, and also that it is cultivated 

 in England, under the name of the London Flag. We should be glad to know 

 something more about it, not only for the sake of our readers, but because 

 the leek is a very favourite vegetable of ours, especially when grown to a large 

 size. — Cond. 



Art. VI. Foreign Botanical and Horticultural Agency, by William 



Pamplin, Jun. 



" The death of Mr. Hunneman, who has for a great number of years 

 transacted, in the most prompt and liberal manner, the business concerns con- 

 nected with the purchase and transmission of books and parcels of so laro-e 

 a portion of naturalists both of this country and the Continent, will be lone 

 and severely felt. But it is with great pleasure we can announce that Mr. 

 Wm. Pamplin, jun., botanical bookseller, of Wandsworth Road, London, and 



