280 Queries and Anstsoers. 



pollen or some other accident. But these, be it remembered, are only changes 

 of the form or colour, or qualities of pre-existing entities ; and, moreover, 

 in many cases, it is not the seeds, but their appendages only, that are changed, 

 as exemplified in the orange, pear, plum, &c. Mr. Lymburn adduces corro- 

 borating proofs of his positions from anatomy, and from that obscure branch 

 of botany called morphology. I feel unable to follow him into the first ; and 

 as to the last, whoever adopts its principles can easily account for whatever ir- 

 regularity may take place in the natural forms of vegetation : but on this ground 

 any excessive birth of buds may be accounted for, though the morphologist 

 may render himself obnoxious to the keen satire of Mr. Mudie, namely, that 

 " organic matter is of so docile a nature, that it is more plastic than Hamlet's 

 cloud, and seems quite ready for sea or land, for plant or animal, and may 

 become a sea-weed or a lichen, a lettuce or a lion !" 



All that Mr. Lymburn has advanced concerning the potato, both by way 

 of comment on Mr. Aitken's statements, as well as his own opinions and 

 instructions thereon, are excellent, and well worth every potato-grower's 

 notice. I admire what he has written on the subject, and think it a pity so 

 useful a paper should bear on its face any thing like uncertainty or doubt as 

 to any other part of vegetable phenomena, with all of which Mr. Lymburn 

 is doubtless so well acquainted. It is for this reason I have ventured to 

 make the above remarks, and trust that these matters, as we are both in 

 search of truth, he will take in good part, and excuse the liberty I have taken 

 with his name. — J. Main. March 6. 1840. 



Art. V. Queries and Answers. 



Winter Garden of St. Petersburg. — In an early Number of the Gardener^s 

 Magazine, you gave a very interesting account of the winter gardens of Berlin. 

 Could you not get one of your correspondents to send you a detailed de- 

 scription of the winter garden of the emperor's palace at St. Petersburg, 

 which, from the description of travellers, seems to be upon a most magnificent 

 scale. The list of plants, the method of warming, the temperature kept up ; 

 all these particulars would be very interesting to your numerous readers, and 

 to me in particular, who am building a house solely for the purpose of getting 

 flowers to bloom in winter, roses, honeysuckles, jasmines, &c. Mr. Penn 

 is of opinion that without the combined influence of the sun, even his im- 

 proved method of heating and ventilation will not succeed in producing the 

 effect I wish. Directed by the article in the March Number of your Magazine, 

 I went to Lewisham to view the various houses heated by Mr. Penn's new 

 method, and was really astonished at the effect produced. I should judge that 

 the garden at the winter palace of St. Petersburg must be just in its prime 

 at this time. — Siirreyensis. March 6. 1840. 



Alton Towers. — In answer to Mr. Allen's query, we are informed by a gen- 

 tleman who has lately been at Alton Towers, that travellers in their own 

 carriages have been admitted by tickets from the inn to see the armoury, 

 picture galleries, statuary, house conservatory and elegant suite of apartments, 

 chapel, &c., as well as the garden, and its conservatories, umbrageous walks, 

 and waterfalls ; and respectable travellers in carriages have been admitted 

 by ticket to see the gardens only. — Cond. 



Moorpark Apricot. — Permit me to ask, through the medium of your ex- 

 cellent Magazine, if there is any stock on which the Moorpark apricot can be 

 grafted that would obviate the disappointment of seeing nearly half the tree 

 suddenly dying. Being in my opinion the only apricot worth eating, I feel 

 very anxious to preserve it. — J. IV. D. London, A2ml 9. 1840. 



