574) Queries and Ans'isoers. 



gardens in which I am now journeyman. Mr. Lindsay, whom you saw when 

 you called at Raby Castle a few days ago, is noted for his large crops of goose- 

 berries and currants. He manures the soil well with leaf mould and dung 

 before planting, and every winter he digs between the rows, and adds more 

 leaf mould. In pruning the currants he keeps the bushes low by shortening 

 the young shoots to 2 or 3 inches in length. Pruning does not take place till 

 late in spring, when the leaves are half-expanded, because in this place the 

 birds are so numerous as to pick off a great many of the buds ; therefore we 

 leave them a full supply, whereas, were we to prune in the autumn, the few 

 buds left on the shortened shoots would be all carried off. — Edward Hodgson. 

 Raby Castle Gardens, Sept. 26. 184-1, 



Art. V, Queries and Answers. 



The best Plan for managing an old Orchard. — In your Magazine for Septem- 

 ber, p. 465., I find Mr. Wallace of Dunimarle invites information on the best 

 plan for renewing an old orchard. He suggests trenching, and letting the top 

 soil remain two years below to rot the turf, and exposing that dug up to the 

 weather, then mixing the whole together. This plan, though good, is not 

 equal to that of adding fresh soil; but, as Mr. Wallace justly observes, that 

 is expensive ; still it must be borne in mind that, when this is done, there 

 would be more certainty of success, and no time lost. Two years' growth of 

 trees is of much importance. 



In all cases of replanting orchards, it is advisable not to plant the same 

 kind of trees over again. Where pears grew, we should plant apples, &c. It 

 is almost needless for me to mention that replanting old orchards is of little 

 use, except something fresh is added to the soil. The better way is to plant 

 on fresh ground ; but in Mr. Wallace's case this cannot well be done, for the 

 orchard in question is walled round, and of course it is of great importance 

 to have it replenished. — J. Wighton. Oct. 1. 1841. 



Preventive against the Depredations of Snails on Wall-Fruit. — I have this 

 year had an abundant crop of fine nectarines ; but, notwithstanding all my 

 diligence and care, I have been able to preserve very few of them to perfec- 

 tion, in consequence of the nightly depredations of snails, of which I have 

 found and killed many in the morning, which had left traces of their voracity 

 during the night. My object in addressing you is to ask if any of your cor- 

 respondents can suggest a preventive of the incursions of the enemy. The 

 other side of my wall (of course the shady side) is clothed with currant 

 bushes, which afford a cool shelter by day to the snails, and at night I suspect 

 they travel over the wall. I have heard that they dislike passing across a 

 hair clothes-line ; but I would prefer to profit by the experience of any who 

 have succeeded in finding out a remedy, rather than make experiments for 

 myself, by which I should lose another year, and perhaps sacrifice another 

 crop. Besides stretching a hair line along the top of the wall, it has occurred 

 to me that thickly studding the summit with bits of broken glass might offer 

 an effectual chevaux-de-fiise . The suggestion of a remedy will much oblige — 

 An Amateur Gardener. Bristol, Sept. 13. 1841. 



We would recommend scattering over the border in front of the trees a few 

 cabbage leaves greased on the under side, and lifting the leaves every mining, 

 and collecting the snails or slugs which may be found under them. If any of 

 these are so small as to be troublesome to pick up, water them with lime-water, 

 or water in which potash or soda has been dissolved. By this means snails 

 and slugs may be completely eradicated from any garden, which is obviously 

 much better than merely protecting particular plants or crops from them, and 

 leaving the animals alive. — Cond. 



