Queries and Answers. 47 



somewhat injured in the foliage after the winter of 1837-8, and again after 

 the winter of 1840-1. At present the tree looks as well as ever. — Philip 

 Frost, Dropmore, Dec. 8. 1841. 



Art. V. Queries and Answers. 



Mode of preserving Seeds for a Number of Years. — Having been engaged 

 by the committee appointed by the British Association to investigate the 

 growth and vitality of seeds, with the view of ascertaining their comparative 

 longevity, to preserve and distribute seeds of at least one species of as many 

 genera as can be obtained in sufficient quantities for the purpose of carrying 

 on experiments to that effect in the garden of the Horticultural Society at 

 Chiswick, and in the Botanic Gardens of Oxford and Cambridge, 1 feel 

 anxious at the onset of taking advantage of the already known most 

 effectual mode of preserving them free from the ravages of insects, &c, for a 

 number of years, and for that purpose gladly take advantage of your pages as a 

 ready means of obtaining information ; and there also beg to record the mode, 

 at present in contemplation, of preserving them for the above experiments, 

 trusting that it may induce some one or more of your readers, who may have 

 had experience in this particular, to offer some observations on the same, 

 v/hich might lead to their better preservation. 



It is proposed to preserve the seeds in porous earthen jars of various sizes 

 (according to the quantity or bulk of each kind), in the form of common pickle 

 jars, with the exception of there being, in addition to the opening in the top 

 of a common jar, a smaller opening near to the bottom of the jar, with a rim 

 projecting just far enough to admit of its being covered, as well as the top 

 opening, with wire gauze, fine enough to exclude insects, and yet, at the same 

 time, to admit a free circulation of air amongst the seeds. They are then 

 to be stored on shelves in a dry cool room. — W. H. Baxter. Botanic Gar- 

 den, Oxford, Nov. 1841. 



Preventive against Snails on Wall Fruit. — In p. 574. of your volume for 

 1841, an amateur gardener complains of having his crops of nectarines injured 

 by snails. If the various pests ascended the walls from the borders, the plan 

 which you recommend is a surer remedy than either of the two suggested by 

 the writer ; but I consider that was not the case, and that the injury was done 

 by the Helix aspera; to be plain, I mean a kind of snails that carry their box on 

 their backs, and lodge in holes in the wall, and behind the stems and foliage of 

 the trees. The best remedy is to search for them ; their hiding-places may be 

 discovered by the slime they leave wherever they go. In the winter, a dozen 

 or two may be found packed together behind the stem of a large tree, or in a 

 hole in the wall. Thrushes destroy many of this kind of snail, by breaking 

 their shells against stones or branches of trees. The snails in question are 

 fonder of unripe apricots than nectarines; but there are two other large kinds 

 of snails, without shells, which often attack the latter, the common grey, and 

 one of an orange colour ; both are easily caught by frequenting the trees at 

 night with a lighted candle. — J. Wighton. Cossey Hall Gardens, Nov. 13. 

 1841. 



The Dwarf Oak of Australia. — The dwarf oak is a handsome prickly-leaved 

 evergreen, making such a tall close hedge as not only to afford good shelter to 

 the field, but defy either pig or bullock to break through, while it furnishes a 

 good annual crop of pig-food in its acorns, besides a crop of that valuable article 

 in dyeing, the gall-nut. The wonder is, that, from the above qualities, it has 

 not been introduced into England, where it would soon change the whole 

 winter aspect of the country, the hedgerows exhibiting throughout the year 

 the bright green freshness of perpetual spring. (Cunningham's Hints for Austra- 

 lian Emigrants.') Can you inform me what plant is alluded to in the above 

 extract ? — W. H.B. Botanic Garden, Oxford, Nov. 1841, 



