240 Queries and Answers. Obituary. 



and such like articles are recommended. Such mixtures as the latter re- 

 mind me of the heterogeneous mass of nauseous stuff which enters into the 

 composition of specifics, which have, frequently, nothing but their dirtiness 

 and want of simplicity to recommend them ; and whenever I see such pre- 

 scriptions without explanations of their use, I am led to suspect quackery. 

 — R. T. March 3. 1842. 



In Calendars for Cottage Gardens I could point out various errors and 

 absurdities. The truth is, gentlemen's gardeners are not, from their ex- 

 pensive modes of raising produce, so well fitted to become instructors of 

 cottagers as market-gardeners, who have a rent and living to make from their 

 skill and labour. — R.T. 



Art. V. Queries and Answers. 



Seymour's Mode of training the Peach. — I duly received yours of the 23d 

 ult., and, in reply, beg to say that, in my opinion, Seymour's system of tree 

 training, if properly understood, is by far the best I have seen practised. It 

 is generally much admired in this part of the country, and deservedly so, but 

 there are men who pretend not to like it ; but they are, I am convinced, 

 those who do not thoroughly understand its merits. It is a method of train- 

 ing that will produce the finest and most beautiful tree in the shortest time, 

 It likewise produces the finest fruit, and for this reason, that, if well attended 

 to, there is nothing left on the tree in the shape of wood or fruit that is not 

 wanted, consequently, the whole sap and strength of the tree are thrown into 

 the principal shoots and fruit. I have trained on this system eighteen or twenty 

 years, and with the most gratifying results. I have six trees on one wall, 

 that three years ago, I think I may say without fear of contradiction, were 

 never surpassed for their age in size and beauty ; but then, unfortunately 

 thinking I had too many principal or main shoots, 1 cut away one from each 

 side of my trees, and owing to the severity of the winter before last, as I 

 fancy, it caused most of the shoots of the trees that those were cut from to 

 fail, so that I lost two branches instead of one. However they are fine trees 

 still, and this experiment will teach me not to cut old shoots out of peach 

 trees if it is possible to avoid it. It is a practice I would advise all other 

 gardeners not to follow. — Jas. Tinker. Byram Gardens, March 5. 184-2. 



Art. VI. Obituary. 



Died, February the 16th, at his residence, Ladbrook Terrace, Kensington 

 Gravel Pits, Archibald Menzies, Esq., F.L.S., &c. Mr. Menzies was an ardent 

 lover of plants, and the discoverer of many Californian species, dried spe- 

 cimens of which he brought home between thirty and forty years before seeds 

 were introduced by Mr. Douglas. Among these plants may be mentioned 

 Ribes sanguineum. Mr. Menzies sailed round the world with Vancouver as 

 surgeon, and is supposed to be one of the last, and perhaps the very last, sur- 

 vivors of those who made that voyage. Some of our readers will recollect 

 Mr. Menzies's brother, who was curator of the Edinburgh Botanic Garden at 

 the end of the last century. The gentleman who has just died had the same 

 amiable manners and obliging disposition : he had attained upwards of eighty- 

 eight years of age, and died after a very short illness, experiencing at this or 

 any period of his life scarcely any bodily pain. 



