432 Queries and Answers. 



testacea of Linnaeus. The perfect insects appear in the spring, when the 

 whitethorn is in flower, which they frequent in great quantities. They after- 

 wards go to the raspberry when it is in flower, and the female deposits her 

 eggs in the embryo fruit. When the grub is full grown (at the time when 

 the fruit is just beginning to decay), it falls to the ground, into which it burrows, 

 and becomes a pupa resting till the next spring. — J. 0. Westwood. Hammer- 

 smith, June 27. 1842. 



The Florets of Centaurea moschata sensitive (?). — I have remarked here, on 

 repeated trials, that the florets of the disk in Centaurea moschata, or common 

 sweet sultan, are completely sensitive, continuing to move spontaneously long 

 after the finger has been removed. Can you inform me if this be a distin- 

 guishing character of the species in general, or merely the effect of a tropical 

 climate ? — A. B. Patna, East Indies, March 31. 1842. 

 i Hanging Bells in Trees. — The following answer to a correspondent is from 

 a manufacturer of bells well acquainted with the subject : — "In answer to 

 J. D., respecting hanging bells in trees, to be moved by wind, I think it would 

 have a very pretty effect ; for even those that are hung round the necks of 

 sheep, which are not tuned, are in general very much liked. Were they 

 properly tuned they would have a much more harmonious sound. I am much 

 surprised that bells are not used on the grounds of the nobility and gentry, 

 and I have no doubt they would be used, if they knew the effects they would 

 produce, and where they were to be procured. They could be fitted up to 

 play by machinery any tunes required ; or to ring changes : the works could 

 be moved by a small stream of water, or by weights. If musical bells were 

 placed on the top of a building in a turret, they would have to be moved by 

 weights ; if they were to be moved by water, an erection could be made on 

 purpose. I believe that most persons that would like to have such bells think 

 they would be very expensive, as they think they must have large bells to 

 produce a deep tone ; but that is not the case, as the same depth of tone can 

 be produced from much smaller bells, but of course not so loud. — J. F. 

 Drury, Musical Bell Manufacturer, Red Lion Street, Clerkenwell. July, 1842." 



Growing the Pine-Apple without Bottom Heat. — In the Gardeners Magazine 

 for 1840, p. 240., it is stated that in the gardens at Kingsbury there are some 

 fine pine-apple plants which never had any bottom heat, and that nothing 

 could exceed their vigour and healthy appearance. Having commenced the 

 cultivation of a few plants of this fine fruit, on a principle in some respects 

 similar to that of the late Mr. Knight, I feel much interested in anything 

 relating to the method which appears to have been so successfully followed 

 by that gentleman. If this should meet the eye of Mr. Beaton, perhaps he 

 will be good enough to communicate his mode of culture. — A Subscriber. 

 Winton, May 25. 1842. 



Grafting the Apple on the Willow. — I see that you have got a very intelli- 

 gent correspondent, N. M. T., residing in the neighbourhood of Folkstone. 

 I have had some conversation with a most respectable inhabitant of that 

 place, concerning the deterioration of the common apples grown in the Folk- 

 stone orchards, which, he said, was noticed and lamented by all the apple- 

 eaters in that quarter, and attributed to the cupidity of the nurserymen in that 

 corner of the county, who, to get their young trees fit for sale as soon as 

 possible, graft the apple upon the rapid-growing willow ! I of course doubted 

 whether such a feat was practicable ; but, after consulting with his neigh- 

 bours, he reassures me that such is a fact. Perhaps your correspondent 

 above alluded to can set us right on this curious matter. — J. Main. Elm 

 Terrace, Fulham Road, Chelsea. [Our correspondent, N. M. T., will probably 

 be able to inform us of the origin of such an absurd report, which cannot 

 have arisen at Folkstone without some local cause, which it is at all events 

 desirable to know.] 



