Queries and Answers. 447 



The whole of the article from which we have quoted is anything but credit- 

 able to the Monthly Chronicle, whether we regard the matter which it contains, 

 or the manner in which it is written. — Cond. 



Mr. Niven's Theory of the Motion of the Sap. (p. 161.) — With reference 

 to Mr. Niven's communication, p. 161., I may state that several branches of 

 figs, which I ringed in 1836, have not yet healed over, but still seem quite 

 healthy, having, in 1837, produced fruit and leaves, and again this year the 

 same. The two principles noticed in Mr. Niven's article, (fig. 21.) are very 

 apparent. — G^. M. E. Ripley Castle, April 5. 1838. 



Art. IV. Queries and Anstoers. 



"Lupi^NUS CruicJcshdnksii. — We beg to send you the measurement of a Cruick- 

 shanks lupine now growing in Miss Bacon's garden at Seharunpoor, and shall 

 feel obliged if you will compare it with similar plants of English growth. It 

 was produced from the seed of a plant raised from seed imported from 

 England. The flower of last year was grown in a pot : the one now de- 

 scribed is in the free ground. The soil was not particularly good, but pre- 

 pared with farm-yard manure. It is curious that seeds raised from the same 

 plant which has produced this lupine have not succeeded at all well. Though 

 grown in similar soils and situations, in some cases under more favourable 

 circumstances as to soil and climate, viz. in Dezrah and Hoon, there are now 

 a few plants not exceeding 2 ft. in height, and the side stems very scanty and 

 poor. As neither of us ever saw this plant in England, we apply to you for 

 information as to its relative goodness, compared with those of English 

 growth. The measurements have been all fairly taken with a tape this day, and 

 the seed was planted at the end of September last. Measurement : — Extreme 

 height, 3 ft. 6^ in. ; circumference, 9 ft. ; round the stem at the ground, 4f ft. 

 28 spikes of flowers, including the centre one, which is 22§ in. long, with 13 

 rows of flowers, and 89 blossoms. — G. Bacon, Bengal Civil Service ; and F, 

 Wheeler, Captain Brigade-Major. Seharunpoor, Feb. 27. 1838. [We shall 

 be much obliged to any of our correspondents, who possess information re- 

 specting the bulk which iupinus Cruickshanksii attains in England, if they will 

 let us know what relation that bulk bears to the dimensions given by our 

 correspondents in India. — Cond.] 



Gas-Tar, I beg to inform your correspondent W. (p. 395.), is not injurious 

 to fruit trees, if confined to the stems and larger branches; possibly, however, 

 it would injure the young wood. I have known it laid thickly on the stems 

 of wall-trees (peaches, apricots, and pears) which had been barked by hares, 

 and the wound speedily healed afterwards : it is, in fact, an effectual pre- 

 servative of trees from the attacks of these mischievous vermin. I believe, 

 also, that gas-tar is the best destroyer of the small oval coccus which is so 

 injurious to the apple and pear tree ; and yet that insect is so little known, 

 that no notice whatever is taken of it by writers on gardening. — J. B. W. 

 Alts. 12. 1838. 



Art. V. Covent Garden Market. 



The supplies to the market, during the last month, have been generally 

 good and regular. The prevalence of wet, during the early period, prevented 

 the ready sale of many articles ; but as yet we have had little left on hand : 

 from day to day, the market has been generally cleared. Peas continue to 

 come to hand plentifully, and of excellent quality ; French beans in great 

 abundance, very cheap. Potatoes are furnished very freely from all parts, the 

 quality very varied, as may be seen by the price, from 2/. to 51. per ton. 

 Pears are very plentiful; also plums, of most of the varieties, especially 



