138 
QUERIES AND ANSWERS. 
Propagation of Double Camellias by Cuttings. —I have not yet seen 
an explanation of my query, with respect to the propagation of double Camel¬ 
lias by cuttings. 
Natural Orders. —Perhaps in one of your future numbers, you would give 
the commencement of a list of the plants that are ranged under every order ac¬ 
cording to the Natural System of Jussieu, as 1 have perceived many alterations 
in the placing of plants; for instance, you have put the Camellia into a new 
order, or rather have constituted it an order, although Loudon in his Encyclo¬ 
pedia of Gardening ranges it under “ Auranteae also u Ribes” which you have 
made (page 663) one of the “ Grossulariae” but which he puts under “ Cacteee 
also Tropaeolum, (page 663,) &c. &c. &c. 
List of Plants and Culture of the Iridea:. —Would you, or some of 
your correspondents, give a selection of Roses, Tulips, Auriculas, Ranuncu¬ 
luses, Carnations, Polyanthuses, Gladiolus, Amaryllis, &c. &c. &c. Also the cul¬ 
ture of the natural order u Irideae,” and also “ Asphodeleae” and “ Hemerocalli- 
deae,” in the same concise and excellent way, in which your correspondent “ Ar¬ 
thur” has done that of “ Amaryllideae.” 
M. Saul’s Dahlia Stand. —A short time since, I showed your correspondent 
Mr. Saul’s description of a Dahlia, &c. Stand, to a cast-iron manufacturer , who 
told me, that pieces of cast-iron of the length aud thinness of that mentioned, 
would be as brittle as glass. 
I am, &c. &c. H. L. T. 
Daphne Pontica Rosea. —With you, or any of your correspondents, do me 
the favour to inform me of the proper method of treating the Daphne Poutica 
rosea. And also of the best time and manner of sowing the seeds of the Rhodo¬ 
dendron aud Azalea. An answer to these enquiries at your earliest convenience, 
will oblige Daphne. 
December 1C )th, 1832. 
Polishing Stones. —I should be much obliged, by your inserting in an early 
number, some easy and effective means of polishing stones. If any of your cor¬ 
respondents will give a favourable answer, they will greatly oblige your humble 
Servant, C. E. A. A Lover of Nature. (See p. 90, of the present Vol.) 
Talc. —In reply to your correspondent, Vol. 1, page 427; and your 
own request, page 846. I can inform him, that he may procure what he is in 
search of, at Mave’s, in the Strand, or any other of the Mineralogists; but he 
will find it too high in price, to admit of being made available for any Horticul¬ 
tural or economical purposes, whether if there were a demand for it in quanti¬ 
ties, it might not be obtained at a far cheaper rate, I am not prepared to say, 
but deem it more than probable. It is, however, Mica, not Talc, which he must 
mean. The former is perfectly transparent, flexible, and elastic, and occurs of¬ 
ten in large masses, which split into thin smooth lamellar plates. It is found 
the most abundantly in Siberia, where it is used instead of window glass. Talc 
is not nearly so hard, yielding to the nail, and though flexible is not elastic; is 
greasy to the touch, and generally far less transparent than Mica. It occurs in 
Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, and Perthshire; but the finest specimens are brought 
from the Tyrol. Sparry Gypsum was made use of in ancient times for windows. 
The blue clay of England affords it; and in the beds of Gypsum, in the Paris 
basin, I have found it perfectly transparent, (which it often is) and affording 
large and perfect plates. J: C. K. 
