186 
QUERIES AND ANSWERS. 
PART III. 
MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 
I.—QUERIES AND ANSWERS. 
Talc, a Substitute for Glass. —In compliance with your request, and for 
the information of a “ Subscriber at Hastings” Vol 1, page 427, I beg to say that 
Talc may be bought at Knight’s, in Foster lane, Cheapside, where, about three 
months since I purchased a piece about seven or eight inches square, and one 
eighth of an inch thick, for six shillings and sixpence, being after the rate of 
twenty shillings a pound; it will separate in flakes as thin as paper, but not 
thinking that it would answer my purpose to use for glazing a two-light frame, 
which I had then just made, compared with glass at 3s. 6d. per gross, for sizes 
5 by 3, and 6s. 6d. for 6 by 3, I determined not to use it, and ultimately used 
the glass. I have been looking some time in expectation of a communication 
from Electrious, page 337, and 473, on his economical method of building small 
Forcing Houses, &c. I should be glad if any of your correspondents would in¬ 
form me the best sort of paint in regard to durability, and expence for frames, 
and other exposed wood work. Horticulturist. 
Scarifying Fruit Trees. —I am not surprised that your correspondent 
“ G. A. L.” should pronounce the reasons assigned to him for the performance 
of this operation, “ puerile, contradictory, and worthless in-the way of argument,” 
if this were adduced in support of any thing like a general practice. I am per¬ 
fectly aware that the gardeners do occasionally divide the bark of some trees, 
perhaps of the cherry tree almost exclusively, by making a perpendicular incision 
the whole length of the stem. But this operation which G. A. L. considers as an 
outrage; and contrary to the principles of science, is, I think, of rare occurrence, 
and never performed by really able men, excepting in the case of diseased action. 
This it is well known, takes place in the vegetable, as well as in the animal 
economy. The regular progress of a healthy young tree implies the formation 
and deposition of two new layers annually. A new layer of soft or sap wood 
(alburnum) is deposited upon, and exterior to the wood of the preceding year ; 
and a new layer of bark, (liber) is placed within the last formed layer of bark; 
Thus the bark increases inwardly, and the wood enlarges outwardly, in as much 
as refers to all the depositions of former years, the two new layers being in juxta 
position, or close contact, the one with the other. Now if by disease (for such it 
must be) the outer and older layers of bark become so indurated and unyielding 
as to cramp the interior of the tree, and impede the deposition of the two new 
strata, the progress of the plant must be arrested. The tree in this case ceases 
to enlarge ; it assumes a constricted and unhealthy appearance, and is in a state 
which gardeners term hide-bound. Hitherto no other remedy has been found 
effectual than that of dividing the bark; and the operation, viewed physiologi¬ 
cally, can, I think, bejustified by two considerations. The first is, that space is 
immediately afforded by the gap or opening caused by the elasticity of the bark, 
