therefore contract my data and desiderata into as small a space as possible.

Data. Given, then, about fifty or sixty acres of land on the banks of a lake, of which about one half is a steep declivity, and the other sloping, with various round knolls and breaks, to the water's edge. The ground is almost undecorated, except by a villa in the Grecian style, consisting of dining and drawing rooms, each 22 ft. by 16 ft., looking upon the lake; behind them a breakfast-room 16 ft. square, a lobby, and library, 14 ft. by 15.ft., with a small bath-room adjoining: offices behind. The library and drawing-room communicate with a green-house, and the house itself stands upon a terrace 25 ft. broad, opposite the lake front, including 7 ft. the breadth of a veranda. From the terrace you descend 5 ft. to what is at present a common grass field. There is a highway about 300 ft. from the house, between it and the lake, which cannot be diverted. There is but one convenient and practicable situation for culinary forcing-houses (now building), and that is on a hillock in a field to the north of the house, behind which is the farm-yard: the stable-yard adjoins the offices of the mansion. But I must refer to the accompanying plan (figs. 49, 50.), and genera view (figs. 51, 52.).

Required, a plan and detail of improvement, adapted to this situation. And here I must further inform my landscape-gardener, that this place is my constant residence; that I have but one gardener, occasionally assisted by the farm servants; that my fortune will not admit of the whole sixty acres being converted into park and pleasure-ground, but that I wish them to be laid out rather as an ornamental farm, attached to a gentleman's residence and pleasure-grounds, wherefore I must confine my improver to about six or seven acres of dressed ground, shrubberies, &c., including a kitchen-garden sufficiently large to supply a family of ten persons; that I am somewhat of a recluse, taking great delight in umbrageous groves, in murmuring streams, trees, shrubs, and flowers more especially.

I am a small farmer; in short, attached to rural affairs, unattached to a wife, and not banned with bairns; I say to my garden, as Hero says to her lover, in Ovid,

"I prefer a delightful villa, with its streams, its moss-covered rocks, and groves."

"Thee, O my sole delight! I love."

I hope I have now, as far as written communications will effect it, explained the state of my little affairs, so that some talented designer may be enabled to set me to work upon parterres, American grounds, bowers, fountains, aviaries, walks, shrubberies, &c., in which, I trust, your Magazines will be no small assistants to, Sir, your obedient servant Philagros. Jan. 31.

1829.

An Insect in Fruit Trees.-I grow fruit trees rather extensively, but suffer so much every spring, particularly of late years, from the depredations of one particular insect, that it is become a matter of very serious consideration with me what I am to do to put a stop to the devastation it commits. These insects begin their handywork about the latter end of March, by attacking all my newly put on grafts of apples, plums, and cherries in particular. They let nothing escape. They first begin at the top of the scion, and strip it of all the bark, quite round; then as the eyes begin to swell they eat them almost every one out, and quite hollow, as if done with a small scoop. As soon as the buds inserted the previous year begin to grow, their shoots are served in the same way. They are also very severe on my fruit trees even of two or three years old, attacking them about the same time as they do the grafts (especially those that have been shortened in to produce young wood), by eating out a number of eyes, and divesting almost every young shoot of its bark, for perhaps an inch below the point of amputation.

Notwithstanding all this, most of my grafts grow at a second effort, after the insect appears to have given over its work of destruction, but they are so much retarded and weakened that they are by no means equal to those that escape.

I am no entomologist, but believe the animal to belong to the genus Curculio, and I have sent for your inspection a quantity of them in a small tin box, together with some shoots of the apple tree that they have operated upon. In the daytime they retire a short way under the surface of the earth, and, in dry weather (being of the same colour as the mould), it is scarcely possible to see them; but by examining the grafts, &c. at night, with a lighted candle, they are seen at full work in thousands. I do not observe it figured or described amongst other insects in your Encyclopædia of Gardening. Perhaps in the new Magazine of Natural History which you have now commenced, you may, in course of your progress, give us some account of it. I am, &c. - John Hervey. Comber Nursery, May, 1828. We are extremely sorry for having so long neglected this communication; the circumstance arose from our having sent it, along with the box of insects, to Mr. Haworth, and forgotten that we did so. Mr. Haworth says it is a species of Derméstes, but does not know its specific name. should think watering the ground with hot water the most likely mode of destroying them; but perhaps Mr. Major (p. 192.) will tell us what to do.

Cond.

We

The real Double Cowslip, in answer to the Rev. W. T. Bree of Allesley Rectory (Vol. IV. p. 446.)-J. B. Ward, Esq., of Mount Pleasant near Sheffield, states that he is in possession of the real double cowslip, not the cowslip with a twofold corolla, hose in hose as it is termed, but with a fine double blossom. "I do not believe any person in our neighbourhood is in the possession of this singularly beautiful plant, except myself. I have bloomed it for many years. I remain, Sir, &c. - S. B. Ward. Feb. 23. 1829."

Maggots in Celery. The maggots noticed by J. F., of Battersea (Vol. IV. p. 100), have again made their appearance in great numbers on, or rather in, the leaves of the celery. They first appeared on the 10th of September, and, in a short time, the celery bore the appearance of being sprinkled over with boiling water. There being slight frosts, with cutting easterly winds, about that time, many attributed it to that, little suspecting that each leaf contained an insect, and that each decayed leaf was the effect of its ravages. — J. H. Dec. 12. 1828.

Destroying Woodlice (in answer to Z., Vol. III. p. 381.).- Sir, Of all the insects that infest cucumber frames, I know none worse than woodlice. I tried several things, as sulphur, lime, and soot, for the purpose of destroying them; but none of these were available. At last I thought of a scheme which perfectly answered the purpose. I pressed the mould very tight and closely all round within the frame, making a kind of trough about six inches wide. This I covered with hay about two inches thick, which I expected would form a retreat for the insects. They soon collected there, and were destroyed by pouring boiling water over the hay. This I repeated till I got rid of all the insects. This plan of inviting the woodlice together and scalding them to death, is adopted when the cucumber plants are young; and it may be necessary to add, that this application of water does good rather than harm when there is a strong heat in the bed, but is not quite so suitable when the heat is on the decline. I am, Sir, yours, &c.— Ĵ. N. a Gentleman's Gardener. Jan. 27, 1828.

Methley's Fire-places. (Moser & Co.) — Have you seen any of Moser's fire-places, and are you aware that they not only throw out more heat than any elegant chamber-stove hitherto in use, but also, by means of certain small holes in the back and sides, burn great part of the smoke? Might not hot-house furnaces be constructed on a similar principle so as to burn the smoke, or a part of it, and thus procure more heat from the same quantity of fuel, and save the troublesome and disagreeable operation of sweeping the flues? - S. B. Bristol, March 4. 1829.

We are fully aware of the superior excellence of Methley's stoves (of the firm of Moser and Co. of Frith Street, furnishing ironmongers), for rooms, an eminent architect in this neighbourhood having them in every room of his house, and having ourselves one. We have little doubt the improvement might, to a certain extent, be added to hot-house furnaces, but we believe it has not yet been so applied. - Cond.

Errors in the Encyclopædias of Gardening and Agriculture. - Sir, Would it not be wise to request your correspondents that they would generally communicate to you any error, especially in the statistical details of your Encyclopædias, that may happen to have come under their notice. This would much improve them for a future edition, and would be generally a public good. J. S. L. Cl―n, December 9, 1828.

We have done so in the prefaces to these works, on the covers of the earlier Numbers of this Magazine, and again do so. We are most anxious to receive every description of correction, and no correspondent can oblige us more than by pointing out errors in these works, in this, or in any other in which we are engaged. — Cond.

Smoky Chimneys. I wish you to touch upon the subject of chimneys, a subject which I believe to be very well understood by a few, but by the

many quite neglected; for what so common as a smoky chimney, and what worse? and yet what more clear than the folly of building them in the usual manner, in the external walls and as rough inside as possible? Mr. Hiort's plan sounds well, but I should like to hear how it succeeds in practice, and if it succeeds, how we, who reside nearly 200 miles from London, may obtain its advantages on reasonable terms. -A. G. Near Barnsley. Gnaphalium Sto`chas, and other Plants for Rockwork.-I am not aware that it is generally known that this plant will stand the severity of our winters better on the wall or on rockwork, than in the common soil of the borders. The Cerastium rèpens is also a very ornamental plant for rockwork. Also the Verbascum Blattària var. fl. lùtea, Sèdum divaricàtum, and Antirrhinum spárteum.-T. Hawkins. The Haw, near Gloucester, June, 18. 1828.

The Mezereon, as a Conservatory Plant, was nearly in full blossom in the borders in December. Perhaps by being protected in the conservatory, it might generally blossom at that time; if so, its highly odoriferous flowers, by diffusing their fragrance throughout the house, might recommend a trial of a few of these plants scattered among others.Id.

What is the Magnòlia sinuàta? Has it any synonyme? — Causidicus. Feb. 4. 1829.

Hyacinths in moist Sand.—I recollect hearing that hyacinths were grown in greater perfection in fine sea sand kept moist, than in water-glasses. I have tried the experiment this season. Has it been seen to succeed? - W. M. Argyleshire, Nov. 6. 1828.

Strelitzia regina.-I have had this plant for three years, and with all my efforts, together with the assistance of my man Friday, have not been able to flower it. Two of my friends are in the same state. We give it plenty of heat in rich soil, but that will not do. Does it require much or little water, or soil of a particular earth; i. e. particular, speaking geologically? -G. G. Birmingham, Feb. 7. 1829.

-

Ants on Peach Trees. Can you or any of your correspondents inform me of any remedy for ants on peach trees? I am troubled with them sadly; my soil is a sandy loam, in which they seem to harbour so securely, as to render extirpation impossible. Toads do not eat slugs; the opinion of Rusticus in Urbe is not correct in thinking that they do. I have kept a large toad in an early cucumber-frame, and encouraged him there to eat these reptiles, but without effect; woodlice are, however, rarely seen near his abode.-G. M. Atherstone.

Training Vines downwards from the Rafters.-I am much at a loss to know how this can be done; and should be much obliged to your correspondent Mr. Haycroft, if he would give us some details, accompanied by a sketch. - Id.

Double Dahlias (now Georginas). Is there any publication exclusively devoted to fine varieties of this flower?- S. B. Ward. Sheffield, Feb. 33. Not that we know of; but some varieties are occasionally figured in Sweet's Florist's Guide. Cond.

Very Double Italian Tuberoses, such as they have in Paris, are not to be purchased about London; What is the reason? - Id.

Cultivation of the Oak.-Sir, Will you inform me who has written on the cultivation of the oak, and which you consider the best and most useful work on this most interesting subject? Probably some of your correspondents would give their opinion as to the rearing, culture, and attention, the oak may require, to prepare it for timber. This would very greatly oblige a constant subscriber and a sincere lover of a fine oak tree. Bristol, Aug. 9. 1828.

Q.

Heating by Hot Water. I think the steam challenge is a fair one, and hope it may be tried with care and attention. I am inclined to think that steam is the best mode of heating any large bulk of matter, although water or gravel may be the safest medium for applying it to plants. Could hot water be used in forcing melons with greater advantage than dung, or even with equal benefit? If so it will be of great advantage in situations where stable manure is not easily got. W. M. Argyleshire, Nov. 6. 1828. (See England, p. 215., and Mr. Byers's article, p. 20.)

DIED, Jan. 28., at the early age of forty years, Thomas Tredgold, Esq., civil engineer, author of several valuable works on different branches of his profession. As a scientific engineer, Mr. Tredgold was at the very head of his profession, and to this distinguished eminence he raised himself entirely by his own studies at his leisure hours; having come to London, about twenty years ago, with nothing more than the common education of a country mechanic. The only advantages that he had were, being placed in circumstances which brought into his view certain points of scientific eminence; and having access to books, the points which he saw had been attained by others he set about attaining himself, one after another, till he mastered the whole. His last work, as a practical engineer, was the heating of the splendid botanic hot-houses at Syon House; the most complete work of the kind, and on the most extensive scale, that has hitherto been executed in this or any country.

On the 15th of February, aged seventy years, Mr. James Grange, fruiterer, Covent Garden Market and Piccadilly, and, some years ago, the occupier of a fruit and market garden at Kingsland, of sixty acres, on which he spared no expense, and executed the most spirited improvements. He furnished the prices of Covent Garden Market for the first three volumes of the Gardener's Magazine. He had a good practical knowledge of fruits, and was a devout Christian.

On the 15th of February, at Kingston upon Thames, Mr. James Astin, well known as a florist.

At his house in Kensington Gore, on the 28th of February, Thomas Weare, Esq., nephew to the late Mr. Jeffrey, of the Brompton Park Nursery, and many years partner with Mr. Gray of that establishment. He retired from business some years ago, much respected in his profession, and among all his neighbours.-W. M.

On March 22d, at his house Beaufort Row, Chelsea, William Stevenson, Esq., author of the Agricultural Surveys of Surrey and of Dorsetshire, and of various other works, and of several papers and reviews in this Magazine. He was a man of high and immovable moral principle, and of the soundest views on every subject of literature and science. The Conductor had the advantage of his friendship for upwards of twenty-five years, and, in common with all who knew him, deeply deplores his loss.