POINTS FROM LETTERS
FOR DESTROYING PLANTAIN AND OTHER WEEDS IN GRASS.
Referring to Mr. Peca's question in your issue of the 15th, I would suggest for his trial the following, which I have seen adopted with perfect success. Apply with a soft broom or mop crude sulphate of iron ; dissolve 2 lbs. in 1 gallon of hot water. This will black the whole surface and permanently kill all weeds ttithout destroying the grass. The weeds only live through their leaves, which are destroyed by the applica-
tion. After the black surface is worn away by rain, sprinkle dry sulphate of ammpnia. As the mixture stains badly, old clothes and boots should be worn in putting on the mixture.— GARDEN LOVER.
THE HUMANE RABBIT SNARE.
Captain Fairholme's letter suggests one or two questions. Is the snare, which he recommends, as humane as it is intended to be ? Would not a rabbit prefer to be caught in an ordinary snare and die by strangulation after a short struggle, rather than live on in a state of panic, perhaps for hours, till the trapper arrives to despatch him ? The objection to the ordinary snare appears to be that it sometimes tortures without killing or the process of strangulation may be slow. Neither instrument appears to be entirely satisfactory. I understand that the R.S.P.C.A. is offering £300 to anyone who will invent a trap which will kill instantaneously without damaging the rabbit for sale purposes. The difficulty seems to be to produce such an instrument at sufficiently low cost. But meanwhile could not the R.S.P.C.A. promote a Bill in Parliament prohibiting the sale and use of the steel-toothed gin altogether ? A country which had the humanity to make the use of the pole-trap illegal would only be acting logically if it forbade the use of the steel-toothed gin. Surely land- owners and farmers can find sufficient defence against the rabbit in snares and guns and nets, with fumigation and ferrets, without 'employing this instrument of torture !- H. E. COOKSON, 29 Downshire Hill, N.W. 3.
BACK TO BRITISH SPAS.
Mr. B. S. Townroe, in his article in your issue of 15th inst., suggests that English people flock to the Continental spas because there is more gaiety there. This may be true in part, but, with a fairly extended knowledge of both English and foreign spas, my own decided opinion is that the exodus to the Continent is mainly one on account of economy. The difference in hotel charges generally is so much in favour of the Continent that, even travelling first class, one is still in pocket at the end of one's holiday. Another advantage is that abroad one scarcely finds an hotel which has not running water in all rooms, whereas here many hotels are only now beginning to adapt themselves to this great convenience. I feel convinced that if hotel charges were more reasonable in this country, many people would be only too glad to avoid having to cross the Channel.—P. BLUNDELL.
CONSTITUTION HILL.
Can any of your readers give any information as to why "I-Constitution Hill " has that name ? I have been asked this question by an American visitor and have, so far, failed to find the answer.—M. D. SCOTT-MONCRIEFF, 11 Cheyne Walk, London, S.W. 3.
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