REMARKS OF ANCIENT WRITERS ON FLOWERS. 269 



not so as to cause any injury, had not the flues the previous afternoon 

 been fresh washed with a thick solution of lime and sulphur, and of 

 course causing a vapour in the house almost unbearable. The usual 

 method was resorted to, viz. that of stopping the fires, &c, not think- 

 ing to see any ill result from it. But, lo, what a scene presented 

 itself to view next morning with the Vines that grew over the hot part 

 of the flue, the grapes on which were nearly every bunch spoiled, 

 being at that time about half grown ; the berries being changed from 

 a green to a black colour, which must be attributed to the ignition of 

 the sulphur, though, strange to say, not a leaf was injured. Had the 

 Vines been in flower at that time, they would doubtless have fallen a 

 sacrifice to the strength of the sulphur. We thus judge that sulphur 

 applied in the above way cannot do its office without the flues are 

 made hot ; and while doing so to try to eradicate one intruder, it is 

 in great danger of bringing on a worse evil. The above experiment 

 inserted here is intended to be a caution to others. 



The advice given by the same correspondent, where he recom- 

 mends syringing plants with water impregnated with sulphur, is well 

 worthy of trial. We have used it with excellent results this summer, 

 both in houses, peach walls, &c, and partially on those plants that 

 are so subject to mildew. 



Lincolnshire, 1842. 



ARTICLE V. 



OBSERVATIONS ON THE DESCRIPTIVE REMARKS, &c. OF AN- 

 CIENT WRITERS ON FLOWERS. 



BY A -VETERAN GARDENER. 



Though an elderly person, I have no prejudices against modern im- 

 provements, but, on the contrary, rejoice to hear of every new disco- 

 very in any art or science, yet may I not be permitted to retain some 

 respect for antiquity, while Virgil's Georgics are still allowed to give 

 useful hints upon farming and on the management of bees ? for na- 

 ture is the same in every age, and the wisest of men has said, " that 

 there is nothing new under the sun." We should not therefore conclude 

 that this generation alone has cultivated flowers successfully, nor im- 

 plicitly believe, with the writer of an article in your May number for 

 1841, that there were not many handsome double Pinks before the 



