274 Retrospective Criticism. 



standing the great heat, and we may congratulate ourselves in an acces- 

 sion of some of tlie most ^superior roses in the country, and well worth 

 the attention of every lover of that mo*t exquisite of all flowers. The 

 Gloxinf« grandiflora, as the name implies, has a lar<^e p;:le hliie flower, 

 very showy, and a very free floweror, and is a new plant to us. The 

 fine apoearance of Mr. Biddle's grapes, especially the hlafk Hamhur^rb, 

 exceeded any thing of the kind we have ever seen, for the size of the 

 grapes, as well as the bunches. They were merely a specimen of 

 what his fine giapery can produce. It is certaiidy a great desideratum 

 for the infirm in health and convalescent, to have in command at all 

 times such delicate and sanirive morceaus. The vegettddes were good 

 considering the backward spring. Mr. Chalmers's strawberries were un- 

 commonly fine; after seeing them, we are surprised that the more com- 

 mon kinds should continue to be cultivated. — G. Watson, Recording 

 Secretary, Philadelphia, June 'Hbth, 1838. 



Art. V. Retrospective Criticism. 



Errata. — In our last, p. 205, in our remarks to the article of Mr. 

 Vose's, for the " L'Abbe Ber/ese," which occurs once or twice, read 

 the '■^Mbt Berlese," an error which escaped our notice in the hurry of 

 getting to t>ress. 



Page 236, in the list of China roses for the prize, read "Gloria de 

 Jardin,^' for "yelloio noisette.'" 



(Jamellia japonica var. FldijW. — Mr. Editor: In your last Masrazine 

 of Horticulture, pages 203 to 206 inclusive, there is a notice of Camel- 

 li« japonica var. Floyii, by the Abbe Berlese, translated from the ^f^ji- 

 na es d^ Horticulture of Paris, by the Hon. E. Vose, President of the 

 Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 



I am nmch indebted to the Abbe Berlese, for the honorable notice he 

 has taken of nie, and also to the Hon. E. Vose, for placing the article 

 before the public, in your Magazine. 



In your remarks upon this article, which seem to have been sown 

 rather '"broad cast" and without much reflection, you observe "that you 

 take an early opportimiry of correcting one or two mistakes the Abbe 

 Berlese has been led into," and that "you notice these errors, in order 

 that before the next edition of his Monographic goes to press, he may 

 make the necessary corrections." 



As I had the honor of transmitting to the Abbe Berlese, a plant of the 

 Camelh'« japonica var. Floyn", together with the account of its origin 

 and ])arentai;e, yon will allow me to correct "one or two mistakes" that 

 you have fallen into, or we shall soon have in this business, a "budget 

 of blunders." 



First — you observe, "It is to be regretted that Mr. Floy does not re- 

 collect the variety from which the seed was saved or with what kinds 

 the flower was, if at all, imjiregnated." Were this the fact, it would 

 be much to be regretted, for the genealogy of such a remarkable ca- 

 mellia as Floyn. is not only matter of curiosity, but of great importance, 

 to all those who are engaged in the hybridization of plants. 



But on this point, I have never heard before that Mr. Floy had any 

 doubt, and by recurrence to my file of horticultural correspondence of 



