538 Helrospective Criticism. 



Art. V. Retrospective Criticism. 



The Floiucr-Garden at Bedford Lodge. — The details v/liich show the ex- 

 cellent management of the beautiful flower-garden of the Duke of Bedford at 

 Camden Hill, nuist be extremely interesting to all admirers of such an exqui- 

 sitely arranged parterre, and it reflects great credit on INIr. Caie. Therefore, 

 the few observations \\ hich ibllow are by no means intended to detract from 

 that praise which is so justly his due; neither could anything which I might 

 •write affect his well-deserved reputation. 



In fig. 74., the shrub with the spherical lumpy head, on the left side, wants 

 relief by the int: eduction of some conical plant in the foreground. At 

 fig. 75., on the lawn, in front of the veranda, at d, and also in front of the 

 green-house, at a, the equidistant distribution of the beds does not admit of 

 sufficient breadth of turf to show anything like light and shade, or artistical 

 design. There is, also, at the one side of d, an abrupt and unintelligible termina- 

 tion of a grove walk, which begins again at the other side of it, in an equally 

 abrupt manner. The general effect of fig. 76. is very good ; but it might be 

 improved by removing all the vases or flower-pots on the terrace wall, except 

 those supported by piers. This leads me to object strongly to the appearance 

 of the terrace wall in fig. 77. I hold it to be an absolutely indispensable 

 architectural principle, that every vase, urn. Sec, placed upon a wall, should 

 have a projecting pier to support it ; and I object entirely to placing pots 

 with plants in them on A\alls : I cannot see what business they have there. 

 The remarks made in respect to fig. 74. will apply, with increased force, to 

 fig. 78., where the round-headed shrub again appears like an enormous hedge- 

 hog. — R. Glendinning. Biclon, Sept. 1838. 



Growl// of t/ie Slumps of tlie Silver Fir. (Vol. XIII. p. 142.) — Among many 

 interesting subjects contained in the Gardener's Magazine for 1837, Ijierceive, 

 at p. 142., some remarks of M. Dutrochet, upon the growth of the stumps of 

 the silver fir, which are said to increase in diameter after the tree is felled. I 

 was on one occasion led to some observations upon the same appearance in 

 the stump of a silver fir cut down here; but, although at that time unac- 

 quainted with M. Dutrochct's investigation upon the subject, it gave me an 

 opportunity of reflecting upon Tiieophrastus's account of similar appearances, 

 in the stumps of the same tree (tXan;), wlien felled, in Greece. If M. 

 Dutrochet has not adverted to Theophrastus, perhaps you may be interested 

 in reading the following passage from that author, in the sixth chapter of 

 the third book, where he particularly describes what he calls the df.i<i>avi,ic, 

 or aixipKpl'a, of the silver fir after decacumination. From this hard circular 

 substance, the Arcadians made bowls. — H. L. Long. Hamjyton Lodge, 

 Sept. 6. 1838. 



The passage sent us by Mr. Long is as follows : — After remarking that the 

 roots of the ttivio] and tXar)] (the spruce and silver firs) perish as soon as 

 the trees are cut, Theophrastus adds : " A peculiarity occurs with regard to 

 the Elate ; for, when felled, or broken off by the wind or anything else, a 

 substance grows round the smooth part of the trunk ; for, up to a certain 

 point, it is smooth, branchless, and uniform, like the mast of a vessel; [UKpiv 

 vTToci'caTtoor tig i'-d/oc, ' little inferior in height.'* Some call it a^i<pav'iic, others 

 an(>)i(pva.-\ In colour it is black : it is excessively strong. From this the Ar- 

 cadians form their goblets. In breadth, it is as much as the tree might happen to 

 have been ; but it is stronger, more sajipy, and thicker." (Hist. Plant., iii. G.) 



Tlie occasional Fruit-bearing of the Alale Papaw. (p. 430.) — 1 beg to offer 

 a few remarks on the interesting communication of Mr. G. M. Elliott respect- 



* I do not know what Theophrastus means by this /jiK-pdr h-oLiinnciov ilg 

 vil^oc, of which I have given the translation literally : perhaps there may be 

 some error in the text. — //. L. L. 



-j- "Aix(pav'iiv, uiKpKpva, literally " round growth." — //. L, L. 



