Retrospective Criticism. 189 



The Highland Society. — As a proof of the good which the Highland So- 

 ciety of Scotland for the improvement of agriculture have effected through 

 their operations, it was stated at a meeting of the Kirkcaldy Agricultural 

 Association, last week, that the formerly wild and dreary country of Badenoch, 

 lying 1,000 ft. above the level of the sea, and which one might have supposed 

 was destined for ever to continue under the dominion of its native heath, 

 even that country was now in a very high state of cultivation, yielding rich 

 crops, and in a more forward state than many parts of the south. {The 

 Times, Oct. 26. 183G.) 



Agricultural Museum in Dundee. — I intend, by another season, to commence 

 an agricultural museum in this place, there being nothing of the kind in this 

 part of the country. I have already begun to collect specimens for the pur- 

 pose ; and, if you will send me a few seeds of the fifty-four sorts of wheat which 

 you have received from M. Vilmorin, I will cultivate them, do them all the 

 justice in my power, and send you an account of the result at the end of three 

 years, or oftener if you wish it. — William Lnird, Seedsman. Dundee, January 

 11. 18.37. We have sent Mr. Laird the seeds of wheat alluded to, and most 

 cordially wish success to his agricultural museum, which cannot fail to be of 

 great use to that part of the country. — Cond. 



Acacia dealbdta, and the broad and narrow-leaved myrtle, have stood out 

 here for five winters, without any protection whatever ; and a list of other 

 exotics which have stood out here will be sent you by L. G. — C. L. C. G. 

 Forres, Nov. 12. 1836. [This we shall be most happy to receive.] 



Onion Crops of 1833 and 1836. — I have just been comparing the weight of 

 my transplanted onion crop of 1836 with that of former years. My heaviest, 

 this season, is 20 oz. In 1833, some of the bulbs weighed 3 lb. Our onions 

 are considered as mild as those imported from the Continent. Fruit is gene- 

 rally small this season, and inferior in flavour, owing to so much wet and 

 cold. On Oct. 28. I gave in new ice for the wine, and on Nov. 1. put in 

 10 carts into the ice-house. — Nicol Cathie. Airthrey Castle, near Stirling, A'^ov. 

 10. 1836. 



Improved Modes of bidlding Corn-ricks are encouraged in Stirlingshire, and 

 other parts of Scotland, by premiums being awarded to the farmers, and their 

 upper servants who build the ricks. Messrs. Drummond of Stirling have also, 

 with their usual liberality, offered premiums for the best models for either 

 corn, barley, or wheat stacks, and for the four best specimens of straw rope. 

 (See Stirling Jourital and Advertiser of Dec. 30. 1836.) 



Art. II. Retrospective Criticism. 



Errata. — In Vol. XII. p.711., line 13., for " ara-^ojv" read " uToirm';" 

 and for " tuoOuTwv " read " iiojOotoji'." 



The Principle, that no Soil tuill continue fertile tuhich luants calcareous Matter, 

 made public thirty Years ago. — In Vol. XII. p. 630., you state that, " In agri- 

 cultural science, the only point that we can recollect worthy of notice that 

 has occurred during the past year, is the advancement of the principle by 

 the American agricultural writer, Mr. Ruffin, that no soil whatever will con- 

 tinue fertile for any length of time that does not contain calcareous matter. 

 This, we believe, was never distinctly stated as a principle by Kirman, Chap- 

 tal, Davy, or any other European chemist or agriculturist." In the Bath 

 Society's Papers, vol. xii., there is an article headed, " Chemical Analyses of 

 Soils," by C. Boyd ; in which, after giving the analyses of three soils belong- 

 ing to Dr. Fox of Brislington, near Bristol, Mr. Boyd states that these soils 

 were remarkably sterile, and that the leading fact discovered in the analysi.<! of 

 them was, that calcareous earth was wanting in each soil. " I have never 

 heard of a fertile soil," adds Mr. Boyd, '* that did not contain some portion 

 of it ; and, were I to offer an opinion as to their treatment, it should be to use 



