Hort. Trans, and the Gardenei'^s Magazine. 29 1 



Mr. Knight's theory. Without passing one remark upon his 

 paper, 1 shall briefly state what is his present practice, leaving 

 your readers to judge for themselves. 



At Valleyfield there are two fruiting pine-pits, one wrought 

 with leaves, with as much tan as will allow the pots to be 

 plunged in it, and a fire flue ; the other by leaves, and dung 

 linings. The succession pit is wrought by leaves, dung lin- 

 ings, and a fire flue. The remaining pits are those in ques- 

 tion. They remain still of the same construction ; but, instead 

 of setting the plants on sand, Mr. Stewart now plunges them 

 in 15 in. of good tan, by stirring, watering, and often renew- 

 ing which, he fails not to keep up as strong a bottom heat as 

 the most rigid advocate for bottom heat pine-growing could 

 desire. These pits are chiefly used for small succession 

 plants, crowns, &c. 1 can also assert that Mr. Stewart never 

 raised a pine worth any thing during the time he adhered to 

 his own method ; and that he was obliged, from absolute 

 necessity, to return to the old system. I assert this upon 

 good authority, and without any fear of contradiction. 



To do justice, however, to his improved mode, I must not 

 omit to mention that it is excellent for producing, and rearing 

 to full perfection, that friendly neighbour of the pine, the 

 white scale. Mr. Stewart was, at any rate, " fully convinced " 

 of this, before he relinquished it. Mr. Stewart, for changing his 

 practice, cannot urge the plea of convenience, for he has plenty 

 of coals within half a mile, and sand in abundance within a hun- 

 dred yards of the pine pits ; whereas he has to drive his tan 

 a distance of seven miles. Any of your readers who, from ex- 

 perience or observation, may have discovered similar cases of 

 discrepancy, would do well to make them known ; as by this 

 means only we possess the power of limiting the extent, and 

 neutralising the effects, of these deceptions. 



I am, Sir, yours, &c. 

 Staffordshire^ April 17. 1 832. An Enemy to Deceit. 



Knowing the author of the above communication, and that he worked 

 for some time in the gardens of Vallejfield, and believing him to be candid 

 and honest, we have inserted his " instance." As to the principle on which 

 his paper is founded, its correctness is undeniable ; and we have said so in 

 one of our earlier volumes. (Vol. II. p. 439.) A magazine has this great 

 advantage over collections of papers in what are called Transactions, that 

 it admits of controversial discussion, which the latter do not ; and there- 

 fore false doctrine, once admitted into such collections, stands there as true. 

 In this respect, the Transactions of societies, in their present form, and in 

 their present manner of publication, are behind the age. Fortunately the 

 bulk and expense of these works prevent them from being generally read ; 

 for, if they were, they would, in cases similar to that referred to by our 

 correspondent, often do more harm than good. — Cond. 



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