728 Retrospective Criticism. 



flourisliing, so fur nortii as London, if treated as liardy plants : a fact 

 which, we fear, many who have nnfortiniately suffered themselves to be 

 persuailcd to trust their Cape bulbs to the o[)en borders iuive discovered 

 to tlieir cost." 



The " Anthericum?plum6sum" oi the Hut. Mng., t. 308+., and of our 

 Additional Supplement, No. '28G16., is referable to tiiis new genus Tricho- 

 pctalum ; and Mr. Lintiley judges it to be distinct from gnicile, " from its 

 narrower leaves, smaller seeds, and erect flowers ; with spreading, not 

 reflexed, petals : characters which exist e([ually in the wild and cultivated 

 specimens. It may be called Trichopetalum stcllatum." Pursuant to this 

 warranty, we shall give again its tabular details under its new name. 



stellMum Lindl. starrv-/H'rf. ^ Js^ m 1 ap W Chile 182!». I) co Bot. mag. 308* 

 Aiitlu'ricum ? plum6su'm Bot. mag. 5084.. and Hort. Brit. 580., anA possibly of Kuiz and Pavon. 



CCLI. JaUiacecB. 



1008. FV'SKIy}. 

 S2l8a SiebotdU«Hfi Dens. .SieboUlt's ^ A or 1 jn Li Japan 1830. D r.l Bot. cab. 1869 

 Hemcroc&llis Sieboldt/iiwa B. C. 



Introduced, by the botanist whose name it bears, to the Leyilen garden, 

 whence Messrs. Loddiges obtained it in 18:i0. It grows freely, flowers in 

 June, and is probably hardy. (Bot. Cab., Nov.) 



Art. II. Retrospective Criticism. 



Professor Li>idlet/s Publications.-^Sir, As the author and compiler of 

 several of the most popular works on gardening in our language, it 

 may be presumed that your opinions and advice tend, in a greater degree 

 than, perhaps, those of any other man, to influence tiie conduct and 

 habits of the younger members of that profession, the interests of which 

 you profess to advocate. 



As an occasional reader of the Gardener's Magazine, I am happy to 

 bear testimony to the candid and impartial manner in which this respon- 

 sible task is generally performed ; yet I have seen and rcgrettctl some few 

 in.stances wherein the frailty natural to humanity has manifested itself, 

 and private friendship or interest, perhaps pique, inis sui)ersedcd justice. 



These observations are intluced by the high encomiums bestowed, in the 

 Gardener s j\la{^azine, on Mr. Lindley's recent publications, the Prineiplcs 

 of liotany, and the Outline of the First Principh-x of Ilortieullure ; encomiums 

 which, 1 cannot but think, are in a great measure unjustifiable. Umloubt- 

 edly, very great credit is due to Mr. Lindley, for having condensed within 

 the limits of his two small books more really useful information than is to 

 be sifted from among the baseless theories, oft rctaileil experiments, and 

 conflicting opinions, that cumber the pages of many of tiie ample and 

 costly volumes given to the world for its enlightenment, by men witii 

 half a score learned abbreviations tacked to their names. I)ut the uiuiua- 

 lified |)raise so lavishly showered both upon the author and books, naturally 

 inclines tiiose who purchase the works to expect something very nearly 

 ajjproaciiing to [jerfection. Such, at least, was the case with me; and my 

 liisappointment was |)ro|)ortionateiy great, when, on comparing the two 

 works, I found that propositions laid ilown in the Prinviplrs of Hot any as 

 csnentinl prineijtias, are, in the later publication, directly contradicted. 

 Tiiat Mr. Lindky, for his credit's sake, may have an opportunity of correct- 

 ing such |)ali)able blunders, I iiave transcribed such of them as have occurred 

 to me ; and, as an act of justice to those among your readers who, like 

 myself, have procured the books on the reconunentlation contained in this 

 Magazine, you will take the earliest opportunity of making pul)lic my 

 remarks tliruugh the same channel. 



