238 Retrospective Criticism. 



of plants as will be found in any nursery in England, particularly of herb- 

 aceous plants, all the showy kinds of which we make a point of obtaining 

 at the first opportunity, without any particular regard to expense. 



A provincial nurseryman (if he makes any thing like a pretension) is 

 obliged to keep a more general assortment of plants in his nursery, than is 

 immediately requisite in the neighbourhood of London ; because, if a 

 London nurseryman receives an order for any plant he may not have in 

 his own collection, he is able, without nuich trouble, to procure it from 

 some one of his neighbours ; whereas, one residing one or two hundred 

 miles distant cannot procure them without a great loss of time and con- 

 siderable expense, and consequently is obliged to cultivate a more general 

 assortment, or he will not be able to execute his orders. I am. Sir, &c. — 

 Alexander Pope. Handsivorth N^urseri/, near Birmiiigham, Jan. 7. 183L 



We have repeatedly stated that we would much rather dispense with 

 the trouble of recording the transactions of Provincial Horticultural So- 

 cieties, provided we could do so consistently with rendering the Gardener's 

 Magazine what it professes to be, a record of rural and domestic improve- 

 ment. If we were even certain that the majority of our readers would be 

 willing to dispense with the article " Provincial, Horticultural Societies" we 

 should be glad of that excuse to discontinue it. 



With respect to the Florist's Gazette, referred to by Mr. Pope, and of 

 which he has sent us a copy, we do not think it at all an adequate 

 substitute for our article. It bears on the titlepage " Lancashire, 

 Cheshire, Yorkshire, and other parts of the kingdom ; " but it is, never- 

 theless, chiefly occupied with the flower shows and societies in the two 

 counties first mentioned. The York, Leeds, and Newcastle Societies, 

 certainly the most eminent three in the kingdom, are entirely omitted, and 

 of course none of those of Scotland are included. 



Our readers are much mistaken, if they think that we have either plea- 

 sure or profit in continuing our accounts of " Provincial Societies." Those 

 of them who know any thing of printing, or of correcting the press, must 

 know that the sheet containing the matter alluded to is by far the most 

 expensive to the proprietors of the Magazine, and the most difficult to 

 the editor and the corrector of the press, from the numerous erroneously 

 spelt botanical names, and names of fruits and flowers. 



With respect to the expense to the purchasers of the Magazine, the 

 proportion of the last Volume filled with " Provincial Societies " is 

 exactly one thirteenth part and a small fraction, or Is. Id. ; and, while it is 

 less by 1*. dd. than the price of the Florist's Gazette and of the Gooseberry 

 Book taken both together, as of course they ought to be, it contains what, 

 we think, no one who knows these works will dispute, a description of 

 information much more generally valuable. — Cond. 



Mr. Kowlan and Mr. Plimley. — Sir, It gave me very great pleasure to 

 learn, by Vol. VI. p. 731., that the many situations which were held by 

 Mr. Alton are now distributed among several gardeners. I regret, how- 

 ever, that no notice has been taken either of Mr. Nowlan, foreman in the 

 forcing department at Kew, or of Mr. Plimley at Kensington, two excel- 

 lent pine-growers and forcing gardeners. Their equal is rarely to be met 

 with on the Continent; and 1 am sorry to say, that, should I live fifty 

 years as gardener to the King of Denmark, I never expect to get a fore- 

 man so attentive, honest, and perfect in the business, as either of those 

 respected gardeners. I am, &c. — Jens Peter Petersen. Royal Gardens, 

 Rosenborg, Copenhagen, Dec. 23. 1830. 



Heating by hot Water. — Sir, Allow me to give our worthy friend 

 Juvenis Olitor a hint on the subject of the hot-water apparatus, with 

 which, I think, he is but imperfectly acquainted ; or, in other words, I should 

 say that he is not versed in the scientific principles of this mode of heat- 

 ing ; and for that reason would be liable to prejudice the minds of persons 



