706 Retrospective Criticisnh 



of that matchless man and farmer, Mi". Blomfield of Norfolk. I resided a short 

 time in the immediate neighbourhood of the late Mr. llennie of Phantassie. 

 I was two years at Edinburgh College, and one season at the Royal In- 

 stitution in London. I made an agricultural tour on foot over the greater 

 part of Scotland and some parts of England; and this was no education 

 for fitting a young man of ardent mind and feelings for the yoke of tithes, 

 game laws, &c. But enough : I left relations, a few friends, home, country, 

 and property, and J am content, 



P.S. I see in your publications American plants and bog earth always 

 coupled together. This country is not a bog, nor any thing like one. 

 Rhododendrons, azaleas, &c., grow in this neighbourhood on the dry steep 

 declivities of gneiss and hornblende rocks ; and thousands of rhododen- 

 drons grow in the state of New Jersey upon sands as dry and barren as 

 those of Brandon in Suffolk. I am not accustomed to writing, as you 

 will perceive, and I fear my story is somewhat confused, but of the truth of 

 its principles I am well convinced from experience. They will bear study 

 and investigation. Are air and water of any other use to vegetation than 

 to ourselves ? Plants absorb and decompose them ; so do we : poor diet 

 alone, notwithstanding. Does not vegetation derive all its food from what 

 exists in the soil, and is not vegetable matter the beef and bread of vege- 

 tables ? For this purpose weeds grow. My experience says something for 

 this doctrine. Nature fanns and manures as well as man; but he has 

 gotten it into his head to reject her assistance, and do things his own way. — 

 George Henry Walker* Longford Holmesbxirg, near Philadelphia, lat. 40°, 

 December 24: 1830. 



T7ie Articles on Cottage Gardening. — Sir, I have read the articles on 

 Cottage Gardening, &c. (Vol. VI. p. 139. to 208.), with considerable 

 interest ; and I take the liberty to point out what I consider to be 

 errors therein, as well as to suggest a few useful hints. 



The Growth of Barley j^cr Acre is estimated (p. 147.) at ten quarters. 

 Having had considerable experience in the best barley districts, lx)th in 

 Hants and Oxon, I can confidently state that the average growth is not 

 five quarters per acre : five quarters would be considered a good crop, yet 

 occasionally eight quarters are grown in rich soils, under favourable 

 seasons. Few districts yield more than seven sacks per acre, say four 

 quarters : ought not the average to be calculated on ? I fear that grower 

 would be deceived who expected to thresh ten quarters from his acre, 

 garden ground not excepted. 



On Malt-making (p. 148.). The time necessary for steeping barley is 

 given as one hour. Surely this period of time would not be sufficient to 

 penetrate the skin of the corn, nor would the flour imbibe any moisture. 

 Forty-eight hours are the usual time taken by maltsters for steeping ; also 

 using the water-pot at a certain date. 



Malt(j^. 147.). The increase upon the process is given at 25 per cent. 

 This is far too great. In proportion to the largeness of the increase will 

 be the depreciation of the malt. Hertford and Ware malts are bought 

 by the London brewers in preference to others, because the increase is so 

 small, preferring high to inferior quality and low price. In 25 per cent 

 increase, the acrospire would penetrate \ in. be3ond the berrj- [grain or 

 kernel], carrying off in the growth a certain quantity of saccharum, and ren- 

 dering such an increase, except to the maker, a dead loss. 



* This gentleman is brothertoMr. C.J. S.Walker of Longford, mentioned 

 p. 542., a patriot, and the son of a patriot whose memory is held in re- 

 spect almost amounting to adoration by the people of Manchester and 

 Leeds. See, in proof of this. The Examine}' for October 2. 1831, p. 633. 



— (Jond. 



