166 Critique on the November Number. 



the locality is inappropriate, and unpropitious to its complete and 

 perfect development. Such localities are Albany, Troy, and 

 Schenectady. The soil at these places is a stiff blue clay, rather 

 cold ; hence it affords disagreeable winter quarters for the cur- 

 culio in its larvae state. In consequence, the cunning insect, with 

 commendable discretion, and really astonishing sagacity, selects 

 such localities as secure a safe harbor, and a certain resurrection 

 after their winter " nap." Therefore it is almost impossible to 

 grow a crop of plums on light loams or sandy soils. Some one, — 

 I forget whom — in a communication to an agricultural Journal, 

 remarks : That he succeeded admirably in growing plums where 

 the trees were planted on the bank of a stream. The inference 

 was, that the curmlio, being aware of the fate which would be meet- 

 ed out to prospective mrcidios, if brought into the " breathing- 

 world," immediately over the death giving element, in its won- 

 derful perspicacity, seeks more auspicious feeding grounds. This 

 solution may be sheer nonsense, and still an inkling of the 

 mystery may get a shadow from the theory. The reader must 

 make his own dediictions. 



Ajierican Forest Trees — by D. W. Kay. I am sincerely proud of 

 this favored land, with trees as high as mountains — no munchause- 

 nism, — and which puts one in a pleasant glow to circumambulate. 

 Just imagine yourself getting an appetite for breakfast by pedestri- 

 ating the circumference of a California pine. G. P. R. James — How 

 these " noted characters " are " struck up " with initials — would 

 have had his admiration greatly augmented if he had migrated 

 across the western praries and the Rocky Mountains, where prime- 

 val vegetation disports unattended by decay and death which so 

 surely overtakes the habitants of European forests. Mr. Ray's 

 article is very edifying ; his description and remarks of the dif- 

 ferent varieties of the oak, are worthy of preservation as useful 

 facts. I think Mr. Ray could not perform a more valuable service 

 to your readers than contimiing the subject in future numbers of 

 the Review. 



Italian' Villa — Your article on Italian and Villa architectui-e is 

 an intrinsic paper, but I cannot say as much for the building* 

 The plan is unexceptionable ; but wlio ever saw doors and win- 

 dows, with an altitude exceeding their breadth, at least four times 

 Such unseemly excresences are not admisablo, so advise your 

 artist to have a care for his reputation, or it will be tarnished be- 



