Retrospective Criticism. 231 



Queen Pines cid at Prestivold in October 1840, by Mr. Brown, Gardener there. 



— I take the liberty to send you the weight of ten queen pines which were 

 cut by my father, at Prestwold, last October. To some the weights may ap- 

 pear almost incredible, but others as well as myself can vouch for the authen- 

 ticity of the list, 



lb. oz. lb. oz. lb. oz. 



First - - 5 9 Fifth - - 4 6 Eighth - -44' 



Second - - 5 4 Sixth - - 4 3 Ninth - - 4 4 



Third - - 4 14 Seventh - - 4 4 Tenth - - 4 12 



Fourth - - 4 8 



The ten together weighing 46 lb. 6 oz. good weight. When I was with Mr. 

 Cruickshank at Coleorton, we cut two queens there which weighed 3 lb. 

 each, and that was the greatest weight we ever got the queen to attain. As 

 the old flue system, together with its old companions wooden lights, has suc- 

 ceeded in growing such (I may say) fine fruit, what may we yet look for from 

 the effect of metallic glazing, and hot water, which I think are far preferable ? 



— W. Brown. Merevale Hall, Feb. 12. 1841. 



The Bokhara Clover. — We have had plants from 12 to 14 feet high, and 

 have saved from them a considerable quantity of seeds. Horses and all other 

 cattle and sheep are very fond of this plant, the smell of which is exactly like 

 that of Anthoxanthiim odoratum. It is a biennial, and its strong fleshy roots 

 decaying rapidly in the soil will add to its richness, and form a sort of manure 

 for the succeeding crop. I could say much more in favour of this plant, but 

 I have not time. — R. Forrest. Kensington Nursery, Oct. 29. 1840. 



SCOTLAND. 



Glasgow Botanic Garden. — The site of the old garden, which was bought 

 for 2000/. in 1817, has lately been sokl for 12,000/., and 22 acres farther from 

 town in a most beautifid situation have been purchased for 4400/. This new 

 garden is at present being laid out, and there can be no doubt that when 

 completed it will form by far the most beautiful botanic garden in Scotland. — 

 A. B. Glasgow, April 6. 1840. 



Jelly from the Berries of Hibes sanguineum. — A pot of jelly made from the 

 berries of this shrub was exhibited at the autumn meeting of the Caledonian 

 Horticultural Society, by Mr. James Kellock, gardener to Mr. Younger, of 

 Craigielands, Moftat, who received a premium. (^Edinburgh Courant, Sept. 10. 

 1840.) 



Names of African Plants. — At the meeting of the British Association at 

 Glasgow, Dr. Walker Arnot read a paper to show that a vast number of 

 different names had been given to many plants of the same kind ; and ex- 

 pressed a hope that some arrangement would be adopted by which the con- 

 fusion thus created might be removed. (Lit. Gaz., Oct. 31. 1840.) 



Art. III. Retrospective Criticism. 



Mr. Penn^s Practice in Heating, ^c. — In answer to your enquiries as to the 

 success of my system of warming and ventilating hothouses, I beg to say that 

 I have been in general very successful ; but, in some instances, there has been 

 a deficiency of heat during the last most severe and trying winter, which I find 

 has happened not only to my system but to every other. The experience of 

 this winter has proved to me the expediency of putting the heating-pipes in 

 the front instead of the back of the houses ; and I also find it preferable to 

 have the pipes in a casing above the ground floor, rather than under it. I 

 have this winter tried the pipes uncovered, which I think, in some cases, su- 

 perior to covering them. In some cases where I have put up apparatus, I 

 have found some slight alterations in the replacing the pipes, &c., necessary ; 

 which I find myself called upon to make without any expense to my employers. 



