Retrospective Criticism. 653 



of the town, and that the space occupied by these and the accompanying 

 plantations would include the "King's Knote;" but we have no idea that 

 this would involve the destruction of this very curious piece of antiquarian 

 gardening. On the contrary, the " Knote" would form an interesting feature 

 in the walks, more especially if the partially obliterated parts were restored. 

 We are further informed that the plantations proposed to be made along the 

 walks would probably include a collection of all the trees and shrubs that 

 would endure the climate; in short, that it would be an arboretum. The 

 plan, we believe, was formed by the Messrs. M'Nab of Edinburgh, and the 

 circumstance of employing these gentlemen on such an occasion does great 

 credit to the Office of Woods. To return to the " Knote," the Messrs. 

 Drummond of the justly celebrated Agricultural Museum of Stirling kindly 

 undertook, in August last, to have the Knote surveyed, and a plan and sec- 

 tions made out for us, engravings from which we shall publish in the course 

 of our tour which will be commenced with our volume for 1842. — Cond. 



Art. IV. Retrospective Criticism. 



Rooting Cuttings in Charcoal, and sowing Seeds in Snow. (p. 152. 219. 252, 

 302. and SO-l.) — We are glad to find this practice beginning to attract atten- 

 tion in this country as well as in Germany. A writer in the Gardener's 

 Chronicle, who had recently visited Munich, makes the following observations 

 on what he saw in the royal gardens there. We would strongly recommend 

 gardeners to try powdered charcoal simply as a substitute for sand in striking 

 cuttings; and again, mixed with soil for growing plants, as practised by 

 M. Lucas at Munich, and related by him in p. 219. 



"By the kindness of Professor Martins, I was allowed to inspect the pro- 

 pagating apparatus in the Botanical Garden at Munich. It is so fully de- 

 scribed by the inventor in the Garten Zeifung (see Gard. Mag. for June last), 

 that little remains to be added, except to state the results. The strongest proof 

 that the plan is good is, that it continues to act with the most complete suc- 

 cess, although the author of it has been removed to Ratisbon ; for it is well 

 known that many plans are indebted for their success to the unwearied atten- 

 tion of the parent eye, and that, from passing into other hands, they are 

 frequently allowed to languish and decay. Nothing can be more simple than 

 the whole apparatus. It is nothing more than a common pit, with a flue 

 along the middle, on which is a reservoir of water, the steam from which 

 passes through the bed of charcoal, which is placed above it. Upon the 

 charcoal small glass frames of the commonest kinds are placed, to exclude the 

 air from the cuttings in their early stage. It may be suggested, and, indeed, 

 would immediately strike any one who examines the apparatus, that the suc- 

 cess may be owing to the moist heat in which the cuttings are constantly 

 kept. No question it is so in part ; but I am quite satisfied the extraordinary 

 results I witnessed are quite as much owing to the menstruum of propagation 

 as to the decided advantage above stated ; and I doubt whether heat and 

 sand, under any circumstances, would cause the quantity of roots to be pro- 

 duced which I saw there^at the end of three weeks' insertion in the bed. It is 

 neces-sary that the charcoal should be fine, but not in dust, which will con- 

 solidate, and prevent the fibres penetrating in every direction, as they do when 

 it is of the proper size. In some part of the process, fine peat is mixed with 

 the charcoal ; but I think this is rather in the rooting afterwards, and that the 

 first process of striking, in most species, succeeds best in the pure material. 

 From what has been stated, it is clear the necessary apparatus is simple of 

 application, and of little cost ; a part of any fined pit, or one heated by hot 

 water, would answer every purpose ; though in any nursery, or even gentle- 

 man's establishment, the making one on purpose would be of trifling expense 

 compared Avith the results, as, owing to the rapidity of the operation, a very 

 small bed would suffice. With respect to the virtues of the charcoal itself 



