Retrospective Criticism. . 269 



Ckreus coeruUscens, cylindricus, extinsis, and some other new kinds, will 

 be in flower in July, in our collection. The two former are about eight feet 

 high ; the flowers are white, very large, and beautiful. C. caerul^scens has 

 a very handsome bluish stem, set with jet black spines, from whence its 

 name. — Ed. 



Spurry or Spurry Grass. — You will perhaps recollect that I had some 

 conversation with you when in Boston respecting spurry seed. It has 

 awakened some considerable attention among farmers in this vicinity, who 

 have used it very successfully in reclaiming sandy lands. It was introduced 

 here about a year since by Dr. Flint, a physician of some eminence, who 

 also takes great interest in agriculture. He had read of spurry in some 

 foreign works, and was anxious to try the experiment on some sandy land 

 which he owned, but could find none in the country. As he was acquainted 

 with Mr. Thorburn, of New York, he got him to send to Germany for a 

 small lot, which was sowed last summer, and the result far exceeded his 

 expectations. From four pounds of seed he raised one hundred pounds, 

 part of which I sold for him this spring, and from what I learn, all who 

 tried are delighted with it. This spring he sowed another lot, the seed of 

 which is now ripe and ready for sowing. I enclose you a communication 

 from a gentleman respecting its cultivation, &c. — Yours, B. K. B., Spring- 

 field, Mass., June, 1846. 



[The communication came to hand too late for insertion in this number, 

 but will appear in our next. In the mean time, we would advise a trial of it, 

 and the seeds may be successfully sown now, and a good crop raised this 

 year. Messrs. Hovey & Co. have the seeds for sale. — Ed.] 



Art. III. Retrospectwe Criticism. 



Errata. — In our May number, in preparing our article on new pears, we 

 inadvertently overlooked a brief description of the Sieulle pear in Prince's 

 Pomological Manual, although we had the book before us. Judge Hoad- 

 ley of Cleveland, Ohio, to whom we are indebted, has reminded us of this 

 error, which we hasten to correct : — 



The Sieulle Pear. — Your May number, I read last evening, and I noticed 

 your observations concerning the Sieulle pear. There is some account of it- 

 in Prince's Pomology, 1st vol. 156th page. I received a tree from Flushing 

 in November, 1835. It bore fruit in 1837, corresponding with your descrip- 

 tion. In 1840 or '41, I gave the tree to a friend, who thinks it a»first rate 

 fruit. — Yours, Geo. Hoadley, May, 1846. 



The Dix Pear, {p. 181.) — I see in your magazine it is stated " the Dix 

 pear tree was some years ago cut down or removed, and the place where it 

 stood is now covered with dwellings.'" This I take to be an error. I was 

 led to a tree on the late Dix estate this spring, and informed it was ihe 

 original Dix pear tree ; from it I took grafts and have inserted them exten- 

 sively. I understood the present owner of the estate intended to let the 



