312 Retrospective Criticism. 



Tiica, as the invention of the Rev. Mr. White. Mr. Jessop is not the only 

 person who keeps bees in lateral boxes, as I, on seeing the description of 

 them in the Encyclnpcedia, have had such boxes made, with the sort of house 

 to keep them in mentioned by Mr. White. I have also been the means of 

 two persons in my neighbourhood leaving off suffocating, and keeping their 

 bees in such boxes this last year. In my opinion, no persons, with'lthe 

 slightest education, should keep bees in any improved way, until they have 

 read Huber's work on that subject, having repeatedly proved last year the 

 truth of his most beautiful experiment, that of producing a queen bee at 

 pleasure from the egg of a common worker. This is very necessary, in case 

 of accidents, to v^hich bees are always subject. I have not the slightest 

 doubt, but that all Huber advances is true, from his details agreeing so well 

 with what I have observed. I always use the puff balls mentioned by Keys, 

 whose practice is excellent, but whose theory is most contemptible, to 

 fumigate my bees with ; as a specimen, he sets it down as a fact, without 

 giving any reason, that working bees are neutrals. — S. Watts, Willow 

 Place, Kennington Common, March 8. 



Some Observations on the Effects of Frost on Vegetables. (Vol. III. p. ff2.) 

 — Professor Link thinks that herbaceous plants are more liable thati 

 trees to be destroyed by frost; and stems and young shoots of one 

 year's growth more easily than those of three years' growth, and that 

 because their parts " are formed of only one ring or layer of fibre." This 

 idea is questionable | at least it does not appear to be universally the case, 

 as the young and tender plants of wheat, rye, and many others, are in the 

 course of one winter, stems as well as leaves, repeatedly frozen, and yet 

 remain unhurt. In such cases their hardihood does not arise from their 

 possessing a plurality of fibrous rings, but from their elastic tenacity, which 

 admits of their being frozen, and consequently distended in foi-m, deprived 

 of their rigidity as well as turgidity, and yet without disruption of parts, 

 or laceration of their fibrile structure. — J. A. M, Feb. 1828. 



On grafting under the Bark. (Vol. til. p. 63.) — The rector of Hoyerswerda 

 is perfectly right, as to the efficiency of grafting under the bark ; because 

 it places the parts which form the union in immediate contact. His 

 own objection to it, as well as that of the committee, is, however, futile, 

 because the bark will rise sufficiently for the purpose at any time, especially 

 if the little tool called a messenger be used. This small implement is 

 equally useful in budding and in grafting ; and if the handles of budding 

 knives, whether of bone or ivory, were made in the proper form, they would 

 be found to facilitate, as well as expedite the operations. It is nothing more 

 than a slender wedge ; flat, or rather a little concave on one side, and con- 

 vex on the other, tapering to a blunt and thin point. In crown, stem, or 

 branch grafting or budding, after the incisions are made in the bark, the 

 messenger is first passed down, its concave side bearing steadily against the 

 wood of the stock; the bark being thereby raised, the messenger is with- 

 drawn, and the scion (previously cut in shape like the tool) is inserted, and 

 being slightly bound, and well clayed, the operation is finished. The only 

 objection to this mode of grafting is the liability of the grafts to being blown 

 out by the wind long after their insertion, but this may be guarded against 

 by timely support. ■ — Id. 



Remarks on forcing Cherries. (Vol. III. p. 64.) - — This is an excellent 

 paper. One trait of M. Fintelmann's management seems to be original ; 

 viz. stopping the most vigorous shoots about the end of June, and thinning 

 the buds, in order to cause such as are left to become blossom buds. 

 This practice we follow in the management of the apricot, apple, &c., 

 but its application to cherries is new, at least as far as my experience goes. 

 Much skill is necessary in performing this, because if done too late, it is of 

 no effect, and if done too soon, the reserved buds on a vigorous shoot will 

 most of them burst, and thereby counteract the pruner's intention. This 



