Retrospective Criticism. 533 



drawn up by those around, the variety may be easily known by its smoother 

 bark, and lower- branched trunk. 



Although I have ordered the felling and sawing up of thousands of both 

 kinds, I never thought of examining, nor did I ever notice which of them 

 was superior in point of quality. Three trees of the first I saw felled and 

 cut up into flooring boards, which, in the opinion of competent judges, were 

 not in the least inferior to the best yellow deal of the Baltic. These trees 

 were large, and not less than 107 years old when felled. 



From this fact I conclude, that age or slowness of growth gives the re- 

 quisite quality to the timber : and have no doubt but that the slender strip- 

 lings in the interior of thickly growing woods, such as the natural woods 

 of Norway, or those frequently seen in England, are of as good quality as 

 the heart of the largest trees. 



Is it not probable, that the kind noticed by Don is the same with the 

 variety described above ? and would it not be worth while to collect the 

 seeds and sow them separately ? The variety is a much more picturesque 

 tree than the common one, and therefore would be preferred by the land- 

 scape-gardener, where such a character is desirable. 



I cannot for a moment doubt the accuracy of J. R's. statement, as to soil 

 altering the quality or colour of the timber : he points to instances which 

 are sufficiently confirm<itive of his opinion. On this I have only to add, 

 that soil was not the cause of the difference of habit described above ; 

 though, as J. R. asserts, it may produce a diffei'ence in the quality of the 

 timber. — M. 



Barrenness of the Grape Vine zvithin the Tropics. — Dr. Hamilton 

 (p. 443.) observes that he cannot conjecture whence this information has 

 been derived. I beg to answer, from the state of vines seen cultivated at 

 various places on the coast of Coromandel, in the East Indies, There 

 they are trained on diiferent kinds of treUises, and as arbours, but without 

 success. I cannot affirm that much art was employed in pruning, and cer- 

 tainly no regard was had to lunar influence. But the fact that the solar 

 heat is too intense in those regions for the constitution of the vine is evi- 

 dent, as no fruit is ever obtained unless under some mitigating circum- 

 stances ; as great elevation above the level of the sea, shady situation, or 

 peculiar aspect. A gentleman, lately arrived in England from that part of 

 India, confirms the above account, but adds, that grapes come to great per- 

 fection on the mountainous parts of the ceded districts of the Mysore. — 

 J. A. M. OcL28. 1828. 



The Life of a Jobbing Gardener. — I not only read with avidity your 

 last-published Number, but often turn back to some of your first; and, 

 having much leisure, freqently feel inclined to contribute something for the 

 retrospective section of your work ; and, as I have always been a reading, 

 though not much of a practical, gardener, I may, perhaps, occasionally pre- 

 sent some remarks on what has been said of, or done by, gardeners of the 

 old school, that may not be unarausing to some of your young readers. In 

 a late retrogradation, Mr. M'Naughton's life (Vol. I. p. 24.) met my eye ; and, 

 feeling that his is a pitiable, and not uncommon, case, I became desirous of 

 giving a little advice on the subject ; and, in the first place, I am compelled 

 to remark that many deserving men, like him, inconsiderately leave a com- 

 fortable servitude for the sake of ideal liberty, and seek in personal freedom 

 that ^satisfaction which their own restless disposition denied them in place. 

 If, from steadiness of character and ability in business, they get more employ- 

 ment than they can perform or superintend themselves, their first error is 

 taking as assistants what are called " blue-apron-men," " St. George's Fields 

 gardeners," who, ignorant and uncontrolled, spoil more trees and plants 

 than all other mishaps put together. Soon our jobbing gardener goes down 

 hill ; he shares the contemptible character of his associates, is neglected, and 

 soon forgotten. But, if such a man were moderate, and not grasping at 



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