370 Retrospective Criticism, 



cavity, sufficiently to suffer fuel to be inserted under it through the doors 

 of the fuel-chamber, without the lime falling in ; for I presume that the fuel 

 must be renewed before an entire kiln is drawn, and that the fuel is not put 

 in at the top in layers, alternating with the limestone, as in the old way. 

 And is there a grate, or bars, below the fuel, as in a common furnace ? 

 And what are the dimensions of the several bars and grates ? I am,. Sir, &cv 

 *—Causidicus. Aug. 15. 1827. 



If our correspondent has observed the process of burning lime in any 

 common limekiln, the simplest mode of answering his queries will be to- 

 state that, in all that relates to burning, the process is the same as in com- 

 mon limekilns. The superiority of Mr. Menteath's kiln consists in its form,, 

 and in the use of a protecting cover. The position and proportionate dimen- 

 sions of the iron bars are the same as in common limekilns. — Cond. 



Etymology of Botanic Navies. — I beg leave to differ from you in print- 

 ing the etymology of names that are from the Greek in English, and not 

 in Greek letters. I think they would answer the end in view much better 

 if they were in Greek characters ; it would be far more conducive to a 

 general knowledge of botanical glossology, and a greater stimulus to the 

 student. By printing the derivations all in one type, no person, except the 

 learned, can know whether they are from the Latin or Greek. I will take 

 ifyoscyamus for example, which you say is from hyos a hog, and kyamos a 

 bean ; but who can tell whether they are Latin or Greek words, for the 

 Latin words are in the same type ; had it been printed vs a hog, and Kvafios 

 a bean, your readers would have known it was from the Greek, and tc* 

 those who are not acquainted with the Greek language, it would be an 

 inducement to learn it, as I can testify ; for by looking over some generic 

 names derived from the Greek, in Greek characters, I made them all out; 

 without the help of a Greek alphabet. Since that time 1 have applied 

 myself to the study of the Greek language, and am proud to say that there 

 are very few generic names derived from the Greek but what I know. If 

 other young gardeners had the same advantages, they might perhaps do the 

 3ame. I am Sir, a wellwisher to your Magazine. — J. P. August 17. 



There is not one composed generic name in five hundred that is not 

 from the Greek, nor one composed specific name in five hundred that is 

 not from the Latin ; therefore we do not think our correspondent's objec- 

 tions to our mode, or his view of the advantages of the mode he proposes, 

 of sufficient force to induce us to alter our plan, more especially as it is the 

 plan we have followed in our Hortus Britannicus : farther, the adoption 

 of Greek letters, either in that work or this, would add materially to the 

 expense of printing, and consequently to the price charged for the quantity 

 of material given to the public. — Cond. 



Gardeners and Labourers. — I must bespeak your patience, Sir, while I 

 lave a few words with yourself. You must understand, Sir, that I am not 

 one of those tame domestic animals, who are so much in request nowa- 

 days ; but I am one of those who, seeing any infringement vipon the jusfe 

 prerogative or true dignity of my fellow-men or my own, dare demand 

 justice ; and (pardon me, Sir) you have somewhat degraded us in your note 

 accompanying "A Nurseryman's letter." (Vol. II. p. 268.) You have set us 

 below the level of common country labourers. On this matter I must quarrel 

 with you, Sir, for it does not occur to me, that any argument whatever, founded 

 ©n sound reason, can show how the workmanship of a common labourer- 

 can surpass that of a professed gardener, in such jobs as gardenets are gene- 

 rally set to in the nurseries. However, Sir, I trust you are candid enough to 

 show better cause for, or to correct, the statement. As a proof,. you refer to 

 Mr. Donald's nursery, where, you say, " the work is performed by common 

 country labourers :*' but are they not regular nursery labourers [certainly 

 regular nursery labourers would have been a better term], who,from the time 



