486 Retrospective Criticism. 



former, presents to the mind perhaps the most beautiful and sublime "pic- 

 tures, but they are always wild and fantastic. If, however, . she permits 

 judgment to advise and criticise without meddling too much in the affair, 

 perfection is likely to ensue, which would never perhaps be the case if the 

 imagination were left entirely to herself, or that judgment sat coolly down 

 to make a picture of her own, instead of making a corrected and more 

 elegant copy of that which was presented by her volatile friend. I remain, 

 Sir, &c. — Variegata. January, 1828. 



If the general manner in which we have expressed ourselves in favour of 

 " beauty in masses," in the article alluded to, be liable to misconception, 

 our elegant and ingenious correspondent, if she will take the trouble of 

 referring to other parts of the Gardener's Magazine, will find that we had 

 previously endeavoured to explain our ideas on this subject. We refer 

 Variegata to our note in Vol. II. p. 309. Beauty may be in masses, 

 without being in formal masses ; but even formal masses of beauty, beauty 

 in curved forms, or in beds bounded by parallel lines, is to be admired in its 

 way ; for neither in nature or art is every thing in the superlative. Beauty 

 is not of one but of many kinds. We cannot agree with Variegata in 

 admiring the manner in which the chrysanthemums were disposed in the 

 Horticultural Society's garden last season, for reasons so fully detailed in 

 the note referred to, that we" need only request Variegata to reconsider 

 that note, and to favour us with some farther remarks on the subject. — 

 Cond. 



Planting Hyacinths. — Your correspondent, Rusticus in Urbe (p. 162.), is 

 completely wrong in regard to the cause of the excellence of Mr. Camp- 

 bell's hyacinths. He says, " the great merit of Mr. Campbell's mode of 

 treating hyacinths depends entirely on the depth, 4 in., at which he plants 

 them." Quite the contrary. The merit consists, as Mr. Campbell has 

 shown, in planting them only 1 in. under the surface. The dung which 

 Mr. Campbell puts over them is for the purpose of keeping out the frost, 

 and keeping in the moisture : it is quite loose, dry, and porous ; otherwise 

 it would not have either of these effects. So far from the wild hyacinth, 

 or harebell, in our hedges and woods, naturally rooting deep, I can affirm, 

 from observation, that they only do this on very soft soils, and that, when 

 they do so, the plants are always weak, and never flower well. If Rusticus 

 in Urbe will look into any wood where the harebell abounds at this season, 

 he will find the strongest bulbs invariably near the surface, and in general 

 within an inch of it, or even less. I refer Rusticus in Urbe, or any other 

 of your readers, to the woods at Caenwood, at Hampstead, where the wild 

 hyacinth abounds, and where, from recent inspection, I can affirm, from 

 my own knowledge, that the facts are as stated above. Yours, truly, — 

 Rusticus Sylvanus. Sept. 25. 1827. 



We have shown the communication of Rusticus Sylvanus to our neigh- 

 bour, Mr. Campbell, who entirely agrees with what R. S. has stated. We 

 can affirm the same thing, having lately been in woods in Hertfordshire 

 where the hyacinth abounds. — Cond. 



Cobbetfs Garden, (p. 564.) — As I am not an admirer of this person, [ am 

 not likely to say any thing in his praise ; but I think you are not just in 

 your observations on his prices. If you have seen in his shop-window the 

 branch of the fall-apple, I think you will allow, from the appearance of the 

 specimen, that it is not only a great bearer, but a very handsome apple. 

 The branch is about a foot long, with four very large and beautiful apples 

 upon it, and several excellent blossom buds for the next year ; and 9^. for 

 a one-year grafted tree, or Is. 3d. for a larger, say of two years, is much 

 below the usual rate ; the price of Keen's seedling strawberry is very low 

 also. I have myself this autumn paid 4s. per hundred, and I think at Mr. 



