110 Retrospective Criticism. 



his leisure hours with them, and in his garden, instead of in the alehouse. I 

 have generally found them fond of gardening ; but, for want of sufficient 

 knowledge, they often get disgusted by their not succeeding to their wishes. 

 Most books upon the subject are beyond their means, and too voluminous, 

 and, for a proprietor who wishes to promote the science, too expensive to 

 present to all his cottagers. Could you inform me of any concise pub- 

 lication upon the subject, mentioning briefly the proper time for sowing the 

 diiferent vegetable seeds, the treatment in the seed-bed, &c, the time for 

 transplanting, &c, and for the management of such fruits as a labourer 

 mio-ht have in his garden, to the great additional comfort of his family, 

 without his incurring any great additional expense or trouble ? — R. C. 

 Kirkliston, Aug. 22. 1829. 



The late Mr. Nicol wrote such a work as R. C. wishes for Scotland, and 

 Mr. William Salisbury for England; but they have both been for some 

 time out of print. With a view to the same objects, we offered premiums 

 (Vol. V. p. 713.); and we have received three most excellent essays on the 

 subject, the best of which, with notes from the others, we shall put imme- 

 diately to press, and publish, along with a model plan of a cottage, in a one 

 shilling pamphlet. As such a publication will not bear the expense of ad- 

 vertising in the newspapers, it will only be known to the cottagers through 

 the readers of this Magazine. — Cond. 



Art. IV. Retrospective Criticism. 



Mr. Knight's Pines. — Sir, I beg to trouble you with a few lines, in con- 

 sequence of observing, in the last Number of your Gardener's Magazine 

 (Vol. V. p. 717.), an account given you by my friend Mr. Mearns, of a 

 journey which we in company had made to Downton Castle, and of my 

 conversion, " under certain circumstances," to Mr. Knight's mode of pine 

 culture. 



The great luxuriance of Mr. Knight's plants afford sufficient evidence 

 of the practicability of growing the pine-apple without the use of the bark- 

 bed. So far I am perfectly convinced ; so far I never doubted. But the 

 idea which struck me when I saw his plants in October last, and also when 

 I saw them in the spring of 1826, was, that the plants, though strong and 

 healthy, did not produce fruit proportionably large. My friend must, there- 

 fore, have misunderstood me in conceiving that I had become a convert to 

 Mr. Knight's mode of culture ; for I am not yet thoroughly convinced of its 

 being the most eligible : I am only convinced, as I have already stated, that 

 the pine-apple can be cultivated in that way. 



My opinion is, that the common mode of culture is the best ; that the 

 bark-bed is of great importance as a steady source of heat, less fire being 

 necessary when it is used, and consequently the temperature of the house 

 being less liable to fluctuate. Plunging the pots, in order to maintain a steady 

 temperature at the roots, I consider also of the utmost importance, par- 

 ticularly when the plants are in fruit ; and where tanners' bark or leaves 

 cannot be obtained for that purpose, I would plunge them in earth, saw- 

 dust, or any such material, which will, of course, soon assume nearly the 

 mean temperature of the house. 



Being actuated neither by feelings of prejudice nor motives of interest, 

 I have thus stated my opinion candidly, and have but little fear of being 

 told by practical men that it is erroneous. If, however, I am wrong, I shall, 

 upon conviction of my error, most willingly give the preference to what- 

 ever mode of pine culture shall be fairly proved (all circumstances con- 

 sidered) most worthy of it. Having trespassed too far on your pages, 

 permit me only to add, that my remarks, in returning from Downton, would 



