354 Retrospective Criticism. 



encouraged. Under the present arrangements of the horticultural societies, 

 I conceive that the country derives but little benefit ; whereas, under more 

 judicious regulations, the improvements in horticulture might be so widely 

 made known, that every class in society might derive advantage. — W. 

 Aug, 26. 1829. 



Standard Sizes for Garden Pots. — I beg to propose, through the medium of 

 your useful periodical, the fixing of standard sizes for garden pots throughout 

 England, the various appellations of which, in different districts are produc- 

 tive of much misunderstanding. The gradation of sizes around London is, 

 I believe, sixes, twelves, sixteens, twenty-fours, thirty-twos, forty-eights, 

 large sixties, small sixties, and thumbs. Some judicious arrangement of 

 size and nomenclature, though apparently trifling, would be preventive of 

 much mistake ; for as your Magazine now reaches every part of Britain, it 

 is, I conceive, the only proper vehicle that can generalise sufficiently the 

 proposed arrangements amongst the particular classes it most interests. If 

 you think the matter worth notice, I would advise your consulting some 

 respectable London nurseryman, who would of course be a fit person to 

 affix the standard. I remain, Sir, &c. — Robert Errington. Oiition Park, 

 Cheshire, Nov. 28. 1828. 



CEnothera decumbens. — Sir, In the Botanical Register I find it observed of 

 the CEnothera decumbens (p. 1221.), " If cultivated in a large garden-pot 

 and in poor soil, so that their over-luxuriance is checked, both this and all 

 its purple-flowered brethren produce their blossoms in greater perfection 

 than in the open border ; but they cease flowering sooner." It has occurred 

 to me that all the advantage proposed by the above method of treatment 

 might be gained, without the attendant disadvantage, by substituting a com- 

 mon wicker or other basket in the place of the garden pot : this would 

 serve to confine the roots, and so check the tendency to over-luxuriance, 

 while the plant would derive all the benefit of the open ground with regard 

 to the supply of nourishment, together with equable temperature and mois- 

 ture. The common sale baskets used in fruiterers' shops for cherries, plums, 

 &c, would answer the above purpose perhaps as well as any. It is scarcely 

 necessary to say that this hint may be improved and applied pretty exten- 

 sively in the treatment of many perennial herbaceous plants, whose luxu- 

 riant habit, or troublesome protrusion of creeping roots, renders some 

 restraint upon their growth desirable. — Subnrbanns. Nov. 14. 1829. 



Assafaiida. — Sir, It is one of the very useful objects of the present day to in- 

 troduce new vegetables. In the Ti nvels of Captain Pottinger in Beloorhisian and Sinde, \ remem- 

 ber he speaks highly of the Assafoetida plant, as a vegetable which is eaten stewed, having the 

 appearance of a cauliflower, and held in very high esteem, so much so as to cause quite a scramble 

 in the market, when brought down from the mountains. One cannot fancy any thing very good 

 to be made out of any thing bearing an alliance to the Assafoetida of our Pharmacopoeias; but 

 from Captain Pottinger's account it would seem otherwise. I have not the book to refer to, but 

 I perfectly recollect it contains something to the effect I have stated. I have no doubt the Hor- 

 ticultural Society will send out a mission to Persia to perfect their knowledge of this esculent, 

 and I shall be glad if thev get their first hint from your very amusing and useful publication. — 

 A. B. Regent's Park, 1825. 



Art. VII, Retrospective Criticism. 



HORTICULTURAL Societies. — Sir, Amongst the valuable and interesting 

 accounts published in your Magazine, those of the shows of the Provincial 

 Horticultural Societies are not the least entertaining to some of your readers 

 on this side of the water. With the fundamental principles upon which 

 these societies are formed we are not so well acquainted ; but by the liberal 

 awards of premiums which are assigned to the most successful cultivators, 

 it appears that a spirit of competition forms one of then* most prominent 

 features. 



I have often regretted that the merits of this mode of promoting horti- 



