Retrospective Criticism. 613 



Castle and Dalhousie Castle : from the former place I received Beeds of it 

 two years ago, from which I raised four plants : three have flowered this 

 spring, two were the same as Mr. Roliinson's, and the other proved to be 

 the common variety. At the time it first flowered with me in Scotland a 

 specimen was exhibited at the Caledonian Horticultural Society, but I be- 

 lieve it has not been seen about London until this spring, as I made enquiry 

 at several nurserymen previously to receiving the seeds from which my 

 plants were raised. A fine plant of it is in a pit at the Clapton nursery, 

 amongst other natives of New Holland, and grows vigorously. — T. Blair. 

 July 19. 



Amaryllis solandr&ftdra is mentioned by Mr. Sweet (Vol. I. p. 32.) as 

 continuing to grow all the year. What he has advanced upon this head I 

 cannot doubt, not having cultivated it in England ; but I can assure you, 

 that in its native climate, Brazil, both that variety and the other species of 

 Amaryllis (I believe figured in Catley's Plants) from Mr. Brookes, although 

 described as two distinct species, are only varieties of my A. longiflora; and 

 although I have not the credit of introducing them into England (amongst 

 many other plants), I have not only a letter to prove the receipt of them, as 

 sent by me from the north part of the Brazils (not of Cayenne), but also a 

 passage " to know if 1 approve of the name solandr<^/?ora," &c. Among 

 my numerous pencil sketches of plants of that most interesting country, I 

 made one of the original species, which I sent to Mr. Lee at Hammersmith, 

 from the seed of which I produced three distinct varieties. The original 

 species and one of the varieties, as far as it has come to my notice, have not 

 flowered in England. They all shoot up their flower- stalk, without being 

 accompanied with leaves, precisely the same as Belladonna, and the leaves 

 soon appeal' afterwards. — Jno. Newman. R. B. Garden, Mauritius, March 

 12. 1830. 



Yerbena chamcedrifolia is not my name, but that of Jussieu, first pub- 

 lished in Persoon's Synopsis, but overlooked by Mr. Lindley when he gave 

 it the name of Melindres in the Botanical Register. — R. Sweet. Pomona 

 Place, March 29. 



If the Pollen of Plants (Vol. I. p. 68.) has no effect in producing different 

 varieties in size, flavour, colour, &c, what part of the plant are we to ima- 

 gine the production of a new variety to spring from ? In a natural state 

 plants seldom produce varieties, and the favourers of hybrids collect the 

 pollen of the one for the impregnation of the other ; and it appears well 

 proved that vegetables have different sexes, and are carried on by the same 

 laws of the Almighty as animals ; it cannot be wholly the result of chance 

 or climate. I, however, consider hybrids as unnatural objects, though they 

 are occasionally more handsome than the parent. Man himself appears to 

 be the agent which produces them, whether in animals or vegetables. — 

 Jno. Newman. R. B, Garden, Mauritius, March 12. 



List of Fruit Trees. — Sir, Your correspondent (p. 230.), in answer to 

 J. S. L.'s query, I think would have conferred a still greater favour if he 

 had stated the shape, size, and colour, and when in use ; and, as he states 

 that his employer is one of the greatest fruit-growers in that part of the 

 country, he might have easily done so. The following is a list of American 

 fruit trees. The American nurserymen mention the time that the different 

 sorts of fruit trees are in use ; and I think it would be a great improvement 

 if our nurserymen would adopt the same plan. 

 A Selection of the most esteemed American Fruit Trees, selected in the autumns 



of 1827 and 1828, from the Botanic Garden, New York, for the Pomolo- 



gical Garden, near Lancaster, belonging to M. Saul. 



1827. 1. Monstrous Pippin, or New York Gloria Mundi, has weighed 

 35 oz. ; Oct. to Jan. 2. Surprise (yellow outside and red to the core 

 within); Nov. to March. 3. Sine qua non (one of the finest flavoured 

 early apples); July. 4. Federal Pearmain ; Nov. to March. 5. Red Bald- 

 It R 3 



