716 Retrospective Criticism. 



had the tops of my linings covered, to keep them dry, but soon found they 

 were wetter, and that the dung decomposed much quicker, than when ex- 

 posed : the reason I think is obvious ; all the gas which was produced 

 by fermentation was confined, and was the cause of rapid decomposition ; 

 quite the reverse of what I expected. I conjecture (but perhaps wrongly) 

 that the dung, when in a chamber, is deprived of the oxygen which abounds 

 in the external atmosphere ; and that this is the cause of the fermentation 

 ceasing ; in the same manner as flame will become extinguished, and animals 

 become suffocated, from the want of oxygen. I am, Sir, yours, &c. — J. D. 

 Parks. Dartford Murse7y, Dai'tford, Kent, June 20. 1831. 



Prizes for Fruits. — Veritas, who dates from Chai'les Street, Covent 

 Garden, recommends to us to warn our readers, that the premiums given 

 for fruits by the Horticultural Society of London are not to be considered 

 as given for the best fruits that can be grown, but rather for the best that 

 happen to be presented at the time ; and that those medals given in June 

 last, and recorded in p. 510., are to be considered as a sort of honorary 

 payment for helping out the dessert given at the fete. Veritas has prepared 

 a paragraph on this subject ; but, as it is rather severe, we cannot publish 

 it unless he will give his real name. — Cond. 



History of the Lombardy Poplar (Vopidus dilatdta). — Mr. Masters, in his 

 Hbrtus Duroverni, or catalogue of the plants cultivated in his nursery at 

 Canterbury, published 1831, says, in a note on p. 57. : — " The common 

 Lombardyor Po poplar was introduced in 1758. One of the original im- 

 portation was planted in the nursery ; it is still standing, and has acquired 

 a growth of nearly 100 ft." [in height]. A communication in Vol. VI. 

 p. 419., on this subject, dates its introduction to St. Osyth, Essex, 1751, 

 seven years anterior to the time mentioned by Mr. Masters. We notice this 

 remark in the hope of eliciting from Mr. Masters additional cu'cumstances 

 appertaining to the history of this interesting tree ; and we shall be glad to 

 learn whether the above tree is male or female : it will bloom in March and 

 April. The wood of the poplar is remarkably light when dry, and is usually 

 but lightly esteemed ; for in-door purposes it is, however, said to be excel- 

 lent. Hence the following couplet appertaining to it : — 

 " Though heart of oak be e'er so stout. 

 Keep vie dry, and I'll see him out." 

 We believe we have been told that poplar wood, moreover, ignites very 

 slowly ', and that it is, therefore, very eligible for the floors of cottage-cham- 

 bei's, and like purposes. — ./. D. 



Dahlia, Georgina, Georgia. — Sir, I perceive j'ou prefer the second term 

 to the first ; the third is more accurate than either, and is employed by 

 Sprengel in his ninth edition of Linnceus's Genera Plantdrum. The name 

 of the botanist complimented is Georgi, not Georgin. — W. Hamilton. Ply- 

 mouth, Oct. 5. 1831. The principle adopted by our correspondent is 

 unquestionably the correct one; but Willdenow, who devised the name 

 Georgina, proloably made it Georgina rather than Georgia, intentionally, to 

 prevent its being confused with the country Georgia, whence some, in con- 

 sequence of the name, might suppose the plants to have been obtained : 

 they are from Mexico. Decandolle having adopted Georgina, we trust Dr. 

 Hamilton will do so too ; the more especially, as, during our late tour in 

 the north of England and west of Scotland, we found it very generally 

 taking the place of Dahlia. — Cond. 



Packing Florists'' Flowers, and the Advantage of keeping them in the Dark 

 for two or three Days previous to exhibiting them for Competition. — Sir, At 

 p. 498. you recommend my mode of packing flowers ; which, had you given 

 a section of the box, would, I think, have been better understood. 

 Packing flowers in this way improves the beauty of the flower, by keeping 

 it in darkness for two or three days. Perhaps you are not aware that the 

 Lancashire florists cut their flowers three or four days before the show, and 



