98 Retrospective Criticism. 



the management of mignonette in pots during the winter, and which is not 

 correctly printed from my letter. It should stand thus : — 



To flower in November, sow August the 10th. To flower in the end of 

 January, and throughout Fehuary, sow August tlie 25th. To flower in 

 March, April, and May, sow September the 5th. 



Sow in 48-sized pots, with their bottoms safely drained in a compost of 

 two fourths mellow loam, one fourth leaf mould, and one fourth clean sand. 

 Plunge in frames within a foot of the glass, give the frame a good eleva- 

 tion, and thin the plants out to six or seven in a pot. Give all the air pos- 

 sible, when not frosty, but mat up well in severe weather. Il is advisable 

 to stop the middle shoot from the two latter sowings. At all times, ex- 

 cept when flowering, give water with caution. — Robert Errington. Oulton 

 Park, Cheshire, Nov. 28. 1828. 



Size of Mr. Howes' s Cockscomb. — Sir, In Vol. IV. p. 351., it is stated 

 that the cockscomb raised by me was 22 in. high, whereas it was 22 in. long. 

 The correct size of the flower was as follows : — 



From the surface of the mould to the top of the blossom, 19 in. Length 

 of the crest of the flower, 22 in. Breadth of the crest of the flower IQiin. 



My flower, therefore, was, I conceive, larger than the Appleton flower, 

 described Vol. IV. p. 101., i though the Appleton flower was higher j its 

 dimensions being as follows : — 



From the surface of the mould to the top of the blossom 5 ft. 6 in. Length 

 ©f the crest of the flower, 25 in. Breadth of the crest of the flower 6 in. 

 Consequently the contents of the upper surface of the crest of the Apple- 

 ton flower was only 138 in., while that of mine was 251 in. 



I hope you have seen the dwarf cockscomb plants, which I sent to the 

 Horticultural Society's garden in September last. [We were then abroad.] 

 I have grown one this year with the crest 24 in. long, IS^ in. broad, and 

 21 in. high from the surface of the mould to the top of the flower. I have 

 one standing in a small orange-house which is 3 ft. 5i in. high, the crest of 

 the flower 24 in. long, and 11 in. broad; but that size is not so remarkable 

 in the tall as in the dwarf sorts. I remain. Sir, &c. — R. L. Howes. Mid- 

 dleton Gardens, near Lynn, Oct. 21. 1828. 



Agronome and Mr. M" Murtrie. — Sir, I observe in Vol. IV. p. 310., that 

 you have allowed Agronome rather to exceed the bounds an anonymous 

 writer should be conSned to. With regard to his sneer at me, both as 

 a gardener, and as to my sentiments concerning metallic hot-houses, I assure 

 you I am not at all angry : but I think it is hardly fair to allow a shadow, 

 as every anonymous writer must be considered, to cut and cavil at one who 

 comes forward in his own proper character, to present to the public the 

 results of his experience. So long as Agronome confines his observations 

 to his own practice and experience, his papers will be read with interest, if 

 they are worthy of it, but he cannot expect to be distinguished in any other 

 way in your Magazine. If he is disposed to criticise, to give weight to his 

 strictures, he must " doff his habit," and appear in his own proper person ; 

 then the public will be better able to judge whether any credit is due to 

 his judgment, and whether he is as able to perform well himself, as to find 

 fault with others. But he must not be allowed the privilege of attack so 

 long as he retains his disguise. Let him defend himself and welcome when 

 he is assailed. Abstaining, therefore, for the above reason, from taking any 

 further notice of Agronome's observations, I remain. Sir, your most obedient 

 servant, — W. M'Murtrie. Shugborough, Aug. 7. 1828. 



Vines luithin the Tropics. — Sir, There is nothing more conducive to the 

 advancement of knowledge and the investigation of truth than the tem- 

 perate discussion of facts, and I rejoice, therefore, that my observations 

 upon your correspondent J. A. M's, statement in Vol; IV. p. 314., that vines 

 planted within the tropics never do well, have elicited some further facts 



