721? Retrospective Criticism. 



than the momentary gratifications of the senses in the frivolous amusements 

 above alluded to. These pursuits must needs occupy much precious time, 

 and v/here can the labourer find leisure sufficient for these things? He 

 cannot compass every thing. The more useful subjects, then, should be 

 selected, and the whole of his time and attention applied to them. 



As the amelioration of all classes of the community seems to be your 

 sincere desire, and the welfare of gardeners the grand aim of your truly 

 valuable Magazine, permit me to add one remark more; that religion is the 

 only rock and foundation on which we can build our hopes of real and last- 

 ing happiness. The temporal pleasures of this world are but sportive 

 bubbles, playing in the sunbeam of prosperity, but doomed to be extinct 

 with the first blast of adversity. When all other earthly comforts fail, when 

 a man is ready to sink under the oppressive v/eight of his afflictions, even 

 then religion can support him, and enable him to rise superior to all the 

 miseries of this precarious world. " Her ways are ways of pleasantness, 

 and all her paths are paths of peace." 



" True Happiness had no localities, 

 No tones provincial, no peculiar garb ; 

 Where Duty went, she went, with Justice went. 

 And went with Meekness, Charity, and Love." 



Yours, truly, — P. R. May 20. 



The Reform of Horticultural Societies. — I am particularly anxious that 

 you should take into your serious consideration the reform of Horti- 

 cultural Societies. Let the competitors, at all events, be classed, who 

 can compete with nursery gardeners, (see Vol. IV. p. 288. and p. 221.?) 

 How can the gardener of a small family and confined premises stand any 

 chance against the great curators of Horticultural Peers? And pray what 

 public good is actually conferred by the competition as now arranged? 

 Benefit must be obtained to the nation, if no prize were given except to 

 the competitor who gave with the article exhibited an account in writing 

 (correct " on the honour of a gardener ") of the mode of cultivation he 

 has used. Let all excellent things, not so described, be placed on the 

 honourable list, in a folio register,as they deserve; but still let the means 

 possessed by such individual gardeners be taken into the account in award- 

 ing every prize. Seedlings of every kind deserve encouragement, and 

 vegetables and fruit brought to market. If you understand me and agree 

 with me, pray put these ideas into a proper form for a future Number; 

 or I will write more at length on the subject, if you wish it. From an 

 original subscriber. — W. Ap7'il 24. 1829. We shall be glad to hear from 

 W. on the above, or on any other subject. — Cond. 



Humane Mouse-Trap. — Sir, I have observed, in your valuable Magazine 

 (p. 109.), an article bearing the name of a humane mouse-trap, and which is 

 certainly far more so than the one so described in Vol. IL p. 278. (which 

 I should have taken the liberty to have objected to, had it not been more 

 ably done by your worthy correspondent Agrestis); but the one in 

 question, with the most submissive respect to the worthy author of it, I 

 cannot forbear condemning as too cruel for practice. Your worthy cor- 

 respondent, Sir, seem not to be aware that the Mivs, sylvaticus of Linnaeus, 

 or garden mouse, can swim remarkably well, and must therefore, in the 

 kind of trap which he proposes, suffer a most lingering and painful death ; 

 swimming round and putting its little paws up the sides of the jar with the 

 hope of escaping, and the despair of so doing, the poor little animal will 

 continue to struggle, till overcome with fatigue, it must at last resign 

 itself to its fate. As humanity is a prominent feature in the mind of every 

 truly enlightened man, I am persuaded that gardeners will not make use of 

 either on that account ; for, as all animals, even the most noxious, as we 

 are pleased to call them, acknowledge one universal Parent, they have 

 all a right, by the laws of nature, to their being, as far as consistency 



