86 Retrospective Criticism. 



your suggestions. In a previous Number (Vol. V. p. 510.), in report- 

 ing the splendid improvements in progress at Syon House, you ascribed 

 all praise, not to the worthy and talented nobleman who planned and paid 

 for them, but to the agent charged with the execution of his orders. 

 Your commendation would probably have cost the gardener his place, 

 could His Grace have condescended to a rivalry in your commendation. 

 I am, Sir, yours, &c. — A Friend. Dec. 1831. 



The leathern Wallet and the leathern Bearing-Straps (Vol. VII. p. 613.), 

 are, surely, not worth engraving ; they are quite common about this town, 

 and, I think I may sav, throughout the east of England. — T. S. Bury 

 St. Edmunds, Nov. 1831. 



The wallet is scarcely known in Scotland, as Mr. Hislop, who lent us 

 both the wallet and strap, can attest. If it were better known in that 

 country, there would not be so many blue aprons torn to pieces. We con- 

 sider articles of this sort, calculated for universal adoption, when they are 

 not universally known, as among the most useful articles that we can figure. 

 — Co7id. 



Supporting newly transplanted Trees by pegging down their Roots. — I beg 

 to inform your very intelligent but sensitive correspondent, Mr. Thom 

 (see Vol. VII. p. 445.), that I put in my claim to a new method of sup- 

 porting recently planted large trees ; though I hitherto thought it of very 

 little consequence, having found it so well known wherever I have operated, 

 that I fancied every one knew it. I have practised it for upwards of thirty 

 years without a failure. The method is, to drive down strong hooked 

 pegs to secure the main roots. They must be of some kind of hard 

 wood, not apt to split. I have generally used oak or elm ; but various 

 other woods will answer. Each large root will require three or more pegs, 

 driven firmly into the hard subsoil, and, to prevent friction, there should be 

 a considerable quantity of moss put between the root and the hook. When 

 the hole is filled in, the hooks are completely covered, and they generally 

 last as long as they are necessary for supporting the tree. The heads of 

 the pegs should be left, at first, of considerable length ; but when driven 

 home, they should be sawed off a few inches above the hooks. The pegs 

 will often require to be 3 ft. long, and 3 or 4 in. in diameter at the head. 

 In most cases, it will be necessary to make holes for the admission of 

 the wooden pegs, by the previous insertion of an iron one. I hope Sir 

 Henry Steuart will approve of my method ; and I trust that your intelligent 

 correspondent, Mr. E. Murphy, will spread this practice, as well as many 

 other useful ones. Judging from his judicious practical observations, I 

 think there is no man more calculated to raise the science of arboriculture 

 from the low state in which it has hitherto been in Ireland. I fear, how- 

 ever, that he will fail, as 1 have often done, to induce proprietors to thin 

 their plantations. Many in the county of Cork have got into the wretched 

 method of pruning their forest trees, especially oaks, like fishing-rods ; 

 and neglecting to thin their plantations till the trees become so weak as 

 to be unable to hold up their heads ; and, consequently, when thinned, 

 they require many years before they are able to bear exposure to the 

 weather. lam, Sir, yours, &c. — H.Dutton. Lombard House, Middleton, 

 Nov. 1. 1831. 



The Edges of Walks, Dotting, Grouping, Sfc. — Sir, I have been much 

 gratified with your remarks (Vol. VII. p. 404, 546.) on the depth of 

 walks, and on the nakedness and spade marks often visible on their edges. 

 I have long been convinced that this prevalent negligence and want of 

 finish have a very bad effect ; and those borders which I have laid for some 

 years past are much lower than the usual practice allows. I never had 

 the resolution, however, to alter the rest, till I found my own conviction 

 confirmed by your excellent remarks. I also agree with you in your views 

 respecting the prevailing mode of placing groups on lawns (Vol. Vll. p. 401. 



