Retrospective Criticism. 89 



find it to answer equally well on all. I will name two species which had 

 only two shoots in each pot when I divided them, viz. Oncidium papilio 

 and Brassia caudata, and they soon after attained two young shoots in 

 each. The best time to divide the plants is just when they begin to grow. 

 — William Perrin, Gardener to Richard Harrison, Esq., Oakland Cottage, 

 near Liverpool. 



Eranthis hyemdlis. — I coincide in J. D.'s commendations of this plant 

 (Vol. VII. p. 564.). It would be worth J. D.'s while to go to the Grove 

 at Mitcham (Sir J. Fulbock's), on purpose to see them in the spring; they 

 cover the whole surface of the plantations, and are visible half a mile off, 

 making a show like our yellow crowfoots in the fields. — B. Coventry, 

 Nov. 2. 1831. 



The Tea Plant. — 1 have been quite surprised at Mr. Main's remarks in 

 Vol. IV. p. 454-5., on the subject of the tea plant: his remark is as fol- 

 lows : — That the green (Thea viridis) and the black tea (Thea Bohea) are 

 distinct species of the genus Thea, there can be no rational doubt : the toute 

 ensemble forms a characteristic difference between them, as marked as that 

 of the sweet bay and the common laurel. The green tea can by no modi- 

 fication whatever, either of culture or clime, be obtained from the same 

 plant that yields the multiform varieties of black tea, from inferior bohea 

 through congou, up to pekoe, and padre souchong. The fact is, green 

 and black tea are chemically different. By acting on green tea by means of 

 boiling alcohol, I have dissolved resin, vegetable wax, and the green mat- 

 ter (chlorophyle) of the leaf. The leaves by this treatment become black, 

 but do not unfold. An officer of high rank in India informed me that when 

 his camp was visited by Tartar tribes they were surprised at the black tea 

 then used, which they had seen for the first time, green tea being that 

 alone cultivated by and used among them. — J. Murray. Dec. 1828. 



Censurable Names given to Gooseberries, fyc. — I see that Mr. D. and you 

 are both converts to the big gooseberries. As trying is, in such cases, 

 believing, I intend to try a few of the best of these giants, particularly 

 "Woodward's Whitesmith, which Mr. D. speaks of so highly in the note 

 (Vol. VII. p. 332.) appended to my notice of small gooseberries. I also 

 mean to get, if only for curiosity's sake, the true Warrington. I wish they 

 would not give quite such low, vulgar, pot-house names to their goose- 

 berries ; names, too, that do not possess the merit of being any way pe- 

 culiarly applicable or descriptive, to compensate for their vulgarity ; e. g. 

 Roaring Lion, Crown Bob, Jolly Printer, Jolly Angler, Cheshire Lass, 

 Royal Rock-getter, and, to crown all, " Leigh's Fuddier." I cannot con- 

 ceive any thing more low and blackguard, unless you descend to downright 

 indecency and obscenity. — B. Coventry, September, 1831. 



British Society of Agriculture. (Vol. VII. p. 498, 499.) — Sir, I per- 

 fectly agree with you, in opinion respecting the little utility of such asso- 

 ciations in general, and therefore cannot hail the projected one as likely to 

 produce the intended good. Too many, I am afraid, have either originated 

 as jobs, or degenerated into such, by the selfish conduct of individuals; 

 and as this is the opinion of the great body of the farmers, societies like 

 the above cannot be of much use until this belief is removed. It may 

 also be doubted whether the studies Mr. Hawkins points out can be imme- 

 diately beneficial to society. Is it not more probable that better systems 

 of cultivation introduced into the more backward counties, by the examples 

 shown by specimen farms, would have a much greater effect, in promoting 

 the desired objects ? Though I do not deny that natural history, chemistry, 

 &c, may occasionally be of considerable use to a farmer ; yet, attempting 

 to exaggerate their utility is not the way to bring them into credit amongst 

 the mass of the people. The commercial farmer has his landlord and 

 family to attend to, before he can afford to spend valuable time in making 

 experiments, of which the chance against his ever being able to profit is 



