242 Rctrofipcctive Criticism. 



Art. IV. Retrospective Criticism. 



ConUECTWNS to preceding Kuvibers. — In Vol. VIII. p. 682., 9th line 

 from the bottom, for " too hardy in their growth," read " too tardy in 

 their growth." In Vol. IX. p. 124., in the Rev. Mr. Bree's remarks on 

 the very slow rotting of the Ldmnse, for " a mos of dried Limna," read 

 " a mass of dried Lemna." 



'Na7-cissu.s (Corbulmia) Bidbocodium is not itsuallij so hardy as represented 

 in Vol. VIII. p. 724, and Vol. IX. p. 1 18. — Notwithstanding what is stated 

 by J. D. (Vol. VIII. p. 724.), and by Selim (Vol. IX. p. 118.), of the 

 hardihood of iS^'arcissus Bulbocodiurn, I have always found it difficult to 

 preserve in the open border. I have had the plant repeatedly; but with 

 me it seldom lives more than two or three years, and gradually dwindles 

 away. I should be glad to know how to make it thrive in the border. 

 From Selim's remarks, neither frost nor wet seems to be injurious to it in 

 a Warwickshire garden. — W. T. Bree. Atlesley Rectory, Warwickshire^ 

 March 8. 1833. 



Mr. Hayiuard's Method of training the Peach Tree. (Vol.VIII. p. 653.) 



Sir, We have had in this part of Ireland a very fine summer and 



-autumn; and heavy crops of fine-flavoured fruit, especially peaches. I 

 gathered 101 dozen and ten peaches from four trees. And now, Sir, is it 

 not high time that Mr. Hay ward's plan of training trees (Vol.VIII. p. 653.) 

 should be thoroughly examined and put into practice, if it possesses those 

 superior properties which its apparent complexity would seem to render 

 doubtful. When, however, Mr. Hayward states that 700 peaches were 

 " brought to maturity " upon a tree of five years' training only, surely, 

 however strongly we may be prejudiced in favour of the fan shape, it is 

 high time that such a prejudice should be thrown overboard ; and I, for 

 one, will endeavour to give his method a fair trial. I have one tree, which 

 has been no less than ten years planted against a very good wall with a 

 •south-east aspect ; and although I did not find it exactly a fan shape, yet it 

 is so now, with the bearing wood trained from the upper side of the 

 principal leading branches. This tree covers more than 400 square 

 feet ; and ripened, this season, 450 red Magdalen peaches, from 6 oz. to 

 8 oz. each. I thought this was as good a crop as need be ; and yet how 

 inferior to Mr. Hayward's ! and, like him, I not only do not crop my 

 peach borders, but, besides the rich manure spread over them, I soak them 

 well, in dry weather, with liquid manure ; and all this, too, upon a soil 

 which maybe considered as decidedl}' a peach soil; and sure I am that I 

 left quite enough of fruit for the tree to mature, and to make strong 

 vigorous shoots for the ensuing season. I should think it would be satis- 

 factoi-y if Mr. Hayward could tell us the average weight of his peaches ; 

 for, if his equal the above, there must be some serious defect in Mr. Se}'- 

 mour's method to account for such a difference, such a marked discre- 

 pancy. I am. Sir, yours, &c. — J. Elles. Palace Gardens, Armagh, Dec. 24:. 

 1832. 



Mr. W. Greenes Method of training Pear Trees (Vol.VIII. p. 539.) is not 

 new. — Sir, Allow me to inform you that the method of training pear 

 trees, described by Mr. W. Green, jun., is by no means a new one. I have 

 seen pear trees, upwards of thirty years old, trained on precisely the same 

 principle ; dilFering, however, in appearance from the figures of Mr. Green 

 (Vol.VIH. p. 539, 540.), by the main branches being subdivided nearer 

 to their bases, and by the curves being much more regular and agreeable 

 to the eye. In training the trees when young, nails and lines were never 

 found necessary : they were simply trained in the fan manner, until the 

 branches were sufficiently strong to bear the change of position, when the 



