Retrospective Criticism. 373 



place of the exhausted air. On this principle the leaves of trees act as so 

 many pumps to a tree; and the head or top of a tree acts as a single 

 pump for the whole stem or trunk. Now, the sap being drawn all from 

 the earth, is taken up in its compound state, consisting of carbon, oxygen, 

 and hydrogen. The leaves discharge only the pure hydrogen, like di- 

 stilled water, retaining only the carbon and oxj'gen, which form the timber, 

 bark, and dry leaves : by an extra artificial heat, the oxygen may also all be 

 discharged, leaving nothing but pure carbon. Were it not for atmospheric 

 influence, there could be no leaves, and without leaves timber could only 

 attain the consistence of roots of the same species ; like potatoes sprouting 

 in a dark cellar. Trees of rapid growth, such as the poplar, sycamore, 

 and lime tree, have generally a large shaking leaf: these leaves, acting as 

 so many pumps, on the principle of capillary attraction, encourage the 

 growth of timber on a congenial soil j but on a poor soil they are a 

 greater curse than a blessing : hence we see so many stunted oaks, and 

 other single or hedgerow trees, with a head or crown a hundred yards in 

 circumfei'ence, with scarcely ten feet of saleable timber in them. Such 

 trees may be admired by people who are fond of " the picturesque," but 

 to me they only appear like magnified gooseberi-y bushes. Mr. Main says, 

 " the larger the head of a tree, the larger must be the trunk " [Vol. VIII. 

 p. 306.] ; and that " the arguments of such as I lie in a nutshell." Allow me 

 to retaliate a little, and say, the arguments of all such as Mr. Main lie in a 

 peppercorn. I am not a disciple of Mr. Lindley, nor would I pin my faith 

 to the sleeve of any man, however high his titles, including F.L.S. ; but I 

 value the writings of Mr. Lindley very much ; and the quotations of Mr. 

 Billington serve to prove in a general way that my principles are correct. 

 The very nectarine tree (p. 52.) in Mr. Billington's own garden proves 

 this. The large bud, or graft, or top of this tree ought, on his principle, 

 to have sent down nourishment to cause the plum stock or crab stock to 

 have swelled as large as a pumpkin ; instead of which, he finds it one third 

 smaller than the part above, and no doubt far smaller than if it had only 

 been supporting its natural progeny ; but, like the weeping ash I alluded 

 to (p. 53.), the foster-child is a blood-sucker: it acted the part of the 

 young cuckoo in the titlark's nest ; it gobbled up all the carbon, oxygen, 

 and hydrogen for its mighty paunch. The plum stock was merely, like a 

 grape vine cut at the wrong season, bleeding itself to death. The plum 

 stock is a mere siphon or horseleech to draw in and give out ; or, like the 

 jackal, or lion's provider, it has to take up with the mere refuse or offal. 

 I have only now to add, that should a branch of a tree offend thee, cut it 

 off", and cast it from thee : it is only a little tree growing out of a large one. 

 Heal over a wound as soon as possible ; and, though the timber is not im- 

 proved, the shape of the tree may be. Should your tree have too few 

 branches, according to your taste, stick it all over with buds and grafts 

 Should your tree be too old, and unsightly, and incorrigible, cut it clear 

 off" by the ground ; and, if a reproductive tree, you may have four fin* 

 shoots fi'om it ; and, by planting four or five handsome young trees round 

 it, you may have a clump of great beauty, instead of a single deformitj^ 

 on the same space of land, — always remembering to train up a tree in the 

 way it should go, and when it is old it will not depart from it. I am, dear 

 Sir, yours in good earnest, — John Hoiuden. March 31. 1833. 



The Hoojo-petticoat Narcissus (Jiiarcissits Biilbococlium Bot. Mag. t. 88.; 

 Corbuldria serotina Haworth) is (in this part of the kingdom, at least) 

 perfectly hardy and of free growth. (See Vol. VIII. p. 724., Vol. IX. 

 p. 118. 242.) I have, as well as J. D. (Vol. VIII. p. 724.), seen it 

 " thriving thoroughly" and " flowering satisfactorily " at the foot of a 

 wall, where it was planted in light sandy loam. I have also seen it 

 flowering beautifully, year after year, in a low cold situation, and very 



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