160 Retrospective Criticism. 



Mearns did not exaggerate his statements, so far as his own success was con- 

 cerned. Now, my opinion is that he has done so, so far as success the first 

 season is concerned j and, with all due respect to Mr. Marnock, I beg leave to 

 say, that, sick and tired as I am of this subject, both he and the public shall 

 have my reasons for forming such an opinion when he chooses to ask for them. 

 Surely, Mr. Marnock must see that assertion will go for nothing in an inquiry 

 like this. If he is confident in Mr. Mearns's success, why hesitate for a mo- 

 ment to give a clear and definite answer to the questions which I put in my 

 first paper upon this subject ? If by such means the claims of the system to 

 utility, during the first season, be fully established, I shall then feel a satisfac- 

 tion that I have been instrumental in removing a stain from the character of 

 one who, after all, is a worthy man, and shall not hesitate for a moment to 

 give every necessary satisfaction to him for the part I have taken. If these 

 claims are not supported, I shall then congratulate myself as having been the 

 means of exposing a case of exaggeration, which, I doubt not, will operate as a 

 check upon a system (which has been but too long in operation, without 

 means being taken to detect its fallacy, or arrest its career) of broaching, as 

 new and valuable discoveries, schemes which will not bear the test of examina- 

 tion. — Robert Fish. Hyde Park Corner, Nov, 5. 1836. 



White Scale on Pines. (Vol. XI. p. 433. 548. and 604.) — Observing a 

 discussion between L. O. Z. and J. B. W., respecting the best means of de- 

 stroying this insect, without at all interfering with any of their observations, I 

 wish merely to state a fact. In the spring of the present year, I had about 

 twenty large plants very much infested with the white scale. Fearful of their 

 spreading, after rubbing off a number where they were thickest, I put a 

 temporary partition between the infested plants and others in the same pit, 

 which I supposed were perfectly clean. The pit was principally heated with 

 dung linings ; and, when I had placed my board of separation, I applied fresh 

 dung to the part which contained the infested plants, admitting the steam into 

 the pit. My idea was, that, by admitting the steam of fresh dung into the pit, 

 the evolution of ammoniacal gas which would take place would destroy the 

 insects, and yet at the same time be a benefit to the plants. The result is, that 

 the experiment was quite successful, and that I have not seen an insect for six. 

 months past. I am acquainted with a gardener who cleaned a very extensive 

 collection by the same process. Nothing can be simpler than this mode of 

 destroying the insect : but the simplest method is often the best. Some gar- 

 deners, however, are very successful in cleaning a stock, without the aid of 

 dung heat, by washing, &c. A striking proof of this I have witnessed in a stock 

 of plants under the superintendence of Mr. Pullar, gardener to Golds- 

 mid, Esq., Champion Hill, Camberwell. I have often seen plants bad enough, 

 but those which Mr. Pullar received charge of were decidedly the worst I ever 

 saw : and yet, from that dirty stock, in the space of two years he has obtained 

 as beautiful a collection as one could ever wish to see. Perhaps you could 

 induce Mr. Pullar to give a detailed account of his system of treatment. lam 

 fully convinced, along with Agronomes's Nephew, that the bashfulness and 

 timidity of gardeners operate as a means of causing much useful information 

 to be lost to the profession at large. — Id. 



Destroying the White Scale on the Pine-apple, S^c. (Vol. XI. p. 604.) — As 

 in J. B. W.'s reply to my strictures on his paper on destroying the white 

 scale it appears that he still continues sceptical, the subject at issue resolves 

 itself into the following question: — Can the white scale which infests the pine 

 plant be destroyed without previous removal of the plant, or can it not ? I 

 unhesitatingly affirm it can : J. B. W. asserts it cannot. In this conflict of 

 opinion, it remains for evidence to be adduced on both sides, and for that evi- 

 dence to be published, in order that the public may draw their own conclusion. 

 As J. B. W. questions my veracity, I shall not add any more to what I before 

 advanced (Vol. XI. p. 433.), but merely content myself with transcribing a few 

 lines from a letter which I received from an esteemed friend and a first-rate 

 practical gardener, now residing in the county of Bedford, to whom, by the 



