Retrospective Criticism. iQS 



before your readers such knowledge as I had myself acquired of the nature 

 and habits of Orchideae, deducing therefrom, and from what I had seen of 

 them in this country, general hints for their culture. 



In his second paragraph, H. P. tells us, that many of the parts of nature's 

 harmonious plan are inimitable ; a fact which I believe no one has disputed : 

 but he also tells us that we must not pursue natural methods in the culture 

 of Orchideae. It is needless for me to make any comment upon this asser- 

 tion, and I leave it entirely to the penetration of the readers of your Maga- 

 zine. H. P. also boasts of his common sense, though I candidly avow that I 

 do not think he called in practice a very large portion of it when writing 

 this paragraph. 



H. P. continues with, " Those Orchideae that grow naturally on trees in 

 the East or West Indies are proof against injury fi-om excess of moisture." 

 Undoubtedly they are so in their natural position on these said trees ; but 

 H. P.'s assertion, as applied to Orchideae in mould, will scarcely hold good 

 in opposition to the painful experience of the most extensive and successful 

 cultivators, who yearly see species dropping out of their collections, which their 

 utmost attention cannot prevent from rotting off; and, though many of the 

 stronger growing species become established, and flower well in mould, yet 

 there are many which are lost in the trial. These facts, which are well known 

 to all cultivators of Orchideae, seem to have escaped H. P.'s notice. 



In my remarks on the culture of Orchideae, I did not intend to intimate a 

 wish or opinion that the mode of growth recommended by me should be 

 applied to those species which were found to grow and flower well under 

 the ordinary treatment to which they are subjected in this country ; but to 

 the smaller and more delicate species, which seldom flower, and which seem 

 merely to exist in our collections. Nevertheless, I think my plan would apply 

 even to the stronger growing species ; for at Messrs. Loddiges may be seen 

 several species, especially Oncidium papilio, suspended on pieces of wood, 

 flowering most abundantly, and throwing out its long white fibres on every 

 side. And, again, at Mr. Knight's, several stanhopeas, and other genera, may 

 be seen flowering in a smaller state than they usually do in mould, attached 

 to a moist wall ; which treatment, by exposing the roots to the atmosphere, 

 embodies the same principle as suspending them on pieces of wood. 



I could cite other instances, but these are sufficient to prove that the 

 method is neither impracticable, nor so devoid of common sense as H. P. 

 opines ; and it must be pretty evident that we shall not go far out of our 

 road in following, as nearly as circumstances will permit, the methods of 

 nature, inimitable as they are to their full extent, but which are not to be 

 left entirely out of view. From the tenor of H. P.'s remarks, he appears to 

 be of opinion that the practical knowledge and experience of the present 

 day, in the culture of Orchideae, are verging on perfection ; but I am still of 

 opinion that, as regards the cultivation of Orchideae, the science of horticulture 

 is in its infancy ; nor do I stand alone in this opinion, but am supported in it 

 by many who have probably had as wide a range and as long experience as H. P. 

 himself. 



In conclusion, let me ask, why does H. P., when writing upon a subject of 

 this kind, and commenting upon the writings of another, withhold his name ? 

 Is it that H. P. is ashamed of what he has written, or that his modesty will 

 not allow him to take the merit of it ? In a work like the Gardener's 

 Magazine, devoted to the extension and interchange of knowledge, I can see 

 no good reason why men should write under initials or a false name. — John 

 Henchman. Clapton, Jan. 25. 1836. 



Grafting the Vine, Sfc. (p. 171.) — Having seen in p. 171. an account of 

 grafting the vine by Mr. M'Leish, it helps to confirm my former opinion, that 

 the grafting of the vine has not, in general, been well imderstood. Mr. M'Leish 

 states he has not succeeded previously : I myself have grafted many, and 

 rarely missed. The principal cause of non-success is, from not grafting at the 

 time when there is the best chance of a union taking place, which is when the 

 Vol. XII. — No. 78. o o 



