50 Retrospective Criticism. 



IRELAND. 



The Horlicultiiral Socieh/ of Ireland intends placing medals at the disposal 

 of the provincial Horticultural Societies throughout the kingdom, to be 

 awarded to local merit of every kind connected with horticulture. {Saunders's 

 Neius Letter, as quoted in the Irish Farmer's and Gardener's Magazine.) 



The packets of Vitloria Wheat, received through you from Dr. Hamilton 

 of Plymouth, I sent to their respective destinations ; that for myself, I divided 

 into three equal portions, one whereof I sent to R. Latouche, Esq., of 

 KilcuUen, one of our most eminent agriculturists j the second, to our common 

 friend Mr. Mackay of Trinity College Botanic Garden ; and the third I 

 reserved for making experiments with myself. — R. Mallet, Dublin, Oct. 30. 



There are a great many foreign Trees in Ireland, which you ought certainly 

 to have notices of, for your Arboi'etum Britannicum. Perhaps there is not an 

 equal surface of country in the whole of Europe, where the vegetable 

 productions of so many climates will grow and thrive. I do not say that in 

 Ireland fruits can be brought to the same degree of perfection as they can in 

 France and Italy ; but I do say that all the trees and shrubs of France and 

 Italy, most, perhaps all, of those of Spain and Greece, all those of North 

 America, the elevated regions of South America and Asia, of Van Diemen's 

 Land, and most of those of New Holland, will grow and thrive as well as in 

 their native countries, throughout Ireland, from Belfast to Cork and Eallarney, 

 always, however, excepting localities much elevated abovt the level of the sea. 

 In proof of what I assert, I might refer to various volumes of your Gardener's 

 Magazine, it which it has been stated that the myrtle, and different species 

 of acacia, have grown for many years in the neighbourhood of Belfast, 

 without any protection ; the same, and other exotic trees and shrubs, have 

 stood the winter in Mr. Mallet's garden near Dublin; and pelargoniums and 

 other Cape plants, together with the New Zealand flax, thrive all the year in 

 the open ground, in the neighbourhood of Cork. Whenever Ireland shall be 

 thoroughly civilised, and a little more wealthy, it will become the arboretum, or 

 I'ather the botanic garden, not only of Europe, but of the whole world. 

 The present landed proprietors know little of the botanical enjoyments which 

 they might possess, and which undoubtedly will be possessed by their pos- 

 terity. In the meantime, you will do them good, by forcibly directing their 

 attention to the subject. I hope you will be assisted by all the principal 

 planters of foreign trees in Ireland ; and, in particular. Lord Oriel, Mr. Bourne, 

 Mr. West, and a number of other noblemen and gentlemen that might be 

 named, will supply you with lists and dimensions, &c., of their trees. I have 

 a good deal more to say on this subject, but I shall reserve it for another 

 letter. — ^. B. Belfast, Nov. 20. 1834. 



We have sent several return papers to Ireland, and have received some of 

 them back again, particularly one from Mr. Nevin, and another from Wm. 

 George, gardener to the Earl of Longford, replete with information. Never- 

 theless, as at present we know very little of the country seats of Ireland, we 

 shall feel extremely obliged to such of our readers and correspondents as will 

 take the trouble of sending us lists of the parties to whom we ought to apply. 

 Or, as we have sent a few of our return papers to our friend Mr. Murphy, one 

 of the editors of the Irish Farmer's and Gardener's Magazine, application may 

 be made to him, or to his publisher, Mr. William Curry Junr. Dublin, for a 

 paper to fill up. Intended contributors will bear in mind, that information 

 respecting magnolias, tulip trees, tilias, acers, and horsechestnuts, ought to be 

 sent without delay, as indicated in X. 58 L — Cond. 



Art. III. Retrospective Criticism. 



Mr. Calvert's Nursery at Bouen. — lXmwe read, in X. 574., an extract 



of a letter from Mr. Calvert, denying the truth of the remarks I made on his 



nursery at Trianon, in April last ; and I feel it due to you, and the readers 



of this Magazine, to say a few words in reply. Mr. Calvert says he dis- 



