Betrospective Criticism. 433 



Art. III. Retrospective Criticism. 



The Metropolitan Society of Florists. — It is very evident, from your remark 

 on the dispute between the Metropolitan Society of Florists and the pro- 

 prietor of the Surrey Zoological Gardens, that an impression unfavourable 

 to the Society exists in your mind : this, no doubt, originates in your not 

 being acquainted with the whole of the circumstances, and, also, in identifying 

 the members of the Society with the injudicious, intemperate, and vulgaV 

 abuse promulgated by an individiui!. As it is necessary that the Society, to 

 be useful, should stand well in the estimation of the public, and as it is known 

 how much weight any thing stated by you is likely to have, I shall, as a mem- 

 ber of the Society, feel obliged by your giving insertion to the following state- 

 ment : — 



It was the wish of the managers of the Metropolitan Society, that one or 

 two shows should take place at the Zoological Gardens. In the spring some 

 negotiation took place with the proprietor of the gardens, or the person who 

 acts for him. Considering how advantageous the shows were to Mr. Cross 

 last year, the Society naturally expected that there would be no hesitation, on 

 the part of this gentleman, to make a more liberal offer to the Society this 

 year ; but this he objected to : consequently the negotiation was not pro- 

 ceeded in, although, 1 believe, it was not finally broken off. In the mean time 

 it was found that Mr. Cross had advertised for a show on his own account, to 

 take place only a day or two before the Metropolitan show. When this was 

 communicated to the members, they felt that Mr. Cross was acting unhand- 

 somely by them, and, therefore, passed a resolution, recommending that the 

 individuals belonging to the Society should not countenance the Surrey show, 

 by sending plants, &c. At a subsequent meeting, the day previously fixed 

 for the Metropolitan show was altered to June 13., on its being stated that 

 the grand Ascot races were to take place on the 18th. Thus far. Sir, the 

 members of the Metropolitan Society are only responsible : whether they 

 were justified in the course they have pursued, I leave you, Sir, and the public 

 to judge; but I must, injustice to the members generally, acquit them of any 

 knowledge or participation in the gross abuse which has been heaped upon 

 individuals : this has, I believe, emanated from one member onl}', an influ- 

 ential one I admit ; but it is too much that the Society should suffer in the 

 estimation of the public from his improper and disgraceful conduct. — A Mem- 

 ber oftlie Metrojiolitan Society of Florists. 



The White Scale on Pine-Apple Plants. — In p. 186., a correspondent in 

 the North Riding of Yorkshire, who signs himself J. B. W., has given an in- 

 teresting paper on destroying the white scale on pine-apples, together with 

 some observations on the natural history of that insect. The subject is of 

 great importance to horticulturists generally, but more especially so to the 

 young ones, as it tends to demonstrate the necessity of our looking vigilantly 

 into the habits of the different species of insects incident to the plants under 

 our charge. But, as I do not altogether coincide with J. B. W. in his opinion 

 on this subject, and as I consider the only effectual remedy for the eradication 

 of errors is to attack them whenever they present themselves, I beg leave to 

 offer a few remarks on the subject. 



In the first place, I cannot agree to the assertion, that, "of all the remedies 

 hitherto recommended for the eradication of the white scale, not one has been 

 found to effect the desired end with certainty." Now, on the contrary, I am 

 convinced, for I have had ocular proof, that several of the remedies now prac- 

 tised, and which have been practised for many years, will effect the desired 

 end if properly applied ; and I may further observe, that it ought not " to be 

 laid down as an unexceptionable rule, that no recipe ever has succeeded, or 

 ever will succeed, which does not enjoin the removal of every insect previously 

 to the application of the ingredients," since I have myself seen the scale per- 

 fectly eradicated, and that, too, on a stock of near one thousand plants, with- 

 out the precaution of removal being once thought of. It has often been 



Vol. XI. —No. 65. i i 



