Retrospective Criticism. 435 



generally allowed that gravel, when of a good colour and well kept, produces 

 an agreeable contrast when associated with the grass verge, or edging of any 

 other kind. — T. Rutger. Portland Place, July, 1835. 



We have lately had laid down between 20 ft. and 30 ft. of walk, including 

 edgings, formed of a description of artificial stone, which the inventor calls 

 lava; and which he recommends as being fit for public roads, footpaths, and a 

 great variety of purposes. In colour and appearance it resembles a yellow 

 sandstone ; but whether this colour will be retained as the stone wears, and 

 whether the stone itself will be sufficiently durable to justify its use, are ques- 

 tions that can only be determined by experience. Some account of this stone, 

 and its pretensions, will be found in a tract entitled A Treatise on Roads and 

 Streets, Spa., by J. H. Cassell; 18mo; 1835. — Cond. 



Rowland's Metallic Wire for tying up Trees, Sfc, noticed p. 318. — With 

 the specimens of different sizes sent us by Mr. Rowland we tied zinc labels to 

 upwards of a hundred trees, in the garden of the Horticultural Society, in the 

 course of the month of June. The labels were, in general, loosely suspended 

 near the extremities of the branches, in order that they might be more con- 

 spicuous. In this situation they were, of course, powerfully acted on by the 

 wind, the consequence of which is, that many of them have already (July 8.) 

 dropped off, in consequence of the friction produced by the motion of the 

 label having worn through the lead wire. We think it due to our readers 

 to state this, because it proves that, however fit the wire may be for other 

 garden or nursery purposes, it cannot be recommended for use where the 

 labels it suspends are liable to be much moved by the wind. — Cond. 



Metropolitan Arboretum, (p. 284.) — I am afraid your plan of enclosing 100 

 acres to grow hardy trees will cost too much, unless it could be combined 

 with something bringing a return. Might it not be associated with a general 

 cemetery on a large scale ? I can see nothing objectionable. — J. P. Chats- 

 worth, June 10. 1833. 



A speculation was set on foot for forming a " Great Western Cemetery " of 

 the grounds of Norland, at Netting Hill, on the Bayswater Road, about a year 

 or more ago. We were applied to, to give our advice as to the laying out of 

 the area; and our answer was, that, provided they would plant it as an arbo- 

 retum, and not introduce a single duplicate of either tree or shrub, we would 

 furnish a plan gratis. Unfortunately, the speculation did not go on ; but it may 

 possibly be revived. At all events, there are several large public cemeteries 

 wanted for the metropolis; and we hope that, when they are formed, they will 

 all be laid out as arboretums, or public gardens of some sort. This, to a 

 certain extent, has long been the practice on the Continent ; and we observe, 

 with pleasure, that it is becoming general in North America. Judging from 

 our own feelings, when examining the cemeteries of Italy in 1819, and of 

 Germany in 1814 and 1828, we should say that trees and graves lend a great 

 reciprocal interest to each other. In the neighbourhood of Moscow, the Ger- 

 man Protestants have a cemetery in a birch wood, which always struck us as a 

 place of intense interest. At the dirty little frontier town of Tycokzin, in 

 Poland, where we spent four months in 1813, there is a large cemetery used 

 as a burial place for the Jews, who are the principal inhabitants of the town. 

 That cemetery forms one grove of willow, birch, and poplar trees, under the 



shade of which we have walked backwards and forwards many an hour 



painful at the time, because we were detained in the town against our wishes ; 

 but intensely interesting the remembrance, because it is only the strong 

 impressions of pain and labour that can be recalled with entire' satisfaction; 

 perhaps from the feeling of joy that they are passed. All mere pleasure is 

 evanescent ; perhaps because, if intense, it can never be recalled. — Cond. 



The Coiling System of Vine Cidture by Mr. Mearns. — On my return fi'om 

 visiting the gardens of His Grace the Duke of Portland at Welbeck, in Not- 

 tinghamshire, and some others in that neighbourhood, in the end of June, I was 

 rather interested with a communication in the last Number of the Gard. Mag. 

 (p. 362.), by Mr. Fish, on the coiling system of vine culture in pots; giving a 



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