Retrospective Criticism, 41 



give at present are what I received verbally from that gentleman. The plants 

 which came in the package were Phyllocladis rhomboidalis (see Arb. Brit., 

 vol. iv., p. 2102.), Araucaria excelsa, Telopea speciosissima, Doryanthes excelsa, 

 .Hibiscus Pattersons, Cselothamnus clavata, Phormium tenax, and Jcacia sp. 

 With exception of the Phyllocladis, these plants were nearly eight months on 

 their passage, the box having been opened two months after the ship sailed 

 from Sydney, and the Phyllocladis added. Dr. Birnie states he found them 

 growing in Recherche Bay, D'Entrecasteaux Channel, Van Diemen's Land, 

 where they attained a height of from 12 ft. to 14 ft.; appearing to prefer a 

 moist heathy soil, inclining to swampy. It being the winter season, and the 

 ground all covered with frost and snow, Dr. Birnie was prevented from 

 extending his journey through the woods, but was told that they attained a 

 much larger size in the interior. Those we received were from 9 in. to 18 in. 

 high, and very sickly when they arrived ; and only two oat of five have sur- 

 vived. I am, however, happy to state they are now in a promising condition, 

 and are putting out young shoots over the whole plants. 



The araucarias were in perfect health when they arrived ; and," though the 

 other plants were sickly, they have all recovered. The above is all the inform- 

 ation I can give at present, but I shall feel happy to communicate the results 

 at a future period, along with other details respecting our success in endea- 

 vouring to naturalise other plants from the same countries. — Daniel Ferguson, 

 Curator. Belfast Botanic Garden, Nov. 12. 1838. 



Art, IV. Retrospective Criticism. 



Rhubarb Jam. (Vol. XIV. p. 541.) — In the last Number of the Garden- 

 er's Magazine (p. 541.), we are favoured with a fresh illustration of the stale 

 subject rhubarb jam, which we thought had gone quietly to rest ; but opinions 

 run counter, and the candour of your correspondent has laid us under the 

 necessity of showing the credence of his statement, and the degree of consis- 

 tency on which his pretensions to the discovery are founded. I am cogni- 

 sant of the facts, and will, with your permission, lay them before your readers. 



It is true that Mr. Johnson sent me ajar of rhubarb jam in the summer of 

 1836, also a verbal statement of the manner in which it was prepared. It 

 was the first sample of the kind I had seen, and I requested he would have 

 the goodness to send you the particulars for the Gardener's Magazine. It was 

 his wish that so desirable an article should have publicity ; but he had some 

 intentions that summer to visit London, and meant to present you with a 

 sample. 



Mr. J. M'Nab paid us a visit in the autumn of 1837, and the " frightful 

 composition of green rhubarb and brown sugar" which he experimented on, 

 was none of Mr. Johnson's, but ours. He was informed of this fact at the 

 time, though he found it convenient to state the contrary ; and, as we see no 

 particular reason why Mr. Johnson should monopolise the credit which is due 

 to us for that delightful specimen, we invite any of your readers who take an 

 interest in such matters to a fair trial of the ingredients ; the result will not 

 disappoint them. 



In Vol. XIII. p. 460., Mr. M'Nab has the " sole merit of introducing this 

 novelty." Mr. £ Johnson allows (Vol. XIV. p. 395.) " that he might have the 

 credit of introducing the jam into Scotland, but that the suggestion which led 

 to his making the trial was his, for / had informed him ; " a positive fact on the 

 part of Mr. Johnson, though Mr. J. M'Nab declares he never heard of any 

 thing of the kind, till the blushing virtues of his tart demonstration of 1837 

 furnished him a clue to the invention ; but let it not be lost sight of, that he 

 is silent as the grave respecting his visit to this place on his return from the 

 Sheffield exhibition in the autumn of 1836. Why, let us ask, could he not 

 favour the public with a portion of his gleanings on that occasion ? It was in- 

 convenient to hint at the subject, and we appreciate the motive ; for it was on 



