Retrospective Criticism. 629 



IRELAND. 



Newtown Stewart, Co. Tyrone, June 10. 1838. — In answer to your request, 

 as I am now located in this neighbourhood, I should be happy to give you any 

 information in my power respecting gardens and gardening in these parts, 

 were it possible for me to write anything on the subject deserving notice. The 

 truth is, gardening is an art neither known nor practised in the north-west 

 district of Ulster ; nay, I might, perhaps, say, with very few exceptions, in any 

 part of the province. There being no gardens, it is superfluous to add, that 

 gardeners are not encouraged, and, in fact, do not exist. That there are a spe- 

 cies of handy labourers, who possess the knowledge necessary to enable them 

 to cultivate the fevf indispensable culinary vegetables which a landed proprie- 

 tor requires, I do not mean to deny ; but one of these, fairly entitled to the 

 appellation of gardener, I have not had the good fortune to meet with since I 

 last saw our friend Mr. Ellice, of the Palace Gardens, Armagh. — M. 



Art. IV. Retrospective Criticism. 



Errata. — In p. 515. lines 20. and 21. from the bottom, for " C. Knott, 

 Esq.," read " G. Knott, Esq. ; " and for " Boham Lodge " read " Bohun 

 Lodge." 



The black Italian Poplar is noticed in p. 433. as Populus monilifera, 

 whereas, according to your Hortus Britannicus, it ought to be P. acladesca ; 

 an error which you may wish to correct. Perhaps, however, it is not 

 an error ; as, since the publication of the Hortus Britannicus, you may have 

 discovered that the two trees are the same species ; for, on comparing the 

 leaves of the two in my collection, I can see no difference between them. 

 But, however this may be, I am satisfied you will excuse my thus writing to 

 you, for having been a constant reader of your Magazine, from its commence- 

 ment, as well as of other of your works occasionally, I cannot but know of your 

 desire to avoid even the smallest errors, and your readiness to correct them 

 when pointed out. — T. C. Sept. 4. 1839. 



The specific name acladesca was given to this poplar by Dr. Lindley, some 

 years ago, in his edition of Donn's Hortus Cantabrigiensis, under the supposi- 

 tion, we suppose, that it was a species distinct from P. monilifera. In our 

 Arboretum Britannicum, and in the Hortus Lignosus, P. acladesca will be found 

 given as a synonyme to P. monilifera. The synonymes are so numerous to 

 this and other species of poplar, that they are not given in the Second Supple- 

 ment to the Hortus Britannicus, although an exception ought doubtless to have 

 been made in favour of Populus acladesca. — Cond. 



Insuring the Prolificacy of the Hautbois Strawberry. — In p. 472. I observe 

 an account of a method of insuring the prolificacy of the hautbois strawberry. A 

 few years ago I wrote a letter to you describing my method of preserving plants 

 of each sex separately, and, when new plantations were made, to mix them. 

 This plan I have followed ever since, and supplied plants for others to do the 

 same ; and, till I saw the above, have never heard of its failure. I do not 

 doubt the truth of J. M.'s statement in p. 472., but I am a great enemy to 

 mixing crops where the same success may be obtained by keeping them dis- 

 tinct. It will, perhaps, be said that one advantage attends the planting of other 

 sorts along with the hautbois strawberry, which is, that the sorts so mixed 

 bear fruit as well as it, whereas the male hautbois runners never do. This is 

 perfectly true, but the advantage is so trifling, and the appearance (at least, 

 in my opinion) so unsightly, that I shall never be induced to adopt the plan, 

 unless it could also improve the size or quality of the fruit ; and I think, if 

 J. M. had seen my hautbois this year, he would be inclined to try my plan, 

 although he may " have seen it tried very carefully without the expected suc- 

 cess." I do not pretend to superiority in growing strawberries or any thing 

 else, as where I live the situation and soil are far from favourable for growing 



