Retrospective Criticism. 47 



other British collections are indebted to him for plants which he received 

 from London, or obtained from other sources. A more enthusiastic and dis- 

 interested botanist never existed. The sight of a new plant had the power of 

 enchantment over him, and so completely engrossed every feehng of his heart, 

 that pecuniary matters never entered his thoughts. He was unwearied in his 

 instruction and assistance to young gardeners ; and, in order to induce the 

 youth of his native country to cultivate the study of botany, he offered in 1828, 

 by advertisement in the Ayr newspapers, to supply any parochial school in 

 Ayrshire with a collection of plants scientifically arranged, to illustrate the 

 LinncBan System of Botany, free of expense. This offer, he often regrets, was 

 not accepted or acknowledged, even in a single instance. With all this, the 

 retired habits and extreme modesty and amiability of his character, joined 

 with great cheerfulness, and a degree of enthusiasm that nothing can surpass, 

 endeared him to all with whom he was personally acquainted. We shall never 

 forget the reception which he gave us at Ayr, and at Monkwood, in 1831. 

 Mr. Smith's offer to supply collections of plants to parochial schools, at a time 

 when the idea of having school gardens was quite new in this country, is alone 

 sufficient to hand down his name to posterity, not only as an enlightened, 

 liberal, and most benevolent man, but as one in advance of the age in which 

 he lived. That such a man should suffer in the decline of life, and at the age 

 of 80 years, for want of encouragement, is a most lamentable circumstance, 

 though by no means uncommon. Happily there are men who can sympathise 

 with his condition, and we hope to see a practical proof of this, in such, a 

 liberal subscription as will put Mr. Smith and his family, for his future days, 

 beyond the reach of want. The names of subscribers will be received by 

 Mr. Skinner, Ayr; and we know the liberality and kindness of nurserymen 

 sufficiently well, to foresee that they will not only subscribe, but promote the 

 scheme of the committee by every means in their power. Let it be recollected 

 that, in conformity with the advertisement, every subscriber will receive a 

 collection of plants, according to the sum he may subscribe. — Cond. 



Art. V. Retrospective Criticism. 



Mr. Rivers' s Roses. — In noticing (p. 10.) that the collection of trees and 

 shrubs for the Derby Arboretum was supplied by Messrs. Whitley and Os- 

 born of Fulham and Mr. Masters of Canterbury, we inadvertently omitted to 

 state that we ordered a miscellaneous collection of roses from Mr. Rivers of 

 Sawbridgeworth, amounting to 100 kinds. These roses form no part of the 

 scientific collection, the genus iJosa in that collection being entirely supplied 

 from the Fulham Nursery, but are merely for the purpose of adding to the va- 

 riety of a miscellaneous border of trees and shrubs, which forms the boundary 

 to the Arboretum, and which is intended to shut out the surrounding buildings. 

 We think this notice due to Mr. Rivers ; because, though we shall oppose his 

 Popular Catalogue of Trees and Shrubs by every means in our power, we shall, 

 as heretofore, recommend his Catalogue of Roses as the best that we know of 

 among the rose catalogues of English nurserymen. — Cond. 



Storing Carrots for Winter Use. — In Vol. XV. p. 605., Mr. A. Forsyth re- 

 commends that carrots should be stowed away for winter use with about an 

 inch of top to each; I beg to say that I have practised the reverse of this 

 mode for a number of years with complete success. Instead of leaving 1 in. 

 of top to each carrot, I have the whole crown cut off, or, as the men term_ it, 

 cut in to the quick. This prevents the carrots from vegetating in the spring, 

 and thus preserves the saccharine matter, as well as the pure flavour of the 

 carrot, till June, or longer ; properties that render carrots, when preserved in 

 this manner, far superior to carrots that are either sown in hot-beds during 

 the spring, or those that have stood out during the winter ; neither of which 

 kinds do I ever grow, except in case of a short supply of the others. 



