180 Itetrospective Criticism. 



the borders on the top of the ground. A substratum of broken stones and gravel 

 was laid on ; the border, which was entirely maiden loam, was made 3 ft. deep 

 at the wall, and sloped down to the edge of the old border ; it was well mulched, 

 to prevent any great drought on the surface ; and the plan was found to be the 

 best by which fruit trees could be grown in such situations. — Mr. Keane did 

 not agree with the system Mr. Fish saw of planting fruit trees in April ; he 

 thinks, and he is glad to see that it is now almost generally practised, that fruit 

 and other trees should be planted in the autumn, for the following reasons : 

 the heat communicated to the earth during the summer is partly retained 

 during the autumn ; when the trees are planted at that time, the genial warmth 

 of the soil will excite them to push fresh spongelets, and imbibe nourishment, by 

 which they will be the better enabled to withstand the severity of the winter, 

 and will be ready to grow with the first warmth of spring. Trees planted in 

 April will receive such a check by removal and the soil being naturally cold, 

 that they will not be able to form feeders in time to keep pace with trees 

 planted in autumn. — Mr. Fish briefly replied. The removal of fruit trees, as 

 detailed in his paper, he found to answer completely as a check to over-luxu- 

 riance, and as an excellent system for the successful cultivation of fruit trees ; 

 and also the system of cutting the roots, he saw highly beneficial in many 

 instances ; also the bending of branches, especially of young trees, which has a 

 tendency of causing them to become fruitful sooner than they otherwise 

 would do. 



Art. IV. Retrospective Criticism. 



Erratum. — In p. 91. Ai-t. XI. line 6., for "When the plants are ripe," 

 read " When the plants are up." 



The Grand Conservatory at Chatsworth. — Mr. Forsyth's dictum, that an 

 acre of glass ought to cover an acre of ground, which no one of the least ex- 

 perience, one would think, could ever have asserted, has been refuted by a 

 correspondent, who signs himself E. K., Streatham ; but, as he has accom- 

 panied his remarks with some observations which, as coming from an anony- 

 mous writer, and with reference to one who has given his name and address, 

 we cannot publish, if E. K. will favour us with his name, his article shall 

 appear without delay. — Cond. 



Bartram^s Botanic Garden. — It is never too late to make an apology where 

 justice or propriety requires it, or to correct an error. I, therefore, must 

 notice the misprint in my article, Gard. ATag., vol. vii. p. 665., when writing 

 about Bartram's Garden. For ten miles read three miles, that being the 

 distance of that first of American botanic gardens and collections of American 

 trees. It is impossible I could have made this mistake, having often visited 

 this venerable spot. — J. M. Sept. 24. 1839. 



Disadvantage of a Garde7ier boarding with the House Servants of a Family. — 

 I wish you, at the end of another year, when summing up the progress of 

 gardening, would dilate on the disadvantage many gardeners are under, by 

 being obliged to board in a gentleman's house. They are thereby unable to 

 give the science of gardening that study without which no one is scarce 

 worthy of the name of gardener. — W. B. Jan. 1840. 



Grafting the Orange on the Pomegranate. — In the Vol. XIII. for 1 837, p. 476., 

 you insert a notice from me, that the American consul at Malta would write 

 to you on the subject of the oranges of that island deriving their red flesh from 

 engrafting that tree on a pomegranate stock. You need not expect any com- 

 munication from him, because he has explained the fact I was in search of, to 

 my full satisfaction, in a letter dated July 12. 1838. He is enabled to do 

 this from the information of Professor Terafa, of the University of Malta, 

 and author of some works on botany. This gentleman, after noticing the 

 general prevalence of the error in question, says : " Our blood or red coloured 



