424 Retrospective Criticism. 



advantage of placing slates under the fruit, which increased the heat by the 

 reflection of the sun's rays fronni them. 



Mr. Fish would recommend the Kew Cantaloup, the Egyptian Green 

 Flesh, and the King's Favourite. 



Mr. Thomas Keane, in his reply, combated at length the objections made to 

 his paper, and observed that he particularly detailed the system which he prac- 

 tised with success. 



Art. III. Retrospective Criticism. 



Glazing ivith Lead Lap instead of Putty, (p. 299.) — I am induced to send 

 you the following observations, from reading in your last Magazine (p. 299.) 

 some strictures on glazing, by a person who confesses to know little about it ; 

 having never practised the system he recommends. The paper in question is 

 signed Amicus, but I beg to state (having seen lead-lap glazing extensively 

 practised) he will prove anything but a friend to whoever may take his advice ; 

 in support of which I will state the objections to lead-lap glazing as they 

 occur to me. Suppose then a light 6 ft. long, glazed according to Amicus's 

 plan : each bar will sustain the weight of two lengths of lead lap, which will be 

 a pound weight at least; and, as heavy sashes are at all times objectionable, 

 his method is rendered doubly so, not having strength to palliate or recom- 

 mend this fault. Again, lead expands greatly with heat, and after a time does 

 not contract to its original position ; this will cause the lead and glass between 

 the copper tacks to assume a wavy appearance, which will encourage drip, 

 &c. ; and, as the copper nails used cannot be more than half an inch in length, 

 they are very slight, consequently in a short time they become loose both in 

 the wood and lead, by the working of the lights in giving air, &c., which, from 

 hurry or carelessness, is often done with violence, causing considerable con- 

 cussion. I have seen lights, having been in use only two or three years, in 

 which the nails had become so loose from such causes, that if the lights were 

 turned upon their side, there was danger of the whole of the glass tumbling 

 off the frame. In repairing, the objections are far greater than those used 

 against glazing with putty, as what Amicus states about the difference in 

 the thickness of the glass is mere moonshine. The glass being always bedded 

 in putty, it is easy to insert another square under the one above, without 

 taking off the corners or the square being " precisely" the same thickness ; and 

 when properly bedded or back-puttied, it will not be the cause of drip : but 

 in lead glazing, from the strength of the cement necessarily used at first, it 

 becomes exceeding difficult to remove broken squares ; the lead by its thinness 

 is always damaged, and often broken ; therefore, when repairs are required the 

 lap can never be made to look as before ; the glazing is also ineffectual, if the 

 glass be not well bedded in the cement used, and this cannot be done without 

 disturbing the immediate squares above and below the new one, more or less. 



About six years since, I witnessed a pine pit, a vinery, a peach house, and 

 some framing, glazed with lead lap, all of which it has been absolutely neces- 

 sary to alter, with the exception of the bottom lights of the pine-pit, which are 

 at a very acute angle, and fixed to the rafters, notwithstanding which they 

 admit some drips. I may just mention how very superior to the above, or 

 the old method, grooved wooden bars are found to be; in neatness and du- 

 rability ; they also render Amicus's objection, of the putty leaving the bars, 

 " null and void," as in grooved bars no more putty is exposed to the weather 

 than by the lead lap. 



I hope the foregoing remarks will be sufficient to convince Amicus of the 

 fallacy of his views, and that they will be taken as they are intended to be. — 

 ijj^ritas. Derbyshire, June 13. 1840. 



