44 Retrospective Criticism. 



conservatory are justly celebrated. They were brought down from London 

 at a vast expense when Mrs. Fairlie took up her residence at Williamfield, and 

 have been her companions ever since. They are very large and healthy, and 

 produce hundreds of blossoms yearly. {Ayr Observer, Nov. 23. 1841.) 



Art. IV. Retrospective Criticism. 



DIFFERENT Modes of Glazing Hot-houses, §c. — In our Vol. for 1841, p. 606., 

 last paragraph, second and third lines, for " 4f in. by 3 in. deep", read " 6| in. by 

 3 in. deep" ^and for "4 in. by 2 a in. deep", read" 5§ in., by 2| in. or 3 in. deep." 

 Add, " Always glaze with the bent side downwards (as the glaziers term it), 

 as by this means the glass lies more even, and comes closer in contact in the 

 middle of the pane." For horticultural purposes generally, I think panes 

 6 in. by 3 in. the most suitable size. — James Seymour. Frithsden Gardens, 

 Nov. 25. 1841. 



The Suburban Horticidturist, and Suburban Gardener. — I have received your 

 first Numbers of the Suburban Horticulturist, and beg to suggest to you the 

 making such additions to your prospectus as shall render the work, when 

 completed, as applicable to gardens in Australia as to those of England. 

 The climate of that country differs from the climate of England. Your 

 work will, therefore, in order to make it useful in that country, require 

 to contain some information as to the difference in the mode of management, 

 rendered necessary by an average increase of temperature of 12 or 15 degrees. 

 Many fruits which in England require forcing there ripen as open stand- 

 ards. The orange, peach, nectarine, &c. The same, also, with shrubs and 

 flowers, many beautiful kinds of which there flower in the open air which 

 require protection in this countiy. The field culture of the vine, the Jordan 

 almond, &c, is also of great importance. Australia, indeed, from its fine 

 climate, would appear to be the finest country in the world for an extensive 

 and beautifu lgarden. 



The immense benefit you would confer upon that country by taking into 

 your plan the formation and management of gardens there, will occur to you 

 when you consider that the proprietors of land are in a great measure debarred 

 the pleasure of social intercourse, by being distributed at great distances from 

 each other. From the pastoral nature of the country, large tracts of land 

 are required to pasture their flocks ; this necessarily scatters them at great 

 distances from each other. What a source, then, of happiness and enjoyment 

 must an extensive garden be to a gentleman and his family, under these cir- 

 cumstances ! 



From the nature of his pursuits, the country gentleman there has but two 

 busy periods in the year, viz. the lambing and the clipping season. With 

 ample time, therefore, to cultivate a garden, and a beautiful climate to bring 

 every thing to perfection, he wants only such instruction and information as 

 will enable him to form and cultivate it. He has this additional inducement, 

 that being in general situated at a distance from towns, or only near to such 

 as have been newly built, he has no market to which he can apply for his 

 fruits and vegetables, and must therefore either raise his own or go without. 

 Your work is capable of being made extremely beneficial in this respect to 

 your countrymen in Australia; and the amount of experience, talent, and in- 

 dustry which your other works prove you are capable of bringing to bear 

 upon it, renders it to the last degree desirable that you should undertake it. 



Should you do so, the first subject that would require to be noticed is, how 

 a person in that country is to set about forming, enclosing, and laying out his 

 garden, shrubbery, &c. ; for what you have already said on this subject in the 

 Suburban Gardener will scarcely bear on his case. Under this head would 

 come the choice of a site, aspect, &c, which will be different from what would 

 be requisite in England ; for instance, shade might there be desirable, or even 

 necessary, for the garden, certainly for most of the walks. 



