Retrospective Criticism. 335 



your "stove" productions at the September show in Dublin ; therefore, I 

 respectfully decline that honour. However, I do not like the idea of your 

 cruising about in the "bright broad bay" of Dublin till September next. 

 I would merely suggest, for your consideration, that, in the interim, as your 

 decks are clear, you might as well put your helm up, and take a cruise away to 

 Batavia (that is the capital of the Dutch dominions in Java, you know), 

 where they grow pines large, and sell them cheap, You can take one of your 

 puny ones along with you, and contrast the flavour of it with a large one of 

 Java. This is to decide whether my opinion on the flavour of large pines 

 is correct or not. Now, if you go, I beg you will do it fairly ; and, as I 

 allow you to be the judge, if you have a doubt on your mind, you must give 

 me the benefit of it. In the mean time, the commodore can look after the fleet 

 at home. — W. Hutchinson, Gardener to E. J, Shirley, Esq., M.P., Eatington 

 Park, Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire. May 9. 1842. 



The Squirrel in Gardens and Woods. — I have just seen (p. 202.) an interest- 

 ing letter by Charles Waterton, Esq. Mr. Waterton appears to be an enthu- 

 siastic naturalist, and would fain hide, as far as possible, the misdeeds of his 

 favourites, particularly the squirrel. Now, much as I admire this nimble little 

 quadruped, and anxious as I am to afford it protection, still I would not have 

 it concealed from your readers that the nut orchard is not the only place where 

 the presence of the squirrel is to be dreaded. In plantations of larch or spruce 

 fir, he is the most destructive little wretch alive. Three or four years since, 

 in a fir belt that had been planted eight years previously, I observed that 

 many of the leading shoots of both larch and spruce, but particularly of the 

 larch, were cropped over when in their most succulent state. At first I 

 suspected the poor jackdaws, or some such playful customer, for the deed ; 

 but, on riding along one morning, I discovered the real rogues, the squirrels, 

 busy at work. On making the discovery, they were, as Mr. Waterton says, 

 " consigned over to the tender mercy of the gamekeeper ;" but Mr. Waterton 

 will rejoice to learn that the order only went to thin off, but not to extirpate 

 them. This was done, and since then the firs are gradually recovering their 

 leaders. Nor is it small trees chiefly which they attack, by eating off* the 

 current year's shoot : I can show spruce of considerable dimensions, which, 

 from repeated attacks, are become quite tufted at their tops, so that the con- 

 tending leaders resemble a cluster of small turrets. My predecessor imagined 

 that these trees were cut down annually by the severity of the weather ; and, 

 although the situation is the most eligible for the purpose to be met with, he 

 had actually resolved to discontinue planting spruce. 



The squirrel is a most provident little fellow. He generally lays up a store 

 of nuts where he can reach them, to serve him through the winter, or until 

 the return of the nut season. I have dropped once or twice upon his little 

 granary, and can testify to the excellence of the sample which he can produce ; 

 not an empty shell amongst the lot. No, he is too good a judge for that. But 

 whether this latter circumstance is to be accounted for by the total absence of 

 commercial restriction, and consequently the natural result of free trade, is a 

 question which I shall not decide upon at present ; but, in the meantime, I 

 cannot help thinking, and I wish the squirrels would think so too, that trees, 

 like trade, would flourish all the better if let alone to take their own course. 



When defrauded of his little winter store, either by the ruthless hand of 

 man or by pilfering companions, the squirrel will avail himself of the best 

 substitute which he can find. That he has constituted fir tree tops an article 

 of daily consumption, I have had ample proof; nor would I begrudge him a 

 few leaders, either of spruce or larch, if he would only keep within bounds ; 

 but to go over a whole coppice, in these pinching times, cannot be tolerated, 

 nor afforded, by "our country squires." — James Munro. Castle Ashby, April 

 9. 1842. 



A new Description of Indian Corn. — I observe (p. 229.) some remarks on a 

 new variety of maize recently introduced into America from China. I now 



