538 Metrospective Criticism. 



Art. V. Retrospective Criticism. 



The Floioer-Garden at Bedford Lodge. — The details which show the ex- 

 cellent management of the beautiful flower-garden of the Duke of Bedford at 

 Camden Hill, must be extremely interesting to all admirers of such an exqui- 

 sitely arranged parterre, and it reflects great credit on Mr. Caie. Therefore, 

 the few observations which follow are by no means intended to detract from 

 that praise which is so justly his due; neither could anything which I might 

 write affect his well-deserved reputation. 



In fig. 74., the shrub with the spherical lumpy head, on the left side, wants 

 relief by the introduction of some conical plant in the foreground. At 

 fig. 75., on the lawn, in front of the veranda, at d, and also in front of the 

 green-house, at a, the equidistant distribution of the beds does not admit of 

 sufficient breadth of turf to show anything like light and shade, or artistical 

 design. There is, also, at the one side of d, an abrupt and unintelligible termina- 

 tion of a grove walk, which begins again at the other side of it, in an equally 

 abrupt manner. The general effect of fig. 76. is very good ; but it might be 

 improved by removing all the vases or flower-pots on the terrace wall, except 

 those supported by piers. This leads me to object strongly to the appearance 

 of the terrace wall in fig. 77. I hold it to be an absolutely indispensable 

 architectural principle, that every vase, urn, &c., placed upon a wall, should 

 have a projecting pier to support it; and I object entirely to placing pots 

 with plants in them on walls : I cannot see what business they have there. 

 The remarks made in respect to fig. 74. will apply, with increased force, to 

 fig. 78., where the round-headed shrub again appears like an enormous hedge- 

 hog. — R, Glendinning. Biclon, Sept. 1838. 



Growth of tlie Stumps of the Silver Fir, (Vol. XIII. p. 142.) — Among many 

 interesting subjects contained in the Gardener^s Magazine for 1837, I perceive, 

 at p. 142., some remarks of M. Dutrochet, upon the growth of the stumps of 

 the silver fir, which are said to increase in diameter after the tree is felled. I 

 was on one occasion led to some observations upon the same appearance in 

 the stump of a silver fir cut down here ; but, although at that time unac- 

 quainted with M. Dutrochet's investigation upon the subject, it gave me an 

 opportunity of reflecting upon Theophrastiis's account of similar appearances, 

 in the stumps of the same tree (tXarj;), when felled, in Greece. If M. 

 Dutrochet has not adverted to Theophrastus, perhaps you may be interested 

 in reading the following passage from that author, in the sixth chapter of 

 the third book, where he particularly describes what he calls the a/t^aw^tc, 

 or dfj.(pi<pva, of the silver fir after decacumination. From this hard circular 

 substance, the Arcadians made bowls. — H. L. Long. Hampton Lodge, 

 Sept. 6. 18.38. 



The passage sent us by Mr. Long is as follows : — After remarking that the 

 roots of the invKi] and tXari] (the spruce and silver firs) perish as soon as 

 the trees are cut, Theophrastus adds : " A peculiarity occurs with regard to 

 the Elate ; for, when felled, or broken off by the wind or anything else, a 

 substance grows round the smooth part of the trunk ; for, up to a certain 

 point, it is smooth, branchless, and uniform, hke the mast of a vessel ; [.uKpuv 

 vTroodare^ov tig v-^oq, ' little inferior in height.'* Some call it afKpavKig, others 

 afx<l)i(pva.f In colour it is black : it is excessively strong. From this the Ar- 

 cadians form their goblets. In breadth, it is as much as the tree might happen to 

 have been ; but it is stronger, more sappy, and thicker." (Hist. Plant., iii. 6.) 



The occasional Fruit-bearing of the Male Papaw. (p. 430.) — 1 beg to offer 

 a few remarks on the interesting communication of Mr. G. M. Elliott respect- 



* I do not know what Theophrastus means by this \iiKpov vTrodskfrrcpov elg 

 vTpog, of which I have given the translation literally : perhaps there may be 

 some error in the text. — H. L. L. 



-j- " Ajji^av'iig, dfifiplia, literally " round growth." — H. L. L, 



