Retrospective Criticism^ Qiieries and Ansisoers. 639 



vessel, the necessary quantity of acid (420 to 460 grains of muriatic acid 

 of the shops are, in general, necessary) is mixed in about half a bottle- 

 ful of water. It is indispensable to dilute the dough well with the solution 

 of soda ; and, when all is well prepared, the acid is poured on it. Pastry 

 may be treated in the same manner : the quantity of bicarbonate used 

 varies with the degree of lightness required for the paste. 



SCOTLAND. 



Musa, Dacca. — Some fine specimens of the ripened fruit of this East Indian 

 banana have been kindly sent us by Mr. M'Nab,jun. The flavour is ex- 

 quisite, and equal, if not superior, to that of the Musa Cavendishw. As this 

 musa has not yet been figured, we wait with anxiety for its appearance and 

 history in some of the botanical periodicals, or, probably, in the Caledonian 

 Horticultural Society's Transactions. In the mean time, the reader will find 

 some information on the subject of this new kind of musa in p. 106. — Concl. 



The Siberian Cow Parsnep (^Heracleimi giganteum). — A plant in the garden 

 at Callendar, near Falkirk, is stated in the Scotsman of July 21. 1838, to have 

 attained the height of 11 ft., with a stem above a foot in diameter near the 

 ground ; and the circumference of the entire plant 49 ft. This is not so high, 

 by a foot, as one which flowered with us two years ago ; but the Callendar 

 plant had seven stems, whereas ours had only one. The correspondent of the 

 Scotsman seems to think that the magnificent foliage of this heracleuni 

 promises to be of value to the farmer ; but this, from its coarseness, appears 

 to us very doubtful. If in this we should be mistaken, we shall be very 

 much obliged to Mr. A. Smith, the intelligent gardener at Callendar, to supply 

 us with information on the subject. We have elsewhere mentioned that we 

 have furnished different friends with seeds of the gigantic cow parsnep to 

 scatter in suitable parts of the margins of woods in dilFerent parts of Great 

 Britain and Ireland, and also in Sweden and Norway. — Cond. 



Art. III. Retrospective Criticism. 



Wooden Sashes often contract and exj^and as much as Iron ones. — Mr. 

 Thompson (p. 486.) has got some strange ideas about metal hot-houses 

 expanding and contracting. If he had observed narrowly, he would have seen 

 wooden ones swell and shrink even more than those of metal ; as, however 

 well-painted wooden sashes may be, long continued dry hot weather will 

 make them shrink considerably, while long continued wet weather will cause 

 them to swell. As to metal sashes not sliding well, I may say that our houses 

 have been up nearly seven years, during all of that time the sliding sashes 

 have run without any trouble : they are upon casters. Not a square of glass 

 was broken in them during last winter, by the frost. Whatever may be said 

 for or against metal houses, none of the above faults can be substantiated, if 

 the houses are properly constructed — D. Cameron. Bot. Gard., Birmingham, 

 Oct. 6. 1838. 



Art. IV. Qiieries and Ansivers. 



New Celeries and Cucumbers. — Can you tell me where, in London, I can 

 procure the Manchester gigantic white celery, and the large new purple Rus- 

 sian celery ; also the defiance cucumber, and the Syon free-bearer cucumber ? 

 I understand there is a spurious gigantic white celery, the stalks of which are 

 Ytipy. — Henr^ Brook. Crane Street, Salisbuiy, Oct. 22. 1838. 



jbo decaying Leaves absorb, and assist in evaporating, the Sap ? (p. 206.) — 

 The subject of the queries and answers (see Vol. IV., second series, p. 206.) is 

 one, in my opinion, of considerable interest, and I shall be glad to see it fully 

 discussed ; I hope, therefore, that some one or more of your scientific contri- 

 butors will enlarge upon it. The object I have in view is, to determine upon the 

 safest method to pursue, in reference to eve green trees and shrubs that may 



