EXTRACT OF A LETTER TO THE EDITOR. 
95 
MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 
Extract of a Letter to the Editor. —Sir,—Pray allow me to 
make a few observations on your paper relative to the “ physical struc¬ 
ture of plants ” in your February number. In that paper you have 
quoted Burnett, and given sketches of that author’s distinctions of the 
Quercus pedunculata and Q. sessilijlora (page 47). This is all very 
well, but on turning over the Gardener’s Magazine, received at the 
same time, I got my eye on an excellent paper on the subject of 
oak timber, written by W. Atkinson, Esq., than whom there is not, 
perhaps, a better judge of the qualities and properties of timber in the 
kingdom. Here, however, I felt sorry to observe that Mr. Atkinson’s 
ideas were at variance with your own, or, if you please, with your 
authority, the late Professor Burnett. Now, ,as you yourself have 
properly observed that this very subject is of national importance, it is 
highly necessary, that there should be no shadow of doubt to perplex 
the mind of the planter whether of the twain ” he should prefer, 
while in the act of planting for posterity. 
Should you be pleased to excuse this little critique, and receive it in 
the spirit in which it is written, I shall feel gratified ; more especially 
if it elicit from your pen any further remarks on this interesting 
subject. I am, Sir, yours, &c., A. S. 
Berks , 5th Feb , 1836. 
In answer to the above friendly observations, we can affirm with 
great truth, that we really feel under obligation to A. S. for his hint; 
as on turning to the Gardener’s Magazine ourselves, we find his remarks 
perfectly justifiable as to the discrepancy of the ideas to which he has 
so candidly alluded. And we would be extremely culpable indeed, 
were we by any inadvertence to disseminate error on such a vital ques¬ 
tion. The fact is, we have been long acquainted with this controverted 
point as to the identity of the true old English oak, whether the 
Quercus robur be what is called pedunculata , or that designated 
sessilijlora ; whether these be species, as some botanists make them, 
or only mere varieties, as others conceive them to be, and for this reason, 
that the distinctions are often present on the same tree. 
Amidst this uncertainty about the oak, we certainly did refer to 
Burnett’s Botany, not because we considered that lamented author as 
a first rate authority as a practical botanist; but knowing his indefati¬ 
gable industry as a learned compiler, and knowing that he had pre¬ 
viously published Amcenitates Quernece , we naturally concluded that he 
