out the country. Among the garden buildings newly completed, or in progress, may be mentioned the range of hot-houses in the Manchester Botanical and Horticultural Garden, those in the Edinburgh Botanic Garden, a splendid conservatory preparing for Trentham Hall by Clark of Birmingham, a range for the Duke of Bedford, and a gigantic house at Chatsworth. Among the minor structures figured and described in the present Volume, is a span-roofed pit for green-house plants, by Mr. John Bevis (see p. 247.), in which ventilation is effected in a manner which prevents the plants from damping off during winter. The use of garden ornaments of artificial stone, or of earthenware, is increasing rapidly throughout the country. In many places, they are not introduced with propriety, and in others they are far too numerous; but their frequency will lead reflecting persons to enquire why they please in some instances, and displease in others; and, in the end, a better taste will prevail. Whoever understands the meaning of the phrase "unity of expression," and can examine any scene presented to him by the test of its being or not being "a harmonious whole," will be able to determine what is right and what is wrong in the disposition of sculptural ornaments in gardens. All architectural objects and statuary, being ponderous and intended for great duration, should be placed on bases obviously secure and durable. A vase or a statue should never be set down on grass or on dug ground, without a decided pedestal, resting, or appearing to rest, on a secure foundation; and it should never be set on anything less obviously durable than masonry. Where such objects form the predominating features in a scene, they should always be connected with some kind of building, such as a parapet or terrace wall, or even a stone border to a walk, a bed, or a pond; and, in default of these, even a paved walk between a row of statues, the pedestals standing on a flag-stone, projected from the pavement into the adjoining turf or dug ground, will tend to preserve unity of expression. Even an area of gravel projected from a gravel walk, and extending an inch or two all round the pedestal, will have a tendency to maintain the secure architectural character which ought always to accompany architectural and sculptural objects. Root-works, rustic baskets, and other temporary objects or structures of this kind, should seldom or never be introduced in the same scene with vases, statues, or other articles of stone. A very common error in composing what is called rockwork is, to intermix temporary materials, such as old roots, stumps of trees, &c., with durable and permanent ones, such as fragments of rock, pieces of scoriæ, vitrified bricks, &c.; with artistical fragments, such as pieces of hewn stone, sculpture, vases, &c.; or with natural objects, such as shells, corals, ,&c.; than which nothing can be more heterogeneous, or at variance with the principle of unity of expression. Each of these classes of materials might make so many different kinds of rockwork, or rather of habitats for the display of plants. To mix all of them, or even any two of them, together is, however, in our eyes, at variance with every principle of good taste. We think it useful to throw out remarks of this kind in this general summary; because, as we have stated in former volumes, the point in which modern gardeners most require advancement is, the perception of consistency and inconsistency in matters of taste. Temporary glass structures, flued borders, and conservative walls have been mentioned or treated of in different parts of the present Volume; and, though the subject of growing exotics in the open air by means of such aids is yet in its infancy, it promises to be an inexhaustible source of beauty and interest, as superior to that produced by plants grown in small pots, as a conservatory is to a shed-roofed green-house. A Arboriculture. Some years ago, through the exertions of Mr. Lawson, the eminent seedsman of Edinburgh, many thousands of Pinus Cémbra, raised from seeds imported from Switzerland, were planted in different parts of Scotland; and, what is remarkable, though this tree, in the climate of London, seldom makes shoots above 6 in. or 8 in. in a year, in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh it has made shoots from 1 ft. to 2 ft. annually. great many larches, raised from seeds received from the Tyrol (see Highland Soc. Trans., vol. xi. p. 391.) by Mr. Lawson, have also been planted in Scotland; and the plants, we are informed, show a deeper green in the foliage than that of plants raised from British seeds. The black pine of Austria, also introduced by Mr. Lawson, has been planted to a considerable extent; more especially by Sir John Nasmyth, at New Posso, in Peeblesshire. Among the most useful exertions that have been made in arboriculture for the last year, and during some years previously, are those of Messrs. Grigor, nurserymen at Elgin and Forres; who, stimulated by the rewards offered by the Highland Society, have been the means of disseminating many thousand plants of the true Highland pine, by far the most valuable timber tree indigenous or in cultivation in Europe, next to the larch and the oak. It may be worthy of remark, that, of all the ultra-European trees which have been cultivated, in Britain, for such a time as to admit of forming an estimate of the value of their timber, there is not one the timber of which is equal to that of the trees indigenous to Europe. The only shadow of an exception is the Populus monilífera, which is a very doubtful native of America, and much more likely, in our opinion, to be an improved European tree. The oaks of America, beautiful as they are, are worth little as timber, either in America or Europe, when compared with the British oak; with the exception of the live oak, which will not attain a timber size in Britain. No American pine or fir, that will attain the size of a forest tree in this country, has wood equalling that of the Scotch pine, the larch, or the spruce. We might, in like manner, go through all the genera of American trees; but we have said enough, we trust, to impress the reader with an idea of the importance of cultivating for timber, and on a large scale, the improved varieties of European species. Not that we wish to discourage the planting of ultra-European trees on a large scale also; because there may be some of these that will prove far more valuable in this country than we have any idea of; and, also, because they add to the variety and beauty of our general scenery, and may, at some future time, give rise to improved kinds by cross-breeding. Some valuable remarks on the progress of the beech in exposed situations, and on raising the oak in the government plantations, will be found in the present Volume. The Arboretum et Fruticetum Britannicum (we do not refer to our book of that name, but to living collections), in general, receives some little addition every year. Among trees, the most remarkable that has been brought into notice during 1837, is a species of fir from Cephalonia. It was raised from seeds received from the island of that name, by Charles Hoare, Esq., ten or twelve years ago; but no notice seems to have been taken of it by any one, till the recent increasing taste for planting pinetums stimulated the nurserymen to search in every direction for new species of pines and firs. One of the finest shrubs brought forward during the year is Cowània plicàta (see p. 452.). It is evergreen, with the leaves and habit of a shrubby potentilla; and flowers like those of the rose in form and structure, and of a pink colour. A double-flowered rhododendron has been originated in Paris, and the whole stock of plants of it already imported into this country, by Mr. Lawson of Edinburgh. A few new kinds of trees and shrubs have been raised, during the past summer, in the garden of the Horticultural Society, which will form subjects of notice on some future occasion. A valuable article on the propagation of the pine and fir tribe by cuttings, by Mr. Lindsay; and another by Mr. Frost, on his mode of treating the rarer species in the Dropmore pinetum, well deserve the attention of nurserymen and gardeners who have the care of collections. Floriculture. - Dahlias and roses in the open garden, and orchideous plants in the stoves, continue to be the fashionable objects of culture. Some new Californian annuals or perennials, raised from seeds sent home by Douglas, or some other collectors, are annually coming into flower, and finding their way into botanical periodicals and catalogues. Some interesting additions to our knowledge respecting such ornamental flower ing plants as will not be eaten by hares or rabbits have been made by Mr. Frost of Dropmore (see p. 498.); and Mr. Caie has directed attention to the very important subject of the culture of certain of the most beautiful of our hardy annuals; which, when sown in autumn, will endure our most severe winters, and come into flower earlier in spring that they would by any other mode of treatment. This, as we have elsewhere shown, will afford to those who cannot go to much expense, a very cheap mode of making a fine display in a flower-garden; and, as many of these annuals thrive under the shade of deciduous trees, they will admit of producing a fine show of flowers in situations in woods and among groups of trees, where no art of the gardener can make flowers in general thrive. Horticulture. We refer to Mr. Thompson's interesting report, by which it will appear that the present year has been singularly unfavourable for judging of the character and merits of different kinds of fruit. A fair estimate of the merits of the coiling system of vine culture has been made by Mr. Grey (p. 500.), who thinks that it requires too much expense and attention for general use; which has been our opinion from the first introduction of this mode of training by Mr. Mearns. (See Vol. X. p. 141.) Mr. Paxton informs us that the Mùsa Cavendíshii still continues to answer his expectations; and he is of opinion with us, that it will soon become one of the most valuable hot-house fruits for small suburban gardens; because it may be grown in a pit, heated either by dung or fire heat; because, like other scitamineous plants, it does not require an intense light; and because a single plant will produce at least ten times more fruit than a pine-apple plant, which would occupy the same space, and require the same, or a longer, period to bring it into a fruiting state. The advantage of using a sloping trellis for training pear trees has been pointed out (p. 259.); of disbudding, instead of cutting (p. 203.). Various facts have been brought forward respecting the shriveling and the rust of grapes; and improved methods have been detailed of bringing forward early melons, forcing strawberries, and raising salads of chicory, for which we are indebted to Mr. Cuthill. Several culinary vegetables, which are either new, or worthy of being better known, will be found in our Olitorial Notices (p. 33.), and in an article by Mr. Whiting (p. 499.). To these might be added, a new pea, of the tall marrowfat kind, of which there is yet only a small stock in the Hammersmith Nursery; and a new field turnip, sold by Mr. Forrest, which will be hereafter noticed. A new oil plant, said to produce oil equal to that of the olive, and in immense quantities, has been brought into notice by M. Bosch, the curator of the Botanic Garden at Stuttgard; for which he received the ld medal of the Stuttgard Agricultural Society, and a present of thirty ducats from the king. It is an annual of the order Compósitæ, but we have not been informed of its name; and, though a native of South America, it is so hardy, that, even in Wirtemburg, it may be sown in the autumn. The last subject which we shall mention is the cultivation of the truffle; an object, in our opinion, very much to be desired, and to encourage attempts at which, it would be worth while for Horticultural Societies to offer large premiums. An elaborate article on the subject, translated from the German, will be found p. 408. STATISTICS OF GARDENING. - Botanical Collectors. A gardener, sent to India by that munificent patron of gardening, His Grace the Duke of Devonshire, returned in August last, bringing with him a living plant of Amhérstia nóbilis, a number of new Orchídeæ, and various seeds. A subscription society have sent Dr. Lippold to Madeira, whence he will proceed to the Canaries; and M. Hartweg, sent to Mexico by the Horticultural Society, has already forwarded to them various seeds, including acorns of some of the curious Mexican oaks, so remarkable for the form of their acorns and cups, as may be seen by the figures of the American species of Quércus in our Arboretum Britannicum. Gardening Tours. — Mr. Forbes, head gardener to the Duke of Bedford, has, at His Grace's expense, made a tour on the Continent, the particulars of which he has laid before the public in a work which we have noticed in p. 316.; and we direct attention to the subject, partly because we consider the Duke of Bedford as a model for an English nobleman, in all that respects gardening and rural matters; and, partly, because we think it would be much for the benefit of gardeners and the gardens under their care, if other wealthy noblemen and gentlemen were to follow His Grace's example. It may not be practicable for all head gardeners to be spared so long from their charge as to allow of their travelling on the Continent; but there is not one who should not be allowed time and money sufficient to enable him to make a tour to the principal gardens in our own country. Seeing the gardens of his neighbours, and reading books on gardening, are the only modes by which a master gardener can be instructed as to what is going on beyond the walls of his own garden; and the employer who does not encourage these two modes of acquiring information, is not duly alive to his own interest. He does not even know the best mode of keeping down his nurseryman's bills; because a gardener who does not visit his neighbours, cannot make any exchanges of seeds, cuttings, or plants with them; and, without frequent exchanges, every garden, from the worst to the best, is liable to deficiencies, only to be made up by purchases from the nursery |