particular circumstances of soil, situation, and climate; for as, under certain circumstances, not always easily pointed out beforehand, some varieties degenerate, so, under others, certain varieties improve.

Part v., from which art. 64. to 68. are taken, concludes vol. vi., and is therefore accompanied by a preface. In this it is stated that the present volume " contains a large body of original horticultural information; such as it may be safely affirmed is not to be found in any other publication of the same period. Of so great importance, indeed, has it been esteemed by the public, both at home and abroad, that a very considerable portion of every foreign and domestic journal, in which the subject of horticulture is noticed, derives a large part, and, in some cases, almost the entire of its interest from extracts from these Transactions." Without in the slightest degree questioning the value of the original articles in the Horticultural Transactions, which is neither greater nor less than that of the original articles of the Gardener's Magazine, being, with the exception of the one third of the papers written by officers or servants of the Society, written by the same sort of persons, and, in several cases, by the same individuals, we may be allowed to state the superior claims of the Gardener's Magazine in point of "importance." In the first place the quantity of original matter in Part I. of the (21s.) volume of our work, completed by the present Number, is nearly equal to the entire matter of the (67.) quarto volume of the Horticultural Transactions, independently of our original matter under the departments of Reviews and Intelligence. Secondly, though our articles are not ornamented by coloured plates, or engravings from copper or steel, yet they are illustrated by a greater number of engravings from wood, sufficiently intelligible for all useful purposes, than is the present or any former volume of the Horticultural Transactions.

To prove any superiority in the kind of information is not required; the same persons, and sorts of persons, write in both works, and therefore we claim nothing more than equality. But it may be said that some papers in the Gardener's Magazine are controversial, and, though very suitable for a magazine, cannot be said to record horticultural science like the papers in the Horticultural Transactions. We allow this, but think we may very safely put against such papers in the Magazine, the long descriptions of Chrysanthemums, Pæonies, and some other such papers, by officers of the Society, in the Transactions. Both these sorts of papers are proper in their respective works.

Before we enter into the Review and the Intelligence departments of the Magazine, we shall say a word as to its utility, simply considered as consisting of Original Communications. Here then we have two points which determine the utility of the Magazine to be incomparably greater than that of the Transactions: first, the cheapness of the work, by which its sale is so much more extended that it has already readers in every part of the world; secondly, the controversial papers alluded to, the object of which is, to correct or improve the conduct or condition of gardeners or others connected with gardening. No improvement in any art can be permanent, or truly valuable to society, which does not at the same time raise the character and promote the happiness of those by whom it is practised. That the Magazine has done good in this way will not be denied, and that the amount of this good will increase every year we know enough of the minds of gardeners to feel perfectly confident. As an example of the good we have already done, we have only to point to the Horticultural Society, which, by our papers in our first volume, we have saved from a system of extravagance, which would soon have ended in its ruin, and for which we have received the thanks of some of its earliest and most valuable members.

With respect to our Review department, and our Miscellaneous Intelligence, both are just so much good added to that which is already equal to the Horticultural Transactions.

As to the "some journals" which derive almost "the entire of their interest" from extracts from the Horticultural Transactions, the Gardener's Magazine of Germany and our Magazine are the only two journals in Europe in which the Horticultural Transactions are regularly reviewed. In the German Magazine the papers are quoted verbatim at length; we limit ourselves to giving the essence, but we have frequently illustrated this essence by engravings, which has rendered it of more value than the original in its unabridged and unillustrated state. For instance, our review of vol. vi. part iii. is illustrated by eleven engravings, composed expressly for the purpose, and not one of which are given in the original papers. We firmly believe that in this way our Magazine has given a reputation to the Transactions which they never had before, and which, in some cases, they do not merit. We could refer to a case where a gentleman purchased a copy of part iii., with a view to more completely understanding Dr. Van Mons's paper on budding roses, which in the original has no engraving, but in our abridgment (p. 192.) three. A succeeding paper in the

same part, descriptive of certain hot-houses and pits in the Chiswick garden, assumes quite a different feature in our pages (201. 203.), by being illustrated by three engravings, from which any workman might erect the structures described. In short, every reader who is in possession of the Horticultural Transactions, vol. vi., and this Magazine, has only to continue the comparison which we have begun, to be convinced of the additional utility which we have given to the former work.

Perhaps we ought not to have said so much in our own favour; but we are unwilling that the Horticultural Society should monopolise every thing; and having, in the way we have mentioned, been the means of obtaining for their published Transactions a degree of credit to which, as compared with this Magazine, they are not entitled, we think it but fair to restore them to their natural level.

The number of the Fellows of the Society at the date of the preface to vol. iv. was 1520; to vol. v. 1815; to the present, vol. vi., 2044; -an immense power, which, however, being at the full tide of influence, must naturally be expected to decline.

After noticing the botanic expeditions of Mr. James M'Rae to the western coast of South America and the Sandwich Islands, and of Mr. David Douglas to the north-west coast of North America, it is stated "that no further expedition is at present contemplated by the Society."

"The garden continues to flourish, and improve in its appearance in a degree which cannot but be highly satisfactory." The garden may be highly satisfactory to those who know no better, and therefore think themselves bound to approve of what is done by those who ought to set the best example; but ask the most intelligent nurserymen and gentlemen's gardeners their opinion of the plan of the garden. Ask Messrs. Knight, Loddiges, Malcolm, Mackay, Milne, and Sinclair. For our parts, we have always avowed our opinion that the plan of this garden was disgraceful to the Society, and to this country,-hitherto so celebrated in respect to design in gardening. The plan of a public garden, like that of the Horticultural Society, ought not to have been fixed on, before publicly inviting all the gardeners and gardenartists of the country, as suggested by our correspondent, "A Nurseryman," to communicate their ideas on the subject. But what is called the Garden Committee were ambitious of appropriating to themselves the credit of being garden-designers as well as garden-directors, and it would be unjust to deprive them of what they have merited in either capacity. So bad a

plan could not have been produced without extraordinary pains and trouble; and no man, or class of men, likes to work hard without being paid in some way or other. We have paid our share in kind, and should not mind a second subscription, if we thought it would bring forward some one of them to defend the plan, and point out its superiority to what we have suggested (p. 359.); but however anxious some nurserymen may be to get seeds or plants from the garden, we have never heard of one of them who would acknowledge having had any thing to do with its plan. All we wish is, to pull it to pieces, and lay out the ground anew; but, if we cannot attain this, we shall at least prevent it from being in any part of the world considered as approved of by British gardeners, and save other societies from the misfortune of adopting it as a model.

ART. II. Report of the Garden Committee of the Horticultural Society of London on the Formation and Progress of the Garden. March 31. 1827. 4to. pp. 16.

PROGRESS has been made in procuring fruit-bearing plants, in ascertaining the correctness of their nomenclature, consolidating their synonyms, and describing their varieties. The same as to culinary vegetables. "Additions, wherever

possible, have been made to the hardy trees and shrubs, not only by the acquisition of species and varieties not before in the garden, but by the acclimatising of plants hitherto considered too tender or valuable to be risked to exposure." (p. 381.)

A catalogue of the fruit-trees in the garden has been published (see p. 208.). "It is now proposed to commence the preparation for the press, of a similar catalogue of the hardy trees and shrubs in the arboretum, which will probably be completed after the close of the ensuing summer. The catalogue of esculent vegetables is also in a state of forwardness, and will be published as soon as shall be found practicable." We trust these catalogues will prove something better than the one on fruit-trees (p.208.), which is really unworthy of the Society. Nothing can be easier or more useful than an arrangement founded on affinity, adopting, as a principle of affinity, either the uses to which the culinary vegetables are applicable, their affinities in regard to culture, or their natural affinities. As to the trees, the natural system is alone applicable to them; it is applicable also to the fruits, and possibly, for we have not considered the thing in detail, it may be

applicable to the culinary vegetables. At all events, let us have no more A B C arrangements; or, if we have, let a sufficient reason, or a reason open to argument, be given. We make these remarks with a view to the credit of the Horticultural Society, and of the times and the country in which we live.

The garden has received various additions from correspondents in every part of the world; among others, Camellia reticulata, a superb species, with large reticulate petals, from China; Azálea índica phoenicea, a new splendid variety with purple flowers, from the same country.

"But the greatest accession to the garden, consists of hardy North-west American plants from Columbia, by Mr. David Douglas." Among these are the following very rare species: Gaulthéria Shállon, Ribes sanguíneum, and some other species, Arbútus tomentósa and laurifólia, Rúbus spectábilis, Berbéris Aquifólium and nervósa. Most of these are gems of the first rarity. "Many valuable herbaceous plants have also been received from the same quarter." We hope Mr. Prince, our old friend Mr. Cleghorn, or Mr. Hogg, of New York, will present us with some of them; and we should not be sorry if Mr. Prince would add a male plant of Maclúra, which propagates by cuttings of the roots, as fast as sea-kale.

"Numerous and important presents have been made to the friends of the Society in all countries;" 7120 articles within the year. Distributed during the year, under the orders of the Garden Committee, 4048 articles, independently of "the supplies of cuttings, grafts, plants, and seeds, which are from time to time sent to the house of the Society, for the use of the members generally, who may apply for the same." These articles consist of whatever is in sufficient abundance in the garden, or likely to be of use or interest.

Visitors to the garden last year, 4740; the year before, 4706 a satisfactory proof of the steadiness of horticultural feeling in the public.

The number of labourers (gardeners), and clerks, in the garden have been diminished, in order to reduce the expense. The number of annual subscribers to the garden" has materially increased," partly by the election of "new fellows, and partly by some of those who belonged to the Society previously to the formation of the garden, having concurred in the annual payment."

Appendix, No. 1. Rules and Regulations for the sale of Fruit and Vegetables from the Garden of the Society; the essence of which is,-Send or call in Regent Street the day