APRIL. 99 



attain the object in view, than the trial system adopted at Chiswick. 

 That a considerable space of ground ("if thought desirable) might be 

 dispensed with (if the former system were enforced), to be devoted to 

 other objects ; and as we have a strong opinion that by widening 

 the basis of this part of the Society's operations a considerable 

 increase of members would be the result, we think it worthy 

 of being considered, in a friendly spirit, by the Councils of both 

 estalilishments, more particularly as the Horticultural Society 

 already possesses much information on fruits, a valuable set of fruit 

 models, and certainly the best practical pomologist, in the person 

 of Mr. Thompson, in Europe. We believe, on the grounds we have 

 named, if this were carried out with spirit, this department would 

 pay its own expenses, and might ultimately prove a source of revenue 

 to the general Society. To effect this, however, it should be considered 

 as on a separate basis, and kept as a distinct department, except as 

 regards its officers being under the orders of the Council of the general 

 Society. 



Next we are of opinion that the arboricultural department might be 

 usefully increased, so as to make it a standard of reference in all 

 matters pertaining to wood and forest management. We are not 

 advocating so much the growth of exotic trees (as the Society has 

 already a very complete collection) as the farming of a collection of 

 forest trees, as well as of such others as may be considered useful in a 

 commercial point of view. To this should be added a museum, 

 wherein the damage done to timber by certain systems of pruning (or 

 by pruning of any kind?), want of judicious thinning, improper soils, 

 and bad drainage, should be illustrated by specimens kept for the 

 inspection of gentlemen and foresters. We apprehend there are very 

 few country gentlemen who know the difference between the two 

 varieties of British Oak, which now occupy public attention ; and it is 

 yet an unsettled point with many which is the best variety of Elm for 

 timber purposes. These questions are of importance to gentlemen 

 holding landed property ; and as we have in England no Arboricul- 

 tural Society, we see no reason why some additional space could not be 

 afforded at Chiswick for specimens of forest trees, which, if under 

 proper management, might, by collecting information as to rate of 

 growth on particular soils and exposures, quality and durability of 

 timber, furnish much valuable data, which could be registered for the 

 information of all concerned in planting, whether gentlemen or their 

 managers. We think an addition of members might reasonably be 

 expected to follow a better developed scheme for illustrating, as far as 

 practicable "forest culture" than what the Society at present possesses. 



We are not so sure as to our next proposition ; but as the Society 

 has ground enough, which it is very desirable should be made useful, 

 why could not a section of the garden be devoted to growing specimens 

 of every kind of agricultural produce ? We believe the Royal Agricul- 

 tural Society has at present no means of examining live specimens of 

 farm produce, growing together, so as to admit of a close comparison 

 and description. Collections of agricultural grains, roots, and grasses 

 might not prove of great practical utility to the farmer, as observation 



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