DECEMBER. 369 



It enables tliem to form a true standard of their own " capabilities," to 

 see themselves " as others see them." We are all of us too apt to 

 overestimate our own productions, and having done our best, to fancy 

 that none can do better. We are too often bhnded by the mist of self- 

 sufficiency, or at least allow it to dazzle our eyes and distort our 

 minds. Let any man who fancies himself perfect in his practice see 

 what others are doing, and if he is not a coxcomb he will return in an 

 humble spirit, convinced of his deficiencies, and resolved to try again 

 to realize in the garden he manages the feats he has seen achieved at 

 my Lord B's., and stood astounded at when at Squire A's ; which said 

 feats he has always been heretic enough to believe " could'nt be done," 

 or in other words were impossible. Yes, depent on 't our conceited 

 friend would return " a wiser," and consequently " a better," man. 

 That such visits are very beneficial, both morally and physically, 

 I candidly attest. 



Craving the reader's kind indulgence for these desultory remarks, I 

 proceed first to notice Lee's Nursery. 



This time-honoured establishment is fast rising to its original position 

 as one of the first rank, under the skilful and energetic management of 

 its present proprietors, Messrs. John and Charles Lee. 



There are few gardeners of experience who do not remember the 

 palmy days of Lee and Kennedy, when that firm commanded most 

 of the principal business — when their foreign trade was enormous, 

 when Malmaison was in its glory, and the gardens of White, Knights, 

 and Blenheim w^re supplied with the rarest plants of the day from this 

 nursery. How different at the present time ; one man grows Heaths, 

 another popular and fragrant plants for decorative purposes, a third 

 Roses, a fourth American plants, a fifth fruit trees, and so on. The 

 result of this division of labour is a degree of excellence in each depart- 

 ment which in the great general nurseries thirty years ago was unknown, 

 but which has by the force of multiplied competition, become a sine 

 qua non 



The glorious and imposing exhibitions which are now become so 

 general, have had their full influence on the public taste, the standard 

 of excellence is raised to a point which it could never have attained but 

 by the division of labour. Gratifying as are the moral results, elevating 

 and refining as such displays are, it must be conceded that they impose 

 on the general cultivator the most unwearied energy and application. 

 The man, therefore, who manages a general nursery or general garden 

 in the present day must not be apathetic in mind or physically indolent 

 if he would " }iass muster," much more excel. 



On entering the Hammersmith nursery the visitor passes down a 

 long walk which is planted on each of its sides with Deodars, Pines, 

 Araucarias, and other conifers ; these are all annually transplanted, and 

 the result of this practice is that each plant, when taken up, has a mass 

 of fine young fibrous roots, which ensure a successful issue to the 

 purchaser and planter. Tbis mode of trans] ilanting oflen, and allowing 

 the roots to develope themselves in a natural position, is far superior to 

 the old plan of potting and constraining the roots to curl round and 

 round the pot, entwining and interlacing each other in endless intricacy. 



NEW SERIES, VOL. V., NO. LX. n B 



