118 THE FLORIST. 



for the future. It is needless to observe that a journal of this kind, 

 to be really valuable, should be a veritable record of all the work 

 done ; it is scarcely possible to pay too much attention to the minutice. 

 It is just the overlooking of little things which often throws us out, 

 far more than great mistakes. It may perhaps diminish the labour 

 in extensive establishments, if the foreman of each department is 

 required to keep an account of the work performed in that depart- 

 ment, and return it weekly to the gardener. But I would lay very 

 great stress upon having the journal by some means or other as 

 complete as possible. 



One of the most successful practical gardeners I ever knew began 

 the practice recommended above during his apprenticeship, and has 

 continued it without intermission for thirty years. How much of 

 his success is due to it, I ^\ill not say, but I believe a great deal. 

 He has now by him a complete account of what he has done; — a 

 faithful record of the success or failure of all the different plans he 

 has tried, forming altogether a body of practical garden literature, 

 far superior for his guidance in the future to a whole library of 

 theoretical horticulture, or the experience of other men. 



Horticulture as a science is as yet but very imperfectly understood, 

 notwithstanding the fine plants we are able to grow; just as medicine 

 is allowed by its most competent practitioners to be yet in its infancy, 

 notwithstanding the number of cures they daily effect. It is by 

 carefully observing and recording their experience that physicians 

 hope to perfect their science ; and horticulturists, to effect a similar 

 end, must employ similar means. 



R W. JOYNES. 



COOPER'S HILL, ENGLEFIELD GREEN. 



Of the many gentlemen's seats of which Surrey can boast, few are 

 more pleasantly situated than this, the residence of Sir John Cath- 

 cart, Bart. The house and grounds occupy the summit of a hill 

 about four miles south-east of Windsor ; and so great is their eleva- 

 tion, that the different views from the pleasure-grounds are both ex- 

 tensive and beautiful The royal gardens and Windsor Castle are 

 embraced in the north-west view, and Magna Charta Island and 

 Runymede are immediately under the north-east side of the grounds, 

 with Harrow-on-the-Hill in the distance. Turning to the right, you 

 look down upon Egham and Staines. These gardens are celebrated 

 as much for the lengthened and beautiful display of flowers main- 

 tained in the ornamental department out of doors, as for the noble 

 specimen plants which they annually fiirnish to grace our great me- 

 tropolitan exhibitions. A feature of much importance here is the 

 winter-garden, formed by filling the b^ds of the flower-garden with 

 winter and spring-flowering plants ; it has been exceedingly gay 

 during February and March, and will continue so until the hardiest 

 of the bedding-plants can be ventured out. In high situations like 



