230 



CRITIQUE ON THE SEPTEMBER HORTICULTURIST. 



it is the height of folly to lavish such ex- 

 tent of thousands, as is often done, to fit up 

 a country residence for but a few months 

 in the year; or, if intended to be perma- 

 nent, for but a few brief years at the far- 

 thest- You may count, within your own 

 knowledge, scores of country establishments 

 which have changed hands a dozen times 

 within the last thirty years ; and perhaps 

 each one of them have cost, as they passed 

 through the alterations and improvements 

 of their different owners, in the aggregate, 

 three, four, or five times the amount they 

 would now sell for ; and the land to which 

 they are attached, after all, only in decent 

 condition for farming purposes. 



Country residence, with many, is but 

 another sort of fashionable dissipation ; and 

 the style and arrangement of their houses 

 and furniture is settled with about the 

 same system and knowledge, on the part 

 of the occupant, as he would exercise in 

 the selection of his chariotee, or his tilbury. 

 What wonder, then, that the ephemeral 

 kickshaw should grow tiresome, and be 

 tossed off* his hands as inconsiderately as it 

 was purchased, or built ; the loss — as it is 

 sure to be — mutteringly pocketed, and 

 M country life" condemned as a humbug ! 



This is all wrong. You cannot do bet- 

 ter than to expose the ridiculous propensity 

 now so prone to introduce a false taste into 

 country life. The good sense of the pub- 

 lic is with you, and I beg you will perse- 

 vere until a thorough reform is effected. 

 More of this anon. 



On Root Grafting, fyc- — Mr. Hooker is 

 perfectly right in his views on this subject ; 

 and any one who will examine the beauti- 

 ful and thrifty nurseries of western New- 

 York, where this system is generally prac- 

 ticed, will acknowledge its superiority. 



Horticultural Suggestions, fyc. — This ar- 

 ticle, from Professor Turner, is in the right 



vein. The practical experience of cultiva- 

 tors is what we require for our improve- 

 ment ; and unless we know both sides of 

 the story, we are sadly apt to baulk in our 

 progress. There are phenomena, and la- 

 tent elements in the climate and soils of 

 the broad west, that require different treat- 

 ment in the cultivation of many of their 

 fruits, which do not exist in the older and 

 less naturally fertile states. Acclimation 

 will be one of the chief preventives to the 

 soils now so much complained of by culti- 

 vators in such localities ; and it is to such 

 as Professor Turner, that we must look to 

 experiment upon, and ascertain the proper 

 kinds of fruits for culture, and the best 

 methods of treating them. I hope he will 

 continue his useful " Suggestions." 



Iron Roofed Vinery. — " There's nothing 

 like leather," said the currier, in the fable, 

 when the different mechanics were called 

 in council, to advise the strongest mode of 

 fortifying the town, after the mason had 

 recommended stone, and the carpenter had 

 suggested wooden walls, for the purpose. 



It is here quite as natural that an iron- 

 founder should build his vinery of iron, and 

 recommend it to others ; and I like the en- 

 terprise of his experiment right well, too. 

 I should like to hear from Mr. Resorr five 

 years hence, when the frosts, and the 

 damps, and the shrinks, and the swells, 

 and the lightnings and electricities of all 

 sorts, have played their pranks around it, 

 as they will be sure to do. Iron is yet to 

 be' — when it can be made cheap enough — 

 introduced into a great many structures 

 that we hardly yet dream of; and if the 

 same advantages can be had in the con- 

 struction of conservatories, vineries, and 

 hot-houses, with iron, as with wood, its 

 durability will prove its greater merit. Mr. 

 Resorr's plan is at least ingenious, and I 

 trust it will be successful. He is entitled 



