I 



IH) EK VIEWS. 



litlnclD.s. 



The American TIasd-Book of Oesamestal Tkees. By Tiios. Meeiian, Gardener. Philadelphia, 1S53. 



"We always -wclcorao every new contribution to the "literature of trees." It liappons 

 more frequently than otlierwise, tliat the jtlanter "who becomes the proprietor of a new 

 place knows nothing of the business he undertakes in attemj)ting to lay the foundation of 

 an ornamental lawn or garden. AVhy tiiis is so, we shall not stop to in<piire ; but we know 

 that when ninety-nine out of a hundred citizens are placed suddenly in an arboretum, tlicy 

 are unable to distinguish tlie beautiful, or to classify the objects around them ; nor -would 

 any of these ninety-nine be qualified to undertake, even with the advice of books, the 

 selection of trees for their own grounds. Unfortunately, it is these very citizens who most 

 frequently become possessed of the means -which are an essential part of the process. The 

 determination to plant is followed by the purchase of books. These are read, too, but not 

 understaudingly. If a competent gardener is employed to give his advice and assistance 

 the probabilities wiU be that he is interfered -with. The difficulties inseparable from pro- 

 curing the variety necessary, and the hurry -svith -which it must be done, with the too late 

 discovery that much more than was expected has been expended on the dwelling and its 

 numerous alterations and added conveniences, deter the cit in pursuit of a rus in urhe from 

 doing half he should do in tlie way of ornamental planting. The result is a miserable fail- 

 ure : handsome furniture, and miserable trees ; a showy equipage, and no underdraining ; 

 elegant dinner parties, and no variety of cut-door objects ; a show of plate and china, and 

 not a single plant to satisfy tlic botanist. "Why is this ? In the first place, want of knowl- 

 edge in the proprietor is the greatest drawback ; imperfect assistance and advice is the 

 second ; the third may be set down as the difliculty of procuring from the near vicinity of 

 the ground to be ornamented that variety -which constitutes one of the elements of beauty. 

 — for the beginner may set it down as a fact, that to collect an arboretum is as difllcull a 

 feat as to make a cabinet of shells or a museum of birds. At best it must be a work df 

 some time, unless you choose to make a long list and forward it to the proper quarter, 

 knowing that your purse will sufi'er in shortness in proi)ortiou to the length of the order. 

 No one, however, need despair ; these observations regarding the difficulties should only 

 stimulate the beginner, -who must, if he Avants to have the true enjoyment such pursuits 

 afford, give a little time at least to the study of the subject. 



"What book shall we recommend for this study ? "We candidly confess we know' of no 

 single one that will answer the purpose, though there are many that -will aid the learner. 

 Observation of the -work done and the beauty accomi)lislicd by others, is of the first hnpor- 

 tance ; inquiries, and visits to well-planted places, nurseries and so forth, can not be too 

 frequent, in conjunction with study at home ; botanical knowledge is useful — we do not 

 say indispensable ; and yet some kind of love for the topic must be at the bottom of the 

 -ft'hole. 



Meeiiax possesses the requisites for an adviser ; and -we kno-\v of ftw men to 

 ould more freely confide the responsible trust of planting for us. In his book, 



