78 ESSAYS. 
credible. He had four periodicals, namely, the ‘ Gardeners’, 
‘Natural History,’ and ‘ Architectural Magazines,’ and the 
‘Arboretum Britannicum,’ which was published in monthly 
numbers, going on at the same time; and, to produce these 
at the proper times, he literally worked night and day. Im- 
mediately on the conclusion of the ‘ Arboretum Britannicum,’ 
he began the ‘ Suburban Gardener,’ which was also published 
in 1838, as was the ‘ Hortus Lignosus Londinensis’; and in 
1839 appeared his edition of Repton’s ‘ Landscape Garden- 
ing.’ In 1840 he accepted the editorship of the ‘ Gardeners’ 
Gazette,’ which he retained till November, 1841 ; and in 1842 
he published his ‘ Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs.’ In 
the same year he completed his ‘Suburban Horticulturist’ ; 
and finally, in 1848, he published his work on ‘ Cemeteries,’ 
the last separate work he ever wrote. In this list, many 
minor productions of Mr. Loudon’s pen have necessarily been 
omitted ; but it may be mentioned that he contributed to the 
‘Encyclopedia Britannica,’ and Brande’s ‘ Dictionary of 
Science’; and that he published numerous supplements, from 
time to time, to his various works.” 
The adverse circumstances under which all this labor was 
performed make the result appear still more remarkable. 
Early in life, an attack of inflammatory rheumatism per- 
manently stiffened one of his knees and contracted his left 
arm. In 1820, his right arm was broken near the shoulder, 
and the bones were never properly united. But he still con- 
tinued to write with his right hand until 1825, when the arm 
was broken a second time, and it became necessary to am- 
putate it; after which, having about this time lost the use of 
the thumb and two fingers of the left hand, he was obliged 
to employ amanuenses. It was under these trying cirecum- 
stances that his great “ Arboretum” was prepared. The 
work was undertaken against the advice of his publishers 
and friends, who foresaw that it would wholly absorb his 
former earnings. But it was his favorite and crowning work, 
and he unflinchingly carried it onward to completion ; though 
the result verified the predictions of his advisers. It cost ten 
thousand pounds sterling ; and the whole proceeds of the sale, 
