ON 



ENGLISH GARDENING 



From the close of the 18th Century to the present time. 



We have seen imder what fiivourable auspices and •with 

 what great improvements Gardening was on the advance at the 

 close of the 18th Century; but the present Century was usher- 

 ed in with even greater promise of success, for the light of 

 Science was still more powerfully concentrated upon its prac- 

 tices for their benefit, and the illumination whicli from the same 

 source had first been aflfordod to it towards the close of the 

 previous Century, began now to bo felt and appreciated. This 

 especially applies to the labours of the Chemist and Physiolo- 

 gist, Such coml)inalion of Horticultural Art and Science was 

 especially promoted by the institution of the Horticultural So- 

 cieties of London and Edinburgh. The fii'st of these societies 

 began to be formed in 1804, the latter in 1809. Nothing." can 

 more conspicuously dis])lay the high estimation in which Gar- 

 dening is held; nothing can afford a greater guarrautee for its 

 improvement, than the lists of the Fellows of the above socie- 

 ties. In them are enrolled the names of the most talented, the 

 most noble, and the most wealthy individuals of the United 

 Kingdom. 



I shall first proceed to trace the Horticultural literature of 

 the period we are now considering, leaving the survey of Gar- 

 dening in its various branches as now existing to form my con- 

 cluding remarks. 



