360 



William and Mary, 298. Anne, 230. George the 1st, 182. 

 George the 2nd, 1770. George the 3rd, 6756. During the 

 first sixteen years of this century on an average 156 plants 

 were annually introduced. The ardour of research is not the 

 least abated now. 



'-\ If we consider the present state of our Horticulture as re- 



gards its practical details, there is every reason to be satisfied 

 with its improved state over that of any other period of our 

 History. The progress has not been, perhaps cannot be, marked 

 by any extraordinary discovery, but the improvement has beea 

 gradual, and though few new practices have been introduced, 

 old ones have been improved, and are now certainly better un- 

 derstood, and more correctly performed. This is owing to the 

 more general diffusion of Scientific information among our 

 Gardeners. As a demonstration of this Mr. Loudon's Ency- 

 clopaedia of Gardening may be compared with any standard 

 Work on the same Art, of previous Centuries. The constitu- 

 tion of Soils; the mode of operation of different manures, and 

 their economical management; the operation of the Air upon the 

 roots as well as other parts of plants, and the consequent ne- 

 cessity for not sowing or planting at an indiscriminate depth ; 

 the importance of pulverizing the Soil ; rotation of Crops ; 

 rendering the natural heat afforded by the Sun of the greatest 

 possible benefit by darkening the colour of enclosures, &c. the 

 very great variety of Tools and engines the gardener has offered 

 to him, are all evidences of improvement. The art of 

 Training and Pruning so as to check over vigorous Trees, 

 '' and promote the strength of the more weak are equally 

 improved. Tiiough grafting and budding have been improved ; 

 it is yet to be regretted that the question whether grafts 

 may be inserted successfully upon stocks of a contrary 

 species, has not been set at rest by a course of extensive expe- 

 riments. It justifies those who maintain an affirmative opinion 

 'upon this point, that such men as Pliny and Lord Bacon, de- 

 clare they have seen Nuts, Grapes, Figs, Apples, &c. growing 



