244 PAKKS AND PLEASUKE-GKOUNDS. 



stamp of inferiority and rejection. Besides much 

 work of this kind done effectually, the Horticultural 

 Society of London has sent Botanical collectors to 

 China, Mexico, and other imperfectly explored regions, 

 and by their agency have introduced many plants, 

 both useful and ornamental. In most of these objects 

 the Caledonian Horticultural Society has zealously 

 cooperated; and notwithstanding the less propitious 

 climate, its distance from the center of government 

 and commerce, and other difficulties with which it has 

 had to contend, it has been eminently successful in the 

 promotion of gardening in Scotland. Both of these 

 societies, as well as othei-s in the provinces, have con- 

 tributed greatly to the diffusion of new and approved 

 kinds of fruits, flowers, and vegetables, by the distri- 

 bution of grafts, cuttings, and small specimen parcels 

 of seeds. And we must not omit to notice the bene- 

 ficial effects of the public exhibitions of plants and 

 fruits which have been promoted by horticultural soci- 

 eties, and generally held in their gardens. The prizes 

 given on these occasions have proved a great stimulus, 

 not only to the perfecting of fine individual specimens, 

 but also to the improvement of the general crops ; and 

 while they have elicited and rendered prominent many 

 cultivators of distinguished talent, they have been the 

 means of establishing a standard of excellence in refer- 

 ence to horticultural productions which would have 

 been considered visionary forty years ago. In many 

 parts of the country every considerable village and 

 little town has its own flower and fruit shows ; and 

 when it is considered how much harmless and health- 

 ful enjoyment is thus afforded to all classes of society, 

 and what substantial additions are made to the people's 



