246 PAKKS AND PLEASURE-GEOUNDS. 



spacious, but perhaps it might be in part reduced by 

 grafting two or three sorts on one stock, and by the 

 eradication of those which have been proved to be 

 w^orthless. Ample room should also be secured for 

 a collection of trees and shrubs, particularly the latter, 

 of which there are many fine species not generally 

 known in private gardens. In this department the 

 horticultural societies have already done good service. 

 The Arboretum in the garden of the London Society 

 was long the best in Britain, though it must now yield 

 the palm to that in the Royal Gardens at Ivew. Such 

 collections should be made, if possible, to take the 

 place of those tawdry, insipid, promiscuous shrubberies 

 which are too common everywhere. 



We should further be disposed to recommend the 

 special adaptation of a garden of this class to the 

 peculiar wants of the locality at which it is placed. 

 It is evident that such a garden at Edinburgh may be 

 made a shade or two different from one at Exeter or 

 Cork. In Scotland it is vain to plant a Chaumontel 

 pear as a standard, or a black Hamburg vine on an 

 open wall; experience has pronounced sufficiently on 

 these points already ; but it would be a very proper 

 thing to form a complete collection of the fruit-trees 

 which are found to be suitable for the climate; and it 

 would be equally proper to acquire supplies of those 

 new varieties which might be expected to succeed in 

 that country. So in the cider districts of England, an 

 experimental garden might well be devoted to the 

 determination of the relative qualities of the cider 

 fruits, and to the promotion of that improvement of 

 which they are susceptible. By the adoption of special 

 aims in different gardens, something like a division of 



