288 Js'otices of some of the Gardens and J^urseries^ ^-c. 



periodical Magazine is not to detail practices already well 

 known, and laid down in worl\s devoted to the subject of 

 which it treats ; but, rather to give information of all new 

 discoveries, and to record every improvement which may 

 be found useful and advantageous, to the scientific or practi- 

 cal gardener. These at first, however trifling they may often 

 seem, when fully proved by repeated experiments, and cor- 

 rect observation, result in the foundation of some methods 

 much more valuable, and of more immediate utility, than those 

 previously adopted. The knowledge of gardening, like every 

 other art, can only be advanced to ahj degree, by calling in 

 the assistance, and bringing to bear upon it those others, 

 which enlighten, and throw some information upon its 

 various branches. We therefore think, that those persons 

 who suppose that mere practical papers are all that should 

 fill the pages of a Magazine, take altogether a narrow and 

 quite unconfined view of the subject ; and that they have not 

 yet made that progress in Horticulture, that enables them to 

 see, that its thorough knowledge, and proper application, is 

 only to be obtained by acquiring some information of those 

 sciences, without which it would be a tedious and uninterest- 

 ing study, rather than one of the most pleasing and agreeable. 



These observations are not made on the supposition that 

 any such objections have, or will be heard ; but to show how 

 far we think a Magazine should extend its character. As 

 regards the visiting of gardens and nurseries, we cannot here 

 omit to urge upon every amateur, or lover of Horticulture, 

 and more particularly every practical gardener, the impor- 

 tance resulting from such a course ; not only should those in 

 the vicinity of their situation be often inspected, but a tour 

 should be made every few years to all those within the mid- 

 dle and northern sections of our country. To be confined to 

 one spot, and to know nothing, but what may be learned from 

 reading of what is done at other places, deprives one of all 

 ambition, or of any desire to excel in his profession. An 

 amateur gardener may imagine that he excels in the cultiva- 

 tion of a certain class of plants, and makes no effort to attain 

 a greater degree of perfection ; but when he sees that another 

 equals, his ambition is touched, and he is stimulated to 

 greater exertion. It is from seeing and comparing, that we 

 know our faults and learn how to improve and correct them. 



We now take leave of our readers, with the anticipation, 

 that, if our remarks have proved as interesting as other por- 

 tions of our original contributions, we shall have the pleas- 

 ure, at some future time, of giving some information of other 

 establishments, which it would do credit for our country 

 to possess, if it were many more years advanced in the sci- 

 ence of Horticulture, or Landscape gardening. 



