Chap. III.] 



THE GARDEN OF PLANTS. 



examining stones and had never taken the least interest in the 

 buikling art ? And yet such a plan is precisely analogous to that 

 followed in a good many public gardens. And what is tlie result 

 of this course ? That all gardens not actually or virtually managed 

 by real gardeners are generally in a poor, sometimes in a wretched, 

 condition. The best collections of plants and the best grown 

 are in gardens where they are cultivated for their beauty, 



and not to illustrate their place in this or that system. Where 

 is what is called our " scientific " horticulture, to adopt the weak 

 phrase of the day, or, in plain English, where is our best and 

 most advanced gardening ? In the same hands. And who are 

 the pioneers — who are they who discover for us paths and 

 jtleasures new in our always delightful gardens ? Our gardeners 

 onlv, and in that term are included all who hne the art. 



