Uetrospective Criticism. 83 



have influence, and who live in the vicinity of the metropolis, the pro- 

 priety of endeavouring to form horticultural societies, on a plan similar to 

 those in the country ; principally with a view of having a certain number 

 of exhibitions during the year ; to distribute rewards j and, above all, where 

 the funds will admit, to establish garden libraries. I reside in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Clapham ; in this and the adjoining parishes there are numbers 

 of wealthy and estimable characters, always ready to contribute liberally 

 to relieve the wants of their less fortunate neighbours, and to forward any 

 object likely to be productive of good to them ; now, I take the liberty 

 of calling upon them, to endeavour to found a society of the above descrip- 

 tion ; as I feel satisfied it will be attended with very beneficial effects. At 

 present, I am afraid, there is not much taste in Clapham or the adjoining 

 parishes for horticulture ; and I believe there are very few, even of the 

 higher or wealthier inhabitants, that have any fondness for plants; amongst 

 the middling classes, it is limited to a few horticulturists. Now, I do not 

 hesitate to predict, that, should a society be formed in Clapham, Stockwell, 

 &c., we should soon have a great accession to the number, anxious to pro- 

 mote this delightful art ; and I should expect to find, in a very short time, 

 that the accounts of the meetings would form a very prominent part of your 

 Gardener's Magazine. Fully relying, therefore, that some spirited indi- 

 viduals will take up this matter, I have only to assure you that I am, with 

 great truth, yours, very respectfully, — E. London^ July 22. 1831. 



We have seen a proposal for a Gardeners' Joint Stock Annuity Fund, 

 and also for a Metropolitan Garden Society and Benevolent Fund, the 

 profits of which are proposed to go in aid of the Annuity Fund. We un- 

 derstand these proposals will soon be submitted to the profession in and 

 about London. They appear to us well calculated to benefit gardeners, 

 by teaching them how to take care of themselves, and enabling them to do 

 so at the same time. We have no faith in charitable institutions, but a 

 great deal in labour. " God helps them that help themselves." — Cvnd. 



Art. VI. Retrospective Criticism. 



Corrections for the Encyclopcedia of Gardening. — Sir, As you have 

 expressed yourself anxious to receive hints for the improvement of 

 your EncyclopcEd'm of Gardening, I beg to submit to your discretion two 

 or three, which have occurred to me, as I looked over the book in ques- 

 tion passim, without, however, searching for any thing of the kind. 



First, in your statistic tables of the counties, you entirely omit, in this 

 county (Dublin), any mention of Counsellor West's magnificent gardens 

 and well laid out grounds on Mount Anvil Hill, within about 4i miles of 

 this city ; whereas, you blazon forth Mr. Bourne's, of Terenure, which are 

 in every respect inferior to the former. 



The fact is, Mr. Bourne's grounds are ill arranged ah origine, and worse 

 kept, although much money is spent on them ; but Counsellor West's 

 place is maintained at an expense and with a care wholly unequalled in 

 this country. Lest you should not have any description of this place, 

 I shall give you an outline. The garden consists of about 4 acres, divided 

 into three portions by walls running east and west. It is on a gentle 

 slope to the south. The upper quarter, for the choicer fruits, contains a 

 magnificent range of stoves, metallic curvilinear-roofed, and 120 ft, by 20 

 and 14 high, containing a splendid collection of vines in a front border 40 ft. 

 wide ; pines ; and a large collection of tropical fruits, all fine specimens : 

 the whole finished in the most exquisite style ; walls painted in oils inside; 



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