598 Garden Calls : — Epsom Nursery. 



spread over the country. The collection of phloxes here amounts to 60 

 species and varieties, and of Dianthus to 40 species, one of which, the D. 

 Fischeri, is highly odoriferous. A new hardy evergreen honeysuckle was 

 pointed out to us, which, from its rapid growth, promises to be as valuable 

 an addition to our ligneous twiners, as Eccremocarpus scaber is to our 

 herbaceous climbers. Hardy orchideous plants are grown to an extraordi- 

 nary degree of perfection, and also such rare bog genera, as Pinguicula, 

 DionEe'a, iVepenthes, &c. In small square enclosures, which they call sanc- 

 tums and paradises, are many new things not to be shown to the unini- 

 tiated till they come into flower, and not to be sold till a number of plants 

 have been propagated ; and in several places are beds of green-house plants, 

 to prove how far they will stand the winter. The bed of fuchsias made 

 a very rich appearance, and Mr. Penny thinks that several species will be 

 found hardy enough to stand our winters in a dry soil, and under the pro- 

 tection of a wall, or near a bush with very little protection. 



We are very much gratified to find this nursery devoted in so marked a 

 manner to herbaceous plants,believing this circumstance will further our plan 

 of introducing every where Jussieuean flower-gardens. It will be a great 

 point gained in spreading a knowledge and love of plants, to be able to 

 exemplify almost every natural order by species that will grow in the open 

 air in this country. At the end of our Hortiis Britdnnicus, we intend to 

 state the number of orders that can be so illustrated, and as we think Messrs. 

 Young will be able to illustrate more of these orders than any other nur- 

 serymen, we propose ascertaining from them and publishing the price for 

 collections of different degrees of extent ; and we shall suggest, probably in 

 our next Number, a more complete and durable mode of naming private col- 

 lections than has hitherto been done any where, founded, however, on Mr. 

 Murray's invention (Vol. III. p. 29.), and Messrs. Loddiges' name-bricks. 



In conclusion, we have to express our highest approbation of the liberality 

 of Messrs. Young, whose collection is at all times open to gardeners and 

 botanists of every description ; and who most readily allow specimens to be 

 gathered of every thing that can be spared for such as are forming herba- 

 riums. No nurseryman ever loses by this kind of liberality. As the Lon- 

 don botanist who would study trees ought to spend two days a week in 

 Messrs. Loddiges' arboretum at Hackney, so he who would acquire a know- 

 ledge of herbaceous plants should pass two other days a week in the herba- 

 ceous ground of the Epsom nursery. 



The fruit-tree and timber-tree departments of this establishment, being at 

 a little distance, we had not leisure to look into ; but all that we saw in the 

 home ground was in as good order, and as neat as the present wet season 

 would permit. Mr. Penny is a most ardent and highly scientific botanist, 

 and ranks as such with George Don and Mr. Sweet, with the prospective 

 advantage of having his mind in a larger body than has either of these 

 botanists. As a proof of the pleasure which we feel in seeing such a man 

 in such a place, and of our personal esteem for him and his employers, we 

 have sent him the First Volume of our Mag. Nat. Hist, and the Encyc. of 

 Plants. 



In consequence of the continued rains, a good deal of anxiety was very 

 naturally expressed respecting the getting in of the harvest, and, as is usual, 

 different plans have been suggested for drying corn in wet weather. Our 

 readers have seen Mr. Vazie's plan, and his patent hedge stake, (p. 459.) 

 Mr. Donald, of the Goldvvorth nursery, purposes to introduce Sylvester's 

 air-stoves in the corn-barns throughout the country, at the expense, of 

 course, of the landlord; and some writers in the provincial newspapers, we 

 observe, suggest the Russian mode of kiln-drying, either in the straw or 

 after being thrashed. There can be no doubt that the simplest n)ode of 

 gaining knowledge on the subject of harvesting in a wet season, is to study 

 the practice which prevails in countries or districts wetter or colder than 



