Of Gardens. 455 



that description was established in London in 1805, which is 

 conducted with much ability and success ; in 1809, another 

 was formed at Edinburgh, under the title of " The Caledonian 

 " Horticultural Society" ( 441 ) ; and one has been lately esta- 

 blished in Dublin, which is conducted with great spirit. In- 

 stitutions of this description must promote horticultural im- 

 provements by exciting emulation ( 44a ) ; by facilitating the 

 communication of the valuable knowledge, often acquired by 

 individual practical gardeners, from the result of their own ex- 

 perience ; and by fostering a taste for horticultural pursuits 

 in every class of society, from the great landed proprietor, to 

 the possessor of a cottage garden ( 443 ). 



3. Nothing now is wanting, to complete a knowledge in the 

 art of horticulture in this country, but that of sending per- 

 sons properly qualified, to examine the state of gardening on 

 the Continent, and to promote the introduction of such im- 

 provements as can be discovered there, or in other coun- 

 tries ( 444 )j in the management of fruits, or of garden vegeta- 

 bles. On the recommendation of the author of this work, that 

 plan was adopted by the Horticultural Society of Scotland, 

 its active and enlightened secretary, Mr Neill, having gone to 

 the Continent for .that purpose, accompanied by two intelligent 

 friends. The account he published of this excursion is in the 

 highest degree satisfactory and important ( 44S ). 



It may be proper to conclude, with congratulating the pu- 

 blic, on the important improvements which have been effected 

 in our principal fruits, by crossing the breeds, on the system 

 so fortunately discovered by the celebrated Linnaeus. This 

 is accomplished, by gently opening an unexpanded blossom, 

 and, with a pair of fine pointed scissors, cutting out the sta- 

 mens, (male parts), leaving the stile, (female part), uninjured. 

 When the blossom naturally opens, the pollen or fecundatory 

 powder of another tree, the good qualities of which it is wish- 

 ed to communicate to the one first mentioned, should then be 

 introduced. The seeds which result from this cross impreg- 

 nation, are sown, and the plants thence produced, generally 

 exhibit the characters of hybrids or mules. Several years 

 must of course elapse, before the qualities of a seedling tree 

 can be duly estimated ; but by taking scions from the seed- 

 ling, and grafting them upon an established wall-tree, the 

 period of probation may be greatly abridged ; and by thus 

 crossing some of our hardy pears, apples and cherries, with 

 the finest sorts from Flanders and France, new kinds have 

 of late been procured, possessing a great superiority over 

 those hitherto cultivated in this country. To two distinguish- 



