General Notices. 35 



" We will not say that hitherto too much attention has been paid to the 

 physical necessities of the poorer and labouring classes," says the writer, " but 

 unquestionably too little has been bestowed upon their mental ones, as if they 

 were unworthy of being indulged with any kind of amusement except the 

 brief and riotous one of a holiday or fair; which being the case, it is not 

 matter of surprise, however much it may be for regret, that the bulk of the 

 population in manufacturing and other large towns should have no relish for 

 simple quiet recreations, or derive any gratification either from natural 

 beauties or .from those of art. Through the beneficent liberality of Mr. 

 Joseph Strutt, Derby has been enabled to set an example to other towns in 

 the kingdom ; that gentleman having bestowed these pleasure-grounds on the 

 corporation, upon the condition that they shall be open to all classes of the 

 public without payment (and subject only to such restrictions and regulations 

 as may be found necessary for the observance of order and decorum), on 

 every Sunday, and also on one other day in every week, from sunrise to 

 sunset." (p. 251.) 



MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 



Art. I. General Notices. 



The Gardener's Book Society of Croijdon consists of about twenty gardeners, 

 who subscribe Q>d. per month, which enables them to purchase most of the 

 gardening and some of the botanical periodicals. Societies of this kind 

 might be formed in all towns having populous neighbourhoods, and persons 

 would frequently be found to join them who are not professional gardeners 

 but only amateurs. The West London Gardeners' Association has set a 

 noble example in this respect for the larger towns, and the Croydon Society 

 for the smaller, and for the villages. Nothing is to be done in gardening in the 

 present day without constant reading, and vigilant watching of all that is 

 going forward. — Cond. 



Botanic Garden Reports of neiv Trees and Shrubs. — I have been thinking 

 that you should urge your claim upon all the botanic gardens, and other public 

 gardens, for making an annual report of all the new hardy trees or shrubs raised 

 in them, like that made by me. I certainly am surprised that this has not 

 been done before this by the curators of these gardens, Mr. Cameron being 

 the only one who has even attempted any thing of the sort. I think if such 

 reports were annually given, they would be the means of making many plants 

 known which remain in obscurity for years ; they would also confer a be- 

 nefit on the trade, by letting them know where such plants were to be had ; 

 and would show how much each garden contributed, in the way of novel or 

 useful plants, to the general collection of the country ; and all of us would 

 be greatly benefited by such. As it would be but once a year, there could 

 be no excuse in not having time ; and there is always means of obtaining the 

 names, and particularly now when we have postage cheap. I shall always 

 be happy to render any assistance in my power, to any person, in comparing 

 specimens with those in the Society's collection, or in letting them know if 

 they ai'e new to me, provided that this is not attended with any expense 

 to me. I leave the subject now in your hands. — George Gordon. Horticul- 

 tural Society'' s Garden, Chiswick, Nov. 21. 1840. 



Cucumber and Melon Cidture. — I am about to publish m}' system of cu- 

 cumber and melon culture, on the trellis, in a brick pit that I had erected 

 here about four years since. It is impervious to steam, and easily heated and 

 managed, so much so, that with ordinary attention success is certain, and the 

 cucumber brought to the greatest perfection at any season. I have grown 

 the melon on the trellis in a pit on the same construction for the two years 

 last past, with the best success. The fruit lying on the treUis ripens much 



D 2 



