Revieiv of Loudonh Garde.ner''s ^Magazine. 73 



are said to be " very interesting." We are sorry, however, 

 to learn from this, that the second article, in our February 

 number, by our much respected correspondent, Grant Thor- 

 burn, Esq., is merely a reprint of a passage in the Encyclo- 

 jyedin of Gardening, second edition, §7710, to §7722, writ- 

 ten by Mr. Loudon long since. The words "America" for 

 "• Europe," and " American " for "• European," being all the 

 alterations from the original copy. The article we much 

 valued, and its excellency is none the less for being an ex- 

 tract ; but we do not wish ever to insert an article as ori- 

 ginal, however interesting its contents may be, which is not 

 decidedly so. We supposed this, as we have every commu- 

 nication that has appeared in our pages since the publica- 

 tion of our Magazine, to be original. We think that no other 

 articles will be found not to be so ; if, however, they are, we 

 have unknowingly been led into such errors by our corres- 

 pondents. 



Short extracts are made of the country seat of the Hon. 

 T. H. Perkins, at Brookline, Belmont Place, Oakley Place, 

 the garden of J. Lemist, Roxbury, Hawthorn Grove, &c. 

 In relation to the practice of cultivating vines on the coiling 

 system of Mr. Means, which we have ever considered as 

 visionary, the conductor very judiciously remarks : — 



" With due deference to all the parties concerned, we think Mr. 

 Mearns's mode of growing grapes, let it be ever so successful, singular- 

 ly ill adapted for America, where the price of labor is so high. Instead 

 of hearing of the energies of gardeners being directed to forcing by the 

 coiling system, we would rather hear of their attempting a high degree 

 of order and neatness in their pleasure-grounds ; of their having smooth, 

 close, dark green turf; smooth, even, firm gravel ; and neat and delicate 

 edgings to walks, beds, and borders. Forced flowers are a very allow- 

 able luxury in a country having long winters, and so are forced fruits ; 

 but we think that it argues a want of judgment to go a roundabout way 

 to attain either of them." 



Now we believe this in a great degree to be true, in rela- 

 tion to gardening generally. We have already often touch- 

 ed upon the subject of landscape gardening, the ornamenting 

 of lawns, parks, &c., the planting of shrubs with a view to 

 render the garden a more finished specimen of art than it is 

 at present ; and we acknowledge, in part, the truth of the 

 above remarks : true, our natural scenery is an object of 

 admiration, but we have as yet few specimens of that re- 

 fined appearance which is the most attractive feature in 

 English gardening, and which has commanded the astonish- 

 ment of every observer. We may be thought too foreign in 

 our opinions, but with all due praise to the exertions of our 

 friends in the advancement of gardening, we must confess 

 that we are but yet in its infancy, and have much to acquire 

 before we shall arrive to any degree of eminence. 



VOL. II. NO. II. 10 



