266 Review of Loudon's Gardener^s Magazine. 



An elegant engraving is annexed, representing two large 

 orange-tubs, with plants, formed of slate. They are made with 

 four sides, which take apart, and the plants are thus easily re- 

 potted. At some future time we hope to call the attention of 

 our readers more particularly to its uses, and, perhaps, copy one 

 of these designs. Slate can be had in great quantities here, at 

 a cheap rate ; it can be easily manufactured, and we hope it will 

 come into general use. From its imperishable nature, it will 

 certainly be much cheaper in the end, as well as handsomer, for 

 forming tubs for all kinds of large plants. 



The fifth article is a design for laying out a villa residence, of 

 four acres ; of no use without the accompanying plan. 



Art. 6 is also a design, for laying out a flower-garden, with 

 remarks by the conductor. This is an improved design on one 

 which the conductor ofl^ered as an exercise for young gardeners, 

 to practise their skill upon ; it seems, however, that " a coun- 

 try-bred gardener" has made no improvements, as the conductor 

 makes the following remarks : — 



" To point them [the faults] out in detail would be to repeat much of 

 what we have said on former occasions : suffice it to say, that there is a 

 total want of connexion in the position of the beds relatively to one an- 

 other, and to the walks ; a total want of expression and character, because 

 the beds are in no degree grouped ; and a want of harmony in the forms 

 of the beds, because some of them are of the most artificial, or, in 

 other words, geometrical, shapes, and others of shapes which may be 

 called natural or accidental : the whole shows a want of artist-like 

 feeling, and of knowledge of composition." 



The seventh article is a design for laying out a piece of ground 

 in front of a villa-residence. 



Art. 8 contains a method of making elastic walks for gardens. 

 We do not think such will become very common here ; but we 

 make the following extract, more that our readers may see how 

 fertile the inventions of our transatlantic friends are, than for its 

 real use. 



" Among the various methods of making walks pointed out in your 

 Encyclopedia of Gardening, I can find none that accord exactly with 

 those that I would recommend in this paper ; namely, elastic walks. 

 Their object is to add pleasiu'e to the flower-garden ; for in many gar- 

 dens the walks are of such a nature, that one would almost think they 

 were intended to make the persons walking on them do penance in the 

 temple of Flora, instead of affording ease and pleasure while contem- 

 plating the cultivated beauties of the vegetable kingdom ; but, I believe, 

 if the plan be adopted which I shall presently recommend, the fairest 

 flowers of creation will linger with delight among the ambrosial sweets 

 of the flower-garden, and walk with as much softness and comfort as 

 if on a Brussels carpet. 



" The method I would recommend to make elastic walks is this : — 

 Remove the earth one foot deep ; and, if found necessary to have a 

 drain, make it in the centre or side of the walk. After the drain is 

 finished, fill the bottom of the walk with small stones to the depth of 



