266 Reviews. — Downing on Landscape Gardening. 



of this article, Lindley's Theory of Horticulture^ and Liebig's 

 Organic Chemistry., not to mention some other works already 

 in press, and to be issued in the course of the season. But 

 we take it for granted that no evidence is needed to verify our 

 statement. The simple fact that in the vicinity of our large 

 cities, as well as throughout the country generally, villa resi- 

 dences are springing up, with improved styles of architecture, 

 and elegant gardens, and highly ornamented grounds attached, 

 is sufficient proof to the most indifferent observer. Go back 

 fifteen years, and compare that period with the present. We 

 would even shorten the time, and carry the reader back but 

 ten years, and see how great has been the progress in garden- 

 ing every where; at the period of our first date, very few 

 green-houses or graperies, and but a few fine gardens existed 

 in the country. Within ten years, all those establishments, 

 which now carry off the palm for the elegance of their struc- 

 tures, and for their rich collections of plants, have been built up. 



Nearly seven years have passed away, since we commenced 

 the labors of our Magazine. How quick the time! and yet bow 

 much has been accomplished in gardening during that period. 

 We have in our mind's eye, collections of plants, the richest and 

 most valuable in the country, conservatories and green-houses 

 the most splendid which have yet been seen here, and vieing in 

 extent with those of many of the aristocracy of England, which 

 date their existence but little more than a year previous to the 

 existence of the Magazine; and how many collections of less 

 extent, and houses less lofty and of lighter structure have 

 been erected within the past five years. Had not embarrass- 

 ments, of no ordinary kind, attended the commercial world, 

 bringing about those fluctuations which create imaginary wealth, 

 only to be followed by others of corresponding poverty, such 

 a rapid advancement of rural taste, and love of gardening pur- 

 suits, would have taken place, as has never been equalled, even 

 in the palmiest days of the art in England, where gardening has 

 attained such a high state of perfection. 



But we are not confining ourselves closely enough to our 

 subject, and we shall not, we fear, be able to do INlr. Downing 

 justice, even with all the space we have, unless we adhere 

 strictly to this work. 



'i'he work is divided into the following subjects: — Histori- 

 cal Sketches — Beauties of Landscape Gardening — Woods 

 and Plantations — Deciduous Ornamental Trees — Evergreen 



