INTRODUCTION. 5 



pleasure grounds, may be planted by all, and enjoyed by all : 

 an increase of these would add a charm to the woodland 

 scenery of the country, which would be felt alike by private 

 owners and the public. The introduction of a new hardy 

 tree or a shrub, or the acclimating of one hitherto supposed 

 too tender for the open air, may, therefore, be considered as 

 among the most patriotic of gardening efforts. But we have 

 said enough to show the necessity of disseminating a know- 

 ledge of the improvements daily making in gardening, as an 

 art of culture. 



To the improvement of gardening, as an art of design and 

 taste, we intend in this Magazine to pay particular attention, 

 and the more so as that department does not seem to be in- 

 cluded in the objects of the London and the Caledonian Hor- 

 ticultural Societies: the published transactions of these bodies 

 being exclusively devoted to vegetable propagation and culture. 

 Our Magazine will embrace both departments of the art ; and 

 while we have the satisfaction of co-operating with the horti- 

 cultural societies, by disseminating among practical gardeners 

 the knowledge contained in their valuable publications, we 

 will have the additional gratification of directing the proprietors 

 of country residences to a species of elegant improvement, 

 the taste for which at present is very generally dormant. 



It seems to be now almost forgotten that England first set 

 the example in this branch of art ; and that landscape garden- 

 ing, about a century ago, was as much the fashion as horti- 

 culture is at present. Since the beginning of the present 

 century, and even before, this taste has been on the decline ; 

 having given way, first, to war and agriculture, and since the 

 return of peace to horticulture. 



But landscape gardening has created, in Britain, parks and 

 pleasure grounds unequalled in any other part of the world. 

 These remain as examples of what might still be done ; but in 

 laying out new, or improving old residences, there seems to be 

 a great want, either of industry or ability to profit from them. 

 There are, no doubt, exceptions ; but there is not a tithe of 

 the country seats which have been laid out within the last thirty 

 years that do not owe their beauty more to the climate and the 

 architect than to the disposition of the woody scenery. Very 

 few country gentlemen have a just feeling for what painters call 

 general effect : breadth of light and shade : connection and 

 grouping of parts ; the importance of which is so ably illustrated 

 by Girardin, Price, and other authors. Many, with every de- 

 sire to excel, consider that when they have engaged a first-rate 

 gardener, he will do every thing required in laying out or im- 

 proving a place. But the sort of knowledge required for the 



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