62 



Art. II. Transactions of the Horticultural Society of London. 

 Vol. V. Bulmer & Co. 1824. Price £1. 



The essence of all that is in the first four volumes of these 

 Transactions, will be found in the second edition of the En- 

 cyclopaedia of Gardening, including also a part of this fifth 

 volume. We shall, therefore, begin at where we have left off, 

 so that those who are in possession of the Encyclopaedia, and 

 who read this Magazine, will be made acquainted with every 

 improvement published by the Horticultural Society. 



In the Preface, which is dated December 1824, it is stated, 

 that in this volume will be found " a greater variety of mat- 

 ter, interesting to the horticulturist, than is to be found in any 

 of the preceding volumes." At the date of the Preface to 

 Volume IV., " The total number of Fellows of the Society 

 was 1520; it has since been augmented to 1915, making an 

 absolute accession of near 400 in about two years and a half. 

 The list of the Society contains altogether the names of 2197 

 persons connected with it, either as Fellows, Honorary Mem- 

 bers, Foreign Members, or Corresponding Members; an ex- 

 tension which, in the infancy of its establishment, was never 

 contemplated, and which certainly cannot be considered as 

 having arrived at its maximum, since fresh additions are made 

 at each succeeding meeting of the Society. 



" The increase in the list of the Members has not arisen 

 solely from British subjects : the knowledge of the operations 

 and objects of the Society has so extended to foreign countries, 

 as to induce the Sovereigns of several of the European states 

 to honour it, by enrolling their names among its fellows ; a 

 circumstance which must prove highly beneficial, since it in- 

 sures a ready protection and countenance to its communica- 

 tions with foreigners." Pre/, p. 2. 



The beneficial influence of the Society is noticed, " as inspir- 

 ing a general taste for gardening ; adding to our stock of fruits 

 and vegetables, and encreasing the number of ornamental plants. 

 For these purposes three collectors had been sent to different 

 parts of the world, of whom it is melancholy to add, that only 

 one, Mr. George Don, survives." 



Mr. John Potts was sent to Bengal and China, and intro- 

 duced a large stock of Chinese and Indian plants. He out- 

 lived his return but a few weeks, and died in October 1822. 



Mr. John Forbes was sent to the east coast of Africa ; he 

 died at Senna, while making his way up the Zambezi river, in 

 August 1823, having, during the interval between his depar- 



