Transactions of the Horticultural Society. 63 



ture from England, and the time of his death, enriched our 

 collections with an unusual number of entirely new plants. 



In the spring of 1823, Mr. John Damper Parks was sent 

 to China, and obtained a great many plants of novelty and in- 

 terest. In June 1823, Mr. David Douglas was sent to the 

 United States, where he obtained many plants which were 

 much wanted, and greatly increased our collection of fruit 

 trees, by the acquisition of several sorts, only known to us by 

 name. In July 1824, Mr. Douglas sailed for Colombia, on 

 the north-west coast of America; a country rich in plants 

 which will endure the open air in our gardens. His return is 

 expected in 1826. In September 1824, Mr. James M'Rae 

 was sent to the Sandwich Islands. The Society " has always 

 evinced a becoming liberality in transmitting to various places 

 abroad, such seeds and plants as were known to be wanting 

 to the comfort of their inhabitants ; and it has had the grati- 

 fication to find, that in every quarter of the globe to which its 

 influence has reached, these efforts have been duly appreciated, 

 and met by a corresponding feeling. Indeed, there is scarcely 

 any portion of the civilized world, in which there is not some 

 one labouring with good will, to promote the interests of the 

 Society." Pref. p. vii. 



The library of the Society is increasing by gifts and pur- 

 chases, the collection of drawings and of models in wax have 

 become of considerable magnitude. 



In the garden of the Society "the collections of fruit trees, 

 and of hardy trees or shrubs, which it contains, may be pro- 

 nounced- the most complete that have ever been made in this 

 or any other c'ountry ; and although much remains to be done, 

 the value of that which has been accomplished, in a period of 

 little more than two years, must be evident to every one who 

 visits the garden. As far as the general arrangement and form- 

 ation are concerned, the works may be said to be nearly 

 finished. Additional walls, however, lodges of entrance, and 

 ranges of houses for the reception of plants, yet remain to be 

 built. For these further expenses, it is hoped that sufficient 

 funds may be provided." Pref. p. viii. 



The number of papers in this volume is eighty-two, and two 

 Appendices, by forty-four authors. The first, and one of the 

 most valuable is, 



On the different Species and Varieties of the Genus Brassica, and 

 of the Genera allied to it, 'which are cultivated hi Europe, SfC. 

 By Professor Decandolle. 



We have noticed M. Decandolle's arrangement of the culti- 

 vated species, in the Encyclopaedias of Gardening and Agricul- 



