Horticultural Tour by M. Soulangc Boudin. l&l 



managed with so few hands as it is, without this judicious 

 arrangement. 



In noticing Mr. Mackay's nursery, at Clapton, he makes no 

 mention of the collection of heaths there, which is, we believe 

 more extensive than that of Mr.Lee, and exceeded only by that 

 of Messrs. Loddiges. At Messrs. Brooks, of Balls Pond, he 

 saw those rare plants, Azalea variegata and purpurea ; and at 

 the Mary-le-Bone nursery, he saw Andromeda floribunda, for 

 which Mr. Jenkins asked him " un prix enorme." Some years 

 ago the proprietor asked 30 guineas for this plant ; but having 

 now succeeded in propagating it, he asks from 10 to IS 

 guineas. At the Fulham nursery M. S. Boudin saw several 

 rare plants, among others the original stock plant of what is 

 commonly called Camellia axillaris, now considered as belonging 

 to a different genus, which he purchased. At Mr. ColvilPs, 

 the new conservatory and plant-stove rivetted his attention, 

 not more on account of the variety of rare plants which they 

 contain, than the elegance of the design of the houses, and the 

 substantial and beautiful manner in which the flues, shelves, 

 paths, trellises, &c. are executed. He is well acquainted 

 with the publications of Mr. Sweet, and pays a just com- 

 pliment to his science as a botanist, and skill as a cultivator. 



But the greatest share of our author's time and attention was 

 bestowed on the Horticultural Society's Garden. With every 

 thing there he is highly gratified, and more especially with the 

 hot-houses, their construction, the interesting collection they 

 contain, and the high order and keeping maintained in them. 

 He notices the practice, found within these few years to be so 

 conducive to the health and growth of plants in hot-houses, 

 of keeping the air moist in proportion as it is heated ; and 

 for this purpose, the necessity of watering the flues and 

 paths of the house copiously, and several times a day; and 

 even inundating the passages every two or three hours in 

 very hot days. He adverts to the excellent paper of Mr.Daniel, 

 relating to this subject, in the Society's Transactions. (Vol. iv^ 

 part 1.) When about to return to France, M. S. Boudin 

 received a present of that beautiful plant the Primula sinensis, 

 which, in a subsequent publication, he tells us he succeeded in 

 propagating by cuttings ; a thing not easily done, because, 

 among other reasons, the plant produces very little that can 

 be cut off for that purpose. Finally he expresses his gratitude 

 to Mr. Sabine, and, in common with most foreigners who 

 visit the Chiswick garden, pays a tribute to the intelligence 

 and amiability of Mr. Lindley, the garden secretary, whose 

 botanical acquirements are not of less value to foreign visitants, 

 than his knowledge of modern languages ; and who on this, as 



