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Caledonian Horticultural Society. 



present at their meetings. On the beneficial influence of the latter prac- 

 tice, Mr. Grierson received a congratulatory letter from the late Sir Joseph 

 Banks, of which he has sent us a copy, and which we may probably at some 

 future time lay before our readers. With respect to a garden, our opinion 

 is, if the society can support one in good style, it would be a very desir- 

 able thing as a public ornament ; but we do not believe that any provincial 

 society's garden will ever be of the least use ; they are very fertile subjects 

 of quarrels, and by these, and their expence, very likely to cause the dis- 

 solution of the societies that may set them a going. 



Edinburgh Botanic Garden. We were in some hopes of being able to 

 give a plan and description of this garden in our present number, similar 

 to what we have given in No. 1. of that of the Caledonian Horticultural 

 Society ; but having written to Professor Graham on the subject, he informs 

 us (of date Feb. 8th.) that he had " very long ago promised an account of 

 the garden to the Edinburgh Philosophical Journal." We wait, therefore, 

 till it makes its appearance in that work. We consider the plans of all 

 public gardens as of great importance, by their influence on the general 

 taste of the country. The plan of the late Botanic Garden at Edinburgh 

 was excellent, so far as it went ; and not less so appears to be that of the 

 Caledonian Society's Garden lately laid out. We have no fears of the 

 new Botanic Garden falling short, either of the old one, or of the Botanic 

 Garden of Glasgow, the last a master piece of its kind 



Art. VI. Caledonian Horticultural Society and Garden. 



Caledonian Horticultural Society. The venerable and much respected 

 president of this society has sent us his discourse delivered at the annual 

 election meeting, on the first of December last, upon awarding to Mr. 

 John Hay, garden-architect, their annual premium for the most interesting 

 communication received during the year 1825. It seems that this society, 

 " imitating the laudable example of the Royal Society of London," bestow 

 annually a testimony of their approbation on the author of the most in- 

 teresting communication transmitted to them during the course of the 

 year. This year the medal was conferred upon Mr. John Hay, Garden- 

 Architect, " for the admirable plans of conservatories, vineries, pineries, 

 and other buildings, presented by him." These plans, the president anti- 

 cipates, will soon be published in the Society's Memoirs. The president 

 anticipates great improvement to the horticulture of Scotland, from the 

 establishment of the society's garden, and he reverts, as in former dis- 

 courses, to the numerous " benefits which may result from a regius profes- 

 sorship of horticulture in the University of Edinburgh. The object in view 

 by such a professorship, is not the instruction of operative gardeners, but 

 of men of taste and literature ; to convert one of the most useful of arts 

 into one of the most interesting of the sciences ; to give a taste for horti- 

 culture to the students of philosophy, of medicine, and of law ; but par- 

 ticularly to the students of divinity. 



" By infusing a spirit for gardening, which I hold to be the most innocent, the most inter- 

 esting, and the most healthful of all rural amusements, into those who are hereafter to be 

 faithful pastors in the worship of the Almighty for the inhabitants of Scotland, there can be no 

 doubt, that the glebe and garden attached to every minister's manse in Scotland might soon 

 exhibit to the parishoners an example worthy of imitation; and would, in a very short period, 

 have very considerable influence in improving the gardens in every parish in this kingdom. To 

 promote this desirable object, if such a professorship shall be established by royal authority, I 

 think it ought to be one of the conditions imposed by the Crown, that the lectures delivered by 

 the Professor of Horticulture, like those by the Professor of Divinity, should be open, without 

 any fee, to every one regularly matriculated as a Student of Divinity. By this means, I have no 

 doubt that horticulture, both as an art and science, would soon be successfully cultivated in 

 svery corner in Scotland. And I have as little doubt, that this would contribute very materially 

 both to the health and happiness of ministers of the Gcspel in the Church of Scotland, and to 

 the improvement of the kingdom. 



" Without pretending to the gift of prophecy ; on this subject, I can venture to predict, from 

 personal experience, and from being a zealous amateur of Horticulture, that very important good 



