352 Calls at the Nurseries. 



premature to speak of the design of these plantations, because it is not yet 

 fully developed; but we cannot withhold our warmest approbation of 

 the liberality and taste displayed by Mr. Hornor in the choice of his 

 plants, and the extraordinary expedients and care employed by Mr. Mackay 

 and his superintendant Mr. Kerr, in taking them up and removing them ; 

 then in planting them, securing them, and almost daily watering them. 



Kew Gardens, May 22. The new entrance which we noticed in our last 

 (p. 223.) has been planted in a very tasteful manner, under the direction of 

 Mr. Begbie, who has here evinced a just relish for the picturesque disposition 

 of objects. This taste is not common either amongst cultivators or botanists; 

 the studies of both leading to the consideration of objects individually, rather 

 than collectively, or with regard to effect of light and shade, exposure and 

 concealment, &c. A dozen of trees or shrubs, planted on a lawn, show at 

 once whether the planter is a cultivator or a painter. The botanical portion 

 of the pleasure-ground is now in a state of great beauty, and affords a good 

 specimen of what may be effected, on a few acres of level ground, by trees 

 and shrubs, smooth turf, and gravel walks, without either water, archi- 

 tectural objects, or distant view. 



The Systematic Garden is, in general, in a thriving state, and in good 

 order. It is to be regretted that these valuable qualities are greatly les- 

 sened in effect by the obvious want of plan and arrangement, and thedis- 

 position of the hot-houses and walks. The former stand like cattle in a 

 market-place, and the latter are unstudied lines of communication, created 

 by the necessities of the place, entering behind, as in the Horticultural So- 

 ciety's garden, so that the principal object in the first view is the back 

 sheds ; which sheds meet the eye in walking through the garden, fully as 

 often as the glass fronts, to which they are subservient. Taking a view of 

 our public gardens, and national works in general, plan or method seems a 

 less conspicuous quality than profusion in the details; a circumstance 

 which probably arises from our wealth ; method being most resorted to by 

 those who have least to methodise. 



The late frosts had injured several plants here, as at other places; but 

 Araucaria imbricata is untouched, and Photinia glabra promises to be an 

 addition to our hardy evergreens. Nothing struck us as very remarkable 

 among the herbaceous plants ; in the green-house the following rare species 

 were pointed out to us : Anthocercis littorea, viscosa, and albicans, Pimelea 

 decussata, Prostanthera violacea, Hibbertia nova sp., Patersonia sp., Beau- 

 fortia nova sp., Polygala nova sp., Gompholobium sp. 



A plant of Cyclopia genistoidea had been planted out in front of a stove 

 about a year ago, and protected during winter with a mat ; it has grown 

 nearly ten feet high, and is now splendidly in flower. 



In the palm-house, some of the plants are suffering for want of room, and 

 one cannot help regretting that a suitable situation is not formed for this 

 noble order of plants. There is abundant space in the pleasure-ground 

 here for a few acres of glass roof, which, as we have elsewhere observed, 

 (Encyc. of Gard. § 61 79.) might be supported by iron columns, at any height 

 from the ground, heated by steam, and watered by perforated pipes in Lod- 

 diges' manner ; the interior might be laid out in walks, turf, water, and seats, 

 decorated with sculpture, and enlivened by foreign birds. There might be 

 several climates, so as to include the whole of the plants at present kept 

 under glass. In the present day, when such immense sums are laid out on 

 public improvements, enough might be spared to cover ten acres in this 

 way, and surely the effect produced would be worth the expence. 



In one of the hot-houses, Menyanthes indica, and Nymphaea ccerulea, 

 are profusely in bloom, and Pontederia crassipes, a rare plant, from Guiana, 

 and Cyperus elegans, a new species, from Trinidad, are growing freely ; the 

 former might soon be multiplied to any extent. The plants in this hot- 

 house are in excellent order. 



