302 Comparative Notices 



Lichfield, 4. Schofielcl's Ned Lud, 5. Grimes's Flora's Flag, 6. Gorton's 

 Stadtholder. Al-pines, or Shaded Selfs : 1. Alpine Seedling, 2. Paddy 

 Carey. 



Polyanthuses. 1. Pearson's Alexander, 2. Cutler's Duke of York, 3. 

 Pugh's Navariiio, 4. Browne's King, 5. Turner's Emperor, 6. Lee's Venus, 

 7. F'letcher's Lord Hill, 8. Cox's Regent. — Thomas Pugh, Secretary. May 

 23. 1828. 



Chelmsford and Essex Horticidtural Society, June 24. — The first prize for 

 strawberries was awarded by the members present, to P. King, Esq., of 

 Broomfield Lodge, for a plate of Wilmot's Superb, which were of extraor- 

 dinary size and beauty. The second to J. Disney, Esq., of the Hyde, Ingate- 

 stone, for a plate of Carolina, and another of Keen's Seedling, both fine 

 specimens of the kind. A plate of the Black Prince, shown by Mr. Trown- 

 sell, of this town, was much admired. A dish of very fine French beans, and 

 some lettuces, grown by Mr. Cowland, attracted much notice. One of the 

 latter measured 2 ft. 4 in. over, and weighed 3 lbs. 14oz. The rewards for 

 the three best stands of pinks were adjudged by J. Disney, Esq,, Mr. Curtis, 

 jun., and Mr. Wicks, as under: — 



1. Mr. E. Sorrell, 2. Mr. Jonathan Harris, 3. Mr. John Harris. {Chelms- 

 ford Chronicle, June 27.) 



The Devonport Annual Show of Auriculas and Polyanthuses was held on 

 April 23d, when prizes were adjudged to the following florists : — Messrs. 

 Quick, Rowe, Pontey, Barrett, Doidge, and Horn. The display of flowers 

 was not very great, many of the plants having been injured by the moisture 

 of the past winter. — A Pontey, Nurseryman. Plymouth, May 13. 1828. 



Art. VI. Comparative Notices of Gardens and Grounds. 



In the course of the last two months we have glanced at upwards of 

 fifty gardens, exclusive of nurseries and market-gardens, within forty miles 

 of the metropolis, all of more or less note, in search of something to com- 

 mend. We regret to say that on the whole we were disappointed. There 

 seems to be a much greater desire to procure novelties, and especially new 

 fruits and flowers, than to make the most of those already in cultivation, 

 or even to introduce new hardy shrubs and trees. There seems, in the pos- 

 sessors of gardens, a decided preference for the beauties or uses of individual 

 objects, over those beauties which have reference to the whole of any scene 

 or place, and which are the result of design and taste in the contriver. In 

 short, it is perfectly evident, that however much the taste for the productions 

 of gardening, as an art of culture, however much the taste for rare exotic 

 plants, fine flowers, and rich fruits, and a knowledge of their culture have 

 increased, yet that gardening, as an art of design and taste, has not advanced 

 in any thing like the same proportion. Indeed we might safely say that 

 this branch of gardening has remained dormant for the last thirty years. 

 Fewer absurdities are now committed than before the writings of Price ap- 

 peared, but, at the same time, no beauties are attempted, or but very few. 

 Something is obviously required to call the attention of gardeners and their 

 employers to this depai'tment of their art, and prevent them from being 

 wholly absorbed in the culture of culinary vegetables and fruits. It would 

 be some satisfaction to see this taste neutralised a little by a more general 

 feeling in favour of the new and beautiful hardy trees and shrubs, which 

 may now be procured from the principal nurseries, and which, when dis- 

 tributed through the different parks and pleasure-grounds of the country. 



