326 On 2'>reser'oing and increasing Collections of Plants. 



to their libraries of reference and circulation such standard 

 and elementary works as they require to be acquainted with. 



I am, Sir, &c. 

 Bristol^ Nov. 30. 1826. P. Masey, Jun. 



Art. III. On preserving and increasi7ig Collections of Plants. 

 By Philo-Botanicus. 



Sir, 

 I WAS lately much struck at hearing a neighbour of mine, a 

 man of small fortune like myself, but, like myself, very fond 

 of plants, state the sum which he devoted annually to the pur- 

 chase of what his gardener considered desirable additions to 

 his collection. My surprise was not at the largeness of the 

 sum, for that was only 10/., but at the limited number of 

 plants'in his collection, considering that he had pursued this 

 practice for upwards of twenty-five years. I do not think that 

 my gardener has laid out 10/. during that period, and yet I 

 have very nearly as extensive a collection, and certainly as 

 many good plants, though not so many rare ones, as my 

 neighbour. Some time afterwards, 1 happened to mention 

 this to one of our principal nurserymen here, who told me 

 that the case was not at all uncommon, and that in the best 

 gardens, and under the best management, a number of plants 

 died annually, and that in this case as in every other, the end 

 in view was not likely to be attained unless it was set about 

 systematically, and persevered in assiduously. With great 

 judgment and liberality, he observed that though it was a 

 common notion among nurserymen, that the more plants that 

 died so much the better for the trade, yet that he was con- 

 vinced it would be still better for the trade if no plants died, 

 because collections would insensibly be formed in every place 

 where a gardener was kept ; the taste for plants would become 

 of a more elevated character ; every gentleman would be am- 

 bitious of having a collection ; and, of course, the commerce in 

 plants greatly increased. He said he knew only one gardener 

 in England who acted on this principle; and this man, he 

 stated, having about 200/. a year at his disposal, and being a 

 good propagator, would soon form for his employer one of 

 the best private collections of hardy plants in the country. I 

 have not liberty to give his name, but I think a short state- 

 ment of his practice might, in your hands, conduce not a little 

 to the advancement of an art, in which so many of us find 



