116 Garden Libraries. 



the use of the books is not to be limited to the members of the Society, but 

 that others may subscribe for the use of them as in the case of public libraries. 



Ayrshire Horticultural Library. — A copy of the regulations, with a 

 catalogue of the books forming the library, has been sent us by Mr. M'Carter, 

 the librarian. Subscribers in general pay 10s. entry money, and 2s. per 

 quarter, but journeymen gardeners are admitted to all the benefits of the 

 institution by merely paying 2s. per quarter in advance. The books, though 

 not numerous, are well selected; the London Horticultural Transactions are 

 wanting, but we hope some Ayrshire Fellow of the Horticultural Society 

 who sees this will send the institution his copy. We would recommend to 

 Ayrshire gentlemen in general, to send donations of any spare books they 

 have, on subjects of general utility. This library, and that of the Glasgow 

 Society, will find a volume or two which we have addressed to them, at 

 Mr. Black's, bookseller, College Street, Edinburgh, not as of any value, but 

 as a mark of our sincere wishes for the prosperity of both libraries. 



Benefit or Friendly Societies. — A valuable paper on the history and 

 constitution of societies of this description, by Mr. W. Fraser, has appeared 

 in the Edinburgh Neiv PhilosophicalJournal for July, and is to be continued 

 in succeeding numbers. The writer seems to have thoroughly investigated 

 the subject, and to have had considerable experience himself as Clerk to 

 the Edinburgh Compositors' Society, instituted in June, 1824, upon the 

 principles recommended by the Highland Society of Scotland. Whoever 

 has any thing to do with societies for benefiting the condition of the 

 labouring classes, will do well to consult these papers, and the tracts of 

 Mr. Cleghorn, reviewed in a former Magazine, (vol. ii. p. 321.) 



Reading from a general Library. — VV. S., under-gardener in the em- 

 ployment of an opulent banker near Nottingham, suggests that, where the 

 number of gardeners is too small to establish a garden library, they might 

 join together and subscribe to a public library ; and that, if such public 

 libraries found a demand for gardening and agricultural books, they would 

 soon procure them for their readers. His " generous employer is a sub- 

 scriber to the Nottingham Public Library," and he and his fellow-journey- 

 men have only to name the book they want, and it is " immediately pro- 

 cured for them." W. S. further suggests that, instead of recommending 

 gardeners to employ every moment of their time in reading, and to have no 

 pleasures, more would be gained by allowing a small portion of every 

 evening for relaxation of some sort, which would be looked forward to 

 during the hours both of labour and study, as the enjoyment-time, and 

 would keep up the spirits, and redouble exertion. He recommends, for 

 the more ambitious young gardener, half an hour before going to bed, to 

 the flute, the violin, singing, or dancing ; and he uses various arguments to 

 show the advantages of devoting a part of the evening to female society. 



Religious Books. — Ignota has sent us a list, which may be obtained of the 

 Agent of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, No. 21. Fleet 

 Street, London. We do not print this list, because, as it is chiefly calcu- 

 lated for Christians of the Church of England (Ignota being " unacquainted 

 with the excellent books of the Scotch Presbyterian Church)" to be 

 consistent, we ought to publish lists suited to every class of Christians, 

 which would occupy too much room. We are, however, most sincerely 

 obliged to Ignota. 



Dr. Brewster's System of Popidar and Practical Science, and Arnotfs 

 Physical Science, are works that we would strongly recommend for Garden 

 Libraries. It is gratifying to hear a profound philosopher like Dr. Brewster 

 stating it as his opinion, " that many departments of science, which have 

 been hitherto deemed beyond the reach of ordinary capacities, may be 

 made perfectly clear and intelligible." (Ed. Jour., July, 1827, p. 193.) 



