346 Foreign Notices. — Denmark, North America. 



I would have sent you the Hortus Hafniensis, but on enquiring of M. 

 Holboll, the most celebrated botanist and botanical cultivator of Denmark, 

 he told me that this book is out of print at present ; but another edition 

 will soon be published, which I shall send you as early as possible. I saw, 

 in the month of July, a beautiful show of carnations by M. Holboll, the 

 finest collection in this country, and not inferior to Mr. Hogg's of Pad- 

 dington ; but this gentleman has for a number of years cultivated car- 

 nations and auriculas, in his leisure hours, to a very superior degree of 

 perfection. 



The fruit and vegetable market has been well supplied every day this 

 summer, and things sold at a very low price. The harvest was remarkably 

 fine, but the summer was the best that has occurred for a long time, and 

 indeed as good as any body could wish for. Not a pine-apple has been 

 seen on the table this year ; but M. Lindegaard will have some ripe fruit 

 about the middle of this month, which will be the earliest and finest in the 

 country. I am, dear sir, &c. — J. P. Petersen. Copenhagen, Sept. 3. 1827. 



NORTH AMERICA. 



Horticulture in and about New York. — Sir, In company with a friend, 

 I spent the greater part of the summer of 1826, in the vicinity of New- 

 York ; and I take the liberty of sending you a few remarks on the present 

 state of horticulture in and about that city, with the hope that they may 

 serve to amuse, if not instruct, the readers of your valuable Magazine. From 

 its locality, its resources, and the proverbially enterprising character of its 

 inhabitants, the state of New York seems destined to take the lead in Ame- 

 rica, in this delightful science, as it already does in agriculture and com- 

 merce. 



Shortly after our arrival in the city we attended a meeting of the Horti- 

 cultural Society there ; and had the honour to be introduced to Doctor 

 Hosack, the President; a name not unknown in the records of botanical 

 writers. The business of this Society is conducted much on the same prin- 

 ciples as they are in this country, and their by-laws and regulations seem 

 to have been founded on those of the Linnean Society of London. In addi- 

 tion to the usual officers, they have a Lecturer on Botany and Vegetable 

 Physiology, the celebrated Doctor Mitchill, no less known for his acquire- 

 ments in the arts and sciences, than for the simplicity and urbanity of his 

 manners. I will here remark that a professorship of this nature, where 

 the young gardener might receive lectures on botany, would, in my opinion, 

 be of great utility in this country. I leave the hint with you, well knowing 

 that, if you concur in my idea of the subject, you will improve it. It was 

 pleasing to me to observe that, though the Society contained among its 

 members men eminent for their rank and talents, as well as practical gar- 

 deners, there was the greatest unanimity ; and though one member, on 

 leaving the meeting, would retire to discuss laws, and the rights of nations, 

 in the senate, and another to his more humble avocations in the garden, 

 there was none of that distant and reserved air, which is so much in fashion 

 among our great men, when meeting with those whom they have been 

 taught to consider their inferiors. By this cordial junction of wealth, 

 rank, and practical skill, much has been done for the science of gardening, 

 and more maybe justly expected. 



In and about the city are several public parks and gardens, most of which 

 are yet in a state of infancy ; but they appear to have been selected judi- 

 ciously, and with some regard to the health and convenience of the ma- 

 jority of the inhabitants. 



Saint John's Park, in the western section of the city, is of considerable 

 extent, and has lately been thrown open to the inhabitants ; it is tastefully 



