Domestic Notices. — England. 469 



reviewer in the Farmer's Magazine, who is one of our principal correspon- 

 dents. Cobbett wishes to recommend his seedlings, raised from American 

 seeds ; Monteath has seen large trees of the Scotch elm in Scotland, but 

 never of the English elm there ; and the reviewer is chiefly conversant with 

 the English elm, which we agree with him in considering one of the best of 

 trees for hedge-rows, and one which will produce a greater bulk of 

 straight timber on a given surface than any other. In pastures its suckers 

 are troublesome, but in hedges and strips these are invaluable. With 

 respect to a layer's being always merely a limb of a tree, the assertion will 

 only hold good under certain circumstances, such as layers made at the 

 extremities of old branches ; but even these, if once well rooted in good 

 soil and cut over by the surface, will send up shoots ; one of which being 

 selected, and the rest removed, will become in all respects as bulky and 

 valuable a tree as if it had been raised from seed ; for it may be adopted 

 as a law of vegetable nature, that buds, bulbs, and seeds are essentially the 

 same. We know that some eminent men, both theoretical and practical, 

 are of a different opinion, which is one reason why we have repeatedly 

 stated our conviction on the subject, in order that it may lead to discussion 

 and truth. 



The Zoological Garden, of which the projected plan was given some time 

 ago in the Literary Gazette, continues to be carried into execution. Some 

 very neat and judiciously contrived lodges for the birds and other animals 

 are erected, and the whole is already well worth public inspection. When 

 completed, the exhibition here will be one of the most interesting and 

 original about, the metropolis, and only equalled by that of the zoological 

 department of the Jardin des Plantes at Paris. 



London University. — This building, the joint design of Wilkins and 

 Gandy, two of the first of our architects, is proceeding with rapidity, and, 

 it is calculated, will be open for public instruction in October next. The 

 elevation is characterised by that simple, elegant grandeur which may truly 

 be said to pervade all the Grecian buildings of Mr. Wilkins. When com- 

 pleted, it will be one of the first ornaments of the metropolis ; being in 

 a style which has stood the test of many ages, and whose beauty will, like 

 that of adeadjanguage,be as much approved and admired thousands of years 

 hence as it now is, and as it was thousands of years ago. The professors 

 already appointed are men of distinguished character. Our highly valued 

 correspondent, Dr. A. T. Thomson, author of Lectures on Botany, a work 

 the original and valuable views of which have been ably pointed out 

 by our correspondent, Investigator, in a paper which will appear in a 

 future Number, is appointed to the professorship of Materia Medica; and 

 Dr. Grant to that of Zoology. It has been stated that ground for a botanic 

 garden has been contributed by Dr. Fellowes, and we understand that 

 there are differences of opinion as to the eligibility of the situation. 

 It is very desirable that a garden should be obtained in the Regent's Park, 

 for the joint use of the Zoological Society and the University, on the plan 

 of the Jardin des Plantes at Paris. We trust that a garden will be formed, and 

 we have no doubt that presents of plants and seeds will be poured into it from 

 all quarters, as specimens of plants, animals, and minerals, and curiosities of 

 many kinds, will be sent to the museum. The funds for carrying on this noble 

 feature of modern improvement are raised by the sale of shares of \00l. 

 each, which are payable by instalments of 10 per cent. Shareholders who 

 have children will possess many advantages in respect to their education ; 

 and we should consider ourselves wanting in our duty to such gardeners 

 and gentlemen's farmers and stewards, as can afford to educate their sons 

 for physic (the most universal of all professions), or for law (by which, 

 being called to the bar, a man, however low his birth, is elevated to the 

 Vol. III. — No. 12. *h h 3 



