126 Prov. Hart. Societies : — La?iarfcshire, 



its industry collected, to enrich and adorn our native country. It may be looked upon as the 

 parent stem from which branches have sprung and extended all over the land ; and, like a parent, 

 also, its fostering care is every where felt, not only by the premiums it bestows, but by sharing the 

 produce of its labours, and stimulating by example : our Society has long had to acknowledge its 

 bounty in various ways. 



" The Caledonian Society was the first to follow its example; and now there are few counties 

 in England or Scotland but can boast of a Horticultural Society, many of which display a zeal 

 well worthy of so important an object; and, every year, the advantage to the country must more 

 and more appear. The operative gardener finds a new stimulus to his industry, and is induced to 

 acquire that knowledge which alone can improve him in his profession, and enable him to excel 

 in the art ; he becomes acquainted with the names, qualities, and proper cultivation of plants ; he 

 sees that it is not enough to put a plant into the ground that it may grow, but he finds it necessary 

 to become acquainted with its nature and properties, the proper soil and manure, in order to cul- 

 tivate it to advantage, and produce all the improvement its nature will admit of. 



" Such are some of the happy effects resulting from the attention paid to horticulture of late 

 years ; and still it may be said only to be in its infancy, as it admits of endless improvement, which 

 must now be more rapid from the opportunities afforded by the experimental gardens, arid to 

 ■which the attention of provincial societies should be particularly directed, as the best means of 

 extending the progress of horticulture, and rendering its advantages permanent. The encourage- 

 ment held out by the premiums of societies, for the production of new and improved varieties of 

 flowers, fruit, and vegetables, have done much, and may still be continued with great advantage ; 

 but if experimental gardens were formed, even on a limited scale, in various districts, the result 

 would be more important. Gardeners, in general, have neither time sufficient, nor the means 

 necessary, to bestow on experiments ; but in a public garden, devoted solely to that purpose, and 

 managed by men of science, experiments can be followed to their utmost extent ; and those con- 

 nected with the Institution, as well as the country in general, will gain the advantage of their 

 labours, without the risk of being disappointed in the result of the experiment. Combined with an 

 experimental garden, a library of books on the science will prove of great importance to profes- 

 sional men, affording a source of information not otherwise to be obtained. Much useful know- 

 ledge and information has of late been diffused by the labours of Mr. Loudon, and particularly by 

 his Gardener's Magazine, which is within the reach of every operative man. It is a work emi- 

 nently calculated to promote a taste for horticulture, and to communicate all the new improve- 

 ments in the art ; and it affords an easy opportunity to gardeners to make the result of their 

 experiments known to the public. 



" Of all studies, the study of nature is the most interesting to the eye of the curious : the beauty 

 in plants and flowers is endless, something new is always presented to view, and we feel more and 

 more disposed to admire the wonders of creation. Is it surprising, then, that a study so interest- 

 ing, so pleasing, and combining so many important objects, should be pursued with so much zeal 

 and attention, when, at every step we advance, the treasures of nature are unfolded to our admir- 

 ation ; and the greater our exertions, the more is our industry rewarded by the satisfaction of 

 having conferred a lasting benefit on mankind. From these general observations, it would be easy 

 to enlarge on the particular and more minute advantages derived from horticulture. 



" In former times, little attention was bestowed on the cultivation of the garden ; consequently, 

 the store of fruit and vegetables was very limited. But it must be obvious to every person, the 

 vast increase of fruit and vegetables; even potatoes, which, at no remote period, were unknown ; 

 and,"not more than eighty years ago, the cultivation of them had to be encouraged by premiums. 

 "What would have been the situation of the population of our country without that useful vege- 

 table alone ? To the increased use of vegetables is to be attributed the decrease or almost extinc- 

 tion of some disorders* which proved the scourge of the human race at one period. But, even as 

 a luxury, and as a rational increase to the pleasures of life, we are equally indebted to horticul- 

 ture : the great variety of new vegetables with which our tables are supplied in succession ; the rich 

 and delicious fruits introduced into cultivation; together with the extensive variety and beauty 

 of the flowers and shrubs which now adorn our walks and gardens, will prove the truth of all that 

 has been asserted in favour of horticulture." 



LANARKSHIRE. 



' Glasgow Horticultural Society. — On Sept. 9., this Society held their General Meeting, in the 

 Black Bull Hall, when prizes were awarded as follows : — 



Flowers. Double Stocks, of six varieties : 1. Win. Munro, gardener to James Campbell, Esq., 

 Muirpark ; 2. Wm. Knox, gardener to Mrs. Dixon, Levengrove. Double Hollyhocks, six varie- 

 ties): 1. Wm. Knox, gardener to Mrs. Dixon, Levengrove ; 2. Wm. Rankine, gardener to John 

 Hamilton, -Esq., Northpark. Double Georginas, three varieties : 1. George Duncan, gardener to 

 Miss Oswald, Scotstown ; 2. James Rutherford, gardener to Miss Fulton, Park ; 3. John Wilkie, 

 gardener to John Wardrop, Esq., Dalmarnock. — Fruit. Grapes (best-flavoured), of three varie- 

 ties, excluding Frontignac and Tokay : 1. James Ross, gardener to Mrs. Dewar, Muirbank ; 2. Ni- 

 nian Niven, gardener to James Stirling, Esq., Keir ; 3. Peter Donaldson, gardener to Robert 

 Watson, Esq., Linthouse. Peaches, from unflued walls : 1. Laurence Niven, gardener to James 

 Finlay, Esq., Blochairn ; 2. James Ross, gardener to Mrs. Dewar, Muirbank ; 3. Wm. Crawford, 

 gardener to Robert Finlay, Esq.. Easterhill. Pears, three varieties, excluding Jargonelles : 1. Peter 

 Donaldson, gardener to Robert Watson, Esq , Linthouse ; 2. John Wilkie, gardener to John 

 Wardrop, Esq., Dalmarnock ; 3. John Gressock, gardener to James Hamilton, Esq. Apples (best- 

 flavoured), six varieties : 1. George Duncan, gardener to Miss Oswald, Scotstown ; 2. J. Gressock, 

 gardener to James Hamilton, Esq., Middleton ; 3. Lachlan Campbell, gardener to Lord Blantyre, 

 Northbar. — Culinary Vegetables. Onions, heaviest spring-sown : 1. John Smith, gardener to the 

 Marquess of Bute, Mount Stewart ; 2. Daniel Cunningham, gardener to Sir Archibald Campbell, 

 Garscube. Carrots : 1. John Smith, gardener to the Marquess of Bute, Mount Stewart; 2. James 

 Sinclair, gardener to Kirkman Finlay, Esq , Castle Toward ; 3. Daniel Cunningham, gardener to 

 Sir Archibald Campbell, Garscube. Red Beets : I.William Rankine, gardener to John Hamilton, 

 Esq., Northpark ; 2. James Walker, gardener to Archibald Douglas, Esq., Bredisholm. 



Any varieties different from those specified above. Flowers : 1. John Gressock, gardener to 

 James Hamilton, Esq., Middleton ; 2. John Brown, gardener to Charles Todd, Esq., Plantation. — 



* Particularly the leprosy : vegetables have sweetened the blood. 



