378 London Nurseries. 



and during May. After this the trees may be removed to sheltered places 

 in the pleasure-ground, and the boxes sunk in the earth and turfed over, so 

 that the trees may appear to be planted in the soil. Mr. Tate thinks this 

 may be done to an extent of which few, we believe, are bold enough to have 

 any idea. He thinks the avenues to mansions might just as well be of 

 orange trees as of lime trees or elms, provided gentlemen would be at the 

 trouble of placing temporary wooden houses over them. In Mr. Tate's 

 shop are some handsome vases and orange boxes formed of a sort of artificial 

 stone, cheap, and very durable, which deserve to be brought into more 

 notice than they have hitherto been. They are manufactured by an artisan 

 in the road leading to Vauxhall Bridge. — Cond. 



' The Hackney Botanic Garden, Messrs. Loddiges, April 3. — Notwith- 

 standing the severity of last winter, the house plants here look remarkably 

 well. Some of the larger palms had their boxes renewed and increased in 

 size ; the material as before, the teak wood of old East India ships, which 

 Messrs. Loddiges find far more durable than oak. The collection is con- 

 stantly increasing by donations and purchases from all quarters. 

 I The Clapton Nursery, Mr. Mackay, April 3. — Great alterations have 

 taken place here within the last twelve months. Several new houses have 

 been added, old ones taken down and rebuilt, and hot water substituted for 

 steam in the same pipes ; the siphon principle, to a certain extent, has also 

 been here adopted. The general stock of plants is increased both in num- 

 ber of individuals and species. Mi*. Baxter, who has been employed in 

 Sydney for nearly seven years, chiefly on Mr. Mackay's account, has 

 recently returned with a magnificent collection of specimens and seeds ; 

 some of which, we understand, are for other nurserymen, but the greater 

 part, we believe, will be disposed of to Mr. Mackay. 



The Hammersmith Nursery, April 4. — Some alterations have been made 

 in the department of rare trees and shrubs, and some curious species of 

 pendent and odd-growing robinias, caraganas, cytisus, &c, grafted standard 

 high on their congeners. Here, as in Malcolm's nursery, Kensington, Mag- 

 nolia conspicua and purpurea bloomed in great profusion. 



The Camberwell Nuisery, Buchanan and Co., May 4. — An arboretum is 

 commenced here in alphabetical order, and it is the intention to increase it 

 by adding every hardy tree or shrub that can be purchased from the 

 nurserymen of Europe and America ; to lay down stools and to propagate 

 each species and variety extensively. This is a most commendable exertion, 

 and is certain of being attended with success. We have long ago recom- 

 mended the same thing to other nurserymen, and especially to those so 

 favourably situated as Mr. Donald of Woking. One of the principal 

 reasons why there is such a paucity of rare and beautiful trees and shrubs 

 in the grounds of country seats is, their scarcity or high price in the nur- 

 series • another reason, we are aware, is, the ignorance of gardeners that 

 there are such shrubs and trees ; but this ignorance is a result of the former 

 circumstance, and will disappear when it is removed. Let us once have all 

 manner of rare and beautiful shrubs abundant and cheap (and there is no 

 reason in the nature of things why the rarest and most beautiful should not 

 be as cheap as the commonest), and every citizen who can shelter his kitchen- 

 garden with a shrubbery, or plant a belt round his paddock, will employ 

 half as many kinds as he requires plants. A shrubbery of 1000 trees and 

 shrubs will contain at least 500 species. A park will be a complete arbo- 

 retum; and a park and pleasure-ground taken together will contain a 

 collection of hardy things equal to that now in the Hackney garden. 

 Various minor improvements are going on in this nursery, which we cannot 

 spare room at present to enumerate. 



Groom's Flower-garden, Walworth, May 4. — The tulips have bloomed 

 very vigorously this season, and are perhaps taller than usual. Mr. Groom 

 persists in mixing all the different varieties indiscriminately, which is a great 



