190 Domestic Gardener'' s Manual. 



falls to the lot of man. However, he has succeeded so far by his own con- 

 fession, in one important object, namely, in initiating a novice, an ignora- 

 mus, or, to use his own words, ' an extremely simple labourer, who does not 

 know a letter or a figure, and who never saw a pine plant growing till he 

 saw those of which he has the care,' to understand their culture as well as he 

 does himself Attempts to cultivate pines, without bottom heat, have been 

 tried by several gardeners, both on the Continent and in this country, and 

 have been abandoned without the least hope of success." 



In as far as Mr. M'Intosh is concerned we are perfectly satisfied with this 

 publication : but on the part of the publisher, and with reference to the 

 public, we think it a badly designed work, on account of the useless engrav- 

 ings given, and the useful ones omitted. To make it worth purchasing 

 there ought to be at least a dozen complete plans of hot-houses heated by 

 hot water introduced ; otherwise what advantage can this work have over 

 the Practical Gardener of Abercrombie, which is much cheaper? 



The Homestlc Gardener'' s Manual ; being an Introduction to Gardening on 

 Philosophical Principles. To which is added a concise Naturalist's 

 Kalendar, and English Botanist's Companion, or Catalogue of British 

 Plants, in the monthly order of their Flowering. By a Horticultural 

 Chemist. London. 8vo. \s. To be completed in 12 successive Num- 

 bers. 



The author observes, that most works on gardening are expensive, or 

 written exclusively for the affluent ; but that his book is addressed " to 

 those, who, without aiming to become professional gardeners, wish, never- 

 theless, to acquire so much of the art of gardening, as shall enable them to 

 conduct its more common and essential operations with facility and pre- 

 cision. 



" It is intended that the work shall consist of twelve periodical monthly 

 numbers, each number to contain three sections. The first section of every 

 number will be devoted to subjects connected with the science or philo- 

 sophy of gardening ; such as the nature and agency of earths and soils ; of 

 electricity, water, the atmosphere, light, heat, &c. ; of the structure and 

 vascular system of plants, the motion of the sap, and the elaboration of the 

 proper juice. 



" The second section will contain the natural history, generic and specific 

 characters, and cultivation of one or more of the chief esculent vegetables ; 

 to which will succeed directions for the operations in the kitchen-garden 

 during the current month. 



" The third section will treat on the natural history, &c., of the most 

 esteemed fruit trees : and will contain directions for the management of the 

 fruiting department during the month ; to this will be added miscellaneous 

 observations on the treatment of flowering shrubs, evergreens, flower-bor- 

 ders, &c. 



" As it is presumed that many readers are curious in searching for facts 

 connected with natural philosophy, and that others are attached to botani- 

 cal pursuits, I have added to each number a concise Naturalisf s Kalendar, 

 and also a Botanical Catalogue of British indigenous plants. In the latter 

 the species are arranged, not only in their respective classes and orders of 

 the Linnaean system, as enlarged and improved in the last edition of Sir J. E. 

 Smith's English Flora, but in the monthly order in luhich they severally jlower. 

 Thus the English botanist will find each number a vade mecum, or pocket 

 companion, calculated to assist him in his endeavours to identify every 

 plant which he may find in flower at any period of the year. 



" Such, then, is the general plan of the work ; but to enable the reader 

 to understand its particular objects, something farther remains to be said. 

 It is my earnest desire to enlarge the circle of science, to disseminate it in 

 quarters where, till lately, it has been comparatively unknown ; and, above 



