244 Garden Libraries. 



viz. at Mr. Mackay's nursery, Clapton ; at Mr. Bannerman's nursery, Wal- 

 ton, near Liverpool; and at the Duke of Portland's gardens, atWelbeck, 

 Nottinghamshire, which equal every expectation. A library on a smaller 

 scale has been commenced by Mr. George Fulton, gardener at North wick 

 Park, Gloucestershire, and some village libraries are in progress in the 

 neighbourhood of London. On the subject of village garden libraries, we 

 have received a valuable letter signed " A Constant Female Reader," to 

 which we beg particular attention. Coidd we only insure the exertions of 

 the ladies and the clergy in our favour, we should have no fear of this class 

 of garden 'libraries becoming general throughout the kingdom. Since 

 we received the letter we have had communications with several gardeners 

 in the neighbourhood of the metropolis, who are of opinion that a central 

 London library for the use of working gardeners, and others, might be esta- 

 blished with great advantage to the young men in work in the nurseries, 

 and in private gardens, within the distance commanded by the errand carts 

 of the metropolis. Many amateurs would also be most happy to subscribe 

 to such a library, so that we hope the subject may be taken up by some 

 bookseller or seedsman as a matter of business. There never was a finer 

 opportunity for the Horticultural Society to do great good, at almost no 

 additional expence. They have only to devote a spare room of their house 

 in Regent Street to the purpose ; place in it such duplicates of books as they 

 already have ; and purchase, from time to time, and receive presents, of the 

 other requisite books. We need not go into details ; we only repeat that 

 the Society could do the thing cheaper and more effectually than it could 

 be done by any other means ; and that, as a Horticultural Society, they 

 ought to do it. We hope they will, and also that the Caledonian Horticul- 

 cultural Society, and all the provincial societies, will follow their example. 



We shall now proceed to record the libraries established since our sug- 

 gestions appeared, premising that we mean to number them in the order of 

 their establishment, and that, in every future volume of the Gardener's Ma- 

 gazine, after the preface, will be given a list of the British Garden Libraries, 

 public or private, known to be in existence at the time. This will point 

 out the best places for young men to seek employment at, and also those 

 nurserymen who have done most for the working gardener, and merit a 

 corresponding gratitude. 



No. I. — Mackay's Clapton Nursery Library. Established at Clapton, near 

 London, January 8. 1827. 



" Upper Clapton, Jan. 8. 1827. 



" Sir,— I have the pleasing task imposed upon me by my fellow workmen, of informing you that 

 in this nursery a garden library, according to the plan suggested in the last number of your 

 valuable Magazine, has been established. We have always had books lent us to read when we 

 chose to apply for them ; but it is from the appearance of the last number of the Magazine that 

 we date the establishment of a regular library. The next morning after its appearance, our 

 liberal employer, Mr. Mackay, informed us that he meant to purchase books for our use, and how 

 far his intentions have been carried into effect the following list will show. 



" The library is at present managed by a committee of three persons, men employed in the 

 nursery, who are to be regularly elected on the first of every month ; they are to give out and 

 receive the books, keep an account of subscriptions, purchase new books, &c. The money for 

 the support and increase of the library is to be raised by laying a penny per week upon every one 

 in the nursery who reads, and sixpence upon every one sent out of the nursery to a situation, 

 whether as master or under gardener. Added to this, our employer has put his name down 

 for 2s. &d. per week, which will produce a fund amply sufficient to make all the additions we are 

 likely to require. 



" It has also been recommended to us, and unanimously agreed to, that a Herbarium of the 

 native plants growing round London, as far as they can be obtained, shall be formed and attached 

 to the library, as being the most effectual way of acquiring a knowledge of British botany, and 

 also as materials of reference to the young men who may come after us. We would suggest to 

 you to recommend to all gardeners who have garden libraries to do the same thing; keeping a 

 list of all plants found, their habitats, soil in which they grow, situation as regards altitude, with 

 any other particular that may occur to them. If this were acted upon throughout the country for 

 only a few years, and copies of the lists collected together, it would afford excellent materials for 

 ascertaining the localities of particular genera and species, and also the geographical distribution 

 of the British Flora generally. Perhaps you'will say we are speculating too far on the utility of such 

 an appendage to a garden library. I will, therefore, leave it to your better judgment.to decide how 



