Garden Libraries. 245 



far our suggestion in this particular ought to be followed by our fellow gardeners. There are 

 still other additions which we intend to make to the Clapton Nursery Library not enumerated in 

 your catalogue of materials, but which we are convinced you will see the necessity of. Every 

 one who has thought on the subject, will agree that a gardener ought to understand land survey- 

 ing before he can be considered fit for a situation as a master gardener, and consequently Gunter's 

 Chain, to allow of actual practice in the fields, becomes necessary. The dendrometer also, 

 described by your very intelligent correspondent, Mr. Gorrie, for measuring the height and 

 contents of timber trees, we also consider requisite ; in fact, mensuration generally is a necessary 

 qualification, and if so, the instruments for acquiring a practical knowledge of it must be 

 necessary also 



" How far the diffusion of knowledge may be promoted among gardeners by the establishment 

 of garden libraries, time alone can prove ; but if Mechanics' Institutions, aided by Mechanics' 

 Magazines, have made a sensible change upon that class of society for which they are intended, 

 surely it is not too much to presume that similar causes will produce similar effects among gar- 

 deners. Should you consider any part of this letter worthy of insertion in the Gardener's 

 Magazine, you are not only at liberty to do so, but it will be esteemed a favour by a few of your 

 constant readers. I am, Sir, (for the Clapton Nursery Library Committee,) your obedient servant, 



" William Rentoul, Secretary." 



The list of books referred to, enumerates upwards of 260 volumes, in- 

 cluding all the requisite elementary books, a number of books for'general 

 reading, such as Henry's History of Britain, Chambers's Encyclopaedia, the 

 Mechanic's Magazine, Transactions of the Society of Arts, &c, and many 

 valuable books on natural history, botany, gardening, &c, such as the Lin- 

 nean Transactions, Latham's Birds, Andrews's Heaths, Botanical Register, 

 Cistineae, Geraniaceae complete, Botanical Magazine, several volumes, Mar- 

 tyn's Miller's Dictionary, &c. Mr. Mackay became entitled to our globe, 

 which he received, and also Nicholson's Encyclopaedia, and 30 other vo- 

 lumes from Messrs. Longman, Rees, and Co. This Library, therefore, 

 amounts to nearly 500 volumes. 



No. II. — Thompson's Welbeck Garden Library. Established at Welbeck, 

 near Ollarton, Nottinghamshire, January 13. 1827. 



" Welbeck Gardens, Jan. 13. 1827. 



" Dear Sir, — My son's anxiety to obtain your prize, has led him into double diligence. In- 

 closed you have a list of the books and mathematical and surveying instruments ; in addition to 

 which may be mentioned several manuscripts which 1 prize very much. 



" In my endeavours to forward my pupils, if I find a youth worthy, (like my late and present 

 foreman,) I am as anxious to assist him as my late friend Mr. Speechly was with me ; I recom- 

 mend a regular series of studies, and take them through the elementary sciences, and especially 

 surveying, according to the seasons; showing them my rude surveys, and sketches, &c, some of 

 which are of 40 years' standing, and leading them on from ancient to modern practice. I have by 

 me rude copies of some of Mr. Speechly's plans drawn when he was a boy, as well as some of his 

 engravings, &c. 



" I take no premium with my pupils, and am determined not to send a fool into the world with 

 any recommendation from me. I am, dear Sir, &c. 



" J. Thompson, Sen." 



The list referred to contains 42 volumes on elementary subjects, 33 on 

 general knowledge, 40 on botany, and 30 on practical gardening. Being 

 the first private garden library, we considered it also entitled to a globe, to 

 which Nicholson's Encyclopaedia, and 34 volumes on botany and practical 

 gardening were added by Messrs. Longman, Rees, and Co. It is particularly 

 gratifying to us to find that the successor to Mr. Speechly has been one of 

 the first to adopt our suggestion, or rather to make known that he has been 

 acting on it for many years; and that Welbeck, so long celebrated for its 

 gardens and woods, is likely to maintain and perpetuate its character. We 

 are the more pleased that our original associations with Welbeck have been 

 revived, because in giving a short character of that place, in our Encyclo- 

 paedia of Gardening, we have to a certain extent done it an injustice, by say- 

 ing that it was neglected. The truth is, that ten years of continued ill 

 health had obliterated it from our memory to such an extent, that when we 

 called there last autumn, we were astonished to find that we were person- 

 ally acquainted with Mr. Thompson, who reminded us of certain sketches 

 and memorandums, which we took there in 1805 ; and on our return home, 

 found in our journal and sketch-book for that year. Had we been so fortu- 

 nate as to have looked into that journal in 1820, we should not now have to 



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