a Substitute for Field Sports. 141 



merits in which our ancestors were prone to indulge. Even 

 the highest and the noblest of the land now seem to vie with 

 each other in their desire to obtain an intimate knowledo-e 

 of the varied productions of the animal, mineral, and vegetable 

 kingdoms ; and more especially with regard to the latter, by 

 bringing them to the utmost perfection which they are capable 

 of attaining. As this noble emulation seems to be gaining 

 ground every day, I trust the time is not far distant when 

 fox-hunting, horse-racing (and its concomitant vices), with 

 the more vulgar (but, in the Elizabethan age, equally fashion- 

 able) sports of bull-baiting, cock-fighting, &c.,will be banished 

 from the land. The " march of intellect," within the last 

 thirty years, has, indeed, been most rapid ; and, so long as it 

 continues its present pace, an increased desire for becoming 

 more intimately and practically acquainted with the works of 

 nature will be its inevitable consequence. 



The increased attention now given to the science of horti- 

 culture is, in no instance, more apparent than in the establish- 

 ment of Botanical and Horticultural Societies in all parts of 

 the kingdom, and in the liberal encouragement afforded to 

 the constructors of horticultural buildings in general; and, 

 in confirmation of the latter fact, it may not be improper to 

 observe, that, being myself the proprietor of an extensive 

 metallic hot-house manufactory in Birmingham, there have 

 been constructed at my establishment, during the last fourteen 

 years, no fewer than two hundred metallic conservatories, 

 forcing-houses, fru king-pits, &c. &c, of various dimensions, 

 which, supposing them to be placed side by side, so as to 

 form a continued line, would extend to the amazing length of 

 5000 ft., or nearly an English mile. Yet, notwithstanding the 

 decided superiority of the metallic houses over those con- 

 structed of Avood, the prejudice in favour of the latter is still 

 so great, that, where one metallic house is erected, there are 

 at least fifty of wood. It is gratifying, however, to know 

 that this prejudice is fast declining, under the influence of the 

 acknowledged fact, that, in all cases where a fair trial has 

 been afforded to the metallic hot-houses (constructed upon 

 their present much improved principle), so uniformly superior 

 have they been found in all respects to those of wood, that 

 whole ranges of the latter have been entirely swept away, and 

 I have myself, within the last two years, been employed to 

 replace some of them with metallic houses, to the extent (in 

 two gardens alone) of 450 ft. I am, Sir, yours, &c. 



Thomas Clark, Jun. 

 Metallic Hot-house Manufactory, 

 55. Lionel Street, Birmingham, Feb. 15. 1832. 



