378 London Horticultural Society and Garden. 



must depend on how he can make use of the produce, and on a great 

 variety of other circumstances. In general, let the cottager have a good 

 cottage and garden, constant work, and sufficient wages, and the rest may 

 be left to him and his employer. Our correspondent's mode of lending 

 labourers prepared land for planting potatoes is good, and has long been 

 practised in Scotland. 



We differ from our correspondent on the subject of education ; but do 

 not the less respect his good intentions towards the poor, so far as he has 

 expressed them. We would no more recommend the poor man to seek 

 his happiness in political clubs, in gambling, or in public houses, than he 

 would; and if the labouring classes had wherewithal to be happy at home, 

 they would be found there, in their gardens, and with their families. Edu- 

 cation we regard as a means to this end, and to every other which is con- 

 ducive to human happiness ; and the time, we trust, will soon come, when 

 the right to education, useful practical education, at the public expense 

 (as in some states of America), will be acknowledged by the constitution 

 of the country, as belonging to all. The transition state in which we now 

 are must unquestionably lead to the political discussions deprecated by 

 our correspondent; and the evils which it produces no one can regret 

 more than we do : but this effect can only cease with the causes that 

 have occasioned it ; viz., ignorance on the part of the people, and mis- 

 government on the part of their rulers. — Cond. 



Art. VIII. London Horticultural Society and Garden. 



March 20. 1832. — The chairman, Dr. Henderson, announced the 

 second part of Vol. I. of the Society's Tranaclions, new series, to be ready 

 for delivery to the fellows. Notice was also given that the exhibition of 

 camellias would take place on the 3d of April, and that Banksian medals 

 would be bestowed on the best collections. 



Read. Considerations upon some of the more important vital functions 

 of plants ; by the Rev. Levison Vernon Harcourt. 



Distributed. Catalogues of the trees in Bartram's Botanic Garden, 

 near Philadelphia; Robert Carr, proprietor. Cuttings of the Beurre 

 Diel, Easter Beurre, and Beurre ranee, kinds of pear ; and of the Reinette 

 de Canada, and Boston russet, kinds of apple. 



Exhibited. Camellia japonica rosea, from J. Allnutt, Esq. 



Also, from the Garden of the Society. Crocuses, Camellia reticulata, and 

 a hybrid azalea originated between Azalea indica and A. indica var. 

 phoenicea. 



April 3. — Read. A paper on the manufacture of Indian rubber from 

 the common garden fig tree ; by John Osborn, Esq. Another paper on the 

 cultivation of the garden grounds at Evesham, in Worcestershire ; by 

 Edward Rudge, Esq. 



Distributed. Grafts of Bequene musque, and Passe-Colmar, kinds of 

 pear ; and of the Golden Harvey and Dutch mignonne, kinds of apple ; 

 and seeds of a hybrid Gladiolus. 



Exhibited. Hovea ilicifolia, from Mr. H. Lowe of the Clapton Nur- 

 sery. Canna zridiflora, and Enkianthus quinqueflorus, from Wm. Wells, 

 Esq. Maxillaria Harrison^, from Edward Gray, Esq. Wax flowers, 

 from Mr. Cornish. Acacia pubescens, from Messrs. Rollisson. Oranges 

 and lemons, from H. M. Dyer, Esq. A sentinel thermometer, regulated 

 by the expansion of air acting upon a delicate mercurial balance, invented 

 by Mr. John Lindley. Drawings of camellias, from John Allnutt, Esq. 

 The Council having announced that there would be an award of a large 

 silver medal and Banksian medals for the best exhibition of camellias at 

 the Meeting of this day, collections were received from Messrs. Chandler, 



