and of Rural Impro'oemetit generally ^ during 1837. 543 



more, with its pinetum and flower-garden, both unrivalled in 

 England ; White Knights, long celebrated for its trees and 

 shrubs ; High Clere, for its splendid scenery, its general 

 collection, and especially its hybrid rhododendrons and azaleas ; 

 the public gardens commenced at Bath and Bristol ; and the 

 Bristol Nursery. The Southampton railway, which it is said 

 will be finished in two years, will enable the London gardener 

 to visit the Goldworth Arboretum, and the splendid collection 

 of American plants in the Knaphill Nursery, and return in the 

 same day. When the railroad is extended from Liverpool to 

 Glasgow and Edinburgh, the principal public gardens of Bri- 

 tain may be visited in as many days as it now requires weeks. 



GARDENING AND RURAL IMPROVEMENT IN FOREIGN 

 COUNTRIES. 



All accounts agree, that gardening is at present in a very low 

 state in France. (Seep. 461.) In Belgium, the cultivation of 

 plants to be exhibited for prizes continues to be pursued with 

 vigour (see p. 82.) ; but Frankfort, Berlin, Munich, and Vienna 

 are now, as they have been for several years past, the places 

 where the enjoyments to be derived from gardening are most 

 highly valued. The prizes offered, both in France and in 

 Holland, for the improvement of the science of gardening and 

 of agriculture, are well deserving notice (see p. 462—465.) ; and 

 also the comparative view of the past and present state of 

 horticulture in Denmark (see p. 466.). In the United States, 

 gardening has received a temporary check from the general 

 commercial difficulties of the country, which, however, a year 

 or two will be sufficient to overcome. In British America, 

 we have noticed (p. 467.) a splendid example in the neighbour- 

 hood of Quebec. In Australia, at Sydney, lectures have been 

 delivered, and a book pubhshed on landscape-gardening, by the 

 late Mr. Shepherd; and the most beautiful residence in the 

 colony is, as it ought ,to be, that of the late Secretary to the 

 Linnaean Society, our early and much esteemed friend, Alex- 

 ander M'Leay. (See p. 587.) 



OBITUARY. 



Joseph Sabine, Esq., F.R.S., &c. (who, though not the 

 originator of the Horticultural Society, was undoubtedly the 

 founder of its celebrity and usefulness), died in the course of the 

 year; and we have done justice to his memory in the proper 

 place ; as we have to that of the eminent botanist Persoon ; of 

 our friend M. Fischer, the director of the Botanic Garden at 

 Gottingen, generally esteemed both as a gardener and a man ; 

 and Mr. Hay, an eminent garden architect, who has contributed 

 much to the improvement of walled gardens and hot-houses in 

 Scotland. 



