Use of Slate for horticultural Purposes. 1 73 



the scions had been suffered to draw the nourishment furnished 

 by the stock, they would probably have extended upwards of 

 1 ft. in length. Should you think the above hints worth your 

 notice, I have no doubt they may prove acceptable to some of 

 your readers ; and, it' so, they are voluntarily, though hastily, 

 tendered. 



Ville jparmi les Collines^ Jan. 21. 1836. 



Art. IV. On tlie Use of State for horticultural Purposes. 

 By W. B. 



The introduction of slate for horticultural uses well deserves 

 the encouragement it meets with. It can, indeed, scarcely be 

 too highly recommended, from its almost imperishable nature, 

 the facility afforded by the sawing machinery of cutting it into 

 plates suitable for nearly all the various purposes to which wood 

 is generally applied, and its cheapness, arising from the increased 

 quantity now sent into the market, through the enlargement of the 

 quarries which has taken place since the repeal of the duty. 



The slate tubs for orangeries, conservatories, and the decora- 

 tion of lawns and walks, lately exhibited at the gardens of the 

 London Horticultural Society at Chiswick, by Messrs. North 

 and Co. of Palace New Road, Lambeth, (the introducers and 

 manufacturers of the slate billiard tables,) led me to examine 

 into their merits. The appearance of their shape and colour, 

 when seen upon a lawn, or amongst foliage, is very pleasing and 

 ornamental ; and a decided improvement has been made in their 

 form, each side being now made to take off, instead of to slide 

 up, which is much less likely to injure the fibrils of the roots. 

 These slate tubs have been seen and approved of by Mr. Aiton 

 and Mr. Munro ; and they can now be sold much cheaper than 

 when they were exhibited last summer at Chiswick ; Messrs. 

 North and Co. having discovered, since that period, a much 

 quicker method of manufacturing them. One of the first em- 

 ployers of slate for horticultural purposes, since the repeal of the 

 duty, was William Harrison, Esq., F.R.S., H.S., &c., who has 

 fitted up his conservatory at Cheshunt with it : the pavement, 

 shelves, and stages are all of slate, and have a very neat and 

 elegant appearance. Mr. Low of Clapton, and Messrs Rol- 

 lison of Tooting, have also used it in their houses, and much 

 approve of it. 



A terrace, with steps, coping, and balconies, has been made of 

 slate, under the direction of Lady Farnborough, at Bromley 

 Hill, which keeps perfectly free from moss or stains without any 



