440 La'wso?i's Agriculturists Matiual. 



the most part referred to the three sections of gramineous, leguminous, and 

 cruciferous, the collection is pretty extensive, and we are enabled to speak 

 with some confidence of their comparative merits. In this department, how- 

 ever, we are sensible that there is still much to learn ; and our object being 

 to promote the culture of sorts possessing superior qualities, and to discourage 

 that of worthless kinds, we shall feel indebted to our practical friends for any 

 useful hints on the subject, accompanied by specimens. Appended to this 

 section will be found an article on the kinds and quantities of grass seeds for 

 sowing down land, in which we have given tables exhibiting the proportions 

 and mixtures adapted for the various kinds of husbandry and soil. 



" The various plants cultivated for their uses in the arts and manufactures, 

 and for other economical purposes, also form a considerable branch in the 

 exhibition. The esculent roots, particularly those of the potato, turnip, and 

 beet, which are greatly distinguished above the others by their superior utility, 

 have an imposing appearance in a collection, and will be found to occupy in 

 our catalogue a space proportioned to their importance. Of the very nu- 

 merous varieties of the former of these plants which have been submitted to 

 comparative investigation by us, we have given a table exhibiting the peculiar 

 merits. Fifty-one varieties of turnips are specified, and details are given 

 respecting those presented by various individuals to the Museum. 



" Arboriculture forms a distinguished feature in the rural improvement of 

 the country. In this department, however, we believe there is still much 

 room for exertion ; and, to assist us in our enquiries relative to it, we earnestly 

 solicit the contributions of such of our friends as have paid attention to this 

 most important subject. The growth of trees is so variously affected by soil, 

 climate, and management, that sections of trunks from different forests or 

 plantations, accompanied by judicious remarks, could not fail to afford in- 

 teresting and useful information. The breadth of the annual layers, considered 

 in connexion with the meteorological phenomena of the corresponding sea- 

 sons, or as affected on one side of the tree by the size and position of the 

 branches or roots ; the commencement and progress of decay, whether pro- 

 ceeding from the taproot and affecting the centre, or from the lateral roots ; 

 and the diseases beginning near the surface of the tree, while the heart remains 

 sound, afford subjects of observation not less interesting to the physiologist 

 than to the forester. 



" The valuable addition made to the British Arboretum by the introduction 

 of the larch in the course of the last century, renders it very probable that 

 many important accessions to our forest scenery yet remain to be obtained 

 from the natural order Coniferse. To the introduction and propagation of 

 species of this tribe our attention has been especially, and not unsuccessfully, 

 directed. The Museum contains living specimens of the genus Pinus from 

 various parts of the continents of Europe and America, and from Napaul 

 and the Himmalayan Mountains, some of which may yet not only rival, but 

 surpass, the larch in the forests of Scotland. 



" Brief notice is taken of the different horticultural productions and models 

 presented to the Museum. In this department, however, we are especially 

 indebted to the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, for the liber- 

 ality with which they have permitted their valuable series of models to be 

 placed for a limited period in the Museum, to which they have given such an 

 interest as it could not otherwise have possessed. 



" The descriptions of the various specimens have been given with as much 

 conciseness as was judged consistent with perspicuity. Botanical terms are 

 frequently explained in ordinary language, to render the remarks intelligible 

 to the general reader ; and observations derived from experience are offered 

 respecting the culture and uses of the different plants. In short, as we con- 

 sider this report to form a standard, to which future reports, embracing the 

 additions annually made, will be supplementary, we have not spared pains in 

 endeavouring to render it as complete and useful as possible. For the zeal 

 and ability with which we have been aided in our endeavours to render the 



