Priced List of Trees for a comprehensive Arboretum. 567 



Art. VI. A List of Trees, ixith their Prices in the London Nur- 

 series, for planting an Arboretum on a comprehensive Scale toith 

 the smallest Number of Plants, viz. tvith 298 Trees, "which xvill cost 

 about 301. By the Conductor. 



So many of the names in the nurserymen's catalogues stand 

 as those of species, while, in fact, they are only those of varieties, 

 or are synonymous, that we think we shall be rendering a service 

 to those who intend planting arboretums this season, by giving 

 a list of trees, which, according to our opinion, will comprehend 

 almost all the species procurable in the London nurseries, and 

 also some of the best and most distinct varieties. 



The number of names at present in some of the London 

 nursery lists is so great, that we believe it operates both against 

 the nurserymen and those who would become purchasers. Some 

 are in despair of ever acquiring such a number of sorts, from an 

 idea of the sum they would cost; and others are deterred from 

 planting an arboretum, from an idea of the great space it would 

 require to contain such a multitude of trees, and the expense of 

 keeping them up afterwards. There is a third class of persons, and 

 among them are many professed gardeners, who are frightened 

 at the idea of being required to distinguish so many species from 

 one another, and perhaps are conscious of a deficiency of know- 

 ledge in the names of trees and shrubs. All these causes, and 

 others that might be mentioned, operate as a great bar to the 

 sale of collections of trees, and the planting of arboretums. If 

 we can show, therefore, that a very complete arboretum may be 

 planted with from 250 to 300 trees, and at an expense of pur- 

 chase of from 251. to 30/., we think we shall have rendered 

 service both to the countrj' gentlemen and the nursei'ymen. We 

 cannot, however, in this paper, give our reasons for considering 

 certain sorts which many believe to be species, or which might 

 be supposed species from looking at the way in which their 

 names are placed in catalogues, as merely varieties. We shall 

 do this in our Arboretum Britannicum ; and to that work, when 

 it is completed (which we hope will be the case in June next, 

 instead of in December, 1836, as we originally proposed), we 

 must refer those who have not faith in our opinions. 



It must not be supposed, while we contend for limiting the 

 species, that we deny the distinctness of many of the varieties : 

 as well might we pretend to say that all the garden varieties of 

 the apple and pear were exactly the same thing as the crab, and 

 should be neglected accordingly. All that we wish is, that varie- 

 ties should not be passed off as species ; partly to simplify the 

 business of planting arboretums, and partly to prevent gardeners 

 and others from puzzling themselves to find specific distinctions, 

 when, in reality, none exist. It is this rage for making species, 

 and parade of nice technical distinctions, which, with many, has 



