and of Rural Improvement, during 1835. 623 



more especially by Mr. Low of the Clapton Nursery, many 

 new species of Orchidese have been introduced, besides other 

 plants ; and we have no doubt, as we have elsewhere stated, it 

 would answer, in apecuniary point of view, to send out collectors 

 to the mountainous regions of South America and India, for the 

 sake of collecting the seeds of pines, and other trees and shrubs 

 likely to endure the open air in this country. 



The Condition of Gardeners, whether those who are in situations 

 as masters, having the care of the gardens of country gentlemen, 

 or those who work under them as journeymen, may be consi- 

 dered as improved rather than otherwise ; because, while no 

 great change has taken place in their yearly or weekly wages, 

 the price of all the necessaries of life has greatly fallen every 

 where. It is acknowledged, however, that there is a great want 

 of situations for head gardeners, owing to various noble and 

 wealthy families having broken up, or greatly reduced, their 

 establishments, which has occasioned some gardeners to enter 

 into other businesses; and a considerable number, both of mas- 

 ters and journeymen, to emigrate to other countries, especially 

 to North America. 



RURAL IMPROVEMENT GENERALLY. 



Agriculture in Britain may date its first improvement from the 

 introduction of clover and turnips from the Netherlands, and its 

 second from the introduction of the drill system of cultivation. 

 Towards the end of the last century a metropolitan agricultural 

 society was established, and the fashion of forming agricultural 

 societies became general throughout the counties. These so- 

 cieties, including their parent, the Board of Agriculture, for the 

 most part died away with the fall of prices which took place 

 after the general peace ; but they have since revived, and several 

 district societies, both in England and Scotland, by their exhi- 

 bitions, by their premiums, and by the means which they afford 

 to agriculturists of becoming personally acquainted with one 

 another, are doing much good. At the head of these societies 

 in England is the Bath and West of England Society ; and in 

 Scotland, the Highland Society. Both these societies preceded 

 the Board of Agriculture, and have survived it; and both, we 

 believe, continue to do much good by their meetings, their ex- 

 hibitions, their museums, their libraries, and the publication of 

 their transactions. 



Connected with these societies has sprung up a new source of 

 agricultural improvement, which promises to have extensive in- 

 fluence, viz. agricultural museums. Something of the kind, 

 applicable to manufactures as well as to agricultural productions, 

 has taken place for several years in Paris, and, we believe, in 

 some other towns on the Continent ; and, to a certain extent, at 



