5 1 8 Proposal to name Collections of Trees and Shrubs 



a very good idea of the genus, receive only varieties of one species, which can 

 only give him an idea of that species, and no proper idea of the general character 

 of the genus. For example, in the genus 6'ratae v gus, supposing the possessor 

 of a small pleasure-ground can afford room for only six species, and, looking 

 over an extensive catalogue containing seventy or eighty names, he chooses 

 C. arbutifolia, C. caroliniana, C. cerasifera, C. elliptica, C. /»yracanthifolia, and 

 C. splendens ; how will he he surprised, on seeing these kinds come into 

 leaf, to find that they are all varieties or synonymes of Crataegus Crus-galli! 

 Supposing he chooses the following six names, C. laciniata, C. incisa, 

 C. guercifolia, C. Olivena, C. Celsidna, and C. sibirica ; he will be not less 

 surprised at finding them all varieties of the common hawthorn, scarcely 

 distinguishable from one another. Again, in the genus 7'inus, at present so 

 popular, suppose the following sorts are ordered from the nurseryman's cata- 

 logue, P. rubra, P. horizontals, P. rigensis, P. altiiica, P. intermedia, and P. 

 genevensis; all these, and several others which figure in catalogues as distinct 

 species, he will find nothing more than the common Scotch pine, scarcely one of 

 them differing sufficiently from the species to make it worth cultivating. On 

 the other hand, supposing the proprietor of a small pleasure-ground, who 

 could only afford room for six kinds of Crataegus, had ordered the following 

 kinds, C. coccinea, C. joyrifolia, C. nigra, C. flava, C. cordata, and C. tana- 

 cetifolia ; or C. mexicana, C. virginica, C. heterophylla, C. orientalis, 

 C. ffpiifdlia, and C. Douglass; he would in either case have a collection 

 of plants very different from each other, very characteristic of the genus, and 

 exhibiting a very interesting variety of forms all referable to the same type ; 

 and which would have been obtained at exactly the same price as the others. 

 In like manner, in the case of the genus Pinus, had P. pumilio, P. inops, 

 P. Laricio, P. Pinea, P. Pa3 v da, and P. Cembra been chosen ; plants very 

 different in their appearance, and giving a fair representation of the genus 

 Pinus, would have been obtained, and that for nearly the same price as the 

 half-dozen Scotch pines above mentioned. 



These observations will equally apply in the case of all genera of 

 which there are several names given as species in the catalogues. Amid 

 so much confusion, it is not to be wondered at that the gardener is 

 puzzled to find out the difference between species and varieties ; and that 

 he is, in consequence of this feeling, deterred from the study of trees and 

 shrubs, and consequently from recommending his employer to plant a col- 

 lection of them, or even to introduce a greater variety into his pleasure- 

 ground or plantations than is given by the common routine kinds. Let 

 him, however, cease to puzzle himself by endeavours to find out specific 

 distinctions where none exist ; and let him rely upon this, that wherever a 

 species is truly distinct, that distinction will be so obvious to the eye of a 

 practised observer as to dispel all doubts. The distinction between varieties 

 is equally clear: but there are certain persons, both among cultivators and prac- 

 tical botanists, who are continually in search of new species or varieties, and 

 these readily seize upon the slightest marks indicating a difference, though this 

 difference very often refers merely to one individual plant as compared with 

 another individual plant ; and we all know that differences of this kind may 

 exist in a very striking degree, without there being any distinction between 

 the plants sufficiently marked to constitute either a species or a variety. 



The intention of the Arboretum Britannicum is to lessen these evils by 

 exposing them, and by enabling those nurserymen who will take the trouble, 

 to distinguish in their catalogues what are species and varieties, and what are 

 synonymes ; and, above all, to enable them to put the authorities to all their 

 names. Were nurserymen to do this correctly, which they might do from 

 the Arboretum Britannicum, the evil would be less enormous; because the pur- 

 chaser, by means of the work mentioned, would be able to get at the histor}' 

 of the plant. The most desirable object, however, would be to establish the 

 same nomenclature throughout all the nurseries in the British dominions, and 

 more especially in all the public gardens. Were this done, a correct nomen- 



