and of Rural Improvement generally, during 1839. 713 



ciple, the advantages of which have been noticed in p. 452. and 

 661. We have no doubt whatever of the superiority of these 

 houses to those built in every other mode of construction hitherto 

 in use for botanic stoves, and even pine pits ; and, when the flat- 

 tened glass, in panes 40 in. long, is employed in this kind of 

 house, it will be one of the most perfect of plant structures. 

 It is probable also that Wetterstedt's metal, which is said to 

 have all the advantages of lead, with less weight, and to cost 

 much less, may be used for covering the sash-bars on the upper 

 side, so as to add greatly to their durability. We expect to 

 be enabled by Mr. Paxton to give, in our ensuing volume, a 

 detailed account of his mode of constructing ridge-and-furrow 

 hot-houses. 



An improvement in the formation of the paths of hot-houses, 

 by Mr. Paxton, is noticed in p. 453. 



Gardening Operations. — Some new modes of budding and 

 grafting have been described ; a mode of hardening garden 

 walks by means of tar and gas liquor (p. 618.), and one of 

 forming them of asphalte (p. 188,), have also been mentioned. 

 The latter kind of walks may probably be introduced with great 

 advantage on steep declivities, where gravel is apt to be washed 

 away by heavy rains and melting snows. Indeed, as the keeping 

 in repair of walks is a material item in the expense of garden 

 scenery, if a permanent walk could be found out that would 

 require neither weeding nor rolling, nor to be repaired with 

 fresh gravel, nor to be renewed every three or four years, and 

 that would at the same time not require the edgings to be con- 

 tinually pared, it would be a very great advantage, both in an 

 economical point of view, and as a matter of taste. As a mat- 

 ter of taste, it would secure fixed edgings, the continual paring 

 of which by the spade is to us one of the most offensive prac- 

 tices in the care and keeping of gardens. The great objection 

 to the asphalte, as at present laid down, is its colour ; because, 

 though at first it may be covered over with powdered granite 

 or fine Kensington gravel, yet these materials soon wash off" 

 with rain, or wear off* by the feet, and leave the asphalte in 

 its native blackness. The employment of Arnott's stove for 

 heating hot-houses has been noticed in p. 107. ; and the use of 

 the husks of oats, as a substitute for tan and stable manure 

 in forming hot-beds, is mentioned in p. 248. 



On the Insects injurious to the Orchard. — One of the best 

 articles which has yet appeared in this Magazine will be found in 

 the present volume, p. 171. Mr. Westwood's article in p. 103. 

 maintains the high character of all that is written by that gentle- 

 man ; and his two works reviewed in p. 30. and p. 32. will be 

 found of the greatest value to the entomological student. 



Vol. XV.— No. 117. 3 b 



