and of Riiral Improvement generally^ daring 1840. 619 



watery juice into the richer saccharine nature, which is pro- 

 duced in fruits when they are duly supplied with moisture in 

 the early and middle period of growth, and then ripened off in 

 dry sunny weather. In September, frosts at night were fre- 

 quent, and sometimes very sharp ; this was certainly not favour- 

 able to perfect ripening, although it may tend to bring the 

 process to an imperfect termination. Grapes on walls were 

 generally very defective, as regards quantity ; the wet and dark 

 previous autumn was doubtless the cause of their not showing 

 blossom ; and in ripening, after exposure to a certain degree of 

 cold at night, the saccharine formation process is found to be 

 arrested." 



History and Statistics. — The present volume of the Gff^'- 

 dener's Magazine contains few additional facts relative to the past 

 history of gardening, but many relative to its present state, both 

 in Great Britain and other countries. We refer to the nume- 

 rous notes on country seats, the names of which will be found in 

 their proper places in the Table of Contents ; and to the articles 

 on the Gardening of Italy by Manetti (p. 70. and 241.), on 

 that of Egypt by Dr. Bowring (p. 56^.)., and to those on Ame- 

 rica by Mr. Downing (p. 658.) and Mr. Gordon (p. 63. and 660.). 

 Perhaps the most interesting historical fact which has occurred 

 in England in the course of the year is the completion of the 

 Derby Arboretum, an account of which will be found in this 

 volume (p. 521.), and a much more ample one in a separate 

 pamphlet, entitled the Derby Arboretum. 



Science of Vegetable Culture. — Perhaps the most valuable 

 article in this year's Magazine is the one on the Science of 

 Horticulture, by Mr. Lymburn (p. 425.). It ought to be pe- 

 rused again and again by every young gardener, in connexion 

 with the volume which gave rise to it. The articles next in 

 value we conceive to be those on supplying atmospheric moisture 

 to hot-houses, and on conical boilers, by Mr. Rogers (p. 122. 

 and 196.), and the account of Mr. Penn's mode of warming and 

 ventilating hot-houses (p. 120.). Mr. Penn's mode of warming 

 and ventilating, we conceive to be the greatest practical improve- 

 ment that has been made known in the course of the year. The 

 essential advantage which it procures is, that of rendering a 

 temperature of 80°, even though accompanied with moisture in 

 the atmosphere to the point of saturation, as agreeable as one 

 of 60° ; and, consequently, rendering a moist stove, or orchida- 

 ceous house, as fit for the most delicate lady to breathe in as a 

 greenhouse. There is nothing that is not easily accounted for 

 in the difference of the human feelings experienced when we ' 

 stand in air in motion, as compared with those which we experi- 

 ence vi'hen standing in air in a stagnant state ; the same results 

 being felt in a warm day, when there is a breeze, as compared 



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