64<6 Summary View of the Progress of Gardening, 



half a century before we had steam-boats ; heating by hot water 

 was invented in Paris nearly as long before it was adopted in 

 England, and the " frequent- drain " system, which is now effect- 

 ing a revolution in the agriculture of the country, has been 

 practised in Essex since the days of Mortimer. The chemistry 

 of cultivation is the topic at present uppermost in the mind of 

 the scientific cultivator ; and, though it appears to present many 

 new and important views, yet it may be questioned whether 

 most of them were not known in the days of Chaptal and Sir 

 Humphry Davy. Supposing this to be the case, however, it 

 derogates nothing from the merit of individuals, but only shows 

 their feeble powers, as compared with the influence of extensive 

 associations, when these are brought to bear on any particular 

 subject. 



Science of Vegetable Culture. — The career of scientific en- 

 quiry, both in the horticultural and agricultural world, is at 

 present rapid ; and, if the researches of scientific men are con- 

 tinued and tested by experience, many new views will be struck 

 out, and a great practical advance obtained. In the meantime it is 

 of immense consequence that so much of the elements of science 

 should be acquired by practical men, as may enable them to 

 thoroughly sift the opinions brought forward, and judge for 

 themselves as to their practical value. The past year has been 

 distinguished by a great variety of efforts to elucidate the subject 

 of manures ; and the many tables published, opinions given, 

 and experiments recorded, in the two leading Agricultural Jour- 

 nals, in the Gardeners' Chronicle, in this Magazine (see Con- 

 tents, p. i.), and in the works of Johnston and others, have 

 added immensely to the bulk of information from which rules 

 for practice must ultimately be deduced. That much disap- 

 pointment and many unaccountable results have been produced 

 should not damp our endeavours. The difference of soils has 

 a great effect in producing these ; they vary so much in their 

 physical properties, both naturally and artificially, that experi- 

 ments will require to be often and carefully repeated on different 

 soils, in different seasons, and on a large scale, before they can 

 enable us to form rules for our guidance in practice ; but, prin- 

 ciples being once firmly established, rules will be deduced from 

 them, from which practical advantages will arise, far greater 

 than can at present be foreseen. The articles on manures and 

 soils, of most direct value for cultivators, that have been pub- 

 lished in the course of the year, are, in our opinion, those of 

 Mr. Lymburn, p. 72. and p. 396 ; but a general summary for the 

 year, on the subject of soils and manures, by this gentleman, we 

 are unavoidably compelled to postpone till our next publication. 

 There is perhaps no person in this country so competent to treat 

 usefully on soils, manures, and vegetable physiology, as Mr. 



