664 Summary View of the Progress of Gardening, 



mens, to ascertain the- correct names of those in their possession ; 

 and it will be particularly useful in this latter respect to nursery- 

 men, whose collections at present, with one or two exceptions, 

 arc singularly deficient in respect of nomenclature. 



These named trees and shrubs will also be of great use to 

 nurserymen in a commercial point of view, by creating a taste 

 for planting a far greater number of species and varieties in 

 pleasure-grounds than what is done at present. 



In short, at a mere trifle of expense, the Woods and 'Forests 

 have done what will gratify everybody that visits Kensington 

 Gardens and St. James's Park ; and ultimately, and at no dis- 

 tant period, by the taste it will create in persons having gardens 

 or country residences, contribute rapidly to tin; improvement of 

 nursery commerce, and to the general ornament of the country. 

 Though the collection of trees and shrubs already planted in 

 these gardens is not so complete as it might be, yet it will, 

 we have no doubt,- be increased by the addition of all the spe- 

 cies and varieties that can be procured in the nurseries, either 

 at home or abroad, so .as in the end (perhaps of the present 

 year) to render it a complete Arboretum et Frutieetum Britan- 

 nicum. 



It is no small gratification to us to reflect that wc first sug- 

 gested the idea of naming these plants, though no notice was 

 taken of the suggestion till Lord Lincoln was placed at the 

 head of this department of the government. It is also a source 

 of satisfaction, and, wc trust, one which will be considered laud- 

 able, that the names adopted are those of the Arboretum et Fruti- 

 ci'titm Britannicum. The names have been selected and applied 

 by Mr. George Don, F.L.S., than whom a more fit person 

 could not have been employed for this purpose. 



Let us hope that similar arboretums will be planted by the 

 Woods and Forests on the crown lands at Edinburgh, Stirling, 

 St. Andrew's, and perhaps at other towns where there is go- 

 vernment property under the management of the Woods and 

 ■Forest s. 



In the Spectator newspaper of Nov. 12., p. 1089., it is sug- 

 gested that the label should also state the chief use or value of 

 the article labeled [such, wc suppose, as a timber tree, an ever- 

 green, an ornamental shrub, &c]. The Athenaum, noticing this 

 improvement in Kensington Gardens, has the interesting pas- 

 sage which wc quote below.* 



* " Those who stroll around Kensington Gardens, the pleasantcst of sub- 

 urban walks, and St. James's Park, the latter perhaps the best work that Nash 

 the arehiteet accomplished, cannot fail to have been struck by the new source 

 of interest which has been given to both these spots by the naming of the 

 shrubs. To all the recent plantations very legible explanatory tickets have 

 been attached. This little piece of benevolent attention will generate more 



