Domestic Notices: — Scotland. 455 



system, and correctly named ; but we cannot altogether approve of an 

 avenue of standard roses carried through the middle of the botanic garden. 

 Shrubs of kinds which make small and curious heads, such as diiferent species 

 of Caragdna, as may be seen in Lee's nursery, and a variety of other things of 

 the kind, a list of which will be found in the concluding article on cemeteries, 

 which will appear in the October Number of this Magazine, would, we think, 

 be preferable. We were also glad to see the heaps of rubbish commonly 

 designated rockwork done away with, conceiving them, unless constructed 

 in a very different manner from what they have ever been at Kew, as 

 totally unsuitable for botanic gardens. In a pleasure-ground, a rockwork is 

 chiefly to be considered as a pictorial feature ; in a botanic garden it ought 

 never, in our opinion, to be resorted to, except for such rock plants as will 

 not thrive on the general surface of the garden. We would apply this prin- 

 ciple equally in the case of marsh plants and aquatics. The next thing that 

 we should like to see done at Kew would be an extension of the arboretum, 

 or rather the planting of a new one, to extend along the whole of the cir- 

 cumferential plantation of the pleasure-ground. The length of the walk 

 would be, we believe, nearly two miles, and this would allow of most, or all, 

 of the trees attaining their full size, and also of adding any new species or 

 varieties in their proper places from time to time, as they were introduced or 

 originated. We have elsewhere (see Arb. Not.) mentioned the Antarctic 

 beeches ; and we also saw some species of Clematis, J'asminum, 7?ubus, and 

 Dacrydium, from New Zealand, some of which may possibly be hardy, more 

 especially Dacrydium Mai. As these plants, and a number of others, are 

 about to be sold by auction, those that are worth cultivating will soon be 

 extensively propagated. — Cond. 



The Royal Agricultural Society of England held their great annual meeting 

 at Derby, on July 11, 12, and 13. It was well attended, ,' and the exhi- 

 bition of new implements was far greater than had ever before taken place. 

 For a full account of all that passed, as well as for engravings of some of the 

 implements, we refer to the New Farmer^ s Journal Six\d Supjjiement of July 17., 

 and to Johnson's Annual Register of Agricultural Imj)rovementsfor 1843. — Cond. 



SCOTLAND. 



Testimonial to Dr. Neill. — On June 22. the Scottish practical gardeners, 

 amounting to 600 presented their testimonial to Dr. Neill, to whom garden- 

 ing and Scotch gardeners, all over the world, but more especially in Scotland, 

 are more indebted than to any man alive, or that ever has lived. Dr. Neill 

 is not only a scientific naturalist and horticulturist, but, as every one knows 

 who has had the happiness to become acquainted with him, one of the 

 kindest-hearted of human beings. 



" The testimonial is a handsome silver vase, supported on a triangular 

 pedestal, and standing on an appropriate plateau. The lid of the vase is 

 surmounted with a figure of Britannia in the Scottish form, and, with this 

 exception, is plain, and rests on the projecting border of the vase, which is 

 composed of a broad wreath of the vine, in fruit and foliage. Below this 

 wreath the vase narrows much, forming the neck ; and afterwards shoulders 

 out in a graceful manner. On the centre compartment, on one side of the 

 vase, is placed an excellent medallion likeness of Dr. Neill, surrounded with a 

 wreath of flowers, composed of Nierembergza calycina, PhilibertM grandiflora, 

 and Tweedifit caerulea. On each side of the wreath is arranged a festoon of 

 fruit, composed of the principal varieties now in cultivation, both from tropical 

 and temperate climates. The fruit is separated from the flowers by two 

 ornamental honeysuckle scrolls undulating to the pedestal ; on the top of each 

 is placed a juvenile figure, the one representing Spring, and the other Summer, 

 each bearing its appropriate emblems. On the centre of the opposite side of 

 the vase, corresponding with the medallion, is placed the inscription, in the 

 foUowintr words : — 



