Remarlcs on ornamental Planting. 33 



plants of the same genera require different modes to propagate 

 them successfully ; as in Populus, some are increased by cut- 

 tings, and others by layers ; and, though they will all grow by 

 layers, they will not all take freely by cuttings ; plants belonging 

 to the genus Pyrus are generally grafted ; and those belonging 

 to the genus Primus are generally budded, and so forth. I 

 would wish to know if there is any thing discernible in the struc- 

 ture of plants, whereby it might be ascertained, on examining 

 them, which mode of treatment they would most willingly yield 

 to. That of growing by cuttings is the most simple way; and, if it 

 followed that, in every case, as in Populus, layering was only a 

 surer mode, then we might suppose that, as layering was superior 

 to cuttings, so grafting was superior to layering, buddings superior 

 to grafting, and inarching superior to the whole ; and, hence, we 

 might conclude, that inarching was the only true method, and 

 all the others but used for dispatch or convenience. But it so 

 happens that some plants may be grown or increased by one 

 of the specified modes, and not by any of the others ; and 

 from this it appears that each method is primitive in itself, and 

 that either may be the best with regard to particular plants. Is 

 it not probable that there may be something in the structure of 

 the pores, pith, bark, or buds, by which it might be discovered, 

 at first sight of a plant, which of the above operations would 

 be best adapted to it ? Such a discovery would remove what 

 is at present a great inconvenience : as things now stand, the 

 only recourse with a new plant is to try it first one way, and then 

 another, and thus find out the method at the expense of two or 

 three years' lost time ; and often, from not knowing the proper 

 method at first, losing the plants altogether. 



Should you be inclined to enter on this subject, the corre- 

 spondence may be continued. 



Edinburgh, Nov. 2. 1837. 



[We think the subject a very interesting one, and shall be 

 happy to hear from our correspondent upon it again. — Cond.'] 



Art. VIII. Cursory Remarks on ornamental Planting. 

 By R. Glendinning. 



As the season is now arrived when improvements by planting 

 are carried on either in newly laid grounds, or in the improve- 

 ments making to old ones, I have been induced to send you the 

 following remarks on the subject. From experience, I can say, 

 and truly, that there is no department of rural improvement gene- 

 rally so injudiciously executed as this, which frequently arises from 

 a hasty and inconsiderate arrangement of the different trees and 

 shrubs chosen for this purpose, arising from ignorance of the 



Vol. XIV. — No. 94. d 



