THE 



GARDENER'S MAGAZINE, 



DECEMBER, 1838. 



ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 



Art. I. A summary View of the Progress of Gardening., and of 

 Rural Improvement generally, in Britain, during the Year 1838; 

 'with some Notices relative to the State of both in Foreign Countries. 

 By the Conductor. 



In a summary like the present, it seems desirable to set out by 

 noticing the characteristic features of the year, should there be 

 any. These features may be sought for in the influence which the 

 climate or weather of the year has had on garden productions; 

 in the records of inventions or discoveries, either directly or in- 

 directly applicable to garden purposes ; and in the acts of public 

 bodies, or wealthy individuals, who devote themselves to the ad- 

 vancement of gardening. 



The weather of the early part of the year 1838 was so severe 

 as to kill to the ground many kinds of trees and shrubs, some 

 species of which had not suffered so jnuch, in this country, 

 within the memory of man. When we mention that the 

 common arbutus, common laurel, Portugal laurel, laurustinus, 

 sweet bay, and /Rhododendron ponticum, were killed to the 

 ground, or severely injured, in the climate of London, it will 

 easily be understood that the more tender trees and shrubs, 

 most of which are generally planted against walls, suffered 

 severely. We refer to the section of Arboriculture, in our table 

 of contents, for the details of what happened at particular places 

 in Britain and Ireland, and in some parts of the Continent; and. 

 shall here confine ourselves to a few general remarks. 



The weather, during the latter part of 1837j up to Christmas, 

 was unusually mild, and kept a number of half-hardy plants, 

 especially those against walls, almost in a growing state. Early in 

 January, the frost set in suddenly with great severity; the ther- 

 mometer, which had, for some weeks before, ranged between 40° 

 and 50°, suddenly falling to zero, and, in some places, even below 

 it. In one night, the foliage of many evergreens, including even 

 the Quercus Z^lex and the common furze, was blackened, and 

 the plants apparently killed. This effect took place to very dif- 

 ferent degrees of extent, according to the soils and situations in 

 Vol. XIV. — No, 105. nn 



