GARDENERS 
CHRONICLE. 
[NOVEMBER 20, 1875. 
Е 
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1875. 
APPOINTMENTS TOR THE ENSUING WEEK. 
Institution of Surveyors : A Paper on Fruit 
Culture will be Read by Mr. G. Webb, at 
de of Dutch 2— at Stevens' Rooms, 
TUESDAY, Nov. 23 { —: acm ural History Specimens, at 
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 24 { Sale of Greenhouse Plants from Ghent, at 
rictu ual. Bosieiy of Ireland: 
THURSDAY, MIC. 
Monpay, Noy. 22 
FRIDAY, 
| Cheetham: Hill Horticultural Society's 
SATURDAY, Nov. 274 saje ot [IET Ss, Bulbs, &c., at 
Stevens’ Rooms. 
m E question of the removal of the BOTANIC 
GARDEN, OXFORD, to a new and, in some 
respects, more favourable site, is one which has 
n the University, and which 
h wider circle than 
of the University magnates who will 
shortly be called on to decide it. It is one in 
which the whole community of gp at 
home and abroad are concerned. It is one in 
which horticulturists also are * indi- 
_It is to be hoped, piri 
this 
question repa or decide it —— ies 
grounds. 
y almos 
say from i: foundation “the cope "us lan- 
guished for want of funds, or has been indebted 
to the liberality of wealthy and munificent Pro- 
fessors and others for means to carry on its 
ordinary work, or to make era additions and 
alterations which the progress of botanical 
science has demanded. To ties late Professor 
ments of the garden ; and his zealous love for 
his айта mater in general, and the establish- 
ent he directed in particular, are gratefully 
remembered by those who were privileged to 
witness them. 
It is obvious, however, that to have to depend 
on private munificence in a case like this is a 
ao 
a 
F 
Be 
НЫ 
of the present 
коке ЭА and a new 
provision does the University intend to make 
to maintain it? Nothing can be more disheart- 
ening to the Professor and his subordinates than 
to have to maintain a garden—whose poverty 
cannot be concealed—with insufficient means. 
If the University is not disposed to put financial 
matters on a satisfactory footing, both as 
regards the maintenance of the garden, the 
income of the Professor, and the salaries of his 
Os i siders say it w 
association with 
Museum and its splendid and ya equipped 
library and laboratories. Again we are not 
mistaken, a portion of the * Parks around the 
arboretum, for which the space in the existing 
garden is far too limite 
The first reason is, doubtless, a valid one, but 
it might readily be met if Magdalen College 
would undertake to supply the necessary funds 
more liberal scale. Next comes the desire to con- 
centrate the scientific establishments of the Uni- 
versity—a desire natural enough if not out- 
weighed by other considerations. With reference 
to this point we may ask whether the soil and site 
near the Museum are suitable for the purpose ? 
If our recollection be accurate there is but little 
depth of soil above the arid oolitic limestone 
rock, and if this be so it is certainly not a 
favourable site to select for a botanic garden. 
It is fair also to ask what real inconvenience, if 
existing garden, —€— small and requiring 
renovation, is complete in itself. 
excellent library, a good herbarium, and ad- 
joining it is a laboratory belonging, we believe, 
Magdalen College—a laboratory which was 
the scene of the late Professor DAUBENY'S ex- 
periments on the action of light on plants, and 
of numerous other observations on vegetable 
physiology and agricultural chemistry made 
by that indefatigable and pure-hearted man. 
Moreover, if further space be required it would, 
we imagine, be easy to acquire more land in the 
direction of Christ Church Meadow. 
n the case of Cambridge, of Edinburgh, and 
of sundry ышы ыд gardens, change 
of site has been n ated from the encroach- 
ments of houses, cing таайа detent xip 
of the atmosphere, and a general intensification 
of the conditions hostile to plant culture, Is 
this so at Oxford? We venture to think not. 
The present garden is not likely, we imagine, 
o be more encroached upon that it is already, 
even now it is hardly more so than the “parks,” 
in which the Museum is situated, and the out- 
skirts of which are occupied by a daily increas- 
ing меле» 
If n arden were in existence it would, 
айан. be preferable to select а site nearer 
to the other scientific establishments of the 
rt 
q 
probably large enough for purely scientific 
ways the first consi lon in a 
botanic garden ко per ; and the ** Parks" could 
be utilised for the growth of such things for 
charm which the beautiful little garden over- 
looked by the graceful tower of Magdalen 
College ii but probably if it ceased to be the. 
botanic arden it would still be maintained 
as a pleasure-ground, so that that objection 
would fall to the ground, 
Lastly, there remains a sentimental reason 
why the site of the garden should not be lightly 
changed. The Oxford i is, by virtue of 
associa herita 
| in other cases—Edinburgh to wit—if it were once 
shown to be necessary. 
agreeable things, the bitter flavour gradu 
ishes - o be remarked, 
in some other dis- 
or c and we 
doubt mos, in course of time, the associations 
| the railway-g ge 
shock [oda Meier of Italy, on eee? a 
connected with the old чена. м. transferred. 
gradually but irresistibly to the 
f 
as we can judge, wy dios of | 
So far 
evidence seems to be in favour of renovating 
and improving the financial a of the pre- 
sent garden rather up uprooting. it and 
starting afresh. In any case, we sincerely trust 
that no hasty or extra decision may be 
arrive 
IN the face of a great йай: it is а common 
experience that men, by blind c 
panic, intensify the ills they im shun, or 
rush into others which in the end Pise even 
more formidable. An instance of this is afforded 
wh ll give rise to of 
loss and inconvenience m i in 
on n the introduction of the 
the g ит 
Phylloxera itself. The Italian Government has 
actually prohibited the entrance into its terri- 
tory of any living plant whatever, and the 
French Government has, we believe, issued an 
equally severe edict as regards its colonial pos- 
sessions in Algeria. 
all this, 
is special to the Vine— 
plant—this has been proved by M 
STEIN. This, then, is a reason for prohibiting 
the passage of Vines over the respective 
frontiers—or, better still of taking the utmost: 
pes of Roses, fruit trees, or stove plants. 
re the Governments in question so ill-informed 
one they do not know that all such precautions 
must be futile? 
insects as fly, it 
for them to try it, Could they stop all transit 
of merchandise, all ingress of travellers, all 
currents of foreign and infected air, they might 
windows should be firmly closed to prevent the 
inroads of burglars! Is it worth while—can it 
be worth while—to check commerce, injure 
минин, € nigh destroy some branches of 
trade, and 
as se? Of course, the law 
evaded, and law-abiding men will be turned 
different ways; and the 
possibly prevent it entirely, and, if not entirely, 
then à уно? bonis it to attempt it at all? Besides, 
Custom-house officers are, as a rule, not en- 
tomologists, and, with all their sharpness, they 
might fail to uw mr a Phylloxera in the mu 
ona sump er's beo 
ilustrado. of the — Á E. rue 
de 
would prohibit such transit, appropriat re 
Vines to his. use, and plant 8 
own en ! Who knows but ce om- 
house officers may now and then do the same 
thing. There is always some comfort in know- 
Now, see the stupidity of. 
It is well known that the Phylloxera - 
it can live on no other 
LICHTEN- 
D 
ra 
