NOVEMBER 217 



^orentinus only dies in very severe vyinters. Mr. 

 Eobinson gives a list of them, and they are such pretty 

 little shrubs that they are well worth any trouble. The 

 mixed Helianthemums (Sun Eoses) are best raised from 

 seed, and it is very easy to keep any specially good ones 

 from cuttings made in the summer, when they strike 

 freely. I take potfuls of cuttings of the shrubby kinds 

 every year as well, in case of accidents. There are several 

 other books by Mr. Sweet, aU of which must be well 

 worth having. 



1826. ' The Gardener's Magazine,' conducted by J. C. 

 Loudon. This pubhcation, of which I have seventeen 

 volumes, was, according to his biographer, Mr. Loudon's 

 own favourite, into which he put the best of his ideas 

 and work. It is only illustrated with small wood-cuts in 

 order to explain the text, but is crammed with interesting 

 information, well-arranged lists of plants, and descrip- 

 tions of country houses, the culture of fruit and flowers, 

 green-houses, and stoves. I repeat, the especial use of 

 these older books is to help us to the knowledge and 

 cultivation of non-hardy exotics — a subject which the 

 great authority of the day, Mr. Eobinson, does not touch 

 upon. They, however, require to be read with under- 

 standing, as in Mr. Loudon's day gardeners were much 

 more afraid than they are now of treating plants as 

 hardy — the risk of losing them being then too great, 

 whereas now it is only considered as being good for 

 trade. In nearly all private gardens of the present day 

 it is almost forgotten that plants can be easily repro- 

 duced by layers, cuttings, and seeds. Modem gardening 

 shares in the common fault of our generation, which is so 

 prone to waste and to buy, rather than to produce. 



Mr. Loudon seems to have been an upright, hard- 

 working and educated man, who was rather forced by 

 ill-health into the life which he took up. There is an 



