196 THE PHILADELPHIA FLORIST. [Nov'r. 



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^ grown specimens of rare plants. It is celebrated also for the success of j 

 V-> an experiment unparalleled in horticulture. A Dragon tree had grown 

 too tall for the conservatory and the sub-curator, Mr. Bain cut off a por- 

 tion of the trunk, and by care and attention succeeded in getting the 

 remaining parts to unite again. Prof. Aliman lectures on Botany in 

 connection with this institution. 



Belfast, the most nourishing and most important manufacturing 

 town in Ireland, has a Botanic Garden, consisting of about 18 acres 

 beautifully laid out, two large conservatories of wrought iron and 

 curvilinear roof, the first of the kind constructed in the country, as 

 well as a house appropriated to the cultivation of Orchids, of which 

 there is here an extensive collection. Many of them were presented 

 by the lamented Capt. Crozier, one of the companions of Sir John 

 Franklin, of the recovery of whom we have almost lost hope. A 

 fine collection of plants are to be found in these grounds, which are 

 justly ranked as the most attractive in their arrangement and keeping 

 in the kingdom. The curator, D. Ferguson, assumed the charge of 

 this garden, having previously been foreman at the Glasgow Gardens 

 under David Murray. 



We have now run over the principal Botanical establishments in 

 Great Britain, and trust that they do not present so great a contrast 

 with our own country as to create discouragement. America will yet 

 have her flourishing Botanic Gardens, where American gardeners may 

 be trained in the beautiful art of Horticulture. Then our Horticul- 

 tural Magazines will not be filled with tirades against the British 

 gardeners and gardening, but the achievements of the mother coun- 

 try will be appreciated as the ground work of our own systems, modi- 

 fied and directed of course by climatic experience and cultivated 

 taste derived from the experience of foreign operators, adapted to re- 

 quirements of our soil, climate and political character. Then the 

 gardener will be respected as much as any other mechanic, or even 

 professional man, if he has studied the sciences connected with his 

 pursuits. And then the many social evils resulting from a wrong oc- 

 cupation of leisure hours shall no longer be complained of, for the 

 improved moral tone of the community shall seek recreation in harm- 

 less amusements and pursuits. We hope we do not look too far be- 

 fore us when we think we see such a state of things approaching. 



GRAPE CULTURE. 



It is instructive to w r atch how practice often overturns a long es- 

 tablished and fondly cherished hypothesis. The late lamented Down- 

 ing once observed, that in America the notion" was very prevalent 

 that to grow fruits to perfection, all that was necessary w r as to " dig a 

 hole, put in the tree, and leave the rest to nature." America, with its 

 fertile and unexhausted soil and fine climate, is well calculated to or- 

 iginate such an idea ; and it is not surprising that this, like many other 

 fancies, should be carried too far. The knowledge that the different 

 species of fruits and vegetables have to be, to a great degree, adapted 

 cV to the climate in which they are grown, is of very recent origin. — 

 [^England may glory in her Ribston Pippin Apples, her Koyal Russets, 



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