Tin: PRACTICAL GAKDF.XKK. 



of that ta«?te mav l)c traced to a very remote date. It occu- 

 pied the attention of our neighbours on the continent long 

 before the state of this country admitted of such refinement ; 

 and, in some parts, it is still carried to that extent, that the 

 annual exportation of bulbs and roots forms no inconsider- 

 able ai'ticle of commerce. 



This taste for flowers has been of considerable service to 

 horticulture in general. The botanist and florist, although 

 acting on two opposite principles of taste, become valuable 

 ; ssistants to the gardener : the one creates, as it were, an 

 endless assemblage of beautiful flowers, by an art peculiar to 

 himself, while the other imparts much valuable information to 

 him relative to the economy of vegetation. 



By his exertions, either personally or pecuniary, our 

 gardens are supplied with the vegetable productions of all 

 climates. To him we are indebted for the humble inhabitant 

 of the arctic regions, as well as the magnificent and lofty 

 j)roductions of the torrid zone ; from the humble Linncea to 

 the lofty Palm, witli many thousand intervening species and 

 varieties of Nature's choicest gifts, with which our gardens 

 Abound. 



Politically speaking, public pleasure-gardens must be consi- 

 dered as of vast importance, being conducive both to health and 

 pleasure. For which reason we find, in all great cities, that 

 parks, squares, &c., are laid out for the use of those, whose 

 circumstances or employments restrict them to a town life; 

 nor is this confined to our own country, nor to modern times. 

 The public })leasure-gardens on the continent are numerous, 

 and from being considered })ublic property, are protected by 

 the people with a zealous care ; every individual considering 

 that, as he has a right to use them, he is also bound to protect 

 and maintain them ; and, although they are open at all times, 

 and to all classes, few instances occur of wanton or pre- 

 meditated injury being done to them. 



The private flower garden, which is now the subject of our 

 consideration, forms part of the pleasure-grounds, which latter 

 are defined to be. all or most of the iirounck surrounding the 

 dwelling of the proprietor contiguous to the house, and divid- 

 ing the park or plantations from it, being often denominated 



