BOOK REVIEWS. 



171 



positions in the present day. We read that really good grapes were 

 grown on wails in the king's garden for the use of the Eoyal table in 

 the time of George III. Probably the cheapness of glass-houses, from 

 which superior fruits can be obtained, is the cause of the decline of vine- 

 growing in the open air. 



It is impossible, nor is it desirable, to go into details of the history 

 of gardening contained in this unique work. The early Tudor gardens 

 are fully described; hundreds of books must have been consulted; and 

 the matter has been arranged with the greatest care to bring out all 

 the details of gardening in historical sequence. Gardening had taken 

 a firm hold of the English people in the long reign of Queen Elizabeth ; 

 and progress was made in the reign of James I., for in the third year 

 of his reign those practising the craft in and around London attained 

 tlie dignified position of a Company of the City of London, incorporated 

 by Eoyal Charter. In that year all those " persons inhabiting within 

 the cittie of London and sixe miles compas thereof doe take upon them 

 to use and practice the trade, crafte or misterie of gardening, planting, 

 grafting, setting, sowing, cutting, arboring, kocking, mounting, cover- 

 ing, fencing, and removing of plants, herbes, seedes, fruit trees, stock 

 sett, and of contryving the conveyances to the same belonging, were 

 incorporated by the name of Master, Wardens, Assistants and Comyn- 

 altie of the Companie of Gardiners in London." The above is an 

 extract from the original charter. Thomas Young was the first master. 

 The formation of the Guild was, in the first instance, to stop sundry 

 deceits and abuses that had crept into the dealings of the gardeners 

 with their customers, such as selling dead trees, bad seeds, &c., and 

 very drastic measures were taken to stop the frauds of these men. A 

 second charter was granted in 1616 ; and the rights and privileges of 

 the Company were confirmed by Charles I. in 1635. 



The book ought to find a place in every garden library. The second 

 edition has been in the reviewer's collection of gardening books since 

 the year of its publication, and is often referred to. The introduction 

 of the various important popular plants are alluded to, such as the 

 Fuchsia, Dahlia, the first Orchids, &c. ; and interesting as well as 

 useful information is given concerning some of the plants introduced 

 to this country. Kindly reference is made to the excellent work done 

 by the Eoyal Horticultural Society in the early part of the nineteenth 

 century; but it was not John Wedgewood " but John Wedgwood, 

 the son of Josiah Wedgwood, the eminent potter, who really 

 suggested the formation of a Horticultural Society, and was the first 

 treasurer. 



The part of the book relating to nineteenth century gardening should 

 be read and inwardly digested by all, whether practical gardeners or 

 amateurs. 



The bibliography of printed books on English gardening Gommences 

 with " The Crete Herball," 1516, and ends with The Floricultural 

 Magazine," 1836. Some mistakes are inevitable, especially as regards 

 dates, and volumes of periodicals. For instance, the " Floricultural 



