ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY'S GARDEN. 
367 
Yet another use remains to be mentioned, — 
the young leaves and tender tops form an 
excellent substitute for spinach, especially in 
hot seasons when that vegetable is most liable 
to fail. No danger need be felt in picking the 
tops for this purpose, as such a process will 
make the plants more branching, and increase 
the quantity of fruits. ._ 
Rustic Bridge, in Royal Botanic Society's Garden. 
THE ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY S GARDEN, REGENTS PARK. 
The Royal Botanic Society of London, was 
founded in 1839, by Royal Charter, granted 
to the late duke of Norfolk and others, "for 
the promotion of Botany in its relation to the 
arts, he. ; and for the formation of an exten- 
sive ornamental and botanical garden, near 
the metropolis." 
The site of ground secured for the carrying 
out of this project, forms the inner circle of 
:he Regent's Park, formerly known as "Jen- 
kins' Nursery;" and having as such already 
been brought into a state of cultivation, was so 
adapted for the carrying out of the objects of 
the Society. It had been urged that this 
contiguity to the metropolis would militate 
against its success, since it would be found im- 
possible to cultivate many tender and delicate 
plants, in the midst of an atmosphere con- 
tinually charged in a greater or less degree 
with particles of smoke. It must indeed be 
admitted that there are many plants to which 
this would apply ; but there are numberless 
others which can be brought to a considerable 
degree of perfection, notwithstanding these 
disadvantages. 
Previously to their taking any step towards 
laying out their gardens, the Council of the 
'Society offered a premium for the best 
design, adapting the situation, with some ex- 
isting features, to the objects they had in view : 
this step produced several designs, none of 
which were fully approved ; and the plan ulti- 
mately adopted, was the joint production of 
the Society's Architect, Mr. Decimus Burton, 
and the Curator, Mr. Robert Marnoek. The 
principal parts of the ground have been 
allotted to the several purposes intended, and 
part of an extensive iron conservatory and 
