SEPTEMBER. 
203 
Show at the Crystal Palace Mr. Plester’s fruit is generally in the front rank of 
excellence. 
I think it is put down to the credit of one of our great horticultural 
authorities, that he once expressed the opinion that the Purple Beech could not 
attain to a luxuriant growth in this country. I saw here some remarkably 
large specimens, growing by a piece of ornamental water in rich luxuriance, 
the trees being yet comparatively young in years. Here, at least, was an 
exception to an expressed rule; but it may be that the situation was a very 
favourable one, sheltered as they were by a belt of trees on a rising ground, 
and drinking in from the water at their feet the elements that went to con¬ 
stitute them the peers of their order. 
In the kitchen garden I observed Mr. Rivers’s Plums Prolific and 
Favourite ; they are famous croppers, and very early, though the fruit was but 
of ordinary flavour. They will be of value for kitchen purposes, if not 
admissible to the dessert-table. 
These few notes are hurriedly written, and imperfectly arranged. The hints 
sought to be thrown out may perchance be of service to some as a means to widen 
their experience and enlarge their knowledge, the possession of which incites to 
increased exertion, because it is always wedded to pleasurable emotions. 
Quo. 
A FEW HINTS TO THE AMATEUR 
ON THE LAYING OUT AND FORMING THAT PORTION OF HIS GARDEN 
WHICH IS TO BE APPROPRIATED TO FLOWERS. 
Having in a former paper dilated upon the great importance and necessity 
of thorough drainage, we will not attempt again its repetition, but merely 
endorse our remarks in reference to that subject for the kitchen garden as of 
equal value in this case; and we would recommend the amateur to secure a 
good outfall for the water, and to introduce such drains as will insure him a 
perfectly dry surface. 
Perhaps the description of house to which these remarks will be most 
suited, will be that called by Loudon a third or fourth-rate suburban residence. 
Such houses are common now in all parts of the country, and constitute 
generally the homes of amateur gardeners; whilst in the vicinity of the 
metropolis their name is legion. We do not intend that our remarks should apply 
to houses amalgamated together in rows, but we would speak of detached villas— 
say of houses having from eight to twelve rooms each—such being the houses 
mostly tenanted by those persons who pursue gardening in the spirit of amateurs. 
It is indeed a lamentable thing to witness the deficiency of good taste 
which prevails even among persons of thorough education. Persons well 
versed in the arts of sculpture and painting, when taken into a garden are 
found to have but slight appreciation or knowledge of the principles of breadth 
and harmony. In the laying out of every place it is most important to group 
the plants, and to preserve large spaces of open lawn in places, so as to 
contrast with the flowing lines and intricacy of the shrubs and trees. The 
uninformed amateur, having a quantity of plants to dispose of on a piece of 
lawn, would probably dot and fritter them all over it, producing a perfect 
sameness—a perfect monotony of character; whilst the artistic disposer, on 
the contrary, would create, by his disposition of the plants, a perfect and 
beautiful whole. True taste in gardening matters does not depend upon this 
or that person’s whim or pleasure, but all that is sound in it is based upon 
decisive rules. Everything that is done, therefore, must be thus decided upon. 
