ft) 
!<J 
278 
THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S GARDEN, CHISWICK. 
THE HOETICLLLLBAL SOCIETY’S GABDEX, CHISWICK. 
771HE spirit of improvement appears at last to have made an entrance into the garden of this society, 
• A and wit hin the last few months considerable alterations have been made, not only in. the grounds 
and houses, hut also in the keeping of the same. For some years past, from the July show to the 
following April, it has been customary to leave the grass in the Arboretum in an uncut state, and at 
this season it was not an unusual thing to find one’s-self ankle-deep in “ old fog,"’ as the farmers call it, 
the sight of which would have made a London cow’s mouth water. In fact, as the shows supplied the 
means of keeping the gardens, they apparently were the only things cared for: and consequently, the 
whole staff of officers and workmen, after thev were over, seemed to fall into a state of hvbernation, 
from which they were only aroused by the returning warmth of spring. Xow however, on our last 
visit, though the garden was enveloped in thick London fog, all was activity; the grass was close shaven, 
the leaves swept up, the walks clean; and even the walks of the orchard, the last place generally 
thought of, looked fresh and smooth, from the recent operations of the garden roller. This is as it 
should be, and if the present activity continues, the garden, in point of keeping, will take rank with 
those of private gentlemen in the neighbourhood. 
The hint we gave (I, 147) relative to the primeval state of the Arboretum, has been acted upon; 
a number of the duplicate specimens and useless trees have been removed, and the sooner some scores more 
follow them to the rubbish and faggot-heap the better. We want—and the trees too—poor things, more 
breathing room; we want to get rid of the digged ground around large trees: and we want, and must 
have, the specimens of shrubs to recline on the velvet turf rather than, as they do now, kiss the naked 
clod. We therefore, in the spirit of cultivating selections rather than collections of plants, say—away 
with them: thin out the encumberers of the earth, and give room for those retained to form themselves 
into single specimens or picturesque groups. Let the whole of the beds, where the plants are 
established, be grassed over, and leave no naked ground, except such as is occupied by herbaceous borders 
or for decorative plants in the summer season. — We w illin gly acquit the present managers of the 
Society of the faults of the first design for the garden ; but we have personally been acquainted with it 
sufficiently long to know, that had the present activity prevailed, much of the impropriety of the original 
plan might have been amended, instead of being at the present time hi such a state, as to admit of a 
recent author making the following truthful remarks relative to it: “ Instead of being a place to which 
we should have much pleasure in directing attention as an example of good taste, or as an exponent of 
the principles of modern improvement, we are in truth compelled to condemn it for its deficiencies, or to 
point it out as an example to be avoided, on account of the intricacy that is too plainly perceptible in 
all parts of the grounds.’’ * The alterations which were made in the Arboretum in the early part of 
the present year, were judicious, and we think have given pretty general satisfaction ; but we cannot 
reconcile ourselves to the huge, ugly walks, which are, and in the present form ever will be, an eyesore 
to persons of taste. Dry walks may be formed without “piling” the gravel so high as to require 
wooden bridges to get over it, as is positively the case, ridiculous as it may seem, on the morning 
of the exhibitions; and that, too, without anv more outlav than has been incurred in the formation of 
the present ugly and obtrusive things. In truth, in avoiding Scylla, the projectors have foundered upon 
Charybdis ; in getting out of a ditch, they could not rest satisfied upon the level plain, but must e’en 
ascend to the mountain to keep their feet dry. Another point in the Arboretum must also be attended 
to : when the necessary number of trees and evergreen bushes have been removed : the whole of the grass 
must be taken up and the ground be levelled. When we say levelled, we do not mean that the whole area 
must be plane surface, but that the undulations shall be smooth and even, and not, as is the case at the 
present time, a continuity of hills and holes, in some parts almost dangerous to walk over. Although 
this improvement may be delayed for a time, until more urgent alterations are completed, it is the 
polishing stroke, and must be attended to. The expense, as it would be confined to labour, would to 
the Society be mere bagatelle, especially at the low rate at which the men are paid. Smoothness is 
a lundamental principle of beauty, and, as has been remarked by Burke, no object can be beautiful 
which is not smooth; and, therefore, the smoothness of the Chiswick lawn we may count among the 
good things coming. 
Leaving the Arboretum, we proceed by the experimental gardens, as they are called, where the plants, 
more especially the Orchids, are hi excellent order, to a kind of private garden, where a commodious 
propagating-house has recently been erected. This is span-roofed, with a path through the centre, and, 
tank-heated borders, for bottom heat, on each side. It is dirided into two parts, one being used for 
propagating, and the other part at the present time is occupied with some specimen stove plants, or 
* Beauties of 3Iiddlesex, p. 172. 
