THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY’S GARDEN, CHISWICK. 
279 
young stock which it is intended to convert into specimens. The west side of this house is glazed with 
Hartley’s patent rough plate glass, and the east with common, which, after recommending the rough plate 
so strongly, looks something like showing the white feather at head-quarters. Possibly, however, they 
have acted wisely; at least, we think so. Several of the old Pine pits have also been altered; that is, paths 
have been put through them, so as to render them more suitable for successful plant management. In 
one we noticed a recent importation from Hr. Sieboldt, and tolerable specimens of some of the best of 
Fortune’s and Hartweg’s introductions; in another pit, a batch of seedling Cinerarias were progressing 
favourably, and indeed the whole of the pits and houses have the appearance of preparation for a 
formidable campaign in 1851. 
From the frame-ground a new entrance has been made to the pleasure-grounds; and, westward of 
the kitchen-garden, in a corner which has been in a neglected state for some years, a new rock-garden 
is being formed. The even surface of the ground has been broken by deep excavations, and the sides 
of the mounds thus formed are faced with rock-work. The design, generally, is good, but already some 
glaring errors, in the execution, have been committed. For instance, to connect the kitchen-garden with 
the back yard a bridge for carriages has been formed, and underneath it the walk passes to the rock- 
garden ; but this bridge, instead of having a rustic foundation is plain brick, and the battlements are formed 
of squared timber, tarred over, though there is plenty of suitable material to have formed a rustic bridge, 
lying close by. This rock-garden, as offering a suitable situation for growing Alpine plants, ferns, &e., 
will be a useful appendage; and report says, that here also an exhibition of American plants, in imitation 
of the Royal Botanic Society, is to be held next season. When the garden is finished, which it will 
not be for some time to come, we shall recur to it, and if worthy give an illustration or two of its 
leading: characteristics. Around the boundary-walk considerable alterations are being made: a number 
of the trees have been cut down, and the line of walk is also to undergo some alteration. 
The ruthless hand of the destroyer has also been at work in the orchard; nearly one-half of the 
trees have been levelled to the ground ; and the ground has been trenched three feet deep, and planted 
with young trees, which we believe are to be trained as espaliers : that form being considered the most 
suitable for proving the quality of the various kinds. The trees which have been planted one season 
are doing well, and in a few years will form an important and interesting feature. In another division, 
a number of trees have been planted, upon which the various systems of training and pruning fruit- 
trees, practised by our Continental neighbours, are to be exemplified; and in a third place, all the new 
fruits introduced up to the present time are planted, for the purpose of proof. The orchard has also 
been intersected by grass-walks, so that in the season it will form an agreeable and interesting 
promenade. Whether the kitchen-garden is to undergo any improvement we do not know; but it is 
imperative on the Society to make an attempt to rectify the confusion at the present time existing in 
our vegetable nomenclature. This would be a good service ; and though it might occupy a few years 
to accomplish the reform, it is a subject worthy the attention of the Society, and one which the public 
has a right to expect at its hands. 
We must not leave the garden without stating that Ker’s, or as they are sometimes called, “ River’s 
Peach Frames,” have, like Hoare’s Vine columns, been found useless and expensive toys. The fruit upon 
the trees were ten days later in ripening than upon the open walls; and even then, only the sunny 
side was eatable, the under side being quite hard. 
We understand that some alterations are to be made in the distribution of plants and seeds to 
members; and we should hope that the plan of distributing sixpenny plants, and penny packets of 
seeds, will be discontinued, not only as being injurious to the trade, and derogatory to a scientific 
institution, but also as absorbing means which might be much more advantageously expended. The 
only plants which the Society has any right to distribute, are new plants, or seeds of its own introduction; 
but the plan of buying common seeds from the London seedsmen, to distribute in almost infinitesimal 
quantities among its own members, is a mere waste of property ; for, to our own knowledge, the seeds, 
instead of being sown, are, when they get into the hands of the gardeners, carefully deposited at the 
back of the fire. 
In the Conservatory, the Chrysanthemums were blooming; but here, as at most other places, the 
flowers were by no means good, and were very disproportionate to the size of the plants. In conclusion* 
we may remark that nothing will give us more pleasure than to record the improvements in the 
Garden of the Horticultural Society; and the Fellows cannot be too grateful to Dr. Daniels, and one or 
two other members of the Council and Garden Committee, for the improvements they have already been 
the means of effecting. Go on, and prosper, say we.—A. 
0 
