214 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
June 26. 
by a move extensive knowledge of experimental phi¬ 
losophy. 
An amateur, or gardener, should avail himself of every 
opportunity to visit other gardens, although there may 
not ho many worthy of notice in his immediate neigh¬ 
bourhood. Nevertheless, a person desirous to obtain 
information will always see something from which he 
may derive profit, either from the successes or failures 
of others. But to ensure a certain increase of new 
ideas to his stock of knowledge, he must, if possible, 
extend his visits to some places distinguished for the 
I most modern and improved practices in gardening. 
And we believe that it is justly and generally admitted, 
that the neighbourhood of London affords greater faci¬ 
lities for such useful investigations than the neighbour¬ 
hood of any other city in the United Kingdom, or, 
probably, in the world. In some places he will see 
much to admire, and, most probably, some things 
inferior to what report led him to expect. The depart¬ 
ments of gardening are numerous; a partiality or bias 
is entertained by one gentleman for the cultivation of 
some particular things to which his taste, limited means, 
or other circumstances may confine him; another is 
only inquisitive about the cultivation of some tribe of 
plants, fruits, or vegetables, to which some little success 
has flattered him into a great partiality for such pro¬ 
ductions; and another devotes his attention to the cul¬ 
tivation of what are called florists’ flowers. Every such 
place contributes to the general advancement of gar¬ 
dening. 
A visit to other places expands the ideas, and affords 
many opportunities for profitable enquiry. The practices 
of those successful in the cultivation of some particular 
things tend to excite in others a greater interest in 
their favour, by which a spirit of emulation is excited, 
productive of still greater improvements. There are 
many hints to be acquired by an amateur, or gardener, 
desirous to profit by the ideas of others, which he may 
see carried out in the management of other places 
where the results of experience, study, reflection, and 
well-devised experiments are made manifest. There 
are some men who follow “ the even tenor of their 
way,” possessed of genius to originate improved systems 
of cultivation, unambitious to publish them to the 
world, content with the sphere of usefulness in which 
they are placed, but unconscious disseminators of 
useful improvements in the art of gardening. 
For a visit to London, the season of the Great Metro¬ 
politan Flower Shows should be selected. At such 
exhibitions the best productions of the country are to 
be seen. To an amateur, or gardener, desirous of seeing 
well-grown specimens of plants, it is there he can 
behold them in a high state of cultivation, the luxu¬ 
riance of the foliage greatly enhanced by the splendid 
profusion of bloom. It proves the power of man’s 
increasing knowledge of the natural habits of plants, 
to surround them with the agents best suited to their 1 
perfect development, and to defend them from all the I 
influences that could in the slightest degree tend to ' 
mar their progress to perfection. 
A person interested in the cultivation of hothouse 
and greenhouse plants, and who, for the first time, sees 
the splendid collections, is struck with astonishment and 
delight by the size and splendour of his favourites. To 
all who are curious to see that singular but beautiful tribe 
of plants, the Exotic Orchids, there they can behold them 
in full bloom, some sporting like butterflies on expanded 
wings, others appearing, without much stress of ima¬ 
gination, like doves sitting at rest. The peculiar form¬ 
ation of the Pitcher Plant is the subject of admiration 
with all who delight in investigating the wise purposes 
for which each and every plant is produced, and the 
crowds that loiter around the tables of delicious fruits 
attest the lively interest that is taken in a class of sub¬ 
stances, the most interesting, agreeable, and valuable 
to man. 
But we will suppose the visitor just arrived from the 
country to spend the first day on a visit to the Crystal 
Palace, at Sydenham, where he will find the hours too 
short for a thorough investigation into all the works of 
Nature and of Art that are there so lavishly displayed. 
On the second day, a sixpenny ride in an omnibus 
from the Bank, or from any part of the great thorough¬ 
fare, to Piccadilly, will ensure him a safe journey to 
Kensington, where he should stop for a short time to 
see the fine Orange-trees, and many other things worthy 
of notice, under the excellent management of Mr. 
Scobie, head - gardener at Holland House , the seat of 
Lord Holland. In the immediate neighbourhood is 
Argyle Lodge (late Bedford Lodge), Campden Hill, 
under the management of Mr. Caie, well known for his 
successful application of scientific principles to all his 
practises of gardening. Contiguous is Tliormvood Lodge, 
the seat of Henry William Vincent, Esq., where the 
lawn on the south front displays a landscape sceno, by 
Ramsay, of a peculiarly interesting description. The 
mass of trees in the middle ground gives a decisive 
shadow that throws the smooth, winding and undulating 
glade into a beautiful perspective. The Nursery 
Grounds of Messrs. L^ee, the Vineyard, Hammersmith, 
are well worthy of a visit. About two-miles-and-a-lialf 
further down the high road is Chiswick House, Turn- 
ham Green, which the visitor can easily reach by a six¬ 
penny ride in an omnibus. This seat of His Grace the 
Duke of Devonshire is classic ground dedicated to the 
Muses, and is ennobled by several magnificent Cedars 
of Lebanon. The gardens are kept in first-rjte order, 
under the superintendance of Mr. Edmonds. The fine 
avenue of Lime trees, and the modern system of flower- 
embellishment, are well worthy of being seen. Separated 
from these grounds only by a hedge is the Horticultural I 
Society s Gardens, well-known to all visitors to the Metro¬ 
politan Shows. A ticket from a member is necessary 
for admission to these gardens. Mr. Glendinning's 
Nursery is close at hand, where information on the 
subject may be obtained, and a fine collection of rare 
trees and plants can be seen, 
If the visitor is not too fatigued, and is disposed to 
make the best use of his time, we commend him to the 
guidance of another omnibus conductor, to set him 
