i J 1
hothouses must be approached from behind, and then the spectator must turn round to
look a t tliem, by which their gi-and effect is lost.
1599. Hie extent requisite for a botanic garden depends upon that of the collection
intended to be formed; as well as on the magnitude to which the trce-plants are intended
to be grown. A good deal will depend also on whether tender exotics ai-c to be
principal or secondary objects of collection, and also on the manner of growing the
hardy herbaceous plants. An immense collection of herbaceous plants may be included
in a small space, if the soil is loamy, and rather inclined to moistm*e ; and if the plants
arc separated from each other in the roAvs by bricks or thin tiles, which at once completely
diAudes them and stints their growth, so as to admit a great number being
planted on the same space. The extent of tho Chelsea garden is little more than tiu'ce
a c re s; that of the original Liverpool garden is five a c re s; and in both are extensive
collections. Messrs. Loddiges have above a thousand species of herbaceous plants,
which they keep constantly in small pots, set on beds of scoria. These occupy very
little space, and the plants thrive well. Of course the largcr-groAving kinds are excluded.
1600. The form of a botanic garden is a matter of very little consequence: Avhere the
extent is small, a square or parallelogi-am may undoubtedly be made to contain most
p la n ts ; but where it exceeds four or five acres, any form will answer; and, indeed, if
there is a sufficient quantity of ground, the more in-egular the form, so much the more
variety Avill there be in tlie circumferential walks of the garden.
1601. In laying out the area of a botanic garden, the objects already mentioned, and
vai-ious others, must be kept in view. I f it be merely desired to have a general collection,
then a sun-ounding border for the trees and shrubs, internal compartments for the
beds of herbaceous plants, and a space at one end or side for the hothouses, frames,
compost-yard, &c. Avill be sufficient; surrounding the whole with a Avalk, which may
also cross the garden in one or more places. Such a walk, to display in succession every
remarkable feature, is essential to all gardens, whatever may be their extent or kind.
1602. In a complete botanic garden, the following seem to be requisites : —
1. A curator's house, with scod-room, office for business,
lib ra ry of reference, he rb a rium , room for lectures or demonstrations.
This is most generally; situated a t o r ne ar th e entran
c e o fth e garden. Some consider it desirable to place a
lodge a t the en tran ce for th e under-gardeners, an d to place tho
cu ra to r’s house w ith its accompaniments as aboye, in connectio
n witli th e range o f hotliouses.
2. A 7'ange o f hothouses, e ltlie rin one Une, o t in a semicircle,
circle, sfiuare, half-square, &c., according to taste, an d other
c ircumstan ce s; with back sheds for a il th e u su a l purposes of
such, in c lu d in g rooms for th e journeym en, whore tlicre is no
lo d g e ; an d lodgings for one man , even if tliere is a lodge, in
ord er to a tten d to the fires.
3. An atijoining a rran g emen t o fp its an d frame s, b u t n o t in
fro n t o f th e range of hothouses, as in a nursery.
4. A compost g round for all the usual purposes.
5. A n aquarium, inc lu d in g ahog, pond, spring, an d saltwater
c istern, for ma rin e alga;.
6. A ro dneor* an d un d e rn e ath p endant walls, tunnels, vaults,
an d caves, open in different degrees an d directions, for the
g rowth of mosses, ferns, fungi, &c.
iiadod an d k ep t r
appropriate plant
-oitnd, shaded by t
stumps an d roots of trees of different kinds, an d o th e r means
for th e preservation, as fa r as a r t w ill go, of a coUectiou of
native or h a rd y fungi, edible, a n d poisonous.
9. An American or bog-earlh ground, e ith er a border, or
connected groups, o r a composite figure surro u n d ed by walks.
10. A n estivatium, or paved area, for se ttin g o u t the green-
hoiiBO p lants in summer. In th e pavement ouglit to be holes,
for iron rods connected with wires, for ty in g u p th e ta lle r an d
more flexible plants,
J I. A g rois-i/round or grawijicuw for b rin g in g a ll th e grasses
together,
12, A compartment for fh c p la n lsv sed inme d ic in e, according
to tho Pharmacopceias of tho different universities, &c.
IS. A compartment for th e 7tai-dy poisonous plants.
14. Compartments for-the p lants an d trees used in n/yj-icufiur«,
horticidtu7-e, dyeing, and other branches of general economy.
15. A compartment ior flo r ists' an d border Jlowei-s.
16. A compartment, or, wh at is generally preferable, a surro
u n d in g border o r belt, for trees an d shi-ubs.
1603. Various other sub-arrangements or compartments of this nature may be contrived,
as for creeping plants, climbing natives of particular countries, succulents, bulbs, &c. ;
and the association of plants in this way by strong natural and artificial (alluding to thcir
use) affinities, is avcU calculated to facilitate both their culture and study. The most
complete ai-rangements of this Idnd arc to be found in the Paris, Dublin Society’s, and
Glasgow Gardens. The size and shape of these sub-an-angements Avill, of course, be
various, which will add greatly to the interest of the Avalks. They will, in general, be
most advantageously placed round the outskirts of the garden, Avithin the marginal plantation,
and should be separated by different sorts of rustic walls, or mounds of rockwork,
hedges, thickets of evergreens, and other means. They vsliould all be connected by a walk
so constructed that a general spectator may sec each scene Avithout being obliged to enter
minutcly into it ; and that, Avhile none can escape the botanist, he may have an easy
opportunity of cntermg minutely into each or any of them.
1604. The central or principal p a rt o f the ground should be devoted to one general
an-angement of all the phanerogamous plants, including hardy exotic trees aud natives.
The trees may be kept dwarfed, by being propagated from cuttings, or layers, and by
planting in pots, and praning ; and the stove and other exotics Avill, of course, only be
plunged in their appropriate places for a few weeks in the wai-mest part of each summer,
as in the Paris garden. Evei-y plant ought to have its name painted on a strong cast-iron
tally, on a bevelled face, in letters so large as to be legible Avithout stooping. I f to
the name, systematic and English, could be added the Linnasan and Jussieuean class,
native counti-y, and time of floAvcring, it would obviously greatly facilitate the peripatetic
study of plants. The tallies, once placed there, should never be removed, except when
the arrangement is to be enlarged, because the name Avill show that the plant exists, or
ought to exist, somcAvhere in the garden ; and Avill or ought to be placed there in the
proper season. Such a coUection should, in short, be a transcript of the catalogue of the
garden ; some of the Filices, and most of the i^^ngi, A'igoe, and Jfu sc i excepted.
1605. Whether the arrangement in the compartments or main area of such a general collection
ought to be Jussieuean or Linnaian, must depend on the opinion of those concerned
; we think the former.
1606. The botanical arrangement in the hothouses, and, as far as practicable, in the
different subsidiai-y or habitat arrangements, should, in oiu- opinion, decidedly be the
Natural, as presenting the strongest natural affinities ; and as being calculated to promote
variety in general appearance, facility in recollecting names, and often being most convenient
as to kind of culture.
Sdbsect. 3. Commercial Gardens.
1607. Nursery gardens are of considerable importance in a public point of view, as
they enable persons residing in their neighbourhood to choose the most ornamental trees
for planting, and hence they contribute considerably to the beauty of the surrounding
country.
1608. Florists’ gardens a r e a sm a l l e r a n d less im p o r t a n t k i n d of n u r s e r y , a s t h e y r e l a t e
o n l y t o o r n a m e n t a l floAVcrs, i n s t e a d of e m b r a c i n g aU t h e o r n a m e n t a l p l a n t s c o m p r i s e d in
a g e n e r a l n u r s e i-y .
1609. Market gardens are essential to supply frait and vegetables for large toAvns ; and
public orchards, physic gardens, and seed famis are other species of market gardens, in
Aviiich yarions kinds of vegetable products are raised for sale.
1610. The general principles to be applied to laying out all kinds o f commercial gardens
are, that utility is of more importance than ornament, aud that conveniences of situation
with regard to market and other similar considerations, ought to be considered in
preference to pictm-esque beauty.
BOOK IV,
ON T IIE STUDY OF ENTOMOLOGY AS A P P L IED TO GARDENS.
1611. Insects are the most numerous, as well as the most destructive, foes to which
gardens are exposed. There are so many species, and tlieir devastations arc so varied, that,
without some acquaintance Avith thcir scientific classification, and a coraect knowledge
of their habits and economy, tlieir operations can neither be understood nor effectually
counteracted. I t is, therefore, the duty, not only of the intelligent agi-iculturist, but
also of tlie gardener, to acquire both these branches of information. The first may be
learned from books; but the second can only be gained by attention to the insects themselves,
to tlie particular changes they undergo, and to the effects they produce. The
generality of gardeners arc deplorably ignorant on this subject; and hence arises the
misapplication of remedies, the consequent destruction of plants and fi-uits, and the
persecution of birds, and even insects, that are beneficial to gardening operations. The
scientific acquaintance Avith entomology that a gardener should acqufre may be confined
to a general knowledge of the changes Avhich insects pass through, from the egg to the
perfect s ta te ; the ditferent appeai-anccs which the various tribes assume, before they
reach their final developement; and the several orders or divisions under which they are
then classed. He will thus be enabled to knoAV Avhether any particular lai-va or grub
belongs to a beetle, a moth, or a wingless insect. I t aauII, therefore, he our object to
malce this knowledge attainable Avithout much stu d y ; and to communicate it in popular
language.
1612. Insects are distinguished from vertebrated animals (as quadrupeds, birds, fish,
and reptiles) by being destitute of a backbone, and furnished with more than tAvo fe e t;
and fi-om Avorms (Fermcs Lin.) by possessing feet. We speak now of insects in their
perfect state; before that, many species, Avliile lai-v£e or grabs, have no feet. The generality
of insects are fui-nishcd Avith six feet, but some feAv have a greater number, as the woodlouse,
centipede, crab, &c.
1613. Nearly all insects are oviparous, or produced from eggs (fig. 278.) ; but the eggs
of some are hatched within the body (as the viviparous flesh-fly), and the young arc produced
in a living s ta te : the generality of insects deposit their eggs in secure places, either
above or beneath the earth ; many ai-e sometimes laid at one period. The eggs in a fcAv
species increase in size before they are hatched. The young provide for their oAvn subsistence
as soon as they are hatched. The foi-ms of the eggs of insects are mnch
diversified: as examples of these, in their natural as well as magnified size, Ave refer to
f.