I

I HAVE lately purchased your excellent work, the Encyclopedia of Gardening, and also the Gardener's Magazine, both of which are exceedingly useful, more particularly to gardeners at a distance from the metropolis. Indeed such a work as the Magazine has been much wanted of late, and I hope will be well supported by gardeners; and I am happy, Sir, that in the above works you have so well pointed out the moral and religious duties of gardeners, with almost all other acquirements belonging to their profession, to all of which I coincide with you; but permit me, Sir, to enquire whether the gardener in England, placed, as he is, in the housekeeper's room, I say, whether he can there improve himself? answer, all that he can do there, admitting it to be an improvement, is, he may read a little, play at cards, dance, and flirt with ladies' maids. But in some families of the first rank and respectability, the gardener is, as is the case at present with myself, a servants' hall inmate. Now, I ask again, Sir, as in the former case, in what way a gardener is to improve himself there? Why, if he is hail fellow, well met, with the inmates of this last apartment, his improvements are entirely out of the question; his amusements, or rather, his degradation, is hard at hand, as drinking, swearing, and low language, is as much to be found in such a place, generally speaking, as in the ale-house.

There are many gentlemen, when hiring their gardeners, wish them to sleep in the house, to protect their property in the absence of the family; would it not be much better, where there is extensive gardens, with forcing houses, &c., for the superintendant of such to be placed in or as near to them as possible? But it requires no more than common sense to see the absurdity of any other arrangement than that of a proper house for a head gardener in the garden, where at least extensive forcing of any kind is carried on: for instead of this being an expence, as gentlemen may think it to be, it will be found quite the reverse; for the man who takes delight in gardening will then be on the spot, where his chief business lies, without trusting to unexperieneed

hands, which is often the case with those placed in such circumstances as above described; and gardeners are often led away by servants and lose their places, more through this than any other circumstance.

Having Sir, intruded thus far on your notice, I hope and trust that you and your numerous correspondents will endeavour to impress on the minds of noblemen and gentlemen the evil effects of placing their gardeners any where else but in their gardens. I am, Sir, &c.

Feb. 2d, 1826.

A Common Sense reforming Gardener.

ART. XI. Catalogue of the different Species of Palm cultivated in the Stoves of the Hackney Garden. Communicated by Messrs. LODDIGES.

Dear Sir,

WE return you our hearty thanks for your valuable Gardener's Magazine, which we assure you has given us a great deal of pleasure. The whole plan has our unqualified approbation; — we consider it to be just such a thing as has been long wanted in this country. The quantity and variety of important matter it contains cannot fail to make it universally acceptable. We are not aware of any thing that could have been better arranged.

Being just now engaged in making out a new catalogue, we enclose you a list of all our palms. They are the most important part of our collection, and as nothing is put down but what really exists here, perhaps you may think it worth inserting in the Magazine; at any rate you have our full consent to make whatever use you please of it. We remain, Dear Sir,