ART. XIII. On the Cultivation in the Open Garden and Treatment in the Forcing-house of the Strawberry known as "Wilmot's Superb." By Mr. ISAAC OLDACRE F. H. S. Gardener to the Emperor of Russia.

Sir,

HAVING had an opportunity of observing the progress of "Wilmot's superb" strawberry from its first production, with the cultivation and management practised by Mr. Wilmot, I flatter myself a few remarks on it will be acceptable to the numerous readers of the Gardener's Magazine. The excellence of this strawberry is too well known in the metropolis and its vicinity to require any comment; nor do I think any fruit garden can be complete without this fruit. Its ripening later than the pine, and most other strawberries, enhances its value considerably.

The plants being stronger in their growth than any of the other varieties, they are planted at a greater distance from each other. The rows are two feet and a half apart, and the plants two feet, plant from plant, in the rows. They are left to grow in single stools, and the ground betwixt them is always kept free from weeds. Where the runners are not wanted to make plants for new plantations, they are taken off as they appear, because if suffered to grow they would weaken the old plants, and prevent them from producing their fruit so large the following year. They thrive best in a rich loamy soil.

This strawberry, if not put into the forcing-house till the end of February, or beginning of March, forces well; the fruit does not set well in a high temperature; from 50° to 55° is the heat that suits them best, with a free admission of air in the middle of the day until the fruit is set; after that they will bear a stronger heat.

A very good description of this strawberry has been given in the Horticultural Transactions, vol. vi. p. 208. (and Gard. Mag. p. 230.) I am, Sir, yours, &c. ISAAC OLDAcre,

Spring Grove, March 6th, 1826.

ART. XIV. On the Importance of Regularity and Systematic Conduct in Practical Gardeners.

By G. R. Gardener,

Champion Hill, Surrey.

Sir,

WITH every disposition to support the Gardener's Magazine, from the conviction of its universal utility among

practical gardeners, I avail myself of your general invitation to forward a few remarks, which, in my opinion, may not prove altogether useless.

In the course of my practice as a gardener, I have observed that gentlemen are frequently deprived of the proper returns which their gardens ought to yield, and also gardeners of their situations, more from the neglect than from the incapacity of the practitioner. Such are the effects of this negligence, which, I am sorry to say, too generally prevails; but the causes are not so easily ascertained, as the sources are various from whence they originate. I will therefore decline entering into details, but state generally, that regularity, method, and attention, constitute the very essence of gardening, and every deviation from these principles will prove injurious both to the interests of the employer and the employed.

Is it not by dint of perseverance, assiduous attention, and steady conduct, that day-labourers, of whom your correspondent Mr. M'Naughton complains, have been enabled so to undermine and intrude on the province of the practical gardener? And for this intrusion who is blameable? - I unhesitatingly answer, the practical gardener himself. How frequently, although the confession be painful, do we perceive a garden in all its various departments flourish in a superior manner under the superintendence of the attentive day labourer? His predecessor, perhaps, had been regularly instructed under an able tutor, and fully competent to the task he had undertaken, but completely distanced in all his undertakings merely on account of his own careless and inattentive manner in regulating his operations. My motive for making these remarks is, earnestly to intreat regularly initiated and well-educated gardeners, to add to their stock of knowledge, a steady conduct, and a regular system of action. Let those gardeners who have the true interests of their profession at heart, whose ambition it is to excel in their occupation, whose abilities enable them to combine the practical with the scientific, let such, I say, consolidate themselves into one regular community, and adopt the same principles; and let those principles be regularity, method, and attention: and, without fear of contradiction, I boldly affirm, they will soon obtain that superiority over the ignorant or partially instructed operative, to which their merit and knowledge will render them justly entitled; the day labourer will descend to his proper station, and the gardener regain his wonted ascendancy.

Champion Hill, March 10. 1826.

G. R.

ART. XV. Design for improving the Parks, by extending Kensington Gardens, and continuing the Serpentine River into the Green Park, &c. BY JOHN THOMPSON, Esq., Pictorial Draughtsman and Student of Landscape Gardening.

Dear Sir,

AVAILING myself of some suggestions of yours, and combining them with some ideas that occurred to me four or five months back, I have put them into a tangible shape; have embodied them in the accompanying sketch, and submit them, through the medium of your Magazine, to the consideration of those who guide the public taste, and have the improvement of our metropolis and the welfare of its inhabitants at heart and although the design must be considered merely as a hint, or as an idea, that might be much varied or improved upon, I feel convinced, that were it adopted, it would be greatly conducive towards the beautifying of the metropolis, by creating in the midst of our palaces and buildings, highly picturesque and tasteful specimens of polished scenery; from the conversion of what are now dull and uninteresting spaces of grass into a source of comfort and pleasurable recreation to all classes inhabiting the interior parts of this great city.

Hyde Park. Proceeding, therefore, with its elucidation, I must beg my readers to refer to the sketch (fig. 55.). Here they will find the present wall of Kensington Gardens represented by a dotted line (l, g, a, d,). This is to be removed, together with the bridge (g) now building. The Serpentine water (E) is to be naturalized, brought to one level, and continued to Hyde Park Corner. It will thus form the only boundary betwixt the park (A) and the gardens (B). We shall then have one noble and unbroken sheet of water, extending for more than a mile in length. The next thing is to take the lately formed road (bb), up to the proposed new gate (c), which is to be opposite the centre of a crescent already marked out, and carry on the existing road (rr) to where there is to be another gate (d), opposite the continuation of the Paddington New Road. Here also a small bridge (e) is to form the entrance into Kensington Gardens. The park road then follows the course of the water, and joins that lately formed (f); and having, as I before stated, removed the wall of Kensington Gardens (a), the lower road (hh) being sufficient for all the purposes of communication, the upper one, called Rotten Row, should be destroyed, and its site occupied by a continuation (k kk) from

the existing gate (7) of the garden wall, or any other fence, up to Hyde Park Corner. Then the whole space (B), included betwixt the fence and the water is to be laid out, and to form a part of Kensington Gardens, with several entrances. These are all the alterations, additional to what are now going on, proposed to be made in Hyde Park; and on contemplating them, it will be evident, that a most important and interesting change would be effected. Parties coming in their carriages would have a continued and delightful drive from one end of the water to the other; and the opposite banks would now present a varied and agreeable scene, from being converted into a garden, and filled with company: or, if walking was preferred, a party might enter the gardens at one gate (m), send the carriage to the other (e), and find a dry and pleasant walk along the water's edge, free from dust and all annoyances, yet enlivened by the carriages and bustle on the other side.

The Green Park. The water in Hyde Park is, by means of a tunnel, to be continued into the Green Park (Č), and, spreading along the whole front of Piccadilly, terminate in a waterfall; it is also to supply fountains in St. James's Park. Then that portion called Constitution Hill will be converted into garden scenery, and at the corner (o), where you now enter the Green Park, you will also enter this garden, which will in fact be no less than commencing Kensington Gardens at St. James's Palace, and continuing them through the Green Park, and, by means of a walk through the tunnel, in one uninterrupted extent of nearly two miles, with water the whole of the way; and though it is proposed that these gardens should be subject to the same regulations as Kensington Gardens are at present, which do not prevent the admission of any decent persons, it might be advisable to remove some of the restrictions; but the exclusion of dogs and other nuisances is certainly necessary. Such an extent of garden, so regulated, and so centrically situated, would create a novel and interesting feature in the metropolis, and could not fail to ensure the approbation and applause of the public, for so materially conducing to their comfort and convenience. In the other part of the Green Park, which will as usual be open to the free egress and ingress of the public, I would fill up the basin, remove the ranger's house, continue the iron railings all along Piccadilly, and let there be a broad gravel walk (ss), running parallel to it, at a sufficient distance to avoid the dust, opening by two new gates (p and q).-The effect of the alterations here will be extremely pleasing. From the whole line of Piccadilly the water will act as a foreground to a charming view of the Surrey hills, with the Abbey, the new