comparison with natural chemistry, which distils from the earth, and conveys by distinct channels in the smallest stem all that is necessary to produce foliage, flowers, and fruit, together with colour, smell, and taste, the most opposite fluids and liquids being separated only by divisions so delicate as scarcely to be deemed a substance. The research into the wonders displayed in vegetation may be entered into, without hurting the sensibility of the most tender feelings, as plants and roots may be dissected without those disagreeable sensations which follow the dissection of animals.

Amongst the delights of the garden, the pleasure of presenting flowers to our friends is not the least. Bouquets of flowers may be safely presented to acknowledge obligations, or to shew respect, where, in many instances, any other return for favours received would appear impertinent, or look like a desire to be discharged of the obligation conferred on us. They are a kind of present that may be made between equals and mutual friends to shew regard, and that may also be made by the

poorest peasant girl to the richest the realm without fear of offence.

To those who are confined to the metropolis, or other large cities or towns, where they are debarred from the enjoyment of a garden, a basket of flowers of the season is received as one of the most agreeable presents; and when these are known to be the produce of the parterres over which we gambolled in our childhood, or presided in our youth, the gift becomes doubly acceptable : they picture to the imagination happy scenes of our younger days, and throw present cares aside, to recall to our "mind's eye" the minutiæ of the garden: each border seems to arise fresh to our ideas; each clump of Pinks, each bower of Woodbines, and each bank of Violets are instantly portrayed to our memory,

Which brings to mind her childhood's innocent day,
And the dear fields and friendships far away.

MOORE.

These are frequently accompanied by other recollections, which seem to present us with a momentary sight of some kind and benevolent friend, the good nurse of our infancy, or some

favourite domestic of our youth; our fancy pictures them between the borders of their little plots. The well-known Lilac tree and the old Cabbage Rose-bush start up in the picture; whilst the Quince-tree, or the widespreading Medlar, presents itself to the memory as half hiding the well-repaired sty, which we ever wish to regard as forming the pride of the industrious cottager.

These momentary visions bring the harmony of the Poets to our recollection, and we are almost ready to exclaim,

That hut is mine; that cottage half-embower'd
With modest Jessamine, and that sweet spot
Of garden ground, where, ranged in neat array,
Grew countless sweets, the Wallflower and the Pink,
And the thick Thyme-bush-even that is mine:
And the old Mulberry that shades the court
Has been my joy from very childhood up!

KIRKE WHITE.

On this subject we may justly use the lines

of Miss Mitford, who says

'Twere hard to sing thy varying charm,
Thou cottage, mansion, village, farm,

Thou beautiful epitome

Of all that useful is and rare,

Where comfort sits with smiling air,

And laughing hospitality.

The institution of the National Horticultural Society, which has been established in London under the gracious patronage of his present Majesty, cannot fail in its object of enriching and beautifying the whole of the British empire.

Plants are procured through the exertions of the members from every quarter of the globe, and distributed to all parts of the kingdom, together with directions for their successful cultivation. This must conduce very materially towards increasing a taste for plants in general; but still a large proportion of intelligent persons, fond of Horticulture, remain unconnected with the Society, many of them residing at too considerable a distance to attend the meetings in the metropolis, and some wishing to avoid the annual expense. On this account we should wish to see local societies more generally established in country towns, for the purpose of exhibiting fruits and flowers, where the improvements in the art of their cultivation, and the transactions of the National Society,

would naturally form subjects of conversation, to the advantage of the country at large.

At Ghent a Botanical Society was established in the year 1809, which continues to hold annually two Floral festivals called the Salon d'Eté and the Salon d'Hiver. At these Salons, or Floral exhibitions, the amateur and professional cultivators of flowers assemble from all the towns and villages for a considerable distance round, almost every one contributing something towards the general show. The meetings are sanctioned and attended by the public authorities, who not only countenance but endeavour to support these rational assemblies.

The plants exhibited are generally placed in boxes or pots, so that they arrive at the Salon in a fresh and growing state, where, by a little attention, their beauty is preserved during the three or four days which the exhibition lasts. At each of these meetings an honorary medal is awarded, and by an inge nious fiction the flowers themselves and not the cultivators are regarded as the competi tors, and the successful plant is said to be