into England in 1603, and is not likely to have been so abundant in Scotland as to admit of its being planted in avenues for at least half a century afterwards. In the grounds, which are in a state of utter neglect, are a number of fine large specimens of silver firs, Scotch pines, ashes, and a sweet chestnut 23 ft. 4 in. round at the surface of the ground, and 18 ft. in circumference a little farther up. We could not help regretting that this place, which has so many advantages of varied ground, water, rocks, wood, distant prospect, and the shell of a house which will endure for ages, and might be filled with good rooms, should belong to a proprietor who has already several fine residences, and to whom a piece of farm land of equal annual value would, we should suppose, answer the same purpose. It is a pity that such a place is not let on lease, for such a period as would justify a tenant in improving and keeping it in good order.

On returning to Ayr by the coast road, we passed some fine specimens of Salix álba and S. frágilis, and some decent cottages and very indifferent gate lodges. Mr. Paton's cottage, and some others of an ornamental character, with tolerable front gardens, deserved a more minute inspection than we could give them from the road; but, on account of the day, we did not think it desirable to ask admission. The spire of the new church of Ayr, by Mr. Hamilton of Edinburgh, is generally considered the handsomest in Scotland.

Aug. 30.-We passed the day at Crosslee Cottage, with our friends Mr. and Mrs. Woodhouse, and in the evening set off for Edinburgh. We think it right to notice the extreme carelessness and incivility of the people at the Paisley station. When we arrived there from Liverpool on June 28th, the train would not stop sufficient time to take out our luggage, but carried it on to Glasgow, and nearly the same thing happened to us this time, having with great difficulty procured the luggage, which was not thrown down from the roof till after the carriage was in motion. On mentioning these circumstances to several persons, we found our case was by no means singular. If every one would notice such treatment as we now do, the evil would be remedied.

(To be continued.)

ART. VIII.

On Laying out and Planting the Lawn, Shrubbery and Flower-Garden. By the Conductor.

(Continued from p. 177.)

BEFORE proceeding with our lists, we wish to offer a suggestion to the proprietors of pleasure-grounds and shrubberies, with a view to rendering these scenes more permanently interesting; and, also, in the present depressed state of the country, to the temporary employment of workmen.

The walks through shrubberies and pleasure-grounds in general, it must be acknowledged, exhibit a good deal of beauty, but, at the same time, a good deal of sameness. The ordinary mode of increasing their interest is by the introduction of buildings, seats, and statues, vases, and similar architectural and sculptural objects, together with baskets of rustic work. All these, when introduced in moderation and in appropriate places, produce the effect intended to a certain extent but we would add to the variety, and consequently interest, of shrubbery and pleasure-ground walks, by the introduction along them, at various distances, of what may be called botanical episodes. For example, we would introduce near the walk, and connected with it by subordinate walks, such scenes as a rosary, a heathery, a rock-garden, an American garden, a garden of British plants, gardens of particular genera of shrubs or flowers, such as of Ribes, Berberis, Spiræ'a, C'ýtisus, A'ster, Dáhlia, annuals, bulbs, a garden of topiary work, of embroidery, &c. At a certain distance from the house we would introduce a thornery, a salictum, a juniper garden, a garden of cypresses, of hollies, &c., and, where there was room, a pinetum, an oak garden, an acer garden, &c. Whether separate gardens of this sort could or could not be introduced, we would commence near the house an arboretum, scattering the trees thinly over each side of the walk among the other trees and shrubs, or on the lawn, and so arranging them as to extend over the whole length of the walk, whether that were half a furlong or two or three miles, taking care that every tree and shrub that formed a part of the arboretum was completely detached, so as to afford ample room for its growth and natural shape. We would also have every plant named. Where the shrubbery or pleasure-ground was not large enough to admit of a complete arboretum, we would introduce only as many species as could be well grown; and, even if that number did not amount to a hundred, it might include one species of most of the genera which constitute the British arboretum.

Where there was not extent sufficient for an arboretum, we would introduce what may be called an herbacetum, that is, a series of circles on each side of the walk, but at such a distance from one another as not to show many circles at a time, and in each circle we would plant the hardy herbaceous plants, annual or perennial, which illustrated one natural order or tribe. If we could not get in the whole of the orders and tribes, we would limit ourselves to such as were most ornamental. By means of this kind, together with architectural and sculptural objects, as already mentioned, the walks in pleasure-grounds might be rendered much more interesting than they generally are; for the conspicuously naming of plants, and the planting them together according to their natural affinities, seldom fail to create a taste for botany among those who are in the daily habit of seeing plants so arranged and named. Where no interest of this kind is taken by the ladies of a family resident in the country, it will frequently be found that the walk to which they give the preference is the public road. There they have a chance of seeing something new or exciting; but in the shrubbery, as they take no botanical interest in the plants composing it, they know all that they will see before they set out. The great object, then, of these introductory suggestions is to lead to improvements which will render the pleasure-ground and shrubbery far more interesting than they have hitherto been, except in those places where something of the kind which we have been recommending has been attempted; as, for example, wherever rosaries, pinetums, American gardens, salictums, quercetums, thorneries, grass gardens, gardens of annuals, bulbs, &c., natural arrangements of herbaceous plants, or arboretums, have been planted. This kind of improvement, we are happy to state, is on the increase. Very much depends on the gardener; and we trust we shall have his cooperation, as he is, in truth, as much interested in raising the character of the garden and grounds under his charge as his employer.

We shall now give Mr. Ayres's lists for planting the flower-garden fig. 50. in p. 173. Mr. Ayres has given three lists: one for spring, consisting chiefly of bulbs and low-growing herbaceous plants, which come into flower from

January to the middle of May; one for summer, consisting chiefly of hardy annuals, which should be brought forward ready to transplant the moment the bulbs have done flowering and are removed; and a third for autumn, consisting chiefly of greenhouse plants, such as pelargoniums, verbenas, Lobelias, &c. Mr. Ayres has also given a list of roses for the sixteen square beds marked d, in each of which there is to be a standard rose.

The plan for a flower-garden, fig. 63., occupies the same space as the design fig. 11. in p. 70.; and is surrounded by the same low wire fence, only 20 in. high, for the sake of excluding rabbits. The beds are supposed to be on turf, and there are a basin and fountain in the central compartment, and a vase on a pedestal in the centre of the two others. We sent copies of this design to different correspondents as before, and we now subjoin their lists.

List of Plants for the Flower-Garden fig. 63. By Mr. Ayres.