Of the Gardens and Gardeners generally, which we have seen during the whole of our tour from London to Paisley, we should say, that the gardens have received a considerable accession of new fruits, plants, and other objects; that the gardeners have evinced an increased knowledge of culture, and even of the science of plants, soils, and climates, but that they have, nevertheless, made very little progress in gardening as an art of design and taste. Clearly and decidedly the want of taste in planting and laying out grounds, and in keeping them in order afterwards, is the radical defect both of gardeners and their employers. It is deplorable to notice the numerous evidences of this which occur in the gardens, parks, or pleasure-grounds, of almost every country residence which we have enumerated in this and our two preceding articles. Of course there are exceptions, and we have noticed some of them; but we repeat that want of taste is generally the besetting sin. Quantity will naturally be the great object aimed at by those whose minds have not been refined by that degree of intellectual culture which can alone enable them to find enjoyment in excellence, and to discriminate between what is appropriate and elegant, and what is merely commonplace. This is the case with many proprietors; and if they are thus deficient in the qualities necessary to appreciate excellence, how is it to be supposed that their gardeners can succeed in its production ? Where there is little or no demand there will be but little supply.
