We examined a great many of the plants individually, and found many of them with wrong names, the inevitable consequence of the present state of nomenclature in almost all the nurseries; some species were dead, and, with regard to completeness, a number wanting. The care of this arboretum is at present committed to Messrs. Veitch and Son, who are taking measures to have all the plants correctly named, and all the blanks and deficiencies supplied. When this shall have been done, the collection, open as it is to the inspection of the horticultural world, will be of inestimable value to the surrounding country. We cannot leave it without noticing the very careful manner in which the plants have been planted on raised hills of prepared soil, and carefully staked and mulched, where staking and mulching were necessary. The boundary of the arboretum on the side next the outer park is a sunk fence, and on the inner side either a strained wire fence or iron hurdles. The arrangement is according to the Natural System, beginning near the house with the Clematideï¾µ, and ending at the entrance to the walled flower-garden with the Juniperinï¾µ. A green drive leads through the whole. Nothing can be more perfect than the style in which every part of this arboretum is kept; Messrs. Veitch and Son having six men constantly employed mowing the grass, and mulching the dug circles round the plants with it, as practised in the Derby Arboretum (see our Volume for 1839, p. 539.); destroying weeds as soon as they appear; and removing dead leaves, suckers from grafted plants, insects, decayed blossoms, &c. One great beauty of the Bicton arboretum is, that every tree and shrub which it contains may be seen, and the name on its label read, by a person while sitting in a carriage, and driving through it along the green walk.
