In your Encyclopï¾µdia of Gardening you allude to the imperfect knowledge possessed of the varieties of the vine. Now, it appears to me, that, if those places where botanical gardens are established would generally attend to this subject, and communicate with each other and with the Horticultural Society of London, much might be done to clear up all such difficulties. Thirdly, besides increasing our actual knowledge, this plan would greatly facilitate the diffusion of new and superior varieties. Although the practice of forcing has of late years become much more general than formerly, and few gardens are now without glass, it is to be feared that the quality of the fruit has by no means kept pace with the quantity. In grapes, especially, most people in limited establishments seem to content themselves with Black Hamburg, and one or two of the commoner white sorts. One of the principal reasons why rare and valuable kinds are not more commonly cultivated is, undoubtedly, the difficulty of procuring them genuine from country nurseries. Their lists abound, it is true, in names, but their grounds are miserably defective in the reality; and certainly nothing can be more disheartening to a purchaser, than, after having paid a high price for pretended choice sorts, and after having watched them for years with anxious care, to find that both his money and his pains have been thrown away upon either common or worthless varieties. On a small scale, this has happened to me. A Cannon Hall turns out a Black Hamburg, a Black Lombardy the same; some apricots purchased for Moor Park are Brussels, and a Ribston Pippin is some other unknown sort. A gentleman in this neighbourhood, of great horticultural skill, has for years been making a collection of choice plums, but he has long given up applying to the nurserymen, finding, as he says, that they always send him something, which, though dignified with the appropriate name, partakes of the qualities of the sloe and the damson. His plan is, whenever he meets with fruit of which he approves, to get grafts, and transfer them to his garden. In this manner he has succeeded in procuring the Imperatrice, from a noble tree at Darnington, which annually produces abundant crops. But, although this method may with advantage be followed by those who have great horticultural zeal and skill, it is evidently unsuited for persons who wish to attain the same results with less trouble, and in a shorter time. If, however, at Liverpool, Birmingham, Sheffield, Derby, and all other botanical gardens, there were extensive depots of all the most approved varieties of fruit, kept in pots, for the convenience of customers, both nurserymen and proprietors of gardens would have an opportunity of procuring them at pleasure, and with full confidence in their being genuine. Or it might be found more convenient for one garden to confine itself to grapes, while another took peaches, a third hardy wall fruit, &c. As to expense, I can hardly anticipate any material addition, for the sale of fruit and young trees would evidently repay a part, at least, of their culture, while it is also possible that the subscriptions might be so much increased as to leave a profit. The example set to the nurserymen of precision and care in the selection of the sorts, would be an important lesson to them, and of no small service to the conduct of their business. It is a common complaint among these gentlemen, I understand, that small encouragement is shown to them, except to a few of the most celebrated in the vicinity of the metropolis. If so, it must be their own fault. Let them show a good article, and they will be certain to find plenty of customers. When a nurseryman once establishes a high name, he has always more orders than he can execute. But, as the public become enlightened, they grow more and more intolerant of Peter Pindar's razors, made to sell, not to shave. In short, the dealer in fruit trees will find it his best policy to imitate the industry of the dealer in florist's flowers, and in ornamental plants in general.
