By J. C. LOUDON, F.L.S. H.S. &c. AUTHOR OF THE ENCYCLOPEDIAS OF GARDENING AND OF AGRICULTURE, AND LONDON: PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, REES, ORME, BROWN, AND GREEN, PATERNOSTER-ROW. PREFACE. THE Sixth Volume of the Gardener's Magazine will be found equal to any that has preceded it, in the higher branches of professional information; and as it contains a complete system of cottage gardening, with some highly improved plans of cottage dwellings, it surpasses, in point of general utility, all that have gone before. : Something has been said lately by a learned author, Sir Henry Steuart, in his Planter's Guide, of the ignorance of gardeners generally but that they are, as a body, well informed, in both the theory and practice of their profession, and very well able to communicate their information to others, the manner in which this Magazine is supported by their contributions is a decided proof. Gardeners may certainly be considered, in common with others of the laborious classes of society, ignorant of classical learning; but this is a species of knowledge of exceedingly little use, and is gradually becoming neglected in all countries, in proportion as the inhabitants advance in civilisation. We have above alluded to the Essays on Cottage Gardening (Articles III. IV. and V., p. 167. to 208.), written in competition for certain prizes which we offered and have awarded. These essays are composed by gardeners who have had scarcely any education beyond what they have given themselves; and the essays published are only three out of ten, which were all nearly equally well written. We might refer to many other articles in this Volume as proofs of the general intelligence of gardeners; but, having mentioned these essays, we will limit our remarks to them, and ask any man, however learned or scientific he may be, whether any thing can be more complete and systematic of its kind than the fourth of these essays? We by no means intend to flatter gardeners, so as to render them content with the knowledge which they already possess; we only wish to stimulate them to make every exertion to raise themselves to the highest possible grade in their profession. We must also be allowed to say, that the more our acquaintance with gardeners is increased, in consequence of conducting this Magazine and the Magazine of Natural History, the more we are |