The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-07-30 00:00:00

MISCEL L A N E A.

Villa and Suburban Gardening.—The object to be kept
in view in arranging and planning a small garden is un-
questionably variety. Attempting too much in any one
particular branch leaves others either neglected or curtailed.
It is true that every one has his own peculiar tastes and pre-
judices, and these necessarily interfere with the proper
arrangement and divioion of the different parts of a gin-
den ; but it must be allowed that variety is the soul of
gardening, and not less so in small than in large places.
The peculiar taste of the proprietor should, therefore, in
some measure, be rendered subservient to the amount of
pleasure which his family and friends are to reap from a
proper distribution of subjects. When in a flower garden
of Roses alone it is admitted to be beautiful. Few will be
found to detract from the loveliness of the rose, but it
would indeed be a morbid taste that could see no beauty
in the rest of the vegetable kingdom. I apprehend, there-
fore, that the majority of those who delight in gardens—
and who does not ?—would prefer a continued succession
of bloom in all seasons, so as to keep the eye always de-
lighted, and the mind ever gratified. The business of the
villa gardener then must be to consider well every step he
takes ; and every plant he commits to the soil should have
been previously well weighed, and every point relating to
its ultimate growth and effect maturely considered. The
amateur is too apt to plant without forethought, and many
of the objects he has looked forward to admire, are killed
or smothered by others of more rapid or luxuriant growth.
He should, therefore, know something of the dimensions
plants are likely to attain. His little space requires great
economy in the distribution of the subjects he cultivates,
and much judgment in the selection of them ; and, there-
fore, instead of attempting to produce quantities of one
kind of plant, to the exclusion of others, it would be wise
and more satisfactory to limit the number of any particu-
lar kind, and thereby afford space for greater variety. He
ought especially to avoid the too abundant introduction
of rude growing paints ; but, on the other hand, he need
not confine himself to too small plants ; these would pro-
duce a monotonous effect. A knowledge of the size which
plants are likely to attain, together with the hints I have
thrown out, may enable him to distribute his subjects so
as to economise his ground, and, consequently, to produce
a greater variety on the same space.—Pharo. The above
is one of a very valuable series of articles upon the same
interesting subject published in the Gardener' Chronicle.
The Samoan Chronicle says, " He who introduces but
a single plant into a country may be considered a public
benefactor. We look with interest on the magnificent
orange and tamarind trees which still stand at Point
Venus, on Tahiti, planted by Bligh ; and on the shaddock
tree, which, till lately, stood at Hualline, planted by the
hand of Cook. But the most humble native teacher who
now conveys to other islands the orange, the lime, the
banana, sweet potato, pine, custard, and papan apples,
&c., is no less worthy of the thanks of our country than
the greatest of onr navigators. It is interesting to observe,
that, when these worthy agents of our Missionary Society
bring on board the mission ship their little odds and ends
of property to embark on their mission of mercy to other
islands, they have almost invariably a box of plants, or a
parcel of roots and seeds. It must not be thought that
the islands of the Pacific are now the solitary abodes they
once were. They are visited by hundreds of whalers and
traders; and, consequently, it is of the greatest benefit in
preserving the health of the crews to be able to get fresh
supplies of vegetables and fruits. At the same time it
confers a benefit on the natives, by giving in exchange
for their produce our hardwares, cutlery, and cottons.
The benefit is even more extended in opening up the mar-
kets fir our home manufacturers. In after years it will
be interesting to know who first conveyed to the several
islands many of the finest tropical productions. Even
now, short as the period is, it would be difficult to ascer-
tain who first introduced many of them. Of all the
foreign plants which have been introduced into Samoa,
none have been more extensively propagated and valued
than a species of banana, previously unknown in the South
Seas, although in Samoa alone upwards of fifty different
species of the Musa are found. From the excellency of
its fruit and its great weight, together with the adaptation
of its lowness to resist violent gales, it promises to take
the precedence of every other variety usually cultivated.
Some notice of its history, therefore, is worthy of record."