depend upon the circumstances in which he is placed. I shall only aim at a suggestion or two, which may give a general

idea.

In the first place, he ought to make an exact calculation of his spare time during a week or day, and then make a prudent choice of the several indispensable branches of learning in which he finds himself deficient, not too many at a time. Let his time be then divided in such proportions as are more advantageous to his success and situation; ex. gr. were six to be selected, say Latin, botany, chemistry, mathematics, writing, history or miscellany, then the first two occupy the morning, the two next the evening, the last two next morning, and the first two next evening, &c., allowing a given time for each; and in case any particular occurrence causes irregularity in the observance, the breakfast or dinner hour may stand as a reserve for time lost: but paying the most rigid attention that not any one intrude on the time of another, as it must inevitably confound such a system; but, if strictly attended to, it will not fail to reward such as observe it: in fact, I know not how any thing like a general knowledge can be obtained, unless some such system be. adopted. I may further add, as the student finds himself arriving at a considerable proficiency in any topic, he may deduct a portion of the time devoted to it, and whatever is next useful may be substituted; for, as a learned Greek observes, "He who knows useful things, not he who knows many things, is wise." It may here be deemed unnecessary for me to add any further observations on the particular branches to be cultivated, as every ambitious young gardener must have learned, less or more, what is most essential for him, particularly as he can be copiously furnished with the necessary information in a preceding volume of your Magazine.

Consequently, I shall only now briefly advert to one; as considering it indispensable in that stock of knowledge, compatible with the necessary acquirements of every well-informed practitioner, viz. vegetable physiology, so far as chemically connected with the analysing of plants and soils; and a knowledge of the organic structure of the former, so far as illustrative of the radical and epidermic functions. The result of such information has not only a tendency to amusement and pleasure, but is highly conducive to that expansion of intellect which can account for many of the various phenomena presented to view, under our every-day practice. It also obviates many of those vague proceedings which afford scope for the censure of the connoisseur; besides exciting confusion, mingled with regret, in such individuals as witness a failure in produc

tion, aware of the effect, but there must remain, as being unable to investigate the cause. It may be argued that many a good gardener flourishes at the present day, who has not only been successful in his labours, but afforded every satisfaction to his employer, who scarce comprehends the term "vegetable physiology." That such is the fact, cannot be denied ; but may it not be asked, whence has this learning sprung? Is it not the result of previous philosophical experiments; a mere accumulation of approved facts, held out to the world by such as made the original investigation? But such a character never can enhance the treasures of science, and never will avail himself of any scientific research.

Perhaps the above observations, by some of your young readers, may be viewed as forming a part of the præcognia of the Gardener's Magazine; but, first principles can seldom be too often recurred to, and being conscious that such verities cannot be too forcibly impressed on the minds of such individuals, I submit the same to their perusal.

If you, therefore, deem this attempt worthy of insertion, by giving it a place you will much oblige, Sir, yours, &c.

September, 1828.

JUVENIS OLITOR.

ART. VI. On forming Artificial Seas in Ornamental Landscape, and on a New Sluice for regulating the Rise and Fall of the Tide in such Seas. By Mr. W. AITKEN, Nurseryman, Castle Douglas, Author of Navarino, a Poem.

Sir,

A DESIRE to imitate nature, and to blend her magnificent yet simple grandeur with the works of art, has now, to a certain degree, found a share either in the imagination or operations of every artist in gardening or rural ornament.

I have often looked at the motion of the tide, and considered it the most grand and beautiful of nature's works, together with its sublime accompaniments, painted by her ever fertile hand, of varied shores, rocky steeps, shattered bays, and level sands, ornamented by her pencil with plants suited to their respective situations.

Artificial water-ponds and rivers have long ago been introduced into gardens and lands, and when judiciously led down are very ornamental: but I have gone one step further, I have introduced, or, I should rather say, wish to introduce, artificial seas. These can only be fresh-water ponds, but so constructed with capes, bays, islands, rocks, sands, &c.,

as to imitate a sea; with the waters of said pond rising or falling a certain perpendicular height every six, twelve, or more, hours; at one time filling the bays, surrounding the islands, covering the rocks and sands, and at another time ebbing from them, and so imitating the tide by an alternate flux and reflux, which can be effectually obtained by means of my newly invented self-acting sluice, provided the pond is constantly supplied with a regular run of water, corresponding to the dimensions of said pond.

The sluice is so constructed that it remains shut until the pond is full, or at high-water mark, when it opens of itself and allows the water to decrease, or ebb, to a given depth or level; at this point the sluice again shuts itself, and causes the water to increase or flow as before, when it again opens itself; and in this manner it continues to act alternately and regularly. It would render the above ponds more ornamental and more curious, if, on the stream that feeds them, a reservoirpond were constructed. This should be of equal dimensions with the under-pond, and at least on a higher level by 2 or 3 ft. It may be at any distance from the other, or at any height of level; a mile distant or 100 ft. of elevation are equally the same, and would give fine scope for cascades.

By means of a curious, but very simple, part of my invention, the sluice of the reservoir-pond would have a secret under-ground connection with the other sluice, which would cause them to work in concert. When the sluice of the ornamental pond opened to discharge, or ebb, the sluice of the reservoir-pond would shut; this would cause a quicker ebb, and also save water for a quicker flow: when the under sluice shut itself, then the sluice of the reservoir would open and pour its water over a fine cascade into the under-pond, it the situation in point of elevation admitted of such. The whole apparatus is uncommonly simple, and might be easily invented by any ordinary artist; but, as far as I understand, it has never before been suggested, although much has been done and written on the subject of ornamenting gardens, pleasure-grounds, and lawns, by water, therefore I am entitled to the merit of originality in so far as a tide-like motion is obtained.

Water-ponds so constructed, instead of being only stagnant pools, as at present, might be made to exhibit every species of pleasing variety, according to the nature of the situation and taste of the proprietor. Ponds of this description would be most excellent accompaniments to artificial rockwork; it would be on the banks of such, that the effects of rockworks would be more naturally grand, having their

bases washed with the flow tide; here would the rock and marine plants of various kinds appear as in their natural situations. On the peninsulas, islands, and along the banks of such ponds, might be laid down variously formed flowerplots; there, also, might be constructed bowers, rustic seats, and many other rural ornaments.

These sluices are very simple and easy of construction: for a small pond the cost will not be more than from three to four pounds sterling; but the expense will vary according to the dimensions, or nature of the materials. Whether of

wood or iron, they are sure to act; and power can be communicated to lift a sluice of any dimensions, so that ponds on an extensive scale may have their water raised or lowered by these sluices. Should the supply of water run short, from a summer's drought or other cause, the pond may, during such deficiency, be kept at high-water mark by turning the key of a common brass cock, on which its action depends, or it may also be kept at low water by an equally simple operation. For the sake of durability the whole apparatus may be constructed of iron, and all concealed under ground if required.

Should any of the numerous readers of your Magazine wish for a plan of the sluice, or should they wish to construct one on the above-described principle, I shall be very happy to hear from them, and I trust they will find my terms moderate.

Castle Douglas, Jan. 30. 1829.

W. AITKEN.

ART. VII. On the Scotch Pine. By AGRONOME.
Sir,

By the time you see this, you will be returned, as I hope, safe and sound, from your Continental tour; and, no doubt, you have brought a rare budget of good things for your friends, " a feast of fat things full of marrow; of wines on the lees well refined." For my own part, I have had but little time for either treating or being treated lately in the way of writing or reading, having also made a tour through the north of England and south of Scotland. My route was through Staffordshire, Cheshire, Lancashire, &c., as far as Glasgow and Edinburgh; thence down the Gala water to Abbottsford, to Melross, Jedburgh, and over Chevy Chase to Otterburn, Elsdon, &c., to Newcastle upon Tyne; thence through the county of Durham, by Sunderland, Halifax, Leeds, Harrow

gate, &c., to Manchester; whence I returned back to my own sweet, sweet home in the centre of England; "for there's no place like home! there's no place like home!" The object of my mission was to see the state of improvement in agriculture and horticulture, and particularly the management of young plantations, as theoretically described by Sir Henry Steuart, Mr. R. Monteath, and Sir Walter Scott, whose works I had just been reading.

I had not seen any of the country comprised in my tour for above nine years, much of it I had not seen for twenty or thirty years, and some parts I had never seen. I have collected materials sufficient for a great number of Magazines, but am such a poor hand at arranging or writing systematically, that, with want of time also, my letters, I fear, will hardly be worth reading. I shall, however, give you an account of some of the things which I have seen, or rather of what I have not seen, for I have seen but few things which really pleased me. I saw no such thing as two distinct species or varieties of the Scotch pine (Pinus sylvéstris), either in Scotland or England. The rough-barked and smooth-barked are only occasioned by soil, situation, or age; the broad top is the effect of old age, premature old age, or disease. Every Scotch pine will have a rough bark, if it has been pruned and thinned out properly in its youth. I saw many ill effects of not early pruning the Scotch pine; as also many ill effects from pruning after the tree was nearly at its growth. I examined many boards sawn from such trees; they were full of knots, 2 or 3 in. in diameter. Such knots were the only good wood in them; indeed, they had every appearance of the best pitch pine of Russia; while the boards themselves were quite white and frothy. Sir Walter Scott was very wrong in saying that the common Scotch pine was only introduced from America about half a century ago, and much inferior to the Highland pine. There are, within a few miles of Abbottsford, large woods of Scotch pine, which have been the rendezvous of an immense heronry and rookery since long before he was born, namely, Torwood Lee and Bowland, Bowhill, &c. Secondly, I saw few or no pines on the lands where I wished to see them, viz. on the tops of the hills. The woods in Scotland are chiefly on the sides of the hills, or even on some of their best lying lands; while the bleak bare hills behind them give the whole country a barren and beggarly appearance. I am not so fond of hedge-row timber as some are, for I never saw a tree in a hedge fit to be seen, if the hedge were fit to be seen under it; but I should like to clothe every horizon with a belt, however narrow, of Scotch pine and larch fir. Such