With Practical Notes on Country Residences, Villas, Public Parks, and Gardens. By Chaeles H. Smith, Landscape Gardener, Garden Architect, etc.: with Notes and Additions by LEwIs F. ALLEN, author of " pural Architecture, etc. New York: C M. s axton.

The appearance of such a book as this in American dress is proof that Landscape Gardening is beginning to attract attention among us. Nearly all our books on Landscape Gardening are English works, and our ideas on the subject are mostly of English origin; and yet there is very little opportunity for the exercise of the art in this country, to the extent to which it is usually carried in England. English Landscape Gardening needs modifying to adapt it to the wants of a comparatively new country, and the habits of the American people. Americans who have never visted Europe know but little of the character or extent of English parks, either public or private. The park which the English Landscape Gardener describes, or to which he applies his art, is one of hundreds of acres, perhaps extending miles in every direction, in which hundreds of deer are kept, as well as flocks of sheep and herds of cattle. To prevent the too near approach of these to the house, perhaps a wire or sunken fence, encloses thirty or forty acres immediately around it, and this - "the dress ground" - is in beautiful condition - the grass kept soft and smooth as velvet by constant mowing, sweeping, and rolling.

The buildings are in keeping with the extent of the grounds, large and massive, (an American would be apt to think gloomy,) bearing striking evidence of its age and importance. It is the useat" of Lord RATTLEBRAIN, and has been the " seat" of the Rattlebrain family for centuries, and bids fair to be for centuries.

In the same house, with the same grounds, the same servants and tenants; for the farms for many miles belong to the estate, and are leased to the farmers who occupy them, and whose sons may continue to live on them, as their fathers did before them.

With us things are entirely different. John Smith, Jr., cannot commence life as John Smith, Senior, ended it. The property accumulated by the elder Smith is divided between the younger Smiths. If the father has a fine house and grounds, in which to enjoy in old age the fruits of early industry, these must be sold, as neither son can afford to invest his portion in unproductive property, or to live a life of ease and luxury. Each one must commence where his father commenced, and work out for himself a fortune and a name. One engages in mercantile pursuit, another seeks his fortune in the West, and soon becomes known as a member of Congress from some western district, or is " on the stump" to secure himself a seat in his own State Legislature. Another purchases a farm in his native State, and in a few years is the " highly esteemed correspondent" of some popular agricultural journal, and President of the County Agricultural Society; or, if he happens to be a man of fine taste, soon makes himself known to the horticultural world as the skillful cultivator of choice fruit.

It may be asked, "Of what advantage then is the study of Landscape Gardening to us?" We answer, "Much, every way." Although we have but few very rich, and few extremely poor, yet we have men of wealth, (and the number is increasing as the country becomes older,) who, becoming tired of the pursuit of Mammon, are seeking pleasant homes in the country. These wish to surround themselves with all the beauties and luxuries of country life. Another class, still doing business in our cities and villages, are securing themselves suburban homes, where they can enjoy to a great extent the pleasures of both city and country. Both of these classes should understand the principles of landscape gardening. There is another, and a still more numerous class to whom we would recommend the study of landscape gardening. Every farmer who owns a hundred acres of land can afford to have a pretty park or lawn. The farmer who places his house within a few feet of a dusty road, as if building on a small city lot, shows neither economy nor good sense. With a little study and labor he may make a lawn that will add much to the beauty and comfort of home.

Select and fence in a few acres around the house; plow deep; if not sufficiently shaded, plant shade trees; make the surface as smooth as possible, and sow to red top and white clover; keep this grazed short, and you will have a lawn that will cost you little or nothing.

The American editor, Mr. Allen, is a gentleman of good taste and large experience on all matters connected with country life in America - well known as one of the ablest and most indefatigable friend of agricultural and horticultural improvement in our State. We are glad to see his pen and his influence brought into activity where they are so much wanted. The notes, with which he has interspersed this volume, are written in his usual easy, dashing style; but we must confess they add very little to the value of the book: a very large number of them are absolutely superfluous, being intended merely to bestow upon the author's teaching his "unqualified assent" or "emphatic concurrence." The main points which strike us as demanding explanation and suggestion, to show wherein the English practice should be modified to adapt it to this country, are, in a majority of cases, passed over. In one place, for instance, the author in treating of the decoration of the "pleasure ground villa," recommends planting the Magnolia grandiflora, Sweet Bay, Arbutus, and Common Laurel. Now, a note from the editor stating that in our Northern and Middle States not one of these trees will bear the climate in the open air, would be valuable to the uninformed reader, but no such bint is offered; on tbe contrary, tbe editor, speaking of tbe chapter in which this occurs, says the subject is "so fully discussed that hardly an additional word is required." The important subject of hedges is dismissed in the following summary way:

"Hedges, may, in time, be introduced, and perhaps to good purpose; but we are somewhat doubtful of their adoption to any considerable extent, save, perhaps, in the use of Osage Orange, on the western prairies".

In speaking of "planting the Pinetum," the author says: "As a general rule, the best season for planting Pines is in October." The editor should surely have inserted a caution here, for the benefit of northern planters, at least.

We might, if space permitted, go on and point out scores of omissions, more important even than those alluded to. The notes have evidently been written in a hasty, careless manner; and we beg Mr. Allen to take the book up again in a more pains taking mood - dash out many of the superfluous notes, and add others with such care and discrimination as will invest them with value, and entitle them to confidence.

The book is one which should have the widest circulation.

Transactions of the Worcerter County HORTICUOLTURAL SociEtY for 1809 and 1868; containing the Annual Report* of the Committees on Fruits, Flowers, etc, with the lists of Premiums awarded, the Officers of the Society for 1858, and a list of the Members.

From the Address of the President we learn that the past season there were 97 contributors of Pears, making 700 entries; 56 contributors of Apples, making 229 entries; 85 contributors of other fruits, making 218 entries; 87 contributors of vegetables, making 151 entries; 88 contributors of flowers, making 86 entries. The President compares their exhibition with one he attended in England as follows:

"As it is known that I have recently had the opportunity of visiting horticultural exhibitions in Europe, I hope it will not be deemed impertinent that I anticipate the question, How does this show stand in comparison with those which I saw in England. This I will attempt to answer, briefly and fairly, with no narrow prejudice of nationality, and with a grateful recognition of the cordial hospitality enjoyed by myself, which the farmers and horticulturists of that country freely offer to every interested visitor. As the general character of all these exhibitions was the same, I will take as an example the 'Horticultural Exhibition of All Nations,' at Cheltenham, under the professed patronage of Queen VicToRIA, Prince AlbKRt, the Emperor of the French, the King of the Belgians, and many other distinguished personages. In addition to a very large hall there were four tents for exhibition, whose united length was_1300 feet, and the width of the tables was eight or nine feet Three bands of music, with different instruments, played in turn in the beautiful garden.

There was the same difference between that vast and magnificent display, and the more limited collection before us, that is found to exist between the privileges reserved to the aristocracy by the institutions of England, and the advantages offered to every citizen in our own country. The English show presented a variety of most rare and splendid flowers, in such size and perfection as it is difficult, with any expense, to attain in this climate. Except the Roses, and they were very choice and perfect, and some new and costly Petunias and Verbenas, and a few other flowers, not easily to be procured, the flowers were of the kinds cultisuch as in the month of May were sold in the London market at 10s, sterling, or about $2.60 for each Peach; and in July the price was reduced to 40s. sterling, or about $10 per dozen. The Peaches of England are magnificent in size and color, but they have not the richness and flavor of the New England Peach. I do not remember any Pears at that show, and I eaw few in England. The season was said to be unproductive for that crop. The Apples were few and inferior. Without attempting a fall enumeration, I will say a word of the Strawberries, Grapes, Nectarines, and Pine Apples, which are the best fruits of the country.

The Strawberries were of astonishing size, and the best kinds were more richly flavored than ours, and they are expensive. The Grapes were large and good, and raised under glass. The Nectarines were large and delicious, and were sold in July for 40s. sterling, or about $10 per dozen. The Pine Apples were very superior in size and flavor to those imported into this country, and such as were sold in July, in London market, at 8s. sterling, or about $2 per pound. There was but one plate of Tomatoes, and this, in midsummer, though an excellent specimen, was not better than the box which our Vice President, John C. Whitin, Esq., of Northbridge, sent to me, and I exhibited extensively to the members of this Society in February last The result of the proposed comparison may thus be distinctly stated. The English exhibition was a display of rare luxuries, which, like the privileges of the favored classes in England, are not within the reach of the great body of the people; while the articles of our collection, like the civil and social advantages of our country, are withheld by no artificial impediment or disability, from any citizen who will make the necessary effort to obtain them".