At the conclusion of my last communication I had reached St John's Nursery, Worcester, which ranks among the largest provincial establishments in the kingdom, extending to rather more than a hundred acres. But what of size? that is nothing - it is the variety and quality of the stock that engage the attention of the visitor. Reaching the entrance gate, situated on the Bransford road, I was brought for a few minutes to a dead standstill, admiring a broad carriage-drive or avenue a mile and three quarters long. This noble approach is planted on either side several rows deep with a choice and varied collection of Coniferse. This, I understand, is not intended to be a permanent arrangement. All are saleable, and as vacancies occur the empty spaces are filled, so as to produce a continuous feature. The nursery is again divided into sections by walks of a less pretentious character, and it may surprise a stranger when told that in the aggregate the entire length amounts to 26 miles. Fifty acres are specially set apart for the growth of fruit-trees, and 52,000 are annually trained for walls and espaliers; so great is the demand in this department, that 150,000 to 200,000 stocks are yearly required to meet the consumption.

Where the outlet is for so large a quantity of trees is a mystery to me, and I daresay to others as well. We might reasonably suppose that enough is propagated to supply the wants of Great Britain and Ireland. A specimen of each kind is grown in the nursery, and even this caution does not satisfy Mr Smith's particularity; he appoints a person on whom he can depend to collect the seeds and grafts, so it is hardly possible, unless by carelessness, that they can get confused.

Coniferous plants are grown extensively, whether as to species or varieties, including recent introductions. Tor instance, it is not common to see at one place Abies nobilis grown by thousands, not a stunted little struggling object among them, no side shoots being compelled to accept the office of a leader. The secret why all are so vigorous is this, that Mr Smith has cone-bearing trees, so that his entire stock consists of seedling plants. There is a Picea, called magnifica, and by some persons robusta, but it does not appear to me to differ from nobilis; certainly a little more glaucous in colour, but that may arise from some rjeculiarity of soil; independent of any such concurrence, I feel satisfied that there are several varieties. During my hasty visit - something between a walk and a run - the following plants appeared to me to deserve special attention; not that they are new, but because of their individual merits and their applicability for villa decoration, as well as for other places of greater extent. We have first Juniperus drupacea, possessing a graceful outline and a somewhat drooping habit. Juniperus nana is an admirable plant for the rockwork, as it scarcely or ever exceeds 12 inches in height.

Juniperus Chinensis variegata is very distinct from the common Chinese Juniper, and as the variegation is constant, and the habit ornamental, its value is much increased.

Here for the first time I met with Pinus Cembra variegata, a sport, I presume, still scarce and rather high priced. There does not appear to be any difference in habit between it and Cembra: the straw-coloured foliage is the only marked distinction. From present appearance I have no doubt that, when it reaches to a large size, it will distinguish itself either as a park or pleasure-ground tree. The fact may not now be admitted, but the time will come, and is near, when a harmonising of colour among trees and shrubs will be as much in demand as it is now in our flower-gardens. I do not say that we are yet in possession of the requisite material, but fresh introductions are yearly coming in to enable us to carry out such an arrangement.

Evergreens are also extensively grown. In no nursery have I seen them treated with more care. They seem to be a subject of special regard. There is an immense number of Portugal Laurels, of almost every size, being trained as pyramids and dwarf standards for the purpose of decorating terraces and large geometric designs, or, wherever admissible, as a substitute for Orange-trees. Nowhere have I seen this feature produced with so much effect as at Trentham. The roots as well as the branches undergo a careful supervision. They are yearly, or bi-yearly, pruned so as to secure a large mass of fibre, that removal to any part of the kingdom may be carried out with perfect security. Without any preparation the soil is well adapted for the Rhododendron, as it grows with the greatest freedom. The stock is large, and comprises all the newest and best varieties. A plant of Taxus fastigiata was pointed out to me, and I was much pleased to have so valuable a thing brought under my notice. The habit is exactly the same as the common Irish Yew. The distinction in colour consists in the leaves having a green centre margined on the outside with yellow.

The Ivy holds a conspicuous place. I had no suspicion that the variegated kinds were so numerous; but it is so, and they comprise a great variety of colour. In a general way, Ivy is somewhat neglected, but it possesses properties which only require to be utilised. For instance, they would greatly assist in enabling us to introduce to our pleasure-ground no inconsiderable amount of colour, which would lighten up many shady corners, by having the plants trained to stumps of trees, old roots, or in any form agreeable to the taste of the proprietor. Again, as a screen to shut out disagreeable sights, they have been adopted at Drayton Manor with good effect.

Roses are an important feature in Mr Smith's nursery. The collection occupies 8 acres, containing all the newest and best kinds to be met with elsewhere.

I now reached what may be called the preparation department, the place where the majority of the hardy stock is propagated, containing numerous ranges of brick pits, glazed and unglazed. There are thousands upon thousands of young plants in all stages of growth, an omnium gatherum representing every temperate region, but yet undetermined whether all will withstand the rigours of our British winters. Orchard-house trees appear to be a leading feature in Mr Smith's nursery, and are thoroughly cared for, too. They consist principally of Nectarines, Peaches, Pears, Apricots, Plums, and Cherries. The amount of training, pinching, and et ceteras must consume a great deal of labour. Including the pits to which I have just referred, the extent of glass erections comprises 72,600 feet. There is one house devoted exclusively to the culture of Grapes in pots, 117 feet long by 17 1/2feet wide. A second for the same purpose is 115 feet long by 25 feet wide. There are two orchard-houses, one 200 feet long by 27 feet wide, the other 45 feet long by 25 feet wide - these are employed for the production of fruit; and for the preparation of the trees, a house 196 feet long by 27 1/2 feet wide, - so it will be seen that this department of horticulture is carried on rather extensively, and I believe successfully.