FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 135 



England imported $15,000,000 of vegetables per annum, all of which might bo 

 saved to the country by better land laws and by stimulating the soil to increased 

 production. Horticulture, like agriculture, was practiced for ages before any 

 attempt was made to systematize its methods and their results; but it is now 

 conceded that the cultivation of the soil has its general principles as well as its 

 general details ; that there must be books in which facts are stated, and rules 

 systematically laid down for the highest development of the art. It is scarcely 

 necessary, then, to say that a new era now exists in the cultivation of gardens 

 as well as fields, and as the subject is one of the highest interest, the necessity 

 for advanced and regular efforts for its success is daily becoming better under- 

 stood. Within the memory of many now living there was not an agricultural 

 paper published in this country, the first effort in this direction being the 

 American Farmer, published in 1820. Now there are many monthly and other 

 periodicals devoted to horticulture whose writings are well up with the times. 

 Nor is this all; thousands of secular and religious papers have special columns 

 on this subject, without which their success would indeed be doubtful. 



With this brief notice of the early rise and progress of horticulture, I will 

 now somewhat hastily view its present condition and future prospects under 

 three heads : the economic, tlie ornamental, and the scientific. Economic 

 horticulture comprises fruit growing, vegetable gardening, and tree growing 

 for shelter, ornamentation or other economic purposes in the various industries 

 of the world. Fruit growing is a branch of horticulture very attractive to the 

 great body of the people, and as a rule the most profitable, particularly when 

 associated to some extent with vegetable gardening near large cities and towns. 

 Fruit culture and vegetable gardening border closely on agriculture, and require 

 the best skill of the cultivator, as they comprise the whole question of com- 

 mercial and other fertilizers which are so intimately associated with their suc- 

 cessful prosecution. They also require special attention to soil and climate, as 

 well as demanding foresight and a very thorough preparation of the soil for 

 the best success; but where this has been omitted frequent cultivation will 

 give excellent results, and for many plants is almost a sutficient substitute. 

 Forestry, in its relation to agricultural economy, in so far as it helps us in 

 reaching the best system of tillage, is of special consequence to agriculture 

 itself, and until this, and the subject of drainage, also the importance of ento- 

 mology, is fully recognized by farmers and horticulturists, the best possible 

 results cannot be reached by them. The planting of trees, both for profit and 

 ornament, has long engaged the active attention of European nations. The 

 present forests of England are said to have been planted by the hand of man. 

 The highlands of Scotland have also been replanted by the untiring labors of 

 past generations, rendered necessary by the I'ccklessness of the people at one 

 time in destroying the timber. Planting trees is now recognized as an impor- 

 tant aid to the future prosperity of any country; climate, scenery and the 

 comforts of life depending in no small degree upon the performance of this 

 duty. As planting trees for ornament comes late in tlie progress of horticul- 

 ture and does not promise immediate results, it has not received that attention 

 in tliis country given it by governments aud individuals in Europe; yet its 

 importance is daily becomnig more apparent as we deplore the vicissitudes of 

 climate caused by the destruction of our forests, till danger now exists that 

 like l^alestine our country will be shorn of its future abundance. 



One of the most hopeful evidences of progress in the present day is the 

 rapid extension of orchards and useful trees all over the country, and tlie de- 

 sire for improved varieties of the various products of the garden. Some peo« 



