140 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



mined ; errors corrected, and correct principles laid down of great value to 

 the husbandman. The science of Meteorology is so intimately associated with 

 that of horticulture that a better knowledge of it than we now possess is very 

 desirable. The study of carefully kept records as to the action of the elements, 

 also the inlluences of large bodies of water, and the effects of high elevations, 

 and deep valleys, upon the temperature and moisture of the atmosphere, will 

 no doubt in time reveal the causes that influence weather, and perhaps throw 

 some light upon changes in public health, with which weather no doubt has 

 something to do. The question as to whether the drought induced by severe 

 freezing is not more fatal to jdants than the mere lowering of temperature, is 

 wortliy of more attention than it has yet received. The vagaries of the past 

 severe winter among the iloral treasures on the Continent of Europe tell a 

 tale, and point a moral, in this direction, which we think will not be lost sight 

 of by European horticulturists in the future. We already know that many 

 tender plants may be saved from injury during severe weather, by merely soak- 

 ing the ground around them with water, and then mulching with leaves or 

 other available material, thereby arresting the escape of heat and moisture 

 from the soil, and this acting as a protection against drought rather than cold. 

 The average temperature of a country avails us little in determining the special 

 conditions which affect the welfare of plants. To understand these conditions 

 it is wise to place less reliance on averages and more upon specific facts. There 

 are many plants which will endure the most rigorous winters of France, that 

 utterly fail in the more moderate climate of England. By such examples are 

 be warned not to trust too confidingly to averages for our estimates of climate 

 in relation to the growth of plants. Agriculture and horticulture combined, 

 have often been the means of great national prosperity to many countries, as 

 for instance the cultivation of the tea plant; in early times it was taken as a 

 cnriosit)', and sometimes as a liquor, and its culture was exclusively monopol- 

 ized by the Chinese ; but now by the combined efforts of agriculture and hor- 

 ticulture it has become a staple industry of India. Another plant, the Cin- 

 chona or Quinine tree, an article of prime importance to humanity everywhere, 

 is largely cultivated in India. 1 might also mention the Eucalyptus, the rub- 

 ber trees, and many others, as having a somewhat similar history. It was said 

 of all those plants that they could not be established as an industry in any 

 other country, and probably would not have been but for the efforts of the 

 horticulturist supplemented by the larger labors of the agriculturist ; and I 

 doubt not but that tlie future history of American agriculture will record the 

 permanent success of some such industry, in a portion at least of her vast 

 territory. 



The Corinthian capital also owes its existence to the vegetable kingdom, 

 because it was from a plant drooping over some neglected stone that first sug- 

 gested to the Grecian architect the idea of that most graceful of all architect- 

 ural orders. The thought now suggests itself, how a knowledge of horticult- 

 ure may be made more general and useful than it is at present and I shall 

 indicate three methods by which I think this may be in part acomplished : 

 First, by instruction in horticultural science in our schools. Although the 

 importance of agricultural pursuits is admitted, it is safe to say that there is 

 not a school or college, outside the agricultural colleges, where a moment is 

 devoted to an exi^lanation of those familiar operations of the farm and garden 

 to which we are indebted for our daily bread. May we not hope, then, that 

 the time will soon come when the school garden shall become an educational 

 force in our country, when instruction in horticulture shall be imparted to the 



