334 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HOETICULTURAL 



the large industries of the country. From the white sands of Flor- 

 ida to the ice-bound States of the North; from the Pacific Coast to 

 the cities of the Atlantic seaboard; on every line of railway, every 

 navigable river and every lake, the wheels of commerce are oiled by 

 the products of the horticulturist. Ships on the pathless ocean are 

 laden with earth's munificent bounties; the fruits of the torrid and 

 temperate zones, and every nation on the globe, is more or less in- 

 terested in, and profited by, horticulture. 



The cultivation, picking, gathering, assorting, packing and sale 

 of fruits and vegetables give employment to large numbers of men, 

 women and children. The manufacturers of refrigerators, barrels, 

 crates and berry boxes; the harvesters of ice necessary to preserve 

 perishable fruits in transit, and the manufacturers of glass and heat- 

 ing apparatus for conservatories, are all indebted to horticulture for 

 the turning of many an honest penny. All the nursery business of 

 the country, and the growing of vegetable and flower seeds, are 

 highly important industries that giye employment to an army of in- 

 telligent workers. Intensive horticulture, as conducted in cities and 

 towns, which consists in growing vegetables, fruits and flowers un- 

 der glass, aided by artificial heat, is, in many places, a lucrative 

 business. 



The sanitary, as well as the commercial value of horticulture, 

 is really incalculable. Who can estimate the benefits accruing to 

 humanity in the sustenance of life, and the improvement and pres- 

 ervation of health from the liberal use of good fruits and veget- 

 ables? On this part of the subject alone a volume could be written 

 without doing it full justice. 



We all know that pure cider vinegar is far more wholesome 

 than any stuff made of cheap acids by the chemists' art. 



When the long, cold winter has passed, and after the first few 

 warm days of spring, how grateful and delicious is the asparagus? It 

 is cleansing to the system, and, being both food and medicine, it pre- 

 pares us for the warmer weather to come. The early lettuce, the 

 radish and the green onions are all acceptable. The early peas 

 come in time to let the asparagus grow, preparatory for its next 

 years' crop. And now the crimson strawberry; it delights childhood, 

 pleases the middle-aged, and gratifies the old. What pleasure to see 

 children running into the house, their faces full of pleasurable ex- 

 citement, and hear their exulting cry, " Oh, mamma, the straw- 

 berries will soon be ripe, we've found one already." The early 

 cherry and raspberry come about the time the strawberry is saying 

 good-bye. The welcome blackberry and early apple soon come in 

 sight and are followed by late apples and other tree fruits in their 

 seasons. 



As the cool nights of autumn remind us that summer has de- 

 parted, we see the white, red and black grapes hanging on their re- 

 spective vines and giving promise of future feasts. These fruits are 



