488 [Senate 



The soil of Great Britain was considered unfit for the productions of 

 horticulture till within the last century. It was always unrivalled for 

 the freshness and beauty of its verdure. But, it has been known only 

 within the three or four last generations to have paid great atttention 

 to the ornamental cultivation of its pleasure grounds, or the profitable 

 produce of its kitchen and fruit gardens. Since the general introduc- 

 tion of forcing houses, at the beginning of the eighteenth century, her 

 noblemen, and other men of taste and opulence, have been wonder- 

 fully successful in the finest arts of cultivation. Now there is said to 

 be more certainty of finding pine apples, of domestic growth, in the 

 London market, every day in the year, than there is either in Jamaica 

 or Calcutta. 



The total number of vegetable species, not indigenous in England, 

 introduced previous to the accession of George the 4th, is said to have 

 been 11,970 ; of which the first 47 were brought in before and during 

 the reign of Henry VIII. ; 533 during that of Elizabeth ; 578 during 

 the reign of the two Charleses, and Cromwell ; 44 in that of James 11. ; 

 298 in that of William and Mary ; 230 in that of Anne ; 182 in that 

 of George I. ; 1770 in that of George II. ; and 6766 in that of 

 George III. 



In 1805 a private association for horticultural objects was commen- 

 ced in London, which was incorporated by royal charter in 1809. In 

 1803, in Edinburgh, a florist's society was instituted, which in 1809 

 enlarged its views, and took the title of the Caledonian Horticultural 

 Society. At Paisley, in Scotland, a florist's society was some time 

 ago established, of which an eminent writer observes, that "the rearing 

 of beautiful flowers is found to improve the taste for manufacturing 

 elegant patterns of fancy muslin ; while the florists of Paisley have 

 been long remarked for the peacefulness of their dispositions, and the 

 sobriety of their manners." 



The benefits of such associations are numerous, and of great impor- 

 tance to the human family. 



They encourage profitable industry. In the vicinity of London, 

 there are occupied as fruit and kitchen gardens, about 20,000 acres of 

 land, of which the annual produce is sold for more than 7,000,000 dol- 

 lars. Within six miles of Edinburgh, there are computed to be 2000 

 acres occupied in the same way, of which the annual produce is worth 

 near 800,000 dollars. For the supply of the New-York market with 

 vegetables, fruits, and flowers, there are cultivated several thousand 

 acres of land, of which the aggregate annual produce is supposed to be 

 about $1,000,000. The proportions of earth thus cultivated are far 

 more productive than any other equal portions of land in the countries 

 where they are situated ; and they give healthy employment to great 

 multitudes of human beings. 



In no calling may the healthful activity of the mind be more happily 

 blended with the healthful activity of the body, than in the noble art 

 of multiplying the treasures of the vegetable kingdom. It has been 

 remarked by the editor of the New-York Tribune, that the country is 

 greatly overstocked with lawyers, doctors, &c. and a persuasive ap- 



