520 



BULLETIN DE LA SOCIETE CENTRALE D'HORTICULTURE. 



course, we understand that the first crops 

 are under hand glasses, and in hot-beds. 



"We observe that the progress of horticul- 

 ture, in this country, is watched with inte- 

 rest in France. The account of the great 

 triennial fete of the Boston Horticultural 

 Society is quoted at some length, as afford- 

 ing a proof of how " horticulture is honored 

 and patronized in the United States among 

 the friends of order, learning, the arts, and 

 liberty." It is mentioned in connection 

 with this, that Col. Wilder, the president, 

 (who is also honorary member of the Sod- 

 ete Centrale,) is councillor of state in Mas- 

 sachusetts ; and our friends across the wa- 

 ter, who cannot rightly understand how so- 

 cieties can be so successful without govern- 

 ment patronage, evidently look upon the 

 civil honors held by our friend, the late 

 president of the Massachusetts society, as a 

 proof of some smiles of government be- 

 stowed upon horticulture. 



We notice, also, that the Horticulturist 

 is reviewed in very high terms of praise. 



From a discourse, pronounced by Presi- 

 dent Tougakd, at a large meeting of the 

 society in April, we extract the following 

 highly interesting account of a horticultural 

 colony ; in fact, a school for poor boys, who 

 would otherwise be inmates of houses of 

 refuge or correction, where they are not 

 only make good cultivators, but excellent 

 members of society. Gladly do we tender 

 to the family of Lecomte, who have de- 

 voted their lives to this noble and admira- 

 ble work, the respect and thanks of benevo- 

 lent hearts on this side of the Atlantic : 



" In the midst of so many sources of sorrow, 

 (brought about by the recent revolutions,) there 

 is a horticultural establishment which, although it 

 has suffered much, has offered to us a consoling 

 spectacle, as a compensation for the evils we have 

 elsewhere witnessed. I speak of the interesting 

 horticultural reform-school of Petit-Quevilly, con- 

 ducted with so much zeal, philanthropy and disin- 

 terestedness, by Messieurs Lecomte — father and 

 ton — whom this society has so justly honored with 



the gold medal. Such untiring devotion to the 

 most incessant labor, such complete .seclusion from 

 the world fin order to become instructers of child- 

 hood, — and of such a childhood, — requires a super- 

 human effort, a truly heroic spirit, which alone 

 is capable of such exertion and of such care. But 

 the hope of restoring to society those young chil- 

 dren, often more unfortunate than guilty, teaching 

 them the road to virtue, changing their disposi- 

 tion from a vicious to a good and honest direction; 

 what a difficult task ! But it was not beyond the 

 power and courage of its originator, since he has 

 seen it crowned with the most complete success. 

 To overcome all opposition, to vanquish preju- 

 dices, to win the assent even of his opponents, — 

 such is the victory, morally and physically gained 

 by the conductor of the school of Petit-Quevilly. 

 But, in order to complete the picture of this inte- 

 resting enterprise, we must place in the fore- 

 ground a generous, self-sacrificing woman, en- 

 dowed with a kind and feeling heart, who renoun- 

 ces the bright advantages and prospects with 

 which nature and fortune had endowed her, to en- 

 gage with ardor and self-denial in the beautiful 

 and the great undertaking of her husband, and be* 

 come the instructress of those poor and unfortu- 

 nate children. It may be said that she became 

 even more to them than their own mothers; for 

 their own mothers had either abandoned them, or 

 given them the most fatal examples; while their 

 adopted mother offers them only lessons of virtue, 

 wisdom and instruction; teaches them to distin- 

 guish good from evil, and develops their intelli- 

 gence and humanity. Is it not, indeed, giving 

 them a new life, more valuable than the one which 

 they had, and were so likely to have abused ? At 

 the sight of this picture, of which I have only pre- 

 sented to you the outline, is not the name of 

 Madame Lecomte upon every tongue? 



" Since I began to speak to you of the horti- 

 cultural school of Petit-Quevilly, I may be allowed 

 to complete the account of it. 



" As to horticulture, this establishment is truly 

 a model garden. The cultivation of culinary ve- 

 getables, indispensable to the subsistence of the 

 colony, is there taught and practiced, with the 

 greatest advantage to the young pupils. Work- 

 ing gardeners are sent out from the institution, 

 well versed in the art of pruning trees, and all the 

 theories connected with it; and they readily find 

 employment, which puts them out of the reach of 

 misery and want, and all their accompanying dan- 

 gers. 



" The portion of ground devoted to horticulture 

 consists of about 90 acres of kitchen and fruit gar- 

 dens. The professors of arboriculture are Mes- 

 sieurs Lecomte — father and son. The kitchen 

 garden department is conducted by M. Romain 

 Avenel, foreman. The number of children, in 

 1843, was only thirteen, and is now one hundred 

 and nine. Lot us hope, for the interests of hu- 

 manity, that the number of these pupils shall be 

 raised as high as possible; for there are not 



