In architecture, the work soon took a position which produced the happiest re- 

 sults. The mock Grecian fiisliion, then at its liei^'^ht, foil like a pack of loose cards ; 

 tlio IforticidtHrist was soon an authority to coax or to shame the builder in the coun- 

 trv. We do not mean to say, that every one of the desif^ns presented in the work 

 was perfect — far from it. The editor, as must be the case with all successful con- 

 ductors of the press, was himself a leafier * yet he enunciated so many truths, 

 that the public taste was, at least, bent in the ri[!:ht direction. But for this effort, 

 our extensive land would have been strewed witli abortive attempts at the sublime, 

 the beautiful, and the iirodii;-ious. Perfection is not to be reached in a ten years' 

 journey in any great art, but we are much nearer to it than we were in those days 

 of ignorant pretension, and consequent erroneous execution. 



Gardening has received an impetus during this decade that is very marked. The 

 experience of " old diggers" and young delvers, has been freely communicated — 

 line upon line, and jtrecept upon precept, till here, too, we have settled some 

 ]»rinciples of the greatest moment, and we now produce, with the aid of guano and 

 i)L'tter adapted manures than formerly, nearly twice as much in a garden of given ex- 

 tent, and more valuable products by far than we did a few years ago; this too, at 

 less cost, and of better quality. The strawberry culture is improved and under- 

 stood, and better varieties have become abundant. New introductions of vari- 

 ous kinds have been adopted, and in all cases this periodical has been the pioneer 

 in announcing the coming benefit, no less than in recording the best modes for its 

 culture. 



It is very true in this as in architecture, we have yet much to learn ; it is also 

 true, that like good scholars, we are conning over our lessons with praiseworthy 

 attention, but, in the midst of it all, it is remarkable that we let some things that 

 we once knew slip by us and be forgotten. As an instance : in an early number, 

 we were informed that the best Black Hamburgh Grapes were obtained, and prizes 

 given for them, from a mere shed built on a fence for the back, and with the melon 

 frames, when done with in spring, used for the roofs ; and yet, we still go on with 

 expensive buildings for raising grapes, and have, not yet ])roduced the foreign fruit 

 in such abundance as to be either cheap or plenty ; on the contrary, these grapes 

 command double the price they did in 1846. How is this ? The necessity for 

 glass at all, is to prevent mildew; it may yet be found, that a fence and prepared 

 or oiled muslin, will answer every purpose, as we know that, in some seasons, these 

 foreigners succeed very well without any covering whatever. But this in paren- 

 thesis, and by the way, for there are many forgotten good things in the ten past 

 volumes, as we can testify after a recent careful reperusal of the whole. f 



A marked improvement has taken place within the period we are commenting 

 on, in the cliaructe.r of the nursery business, and the nurserymen engaged in it. 

 Not that all have Ijecome more honest, for there were many good men in the 

 business before ; but we allude to the correctness with which fruit-trees are named 

 and sold. The kinds of fruits are now so much better known and understood, 

 that to be successful, the nurseryman has to be correct ; honesty is his best policy, 

 as it is known to be in other matters ; formerly, detection was more difficult, 



* To teacli is to learn ; according to an old experience, it is the very best mode of learning 

 — the surest and the shortest. And hence, perhaps, it may be, that in the middle ages, 

 bv the monkish word scholaris was meant, indifferently, he that learned, and he that 

 taught. 



t It is a work of reference as well as for its regular monthly reading, that the Horticulturist 

 is especially valuable. We have been much pleased to find the whole ten volumes extremely 

 interesting, and cannot point out any other periodical work that bears a reperusal so 

 A complete set is a valuable possession, now rare. 



