tion ffWon to the employer, tlie less would be the dematicl for tlieir services I This 

 absurd idea was easily dissipated, and time has auiply jiroved its error. It has 

 even been argued successfully, that it will answer a ^.^lod ]»urpose to the nursery- 

 man to f/ire ((irat/\\\s products for a time, till neighborhoods have imbibed a taste 

 for their possession. These are great steps in a forward direction. 



As Dr. Ward remarked, in his first article on the Culture of the Pear, " the 

 rubbish is but just cleared away." Tliis will apply to otlier horticultural topics ; 

 l)Ooks are now multiplied on horticultural subjects to an extent that was unheard 

 of ten years ago ; we have separate reliable works on the Pear, the Grape, the 

 Apple, the Peach, the Cherry, Strawberry, and even the Cranberry and Black- 

 berry, and a handbook on Ornamental Trees, and many on Flowers and Gardening 

 in general ; these are so cheap as to be accessible to all, and most of them may 

 date their existence to the taste created by the Horticulturist* Then we have the 

 State and the Pomological reports, annually giving the collected wisdom of the most 

 practical men, for reference and study ; the news]iapers, too, have taken up our 

 topics ; the ball set in motion, the discussion and comparison of facts has cleared 

 the atmosphere ; what is yet needed is doing, or to be done, by practical minds, 

 leaving the -^o/Y/c?//f;/mUo chronicle results rather than entirely to pioneer opinion, 

 or more than suggest future action. The rubbish being cleared away, Pomology 

 an established science, and every year revealing its facts, the present and future 

 course of this work is one of pleasure ; the walks arc dug, the stone drains laid, 

 the gravel is placed and rolled, and we are in the position of visitors to a culti- 

 vated garden, with liberty to amuse and enjoy ourselves ; to point out improve- 

 ments annually, select our best fruits and most imposing trees and shrubbery, and 

 as good fortune and science offer an opportunity, or bring something better. 

 Impart the knowledge to one's neighbors ; the house is built, the dirt of the cellar 

 is carted away, and, under these circumstances, the position of the resident is a 

 pleasure rather than a task ; such wc feel it to be, and while we can count as many 

 friends and interested contributors and readers as the last year has assembled 

 around us, however incompetent to the whole scope of its duties, we hope, and 

 intend to be contented and happy in our chair. 



BUFFUM PEAR.f 



If, in the classification of fruits, we take in consideration not only the quality, 

 but the vigor of the tree, its constant fertility, its fitness to succeed in almost 

 all kinds of soils, and to yield handsome, healthy crops, certainly the Buffum must 

 take a prominent rank in the catalogue of good pears. 



As an orchard tree, in a pyramidal, or widely spread shape, perhaps it is 

 unrivalled. As a good bearer, we can safely depend upon its crops. Grafted on 

 the quince, or on the standard, it soon sets to bearing, and those bearing habits 

 keep up with the vigorous development of the tree. 



The original tree in Mr. Prescott Ilall's fine residence at Newport, Rhode Island, 

 is still vigorous, although not in a well-selected spot, being too close to one of the 



* A publislier has oven found it to his advantage to devote his energies, and a large estab- 

 lishment, to the publication of books devoted to horticulture and kindred subjects. C. M. 

 Saxton & Co. disseminate, annually, information on the subject, that will compare, in 

 amount, with that of the whole of Europe — not so much in expensive and magnificent pub- 

 lications as in usefulness. Tlie more recherche will come in time ; the demand for Michaux 

 and Nuttall's costly Sylva is increasing annually ; a fact in itself that speaks strongly of 

 progressive study and interest. 



t See Frontispiece. 



