sditob's table. 



tliat tho uttor rnin of very inanv poriodical jiuMicatioiis not founded on the wants or the 

 aftVctious of tlie public, may bo anticipated. We predict the reverse fur tho Ilorlirulturisl. 

 Its friends must be increased by the events just transpired. Tliousanda wliosouglit in cities 

 the means of existence, will now claim the blessings which country life bestows. Leaving 

 the counting-house or the store, they will turn to cultivating the earth, and, we trust, will 

 find in this original and natural employment of man, consolation for misfortunes which 

 periodically cross the path of tho merchant. There are enough inhabitants of cities left to 

 create a permanent demand for all species of wholissome and attractive food. Fruits, large 

 and small, are a necessity inadequately supplied — always scarce and dear. The llortictd- 

 tnrist is continually recording large profits from ajiples, pears, peaches, strawberries, rasp- 

 berries, and vegetable culture ; their producers have small rents to pay in comparison witli 

 those of city storekeepers, and surely it is a more manly and intellectual occupation to till 

 the earth, and take an interest in studying and assisting nature, than to be the slave of 

 thoughts devoted to ribbons and yardsticks ! or to pass anxious days and nights in betting 

 on stocks, as if any set of people could ever grow rich by such a process ! 



It cannot be too often repeated that the tendency of our people is too much given to non- 

 producing employments. Ease of body is sought before cheerfulness of mind. Sedentary 

 occupations are not so healthful as those in the open air; if statistics are to be believed, it 

 is residents of tlie country who enjoy the greatest amount of physical health. Cities noto- 

 riously depreciate even the human stature. An attentive observer for forty years, may safely 

 say that in cities families rapidly run out and disappear ; the only permanent names are 

 the land owners. Strange as it may sound, this is as evidently the story in America as in 

 thickly settled Europe. Let it be the family policy for generation after generation to hold 

 on to their land, never to risk its sale, to keep it under proper tillage, or even to grow tim- 

 ber on it judiciously, and the property remains ; the family name is there, the means of 

 livelihood and education are at hand. Sell the land, go to the city, invest in convertible 

 goods, and in more than nine cases in ten the money disappears, if not in the first, in the 

 second generation. 



These reflections might bo enforced by thousands and ten thousands of instances, but we 

 feel no necessity for doing so ; our readers are no doubt convinced ; and with a few remarks 

 suggested by an inspection of the last year's pages of this work, we consign it, with all its 

 imperfections, to the criticism of its numerous readers. 



The index-maker surrendered his annoying operation by calling our attention to the 

 table of contents, which he sajis "embraces such a vast variety of interesting topics as 

 perfectly to astonish me. I have made many indexes, but have rarely met with so many 

 subjects illustrated in a single volume. I am no horticulturist myself, but I am greatly 

 mistaken if these pages do not embrace most of the subjects which can interest the lover 

 of the garden." Our " indexer' is mistaken ; the topics of interest to the lover of nature 

 are endless ; we are but beginning to enumerate them. Take the subject of vegetable growth, 

 for instance. Look at fruit culture, landscape gardening !* Try to ascertain what is best to 

 do or to plant in new and untried circumstances ; endeavor to show practically to what your 

 soil is specially adapted. In fine, study a little whether it be gardening or botany, and you 

 will arrive at that very desirable point of knowledge, that we Icnotv almost nothing. 



We have a word, in conclusion, to say for ourselves. The time employed on this work 

 has soothed many hours of anguish, when the mind was unfit for social intercourse ; this 

 condition of health will account for many deficiencies. The amusement and enjoyment 

 afforded by occupation, and the sympathy in tastes of many old and new friends and cor- 

 respondents, have been ample compensation for sometimes weary labor. 



work has had the most successful twelvemonth that its existence can record 

 its topics, we trust, agreeably to the reader. A more southern latitude than 



