AMEEICAN HOETICULTURE. 



are to be found at our fall shows. The exhibitions in Ohio and Michigan the past 

 season, show how rapidly this spirit is traveling westward. Great pear orchards, 

 ranging from one hundred to one thousand, and even to several thousand trees, are 

 in all directions starting into existence ; and every man who has a garden and regards 

 himself at home, is planting pear trees. The tables of the Massachusetts Horticul- 

 tural Society, at their last exhibition, made a display of this fruit that has never been 

 equalled in any country. Truly we shall in a short time have a great pear country. 

 This pear-growing spirit has naturally awakened an inquiry into the various modes of 

 propagation, pruning, and general treatment, that is rapidly leading to a more correct 

 appreciation of principles, and a greatly improved system of culture. 



The Culture of the Grape is another interesting feature in the present state of 

 American horticulture. In the neighborhood of Cincinnati, and in various localities 

 west and south, this branch of culture remains no longer an experiment, but is actually 

 prosecuted on a comparatively extensive scale, and with a success greater than even 

 the most sanguine had anticipated. The labor and capital it now represents, and its 

 contribution to th^ general account of the productions of the soil, attracts attention at 

 this moment both at home and abroad. There are considerations associated with the 

 culture of the vine, beyond those of a mere pecuniaiy character, that incline us to 

 regard the extension of its culture with peculiar interest. 



The culture of the foreign varieties of the grape, under glass, is at the present time 

 receiving considerable attention, and is becoming an important and interesting feature 

 in American horticulture. Our bright, warm climate renders a simple glass roof alone 

 necessary to bring them to the greatest perfection ; fire heat being essential only to a 

 few varieties, or to ripening them at an extraordinary period of the year. This cul- 

 ture is yet, in the main, confined to the neighborhood of the large cities, but it is 

 gradually extending itself and will do so more and more rapidly as the construction 

 and management of these "cold vineries" become better understood. To merchants 

 and professional men, especially, who have gardens and enjoy some leisure hours, 

 this is an interesting subject, and we invite their attention to it. One of the most 

 complete and successfully managed small vineries we have seen, is in a neighboring 

 town, the proprietor of which, an active business man, manages his vinery himself 

 in his leisure moments, and produces crops that would not disgrace the most accom- 

 plished professional gardener. 



The Kitchen Garden^ or the culture of culinary vegetables, is a department of 

 horticulture of much greater importance than it is usually considered. A very large 

 class of our population have yet to learn the value to health and comfort of a regular 

 and abundant supply of good and well grown vegetables at all seasons of the year. 

 A gi'cat reform is needed in the dietetics of the country, and one of the first requisites 

 in this reform will be the use of vegetables in a much greater proportion than at 

 present. We are not to be understood as advocating "vegetarian" doctrines; but 

 knowing by ample experience that our carniverous system is exerting a baneful 

 influence upon our health and strength, and fearfully promoting physical deterioration 

 ould urge its modification by greater attention to the Kitchen Garden 



