'" " vJ^ 







.,v\_/\.- 



JOSIAH HOOPES, 



CORRESyoxniNG EDITOnS 



JAMES TAPLIN, 



MARK MILLER. 



YOL. 29. 



JANUAET, 1874. 



E"0. 331. 



A Glance at th.e Past and an Editorial for the Future. 



BY JOSIAH HOOPES. 



WITH the advent of the glad New Year, 

 we cheerfully perform the annual duty 

 of turning over the leaves of our volume 

 just closed, as we have done many and many 

 a time before, so that the mistakes and er- 

 rors, which somehow mysteriously creep in, 

 may be avoided in the future. 



As we lean back in the old editorial chair 

 and allow full license to our thoughts, the 

 the whole lifetime, as it were, of the Horti- 

 culturist passes in array before us. 



We recall vividly its host of brilliant 

 writers, many of whom, including him who 

 wrote its first line, have now passed from 

 earth to their reward, yet the legacy which 

 they bequeathed to us is yet unaccom- 

 plished ; yes, and will be for all coming 

 time. 



We turn to the pages where a Brinckle 

 and a Longworth, with all their deep enthu- 

 siasm and love for the beautiful, have re- 

 corded their labors for the benefit of us who 

 survive them ; and where, too, the magic 

 pen of Downing himself graces the opening 



V' 



I 



of each monthly number, those charming 

 essays, world-wide in their popularity, and 

 which taught his readers to regard him as a 

 friend, whether differing from his views 

 or not. 



And, as we glance over all these lines 

 that we have so often read before, our mem- 

 ory brightens with the same old-time feeling 

 of pleasure that gladdened us as we perused 

 them fresh from his almost inspired pen. 



But we can see no cause for discourage- 

 ment on the part of his successors, for, al- 

 thongh our efforts may be divested of that 

 captivating style, which, like the fragrance 

 of the violet, was inherent in him, a gift 

 from his Maker, we are still aware that a 

 great work remains undone, and it is our 

 task, as it should be our pleasure, to follow 

 the line of duty that he so beautifully por- 

 trayed. 



And now, what have we learned since the 

 initial number of our journal went forth on 

 its peaceful mission ? Are we to-day the 

 wiser for its teachings, and pan we honestly 



