THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NEW YORK. 



well. The distinction between the two is, primarily, based upon the limita- 

 tion of the area of horticultural operations as compared with that of agri- 

 culture. Ager applies to a field of larger extent and. perhaps, entirely 

 unenclosed, while hortus, the garden, applies to an enclosure surrounded 

 by a fence or wall. While the distinction between the two terms is based 

 entirely upon this, the difference in their operations is indicated by the 

 definition. 



The practice of horticulture embraces both its science and its art. The 

 art cannot be carried on to its best results without a considerable knowl- 

 edge of its science. Next to the broad ideal to which reference has been 

 made, the most important ideal of horticulture is the attainment of the 

 highest degree of perfection in the results accomplished ; and while the 

 so-called " rule of the thumb " may answer for ordinary routine, it rarely 

 results in any material advancement. Such advancement must necessarily 

 result from the application of the laws of nature to the operations from 

 which improvement may be expected. The requirements of the science of 

 horticulture are very complex, and I desire to refer to it in connection 

 with the attainment of ideals, partly because it is at the very foundation 

 of the subject, and also to show that the highest practice of horticulture 

 involves an acquaintance with many departments of science. 



The beginning of all operations is necessarily with the soil and this 

 involves a knowledge of the vast variety of soils, both in their composition 

 and in their mechanical condition. Soils are heavy and close in their 

 texture when they contain a large percentage of clay; they are light and 

 loose when they have a large percentage of sand ; and between these are 

 a great variety of loams with their varied constituents. It is important 

 to know something of the character of the soil of the native habitat of a 

 plant, in order to understand the conditions under which it has been pro- 

 duced and maintained. But while this knowledge is useful, it is not of 

 very great impoi Lance, because the native habitat may not present the best 

 conditions for the particular plant. Various causes may have prevented 

 its growth in locations that are better suited to its requirements. It may 

 have been crowded out from this by other and stronger growing plants, 

 or it may never have had an opportunity to grow in such a situation ; but 

 the knowledge of the soil upon which it has developed is important as indi- 

 cating the root formation and root work of the plant itself. In open and 

 loose soils roots are far reaching and grow to a great depth, while in 

 heavy and retentive soils they grow nearer the surface ; and plants with 

 fine fibrous roots thrive best in a soil with a large percentage of decaying 

 vegetable matter, furnishing a large amount of humus which greatly 

 favors their growth and development. The necessity of soil being opened 

 to the operations of the air is absolutely indispensable for the growth of 

 plants of the higher orders. When the interstices between the particles 

 of soil are occupied by water the air cannot penetrate the soil and growth 

 cannot be maintained. Of course, this is not true with aquatic plants, but 

 it is true of all plants of the higher order of development. This fact is 



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