STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 445 



taining to the welfare of the society or for the ijromotiou of the 

 cause of horticulture iu our State. 



SKETCH OF HON. CHARLES DOWNING. 



The following biographical sketch of the life of Hon. Charles 

 Downing, by S. B. Parsons, is taken from the Bural New Yorker 

 of Aug. 16, 1879. It shows in few words the high estimation 

 placed upon his character at the time those lines were written. 

 —Sec. 



"Born in 1802, and, working with his father among trees and flowers until 

 twenty years of age, he then succeeded him, and commenced that series of ex- 

 periments with fruits which makes him now the most trustworthy pomologist 

 of America. From 1836 to 1838 he was in partnership with his brother, who 

 afterwards commenced his literary work, and filled the niche which was then 

 open. A. J. Downing held a spirited and graphic pea, and his breezy articles, 

 when editor of the Horiieulfurist, were the natural outgrowth of his taste and 

 love for horticulture. In the preparation of his book of fruits, however, he 

 was much indebted to his brother Charles, whose long experience gave him 

 accurate knowledge, and who had fruited and compared many thousand varie- 

 ties. After the death of A. J. Downing this book passed through several edi- 

 tions, each greatly enlarged by Chas. Downing, until the present edition is the 

 best pomological book in the world, and made so mainly by the labors of the 

 subject of this sketch. It was not until after 1840 that I knew either of them; 

 and while admiring the striking qualities of his brother, I was always impressed 

 with the quiet observation, the great accuracy, and the unobtrusive modesty 

 of Charles Downing. He never sought appreciation, but always received it 

 from those who truly knew him. While writing of his attention to fruits I 

 should not forget his love for ornamental plants, and his knowledge of them. 

 His old place was much changed in 1868 by the running of streets and the de- 

 struction of many of his trees. He still indulges his taste, however, and his 

 memory does not fail him. Anyone desiring information on fruits can rely 

 upon its correctness if received from Charles Downing. When thinking of the 

 usefulness of such a life one cannot help wishing for the old days of Methusela 

 when mans' life was not limited to four score years. 



"In the career of the two brothers is a valuable lesson. One gave his life to 

 save life; the other spent his years in labor for men. Sacrifice and labor are 

 two pivots on which the moral world revolves. Haj^py is the man who has his 

 - share of each. ' ' 



