Imperial Rome had subjugated the world, and emulated 

 Greece in literature, science arid the arts, when the superb villas 

 of Sallust, Crassus, Pompey, Caesar, Mecaenas, and Agrippina 

 were established, and the palaces of the Emperors were environed 

 by magnificent gardens. 



The history of modern nations presents similar results. Hor- 

 ticulture had lingered in the rear of other pursuits, until the com- 

 mencement of the eighteenth century, when it began to claim the 

 attention of some of the most illustrious characters of England ; 

 but the origin, establishment, and extension of the present im- 

 proved style of gardening are of recent date. " Bacon was the 

 prophet, Milton the herald, and Addison, Pope, and Kent the 

 champions of true taste." The principles, which were developed 

 in their writings, and those of Shenstone, the Masons, and 

 Wheatly, and their successful application in the examples pro- 

 duced by the taste and genius of Bridgeman, Wright, Brown, 

 and Eames, soon rendered the system popular, and gradually ex- 

 tending over Europe, it ultimately reached this country. Still, 

 gardening, in the broadest signification of the term, did not re- 

 ceive that distinguished and universal consideration, which it 

 merits, until the establishment of the London Horticultural So- 

 ciety, which constitutes an era in the annals of Great Britain, of 

 momentous import. It has given an impetus to cultivation, which 

 is felt in the remotest regions of the globe. The noble example 

 has been followed in the most flourishing kingdoms of the East- 

 ern continent, and many similar institutions have been founded 

 in the United States. An interest has thus been excited, and a 

 spirit of inquiry awakened, which cannot fail of producing highly 

 important results. The auspices are favorable, and the period is 

 not distant when these associations will become the foci for con- 

 centrating, and from whence will be disseminated, the horticul- 

 tural intelligence and products of every clime. 



Notwithstanding gardening preceded, it was ultimately sur- 

 passed, by agriculture, for a long succession of ages, still, when 

 prosecuted with the lights of experience, the instructions of ma- 



