Introduction. 5 



•our gardens. Since the success has been made kno\vn which attended 

 the experiments of the Enghsh and Frencli horticuhurists, in raising 

 new fruits by cross-fertiHzation, there has constantly been annual ac- 

 cessions to our esteemed kinds; and if occasionally there has been 

 attached to one variety too many synonymous terms, tlie fault has 

 been counterbalanced by the value which all have been to the hor- 

 ticulturist. We shall use our ex( rtions to obtain such connnunications 

 as will impress upon the mind of the practical gardener the importance 

 of more attention to the subject. 



In the ornamental department of Gardening, there is room for 

 many and great improvements. The immense number of indigen- 

 ous trees, shrubs and plants, which are scattered so ])rofusely through- 

 out the woods and forests of the country, aftbrd fecihties for the 

 beautifying and decoration of the pleasure-garden, which are too 

 often overlooked. In the desire for exotics, many of which require 

 constant care and attention, the humble flowers which adorn and 

 enliven the appearance of the fields and pastures, the splendid and 

 brilliant shrubs, and the lofty and noble trees, which add picturesque 

 beauty and grandeur to our woodland scenery, seem to be too much 

 neglected. If they had but rarity to recommend them, they would 

 be sought after and procured, though attended with much difficulty 

 and expense. Many plants introduced into our gardens, which have 

 heretofore been considered as tender, have, by repeated trials, be- 

 come so acclimated as to stand the rigors of our long and dreary 

 winters; and every such addition to our hardy shrubs, should be 

 viewed as an important and valuable acquisition. But while such 

 attention is lavished upon them to acquire the desired end, it is almost 

 forgotten that hundreds, of our own clime, vieing in beauty, if not 

 far excelling these oriental productions, are blooming and shedding 

 their lovely and spicy blossoms to the desert air. 



While devoting our attention to the advancement of Horticulture, 

 we shall not be unmindful of the important improvements which are 

 continually made in Agiiculture, the most valuable of all arts. It 

 will not be our purpose to discuss it in its practical character of farm- 

 ing, etc., as these are now so ably and beneficially treated, in many 

 excellent works, almost exclusively devoted to the subject ; but to 

 glean such information as may be interesting, and to notice its useful 

 operations and utility, as connected with the comforts and enjoyments 

 of all classes of society, domestic economy, and rural alfairs. 



We pass over the two subjects of Botany and Landscape Gardening, 

 though of almost paramount importance to those we have mentioned, 

 more particularly, because of the impossibility to do them full justice, 

 in the short space of a k\v introductory remarks ; but we hope to 

 favor our readers with communications in relation to their more gen- 

 eral study and practice. The science of Botany is almost universally 

 acknowledged to be one of great utility. Botanists have been 

 attached to expeditions and surveys of different countries, and have 



