Botany and the study of the physical structure of 

 Plants. 



Horticulture is Art co-operating with Nature : Na- 

 ture ! the perfection and excellence of whose opera- 

 tions we all instinctively admire : — that admiration 

 which is early implanted in every human breast, but 

 which education and a thousand fortuitous circum- 

 stances of the world too often serve to extinguish — 

 an admiration and love for the good and beautiful, 

 which was undoubtedly given for the wisest purposes, 

 and which, duly improved and cultivated, is of the great- 

 est benefit. A spirit of a high and pure character, 

 with which every reasoning being is endowed — that 

 seeks and finds exquisite pleasure in all that is exalt- 

 ing in the works of Creative Po^^ er. Memory ever 

 delights to revert to those joyous, early days, when, 

 to all of us, every thing was serene around and with- 

 in ; and gladly would renew its communion with that 

 quiet which her operations then afforded. It is thus 

 that the garden possesses such attractive charms — 

 that amidst the collected beauties and rich treasures 

 of the Floral kingdom which we there find, we retire 

 for calm reflection or sober thought. Its very occu- 

 pation is conducive to moral and intellectual refine- 

 ment. In rearing some delicate and frail flower, in 

 watching its gradually developing parts, the young 

 and verdant leaf, the lengthening stem, the curious 

 bud, the wonderful blossom, its singular economy for 

 continued existence, the decaying and fading foliage, 

 and the sleep of temporary death — how many pleasing 

 moments are passed, how many wise thoughts excit- 

 ed, lessons of duty and of deep instruction, given 



