10 



Natural History, and was to that branch of knowl- 

 edge what was Newton to Natural Philosophy, the 

 regenerator of truth. Since his time, the vegetable 

 kingdom has been minutely attended to and investi- 

 gated, and from the important and patient labors of its 

 numerous votaries have accrued immense benefits to 

 the civilized world, in almost every department, of 

 human industry and skill. 



The necessity of a knowledge of Systematic and 

 Physiological Botany to the Horticulturist, is almost 

 too evident for demonstration. The Botanical Gar- 

 dener, and he alone, is the Theoretical Horticulturist. 

 The taste for that science but seems to strengthen 

 the passion for his profession. The accuracy of its 

 operations, and the necessity for the most minute 

 investigation in the arrangement of plants, would 

 serve to improve his own love for them. To the 

 Florist, particularly, is this observation of importance. 

 The simplicity of Nature is overlooked in too many 

 instances for the more gaudy and dazzling productions 

 of art. Among the supposed treasures of collections, 

 in vain may one seek for some species, till at length, 

 disappointed in his search, he finds it under the dis- 

 iruise of an anomalous character, in some mutilated 

 hybrid, or monstrous development. Our floriculture 

 needs thus a cautious but reforming hand ; a substi- 

 tution of some of that zeal for new and foreign ec- 

 centricities of floral skill by a closer attention to the 

 rich native treasures of our own smiling fields and 

 verdant meadows, of our forest-clad mountains and 

 limpid streams, and an endeavor to take a deeper 

 interest in Nature, as she is. She recognizes, it is 



