innocent amusement, we have said much in its favor * 

 but I think we can recommend and urge its claims 

 much stronger, by saying that it is as positive a duty 

 that a man should cultivate some of his powers to 

 this exercise as it is to possess a knowledge of poU- 

 tics. He who cultivates a garden and brings to per- 

 fection flowers and fruits, cultivates and advances at 

 the same time his own nature. 



Horticulture as a science applies as well to fruits 

 as flowers, and it loses none of its attractions when 

 contemplated or practised in regard to the former 

 productions. It is a branch of the art of the highest 

 use. 



During the past year, the Society has received an 

 accession in the numbers of its members both subscrip- 

 tion and honorary, but perhaps there is no name upon 

 the catalogue that is more worthy of a place there, 

 than that of the aged and eminent Dr Van Mons, of 

 Belgium, and I shall occupy the few moments I may 

 call mine here, in presenting some remarks upon his 

 services and theory, at the risk of stating some things 

 already well known and of adding but little or nothing 

 to the knowledge of some present. 



The causes of the decay of fruit trees has for a 

 long time occupied the attention of horticulturists, and 

 it has been allowed that disease, the consequence of 

 old age, has caused and does cause this decay, and 

 will gradually work the extinction of some of the 

 best varieties. 



Some of the variety of fruit that were formerly in 

 high reputation, have now become so deteriorated as 

 scarce to be worth propagation, and others are fast 



