188 Address delivered before the 



Its garden for experimental purposes is greatly needed. The 

 unfortunate result of the one first established at Mount Auburn, 

 has, it may be feared, induced many to think too little of its impor- 

 tance. On a very light and poor soil, and with the divided labors 

 of the superintendent of the Cemetery, what could be reasonably 

 expeoted.' Such a garden, were it but a single acre, and its soil 

 such as could not be surpassed, would require the constant and 

 undivided attention of a first rate gardener. We do not over- 

 state the matter, — indeed, we fear it has been too much neglec- 

 ted. For the correction of the synonymy of fruit, what a nice 

 degree of care and skill is requisite! The analysis of physiological 

 botany would be required, and act no mean part. The very 

 mechanical operation of comparison in wood, bud, stem and 

 leaves, as well as fruit, is a matter of no hasty judgment or prac- 

 tice. We appeal to that distinguished cultivator, the chairman 

 of the Committee on Synonymes, in support of this assertion; 

 and with the delightful acquaintance which we have the honor of 

 possessing with the Pomologist of Salem, we well know, from 

 his own practice, somewhat of that nicety of comparison and 

 patience of research needed in such studies. Those truly mu- 

 nificent donations from the distinguished Van Mons, both to the 

 Society and to individuals, important as they have been to culti- 

 vators, would be still greatly enhanced by the experiments and 

 studies of the Society's gardens, and become still wider extend- 

 ed through an impartial distribution. What such individuals as 

 Lowell and Manning are doing, the Society would do, and with 

 ■greater means, because undivided by the cares of business, or 

 the engagements of other and higher studies which press upon 

 their time. Nor would their co-operation with its labors be in 

 the least impaired, hut the rather assisted and encouraged. 



But this Society is not simply a pomological institution. Ev- 

 ery year introduces to our notice some new, rare, perhaps valu- 

 able, vegetable production for the table, besides fruits. Almost 

 every foreign journal makes us acquainted with the latest discov- 

 ered improvement on old varieties, or hitherto unknow^n species, 

 worthy of experiment. Where but in such an institution should 

 they be fairly tested? Where but within its precincts could every 

 experiment be made on their best cultivation? Where but under 

 the fostering care of its gardener could they receive the most 

 constant and unprejudiced attention? Where could they be more 

 zealously watched, or more patiently investigated? From whence 

 could their recommendation or their condemnation, as valuable 

 or worthless, as suitable to our climate or to a more southern, 

 as proper for this soil or that, better emanate? What is the case 

 now? We ask for no purpose of censure or complaint. Who 

 has fairly tested the O'xalis crenuta, the Quinoa, (Chenopodium 

 Qtiinoa,) of Chili? Distributed as now, neither new seeds nor 



